Thousands of workers who labored at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks may be eligible to split up to $657.5 million in settlement money for damage to their health from working in the dust and debris, under an agreement between the plaintiffs’ and city attorneys announced late Thursday.
But the deal is not yet final. Ninety-five percent of the nearly 10,000 plaintiffs in the case must agree to the settlement terms. And federal judge Alvin Hellerstein said after a hearing Friday that he would take a week to review the terms of the settlement, particularly the lawyers’ fees.
New York Daily News reporter Juan Gonzalez, author of the book Fallout: The Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Collapse, says there were “major problems” throughout the months-long clean-up and recovery process. The site was a toxic stew of chemicals, but it was also an emotional place for many of the city workers and others who volunteered to work long hours there, some because they had friends or relatives who had perished there.
“The city had to find a proper way to deal with those emotions while at the same time saying ‘hey, we are legally responsible for the health and safety of everyone who is on this site. And that means proper respirators, that means a limited number of hours […] when you have such a toxic brew it’s better to err on the side of caution,” Gonzalez says. “I think that the city recognizes that and that’s why they did not want to go to court.”
Hear Gonzalez discuss the lawsuit, the settlement terms and what happened around the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the attacks.
Audio production by Lea Winerman.


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This article is part of an ongoing series to let people know what kinds of things are hanging out in our local history archive, the Bethlehem Room, as well as the local history services we can provide.
“As To Vaccination”
Letter to the editor
Bethlehem Daily Times, March 7, 1881
While fulfilling patrons’ various research requests I’ve looked through a lot of old Bethlehem newspapers from the last few decades of the 19th century and the first few of the 20th century. In many of them appear articles and little items dealing with smallpox and its impact on our community. Often the pieces will be short announcements of an outbreak within a local family, or the status of someone suffering from the disease, or, of course, their death from it. Occasionally, there will be warnings that the disease is in nearby towns and that people need to be vigilant. In one edition of the Bethlehem Daily Times from 1882, there is a clear call by editors—even naming the individual town leaders to whom the call is addressed—that a smallpox hospital needs to be established before it is too late. I’ve even seen the editors just insert the comment “Get the vaccination for smallpox” among the local bits and pieces of news for the different Bethlehem boroughs (remember, they were separate cities back then).
In one edition of the Daily Times from March 7, 1881, a letter to the editor is published (smack in the center of the front page) that is remarkable in its clarity for laying out the various rumors about the purported dangers of the smallpox vaccine. The author lists claims, and wants someone to “ascertain if it is true” what they have heard. Some of the fears include that the vaccine doesn’t work, that it can cause other diseases to be more malignant, and that it is responsible for the “greatly increased number of the insane.” They finish with a quotation from a Dr. Ennemoser, a German doctor who believed in “animal magnetism” and was often quoted in anti-vaccination writing in the 1880s, presumably because his quote is so dramatic. [See the picture of the Daily Times page with this article.]
In an article written in late 1882 for Public Health Papers and Reports, Dr. John Detwiller of Bethlehem wrote that there was an outbreak of smallpox in South Bethlehem in March of that year (exactly one year after the letter to the editor!). In it he praised the Health Boards of the local boroughs for acting swiftly to prevent a massive infection of the populace. Forty years later, in October 1921, Moravian College was put under quarantine after a student came down with smallpox, as reported around the country at the time. Vaccinations were swiftly administered.
Edward Jenner famously developed the smallpox vaccine in 1796 from cowpox. Well into the 19th century, one of the rumors about the vaccine was that it would cause people to grow horns and hooves. Fortunately, enough people were able to disregard much of the panic about the vaccine so that smallpox was eradicated in the 20th century, the only human disease to be successfully suppressed in this way.

domain: library


No one wants to be locked out of their own house or room. The feeling of frustration is just too much when you realize that you left your key on the wrong side of the door or lost it somewhere you can’t figure out yet. You’re in a rush, you forgot an important document inside, and someone is waiting for you. What’s worse, you’re alone. No one is an insight to help you open that heavily locked piece of a barrier. Have you been in this kind of situation before?
Here’s the good news. You can still open your locked door by yourself, even without the key. Read on and discover six ways to open a locked door in the absence of a commercial locksmith.
1. Use a flexible card or credit card.
You’ve probably seen this method in one of the movies you’ve watched. The character lost his key and badly needed to go inside the house. He found his credit card, inserted it, and there goes the door wide open. Have you tried it too?
One of the most commonly used everyday items to open a locked door is a credit card or any flexible or laminated card, such as a gift card. How does it work?
First, the credit card should be inserted between the doorframe and the strike plate (the metal plate affixed to a door jamb with a hole where the latch goes in). Afterward, the card should be swiftly swiped downwards at a right angle to the door. The door will open as long as the card is placed right between the hole and the bolt.
However, using a credit card to open a locked door will only work for spring locks, not for deadbolts.
2. Use a small screwdriver or thin tools.
This method is ideal for interior doors with privacy handles, in which the door becomes locked by pushing a button in the door handle. On the doorknob is a tiny hole. This is where you will insert a small screwdriver or anything tools like a bobby pin or a flat paper clip. When the thin tool is inserted into the hole, turn and twist it until it reaches a groove, and the lock clacks open.
3. Use a hex wrench on interior doors.
You will need a hex or hexagonal wrench for this method. It works for those doors with doorknobs that can be opened when it’s accidentally locked out. This special type of doorknobs has a small, round hole at the center.
The hex wrench is an L-shaped piece of metal with a hexagonal cross-section. You can usually buy it in a set because no one hex wrench will fit into all sizes of holes. Similar to using a screwdriver, you only need to push the wrench into the hole and gently move it from side to side. When you turn the wrench, the door should open.
4. Pick the lock.
With lock picking, you are manipulating the components of the lock device to unlock it without using the original key. This is where a lock pick set comes in handy. If you don’t have it yet, you can easily buy one from the nearest hardware store. If there’s none, bobby pins and flattened paper clips also work well with lock picking, but not in the same ease as those of real lock picks.
Picking the lock requires a tension wrench or pin lock underneath to manipulate the key pins in the lock. While keeping a steady pressure at the lower edge of the keyhole, pick the lock at the end with a firm pin or metal.
5. Remove the hinges.
If working on the locks won’t work, then you should try taking the door from its hinges. A flat-head screwdriver or any sturdy metal with a flat tip will do the job. Insert it between the pin and the bottom knuckle. Steadily pry the bolt loose and remove the hinges. You will need to repeat the process for all other hinges. When the door becomes free from all the hinges, you can easily remove the lock and get inside your home.
6. Destroy the lock with a hammer or drill.
You should consider this method your last resort. Simply, you need to hammer down your door lock or drill through it. The lock components will then be easily destroyed. The disadvantage is you will need a new set of locks and have some parts of the door repaired maybe.
This method is a destructive way of unlocking a door. You will probably rather call a professional locksmith to do it.


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Controversial code officer has new job
STEVENS POINT - The person whose on-job demeanor prompted controversy after being hired by the city to enforce property codes has been hired by the Stevens Point Police Department to catch violators of parking rules.
Dan Trelka started as the city's ordinance control officer on Aug. 25, charged with the responsibility of finding violations of codes such as lawn care and snow removal. After about eight months on the job, he left for a position in the police department as a community service officer.
During Trelka's tenure as ordinance control officer, a city resident complained in a letter to the editor that Trelka was "smug" and had a "cop attitude" while dealing with people he found in violation of city ordinances. Violations issued during his time also drew criticism from a new City Council member, Meleesa Johnson, who said she thought the letters issued to violators were vague and that she wasn't sure they were being given enough time to correct issues.
Trelka's resignation and hire were not made public on any city agenda; a change to city policy in 2015 allows city departments to fill vacancies without notifying the public. Prior to the September policy change, requests to fill vacancies for positions already budgeted for appeared on committee agendas. Jakusz said the Community Development Department has not yet requested to fill Trelka's former position.
Community service officers are not sworn officers; their duties include issuing tickets for parking violations, resolving complaints about malfunctioning meters and performing some fingerprinting. Trelka's pay rate of $13.39 per hour did not change in the transition, Human Resources Director Lisa Jakusz said.
Trelka said in an interview on Mayor Mike Wiza's television show regarding his work in code enforcement that he previously worked for about three and a half months as a police officer in two different departments.

domain: law


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Men and women are not the same, especially when it has to do with their health issues. Do you know the health issues that pose the biggest threat on the women’s health? You might be surprised, but don’t be. The first step to remaining healthy is knowing fully well what you are up against, and taking the precautions to lessen your risk. The interesting news is that most of the health threatening issues women face, which varies depending on the woman’s background and age, are avoidable. Find out the conditions you need to be careful of to get the best of your health today.
- Heart Disease
To your surprise, breast cancer isn’t the major health issue most women face. Heart disease, which is responsible for about 27% of female deaths, kills a large number of women in the United States than cancers – about five hundred thousand women yearly. Fortunately, there are many changes women can make to the lifestyle to prevent heart disease – smoking, being physically active, and heart-smart diet.
Cancer, the most dangerous health issue women encounter after heart disease, is the cause of 22% of deaths among females and kills about 260,000 women yearly in the States. However, even in this group breast cancer isn’t the most dangerous threat. Instead, lung cancer takes more lives every year – about 70,000 yearly – largely because of smoking; breast cancer is only the second deadly threat of cancer issue. Fortunately, your style of living can help guide against one-third of cancers, so the risk can be cut by living an healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes is known to cause about 3% of female deaths in the States, it is a chronic women’s health problem, and it affects about 25 million Americans. The most common form of this disease is the type 2 diabetes, but what makes it interesting is that it can be avoided. To lessen the risk of being diabetic, ensure you live a healthy lifestyle and weight, exercise often, and be sure you check your blood sugar levels from time to time to allow for quick diagnosis.
- Blood poisoning
Equally regarded as septicemia, this health issue is very dangerous to women’s health and it is responsible for the loss of 2% of all American females. This condition is very life threatening and it happens when the blood is infected with bacteria or some other toxins which usually come from infections in the urinary tract, pelvis, abdomen, or lung. The symptoms are spiking fevers, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, chills, mental status change, and the infected individual often fall very ill quickly. The signs of blood poisoning can gradually lead to shock, which also has a high rate of death; if you are experiencing any of these warning signs, visit the hospital immediately.

domain: medical


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Prose & Poetry - Thomas Hulme
Thomas Ernest Hulme (1883-1917), the soldier-poet, was born in Staffordshire.
Hulme's characteristic conduct and outlook upon life has been variously described as 'robust' and 'argumentative'. It certainly brought its fair share of complications. Hulme's studies at Cambridge University were interrupted in 1904 (twice in total) by his being sent down for rowdy behaviour.
In 1906-07 he resolved to work his passage to Canada where he was to busy himself in manual labour on farms and lumber-camps. Upon his return to Britain Hulme established a reputation as an authority on Henri Bergson, translating the latter's works.
At the heart of the avant-garde English set of the early years of the century Hulme's reputation today largely rests upon his strong influence upon such eminent writers as Wyndham Lewis, Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. Hulme, along with Pound, founded Imagist poetry with its steadfast contempt for romanticism and preference for clear visual images.
Hulme's own poetical output was modest. In 1912 he somewhat wryly published The Complete Poetical Works of T.E. Hulme - comprising all five poems (increased to a total of six by the time of his death).
The outbreak of war in 1914 saw Hulme volunteer for service with the infantry on the Western Front. Wounded in 1916 he was killed by a shell-burst in Nieuport, Belgium, following his return to the Front with the Royal Marines Artillery on 28 September 1917.
Hulme's essays were posthumously published in collected form by Sir Herbert Read as Speculations in 1924 and Notes on Language and Style in 1929. His prose is better recognised today than his work as a poet.
German losses at Messines were 25,000, of which 7,500 were taken prisoner. British casualties were 17,000 killed or wounded.
- Did you know?


Fri, Feb 20, 2015, 03:01 PM
Swine Flu has terrorised the people across India. The virus H1N1 has affected more than 8000 people, who have been tested positive and killing around 600 people almost double than the previous year. The outbreak of Swine Flu is so intense that it has been showing no signs of slowing. Al Jazeera's Nidhi Dutt has reported that there is no cause of panic but there is a cause for worry.


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Australia-based Streetboardz has developed the Boarder Kontrol, a snowboard with a built-in brake. The Kontrol is designed to be used by beginners who don't want to fall a million times in order to learn how to slow themselves down. The brake of the board is mounted in the rear and is controlled using a leash. When pulled, the brake slows the board in a straight line while also allowing the rider to carve (the technique normally used to stop a snowboard).
The brake of the Boarder Kontrol can be removed, which makes it easy to stack multiple boards at the same time. Streetboardz is looking at releasing its stoppable board at ski resorts as opposed to the commercial market. The boards have been tested at the Australian ski resort Thredbo and are set to launch their this winter.
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domain: hobby


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KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report
In The News
- Devex Examines Facebook Data Scandal, Implications For Global 'Data For Good' Efforts
Devex: What the Facebook scandal means for ‘data for good’
“As Facebook responds to a public relations nightmare — the fallout from news that a political consulting firm violated its rules for third party apps — organizations that have worked with the social media giant to use its data for good are wondering what the implications may be for their partnerships. … As Facebook works to make changes internally, the question is not only what the impact will be on its data for good partnerships, but also whether this will drive a more serious conversation on responsible data sharing between the private and public sector…” (Cheney, 4/6).
- Increased Proportion Of U.K. Development Assistance Funneled Through Non-DFID Sources Raises Concern Among Some Aid Groups
Devex: U.K. aid figures spark renewed alarm over cross-government spending
“The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics revealed Thursday a 9.2 percent increase in aid spent outside the Department for International Development in 2017, despite growing concerns about its cross-government strategy. The provisional U.K. aid statistics show that 72.5 percent of the U.K.’s official development assistance went through DFID, down from 73.8 percent in 2016. The rest of the funding went through other government departments, cross-government funds, and nondepartmental sources. … Aid groups in the U.K. expressed concern about the increase in cross-government aid spending, warning that non-DFID spending may be infringing on its other pledges, namely those around aid transparency and ensuring that all ODA contributes to poverty reduction…” (Anders, 4/6).
- Private Sector Involvement Critical To Achieving SDGs, U.N. Forum Hears
U.N. News: Business leaders at U.N. forum challenged to invest in a more sustainable future for all
“Three years into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations continues brokering new partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), participants told a forum at U.N. Headquarters on Wednesday…” (4/4).
- U.N. Enhances Inspections Of Humanitarian Aid Ships Arriving In Yemen To Speed Distribution, Prevent Smuggling Of Military Items
Reuters: U.N. Quietly Steps up Inspection of Aid Ships to Yemen
“The United Nations is beefing up its inspections of ships bringing humanitarian aid to Yemen to ensure that no military items are being smuggled and to speed delivery of desperately needed relief supplies, U.N. and Saudi officials say…” (Nebehay, 4/5).
- International Team Of Experts Develops Set Of Recommendations For Actions To Prevent, Stem Antimicrobial Resistance
Homeland Preparedness News: International infection experts lay out antimicrobial stewardship programs to address antimicrobial resistance
“Focused on the growing threat of antimicrobial drug resistance among their targets, infection specialists have joined researchers from India and France in an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program meant to limit use of antimicrobial drug therapies in hospitals…” (Galford, 4/5).
- More News In Global Health
Devex: RCT evaluation points to value of targeting new fathers for gender equality (Edwards, 4/6).
Global Atlanta: The Carter Center Central to Liberia’s Mental Health Initiatives (Bolton, 4/5).
The Lancet: Progress in influenza surveillance in Africa (Green, 4/7).
The Lancet: Violence rife in Mexico, affecting medical community (Agren, 4/7).
Thomson Reuters Foundation: Cholera kills 40 Congolese in overcrowded Uganda refugee camps (Peyton, 4/5).
Editorials and Opinions
- BARDA Committed To Developing, Stockpiling Vaccines, Therapeutics For Future Ebola, Other Filovirus Outbreaks
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: Safeguarding against Ebola: Vaccines and therapeutics to be stockpiled for future outbreaks
Eric M. Espeland, chief of vaccine countermeasures at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, and colleagues
“…The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is mandated to support advanced research and development (R&D) of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents — including Ebola … There are a number of challenges that must be overcome to ensure adequate preparedness for future Ebola outbreaks, including completing the remaining advanced development activities necessary for regulatory approval and subsequent stockpiling of these medical countermeasures for use during a public health emergency. BARDA remains committed to making available safe and effective, FDA-approved vaccines and therapeutics for Ebola public health emergencies. Despite the advancement of the aforementioned vaccines and therapeutics against Ebola, gaps remain in our overall preparedness posture against other filoviruses. … While we acknowledge that much work remains to prepare for future filovirus outbreaks, the recently announced BARDA awards for vaccines and therapeutics against Ebola represent an important milestone in our preparedness and ongoing commitment to counter this health security threat” (4/5).
- WHO 'Must Take Courageous Steps' To Achieve Founding Vision Of Health Cooperation
The Lancet: WHOse health agenda? 70 years of struggle over WHO’s mandate
Anne-Emanuelle Birn, faculty member at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
“…WHO’s promising mandate for health cooperation, forged amid a short-lived post-war optimism, mapped out a world of possibilities. Yet its realization has been limited across distinct eras by complex geopolitical, economic, and institutional pressures … WHO retains its potential as a democratic and publicly accountable organization serving collective needs equitably and sustainably, but must take courageous steps to achieve this vision. … WHO’s 70th jubilee comes at a critical juncture. Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general since 2017, may either intensify WHO’s corporate embrace or stand in solidarity with the people’s health. Enabling WHO to heed its constitutional mandate would require: accountable governance and democratic priority-setting by member countries, thereby resisting undue power of private actors; adequate member dues; replacement of ‘multistakeholder’ profit-oriented partnerships with public-public (intersectoral) ones; decision making and regulation predicated on social need, human rights, and sound science; and success defined in terms of health equity, not tallying disease-control activities. Here’s hoping that WHO’s coming decades bring social justice oriented health for all people” (4/7).
- Polio Eradication Transition Presents Questions For WHO, Funding Challenges
The Lancet: Polio transition: overlooked challenges
Oliver Razum, professor at Bielefeld University School of Public Health, and Maike Voss, researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs
“…The transition phase of polio eradication brings other challenges that are less obvious but equally demanding. … Planning for the so-called polio transition needs to move beyond measures to avoid reintroduction of the virus. Strategies and funding mechanisms need to be developed to maintain WHO’s experienced employee basis in Africa and the east Mediterranean and to maintain the routine immunization services and disease surveillance systems that were co-funded by the polio eradication program. Here, two fundamental questions arise: is it a responsibility of WHO to keep routine national health systems functioning? Accepting this responsibility would be a paradigm shift. If so, should this responsibility be restricted only to countries that recently received polio funding, or to all countries with weak health systems? These two questions must be answered urgently; without clear answers, WHO might be forced to begin a program to eradicate another pathogen, not because of a well considered and evidence-based decision but to raise the funds needed to keep essential elements of weak health systems operating” (4/7).
- Venezuela Government Should Take Immediate Steps To Address Country's Health System Crisis
The Lancet: The collapse of the Venezuelan health system
“…Venezuela’s health crisis is worse than anticipated. … Venezuela’s government has allowed the country’s infrastructure to crumble, with fatal consequences for ordinary Venezuelans. …[T]he Encuesta Nacional de Hospitales 2018 survey shows a shocking decline in health care performance and a failure of the system. Aware of this humanitarian crisis, as declared by the political opposition in 2017, worldwide humanitarian aid has been offered by multiple countries and the U.N. Yet Venezuela’s government has refused this humanitarian aid, denying the existence of a crisis. It is time to end the abuse of power by the Venezuelan government, and take immediate steps to address the heavy toll on the well-being of Venezuelans” (4/7).
From the Global Health Policy Community
- Blog Post Summarizes Takeaways From MFAN, Lugar Center Event Examining U.S. Foreign Assistance Evaluation
Social Impact: Optimism from MCC, USAID, & State on Evaluation & Learning
Jennifer Anderson, Social Impact’s director of communications, summarizes the main takeaways from a recent event hosted by the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) and the Lugar Center, which highlighted a recent MFAN and Lugar Center report on foreign assistance evaluation and provided commentary from U.S. agency representatives. Anderson writes, “Three key takeaways from the discussion stood out. 1) Real learning from evaluations is taking place. 2) There is a commitment to do more in the future. 3) The agencies have valuable advice to other agencies at the early stages of developing their evaluation policies…” (4/4).
- FHI 360 Podcast Discusses Evolving U.S. Role In Humanitarian Response With Andrew Natsios
FHI 360’s “A Deeper Look Podcast”: The evolution of the U.S. role in crisis response
In this podcast episode, Patrick Fine, chief executive officer at FHI 360, speaks with Andrew Natsios, executive professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Services and director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University, about the evolving U.S. role in the global humanitarian response. Fine writes, “Professor Natsios shares some of the concerning trends he sees in the United States today and outlines how these trends impact the U.S. role abroad. We also discuss U.S. leadership in crisis response, the connection between humanitarian response and U.S. foreign policy, and the ways that the United States has evolved in its approach to crisis response” (4/4).
- CGD To Highlight 3 Areas To Improve Financial Efficiencies In Efforts To Reach UHC
Center for Global Development’s “Global Health Policy Blog”: More Health for The Money: How to Make UHC a Reality for Everyone, Everywhere
Amanda Glassman, chief operating officer, senior fellow, and Board secretary at CGD, discusses the importance of reaching universal health coverage (UHC) goals and notes, “Over the coming months, we at CGD will be highlighting three areas in particular that will impact efficiency and achieve more health for the same amount of money, particularly in low- and middle-income countries: 1. Adoption of an explicit, evidence-based Health Benefits Package … 2. Better data and performance verification … 3. More systematic use of health technology assessment…” (4/5).
- Blog Post Highlights How Investments In Product Development Partnerships Can Boost Progress To End Malaria
Friends of the Global Fight: Defeating Malaria: Innovative Partnerships, Innovative Treatment
True Claycombe, senior policy manager at Friends of the Global Fight, and Silvia Ferazzi, advocacy director at Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), discuss the role of product development partnerships (PDPs) in efforts to address malaria. The authors conclude, “Continued investment in partnerships like the Global Fund and PDPs like MMV will help ensure the world makes the largest impact possible in the fight against malaria” (4/5).
- World Health Day 2018 Marks WHO's 70th Anniversary
World Health Organization: WHO at 70 — working for better health for everyone, everywhere
“On 7 April, World Health Day, the World Health Organization marks its 70th anniversary. Over the past seven decades, WHO has spearheaded efforts to rid the world of killer diseases like smallpox and to fight against deadly habits like tobacco use. This year, World Health Day is dedicated to one of WHO’s founding principles: ‘The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic, or social condition’…” (4/5).
- FHWC, IntraHealth Blogs Highlight Efforts Of Health Care Workers During World Health Worker Week
Frontline Health Workers Coalition: Meeting the women who are changing their world (Barwise, 4/4).
Frontline Health Workers Coalition: Health Workers: Living at the Intersection of Health, Climate, and Global Security (Langway, 4/4).
Frontline Health Workers Coalition: The Health Heroes of Uganda (Li, 4/4).
IntraHealth International’s “Vital”: Community Liaisons are Resourceful and Persistent (Bishopp, 4/6).
IntraHealth International’s “Vital”: One Health Worker’s Journey from the Poverty Line to the Front Lines of Care in Rural India (Jakhmola/Kumar, 4/4)
IntraHealth International’s “Vital”: A Registered Nurse’s Dispatch from Uganda (4/3).
IntraHealth International’s “Vital”: A Physician’s Dispatch from KwaZulu-Natal (4/2).

domain: news


The South African Rally Raid Championship is starting this month. And with that, Ford Performance has entered a special Ranger into the mix. No it’s not the Ford Ranger Raptor, but something much more extreme. Simply called the Rally Ranger, this race truck will take on other global manufacturers in its first race at the end of this month under the direction of Neil Woolridge Motorsports.
The Rally Ranger was created for the Ford Castrol team to run in the SARRC this season which starts March 26th and runs until November. This isn’t the first time the Ranger has been used in this championship run, last year was its debut and it was solid enough to pull off a second-place overall finish and comes into this year with numerous improvements. Some of the modifications to the Ranger include high-tech carbon-fiber and an aramid weave for the body work all the way around. The Ranger also sports unique butterfly doors, a signature design cue from the guys a NWM.
Technically speaking, the truck is almost a foot (11.8 inches) wider than before and sports massive 37-inch tires to get it through every type of terrain expected in its racing trials. Those tires are the same size found on the Bronco Raptor which made its debut earlier this year and can currently be configured online. The larger tires make it easier to accommodate upgraded suspension and braking components. The NWM Ranger features 1-inch bigger disc brakes all the way around that are air cooled as well as water cooled, but only in the rear. Wheel travel increases tremendously with the help of new upper and lower control arms and a longer drive shaft. Total travel improves from 11-inches to 13.7-inches.
The Rally Ranger also features a race-proven 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine producing 402 horsepower which is quite similar to the Ford Bronco Raptor and the recently revealed Ranger Raptor. By comparison the Ranger Raptor pushes out 392 horsepower via the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 while the Bronco Raptor can produce an estimated 400 horsepower with the same engine.


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The raspberry ketone supplement became popular a few years back, especially when a “famous” Dr. Oz became very excited about it on television. But do they really work for fat loss? In this article, I”m going to discuss what raspberry ketones are, where the research on the effectiveness of the compound is located and why raspberry ketones tend to be found in fat burners specifically “for women.”
What is raspberry ketone?
Raspberry Ketone is a compound that is extracted from red raspberries, and has historically been used in cosmetics and processed foods to flavor and smell raspberry.
That seems to be completely unrelated to why I would be consuming it, but the purported fat-burning effects come from the appearance of the composite structure itself. Structurally at the compound level, raspberry ketones closely resemble synephrine and ephedrine.
The synephrine and ephedrine are widely known for their properties to burn fat. From that point of view, one would think that if raspberry ketones resemble other fat-burning compounds, then they probably have fat-burning qualities as well. So they tested it in trials.
What does the research say about raspberry ketones?
Raspberry ketones have been tested from a test tube perspective, in rats and in a human trial. Yes, a human test. Just one. To give you a little context, supplements like creatine and whey protein have hundreds of registered human trials.
Anyway, let”s dig into the data on the research that was done and the results of those studies. Most of the research conducted and data collected on raspberry ketones was observed in vitro or in a test tube.
Within those test tube studies, they found fat-burning qualities in raspberry ketones. Some studies have also been done in rats, and those studies also looked at fat-burning qualities in raspberry ketones. However, there is a catch.
First, just because an effect is observed in a test tube or even in rats does not mean that the effects are always 100% correlated to humans. Second, the dose of raspberry ketones in both the test tube and rats was astronomically high.
Raspberry ketones just don”t concentrate in the human body like in a test tube or even in a rat. Someone would have to consume thousands upon thousands of milligrams to achieve the results the research shows.
So, let”s look at the only human test that was done. The human trial showed positive effects on fat loss when supplemented with raspberry ketones.
However, subjects in that particular study were given a multi- ingredient blend to facilitate fat loss, not just raspberry ketones.
Some of the ingredients used in that blend have already been shown to facilitate fat loss in multiple human trials. Therefore, the study results, as they pertain specifically to raspberry ketones, are inconclusive. Therefore, from current research, we can confidently say that there is no evidence to suggest that raspberry ketones produce a fat-burning effect in humans.
Okay, so why are raspberry ketones found in fat loss supplements, particularly “women”s” supplements?
Scammers and deceived
It is very easy for the general public not only to misinterpret, but also to exaggerate the research results. The results are easily taken out of context and then taken as the truth for each case and point.
That does not mean that the general public is incompetent; it is simply a reality that research data can be confusing and written in a way that can be difficult to interpret for most people. Combine that with the power of social media and celebrity platforms, and suddenly an ingredient with zero human efficacy is now overkill and total fat loss.
That said, even though the research public may easily misinterpret the research data, it”s completely irresponsible for supplement companies to follow suit. This is a clear representation of companies that take advantage of their consumers, particularly their consumers, as raspberry ketones are widely found in “women”s” fat burners.
To be honest, when companies put raspberry ketones in their “women”s” fat burners and not their “men”s” fat burners, that”s basically the company that says, “Girls, we know you have no idea, and we are going to put it folded”. That alone should bother you already!
What I would suggest is that if you pick up a product from the grocery store shelf and see raspberry ketones anywhere on the label, just put it back on. Or even better, throw it away.
In general, raspberry ketones have no effect on a fat burner or fat loss regimen of any kind until research to the contrary.
Don”t let sophisticated marketing and social media drive your purchases and complement your options.
As you will see below in the references, if you are not sure of any ingredient or just want to learn more about supplementation, Examine.com is a fantastic resource with high quality information.
You can search for a ton of different ingredients and view information on what the ingredient is, its effectiveness, dosage, and all the research that was used to develop the information provided.
Unfortunately, we don”t live in a world where companies have to be honest and sincere with their products (although there are some who are honest and of high quality), so as consumers, education should be a priority.
About The Author
VirallyMedia Editorial Staff
Our team of expert writers and researchers are dedicated to bringing you the latest trends, news, and best practices in various fields, including but not limited to business, technology, health, lifestyle, entertainment, and more. We strive to create informative and engaging content that is easy to understand and relevant to your needs.

domain: chemistry


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Types Of Child Abuse
Updated: Apr 29, 2022
Here at The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center, our goal is to help prevent child abuse and to help victims of abuse and their families heal from their trauma. One of the things we do to further the goal of child abuse prevention is educate people on the different types of abuse and how to recognize them. In this article, we will cover the main forms that child abuse takes so that you will be better able to recognize when a child in your life may need help.
• Physical Abuse. The type of child abuse that most people think of first when they hear that term is physical abuse. This form of abuse involves deliberately causing physical harm or inflicting physical pain, such as by beating the child or using corporal punishment. Children who are physically abused may show bruises, burns, welts, or even fractures. Untreated medical needs are also a flag for this type of abuse.
• Mental or Emotional Abuse. Another type of child abuse is known as emotional or mental abuse. While some abusers hit their victims, those who inflict mental abuse use things like harsh words, put-downs, name-calling, and humiliation to control and intimidate their targets. Other forms of mental abuse include the silent treatment, shouting, and withholding affection.
• Sexual Abuse. A third type of child abuse is sexual in nature. Sexual abuse is characterized by fondling, forced sexual acts, indecent physical exposure, or any other method of using a child for the abuser’s sexual satisfaction. Signs that a child has been sexually abused include sudden difficulty with toilet habits (for young children); pain, itching, or bruising in the genital area; knowledge of sex or sexual behavior that is premature for the child’s age; and trouble sitting or walking.
• Neglect. The fourth type of child abuse, neglect, is often the hardest to spot, as it doesn’t involve active harm but instead a failure to meet the child’s basic needs. For example, neglectful caretakers may leave children alone for extended periods of time, fail to provide adequate food, or force a child to assume responsibilities that should be fulfilled by an adult, such as caring for a younger sibling.

domain: psychology


text:
Perdue's Blog The Table
5 Ways to Start Eating Fresher Foods
Check it out:
- Start by planting some herbs in tiny pots on a sunny windowsill. Before you know it, you'll have more fresh herbs than you know what to do with. Keep recipes like Lemon Chicken Pasta with Green Beans and Quick and Simple Chicken Piccata on hand for later.
- You can grow vegetables inside, too. Dwarf varieties (how cute) are readily available for growing in pots on porches. Try 10-Minute Taco Salad and Dutch Over Chicken and Herbed Dumplings recipes after you harvest your mini crops.
- Rent space in a community garden nearby. Remember, some might have waiting lists for plots, so check it out ASAP.
- Hatch some eggs. Many communities now have clubs or backyard chicken raisers. You may be able to tour other families' coops before getting your own flock.
- Sharing is caring. Talk to friends and neighbors about sharing resources. Your over-abundance of one plant may be the beautiful beginning of a garden for someone new to growing food.

domain: agronomy


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LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar issued on Thursday a strict warning to milk producing companies to stop misleading the innocent people and clearly mention on their products what they actually are.
Heading a two-judge bench at the Lahore registry, the chief justice said that he himself was unaware of the difference between “tea-whitener” and milk. He said the court did not want to damage business of any company but would not let them deceive the nation anymore.
“I’ve stopped using powder-milk on the advice of a Hakeem (herbalist),” the chief justice shared his experience with Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, Director General of Punjab Food Authority Noorul Amin Mengal and a number of lawyers present in his court.
The bench is hearing an appeal by Barrister Zafarullah Khan of the Watan Party against the sale of substandard milk.
Mr Mengal told the bench that milk-safety teams had been formed to check samples of raw and packaged milk on a regular basis. He said the government had banned steroid injections used on cattle to to boost milk production and also cancelled licenses of the manufacturers of injections. He said the companies had obtained stay orders from the courts.
CJP Nisar said it was very alarming situation that use of steroid in milk and chicken production was impacting the human health. Complaints of hormone imbalance were now common among young girls in particular, he added.
The chief justice directed lawyers of the power and pasteurized milk manufacturing companies to make their clients write on the products in bold-text that it was not milk. He also directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to strictly monitor advertisement of these companies.
Mr Mengal added that provision of pure milk was not possible unless sale of raw milk was stopped. He said legislation had been made for pasteurization of milk and banning the sale of raw milk.
The chief justice also expressed concern over the sale of substandard and used cooking oil in the market and its consumption at famous food chains. Reiterating his determination to protect the rights of the citizens, Justice Nisar observed, “We would not let our children consume this poison.”
The bench issued notices to seven tea-whitener and milk manufacturing companies, including Shakarganj Foods, Haleeb and Dalda Foods. It also issued notices to two steroid manufacturing companies - ICI Pharmaceutical and Ghazi Brothers - for next hearing.
POTABLE WATER CASE: Hearing suo motu case against contaminated water and substandard bottled water, Justice Nisar observed that the government should have reduced one coach of the Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore to save money for the establishment of an incineration plant to destroy hospitals’ wastes.
He observed, “The state is not fulfilling its responsibility as both water and air are polluted.” He said the Punjab government would have to change its priorities.
Water and Sanitation Agency Managing Director Dr Javed Iqbal told the court that there were 575 tube wells in Lahore city for the supply of water. The chief justice ordered him to present an analysis report after taking water samples from all the tube wells in city.
A report submitted by PFA director general Mengal stated that sample analysis had been conducted of 412 bottled water companies so far out of a total of 1,148 registered companies in the province. It said 145 companies had been sealed for selling substandard bottled water.
Justice Nisar said people had been falling prey to hepatitis after consuming contaminated water and costly treatment of this disease was another woe for the poor.
The chief justice directed the PFA to take samples of the water being supplied to his chamber and the Lahore High Court Bar Association as well in addition to 100 samples from different points of the city.
Earlier, the chief secretary told the bench that water filtration plants had been installed in Lahore and other cities to provide clean drinking water to the citizens.
He said after the launch of development programmes citizens had stopped consuming canal water in ruler areas of the province.
The chief justice directed the chief secretary to furnish a detailed report about budget of Punjab Saaf Pani Company. He observed that the court would not hold political leadership wholly responsible for the wrongs but the bureaucracy. The bench would resume hearing on Dec 30.
Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2017


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We’re pleased to add another event to our menu of summer 2017 professional development opportunities!
Teaching the Vietnam War through Documents, Photography, and Poetry
July 12-14, 2017
National Archives, Washington, DC
The National Archives and the Academy of American Poets have partnered to produce a dynamic summer teacher workshop on the subject of the Vietnam War. The workshop will explore our past and present relationship with this conflict and the struggle for peace.
During this workshop, historians, poets, and art educators will guide participants through techniques for teaching about the Vietnam War.
These methodologies will employ three types of source material: 1) primary source documents from the holdings of the National Archives; 2) historical photographs, and 3) poetry. Each provides a different means of getting closer to the truth(s) of the conflict.
- Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inauguration poet, Education Ambassador, Academy of American Poets
- Michael Hussey, Ph.D., Museum Program Manager of the National Archives
All workshop events will take place at the National Archives building in Washington, DC. Attendance is limited to 15 teachers and educators. The workshop fee is $100. Register now.
- Speaker introduction and discussion of workshop objectives
- The Vietnam War: Teaching techniques using primary source documents
- The Vietnam War: Teaching techniques using historical photographs
- The Vietnam War: Teaching through Poetry, based on a teaching plan authored by Mady Holzer, Educator in Residence, Academy of American Poets
- Synthesizing the source material: How to use archival documents, photographs, and poetry together.

domain: history


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Reliance Jio Chairman Mukesh Ambani has confirmed that Google will invest $4.5 billion into the company’s digital business. In today’s annual general meeting, Ambani said that the search giant would acquire a 7.7% stake in the company, following a similar $5.7 billion investment by Facebook.
The investment would be Google’s largest investment in a company outside the United States. News of the investment come only a day after the Search Giant pledged to invest $10 billion in India’s Digitization, with focus on enabling more high-quality, low-cost smartphones to give internet access to more Indian users.
An earlier report by Bloomberg says that the investment will boost Reliance Jio’s push for content streaming, online retail, and digital payments.
Speaking to Bloomberg, tech-consultant Chetan Sharma said the investment is geared at taking advantage of cloud computing. Further, the move would put Google at par with other silicon valley investors who continue to show interest in India’s market.
Is Reliance Jio the Gateway to India’s Tech Market?
In the past three months, Jio Platforms Limited has received $15.58 billion in investment for 25% of its stake. Some of the high-profile investors include Facebook, KKR and Vista. So far, Facebook has made the most significant investment with the recent $5.7 billion, with plans to digitise 60 million of the country’s small businesses.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio has received a lot of attention from big technology companies globally, who see it as the perfect entry point to tap into India’s internet market. The country’s leading telco boasts over 400 million users, which would offer google a platform to boost its mobile payment services Google Pay.


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They say in death all things become clear. I’m sprawled on the ground like a roadkill, the faint rumbling of the earth under my back is the only sensation I can feel now. There is no pain and no will. I silently gaze the starlit night and take in the cool air of the countryside, waiting.
11:32 p.m.: The adrenaline kicks in as ‘Extreme Ways’ starts on my ipod, and I rev up my bike. The thrust and the speed and power I feel fuel a second rush of adrenaline, and I’m high. The needle on the speedo is now dancing to my beat, and it’s itching to touch the 110 kmph mark, like a mountaineer fighting the last crevice to reach the summit. I speed on…
11:35 p.m.: I always believed that there is a fine line between being a daredevil and being reckless, and I love flirting with it. I see a truck coming on the other side, as I plan to overtake a jeep. The window between the two is closing quickly, and the casanova in me decides to flirt again. I let the needle caress the 110 kmph mark like a lover who has met his girl after ages of being apart.
11:38 p.m.: I’ve committed myself to the overtaking maneuver, and realize too late that I’m not going to make it, so I hit full throttle to gain whatever advantage I have. As I cut the jeep in front of me, my rear wheel touches it’s front right fender, and I fishtail and crash. Apparently, the jeep driver has the reflexes of a python who has just had it’s dinner, and the last thing I know is a mountain passing over my torso. I black out…
11:39:15 p.m.: Whoever said that Life flashes before your eyes just before you die was telling just half the truth. Life doesn’t flash by itself, you revisit it. You are like a lawyer preparing for the most important case of his life, and you don’t want to miss out on any action of your’s that will lessen your sins, and also think of all the excuses for your sins, to make them look like something lesser than they truly are. Its foolish you know, as if the ‘vindictive’ God will rely on you to keep a track of all your deeds, and will accept your version. As I have done all my life, I postpone this life flashing thing till the last moment possible…
11:39:20 p.m.: I saw in some movie that there is a belief that when you die, you turn into a star in the sky. I gaze intently at the sky and try to find a place for myself in the crowd. I think my brightness will depend on what I did IN my life and WITH my life. If this is the case, then maybe the Hubble will be the only way of noticing me…
11:39:21 p.m.: I thank God for the life He has given me, and confess all my sins, not to gain a favour, but to die without guilt.
11:39:22 p.m.: I thank my parents and my family for all their sacrifices, and ask for forgiveness for doing injustice to their expectations and not measuring up to the height they imagined I would reach.
11:39:23 p.m.: I shed a tear for the girl I love the most, and pray that she knows how much I loved her. My heart breaks for the first and last time, realizing I could never understand or even know, how much she loves me.
11:39:24 p.m.: I count the number of friends I was blessed with, and wish everyone has them in their life. I feel content knowing that I didn’t fare too badly as a friend.
11:39:25 p.m.: I think of all my mentors and gurus, who really succeeded in teaching me something. I hope I was able to meet their expectations and do justice to their lessons.
11:39:26 p.m.: I revisit all the happy moments in my life, all my successes and accomplishments. Moments that gave hope to those around me that I, after all, was worth something.
11:39:27 p.m.: I count all my sins and moments that made me someone I was not. I ask God to give me the courage to own up for those moments when I’m finally held accountable.
11:39:28 p.m.: I pray to God to forgive my enemies, even if the bastards don’t deserve it.
11:39:29 p.m.: I wish I could see her one last time. I smile for the last time knowing she wouldn’t have to see me die this way, alone in an unknown place. Solitude was always a painful bliss…
11:39:30 p.m.: Between the last gasp of hope and the last sigh of knowing that Hope never escaped Pandora’s box, I die. As I spiral freely into the deepest abyss, the final truth strikes me with full force. Death is the only reality, and clarity, like everything else, was just an illusion.

domain: artistic


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savannah studs that make exotic cats for sale
Savannah Cat Breeders - Savannah Cats, Bengal Cats For Sale
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domain: pet


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Embroidered Crepe Mini Dress - Black
Free 3-day Shipping + FR
EXCLUSIVE AT NET-A-PORTER.COM. Alexa Chung told us that if she had to pick, this crepe mini dress would be her favorite piece from our capsule and she's planning on styling it with sheer tights and heavy boots. Embroidered with strawberries inspired by a photograph of Patti Smith, it has a pretty sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves.

domain: design


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Oil futures moved sharply higher on Tuesday on hopes OPEC’s deal to cut production that set in on Sunday will help to stabilize the market in 2017.
February West Texas Intermediate crude CLG7, -1.14% jumped $1.11, or 2.1%, to $54.82, setting it on track for its highest settlement since July 2015.
March Brent LCOH7, -1.14% on the ICE Futures exchange in London climbed $1.17, or 2.1%, to $57.99 a barrel.
The sharp gains come after a solid 2016, when the U.S. benchmark futures contract saw a nearly 45% calendar-year rise, its biggest annual rise since 2009. The advance was fueled in part by expectations members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers will abide by an agreement to curb output. The output quotas kicked in on Jan. 1 and market observers are now waiting to see if both OPEC and non-OPEC producers will stick to their part of the deal.
Prices have been “supported by early indications of countries following through on OPEC cut commitments, as Oman and Kuwait announced reduction plans,” said Robbie Frasier, commodity analyst at Schneider Electric, in a Tuesday note.
“Indications of cheating—a major issue in past deals—would prove to be a significantly bearish factor,” he said. “While every country will be under the market’s microscope, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Russia remain the key countries to watch.”
But analysts Commerzbank said that “firm indications of whether OPEC is really serious about cutting production won’t be apparent until the end of the month when the production surveys for January are released. Until then, prices could remain at their exaggerated level.”
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

domain: finance


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$4.89 – $51.89
Wild boar & organic juiced veggies – a fiber packed meal option for your dog!
Red Dog Deli Wild Boar & Organic Juiced Veggies is an alternative protein option if your dog suffers from allergies and you are looking for something new to try! This balanced meal is recommended as part of a rotational diet including white/red proteins and fish along with raw meaty bones. Don’t let your dog get “Boared” with their diet – throw RDBK’s Wild Boar in the mix!
Ingredients: Non-medicated wild boar meat, wild boar tongue, wild boar spleen, wild boar liver, chard, red leaf lettuce, sweet potato, zucchini, beets
*please note that Red Dog Blue Kat’s red protein varieties do not include bone. Simply add RDBK’s buffalo bone powder or rotate with a protein that includes bone to get a balanced ratio of meat, bone, and organ in the diet.

domain: food


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After testing positive for coronavirus this past week, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, member of the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel urged community members to exercise caution and follow guidelines set by the Health Ministry.
By Anash.org reporter
After testing positive for coronavirus this past week, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, Rov of the Chabad community in Rechovot and member of the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, urged community members to exercise caution and follow guidelines set by the Health Ministry. “I am a little weak,” he said in a video message to members of his community in Rechovot, “but Baruch Hashem I am feeling fine.”
For the past year and a half, since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Rabbi Gluckowsky has been a leading voice in Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, issuing calls to follow health regulations and guidance from doctors and the Israeli Health Ministry. He also called for Lubavitchers to take the covid-19 vaccine as soon as it became available.
In a video taken a few hours after he tested positive for coronavirus, Rabbi Gluckowsky said that the message he is taking is that one must continue to be careful even after receiving the vaccine.
“I received the vaccinations half a year ago and despite that I was infected now,” he said in a video message. “It shows how careful one must continue to be, and those who need to get tested or enter quarantine must certainly do so.”
“Those who still need to get vaccinated – should go get vaccinated as the doctors advised. But, it still depends on us to take all the guidelines seriously. I am appealing to everyone – do not belittle the instructions of the Health Ministry, and please continue taking all precautions.”
Israel was one of the first countries in the world to vaccinate their citizens, and half a year later, the country is offering booster shots to any citizen over 50 years old. The shots are being offered in response to a growing number of daily covid cases, mainly due to the Delta variant.
Rabbi Gluckowsky also urged community members to take spiritual precautions as well, including checking tefillin and mezuzos, and increasing in tzedaka.
“We are now in the month of Elul, a time when ‘the King is in the field.’ It is the time that Hashem listens to the tefillos of Yidden, and provides healing to anyone who needs it, all those infected with corona and all others in need of a refuah shleima,” he said.
VIDEO: Rabbi Gluckowsky’s message.


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|The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling:
live to run with the Pack and to hunt with the Pack; and in the
end, look you, hunter of little naked cubs--frog-eater--
fish-killer--he shall hunt thee! Now get hence, or by the
Sambhur that I killed (I eat no starved cattle), back thou goest
to thy mother, burned beast of the jungle, lamer than ever thou
camest into the world! Go!"
Father Wolf looked on amazed. He had almost forgotten the
days when he won Mother Wolf in fair fight from five other wolves,
when she ran in the Pack and was not called The Demon for
compliment's sake. Shere Khan might have faced Father Wolf, but
he could not stand up against Mother Wolf, for he knew that where
The Jungle Book
|The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll:
few flowers among them. `I'm glad they've come without waiting
to be asked,' she thought: `I should never have known who were
the right people to invite!'
There were three chairs at the head of the table; the Red and
White Queens had already taken two of them, but the middle one
was empty. Alice sat down in it, rather uncomfortable in the
silence, and longing for some one to speak.
At last the Red Queen began. `You've missed the soup and
fish,' she said. `Put on the joint!' And the waiters set a leg
of mutton before Alice, who looked at it rather anxiously, as she
had never had to carve a joint before.
Through the Looking-Glass
|The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac:
capital of an income on which this son of the Memmi could live--this
descendant of Roman senators as venerable as Caesar and Sylla.
Genovese may smoke an Eastern hookah, and the Prince of Varese cannot
even have enough cigars!"
He tossed the end he was smoking into the sea. The Prince of Varese
found cigars at the Duchess Cataneo's; how gladly would he have laid
the treasures of the world at her feet! She studied all his caprices,
and was happy to gratify them. He made his only meal at her house--his
supper; for all his money was spent in clothes and his place in the
/Fenice/. He had also to pay a hundred francs a year as wages to his
father's old gondolier; and he, to serve him for that sum, had to live

domain: literature


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Hey fellow kinksters, we got a beginner pup here with us today. Ayden, you just recently joined the pup community. How did you discover it? And what made you wanna try it out?
Pup Ayden: Wruff! Well, I got my first taste of puppy play about 4 years ago as I was looking through different type of BDSM videos online. I’ve always been into the domination/submission aspect of the kink world, so as I learned about puppy play over time, I quickly grew interested in it. However, it wasn’t until last month that I decided I no longer wanted to just view puppy play videos, I wanted to be a part of it and try it myself.
The first time I put on my puppy mask, I was actually a bit apprehensive.
Something just clicked for me, and after getting over some initial shyness, I decided that I would never know if I truly liked puppy play until I actually put on the mask and got on all fours. So I did and here I am ?
Hehe yes indeed. What was it like when you actually put on the mask for the first time? And what does it do for you?
How did the community treat you when you first joined? And where did you try to join in initially?
I have always gotten such positive messages and comments from other pups
I was very surprised in that the community treated me very well and has always been so accepting, right from the start. I initially created an account on a Twitter. I was hesitant to use something along the lines of Facebook for my pup account, since I had a real-life account and there were no pup/kink meet-ups that I count find near me. I heard people on Tumblr complaining about flagged pup play accounts, so Twitter seemed like a pretty good choice at the time.
Since then, I have always gotten such positive messages and comments from other pups, handlers, and alike. Surprisingly, most have not even been sexual in nature, just wanting to woof and say hi. Some have even offered helpful links to pup play informational websites or meet-ups since I’m a pretty new to the scene. It’s been a good experience for me.
What are some things that you haven’t been able to try out yet but love to?
There are tons of simple things that I’d like to try, such as being walked by someone on leash. Or play with some fellow pups and few dog toys. The training aspect has always piqued my curiosity, too, and I think it would be fun to be ‘trained’ as a pup.
As far as other things, I’d love to try going to a meet-up or a big convention and pup put in public with some people. I suppose there’s a lot that I haven’t tried yet!
Well that means you got a lot to look forward to then 😉 And do you have also other interests besides pup play you would like to play out?
There’s a lot in the fetish world that I would like to try, but just haven’t gotten the opportunity yet. Rubber/latex is something that I’m curious to try on, as well as being restrained completely in bondage or I think it’s called mummification? I’d love to try a good flogging session or try out electrostimulation…within reason! But those are just some of the things I can think off the top of my head. I’m sure there’s more I just haven’t encountered yet, haha.
That’s the exciting part 😉 The not knowing what could come. Ok last question: What would you say if you could talk to some fellow pups and handlers in your area right now?
come say hi! Or wuff!
I would tell them…come say hi! Or wuff! I’m interesting in going to pup meet-ups, making some new friends, and trying some new things!
I hope you heard that pups around Indiana. Go sniff him out 😉 Alright, we’re at the end now. Thank you for talking to us Ayden, I wish you a lot of fun exploring and may you have many fun adventures.


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Here's Why Rose Was Barely In 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker screenwriter Chris Terrio is aware that fans are upset about Kelly Marie Tran’s reduced role as Rose Tico after her debut in The Last Jedi. Now, on the heels of the controversy, Terrio, who collaborated with J.J. Abrams on the final installment of the franchise, said that Rose’s Star Wars sidelining wasn’t intentional. In an interview with Awards Daily before the holidays, Terrio explained how the decision to “anchor” Rose to the late Carrie Fisher’s iconic character, General Leia, resulted in minimal screen time for the maintenance tech.
Fisher died in 2016 at the age of 60 after she suffered cardiac arrest. Since her death came prior to the production of the Rise of Skywalker, Abrams and co. decided to salvage unused, archived footage of Fisher for the final installment. According to Terrio, the difficulties of using Fisher’s footage culminated in the final version of the film. “We wanted Rose to be the anchor at the rebel base who was with Leia,” he told Awards Daily. “We thought we couldn’t leave Leia at the base without any of the principals who we love, so Leia and Rose were working together.”
Terrio continued, “As the process evolved, a few scenes we’d written with Rose and Leia turned out to not meet the standard of photorealism that we’d hoped for. Those scenes unfortunately fell out of the film. The last thing we were doing was deliberately trying to sideline Rose.” He concluded, “We adore the character [and] Kelly — so much so that we anchored her with our favorite person in this galaxy.”
Moviegoers, however, did not exactly interpret Rose’s role in the same way. A few days after the film’s Dec. 20 theatrical debut, #RoseTicoDeservedBetter became a top trending topic on Twitter. For many, the slight felt all the more offensive since Tran became the subject of online harassment from Star Wars fans last year that prompted her to leave social media. One Twitter user wrote, “kelly marie tran appreciation tweet. despite everything, she was so graceful and kept her head held high during promo, despite only having 1 minute of screen-time in the movie. I will always respect and admire her for her strength.”
Tran’s minimal screen time (clocked at one minute and 16 seconds by Slate) even prompted Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu to pitch a Disney+ series with Rose Tico at the forefront. He tweeted on Dec. 26, “Ok @disneyplus. Put me in coach. Let’s make this series happen.”
Watch one minute and 16 seconds of Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, available in theaters now.


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Lohbrunner Woods is a second-growth maturing forest located on southeastern Vancouver Island, approximately northeast of Victoria in Langford’s Happy Valley. The 25-acre (10-hectare) property encompasses coastal Douglas-fir habitat, rocky bluffs and open meadows that feature arbutus, camas and other native wildflowers. The property is frequented by a variety of birds, including bald eagles and woodpeckers, and it remains a key conservation area in a region largely converted for agriculture. NCC acquired the Lohbrunner Woods with the assistance of the Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program (NACP), a unique public-private partnership to accelerate the pace of land conservation across southern Canada.
Decodon, pontederia and buttonbush (Photo by Caroline Tanguay/NCC)

domain: geography


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The country’s public health workforce is short some 80,000 people, new estimates show, after being decimated in recent years. The consequences have been severe: Advocates say chronic underfunding of the system undermined the U.S. pandemic response from day one.
Now, lawmakers are looking to rebuild. In May, the Biden administration announced $400 million for a new partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recruit and train up to 5,000 people, who will work mostly in state and local public health departments and help the country recover from COVID-19.
They’re moving quickly: The first crop of 1,000 new public health leaders could be working in communities as soon as May 2022, according to Karen Dahl, AmeriCorps’ COVID-19 adviser. Morning Consult spoke with Dahl about the agency’s efforts to fill gaps in hard-hit communities and help shape the next generation of the public health workforce. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let's start with the 30,000-foot view. Why do we need to invest in building up the public health workforce in this way in the United States?
There are a couple of reasons: the shortages, the need for high-quality jobs and the importance of preparing people for those jobs. The need is greater and more urgent than ever.
We're still at the beginning of this, but it seems to be a perfect fit in taking CDC’s expertise in public health and what is needed at state and local public health departments, and our experience, which is often the early-to-work generation of folks who can learn on the job and learn skills that provide them those pathways into those high-quality jobs.
These local health departments are so cash-strapped, and they've seen their funding slashed in the past 10-15 years. Do those high-quality jobs exist for people coming out of this program?
I absolutely believe so. CDC believes that.
We have a handful of public health programs around the country that have AmeriCorps members. One that came to life during COVID is in Colorado, where we had members across our programs do contact tracing investigations for the Department of Public Health. Many of those folks were hired into permanent positions afterwards. That's just one example of the handful we have, where folks learned on the job and then were able to enter into positions and have stayed in public health, but we don't have longitudinal studies at our fingertips quite yet.
How will you decide where to send folks? Are you looking at particular communities based on need?
Based on the priorities of our agency and this administration, we are very much focused on getting into the communities that need the services the most, where there has been underrepresentation previously -- both of AmeriCorps members and where communities are suffering the most. That is still in the process of being fully defined, because it is year one of a very large program.
Who are the ideal candidates to be serving in these roles?
For a lot of our members and volunteers, this is their first professional experience, or they are earlier in their career. These are not medical professionals, these are not, in most cases, people with MPHs (Master of Public Health).
We're looking at everything from, “I just graduated high school, I've been hearing the term ‘public health’ all year, I want to learn more, what's the way for me to do that?” on one end of the spectrum. And there are a lot of folks who stepped up during the pandemic to help in public health roles that sparked interest for them, but there isn't a clear path forward, necessarily.
And then the third is there are folks across the country who have studied public health to some degree that don't necessarily have a direct path forward to a career in government public health, and this could also be a stepping stone.
How does this fit in with the broader pipeline into the health workforce?
I think this is really a complement to other professions and pipelines. There's so many partnerships that have formed through the course of the pandemic between public health agencies and some of those medical professions -- and obviously, some of those are also very long-standing.
The entire funding for the program is five years. Is there any concern about sustainability?
We hope this is just the beginning of a much longer partnership with CDC. A lot of what AmeriCorps has done in the past with programs is build that sustainability into the program. It often is an early proof point for different service sites, to see what is needed to create additional pathways for funding and employment, etc. We also certainly hope to be able to help agencies build that sustainability at the local level.
What else is important to keep in mind?
This partnership between CDC and AmeriCorps is really the first step in what the possibility is for the future of public health. And while there are certainly challenges to come and problems to figure out, I'm really hopeful about the potential for this over the next five years and beyond.

domain: sociology


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Red Emma Speaks: An Emma Goldman Reader
© 1973, 1996 ed. Alix Kates Shulman
Emma Goldman was an incorrigible political activist and social critic during the Gilded Age, speaking out against nearly everything society held dear – the government, capitalism, organized religion, and marriage. She was clearly a woman of passion, and I bought this book intrigued by what she might have to say about a period that I am a student of.
Red Emma Speaks consists of articles and essays opining on the organization of society, social institutions, violence, and revolution. Compiler Alix Kates Shulman introduces each section of the book, giving the reader context, and Emma introduces the book proper herself with an extended essay titled “What I Believe”. The themes there are repeated and expanded throughout the book. All of Emma Goldman’s beliefs originated from a fervent belief in humanity’s potential – the belief that people can and should take command of themselves, living purposely. She did not, however, value states and nations: her belief in the human spirit is ardently individualistic. She takes arms against any institution that would in any way limit the individual from living freely – thus her passion for anarchism. Anarchism as understood and practiced by anarchists is not the absence of order, but the absence of outside, inflicted order. She, like Emile Carles, sees people as being able control and governs themselves as individuals. She sees the society’s progress as not resulting from the will of the majority, but caused by the provocations of individuals. The “majority”, the masses, are an inert thing that conform to outside pressures and accomplish nothing on their own.
Her worldview and passion are certainly interesting and well-expressed here. I enjoyed engaging with her, reading and reflecting. Her relationship with socialism was particularly fascinating: like Carles, her ideal is of anarchic socialism. Reading Carles made me realize that socialism and communism were not ideals necessarily connected with a strong state, and Goldman is a reminder of this. Socialism connects to Goldman in that it supports the equality of humanity. Of particular interest to those interested in the history of socialism and communism is her analysis of the Russian state, which she claims is not communistic at all. To her, Russia is nothing more than another class-bound state: its economy is not socialized, but nationalized. She draws a sharp distinction between any government and the society it purports to serve. Her relationship to violence is equally interesting: she seems to wrestle with it, regarding political violence as a necessary evil but then retreating given that it creates more problems than it solves. A perfect example of this is the planned assassination of Henry Clay Frick: not only did the attack on the robber-baron’s life fail to draw positive recognition to their cause, but it undermined their moral high ground.
This is a strong book, well worthy of a recommendation to students of the period and of related thought. Goldman’s is a passionate, articulate voice that provokes the reader into revaluating convention and old perceptions.


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Reports claim rugby league tragic Russell Crowe will sell out of South Sydney at the end of 2013
- News Limited Network
- November 18, 2012
Academy Award winner and rugby league tragic Russell Crowe will sell out of South Sydney at the end of 2013, according to reports.
Crowe has been involved with the Rabbitohs since the 1990s and has poured millions of dollars into the club since he and businessman Peter Holmes a Court bought it in 2006.
Fairfax media and Channel Nine reported on Sunday morning that Crowe would sell his interest in the club at the end of next NRL season.
In 2005, Crowe made the Rabbitohs the first club team in Australia to be sponsored by a film, when he negotiated a deal to advertise his movie Cinderella Man on their jerseys.
Crowe is friends with many current and former players of the club, and employed former South Sydney forward Mark Carroll as a bodyguard and personal trainer.
In March, 2006, the voting members of the South Sydney club voted in a three-quarter to allow Crowe and Holmes a Court to purchase 75 per cent of the organisation.
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domain: sports


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Desa Potato Head is a inventive village by the ocean the place music, artwork, design, meals and wellness play collectively. The property, set on the sand and surf of Petitenget Seashore, Seminyak, Bali, is made-up of Potato Head Seashore Membership and Potato Head Studios – a 168-room resort designed by David Gianotten and the OMA workforce. Greater than a spot to go to or keep, the Desa is meant to encourage creativity, steadiness and progress for the longer term. So, sustainability, wellness and neighborhood connection are amongst their key pillars.
Potato Head runs instructional workshops and assist give new life to waste in our Sustainism Lab, elevate the Indonesian inventive scene via our music, artwork and cultural packages and assist our neighborhood entry nourishing, naturally produced meals via our lately based farming initiative, Candy Potato Venture. We consider each considered one of our steps ought to result in one thing optimistic, so our ethos is straightforward: good instances, do good.
After two years minimize off from the world, Bali is opening its arms to world vacationers as soon as once more since March of 2022, and Desa Potato Head is providing the warmest welcome of all.
Desa Potato Head’s inventive village celebrating music, artwork and design, sustainable meals and structure with a “good instances, do good” angle is buzzing with life and regenerative hospitality, able to encourage and excite the dynamic neighborhood close to and much. Over the approaching months Desa Potato head will see a steady program of modern engagements alongside refocused consideration on choices launched final 12 months, detailed under.
In November Desa Potato Head launched Sundown Park, a rooftop bar providing a Balinese rarity of oceanic views, open each Saturday for sundown magic hour with tropical takes on the traditional Aperol Spritz complemented by a dynamic barbecue menu that modifications weekly.
pictures by Paulius Staniunas @allisamazing


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Start Your house Improvement within the Kitchen
You are able to cook up an excellent return in your home enhancement funds within the kitchen. There are specific renovations that boost the value of your house for a person and for audience. The kitchen may be the life blood of numerous homes.
For those who have a substantial budget, then this is actually the perfect room to purchase now. You may refinish your own kitchen cupboards, replace a bit of equipment, remodel the lighting, swap kitchen sink fixtures as well as paint.
Small touches such as the cabinet doorway and cabinet handles tend to be noticed. The dangling hardware could be removed as well as replaced on nearly every home enhancement budget.
Stainless kitchen home appliances are well-liked investments which add unique value. They avoid moisture harm and corrosion having a life expectations measured within decades. Adding little countertop home appliances of stainless like toasters as well as coffee makers could be fun as well as practical.
Suggestion Top Counter tops
Check away the variety of benchtops or even countertops obtainable. A small homework will make you the types that match your perform and character. They are a stylish improvement that takes care of today as well as tomorrow. Granite is number 1 but remember to explore wooden, laminate, and toppers produced from recycled supplies that depart no co2 footprint.
To The Long term
The back again splash is definitely an area that enables you to be creative together with your cash. You are able to let color be your own guide or opt for an creative statement. A few multitude associated with creative tile choices that may spice upward your kitchen area. This could be the perfect spot to hold pans and pots as nicely.
Cabinets Include Character
Cabinets vary from stock in order to custom having a price range to fit your alternatives. Inexpensive laminate, doors covered in vinyl fabric and organic wood each include pros and cons. Natural wooden also enables you to choose fresh paint or spot finishes.
Lengthen Your Compartments
Drawers really are a great place to deal with small however important functions. A cabinet that extends completely out is superior to a drawer that may only end up being drawn seventy five percent from the way away. Replace the actual drawer glides when they are constructed with a artificial material. Metal slides last an eternity.
Definitely think about an planet friendly dishwasher as well as install kitchen area taps which have a drinking water conservation function. You is capable of a substantial water savings even though the pressure of the water continues to be unchanged.
Limelight Your Updates
Lighting enhancements can usually be accomplished with a homeowner without any electric abilities. Take benefit of low volt halogen or even other power conserving products. Lights shouldn’t require elaborate or continuous cleaning. Simple as well as attractive may be the key.


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Modi arrives in Mozambiquetext_fields
Maputo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mozambique on Thursday morning, the first leg of his four-nation tour to Africa.
Â“An early morning arrival in Mozambique. Important talks await the PM in this brief but important visit,Â” the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.
Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.
He will also meet with Veronica Macomo, President of Mozambique's National Assembly.
His other programmes in the day include an interaction with students at the Science and Technology Park, Maluana, and an Indian community reception.
He will leave for South Africa, on Thursday evening.
This is the Prime Minister's first official visit to mainland Africa. He is also scheduled to visit Tanzania and Kenya.


These Country Artists Became Grand Ole Opry Members in 2021
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This rare film shows a series of missile launches and failures at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Among the ICBMs featured are the Atlas, Titan and Minuteman. Vandenberg is a Department of Defense space and missile testing base, with a mission of placing satellites into polar orbit from the West Coast, using expendable boosters. ICBM testing at Vandenberg commenced in 1958 with the IRBM Thor, and rapidly progressed. During the period 1958 to 1963, Thor, Atlas, Titan I, Titan II and Minuteman ballistic missiles were launched from Vandenberg. ICBM testing at the site effectively ended with the LGM-118 Peacekeeper, which last flew out of Vandy in July of 2004.
** NOTE: The quality of the downloaded H264 file will be of higher than what you are seeing on YouTube. Simply download the file and edit into your project. Later when ordering, simply use the Film ID and TimeCode info to accurately order clean shots.Pricing


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Medical staff votes 25 to 1 to oppose Nuvance plan
SHARON — Members of the Sharon Hospital medical community were told on Wednesday morning, Sept. 29, about Nuvance’s plans for the hospital’s future — including the closing of the labor and delivery unit, and reductions in surgical services and critical care. The medical community first heard the plan only hours before the general public.
After Nuvance administrators left the meeting on Wednesday morning, held on Zoom, the medical staff voted 25 to 1 to oppose the plan.
The doctors can’t control what Nuvance will do, according to Dr. Michael Parker, an independent doctor specializing in internal and pulmonary medicine.
“I feel it’s really important for people to get another view of how this all happened and for the community to know that their physicians don’t agree with the process.”
Parker, who has had a practice in Sharon for 33 years, was part of the medical staff Zoom meeting on Sept. 29. He said that the doctors who voted to oppose the Nuvance plan included many longtime local physicians as well as newer doctors who are part of the Nuvance medical practice.
The vote was taken by secret ballot, Parker said, so that all the doctors could “vote their conscience.”
Parker said that he can’t speak for all the doctors but he was personally disturbed by the lack of community and physician involvement in the decision. Most of the doctors, he said, were not told of the plan until the day the announcement was made.
The presentation by Nuvance to the public can be seen online at www.nuvancehealth.org/locations/sharon-hospital/sharon-hospital-transfor....
Financials versus medical care
The administrators largely presented the financial concerns of the not-for-profit medical group, which includes several hospitals in western Connecticut and Dutchess County, N.Y.
However, there was no mention of the other hospitals in the new strategic plan put forth on Sept. 29, which was entirely focused on Sharon Hospital. Sharon is a 78-bed acute care hospital.
Parker conceded that this is a very difficult time in health care from a financial point of view. But he challenged Nuvance’s assertions that by closing obstetrics and other key departments they will help the hospital to stabilize and grow.
Included in the Nuvance proposal is a reduction in surgical services and critical care.
The new plan was devised without input from the community at large or the medical community, Parker said. The hospital does get input from a community board, and from the Foundation for Community Health in Sharon.
It was the Foundation that had requested that an independent consultant look at Sharon Hospital, Parker said.
Stroudwater Associates was hired — and supported Nuvance’s plan to cut back services.
No community input
Parker said he feels Stroudwater’s conversations with doctors (based on his own interview) were brief and insufficient.
Those interviews, he said, “should not be construed as part of the planning. We, the doctors, were not involved.”
After hearing rumors of impending cuts, a small group of doctors formed the Physican Leadership Council and asked to meet with Nuvance President and CEO John Murphy in mid June.
Murphy agreed to the meeting and gave them a preview of what Nuvance had in mind, and invited the physicians to try and come up with a better plan.
Before sharing any information with the physicians, Murphy pledged them to secrecy.
“We were asked not to share the information with anybody, including our colleagues,” Parker said. “Which effectively hamstrung us and prevented us from brainstorming any solutions.”
The physicians asked for full financial information on the hospital at that time, but their request was denied.
Parker believes that there might have been a different outcome if the medical staff had been given all the facts right away.
“I believe that if the process was open and fluid, the conclusions might be different about how to save our community hospital.”
The Physican Leadership Council was later given a PowerPoint presentation by the Stroudwater group summarizing their findings.
The end of obstetrics
Parker criticized several specific elements of the Nuvance proposal, including the proposed shuttering of obstetrics. It makes no sense, he said, that Nuvance said in their announcement that they plan to close obstetrics but expand women’s services.
While closing labor and delivery, will save costs, it will also reduce several sources of revenue, Parker believes, such as elective gynecologic surgery and C-sections and imaging.
Even worse, it will eliminate the ob-gyn doctors who, he said, “provide primary care for many of the women in this region. So, you’re cutting women’s services at the same time you say that you’re going to grow them.”
Primary care, Parker said, is the key to the future of the hospital. Without primary care physicians to see patients here, he said, there are no referrals to medical specialists at Sharon Hospital, from surgeons to radiologists.
Need for more primary care docs
There is a critical shortage of primary care physicians in the region now, Parker said — and most of the doctors who do have practices here are approaching (or have already reached) their mid 60s and are beginning to think about retirement.
Nuvance’s efforts to grow primary care and ob-gyn care, Parker said, have been insufficient.
“They’ve shown that they can neither recruit nor retain doctors successfully.”
Nuvance can not proceed with many of its plans until it gets approval from the state.
Parker said he has been in contact with state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64).
“My hope would be that we can put the brakes on this, collect ourselves and see if we can save this hospital without curtailing essential services.”
The Lakeville Journal requested interviews with representatives from the Foundation for Community Health in Sharon and from the Sharon Hospital community board. Those requests had not been responded to by press time.
We hope to interview doctors in the obstetrics and gynecology community for upcoming issues.