RasGas Company Limited is applying GE’s dry low NOx (DLN) combustion technology to reduce gas turbine emissions at its LNG complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.
“The technology retrofits for our first six GE gas turbines reduced NOx emission levels by more than half, which goes beyond the country’s current regulatory requirements,” said Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas managing director. “Working with GE, a global technology leader, enables us to further our commitment toward achieving cleaner air for the country. We will be moving forward with the retrofitting of the rest of our fleet of gas turbines to ensure that the entire complex fulfills its environmental responsibilities.”
The retrofitting of the GE gas turbines is being done as part of a long-term maintenance agreement between RasGas and GE. A GE team dedicated to the RasGas site is responsible for performing all maintenance of GE units with the objective of increasing availability and reliability by leveraging GE’s technology and specialized technical support.
“This project attests to the strong relationship, forged over the years, between GE and RasGas. GE’s innovative technology and advanced services are designed to help RasGas achieve production efficiency while complying with the state of Qatar’s environmental regulations,” said Joseph Anis, GE Energy’s president for the Middle East. “GE’s emission reducing technology not only supports the region’s overall efficiency drive to fuel continued growth, but also helps to preserve and promote the well-being of the environment.”


text:
Effective Oil Clean-up
SAFE for Marine Life
Eco-Safe Oil & Fuel Clean-up is an effective, non-toxic liquid treatment to clean up oil and fuel spills in water and soil.
The Eco-Safe Oil & Fuel Clean-up solution acts as an environmental catalyst – facilitating a complete and natural remediation of oil and fuel spills in fresh or salt water and soil – doing in hours / days what takes nature years / decades to do on it’s own.
EcoSafe Oil & Fuel Clean-Up is a proprietary formulation of all natural, non-toxic ingredients that are 100% biodegradable, environmentally safe and non-toxic for people, wildlife and marine life.
The Eco-Safe Oil & Fuel Clean-up is a safe alternative to using petrochemical dispersants – and their undesirable residual effects on marine life and the environment.
- Breaks down hydrocarbon chemical bonds
- Not a soap or detergent (chemical)
- Concentrated formula – diluted with water •
- Emulsifies oil products ( raw or refined )
- Formulated with all natural ingredients
- Non-toxic to people, pets or marine life
- 100% Biodegradable
- Requires no special handing / storage
- Certified as environmentally safe
Details on Eco-Safe
Oil & Fuel Clean Up
( Click on Button(s) below to download documents )
Further details on product applications, environmental approvals and history is available upon request

domain: chemistry


The letter addresses each aspect of Mueller’s findings, highlighting the focal points of the investigation: Russian interference in the 2016 election, whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia and whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice.
On collusion with Russian, Barr quoted Mueller’s report as concluding, “[T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
On possible obstruction of justice, Mueller wrote, “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Barr said that he is still reviewing the full report, including sections that he could release publicly.
Read the full text of the letter below:


Sony announced a while back that they would be bringing a Sony Reader app to both Google’s Android platform and Apple’s iOS platform, which would let users purchase books from the Sony Reader Store.
Last week the Android version of Sony Reader App went live, and we were expecting the iOS version to follow shortly after, but it looks like Apple has rejected it from the App Store.
It seems the reason the Sony Reader App was rejected from the App Store is because it used its own ‘in app’ purchasing system to let users purchase books directly from the Sony Reader Store.
Apple has decided that any applications which use ‘in app’ purchases must use Apple’s own in app purchase system, which is a bit of a surprise considering that Apple had previously loosened up the rules on the app store after it came under criticism.
It isn’t clear as yet how this decision will effect other companies like Amazon who also offer free applications that have access to their online book stores.
via New York Times
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.


US 4085324 A
Radiation is partially blocked by a pointlike absorber to establish a patterned flux whose intensity distribution is a function of source geometry. The flux strikes a receptor having a proper contrast to spatial frequency characteristic to map an image that is topologically equivalent to the source at an acceptable level of contrast and acuity.
Apparatus is disclosed that is capable of practicing the invention in the X-ray and light regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
1. Apparatus for producing an image comprising:
a source of radiation,
a receptor responsive to the radiation,
at least one point absorber located between said source and said receptor not attached thereto, said absorber being opaque to said radiation and small enough to provide a focal ratio of at least 100 to 1.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receptor has a high modulation transfer function at high spatial frequency.
3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said receptor is a Xeroradiographic plate.
4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said receptor is an ionization counter.
5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said radiation is electromagnetic.
6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said radiation is particle radiation.
7. A method of forming a homeomorphic image comprising:
providing radiation flux from a source having at least one point;
absorbing a portion of said radiation by at least one point absorber to produce a modulated pattern in said flux that is a function of the geometry of said source;
sensing the relative minima of the modulated pattern of said flux to produce an image topologically equivalent to said source on a radiation receptor not attached to said absorber.
8. In an apparatus for producing an image containing a source of radiation having a geometry and a receptor responsive to said radiation, the improvement comprising:
at least one point absorber located between said source and said receptor not attached thereto, said absorber having a mean diameter that is less than 2 percent of the distance from the absorber to the receptor.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's prior application Ser. No. 601,233, filed Aug. 1, 1975, which has been abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to methods and apparatus for producing an image and more especially related to methods and apparatus for producing images of X-ray focal spots by point absorption of radiation.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Aristotle discovered the "pinhole" camera when he noted that the sun's image remains round when it enters a darkened room through a rectangular hole. He was unable to account for this phenomenon, but later researches learned that radiation propagates in straight lines thus allowing a small opening to pass radiation selectively and reproduce an image. The image reproduced by a conventional pinhole camera is topologically similar to (i.e. has the same shape) as the object it represents. The image of a conventional pinhole camera also reproduces the color hue and intensity of the original object.
The topological similarity of the image and object is a result of the size and placement of the pinhole. As the pinhole is made smaller, the image gains detail because smaller portions of the object are discretely mapped onto the image. The size of the image is determined by the pinhole's location between the object and image. If the pinhole is located halfway between the image and the object, then the image will be the same size as the object. If the pinhole is placed otherwise, then the relationship between the object size and the size of the image will vary accordingly to well known laws of geometrical optics. The image will be distorted if the pinhole is not located on the axis normal to the image plane running directly between the object and the image. This distortion is well understood by those skilled in the art of geometrical optics. However distorted, large or small the image may become, it remains topologically equivalent to the object. The particular homeomorphic transformation worked on the image is a function of pinhole placement between the object and image while the resolution of the image is a function of pinhole size.
In contrast to the topological information about the object determined by pinhole location and size, the color hue and intensity of the image formed by a pinhole camera are a function of frequency and power density, respectively, of the radiation passing through the pinhole.
The major drawback to the pinhole camera is the fact that a very small hole must be used to obtain a useable image. This in turn limits the amount of radiation that can be passed to the image in a given time. Pinhole cameras, thus, are very slow and possess very high focal ratios. The focal ratio is the ratio of the diameter of the pinhole to the distance between the back of the pinhole and the front of the image plane. In a typical pinhole camera this ratio will be at least 1 to 100.
This high focal ratio also gives the pinhole camera its major advantage. The higher the focal ratio, the greater the depth of the field of the camera. Thus pinhole cameras have very great depths of field and will reproduce a sharp image of an object over a wide range of distances. This property was used to advantage during the recent skylab space project when a television equipped pinhole camera was used to guide the astronauts in docking their spacecraft.
Another advantage of the pinhole camera is that it can produce an image using a wide range of different types of radiation. A conventional lens system depends on the refraction of radiation to form an image. This works fine for light and frequencies in the infrared and ultra violet that are near light in the electromagnetic spectrum. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to refract higher energy radiation such as X-rays, gamma rays, or particulate radiation such as electrons, protons and neutrons. A pinhole camera, however, produces an image by selective transmission of radiation and thus operates just as well with X-rays or particulate radiation as with light. Because of this quality the pinhole camera principal has found great utility in work with X-rays and neutron radiography.
X-rays are generally produced by impinging high energy electrons on a metal target. The quantum properties of the target's metal atoms determine the frequency of the resulting X-rays. It is normal practice to focus the electron beam onto a small spot on the target tube to give the X-rays a pointlike source. This spot is called the "focal spot" of the X-ray tube and its geometry is of interest to persons skilled in the art of radiology.
Pinhole cameras have long been used to examine the size and shape of X-ray tube focal spots. Unfortunately, this technique has a serious drawback. The intense beam of electrons striking the focal spot produces heat that can damage the X-ray tube. The pinhole camera, as discussed above, requires a long or powerful exposure. The tube must thus be operated at high power levels or for a long period of time, or both, to obtain an adequate image. This method of operation limits the life of the X-ray tube and increases the probability of causing an "observer effect," i.e. of so changing the focal spot during the pinhole camera exposure that the data obtained from the image is not accurate after the picture has been taken.
A more detailed understanding of the role of these minute focal spots and their imaging by pinhole cameras may be had by reading Eric Milne's article The Role of Minute Focal Spots in Roentgenology with Special Reference to Magnification, in the May 1971 issue of CRC CRITICAL REVIEWS IN RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, which is herewith incorporated by reference.
The present invention is a point absorber camera that produces a negative image by replacing the pinhole in a pinhole camera with a point absorber.
As a pinhole camera operates by selectively passing the light from an object to form an image, so the present invention operated by selectively absorbing radiation to form a negative image while passing all other radiation. As the image in the present invention is produced by removing a small patterned quantity of radiation from the image plane, the present invention yields a camera that has all the advantages of a pinhole camera, i.e. depth of field and useability with both electromagnetic and particulate radiation, without requiring a long or powerful exposure.
The present invention can work with radiation of any de Brogile wavelength and is subject to the same laws of geometrical optics that were mentioned above with respect to the pinhole camera.
An exhaustive study of the geometrical optics of the present invention has been made by Ronald W. Cowart in his thesis entitled "An Investigation of the Inverse Pinhole Camera " (published June 1976) (hereinafter "Thesis") available from the Department of Experimental Radiology, M. D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, Tex. Mr. Cowart's Thesis is incorporated by reference into this application. It is pertinent to the present invention because it exhaustively treats specific examples in a variety of experimental settings giving details of materials used, optical geometry and image results. This Thesis also works out the theoretical mathematical formulas setting forth the relationships between image structure produced by the present invention and absorber geometry and placement.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pinhole camera as taught by the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a point absorber camera as taught by the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic represenation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention operating in the X-ray region of the spectrum;
FIG. 3A is a group of point absorbers arranged according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a graphic representation of the modulation transfer function of several recording media used with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of radiation density plotted against locus on the image plane of a pinhole camera;
FIG. 6 is a graphic like FIG. 5, but on the image plane of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a graphic like FIG. 6 only indicating an overexposure according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus capable of practicing the present invention using an extended object in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Referring to FIG. 1, which represents schematically a pinhole camera constructed according to the prior art, camera 10 has a darkened enclosure 12 and an image plane 14. At one end of enclosure 12 a pinhole 16 is provided facing an object 18.
Functionally, light 20 from any convenient source, not shown, reflects off object 18, which is an arrow. Light rays 22 and 24 travel in straight lines through pinhole 16 to map an image 26, which is an inverted arrow, onto image plane 14. Each point on the object produces a beam of light that is mapped through the pinhole to produce a portion of the image. As was discussed above, the size and distortion of the image is determined by the location of the pinhole with respect to the image plane, the resolution of the image is determined by pinhole size, and the color and intensity of the image depend on the frequency and flux of the radiation passing through the pinhole.
For more details on the geometrical optics of pinhole cameras, see Otto Bluh, Principles and Applications of Physics, Oliver Boyd, 1955, page 152 et seq.
FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the present invention in terms similar to those used in FIG. 1.
Camera 100 comprises image plane 102 and point absorber 104. Object 106, which is an arrow, is on the opposite side of the point absorber from the image plane. Incident light 108 is produced by any convenient source, not shown. Light, or any other radiation 108 is reflected by object 106 and rays 110 and 112 are selectively absorbed by point absorber to produce image 114, which is a negative image of an inverted arrow. The image is negative because it is formed by an absence of the radiation that was absorbed by the point absorber. As in a pinhole camera, the distortion and size of the image in the present application is a function of the placement of the absorber relative to the image plane. As in the pinhole camera, the inverse pinhole requires a focal ratio, i.e. a ratio of absorber size to absorber image plane distance, of at least 1 to 100.
Functionally, and more abstractly, the incident light reflected from the object (or the light from the subject if it is self luminous) establishes a flux of radiation. This flux is modulated by the point absorber to produce a patterned flux between the absorber and the image plane that contains information related to the geometry of the object. Specifically, the relative minima in the flux carry this information.
Because all points on the object emit radiation in all directions toward the image plane and the point absorber intercepts only a few specific rays, the minimums in the flux will only be minimums relative to the average flux. Thus the image plane must be provided with some means of detecting and recording these relative minimums before they are swamped by other radiation at the image plane.
FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically an apparatus capable of practicing the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In FIG. 3 point absorber camera 200 broadly comprises X-ray beam source 202, point absorber matrix 203 and recording system 204.
The X-ray beam source is an X-ray tube having a gastight envelope 206, a cathode 208, and anode 210 attached to shaft 212 which operably engages motor 214. Anode 210 has an annular face 216. X-ray beam 218 passes through collimator 220 and window 222 before striking absorber matrix 203 and recording system 204. The tube 202 is preferably a Siemens "MAMMOMAT" X-ray tube such as is found in the Siemens Mammomat unit model No. 720-01 at the M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Tex.
The advantages of using a Xeroradiography system, including edge enhancement of X-ray images, are well known to those skilled in the art of radiography. For a readable and detailed background of the art in this area see J. W. Boag's article "Xeroradiography", Phys. Med. Biol., 1973, Vol. 18, No. 2, pages 3-37, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
Basically the Xerox process is very good at recording edges because of the change in the electric field of the selenium recording plate at these points, but it loses detail within an equal density mass within the X-ray image. The effect is known as edge enhancement and will be further described below.
Referring again to FIG. 3, cathode 208 produces a beam of electrons that impinge as a line focus on step 216 of anode 210. This line focus, when viewed from image plane 204 appears to be a focal spot approximately 6 × 6 mm square.
Matrix 205 is approximately 12 inches from the focal spot and recorder 204 is approximately 40 inches from the matrix. Recorder 204 comprises a standard Xeroradiographic plate 402 in a light-tight cassette 404.
Under the above conditions, when a 90 kilovolt electron beam stikes the anode for 5 milliamp seconds, the Xeroradiographic plate will reproduce an image of the focal spot for each point absorber in the matrix.
Functionally the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3 operates as follows
X-ray from the focal spot strike a point absorber and create a patterned flux in the field under the absorber. This patterned field carries information about the geometry of the focal spot, as was described above, in its relative minima. When this flux of X-rays interacts with the charged selenium Xeroradiography plate in the recording system, it discharges the selenium surface everywhere except at the relative minimum loci, which retain their charge. These loci, representing a focal spot geometry, are developed by the Xerox processor as a positive image of the focal spot.
FIG. 3A shows a top view of absorber matrix 402 comprising an aluminum square 302 that is relatively transparent to X-rays and a plurality of regularly distributed point absorbers 304 mounted on square 302, said absorbers being made of tungsten or other material relatively opaque to X-rays.
The point absorbers used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention must be made of a material that is opaque to the radiation carrying the imaging information. Thus an X-ray pinhole camera might have point absorbers made of tungsten or lead while the absorber for visible light could be a spot of opaque paint. Electrons, protons, neutrons and alpha particles could be used in imaging systems employing point absorbers made of any material capable of absorbing the respective radiation. The Thesis incorporated by reference gives several experimental examples.
The diameter of the point absorber will depend on the characteristics desired in the resultant image, the nature and intensity of the imaging radiation, and the optical geometry of the imaging system. A detailed discussion of these considerations, together with several experimental values is given in the Thesis.
FIG. 4 is a graph of modulation transfer function plotted against spatial frequency for several recording systems. The modulation transfer function is just the ability of an imaging system to record information contained in the X-ray flux. As spatial frequency increases, most recording systems, such as photographic emulsions, are less able to accurately record the flux and have lower modulation transfer functions. Conversely, Xeroradiographic plates record detail better and thus have a higher modulation transfer function as spatial frequency increases to one line per millimeter. This is caused by the electrostatic nature of the system. Electric fields concentrate at edges, giving rise to "edge effects." These edge effects cause the Xerox plate to have a very sharp edge gradient and thus the selenium plate is much better able than film to record the relative minimums in X-ray flux taught by the present invention. Although the Xerox system is preferred in the present embodiment, any recording system that has a high modulation transfer function at high spatial frequency is capable of practicing the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic cross-section through the radiation flux at the image plane for a pinhole camera as taught by the prior art. Physical locus is on the X axis and power level of the radiation on the y axis. Line 500 is the zero energy line. Line 502 represents the energy threshold required to produce an image on the recording medium beyond which further addition of quanta causes no change in the image.
A pinhole camera selectively admits radiation, thus at the focus 506, where the radiation is admitted there is relative maximum in energy density. At an optimum exposure, the maximum energy density at the image plane is equal to the saturation value of the medium as represented here by line 504. This arrangement results in maximum shadow detail in the recorded image.
The transition between maximum energy of the image and minimum energy occurs between locus 508 and locus 510 at edge 512 of the image. The power density function of this edge always has some slope due to scattering and other sources of radiation incident on the image plane.
In a normal pinhole camera, underexposure results in the loss of information because some of the image remains below threshold 502. Overexposure results in loss of detail because of plurality of points in the image pass the saturation point of the recording medium 504.
FIG. 6 illustrates the same type of energy per locus diagram as FIG. 5, but for the present invention, a point absorber camera.
As is there shown, the point absorber admits light everywhere except where some rays are absorbed by the point absorber creating a relative minimum at locus 602. In the present invention, a proper exposure results in the lowest point of the minimum lying just below threshold 502 while the average flux is at the saturation level of the recording medium 504. Like a pinhole camera, the present invention's energy flux function has a slope at the edge of the image. But since the present invention results in many more sources of incident light being present at the image plane than the prior art, the energy function edge slope for the present invention will be very much shallower than that of a conventional pinhole camera. When using conventional film, the present invention's shallow edge slope presents a broad edge gradiation to the emulsion's grey scale and this makes the image look blurred. The edge enhancement of a xeroradiographic recording system acts in a fashion similar to the action of a Schmitt trigger in a digital electronic circuit to image everything above a certain power density level at the edge as black while leaving the rest white.
As is shown by FIG. 7, if overexposure occurs in the present invention, minimum 702 will become greater than the saturation value of the medium 504 and the image will disappear.
FIG. 8 schematically shows an apparatus capable of practicing the present invention in the visible light region of the electromagnetic spectrum and of imaging an extended object.
Container 800 contains light source 802 having a luminous filament 804. A piece of glass 806 has a point absorber 808 medially attached between filament 804 and image plane 810.
Functionally, light from the filament is selectively absorbed by the absorber to produce a negative image of the filament on the image plane, which may be a piece of ground glass.
While the above is a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to be limiting. The point absorber concept as outlined by the following claims and their equivalents may practice the invention in any frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum or for any radiation, i.e. alpha particles, or other particulate radiation, that propagate in straight lines.


text:
Add your Scent of the Day here
"Perfume Secrets revealed!"
vintage perfume Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy, with data analysis and
Ahhh...the smell of fresh rose....which one do you prefer?
Le Labo Rose 31
Giorgio Armani Acquai di Gio Essenza
I'm very sorry to announce this has been reformulated and/or diluted.
I've bought a bottle at the Annick Goutal shop in Brussels.
I went to the supermarket yesterday, and wandered across to the pharmacy across the passageway that is still selling Tom Ford Noir 50ml bottles for A$140
Recently got a bottle of this online but the fragrance smells like it may have lost some of it's potency. How strong is it for everyone else?
Rickbr, the answer to your question is that I prioritize and compartmentalize. I work exclusively...
Sounds pretty! I'll need to test this sometime.
Le Parfum is one of the first full 100 mls bottles I've bought I ages. It's been a long time...
Great interview!! I bought the the Masculine Side Discovery Set and have tested all....
I have some samples of this on order. Can't pass up "The sexiest scent on the planet"!
Go to Fragrance Directory


text:
Teasing, Bullying and Cyber-bullying is a free webinar that is presented by the UCLA PEERS program that stands for – Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, an internationally renowned program. The webinar is presented by Aarti Nair Ph.D.
Topics covered in this webinar are :
- Identifying peer rejection
- Consequences of peer rejection
- Bullying and adolescents with Autism
- Defining bullying and how to handle it
- Physical bullying
- Cyber bullying
- Handling rumors and gossip
Unfortunately, bullying, teasing and cyber bullying are the most common problems faced by children and adolescents on the Autism spectrum and I hope this free webinar will be helpful in finding ways to handle it. You can watch it HERE.
A huge thank you for this free webinar!
Visit Our Shop Featuring Hand-Picked Products
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

domain: psychology


text:
PITT ARTIST PEN - Ink pencil
Ink drawings have a very long artistic tradition. The expressiveness and resistance to aging, as well as the possibilities of combination with many other painting techniques, have always made this medium interesting for artists and graphic designers. Faber-Castell has combined all the benefits of artist ink into a modern and simple disposable pencil, the PITT Artist Pen. The highly lightfast, pigmented drawing ink is ideal for sketching, drawing, layout, fashion drawing and illustration.
- Pigmented drawing ink
- Highly lightfast
- Odorless, acid-free, pH neutral
- No pumping or shaking required
- High opacity even on dark papers

domain: artistic


text:
By David Batty
November 20, 2006
Doctors in the UK are to be warned that the bird flu drug Tamiflu could be linked to psychiatric problems including suicidal behaviour, it emerged today.
In the next two to three months, Roche Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the drug, will issue new information to doctors about more than 100 worldwide cases in which patients suffered mental health problems while taking it, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) said.
The move comes after the pharmaceutical company wrote to US doctors last week, warning that "people with the flu, particularly children, may be at an increased risk of self-injury and confusion shortly after taking Tamiflu and should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behaviour".
The move followed a 10-month review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which found 103 cases of "neuropsychiatric adverse events", including the deaths of a 17-year-old boy who was killed after jumping in front of a truck and a 14-year-old boy who fell after climbing on a balcony railing.
More than two-thirds (67%) of these cases occurred in children, and most were in Japan, the biggest consumer of Tamiflu.
The letter from Roche, issued at the behest of the FDA, says that "the relative contribution of the drug" to these cases "is not known", but advises doctors and parents to closely monitor patients for signs of unusual behaviour throughout their course of treatment.
According to Roche, reports of psychiatric problems in patients taking Tamiflu are rare. The company says more than 42 million people in over 80 countries have used the drug since 1999.
A Roche spokeswoman confirmed that the EMEA was looking at the issue of psychiatric problems among patients taking Tamiflu.
"There's been a lot of data that's come out of Japan, and there has been some concern about adolescent suicides," she said. "This led to some concerns about the alleged role of Tamiflu in their deaths."
However, the spokeswoman added that no causal link had been found between Tamiflu and these psychiatric problems. "Delirium is associated with the actual influenza itself. Sometimes it's one of the symptoms of the disease," she said.
An EMEA spokeswoman said the organisation was "aware that there is an incidence of psychiatric disorders among patients taking Tamiflu. So far, we have not established a causal relationship."
She added that there would be no changes to the guidance issued to European doctors on prescribing Tamiflu.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines work and are safe, received two reports in 2005 of Tamiflu patients in the UK suffering adverse psychological reactions.
An MHRA spokeswoman said: "We have only received two notifications in the UK of patients suffering confusion and agitation. They were both elderly patients."
Bizarre Ingredients In Tamiflu!
By Patricia Doyle
In Japan, the Tamiflu label warns that delirium, hallucination, delusion, disturbances in consciousness, abnormal behavior and convulsions may occur in children who take the drug. Dinh Nam, AFP / Getty Images
If you are allergic to anything that is listed below for your form of Tamiflu, or you have reacted badly to Tamiflu before, do not take Tamiflu. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse at once and check that they still want you to have Tamiflu.
Tamiflu 75mg Capsules
Black iron oxide (E172)
FD and C Blue 2 (indigo carmine, E132)
Pregelatinised maize starch
Red iron oxide (E172)
Sodium Stearyl Fumarate
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Yellow iron oxide (E172)
Tamiflu 12mg/ml Oral Suspension
Saccharin sodium (E954)
Sodium benzoate (E211)
Sodium dihydrogen citrate (E331 (a))
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Tutti Frutti flavour
Arabic gum (E414)
Natural identical flavouring substances(mainly consisting of banana, pineapple and peach flavour)
Xantham gum (E415)
Prescription Medicine Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Tamiflu:
Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
Univ of West Indies

domain: medical


text:
Description: Designed by The Estate of Cicely Mary Barker and licensed to Michael Miller, this cotton print is perfect for quilting, apparel and home decor accents. Colors include black, brown, cream, yellow, white, shades of green, shades of red, shades of ...
go to product
Description: Licensed by the Estate of Cicely Mary Barker to Michael Miller Fabrics, this cotton print fabric features whimsical fairies and is perfect for quilting and craft projects. Colors include lavender, yellow, purple, green and peach with silver metallic accents throughout. ...
Description: Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this fabric features adorable flower fairies hidden among flower bouquets, and is perfect for quilting and craft projects. Colors include rose, aster blue, cornflower blue, peach and soft green on a periwinkle background with silver ...
We're here to help
Give the gift of creativity.
A Fabric.com gift certificate is the perfect gift! Gifts from $10 and up.

domain: hobby


text: On the dark side of dance music stands Mr. Skeleton – a producer and DJ forced to call the sunshine state of California home. A lifelong music lover with almost 10 years of production experience, his talents have been used among some of the biggest names in the industry. His unique blend of synths and sounds add an air of mystery to his sets – keeping listeners hooked on every strange beat. The creator of his own genre, ‘Dark Room’, has provided an outlet for his visionary music. His elusive character and incomparable mixing style provide a raw and energetic experience, unlike any other.

domain: entertainment


text:
PAPER MARIO ARTICLES
September 24, 2014 - To celebrate Nintendo's 125th anniversary, we've compiled a list of the company's 125 greatest and most beloved games. Let's do this.
August 26, 2014 - Paper Mario gave us a fantastic new kind of Mario RPG. Take a trip down memory lane to celebrate Nintendo's 125th anniversary.
September 13, 2010 - Super Mario Bros. turns 25 today -- a huge milestone for the game that many believe saved the videogame industry. See how the series evolved from an 8-bit smash to and cosmic adventure.

domain: game


text:
The document features satellite imagery dated Aug. 9 that shows two WZ-8 rocket-propelled reconnaissance drones at an air base in eastern China, about 350 miles inland from Shanghai. The drones are a cutting-edge surveillance system that could help China gather real-time mapping data to inform strategy or carry out missile strikes in a future conflict.
The assessment says the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had “almost certainly” established its first unmanned aerial vehicle unit at the base, which falls under the Eastern Theater Command, the branch of the Chinese military responsible for enforcing Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
The Washington Post obtained the assessment of the WZ-8 program from a trove of images of classified files posted on Discord, a group chat service popular with gamers, allegedly by a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
The Defense Department declined to comment. China’s Ministry of National Defense did not respond to a faxed request for comment.
Other documents in the trove detail a number of disclosures about Chinese spying and military modernization, including intelligence that revealed the existence of additional Chinese spy balloons and an assessment that Taiwan is ill-prepared to prevent early Chinese air superiority during an invasion.
This latest revelation about the advancement comes as intensifying military aggression around Taiwan has heightened concern about a Chinese invasion on the self-governed island democracy.
CIA Director William J. Burns has said Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants the PLA to be capable of seizing Taiwan by 2027, although he added that this does not mean Xi will order an attack at that time.
Beijing introduced the WZ-8 drones in 2019 when two of the jet-black aircraft were paraded past Tiananmen Square during celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party-run People’s Republic of China. Few analysts considered the drones fully operational at the time.
Also included in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s assessment are possible flight paths for the drone as well as for the twin-engine H6-M Badger bomber used to launch it. After taking off from its home air base, the warplane would fly to just off China’s east coast before releasing the stealthy drone, which could then enter Taiwanese or South Korean airspace at a height of 100,000 feet and fly three times the speed of sound. The document does not detail how the drone is propelled but says “engine features are primarily associated with rocket fuel.”
A map of projected routes, labeled “not necessarily authoritative,” suggests ways the drone’s “Electro-optical” cameras and sensors could gather intelligence on Taiwan’s main island and the western side of South Korea including Seoul, the capital city. The use of synthetic aperture radar would allow it to map territory at night and foggy weather.
The drone’s primary use won’t be against Taiwan but against the United States and its military bases in the Pacific, said Chi Li-pin, director of the aeronautical systems research division at the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan’s military-run weapons developer. “It’s a weapon for anti-access and area denial,” he said.
Chi added that the aircraft does not currently appear to be designed to launch attacks, but he noted modifications could allow it to conduct strikes in future. “It is difficult to detect and intercept. The existing U.S. air-to-air weapons aren’t good enough,” he said.
Dean Cheng, a nonresident senior fellow with the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, said the disclosure shows China is developing a capability to monitor the entire Indo-Pacific region. “This is not just aimed at the United States or South Korea,” said Cheng, who had not seen the documents. “Japan has to worry about it. India has to worry about it. All Southeast Asia has to worry about it.”
China, he noted, is creating a range of high-tech systems for military use — from hypersonic weapons that can use drone reconnaissance for anti-ship purposes to antisatellite weapons that they could use to try to blind the United States. “Individually, none of these things are game-changers,” he said. “Taken together, we’re looking at a PLA that is developing a reconnaissance strike complex: Find the enemy, hit the enemy, kill the enemy.”
The airfield described in the document as “Liuan” appears to be a base in Dushan County of Lu’an city, according to coordinates in the document. (The first Chinese character in Lu’an is often pronounced ‘liu’ but it is ‘lu’ in this instance.)
It was originally built in 1970, part of leader Mao Zedong’s campaign to move crucial industries and military installations into mountainous regions, prompted after relations with the Soviet Union soured and left China’s communist leadership feeling vulnerable to attack. The hangars of the original air base, known then as the 8301 airfield, were burrowed into the hillside and had steel-plated doors that were 12 inches thick, according to Chinese state media.
A review of satellite imagery publicly available on Google Earth and provided to The Post by Planet Labs shows the base has expanded multiple times in recent years, with at least 18 new structures constructed after August 2020. Beginning in late February 2022, new, significantly wider thoroughfares that lead into the hills south of the runway were constructed. In some places, the new clearing is about 130 feet wide.
Enthusiasts who use open-source material to track the Chinese air force believe the base is home to a regiment of the Eastern Theater’s 10th bomber division, the branch most likely to conduct air attacks if China launches a full-scale assault on Taiwan.
Joseph Wen, a Taipei-based independent analyst who tracks military installations in China, says that the base was abandoned for years. It was even used as a filming location for a patriotic action film about the Sino-Japanese War.
But there have been clear signs since 2019 that the base has been brought back into service. Wen has tracked a flurry of construction activity, included widening the paths that lead to the southern cavern entrance to nearly 130 feet. The wingspan of the bomber plane used to launch the drone is 108 feet.
Meg Kelly contributed to this report.

domain: geography


text:
Remember high school superlatives? Well, this couple has a new title of “Most likely to have the coolest wedding ever.”
This blissful couple was married in a church in Norfolk and had their reception in a former Modern Art Museum.
Downtown Norfolk is a kaleidoscope of colors and it’s vibrant murals made for the dreamiest backdrops.
At the reception, there was N64 for guests to play Mario Kart to their hearts content.
On the cake table sat half a dozen cakes, each one more colorful and creative than the next.
Glow stick crown kings and queens danced the night away. Family and friends waved goodbye as the
newlyweds set off into the night.
Her Look: the dress BHLDN, Blanca Veils via Etsy, and Jimmy Choos
Bridesmaids Dresses: floral inspired dress of their choice
Groom: Calvin Klein suits with floral ties
Florist: Studio Posy
Ceremony Venue: Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Work Release in Norfolk, VA
Coordinator: Crystal @ Cherry Blossom Planning Factory
DJ: Matt hired by Work Release
Invitations: Penny Black Post via Etsy
Catering: Work Release
Cake: Sugar Plum Bakery
check out their Dinosaurland engagement session


text:
Nine B1G defensive players make cut for Lott IMPACT Trophy
An early preseason watch list has been released.
This week, several college football defensive stars were included on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List for the 2020 season. The B1G was represented well, having nine players included on the list.
Sports Betting in Big Ten Country
There is big news coming to the upcoming 2022-23 Big Ten football season (and NFL season). Ohio online sports betting and Maryland sports betting are on the way.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy considers on-field performance as well as upstanding character when naming a winner. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, according to the award’s website.
Below are the nine B1G names included:
- Dicaprio Bootle, CB, Nebraska
- Paddy Fisher, LB, Northwestern
- Chauncey Golston, DL, Iowa
- George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
- Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
- Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
- Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
- Antjuan Simmons, LB, Michigan State
- Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
You can view the complete list here.
The winner of the 2019 Lott IMPACT Trophy was Auburn’s Derrick Brown. The last B1G player to win the award was Iowa’s Josey Jewell in 2o17.

domain: news


text:
Inexpensive chicken thighs are given the royal treatment in this recipe. Champagne and a ton of garlic are used to braise crispy-skinned thighs until they’re tender, juicy and fit for a king.
It’s snowing. Which is cool but I’m wondering if the forecasters called this one correctly. It was supposed to snow overnight and then start again around noon. At least that’s the last I heard and that was last night around 11:00. Now I’m watching Peter Rabbit and forced to check the updates on my phone. I know a lot of you affected by this storm decided to sleep in today. Smart people. And then the others didn’t have a choice but to go to work….possibly with the plan to leave around noon? I hope? Since it’s already snowing where I am and noon is a long, long time from now. And it’s still safe enough to drive to the store so why not go grab some chicken thighs. You’ll want them for dinner tonight. Trust me.
I love chicken thighs because they’re so flavorful. They stay tender and juicy when you accidentally decide to forget about them on the grill. They may be a little charred but you can peel that stuff off and just enjoy what’s inside. They’re the most forgiving part of the chicken in my opinion. And they’re cheap. And with grocery prices as high as they are lately…cheap, tasty food is where it’s at.
Champagne and Garlic Braised Chicken Thighs sound fancy and expensive but they’re made on a pretty frugal budget. You can get a bottle of champagne these days for under $10 and if can’t find one under $10 but still want to make this on the cheap you can use sparkling wine. Or Prosecco…and I know for a fact you can find both of them under $10. AND a bonus here, you won’t use the whole bottle so you can either A) use the remainder in another recipe like Slow Cooker Split Pea with Ham Soup of B) drink the rest. I vote for B, but that Split Pea with Ham Soup is pretty spectacular…it’s a tough call.
So you go to the grocery store and get your chicken…drive home slowly and carefully…unless you live in Florida. Floridians, I hate you right now. (Not really but….really.) And start dinner, it will be ready in about an hour. Champagne and Garlic Braised Chicken Thighs are great when served with sautéed green beans and something to soak up some of that sauce, like rice or quinoa or couscous. I like to save my sides for last and mix them up with the remainder of the juices left on the plate. It’s awesomely comforting and perfect for a cold, snowy day. Stay safe my friends.

domain: food


text:
1010data Announces Local Market Insights Dashboard
- by Radu Cotarcea
1010data has announced the availability as of September 20, 2016 of its Local Market Insights (LMI), which the company described as a "browser-based tool that enables merchants to measure business performance against competitors over time at the local metropolitan market level.”
LMI offers its users access to business KPIs such as market share, basket size, and trip-related metrics by MSA (metropolitan statistical area) for their business as well as a custom competitive set of their choosing. Integrating multiple data sets, 1010data said they are updated within days, "eliminating lag and giving decision-makers an immediate view of outcomes based on their actions.”
Natalie Seidman, Senior Vice President of Data Insights at 1010data, commented: "Now, more than ever, it is important to understand granular merchant performance by local market. LMI gives companies a tremendous advantage by allowing them to see in near real time the opportunities that are in front of them with the consideration of their direct competitors in the exact markets where they operate."


SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government will appoint over 800 doctors and 4,000 para-medics within next four months, besides setting a medical college in Kashmir Valleys Anantnag district.
As many as 845 vacancies of doctors and 4,000 vacancies of para-medics in the state will be filled up over the next four months on a fast-track basis, an official spokesman said in Srinagar.
The information was given to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed by Secretary Health Department M K Bhandari during the formers visit to Kashmir Universitys South Campus in Anantnag. Bhandari informed the Chief Minister that land has been identified for setting up of new medical college at Anantnag and the indent placed before the authorities concerned.
We will be able to source funding after the Cabinet grants approval to change in the land use, the official said.
Bhandari said the Anantnag District Hospital is fully equipped in terms of logistics and manpower and it will match the facilities extended in any district hospital in the state.
The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to complete modalities for taking over of Rehmat-e-Alam Hospital Trust at Anantnag so that it can be developed as a 50-bed hospital, which will ease pressure on the new 110-bed hospital. Sayeed also asked the Health Department to make the Trauma Hospital at Bijbehara fully operational.
The chief minister also issued directions for preparing a Concept Plan for establishing colleges of skill development, physiotherapy-cum rehabilitation, nursing training and emergency medical services at the South Campus.
The University should coordinate with Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department and prepare a Concept Plan so that new courses are started at an earliest, Sayeed said while directing Vice Chancellor Khursheed Andrabi to make South Campus an advanced centre of higher education.
The CM was briefed that around 400 students are undergoing studies in South Campus for which 24 senior faculty members have been permanently positioned.
Be Part of Quality Journalism
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast.


text:
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
BEEF Magazine is the source for beef production, management and market news.
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing Wednesday on human antibiotic resistance and the threat it could pose to public health.
May 4, 2010
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing recently on human antibiotic resistance and the threat it could pose to public health. Testifying before the committee were Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), in his opening remarks, said it is important to know the effects of using antibiotics in large numbers of animals without medical need. He went on to ask whether or not giving large numbers of animals antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes as a preventative measure ran the risk of creating antibiotic resistance. Frieden told the committee that public health experts have recommended phasing out antibiotic growth
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), defended animal agriculture, the use of antibiotics and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's antibiotic approval process. Pitts commented on the need to focus on areas where science has shown there is concern, and that it is not agriculture. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), asked the witnesses if there is a definitive study to link the use of antibiotics in animal feed to changes in resistance in humans. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) also asked about such studies.
The witnesses said there are not. Dingell stated that the nexus between antibiotic use in animals and human antibiotic-resistance is not known.
You May Also Like
The dollars and sense of sustainabilityFebruary 21, 2023
Current Conditions for
Enter a zip code to see the weather conditions for a different location.
Farm Progress America, April 16, 2024April 16, 2024
Changing demographics, aging population to impact protein sectorsApril 15, 2024
Comparison of beef calves in conventional or natural systems for backgrounding and finishingApril 15, 2024
Producers on alert for emerging cattle disease in MissouriApril 15, 2024


text:
Check your local Walmart for an awesome clearance sale on Easter items. I was shopping at Walmart this morning when I heard over the loudspeaker that all Easter items were going on sale for $0.10 each! There were boxes of Peeps, baskets, grass, egg dyeing kits, and decorations. I bought 30 items and spent a whopping $3.00!
Please leave us a comment below if you find any great deals like this at your Walmart!


text:
Customer ReviewsWrite a review
terrific towels - great designs and really practical with the sand free feature. We are giving these as Christmas gifts to family off the back of our experiences. The delivery was super quick which was very helpful
Have bought these towels for my grandsons for Christmas. Love the vibrant colours and designs. Very compact. Arrived quickly in a COVID world.

domain: design


text:
This elegant band has a center twist that adds dimension. The Mobius strip is a symbol of unending love.
Gemvara jewelry is truly personal: you design it, choosing gems and metals to celebrate your story, and we craft it just for you. We'd love to help you find your perfect piece! (more)
They are all-natural and hand selected fine quality. (more)


text:
Honeybees are not butterflies, of course. But given the lack of research about the possible effects of herbicides on bee brood, I thought this study of the effect of two herbicides on butterfly larvae might be worthy of note:
Journal of Insect Conservation
February 2010, Volume 14, Issue 1, pp 53-63
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Effects of grass-specific herbicides on butterflies: an experimental investigation to advance conservation efforts
Cheryl Russell, Cheryl B. Schultz
Encroachment by invasive plants is a leading threat to rare butterflies. Restoration plans increasingly recommend herbicides to control invasive plants within butterfly habitats. Few studies address the effects of these herbicides on at-risk butterflies. The effects of two graminicides (fluazifop-p-butyl and sethoxydim) and a surfactant (Preference®) were evaluated on Icaricia icarioides blackmorei and Pieris rapae. The effects on butterfly larvae were assessed by mimicking recommended timing and mixture rates of field applications. Differences in survival to adult eclosure, development time, biomass, sex ratio and adult morphology were assessed. Survival of P. rapae was reduced by 32% with sethoxydim and 21% with fluazifop-p-butyl. Wing size and pupal weights of P. rapae were reduced by herbicide treatments. Icaricia icarioides blackmorei experienced a 21% reduction in development time from the date of treatment to eclosure. These results highlight the importance of careful consideration in the use of herbicides in habitats harboring at-risk butterfly populations.
on crop losses in the uk for the first season under the 'precautionary principle':
Similiar losses have been reported by the lobbyists in Germany. Interesting - did they really ban neonics in the UK? I just wonder, since this is new to me.
from:Published data indicate that in most cases there is_ no_difference in soybean yield when soybean seed was_treated with neonicotinoids versus not receiving_any insect control treatment. Furthermore,_neonicotinoid seed treatments as currently applied_are only bioactive in soybean_foliage for a period_within the first 3-4_weeks of planting, which does_not overlap with typical_periods of activity for some target pests of concern.
In most cases, these alternatives are comparable in cost to one another and to neonicotinoid seed treatments. The cost of application was considered in this comparison, although because these alternatives can be tank-mixed with other chemicals that are typically applied to soybeans, additional passes over a field would not be necessary. In comparison to the next best alternative pest control measures, neonicotinoid seed treatments likely provide $0 in benefits to growers and at most $6 per acre in benefits (i.e., a 0%-1.7% difference in net operating revenue). Some neonicotinoid seed treatment usage could provide an insurance benefit against sporadic and unpredictable pests, particularly in the southern United States. However, BEAD did not find information to support the real-world significance of this benefit, and overall evidence indicates that any such potential benefit is not likely to be large orwidespread in the United States.
Benefits of Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments to Soybean Production
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Peer Review Date: October 3, 2014
looks like germany had a good year for rapeseed according to reuter's:
New post on Bee-L this morning. worth the read IMO.
Concern about the survival of the European honeybee has blossomed into a media frenzy during the past several years, with activists declaring, “Beepocalypse”! Beekeepers have seen see some of their honeybee hives disappear in recent years, and concerned observers have blamed the losses on everything from cell phones to genetically modified crops. The most frequently alleged culprit, though, is a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. But such alarmism is not supported by the facts.
Naturwissenschaften. 2012 Feb; 99(2): 153–158.
Published online 2012 Jan 13. doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0881-1
Pesticide exposure in honey bees results in increased levels of the gut pathogen Nosema
Jeffery S. Pettis,corresponding author1 Dennis vanEngelsdorp,2 Josephine Johnson,3 and Galen Dively4
On a German beekeeper and scientist convention the following has been presented. Some studies on neonics and varroa. Findings:
- Insecticides affect the population dynamics of mites!
- Insecticides cause stress!
- Significant effects in the fall if varroa + pesticides
- varroa load is higher in the A and B group (which was fed with sublethal doses of neonics)
- Feeding of neonicotinoids leads to the reduction of hemocytes.
- Neonics affect wound closure (wound may not heal well).
- For thiacloprid this effect occurs only after high doses. For Clothianidin the effects occur after low doses.
Original document (in German)
To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the chronic sublethal effects on whole honey bee colonies subjected to worse-case scenarios as well as normal dietary exposure (5μg/kg) to imidacloprid. We used spiked diet patties placed within colonies to deliver continuous direct exposure over multiple brood cycles to imidacloprid residues that were generally higher than levels found in bee-collected pollen and nectar under field conditions. Our results provide evidence that imidacloprid exposure doses up to 100 μg/kg had no significant effects on foraging activity or colony performance during and shortly after 12 weeks of exposure. However, several colony performance endpoints showed dose-response patterns, particularly higher Varroa infestations with increased dose, though not all patterns were statistically significant. The major finding was the higher rates of queen replacement and resulting broodless periods during the late summer in colonies exposed to 20 and 100 μg/kg of imidacloprid, which led to weaker colonies going into the winter. These exposure regimes sublethally affected colony health and significantly reduced overwintering success. However, the question remains as to whether doses of 100 or even 20 μg/kg exposed for 12 continuous weeks realistically represent imidacloprid residues in bee-collected food under agriculture settings. In certain field situations, residues of imidacloprid can reach or exceed 100 μg/kg in pollen of treated crops during several weeks of flowering  or in guttation droplets exuded from treated corn seedlings [45,46]. However, it is uncommon for honey bees to be exposed to these doses for extended periods. Furthermore, bees generally forage on different water and floral sources simultaneously and not all sources will contain residues; thus their foraging behavior tends to reduce the concentration of imidacloprid in food stored in the colony. The within-hive fate experiment demonstrated that imidacloprid residues of 100 μg/kg in diet patties or 20 μg/kg in sucrose syrup became diluted or non-detectable due to the processing of beebread and honey and the rapid metabolism of the chemical by bees. Given the weight of evidence presented here, we conclude that chronic exposure to imidacloprid at the higher range of field doses (20 to 100 μg/kg) in the pollen of certain treated crops could contribute to reduced overwintering success but the most likely encountered field doses of 5 μg/kg, especially relevant for seed-treated crops, have negligible effects on honey bee colony health. Currently there is wide agreement that sublethal exposure to imidacloprid can cause adverse effects on honey bees in laboratory studies  but no evidence that this widely used insecticide is the major stressor causing colony declines. Our findings agree with a causal analysis by Staveley et al.  that judged neonicotinoid pesticides to be an unlikely sole cause of colony declines. Finally, this study makes evident the importance of conducting risk assessment studies on honey bee colonies over longer periods to reveal the chronic sublethal effects on queen health and bee behaviors that can ultimately impair colony performance
I don't think I've seen this one posted here:
New study on neonics.
A well-balanced paper on neonics and honey bees.
Effects of Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid on Young Adult Honeybee Behaviour
With all due respect, this is another cage study of forced poisoning. I really don't believe it correlates to the real world IMO.
Honeybees Produce Millimolar Concentrations of Non-Neuronal Acetylcholine for Breeding: Possible Adverse Effects of Neonicotinoids
Ignaz Wessler , Hedwig-Annabel Gärtner, Rosmarie Michel-Schmidt, Christoph Brochhausen, Luise Schmitz, Laura Anspach, Bernd Grünewald, Charles James Kirkpatrick
Published: June 10, 2016
Poor study IMO. Nothing here.
Poor answer. No reasons pointed out for me to understand. Don't you want people to understand why you think, this is a poor study?
test tube study, nothing that relates to the real world. Not realistic dosages of neonics.

domain: literature


text:
It may be 2016 but racial injustice is sadly still prevalent. Especially here in the United States, but this scourge is not isolated to our borders alone. It’s a global issue that affects global citizens so for their latest Divas and Demons cut, Australian duo REMI have offered up the soulfully crafted “Lose Sleep.”
Since our last record, a lot of young mixed race Aussie kids have come to me talking about how much they can relate to the racial struggle in our music. I don’t think that’s a good thing, but I’m proud that these kids feel a little less alone, because of some songs we didn’t think anyone would hear.
That theme resonates loud and clear on the subtly slick percussive track that also features a tenderly rousing vocal effort from soloist Jordan Rakei. Music with a message will always have a home on these pages.
Stream below and be on the lookout for REMI’s album Divas and Demons out Sept. 16th via House of Beige Records:

domain: sociology


Something you did not expected from me. Yes, this is a bit more electronic than rest of my songs, but some will enjoy in this piece i made entirely in FL Studio, with no additional VST instruments, just some fancy Sytrus presets and downloaded hats and claps.
Do you like this Song ?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating / 5. Vote count:
We are sorry that you don\\\'t like this song
Let us improve this post!
Thanks for your feedback!


The relocation of a residential re-entry center for federal prison inmates has a St. Paul community worried.
Volunteers of America-Minnesota is seeking to relocate the halfway house, now in Roseville, to 1394 Jackson St. But members of the St. Paul District 6 Planning Commission and neighborhood residents say the move goes against the city’s and the district’s comprehensive plans.
“We strongly want to preserve that industrial land for industrial use, which we believe is in absolute keeping with the city’s absolute plan and small-area plan,” said Kirsten Libby, the lawyer representing District 6.
The St. Paul Planning Commission granted Volunteers of America a conditional-use permit June 1 to use the property for up to 32 residents.
The organization has operated residential facilities for those leaving federal incarceration for 40 years, said Paul Omodt, its vice president of external relations. The organization, which provides employment, chemical-dependency and other transitional services for three to six months, currently operates two facilities, in Minneapolis and Roseville.
Neighbors are worried that giving up the land would be “a drain on the tax rolls,” Libby said. And as “we lose more and more, it doesn’t allow the job base to grow.”
They also say putting a residential complex in the middle of an industrial neighborhood does no favors to those who would live there, Libby said.
According to a city report, the Jackson Street property had been used as a residential-care facility for women with mental disabilities for more than 30 years, with up to 114 residents.
Volunteers of America had request a permit for up to 72 residents, but was approved for only 32.
“We’re appealing the number they granted as arbitrary,” Omodt said. “There was no rhyme or reason to it.”
Ramsey County, which owns the property at the Roseville location, informed the group its lease would not be renewed, Omodt said. The property at Jackson Street had been on the market for more than a year.
Public comment concerning both District 6’s appeal of the facility and Volunteers of America’s appeal on the number of residents will be heard by the St. Paul City Council on Tuesday, July 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Josie Clarey can be reached at 651-228-5583. Follow her at twitter.com/ejosieclarey.


You are here: Companies & Products. Online Showrooms.
Company Profiles & Data
Welser Profile Deutschland GmbH
59199 Bönen, Germany
Phone: +49-23 83 9 14-0
Fax: +49-23 83 9 14-55 55
|Number of employees||1000-4999|
|Year of foundation||1664|
Anything is possible
Basically, Welser produces to order and to a technical standard determined by the customer. However, irrespective of whether special sections or special profile tubes are involved as system sections, or a section system, the final form is virtually free of any limitations. At present, around 18,000 different sections can be called up from the archives and manufactured. A figure that is increased every day by another five completely new profiles. This means that the entire order realisation process from the preliminary discussion, concept and tool design, right up to end production, is completed anew five times every working day. The delivery lead time required by Welser Profile is naturally dependent upon the complexity of the section solution.
Welser products can be found more or less everywhere. Among our most important customer markets are the construction industry, from the shell (ceilings, separating walls, windows, double floors) to the fittings (office furniture), the automotive industry, environmental engineering, the equipment, shelving and mechanical engineering sectors and the electrical industry.


- How do you upgrade weapons to +10?
- Which is better Greatsword of artorias or cursed?
- How heavy is a Zweihander?
- Should I give ember to Blacksmith Dark Souls?
- Are divine weapons worth it?
- How do I upgrade my Zweihander to +10?
- How do you get a weapon to plus 10 in Dark Souls?
- Where is very large ember?
- How do you get Quelaag’s Furysword?
- How do you ascend Zweihander?
- Where can I farm Titanite chunks?
- How do you upgrade weapons in ds1?
- Do boss souls carry over to NG+?
- Can you ascend Black Knight Sword?
- Is Zweihander good dark souls?
- Can you leave Anor Londo?
- Who should I give the large ember to in Dark Souls?
- Is Chaos Blade ds1 good?
- What does Divine Ember do?
- What does large ember do?
- How do I upgrade to +10 in Dark Souls?
How do you upgrade weapons to +10?
If you have found the large ember (in the depth) then bring it to the blacksmith in Undead Parish.
There you have the option to “modify weapon” to “…
After that you can upgrade it further to +10 just like before..
Which is better Greatsword of artorias or cursed?
While the Cursed variant of the Greatsword of Artorias does not scale as well or do as much damage as the uncursed version in late game, it does benefit from having lower stat requirements, as well as having the rare curse effect, which allows it to hit the Ghosts of the New Londo Ruins.
How heavy is a Zweihander?
ZweihänderSpecificationsMass2–3.2 kilograms (4.4–7.1 pounds)Lengthup to 213 centimetres (84 inches)Blade typeDouble-edged, straight bladed8 more rows
Should I give ember to Blacksmith Dark Souls?
You should give an ember to any blacksmith who asks for it. Only one blacksmith of the four can use each ember and that is the only way to allow yourself to craft all the strongest weapons.
Are divine weapons worth it?
It’s worth it to have a divine weapon just for the skeletons around Nito himself, so they don’t respawn while you’re fighting him. If you’re going to get one then, you might as well get one for the skeletons in the crypt as well.
How do I upgrade my Zweihander to +10?
AnswersIn order to go higher than +10 you need to give Andre the very large ember which you can find in the New Londo Ruins. ( … Just get the very large ember in New Londo Ruins AFTER you drained the water.
How do you get a weapon to plus 10 in Dark Souls?
Upgrade the weapon further to +10 using Large Titanite Shards. To do this you must first give the Large Ember (found in The Depths) to Andre. Ascend the weapon by using the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo, 5,000 souls and the boss soul to then create the Boss Soul Weapon.
Where is very large ember?
New Londo RuinsVery Large Ember Location New Londo Ruins. After lowering the water level, go up the staircase found in a corner of the room with all the wooden cubicles (the building was perhaps once a hospital). The ember is located in a chest on the third floor.
How do you get Quelaag’s Furysword?
Quelaag’s Furysword is created by modifying any Standard +10 curved sword or curved greatsword with the Soul of Quelaag. This can only be achieved at the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo.
How do you ascend Zweihander?
There’s no option called “Ascend.” First, you need to get the Zwei to+5 using the Reinforce Weapon option and small shards. Then you go to the Modify Weapon screen, and one of the tabs should allow you to take it to +6 using a large shard.
Where can I farm Titanite chunks?
Farming. DarkWraith Knights in New Londo Ruins have a decent droprate of Titanite Chunks, as well as a chance to drop Titanite Slabs. Example of farming path: Forest Hunter Covenant can also drop this item as a reward for defending the forest in pvp.
How do you upgrade weapons in ds1?
How do I upgrade Weapons?Weapon Smithbox: Weapon reinforcement available at bonfires (can be purchased from Blacksmith Andre).Blacksmith Andre: Ascend Normal, Raw, Divine, & Occult weapons.Blacksmith Rickert of Vinheim: Ascend Magic & Enchanted weapons.More items…•Sep 16, 2020
Do boss souls carry over to NG+?
User Info: Lives. Yeah, unused boss souls get moved to NG+. … So again, once you start NG+, you must collect all the embers again before you can reinforce your weapons into divine/enchanted/occult/magic/fire/chaos/etc.
Can you ascend Black Knight Sword?
Nope, Black Knight weapons are classified as special weapons that can only be upgraded to +5.
Is Zweihander good dark souls?
With a minimal stat requirement of 24 strength and 10 dexterity, the Zweihander is an accessible weapon. The parameter bonuses for this weapon aren’t great, but it scales well with Str, making it a worthy all-game companion. It has decent upgrade paths as well, making it good for both PvE and PvP.
Can you leave Anor Londo?
User Info: teriyaki_boi. you can go back exactly how you got there. return to where the imp dropped you. there should be an option to return to sen’s fortress.
Who should I give the large ember to in Dark Souls?
Blacksmith AndreGiven to Blacksmith Andre to allow him to modify +5 normal weapons to +10 normal, and +5 raw.
Is Chaos Blade ds1 good?
Chaos blade is pretty much the best katana in the game. Highest pure physical damage w/10 humanity besides crystal uchi (by 1 point in a 28 str 40 dex build), range second only to the washing pole, w/same attack speed as iato and uchi, and the hp loss is extremely minimal.
What does Divine Ember do?
The Divine Ember is a weapon-enhancement tool in Dark Souls. Ember required for weapon ascension. Divine embers are property of the church, and intended for divine blacksmiths. Divine weapons are for Undead hunting.
What does large ember do?
Use of the Large Ember: The Large Ember can be given to Andre the Blacksmith to allow him to modify +5 normal weapons to +10, and +5 raw. Once you have picked up the Large Ember, proceed to Andre and he will ask you if he can have the Ember, answer yes.
How do I upgrade to +10 in Dark Souls?
Regular upgrade from 0 to +5 requires 9 Titanite Shards. Regular upgrade from +5 to +6 requires a Large Ember and Large Titanite Shard to ascend. Regular upgrade from +5 to +10 requires 9 Large Titanite Shards. Regular upgrade from +10 to +11 requires a Very Large Ember and Titanite Chunk to ascend.


text:
Statistics from Altmetric.com
According to Wright et al, taken in isolation, a mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) of <25 pg is more likely to predict a significant haematological response to a trial of iron replacement therapy than a mean cell volume (MCV) of <75 fl, on its own.1 My own approach to identifying which of the two red blood cell indices, namely MCH and MCV, was the stronger predictor of iron deficiency was to evaluate the cut-off levels which yielded the optimum combination of sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for unequivocal iron deficiency, the latter being defined as a serum ferritin of <10 μg/l. In a study comprising 365 adults characterised by an MCH of <26 pg and/or an MCV <80 fl,2 145 of whom proved to be unequivocally iron deficient,3 an MCH of <24 pg was identified as being the one associated with the optimum combination of sensitivity (74%), specificity (59%), and positive predictive value (80%) for this diagnosis. Correspondingly, an MCV <76 fl was the one associated with the optimum combination of sensitivity (65%), specificity (66%), and positive predictive value (55%).3 Fortuitously, in the ABC of clinical haematology, it is also an MCV of <76 fl which is utilised in what I would describe as “automated” screening for iron deficiency.4
However, what has not been addressed until very recently, is the issue, not only of the superiority of MCH in predicting a favourable response to a therapeutic trial of iron replacement therapy,1 but also its robustness, relative to the MCV, under laboratory conditions of automated screening. According to one of the leading authorities on the subject, different counting systems yield “clinically significant different” estimates of the MCV, as shown by the monthly reports of the UK General Haematology NEQAS Scheme. In contrast, MCH yielded a “consistent equality of results reported by the different technologies within the UK NEQAS schemes”.5
These observations tend to support the suggestion made by the authors of the present study that, as opposed to the MCV, the MCH should be the preferred screening test for predicting a satisfactory haematological response to iron replacement therapy.1
Competing interests: none declared
If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.


text:
Checking with Benefits
If you have a Share Savings account with us, you’ve already taken the first step toward opening a CCCU checking account. Take a look at these benefits:
- Account access through CU 24 Audio System, our 24-hour audio response system
- FREE 24/7 online access to your account through home banking
- VISA® Debit Card access
- Overdraft protection using your savings account or Checking Line of Credit* (CLC) up to $5,000
- Direct deposit
- Sign-up for eStatements to avoid a monthly paper statement fee. See rate and fee schedule for details.
*Subject to credit approval.
Ready to Get Started?
Want to make changes to your account? – Complete form
Need to update your name or address? – Complete form
Ready to order checks? – Learn more

domain: finance


LARRY KUDLOW: This is the most important fiscal negotiation
Kudlow provides insight on the debt ceiling
Probably the most important fiscal negotiation that's going to take place this year is over the debt ceiling and the budget. So far, it's gone nowhere. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with President Biden two months ago with no results and they haven't met since. No cup of coffee. No high tea. No drive-in movie. Nothing.
Yesterday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy put some heat on President Biden with a strong letter asking for another meeting to reach a deal and before nightfall Biden wrote back that he's not ready. Biden is also still calling for a so-called "clean bill" to raise the debt ceiling without any spending cuts. Now he knows just as everyone in the country knows that there is going to be a deal to raise the debt ceiling and that deal is going to have spending cuts no matter what Mr. Biden says.
The president in his letter says "this has been done by previous Congresses with no conditions attached and this Congress should act quickly to do so now," but in fact, previous Congresses have always compromised with a higher debt ceiling attached to spending cuts and sometimes other measures.
Biden's hypocrisy is illustrated by just a little bit of recent history, when as Barack Obama's vice president he, Biden, led the charge for a deal back in 2011 that included a debt hike and some tough spending caps with sequestration penalties. Here's a snippet from CBS 60 minutes, Scott Pelley interviewing Joe Biden:
FORMER WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIST CALLS BIDEN OUT FOR SPEWING ‘UTTER ECONOMIC LIES’ ON NATIONAL TOUR
PELLEY: The vice president has been up here on Capitol Hill today pressing reluctant Democrats to support the compromise
BIDEN: How can you explain the fact that grown men and women are unwilling to budge up till now and still some of them are still unwilling to budge, by taking an absolute position: my way or no way?
So, of course it's been done before. We just need a compromise. That’s proof pudding. Now, Biden's letter to McCarthy goes on to talk about how Republicans want to raise deficits by $3 trillion with big corporations and the super wealthy not paying their fair share of taxes, which is nonsense because the bulk of the Trump tax cuts went to middle and lower income people driving down the minority unemployment rates to record lows, boosting blue-collar family incomes and so forth and so on. We've been through this so many times. Biden just keeps lying about the Trump tax cuts and keeps up his drum beat that the rich don't pay their fair share. It's all hog-wash and malarkey.
In fact, Biden claims his budget released a few weeks ago will cut the deficit, but actually he does it simply by raising taxes on the most successful earners and large and small businesses and American firms overseas, policies that would slam down the economy, raise the inflation rate and give us a bigger economic mess than we already have. Don't forget, Biden has no spending cuts and $5 trillion in tax hikes. It's a "Bernie Sanders" budget.
More to the point, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a very constructive letter where he argues that a debt deal should reduce excessive nondefense spending, reclaim unspent COVID funds and really super importantly strengthen work requirements for those without dependents who are able-bodied, the kind of workfare reform enacted under years ago under President Bill Clinton which Biden voted for as a U.S. senator.
I want to repeat this. Biden voted for workfare reforms as a U.S. senator in the mid-90s just as Biden led the charge to get a debt compromise in 2011 that included spending cuts, just to make the record straight. Now, this is of course a new Joe Biden, today's version. As I say, it's a Bernie Sanders version, but perhaps Biden at some point will regain his conscious which had some common sense in those days believe it or not.
So, let's go back in time to the Clinton-Gingrich work requirements reforms to welfare programs back in the mid-90s because it is so important. We are going to put stuff up on the full screen.
Welfare, food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, child nutrition, foster care, social service block grants, EITC and maternal and child health. Total savings way back then were $54 billion. That was an enormous number in the mid-90's. Adjusted for inflation today that would be worth about $92 billion and if you include payroll tax revenues paid by those who went from welfare to work the savings would be well over $100 billion and it's also worth noting the record reduction in poverty that occurred after workfare reform nearly halved the poverty rate while increasing employment, reducing spending and cutting deficits. I think we have the chart, I hope we do, of the collapse of poverty rate that occurred with the workfare revolution of the mid 90s.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
So, hats off Speaker Kevin McCarthy for including work requirements. It would be a huge reform that Joe Biden himself once supported. That is the old Joe Biden, the pre-Bernie Sanders Joe Biden, when Joe Biden was Joe Biden from Scranton, PA. Remember that?
Now, on top of all this, when you add in Steve Scalise's H.R. 1 "lower energy costs" bill, which would be a huge factor cutting inflation and promoting growth, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has put together a very strong Republican agenda for economic growth and prosperity with or without Joe Biden. That is my riff. We're going to revisit this issue with one of the House leaders Byron Donalds and related issues a bit later in the show, but I was so excited about Kevin McCarthy's letter that I just had to talk about it at the top.
This article is adapted from Larry Kudlow’s opening commentary on the March 29, 2023, edition of "Kudlow."


No need for a review, I reviewed Grace Potter last month, and there is precious little I could say that has not been said before about The Allman Brothers. I will share this video of Grace and Benny Yurco on stage with Les Brers playing The Weight. Trully moving…even if the smartphone video howls and is generally a C- effort (but it’s still the best of the stuff I find on Youtube).
Here’s one off the new album from Blue Touch, out of the UK – a band that’s lived the blues and it shows. Here is the music video from their latest album, “Outstanding” (which would be my rating) entitled “One More Kiss”. For my Atex friends, the bass player is none other than our own Merv Griffin!
For me, the definitive version of a song covered more times than a Senator’s gluteous maximus. Janis at her best…evoking at once both hope and a unique sense of loss that the other artists fail to catch.


text:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 21, 2013) – Today, Tallahassee
Community College’s District Board of Trustees authorized the development of a
proposal for adding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to TCC’s
offerings. The new program would be intended for registered nurses with an A.S.
degree interested in earning a B.S. in nursing. In reaching their decision,
the Board considered what was best for TCC’s students, what was best for the
community and what was best for the College.
Local, state and national trends project a need for more nurses with baccalaureate
degrees—and local healthcare providers have encouraged TCC to help meet this
important demand. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare recently indicated its need
for 80 percent of its nursing staff to be baccalaureate-prepared by 2020.
Nationally, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies cites
baccalaureate-prepared nurses as a significant factor in addressing needs in
the healthcare industry, and the Florida Center for Nursing recommends
increasing the number of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
“TCC reviewed the higher education and workforce landscapes in our region and
determined there is a need to be met,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of TCC.
“This proposal is very much within the College’s mission—anticipating and
responding on a local level to make sure our community has access to the
education opportunities they need.”
Throughout the process of evaluating the demand for a new program, TCC
communicated with healthcare providers, local universities, community members
and its students to gain feedback on what adding its first baccalaureate degree
“I have no hesitation in supporting this. The community needs more nurses and
TCC has the resources and facilities to do what needs to be done,” said Eugene
Lamb, chair of the TCC District Board of Trustees. “We’ve listened to our
community and now we need to act.”
If the proposal is approved and implemented, the new nursing program would be
offered primarily at night and on weekends, with some online components, to
accommodate the schedules of working nurses looking to earn an


text:
In this week’s edition of ‘At the Box Office’, Julia Swift is taking a look at Brad Pitt’s newest film, ‘Bullet Train’. Julia says this is the kind of movie that you’ll want to go to, if you’re just looking for a good time and want to laugh with other people. “There’s no depth” she says. “They’re trying to give you a really fun ride…and Brad Pitt is fabulous“. Julia says he was the best part of the movie, and could tell he really enjoyed his time on set.
It’s about a hit-man who’s changed his ways — who then boards a bullet train, with other hit-men from across the world. Overall, Julia says the film is really all about stunts. “It’s directed by a former stuntman…it felt like a really long music video with a lot of stunts…with some funny lines and some great actors” she says.
If you want to go have a really loud, crazy fun time — Julia says it’s worth the watch. Be warned, though, there is quite a bit of violence!
You can catch ‘Bullet Train’ in theaters now.


Bulgarian PM: There Won’t be any New Electricity Prices for Household ConsumersEnergy | January 20, 2022, Thursday // 16:52| views
“One of the biggest issues right now is the price of electricity and gas. The new measures will already be included in detail,” Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said at the beginning of the Council of Ministers session.
“The bills of household consumers are under a moratorium. They have not been increased and will not be increased as long as there is a moratorium. The higher prices that some consumers see are based on last summer's prices. There are no new prices for household consumers,” Petkov said. He assured that the government is working hard so that when the moratorium is lifted, there will be no sharp jump in prices.
“Household prices for January and December, which are now being paid, are based on summer prices,” he said.
The business is compensated with BGN 110 for November, with BGN 130 for December and with a ceiling of up to BGN 250 for January. The aid for December will go into the bills that business users will see in February. I.e. they will be compensated in subsequent bills.
The situation is the same with the price of gas. The aid for both December and January will be reflected in the bill from the beginning of February. Surprisingly larger bills will be reimbursed for these months as well.
On the covid crisis and the pandemic
Omicron has a high prevalence but low levels of intensive filling of the bed occupancy.
“Due to the new model, many of the areas that had to be closed are not closed because the critical factors are monitored, not the numbers. These are two opportunities to react and give predictive steps. The measures remain very soft,” Petkov said.
On North Macedonia
“The RNM government is coming next Tuesday, the prime minister said. We have to catch up with most of the tasks that have not been done. We need to figure out how to have a train line in the shortest possible time, how to have a flight Sofia - Skopje in half an hour, to have a cultural calendar, how to coordinate our educational programs. All this will be over and started at this government meeting. We will make a real plan with real achievements that we must achieve for the next 6 months. I hope the meetings will be weekly and we will not waste a minute,” said Kiril Petkov.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


We have been inundated with heartbreaking news of young people, some not yet teenagers, committing suicide in Saskatchewan’s northern communities and elsewhere in Canada.
Recent deaths have occurred in La Ronge, Stanley Mission, Deschambault Lake and Loon Lake in Saskatchewan, while the communities of Attawapiskat, Pikangikum and Woodstock in Ontario and Pimicikamak and Shamattawa in Manitoba have also seen many funerals and shared endless grief.
Some communities have declared states of emergency and put dozens of young people on suicide watch over what is called a “suicide epidemic.” Federal and provincial governments have rushed in with visits by senior ministers and promises of money and resources, mostly focusing on supplying more mental health and community support workers. As well, a national toll-free help line in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut has been established.
There has been much speculation on what leads to these deaths — poor conditions on northern reserves, mental illness, drug addiction, and the long history of colonization, all of which exist, are usually blamed — but there has been no mention of how these suicides were committed.
Did they involve alcohol, guns, gas sniffing, overdoses of recreational or prescription drugs, or some other means? I think the silence on the methods is problematic. Without concrete knowledge the solutions can be both inappropriate and ineffective, and more deaths will follow, to the shock, grief and bewilderment of all concerned.
If drugs, alcohol or guns were used, you would focus on learning how children obtain them and on how to prevent that access; you would send qualified people to assist with finding the sources and eliminating them. This would not necessarily be a mental health issue at all, as young people don’t have to be “mentally ill” or addicted to do foolish and dangerous things. However, in the many solutions offered to the crisis, mental health workers seem to rank the highest.
I think there might be another culprit in this tragic epidemic. Underneath adults’ radar, there’s a widespread practice among young people playing a dangerous game, known most familiarly as “the choking game.” It involves choking oneself with a ligature (often a rope, belt or scarf) to cut off oxygen to the brain; when the pressure is released, a person experiences a “high” as the oxygen rushes to the brain.
However, if held a few moments too long, the “game” can result in accidental death. This momentary thrill can become habit-forming because it is so easily available, and also because it can become part of the community’s “youth culture” that adults are not aware of and therefore are neither suspicious of nor prepared for.
In some media reports, families described the deceased as well-adjusted, happy young people, many doing well in school and engaged in a variety of activities. These are exactly the kind of reports we can read on memorial websites of children in Canada and the United States who have died as a result of the choking game.
Most of these parents had never heard of this deadly game and, ironically and sadly, were proud that their children weren’t experimenting with drugs. They have since become activists, informing other parents of the signs of the practice and advocating that schools alert students and parents to the tragic consequences of what children so naively undertake, inspired and encouraged by each other.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the frightful choking game has reached our communities. It can be learned online and is easily passed on to others as a peer group activity, away from the prying eyes of adults. The first step is to have an open and honest discussion about whether this, in fact, is what has taken place and to realize that some children who killed themselves did not intend to die but merely to experience some exhilaration. Those who have survived the “game” would be the prime advisers on how to help put an end to this devastating practice.
Marjaleena Repo is a Saskatoon resident and has a background in research, social work and community organizing.


You have received your Simendo simulator!
To help you with first usage we have created a quick video for you that explains you how to set-up your simulator. It is important that you watch the video carefully. Neatly packing and unpacking the simulator will increase the lifetime of the simulator and transport case.
Please select which simulator you purchased and you will be forwarded to the instruction page:


text: Fifty years ago BLUE MOUNTAIN Brand Apples were shipped by Mojonnier and Sons, Inc., from Wenatchee, Washington, in fruit crates made of sturdy pine, with Spruce tops . This older variety of the Blue Mountain Brand apple fruit box label shows the Blue Mountains of Eastern Washington in a realistic setting of orchard and forest. Wrapped fruit in the foreground displays two varieties of heirloom fruits, a yellow apple and a red apple. This fine old American advertising agriculture print produce label was lithographed during a time when lead, cobalt and other compounds were often introduced as a part of the ink used to make the images brilliant, vivid and colorful. I found this scarcer version of this apple crate label in a now destroyed packing shed in Walla Walla, Washington. We also have the common variety (Nice, more of a cartoon look) of "Blue Mountain" available. Measures 10 ¼" x 8 ¾". Vintage Fruit Crate Labels have been discovered over the years in a large variety of Nooks and Crannies. In the North Western U.S.A. packing sheds built during the 1880’s have sheltered this unused art, or artsie, apple crate labels atop attic rafters, inside timber-built walls and beneath floorboards. Unappreciated, these brilliantly colored works of fruit crate art have been found simply languishing in the company file cabinet or safe. The following tells of the discovery of a one hundred year-old find undisturbed until recently in Western Montana near the Bitterroot Mountains. In the words of a newly minted archeologist: “ Well it was a dark and stormy night............and something odd with the bathroom light caused my husband to venture up into the attic and investigate the wiring. Its a good thing he checked on it, kind of an amateurish job from a former tenant. I guess nobody ever noticed the cardboard box at the far end of the attic, snuggled up to an old brick chimney, or maybe if they did they weren't interested in the contents. They were not charming to see at first glance. Lots of dust and dirt and the box was falling apart but Craig knows I like old things and he could tell that some of the labels were nice so he brought them out. Plus it was apple labels and we live over the apple cellar and they said Bitterroot Valley on them. As far as knowing anything about labels as a collectors item, neither one of us had any idea. We thought maybe friends or family would like one framed up and did a few of those but after that they languished in a newer card board box in a closet for a couple of years.” The particular apple label discussed may be searched for and purchased on www.AntiqueLabelCompany.com Here’s a description of this fine old stone lithographed image: Mountain Valley Apples A beautiful 100 year-old apple box label from the Bitterroot Mountains of Western Montana near the Idaho border. “Grown By Kress & Carey, Hamilton, Montana.” A fine example of stone lithography by “Bankers Supply Co.”, Denver, Colorado. The image created shows a variety what would now be referred to as “Heirloom” apples. Big luscious apples of several sizes, shapes and colors come tumbling from an over-turned wicker basket onto the prairie grass. In the distance can be seen two small ranch buildings nestled amidst the apple orchard. Farther we see pine trees and the snow covered Bitterroot Mountains rising majestically.