On Monday, an amendment to Basic Law: the Judiciary successfully passed both the second and third readings in the Knesset plenum. This achievement is a significant and essential triumph for Israeli democracy, carrying profound implications for several key reasons.
Firstly, the proposal addresses a longstanding historical injustice that has persisted in the country since the 1980s. Prior to this period, the legal system did not employ or interpret the reasonableness standard at all. It was only when the former Supreme Court chief justice, Aharon Barak, introduced his interpretation that it began to gain traction.
Subsequently, a group of his followers continued to apply this interpretation without any formal legal approval, leading to the establishment of this custom.
The court’s distorted interpretation of the reasonableness standard, in contrast to its essence in British law, and its frequent utilization, granted the court the power to invalidate and obstruct decisions made by the elected echelon through ambiguous and abstract means. A mere allegation of something being “unreasonable” became sufficient to undermine the policies promoted by government ministers.
By reducing the reasonableness standard through this amendment, Israeli democracy reclaims an essential aspect of fairness and accountability. It ensures that decisions made by elected representatives are not arbitrarily obstructed, and provides a clearer framework for legal interpretations. This amendment represents a crucial step toward strengthening the principles of democracy and justice within the Israeli legal system.
Given that judges are mere mortals, there is no justification for assuming that they possess a superior understanding of what constitutes a “reasonable” or “unreasonable” decision. Instead, the determination of reasonableness should rely on a broad consensus reached by elected politicians who carry the burden of responsibility along with their powers. These politicians have been chosen by the people and entrusted with the mandate to represent and advance the citizens’ interests, in accordance with the country’s laws.
Reasonableness is not an inherently judicial matter; rather, it is a subjective and social concept. Therefore, the rightful authority to decide what is reasonable and what is not lies solely with the people, expressed through their elected representatives in the legislative branch and in the government.
After all, why should a judge be presumed to have a better grasp of reasonableness than a politician (or the citizens who elected that politician)? In a democratic society, reasonability should be determined exclusively by the citizens, who hold the power of influence through both the ballot box (the carrot) and the ability to hold elected officials accountable for decisions they perceive as unreasonable (the stick).
APART FROM the reduction of the reasonableness standard, the approval of the law has effectively averted a perilous and unprecedented scenario where society would capitulate to violence, anarchy, and the influence of a radical and relentless minority.
This minority has been causing disruptions in public order, assaulting law enforcement officers, vandalizing public property, and posing threats to elected officials. Furthermore, they resorted to storming and harassing the symbol of democracy – the Knesset. Adding to the alarming situation were coercive tactics, attempting to shut down and destroy the economy, and even jeopardizing patient treatments by the Israel Medical Association.
Had society surrendered to these violent rioters, it would have essentially meant the de facto annulment of Israel’s elections, leading to the paralysis of the Knesset and the government and ultimately handing power to anti-democratic forces.
However, the approval of the law, despite the attempts at intimidation and violence by certain protest leaders, has demonstrated the Knesset’s commitment to strengthening its position and upholding the foundations of democracy. By doing so, it has safeguarded the integrity of the democratic system in Israel.
Most notably, one individual emerged as the key beneficiary of this reform – Justice Minister Yariv Levin, whose face has become the symbol of this endeavor. Levin can rightfully be regarded as the mastermind behind the restoration of Israeli democracy.
For decades, he has championed the cause of curbing the unchecked power of the judicial system, thereby reinforcing the separation of powers in Israel and steering the country back to the period before the unauthorized and undemocratic judicial revolution.
Throughout all the governments in which he served since 2009, Levin made numerous efforts to persuade Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to curtail the powers of the judicial system. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he displayed unwavering determination, remained steadfast in his mission, and continued to advocate for crucial reforms to strengthen Israeli democracy, persistently pursuing this objective time and time again.
Unwavering support through difficult times
Levin’s immense popularity within the Likud party, second only to Netanyahu’s, is a testament to his unwavering support. This was evident in the last preliminary elections for the Likud list, where he secured the top spot (after Netanyahu). Levin genuinely reflects the views of Likud voters and a significant portion of the national camp voters in an honest, dependable, and authentic manner.
His tenacious and, some might say, heroic, efforts to bolster democracy in Israel have undoubtedly earned him the admiration and support of right-wing voters. While many in the Likud may have chosen to cater to the elite, media, and left-leaning cultural and academic circles, Levin remained steadfast, staying loyal to Likud voters and the right-wing camp.
Levin’s fight persisted until the very last moment, as dramatic scenes unfolded during the crucial vote. Within the Likud, various parties attempted to sway Netanyahu to withdraw and surrender. The intense moment captured Levin on one side of the prime minister, with Defense Minister Yoav Galant on the other, each making their own efforts to influence the decision. This memorable and dramatic episode will be etched in the annals of Israeli politics.
Beyond the proposal to reduce the reasonableness standard, Levin understood the significance of not yielding at this critical juncture. A retreat would have amounted to a victory for the anti-democratic and anarchist factions, which threatened to dismantle the Israeli government and Knesset, rendering them mere rubber stamps of the legal system and the powerful elites in the country.
However, Levin’s fight did not end there. Reducing the reasonableness standard was just one step in his comprehensive plan to fortify democracy and uphold the will of the public. There are still further challenges ahead, including changes to the judicial selection committee, diminishing the paralyzing influence of legal advisers in ministerial offices, and addressing the issue of repealing laws by the High Court of Justice.
Already recognized as the most influential and prominent elected member of the Likud party and the conservatives, Levin is well-poised to be a leading candidate for the prime minister in the post-Netanyahu era, once the legislation to strengthen democracy is successfully enacted.
The writer is a researcher and Israeli publicist. He holds a PhD in political studies.


A long-serving volunteer known as ‘Mr Colne’ hopes his sterling service over more than a quarter of a century can help inspire the next generation to get involved at their local club.
They say you have to be crazy to be a goalkeeper, but no one seems to have told Colne FC, who are running specialist training for budding young shot-stoppers in the area.
Ramsbottom United have signed winger Billy Hasler-Cregg from division rivals Colne.
New Colne manager Jon Macken has appointed his new backroom staff.
Colne have announced that their New Year’s Day game with Kendal Town will be “Pay As You Please”.
Colne have confirmed the signings of Matt Lawlor and Dean Ing.
Colne have confirmed the returns of Matty Morgan and Matthew Makinson.
Colne have announced the permanent signing of central midfielder Anthony Williams from Stalybridge Celtic.
Oli Roberts has been confirmed as Colne head coach Nathan Rooney’s second signing of the summer.
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First off I really don’t own a Civic. I live in Jakarta (Indonesia) and I own something called a Honda City which is basically a small four door Civic. It has an automatic transmission and has about 70,000 km on it. Now that I’ve gotten that admission off my chest I can pray for absolution for my deception and ask my question.
The past few mornings when I start up my car and start accelerating down the road I’ve noticed that the car occasionally jerks into gear as if someone who didn’t know how to operate a manual made a poor shift. It isn’t terribly violent but its enough so that my wife thinks I’m a poor driver and I get THE STARE. Its been happening infrequently for about 3 weeks now and I haven’t taken it to the mechanic because unless it happens right when they’re watching they just won’t believe you.
I’m really hoping this is a fluid issue or something simple. If my transmission is on the way out I’m gonna cry cause we just bought this car a few months ago. So, here’s to some good news (fingers crossed) and thanks for your help.


text:
There is a place on Sable Island where the dunes dip down to the ocean, the churning ocean into the fog, and the fog into the horizon until the landscape is a mass of gray and you cannot tell land from sea or sky. It is there that the great Grey Seals lie on the damp sand and sing their sad songs to one another. What name it truly holds I do not know, but my Grandfather called it Selkie’s Point – I have heard it by no other. I had come to The Island (I always thought of it like that, with capitals because it was so important) that summer to help Grandfather keep the one of the two lighthouses there. Although I had free rein over The Island, the sand and sun and stars that wove themselves into my very being, I was not permitted to go to near Selkie’s Point. “Anywhere, from the sand to the sea, anywhere at all. But not,” My grandfather would pause to glare down at me. “Not to Selkie’s Point.”
“But why?” I whined one afternoon, my hair full of sand and my head with questions. Until he had mentioned it, the thought of heading down to what I considered to be the spookiest part of The Island had never occurred to me.
Grandfather had glanced away, out to the endless ocean he was always watching. “Do you know why we keep the lighthouse here?”
“Because of the storms ’n the fog ’n the dark.” I replied promptly. “So all the ships can go around.” The Graveyard of the Atlantic, as my parents had put it, surrounded The Island. Between the dangerous currents, the shifting sand bars, and thick fogs that came out of nowhere at the drop of a pin, hundreds of ships had foundered in the shallows. That was why the lighthouse was so important, why Grandfather’s work was so important.
“Yes. Well, there’s an old story – comes from way back, back when my Grandmother had just come over from Scotland.” Grandfather looked shrewdly down at me. “You’ve seen those great Grey Seals that come to pup here every year, haven’t you? Same type live over in Scotland.”
I had indeed seen the Grey Seals that lay about on the beaches and looked like hunks of wet rock. I had heard them ‘sing’ to one another in the dawn twilight or resting in the mid-afternoon heat. They looked almost human when swimming, gracefully cutting through the water; their big eyes were always so full of soul. It was almost like having a person look out at you, through those eyes. But I had never dared to get too close to them, not when they had babies to protect. They might not be fast on land but they were big, big enough to knock me over if I wasn’t careful, so I left them well alone.
“They’re called Selkies there,” Grandfather continued. “Some say they’re sailors who were shipwrecked, turned to seals so they wouldn’t drown – not human, not seal, something… in between. Magic.”
Magic. I could believe it – hadn’t I seen them cry almost like humans did, on the beaches? Hadn’t I seen the soul in their eyes? Wouldn’t The Island, Sable Island, be the one place left to still have magic?
“And some say they’re true-blood humans who wear seal-skins o’er their own, and they take ’em off to dance by the light o’ the moon.”
I giggled at the idea of seals calmly unzipping their skins and leaving them lie on the beach like dirty clothes.
“I don’t know the truth o’ the matter, but I know what my grandmother told me. That the seals came up to the beach and danced at night on Selkie’s Point. She didn’t say why, or how she knew, and o’ course I didn’t believe her. See, I was just a little boy back then. I didn’t believe in magic. Hogwash, I said. To prove it, I snuck down to the beach late one night. The sky was full of stars and the grass kept whispering in the wind – you could feel it, the magic in the air. But I went down anyway, sat myself down on top of a little mound o’ sand and watched the ocean.”
“What did you see, what did you see?” I squealed, tugging on Grandfather’s arm. He paused dramatically, eyes distant. “They came up out o’ the water, two by two. Great, big Grey Seals with dark, warm eyes. Seals bigger than any I had seen before slipped right out o’ the water and clambered up the beach. There must’ve been two dozen of them, maybe more, coming up from the fog. An’ when the moon came out from behind a cloud they stood, shrugged off their seal-skins and danced by the light o’ the moon, like the spinning stars were as grand as any a ballroom chandelier. Well, I near fell off my hill in surprise. Seals dancing!” He smiled at the memory.
“So why can’t I go down an’ see them dance?” I demanded, already envisioning the silver-white sands filled with twirling gowns.
“I haven’t finished my story yet, lass! I watched the seal-folk dance until the sky turned purple with sunlight and the fog began to thin. Oh! They could dance, lass. Dance to the sound o’ the surf and the wind in the grass, stomping their bare feet on the wet sand for a beat. And when the first rays of the sun peeked o’er the horizon, they turned, scooped up their silvery skins, and plunged into the water.” Around us the light was fading, the sky had become a pinkish-gray and the wild horses that skirted around our small part of The Island were making their way to whatever secret bower they slept in. Grandfather grasped my hand in his large, rough one, and began to lead me the lighthouse keeper’s house. I looked out towards Selkie’s Point, too far away for my eyes to make out but close enough I fancied I could feel the magic. “But why can’t I go down an’ see them dance?” I asked again. “You did.”
“I asked my Grandmother why it was so dangerous. She was a sharp old woman, knew what little boys were like so she guessed where I’d been and decided to wait up for me that night. When I came home and asked, she looked out to the ocean, squinted with her wise black eyes and sighed. ‘Because, lad. If you go down there again, they’re sure as certain to take you away with them.’ It was then that she told me a great secret – her mother had been Selkie, a seal-bride stolen away by my great-grandfather. Now.” He stopped when he saw the protests form on my lips, the wrongness of stealing a seal-bride away. “It’s not our place to say the right or wrong o’ the matter. Long years have passed since then and it does no use to condemn the dead. Suffice to say, if you went down to the beach and watched the Selkies dance, they might take a fancy to their great-grandchild and take you away with ’em. That would break my heart, lass, and your parents too. So, keep well away from there, from Selkie’s Point.”
I was thrilled to think that I was part Selkie, never mind how many generations back it was. After that day, I always looked with a bit of awe upon the seals I saw lounging in the sun, searched for the secrets their dark eyes hid, and combed the sand dunes for any skins that may have been left behind. And on lonely, wild nights when the fog gathered on the shore and the wind sang in the sand dunes, when the moon hung in the sky by a silver-cloud thread and the world shimmered in gray, I would look to Selkie’s Point and fancy I saw figures dancing.
Summer passed; I went home to my parents and memories of a ghost-gray beach and hollow seal-songs faded with time and the tides. One could say I ‘grew up’ the day I realised that the Selkie story had been nothing more than a ruse to keep me away from the most dangerous beach on The Island, where tides were wicked and seals were fierce. But… some part of me still believed. That was why, when I came to The Island again as an adult, I walked along the shore at dusk. I had long ago ceased to believe in Selkies, but the pull of sand and star and sea held as much magic as I remembered. And when I turned to head back towards my grandfather’s old house (now used by seal researchers, I reminded myself with a smile) I caught a glimpse of a Grey Seal cutting through the water. For a moment, a human silhouette was suspended on the horizon, black against the blazing sun.
Fauna © 2021
Age 17, Bridgewater
Sable In Words 2021
Youth Writing Contest, 14-17 age group
Sable Island Institute

domain: literature


text:
Dev Patel, Freida duck papparazi
Multiple Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire couple Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are avoiding being photographed together.entertainment Updated: Jul 24, 2009 16:16 IST
Multiple Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire couple Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are avoiding being photographed together.
Following a romantic dinner in a New York restaurant, the stars left for their hotel but when the pair spotted waiting photographers, Dev made a comic run away, reports newstin.co.uk.
Seeing the funny side of it, Dev began laughing while making his dash, and Freida, 25, also appeared to be amused as they out-foxed the snappers and giggled away. Frieda sauntered on alone in a white butterfly T-shirt dress.
Rumours surfaced in February as Slumdog... mania swept the globe that Freida and Dev, 19, were more than just friends.
Their cover was blown, however, by co-star Anil Kapoor who revealed: "When I meet them, I feel there is something happening," before adding that the couple shared "a magical chemistry".
Dev has recently been in Philadelphia filming The Last Airbender while Freida is being chased by casting agencies for modelling and film work.
He is also rumoured to have been lined up to play a lead role in a Hindi remake of south Indian hit Nadodigal.

domain: celebrity


text:
The Ministry of Trade and Investment urges the companies to submit their financial statements for the fiscal year 2015 on "Qawaem" and a commit to the provisions of the companies and the instructions issued by the ministry so as not to be subjected to the penalties prescribed in Article (213) of the Companies Regulations.
The ministry earlier announced to companies and urges them to commit to the submission of the financial statements through its electronic submission program "Qawaem" at licensed accounting firms through the website qawaem.sa
where many companies responded.
The Ministry of Trade and Investment has set up a committee by Article (216) of the Companies regulation issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 3) dated 28/01/1437 H specializes in inflicting penalties on the violated companies.
The electronic program "Qawaem" aims to facilitate and regulate the submission of the businesses operating companies' financial statements that are active in the Kingdom in particular deadlines, it also achieves several goals, like the accuracy and transparency of the financial statements. It also aims to provide accurate economic database; to be an important economic tributary to the decision-makers in the financial affairs and the business community.
This comes in the process of the ministry's keenness to implement the best corporate governance and disclosure to preserve the rights of the partners or shareholders practices as well as the personals dealing with these companies to contribute to the sustainability of economic entities and development and to improve trade and investment environment.

domain: finance


Terra and Cloud
The Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) will enable us to view clouds' features at higher resolution-an improvement that will take scientists from the half-mile range available on satellites today, to as sharp as about 800 feet (250 meters.) Both of these instruments take observations at several wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, enabling cloud droplet size measurements, which are critical to understanding the optical and physical properties of clouds.
In addition to an improved "spectral resolution," MODIS takes measurements at several wavelengths in the heat emission spectra of Earth. These measurements will allow scientists to more precisely determine the contributions of clouds to the greenhouse warming of Earth.
With cameras pointed in nine directions, the multi-angle views of the MISR instrument will observe the angles at which sunlight is reflected from clouds. These observations will be critical to new research on the radiative properties of clouds.
For climate-related studies, the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument will help fill gaps in the parts of the solar spectrum that MISR and MODIS cannot see. CERES together with MODIS and MISR will greatly improve understanding of the links between the variability of net incoming sunlight (shortwave radiation) and net outgoing heat (longwave radiation) and its connection to cloud structure and coverage.
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) provides very high spatial resolution measurements (50-300 feet [15-90 meters]) at a number of visible and infrared wavelengths. ASTER will complement the other instruments by providing sporadic, high-resolution views at specific targets of interest.
Cloud-related studies made possible by Terra should produce more accurate and comprehensive observations of Earth's cloud cover. These observations are important for developing improved models of Earth's climate, both for seasonal and longer-term climate predictions. Terra's data will give us new insights into how clouds modulate atmospheric and surface temperature, atmospheric humidity, atmospheric and oceanic circulation and precipitation patterns, all of which affect our daily lives in fundamental ways, from recreation to fishing to farming.
back: Surface-Based and Satellite Cloud Observations


text:
This information is for reference purposes only. It was current when produced and may now be outdated. Archive material is no longer maintained, and some links may not work. Persons with disabilities having difficulty accessing this information should contact us at: https://info.ahrq.gov. Let us know the nature of the problem, the Web address of what you want, and your contact information.
Please go to www.ahrq.gov for current information.
April 21, 2006, Issue No. 197
AHRQ News and Numbers
The number of hospital patients with pressure sores, also called decubitus ulcers or bed sores, rose from 280,000 cases in 1993 to 455,000 cases in 2003—a 63 percent increase. Hospital charges for stays principally for treatment of pressure ulcers averaged $37,800. [Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HCUP, HCUP Statistical Brief #3: Hospitalizations Related to Pressure Sores. (PDF File, 319 KB; PDF Help).]
- AHRQ study finds wrong-site surgery rare and preventable
- AHRQ expands therapeutic education and research network to focus on critical issues facing the health care system
- New report finds no effective medications for anorexia nervosa, but behavioral therapy may have a limited benefit
- Call for nominations for AHRQ Quality Indicators Workgroup on Inpatient and Patient Safety Composite Measures
- Latest AHRQ audio newscasts feature stories on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, C-sections, asthma treatment, and more
- AHRQ releases evidence report on B vitamins and berries and age-related neurodegenerative disorders
- Webcast on pay for performance will feature latest evidence, practical tools
- 2006 Pharmacoeconomic Conference set for June 12
- AHRQ in the professional literature
1. AHRQ Study Finds Wrong-site Surgery Rare and Preventable
Wrong-site surgery is extremely rare and major injury from it even rarer, according to an AHRQ-funded study published in the April 2006 Archives of Surgery. The term "wrong-site surgery" includes surgery on the wrong organ or limb, at the wrong site on the spine, or on the wrong person. Researchers led by Mary R. Kwaan, M.D., M.P.H., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, estimate that a wrong-site surgery serious enough to result in a report to insurance risk managers or in a lawsuit would occur approximately once every 5 to 10 years at a single large hospital.
The study assessed all wrong-site surgeries reported to a large medical malpractice insurer between 1985 and 2004 and found that the number of wrong-site surgeries conducted on limbs or organs other than the spine occurred once in every 112,994 operations. Forty cases of wrong-site surgery were identified among 1,153 malpractice claims and 259 instances of insurance loss related to surgical care were reported. Twenty-five of the cases were non-spine wrong-site surgeries, with the remainder involving surgery of the spine. Select to read our press release and select to read the abstract in PubMed®.
2. AHRQ Expands Therapeutic Education and Research Network to Focus on Critical Issues Facing the Health Care System
AHRQ announced the award of $16 million over the next 5 years to establish four new Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) to increase awareness of the benefits and risks of therapeutic products, including prescription medicines, biological products and medical devices, and to translate research findings into improved health care. The four new AHRQ-funded CERTs are located at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick; the University of Iowa in Iowa City; Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; and Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City.
The cooperative agreement grants expand the existing CERTs network from 7 to 11 AHRQ-funded centers and one coordinating center. Each center will work collaboratively with AHRQ and the FDA to conduct research and provide education that advances the optimal use of medications, medical devices, and biologic products. Select to read our press release and select for more information on the CERTs activities.
3. New Report Finds No Effective Medications for Anorexia Nervosa, but Behavioral Therapy May Have a Limited Benefit
No medications are available that effectively treat patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, but a few behavioral therapies may help prevent a relapse and offer other limited benefits, according to a new review of currently available research on eating disorders. The review also found evidence that several medications and behavioral therapies can help patients suffering from bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helped prevent relapse in adult anorexic patients once their weight had been restored to a normal level. Both medications and behavioral therapies were found helpful in treating bulimia nervosa; however, there was no clear information about how to combine medications with behavioral treatments. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac, was found helpful in treating bulimia in a short-term clinical trial. CBT, offered either individually or in a group, and interpersonal psychotherapy were also helpful in reducing the core symptoms of bulimia nervosa, binge eating and purging, and in alleviating the psychological symptoms of this disorder.
The review was conducted by AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at RTI International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Select to access our press release and to access the report. A print copy of the report, The Management of Eating Disorders, is available by sending an E-mail to email@example.com.
4. Call for Nominations for AHRQ Quality Indicators Workgroup on Inpatient and Patient Safety Composite Measures
AHRQ is seeking nominations for members of the AHRQ Quality Indicators Workgroup on Composite Measures for the Inpatient Quality Indicators and the Patient Safety Indicators. Nominations should be submitted to: AHRQ Quality Indicators Initiative, Center for Delivery, Organization and Markets, 540 Gaither Road, Room 5121, Rockville, MD 20850 or by E-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org. Select to access the April 4 Federal Register notice for more information. Nominations are due May 4.
5. Latest AHRQ Audio Newscasts Feature Stories on Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing, C-sections, Asthma Treatment, and More
Statistics about dental checkups for children age 2 to 17, stories about AHRQ evidence reports on abnormal adnexal masses and cesarean section, and an item about a pilot project to combine public and private information to measure physician quality are featured in AHRQ's 8-minute April 12 newscast, the latest in our Healthcare 411 series.
Statistics about headaches, an item on an AHRQ evidence report on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, and an interview with a top researcher on asthma medication use by inner-city patients are featured in the 15-minute March 29 newscast.
If your computer has a sound card and speakers and can play MP3 audio files, you will be able to listen to the Newscasts on your computer at your convenience—according to your schedule, whenever you have 10 or 15 minutes to listen. Please visit the main page of our Healthcare 411 series to access these Newscasts, hear any of AHRQ's Newscasts and Special Reports, or to subscribe to the series and receive all AHRQ podcasts automatically. The subscription is free.
6. AHRQ Releases Evidence Report on B Vitamins and Berries and Age-related Neurodegenerative Disorders
A new report released by AHRQ finds no conclusive evidence that taking B vitamin supplements can prevent Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease or make their effects less severe. Similarly, the evidence is inconclusive about whether the presence or severity of these disorders depends on whether an individual has a B vitamin deficiency. The only study of berry consumption in humans found no connection with Parkinson's disease. The report indicates that good quality studies would be needed to pinpoint the way B vitamins act to prevent specific brain disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease, and to identify the specific components of berries that might be beneficial.
The report, B Vitamins and Berries and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders, was prepared by AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. Select to access the report. A print copy is available by sending an E-mail to email@example.com.
7. Webcast on Pay for Performance Will Feature Latest Evidence, Practical Tools
AHRQ is sponsoring a free Web conference for health care purchasers, health plans, and providers on May 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. The Web conference will feature a panel of health services researchers and purchasers who will share the latest evidence and practical experiences on a range of issues related to the design and implementation of pay-for-performance initiatives. The discussion will offer lessons learned and practical tools of interest to public and private purchasers, health plans, and providers-whether they are contemplating, implementing, or evaluating pay-for-performance activities.
The Web conference will feature the AHRQ-supported tool, Pay for Performance: A Decision Guide for Purchasers, and the latest findings on quality-based purchasing from a recent special supplement of the Medical Care Research and Review. The Web conference will include introductory comments from AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D.
8. 2006 Pharmacoeconomic Conference Set for June 12
AHRQ is co-sponsoring, with the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research and the University of Chicago Program for Pharmaceutical Policy, the 2006 Pharmacoeconomic Conference, "Prescription Drug Expenditures: Too Much or Not Enough?" to be held in Chicago on June 12.
The conference will bring together researchers and other interested stakeholders to collectively discuss the forces that drive the rising expenditures for drugs in the United States, to debate the benefits that are derived from pharmaceuticals, and to create a better understanding of these issues and identify future research needs. Select to register and for more information about the conference.
9. AHRQ in the Professional Literature
We are providing the following hyperlinks to journal abstracts through PubMed® for your convenience. Unfortunately, some of you may not be able to access the abstracts because of firewalls or specific settings on your individual computer systems. If you are having problems, you should ask your technical support staff for possible remedies.
Vidyarthi AR, Katz PP, Wall SK, et al. Impact of reduced duty hours on residents' educational satisfaction at the University of California, San Francisco. Acad Med 2006 Jan;81(1):76-81. Select to access the abstract in PubMed®.
Galbraith AA, Wong ST, Kim SE, et al. Out-of-pocket financial burden for low-income families with children: socioeconomic disparities ad effects of insurance. Health Serv Res 2005 Dec;40(6 PT 1):1722-36. Select to access the abstract in PubMed®.
Bhandari VK, Kushel M, Price L, et al. Racial disparities in outcomes of inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005 Nov;86(11):2081-6. Select to access the abstract in PubMed®.
Cimiotti JP, Quinlan PM, Larson EL, et al. The magnet process and the perceived work environment of nurses. Nurs Res 2005 Nov-Dec;54(6):384-90. Select to access the abstract in PubMed®.
Barkin SL, Scheindlin B, Brown C, et al. Anticipatory guidance topics: are more better? Ambul Pediatr 2005 Nov-Dec;5(6):372-6. Select to access the abstract in PubMed®.
Please address comments and questions regarding the AHRQ Electronic Newsletter to Nancy Comfort at Nancy.Comfort@ahrq.hhs.gov or (301) 427-1866.
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Current as of April 2006

domain: medical


text:
We have created human-animal embryos already, say British team
2008 04 02
By Mark Henderson | timesonline.co.uk
Embryos containing human and animal material have been created in Britain for the first time, a month before the House of Commons votes on new laws to regulate the research.
A team at Newcastle University announced yesterday that it had successfully generated “admixed embryos” by adding human DNA to empty cow eggs in the first experiment of its kind in Britain.
The Commons is to debate the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill next month. MPs have been promised a free vote on clauses in the legislation that would permit admixed embryos. But their creation is already allowed, subject to the granting of a licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
The Newcastle cybrids lived for three days and the largest grew to contain 32 cells
The Newcastle group, led by Lyle Armstrong, was awarded one of the first two licences in January. The other went to a team at King’s College London, led by Professor Stephen Minger. The new Bill will formalise their legal status if it is passed by Parliament.
Admixed embryos are widely supported by scientists and patient groups as they provide an opportunity to produce powerful stem-cell models for investigating diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes, and for developing new drugs.
Their creation, however, has been opposed by some religious groups, particularly the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, described the work last month as “experiments of Frankenstein proportion”.
The admixed embryos created by the Newcastle group are of a kind known as cytoplasmic hybrids, or cybrids, which are made by placing the nucleus from a human cell into an animal egg that has had its nucleus removed. The genetic material in the resulting embryos is 99.9 per cent human.
The BBC reported that the Newcastle cybrids lived for three days, and that the largest grew to contain 32 cells. The ultimate aim is to grow these for six days, and then to extract embryonic stem cells for use in research.
Once the technique has been tested, scientists hope to create cybrids from the DNA of patients with genetic diseases. The resulting stem cells could then be used as models of those diseases to provide insights into their progress and to test new treatments.
It is already illegal to culture human-animal embryos for more than 14 days, or to implant them in the womb of a woman or animal, and these prohibitions will remain in the new legislation.
Using cow eggs reflects a short supply of human eggs. There are also ethical difficulties involved in collecting human eggs for research, as the donation process carries a small risk to women.
Professor John Burn, a member of the Newcastle team, told the BBC: “This is licensed work which has been carefully evaluated. This is a process in a dish, and we are dealing with a clump of cells which would never go on to develop. It’s a laboratory process and these embryos would never be implanted into anyone.
“We now have preliminary data which looks promising but this is very much work in progress and the next step is to get the embryos to survive to around six days, when we can hope-fully derive stem cells from them.”
The Newcastle team’s decision to announce its success on television, before its results have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, will also trigger criticism from scientists.
Medical researchers said last night that the experiments were important, but that they wanted to see published details before passing judgment on their merits.
Article from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style
Chimera embryos have right to life, say bishops
Now scientists create a sheep that's 15% human
Science's new blend mixes man and beast
Human Cells + Animal Cells = ?
Why Embryonic Stem Cell Research? It's About Human Engineering, Not Ending Disease
Hybrid embryos could be created within months
Patent sought on 'synthetic life'
'Darth Venter' (J. Craig Venter) & The Archon Genomics X Prize
Artificial life likely in 3 to 10 years
First genome transplant turns one species into another
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domain: biology


Improved fluid management makes world cleaner
Techenomics features in World Mining Magazine
As the world emerges from the unprecedented times brought about by COVID-19, it will be a different place with increased focus on hygiene, online communication and business will be the new norm, and there will be an increased push for a cleaner and greener Earth.
The latter has seen increased interest due to the cleaner air experienced during the virus as transport and industry slowed dramatically, with individuals, communities and lobby groups putting more pressure on governments to come up with renewable energy, lower emission transport and cleaner industrial solutions much sooner.
Techenomics is well-placed to help create a ‘cleaner and greener’ world, particularly in mining, transport and industrial operations, with its services and products aimed at ensuring lubricants work more effectively and last longer.
In a feature in World Mining Magazine, editor Martin Ashcroft explains what makes Techenomics tick. He spoke to CEO Chris Adsett and Australian Operations Manager Jason Davis and asked them how Techenomics helps customers extend the life and improve the efficiency of their equipment.
The World Mining article states:
Mining is a capital intensive business and in order to maximise their returns on investment, miners continually strive to improve the performance of their machinery and equipment. Downtime is expensive, not only for the intrinsic cost of maintenance or repairs, but the consequential loss from a piece of machinery being taken out of production.
Techenomics is dedicated to helping its customers maximise equipment performance by resolving lubrication problems. “We’ve been in business for 30-odd years,” says CEO Chris Adsett. “Our core business is condition monitoring, based on oil analysis and fluid analysis.”
Condition monitoring and fluid analysis help miners optimise assets, and consequently save money, by highlighting lubrication problems which can cause equipment to underperform or even fail altogether.
Oil analysis provides a detailed picture of the lubricant’s properties, including measurements of any suspended contaminants and wear debris. The oil carries tell-tale signs of potential problems or failures, but so too do the coolant, grease and fuels.
The company has traditionally focused on the mining industry, but its reach stretches further. “The type of equipment employed varies from sector to sector and from mine to mine,” says Jason Davis, “but our customers include anyone who uses high volumes of oil.
“We recently acquired a large contract with a bus company which has a fleet of about 2000 buses. It can be anything from locomotives to tug boats, passenger cars up to mining equipment, drag lines or large ships.”
Techenomics uses a number of testing methods and procedures to analyse lubricants and this work provides accurate information on the condition of the machine. To maximise the potential of condition monitoring and fluid analysis, you must provide more than a simple set of results. If you can interpret them and offer solutions, you can help the customer understand what to do next.
“Traditionally, an oil analysis laboratory will produce a pathology report,” says Adsett, just like when you have a blood test. We put a lot of emphasis on the interpretation of those results, because nobody has a blood test for the sake of doing it. You’re looking for a maintenance platform, either in the human body or with your machinery. So, it’s the interpretation that’s important, rather than just handing the results over.”
To evaluate an oil sample, Techenomics’ laboratory chemists investigate and report on the lubricant’s fundamentals and ability to perform its duties. Results and comments are then viewed by the chief chemist and evaluated by the mechanical failure analysis team. Once they are in agreement, a report is sent to the client via email. This is then uploaded to the company proprietary online software platform, Blue Oceans, where clients can view historical data anytime they like.
This process provides clients with highly detailed insight information into the sample results that can reduce downtime on their equipment, achieve a higher and more effective availability rate and save companies large amounts of money.
Techenomics has been spreading geographically, too, over the last few years. “We’re very well represented in Australasia and we’re now operating in South East Asia, Northern Asia and are just beginning to open up in Africa,” says Adsett.
“We don’t necessarily need to be down the road. The closer we are, obviously, the faster the turnaround. We aim at a one to two day turnaround but if it takes us a day or two to get the sample it means turnaround time’s a little bit longer.
“The message is, we are very active in the fluid analysis, condition monitoring space, we’ve been there a long time and we’re developing new online tools to enable the customer to get more than just a set of results.”
For more information about Techenomics International visit www.techenomics.net or contact Chris Adsett, email@example.com; in Indonesia Freddy, firstname.lastname@example.org; in South East Asia Siti, email@example.com, in Mongolia Tumee, firstname.lastname@example.org, in Australia Jason Davis, email@example.com, or in Africa Chris Adsett, firstname.lastname@example.org.


About Huilv Garden
Huilv Garden is an ecological environment construction enterprise, integrating planning and design, engineering construction, seedling cultivation, greening maintenance, and environmental restoration. It focuses on green environmental protection services and ingenuity to create an urban living environment.
Huilv Garden Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is Huilv Garden's headquarters?
Huilv Garden's headquarters is located at 15th, 17th and 18th Floors, Building One, Ningbo.
Who are Huilv Garden's competitors?
Competitors of Huilv Garden include HanYang Robotics and 4 more.
Compare Huilv Garden to Competitors
Holland Web Japan specializes in the distribution of agricultural materials within the horticulture industry. The company offers a range of products including water-based greenhouse coatings that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable, as well as shading and cooling agents for greenhouses. These products are designed to manage light and temperature to benefit crop growth. It was founded in 2005 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.
Celefish is a high-tech company integrating Internet of Things, big data technology applications, and operation services. It uses the intelligent aquatic product Internet service platform to help farmers. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Huzhou, China.
DADAOII provides consumer robotics solutions, integrating technology research and development, product design and manufacturing, and product marketing. The company's products include a mobile new retail robot, an intelligent security robot, and an intelligent disinfection robot. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Shenzhen, China.
Yubot researches, develops, manufactures, and sales of home service robots and related software and hardware products. It develops products with functions such as remote audio and video calls, intelligent sweeping, security alarms, and more solutions. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Shenzhen, China.
Reset Company provides research and development services. It offers an unmanned robot system for snow removal, solar panel cleaning, and building exterior cleaning. Reset Company was founded in 2016 and is based in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Wissen Technology operates as a service robot developer dedicated to providing flexible and safe work-based interactive service robot solutions for industries and families. It ensures the safety of front-line workers and improves operation efficiency by improving robots' actual physical operation capabilities. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Shenzhen, China.


text:
When I read in my early 20s that b*tulinum toxin could help reduce migraine pain, wild horses couldn’t have stopped me. Misguided or not, the migraine attacks stopped completely, and I had a smooth and bright forehead to boot. When the effect wore off, the migraine returned, along with the wrinkles, now twice the depth and double the length across my forehead.
It’s a double-edged sword. Treatments like wrinkle smoothing injections don’t hold back the years but rather draw a curtain over them. Under the temporary ironed appearance, your skin continues to age, unnoticed and uncared for. When we don’t take steps to treat our skin in our early years while it’s still plump and smooth, ageing accelerates.
How’s your skin health? Are you seeing more dark patches and freckles or sagging around the eyes and cheeks?
“There are two types of skin ageing: surface skin ageing and deep-skin ageing,” says Dr Ivan Puah, an experienced aesthetic doctor who holds a Graduate Diploma in Family Dermatology. Dr Puah is also the Medical Director of Amaris B. Clinic and doctors-trainer in cosmetics injectables appointed by Merz Singapore and Allergan.
“Surface-skin ageing shows up as pigmentation, discolouration or rough patches in the early 20s, usually from sun exposure and environmental factors,” he explains. “Deep-skin ageing happens as the body produces less and less collagen in later years.
The skin becomes thinner as oil and hyaluronic acid in the body decreases. This results in wrinkles and sagging skin. The skin loses its ability to ‘hold the fort’, and it happens to both men and women.”
How can we delay skin ageing?
For one thing, aim to maintain a healthy wash-tone-moisturise routine, no matter your age or how ‘good’ your skin looks. Also, never go to sleep with makeup on, as the chemicals can damage the skin’s delicate first layer. Use a good, non-comedogenic sunscreen, too, even if you’re indoors.
“Diet and hydration play a big role in skin health,” advises Dr Puah. “Think about what you’re feeding your cells. Drink water even when you’re not thirsty; the body needs constant hydration for the organs to function efficiently. And remember, the skin is your largest organ. Stop smoking, of course, and limit sun exposure to the early morning or late afternoon. Needless to say, sunscreen is a must.”
As you get older and notice lines or signs of photoageing from your mid-20s, it may be time to graduate to anti-ageing products. A good skin doctor can assess your skin condition and advise on the correct type of treatment depending on your age, health and lifestyle.
There’s a wide range of serums available, containing retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. “On many levels, genes, lifestyle and hormonal changes during menopause affect how the body ages,” observes Dr Puah. “Ethnicity and melanin also dictate how your skin reacts. Many of these factors cannot be mitigated without professional help.”
You can trick the eyes by applying makeup to cover surface skin ageing, but what about deep-skin ageing?
Address anti-ageing with Ultherapy and hyaluronic acids, by stimulating collagen from within
Skin can become distressed at any age, and some of us simply age faster for various reasons. Amaris B. Clinic offers two treatments that can help turn back the clock from deep within by boosting collagen levels.
This is a non-invasive skin lifting treatment that uses ultrasound to generate thermal effects beneath targeted areas of the skin. This triggers the body to make collagen by stimulating fibroblast activity. The procedure can help to lift skin on areas such as the cheeks, neck and even eyebrows. It’s also used to smooth lines and wrinkles on the décolletage. Results continue to improve over two to three months and can last up to a year or more. Remember to look for authentic ulthera medical providers as this procedure can only be performed by doctors.
Hyaluronic acid injections with biostimulation effect, administered to five points on the face addresses skin laxity (sagging skin), skin dehyration, and thinning of skin layers. Hyaluronic acid injections with biostimulation effect can be paired with other aesthetic treatments such as Ultherapy, HIFU, wrinkle smoothing injection or lasers. It rejuvenates and hydrates skin while helping the body to produce collagen and elastin and is recommended for the mid and lower face, as well as other delicate areas of skin such as the neck and décolletage.
To find out if the treatments are suitable for you, it is advisable to schedule an appointment and speak with the doctor.
What’s best for you and your skin health?
No two bodies and skin are the same. Each patient is unique, and so are individual preferences, needs and wants. Dr Ivan Puah treats patients from all walks of life and has years of experience in key areas of aesthetic medicine ,dermatology, liposuction, fat grafting and gynecomastia surgery.
Written in collaboration with:
Amaris B. Clinic
140 Arab Street
6536 4211 | email@example.com
Like this? Read more in our Health & Fitness section.


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Salty Dog Charters have a three to four-hour tour of the Lady Julia Percy Island. Where you can see Seal colonies, blowhole, bird watching, cliffs, reefs and amazing scenery, Griffiths Island and lighthouse, amazing photographic trip and dolphins (not always guaranteed). The beautiful Lady Julia Percy Island is 22 kilometres south-west of Port Fairy, Australia’s...read more.
- Half Day or Less
- Nature and wildlife

domain: geography


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In a bid to reduce plastic waste, environmental enthusiasts have asked the public to embrace a circular economy as opposed to a linear economy. This was during the Uganda Environmental Forum that took place at Kampala Serena Hotel, under the theme “Enabling Uganda’s transition to a circular economy”.
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
According to the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, a circular economy presents opportunities for people involved in the value chain as opposed to a linear economy which involves single use and dump off of products.
“The circular economy focuses on minimising wastage, re-use as long as possible, and extracting maximum value for the products; we must devise methods to keep using the same resources despite population growth,” he stated.
Akanwasah added: “We must educate consumers about sustainable consumption; we need to rally them to shy away from single-use products because they can’t allow the transition to a circular economy.”
He further asked government to offer incentives in form of tax holidays, and rebates to encourage production. “We need to foster collaboration between Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and communities to accelerate the circular economy,” he stated.
While officiating the event, Mr Sam Cheptoris, the Minister of Water and Environment said manufacturers should design production lines to utilize what would be considered waste, as alternatives.
This, he said, would not only save the environment but also create jobs in the value chain. At the same event, the Minister also launched the National Strategy for promoting plastic circularity in Uganda 2023-2028.
“When you see all the litter, how do you feel? Do the manufacturers feel happy or do they see it the other way? I think we should have some remorse,” said Minister Cheptoris.
Andrew Kilonzo, the Managing Director of Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) said the brewery has for decades invested in circular glass bottle use in the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages.
“As a business, we are a member of this society, come July this year, we shall use PET that has 40% recycled material; we are committed to grain-to-glass sustainability,” he stated.
He also said UBL has in place an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) to treat water before it is disposed of back to its source.
According to Mr. Songa Biyika, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee, food waste ending in landfills contributes 10% of the world’s green greenhouse emissions whereas the extractives sector contributes half of the world’s carbon emissions.

domain: news


Digital refocusing is an interesting and useful tool for generating dynamic depth-of-field (DOF) effects in many types of photography such as portraits and creative photography. Since most existing digital refocusing methods rely on four-dimensional light field captured by special precisely manufactured devices or a sequence of images captured by a single camera, existing systems are either expensive for wide practical use or incapable of handling dynamic scenes. We present a low-cost approach for refocusing high-resolution (up to 8 mega pixels) images and videos based on a single shot using an easy to build camera-mirror stereo system. Our proposed method consists of four main steps, namely system calibration, image rectification, disparity estimation, and refocusing rendering. The effectiveness of our proposed method has been evaluated extensively using both static and dynamic scenes with various depth ranges. Promising experimental results demonstrate that our method is able to simulate various controllable realistic DOF effects. To the best of our knowledge, our method is the first that allows one to refocus high-resolution images and videos of dynamic scenes captured by a conventional compact camera.


(DURHAM, NC) ReverbNation, the company that has helped millions of emerging artists advance their careers, will become an even greater resource to its bands as it enters the music publishing arena. The new division, CONNECT Songs, will provide publishing administration services under a revenue sharing model with its artists. Under the terms of the artist agreement, all artists will remain contractually unencumbered, and unlike competitive models, no long term co-publishing rights will be acquired by the company and there are no upfront fees.
The first artists to benefit from the new publishing division will be members of ReverbNation’s artist development incubator CONNECT, which develops promising artists identified by the company’s curation-at-scale capability.
“CONNECT Songs enables ReverbNation to provide powerful, efficient and fully transparent royalty collection services for our bands,” said Simon Perry, ReverbNation’s Chief Creative Officer. “Combined with our growing traditional creative publishing capabilities, participating artists will have a powerful new tool to monetize their music, grow their audience and increase their visibility within the music industry.”
ReverbNation has formed an alliance with Sentric Music to enable CONNECT Songs to collect publishing royalties worldwide. Sentric will handle royalty collection, sync services, and neighboring rights services for artists that choose to participate.
“No other company in the world has access to the volume of great, emerging artists than ReverbNation,” said Chris Meehan, CEO of Sentric Music. “Their commitment to offering services of real value to artists of all levels is what has attracted us to work with the company over a number of years. The publishing administration and synchronisation services will enable artists to create and protect a valuable income stream.”
Over the past few weeks, ReverbNation has announced other significant opportunities for bands to gain access to the industry, all made possible by its new curation-at-scale capability. These have included membership in SESAC and key performance slots at important industry events and festivals.


Russia breathed a sigh of relief after the IOC declined to impose a blanket ban on its competitors at the Rio Games over state-run doping, but the decision met fierce criticism elsewhere with Olympic chiefs branded “spineless”.
In one of the most momentous moves in its chequered history, the International Olympic Committee said Sunday it was up to each international sportsfederation to decide if Russians could take part in Rio.
The federations now face a race against the clock with the opening ceremony only 11 days away, globalsport sharply divided and some Russian competitors already in Brazil.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the IOC decision “positive”.
“We welcome the main decision, which allows so-called clean athletes to take part in the Olympic Games,” Peskov told reporters.
Russian sport and the Kremlin have been rocked by doping scandals that saw its track and field team banned from competition, including Rio, and sparked calls led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for all Russians to be barred until they cleaned up.
Dmitry Svishchev, who heads the lower house of Russian parliament’s sports and physical culture committee, told AFP the IOC decision was “not bad”.
But he railed against the ban — still in force — meted out previously to the athletics team.
“You can’t punish twice for the same thing,” Svishchev said.
World champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov, who cannot take part in Rio as a consequence, tweeted that Sunday’s IOC ruling was “hard but reasonable”.
Pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda said the IOC had taken the “safest route for itself”.
Russia’s gymnastics team — the first group of Russian athletes to arrive in Rio for the Games — are already training in Brazil, coach Valentina Rodionenko told R-Sport news agency, saying that “the worst is behind us”.
Most Russian competitors will fly out on Thursday, R-Sport reported, although it remains to be seen how many will actually take part in the Games.
– ‘A black day’ –
The reaction was in stark contrast to much of the rest of the world.
Olympic chiefs had been under pressure — and with time running down to Rio — to hit Russia with the hardest sanctions possible to punish state-run doping that was laid bare in a WADA-commissioned report a week ago by professor Richard McLaren.
It revealed wide-ranging Russian doping in Olympic events from 2011 and including the Sochi Games in 2014, where the secret service used a hole drilled in a wall to swap the dirty samples of doping competitors for clean ones, under the noses of international observers.
Four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent led a cacophony of British condemnation.
“IOC has passed the buck — pure and simple,” wrote the 45-year-old Pinsent in The Times.
Defending Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford also weighed in.
“(The IOC’s decision) is a spineless attempt to appear as the nice guy to both sides,” the 29-year-old told the Guardian newspaper.
The Australian government warned that a “suspicion of compromised integrity” now hung over the Games and New Zealand’s anti-doping body lamented “a black day for clean athletes”.
That came after WADA president Craig Reedie said: “The McLaren report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping programme in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sportembodied within the World Anti-Doping Code.”
US anti-doping chiefs blasted the IOC for creating “a confusing mess”.
– ‘She got what was coming’ –
Thomas Bach, the IOC president, said the Olympic body had faced an extremely difficult decision and had to “find the balance between the overall responsibility (of Russia) and the rights of each individual athlete”.
“The decision will certainly not appeal to everyone, but it comes down to justice,” Bach said in the immediate aftermath on Sunday.
The focus will now be on the Olympic sports to let in Russians who they believe are drug-free.
The World Archery Federation quickly declared that three Russian archers who had never tested positive for banned substances would be allowed to compete in Rio.
Russia’s fencing and pentathlon federations have expressed confidence that Russian athletes in their respective sports will also take part, but were still awaiting an official confirmation from the respective federations.
Russian media meanwhile praised the decision not to allow Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, who exposed mass doping in athletics, to compete at Rio.
The 800m runner, whom the IOC banned from participating even as a neutral, “got what was coming to her,” Komsomolskaya Pravda wrote. – Agence France-Presse


text:
A press release plays a crucial role towards an effective marketing strategy for mostly any type of company.
Press releases are an insightful piece of information that improves the media awareness of any company while also allowing for a focus on exciting products or even a new company direction. A press release follows a standard universal format and this makes it easier for readers and publications to get the desired news they need in an efficient manner. The real purpose of a press release is to make media members aware of your news in hopes that they will turn it into a news story and thus spread the word to their army of readers, the public. Press releases can be an extremely effective marketing tool in that they allow companies to strictly control the message being published.
Send Press Releases is a full service press release distribution company. In fact the newswire pro package by Send Press Releases, will distribute to the largest newswire of press releases in the world, with journalists, reporters, trade magazines, and bloggers. And like other similar services, they haven’t forgotten the power of print, radio, and television. A distribution report will be provided to the client.
Whether it is a new company launch or a new product launch by your own company, press releases work to ensure that they cover all aspects of this and bring it forward to the press.
Send Press Releases uses a true newswire of press releases, and will distribute your press release over a mechanism that is being fed to nearly every newsrooms across the United States. This mechanism includes dedicated terminals that stream newsfeeds, special feeds on a corporate intranet, as well as private newsrooms on the Internet for journalists who are working remotely.
Your press releases will always show up on Google News, Bing, and Yahoo! news, as well as any other active search engine. In addition, press releases will also receive permanent storage in PR Newswire’s private PR Newswire for Journalists. This searchable newsroom is a valuable research tool to more than 100,000+ registered journalists, writers, and reporters. Most Fortune 1000 companies and nearly all publicly traded companies use a major newswire of press releases because they recognize that it is the most legitimate and widespread mechanism for reaching the most media.


HBYM GROUP Co,.LTD
Model No.: 85B/90B
Type: Concrete Pump
Condition: New, 100% New
Application: Concrete Pump
Warranty: 1 Year
Name: IHI 85B/90B Sliding Gate Valve Assy
Packaging: wooden case
Brand: HBYM GROUP
Place of Origin: hebei
Supply Ability: 100sets/week
Concrete Pump Sliding Valve gate are used in IHI and Sany concrete pump.The size of sliding valve include 85B/90B and 100B.110B.
The material of sliding rod is 20CrMn,other parts material all are 42crMn.Besides the technology high temperature treatement is used in
sliding valve assy, so thathe lifetime of sliding gate valve assy could reach 15,000CBM ~ 20,000CBM.
Constitution: 1 Set=2Pcs, Packaged in two wooden box.the weight is 110kgs for each set.
|Product Name||Concrete Pump Sliding Gate Valve|
|Material||20CrMn and 40CrMn|
|Brand||For IHI and Sany|
|Lifetime||15,000 ~20,000 CBM|
IHI Concrete Pump Spare Parts 85B/90B Sliding Gate Valve Assy
1).The sliding rod after chrome treatness.
Chromed Sliding Rod
2).Rod Guide with Rubber
Sliding Gate Rod Guide
3).Valve Plate Upper and Lower for Sliding Valve
4).Rubber Repair Kits
3.Packaging Of Sliding Gate Valve
Packaging : Plastic + Wooden Box Packaging
10 years experience,HBYM GROUP LIMITED is a manufacture trading company.
We are located in Hebei province. Our main business include concrete pump spare
parts, concrete pipe, concrete elbow and clamp. We supply spare parts for Putzmeister
Pump, Schwing Pump, Zoomlion Pump, CIFA Pump, Kyokuto Pump etc. Besides we
could also produce parts as customers` drawing.
We have professional working team, business team, technical team, service team.Our
annual sales about USD 5million.Our business market mainly in North America, Eastern
Europe, Africa, Mid East, Western Europe and Domestic Market.
Product Categories : IHI Spare Parts


text:
6 months of seasonal flower badge and postcard sets
I've teamed up with my friend local artist Kate Broughton, so that starting from March, each month you can receive a seasonal flower on a hand embroidered badge and illustrated postcard, through your door. Give future you some happy post each month!
I'm Amy Wilson, a maker based in Otley, West Yorkshire. Proud mum, keen allotment owner, and fan of bright block colours, the great outdoors and cutting my fringe.
Find me on instagram at @imamypanda

domain: design


text:
A new trailer for Justice League has just dropped, finally teasing the absent-from-marketing Superman, along with lots of new footage from the film.
Henry Cavill’s Superman has been missing from all the marketing for this film, as it obviously appears the filmmakers are keeping his return in the film a surprise.
However, we do get to see a glimpse of him in this latest trailer, and while it’s only in a dream sequence, it’s fair to think that he’ll have a much larger role to play in the final product.
As far as the new trailer goes, aside from offering up some new footage from the film, it doesn’t do much else to bring forward anything new we haven’t seen from the film, as far as action and plot go.
It’s a bit concerning as the plot looks like it will go the way of the generic world-ending threat we’ve become accustomed to in a lot of superhero films, so I hope there will be a lot more to it then that.
The trailer serves up a big plate of action-spectacle from the film which was always to be expected, though I hope filmmakers Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon can find the right balance.
Justice League hits cinemas on 16 November 2017, let us know your thoughts about the latest trailer in the comments below.

domain: artistic


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An international team of scientists has completed the first-ever study of the potential health effects of natural and artificial nanoparticles for all major living animal species. Researchers at the University of Plymouth’s EU Nanofase project evaluated how the intestines of various living species – from honeybees to humans – can protect them from bioaccumulation and toxicological effects of engineering nanomaterials (ENM) found in the environment. The research is published in the journal Environmental Science: Nano
A study by scientists has shown that the digestive systems of many species have become a barrier, protecting them from absorbing potentially harmful particles. However, invertebrates such as earthworms have motile cells in the intestines that can absorb and transport ENM.
This poses an additional risk for many species of invertebrates – particles can be absorbed through these mobile cells, and later affect the functioning of internal organs and cause damage.
Fortunately, this process is not repeated in humans and other vertebrates, but nanomaterials can still have a negative impact on the food chain.
The study involved scientists from the UK, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Portugal and focused on particles up to 100 nanometers in size.
The study combined existing and new research on species, including insects and other invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals, and identified gaps in knowledge about reptiles and amphibians. The report provides the first comprehensive review of how differences in gut structure may affect the effects of ENM on the animal kingdom.
This work by a team of scientists combines nearly 100 years of zoological research with the modern understanding of nanotechnology scientists.
The threats posed by engineered nanomaterials are becoming increasingly known, but this study provides the first comprehensive species-level assessment of how they might represent current and future threats. It should lay the foundations for understanding dietary hazards in the animal kingdom.
Richard Handy, professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Plymouth and senior study author

domain: chemistry


text:
In an interview with AARP magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that her 25-year-old child with acclaimed director Christopher Guest is transgender. With their daughter's permission, Curtis made the revelation to the magazine. "We have watched in wonder and pride as our son became our daughter Ruby," the Halloween series star, philanthropist... Read More.
Mekai Curtis knows he has some big shoes to fill with his latest role as Kanan in the Power prequel, Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Considering he's taking on a role first played by Power franchise exec-producer, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, the young star reveals that his boss actually stays... Read More.
(SOUTH CAROLINA) -- The news of the September 13 cancer-related death of a super fan of both of Halloween the holiday and Halloween the movie has now gone viral. Twenty-nine year old Anthony Woodie married his longtime girlfriend Emilee on that date, in a ceremony in South Carolina that... Read More.
(LOS ANGELES) -- Chris Evans became known for having more than just a patriotic pair of glutes when he accidentally posted an explicit photo of himself last month. While the actor maintains that the NSFW blunder was an embarrassing mistake,... Read More.


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By Usama Khilji & Saleha Zahid
The tempo of technological change in Pakistan is constantly escalating. Millions of users are getting online for the first time, using an ever-expanding array of new services and devices, and governments and policy-making bodies are struggling to respond to this influx of users and new technologies. This research study attempts to provide a mapping of the policymaking process in the information technology sector in Pakistan during this critical time.
The report analyzes the way this process has impacted and continues to impact individuals, businesses, and society, as more and more social, political, and economic interactions occur online. It seeks to better understand the decision- and policy-making processes and the type of policies, primarily censorship and blocking, that have, in the past and present, been implemented in response to various socio-political issues and events. Using interviews with policy makers and stakeholders involved in the process of developing online regulations, it reviews critical issues related to quality of access, and levels of user satisfaction. It also examines the average user’s level of awareness of internet regulation and policies.
The report presents for the first time a complete picture of Pakistan’s Cyber policymaking landscape and the actors and process that fuel these policy decisions. It seeks to analyze the patterns and attributes of internet policymaking in Pakistan in order to better and more clearly understand the complicated, reactionary and ever-changing nature of ICT policymaking in the country. It seeks to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges this country faces, and offers glimpses of valuable insights into the future direction of the policy making process.

domain: library


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Chicago 2016 Unveils Logo – Six-Point Star
It’s a six-point star like the one in Chicago’s flag, surrounded by a banner of colours. That’s Chicago’s logo for its 2016 Summer Olympic Games bid which was unveiled Wednesday by Olympic gold medallists Jackie Joyner Kersee and Rowdy Gaines.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he hopes it will become a symbol of hope for the city of Chicago.
Chicago 2016’s bid committee says it hopes this logo will become a great symbol of hope “for our city and our nation – as we humbly seek the right to host the Olympic Games and welcome the world to Chicago in 2016.
“For us the Chicago Star also symbolizes our plan to put the athletes at the centre of the Games – since they’re the real stars”.
The logo is described as a compass pointing in all directions reaching out to the world. The bands of colour radiating up and down from the star reflect both the “dynamic architecture of our city and the beautiful character of our parks and lakes – but they also symbolize our desire to reach out to the world and offer many paths to the Games”, says Chicago 2016.
According to the bid committee the six-point design of the Chicago Star is unique and each point on the star represents values and ideals that the Olympic Movement and Chicago share.
The points on the star represent Hope, Respect, Harmony, Friendship, Excellence and Celebration.
In May the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Chicago couldn’t use its first design that depicted the city’s skyline shaped like the Olympic torch because using such Olympic symbols is against IOC rules. Write or read comments about this article
- PyeongChang 2018 Shares Experiences
- French IOC Members Criticize Annecy 2018
- GB Digest
- Group Formed To Protest Boston 2024 Olympic Bid
- Only Twenty Per Cent Support Paris 2024 Bid


At some point after my post here, I found someone with a similar issue over on SigTalk: https://sigtalk.com/p250-p320-p320-x-5-pistols/365326-p320-40-s-w-failure-feed.html ... I posted findings there (with pictures) and others posted with similar issues too. I just posted there now as well. Here's the bullet points of this fiasco:
* I tried grams spring and follower, no change
* I sent gun back to Sig, they swapped the barrel, issues were still there when I got it back
* I cut one of my mags with a Dremel, the front lip that was contacting the cartridge ... FTFs still occurred, this time they were jamming into the feed ramp and getting stuck there
* Tried the heaviest recoil spring I had (18#), issue still occurred
* For some of the rounds that did feed, the gun still cycled weird ... you can feel it, hard to explain beyond that
* Was told by someone at Sig that this is a known issue and a fix is in the works ... I don't think it's high priority because there's less .40 interest these days (outside of USPSA)
@Gen , I can see how loading shorter could help, but I'm not in a position to do that since I don't reload.
@thormx538 , mags are seated all the way. I have used two different factory mag catches (the original and one from Springer Precision with the paddle). I have mostly used the TXG grip module. I have shot it in its original full size configuration, but not enough to determine anything. Note that I'm using the FCU from a 9mm P320 that has the GrayGuns competition trigger kit.
At this point in time, I'm done troubleshooting this issue and am moving onto a new platform for Limited Major. When Sig release their "fix" in the assumed form of an official X5 in .40, or similar, that will be cool, but since I've already moved on, it likely won't be something for me, but we'll see.


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Jefferson City police have not completed their investigation into the death of 12-year-old Eyana White, but many residents are concerned bullying may have contributed to her death.
Despite below-freezing temperatures and light snow, dozens of White's friends and family gathered outside Lewis and Clark Middle School a week ago to hold a candlelight vigil for the young girl. Several speakers at the vigil lamented bullying's pernicious toll and talked about ways the community could do more to stop it.
In early reports, police referred to the incident as an "apparent suicide," but their investigation is still ongoing, a department spokesman said Saturday. Police are still examining the events that may have led to White's death.
"In our initial report from the family, there was no mention ... no inclination or feeling... that bullying had anything to do with it," said Jefferson City Capt. Doug Shoemaker.
The girl's friends - and many in the community - are using the 12-year-old's death to send a strong message against bullying.
One of the speakers at the vigil, Alyssa Custer, 14, knew the younger girl from the time they spent together at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City. Custer has created a YouTube memorial to her friend in which she shares an anti-bullying message.
"She could light up the room with her smile," said Custer.
Custer said the two girls hung out together at the club. There they played basketball, refined their moves for the step team and finished off their
homework together. Eyana enjoyed fixing her friend's lush, curly, dark Puerto Rican hair.
"We just clicked," Custer said.
She said her younger friend didn't talk about being bullied, but she believes it was happening.
"I've seen it happen at the Boys & Girls Club. It was little things ... like someone calling her "ugly' or telling her she "didn't have any style.' When it comes to bullying, it makes me mad, because I've been bullied myself," Custer said. "I'm a big girl ... bigger than most."
Custer wasn't sure if Eyana had been cyber-bullied. But she feels negative remarks made by other teens may have contributed to her friend's sad state of mind in the days leading to her Dec. 17 death at her East Side home.
"It's my first friend that I've lost. She should be having fun. She should be hanging out with her friends. But she can't do that now," said Custer.
The loss of someone so young has shocked and saddened many in the community.
As executive director of the Jefferson City Council for Drug-Free Youth, Joy Sweeney leads a team of counselors and teachers tasked with bringing bullying-prevention programs into the schools. Her work is aimed at preventing tragic situations like this one.
When boys pick on each other, it often turns physical. But when girls bully, they often create a special circle of emotional hell for each other.
Why do some teens, especially preteens, bully their peers so mercilessly?
Although she isn't excusing the behavior, Sweeney views bullying as a coping mechanism for youths who are experiencing emotional pain. While some turn that pain inward - perhaps cutting themselves or taking drugs - others deflect it outward with cruelty toward their peers.
Tearing someone else down makes you feel like you're lifting yourself up, Sweeney lamented. Sometimes followers learn to either emulate a leader's bad behavior or they keep their mouths shut, so they don't become ostracized themselves.
"No matter how talented you are, you know your own shortcomings," she said. "You feel that negativity toward yourself. Picking on someone else is a way of dealing with frustration.
"It's flawed. It's horrible. But it's a coping mechanism for preteens. It's a transference of self-hatred."
For each negative criticism a human hears, it takes 10 positive comments to reverse the harm, she said.
To reverse these trends, Sweeney's organization offers anti-bullying programs starting in the seventh grade.
"Our emphasis is on prevention," she said. "But prevention is all about effectively communicating the message."
Some of those programs allow students to experience what it feels like to be ostracized, in a controlled way, so they better can imagine how much it hurts and become less willing to inflict similar pain on others.
She noted research has shown peer-to-peer messaging is one of the best ways to reach students. In Jefferson City, the ninth graders talk to the sixth graders, and so on.
"It really helps to see other kids communicating this message," Sweeney said.
But she said for any effort to really work, it must be supported by the community.
"Children are just learning how to navigate this life. Adults have to model kind and compassionate behavior," she said.
Sweeney said preventing bullying is a challenge because technology allows cruelty to be more insidious and ubiquitous.
Cyber-bullying is something both Katie Doerr and Emily McMichael have noticed, too. The girls, who attend St. Peter Interparish School, were hanging out at Washington Park Ice Arena on Friday.
"You can be a big, old liar behind the keyboard," Doerr said.
She said her school does a good job of reducing cyber-bullying by enforcing policies, but it happens.
It's not uncommon to have to deal with "frenemies," people who compliment you to your face, but cut you behind your back or online.
"Kids will find something that bugs you and they'll keep on about it," she said.
"Fat. That's the biggest insult," said McMichael. She said the topic lends itself to a lot of back-handed remarks, such as: "You look less fat today."
"It's worse for girls," McMichael added. "Girls are meaner. They find more things to pick on."
Among many of the people interviewed, the idea that girls inflict more damage, and suffer more, seemed to be a consensus.
Perhaps bullying afflicts girls at a deeper level because they are more sensitive.
Leah Stiefermann and Mariah Twenter, both 14 and enrolled at Helias Catholic High School, agreed.
"Guys tend to handle situations differently," Stiefermann said. "They are thicker-skinned. Less vulnerable. It might hurt as much, but they don't show it."
Twenter feels it's easier to deliver unpleasant remarks with a text than with a phone call.
"There's been times when someone has been really rude to me on a text, but then I see them in person and things are fine," she said.
"That's happened to me, too," Stiefermann added.
To add to the problem, girls are trying to reach an ideal of beauty unattainable for most.
"Girls are judged on their physical appearance," Twenter lamented.
And they blamed boys, in part, for doing the judging. "If you don't own the right look, you can't earn it. They (boys) don't give you the chance," Stiefermann rejoined.
Kalen Crawford, now 21, admitted he was bullied on occasion while enrolled in both Jefferson City's public and parochial schools.
"One time a senior threw grapes at my head," he lamented. "Bullying is one of those things you can't escape from, no matter what. There are predators and prey."
But even Crawford said bullying among girls can be subtle and harsher.
"You have to have the right clothes, the right make-up, the right body, the right hair," he said. "And girls will dissect it to pieces and they are going to attack."

domain: sociology


text:
The Obama Administration asked a federal court today to throw out the lawsuit filed over its mandate to force religious employers to pay for coverage of birth control and abortion drugs.
Life News reported:
The Obama administration has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the Obama administration over its mandate to force religious employers to pay for coverage for birth control and drugs that can cause abortions.
This was its first opportunity to explain to the court and the country why the mandate is not illegal and unconstitutional. The Obama administration did not defend the constitutionality of the mandate, but said the lawsuit should be thrown out because the administration plans to revise the mandate to make it on insurance companies to pay for coverage rather than employers, who will still have to make referrals.
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“Plaintiff’s challenge to the preventive services coverage regulations is not fit for judicial review because defendants [Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius] have indicated that they will propose and finalize changes to the regulations that are intended to accommodate plaintiff’s religious objections to providing contraception coverage,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) wrote in its brief to the Washington, D.C. District Court.
Obama officials claim the mandate does not put forth any “immediate injury” to religious groups.