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A variety of encouraging signs indicate that stock prices may have continued upward impetus through the end of 2017 and into 2018, CNBC reports. Among these are the progress of tax reform in the Senate, where the Republican-sponsored bill has advanced out of committee, and Senate confirmation hearings for Jerome Powell, nominated to succeed Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve Chair, who inspired investor confidence by indicating similar policy views to Yellen's, CNBC says. Also given the fact that the stock market rally is broad-based and global, Todd Sohn, a technical analyst with Strategas Research Partners, sees a "melt-up" scenario developing, per CNBC.
What "Melt-Up" Means
According to Investopedia's strict definition, a "melt-up" occurs when investors chase an asset class simply because it has been rising in price, thus sending prices yet higher. However, the current situation does offer some fundamental factors that justify continued bullishness about equities, such as corporate earnings that are still growing robustly, solid economic growth around the globe, and improving prospects for U.S. tax reform that would give profits a further boost.
In "melt-up" fashion, some bearish investors may become buyers simply because they are tired of seeing stock prices rocket ever upward, while they stay on the sidelines. These investors may be setting aside their lingering concerns about high valuations and expectations of a long-overdue correction, at least for the near term. (For more, see also: Global 4% GDP Growth Can Fuel Stocks in 2018: Goldman.)
How Broad Are Gains?
Skeptics and bears point to the outsized impact on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by the five mega cap FAAMG technology stocks, which account for nearly 14% of that index's value. On the other hand, about 70% of S&P 500 stocks have posted gains this year, and most of the major indexes around the world either have set new records, or have regained significant ground lost years ago. These facts lead the bulls to conclude that this rally is being propelled by much more than outsized gains in a handful of outsized stocks. (For more, see also: Stocks Could Rise As Much As 27% in 2018.)
On Tuesday, the S&P 500 Financials Index posted a gain of 2.6%, its best day since March, on the strength of comments by Powell that the Fed is likely to raise short-term interest rates in December, which would boost financial companies' earnings, The Wall Street Journal reports. The improved outlook for the passage of corporate tax cuts was another factor sending financial shares upward, as well as the shares of retailers and small businesses, the Journal adds, given that all these companies tend to have relatively high effective federal income tax rates. The S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index rose 1.1% on Tuesday, per S&P Dow Jones Indices, while the small cap Russell 2000 Index gained 1.5%, per the Journal.
Heading into the holiday shopping season, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index is at its highest level in 17 years, per the Journal, which adds that world economy is looking its strongest since 2010, based on a report from the OECD. Given that personal consumption expenditures (PCE) currently equal about 69% of U.S. GDP, per the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the willingness of consumers to open their wallets should drive continued growth in the economy, and in stock prices.
In fact, according to another Journal article, the Conference Board's index of consumer confidence already was at a 17-year high in October, and November's results were even better. Unemployment dropped to a 17-year low in October, and increases in consumer optimism are being registered across income levels, the Journal says. Meanwhile, online shoppers are spending with gusto in the early days of the holiday shopping season. (For more, see also: Amazon's Holiday Dominance Is a Bonus for Investors.)

domain: news


But lyrics and song content belong to the fawmers who wrote them!
fawmtronica electronic chill acoustic electronica
A little chill thing that I made. Had to make something before I fell behind, and this is what I got.
Got to play with my more organic virtual instruments, like my pan drums.
@splittybooms glad you enjoyed the visuals!
Check out https://fawm.org/forums/topic/11179 to learn more about how I made them.
Your melody game is on point as always. Love the lead, both the sound itself and what you play with it.
It gives the track a nice bit of hooky candy to balance the chill.
I also enjoyed the visuals. I'm curious, did you program/create it yourself? I forget you're a mad scientist programmer as well lol
And is the pad made from the pan drums?
Anyway, great chilled vibe on this with added ear candy.
Very atmospheric. You definitely got the organic feel here. The imperfect oscillations and pitch drift are really nice on the ear. That lead is just melty. If that’s even a word... So enjoyable.
Nice. I liked the lead that started around 1:15. Straining a bit trying to figure out what the scratching sound is. Prefer it a bit softer in the mix. As @aeye said, nice sparse ending.
It's chill, but it also kinda gives me silent hill vibes. Mainly from the drum beat and the wavy leads. But then it evolves into a more hopeful sounding track with the big lead. The ending with the really sparse instrumentation was a fantastic way to cap this off. It just lets it flow to the end.


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According to reports, Arsenal are close to finalising a three year deal with Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole. Cole’s representatives held a meeting with Arsenal officials to negotiate the deal yesterday.
The deal is expected to be finalized soon, and an announcement is expected before the World Cup begins on June 11th.
The report emerged after Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said that he believes Cole has signed a deal with a club.
“It looks to me that someone’s going to make a great free transfer,”
“I genuinely don’t know who that is, but I don’t think it’s going to be Tottenham.”
“I’ve got a feeling—and I may be wrong—that he’s already agreed a deal with someone.”
“I’m a big fan of Joe’s, and I would be interested if he didn’t stay at Chelsea, but the feedback we’ve had is that he might well have already done something.”
Cole’s contract negotiations with Chelsea stalled some time ago, apparently due to the fact that Cole wanted £100,000 a week wages, from his current £80,000 a week deal.
Cole also failed to establish himself as a first team player under manager Carlo Ancelotti.
If true, the news will be a massive boost for the Arsenal fans, who were left shocked when inspirational captain Cesc Fabregas revealed that he wants to join Barcelona.
Cole will be a welcome addition to an Arsenal squad that lacks English talent.
A young sensation, Cole started his career at West Ham and was touted as one of the hottest prospects in the game as a 16-year-old. He helped the Hammers win the FA Youth Cup, but when the Hammers were relegated from the top flight in 2003 he signed with Chelsea for £6.6 million.
Technically one of the best players around, he has a great passing range and his creativity can unlock a defence.
He can play on either wing and as an attacking midfielder. His game will suite Arsenal’s style of play and will be an excellent addition to the squad.
But the signing may mean that Arsenal have all but resigned to losing Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. Arsenal have rejected an initial bid from the Catalan side, maintaining that their captain is not for sale.


The visionary leader himself, YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir shares his insights on the future of the GIG economy in Malaysia as he inspires and encourages thousands of youths at the SEA Connect Creative Conference 2020 (SCCC 2020). Organized by Creative Cloud Community (CCC), SCCC 2020 is a CSR initiative to empower students and youths in the creative sector.
Tun Dr. Mahathir took his time to be a part of SCCC 2020, he believes that this event is the start for the leaders of tomorrow to better understand the potential and revolution of Gig opportunities in Malaysia. As we move into 2021 amidst this pandemic, the Gig economy is expected to diversify career pathways and may just as well be a new norm.
Despite the challenges of hosting a physical conference due to the pandemic, the Creative Cloud Community was quick to adapt to the situations to provide the best virtual experience to participants. The SCCC 2020 is a virtual conference platform like non-other that allows attendees to engage with speakers through an intriguing setup that simulates a physical event, with high-energy crowd engagement activities. Because of these features, it is easier to significantly suppress the challenges of having a virtual event to bring the best experience possible to viewers.
Acestar Group CEO and CCC Founder Natalie Sit said, “With the pandemic amongst and many obstacles along the way, we made sure that SCCC 2020 was held in a way in which safety was a priority while also bringing the event to being as stimulating and life-like as possible.”
Apart from being able to learn from industry leaders on how to succeed in this era where Gig Economy is booming, the conference features interactive virtual booths where attendees can visit and view the latest products from various brands. As part of its goal to upskill the creative industry in Malaysia, SCCC 2020 provided complementary entries for students, giving grasp to the fact that not every student is able to bear the cost of the tickets during these trying times.
“The whole reason behind this event is for students to strive and explore their passion and skills in the creative industry. With that in mind, we understand that bearing the cost of tickets can be burdensome to students, which is why we wanted to lift that burden off for students from all walks of life to participate for free,” Natalie Sit added.
The ACA (Adobe Certified Associate) Championship Malaysia 2020 revealed its champion at the grand finale in conjunction with the SEA Connect Creative Conference (SCCC). ACA 2020, a global competition with a mission to inspire youths across Malaysia to strive in the creative industry, took place virtually due to the pandemic. Danny Tse Wei Chun, the winner of the ACA Championship Malaysia 2020, will be sponsored by Acestar Sdn Bhd to represent Malaysia in the ACA World Championship 2021 that will take place in the USA.
Danny Tse Wei Chun said, “I am very honored to have been chosen as the Champion of the ACA Championship Malaysia 2020, this opportunity has boosted my confidence and fed the fire for me to push myself even further in the creative industry; I am also very thankful for the opened doors in my career path from the outcome of winning this competition.”
The Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) certification is a global industry-recognized credential that can be used to effectively validate one’s skills in Adobe digital-media software. It offers individuals with the certification of possessing entry-level skills to plan, design, build, and maintain effective communications using different forms of digital media. The main sponsor of the event, HP Malaysia, has played a significant role in supporting the growth of the creative industry.
“Malaysian creators today are looking for premium products that not only provide true mobility and security but can also push the limits of performance for their design needs,” said Zeke Lan, Workstation & Thin Market Development Manager, HP Inc Malaysia, and Singapore. “Z by HP aims to set the new standard for the serious creators while maintaining our status as the world’s most secure mobile workstations” he added.


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The Three Angels
In recent issues of The Reformation Herald we have spoken about all three angels of Revelation 14.
Of the first of these angels it is written:
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlast- ing gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:6, 7).
Why do we call this angel “the first” when verse 6 says that he is “another angel”? Back in Revelation 8:13 John wrote: “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”
Now in chapter 14 John sees three other angels with different messages.
Another reason that this angel is called the first is because after him comes “another angel” and then “the third angel” followed them. So in this chapter we have:
1. “Another angel.”
2. “Another angel”; and
3. The “third angel.”
The first angel’s message: The everlasting gospel
The first angel is described as flying in the midst of heaven with “the ever- lasting gospel.”
Why does the prophet call this mes- sage “the everlasting gospel”? The main reason is because the plan of salvation wasn’t brought into existence after sin, but much earlier, in eternity past.
“The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formu- lated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of ‘the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal’ (Romans 16:25, RV).
It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne. From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, ‘that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).”1 And this plan will be deeply studied in eternity.
The everlasting gospel provides a wonderful hope for repented sinners that Jesus Christ, the “Wonderful,” the “Counsellor,” “the mighty God,” “the Everlasting Father,” is their Advocate, their Representative in the heavenly court.
The inspired words of John are very comforting to all those who trust in “the blood of the Lamb”: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2).
If we believe in Christ and submit our- selves to His lordship, we can count on Him as our Defender in the most holy place.
After seeing the angel with the “everlasting gospel,” John talks about his message: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
Fearing God means lovely submis- sion to His highest position as the Sovereign of the Universe. “In the New Testament mention is made of a fear which has high moral quality and religious value.”2
Fear actually presents two contrast- ing meanings: “Anxious dread or terror in the face of danger; also reverence to or awe of God. . . . While ‘fear of the Lord’ can mean outright fear of God’s presence, it also means to revere God, an idea most directly expressed in the Wisdom Literature (e.g., Proverbs 2:5). Fear of God is connected to keeping the law and commandments (Eccle- siastes 12:13) and is . . . ‘the root of wisdom’ (Sir. 1:20). Most succinctly stated, ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, is understanding’ (Job 28:28).
“To fear God, then, is to be com- pletely devoted to his will and its rewards while knowing the awesome consequences of not fearing him. This is the background to Paul’s injunction to the Philippians to ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ (Philippians 2:12).”3
This is the meaning of the expres- sion “Fear God” as uttered by the first angel. And he further says: “Give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” Unconditional submission to God’s will and faith in Jesus Christ are the provisions to go to the divine judgment with reverent trust.
“Worship him.” What is the real meaning of worship?
In His talking with the Samaritan woman beside Jacob’s well in Sicar, Christ gave a meaningful explanation about true worship: “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23, 24). Let us stress this expression: “true worship- pers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”
Before understanding who are the “true worshippers,” we need to know what is “true worship.”
“Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The re- ligion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit.”4
The Second Angel’s Message
“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8).
The religious movement represented by the second angel announces the fall of spiritual Babylon, a symbol of the churches that rejected the first angel’s message.
“As the nominal churches refused to receive the first angel’s message, they rejected the light from heaven and fell from the favor of God. They trusted to their own strength, and by opposing the first message placed themselves where they could not see the light of the second angel’s message. But the beloved of God, who were oppressed, accepted the message, ‘Babylon is fallen,’ and left the churches.”5
Which churches were identified as Babylon denounced by the second angel?
“The second angel’s message of Revelation 14 was first preached in
the summer of 1844, and it then had a more direct application to the churches of the United States, where the warning of the judgment had been most widely proclaimed and most generally rejected, and where the declension in the churches had been most rapid. But the message of the second angel did not reach its complete fulfillment in 1844. The churches then experienced a moral fall, in consequence of their refusal of the light of the Advent message; but that fall was not complete. As they have continued to reject the special truths for this time, they have fallen lower and lower. Not yet, however, can it be said that ‘Babylon is fallen, . . . because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ She has not yet made all nations do this. . . . The work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination.”6
The Third Angel’s Message
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:9–12).
We find again the word “worship,” meaning submission and obedience. Those who do not submit themselves to the Lord for sure will submit to the beast. There is no neutral ground. If we are not totally under the control of the Spirit of God, we will be controlled by another spirit. These worshippers of the beast receive a sign in their fore- heads or in their hands. The prophet is here talking about following the beast either by conviction or just by practice. Those who receive the wine of false doctrines from Babylon will drink of the wine of the wrath of God. About them is written that they have “no rest day nor night.” In contrast with those who found rest in Jesus, the opposing class has no rest at all.
What is the meaning of the expres- sions “beast,” “image” of the beast, and “mark” of the beast?
The powers of heaven are repre- sented by angels; however, the earthly powers are symbolized by the beast.
“We are to warn men and women against the worship of the beast and his image—against the worship of the idol Sunday. But in doing this work, we need not begin a warfare against unbelievers. We are simply to present the Word of the Lord, in its true dignity and purity, before the minds of those who are ignorant or indifferent regarding its teachings. . . . We need not tell them that they will go to hell unless they keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The truth itself, accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, will convict and convert hearts.”7
“John beholds a people distinct and separate from the world, who refuse to worship the beast or his image, who bear God’s sign, keeping holy His Sab- bath—the seventh day to be kept holy as a memorial of the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Of them the apostle writes, ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ ”8
The Mark of the Beast
“When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His author- ity, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome—‘the mark of the beast.’ And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast.’ ”9
With these solemn realities in mind, it is time to consider that other angel found in Revelation 18, often referred to as the fourth angel. R
1 The Desire of Ages, p. 22.
2 Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible. 3 Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. 4 The Desire of Ages, p. 189.
5 Early Writings, p. 237.
6 The Faith I Live By, p. 285.
7 Christ Triumphant, p. 178.
8 Evangelism, p. 233.
9 The Great Controversy, p. 449

domain: literature


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About 15 minutes north of Napa, nestled behind hills of grapevines, sits an authentically styled 13th century Tuscan castle winery…and why not, right?Continue reading Travel: Have Barrels of Fun in Napa Valley’s Castello di Amorosa
An odd prompt turned into a bit of a realization!Continue reading Becoming 2020: My Day in Bullet Points
This is a hard one! But not for the reason you might believe…Continue reading Becoming 2020: A Book I Love
My employer totally ghosted me…here’s how I feel about it.Continue reading Becoming 2020: Ghosted by Employer, My Opinion
As part of a blog challenge that I found (from 2017), I have decided to start writing some get-to-know-me posts to get this blog rolling. Thanks to Pinterest and a new Instagram friend and blogger, I am feeling inspired to become 100% me this year! That’s why I’m calling this challenge series “Becoming 2020” (or 20/20).
Here are 3 easy-peasy ways to put a smile on my face, and win me over! Do we share some similarities? Let’s find out!Continue reading Becoming 2020: 3 Ways to Win My Heart
Welcome to my up-and-coming anthology of thoughts and other tRoUbLiNg SyMpToMs of life on earth.
If you haven’t been to the magical islands of Hawai’i, this is your best guide to my favorite island of all…MAUI!Continue reading Travel: Explore Maui, Hawai’i like a Local


Phat Chex (Ben Pooley) is part of NONOM, the No Nonsense Music Crew. He hails from Plymouth coming from a background of hip-hop, turntablism, house, techno, electro, IDM, dub tech and bass music.
DJing since 1993, Ben started his career spinning hip-hop, his growing love of breaks and house music saw him move deeper into the electronic music scene. For many years he regularly played at the successful electro night UFO in Plymouth. Along the way his skill and dexterous skills behind the decks saw his play support to some fine acts, acts like Afrika Bambaataa, Schooly D, Scape One, Tipper, Transparent Sound, and LA Synthesis.
His skills on decks are matched with his growing presence in the studio. 2012 was a big year. It saw the release of both his and our début release Distant. A five track EP of exquisite deep electro and bass texture. His “house” sound saw release on Appleblim’s label Applepips with Can’t Stop / Git Da Funk. And, he contributed a track to UK electro mainstay – Pyramid Transmissions’ Interstellar Communication Vol 1.
In 2015 he contributed two tracks to our first compilation Winter Solstice.


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In Neuschwanstein and Linderhof you see 2 examples of the fairy tale world of the Bavarian court. Learn about Ludwig II, the “Swan King,” and his architectural vision. Stroll around the picturesque resort of Oberammergau on this day spent away from the city in the beautiful countryside.
Tucked away in the Bavarian mountains are the dream-like constructions of King Ludwig II. Begin at the Linderhof Palace, set in impeccably manicured gardens, and admire the striking Rococo building with typically ornate architecture.
Continue to the chocolate-box mountain village of Oberammergau and seize the opportunity to pick up a souvenir or 2. It's very difficult to resist a photo opportunity in these pretty surroundings.
Complete your tour of the Bavarian landscape at Neuschwanstein Castle. Wonder at this dramatic sight that was built in homage to Richard Wagner. It's easy to see how it also inspired the castle in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.

domain: artistic


The CSCRC provides frank and fearless research and in-depth analysis of cyber security systems, the cyber ecosystem and cyber threats.
Our researchers strive to produce evidence-based solutions to critical cyber security problems, with real-world applications to help governments, businesses and individuals.
This is underpinned by collaboration – the centre does not operate in a silo. Rather, we work with industry partners and universities to produce research with academic rigour and tangible results.
This is achieved by engaging in relevant projects aimed at enhancing Australia’s sovereign capabilities, building our nation’s cyber capacity and helping to ensure policy and law keep pace with technology.
Our Research Programs
Critical Infrastructure Security
Protecting core systems is vital for Australian businesses and governments to function efficiently and provide essential services. We deliver cyber security solutions that improve the security and reliability of Australia’s critical infrastructure, helping ensure Australia remains a safe and trusted place to do business.
Cyber Security Solution as a Service
As cyber threats continue to increase, ensuring organisational cyber resilience via rigorous and cost-effective solutions is necessary. We deliver solutions that promote and enhance cyber resilience for large and small-to-medium enterprise so they can do business safely in a connected world.
Our Research Themes
Security and Configuration Management of IoT Systems
Development of Next Generation Authentication Technologies
Predict, Detect, Respond to and Investigate Cyber Threats
Platform and Architecture for Cyber Security as a Service
Security Automation and Orchestration
Privacy Preserving Data Sharing in a Connected World
Law and Policy


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The Cour des Loges Hotel Review As hotels go, the Cour des Loges didn’t need [...]
Tag Archives | Reviews
A priest. A still-beating heart. Blood flowing down sacrificial steps until it flooded the ground some 30 metres below.
That’s my first mental image of Mayan culture, the…
To see the cool side of Paris, see Mama Shelter. Forget the Eiffel Tower and ignore the Champs Elysees. The young, the weird and the beautiful wine, dine and, er, rendezvous in the 20th – and they make no apology for it.
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…Covering a Wall and Bathing in Resplendent Lime Green
The last few years of careering around the globe have transformed me from the world’s worst packer into a lean, mean travel machine. Well, OK, a slim enough, friendly enough woman powered by chocolate, a list and a desk full of post-it notes.
Ah, London. According to some things I read, there’s nothing but high rise buildings, reams [...]
A golden sofa waits in the lobby of the Radisson on Mercer Street, its spine forming a glamorous backdrop that
From the moment I opened the parcel, I could tell it was going to be [...]
There are hotels. And then there are hotels. Places so imaginative, so extraordinary and so unusual that they stand out as experiences in their own right. The Egerton Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, is one of those hotels…
Like many a hotel in London, a Union Jack flag hangs over the doorway of The Rubens at the Palace, the
Picture this: a beach of white sand that curves to clasp the Indian Ocean. Palm trees fluttering at the edges of your vision. The crash and sigh of the waves in the distance. I open my eyes and…
How does a camera fare when you kayak, snorkel, coasteer and more? Here’s how…
Growing up in England, I heard plenty about French food. And Italian food.
Yet for some reason, even though Portugal’s so close, I’d have struggled to name a single Portuguese dish.
Every now and then I have trouble writing a review. Getting Out of Auto by Bethany Salvon has been giving me trouble for a couple of days now.
It’s not because I don’t like it. It’s because I’ve fallen in love with it.
he Hospes Palacio de los Patos, a luxury hotel in Granada, has a story. Maybe even a story and a half.
Built in 1890 or so, as a grand expression of fine living in Granada, it quickly acquired the nickname of the “Palace of the Ducks” – a cheeky reference to…
First off, this article is going to be about finding accommodation in London. Secondly, just how enjoyable are the words Roomorama and the Big City Sleep?
Tokyo’s a crowded, industrial place, particularly around Suidobashi station. Yet Hotel Niwa resists the greyness by bringing the essence of a traditional Japanese Ryokan into this thoroughly modern hotel.
- Australia & Oceania
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domain: travel


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It is well recognised that the primary factor determining the success of your transition period is Dry Matter Intake (DMI). At the XLVets Transition Cow Roadshow last year, Steve Le Blanc presented data illustrating that 82% of DMI in dry cows is determined by management and not body condition score (BCS), diet formulation or parity. Driving DMI in your dry cows and fresh calvers is relevant regardless of the management system, breed, yield or parity of the dry cows. As an example, in a dry Holsteins, a 1kg/day decrease in DMI doubles the risk of subclinical ketosis post calving.
The ultimate dry cow management to maximise transition success would include:
Great success in driving DMI has been achieved by feeding dry cows twice a day. Provided the diet can be protected from the elements, it can be mixed once a day and then stored prior to putting it out as a second feed.
Supporting at risk cows:
What are effective interventions for ketotic cows?
Several feed additives have been extensively researched:
How to supplement choline?
Choline can be supplemented in the transition ration to the point of calving, but unless a herd has a fresh cow group it can’t be supplemented post calving without giving to the whole herd. Targeted dosing can be achieved using boluses. Trial work looking at yield response, has shown these to be most effective when given:
Use of Choline is a relatively new tool in the management of cows who are at risk for transition ‘failure’. Please do speak to us to find out whether this could be a suitable tool to help these problem cows and to identify ways to maximise your DMI in your dry cows.
Many thanks to James Husband for providing content for this article.

domain: agronomy


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We are working very hard to integrate App Portal with all the best invoicing and accounting softwares out there.
We'll create a fully customized build of App Portal with your business name, brand, and colors and get it published on Apple App Store™ and Google Play Store™.
When you generate invoices, your clients receive an SMS and an e-mail with a link to download your app. It means you won't even have to advertise your app to your customers: App Portal's platform can do that for you without additional costs.
In order to take advantage of App Portal features, each customers has to go through the registration two steps process. The first step is to create a user account with e-mail and password. The second is to link to their existing customer account in your accounting software by entering their billing information. Simple like that.
App Portal will remind your clients on the invoice due date and even if they become overdue, as well.
Each customer can have access to all their past and current invoices, as well as their payment history.
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2 years commitment.


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As part of his vision to keep the Oakdale Joint Unified School District moving forward and continuously improving, Superintendent Marc Malone wanted teachers to identify instructional norms and create a cohesive strategy to improve student learning.
Oakdale High School senior Justin Martinez was named Mr. Mustang on March 9 in the 2012 OHS Mr. Mustang contest held at the Magnolia school auditorium. He was also named Mr. Congeniality. Senior Marcus Hernandez and junior Adam Lahey tied for First Runner Up, seniors Jeremy Neathery, Thomas Angarole, and Braden Lee also competed.
Third graders usually don't take part in dissecting cow eyeballs as part of their science studies. But students in Melissa Clark's class at Magnolia Elementary School aren't a usual group.
Hundreds of kindergarten through sixth grade students are preparing for the annual Oakdale Joint Unified School District science fair. The fair runs Tuesday, March 13 through Thursday, March 15 and takes place at the FES Hall on Lee Avenue.
Budding young scientists from throughout the region are gearing up for the 26th Annual Stanislaus County Regional Science Olympiad set for Saturday, March 3 at Modesto Junior College, 435 College Ave., Modesto. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will end with an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. inside the gym.
While ancient Egypt existed thousands of years ago, Cloverland Elementary School sixth graders brought the relics and artifacts from the reign of the pharaohs to life by recreating them and exhibiting them in their classroom "museums."
In an effort to further engage Spanish-speaking parents of Oakdale High School students in their children's education, with an emphasis on helping their children to achieve a post-secondary education, a nine-week program called Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) is being offered to facilitate the goal.
District GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) students are getting ready for an out-of-this-world mission in the form of a play.
The winner of the Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon is Oakdale High School.
Students who are enrolled in various types of agriculture classes at Oakdale High School visited Oakdale Junior High School on Friday, Jan. 27 to make presentations and display their FFA project animals.
Some families will have to make special arrangements for the care of their children in late February, as school won't be in session. The Oakdale Joint Unified School District will have a full week off for "Presidents' Week," which takes place Feb. 18-22. The Monday and Friday that week are holidays and the three days in between are days off. They are not furlough days, nor is it Spring Break, which takes place in April.
A year ago, Oakdale High School teacher Pete Simoncini submitted a lengthy application to read and evaluate Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. history essays from the national AP U.S. history test.
While the state legislature has mandated that school districts across California put transitional kindergarten programs into action at the start of the next school year (Kindergarten Readiness Act), Oakdale Joint Unified School District is putting the implementation of it on hold.
Oakdale Joint Unified School District school bus mechanic and bus driver Richard Melo and Dina Page, lead custodian at Fair Oaks Elementary School, were recently named two of the six nominees who were chosen to represent Stanislaus County in the California School Employee of the Year program, coordinated by the California Department of Education.
The academic "Super Bowl" for local high schools, the 32nd Annual Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon, is a little over a week away and Oakdale High School is preparing for the possibility of attaining its 12th consecutive championship.
This video shows the OJHS Steel Band's Tuesday night performance at the Band-O-Rama.
The Oakdale Joint Unified School District's 31st Annual Science Fair is slated for March 10-13, at the Oakdale FES Hall on North Lee Avenue, across from Fair Oaks Elementary School.
The Cat in the Hat was back to celebrate the 17th annual Read Across America Day, held on March 3. Read Across America is a program that focuses on bringing awareness and motivating children to read. The event is always held on or near the March 2 birthday of children's author Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.
More than 550 students representing area junior and senior high schools will participate in a day-long event that showcases their scientific knowledge on March 1.
Preparing for the pending Common Core State Standards (CCSS) implementation was a primary topic at the Feb. 3 Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees regular meeting.
Oakdale High School won the Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon championship on Feb. 1, following two days of testing, speeches, and interviews.
Oakdale High School has won 13 consecutive Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon championships and number 14 is at stake.
Janet Hay of the Oakdale Joint Unified School District will represent Stanislaus County in the 2014 State Classified School Employees of the Year Program in the Child Nutrition category, recently announced by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Stanislaus Charter.
This week is School Choice Week in California and across the country. More than 440 events are planned across the Golden State, in addition to 5,500 events nationwide.
Parents of eighth grade students who will enter the ninth grade for the 2014-2015 school year at Oakdale High School are invited to attend the Eighth Grade Parent Informational Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the OHS main gym.
Valley Charter High School's (VCHS) Open House is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 6:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 108 Campus Way, Modesto. The open house is an opportunity for all parents and prospective students to meet students and teachers and to learn more about the programs offered in collaboration with Modesto Junior College and how to enroll for the current and upcoming school years. A robotics league match will be running during the open house. Spectators will be able to enjoy the excitement and view robotics opportunities for younger siblings.
Students from 10 Stanislaus County schools, including Valley Home School, and two Stanislaus County organizations will participate in the Stanislaus County Mock Future City Competition on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 4p.m. – 8p.m. at the Petersen Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto. The final round of the competition is open to the public and begins at 6:15p.m.
Starting Jan. 1, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (H.R. 2094) will take effect. This important legislation will help protect students with food allergies. The bill encourages states to adopt laws requiring schools to have "stock" epinephrine auto-injectors on hand, such as EpiPens, that are not prescribed to a specific student but can be used for any student or staff member in an emergency.
Oakdale High School's Care Closet, known as Veronica's Care Closet, for less fortunate students is in great need of some re-stocking prior to the Christmas Break. The last day of school prior to the break is Friday, Dec. 20.
A presentation about student rights, free speech, and social media responsibility was an educational topic for the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees at their regular meeting on Dec. 9.


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A coastal road trip from Sydney to Brisbane (or the reverse) is a rite of passage in Australia. While many tread the well-worn path with just a brief pit stop in Coffs Harbour, it’s worth taking the time to explore the many coastal towns dotted along the way.
Take two days to a week meandering along the coast with lots of coffee pit stops to keep you awake and alert for your road trip journey.
Brisbane to Ballina – 2.5 hours
Bypass bustling Byron Bay for the laid-back beach vibes of Ballina and its stretch of beautiful beaches. One of the cutest spots to eat and drink in Ballina is the Belle General. With a boho feel, great coffee and nourishing menu, it’s a great start to a day of driving. Before you leave town, spot one of Australia’s iconic big things, the ‘Big Prawn’ which has recently had an insta-worthy makeover.
Where to stay? Ballina Palms Boutique Motel is a step up from the traditional road trip motels – spotlessly clean, quality inclusions and lots of thoughtful extras.
Ballina to Yamba – 1.5 hours
Situated at the mouth of the Clarence River, Yamba is a coastal town worthy of a detour. Keep caffeinated in Yamba with coffee stops at Bean Scene, which uses beans from local North Coast roaster Eleganza Vietato or try Irons & Craig; just get in early as the cafe closes at midday. (It opens again on Friday nights for drinks and bar food.)
Soak up the friendly village vibe and stretch your legs with some browsing along Yamba’s main street. There’s a strong selection of surf shops, homewares and fashion stores available including Shack Yamba, a lifestyle store filled with coastal goodies.
Where to stay? Relax for the night at Yamba Beach Motel, overlooking Main Beach and close to town.
Yamba to Port Macquarie – 3 hours
The former convict settlement has shaken off the shackles to reveal a cosmopolitan coastal town worthy of a detour. Stretch your legs with a walk along the Port Macquarie breakwall or take a dip at one of the 17+ beautiful beaches along the coast. As you wander the city, keep an eye out for the magnificent koala sculptures dotted around town. These appealing fibreglass statues have been hand painted by selected artists and are a hit with kids. To help seek out the 62 marsupials along the Hello Koalas Trail, pick up a brochure or check out the interactive map online.
You’re spoilt for choice with top spots for breakfast with a side of ocean views in Port Macquarie. Start the day with coffee at Salty Crew Kiosk right on the shores of Town Beach or Sandbox Port Macquarie for beachside brunching overlooking Flynn’s Beach.
A winery might not be the most obvious stop on a road trip, but Cassegrain Wines has created a welcoming oasis along the M1 motorway. Kids and dogs can run freely on the grass, refuel with lunch at Seasons cafe-restaurant, take a winery tour or tasting and grab a bottle of vino to enjoy at your next destination.
The best spot in town for seafood is Bills Fishhouse & Bar, with a carefully curated sea-to-plate selection featuring local oysters, prawns, whole fish and seafood platters to share. With breezy interiors and a bustling bar bringing the holiday vibes, it’s a casual and contemporary restaurant you’ll want to seek out.
If you’re lingering longer, check out these 14 places to eat and drink in Port Macquarie.
Where to stay? Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel is an uber-friendly apartment-style hotel in the centre of town, an easy stroll to shops, cafes and restaurants.
Yamba to Newcastle – 5.5 hours
The secret’s out, Newcastle is enjoying an almighty revival and there’s no shortage of places to eat, drink, shop and stay in the city.
Newcastle is all about the beaches and a relaxed coastal lifestyle, so chill out at Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach or Merewether Beach for some sun-soaked downtime and keep caffeinated nearby at Hubro for the best cold brew in town.
A pit stop in Newcastle will convince you to return for a short break and at just 2.5 hours’ drive from Sydney, it’s the perfect weekend getaway.
Where to stay? For a luxe-for-less short stay in Newcastle, try the Lucky Hotel.

domain: geography


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Existing buildings and built environments were constructed with previous climatic conditions in mind. The future climate, which will become increasingly warmer and with more extreme precipitation, will require a more sustainable and flexible spatial planning in order to continuously adapt to climatic changes. The development of a long-term robust society is dependent upon preventive spatial planning that reduces vulnerability and takes advantage of new opportunities that arise as a result of a changed climate.
New precipitation patterns require new planning
Rising sea levels will mean that the risk of flooding for buildings and infrastructure in coastal areas will continue to increase. Buildings close to lakes and waterways may be exposed to a greater risk of flooding. This is due to increased precipitation and changes to the onset of melting of snow and ice, which are expected to affect large parts of Sweden. This will likely result in changed water levels and flow regimes in lakes and waterways. In addition to an expected increase in the total amount of precipitation in most of the country, it is also expected that intensive cloudbursts will occur more frequently. This could cause local floodings, with water filled cellars and overloaded of drainage systems as a result.
Heavy precipitation and increased flows in waterways, in conjunction with increased and varying levels of groundwater, could reduce the stability of land, resulting in an increased risk of landslips, landslides and erosion. More precipitation will also increase the risk of damp and fungal damage, and there will be a greater need for maintenance to the exteriors of both new and existing buildings.
The effects of heatwaves on society
Higher average temperatures in Sweden will reduce the need for heating, but at the same time increase the need for cooling in homes and other properties. In the future, heatwaves are expected to occur more frequently and last for longer periods of time. People in larger cities will be particularly vulnerable during heatwaves, as heavily populated areas generate higher temperatures as a result of heat storage – known as the ‘urban heat island’ effect. High temperatures during prolonged periods can have adverse effects on our health. Elderly and sick people as well as young children are particularly vulnerable, which will make the inclusion of temperature-reduction measures in spatial planning, building and renovation more important in a changed climate.
Geographical variations within Sweden
The effects of the changes in climate, and the risks to which buildings and infrastructures may be exposed, will vary throughout the country – for example, rising sea levels are currently of more significance in spatial planning in southern and central Sweden, as the geological uplift in northern Sweden continues to compensate for the rising sea level. In the longer term, however, the increased sea level will also affect the coastal regions in the north.
As a result of changes in snow and precipitation patterns, the spring floods in southern Sweden will disappear entirely, and be replaced with higher water levels in waterways during the winter, whilst there will be an increase in spring floods in the most northerly parts of the country. It is therefore of importance that both the impacts of climate change and the local geographical conditions are well taken into consideration in the spatial planning.
Spatial planning in the longer term
The life expectancy of buildings is an important point for consideration in planning. Buildings and infrastructure that are built today are likely to last for a long time. The life expectancy of a building is at least 50-100 years, and sometimes even longer for infrastructure. Even if the structure of society can be changed, the buildings and infrastructure that are built today will still be around when the effects of the changed climate becomes more tangible.
Most of the various climate scenarios for expected climate change that are currently available extends to the year 2100. The climate will continue to change even beyond that point – for example, global sea levels may continue to rise by a metre or more during the current century, by several metres by 2300, and by many metres as time continues further into the future.
Climate adaptation in planning can result in synergy effects
Climate adaptation measures can create additional added value in society. In sites that are already developed, for example, the surfaces may have a limited capacity to manage large amounts of water in the event of heavy rain. One solution could be multifunctional surfaces – places that are designed to be able to handle large amounts of water on a temporary basis, but that can be used for other purposes during the rest of the time, such as football pitches, parks or play areas.
Vegetation is an important tool in the management of climate-related risks, while also providing other positive effects. Greenery – particularly deciduous trees – lowers temperatures and contributes to a more pleasant climate in cities, while also accommodating water in the event of heavy precipitation. A greener city also allows for greater biodiversity, as well as being a healthier and more attractive place to live.


GLENDALE, Arizona – Leigh Wood is set to return to the ring—with or without Leo Santa Cruz.
The latter could also determine whether the Brit moves forward with or without his secondary WBA featherweight title.
Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn confirmed to BoxingScene.com that Wood will next fight on January 28, likely at Motorpoint Arena in his hometown of Nottingham, England. The only fight that can be pursued for now without having to vacate is a title consolidation clash with WBA ‘Super’ featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz.
The pairing is currently the subject of a Dec. 12 purse bid hearing during the WBA Centennial convention in Orlando, Florida. Santa Cruz is due the larger share of a 75/25 purse split.
“Because of the split, it makes the fight hard to make. Personally, I don’t think Leo Santa Cruz will fight at featherweight again,” Hearn told BoxingScene.com. “But we can’t do anything else unless he vacates his belt. So, we are talking to PBC and Luis DeCubas We want Leigh Wood to fight January 28. Whether it’s Leo Santa Cruz or anyone else, we need to get him back in the ring.”
WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza previously confirmed to BoxingScene.com that neither side is any longer permitted to file for an exception. The WBA is prepared to strip whatever party refuses to move forward with the fight, even if it means forcing both to relinquish their belts and ordering two new contenders to fight for the vacant title.
To Hearn’s point, Santa Cruz has not fought at featherweight since February 2019. The WBA has allowed him to retain his title status despite his past three fights taking place in the 130-pound division, including his most recent outing in February in a ten-round win over fringe contender Keenan Carbajal.
The matchup that clearly greater arouses the interest of Wood (26-2, 16KOs) and Matchroom is a pairing with IBF featherweight titlist Josh Warrington (31-1-1, 8KOs), who makes the first defense of his second title reign versus Mexicali’s Luis Alberto Lopez (26-2, 15KOs) this Saturday on DAZN from First Direct Arena in his Leeds hometown.
Wood (26-2, 16KOs) should have greater clarity a few days after Warrington-Lopez as to the opponent and the stakes for his own next fight. The 34-year-old Brit has not fought since his thrilling 12th round knockout of unbeaten Michael Conlan in their Fight of the Year entry on March 12 at Motorpoint Arena. Wood was floored in the opening round and trailed on all three cards before rallying to drop Conlan late in round eleven and out cold with 1:25 left to go in the fight.
A lengthy delay has since followed, which has included a biceps injury which forced the cancellation of a title defense versus Mauricio Lara. Along the way have come several postponements in a Santa Cruz-Wood fight that has been ordered at least three times since April and now to the point where at least one side will have to give up a title absent a straightaway fight.
“He really, really wants to fight Josh Warrington and with the WBA and IBF titles at stake. Obviously, Josh Warrington has to beat Luis Alberto Lopez (on Saturday). But after that, Leigh fights in January and then wants to fight Josh Warrington next summer.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox


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Salt Lake City
Mountain Vacation - Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
Includes four nights or more of lodging, four Adult Snowbird lift tickets, one complimentary group PM half-day lesson through Mountain School per adult (16 and older) and ground transportation to and from the airport*. Kids 12 and under ski free for every night of their stay. Valid 12/20/13 - 4/14/14*. Call 1-800-232-9542.


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When Ryan Hayes and his buddies started playing music in Bend in the early 1990s, there was just one problem.
They had limited options for playing that music in public, to say the least.
“I'm really excited that Bend has kind of picked up as far as ... there are music venues there now and stuff like that,” said Hayes, 35, who graduated from Bend High School in 1993 and now lives in Portland. “When I was there, there was, like, one place to play.”
Which will make this weekend that much sweeter for Hayes, who'll bring his band, Hurtbird, to town for shows at the Tower Theatre tonight and MadHappy Lounge on Saturday (see “If you go,” Page 5).
Tonight's show will be a living, breathing, noise-making exhibition of just how much Bend's music scene has changed in the past 15 years. The Homegrown Music Review will feature some of the area's finest talent — Mosley Wotta, Moon Mountain Ramblers, Dennis McGregor and more — gathered to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House.
Hayes said he's “excited to be part of that” and that he's a big fan of Mosley Wotta, in particular.
The similarities between the two acts are striking. Like MoWo, Hurtbird is an eclectic fusion of rock and hip-hop, making use of catchy, well-sung choruses, oddball spoken-word samples, and wise and wily wordsmithery that leans more toward poetry than your typical rap verse.
Hayes started Hurtbird several years ago, essentially in response to an opportunity to open a show for indie-rap heroes Themselves. The original lineup included four guys from Bend, including Hayes and his longtime friend Ritchie Young, who now leads the Portland-based band Loch Lomond.
From the beginning, Hurtbird was a vehicle for the gritty, abstract poetry of Hayes, who minored in the subject in college. But also from the beginning, the group wanted to explore sounds that didn't fit into neat genre categories.
“We kind of wanted to do something different,” Hayes said. “A lot of the hip-hop shows we were going to were just a guy who would bring a CD and put it in and do his vocals over the top. We'd all played music long enough that we wanted to expand on the sound and make it a more important aspect of the music.”
Through the years, Hurtbird accomplished at least part of that goal via the strong and distinctive vocals of two Young brothers: former member Ritchie, and current member Michael, both of whom grew up in Bend.
“We always wanted somebody with a unique voice to be able to sing choruses,” Hayes said. “We wanted to bridge the gap between the genres of indie rock and hip-hop. Well ... really, we just made music that we wanted to listen to.”
These days, Hurtbird is finding that other people want to listen, too. The band's new album, “Nature Vs. City,” was released nationally in October, and Portland's Willamette Week alt-weekly paper called Hurtbird's sound “a sonic nest somewhere between Air's ‘The Virgin Suicides,' Cake's ‘Fashion Nugget,' Grizzly Bear's ‘Yellow House' and the Talking Heads' ‘Remain in Light.'”
Kudos, Willamette Week. That's pretty much on the money.
In Hayes' mind, “Nature Vs. City” is the band's “pop” record, featuring both musical and lyrical themes that are less abstract and more direct. It's a path Hurtbird followed thanks to inspiration from one of the world's great songwriters, Hayes said.
“I love Neil Young's songwriting, and the way anyone can relate to his songs, no matter where you live or what you do,” he said. “You need to give someone something to relate to pretty quickly in your piece. If you're going to be abstract, you still have to have something for people to grab on to.
“I listen to musicians that I really respect and the lyrics they've written and how masses of people can identify with them,” he continued. “I was intrigued by that.”
Of course, “Nature Vs. City” is also more coherent, more accessible and more polished because it was years in the making. The band — which includes Trevino Brings Plenty in addition to Hayes and Michael Young — spent lots of time and money on the record in hopes of capturing exactly the sound they want to convey.
“We really wanted it to be something special,” Hayes said, “and to make the music the best that we thought we could make.”

domain: entertainment


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The provincial government has spent more than $10 million on its hotel isolation program for Albertans who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been a close contact of a positive case, according to information provided to Global News by Alberta Municipal Affairs.
The program, which is free of charge, was created during the pandemic so Albertans could isolate safely; household spread had been identified by the province as a key concern in the battle against the virus.
The cost has grown dramatically since September 2020, when Alberta Health said approximately $150,000 had been spent on the service; it was highlighted by the province during the second wave of the pandemic when case counts grew, then stayed, stubbornly high.
Since the program launched in May 2020, more than 5,660 Albertans have stayed in more than 5,100 self-isolation hotel rooms, said Charlotte Taillon, press secretary for the Municipal Affairs minister.
Approximately 36 per cent of the rooms used were in Calgary, 45 per cent were in Edmonton while 19 per cent were spread across the rest of the province.
Taillon said a number of northern Albertan residents travelled to Edmonton to access hotel rooms since there was limited capacity in more remote areas, thereby pushing the Edmonton figure higher.
The program peaked in April with 2,040 rooms during that month; currently 43 rooms are in use, Taillon said.
The government has paid $7.35 million to hotels for accommodations, food and other costs and has spent $340,000 on transportation of guests to and from the isolation hotel, if they did not have their own vehicle, as well as to and from COVID testing clinics. The premier said Dec. 15, 2020 that the daily cost of the room and food for each person is about $160.
Since Dec. 15, 2020, the provincial government has been offering a one-time $625 payment to those who completed their isolation in the hotel program.
So far, $2.5 million has been paid out to more than 4,000 hotel guests, according to Taillon.
As of right now, there is no end date in sight for the initiative.

domain: sociology


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Although a celebratory day for humans, the July 4th holiday brings multiple threats to our dogs’ health and happiness. The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that fireworks, picnics, cookouts, and other Fourth of July traditions can be frightening and even dangerous for pets. Up to half of dogs react fearfully to fireworks, according to owner surveys.
There are some steps you can take before, during, and after the holiday to keep your best friend safe.
Prepare for the Festivities
Desensitize your dog to loud sounds. Use positive enforcement to show that these loud noises are too scary. Play recordings of fireworks and thunder while you and your dog relax together. As the sounds play, toss your dog a treat.
Identify your dog’s stress signals. Dogs that are fearful may whine, pant or drool, pace, tremble, attach themselves to you, or look for a place to hide. Acknowledge this and know when to comfort your dog.
Be sure your dog is easy to identify. Many dogs take flight when they’re frightened. If your dog makes a run for it, are their tags and microchip information up to date? Do you have a current photo?
Install a home camera. Indoor and outdoor cameras can help you locate where your dog is. The ones from Ring offer high-definition Live View and Two-Way Talk enabling you to see, hear, and speak to your pets from anywhere. The Ring Indoor Cam will allow you to reassure your dog, even when you’re not home. Just plug it in and monitor your dog’s behavior through the Ring App.
Prepare to keep track of your dog when he’s outside, too. Ring offers a range of spotlight and floodlight-enabled outdoor security cameras. Hardwired for non-stop power and protection, Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus covers large outdoor areas of your home, such as your driveway or garden, featuring a wide-angle view and powerful motion-activated LED floodlights to keep your pets in sight.
Create a pet profile. The Neighbors App by Ring’s Pet Profiles helps users to quickly share critical information with their community that can help reunite them with a lost pet. Just add recent photos and important details, like medical needs or familiar commands, to your profile. If your pet goes missing, you can instantly create a lost pet post and alert your community to be on the lookout.
Get professional help. If your pet’s anxiety is severe, make an appointment with your vet, so you can discuss a medication that could help soothe your dog, and/or solicit assistance from an animal behaviorist. This may help them calm down during these traumatic times.
When You Celebrate
Keep your dog inside in a safe space when fireworks go off. If you go outside, watch your dog for signs of stress and to talk to and reassure them using a pet camera. Set up an area away from doors and windows, for example in a basement or large closet, where noise is muted. Some dogs feel safest in a crate with their blankets, toys, and treats.
Secure doors and windows. A dog that is truly terrified may bolt through a screen to find a safe place to hide. By making sure everything is shut, you’ll reduce the likelihood of them getting out.
Keep your dog on a leash. When you need to take your dog outside to do his business, go with him and hold on to the leash even in your own backyard, in case fireworks go off during this time.
Keep curious pooches away from lighters. Not only do fireworks, sparklers, and glow sticks scare dogs, but they also contain hazardous chemicals and can burn when they’re hot. Barbecue grills, charcoal, matches, and lighter fluid should also be kept out of reach.
Don’t allow guests to feed your dog table scraps. Many foods for humans, including onions, garlic, chocolate, and alcoholic beverages are toxic for dogs.
Keep your dog cool inside the house. July can be a particularly hot time of year. You’re your pet is outside, make sure clean water and shady areas are available. Stay alert for signs that they could be overheating, and never leave your dog in the car on a warm day.
Stay away from sunscreen or insect repellents made for humans. Your dog may lick them and get sick. Keep citronella candles, insect coils, and tiki torch products out of reach.
Comfort your nervous dog. If you’re dog exhibits signs of severe stress, stay calm and use a soothing tone of voice as you pet him slowly and gently.
After the Holiday
Check your yard. Before letting your dog outside to play, look for and remove all fireworks debris, which can be dangerous if ingested. Also remove full trashcans, trash bags, beer cans, drink cups, and food scraps that your pet could get into.
Use your pet protection equipment from now on. Ring indoor and outdoor cameras allow you to observe and reassure your pet whenever you go out and to keep an eye on him when you’re in the house and he’s in your yard. A notifies you when your pets come and go with the dog walker or family members–and lets you respond to them in real-time.
Since its founding in 2013, Ring has been on a mission to make neighborhoods safer, together for everyone. From the first-ever Video Doorbell, to the award-winning DIY Ring Alarm system, Ring’s smart home security product line, as well as the Neighbors app, offer users affordable whole-home and neighborhood security. At Ring, we are committed to making security accessible and convenient for everyone—while working hard to bring communities together. Ring is an Amazon company. For more information, visit www.ring.com. With Ring, you’re always home.

domain: pet


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Campus speech codes sacrifice academic freedom in a misguided effort to prevent hurt
By Harvey A. Silverglate and Carl Takei May 16, 2003
Just as law is too important always to leave to judges and lawyers, academic freedom and freedom of speech on campus are too important to leave to college administrators and professors. Sadly, we have learned this much in recent years. A lawsuit initiated last month by a campus civil-liberties group tells the tale — a tale that may be replicated soon at a University of Massachusetts campus near you. Late in April, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) filed suit against Shippensburg University in US District Court in Pennsylvania, arguing that the state school’s breathtakingly broad restrictions on speech unconstitutionally impinge on students’ rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and due process of law. The case is the first in a series of legal challenges to campus speech codes that FIRE plans to pursue in courts across the country.
Looking for a place where you get clean hallways and an untroubled emotional life, but also severe restrictions on "collective expressions of opinion," as well as on what you can think and how you may express it? Then you might want to enroll at Shippensburg, where the Student Code of Conduct declares that a "clean, well-maintained" environment and freedom from "emotional abuse" are "primary rights" that take priority over the "secondary right" to "express a personal belief system." At first glance, the code seems like it was written for a drug treatment center, or even a psychiatric hospital complete with "quiet rooms" and other soothing facilities for the severely disturbed. But Shippensburg is a real university — and while its speech code is more frank than many others, its elevation of student comfort over intellectual and academic freedom is characteristic of college campuses nationwide.
At Shippensburg, "collective expressions of opinion" are restricted to two locations on campus near the science library. Holding a rally, teach-in, or other "collective expression" anywhere else subjects students to disciplinary action. Within the residence halls, it is verboten to post anything on the walls that "can be interpreted as ... promoting discrimination of others" on the basis of a long list of attributes, including age, "lifestyles," and "political characteristics." And in private conversations, community members are specifically warned not to use "presumptive statements" or "discriminatory semantics" that reflect their "unconscious attitudes toward individuals." (This brings to mind a witticism attributed to the French Revolutionary figure Talleyrand. Asked late in his life how he had managed to survive so many violent regime changes, the wily politician replied that he had learned early on that words are meant to cover up one’s true feelings rather than to express them.)
The student handbook says that Shippensburg values the "freedoms necessary for the pursuit of knowledge and truth," but baldly asserts that the university will protect these freedoms only if they are exercised in a manner that is "not inflammatory, demeaning, or harmful to others." In other words, feel free to say what you really believe, as long as it does not upset anybody.
So, where did Shippensburg’s breathtakingly restrictive rules on speech come from? Campus administrators claim to have instituted this code out of a paternalistic desire to protect students from the pernicious effects of racist and sexist views. They apparently believed that by barring students from expressing opinions that others could find offensive or hurtful, they were somehow advancing civil rights — that is, making the campus a "safe space" (to use the jargon of campus administrators) for members of minority or historically disadvantaged groups. Judging from the results, they apparently felt few qualms about inflicting severe collateral damage on civil liberties along the way.
Most legal scholars — even those who support restrictions on racist or sexist speech — would probably agree that the resulting scorched-earth approach to the Constitution went too far. Shippensburg’s refusal to protect the search for truth or the unfettered expression of one’s views undermines the very foundation of a university’s purpose, curtailing honest discussion in the areas where it is most needed and denying the university’s core mission of intellectual exploration. Many colleges and universities today try to dress up such codes by defining unwelcome speech as "harassment," but the disguise does not work very well. Shippensburg’s code happens to be one of the nation’s worst, but it shares many characteristics with codes found elsewhere.
Advocates of other, less draconian campus speech codes should not be confident that they will escape similar legal scrutiny. Here in the Bay State, a careful reading of the University of Massachusetts’s code of student conduct reveals provisions strikingly similar to Shippensburg’s paternalistic speech restrictions. Under UMass’s surprisingly prudish rules, students can be disciplined for speaking in ways that create a "sexually offensive working or academic environment," for using "sexual terms to describe an individual," or even for engaging in symbolic speech that involves "offensive or sexually suggestive" pictures, cartoons, or posters. Put more simply, basic expressive activity is banned.
The restrictions at Shippensburg and UMass are similar because administrators at both schools share the same flawed, but rarely questioned, assumption underlying most speech codes: namely, that there is a serious conflict between civil rights and civil liberties, and that members of diverse groups will never have full civil rights to an equal education without muzzling ideas that might make the campus feel less welcoming.
This "civil rights vs. civil liberties" paradigm rests on the belief that when a person feels discomfort as a result of exposure to racist, sexist, homophobic, or other unpleasant words and ideas, such discomfort is, in and of itself, a civil-rights injury equivalent to being turned away from the lunch counter for being black, denied a job for being a woman, or beaten up for being gay. In this view, emotional discomfort is the essential element of a civil-rights injury. Thus, students have a right not to be offended or hurt by exposure to ideas that could diminish their feelings of self-esteem; they are — as a matter of civil rights — entitled to a comfortable and "safe" emotional environment free of such ideas.
This bizarre and dangerous expansion of commonly accepted notions of civil rights distorts the debate over free speech on campus. What is at stake here is not, properly speaking, a conflict between civil rights and civil liberties: rather, it is a question of whether protection from emotional discomfort deserves independent status as a "right" — and, if so, whether it is a fundamental right that should compete with or (as has happened at Shippensburg and the vast majority of colleges and universities today) supersede a university’s core intellectual mission. When college administrators say that students are entitled to a "safe" environment, they mean something very different from what people in the world outside the ivy walls mean by "safe." Indeed, for at least two decades now, it has been permissible to say things in Harvard Square that would be punishable if said in Harvard Yard.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with a university striving to create a comfortable environment — emotional or otherwise — for its students. After all, universities provide all kinds of amenities and services to make their students feel comfortable: late-night dining halls, cable TV, student social spaces, and so on. However, such comforts are just that — comforts —
and their provision should not lead us to confuse niceties with real civil rights: important protections from violence, brute threats of force, intimidation, racial discrimination, and the like. The mere fact that ideas can sometimes make people uncomfortable does not grant anyone a right not to have their feelings hurt.


They would never go on strike, take a pay cheque, or cost billions in pension funds.
A next-generation workforce of advanced, human-like robots is being co-developed by General Motors engineers and NASA scientists, to be employed on both vehicle-assembly lines and in space.
The United State's biggest car maker and national space agency have announced they are collaborating under a new Space Act Agreement to build a "faster, more dextrous and technologically advanced robot" called Robonaut 2 (or R2).
Car companies have long used large robotic arms to manufacture vehicles, but the humanoid R2 features pivotal joints, fingers and opposable thumbs that would allow it to use tools and perform intricate work.
GM and NASA say Robonaut 2 is not designed to replace human employees but to instead work safely alongside people either in space or on Earth.
"For GM, this is about safer cars and safer plants," says General Motors' vice president for global research and development, Alan Taub. "When it comes to future vehicles, the advancements in controls, sensors and vision technology can be used to develop advanced vehicle safety systems.
"The partnership's vision is to explore advanced robots working together in harmony with people, building better, higher-quality vehicles in a safer, more competitive manufacturing environment."
The Robonaut 2 announcement comes just days after US President Barack Obama effectively ended NASA's program to return humans to the moon by 2020 in a speech encouraging more private industry involvement in space flights.
GM and NASA's last notable partnership were the Apollo Moon missions of the '60s. GM helped develop the iconic Lunar Rover Vehicle astronauts used for transport on the moon's surface, as well as the navigation systems for the Apollo missions.
General Motors is not the first car maker to dabble with robots. Japanese brand Honda since 2000 has developed a humanoid robot called ASIMO, an acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility.


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During the observation of the 5th National Ayurveda Day, the first Ayush herbal garden cum Ayush gram in the entire Garo Hills region was inaugurated by the adviser to the Chief Minister, Thomas A. Sangma today at Asananggre in West Garo Hills.
Emphasizing on the varied biodiversity including medicinal plants and herbs available in the region, Sangma said that the region is blessed in abundance with natural herbs and people should be sensitized to preserve these medicinal plants and herbs in order to promote its use to heal various health related problems in future. Reminding that the forefathers have also been practising local herbal medicines through experience, he said that the traditional system of medicine should also be preserved.
Stating that this herbal garden is not for show but to tell people about the usefulness of these herbs which can cure various ailments, the CM adviser urged everyone to plant and preserve not only in these herbal gardens but in their homes also, so that the future generation can use, also.
Sharing his personal experience, Sangma said that consuming Me’mang Narang (citrus indica) daily along with other local vegetables has helped him to stay fit and healthy and consuming these fruits and vegetables have helped to boost his immune system. He also encouraged the concerned authority to extend this herbal garden to schools, colleges and other districts which will benefit the people of the region.
“The entire Garo Hills is a herbal garden which is abounds in plenty with medicinal plants and herbs, including rare species of plants,” said Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh and suggested that Ayush should do special research along with the central team to find out preventive measures and also to protect these traditional knowledge and medicine in the interest of the people of the area and beyond.
Singh mentioned that the State Medicinal Plant Board has a special scheme for preserving rare and endangered species of plants for which Rs. 25,000 as one time grant for school herbal garden and Rs. 7,000 per annum for their maintenance and urged that every school should avail this opportunity.
The district Ayush nodal officer, Dr. Lakshmi B. Sangma highlighted the importance and role of Ayush system of medicine which comprises ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy. Dr. Sangma also informed on the need to create awareness to tap the potential of ayurveda contribution towards the national health policy programme as well as to promote ayurvedic principles of healing in society. Further, she mentioned that among 8000 herbs accepted by the Ayush, the most common herbs such as aloe vera, tulsi or basil, ginger, turmeric, etc are used by the people every day.
Mentioning that the national ayurveda day is being celebrated from 2016 every year on Dhanwantri Jayanti or Dhanteras, Dr. Juban Kharkongor spoke on ayurveda for health, objectives and its unique treatment principles. She added that the theme for the 5th National Ayurveda Day is ‘Ayurveda for Covid-19 pandemic and for health’
The District Medical and Health Officer, Dr. Marwin R Sangma, Ayurvedic Physician Dr. Debabrata Das, Asanang PHC Medical Officer Dr. I Toksi Marak, and Jengragre Nokma, D Sangma were among others who spoke on the occasion.
Tura Municipal Board Chairman, J D Sangma, District Social Welfare Officer, Hemaritha Sangma, medical officers along with district officials and people of the area were present at the function.


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The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering (SPSE) at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is designed to attract students from diverse backgrounds and provide the foundation for development of interdisciplinary research skills through a comprehensive research and professional development program to train undergraduate students who will eventually pursue advanced degrees in STEM disciplines. Students will participate in fundamental polymer materials research that is aimed at providing innovative solutions to meeting societal needs in a sustainable fashion, designing for recyclability and degradability, utilizing renewable feedstocks, enhancing process efficiency, and developing materials for sustainable energy. They will build interdisciplinary communication skills through participative workshops and outreach activities in the community, be exposed to materials manufacturing challenges through interaction with local polymer businesses, and gain appreciation for environmental impact of materials through lectures, field trips and literature review.
About USM School of Polymer Science and Engineering
Polymer science and engineering is a multidisciplinary STEM field focused on this special class of molecules. Polymer materials are ubiquitous in almost every aspect of modern life, and advances in the field enable scientific and technological breakthroughs in a wide range of technical applications. The School of Polymer Science and Engineering is nationally and internationally recognized for the achievements of its faculty, its level of research excellence and the quality of our students.The school is home to numerous scientific, educational and outreach programs, institutes, and symposia sponsored by private, industrial and federal agencies. The School of Polymer Science and Engineering faculty are engaged in world leading and innovative research spanning multiple areas in the field of polymer science and engineering. These research areas include functional polymeric materials, energy and sustainability, materials for biology and health and high-performance polymers, composites, and coatings.
The AAPT Career Center has listings for the latest lecturer, instructor, assistant, associate, and full professor teaching positions, plus scientist jobs in specialized disciplines like theoretical physics, astronomy, condensed matter, materials, applied physics, astrophysics, optics and lasers, computational physics, plasma physics, and others! Find a job here as a high school physics teacher, community college teacher, physics faculty member at a two or four-year college or university, postdoctoral appointee, fellow, or researcher.

domain: chemistry


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Billy Porter laid down the style gauntlet with his white swan look at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday (January 5) in Beverly Hills. But, there were a range of other menswear moments that commanded attention. Let’s take a look.
Chris Evans: This Isaia tux had such a luxe flair with its brushed velvet style and rich mahogany hue. Christian Louboutin shoes along with Omega and Montblanc accessories polished off the dapper look.
Sacha Baron Cohen: ‘The Spy’ actor and nominee is no stranger to pushing the envelope in his work. The same goes for this electric-blue Dolce & Gabbana tux styled with Christian Louboutin shoes. There would be no missing him in a sea of black tuxes.
Brad Pitt: Welcome back, Brad. We’ve missed you. The ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ Best Actor winner is back to looking so handsome, especially in this Brioni three-piece suit with David Yurman and Fred Leighton jewelry.
Ansel Elgort: Another dapper velvet moment came courtesy of Ansel’s sharp Tom Ford midnight tuxedo with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Rami Malek: This Saint Laurent suit — complete with skinny tie — was laid-back and low-key, and that’s what made it cool. The ‘Mr. Robot’ nominee completed the look with Cartier jewelry.
Barry Jenkins: I really appreciate Barry changing his stripes with a different spin on formal dressing in this Thom Browne design. I just think it didn’t fit him quite right.
Joe Alwyn: While buzz was flying about his date, Taylor Swift, the British actor showed off his own classic Tom Ford tailoring.
Ben Platt: Sometimes a traditional black tux does the trick, as with this Louis Vuitton number on ‘The Politician’ nominee.
Kit Harington: I really liked the clean, minimal, and monochromatic edge of this Saint Laurent suit on the ‘Game of Thrones’ nominee. Tiffany & Co. jewelry and Jimmy Choo shoes maintained the sleek factor.
Josh O’Connor: This bespoke Loewe ensemble broke out of the standard black suit category by virtue of its more extravagant lapels and equally extravagant necktie.
Karamo Brown: Karamo played with proportion — and with embossed patterning — in this shrunken Grayscale design styled with Jimmy Choo dress shoes.
Daniel Craig: The ‘Knives Out’ nominee went the way of a traditional, double-breasted Anderson & Sheppard black tux paired with Omega jewelry, as we might expect from 007.
Joanna Tucker & Adam Driver: Both donning Burberry looks, Adam let his wife, Joanna, take top billing with her bold, magenta gown while he kept it classic with something that matches anything: a black tux and bow tie.
Joe Manganiello: While we covered Sofia’s Dolce & Gabbana dress in our roundup post, her handsome other half was also in an elegant Dolce & Gabbana three-piece tuxedo. Yay or nay on the beard?
Lilakoi Moon (Lisa Bonet) & Jason Momoa: Lilakoi’s Fendi gown with sheer tulle overlay was right in keeping with her bohemian-romantic style side. Her look was styled with Fernando Jorge earrings with Andrea Fohrman and Eriness rings. And, Jason’s look had a free-spirited edge, too, with his emerald Tom Ford blazer — worn tie-less and with a pendant, instead — and paired with Valentino tuxedo pants, Christian Louboutin shoes, and Cartier jewelry.
Kieran Culkin: The ‘Succession’ nominee attended the Globes with wife Jazz Charton. His switched up his Dior Men double-breasted tuxedo with a white bow tie instead of the more expected black version with a Chopard timepiece to finish it off.
Nick Jonas: Priyanka stole the show here with her feminine-glam gown — and that’s okay because I found Nick’s satin Prada suit to be just a little too buttoned up, literally.
Wesley Snipes: With the maroon colour and ruffled shirt in this look, was anyone else getting a retro prom vibe?

domain: design


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UAE | General
A quick guide on A380 Concourse
An inside view of the world’s first purpose-built facility for the A380 at Dubai’s Terminal 3
- Check in: Once you’ve checked in, you will head to Concourse A if you’re travelling on an A380 to any of Emirates’ 21 destinations across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.
More from UAE General
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Reader has seen many people jaywalking across Amman Street and requests for a pedestrian crossing.
Reader urges the public to change their attitude towards cleanliness.
Gulf News reader share their experiences of participating in this year’s Movember.
A global event to raise awareness about men’s health.


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Although the debate over what format best suits the season-ending Tour Championship continues to rage on, the current solution has captured the fancy of the viewing public, at least according to numbers released by CBS Sports on Tuesday.
According to the network, Sunday’s final round from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta was the most-watched in the last five years of the event.
As Viktor Hovland was firing a final-round 63 to hold off Xander Schauffele and win the 2023 FedEx Cup, the CBS coverage averaged 4.613 million viewers, the best number on the final round since Tiger Woods snapped a five-year drought by winning the 2018 event.
Although weather impacted the early-round viewership on Sunday, the coverage peaked at over 5.5 million viewers later in the day.
For his efforts, Hovland took home the season’s top prize of $18M, while Schauffele took yet another second-place finish at East Lake, along with the $6M second-place prize.
For the entire season, CBS said numbers were up about 1 percent to 2.206 million for its 42 PGA Tour broadcasts, but the nine designated (now signature) events were up 5 percent year over year.


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Capturing moments is a vital part of a marriage event. When it is an occasion that is as special as a marriage, you need complete coverage in terms of stills in prints as well as videos or as films. These are some of the several options that one can explore when it comes to capturing the special moments of a marriage. Many services or professionals also offer photo booth services as well that have provision of instant prints, creation of memorabilia items, albums and other offerings.
Know what you want
You could have it all or choose to have certain offerings from a professional wedding cinematographer Brisbane. For instance, stills are a vital and essential element of wedding photography. Along with that, many are content with simple videography services. However, many videographers even offer a cinematographic approach to creation of wedding videos. In such cases a film is produced with necessary shots, effects and scenes planned as the real marriage progresses. One can decide whether one wishes to opt for a cinema made out of one’s wedding or simply have prints and simple videos shot of their marriage ceremony and other events that surround such an occasion. Often, the price at which these services come at can help one decide. It would surely be wonderful if one can afford a cinema made out of their wedding that would be a memorable film to preserve. Many professional wedding videographers offer budget and reasonable deals that combine still prints along with a film produced on one’s wedding.
Explore your options
With wedding photography services being in the vogue in most cities and urban regions, you can explore the different options available to you before you make a decision. If you are keen to have a film created on your wedding, how about wedding cinematography searches for your region or city? Many professional film makers or wedding photographers have the equipment and expertise to offer such unique services. Many combine still prints, film and even photo booth services make an irresistible package deal that is difficult for couples to refuse.You can get started by looking up different wedding photography services online. Search as per your region or the kind of expertise you are looking for. If budget is not a constraint and you want your wedding to be projected as an event that is larger than life, one way to project it is to get a unique film created around your real life wedding with a great script and visual effects.


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The upcoming Chromium-based Edge browser from Microsoft will efficiently support a massive amount of Chrome extensions. The Thurrotts reported that the project manager of software, Kyle Alden has announced the answer about how the new browser will function. He also replied to the question on the Windows 10 subreddit. Thurrotts said, “It’s our intention to support existing Chrome extensions”. It is a great news for those who already use the plug-ins for security, productivity, or to replace every image in Chrome with a pic of Nicolas Cage. It’s important to note, however, that intent doesn’t necessarily mean Chrome extensions are confirmed.
Microsoft pointed out that the changes “under the hood” could occur over the course of a year and a lot can change during that time. But seeing as other Chrome-based browsers also offer the popular feature, there’s really no reason for Microsoft to buck the trend. In the same question and answer thread, Alden also confirmed that the new Edge browser is coming to the Xbox One along with “all Microsoft devices.”
The Edge Project Manager also expressed how progressive web apps (PWAs) will work on the new browser. These are web pages that deliver mobile app-like experiences to users. As with Chrome, Alden said that the team expects to support installing PWAs directly from the browser, as well as through the Microsoft Store. He said, “Existing UWP apps including PWAs in the Store will continue to use EdgeHTML/Chakra without interruption”. It is noteworthy that Mozilla CEO Chis Beard recently penned a blog post in which he lambasted the decision of Microsoft as not good for competition.


Heavy metal accumulation in wheat plant grown in soil amended with industrial sludge.Chemosphere. 2008 Jan; 70(7):1264-72.C
The concentrations of different forms of Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb and Fe metals were determined for the roadside sludge collected from pickling-rolling and electroplating industrial area. In sludge the relative abundance of total heavy metals were Fe>Mn>Cr>Ni>Cu>Pb>Zn>Cd and DTPA-extractable metals were in the order--Fe>Ni>Mn>Cr>Cu>Zn>Pb>Cd. Pot-culture experiment was conducted in soils amended with sludge (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%), pretreated with lime (0%, 0.5% and 1%). The soils were alkaline in nature (pH>8.3) with organic carbon contents were 0.34% and 0.72%. The most abundant total and bio-available metal was Fe. Two wheat seedlings were grown in each pot containing 3kg sludge-amended or control soil and the experiment was conducted till harvesting. Application of sludge increased both total and bio-available forms of metals in the soils, while lime application decreased the bioavailability of heavy metals in sludge-amended soils. The content of organic carbon showed positive correlation with all metals except Zn, Cr and Pb. CEC also showed a strong positive correlation (R2>0.7) with Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni and Cd. Though wheat plants are not accumulators, the translocation efficiency was appreciably high. The translocation factor from shoot to grain was found smaller than that of root to shoot of wheat plants. This makes an implication that the heavy metal accumulation was proportionally lesser in grain than in shoot. In, 10% sludge with 0.5% lime-amended soils; each of these toxic heavy metals was found to be within permissible range (USEPA). Hence, on the basis of present study, the best possible treatment may be recommended.


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عنوان مقاله [English]
Due to the nature of the assets in Iran, markets such as exchange rate, gold, housing and stock are options facing investors as asset portfolio, although each of them has different returns. Usually, investors are looking for higher returns and focus of investors on markets with higher returns may reduce returns of this kind of markets in the long run. This can be named as returns convergence of different asset markets. This study aims to also examine the returns convergence of dollar, euro, coins, housing and stock markets in Iran over the period 2002:05-2016:02, using Nahar and Inder method and convergence Measurement of each market`s returns to the average returns of them. Based on the results, the returns convergence of housing market was not significantly meaningful. Also, there was no evidence of convergence in the returns of other studied markets.

domain: finance


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Background: Autophagy is a catabolic process that has a vital role in cancer progression and treatment. Current
chemotherapeutic agents, which target autophagy, result in growth inhibition in many cancer types. In this study, we examined the role of autophagy in breast cancer (BCa) patients as well as BCa cell lines.
Methods: Tissue microarray was used to detect the expression of an autophagy marker, LC3B in BCa patients (normal/
hyperplasia ¼ 8; grade-I ¼ 15, grade-II ¼ 84, and grade-III ¼ 27) and BCa cell lines. To modulate the activation of autophagy, we used novel herbal compound nimocinol acetate (NA) in BCa cell lines and the anticancer activity was measured by phenotypic and molecular analysis.
Results: LC3B is highly expressed in tumours as compared with normal tissues. Activation of LC3B in NA-treated BCa (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) cells was evident as compared with other autophagy makers. Further, our results confirmed that NAtranscriptionally regulates LC3B (as confirmed by mRNA levels and reporter assay), which resulted in the formation of acidic autophagy vesicles and autolysosomes in BCa cells. Nimocinol acetate inhibited mTOR-mediated pro-survival signalling that resulted in inhibition of growth in BCa cells without affecting normal breast epithelial cells. Downregulation of LC3B expression by siRNA significantly inhibited the anticancer effects of NA in BCa cells.
Conclusions: Together, our results suggest that LC3B is highly expressed in BCa tissues and increasing the threshold of LC3B activation dictates the pro-apoptotic function, which in turn, suppresses the growth of BCa cells. Nimocinol acetate could be a potential agent for treatment of BCa.

domain: medical