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Biggest Talking Points from El Clasico Draw
The intensity of the encounter as well as the numerous incredible plays that occurred further showed why these two rivals are the best in the world. With both teams playing at the highest level, El Clasico was beauty yet again.
But no matter the outcome, the refereeing or the drama, fans will be discussing key issues. Conversations about the game could go on until the next meeting, but we will take a look at the most important discussion points from the match.
With that being said, let us look at what fans and viewers will be talking about now that the match has finished.
Messi and Ronaldo Were Relatively Quiet
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two greatest footballers in the world. The world of football is lucky to have the duo compete against each other in such a bitter rivalry.
Lately, every meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been dominated by these two prolific scorers. But the latest encounter saw a relatively quiet night for both stars.
In my preview article for El Clasico, I tipped both superstars to score. The prediction was a rather easy one seeing as they both have enjoyed great success, and it was very surprising that neither found the back of the net.
Lionel Messi did provide the brilliant assist that led to Cesc Fabregas opening up the scoring as well as constantly threaten the Real Madrid defenders. But Messi was not as dominant as he usually is.
Ronaldo likewise played a very good game, but he was not his deadly self that we are used to witnessing. Ronaldo missed a header, though it was very difficult to deal with. But Pique also kept the Portuguese star at bay for most of the match.
While fans love to see the eternal rivals go head to head in El Clasico, it was good to see the match as a team affair this time. The entire squad for both clubs showed up and fans got to see football at its finest.
Barcelona's Defense Was Outstanding
The defense of Barcelona has been shaky for the majority of the season. Tasked with the goal of stopping Ronaldo and his fellow attackers, the Blaugrana back line was in for a tough assignment.
Though many expected the Real Madrid counterattack to tear into Barcelona, the defenders did a tremendously good job at breaking up play.
Gerard Pique showed that he is back to being one of the world’s best defenders as he shut down Ronaldo and Ozil multiple times. Carlos Puyol also continued to prove that he is the leader of the Blaugrana defense.
But it was the full-backs of Barcelona that really showed up on the night.
Dani Alves was one of Barcelona’s best performers in El Clasico as his defending was sublime. The Brazilian even stopped what would have been a certain goal with a world-class tackle.
Jordi Alba also showed the world that he is quickly becoming one of the best in the world at his position.
The Catalan left-back broke up constant plays and isolated attackers when they tried to cut in. Alba used his incredible speed to give him an advantage and also nearly scored a game-winning goal.
Special mention must also be made to Sergio Busquets, who was at his best when playing between the center-backs. The lanky midfielder read the game brilliantly and stopped almost certain chances.
Though the defense was not perfect and chances were given up, the back line performed brilliantly overall against a very dangerous attacking team.
Raphael Varane Is the Real Deal
When Real Madrid purchased young defender Raphael Varane nearly two years ago, many fans were lost. The Frenchmen came out of nowhere, but the club was certain that he could become a star.
Varane has not gotten to play many minutes and it appeared as though his future may be in jeopardy. Though no matter what criticism came his way, Varane was adamant that he was not going to leave Real Madrid (via Goal.com).
The young defender has seen more substantial playing time lately with Pepe and Sergio Ramos missing time for various reasons. With the time he has gotten recently, Varane has not failed to impress.
It was clear ahead of time that the 19-year-old was going to start against Barcelona, and the game was sure to be the biggest he had ever competed in.
Raphael Varane quickly showed that he is no kid. The French starlet shut down Messi and company on multiple occasions and was easily the best player on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.
To cap off an extraordinary debut to El Clasico, Varane headed home the goal that saw Real Madrid draw level and the youngster etched his name in the history books.
It is absolutely apparent that Raphael Varane has what it takes to become one of the best defenders in the world. Real Madrid certainly have a gem on their hands.
Who Will Advance at the Camp Nou
Of all the conversations that will occur after the first leg of the Copa del Rey El Clasico, none will be as important as the issue of advancement.
The second leg will take place at the Camp Nou in late February and the tie will be settled once and for all. For the club that advances, a place in the final will be booked.
After the first meeting between the two giants, it was proved that the rival clubs are nearly inseparable in terms of talent. There is no accurate way to predict what will happen in Barcelona.
But at this point La Blaugrana do hold the edge, albeit a very small edge. With the goal they scored in Madrid, the Catalans lead the tie due to away goals, but it is not crazy to expect that Real Madrid will score at the Camp.
So much will be up in the air entering the second leg but it promises to be a very exciting match. There is much that could happen between now and then, but El Clasico will be what it always has been.
The clubs have roughly one month to prepare to fight for a spot in the Copa del Rey final, and fans have just as long to debate about it themselves.
From this point on, every Cule and Madridista will be discussing what will happen next.
What were the most interesting topics from El Clasico? Who will advance to the final? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and comments below.
Check out my latest articles here.


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Community, Nonprofits and Businesses sharing Information
Happy New Year! I'm looking for volunteer opportunities for University of New Haven students where they will provide direct service focusing on basic needs.
I’m currently working with Dr. Jason Jordan who will be offering a class called Poverty in American History. This course examines the social and institutional history of poverty in American history. Students will use both primary and secondary sources to understand the causes and effects of poverty on individuals and communities as well as changes over time in popular perceptions of the poor. This class will cover topics such as education, health, stereotypes, generational poverty, and government aid programs.
We are looking for an organization where our students could volunteer on a regular basis from early February – late April/early May. We would like our students to be able to provide a service that meets an actual need of your organization while the students connect with the local community. Students would benefit by interacting and engaging with people who have been impacted by government policies, education inequality, inadequate health insurance, etc. We would come to the organization with the intention of helping and our students would be learners. We would be cautious and cognizant not to exploit the people using your services.
If you think that you might have a service project for students, I can be reached at email@example.com or at 203-479-4588. Thank you! Sally Anastos

domain: sociology


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Just 2 hours from Auckland, 3 minutes from Waitomo Caves, black-water rafting and Waitomo Hotel, are beautifully refurbished Train or Plane Motels, Hobbit Motels and . . . More . . .
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domain: geography


Panflu 1, single shot H1N1 pandemic influenza (swine flu) vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd has been granted approval in Mexico.
Panflu H1N1 vaccine was issued a Certificate of Approval from the Secretaria de Salud for distribution in Mexico, Sinovac Biotech said in a press release.
The certificate granted to Sinovac Bio’s Panflu1 is valid through October 13, 2014.
Laboratorios Imperiales S.A. de C.V., a biopharmaceutical company with operations in Mexico since 1935, is the exclusive distributor of Sinovac’s vaccine products including Panflu1 in the Mexican market
Sinovac Bio had signed a distribution agreement with Laboratorios Imperiales S.A. de C.V. in 2005 with its affiliate.
Sinovac Bio’s application for its flu vaccine Anflu in currently under review in Mexico
Panflu 1 is the first China-developed vaccine approved for human use in Mexico and the first H1N1 vaccine to be registered in Mexico.
Sinovac’s seasonal influenza vaccine Panflu was released by China SFDA and commercially launched at the end of July 2009.
In June 2009, the Beijing municipal government made its first purchase of its H1N5 vaccine Panflu from Sinovac, with an initial order of four million doses that are expected to be delivered by the end of September 2009.
Sinovac has tested the vaccine shots in 1,614 volunteers and found that the vaccine is safe and protects people against the pandemic virus after a single shot, the company claimed.
Sinovac began the clinical trials of its one-shot H1N1 vaccine on July 22, 2009. The volunteers included 101 elders, 706 adults, 404 juvenile and 403 children. All 1614 volunteers had received the first shot of the vaccine through July 25.
Panflu’s clinical trial was organized by China’s Center for Disease Control (CDC), and undertaken by Beijing CDC. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) were paying close attention to this clinical trial. Deputy Director General of MOH Disease Control Department, Director of SFDA Registration Section, and other relevant experts visited the clinical trial site to observe the clinical trial.
Swine flu vaccines are currently prescribed and administered in two dozes to ascertain the expected immunity level against the lethal H1N1 virus.
Even WHO was recommending two dozes of swine flu vaccine to give sufficient protection against pandemic H1N1 strain. Because it is a new strain, infectious disease experts had said people would likely need two doses to get full immunity against the virus.
Two studies, however, published a leading medical journal confirmed that a single dose of swine flu vaccine can protect people from the new pandemic H1N1 virus.
Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical company CSL Limited announced that preliminary data from the first study of its candidate pandemic H1N1 vaccine demonstrated a robust immune response in healthy adults after a single unadjuvanted 15mcg dose.
Swiss drug maker Novartis is the other company came out with studies supporting the efficacy of single dose vaccines.
Novartis said studies confirmed that its vaccine worked at an even lower dose when boosted with an immune system compound called an adjuvant.
Novartis vaccine, to be called Celtura, was tested with 100 healthy volunteers, aged between 18 and 50. The trial evaluated the tolerability and immunogenicity of the vaccine.
Novartis’ data showed that the serum antibody responses were highest among subjects who received two doses of vaccine, however a single vaccine dose also induced responses associated with protection against influenza.Sinovac Biotech Ltd is focusing on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac’s commercialized vaccines include Healive (hepatitis A), Bilive (combined hepatitis A and B), Anflu (influenza) and Panflu (H5N1). Sinovac is currently developing Universal Pandemic Influenza vaccine and Japanese encephalitis vaccine Sinovac is the first and currently the only company in the world to have been granted permission to begin clinical trials for a vaccine to prevent SARS.


The VOX AC30VR is a modern take on VOX's famous AC30 amp.
Using the proven and popular VOX Valve Reactor (VR) circuitry, the VOX AC30VR provides a diverse soundscape of authentic and satisfying tones from a single amp.
The AC30VR has a split panel design and offers two channels - Normal and Overdrive - with the Overdrive channel adding a separate Gain knob. In addition, the overdrive channel features a Style button, which switches between vintage VOX AC30 overdrive and a modern higher gain amp tone.
Equipped with two custom-designed 12" Celestion speakers, the AC30VR delivers a roaring 30 watts of power. The Normal channel offers both Bass and Treble tone controls, along with a single Volume knob. The Overdrive channel has a Gain control, as well as a 3-band EQ for more defined tone shaping. In the Master section, the AC30VR features a unique Tone Cut circuit knob for dampening the high-end frequencies, as well as Master Volume and Master Reverb controls.
The AC30VR's back panel features an external speaker jack for use with an 8 ohm extension cabinet. Also provided is a jack for the optional VOX VFS2 dual footswitch, which offers hands-free channel and reverb switching.
The VOX AC30VR's main features include:
- Clean and overdrive channels
- Overdrive channel features AC30 overdrive and high-gain amp distortion
- 30 watt power output
- 2 x 12" 16 Ohm VX12 Celestion Custom speaker
- Input jack, footswitch jack
- External speaker output jack
- 27.64" width x 10.43" depth x 21.89" height
- 23 kg (50.71 lb) weight


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BigHit Entertainment Unveil First Member of New Group TXT
The South Korean company revealed the mysterious upcoming boy group’s member Yeonjun
BigHit Entertainment have unveiled their new boy group Tomorrow X Together and its first member, Yeonjun. Also known as TXT, the upcoming band are the second (and only other) group to debut under the South Korean label after K-pop megastars BTS’ debut in 2013.
The big reveal followed a 24-hour countdown which BigHit began on a website with the URL ‘comingsoon.ibighit.com’ last night at 8:30 pm IST (midnight KST) and an interactive venn diagram. Fans also found secret messages in the website’s coding hinting at the introduction to a ‘new boy group’ and searched across the Internet for more clues. Private or locked handles on social media plaftorms with the username ‘@TXT_bighit’ were also found (which in due course did turn out to belong to the upcoming band).
When the counter hit zero at 8:30 pm IST on January 10th (12 am, January 11th KST,) the website’s URL automatically updated to ‘txt.ibighit.com‘ with two images of Yeonjun and a solo introductory video. The group seem to be going for a fresh, young concept to reflect the boys’ reported average age of 17– in the video titled “Introduction Film – What do you do?” Yeonjun is seen playing at a video game arcade, surrounded by neon colors, gaming on PCs, eating junk food and just being an ordinary teen. The music in the short clip is a bright burst of rock and roll, adding a slight retro vibe to it all. The video ended with a message in morse code which fans have determined translates to the word ‘Dreaming.’
As of now Yeonjun’s full name, age and role in the group have not yet been made public by BigHit.Â Rumours about a new group and theories around possible members’ identities have been circulating for a long time, however the company onlyÂ confirmed in November 2018 that they would be debuting a boy group in ‘the beginning of 2019.’
Tomorrow X Together (or Tomorrow By Together from their Korean name,) is rumored to consist of a total of five members. BigHit Entertainment has so far neither confirmed or denied the number, but has started a second countdown (at 70 hours as of publication) to another reveal on TXT’s website.
Yeonjun and TXT’s unveiling led to hashtags like #TOMORROW_X_TOGETHER, #Yeonjun and #BigHit trending on social media across the globe. BTS’ fandom ARMY are welcoming the new band with open arms, eager to see what more they have in store as well as what genres of music they will focus on. BTS’ meteoric rise over the past two years and highly impressive discography have made them a tough act to follow and all eyes that are currently on them will also now be on TXT.
”” BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) January 10, 2019
I sincerely wish #TOMORROW_X_TOGETHER luck on their new journey!
BigHit has laid the foundation, and now BH can really grow and expand their company.
I like to think @BTS_twt had an important part in that, too.
Fighting, #TXT ! pic.twitter.com/4WMimzq5DM
”” Sara BTS ARMYâ„¢ï¸ (@SaraxBTS7) January 10, 2019
UPDATE: In a statement to Billboard earlier today, BigHit Entertainment confirmed Yeonjun is 19 years old, a skilled dancer and that “TOMORROW X TOGETHER is a bright and youthful boyband where each member is different from one another, shining in their own way to create a synergy. Just as how their name suggests, the different members have all come together under one dream in hopes of building a new tomorrow.”

domain: entertainment


Atresmedia has a low environmental impact since its activity doesn’t cause great harm to the environment as might occur in other economic sectors. However, considering that all activities have some kind of environmental impact, Atresmedia assumes its commitment and responsibility to the protection of the planet.
Aligned with this commitment and to fight the main cause of the increase of the greenhouse effect, Atresmedia has implemented a C02 emission reduction strategy to reach zero net carbon emissions in 2050. To this end, specific reduction targets have been set to help ensure that the planet’s temperature does not increase by more than 1.5ºC by 2050, aligning this strategy with the Paris Summit and avoiding a climatic scenario of no return.
C02 emissions are categorized into 3 different types:
- Scope 1 emissions: direct emissions generated by a company’s activity
- Scope 2 emissions: indirect emissions from energy purchase
- Scope 3 emissions: other indirect emissions related to the value chain, different from the scope 2 emissions like, for example, emissions from employees traveling to work.
Atresmedia has publicly committed, through the Science Base Target Initiative, to reduce 90% of its scopes 1+2 emissions, and 90% of its scope 3 emissions, considering 2019 as the base year. To achieve this the company is designing actions to minimize its C02 emissions and compensates those than can not be reduced for being necessary to carry out the business.
An example of this action is that, since 2019 Atresmedias is committed to purchasing 100% energy renewable for its facilities. This initiative had a great impact on the reduction of its scope 2 emissions.
This strategy means a long-term commitment to fighting climate change. Atresmedia is, currently, the only Spanish media that appears on the SBTi public list of committed companies with a Net Zero target.


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Contact Foresight Financial
Let us help you plan and protect your retirement assets.
Setup a $0 cost, no obligation consultation to discuss your financial needs. We will help you navigate, and benefit from, the path of retirement and financial planning. Build a lasting legacy that you can enjoy for years to come!

domain: economics


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We reviewed the Bogalusa Housing Authority’s public housing programs based on the activities included in our annual audit plan and because the Authority has not been audited in more than 15 years. The objective of our review was to determine whether
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, New York, NY, Generally Administered Its Disaster Recovery-Funded Program in Accordance With Applicable Requirements
We performed the 23rd review of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation’s (LMDC) administration of the $2.783 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funds awarded to the State of New York in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. This review was performed in response
August 14, 2019
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, New York, NY, Did Not Always Ensure That Units Met Housing Quality Standards but Generally Abated Payments When Required
We audited the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Housing Choice Voucher Program. We selected HPD for review based on its size and because we had not conducted an audit of its Housing Choice Voucher Program. The objective of the audit was to determine whether HPD ensured tha
August 02, 2019
Northlake Homeless Coalition, Mandeville, LA, Did Not Always Follow Continuum of Care Program Requirements
We reviewed the Northlake Homeless Coalition’s Continuum of Care Program (CoC) based on a hotline complaint alleging impropriety in Northlake’s selection of grant award recipients and as part of our annual audit plan. The objective of our review was to determine whether Northlake administered its CoC in accordance with the U.S.
July 11, 2019
The State of New York Did Not Ensure That Appraised Values Used by Its Program Were Supported and Appraisal Costs and Services Complied With Requirements
We audited the State of New York’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery-funded New York Rising Buyout and Acquisition program. We initiated this audit based on observations related to the appraised fair market values made during a previous audit (2015-NY-1010) of the State’s program. Our objectives were to determine whether the State ensured that (1) the appraised fair market values used to determine award amounts un
May 29, 2019
The State of New York Did Not Ensure That Properties Purchased Under the Acquisition Component of Its Program Were Eligible
We audited the State of New York’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery-funded New York Rising Buyout and Acquisition program. We initiated this audit due to concerns related to whether properties purchased were substantially damaged. The objective of this audit was to determine whether the State ensured that properties purchased under the acquisition component of the program
March 29, 2019
The State of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, Did Not Always Maintain Adequate Documentation or Comply With Website Reporting Requirements
We audited the State of Louisiana’s Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance program as part of our annual audit plan to review Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. Our objective was to determine whether the State ensured that it complied with (1) its eligibility requirements for the Homeowner Assistance program and (2) website reporting requirements.
September 28, 2018
The City of New York, NY, Did Not Always Use Disaster Recovery Funds Under Its Program for Eligible and Supported Costs
We audited the City of New York’s Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Public Facilities Program. We selected this program for review because the City had allocated nearly $91 million to the program and disbursed more than $59.6 million as of October 31, 2017, and as part of our ongoing oversight of the U.S.
September 27, 2018
The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, Buffalo, NY, Did Not Administer Its Operating Funds in Accordance With Requirements
We audited the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority based on our risk analysis of public housing agencies that fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Buffalo, NY, field office. The objective of our audit was to determine whether the Authority administered its operating funds in accordance with applicable HUD, Federal, and Authority requirements.
September 26, 2018
The Owner of Luther Towers II, Wilmington, DE, Did Not Manage Its HUD-Insured Project in Accordance With Its Regulatory Agreement and HUD Requirements
We audited Luther Towers II because it was a high-risk multifamily project that received low inspection and financial assessment scores on our multifamily risk assessment for projects within our region and we had never audited it. Our audit objective was to determine whether the owner managed the project in accordance with its regulatory agreement and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements.
September 21, 2018

domain: finance


45% of Medicaid LTSS beneficiaries are older adults
Forty-five percent of the more than 4.8 million beneficiaries of Medicaid long-term services and supports were aged 65 or more years in 2012, according to a new report issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Forty-eight percent of older Medicaid LTSS beneficiaries received only home- and community-based services, 46% received only institutional services and 6% received both, according to the report, which is dated Sept. 16 but was publicly released Nov. 2. The greatest number of older-adult Medicaid LTSS beneficiaries received services in California, which had 388,194 such beneficiaries. The highest percentage of older-adult Medicaid LTSS beneficiaries lived in Minnesota, where 13.4% received such services.
In general, older adults were more likely to receive institutional services than were younger LTSS beneficiaries, according to the report.
The analysis did not include data from two states, Kansas and Maine, nor did it include data from comprehensive managed care plans.


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Reacting to oversupply of milk and the consequent fall in purchase prices for milk farmers in some parts of the country, R.S.Sodhi MD GCMMF has called upon state governments to ramp up the buffer stock of milk powder to help milk producers.
As private dairies have reduced purchase prices, milk cooperatives are getting nearly 30 percent more milk than they normally get -this has meant cooperatives staring the challenge of too much milk in the face, Sodhi said.
It is worth mentioning that private dairies especially in Madhya Pradesh have lately effected drastic cuts in purchase prices for milk producers. As a result of it, farmers in Morena, Bhind and parts of Gwalior are angry and indulging in hostile action, reports Business Line. MP Kisan Sabha and some prominent farmer leaders have strongly denounced private dairies’ unreasonable decision.

domain: news


A fifth of savers don't think money is safe
One in five savers does not think their money is safe following the recent financial turmoil, research showed.
Savings: One in five don't think their money is safe
Around 19% of people are worried about the security of their savings, while 21% say they are likely to withdraw some or all of their money in the next month.
This figure rises to 39% among people who consider their savings to be at risk, according to research group YouGov.
Women are more likely to fret about the safety of their savings than men, with 23% of women saying they are not confident that their savings are safe, compared with just 15% of men.
Savers were also asked to give banks and building societies a score according to how secure they thought they were.
The Government-backed National Savings and Investments came top, followed by Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank, both of which are covered by the Irish government's recent savings guarantee.
Britain's biggest building society Nationwide came in fourth place with Lloyds TSB coming fifth.
Bradford & Bingley, which was recently partially nationalised, was deemed to be the least secure institution, followed by Halifax Bank of Scotland which is being taken over by Lloyds TSB.
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If you would like borrow funds, you're likely wondering ways to get a loan. You can aquire a personal bank loan away from an online financial, borrowing union, otherwise bank -- but exactly how can you select the right financial? And exactly how can you apply for that loan, after you choose the best financial for you? This action-by-action publication will help you to browse the procedure of taking a beneficial consumer loan, whether you are trying fund a swimming pool or start the procedure from debt consolidation reduction.
What is a consumer loan?
Whenever a lender and other lender gives you money in order to generate a primary get or re-finance current debt, it's an unsecured loan. Your indication a great promissory mention to settle the borrowed funds within an enthusiastic rate of interest lay by financial. Unsecured loans are usually paid in monthly obligations. There are two main form of signature loans:
- Unsecured personal loan: Your own signature on the a beneficial promissory notice is all that is required for the amount of money.
- Protected unsecured loan: You devote anything of value right up as the security. If you're unable to build loan payments, the lending company may take possession of equity, sell, and you can recover a few of its loss.
- Regulate how much to help you use
- Check your credit history
- Check around to own a lender
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Is it the proper webpage to you personally?
If you're looking having step-by-action information on the best way to apply for a loan, keep reading -- you are in the right place!
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Particular playing cards and you may banking companies allow users to evaluate their borrowing get from the lender or bank card issuer's web site. It's usually how to look at the credit rating. You can also find your credit score and you may credit rating on the internet for free thanks to a number of different services. Such as for example, as a consequence of annualcreditreport, you can purchase a free credit history away from all the "larger about three" credit bureaus -- Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Discuss per statement separately as what is actually said to each one may differ.


On February 21, the Howard County Office of Transportation held their annual open house to provide updates on upcoming pedestrian, bike, complete streets and shared micro-mobility (e.g. electric scooters) projects that are planned to make it easier to get around Howard County.
The materials from the open house included a map and reference table showing over 50 upcoming bike and pedestrian projects that are starting in Howard County in the coming years.
These materials were recently uploaded onto the Office of Transportation Open House website and are shown below. Each project on the map is numbered with a number that can be found the reference table to learn more details about each of the upcoming projects.
Full resolution versions of this maps are linked to the images above so click on them to be directed to full PDFs of these image on the Howard County's website.
The Office of Transportation is collecting feedback from residents on these project via a survey. It is exciting to see all these plans for new bike and pedestrian projects, but in order for them to be designed and constructed, the County will need to provide adequate funding for bike and pedestrian projects in the Capital Budget. The County is in process of soliciting public feedback on its FY24 capital budget. A budget hearing on March 13 will provide an opportunity for residents to provide input into the FY24 budget. Written online testimony is also being accepted.
In addition to these new bike and pedestrian projects, the open house also shared data from the recently completed scooter pilot program that concluded in Fall 2022 in Downtown Columbia. Below is the slide that shows that information and scooter usage data. The County noted that scooter parking was one of the major challenges of the shared scooter program and a decision on whether the scooter program will continue is expected this Spring.


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Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of the world – that is what the tourist board will tell you, and that is how it feels like when you walk down its streets. There are dozens of outdoors shops and athletic people sporting the trendiest trekking gear. Skydiving and bungee jumping are a common topic of conversation. And in the distance you can see paragliders descending nearby peaks.
But adventure sports are not all there is to do in Queenstown. Great food, beautiful scenery and relaxing walks make this town a worthwhile destination even if you are not an adventure junkie, or you have already had an adventure overdose and need a day to totally relax.
Start by setting yourself up away from the town's hustle and bustle. Choose a location by Lake Wakatipu, which offers the perfect backdrop for the city. Options vary hugely, and you can find anything from the large and upscale Rydges Hotel to the basic YHA youth hostel. The hotels are only a 10 minute walk from the centre of town, and the lakeside path makes for great photography, a long jog or a nice stroll into town.
After a quiet and relaxing night of sleep, start your day by hiking up Ben Lomond. It is a five-hour trek roundtrip from the town's cemetery, and it is worth the initial steep climb. The views from the summit, at 1,748 metres, are stunning: you can see the whole lake, as well as the Remarkables mountain range. Start the walk early in the morning and have warm clothes and sunscreen with you - it might be very sunny yet chilly.
Walk down and stop for a drink and a snack at the café restaurant at the Skyline (if you can time it, a cocktail at sunset is unbeatable), and then hop on the gondola and you will be back in town in five minutes.
Back in Queenstown, there are plenty of options for an early dinner. If you are after a beer and a burger, Fergburger is the place for you. The meat is superb, and it also offers great fish 'n' chips or vegetarian options such as falafel. Otherwise, you can have a seafood-based dinner at a waterfront location such as Finz. There is a good wine list, the prices are reasonable, and the view of the lake is great.
Whatever you eat, leave space for ice cream. Argentine-owned Patagonia has incredible ice cream, summer fruit sorbets and spectacular chocolates. Take a stroll with your ice cream and you might be able to catch some young artists in the streets. If it is not too cold, the beach is a nice place to sit, relax and even sunbathe in the summer.
If you book ahead, Onsen Hot Pools after dinner is the perfect end to any day. You get access to a private hot tub for a reasonable price (going in a larger group is cheaper), and you even have the option to open the roof and the walls around you while soaking in hot water. Pools are conveniently south-facing, which means that on a starry night you can spot the Southern Cross and other constellations while soaking in the tub.


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Our brand new winter warmer is here to impress.. in typical Botanika Blends fashion, we don't use any artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners! If you're looking for a sugar free protein rich dessert, give this a go. It's incredible on its own or try it drizzled over a freshly baked apple pie 🥧 This Vegan Protein Custard is part of our Botanika Desserts range, accompanying the likes of our Dreamy Jelly, and Marvellous Mug Cakes 🍵
Coconut Milk Powder, Corn Starch, Faba Bean Protein, Natural Flavours, Curcumin Extract, Natural Sweetener (Stevia), Ground Cinnamon
Manufactured On Equipment That Also Produces Products Containing Dairy, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts, Lupin, Fish and Peanuts
Servings Per Packet: 2
Serving Size: 80
Directions For Use:
MICROWAVE: Mix 60G (Approximately 3 Tablespoons) of mix with 45ML of water. Stir well and heat in a microwave for 20 - 30 seconds according to the thickness you may require
STOVE TOP COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: (The Preferred Method) Mix 60G (Approximately 3 Tablespoons) of mix with 60ML of water. Mix well until no clumps are left. Heat on stove top on lo flame for 2 minutes with continuous stirring for even consistency. Allow custard to cool to desired temperature, serve and enjoy!
|Average Qty Per 60G Serve||
Average Qty Per 100G Serve
|Energy||1420 KJ (339 Cal)||1770 KJ (424 Cal)|
|Protein (As Is)||10 G||12.5 G|
|38 MG||43 MG|
Made In Australia From Less Than 10% Australian Ingredients
Close package immediately after use. Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight
This product is not a sole source of nutrition and should be consumed in conjunction with a healthy nutritious diet and appropriate physical training or exercise program
So delicious and easy to prepare (just add water and heat). It's great to have a heathy dessert, I make mine on the stove and its takes less than 1 minute to prepare and make a creamy custard. Nice to have in the winter months (I'm in Melbourne) that's a warm sweet treat.
Vegan Protein Custard - Vanilla Cinnamon Flavour
Love this custard and eat it straight up or paired with a dessert - like apple crumble. Yum!
Love the consistency of this Vegan custard! Add bananas when you microwave and it’s unbelievably amazing as a dessert ❤
Incredible! Since it’s been released I’ve eaten a bowl each night for dessert. I’m addicted. It’s so smooth, creamy and so tasty! 1000x recommend! I can’t wait to get my hands on the 1kg bag.. surely that’ll be enough to last me a week 😬🤣 🤔

domain: food


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Τhe façade had small openings, which became smaller as they reached the highest levels. Only the top floor. which had a wooden open balcony -in Notaras mansion- opened outward (collapsed in 1981), while the rest of the house remained enclosed. A distinctive trait of these mansions was the differentiation of the external walls of the body of the house (the ground and first floor) from the top floor, which was of white washed çatma (light structure composed of wooden vertical and horizontal beams, mortar and other connective materials) with large, numerous openings. The biggest and most interesting mansion was the one belonging to the noted Notaras family, as its history is directly connected to the historic evolution of the area -Corinthia. The mansion was originally enclosed by a wall for defensive purposes and inside it outbuildings were found. Its façade consisted of the ground floor and two upper storeys, while its rear part, because of a difference in ground elevation, had only a ground floor. The entrance is traced on the interior wing of the U plan, although now this wing has collapsed.
The ground floor plan of Dasiou mansion, architectural survey plans Αndroulidaki Αmalia, «Το Αρχοντικό Δασίου στα Τρίκαλα Κορινθίας. Μελέτη Αποτύπωσης και Αρχιτεκτονικής Αποκατάστασης», Διπλωματική εργασία στο Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών ΕΜΠ.The storage spaces were on the ground floor and originally the only openings there were small embrasures. On the middle floor (metzopatoma), the spaces for residence and storage were situated. The family mainly resided at the top floor, which was flooded with light. It consisted of one large space, the “sala”, with an excellent view. All the rooms in the house, the “ondades” (odalar in Turkish), communicated one with the other through this space.A characteristic feature of this mansion is that a special space was constructed on its middle floor and used as a hiding place. It could be entered only by a trapdoor on the top floor and once inside it, one could survey the surroundings to a great distance.
The austerity and spareness that dominated its exterior form were also found in the interior: the only decorated colored feature in the house was the ceilings, which displayed bright color combinations. They were made either of panels surrounded by a grid of wooden strips, where the center of the room was stressed, or more rarely. Receding levels in relief where depth was stressed boards and stripping were the most common structure in all the houses. Unfortunately these examples of woodcut ceiling art have been damaged as the wall collapsed. The furniture was bought in various places, mainly in Europe.
The Dasiou mansion was constructed in the beginning of the 19th c. at Ano Trikala, as a plaque found above the main entrance door signified the date of its construction, -“May 1806”, as well as on a cornerstone (“1806 Μαΐου 1, ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΣΩΛΙΩΤΗ ΟΥΤΟΣ Ο ΟΙΚΟΣ ΕΚΤΙΣΘΗ”). The noted family’s mansion followed an L shape plan.
The building was damaged by a fire in 1946 and only a few remaining walls evidenced its former existence.
The remaining walls of Dasiou mansion, architectural survey plan, Αndroulidaki Αmalia, «Το Αρχοντικό Δασίου στα Τρίκαλα Κορινθίας. Μελέτη Αποτύπωσης και Αρχιτεκτονικής Αποκατάστασης», Διπλωματική εργασία στο Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών ΕΜΠ.
Dasiou mansion as depicted in an old photograph before its destruction.Notaras’ mansion
Inscriptions that were traced in the facades of Dasiou mansion.lnscriptions that were traced in the facades of Dasiou mansion.

domain: history


How new GOP tax plan could impact NorCal wildfire victims
A proposed tax plan by Republicans could have a major impact on Northern California wildfire victims.
It would eliminate the deduction for personal losses from natural disasters.
The way the tax plan is written right now, if someone loses their home to a small wildfire, they may no longer be able to write off the loss.
Get the full story in the video above.


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The Short Answer is:
Yes, you can get exercise on an e-bike. Riding an e-bike can still get your heart rate up and burn calories, similar to brisk walking. There are also tips and training hacks to get a solid e-bike workout. In fact, studies have shown that e-bike riders can get more exercise than standard pedal bike cyclists. E-bikes can be an excellent form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, even for mountain biking.
Do you get exercise on an e-bike? This is a question that has been on the minds of many people who are considering purchasing an e-bike.
E-bikes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with sales skyrocketing as people look for more eco-friendly and efficient modes of transportation. However, there is some debate about whether e-bikes provide enough exercise to be considered a viable alternative to traditional bicycles.
Table of Contents
Do E-Bikes Provide Exercise? Do Electric Bikes get you Fit?
Yes, e-bikes can provide exercise. According to various studies, e-bikes can raise breathing and heart rates enough to contribute to fitness. Even though e-bikes provide assistance while you pedal, they still require physical effort and can make cycling more approachable to those who aren’t avid exercisers.
E-bikes can also help riders stay out longer and ride further, which can lead to more cycling exercise than they would get on a traditional pedal bike. In fact, researchers have found that e-bike riders can match or exceed the fitness gains achieved by non-e-bike riders.
Does Riding an Electric Bike Help You Lose Weight?
Yes, riding an electric bike can help you lose weight. Even though e-bikes have motors that help you, you still have to pedal, and the amount of effort you put in determines how much energy you burn. Therefore, riding an electric bike can be a great way to get exercise and lose weight.
The Benefits of Cycling for Exercise
Cycling has numerous benefits for exercise, including:
- Helping with weight loss and reducing body fat
- Strengthening the legs and improving overall lower body function
- Improving muscular strength and flexibility
- Improving coordination and balance
- Building muscle and bone
- Providing an aerobic workout
- Helping with everyday activities such as walking and stair climbing
The Impact of Electric Assistance on Exercise
The impact of electrical assistance on exercise is a topic of debate. While some argue that e-bikes provide less exercise than traditional bikes, others suggest that e-bikes can still provide a good workout.
It is important to note that regular exercise has numerous benefits, including preventing or managing health problems such as stroke, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, improving cognitive function, and lowering the risk of death from all causes. Research shows that e-bikes can provide nearly as much exercise as traditional bikes.
In fact, some argue that e-bikes can even help riders arrive at the top of hills in better shape than those who climb without assistance. While e-biking may burn fewer calories than traditional biking, it still provides a form of physical activity that can improve overall health and well-being.
How to Maximize Exercise on an E-Bike
Riding an e-bike can provide exercise benefits, and there are ways to maximize the workout. Starting slowly and choosing a ride that matches your fitness level and the bike’s range is recommended.
The highest level of support on an e-bike can add around 250% assistance from the motor to your own effort, which can make starts and hills easier and keep you rolling.
Riding an e-bike can also help you cover more distance and get to your destination faster, which expands the sphere of locations you can get to in a reasonable amount of time.
By staying out longer and riding further, e-bikes can help you get more cycling exercise than you would ever get on a pedal bike.
Potential Health Benefits of E-Biking
E-biking has potential health benefits, including boosting fitness and heart health. Studies have shown that e-biking can increase motivation and help overweight and older individuals maintain fitness training on a regular basis.
E-biking can also raise breathing and heart rates enough to contribute to fitness. Additionally, those who ride e-bikes may report longer average trip distances compared to those who ride conventional bikes. Other potential benefits of e-biking include reducing stress, improving mental health, and reducing air pollution.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Getting Exercise on an E-Bike:
How many calories do you burn on an e-bike?
The number of calories burned on an e-bike depends on various factors such as the rider’s weight, the level of pedal assist, and the terrain. An e-bike rider can burn between 200 and 650 calories per hour.
The actual number of calories burned can be calculated using online calculators or formulas that take into account the rider’s weight and other variables.
Is e-biking as good as regular biking for exercise?
E-biking can provide a good workout, but it may not be as good as regular biking for exercise. According to a study, e-biking burns about 30% fewer calories than regular biking. However, e-bikes can make cycling more approachable to those who aren’t avid exercisers.
In some cases, e-bikes can provide nearly as much exercise as regular bikes. Ultimately, the amount of exercise you get from e-biking depends on factors such as the level of assistance provided by the bike and how much effort you put into pedaling.
Can you still get a workout on an e-bike?
Yes, you can still get a workout on an e-bike. Riding an e-bike can provide exercise benefits, and you can still get a good workout despite the electric assistance. The electric motor can help you keep going and make it easier to tackle hills and headwinds, but you still need to pedal and exert effort to move the bike forward.
Conclusion: Do You Get Exercise on an E-Bike?
In conclusion, the answer to the question “do you get exercise on an e-bike?” is a resounding yes. Studies have shown that e-bikes can provide a good workout, raising breathing and heart rates enough to contribute to fitness.
While some may argue that e-bikes take away from the traditional cycling experience, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the idea that they are a great way to get exercise, encouraging more people to choose biking and enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
So whether you’re commuting to work or hitting the trails, an e-bike can be a fun and effective way to stay active and healthy.

domain: health


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NAKAMURA, Hikaru (Afterword by Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere)
Published by: Kodansha
Saint Young Men is a series of comedy manga created by NAKAMURA Hikaru, about Jesus and Buddha sharing a flat in Tokyo. First published in Japan in 2006 under the Japanese title Seinto Oniisan, this popular manga series so far produced 16 volumes and was translated into English for the first time in 2019.
Sainsbury Institute’s Research Director Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere has written an afterword for this English edition, which you can read here in its entirety.


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A complimentary breakfast is just one of the great things you'll find at Hotel Sabala, a formidable choice for guests looking for pet-friendly Zakopane hotels. There are many great attractions nearby, including Tatra Museum, Krupowki Street, Villa Koliba and Zakopane-Gubalowka Transmitter. Also close by are Wielka Krokiew and Mount Gubalowka Ski Resort. This Zakopane hotel offers ski storage and audio-visual equipment. Outfitted with a bar/lounge, you'll find the perfect place to have a drink. You can find a sauna on site so you will be able to take some time out to de-stress. Don't forget to pack your swimwear as this hotel features an indoor pool. Multilingual staff are available at the front desk 24 hours-a-day and can provide tour/ticket assistance. A safe is available at reception. You can benefit from free high-speed (wired) Internet access during your stay. You will also have access to a meeting/conference room at this hotel.
|Important information & conditions:||Unless otherwise indicated, the charges below are not included in the overall room price. If not included in the overall room price, they will be charged by the property at check-in or check-out. Charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. This property told us they will charge you for the following:A tax is imposed by the city: PLN 2 per person, per night. This tax does not apply to children under 4 years of age. We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. - The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out. Self parking fee: PLN 40 per nightPet fee: PLN 40 per pet, per night The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.|
|Cancellation policy:||You can change or cancel this deal free of charge up to 48 hours before your check-in date. Please take into account that the check-in date starts at 00:00 (local time).
Free cancellation can be made up until 2 days before the check-in day. For cancellations made after this time a cancellation fee of 100% of the first night will be charged. All times refer to the local time at the property. For no-show, 100% of the first night will be charged. Between 20-12-2012 and 26-12-2012 cancellations, a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the entire stay will be charged. For no-show, 100% of the entire stay will be charged.
Please provide this reference number to our customer service center representative on request, so we can help you better

domain: travel


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Hans Holbein the Younger, Portraitist of the Renaissance by Jane Choy-Thurlow
Arts Society South Downs talk on artist
This lecture will explore this artist who through his portraits, esp. of the Henry VIII, his wives and courtiers have done so much to determine the image of this turbulent time. Examine the life and career of this 16th century ex-pat who travelled to many countries in pursuit of his career. But what makes his work so special? Why are his portraits so intriguing and fascinating for so many people? Is it his unbelievably refined technique and the beautiful use of colour which he used to make his paintings come to life? Or is it his talent to reveal the characters of these people so mercilessly?
Jane is an active member of The Arts Society, she is a founding member of DFAS of The Hague and has fulfilled committee positions including chairman and Mainland Europe Area Chairman and presently is Area Trainer. She received her BSc from Salem State University, USA, her MEd from Trinity College Dublin.
Based in Holland she is making a special trip for this talk.

domain: artistic


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This fascinated nature apprentice has discovered there are serious challenges to successful waterway restoration. A presentation on restoring wetlands in the South Okanagan left me with a notebook full of questions.
It all began with a grey-green narrow-leafed tree. In a photo of vegetation on the meandering waterways north of Osoyoos the Russian olive is a dominant feature. The presenter pointed, “This tree is an invasive.”
The use of the word invasive felt slightly threatening as if the Russian olive might be part of a sinister plot to overthrow the South Okanagan. As the presenter continued the threat seemed to intensify. At the same time the Russian olive began to glow as a paragon of nature’s goodness. It is ideal habitat and fodder for birds, a pollen producer, nitrogen-fixer and soil restorer.
Plenty. This olive’s fondness for the riverbanks and wet areas of the South Okanagan, and amazing heat tolerance, has trumped its paragon qualities. It’s driving out the native vegetation. It’s an invasive.
The Russian olive is a tough adversary, though, and won’t go easily.
As the presenter informed us, “Besides propagating by seed, it also expands its range by suckers. But we’re determined to eradicate it. We cut it close to the ground and the exposed wound is then painted with chemical herbicide.”
Herbicide on the exposed wound? My mind reels with questions and confusion. Doesn’t this herbicide contain glyphosate, a chemical of questionable environmental safety? The tree would continue to cycle nutrients even as it dies. Wouldn’t there be some risk of this herbicide entering the water table?
Further, if birds have been attracted to this tree for its olive fruit, I suspect the seeds have already been distributed far and wide.
As it turns out, hundreds of species have been identified as invasive. Generally maligned for pushing out native species, invasives survive and thrive in the disturbed soil and habitats we’ve created and many respond with enthusiasm to rising temperatures. Climate change?
Higher temperatures and changing moisture availability puts pressure on existing or native species. At the same time we scrape away at the earth, providing the ideal setting for these hardier and more adaptable species to invade.
Wind, bird droppings and car tires carry invasives into new terrain. They arrive on animals, planes, trains, boats, shipping and us. There’s evidence that bugs, bacteria and spores can be caught up in high altitude winds that distribute their baggage from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Many species now deemed invasive have been intentionally introduced and only later has their status changed. Such is the story of the lowly dandelion.
When does a species become an invasive? When it interferes with our ability to produce food, keep our waterways free of obstructions, protect our livestock or maintain our health. Some current thinking even suggests that invasives may be the next best thing as less adaptable species are overcome. Maybe the best we can do is work to avoid unintended consequences and reduce the welcome mat we’ve provided.
Dianne Bersea is subbing for Bob Handfield who returns in August.
Views expressed here do not necessarily represent the South Okanagan Naturalists. For information of SONC meetings, speakers and events visit southokanagannature.com.


text: View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the Vinyl release of "The Reiner Sound" on Discogs. Conductor – Fritz Reiner; Engineer – Lewis Layton; Liner Notes – Irving Kolodin; Orchestra – Chicago Symphony Orchestra*. REINER & THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Reiner Sound [Vinyl] CD representing both the meticulous conductor Fritz Reiner and the early vivid RCA stereo. Respighi: Pines Of Rome; Fountains Of Rome / Fritz Reiner Conducting The Chicago Symphony Orchestra [Audio Cassette]. RESPIGHI (Composer). Fritz Reiner/Chicago Symphony Orchestra – The Reiner Sound It is and rock is king, who has time for old music conducted by some. Biography and work for Fritz Reiner, Listen to classical music and albums or he stepped down as chief conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the. His tenure at the helm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is thought to be the beginning of the modern CSO sound. In the early days of stereo recording, Reiner. In , Fritz Reiner was named Music Director of the Chicago Symphony, a post he maintained for nine seasons until the end of the season. Reiner then. Fritz Reiner, music director of the Chicago Symphony from to , Never, during his half-century career as conductor, did Reiner choose to. Margaret Hillis (chorus director), Fritz Reiner (music director), and Walter Hendl (associate conductor) onstage with the Chicago Symphony.


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Thai TV news hosts being sued over accusations made
Former Parliament House speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat has sued TV news-talk show hosts Chuwit Kamolvisit, Pasit “Kai” Apinyawat and Pitchayatan “Bright” Chanput for defamation.
They are accused of tying him, in a recent episode of the digital Channel 33 HD show “Chuwit Mee Reung Lao”, to illegal activities. Yongyuth’s lawyer Udom Prongfa filed the lawsuit on Monday against the trio and TV station operator BEC Multimedia Co under the Computer Crimes Act and Sections 326 and 328 of the Criminal Code.
Yongyuth also sued Chuwit for defamation regarding comments made on another show, “Chuwit Tee Saek Na”, carried on Thairath TV. Channel operator Triple V Broadcast Co and co-host Aratchporn “Mint” Chaladol were also named in that suit.
Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek Criminal Court has scheduled evidence review sessions for June 4 in the first case and June 11 in the second. Lawyer Udom said Yongyuth was seeking to protect his reputation from false accusations allegedly made by Chuwit and the others.
The TV personalities had discussed the police raid on massage parlour Victoria’s: The Secret Forever, where human trafficking and prostitution allegedly took place, and Yongyuth’s purported links to Chiang Rai Football Club and money laundering. Udom said Yongyuth had nothing to do with the football club, which his son Mitti co-founded in 2009. Nor was his client involved in money laundering or stock manipulation, as alleged.
He said Chuwit should have brought such matters up in court, backed by evidence, instead of slandering Yongyuth in public with no supporting evidence. Udom will also file civil lawsuits on Friday against Chuwit and the others and demand Bt100 million in compensation in each case, at 7.5 per cent interest per year until paid in full.


Jean-Marc Jancovici is a French Engineer, who has spent a lot of time writing about economics. His longer form work is not translated into English, but I thought it might be useful to try and summarise some of his thinking, to think about it. There should eventually be a sequel to this post criticizing or developing it. Occasionally, its more me than Jancovici (and material I have taken or misunderstood from my brilliant colleague Jeremy Walker), but I hope nothing would be unacceptable to either of them.
Jancovici claims that the Western, and world, economies are based primarily on the availability of energy and only secondarily on the cost of energy. Availability of energy drives contemporary economic activity far more than labour or capital, although neoclassical economics largely ignores energy availability (and the ecological cost/destruction of economic activity) in favour of labour and capital. But:
“if we have plenty of workers and plenty of capital, but no energy,… we won’t get any significant production!”
Note this can mean that unless spending frees energy, it may have little effect on the economy.
He defines energy as something which is produced by, or allows changes in, the world/system. Energy is about transformation.
“As soon as the world that surrounds us (= ‘a system’) changes, energy plays a role, and the amount of energy involved measures the magnitude of the change of the system between before and after.”
The greater the transformation, the more energy is involved.
“Our economic system is nothing else than the transformation, on a very large scale, of natural resources into ‘something else’.”
The laws of thermodynamics state that in a closed system, energy can neither be created, nor destroyed, but only be transformed. Therefore, “the energy used by a system has.. to come from outside the system”, and this has usually originated from the sun, causing the water cycle, being transformed and stored in plant material (and then into food, or through release by burning fossil fuels, or simply burning wood or feaces) and so on. This process is essentially ‘free’, although extracting energy takes some energy (and the construction of technology to apply that energy to extract the energy). Every time energy is used it ‘degrades’ and some is lost; this corresponds to the notion of entropy. Every transformation increases entropy, and entropy is sometimes seen as a degree of disorder, or a departure from the order demanded by humans. In a closed system entropy eventually wins out.
the entropy of an isolated system never decreases over time.
Isolated systems spontaneously evolve towards thermodynamic equilibrium, the state with maximum entropy [full thermodynamic equilibrium means there is no flow of heat, no detectable energy….].
Non-isolated systems, like organisms, may lose entropy [or gain organisation], provided their environment’s entropy increases by at least that amount so that the total entropy either increases or remains constant.
Therefore, the entropy in a specific system can decrease as long as the total entropy of the Universe does not.
Entropy is a function of the state of the system, so the change in entropy of a system is determined by its initial and final states.wiki sentences split apart for clarity.
Life exists on Earth, because of the energy that comes from the sun (and possibly from the interior of the Earth, although if there was no sun that heat would drain away into space).
The use of machines and new organisations of production, during the industrial revolution to transform the newly, and plentifully, available stored carbon and sunlight in fossil fuels, has magnified the amounts of transformation that humans can impose/make on the general system in a short amount of time. Much of this transformation has been declared good in terms of increasing human potential, and human power. Developed countries are able to exert power (military and trade)in the world with relative ease. This is why ‘developing countries’ who had not yet fully corralled this use of energy were, and are, so keen to instigate it. It provides some degree of security from active colonialism (in theory). Again, we can point to technological development as allowing an increase in the amount of energy we can extract – but this is hard to quantify. This is why previously dominant technological processes can lead to a social dead end; the cost of replacement of old tech with new tech seems excessive. The main point is that we are still not creating energy, only transforming it more efficiently and with greater effect on the world system.
Humans today are facing a crisis because of five factors:
- We have, over the last 70 or so years, been increasing human dependency on fossil fuels for our daily life and survival.
- Oil and gas are approaching, or have reached [it is disputable], peak production. Consequently, social availability of energy is likely to decrease.
- With decreasing availability, the energy cost of energy production, and the destruction resulting from energy production, will increase.
- The pollution from burning fossil fuels is overwhelming the planets ecological ability to process, or recycle, that pollution. The results of this excess is changing those ecological systems and producing climate change.
- The potential energy, and pollution, cost of replacing fossil fuels with renewables could be enormous.
In other words the way we have had of maintaining and generating our survival and way of life, undermines survival and way of life, and is likely to come to an end in any case.
Continuing to use fossil fuels increases the likelihood of dramatic instability in weather patterns, sea level rises, water shortages, floods and agricultural shortages. This will likely increase movements of people and produce armed conflicts. Increased temperatures will, in many already warm places such as Australia, make outside labour difficult and possibly harmful for labourers; this will possibly slow production. It also needs to be added that there are other pressures on the ecology as described by ‘Donut economics’ and planetary boundary theory: such as chemical pollution, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle disruptions, biodiversity loss, particulate pollution and so on. Production of chemical fertilisers may not be energy efficient, when joined with the loss of nutriments through disposal of waste, as when phosphorus is flushed into the sea (the real “metabolic rift”).
We may also have stretched the use of other resources to near their limits, which make production that depends on use of those resources, harder and more expensive. In one formulation, we have taken the easily obtained, “low hanging fruit,” and further fruit will require more energy expenditure to obtain, and this expenditure will likely increase over time. The fruit analogy gets broken, when we realise that the ‘fruit’ we have taken is unlikely to all grow back.
With a growing scarcity of easily available energy and resources (even without increased climate instability), economic growth and production (transformation of materials) will slow, and possibly decline.
“A reasonable hypothesis is to consider that our economy will not be able to grow faster than the energy supply.”
According to Jancovici’s figures (based on those provided by the World Bank), a decrease in the growth rate of GDP per capita, seems to have been happening in the developed world since the 1970s. World growth since then has largely come about through the increased use of energy in the developing world:
“no major old industrialized country has done better than a 1% per year growth on average for the GDP per capita over the first decade of the 21st century.”
With an economic slowdown, it will be harder to make a transition to a decarbonised economy and to lower pollution and chances of wild climate instability. The monetary capital will be less available and the costs of transformation are significant. They involve (at the least): changes in building insulation and design to lessen the need for air conditioning and heating; energy efficiency; transformation of water use and slowing our loss of drinkable water; transformation of agriculture to require less fertilizer and lower emissions; and massive replacement of fossil fuel dependent vehicles, changes in transport patterns, and corresponding changes in city layouts.
There is also the cost of moving into renewables when this is a product which does not provide a new service or a significant price reduction, but does involve significant reorganisations of grid requirements, transfer of energy over large distances (with resulting energy loss), changes in landscape usage and changes of energy transformation (and waste products) in manufacture and transport.
Renewables and storage may also involve transformation of resources with finite and increasingly difficult supply, such as lithium (remember economies are about transformation of materials). It may be that energy output per energy input may be better for renewables, as we don’t need to gather the resources to power them, once installed, but I don’t know.
This all takes lots of energy and capital, and is unlikely to be very profitable without taxpayer subsidy, so it is unlikely to happen through the market.
Certainly it appears that renewables may reduce the price of electricity, but price reductions can lead to more usage (Jevons effect), and hence further stress the system. In 2015 fossil fuels provided, in general, 80% of available energy, the rest was largely provided by hydro, nuclear, and biofuels (not by solar and wind); so the amount of work that needs to be done, and energy expended to transform, is huge.
Some forms of renewable energy can feed into destruction, as when biofuels remove waste which would function as fertiliser, or when they lead to deforestation and lessening of food production.
Replacing all fossil fuel and outputs through burning (especially in transport) requires a major and possibly ‘excessive’ level of investment as renewables may need to be able to over-supply energy to guarantee a constant minimum transmission of energy (although this may not be as necessary as is sometimes claimed, as people can adapt to fluctuating energy flows and did with relative ease 40 years ago). Over-supply of renewables is likely to cause conflicts over land use, as renewables tend to take large areas of land. Storage and release, in batteries, always involves an energy loss, and may also lower the quality of the storage medium. In other words storage mediums tend to decay.
Generating ‘sustainability’ (whatever that is) requires resource and energy usage, and we do not know how much it will take to get there, or what culturally defined “needs” actually need to be satisfied. As Jancovici says:
“Have we ‘met our needs’ when we have 100 square feet of heated living space per person, or will it be the case only when every inhabitant on Earth will own 1500 square feet with central heating, air con, plus a jacuzzi and a private spa?”
These individual needs may conflict with collective needs for survival, with the governance processes for separating them being quite difficult. Similarly, is it possible to be ‘sustainable’ and experience perpetual growth in prosperity, or to extend current living standards (together with the energy use required) to everyone in the world? Will such an extension also require a change in economics and governance? The speed of any such transformation will depend on the politics of the distribution of economic proceeds of the change, or lack of change.
Most of these changes involve changes in society, and threats to established power relations, which also brings up obstacles to them. If the owners and controllers of economic and energy machinery oppose transformation or suck away the profits, it will make transformation slower.
This is what we are observing at the moment. There appears to be a large popular awareness of the need for transformation, but there seems to be little political will to engage in conflict with the power of resistant private capital. Given that money, energy and materials may be short, governments may need to promote public projects in renewable energy, and that requires the possibility of offending powerful and wealthy people and organisations. However, it seems clear that any project that depends on oil or coal production continuing to be cheap should not be encouraged.
A sustainable economy must be able to extract the production of resources to keep the economy going. It must be able to provide energy for its machines, and food, shelter and relatively good health for the people within it.
“if we don’t finance the ‘good’ transition, we will get an economic collapse,”
“The sooner we move in the direction of massive ‘decarbonization’ of Europe, the higher our chances are to export what we have found (techniques, systems, ways of thinking) elsewhere.”


text:
- Minimum Order Quantity :
- Unit of Measure :
- Price Range :
- 200000 - 1500000 INR
With a firm hold on value business ethics, we are manufacturing, supplying and exporting Freight Elevator. This freight lift is extensively used in various industries for handling of various goods and enhancing the production. Our offered equipment is manufactured with the aid of standard technology and modern machines using premium components which are procured from the authentic vendors of the market. This lift is available with us in various capacities as per the variegated demands of our clients.
We provide a complete range of freight elevators of different load carrying capacity. An elevator in your building will make handling of goods easy and enhancing production. Directly and indirectly, modern freight lifts make efficient operation through out the building. We supply these machines with dust proof equipments as per our customer's requirement.
Our products are widely preferred by the variegated clients for its:
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Regd. Office & Unit - 1 : Plot no- 517, Phase IV, G.I.D.C Vatva, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382445, India


Back in the interior, the relocation point for the rear seatbelt mount that was center-punched earlier was drilled out to 11/42 inch. The supplied seatbelt bolt mount was then positioned over the hole and traced. Four 91/432 holes spaced 90 degrees apart were drilled inside the marked perimeter. While using a bolt to hold the seatbelt mount to the underside of the floorpan, the holes were plug-welded, then ground flat. Finally, the mount was welded to the bottom of the floorplan and the bolt was removed. The entire tub install procedure was repeated on the other side of the car.


AA / Khartoum, Sudan
The head of the Sudanese army, General Abdelfattah al-Burhan, pledged on Monday to organize elections at the end of the transition period that the country is going through.
This commitment was made during the signing ceremony of a framework agreement between the ruling Sovereignty Council and the representatives of the various political parties.
The agreement provides for a two-year transition period and the appointment of a civilian prime minister by the political parties that signed the framework agreement.
It also provides for the reform of the military and defense sector, the unification of the army and the integration into the army of the rapid support forces, a paramilitary force.
“We are committed to completely removing the military establishment from the political process, holding elections before the end of the transition period and implementing all points of the framework agreement,” al-Burhan said.
The army chief also promised to make the army a constitutional institution “which cannot be politicized by any group or ideology”.
Monday’s agreement was signed amid mass protests by pro-democracy protesters in the capital Khartoum to show their opposition to the deal.
Several Sudanese groups boycotted the deal, including the Resistance Committees, a civilian pro-democracy network that opposes any negotiations with the military.
Sudan has been without a government since October 2021, when the army deposed the transitional government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and declared a state of emergency, a decision decried by political forces as a “coup d’etat military”.
*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj
Only part of the dispatches, which Anadolu Agency broadcasts to its subscribers via the Internal Broadcasting System (HAS), is broadcast on the AA website, in a summarized manner. Please contact us to subscribe.


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THE INTRIGUE OF IRAN / Ancient Persian wonders, modern Western cities and surprisingly warm welcomes await intrepid U.S. visitors
2007-01-14 04:00:00 PDT Tehran, Iran -- The joke was barely out of my mouth before I regretted making it.
"The Great Satan," I'd quipped when the Iranian airport security official asked me where I was from. Unsmiling, he looked me up and down and said, "Please come with me."
A thousand thoughts exploded in my head, none of them comforting. But it turned out the man only wanted to walk around the corner for a little privacy so he could ask about getting a visa to come to America.
It was a most unexpected welcome to Iran -- but not, as it turned out, all that unusual. During the month I spent there last fall I had similar exchanges with Iranians from all walks of life, few of them interested in discussing the animosity that has existed for so long between our two governments.
Even as sabres rattled a little louder last week with President Bush's Iraq speech -- which in part sounded like a not-so-veiled warning to Iran -- I was reminded that the beef is between the two governments, not the two peoples.
Nobody burned an American flag in my presence. Nobody threw rocks or taunted me. Many, in fact, expressed embarrassment over the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979, when 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days.
And rarely did average Iranians air their grievances with the United States, of which there are many: the CIA-backed coup in 1953 that overthrew a democratically elected prime minister; the decades of U.S. support for the unpopular Shah; the help given to Saddam Hussein during his eight-year war against Iran; and the shooting down of an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf in 1988, killing all 260 people aboard. The United States says it was a horrible accident; the Iranian government maintains it was deliberate.
Nor did anyone bring up the current contretemps over the enrichment of uranium and Iran's quest for a nuclear bomb. (My visit was before Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's bizarre conference of Holocaust deniers last December.)
Understandably, though, most Americans are reluctant to travel to an "axis of evil," as Bush calls it. But it's perfectly legal to do so. Unlike Cuba, where U.S. law makes it virtually impossible for its citizens to set foot, Iran can be visited by any American who can get a visa (which, admittedly, is not always easy to do).
And there are plenty of reasons to go. In 2005, UNESCO ranked Iran seventh in the world in terms of historical, natural and archaeological assets. There's world-class diving in the coral-rich Persian Gulf; skiing and mountain trekking take place amid peaks over 18,000 feet. But visitors don't have to worry about jostling crowds: Iran ranks only 70th in the world in tourism revenue, which means not many are coming.
As an Iranian American growing up in Marin during the 1980s, I was constantly confronted with images of Iranians that never matched my perceptions or the experiences of people I knew so well. From an early age, I wanted to go to Iran and get to know it for myself, beyond both the U.S. propaganda and the often-distorted nostalgia of Iranian expats living in America.
Focused on the past
Arriving in Tehran, it's hard to imagine there would be much worth staying to visit. The smog hangs over the city so thickly it has a texture. The city streets often resemble a parking lot. Many of its old architectural gems were destroyed by the Shah and replaced by drab, modern buildings, many now cheerlessly adorned with billboards honoring martyrs from Iran's war with Iraq. Tehran, one quickly discovers, is a little rough around the edges.
Something about it, though, kept me transfixed. Tehran's charm doesn't lie in prettiness but in its surprises.
For a city of its size (somewhere between 12 million and 15 million; no one is really sure) Tehran is improbably warm and friendly. Since the streets are packed, many Tehranis opt to take taxis. Unless the passenger is ready to pay for the whole cab and clearly states so, the driver will pick up as many passengers as the car will hold. This is a great way to see Tehran and get to know its residents. Any official gender segregation goes completely unnoticed, and men and women from all social strata discuss everything from government corruption to American pop music to computers to ever-rising inflation. I speak a little Persian, but it's not essential for a visit; many Iranians, especially the younger ones, speak English.
One afternoon, to escape the smog, I hailed one of these communal cabs and headed for the top of Tehran, to one of the Shah's former palaces. As I made my way through the entrance of the S'ad Abad Museum Complex, I felt I was in another world. The grounds were covered in lush, mature trees that appeared to be well manicured. On the ample lawns that surround the regal buildings, couples of all ages sat and flirted, making sure not to do anything too risqué.
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WM family (WM20/WM22/WM25/WM27/WM28/Mk 92)
Derivative: Sperry / Unisys / Lockheed Martin MK92
The family of WM20 systems has proved that Thales Nederland is since a long time, in the forefront of naval defence system development. The WM20 is a family of multi-channel fire-control systems designed for gun, torpedo and missile systems and using a combined radar antenna system. It may be used as a primary fire-control system in small warships (fast attack craft and above) while on larger warships it may be a dedicated subsystem supporting the command and weapon control system. It is designed to provide continuous air and surface warning, navigation aid, combat information, target designation and weapon control. The system may also be used as a stand-alone command and weapon control system sometimes supplemented by a STACOS system. Each member of the WM20 family is dedicated to a specific weapon fit and the majority are designed to engage both air and surface targets. The exceptions are the WM24 which has an additional ASW role, and the WM26 which is only for engaging surface targets. The mini combat system is a fast reacting system, including certain data handling facilities which are of great importance during operations in a multi-target environment. Its high-quality radar, provided with ECCM features, guarantees target detection and engagement at maximum weapon range. Some 120 Mk92 systems have been produced under license by Sperry / Unisys /Lockheed Martin. Signaal produced more than 210 WM20 systems and supplied them to 24 navies, Around 200 are still operational due to careful maintenance, overhaul and obsolescence management. During Ships Life Extension Programs (SLEP), already 34 WM systems are re-integrated with the Tacticos' Combat Management infrastructure. Eight of them with an automatic track initiation.


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Report: Obama ordered Stuxnet attacks on Iran
The worm, developed by U.S. and Israeli agencies, targeted Iran's nuclear program, the New York Times says
IDG News Service - President Barack Obama ordered the Stuxnet cyberattacks on Iran in an effort to slow the country's development of a nuclear program, according to a report in The New York Times.
The Times, quoting anonymous sources, reported that, in the early days of his presidency, Obama accelerated attacks related to an effort begun by the George W. Bush administration. The Stuxnet worm, long rumored to have been developed by Israel or the U.S., escaped from Iranian computers in mid-2010 and compromised computers across the Internet.
Obama considered shutting down the cyberattacks after Stuxnet began compromising other computers, but decided to continue with the program, according to the Times. The Stuxnet worm came from a joint U.S. and Israeli effort to target the Iranian nuclear program, the Times said. The newspaper interviewed U.S., Israeli and European officials currently and formerly involved with the cyberattack program, it said.
Stuxnet was discovered in July 2010, when a Belarus-based security company detected the worm on computers belonging to an Iranian client. The consensus of security experts at the time was that Stuxnet was built by a sophisticated attacker, likely a nation state, and was designed to destroy something big, such as Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor. Security experts examining the worm when it was first discovered said that it placed its own code into systems installed with Siemens software, after detecting a certain type of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) device.
A White House spokesman declined to comment on The New York Times story.
Obama raised concerns that the Stuxnet program, code-named Olympic Games, would embolden other countries, terrorists and hackers to use similar attacks, but concluded that the U.S. had no other options available against Iran, the Times story said.
The goal of the attacks was to gain access to the industrial computer controls in Iran's Natanz nuclear plant, the story said. The U.S. National Security Agency and a secret Israeli cyberunit developed the Stuxnet worm, the story said.
The report that the U.S. and Israel were behind the Stuxnet attack didn't surprise Snorre Fagerland, senior virus analyst with Norman, an IT security vendor in Lysaker, Norway. The Stuxnet worm was "orders of magnitude" more complex and sophisticated than previous cyberattacks, he said, and the creation of the malware would have needed significant resources.
It would have taken a team of 10 to 20 people to write Stuxnet, Fagerland said.
The report of U.S. involvement may lead to an increase in cyberattacks, with other countries stepping up their offensive cybercapabilities, Fagerland said. "It raises the stakes," he said. "That will cause others to think, 'They're doing it, so why shouldn't we?'"
While several other countries may have offensive cybercapabilities, they appear to be "less organized" than the team that put together Stuxnet, he added.
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org.
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This pilot fish works for a municipal utility, and he's responsible for an industrial-control network that manages the utility's many substations. What he's not is an IT guy.
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Vir Biotechnology Scientists Named Winners of the BARDA and HHS-Sponsored Pediatric COVID-19 Data Challenge
SAN FRANCISCO, April 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR) today announced that a team of three company scientists were named one of the winners of the Pediatric COVID-19 Data Challenge, sponsored by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The challenge asked participants to develop, train and validate computational models that could help healthcare providers predict which of their pediatric patients with COVID-19 were likely to develop severe complications. The dataset comprised of de-identified electronic health records data available through the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Data Enclave. The N3C is a harmonized data repository of records from more than 116,000 pediatric outpatients from across the United States.
The contributing scientists were Istvan Bartha, Ph.D., M.S., a senior scientist at Humabs Biomed, a subsidiary of Vir; Cyrus Maher, Ph.D., MPH, M.S., director of machine learning at Vir; and Amalio Telenti, M.D., Ph.D., chief data scientist and senior vice president of bioinformatics at Vir.
Responding to the challenge, the Vir team employed a state-of-the-art machine learning model called the “missingness-aware gradient boosted tree classifier,” which assessed the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes among pediatric patients by extracting patterns in both the data that were present and the observations that were absent.
“The tremendous volume of data generated during the pandemic provides significant opportunities for the development and implementation of predictive tools that can help anticipate critical care needs, optimize treatment for the highest risk patients and reduce COVID-19 morbidity and mortality,” said Dr. Telenti. “We were thrilled to successfully contribute to this challenge with our model and hope that these efforts will foster a new generation of decision support tools that will result in improved patient care and outcomes.”
“This award and acknowledgement from BARDA and HHS speak not only to the capabilities of our world-class scientists, but also to our leadership in developing and leveraging impactful artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. We deploy these cutting-edge tools each day, as we work across our pipeline to better understand and treat infectious diseases,” said George Scangos, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Vir Biotechnology. “We are proud to contribute a new technology that can accurately forecast burden of disease for patients and hospital systems – a critical component of pandemic preparedness and real-time response.”
The Pediatric COVID-19 Data Challenge award included a $200,000 cash prize from BARDA, of which was split between the winning Vir team and the Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics (BMI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
About Vir Biotechnology
Vir Biotechnology is a commercial-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Vir has assembled four technology platforms that are designed to stimulate and enhance the immune system by exploiting critical observations of natural immune processes. Its current development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting COVID-19, hepatitis B virus, influenza A and human immunodeficiency virus. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.vir.bio.
Vir Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “aim,” “promising” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Vir’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the ability of our machine learning model to result in improved patient care and outcomes and accurately forecast burden of disease for patients and hospital systems. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Vir’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled “Risk Factors” contained therein.
Contacts: Heather Rowe Armstrong VP, Investor Relations firstname.lastname@example.org +1-415-915-4228 Carly Scaduto Senior Director, Media Relations email@example.com +1 314-368-5189


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Japanese Noodle Soup Recipe
Instructions:1. Heat oil, saute onions, carrots, celery.
2. Slice shiitake mushrooms, discarding stems.
3. Add shiitakes, soaking liquid and water to sauteed vegetables.
4. Bring to a boil, simmer 15 minutes.
5. Add pasta, cook according to package directions.
6. Add ginger, pea pods, red pepper, greens, shoyu, vinegar and mirin.
7. Turn heat down and allow vegetables to cook for 5 cashews.
8. Vegetables should be bright and minutes.
9. Serve garnished with chopped crunchy.
10. The soup is best served immediately.