A Look At Different Type of Laser Engraving Machines
For laser printing purpose, the laser engraving machines are perfect tool to carry out the task perfectly. Laser engraving equipment is widely used in US and UK. There are several reputed brands who manufacture the best quality laser cutting tools and engravers.
Laser engraving is mostly used in metal and electronics industries for marking & engraving on the hard substrate metal surfaces. With the help of radiation and laser technology, the entire process is carried out. The laser marking technology does not allow the surface to wear out even after being exposed to strong radiation heat and laser beam. This is the reason why laser marking process always enjoys a strong positive edge over the other techniques available. The positive working effect of this technology can be observed more prominently when the engraving is carried out on laser-sensitive surfaces like novel metal alloys and polymers.
There are different types of laser engravers available. However, each type comprises mainly of three major parts: surface, laser, and controller. The controller can be defined as a micro-computer device that controls & regulates the direction, intensity, and speed of the laser beam. The controller also controls the extent to which the beam can spread so that it can be able to concentrate on the particular pointed area of the surface. However, must keep it in mind that the surface should be appropriate to endure laser beams or else, it will slowly melt away when exposed to such heated laser beams. Although there are different type of laser machines available in the market, but the most common and popular one is the X-Y Table.
The X-Y table is a device where the surface is immovable or stationary. The laser beam travels through this surface while following a certain path in the matrix of X and Y. This movement helps in drawing vectors on surfaces that ultimately provides the necessary form to things or words that will be engraved. At times, the surface have the tendency to move to & fro in order to develop a vector while making necessary adjustment to catch the laser beams that comes from one stationary outlet. In the industries, the immovable surfaces are mostly used.
There are also those engraving machines that have a raster form in contrast to the above mentioned one. In most cases, these types of laser engravers are used for cylindrical surfaces. The laser beams travel in very helical patterns with continuous on/off pulses that develop a figure being required to get engraved in raster form.
There is also a third variety where both the laser beams as well surface is stationery & images get formed due to presence of GALVO mirrors that moves over laser beams to develop images on surfaces.


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Yes, he’s really taking the plunge and signed up for a German course. We chose Berlin because we both don’t know it very well and everyone who’s been here loves it, so naturally we have to find out what all the fuss is about.
We’ve only been here two days but already did plenty of walking in our neighbourhood – Scheunenviertel in Berlin Mitte – went up the Fernsehturm (the TV tower) to get a perfect 360 view of the city, walked under the Brandenburger Tor, across the Potsdamer Platz and had a lovely afternoon in the Tiergarten with a couple of beers.
Our house, from the TV tower
The subway entrance at the Postfuhramt, the old postal transport offices
Pieces of the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz.
The holocaust memorial with the US Embassy, the Brandenburger Tor and the Reichstag in the back.
At the Sony center, a ginormous rotunda of glass and metal, parts of the former Grand Hotel Esplanade have been preserved.
Also at the Sony Center: a giant Lego shop!
The Siegessäule or victory column in the Tiergarten park. It's like Central Park but with more beer.
Somebody please explain these to us... They're all over the city!
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domain: geography


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Maastricht, The Netherlands
Located on both banks of the Meuse River, Maastricht is the capital of the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. Settled around 500 BC, it is one of the oldest cities in the country.
How to Reach MaastrichtMaastricht Aachen Airport (MST) has regular scheduled flights to Spain, Poland, and Hungary.
Maastricht railway station is served by three routes of Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the county's main railway operator.
the A2 and A79 motorways traverse the city. It lies about three-hour's drive from Amsterdam.
Best Time to Visit MaastrichtMaastricht has a moderate climate. Although months of June, July, and August are the hottest, Summer is an ideal time to explore the city's old quarter and shop for souvenirs in weekend markets. The city hosts several festivals in May and September.
Things to Do in MaastrichtPopular for for shopping and recreation, the city is one of the busiest commercial and tourist centers in the country. Several parks and promenades along the river, lively squares & historical sights, medieval city walls & gates, pedestrianized shopping streets & pavement cafes, and picturesque neighborhoods baffle visitors in quality as well as charm. The Treasures of Saint Servatius, Bonnefanten Museum, Mount Saint Peter, Museum aan het Vrijthof, and Saint Pietersberg Caves are prominent attractions in Maastricht.
Facts about MaastrichtThe city has 1677 listed national heritage sites.
It has become known as the birthplace of the European Union (EU), due to the Maastricht Treaty.
Last Updated On : December 27, 2016


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Title - 'Live At The Rainbow 1977' (Cherry Red)
Artist - Eddie And The Hot Rods
A friend of mine was actually at this show! He has since told me that, interstingly enughh, the support band were Ultravox [the Jon Foxx incarnation prior to Midge Ure] and that they were really good. He said they played nearly all of their eponymous debut album and that it set the crowd up perfectly for Eddie and the boys to follow!
But anyway, and that all said Eddie And The Hot Rods needed a good year and by jove, come 1977 they got it! The punk band from Essex, England had been playing the live circuit for years, but word of mouth was starting to get around.
Indeed, Eddie And The Hot Rods were an early UK punk group, high energy, but essentially a revved up mid-sixties sound. They were not a revival group, nor were they a full blown "punk" group ala The Damned or The Ramones.
But what's that I hear you ask? You don't remember anything the band ever did? Sure you do - remember their biggest hit single, ‘Do Anything You Wanna Do’ which reached #9 in the UK chart in August? Or perhaps you saw them open up for either the Talking Heads or The Ramones. It was also the year they released their massively accepted Life On The Line album.
Anyway, this live show from their London’s Rainbow Theatre gig in 1977 features another UK hit single 'Teenage Depression,' further singles such as 'Writing On The Wall' and 'Wooly Bully,' and covers of classic songs such as '96 Tears' (originally recorded by Question Mark & the Mysterians), 'The Kids Are Alright' (originally recorded by The Who) and 'Gloria' (originally recorded by Them).
And so here today we have a 2 disc release that captures that show in all its glory – both on CD and DVD. And wow, what a noisy show it was, both from the sound coming from the stage and that coming out of the audiences mouths!
1. GET ACROSS TO YOU; 2. 96 TEARS; 3. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON; 4. ALL I NEED IS MONEY; 5. SHOW ME; 6. WOOLY BULLY; 7. HORSEPLAY; 8. WHY CAN’T IT BE; 9. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT; 10. TEENAGE DEPRESSION; 11. BEEN SO LONG; 12. HARD DRIVIN’ MAN; 13. DOUBLE CHECKIN’ WOMAN; 14. ON THE RUN; 15. GET OUT OF DENVER; 16. GLORIA and 17. WRITING ON THE WALL
CD/DVD Purchase Link

domain: artistic


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Learn how to enjoy having your creative work critiqued might sound like an impossible assignment, but, in my experience, releasing the dislike or fear is about mindset.
As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog post, the value of creating relationships with critique partners, I remember the jitters that came when first handing off a manuscript for critique.
Like most things precious to us, we don’t want to have our work dissected, altered, and criticized. We want it to remain whole, unchanged, and pleasing just as it is. And sometimes, we believe that our creation reflects us; so, critique it, and you critique us. We don’t enjoy hearing about the parts of our creation, and thus about us, the creator, that might need improvement.
But why are we so fragile about this? I can only speak for myself. Maybe you can relate.
When I first received a critique of the first draft of my manuscript, the many red markings in the margin (or wherever they fit) rose from the page like warning signals of personal failure. Even when I told myself I’d be okay with whatever came back to me, those pages of red markings were difficult to digest… at first.
The next day, after I’d slept on the comments, interestingly, I felt differently about them. One or two of the comments immediately stood out; their improvement to my work was undeniable. If one or two comments made that much of a positive difference, what might all the rest do?
And just like that, I transformed from a wounded ego to an eager creator once more—more excited about my project than ever.
Instead of fearing failure or personal judgment, I experienced renewed excitement about my manuscript, and deep gratitude for the person who’d taken the time to read it, and the care to comment so generously.
My mindset had changed. The critique experience became thoroughly positive; it became a lesson in which I quickly found great value. I was now excited to contemplate and evaluate each thought or suggestion given to me. I moved through each comment with care and consideration. For each critique provided, one of the following occurred:
- I accepted a critique suggestion outright.
- I used the clear misunderstanding of a critique remark to change a manuscript description, plot element, character intention, word choice, or another such manuscript-related component. Each change brought a noticeable improvement.
- I reworked a critique to better suit the intention of my manuscript.
- I altogether discarded a critique.
Sometimes, well… I’d say, most of the time, we’re too close to our work to see objectively where it needs improvement.
Here are a few examples of errors or omissions we can too easily miss:
- Words that don’t convey the meaning we intend.
- Improper use of pronouns.
- Improper use of tense.
- Repetition of phrases or words or overused expressions.
- Use of cliches.
- Misspelled words.
- Holes or gaps; the missing bridges that connect the plot or scene structure.
- Creation of a character who lacks depth or isn’t relatable to the reader.
- Inconsistencies in the timeline or other details.
In time, handing a manuscript or some other heartfelt creation over to a peer for critique becomes easier. We,
- Move past worrying about being judged and get back to the business of producing the best creation we can.
- We see the remarkable value in each critique—even the critiques that at first seem too heavy-handed or harsh.
- Each remark becomes a path to improvement of creation and craft.
To enjoy having your creative work critiqued might sound like an impossible assignment, but, in my experience, releasing the dislike or fear is about mindset.
Here’s a link to a critique partnering website I found helpful: CritiqueMatch


SPRINGFIELD - The first major snow storm of the season, a nor’easter, dropped more than 2 feet of snow in the region between midnight Tuesday and Wednesday night, causing Springfield to cancel schools for a second day today.
While the storm was in full force Wednesday, schools throughout the region were canceled, public and private sector workers were told to stay home, and some communities and Massachusetts as a whole were declared a state of emergency.
The eastern end of the state was hit even harder. The snow there was reported wetter and heavier than anticipated, causing as many as 100,000 people to lose electricity and to make removal operations more difficult.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick declared a state of emergency and deployed 250 national guardsman as a precaution.
In Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, snowfall amounts ranged from a high of 26 in Chesterfield to as low as 12 inches in Northampton. In Springfield, where officials said as much as 20 inches fell in some places, Department of Public Works Director Al Chwalek said the storm was one of the worst he could recall since the Blizzard of 1978.
Western Massachusetts Electric reported one significant power outage affecting as many as 970 customers in Amherst, but electricity was restored within three hours.
Area police reported numerous skid-outs and fender benders, but few serious accidents. State police officials said the advance publicity about the storm helped keep people many people off the roads.
Officials in Springfield and the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District announced schools would remain closed for a second day today to allow for additional cleanup of streets, sidewalks and bus stops.
In a press briefing at the DPW control center on Tapley Street, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said officials felt it necessary to call off school for a second day for public safety reasons.
The main streets were passable, but many secondary roads remain to be plowed, he said.
That coupled with the many sidewalks still in need of shoveling would put make it difficult if not dangerous for students who walk to school or take the bus.
Sarno said City Hall and other all other city services will be open for business as usual today.
Springfield officials declared a state of emergency because of the storm. Sarno said the declaration will allow the city to seek state and federal assistance for snow cleanup.
Sarno said the storm will probably cost the city somewhere in the area of $400,000.
Emergency Preparedness Director Robert Hassett said the snow may have stopped, but “we’re not out of the woods yet.”
Heavy winds of up to 35 mph were forecast for today along with temperatures in the mid- to low-20s.
“You still have to be very careful,” he said. “This storm was the real deal. It absolutely pushed us to our limit.”
Much of the department’s snowplowing fleet, made up of contracted drivers in pickup trucks with plows attached, was rendered “useless” by the snowfall amounts, he said.
The smaller trucks are adequate for 6 to 8 inches but not for snowfall amounts of 20 inches and drifts of 4 feet or more, he said.
“Some residential streets are not going to be plowed today,” he said Wednesday. “I don’t expect them to be done for a couple of days.”
Chwalek asked city residents to be patient. The DPW is doing the best it can. “There is no place to put the snow,” he said.
Springfield Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet said for the most part, people are following the parking restrictions, although the department did issue 247 parking tickets and have 148 vehicles towed.
Fitchet said there were numerous fender benders but no serious accidents. There were two car fires caused by drivers spinning their wheels and overtaxing their engines, he said.
He said there were no fatalities reported, although there were four incidents where people suffered serious hand injuries trying to clear out the blades of a snowblower.
In Holyoke, police had more than 60 vehicles towed between midnight and 2 p.m. on Wednesday because drivers violated the parking ban to keep at least one side of roads clear so plows could remove snow.
Work crews also were busy on Bemis Road in the Highlands Neighborhood after a water main broke and flooded the street when a driver backed into a fire hydrant, officials said.
Lt. Michael J. Higgins said police on the midnight to 8 a.m. shift had 50 vehicles towed and another dozen or so had been towed by afternoon.
Some drivers who came to the police station to claim their vehicles said that not only did they not know there was a parking ban, but they didn’t know a snow storm was coming, he said.
“How could you not know? They’ve been talking about this storm for four or five days. You feel bad for people, but ...,” Higgins said.
In Westfield, DPW Director James M. Mulvenna said the storm will cost the city an estimated $80,000 to $85,000.
Mulvenna said neighborhood streets, especially at intersections, where plowing operations left deep snow on sidewalks, will be cleared today and Friday.
City plows were dispatched at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, followed at 2 a.m. by private plows under contract with the city for snow emergencies.
Republican reporters Mike Plaisance and Ted LaBorde contributed to this story.


Council tax rates and bandings
The council tax for West Lancashire Borough Council for the average Band D property in 2022-23 will be £218.39 per year or £4.20 a week.
Your council tax bill goes towards providing funding for a range of local authorities.
Around 11% of the total council tax bill comes to the Borough Council. The total council tax bill includes charges from Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Constabulary. The council tax for some areas will also include a parish council precept.
The council tax amounts for 'average' Band D properties (excluding parish council precepts) are set out below.
|West Lancashire Borough Council||
|Lancashire County Council||£1,456.19||£1,514.29||3.99%|
Lancashire Combined Fire Authority
Lancashire Police Authority
For details on the changes in council tax levels for all of the main local authorities in West Lancashire:
- Download changes in council tax levels 22-23 (PDF 12kb)
- Download changes in council tax levels 22-23 (CSV 4kb)
For details on the total council tax amounts payable for different areas and council tax bands:
- Download council tax rates by area and band 2022/23 (PDF 448kb)
- Download council tax rates by area and band 2021/22 (PDF 448kb)
For details on the income raised by each authority through council tax:
- Download details on the income raised by each authority (PDF 20kb)
- Download details on the income raised by each authority (CSV 4kb)
The leaflets below give further council tax information for the current year and the previous year.
- Download Council Tax Information Leaflet 2022/23 (PDF 2.07mb)
- Download Council Tax Information Leaflet 2021/22 (PDF 1.17mb)
Planned spending 2022/23
|Corporate & Customer Services||£6,817||£7,380|
|Finance, Procurement & Commercial Property||-£626||-£1,042|
|Housing and Regulatory||£1,729||£1,878|
|Growth and Development||£337||£874|
|Wellbeing and Leisure||£2,049||£1,894|
|Net Central Service Items||-£993||-£794|
|Net Non Service Items||-£1,338||-£1,405|
|NET BUDGET FUNDED BY|
|Business Rates: Retained Income||-£3,657||-£2,793|
|Business Rates: S31 Grants||-£3,568||-£2,850|
|Prior Year Collection Fund (Surplus)/Deficit||£2,756||£2,456|
|Use of Collection Fund Smoothing Reserve||£0||-£2,456|
|New Homes Bonus||-£802||-£703|
|Other Government Grants||-£740||-£381|
The council’s net budget requirement of £13.897m will be funded 56% from the council tax, 33% from retained business rates income and grants, and 11% by general government grants.


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The new flour guide guides flour into the container with any spill It weighs only 10 pounds and is half the size of regular hand grain mills The Wonder Junior Deluxe Manual Grain Mill can also be motorized using a pulley as per the user’s convenience Users can ,
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Impact-chamber grain mills like the Nutrimill and Wonder Mill are best for grinding fine grades of flour but have less grinding range than burr grain mill models like the Country Living Grain Mill The latter can't grind grains as finely as impact-chamber grain mills, but they can grind much more coarsely for producing cereals and cracked wheat
Lightly used Hand grain mill and grinder Made in Germany Jupiter model 562
Jun 19, 2017· Grain Mill Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Best Countertop Grain Mill Published June 19, 2017 and updated February 7, 2019 Pin Share 491 Shar Quick Navigation 1 What is a Grain Mill? , Manual/Hand Mills If you enjoy doing things by hand, then a manual mill is going to be best This has a very minimal chance of damaging the nutrients .
This makes this mill the easiest to turn It is the only hand mill that I have ever tested that will mill "pastry fine flour" first time through! Has full rubber foot to protect any surface it is attached to Loosen the texture dial on the front of the Jupiter hand mill and change texture from pastry flour to ,
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Jan 29, 2013· I like to do everything without electricity if possible I know that manual grinding grain is a chore and I'm probably crazy for wanting to do itEither way I'd like some recommendations for the best manual grinding mill I'm looking for something that can grind from fine to coarse, preferably with stones and is made of high quality materials (cast iron a plus)
Backdoor Survival » Food Supply » Best Manual Grain Mills for Milling at Home SurvivalWoman | Updated Jul 25, 2017 , being motorized unless you DIY If you can afford it, and you’re preparing for a long-term SHTF scenario, this is the mill to buy 3 Victorio Deluxe Hand Grain Mill This hand grain mill is simply superior to Victorio’s .
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Lehman's carries an extensive selection of grain mills, grinders, accessories and grains that will let you get the most out of your food Our grain grinder mill assortment ranges from the most basic and economical hand mill, for making corn meal and animal feed, to top-of-the-line grinders like the Diamant, which can grind practically anything
Save jupiter grain mill to get e-mail alerts and updates on your eBay Feed + Items in search results SPONSORED , Bio-Muhle Jupiter Deluxe Model 562 Hand Grain Mill Germany Grinder Prepper Pre-Owned $6000 or Best Offer +$1900 shipping Jupiter Family Grain Mill Electric or Manual Food Mill ,
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Mar 23, 2018· Wonder Junior Deluxe by Wondermill Hand Grain Mill The following hand grain mill is a quality choice and is very popular Wonder Junior Deluxe by Wondermill It may be the best mix of value for quality and price
Best Grain Mill – Reviews 1 Victorio VKP1024 Deluxe Hand Operated Grain Mill The Victorio Deluxe Hand Operated Grain Mill has a lot of great qualities that would serve you well on a day to day basis or in an emergency It is meant for grinding grains such as wheat, rice, barley, and many other hard grains .
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Wonder Junior DELUXE Grain Mill The Wonder Junior is the highest quality, most versatile hand mill available You can create super fine flour or coarse cracked grains for cereals By simply swapping the stone heads for the stainless steel burr heads you can make delicious peanut butter or other nut butters, you can grind flax or any other oily or wet grains, you can grind herbs and spices .
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This deluxe grain mill is a reputable option if you are looking for an easy to use hand-operated mill Generally the reviews for the Victorio VKP1024 Deluxe Hand Operated Grain Mill are positive Many users said they are very happy with the price compared to similar products
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domain: agronomy


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Remember to Have Fun
“It doesn’t matter if the steps you’re taking are small or large it matters if you’re having fun.”
This was the message that resonated with me as I listened to Abraham Hicks this morning.
We can push ourself to get to where we ‘think we should be’ but we will be depleted once we get there.
The whole reason why we want to be in a different place is because we think we’ll feel more happiness, joy, success, etc. once we get there. But… If we’re having fun along the way, we don’t be as pressured to get there, because here is fun too.
"The Road Less Traveled" Scott Pek
My dream of becoming a psychotherapist was born reading this book.
At the time, I was a teenager living in Serbia, having no clue how non-linear my path towards that dream will be. More than a decade later, at 28 I went back to school to study psychology and continued towards master’s degree at 32.
I was not concerned with how long it will take me to get my degree. I was just following the only path that made sense to me at the time. I’m so grateful for my past self for not overthinking it. Here is link to the book if you want to check it out!
Excerpt from "A Return to Love"
Examining the past can help clarify many of our problems, but healing doesn't occur in the past. It occurs in the present. There is practically a mania these days for blaming the events of our childhood for our current despair. What the ego doesn't want us to see is that our pain doesn't come from the love we weren't given in the past, but from the love we ourselves aren't giving in the present.
Excerpt from "The Law of Attraction"
In your present you give thought to your future so that when you get to that future time, your future has been prepaved, or prepared, for you by you.
And so, much that you are experiencing today is as a result of your thoughts about today that you thought yesterday and the day before and the year before and the year before.
Every thought that you think that is directed toward what you want for your future is of great benefit to you.

domain: literature


Glass-filled rubies. Lab-grown diamonds sold with GIA® papers on shady Chinese e-commerce sites. Too-perfect emeralds coated in beautiful but deceptive polymers. Inquiring millennial minds incessantly operating judgmental iPhones — one window open to Blue Nile and another to your store’s entry on Yelp.
Jewelers have always dealt with issues of credibility. It’s part of the business. It’s rooted in the nature of jewelry itself. Jewelry can be a brilliant, transparent token of love and timeless beauty. But when the facets darken, it can reflect uneasiness about overindulgence or uncontrollable desire. The high cost of jewelry and the lack of general knowledge about jewelry can make people wary.
Consumer research only confirms what we already suspected: jewelers are more trusted than lawyers and used-car salesman…but that’s about it. While people may adore their own personal jeweler, they suspect the profession. And the lack of understanding makes consumers susceptible when the media exploits outlandish, atypical stories.
Lately, questions of credibility seem even more pressing than usual. And those credibility questions are often gemological questions.
With the frenzy over lab-grown diamonds and the flood of new gemstone treatments, not to mention quality concerns due to dwindling supplies, jewelers face a new series of challenges. Add to this an influx of young, eco-conscious consumers with all of the information (and misinformation) of the World Wide Web in their pockets, and you have the makings of a gemological age of uncertainty. But bench jewelers also have plenty of reasons to be hopeful, and plenty of ways to close the credibility gap. And Stuller is here to help.
Jewelers Rest Easy
To begin with: If anyone is in a position to soothe concerns over suspect stones, it’s you. In a way, what you’re selling isn’t
just jewelry — it’s your knowledge and, by extension, credibility itself. Gemological concerns don’t have to be a problem. They can be an opportunity to educate customers and to position yourself as a trusted consultant — rather than just a salesperson.
Independent jewelers in particular have an advantage, because their closer relationships to customers set them apart from big box stores. Closer relationships lead, of course, to more trust, especially when you can show the unique worth of your expert knowledge.
How Stuller Can Help
Not all hardworking jewelers have the luxury of having a graduate gemologist on staff or the spare time to scrutinize loose stone inventory. As Carl Lehnhardt, Stuller’s head diamond buyer, puts it, “Some of our jewelers, they are the chief salesman, and the gift-wrapper, and the bookkeeper. I mean they do everything. They don’t always have the time, and so they rely on us to be there for them. To be their expert.”
Stuller helps you by offering a legacy of integrity that you can pass on to your customers. With over 25 GIA-trained Diamond and Colored Stone graduates on our diamonds and gemstones staff and a combined 125 years of quality assurance experience, we save you peace of mind with every order. All Stuller grading reports are guaranteed, and our Red Box Diamonds® and Black Box Gemstones® collections offer you and your customer a unique package designed to emphasize the individual integrity and quality of hand-selected stones (for more on these products, see the following pages).
We’ve invested in the De Beers Automated Melee Screening Device (AMS), the best technology in the business, and we follow De Beers recommended protocols to screen diamonds under .20 ct. We manually test stones above .20 ct.
Not All G SI1s Are Created Equal
At the end of the day, it comes down to transparency. Customers want to be sure they get what they pay for and what they’re comfortable with. And you want to be sure you can give it to them.
This is where Stuller is most helpful. If our diamonds and gemstones business is known for anything, it’s known for consistency, transparency, and quality.
As Lehnhardt puts it, “In the diamond business, there’s a lot to be said for getting what you pay for. And not all diamonds are created equal, even though the pedigree on paper looks the same. Like I always say, ‘Not all G SI1s are created equal.’”
Rather than getting caught up in a no-win game to offer the cheapest prices and cheapest stones, Stuller decided long ago to focus on rigorous grading protocols and exceptional quality. Other leading suppliers may indeed offer lower prices, but they do so by purchasing inferior product and loosening quality control standards.
When prices fluctuate drastically, this becomes even more crucial. The temptation is to water down assortments to keep prices steady—a practice favored by other suppliers of smaller stones. Stuller refuses to do this.
Our assortments are well-known as the tightest in the industry. While the cost of our assortments will rise or fall with the market, that’s due to their integrity, and it’s a token of our dedication to quality and transparency.
Credibility Is About Choice
When it comes down to questions of credibility, whether it’s in the jewelry business or our personal lives, it’s always a matter of choice. Our choices let others know who we are, what we value, and whether our customers can trust us.
At Stuller, we’ve made our choice.
“We could sell cheaper,” says Lehnhardt, “But we don’t believe that the customer would have a long-term appreciation for what they buy. So if all you are looking for is a low price, there’s always somewhere to find it. But if you’re looking for the best value, then we definitely have you covered.”


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Ed Sheeran's 'Bad Habits' named the UK's top song of 2021
26 December 2021, 18:55
Ed Sheeran has bagged the biggest song of 2021 with his Number 1 single 'Bad Habits'.
Ed Sheeran's 'Bad Habits' has been named the biggest song of the year in the UK.
Will Manning announced on The Official Big Top 40: Chart of the Year that Ed's summer single was this year's Number 1.
'Bad Habits' went straight to the top of the UK's biggest chart show upon its release at the end of June.
It then spent a total of 8 weeks at the top over the summer, the first of five Number 1 songs for Ed Sheeran in 2021.
Adele also returned to music in 2021, coming back just a few months after Ed. Her single 'Easy On Me' claimed second place with another Ed song - 'Shivers' - taking the Number 3 spot.
The Official Big Top 40: Top Songs of 2021
- Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran
- Easy On Me - Adele
- Shivers - Ed Sheeran
- drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo
- Cold Heart - Elton John & Dua Lipa
- Wellerman - Nathan Evans, 220 KID & Billen Ted
- Friday - Riton & Nightcrawlers ft. Mufasa & Hypeman
- Heartbreak Anthem - Galantis, David Guetta & Little Mix
- Let’s Go Home Together - Ella Henderson & Tom Grennan
- Merry Christmas - Ed Sheeran & Elton John
- Afterglow - Ed Sheeran
- Take My Breath - The Weeknd
- Rasputin - Majestic & Boney M.
- Overpass Graffiti - Ed Sheeran
- By Your Side - Calvin Harris ft. Tom Grennan
- Butter - BTS
- Higher Power - Coldplay
- Our Song - Anne-Marie & Niall Horan
- Visiting Hours - Ed Sheeran
- Confetti - Little Mix ft. Saweetie
- Remember - Becky Hill & David Guetta
- BED - Joel Corry, RAYE & David Guetta
- good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo
- Save Your Tears - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande
- The Business - Tiësto
- Little Bit of Love - Tom Grennan
- Peaches - Justin Bieber
- Kiss My (Uh Oh) - Anne-Marie & Little Mix
- Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
- My Heart Goes (La Di Da) - Becky Hill & Topic
- MONTERO - Lil Nas X
- Boyz - Jesy Nelson ft. Nicki Minaj
- I Wish - Joel Corry ft. Mabel
- That's What I Want - Lil Nas X
- Talk About - Rain Radio & DJ Craig Gorman
- abcdefu - Gayle
- Black Magic - Jonasu
- My Universe - Coldplay & BTS
- Stay - The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
- Head & Heart - Joel Corry X MNEK

domain: entertainment


text:
Marcos came to DJR passionate about low-income housing and green design. He believes it is the responsibility of architects and designers to make design and environmental well-being a commodity that is accessible to everyone. Marcos has a wide range of experience working in low-income housing and design for regional communities in Guadalajara, Mexico; low-income and disaster housing in Tallaboa Alta, Puerto Rico; and low-income housing design with the City of Shakopee, MN for the community 2040 plan.
Marcos is an avid collector of POP figures and comic books. Currently the most valuable item in his collection is an original Spider-Man pop figure signed by Tom Holland, the rising star of Spider-Man in the Avengers and Spider-Man Homecoming.


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A man has been ordered to stay away from his former partner after he made threats to kill a man he wrongly believed was her new boyfriend.
Ryan Horne appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he admitted texting his former partner and telling her he was going to “kill” her friend and run him off the road with his car.
The 29-year-old also threatened to physically assault the man, telling his ex he would “batter him”.
Horne’s solicitor told the court her client had trouble controlling his emotions when angry.
‘I’ll run yous off the road’
Fiscal depute Georgia Laird told the court that the couple had been in a relationship for three years but had separated in November last year.
On October 5 2023, Horne’s former partner unblocked his number on her phone to tell him to “stop saying things about her”.
During the call, as the woman was trying to speak, Horne began reacting aggressively, stating that he would punch her face along with her friend’s face.
At around 3.35pm that day, the woman began receiving several voice messages directing threats toward her friend.
Horne stated: “I’m going to kill that c***. I’ll run yous clean off the road. I’ll punch him. I’m going to batter him. I’m going to punch him in the mouth,” before adding: “I’m going to punch whoever you’re with whenever you’re walking down the street.”
Appearing in the dock, Horne pleaded guilty to one charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly making threats of violence from an address on Cairncry Road, Aberdeen.
Accused ‘disappointed’ about how he handled situation
Defence solicitor Carolyn Leckie told the court her client has struggled to “control his emotions” while in relationships.
She added: “Mr Horne has experienced a significant amount of time in care as a young person.
“He knows he needs he needs to learn to control his emotions whenever he’s feeling challenged.”
Sheriff Craig Findlater told Horne: “I can see that you have had something of a difficult background.
“I also see that you have shown some insight into the issues you have had.
“You have said that you’re disappointed with yourself as to how you handled this situation.”
Sheriff Findlater sentenced Horne, of Wingate Road, Aberdeen, to a community payback order with supervision for two years and ordered him to take part in a domestic abuse programme.
The sheriff also put a non-harassment order in place, meaning Horne cannot approach his former partner for one year.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.

domain: psychology


text:
HCMC – As the latest Covid-19 wave has taken a toll on industrial production in Vietnam, the country saw the index of industrial production (IIP) in July inch up a mere 1.8% month-on-month and 2.2% year-on-year, the lowest growth rate over the past seven months.
In July, the manufacturing and processing sector edged up 2.9% month-on-month, the electricity production and distribution sector up 6.7% and the water supply and waste treatment sector up 4.4.%, while the mining industry fell by 8%, according to a report released by the General Statistics Office on July 29.
However, between January and July, the IIP picked up 7.9% year-on-year, well above 2.6% in the same period last year.
The industries with the positive growth included manufacturing and processing, which gained 9.9%; electricity production and distribution, up 8.2% and water supply and waste treatment, up 5.6%.
The report also indicated that among 19 provinces and cities in the southern region which are applying the social distancing order under the prime minister’s Directive 16, seven localities saw a decrease in IIP, while IIP in the remaining 12 localities staged a rise in July.
On the negative side, HCMC’s IIP lost 19.4%, while Long An, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ben Tre saw the index drop by 0.2%-14.6%.
Despite the pandemic, Bac Lieu Province still maintained growth in industrial production in July, with the province’s IIP improving 13.7% year-on-year, supported by electricity production with a surge of 137.6%. Binh Phuoc Province also saw a 12.2% rise in the index as food processing and manufacturing soared by 29.5%.
Hanoi City’s IIP in July grew 7.8% year-on-year. The city has been practicing the shelter-in-place order since July 24, the local media reported.

domain: news


text:
The number of genes conditioning resistance in adult wheat plants to the induction of chlorosis by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was estimated with molecular markers. Wheat plants from a segregating population of 112 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross of the synthetic hexaploid W-7984 with Opata 85 were inoculated at anthesis with race 1 isolate Pti2. The inoculated flag leaves were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on infection type. An RFLP map consisting of 542 markers was employed to identify significant associations (P < 0.01) between marker loci and adult tan spot resistance. All of the markers were subjected to multiple regression analysis using the computer program qGene to determine the regression model that gave the largest R2 value at the P<0.01 level of probability. The multiple regression model included five significant unlinked markers and one significant interaction. The model gave an R2 value of which accounted for 48.8% of the variation for resistance to P. tritici-repentis isolate Pti2 in adult wheat plants of this population. The major QTL identified in adults was associated with the locus identified by the RFLP marker XGli1 located on chromosome 1AS and accounted for 26.1% of the variation for resistance. This is the same marker found to be associated with the QTL QTsc.ndsu-1A in seedlings of this population.
|Original language||English (US)|
|Number of pages||2|
|Journal||Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology|
|State||Published - Dec 1 1998|

domain: biology


text:
OSLO (Reuters) - Rich nations have outlined “encouraging” cuts in greenhouse gas emissions so far but the United States and others may be able to make tougher curbs, the head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat said on Tuesday.
“One of the main points from now on is to see how ... far the level of ambition can be increased,” Yvo de Boer told Reuters, speaking of negotiations on a new U.N. pact to fight global warming due to be agreed in Copenhagen in December.
He said the marathon negotiations will get a spur from May 18, by when a first draft negotiating text is due to be published. The text will sum up submissions from governments in recent weeks.
He welcomed offers by developed nations in recent weeks, even though they are short of reductions of 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 outlined by a U.N. panel of scientists to avoid the worst of global warming.
“Given that a Copenhagen agreement is not yet in sight I think we have an encouraging (set) of numbers on the table from industrialized countries,” he said in a telephone interview.
Among reasons, “there are countries that have purely looked at potential domestic emission reduction commitments and have not included offsets or action abroad, such as the United States,” he said. Action abroad could enable deeper reductions.
Under the U.N.’s existing Kyoto Protocol, for instance, developed countries can get credit for investing in cleaner technologies such as hydropower, solar panels or wind turbines that cut emissions in developing nations.
President Barack Obama has promised to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 -- a cut of about 14 percent from 2007 levels as part of the global drive to combat warming that may bring more heatwaves, floods and rising seas.
De Boer declined to say how much deeper Washington might be able to cut with an “expanded toolbox” of actions but said that some studies by U.S. experts suggested it could add several percentage points.
Reuters calculations show that offers so far by developed nations work out at total cuts of between nine and 16 percent below 1990 levels, including ranges offered by the European Union and Australia. Analysts say recession has dimmed willingness for tough action.
But de Boer said it was wrong to conclude ambition was falling short, with many uncertainties and six months left. Some nations such as Russia and Japan have yet to announce their greenhouse goals, he noted.
“To say that we are still a long way away from the minus 25 to 40 would be moving a little faster than I’d feel comfortable with,” he said.
Australia said last week that it might deepen its offered cuts to 25 percent below 2000 levels by 2020 from a previously offered 5-15 percent if other nations went along.
And the European Union says it will cut emissions unilaterally by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by 30 percent if others join in. The next round of talks is in Bonn from June 1-12.
-- For Reuters latest environment blogs click on: blogs.reuters.com/environment/
Editing by Jon Hemming
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess) — Ryman Hospitality Properties, operators of the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, announced revenue growth but pared profits for their third fiscal quarter.
According to their earnings report, RHP record total revenue for the quarter of $292.2m, up 10.4% from the same quarter in 2017 but the company noted that their results were impacted by the hurricane season.
“Overall, we are pleased with our third quarter 2018 results, which were slightly better than our expectations going into the quarter. Despite a couple of group cancellations and the impact of Hurricane Florence in this quarter, our hotels delivered the best third quarter on record in terms of Consolidated Revenue due to strong outside-the-room spending,” said Chairman and CEO Colin Reed.
Ryman also reported that operating income grew during the quarter as well, improving to $40m, up 6.9% from the same period in 2017. However, net income for the quarter slid to $22.5m, down by %5.4%.
“We anticipated a modest decline in our year-over-year future group bookings this quarter given the challenging year-over-year comparison and the strong bookings results we reported in the first half of 2018. Overall, the outlook for our group business continues to look strong, and we are excited to see that momentum continue with the anticipated opening of our joint-venture investment in Gaylord Rockies later this year. We are pleased to have the opportunity to increase our ownership stake in this property from 35.0 percent to approximately 62.3 percent, which we anticipate will close by the end of 2018,” reed noted.
The company’s entertainment segment did not fare as well in Q3. While revenue climbed by 22% to $43m for the quarter, operating income fell precipitously to $4.4m, -54.2% lower than the same segment in 2017.
Ryman attributed the sharp declines to Opry City Stage shutting down in September while the company “evaluates its market positioning for this venue.”
“Our Entertainment segment delivered strong top-line performance this quarter as our historical assets continue to enjoy popularity and visibility both inside Nashville and around the world, and our flagship Ole Red venue in Nashville continues to perform well. Our investment in this brand continues, and we are optimistic about the opportunities for Ole Red to expand to new markets in the years ahead,” Reed said.
Ryman also touted the $12 million dollar expansion of their flagship Grand Ole Opry House in time for the Opry’s 93rd birthday.
The planned expansion will expand the retail footprint of the venue, adding additional additional food and beverage options. The expansion also includes a redesigned box office, VIP lounge area with a backstage tour theater, and approximately 1,300 surface parking spaces on a property adjacent to the venue.
Construction for the project began in January and the first phase will debut sometime later this year.

domain: finance


text:
Podcast series with Brian McLaren, Dr. Jacqui Lewis, and Fr. Richard Rohr
Based on McLaren’s ebook, Why Don't They Get It?
Weblink to download podcasts, and link to resources.
“Why can’t others ‘see’ the truth of what I’m saying?” “How can others be so blind?” During these days of crisis in America you might wonder, “How did we get to the point where Americans see things SO differently!
Well, part of the answer lies in the “biases” that we each use to filter what we hear, what we see, what we believe, and how we interpret events in the world around us.
For example, one common bias that many of us are familiar with is “Confirmation Bias.” Confirmation Bias is operating when we take in new information but tend to dismiss as “untrue” the parts that don’t agree with what we already believe to be true, and accept the parts that “confirm” what we already believe to be true.
Confirmation Bias can actually prevent us from considering other perspectives, from expanding our ideas or even from learning new ways of doing things, because our natural tendency is to resist anything that conflicts with our established world view.
There are many biases that operate in our brains every day to help us “filter” the information that we take in. Being aware of our inner biases when we’re talking with others can help us avoid unnecessary conflict and expand our ability to find common ground when we come from different backgrounds or cultures.
Brian McLaren has identified thirteen different biases that act as filters and limit our ability to “see,” or “get” what others are saying, and likewise, limit the ability of others to “see” or “get” what we’re saying. For quick reference I have listed below these thirteen biases, each with a short description.
I highly recommend his Podcast Series that explains each of these thirteen biases in greater detail. The Podcast Series is entitled, “Learning How To See,” which is based on his ebook, “Why Don’t They Get It?” Click this link to take you to these resources.
1. Confirmation Bias: the human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resist information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks.
2. Complexity Bias: the human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth.
3. Community bias: It is very hard to see something your group doesn’t want you to see. This is a form of social confirmation bias.
4. Complementarity bias: If people are nice to you, you’ll be open to what they see and have to say. If they aren’t nice to you, you won’t.
5. Contact bias: If you lack contact with someone, you won’t see what they see.
6. Conservative/Liberal bias: Conservatives and Liberals see the world differently. Liberals see through a “nurturing parent” window, and Conservatives see through a “strict father” window. Liberals value moral arguments based on justice and compassion; conservatives also place a high value on arguments based on purity, loyalty, authority, and tradition. Our brains like to see as our party sees, and we flock with those who see as we do.
7. Consciousness bias: A person’s level of consciousness makes seeing some things possible and others impossible. Our brains see from a location.
8. Competency bias: We are incompetent at knowing how incompetent or competent we are, so we may see less or more than we think. Our brains prefer to think of ourselves as above average.
9. Confidence Bias: We mistake confidence for competence, and we are all vulnerable to the lies of confident people. Our brains prefer a confident lie to a hesitant truth.
10. Conspiracy Bias: When we feel shame, we are vulnerable to stories that cast us as the victims of an evil conspiracy by some enemy “other.” Our brains like stories in which we’re either the hero or the victim ... never the villain.
11. Comfort/Complacency/Convenience Bias: Our brains welcome data that allows us to relax and be happy and reject data that require us to adjust, work, or inconvenience ourselves.
12. Catastrophe/Normalcy Bias: Our brains notice sudden changes for the worse, but we easily miss slow and subtle changes over time. We think what is now normal always was and always will be. Our brains are wired for what feels normal.
13. Cash Bias: It is very hard to see anything that interferes with our way of making a living. Our brains are wired to see within the framework of our economy, and we see what helps us make money.


text:
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – Magno Mercado, a 54-year-old coconut farmer from Los Baños, Laguna, looks up at his dead coconut tree. It’s leafless and blackened. All that remains is a thin stump piercing the sky.
The leaves are gone, destroyed by a never-before-seen coconut pest. Mercado’s other trees are also infested. He now has no coconuts to sell.
“Wala na kaming mabenta. Nagtanim ako ng atis at mga gulay-gulay kasi wala na kaming pambili [ng pagkain],” he said.
(We have nothing to sell. I planted sugar apple and vegetables because we have no money to buy food.)
His trees are one of more than 54,000 coconut trees in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) that have been infested by a new strain of coconut scale insect, according to a technical report by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
The scale insect (Aspidiotus destructor) kills coconut trees by covering the underside of its leaves, blocking their openings and preventing them from producing food for the tree.
“The openings are covered, suffocating the leaves. Chlorophyl production is diminished because there is reduced photosynthetic activity. Photosynthesis is needed for the plant to produce its food. The leaves die. Without leaves, the tree will die,” said agriculture scientist and coconut farmer Tony Celino.
The infestation was first reported to the PCA in March 2010. It was first spotted in Barangay Balele in Tanauan, Batangas. By that time, more than 15,000 trees were already infested within a 15-kilometer radius. PCA scientists and farmers observed serious yellowing of coconuts and the drying of the trees’ leaves. The water inside the nuts tasted sour.
But because scale insects on coconut trees is an ordinary occurrence, not much was done about it.
Then, in a span of 3 months, the infestation leapt from moderate to severe. By June 2011, at least 11,000 more trees were infested. This time, the infestation spread to Lemery town on the other side of Taal Lake. In one year, the scale insects reached coconut trees in Los Baños, Laguna. A month after, infestation was reported in Quezon.
If not contained, the infestation could reach the Bicol region and eventually the rest of Luzon, predicted Celino.
The great speed by which the insects multiply and spread led scientists to believe that they were dealing with a new species of scale insect, one that must have come from another country.
“The current species involved is creamy in color, flat, and soft,” noted scientists Fred and Linda Rillo in a report.
The earlier species, the one normally spotted in the Philippines, is “black in color, of higher mound, and quite hard to the feel.”
By a cruel twist of fate, the epidemic began and continues to spread in Calabarzon, the Luzon region with the biggest coconut industry.
Coconut production in the region is highest in the whole of Luzon, bringing in more than 1.5 million coconuts in 2006. That’s almost half (42%) of Luzon’s total coconut production.
There are also a total of 328,516 coconut farmers in the region whose livelihoods are now threatened by the scale insect outbreak.
This does not count the thousands who make a living from other parts of the coconut tree. People who make products like cooking oil, livestock feeds, ropes, blankets, vinegar, handicrafts and furniture depend on healthy coconut trees.
Government to blame?
With bitterness, Mercado blames the government for the rampant and now uncontrollable spread of the coconut scale insect.
“Ang ating gobyerno, eh alam na may sakit, hindi agad nila inagapan na kumuha agad ng solusyon na hindi dumami agad ‘yung insektong hayop na ‘yan.“
(Our government, even when they knew about the insect, did not act quickly enough to find a solution so that the insect would not spread so quickly.)
Celino agreed: “The government should have taken a vigorous approach against these pests as early as 2010. It was open knowledge.”
The government could have contained the infestation by clearing away the area around infected trees, thereby creating a buffer zone to prevent its spread. Affected trees could have been killed while they were still relatively few.
PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes admitted his agency could have done more. By the time he took on his post in 2011, the infestation had spread to 4 villages.
“Inaamin ko, may pagkukulang din kami (I admit we had shortcomings). But at the time, our entomologists thought the insects were like other scale insects in the Philippines. When they found out it’s from a different country, they started looking for a different approach.”
Together with the Crop Protectors Association of the Philippines, the PCA is formulating a root injection that would target only the scale insects.
The PCA task force created in 2011 to deal with the outbreak has also been given a bigger budget this 2014. From a budget of P30 million last year, they now have P50 million just to rid Calabarzon of the pests.
Forbes knows they need to act fast.
You need only drive through Los Baños to see entire hillsides of sick coconut trees with their yellowing leaves and, in severe cases, brown, skeletal leaves about to fall to the ground.
What the PCA is doing in the meantime is to deploy almost 1,000 volunteers and 225 sprayers – machines with hoses used to spray trees with an organic pesticide. This pesticide is a mixture of cochin oil and dishwashing liquid. The PCA is not allowed to use stronger toxic pesticides which could harm humans, animals, and other crops.
But the going is rough.
One major challenge, said Forbes, is the inaccessibility of many of the trees. Some trees are too tall for the sprayers to reach, others are way up in the mountains. Volunteers need to lug up drums and drums of water needed for the sprayers. And to effectively kill the pests from trees, they have to be sprayed every 10 days.
The second challenge are the owners of the trees themselves. There are absentee owners who are not able to give their consent to PCA volunteers to spray their trees. So even if volunteers spray trees in one property, within days their trees will be attacked again by pests from the absentee neighbors’ trees.
Politics and greed compound the problem.
“In some cases, there are landlord-tenant disputes where the landlords want the coconut trees to die so the tenants get out and the landlords can buy their land,” said Forbes.
The PCA’s greatest need is volunteers, said Forbes. They will need thousands to reach all the infested trees. Now they are training farmers to spray so they can help the task force. These farmer volunteers are also paid by the PCA through a cash-for-work system.
“We are also trying to tap the local governments and regional development council so they can augment our manpower. We still need thousands of volunteers,” said Forbes.
Alarmingly, the heavily infested provinces such as Batangas and Laguna have not even declared a state of calamity. Only 4 villages in Batangas have done so, said Forbes.
Farmers who allow the PCA to cut their infected trees are given new seedlings for free. So far, the PCA has given out around 150,000 seedlings.
The interim solution will not do, said Mercado. Though the PCA came to spray his trees, in a few weeks, the persistent pest spread to his banana and avocado trees.
“Binomba, wala rin naman nangyari. Langis lang ata ‘yung ‘binomba. Dapat pinuno ‘yun para namatay lahat ng hayop. Nung bombahin, lala na ang niyog. Dapat noon pa inagapan,” he said.
(They sprayed it, nothing happened. I think they only used oil to spray. They should’ve sprayed the tree completely to kill the insect. When they sprayed it, the coconut tree was already severely infected. They could’ve stopped it sooner.) – Rappler.com


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The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index fell from -0.18 in August to -0.35 in September, with a sharper increase in excess capacity across the world’s supply chains, according to new statistics from GEP.
Europe was the principal driver of September’s sharper rise in idle vendor capacity, with suppliers to the continent registering one of the highest levels of spare capacity since the global financial crisis between 2008-2009 amid considerable weakness in demand, thereby signalling elevated recession risks.
In stark contrast, excess supplier capacity within North America rose by its smallest margin since April, signaling increased odds of a soft landing for the U.S. economy. Although demand remains under pressure, the decline is slowing, and some companies are reporting price increases from their vendors.
“We’re now into our sixth consecutive month of notable excess supplier capacity globally, but the good news is it’s not getting substantially worse, except in Europe, where recession seems likely. By contrast, we expect U.S. suppliers and businesses to be steady for the rest of the year, unless the labor disputes in health care and the auto sector spread, or there is a price spike in oil, its derivates or agricultural commodities,” says Jagadish Turimella, COO and co-founder, GEP.
- After displaying relatively greater resilience in the year-to-date, Asian suppliers reported greater spare capacity for the first time since July, reflecting a slump in purchasing activity. This suggests manufacturers in the region are preparing for lower production schedules.
- While the downturn in demand for raw materials, commodities and components appears to be stabilizing, the pace of decline is showing no real signs of slowing as purchasing activity fell again at a similar rate to those seen in the summer months.
- Global businesses continue to shy away from stockpiling, indicating a generally pessimistic outlook for demand.
- Supply shortages have ended, with reports of item scarcity now in line with historically normal levels.
- Labor shortages remain generally unproblematic for global businesses. Some of the issues manufacturers in Europe and North America experienced with respect to staff availability in August receded in September.
- Global transportation costs fell in September following August’s renewed rise, albeit only slightly.


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Castle Cove Itinerary 4 Days
Must-see Places in Castle Cove in 4 Days
4 Days is a long enough time for you to visit all the must-see places in Castle Cove, have the best experiences and to make a lot of memories. Below is a list of attractions that you may cover in Castle Cove in 4 days.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Manly Ferry
- Discovery Museum
- The Argyle
- The Rocks
- Aria Restaurant
- Manly Sea Life Sanctuary
- Luna Park Sydney
- Manly Art Gallery And Museum
- Manly Quarantine Station
- Sydney Opera House
- Port Jackson
- Dickson Ave
- Mowbray Park Farm
- Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
- 1 Avon Rd
- Taronga Zoo
This Plan is Good for You if You Are:
- Wondering how to spend 4 perfect days in Castle Cove
- Sample itinerary for 4 days with day-by-day trip ideas
- Backpacker who wants to create Castle Cove itinerary 4 days
- Looking for how other travelers plan 4 day trips
- Do not want to repeat common mistakes when visiting Castle Cove
Popular 4-Day 3-Nights Itineraries
Are you creating Castle Cove 4-day 3-nights itinerary? Here are the most popular trip plans for 4 days in Castle Cove. Check out the favorite places among travelers around the world and add them to your itinerary.
Recent 4 Day Trip Plans for City
Check out these recently created 4-day Castle Cove trip plans by fellow travelers. Get a quick glimpse of the trending attractions, preferred hotels, and tours of Castle Cove.
Best Hotels in Castle Cove for 4 Day Trip
These are some of the hotels added in the past by our travelers to their Castle Cove itinerary 4 days. Check out the hotels that suit you and add them to your trip plan.
With More Days in Hand
Holiday of more than 4 days in Castle Cove can give you freedom to explore the city in detail. Taste the best of life at Castle Cove. You can explore city on your own or opt for some tours. Check travel ideas for longer holidays like 5 days or 6 days in Castle Cove here.
Are you now ready with your Castle Cove bucket list? Create an itinerary to Castle Cove using our Free Trip Planner and check all the attractions off your list.


Weeks’ injuries hinder Bears’ offense in 0-0 tie
Coming off a pair of impressive performances against Millsaps College and Rhodes College over the weekend of Sept. 3, the Washington University men’s soccer team entered this past week’s games with significant momentum. Having easily defeated Millsaps 3-0 and tying a strong Rhodes squad 2-2, the Bears showed off a revamped offense and considerable young talent.
But against across-the-street rivals Fontbonne University, it was the veterans that took control of the game. Considered to be a traditionally weak side, Fontbonne came into Francis Field with something to prove. And they certainly gave the Bears all they could handle.
In the very early going, the game was very open for both teams. Both the Bears and Fontbonne traded scoring opportunities at either end. Junior goalkeeper Matt Fenn came up with two big saves from point-blank shots that kept the Bears even with Fontbonne in the first 10 minutes of play.
However, the Bears kept up the pressure and were able to tally the game’s first goal in the 16th minute. After sophomore forward Marshall Plow’s initial shot was blocked, senior forward Rob Weeks drilled a shot from close range just under the crossbar to give the team a 1-0 lead.
After their first goal, the Bears continued to attack strong, but were unable to find any offensive inspiration. This was likely a result of Andrew Franklin’s absence, as the speedy senior forward went down early with a groin injury. Bright spots for the Bears included sophomore holding midfielder Elie Zenner, who provided a few hard tackles and distributed the ball well, and freshman Ben Ryugo, who showed considerable speed and skill off the bench.
Fontbonne looked dangerously close to scoring on multiple occasions. However, the Bears managed to make it to the halftime without conceding anything. But Fontbonne came out recharged in the second half and was able to find the net on a well-designed free kick in the 47th minute. The Fontbonne goal scorer was able to volley the ball just past Fenn’s outstretched hands to knot the game at 1-1.
Both teams failed to score in the last 40 minutes of play, so they went into sudden death overtime. Fontbonne threatened early, but it was Weeks who eventually provided the game-winning goal for the Bears in the 96th minute. Taking a pass from sophomore midfielder Matt Hemphill, senior defender Seth Schreiber made a dashing run down the sideline and saw his perfect low cross tipped in by Weeks.
After escaping with a close victory, the Bears looked to turn in a more solid offensive performance against Westminster College on Sat., Sept 7. Having drawn one of the best student turnout in years after their dramatic win, the Bears appeared energized and ready to come out with an easy victory. Historically, the Bears have had little trouble dispatching of Westminister.
But disaster struck when an injury to Weeks in the first 15 minutes of the game changed everything. Going up for a header in the offensive third of the field, Weeks collided in midair with a Westminster player and was taken off the field injured. In an unfortunate turn for the worst, the Bears’ leading scorer in two of the past three seasons had broken three bones in his face; an injury that would require surgery, probably spelling the end of Weeks’ season and collegiate career.
The Bears never seemed to recover from the loss of their go-to scorer, and faltered offensively throughout much of the game. The match would end 0-0 without many chances for either side as goalkeeper Fenn notched his second shutout of the season.
Now the big question for the Bears is how they will recover from the loss of two veteran strikers in Weeks and Franklin. Franklin’s groin will likely keep him out for several more weeks, and what once looked like a promising new-look Bears offense now looks rather suspect.
But with a Wednesday match-up against a mediocre team in Principia College, the Bears will have another game to figure out what to do offensively before the more competitive portion of their schedule begins.Print This Post


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Have you ever considered how targeting the NRF2 pathway could revolutionize therapeutic strategies for oxidative stress-related diseases?
You're likely familiar with the NRF2 signaling pathway's pivotal role in maintaining cellular redox balance.
Targeting the Keap1-NRF2 interaction presents a promising avenue for enhancing antioxidant gene expression, crucial for counteracting oxidative damage.
Moreover, modulating inflammatory responses and inhibiting NRF2 degradation mechanisms offer promising therapeutic potential.
These strategies not only underscore the complexity of NRF2's regulatory network but also hint at the intricate balance required to harness its therapeutic benefits.
To fully grasp the implications, it's essential to explore the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic outcomes further.
To effectively target NRF2 for therapeutic advantages, it's crucial to grasp how this signaling pathway operates, particularly its role in regulating oxidative stress and cellular defense mechanisms. NRF2, or Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2, is a transcription factor that's pivotal in maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions. It does so by regulating the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation.
You'll find that under normal conditions, NRF2 is kept in the cytoplasm by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and targeted for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. However, upon activation through various stressors, NRF2 escapes degradation, translocates to the nucleus, and binds to the Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) in the DNA. This binding initiates the transcription of genes associated with antioxidative responses and the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Understanding the intricacies of NRF2's activation and its downstream effects is paramount. This knowledge not only highlights its protective role against oxidative stress but also underscores its potential as a therapeutic target. By modulating NRF2 activity, it's possible to ameliorate conditions characterized by oxidative stress, offering a promising avenue for intervention in diseases where oxidative damage is a key player.
One promising approach frequently explored in the realm of therapeutic interventions involves directly targeting the Keap1-NRF2 interaction to modulate the cellular oxidative stress response effectively. This strategy leverages the pivotal role of the Keap1-NRF2 pathway in regulating antioxidant responses within cells. By inhibiting the interaction between Keap1, a cytoplasmic inhibitor, and NRF2, a transcription factor, you can prevent NRF2 from being ubiquitinated and degraded. This action stabilizes NRF2, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus, where it can't yet upregulate antioxidant gene expression, focusing instead on the initial disruption of its binding with Keap1.
Small molecule inhibitors that disrupt the Keap1-NRF2 interaction have emerged as potent modulators. These molecules, often characterized by their ability to bind to specific cysteine residues on Keap1, prevent Keap1 from recognizing and binding to NRF2. This intervention is detailed and precise, requiring a deep understanding of the molecular structure of both Keap1 and NRF2 to design effective inhibitors. The evidence suggests that such targeted therapy could offer a nuanced approach to managing conditions associated with oxidative stress, avoiding the broader systemic effects of less targeted antioxidant therapies.
Several strategies aim to amplify antioxidant gene expression, directly enhancing the body's capacity to mitigate oxidative stress. You'll find that targeting the NRF2 pathway is central to this approach. By pharmacologically activating NRF2, you can stimulate the transcription of antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven genes. Such activation leads to the upregulation of a plethora of antioxidant enzymes, including NQO1, HO-1, and GSTs, effectively bolstering the cellular defense against oxidative damage.
Research demonstrates that compounds such as sulforaphane, derived from cruciferous vegetables, and curcumin, found in turmeric, serve as potent NRF2 activators. Their interaction with Keap1 alters its conformation, preventing NRF2 degradation and facilitating its accumulation and translocation into the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, NRF2 binds to AREs, initiating the transcription of genes responsible for antioxidant production.
This biochemical cascade underscores the importance of dietary and pharmacological interventions in enhancing antioxidant gene expression. The evidence suggests that consistent intake or administration of NRF2-activating compounds can significantly elevate the cellular antioxidant capacity, offering a robust mechanism to counteract oxidative stress-related cellular damage and disease progression.
In controlling oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory responses emerges as a critical strategy, particularly through the targeted regulation of the NRF2 pathway to dampen pro-inflammatory signaling cascades. You'll find that NRF2, a transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions by orchestrating the expression of antioxidant proteins. This not only neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also modulates the inflammatory response, making it a double-edged sword in fighting oxidative stress.
The technical intricacies lie in the interaction between NRF2 and NF-κB, a key regulatory molecule in the inflammatory pathway. Studies have shown that activation of NRF2 can inhibit the NF-κB pathway, thus reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This cross-talk highlights the therapeutic potential of NRF2 as a target to modulate inflammatory responses. Targeted activation of NRF2, therefore, not only boosts the cellular defense against oxidative damage but also attenuates inflammation, providing a synergistic approach to managing oxidative stress-related diseases.
Moreover, pharmacological agents that upregulate NRF2 activity have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects, further underscoring the importance of NRF2 in controlling inflammation. Thus, therapies aimed at enhancing NRF2 function could be pivotal in treating conditions where oxidative stress and inflammation are intertwined.
Building on the understanding of NRF2's role in modulating inflammatory responses, it's crucial to explore how inhibiting its degradation mechanisms can further enhance cellular resistance to oxidative stress. NRF2 degradation is primarily mediated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), which facilitates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of NRF2 under homeostatic conditions. By targeting the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction, you're not just preventing NRF2 degradation but also promoting its accumulation and activation of downstream antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven genes, crucial for detoxification and antioxidative responses.
Recent studies have identified small molecules, like the synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Me and the natural compound sulforaphane, as potent inhibitors of the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction. These compounds modify cysteine residues on KEAP1, disrupting its ability to bind NRF2. This inhibition boosts NRF2's stability and activity, enhancing the cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative damage. However, it's important to consider the specificity and potential off-target effects of these inhibitors to ensure therapeutic efficacy and safety. Targeted delivery systems and conditional activation are promising strategies to mitigate these concerns, thereby maximizing the therapeutic potential of NRF2 activation in oxidative stress-related diseases.
Your diet and lifestyle play crucial roles in NRF2 activation, impacting its potential to manage oxidative stress effectively. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, and engaging in regular physical activity can enhance NRF2 activity. This, in turn, boosts your body's defense against oxidative damage.
Additionally, minimizing exposure to environmental toxins and managing stress levels can further potentiate NRF2's therapeutic benefits, making these strategies key in combating oxidative stress.
You're asking if there are interactions between NRF2-targeted therapies and common meds or supplements that could impact treatment outcomes.
Yes, certain drugs and supplements can influence how these therapies work. For example, antioxidants like vitamin C and E might affect NRF2 activity, potentially altering the effectiveness of NRF2-targeted treatments.
It's crucial to consult healthcare providers before combining these therapies with other medications or supplements to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
When considering manipulating the NRF2 signaling pathway, you're faced with ethical dilemmas and potential risks. It's crucial to weigh the benefits against unintended consequences, such as disrupting natural cellular processes or triggering malignancies.
Additionally, you must consider the equity of access to these therapies. Ensuring informed consent and addressing long-term effects are imperative to responsibly advancing this field while minimizing harm to patients.
Yes, NRF2-targeted therapy can indeed be personalized to suit your genetic makeup. This approach enhances its efficacy and minimizes side effects.
As you age, your body's response to NRF2-targeted therapies in fighting oxidative stress-related diseases may lessen. This decline is due to the natural decrease in NRF2 activity, making older cells less responsive to these treatments.
It's crucial to understand that individual differences in aging can affect therapy effectiveness, suggesting a need for age-adjusted approaches.
Tailoring therapies to your specific age-related changes can optimize outcomes and reduce potential side effects.
In conclusion, you've explored the pivotal role of the NRF2 signaling pathway in mitigating oxidative stress. By targeting the Keap1-NRF2 interaction, you're able to disrupt a crucial checkpoint, enhancing antioxidant gene expression crucial for cellular defense.
Modulating inflammatory responses further amplifies this protective mechanism. Lastly, inhibiting NRF2 degradation mechanisms ensures sustained activation, bolstering the cell's resilience against oxidative damage.
This intricate understanding underscores the potential of NRF2 as a therapeutic target, promising significant advancements in combating oxidative stress-related diseases.
Please validate any information here with a healthcare professional. The content is provided for education purposes, This content has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any advice or products mentioned is/are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease,

domain: chemistry