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Food deliveries: Covid-19 and what to consider when switching to a 'to-the-door' service
Published on 1st Apr 2020
Amid the mandatory closure of bars, restaurants, pubs and others, UK food and drink businesses converting to delivery services need to take note of logistical, food safety and hygiene considerations.
The government's emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic has included the mandatory closure of a range of retail and consumer-facing business premises. These include food businesses such as restaurants, bars, public houses, cafés and canteens.
Food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops are permitted to stay open, providing social distancing measures are followed (see Guidance). Food manufacturers are not subject to the closure requirements but some may be considering providing a direct-to-consumer model for the first time.
This decision by the government to undertake mandatory closures is unprecedented in recent times and will have created a great amount of uncertainty for those directly affected. However, for some food and drink businesses, there is an opportunity to continue operations by switching to a delivery business model, which the government is continuing to allow to operate and remain open.
The Food Standards Agency has produced some new Guidance and we have provided a list of some of the important points for businesses that are considering providing a delivery service.
Registration and licences
Food Business Operator Registration. Most businesses now considering food delivery will most likely already be registered food business operators. For businesses considering diversifying into this activity, there is a requirement to register before food operations become active. Registration is free. (Click here for further information.)
Premises Licence and Permitted Use. The government has introduced a new permitted development right, which actively supports food businesses to provide delivery and takeaway services from 24 March 2020 to 23 March 2021. During this time, businesses will not need to apply for a change of use. This covers the provision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for collection or delivery to be consumed, reheated or cooked by consumers off the premises. This will be welcome news for food businesses that have not offered this as a service before and means that businesses can respond quickly to the growing needs of consumers. While no permission is required, you will still need to notify your local planning authority. If you will be providing an online alcohol offering, you should review the terms of your premises licence to ensure that you are able to provide off-sales. If your licence does not already permit this then you must not include alcohol in your offering.
Who will undertake the deliveries? Different considerations will apply depending on whether you engage directly with a food courier service (either directly or through an online marketplace) or use your own employees to deliver food. Appropriate checks should be undertaken on third-party courier services to ensure that their food safety and hygiene standards are at the requisite standard, particularly for more high-risk products such as chilled foods. You should, for example, check what safety systems they have in place to ensure food is delivered at the right and safe temperature and to prevent cross-contamination risk. You should also ask about any additional measures that they have put in place due to the risks posed by coronavirus. The government guidance indicates that the risk of catching the virus from packaging is low. However, it states that "…efforts should be made to ensure it is cleaned and handled in line with usual food safety practices."
Policies and procedures. If you intend to use your own staff for deliveries, then you should review your own food safety management system and health and safety policies and procedures, to ensure they adequately deal with the risks involved in food delivery and that your delivery personnel understand what is expected of them. It is highly likely that your staff will need additional training.
The contract. Thought should be given to delivery service contracts and whether they clearly identify which party is responsible for each aspect of the delivery service and how the parties will deal with any food related incident.
Drop deliveries. Deliveries dropped on the doorstep are becoming the norm in the current Covid-19 pandemic. If you are offering drop deliveries, it would be prudent to think through how customers in different types of properties are notified that their delivery has arrived, particularly with food that needs to be temperature controlled. Consideration should also be given regarding what hygiene control measures should be put in place to reduce the risk of delivery personnel contracting and/or spreading the coronavirus. You should also consider how you will respond to consumers who claim the food was not received in the absence of any proof of delivery.
Food Safety and Hygiene Considerations
Review your hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP). General HACCP principles should continue to be followed, but should be reviewed to take into account any additional risks relating to distance selling. It is also important to consider any specific risks that are created as a result of how you intend to offer the food products. For example, if you are offering meals for consumers to reheat at home, you should provide instructions on how to store and reheat safely.
Consider any specialist equipment to maintain temperature. Ensuring the proper temperature chain is maintained is important when offering a food delivery service. Depending on your contractual arrangements, it is likely that you will be responsible for ensuring that food does not become unsafe or unfit to eat while in transit. This may require additional or specialist equipment, depending on the specific food being sold. Particular consideration should be given to refrigerated items and perishable goods. Higher risk items include, chilled products, sushi, cooked meat and fish and cooked rice.
Do you have appropriate packaging? Using suitable packaging to reduce the risk of spillage and cross-contamination should also be considered. Food should be transported in packaging strong enough to remain intact and ensure that the product is properly protected whilst in transit.
Labelling considerations. For pre-packed foods all mandatory information such as the name of the food, list of ingredients, etc., must be given in English and provided on the label of the product and included on the website.¬† For non-pre packed foods that are packaged to the customer's requirements and sold online, allergen information must be provided on the label and the website but the other mandatory requirements legally do not need to be included, although it may be prudent to do so.
Allergen information. This must be provided at two stages in the process:
- Before the purchase of the food is completed, allergen information should be clearly stated in writing online and on menu cards and information should be available to consumers who place orders by telephone.
- When the food is delivered. You should consider the use of stickers on the packaging to identify any allergens present in products or enclose a hard copy of the menu with the allergens clearly marked.
Label takeaway meals clearly, so your customers know which dishes are suitable for those with an allergy.
Selling food online. If you decide to sell directly from your own website to consumers you will need to review your website to ensure it complies with the law. This would include:
- Making sure that you provide all the necessary information - you are legally required to provide certain information when you sell online and set up your website to provide the necessary confirmations of sale. You will need to review your website to check that you do this and you have the capabilities to send out the appropriate confirmations.
- Prices you will need to include information about the full price including VAT and any delivery costs upfront so that consumers can make an informed decision about the price.
Alternatively if you decide to partner with a marketplace you should review the contract to understand what you will be legally responsible for and what responsibility the marketplace takes.


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English Swords Through the Ages: A Look at the Iconic Blades of British History
From the 5th to 19th centuries AD, English soldiers used swords to slash, cut, and stab their enemies on the battlefield. As swords became cheaper to produce, civilians also carried these weapons to use in duels and skirmishes. Throughout this period, swords in England evolved, changing and adapting to become more effective against mail and plate armor. Let’s take a look at this evolution and the different types of swords in English History.
Types of English Swords
As European warfare changed from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, what remained the same was the presence of the sword in some form or fashion. From quick-cutting short swords to armor-smashing great swords, each era featured its own unique blades. Here are some of the most iconic weapons in English history:
1. Anglo-Saxon Sword (5th-10th Century AD)
The history of English swords begins with the Anglo-Saxon broadsword in the early medieval period. Featuring a double-edged straight blade with a simple hilt consisting of a pommel and a straight crossguard, the Anglo-Saxon sword is a descendant of the spatha, a sword used by the Roman cavalry that was adapted by Germanic tribes.
The blade length averaged around 30-37 inches, and the tip of the blade was more rounded, indicating that these swords were primarily used for cutting and slashing as opposed to thrusting. To forge these swords, smiths employed a process called pattern welding, a technique that twisted carbon steel and iron bands together to form a distinctive pattern.
Because this forging process was expensive and time-consuming, swords and decorated scabbards were typically worn by the more elite members of society, serving as a marker of status among Anglo-Saxon communities. The weapons could be passed down as family heirlooms or sometimes used as burial treasures, as is the case with the Anglo-Saxon sword found in the 7th century ship burial at Sutton Hoo.
2. The Viking Sword (8th-11th Century AD)
The Viking invasions in this era heavily influenced the design of English swords, though it is important to note that there was significant overlap with the Anglo-Saxon design. Some hilts now featured a curved crossguard with a more elaborate pommel. The Viking sword blades often sported a wide fuller, or groove, down the center which helped balance the sword and made it easier to wield.
By this time, metallurgy had improved to make solid steel which improved the quality and strength of the weapon. Among the highest quality Viking swords are the Ulfberht swords that were stronger, sharper, and more flexible than any other swords in Northern Europe at the time. The Ulfberht swords are considered the pinnacle of Viking sword technology because of their homogeneous steel composition, and these swords were massively influential to the evolution of Northern European swords in the Middle Ages.
3. The Arming Sword (11th-14th Century AD)
In the aftermath of the Norman conquest in the mid-11th century, the arming sword rose to prominence in England. With a double-edged blade of about 30 inches in length and a cruciform hilt, this single-handed short sword was ideal for slashing and thrusting while using a shield. The blades of this period became more slender and balanced, improving wieldability by moving the center of mass closer to the hilt.
This medieval sword became the standard issue weapon of knights as indicated by its nickname, the “knightly sword.” Knights carried this sword even when out of uniform, and during the Holy Wars from the 11th-13th centuries, the crusaders carried these swords with them to Jerusalem.
After our next sword became the most popular weapon of choice in the late middle ages, the arming sword continued to be carried as a side arm, which is how it earned its name.
4. The Longsword (14th-15th Century AD)
One of the most popular and effective swords of all time, the longsword represents hundreds of years of technological innovation and design. By lengthening the hilt to allow for a two-handed grip, the longsword was also called the “hand-and-a-half sword,” and it allowed its wielder to generate more power with each stroke and thrust.
By this time, most soldiers in major battles were outfitted in full plate armor, allowing them to navigate the battlefield without a shield, freeing up an extra hand. Variations in the design of the longsword abound, but distinct features include the elongated hilt of about 10-15 inches, a straight double edged blade between 35-45 inches, a straight crossguard that provides protection to the hand, and a larger rounded pommel that acts as a counterweight and can be used offensively in close combat to bash opponents’ helms.
The blade also featured a fuller to balance the weight, and it typically tapered to a sharp point, making it ideal for thrusting at enemies from further distances. The longsword was extremely versatile in battle, and though it was designed to be used with two hands, it could also be wielded one-handed. This in-between one- and two-hand status earned the longsword the nickname “the bastard sword.”
On many longswords, the bottom of the blade was blunted, allowing for users to grab it and more effectively stab in close quarters. Perhaps the most famous battle in English history featuring longsword combat was the Battle of Barnet during the Wars of the Roses. Though cannons had been developed by this time, due to a heavy fog created by gunsmoke and early morning mist, artillery had been rendered useless. For over three hours, soldiers from both sides engaged in brutal hand-to-hand sword combat, and in this battle, the longsword was essential for its versatility.
5. The Greatsword (14th-16th Century AD)
Also known as the English two-hand sword, the greatsword donned a mammoth 50-70 inch blade perfect for smashing plate armor. With an extended two-handed hilt, the greatsword also featured a ricasso, an unsharpened bottom of the blade that allowed soldiers to control the sword more effectively.
Because of its bulk and difficulty to maneuver, the Greatsword was used only by certain infantry soldiers for specialized purposes, such as breaking through the enemies’ front lines with smashing blows from a distance during the later stages of the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses. Though not the most versatile weapon, the greatsword was effective at dazing and concussing opponents when a blow was landed, perfect for the smashing kind of combat seen during the 14th and 15th century wars of England.
6. The Rapier (16th-17th Century AD)
During the Renaissance, the slender, single-handed rapier was invented for civilian self-defense, dueling, and fencing. Originally developed in Spain, the rapier quickly spread to the rest of Europe, including England, where its design was altered to fit the fashion of Britain.
Flashing a blade between 30-45 inches, this weapon was designed for thrusting attacks. The rapier was popular among noble gentlemen of the era who sported it as a sidearm accessory, and, because of this, the design of the pommel and crossguard were typically much more ornate than battlefield weapons.
It is in this period that the practices of dueling and fencing became more popular, and for these purposes, the rapier was the perfect sword. Though not being of much practical use on the battlefield, the rapier signals a transition in sword history away from primary battlefield weapon to more civilian and ceremonious purposes as gunpowder technology became more and more effective.
7. The Basket-hilted sword (17th-18th Century AD)
A broadsword whose design was influenced by the rapier, the basket-hilted sword gets its name from the distinctive hilt that encloses the wielder’s hand, offering more protection and a better grip. The double-edged blade was around 30-38 inches and ideal for both cutting and thrusting.
In England, the basket-hilted sword was adopted by both infantry and cavalry and featured prominently during the 17th century English Civil War. Regional variations of the sword abounded, and in Scotland, the basket-hilted claymore (different from the claymore greatsword that preceded it) was an extremely popular weapon among the Northerners. The English backsword was a single-edge variant of the basket-hilted sword that also enjoyed widespread use.
8. The Cutlass (17th-19th Century)
Short, broad, and slightly curved, the cutlass was adopted by the British Royal Navy as a standard sidearm in the late 18th century. The cutlass was perfect for slashing and chopping, and its effectiveness in close quarter combat made it the perfect weapon for fighting on ships.
The blade of a cutlass averaged between 24-30 inches and was usually reinforced at the spine, offering a stronger and sturdier design perfect for cutting anything from the ropes of a ship to a pirate’s neck. The hilt typically offered hand protection in the form of a knuckle guard or a more elaborate cup shape.
The cutlass was phased out as an official sidearm of the Royal Navy in the late 19th century, but its status as the sword of the sea will forever be etched into the iconography of pirates and sailors of this era.
9. The Cavalry Sabre (17th-19th Century AD)
Adopted by the English Cavalry in the late 18th century, the cavalry sabre became an incredibly important weapon through the Napoleonic Wars and beyond. The curved, single-edge blade was perfect for high-speed cutting and slashing atop horseback, and the design of the English sabre was heavily influenced by Austro-Hungarian swords of the time.
In 1796, famous sword designer and fencing instructor John Gaspard le Marchant collaborated with Birmingham-based swordsmith Henry Osborn to create a new Light Cavalry Sabre. As light cavalry units charged their opponents, this extremely curved sword tore through enemy lines and was a very important weapon for the English in their wars against Napoleon.
In addition to the Light Cavalry Sword, a Heavy Cavalry straight, double-edged sword was employed for Heavy Dragoons, but it was not nearly as effective in battle as the Light Cavalry cutter. The Cavalry Sabre underwent further changes after the Napoleonic Wars and remained the standard issue for cavalry units until the late 19th century, when swords took on a much more symbolic role as the gun conquered the battlefield.
10. The Infantry Officer’s Sword (17th Century AD – Present)
The Infantry Officer’s sword has been a symbol of military rank since the 17th century, and though the sword has transitioned from a functional weapon to more of a symbolic token, the infantry officer’s sword still commands respect and prestige within the military. When the infantry officer’s sword was first introduced, it resembled the arming swords of the day, with a straight, double-edged blade ideal for cutting and thrusting.
In 1796, a new officer’s sword was introduced amid the Napoleonic Wars, one that featured a single-edge, slightly curved blade. This new design promoted swift maneuverability and was influenced by the cavalry sabres of the time. Between 1822 and 1845, a new pattern introduced a gothic gilt-brass hilt with a hinged guard.
In 1897, the present-day iteration of the officer’s sword was issued, featuring a three-quarter basket guard attached to a straight, blunted blade that only sharpens towards the top third to support thrusting attacks.
There is more: Arms and Armor
An important trend to remember when discussing the evolution of swords is the intrinsic relationship between arms and armor. When one changes, the other must respond. In the Middle Ages, armor technology advanced rapidly, going from iron plates to chain-mail to full plate armor.
Slashing an Anglo-Saxon or Viking sword against full-plate armor was essentially useless, and thus, we see evolutions in sword technology. Thrusting became much more important because it was easier to target weaknesses in the armor with a more measured attack.
Early in the Middle Ages, the use of a shield in battle was imperative, so swords had to be wieldable with one hand. As full-plate armor developed, the need for a shield dissipated, and swords became bigger and longer because two hands were available. Because full plate armor was almost entirely impenetrable to the slashing of a blade, smashing an opponent over the head or trying to crush the armor was an important technique in order to daze or weaken the enemy. This also influenced the development of other weapons like the mace.
Wars and the way they were fought changed dramatically from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and sword design responded to these changes. It is important to keep in mind that each sword served a specific purpose and was responding to the historical context around it.
u003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eDavidson, H. R. E. (1962). The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England: Its Archaeology and Literature. Clarendon Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ePeirce, I. (2002). Swords of the Viking Age. Boydell Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eOakeshott, E. (1964). The Sword in the Age of Chivalry. Boydell Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eOakeshott, E. (1991). The Development of the Medieval Sword c.850-1300. Park Lane Arms Fair. u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eLink: u003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.albion-swords.com/articles/oakeshott-typology.htmu0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ehttps://www.albion-swords.com/articles/oakeshott-typology.htmu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eWindsor, G. (2012). The Medieval Longsword. Freelance Academy Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eHand, S. (1998). The Techniques of the Longsword. In M. A. Cook (Ed.), SPADA: An Anthology of Swordsmanship (pp. 43-58). Chivalry Bookshelf.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eNorman, A. V. B. (1980). The Rapier u0026amp; Small-Sword, 1460-1820. Arms and Armour Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eBezdek, R. H. (2003). Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland. Paladin Press.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eBarton, M., u0026amp; McGrath, J. (2013). British Naval Swords and Swordsmanship. Seaforth Publishing.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eRobson, B. (1996). Swords of the British Army: The Regulation Patterns, 1788-1914. National Army Museum.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eAshmolean Museum. (n.d.). About Anglo-Saxon swords. Anglo-Saxon Discovery. u003ca href=u0022https://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/Life/dailylife/swords_about.htmlu0022u003ehttps://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/Life/dailylife/swords_about.htmlu003c/au003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMedieval Britain. (n.d.). Medieval Longsword. u003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022https://medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-longsword/u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ehttps://medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-longsword/u003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMedieval Britain. (n.d.). Medieval Arming Sword. u003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022https://medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-arming-sword/u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ehttps://medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-arming-sword/u003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e


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Northern and Central California; A Two Week Driving Itinerary
We are sharing with you our two week itinerary which is a loop, starting and ending in San Francisco. We had both been to San Francisco before but never together and it was convenient to fly directly to SF from Tampa... plus there is so much to see there we thought it was the ideal starting point with temperate weather, beautiful vistas and great food. We were excited to get away from the hot and humid Florida summer.
Our list of California destinations is in our page sub-menu (far right button at the top of this page), or click here to jump to that list.
As you can see in this overview map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Fortunately, we were able to break up the driving portions with frequent stops.
This is a standard Google Map, and all of the usual controls are available & usable. So if you wanted a "full screen map" you just need to click the upper right corner icon and the map will expand.
Locations / Start & End points are both San Francisco International Airport
- San Francisco Hilton Financial District.
- Bonita Point Lighthouse and Fort Baker area.
- Sausalito, CA.
- Santa Rosa, CA in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine District.
- Salida, CA - overnight rest stop along the way to Yosemite.
- Yosemite National Park, CA where we stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge.
- Frontieres Underground Garden Fresno, CA - this was an entertainment side stop, as we had read about this place and also wanted to get lunch.
- Agoura Hills, CA - nostalgia side trip to visit the Santa Monica Pier area which was where my first job in the software industry had been located.
- Santa Barbara, CA.
- Monterey Bay Inn, CA to explore Monterey Bay and Carmel by the Sea.
- Silicon Valley, CA side trip to visit the new Apple Headquarters building.
We flew into San Francisco and our plan was to spend several days here and explore some of the sites we had not previously visited, as well as to visit an old friend of ours - and - have some good seafood. This is a photogenic city and it is easy to move about.
We visited this area on the day we departed San Francisco, and since we started the drive north to Santa Rosa early in the day, we decided to visit an area on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge that is not widely known. The Bonita Point area has previously been an Army Coastal Defense Artillery station and later was a missile base (and is now just an old Light House). The north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is adjacent to the Fort Baker area, and the route into Sausalito is just beyond.
We completed this phase of the trip with lunch in Sausalito, in a sidewalk deli that serves excellent food (the "Venice Gourmet Deli & Pizeria"). They provide sidewalk seating and a beautiful view of the Sausalito Bay.
One of the reasons we visited Santa Rosa was because of it's location in Sonoma County, with a number of vineyards scattered around the county. Our first stop was at DeLoach Vineyards. They are located at 1791 Olivet Road northwest of Santa Rosa.
The wine tastings were comprised of their Russian River Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon and several different Pinot Noirs. We enjoyed the Chardonnay quite a bit, and obtained a bottle as we were departing.
We had intentionally bypassed Muir Woods on the way to Santa Rosa because our National Monument reservations were not valid until the next day. Yes, you have to have a reservation from the Park Website as they only allow a certain number of cars to enter each day.
If you were to be in this area and you had a desire to see Muir Woods, there are tour bus services that will collect you from various locations and take you to the Park. Note that the parking restrictions do not apply to tour buses, because they drive in and drop you off and pick you up later. There is a park entrance fee of $15 per adult.
Rush Creek Lodge is not quite "inside" Yosemite National Park, it is located approximately 1.5 miles outside the Park on route 120. We wanted to have a place where we could relax after a day of hiking or site-seeing, a place where we could have an adult beverage and a comfortable bed - and this place met all of our expectations!
This is the newest Lodge in or near the Park, and it is really very comfortable; lots of parking, nice sized pool, super sized hot tube, dining room, and a nice bar.
This is a stunning park; it is not only geographically diverse, it is a huge park at 1,187 square miles, elevation rangee from 2,127 to 13,114 feet and contains five major vegetation zones. Curry Village is somewhat near the center of Yosemite, and it is 25 miles driving distance from the Rush Creek Lodge. Yosemite is also home to one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.
We were just north of Fresno on Route 99 and we were ready for lunch. Celeste did some research on what there was to do or see in Fresno, and she discovered the Forestiere Underground Garden. After discussing it, Celeste did some further research and we agreed that we would combine a "lunch stop" with a visit to the garden site.
The history of this site is interesting, ie; Baldassare Forestiere (the owner & creator) immigrated to the United States in 1901 and eventually moved to the Fresno area to accumulate enough money to purchase land where he wanted to grow citrus. As someone with limited skills, he worked as a day laborer digging ditches, etc. He accumulated sufficient funds to allow him to purchase 80 acres (one dollar per acre) in 1906 and he worked on his underground complex for the next 40 years until his death in 1946.
Bear in mind that this really isn't a "garden" in the true sense of the word, it is comprised of various citrus trees (as well as some exotic fruits) located in numerous underground rooms. His dream was to be a citrus grower and he worked tirelessly at developing techniques for caring for various types of citrus trees. The trees have been grafted to bear more than one kind of fruit, allowing for a larger variety to be grown throughout the space.
NOTE: You will find links to other informational sites on our blog page, including a direct link to the Forestiere Underground Gardens Website.
Because of the fires burning in & around King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, we had to modify our trip plans because the cabin we had rented (in the Sequoia National Park area) to allow us to visit those two National Parks, was not available due to the evacuation requirements. So we wound up staying an extra day in Yosemite and we added a side trip to allow us to visit Santa Monica. My first ever software industry job had been in Santa Monica, so it was a treat to visit there again after all these years.
Santa Barbara was even nicer after a brief side-trip into Santa Monica - a more laid back vibe, beautiful beach and coastline and our stay at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort provided us with an ideal location to explore this pretty city.
The driving route north from Santa Barbara to Monterey Bay can be done several different ways, but if you have never driven the coastal route north, you will have never had the opportunity to see the diversity of California geography. We drove north on US 101 to Morro Bay, where we stopped for a photo opportunity and we then continued north on Route 1.
We had hoped to visit Hearst Castle, but unfortunately the access road to the castle was still being rebuilt after a storm damaged it. The castle complex was built by William Randolph Hearst and was designed by Julia Morgan during the timeframe 1919 through 1947.
After the long drive up the Coastal Highway to reach Monterey, we were excited to get out of the car and begin to explore this area. Monterey's previous life as a "Sardine Cannery Town" ended in the early 1950's and they have been evolving into a tourist town ever since.
We had several restaurant "tips" that we wanted to research, the first being near to our hotel the "Monterey Bay Inn". The restaurant "Osteria Al Mare" was primarily an Italian Restaurant, good menu/good food and excellent service staff.
Carmel is immediately south of Monterey and the most scenic way to arrive there is to drive south on the "17 mile loop" and exit once you've seen the Carmel beach area and head into the village section. The houses along the coast are all unique and all very expensive !
Point Lobos is south of Carmel and is a California State Reserve area that provides some hiking and beautiful Pacific Ocean views.
- California Road Trip Overview Page: This page will give you a view of the entire trip, including maps and other information regarding each of our destinations; click here to read more.
- San Francisco: our arrival airport as well as our first adventure in California - we explored it via walking, cable car as well as uBer. Click here to view our San Francisco page.
- Bonita Point & Sausalito: We visited this area as we drove north from San Francisco to wine country. Click here to view our Bonita Point & Sausalito page.
- Santa Rosa / Sonoma County: This is the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, and we explored this area with enthusiasm. Click here to view our Santa Rosa / Sonoma County page.
- Muir Woods National Monument: One of the few Coast Redwood Forests remaining, the trees are stunning. After hiking about, we headed north through Muir Beach & Stinson Beach. Click here to view our Muir Woods National Monument page.
- Rush Creek Lodge & Spa: . A beautiful place to stay, right on California Route 120 at the western edge of Yosemite National Park. Click here to view our Rush Creek Lodge & Spa page.
- Yosemite National Park: A large and beautiful park, with amazing geography. Click here to view our Yosemite National Park page.
- Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno, CA: We discovered this interesting place as we were searching for a good lunch spot in Fresno. The way it was built, and how the builder created such a fascinating home was well worth the time we spent there. Click here to view our Forestiere Underground Gardens page.
- Santa Barbara, CA: This was the start of our "coastal drive" through California, and this city is such a great place to start such a drive. Click here to view our Santa Barbara page.
- Coast Highway, CA: Even though we were looking forward to seeing Monterey, part of our enthusiasm was due to being able to drive north on this highway. Click here to view our Coast Highway page.
- Monterey, CA: Somewhat of a "living museum" but now adjusting to life as a "tourist destination", this is a neat town that has a split personality, ie; one part bayside beach tourist town and the other part a typical California beach town where residents live. Click here to view our Monterey page.
- Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: This was a day trip drive we took to Carmel-by-the-Sea as we drove south to hike at Point Lobos. Click here to view our Carmel page.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. So we would appreciate any click throughs, if you are inclined.
Note: All images on this page are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.

domain: travel


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Lucknow, October 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):In a letter to the Chief Minister of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) has demanded of him to order stopping “unilateral action” being taken by the authorities against Muslims on the violence in Ibrahimpur area in Sultanpur district of the state. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani pointed towards the communal violence that broke out on October 10 but now the action was only being taken against the Muslims.
It is to mention here that violence broke out in the Baldirai area after Hindus attacked Muslims when they asked the members of other community to lower the music at the time of Namaz. The Hindus had deliberately stopped their religious rally near the mosque and started playing loud music. When they were asked by some Muslims to lower the volume at time of Namaz, the Hindus attacked Muslims which led to clashes between members of the two communities. The mosque was also damaged whereas shops of Muslims and a madrassa in Ibrahimpur were also vandalized. The students were also thrashed by the violent Hindu mob.
The JUH pointed out despite all this situation now the police are only arresting Muslims “unilaterally”. Maulana Madani also pointed towards the biased attitude of a police officer saying that instead of establishing justice, the police officer Amarinder Singh incited the crowd calling to punish the Muslims selectively and bulldoze their houses. His video is viral and whatever he said is being implemented now in the area, Madani said. Five people have been served notice for illegal occupation, of which four are Muslims and one is from the Yadav community. JUH also claimed that all those arrested are Muslims who were beaten up by the lawyers in the court premises on Friday.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549

domain: news


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Senior figures at major banking and professional services firms including HSBC, Barclays, Schroders and Monzo have been recognised on a list of women excelling in Fintech.
A total of 35 women including HSBC head of digital innovation Diana Biggs, Starling Bank founder Anne Boden and Monzo chief technology officer Meri Williams were highlighted on Innovate Finance’s annual “stand out” list.
A further 115 women working in fintech were highlighted on a list of major players in the sector.
However, the latest statistics show that women represent just under a third of total employees in the UK fintech sector.
Female founders also continue to struggle to raise capital. Only three per cent of venture capital investment in the UK went to fintech firms led by a woman last year, Innovate Finance’s Venture Capital Investment Report for 2018 found.
“I think it is definitely heading in the right direction in terms of the focus that we are seeing," Biggs said.
“The numbers are still quite low but the fintechs I speak to and partner with, I would say they are increasingly aware of the gender imbalance and they are trying to tackle it.”
Charlotte Crosswell, chief executive of Innovate Finance, said: “Innovate Finance is once again proud to release the Women in Fintech Powerlist and I would like to thank everyone who participated in the process.
“These fantastic women are making a major impact on the fintech talent pipeline.
“This is despite continued under-representation in terms of funding female-led firms. It is vital that the sector doesn’t just pay lip service to inclusion and diversity.
“We must now be geared more towards action and ensuring change actually happens.”


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Live and learn in the nation’s capital!
Our 4-day/3-night Washington, DC Middle School Program is more than just a tour of DC’s famous monuments and memorials. Students examine the people, events, and debates surrounding enduring questions that have shaped our nation’s form of government. Guided by our highly-trained instructors, students have the opportunity to:
Participation in a Close Up program requires parent or guardian approval for any participants under 18 years of age.
Explore the inspiring landmarks, monuments, and memorials in these two iconic cities!Learn More >
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience in DC and other historic sites on the East Coast with this fully-customizable program.Learn More >
Journey through American history by exploring these significant U.S. cities.Learn More >
Discuss the evolution of American democracy with visits to two of our nation’s most historic cities.Learn More >
Experience American history up close with visits to the nation’s capital and this Civil War battlefield.Learn More >
Explore American history in-depth with this journey through the East Coast’s most notable cities.Learn More >
Discover our nation’s diverse heritage on this DC program geared to immigrant and migrant students.Learn More >
As a government teacher, it’s nice to have more resources…
for teaching media literacy and having students critically think about the information they receive.
I learned that there’s a huge network of people with the same goals and drive as me…
and that our collaboration really could make a difference. It gave me hope for the future of our communities and our nation!
Close Up brought me CLOSER to politics…
the entire notion no longer seemed obscure. I became very involved in politics on the local and national level.
I’m truly blown away by what Close Up’s been able to accomplish. in the last two weeks during IMPACT 2020…
The material seems very high level, and my daughter’s been very motivated to participate every day. I wanted to be sure to commend the staff on providing such a great experience!

domain: history


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ADVANCED RECYCLING SYSTEMS (ARS)
Recycling Machines, Dust Collectors,
Rapid Deployment units are time-tested
and approved for the rugged industrial
environment. Contact ARS today!
Termarust (HR CSA) Chemically Stops
Truss bridge treated in 2000 with Termarust's (HR CSA) field-proven rust mitigation system chemically stopped corrosion, crevice corrosion & pack rust.
The Next Generation
• Most Comfortable
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| CO2 | Water | Power Tools | Etc.
Call Dave Steffen at 800.338.8296.
Choose the Right Coat
Dow’s high-performance, protective polyurethane spray elastomer system increases durability for steel and concrete applications.
Wasser Coatings Protect
some of the most important bridges in the country; learn about our NEPCOAT-approved system and our entire range of MCU & Polyurea coatings.
One Source. Every Solution.
The Safway Group is your source for multiservices. Painting, coating, insulation and more – all from the most trusted name in the industry.

domain: chemistry


Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Sets of Globally Optimal Stream Surfaces for Flow Visualization
(The Eurographics Association and John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 2014)
Stream surfaces are a well-studied and widely used tool for the visualization of 3D flow fields. Usually, stream surface seeding is carried out manually in time-consuming trial and error procedures. Only recently automatic ...


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Cyclists love bar ends. They provide extra hand positions ( for comfort ) and they make hill climbing easier. Pulling back on the bar end during a climb will dig the rear wheel into the ground, creating more friction which will remove any tire slippage. Climbing is easier with bar ends...so everyone uses them.
Folding bikes don't do well with standard bar ends, they get in the way of the fold. So we found these fabulous mini bar ends that don't interfere with the fold and provide the benefits of their larger cousins. These are perfect for folding bikes.
- Super small size ( doesn't get in the way of folding )
- Provides extra hand positions
- Makes climbing hills a breeze
- Clamps onto standard handlebars with 5mm allen wrench
- Length: 82mm
- Weight: 52 gr. each
- Color: Silver

domain: hobby


Tobias & The Bear Just Call Me Fox JoggersRegular price £27.00
The classic Just Call Me Fox print on Tobias and the Bear's luxe organic cotton loopback 'sweatshirt' fabric is the perfect pairing with their relaxed fit joggers. Great all year round wardrobe staple - your little one won't want to pass them on! Co-ords available.
- Awesome foxy print on raw white colour base
- 100% organic loopback 'sweatshirt' fabric
- Printed with safe, water-based inks
- Co-ords available
- Great as a gift
- 100% OCS 100 certified organic cotton
- Made in Portugal
- Machine washable at 40 degrees, or at 30 degrees to be kinder to the planet. Cool iron. We don't recommend tumble drying.
Enter a playful world of foxes and bears and your kids will be the envy of the playground in no time. Expect sustainable, non-seasonal design made to last.


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Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 27, 2023.
The S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Nasdaq (.IXIC) snapped their longest winning streak in two years in the previous session.
ET, Dow e-minis were up 53 points, or 0.16%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 0.25 points, or 0.01%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 29.5 points, or 0.19%.
The University of Michigan is set to issue a preliminary reading on its consumer sentiment index for November at 10 a.m.
Illumina (ILMN.O) shares dropped 11.2% as the gene-testing company trimmed its full-year profit forecast for the second straight quarter.
Brendan McDermid, Jerome Powell's, Powell, Joshua Mahony, Mahony, Amruta Khandekar, Maju Samuel
New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Dow, Nasdaq, Wall, Treasury, Dow e, Fed, University of Michigan, Nvidia, Thomson
New York City, U.S

domain: economics


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If you want to vacation at a hotel or resort that doesn't allow children, an adults-only resort in Bermuda is the perfect answer. Enjoy a well-earned vacation relaxing along pristine stretches of unspoiled beaches or spice things up by dancing the night away. No matter what you expect from a kids-free vacation, we've got the right resort waiting for you.
Click any resort name below for more information or an online quote.
Traditional Adults-Only Resorts (Not All-Inclusive)


Manuals as well with more data than listed above. These units were spares for a manufacturing line that was not built for Rubicon Technology in Chicago, they can come 4 to a factory crate or individually crated depending on how many you need. These units can be manually operated or motorized. We used the manual operation to show functionality, after releasing the factory vacuum. We measured the outside flange size to be 13, specs for front and rear opening are above in item specifics.Units will come vacuum sealed shut from the factory, this one was opened to show operation and how it function. These units have a sensor output to read the position of the valve and include the connector to interface with the valves pin out. Unit pictured was attached to a board, isolated by foam, and strapped for good measure. Factory crates have 4 units each.
The item "Bakma 13 Manual / 220/380V Motorized High Vacuum Gate Valve NEW Free Freight" is in sale since Thursday, June 20, 2019. This item is in the category "Business & Industrial\Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Pumps & Plumbing\Valves & Manifolds\Other Valves & Manifolds". The seller is "megasalvage" and is located in Loveland, Colorado. This item can be shipped to United States.


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Recipes that Use Up Your Ground Beef
"Not hamburgers again!" Is your family getting tired of the same old ground beef recipes? Spice up dinnertime with these creative and flavorful ways to use ground beef. From delicious tacos to mouthwatering Tex-Mex recipes, you'll never run out of ideas for meals to make with ground beef!

domain: food


Chi Hardware Corporation Limited is located in China, and it is a professional manufacturer of Sectional Garage door and Industrial door hardwares and also a supplier of whole set of doors.
It is a rapidly growing company
Some garage doors can last as long as 30 years, but that’s only if you take good care of them. If you don’t inspect your garage door on a regular basis and take care of it, it might only last a fraction of its total potential life span. But what should you consider when completing a garage door inspection?
What parts of the garage door do you need to inspect and what should you be looking for? Keep reading and learn more about how to inspect a garage door like a pro.
It is of the utmost importance that your garage door’s mechanism stays in good shape over the years. If the mechanism starts to degrade, it will eventually become weak and unstable. This can contribute to dangerous occurrences such as the collapse of the garage door.
If your garage door collapses, it might crush your car and it might even seriously injure someone that happens to be under it. In the past, there have even been deaths associated with garage doors that have worn down and become weak. For that reason, it is important to check the state of your garage door’s mechanism on a regular basis.
In particular, you should check on the garage door’s springs at least once a month. Many garage door problems tend to originate from the springs. The springs are what help move the garage door up and down along with some help from the pully system.
There are many things that can go wrong with the springs along with other parts of the garage door mechanism. In particular, rust might start to accumulate. This is especially likely if you live in a humid environment and moisture tends to accumulate on the mechanism.
When this happens, rust will start to form sooner or later. Once rust takes hold, it can be hard to get rid of it. Rust also makes the metal of the springs very weak and more prone to breaking down.
If you only see a small dot or two of rust, you might be able to catch the problem before it gets too serious. You can fix the problem by scrubbing the rust away and protecting the spring mechanism with a protectant spray or other product.
Besides rust, you should check for any general signs of wear and tear on your garage door’s mechanism.
Common signs of wear and tear include scratches, dents, and deep gouges. If you see these signs on your garage mechanism, it is a sign that the mechanism is not running as it’s supposed to. The parts of the mechanism might be grinding together in a way that is damaging the mechanism as a whole.
This, of course, will make the whole mechanism weak and more prone to serious damage or failure. If you see signs of wear and tear, it is important to call up a professional for some garage door repairs. If you leave such a garage door untreated, the problem will only continue to get worse until it becomes a problem that risks your home’s safety.
This is certainly not something you want to deal with, especially not if you have children or pets at home that are often around the garage door. While you can try doing the repairs on your own, it is not recommended, especially if you’ve never repaired a garage door before. You might end up injuring yourself or making the garage door problem worse.
Even though it will cost you a bit of extra money, it is best to hire a professional who has plenty of experience repairing garage doors.
The auto-reversal feature on your garage door is a very important feature. In fact, it might be the most important feature of your garage door. It involves stopping the movement of the garage door as it’s going down if something happens to pass under the garage door’s sensor.
For example, if you are backing your vehicle out of the garage and the garage door starts to come down, the garage door should stop coming down as soon as your vehicle passes through the garage door’s sensor. The auto-reversal feature will also force the garage door to climb back up so there is enough room for your car to leave the garage.
This feature should activate not only for cars but for anything that passes by the sensor. For example, if the garage door happens to be lowering just as your pet passes under the door, the door should stop and raise as soon as your pet passes the sensor. The auto-reversal feature is an integral part of garage door safety.
Without it, the garage door would continue to lower no matter what might be under it. In fact, years ago, several children died due to faulty auto-reversal features on garage doors. Besides being a potentially fatal problem, if your auto-reversal feature isn’t working, it might cause injury or it might crush important objects like your vehicle.
So, how can you make sure that your auto-reversal feature is working? Testing it is relatively simple and all you need is an object that you can place under the door. For example, you can try rolling a ball under the door to see if the sensor detects it as the garage door is making its way down.
As long as the sensor is working and is sensitive enough, it should make the garage door stop moving and then raise. Some auto-reversal features are different than others. Instead of having a motion sensor, some garage doors have a pressure sensor instead.
In this case, the garage door will need to make contact with something beneath it before it raises up. You can try this by putting a box or a piece of wood under your garage door. If the garage door touches the object only slightly and then raises back up, your auto-reversal system will be in good shape.
Be sure that you don’t do this text with a fragile object. If the auto-reversal system happens to not be working, the garage door will end up breaking that object. If you find that the auto-reversal feature doesn’t seem to be working at all, you shouldn’t hesitate to have it repaired.
As mentioned before, a garage door without this feature can be quite dangerous, especially for young children and pets. All you need to do is call up a professional and the feature should be fixed in no time.
Keeping the garage door mechanism clean is a basic way to keep your garage door in good shape. If you never clean the mechanical parts of the garage door, you will find that all sorts of gunk will eventually clog the mechanism. This will cause unnecessary wear and tear on the mechanism and it might even require some repairs down the line.
You can save yourself the trouble by doing a bit of cleaning here and there. It is a good idea to clean the garage door mechanism once a month. This will allow you to keep up with any dust or grease that accumulates on the mechanism. That way, you won’t have to clean up a mound of gunk after months or years of not cleaning it.
While you’re cleaning the mechanism, you’ll also have the chance to double-check the state of the mechanism. In particular, you should look for any parts of the mechanism that seem a bit unusual. For example, if there are any loose screws, feel free to tighten them so that the mechanism doesn’t get weak or unstable.
If you find that some screws are missing, you should replace them right away. While you’re cleaning the mechanism, all you really need is some soap, water, and a rag. Try not to soak the mechanism with too much water or it might cause rust later on.
Instead, use a damp rag or sponge with a bit of soap and get between all the crevices that the mechanism has to offer. This technique should do the trick, but if the mechanism is extra greasy for some reason, you might have to use a more intense cleaner such as paint thinner to clean away the residue. If there is rust present, remove it with some vinegar and a rough rag or sponge.
If some parts of the mechanism tend to be squeaky when they move, try applying some lubricant to the hinges. A little bit of lubricant goes a long way and it can save the mechanism from further wear and tear. Once you apply the lubricant, the garage door should be much quieter when it moves up or down.
If you find that any part of the mechanism is starting to flake or looks very worn down, you might have to replace that part. Hinges, in particular, sustain a lot of damage over years of use, although the brackets may also show some signs of flaking. If so, be sure to replace the part as soon as you can.
Flaking is a sign that the part is past its prime and is no longer fit to function in your garage door’s mechanism.
While the springs and hinges are all very important for allowing the garage door to move, the garage door wouldn’t be able to raise or lower at all without the lifting cables. The lifting cables are designed to be very sturdy, but after years of wear and tear, they will eventually start to show signs of degradation. It might be hard to detect the signs of wear at first, but you should first look at the very bottom of the cables where they are in contact with the roller bracket.
This area involves a lot of friction between the lifting cables and the roller bracket. If you don’t use your garage door very much, the cables might actually still be in good shape even after several years. However, if you raise and lower the garage door every day or even several times a day, the lifting cables will likely show some serious signs of wear.
In particular, you should look for signs of fraying, flaking, or thinning. If you see that a part of the lifting cable is unusually thin, it is important that you replace the cable right away. This level of wear puts a lot of strain on the cables.
If the cables wear down enough and get thin enough, the cables might snap and cause the entire garage door to collapse. This, of course, could be very dangerous if you happen to be driving your car into the garage at that moment. Just be aware that you should not tamper with the lifting cables or pulley system yourself.
This system is very finicky and you should not try to fix it on your own since it is much more dangerous compared to fixing any other part of the garage door mechanism. Instead, hire a professional.
Regular garage door inspection is very important, especially if you want your garage door to last a long time and stay in good shape. You can inspect your garage door by making sure that the mechanism is free of rust, the screws are all in place, the mechanism is clean, and so on. As long as you do all that, the garage door should stay in great shape.
If you want know more details, please visit our website and contact us.
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At vista-style-icons.com it requires you about 15 minutes to find all you need to make a professional interface of your project. This site is an ultimate time and money saver!
Designers. Their artistic nature gives them the 'right', or 'privilege', to turn their 'pieces of art' in behind time, to experiment, creating stuff that's not really needed of them, and to argue around when it comes to tastes. Designers seem to literally create hearache in their boss's heads and empty their pockets by making stuff that often isn't really wanted. What's more, time is funds, and time is what most designers seem to neglect! There are, definitely, good artists available, but they are too pricey, especially when working to the goal of creating Vista style icons.
Pictograms are constantly on demand. Pictograms have the ability of representing things. We will always know the small dog-eared paper in any application meaning the 'New' button. We will always recognize the diskette symbol representing the 'Save' and 'Save As'. And every Internet PC user knows the blue MS Internet Explorer icon. Icons are necessary in software, on PC desktops, on websites, on food packages, in books, in advert leaflets, in promotion banners, everywhere!
Think if you could always have premade solution at hand - Vista icons, theamed icons, application icons, etc. That means that you would be able to get what you need, and to get it in a matter of minutes! No need to wait weeks for a collection of Vista style icons or a library of stock icons to be imtegrated in your new system utility application for Microsoft Windows Vista or any other system. No more paying clumsy and fussy designers for Vista style graphics that aren't nearly Vista style icons, but are plain stock icons. .
777icons.com is the ultimate WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) software icon set and application icon pack source. 777icons.com holds Vista icons, stock icons, toolbar icons, and other site-development and program icon packs. 777icons.com holds plenty of images ready for corporate software companies, private users and webmasters. 777icons.com has an easy interface. The images are conveniently 'stored' and separated by category, and a powerful 'Search and Buy Icon' built-in tool lets you find any individual icon or icon set by entering keywords like 'Vista icons', 'office icons', 'transport icons', 'toolbar icons', etc.
After examining a preview of an icon and clicking the 'Purchase Icon' button you will recive your icon (or collection of icons) in no time! You can also click the 'Order Icon' button if the stock icons displayed are not quite suitable for you. 777icons.com is always glad to edit pre-made icons or develop new icons by request for your program, webpage or personal PC interface. 777icons.com's designers and engineers work non-stop to deliver you advanced and appealing, customized and unique all-purpose icons. The high-quality tools used in crafting Vista style icons and stock icons will save your time in the first place. Save time, funds and temper with 777icons.com. Purchase icons today and make your system, software, website and anything else look great!

domain: artistic


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2 Nayeri: Economic Boundaries of Health Policy
The first section of this article offers a summary of how rapidly rising costs,diminishing access, and relatively poor health outcomes pose a threat to capitalistaccumulation and reproduction in the United States. The following two sections thenexplore the key question of health care costs by distinguishing between their level and rate of growth; the literature on health care costs generally concerns itself with the former. Aftersuggesting that the high level of costs stems from the postwar structure of financing anddelivery of the health care system, I put forward the argument that the high rate of growth of health care costs can be best understood from the perspective of the labor theory of value.Next I explore how the fast rate of growth of health care costs poses a definite limit on healthcare policy in the context of the long-term profitability crisis.After outlining the relationship between efficiency of the health care system and theextent and quality of access, I then revisit the mainstream health care debate and offer ananalysis of liberal and conservative reform proposals as part of the overall attempt to resolvethe long-term crisis of the U.S. economy. My argument is that the failure of the Clinton planwas due to its concern with the problem of inefficiency of the health care system in the face of the demand by a majority of the U.S. capitalist class to cut costs. The article ends with asummary and some conclusions.
A FAILING SYSTEM: COSTS, ACCESS, OUTCOME
The mainstream health care reform debate was motivated by concerns about rapidlyrising costs, diminishing access, and relatively poor outcomes-that is, the gross inefficiencyof the health care system. In 1990, over $666 billion, or 12.2 percent of the U.S. grossdomestic product (GDP), was spent on health care. By the year 2000, health care costs areexpected to consume 19 percent of the GDP. Currently over 40 million persons areuninsured. In the 1980s, the total number of uninsured grew 24 percent and the number of uninsured children grew 40 percent (8, 9). Since employment is the chief source of health careinsurance in the United States, the jobs crisis of the 1980s and 1990s has translated into asevere instability of health care insurance coverage. A U.S. Bureau of the Census report (10)indicates that over 60 million people, about one in every four persons, were without healthcare benefits at some point in a 28-month period between 1986 and 1988. The rise in healthcare costs, which is much faster than the rise in the national income and each of itscomponents-wages, profits, and government revenues-has contributed to the growth in thenumber of uninsured and underinsured. At least 20 million persons with private insuranceare considered underinsured (11). In addition, because the rate of growth of federal andstate contributions to the Medicaid and Medicare programs has been slower than the rate of growth of health care costs, the provision of care for about 65 million elderly, low-incomepersons, and those with disabilities has suffered in the face of growing needs.The interaction between rising costs and diminishing access has contributed to asituation where U.S. health and well-being outcomes compare poorly with those of othercountries. Table 1 shows that health care expenditure, both as a share of GDP and on a percapita basis, has been substantially higher in the United States than in its economic rivals in theGroup of Seven (G-7), while in terms of health outcomes the United States has not fared aswell.The overall inefficiency of the health care system undermines the international

domain: medical


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Beamsville Public Library, Fleming Centre, 5020 Serena Dr., Beamsville, ON
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 28, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Application deadline: January 31, 2020
The Wildlife Adventures of Kelly McNeil on until Nov. 30, 2019. Meet the Artist Reception Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, 12 - 4 pm
The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre will be showcasing the artwork of Welland artist Robert Bora in the exhibit titled "The Things I See." Free reception on Nov. 7, 2019 (7:00-9:00pm).
Plan to be a part of this year's October exhibit at The Gallery at 4681 Queen Street in the heart of the Arts and Entertainment District of Niagara Falls, ON
"Art Around the Pillar" Solo Art Show & Sale at the Moses F. Rittenhouse Branch, Vineland, ON throughout October and November, 2019

domain: entertainment


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Although Wendy seemed to be “feeling fabulous” the last time she was spotted, the gossip queen is still not ready to show her face on the big screen! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE. Wendy Williams has been in the news a lot lately. Everyones waiting to see if the rumors are […]
Our prayers are currently with media maven Wendy Williams as she simultaneously battles COVID-19 while also getting her mental health in order after being admitted into a NYC hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
After Wendy Williams shaded Tabitha Brown's recent decision to retire her husband, the vegan influencer and actress clapped back in the most wholesome way possible!
Lil Durk's alleged baby mother says he cut off their seven-year-old son.
Safaree and Erica Mena’s marriage has been shaky to say the least. Wendy Williams has chimed in on their relationship and Erica told her she can catch those hands. As spotted on The Grio the recent news of the celebrity couple expecting another child together was met with mixed feelings throughout media outlets and the world […]
Lore'l is calling cap on the Puerto Rican Princess after she tried to come for Wendy Williams on her own show.
Hernandez was a recent guest on The Wendy Williams Show and the pair got into it a touch, which has Twitter reacting in kind.
Youngboy Never Broke Again penned a letter to Wendy Williams after she spoke about him being in jail with his eighth child on the way.
Lore'l breaks down everything Method Man's wife Tamika Smith said in her response to Wendy Williams.

domain: celebrity


There will be no more grilling hot dogs or hamburgers on decks and balconies of Connecticut apartment buildings.
A little-noticed change in the newly revised Connecticut State Fire Prevention Code, which took effect May 7, prohibits the use and storage of any type of grill or cooking device on decks, beneath overhangs or within 10 feet of the building.
The prohibition covers all multi-family housing – essentially everything but one- and two-family units – and includes condominiums, depending upon the type of structure. Local fire marshals have sent out, or are busy preparing notifications to building owners and condo associations in some towns. In others, local fire marshals who were not aware of the change said they expect it would have an appreciable impact on their communities.
How many state residents would be affected is difficult to say. About 35 percent of Connecticut housing – the equivalent of 525,000 residences – is classified as multi-family. Not all apartments have balconies, and thousands that do are in complexes which already prohibit their use for cooking. “We don’t allow grills on decks and balconies of any type. Our risk manager says it is just not a good idea at all,” said Marie Mazzotta, president of the residential division of Simon Konover Co., which manages about 4,000 apartments in Connecticut.
Konover allows grilling in clubhouses and common areas. Some newer complexes, such as the upscale 144-unit Alterra Rocky Hill which opened in 2013, prohibit grills on decks, but provide community grilling stations at pool and patio areas.
Managers of apartments where deck grills are allowed and local fire marshals anticipate grumbling from unhappy tenants, particularly those who recently may have forked out hundreds of dollars for a new propane or electric grill.
Rocky Hill Fire Marshal Richard Renstrom said he knew the ordinance would have a big impact in town as soon as he saw it. Thirty-nine percent of Rocky Hill housing, according to the 2010 Census, is classified as multi-family.
Renstrom and fire inspector Frank Kelley have been notifying apartment managers and condo associations of the change. “Hopefully the community will understand this is a public safety issue,” Renstrom said.
Under state law, local fire marshals must perform annual inspection of all multi-family housing. “This would bring us into an area where we previously haven’t gone,” admitted Newington Fire Marshal Chris Schroeder. Schroeder, who said he had not yet reviewed the change, said his town has quite a few condo complexes, which depending on the type of construction, could fall within the prohibition. Some of those currently prohibit deck grills; others allow their use and storage “and it wasn’t something we could enforce. It’s going to be an issue because it is so common – everyone has one on the deck,” he said.
The code exempts those condos from the grill ban that are “multiple single-family dwellings attached side-by-side (townhouses) not more than three stories in height with each dwelling having a separate means of egress.”
Bloomfield Center Fire Marshal Roger K Nelson, president of the Capitol Region Fire Marshals Association, will soon begin the annual inspection of his district’s 1,000 multi-family units. He said he sympathizes with tenants who may have invested in a new electric grill, which he previously recommended using, or small propane grill. “It’s always been an on-going question. I’ve had apartment complexes come to me and ask, ‘How do we do this?”’
At The Glenbrook at Rocky Hill, 400 units of garden-style, wood-framed apartments in the Century Hills development, manager Rob Kozikowski agreed that the prohibition makes public safety sense, but wished it had been announced earlier. Last year, after talking with the fire marshal, he reached an agreement with his insurance company to allow tenants to continue to use small gas grills on the second- and third-floor decks, so long as they were pushed as far away as possible from the structure.
Had he known the code change was forthcoming, Kozikowski said, he would have asked the complex owners for additional funds to add more grills in the common areas.
“My whole take is if you are going to do it, why not give us time to implement it? We come across looking very unprofessional,” he said. About 15 percent of Glenbrook tenants use gas grills, and the prohibition will be added to new leases, or those coming up for renewal, he said.
The State of Connecticut Fire Prevention Code, first adopted in 2010, was modeled upon the National Fire Protection Association Code (NFPA 1) adopted in 2002. NFPA 1 was most recently revised in 2012, and that was the version Connecticut state officials used during an 18-month review which ended with adoption and publication of the state’s revised fire prevention code in May, said Joe Kingston, fire safety supervisor for the Office of State Fire Marshal.
While the previous code contained language on the proper size and storage of gas canisters, and adherence to manufacturers’ instructions on use and storage of all cooking devices – such as, keeping the grill 3-to-10 feet from the building — it did not specially prohibit the use and storage of all cooking and heating devices from balconies in multi-family units.
The state plans to begin training sessions on the new code in October for local fire marshals, Kingston said.


Ford's revolutionary 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine has bagged the honour of being the International Engine of the year for 2012. The results were announced this Thursday and the Ecoboost ran through the competition amassing a total of 401 points. It convincingly beat Volkswagen's 1.4 litre TSI twin-charger which came second with 288 points. It also took the honours in the "Best new engine" and "Best sub 1 litre engine" categories.
The three cylinder engine that will soon be seen in India on the Ecosport SUV is available in 3 different states of tune ranging from 75 bhp to 125bhp. What we'll see here is the 120bhp version. The engine – small enough to fit on a European sheet of A4 paper – was designed at Ford’s technical centres in Dunton, U.K., and Merkenich, Germany. The engine is built in Ford’s plants in Craiova, Romania, and Cologne, Germany.
“We set the bar incredibly high when we set out to design this engine,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president, Global Powertrain. “We wanted to deliver eye-popping fuel economy, surprising performance, quietness and refinement – and all from a very small three-cylinder engine. The team responded to this seemingly impossible challenge with some really exciting innovation,” Bakaj added. “The result is a game changer for gas engines globally.”
Other award winners include Ferrari's 4.5 litre V8 (Ferrari 458 Italia and Spyder) for the performance engine of the year and GM’s 1.4-litre range extender (Chevrolet Volt) as the green engine of the year. BMW seemed to have a field day too as 4 of their engines were announced in the top nine.
This was the second time that a small engine took the honours at IEOTYA, after Fiat's 900cc twin air won last year. Good for us lot... right? With petrol prices going up the way they are, what could be better than plonking a small, powerful engine and then revving the nuts of the thing! Here's to making the world a greener place.


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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Development of a Medical Research and Manufacturing Facility in DeLand, Florida
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Volusia County, Florida, to prepare a 56-acre site adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport for the development of Project COVID, a medical research, manufacturing and multi-modal distribution facility. This EDA grant, to be matched with $1 million in local funds, is expected to create 360 jobs and generate $150 million in private investment.
“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds back stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Volusia County will support the development of a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing facility that will address the coronavirus pandemic while contributing to the region’s economic recovery and long-term resiliency.”
“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This project will prepare the site for development by building water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, constructing a 13.5-acre drainage retention pond, relocating an airport perimeter security fence and other work as needed to foster business expansion and job growth.”
“This grant will fund critical pharmaceutical research, a manufacturing facility, and potentially create hundreds of jobs that will greatly benefit our residents in northeast Florida. The pandemic painfully demonstrated our dependence on China for protective equipment and pharmaceuticals. We must bring our manufacturing back home” said Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-06). “I’m thrilled to have worked with Volusia County and the local business community to make this project a reality.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC). EDA funds ECFRPC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

domain: politics


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When a single hears the definition of sugar daddy life-style, they often believe of wealthy older men dating 20-something girls who have rely on them for cash and items. While there are plenty of cases of the type of set up working out very well, the reality is that it can also be dangerous for you if you, particularly when considering their physical safety. INSIDER recently talked with real-life sugar daddy Carl Foster to get his take on what this kind of lifestyle really looks like and so why it’s vital for both parties to know the anticipations and realities of sugaring.
For lots of young women of all ages, the prospect of like a “sugar baby” is enticing, allowing them to encounter luxury products they couldn’t afford in any other case. However , what they rarely realize is that they’re also placing their personal and internal health at risk. These kinds of women generally spend time with men they don’t understand in intimate settings exactly where they’re by themselves, sometimes under the influence of alcohol. This typically leads to these people escalating their particular fantasies and scenarios in to depraved area that can be unsafe for the two physical and emotional health.
Also to https://toda.com/the-australian-daddy-long-legs-spider the money benefits of like a sugar baby, some women find that the lifestyle is an effective way to escape the pressures and stresses of everyday life. This is especially the case for solo mothers just who find themselves attempting to make ends meet. For them, becoming a sugar daddy could be a way to get out of your house and live the life they will deserve.
However , it is very important for glucose babies and their potential sugars daddies to set clear boundaries from the start so that everyone is happy in the relationship. This might mean setting up a specific money that can be spent on things such as lease, bills, food, etc . It might also indicate establishing just how many https://bestsugardaddy.net times every month the two will meet to discuss their future and make a decision on other measures. Having this info in writing can certainly help protect both parties in case of any negative consequence, such as a misunderstanding or betrayal.
It may be also important meant for sugar babies to remember that a mutually beneficial relationship doesn’t necessarily experience to add sex. Actually there are many nonsexual sugar arrangements that land in long-term romantic relationships and marriages. Platonic sugar appointments are also common and can be equally as meaningful mainly because sexy kinds.
Finally, it’s important for each to recognize that it type of romance can lead to feelings of addition and passionate curiosity. When that happens, it’s critical for both of them to connect openly and honestly about how precisely they experience each other. This can prevent any misunderstandings or resentment as time goes on and ensure that each person gets what they want in the relationship. If this doesn’t lift weights, a mutually beneficial split is easy mainly because both parties are aware of the desires and boundaries right from the start. This can be required for a open public place, or perhaps actually over the mobile phone so that neither of them party feels hurt or perhaps betrayed.

domain: sociology


A driver's accused of deliberately running down a man near Maitland over the weekend.
The 27 year old turned up to Oakhampton Road, Oakhampton at 6:30pm on Saturday night where the men had arranged to meet.
It's claimed he drove straight at the 38 year old victim, hitting him with his car several times before driving off.
The older man was taken to hospital suffering minor injuries.
Police tracked down the accused at a home in Telarah yesterday, seizing a gun.
He'll face Maitland Local Court today charged with 13 offences.


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Election 2010: Memories democratic primary night, social media bloggers make or break an election today
I try staying neutral blogging about political events in Buffalo and Erie County though it continues to be challenging as many wonder why I’m not on one side or the other of the political spectrum.
And aside from my enthusiasm for Puerto Rican Havard trained lawyer, Ramon T. Jimenez for attorney general in the November general elections I prefer staying neutral some people running for political office upset with it. Instead, I attend the various happenings whether fundraisers or other activities in the community. And the social media especially bloggers tied to the internet through hundreds of links today make or break an election.
In this photograph, the Erie County Democratic Committee posted on its Facebook page, to the right of Erie County Chairman Len Lenihan is a glimpse of me (Maria Rosa) and Latino political consultant, “Chito” Olivencia during primary night with members of the Erie County Democratic Committee gathered to track the votes as they came in from the Erie County Board of Elections at Casa di Pizza on Elmwood Avenue.
I met up with a few members of the Green Party and founder/publisher of the Alt Press on-line Joe Schmidbauer, who explained the Greens traditionally attended various political gatherings after primary night and planned on joining them to the other primary night activities. And another journalist informed me they had just come back from the Carl Paladino event at the Ellicott Square building, he described it as “very white” with a Paladino supporter wearing a minutemen outfit.


Navy Vets win, lose
The Woodstock Navy Vets split their weekend, opening with a 5-4 win against the Norwich Merchants before a 5-3 Sunday loss to the Wellesley Applejacks.
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Four second-period goals helped the Navy Vets edge Norwich Friday night. Noah Kirk netted a pair of goals while Kyle Walker, Drew Woods, Quinton Stronach added singles. Mason Cooper, Jamie Damignani, Jake Luke and Rycol Davis scored for Norwich. Keaghan Brett made 32 saves for the win while Shendon Smith stopped 25 saves for Norwich and Zach Johnston had 14 in relief.
The Applejacks had four second-period goals to sink Woodstock Saturday night. Jacob Rooke scored twice and Reade MacInnis scored for Woodstock. Graeme Noye made 40 saves in Woodstock’s net.
The Vets host Tavistock Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. and then welcome the Ayr Centennials Friday at 7:45 p.m. before visiting the Burford Bulldogs Saturday to finish the regular season. Woodstock has a 23-12-2 record for fourth place in the division and are two points behind third-ranked Ayr.
Tavistock sweeps weekend games
The Tavistock Braves won both their weekend games, starting with an 8-0 win over the Burford Bulldogs and finishing with a 3-1 victory against Norwich.
In their dominant win against Burford, Brock Phillips scored twice while Patrick Vulgan, Drew Gerth, Bradley Smith, Zach Gladding, Samson Walsom and Tanner Johnson added singles. Brock McKenzie, Walsom and Vulgan also had two assists. Jensen Van Boekel had the shutout with 14 saves.
Tavistock had a goal in each period in their 3-1 win over Norwich.
Mitch McKay scored twice and Tanner Johnson added a goal. Benjamin Cripps had the lone Norwich goal. Carter Roth stopped 33 shots for the win and Zach Johnston made 18 saves in Norwich’s net.
The Braves continue to hold first place in the division with a 28-5-3-1 record and are up two points on second-place Wellesley Applejacks with a game in hand. Their next game is Tuesday in Woodstock at 7:45 p.m. and they host Wellesley Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Norwich drop pair of games, win once
The Norwich Merchants played three games in three days, bookending their win with a pair of losses with the playoffs nearing.
The Merchants lost 5-4 to Woodstock and 3-1 to Tavistock, but won 11-1 against the Delhi Travellers.
Mason Cooper, Jamie Damignani, Jake Luke had two goals each while Parker Noble, Ethan Froats, Simon Storoschuk, Cole Feeney and Seth Lamoure had single markers. Lamoure had three assists and Cam Allen, Cooper, Storoschuk and Luke had two assists each.
The Merchants are sixth in the Doherty Division with a 19-17-2 record and 40 points. They play the Ayr Centennials Thursday and host Burford Friday at 8 p.m. for their final regular season game.
Trojans win in lone game
The Thamesford Trojans won 4-3 against the Aylmer Spitfires in their only weekend game.
Thamesford had goals from Kurtis White, Ray Robbins, Spencer Mills and Lucas Ojero. Ryan Gullage made 19 saves for the win.
The Trojans are 25-10-1-3 and two points out of first place in their division. Their next game is Wednesday against the top-ranked Dorchester Dolphins before returning home to face the Port Stanley Sailors Friday at 7:30 p.m.


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CIMIC Group company CPB Contractors has been selected as the preferred proponent to deliver an airport infrastructure upgrade worth around $189 million.
The company will deliver Auckland Airport’s international taxiway and remote stands project.
Works will include construction of an additional taxiway, extension of an existing taxiway and six remote stands with in-ground jet fuel reticulation.
It is part of the airport’s major capital works program that aims to expand existing aeronautical infrastructure of New Zealand’s largest and busiest airport.
- Contract awarded for Melbourne Airport works
- Governments sign off on Melbourne Airport Rail Link
- Rail link for Western Sydney International Airport
“CIMIC Group and CPB Contractors are focused on delivering essential infrastructure for New Zealand communities and it is our privilege to be playing an integral role in the transformation of Auckland Airport,” CIMIC Group Chief Executive Officer Michael Wright said.
More than one million cubic metres of earthworks and basecourse will be included, with 169,000 square metres of concrete pavement, construction of 3.2 kilometres of stormwater drainage, runoff treatment lagoon, and a 2.2 kilometre in-ground jet fuel network.
“We look forward to building a close ongoing relationship with Auckland Airport and to delivering this important infrastructure project efficiently and to the highest safety standards,” CPB Contractors Managing Director Juan Santamaria said.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-2019, with expected completion by late 2021.


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STRADELLA COMMUNAL CEMETERY
- Country Italy
- Total identified casualties 1 Find these casualties
- Casualties from First World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 45.07613, Longitude: 9.31471
The cemetery is 48 kilometres South of Milan. The single Commonwealth burial is located at 'Field n. 5, section n. 3, detartment 5, path G' towards the left side of the Cemetery from the main entrance. Cemetery Address: Via Don Rutta (PV). GPS Co-ordinates: 45.075021, 9.312479.
The cemetery is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00 pm.
For further information and enquiries please contact email@example.com
The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918, and rest camps and medical units were established at various locations in northern Italy behind the front, some of them remaining until 1919. From the Summer of 1917 until late 1918, the Mediterranean lines of communication for the British Salonika Force ran the length of Italy from Taranto in the south-east, to Turin in the north-west. Stradella Communal Cemetery contains one Commonwealth burial of the First World War.


Peter Terwiesch (pictured left) will be ABB’s Executive Sponsor in the Alliance and will actively work with governments and other Alliance members to scale up the hydrogen value chain across Europe.
“Europe’s opportunity to reduce carbon emissions by scaling up the production, transport and use of hydrogen is significant. Automation, electrification and digitalization will play an important role in unlocking this potential,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of ABB Industrial Automation.
“At ABB we are proud to be joining the ECH2A, to continue our collaborations with governments, industries, regulators and academia to further accelerate the implementation of hydrogen. We have a unique mix of relevant domain expertise and solutions to support industry and make a real difference in deploying new clean hydrogen technologies.”
In July 2020, the European Commission announced the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the launch of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance.
By establishing the Alliance, the EU aims to strengthen its global leadership position in the rapidly developing hydrogen domain, which will in turn help it to realise its carbon neutrality goals by 2050.
The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, which brings together more than 200 industry, national and local public authorities, civil society and other stakeholders, aims to initiate an investment agenda and support the scaling up of the hydrogen value chain across Europe.


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The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Malawi has hailed the launch of the Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Sustainable Development saying the initiative is a strategic entry point in engaging with parliamentarians and their constituencies on population dynamics and sustainable development.
Speaking during the event in Lilongwe on 12th August 2022, UNFPA Representative a.i, Ms. Miranda Tabifor said the launch is timely as Malawi is still grappling with many problems that require the Caucus to undertake necessary advocacy to ensure concrete action is taken to address these issues.
Citing the Government of Malawi’s commitment to accelerate the implementation of the ICPD25, she underscored that Malawi is making good progress in some commitments, and progress has stagnated in other areas, “For example, while the country is making good progress in reducing preventable maternal deaths from the maternal mortality ratio of 439 to 329 per 100,000 live births currently, the country needs to step up its efforts to achieve the target of 110 per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Ms. Tabifor added that the national commitment to end child marriages is another key area that requires the Caucus’s attention. The Malawi Parliament enacted a law to increase the minimum age at marriage from 15 to 18 years. However, the country still has high rates of child marriage with 38 percent of girls getting married before the age of 18.
“With the Caucus now in place, attention should now shift to enforcement of the law,” she said.
Guest of Honour at the function and Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara said the launch marks a beginning of a new chapter as Parliament, in the past, was largely ignored by development partners’ despite being a critical player in policy formulation.
“We have 193 Members of Parliament in the House who represent the 19 million and plus population in Malawi,” she said. “So, let’s work together, invest in us, build our capacity so that we are not left out in policy development.”
Initially, the Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Sustainable Development was launched in 2017. With the relaunch, there are high hopes that the Caucus will play a central role in steering critical sustainable development issues outlined in Malawi Vision 2063.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Sustainable Development, Hon. Abel Kayembe explained that the Caucus will not only champion and advocate for policy reforms on population management but also support policy formulation to enable development at parliamentary level.
“It’s also important for MPs to know the dynamics of population management,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s the parliamentarians who are encouraging their constituents to have many children so that they can have many votes. But we should not focus on the numbers, but the quality of life of the people who we represent.”
By Joseph Scott, Communications Analyst


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ships in Portland for the Rose Festival are scheduled to weigh anchor and head back out today.
For residents and commuters, that means bridge closures and traffic disruptions. Plan ahead to avoid the worst snarls.
The Burnside, Morrison, Broadway and Steel bridges will be opened for the ships' departures during the day. They were raised some earlier Monday, and will be up again periodically between 9 and 11 a.m., and 4 and 6 p.m.
-- The Oregonian


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John Updike poems tend to be eloquent, witty and steeped in realism. His poetry uses a lyrical style mixed with precision and lucidity to create a vivid picture. Though known best for his many novels, Updike also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and critiques.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1932, Updike's work often reflects the beauty and trouble of ordinary life. His style and subjects changed from volume to volume, though he often focused on love, religion, sex and family. He also relied heavily on his own experiences growing up in a small town.
The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures
Updike published his first book in 1958. The compilation of poetry was titled The Carpentered Hens and Other Tame Creatures. The book was filled with relatively light verse compared to his later work. It detailed the simple and mundane aspects of everyday life to reveal their unique beauty. Though the book is now a source of praise, it received little attention when it was first published.
Endpoint and Other Poems
Updike's last volume of poetry, Endpoint and Other Poems, was published in 2009 after his death. Updike wrote poetry about experiences in ordinary life, and Endpoint is no exception. The volume reflects his advanced age with melancholy and includes references to arthritis, medical procedures and lost loved ones. Though the work is emotional, it never becomes mournful or sappy.
Other Updike Poems
Updike published a total of eight volumes of poetry while living and one posthumously. In addition to The Carpentered Hen and Endpoint, he published Telephone Poles in 1963, Midpoint and Other Poems in 1969, Seventy Poems in 1972, Tossing and Turning in 1977, Facing Nature in 1985, Collected Poems in 1995 and Americana in 2001.
Updike wrote several poems that have not been collected into volumes. Most of these works appeared in various magazines, such as The New Yorker, The New Republic, The American Scholar and even Scientific American.


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Title: Estrogen receptor-dependent and independent roles of benzo[a]pyrene in Ishikawa cells.
Authors: Lee, Isabelle; Zhang, Guannan; Mesaros, Clementina; Penning, Trevor M
Published In J Endocrinol, (2020 11)
Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants generated from the incomplete combustion of organic material. PAHs have been studied as genotoxicants, but some also act via non-genotoxic mechanisms in estrogen-dependent malignancies, such as breast cancer. PAHs require metabolic activation to electrophilic metabolites to exert their genotoxicity but non-genotoxic properties may also contribute to their carcinogenicity. The role of PAHs in endometrial cancer, a cancer associated with unopposed estrogen action is unknown. We assessed the metabolism of the representative PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), to estrogenic compounds in Ishikawa human endometrial cells in the presence and absence of cytochrome P450 induction. Using stable-isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography and APCI tandem mass spectrometry in the selected reaction monitoring mode, we analyzed B[a]P metabolism in Ishikawa cells. Estrogenic activity of B[a]P metabolites was determined by the endogenous estrogen inducible alkaline phosphatase reporter gene and an exogenous estrogen response element (ERE) luciferase reporter gene construct. We also assessed whether PAHs can induce a proliferative phenotype via estrogen receptor (ER)- and non-ER-regulated pathways. We demonstrate that B[a]P can be metabolized in human endometrial cells into 3-OH-B[a]P and B[a]P-7,8-dione in sufficient amounts to activate ERs. We also show that only B[a]P-7,8-dione induces endometrial cell proliferation at concentrations lower than required to activate the ER; instead non-genomic signaling by the EGF receptor (EGFR) and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was responsible. This work indicates that human endometrial cells can metabolize PAHs into estrogenic metabolites, which may induce cell proliferation through non-ER-regulated pathways.
PubMed ID: 32992293
MeSH Terms: Benzo(a)pyrene/metabolism*; Cells, Cultured; Endometrium/cytology; Endometrium/metabolism; Female; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism*; Signal Transduction