text:
[Image above] The first-generation prototype of Coca-Cola’s paper bottle contains a recycled plastic closure and liner inside the paper shell. The end-goal is to replace the plastic with a bio-based coating. Credit: Paboco – the paper bottle company, YouTube
The problem of plastic waste is a topic we’ve covered frequently on CTT. We generally discuss the ways in which glass can help combat this issue, but glass is not the only material that will play a role in replacing plastic packaging.
Aluminum is another popular alternative for replacing plastic beverage containers. The superiority of glass or aluminum for lifecycle sustainability is debatable, but aluminum is not actually the focus of today’s CTT. Instead, we are going to consider a material typically not associated with holding liquids—paper.
A typical piece of paper is composed mostly of stiffened cellulose fibers held together by strong hydrogen bonds. When paper is soaked in water, the water molecules will break apart these bonds to form their own bonds, thus weakening the paper and making it easier to tear.
Many common beverages such as milk and juice consist mainly of water, so paper by itself cannot hold them very well. However, in the early 20th century, people realized that coating paper with a thin layer of wax or plastic allowed it to hold beverages quite well, and thus, for a time, lightweight paper cartons replaced glass bottles as the standard in the milk industry.
Compared to plastic bottles, paper cartons contain substantially less plastic, which ostensibly is better for the environment. However, because of the mixed materials composition, paper cartons are not as easy to recycle as pure plastic. (Though they will degrade faster compared to plastic in a landfill.)
For paper cartons to truly gain an edge over plastic bottles in terms of lifecycle sustainability, they would need to be made entirely of paper. But based on water’s effect on paper, is designing such a container possible? That is the question The Coca-Cola Company is looking to answer.
Coca-Cola is an infamous contributor to plastic waste, ranking as the world’s number one plastic polluter according to an annual survey by the charity Break Free From Plastic. To combat this image, Coca-Cola launched the World Without Waste initiative in 2018, which commits to making Coca-Cola packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and using 50% recycled material in their bottles and cans by 2030.
“Our vision is to create a paper bottle than can be recycled like any other type of paper,” says Stijn Franssen, R&D packaging innovation manager at Coca-Cola Europe/Middle East/Africa, in the press release. “A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities, and we are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future.”
Michael Michelsen, business development manager at Paboco, says the project is still in its initial stages of development, as evidenced by the fact the first-generation prototype contains a recycled plastic closure and liner inside the paper shell. However, eventually the plastic will be replaced with a bio-based coating that withstands both water vapor and oxygen transmission, according to the Paboco website.
In February, Coca-Cola announced that it plans to trial the paper bottle prototype through a limited online trial in Hungary this summer. Specifically, “A run of 2,000 bottles of the plant-based beverage AdeZ will be offered in the pioneering package via e-grocery retailer Kifli.hu,” the press release explains.
Franssen stresses that while the trial is a milestone, they are still conducting extensive lab testing to achieve the desired end-goal of a 100% paper bottle.
“This is new technology, and we are moving in uncharted territory. We have to invent the technical solutions as we go along,” he says.
You can see Franssen explain more in the video below, which was released along with the initial announcement of the partnership last fall.

domain: chemistry


text:
10x12 Poolside Retreat & Living Space
Rather than becoming an eyesore, a shed or studio that is well designed can blend beautifully with the backyard environment and actually become a catalyst for amazing outdoor space.
Photos in 10x12 Poolside Retreat & Living Space
People who liked this photo also liked
Living Rooms with Similar Colours

domain: design


text:
NDA nominee Mr Jaswant Singh today filed his nomination papers for the Vice-Presidential polls in the presence of Opposition leaders including Mr L.K. Advani, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Sharad Yadav.
74-year-old Singh, whose candidature was declared by NDA on July 16, filed his papers before Returning Officer Mr T.K. Viswanathan, who is the Lok Sabha Secretary General.
Three sets of papers — one each by Mr L. K. Advani, Ms Sumitra Mahajan and Mr Yashwant Sinha — supporting Mr Singh’s candidature were submitted to Mr Viswanathan.
Soon after filing his nomination, Mr Singh said elections to the high offices of President and Vice-President are “historic moments“.
Besides JD (U) Mr Sharad Yadav, who is the NDA Convernor, and BJP leader Mr Arun Jaitley, Mr Ananth Geete from Shiv Sena and Mr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Mr Harsimrat Kaur and Mr Naresh Gujral from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were also present on the occasion along with several BJP leaders.
Though UPA candidate Mr Hamid Ansari is set to enter the history books as the only person after Mr S. Radhakrishnan to get a second consecutive term as Vice-President, NDA has decided to field Mr Singh as it does not want to give the ruling coalition a walkover.
Mr Singh, a former External Affairs, Finance and Defence Minister, has provided a semblance of seriousness to the contest.
NDA was keen on putting up a fight against Mr Ansari as it is unhappy with his conduct in the Rajya Sabha on December 29 last year, when he abruptly adjourned the House while the Lokpal Bill debate was on.

domain: news


City looking to battle noise with photo radar-style technology
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2018 7:54PM MDT
There may soon be noise traps on city streets, enforcing vehicle volume the same way photo radar catches speeders.
Edmonton police have named the top five places in the city for vehicle noise complaints which includes an area of Jasper Avenue.
According to a decibel metre app, regular traffic on Jasper Avenue registers around 70 decibels, a level that make most people uncomfortable.
A study by city staff collected data on loud vehicle noise on Jasper Avenue and Groat Road. In a two week period they recorded dozens of instances of 90 decibel noise for up to 30 seconds at a time.
“It's allowing a few idiots to drive people out of the core of the city where we're trying to encourage people to move,” ward 8 councillor Ben Henderson told CTV.
It's been a big problem in Old Strathcona in recent years as well although police don't get a lot of complaints from the area. One resident has a theory as to why.
“You can't really justify as a citizen at 3 a.m. phoning the cops and saying, I just heard a really loud car that woke me up 6 blocks away, what are they going to do? They have no idea where that person is,” Queen Alexandra community league member Kim Clegg says.
Council passed a bylaw restricting motorcycle noise in 2010, but enforcement since then has been inconsistent. Now councillors are asking city staff to collect more data on traffic noise over the summer, and come up with ways to deter bad behavior.
The city is looking into the potential of new technology that acts similar to photo radar, but it involves decibel levels and video.
This summer city workers will be out collecting data on the loudest spots in the city, but police often have to prioritize where their resources go, and noise complaints aren't always high on the list. Which is why city bylaw officers do most of the enforcing has been proposed.


text:
Simply adorable! This charm makes a perfect mommy charm - just add the child's name and birthstone! Check the size on this one; it's smaller than the round stitched edge charm.
Just received this and it is so cute! Just the right size for a name, initial or special date. The flat-back crystals are the perfect fit and personalize this charm for any mom, grandmom or girls' bracelet or necklace.
I used this to make my Granddaughter a birthstone charm and I love it. It was really easy to stamp her name in the pewter and setting a tiny Swarovski flat back was super easy :) I can't wait to give it to her!


NEFF N70 T58FD20X0 Electric Induction Hob - Black
- Induction cooking for quick heating of pots and pans
- FlexZone layout for more effective boiling, simmering and warming
- Touch controls for convenient cooking
The Neff N70 T58FD20X0 Electric Induction Hob heats your pots and pans directly and stops as soon as the power is turned off. Enjoy precise cooking and a fast heat-up time for every meal.
The FlexZone means you can place your pots and pans exactly where you want them, and heat them in that exact spot. Accommodate even the largest pans with this smart feature.
With handy touch controls at the front of the hob, you can easily select power levels or set the timer with a single touch. Enjoy meals that are cooked the way you want them, every time.
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION: This product requires professional installation to a dedicated cooker circuit (identified by a big red cooker switch) by a qualified installer, such as one of our Currys experts.
Technical specifications for NEFF N70 T58FD20X0 Electric Induction Hob - Black
- Front left: 1.8 kW
- Back right: 2.2 kW
- Back left: 1.4 kW
- ReStart function
- Automatic pan recognition
- Keep warm function
- Timer with automatic shut off for all zones
- LED timer for each zone with switch off function & acoustic
- 4.6 kW power output (20 A): current management options for 16 A,
13 A or 10 A connection
- Energy consumption display
- Residual heat indicators
- Automatic safety shut off


text:
Disney+ May 2021 movies and TV titles revealed!
Disney+ has revealed the full list of new movies and TV titles available on the streaming service this coming May 2021. This includes the debut of Lucasfilm’s newest animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch and the second season premiere of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Next month will also see the world premiere of Disney’s newest live-action feature Cruella starring Emma Stone as the iconic 101 Dalmatian villain. It will simultaneously debut in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access for a one-time additional fee.
RELATED: Disney+ Launchpad Trailer Showcases New Live-Action Short Films
Let us know in the comments what you are most excited to watch out of the Disney+ May 2021 new additions
Available May 4
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Episode 101 – Premiere – Special Date
Available May 7
Disney Wander over Yonder (S1)
Disney Wander over Yonder (S2)
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Big Shot – Episode 104 “Great in the Living Room”
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Episode 107 “Pong Hockey”
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Episode 102
Available May 14
Disney Special Agent Oso (S1)
Disney Special Agent Oso (S2)
Disney Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps (S1)
X-Men: The Last Stand
Life Below Zero (S15)
Race to the Center of the Earth (S1)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – Season Two Premiere
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – Episode 201 – “New Year’s Eve”
Big Shot – Episode 105 “This is our House”
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Episode 108 “Change on the Fly”
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Episode 103
Available May 21
Disney Big City Greens (S2)
Disney Junior Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (S1)
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast
Fury Files (Interstitials)
Ice Road Rescue (S5)
Running Wild with Bear Grylls (S6)
Inside Pixar: Unpacked – Batch Premiere
- Unpacked: About Time – Director: Erica Milsom
How can the passage of time be utilized as a tool for emotional storytelling? Narrator W. Kamau Bell breaks down how time can becomes its own character in Pixar films, looking at period pieces such as Brave and the tearjerking passage of time in Up.
- Unpacked: Everybody Loves a Villain – Director: Tony Kaplan
From Ernesto de La Cruz to Lotso to Hopper, foes of all shapes and sizes are essential to many of our favorite Pixar movies. But what makes a good villain? Narrator W. Kamau Bell digs into why we love to hate our favorite antagonists and what makes them so complicated.
- Unpacked: The Squint Test – Director: Tony Kaplan
Pixar characters strive to strike a balance between realistic and caricatured. Narrator W. Kamau Bell explains how basic shapes and drawings influence the character design and story of favorite films such as Up, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles.
- Unpacked: Inner Drive – Director: Erica Milsom
Beyond the world of Cars, vehicles of all kinds have made their mark throughout Pixar’s films. Jump in and go for a ride with narrator W. Kamau Bell as he cruises through some of his favorite Pixar planes, trains, and Incredibiles.
- Unpacked: No Small Roles – Director: Tony Kaplan
Take a deep dive into the art of crowds animation. Each of your favorite Pixar characters live in worlds populated by fellow fish, cars, toys, and humans, but creating thousands of these fully animated background characters is no easy feat. Join narrator W. Kamau Bell in understanding how Pixar adds thousands of background characters into every film.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – Episode 202 “Typecasting”
Big Shot – Episode 106 “Carlsbad Crazies”
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Episode 109 “Head Games”
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Episode 104
Available May 28
Bluey Shorts (S2)
Disney Sydney to the Max (S3 – Episodes 1-8)
Kingdom of the Polar Bears (S1)
Wicked Tuna (S10 – Episode 1-7)
Cruella – Premiere (with Premier Access)
Launchpad – Premiere (Collection of Six Short Live-Action Films)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – Episode 203 “Valentine’s Day”
Big Shot – Episode 107 “Kalm Korn”
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Episode 110 “State of Play” – Season Finale
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Episode 105

domain: entertainment


text:
Big born both sex caucasian ready for pickup, the mother is pure caucasian she liter 11 puppies and the father is from pedigree line Sir, with these both combination you should know the quality and quantity of what your future dog will give you.
Male And Female Caucasian
* Puppies are very fluffy and hairy
* Puppies have been dewormed and vaccinated
* Puppies are flea and tick free
* Each pup comes with a vet card showing health records and vaccination history
Our free after sales service ensures that your have a healthy pup always

domain: pet


text:
Vic Mensa shares the visuals for "Down On My Luck".
Vic Mensa surprised everyone with his latest single, "Down On My Luck", a very uncompromising take on UK dance music. Vic keeps his swift delivery, but applies it to an entirely sung verse and chorus, complete with instrumental breaks and beat drops.
Despite the european feel of the track, the beat comes courtesy of Stefan Ponce, who hails from Chicago (another notable hub of electronic music), and also contributed to Chance The Rapper's Juke-influenced "Good Ass Intro".
The frantic visuals find Mensa on a night out at the club, as he interacts with people, and gets his drink spiked, Rick Ross-style (but he knows it).

domain: artistic


text:
Best Selling Digital Door Lock | Samsung SHP-DR708 Review
Are you willing to purchase this digital door lock? Are you aware of its amazing features and advantages? Well, this article will provide you a glimpse of various awesome features offered by Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock. Also, do not miss to check out this product from our HD door showroom and avail of its extraordinary benefits. Due to rapid advancements in technology digital door locks have come up with many more outstanding features that grants you incredible safety, security and convenience. Consider fixing Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock at your entrance to enjoy great comfort delivered by it.
Design features of Samsung SHP-DR708 Digital door lock:
● Design and appearance – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock is push-pull lock with a modern and sleek luxurious design aesthetically pleasing to your eye. Its most advanced door opening technology with premium features allowing you a user-friendly experience. Fixing this lock to your door offers a royal and classic look at your entrance.
● Delivers you with an amazing user-friendly experience – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock is quite user-friendly offering you with a great experience of security, comfort, and convenience. By one swift and easy action, you can easily open and close the lock.
● Push/pull action to open or close the door – You can quickly and easily push or pull the door with low noise using push-pull handles of this lock.
● LED screen display – The lock displays the LED screen to highlight all the essential elements like authentication details, the situation of the lock, warning for a low battery, etc.
● Smart sensors are here to welcome you – Once you arrive near the door the smart sensors present in the lock will be activated automatically and trigger an alarm.
● Voice guide – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock enables the voice guide to give you the best guidance and instructions in the form of spoken feedback for the setup and ongoing use.
● Smartphone is your doorbell – The Smart Bell feature of this lock works similar to the doorbell, like if someone is touching the doorbell icon on the touchpad of the lock you will get an alert. It then sends you an alert on your phone of someone arriving at your home, regardless of where you are.
What are the access options of the Samsung SHP-DR708 Digital door lock?
● PIN access – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock allows you to enter the PIN from4-12 digits. You can easily access your door by entering the PIN without any stress of finding your key.
● Your finger is your key – With a feature of fingerprint recognition, you can easily open the door with a fast and accurate fingerprint sensor. Accurate and quick access is experienced with the optical fingerprint authentication. You don’t have to memorize a password and the fingerprint scanner is not affected by temperature or humidity.
● Access via Bluetooth – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door locks are enabled with a Bluetooth feature wherein you can unlock the door via Bluetooth. Once you send a signal or code from your iPhone or smartphone, the lock receives the signal and unlocks your door. You can share this code with your near and dear friends and family. This feature ensures great security, reliability, and comfort.
● Unlock your door with an RFID card / RFID tag – RFID card / RFID tag allows you to access the door by holding it near the lock. They function by transmitting the signal to the card reader present inside the lock. Once the signal is recognized the door is unlocked.
● Unlock your door via a smartphone app – Using this feature you can just unlock your door by shaking your smartphone near to it in a specified way or using the key on the smartphone. This feature is quite convenient as you can easily unlock your door without any stress.
● Remote access via Wi-Fi – The lock here is also enabled with Wi-Fi wherein you can unlock your door from any place using an active Wi-Fi connection on your phone. With this Wi-Fi (Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri) feature it allows you to send digital keys to people so that you can set exact parameters for time-based access. This makes it convenient for family, friends, workers, guests, or housekeepers only at a particular time.
● NFC Unlock with Android – Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door locks are also enabled with the NFC feature wherein your phone acts as an NFC reader and a card. With an android device, you can use an app to emulate an NFC card and place your phone’s NFC reader near to the lock and your door is opened.
Other amazing features of Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door locks:
● Safeguard your PIN with the random security code – Enter the randomly chosen digits and protect your security code instead of revealing it to anyone. This feature enables you to choose randomly chosen digits before entering a passcode so that it becomes impossible to guess the numbers you have entered by looking for smudges.
● Smartphone app checks the status of your door – With the smartphone app, you can avail of its incredible services anytime and anywhere to know the status of the door. Whether it is about issuing one-time keys for the visitors door lock condition, or opening doors with the door lock.
● Suspicious movement alert – The door lock creates a warning siren to ward off any unwanted guests or strangers arriving at your door. The equipped IR sensor detects any suspicious movements for a long time.
● Real-time checking the status of the lock – You can view the status of the door opening, notifying overheating detection, notifying forced door opening, checking battery condition, etc.
● You can view the access history of the lock – The app notifies you who accesses your home, and you can view the access history of who entered inside and who locked the door from outside.
● Allows enhanced user data security – With the help of enhanced user data security of three different advanced user data protection technologies like White-Box Cryptography, Secure Encapsulation for Application Layer, and App Hardening, important information such as access codes and app data is protected by state-of-the-art security technology. All of a sudden, if you lose your smartphone, you can delete your access codes easily.
● Intrusion alarm system – If the location is more prone to robbery and crime, the thief will recognize the lock immediately and escape from your place. This lock will make thieves move away from that place. Even if they are not aware of this lock, the alarm sound will scare them off.
● One-touch anti-theft set-up – When you are on a ride or vacation, the user can set up the anti-theft function, which creates a warning sound when the door lock operates, preventing any tampering.
● Emergency power supply – If you don’t remember to replace batteries then you can unlock the door by connecting a Micro USB 5-Pin cable from a smartphone portable charger to the Micro USB power input at the bottom of the outer body, and then authenticate the fingerprint or enter the password.
● Silence mode gives you the utmost peace – If you want to stay free of disturbance then you can adjust the volume or mute the key tone or the door opening melody to create silence and enjoy peace.
● Low battery alarm – The Samsung SHP-DR708 digital door lock reminds you if the batteries are running low through a specific melody or keypad LED. This allows you to replace the batteries.
Conclusion: Apart from these, there are many more awesome features available for SamsungSHP-DR708 digital door lock. Our customers are highly satisfied purchasing this lock. Do make a point to visit our showroom to check out this product and avail of the outstanding benefits.
Visit HDDoor – The Family Friendly Showroom!
Store Address: 11 Woodlands Close #06-06 / 05 S(737853)
Store Opening hours: 10 AM – 8 PM (Monday to Thursday)
Store Opening hours: 10 AM – 9 PM (Friday To Sunday & PH)
Store Contact Number: 6589 8484


text:
Police are still searching for the men behind a violent home invasion in Melbourne's south-east in February which left a heroic father with stab wounds and a cracked skull.
Three men, armed with a gun, a machete and an axe, allegedly stormed a Cranbourne North house on Lindenow Court about 7.15pm on February 1 and ransacked it while a man and woman were home.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kay Morgan said the men had obviously entered the home with the intention of causing harm and had made demands for money.
The woman's screams led to her neighbour, 41-year-old Russell Irwin, jumping the back fence to help her.
Senior Sergeant Morgan said two of the men then turned on Mr Irwin, a father-of-three, and attacked him with the machete and the axe.
"Russell's intervention allowed both the male and female to escape the attack without injury," she said.
Mr Iwin's skull was crushed with the axe, while he was also stabbed in his body multiple times.
The attackers then ran from the scene.
Mr Irwin, who suffered a broken skull, was taken to hospital while no one else was injured.
Senior Sergeant Morgan said police believed the offenders got to and from the scene in silver Toyota Hilux.
Police have today released CCTV footage of the car, as well as footage of an alleged offender running from the scene and images of two people they want to speak to.
Senior Sergeant Morgan said police were very close to solving the "extremely concerning" crime.
"We are desperate and committed to solving this crime," she said.
She has urged anyone who knows about it to come forward.
"There is no doubt that these offenders would have told someone close to them about what they did."
Senior Sergeant Morgan said the attack was thought to have been targeted because the men had demanded money, but a connection between them and the victims had not been confirmed.
Anyone who can identify the car or identify the images is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

domain: law


Indian navigational system will see new heights as ISRO has successfully launched the seventh and the last in the series of the consellation of Regional Navigation Satellite System. ISRO sent IRNSS-1F- Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System 1G into space on board a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The rocket took off to orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This system aims at developing an independent regional navigation satellite system for India.
The satellite can provide service for a period of 12 years.
The PSLV rocket is a four engine rocket powered by solid and liquid fuel alternatively.
ISRO had launched the seventh navigation satellite, other six being IRNSS-1F, IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1D and IRNSS-1E.
The 44.4 metre tall IRNSS-1G has a lift-off mass of 1,.425 kg.
According to ISRO officials, the total cost of all the seven satellites was Rs 1,420 crore.


text:
It's great to see a really old photo with a smile, let alone one showing teeth! She never judged or punished me for being sexual.
I hope that'll teach him not to cheat on me anymore.
She created an environment where talking about sex was natural.
Sometimes the best way to heal from a legacy of abuse is to break the cycle and create a new, healthy life.
Both at the urinals, and so their backs were toward me when I entered.
Down that hallway, I thought, which one? You and your brother violated an ancient taboo without realizing it — because you were children.

domain: sociology


text:
Finally got to Legin for dim sum yesterday. I was completely underwhelmed.
We went at around 11am, prime time for dim sum on a Sunday. Yet, the first two items we received were cold - spring rolls and fried wontons stuffed with seafood. They both at least tasted OK, even if they weren't warm.
The sticky rice was chock full of bits of meat and mushroom and other things...and yet it was tasteless. The shumai, though hot, were rubbery and bland.
Shrimp dumplings, however, were the standout and were great - crunchy and filled to bursting, the rice covering delicate and not at all rubbery.
Sesame balls were pathetic. Bite into one and there is mostly air, only a stingy drop of bean paste inside. Coconut custard squares had an off taste and a weird, almost whipped testure. Yellow bean cakes were sweet and colorful but gummy and flavorless.
So that was what we ordered and had only tea and water, no drinks on the tab - $30. Way too much for what we had, I think, in quantity alone, regardless of how it tasted. But it wasn't that tasty at all and I won't be back.
So, is Fong Chong any better?? I don't really have the time to go to Vancouver right now!

domain: food


This simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms affixed atop a single oxygen atom forms the very basis of life as we know it. In fact, all known life forms depend on it. Astronomers get breathlessly excited at the mere hint of water on any extraterrestrial body precisely because where there is water, there can be life. Unfortunately, that is also precisely why homeowners get breathlessly nervous when water turns up in unexpected places in their homes. Where there is water, there is life. When it comes to homes, that means termites, mold, mildew, and other nasties, not to mention the ill effects water can have on the building materials themselves, such as unexpected warping, discoloration, or even structural failure.
When it comes to homes the enemy is, without a doubt, water. Not termites. Not mold. Not even raging hurricanes. It is H2O – the giver of life, and the bane of homeowners everywhere.
The Problem With Water
Water damage accounts for a quarter of all US homeowners insurance claims. The average cost of water damage claims nearly top seven thousand dollars per case. However, much of that damage isn’t caused by dramatic floods or rampaging superstorms. Rather, most damage to homes is simply the result of a slow accumulation of water vapor and moisture that slowly but surely degrades a home from the inside out. The slow, sometimes invisible nature of moisture buildup could explain why it is so expensive a problem to tackle – it is often discovered way too late, usually after being overlooked for far too long. According to an articlereleased by Clemson University, spending an extra $500 on moisture management at the time of construction will save nearly $5000 dollars over the life of a building. Yet for all intents and purposes, most turnkey home builders continue to rely on outdated building construction techniques and technologies that do not acknowledge one very critical reality: water is everywhere, all the time.
Therefore managing where it goes (and where it doesn’t) is a critical concern of any good home builder. Green eco-builders, particularly noted for their attention to these types of things, are well known for employing the best moisture management techniques and technologies on the market. This is partly because managing water appropriately, such as with rainwater collection systems, is a great way to conserve, but mostly because reducing moisture damage prolongs the longevity of the home itself – massively reducing waste. From an ecological perspective, it is far better, as well as economically sensible in the long term, to build a home that will last for generations as opposed to having to demolish and build a new one every couple of decades.
Remember, spending $500 dollars more on water protection could very well save you ten-fold that amount or more over the life of a home.
Mold, Mildew, and Termites Oh My!
Perhaps even more critically, managing moisture is a key aspect of maintaining good indoor air quality – a missional mandate for most green builders in the industry. While the walls, roof, floor, doors, and other components of a house may not seem very edible to homeowners, they are highly nutritious foodstuffs for all manner of insects, fungi, and other microbes. Throw in a little extra moisture and conditions become perfect for the likes of Stachybotrys, a pernicious black mold well known for effectively, and forcibly, evicting unsuspecting homeowners with spores so toxic it can cause bleeding in the lungs. Termites, another perennial problem that plagues homeowners across the nation, also happen to be highly attracted to moist conditions and, unfortunately, the cellulose-rich building materials most homes are made of these days. Of course, treating either of these destructive infestations directly does little to actually address the root of both problems: excessive water infiltration. A report released by the Home Ventilating Institute, points out that, like it or not, mold spores are already everywhere. They are just waiting for the right conditions to trigger growth and infestation. However, if moisture is controlled, mold is controlled. The same goes for termites – which makes waterproofing a key concern for any building.
Remember the Membrane
95 percent of the moisture entering homes comes through infiltration. That means that it was outside at one point, but whether thanks to ambient air pressure, capillary action, or just a simple leakage, it is now inside the home. In other words, it has infiltrated through the building envelope. The solution, then, seems obvious – plug up all the gaps. While this is indeed a viable solution, in practice, no building is perfectly airtight, and no building membrane will completely block air and moisture infiltration – nor should it. In fact, many building experts recommend that membranes not be completely waterproof and airtight lest they trap moisture inside. Buildings, it seems, need to able to breath too. This delicate balance between blocking exterior infiltration while removing interior moisture build-up, from dishwashers and steamy showers in particular, is typically achieved through mechanical ventilation, such as air conditioning and ventilation fans, and vapor barriers. The vapor barriers reduce moisture infiltration to manageable levels, and the mechanical systems ensure that the building can literally exhale any excess.
Practical Design Remedies
If water is the enemy, the practical solution it seems would be to both block it’s entrance and expedite it’s removal. To that effect, there are several proactive and smart design choices affecting every aspect of the building enclosure that can be pursued before a home is even constructed.
Reduce Thermal Bridging, Reduce Infiltration, Reduce Condensation, Reduce Mold
Many ecobuilders maximize spacing between wall studs in order to minimize thermal bridging, and potentially, mold-inspiring condensation within the wall itself. To that effect, spray foam insulation can be an effective way to both reduce infiltration while denying mold a foothold.
Keep Water at Arms Length From the Building
Sometimes the best way to deal with water, is to simply keep it physically away from the building. Sloping metal roofs with long, overhanging eaves are often a simple, cost effective way to do just that. Metal roofs tend to be impermeable to water seepage and long overhanging eaves keep rainwater runoff away from the building foundation. This reduces water infiltration at the slab and denies termites the conditions they need to thrive.
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Moisture accumulation, typically through water vapor and condensation, is the primary problem. Ventilation is the key to excising that problem. With proper HVAC sizing, combined with well-designed passive and active ventilation systems, the healthy home can regulate interior air quality conditions that inhibit infestation.
Many of these moisture basics can be dealt with in the design and construction phases. Remember, by nipping the issue of water damage in the bud through preemptive measures, homeowners can avoid a massive, possibly mold-induced, headache down the road. In the end however, a home, like a person, is very much a product of it’s environment. It must respond to it. Proper design for moisture mitigation and the reduction of water incursion will depend on a variety of factors highly specific to local climates and conditions. That means that your best friend for combating your home’s worst enemy is quite simply: knowhow.
Also get a free native site assessment, just complete the form below and we will evaluate how renewable systems can help you.


text:
Release Year: 2017
Cast: Kyle Dean, Stephanie Amato
Genres: fucking,legal age teenager,sex,chap,golden-haired,fit,barbie,ken
Video language: English
This may be the final movie to ever hit the internet of Kyle Dean getting his fuck on. Unfortunately, he's ran into some trouble and may not be in front of a produced camera, for quite sometime. Kyle on the other hand still looks fucking hot in this episode coupled up with Stephanie Amato. What actually makes this scene is one as well as the other of those sexy nubiles truly know how to fuck.
Video: 1920x1080, AVC (H.264), 7842kbps
File size: 1.9 GB


updated 12:35 am EST, Tue March 6, 2012
HP Z420, Z620, Z820 hint plans for others
HP confirmed that Intel was launching its long-in-the-making Xeon E5 workstation processors after it introduced a trio of new Z workstations. The regular Z420, mid-tier Z620, and flagship Z820 can all use the new E5-2600 chip line, which scales up to eight cores in one chip and has new ceilings for memory. At its extreme, the Z820 can have 16 cores across two processors, 14TB of storage, and a very large 512GB of error-correcting memory.
Based on the more recent Sandy Bridge-E architecture from gaming-friendly Core i7 processors, the E5 has an "optimized I/O infrastructure." Most if not all have Hyperthreading to double up on tasks per core, leading to as many as 32 simultaneous program threads.
The Z620 can have the 16 cores, but a more modest 11TB of disk space and 96GB of memory. Z420 buyers don't get the dual-core choice, but they can dip to more frugal E5-1600 chips and still have the 11TB disk choice.
All of them use NVIDIA's Quadro graphics for pro 3D, scaling from Quadro 2000 boards in the Z420 and moving up to the Quadro 5000 and 6000 in the Z620 and Z820 respectively. Dual Quadro 5000s are options in the Z620, and the 6000 can get the same treatment in the Z820.
HP isn't specific about configurations, although the E5 is relatively affordable. A Z420 starts off at $1,169, while moving to the Z620 costs a minimum $1,649 and the Z820 costs at least $2,299.
With Intel having yet to make a full production version of the E5 public, HP is effectively announcing the processors and giving a clue as to where others will go. Apple is expected to launch a Mac Pro update based on the E5, along with more modern graphics and pricing.


text:
Friendship is the true magic!
Aisha and Stella work together as the Winx defeat the Treants, and earn their new Bloomix Powers. Later, the Winx and Daphne tour the Golden Auditorium where they come face to face with a group of not-so-melodic sprites.
While Daphne brings her class to visit the Golden Auditorium, Selina unleashes the screaming Pandemonium Sprites upon the prestigious music college.
Stella drags Aisha away from one of the Flying Basilisk's petrifying rays. Looking back at the petrified Roy and Nex, Aisha promises that she will return and save them. Aisha and Stella continue their escape, although the Basilisk is not far behind. The battle rages on as the Paladins and the Specialists fight the beasts. The Winx try to run to safety, while the witches attack the fairies. Musa and Tecna flee together, and to distract the monster, Musa blasts a magic spell on the beast’s head, which creates headphones with disturbing music.
Stella and Aisha stop for a while to see what’s going on. After seeing the horrible status, Aisha suggests that they do a triple back flip to set a trap on the Basilisks. The trick causes two of the beasts to petrify in the air after accidentally staring at each other. Aisha and Stella safely land, while the statues of the beasts break apart.
After saving lives by reducing the amount of Basilisks, Stella and Aisha gain their Bloomix. Stella uses a special Bloomix spell, which returns the allies to normal and destroys the beasts. Meanwhile, a group of witches surround Flora, but she defeats them for the moment. Meanwhile outside Cloud Tower, Bloom and the Trix fought fiercely. However, Bloom tells them that Cloud Tower is moving away. Aisha, Stella, and Flora meet up with Bloom and team up. The Trix leave, but they send lightning bolts to attack the Winx. Aisha forms a shield to protect the Winx.
The students of Linphea College celebrate and thank the Winx, Specialists and Paladins. Flora and Miele rejoin and hug, with Flora congratulating and encouraging her little sister. At the end, Miele wipes a way a tear of joy.
The Winx and the students are back at Alfea, waiting for Daphne to arrive. Stella gives the Winx new hats which are inspired by the battle.
Daphne comes in late, but excitedly tells everyone that she and her whole class have been invited to the Golden Auditorium. Musa reads the invitation excitedly, stating that the Golden Auditorium is the most exclusive music college in the whole Magic Dimension, so Daphne explains everything about the trip.
In her room, Musa calls Riven, who is practicing by himself. He, however, does not sound as excited as Musa, so she reminds him that she had always talked about it with him. Riven still does not care and continues his training, not even looking back once. Musa wipes her tears and says goodbye to him. Depressed and sad, Musa asks Tecna what she thinks. Ignored, Musa just talks to herself sadly. To cheer herself up, she plays her guitar, in which Tecna says to play it later. They begin to fight, and Bloom walks in to their room asking what is going on and that she has never seen them this way. Musa and Tecna complain to Bloom, who indirectly advises them to stop. Musa says that at least going to the Golden Auditorium will cheer her up.
The next morning, the class are on a trip to the Golden Auditorium. Musa explains what the statues are, so Daphne compliments her. A few moments later, Daphne greets an old friend of hers, Diletta, who is the headmistress of the school. The Winx and Diletta introduce themselves. Diletta asks Daphne if they may speak privately. Daphne allows the Winx to explore, then she walks with Diletta to discuss the attack of the Trix on Linphea College.
At Cloud tower, the Trix complain about the Winx, then went to their next destination, leaving Selina with her Legendarium. A mysterious man named Acheron, who seems to be Selina's boss, warns her.
Back in the Golden Auditorium’s hall, the Winx observe a girl playing violin. The pixies invite Stella to see a piano. Musa explains that the piano is the Golden Grand Piano of the Meller Explories. Stella plays it, and Musa added that every note produces a spring color. Aisha plays a magical violin, and the others looks at the rest of the instruments.
Musa begins to explain about the legend that states that deep underground there is a cave system, where mischievous, magical creatures whose loud shrieks can break hundreds of glasses called the Pandemonium Sprites lived, which Tecna says that it is an alleged legend. Meanwhile, Selina summons the Sprites using her Legendarium.
Musa and Tecna start to argue while Caramel plays the piano and accidentally jumps into a tube. The Pixies get in too to help her, and they blast out of it. The Winx and pixies laugh, but suddenly the Pandemonium Sprites begin to attack. Upon hearing the dangerous sounds, the Winx, except for Musa and Tecna, transform.
The Sprites and the Winx fight, but their screeches are stronger than them. Musa and Tecna try to get away from the attacks. To lead the beasts away, Musa plays music from her flute. In a long path, Musa, Tecna and the pixies still escape from them, but Tecna detects a location underground - the Pandemonium Cave and said that they need to lead the Sprites to the nearby cave. The two friends and the pixies arrive, and the beasts finally enter and corner them. Musa suggests using her own voice to overpower the Sprites’ sound. Musa sings beautifully, and the creatures admire her voice. Musa manages to form a shield around her friends. After that, Tecna and Musa hug, and congratulate each other, earning them their Bloomix powers.
By combining their powers, Tecna and Musa manage to eliminate the Sprites. At the end, Diletta congratulates and thanks the Winx and says that their composition will forever echo in their hall. Daphne is amazed and compliments them. Musa and Tecna argue softly with happiness, so the Winx and the Golden Auditorium students laugh and cheer.
At Alfea, Bloom sees that Tecna and Musa are getting along again. Bloom giggles and closes the door.
The Trix attack Eraklyon Institute, however, Diaspro approaches the Trix, thinking that she wants to fight them and challenge their power. Diaspro decides to help them, which marks the alliance of the four of them.
- Stella and Aisha defeat the Flying Basilisk.
- Stella and Aisha earn the Bloomix power.
- Linphea College is liberated from the Trix's hold.
- Selina is revealed to be serving under a darker being within the Legendarium, Acheron.
- The Winx are invited to the Golden Auditorium.
- Selina summons the Pandemonium Sprites to attack the Winx.
- Musa and Tecna defeat the Pandemonium Sprites.
- Musa and Tecna compose a melody that echoes in the halls of the Golden Auditorium.
- The Trix conquer Eraklyon Institute without letting the Winx knowing it, and Diaspro makes an alliance with them.
- Acheron (voice only)
- Stella's, Aisha's, Musa's and Tecna's Bloomix
- Golden Auditorium
- Pandemonium Sprites
- Pandemonium Cave
- Winx Club
- Alfea Staff
- Golden Auditorium Staff
- Linphea College Students
- Eraklyon Institute Students
- Legendarium Creatures
- Lilac Vortex - Used by Flora against the Witches.
- Ray of Pure Light - Used by Stella against the Flying Basilisk, restoring the petrified victims.
- Morphix Cloud - Used by Aisha to defend herself, Bloom, Stella and Flora.
- Water Bolt - Used by Aisha against the Pandemonium Sprites.
- Crystal Voice - Used by Musa against the Pandemonium Sprites.
- Harmony Blast - Used by Tecna to create speakers.
- Winx Rising Up Together
- Bloomix the Power of the Dragon
- The Magic of Sirenix
- We Are a Symphony
- Living the Magic
- With Musa without her powers, it is noticed that she can still create magic. This may mean that with a drop of the Dragon's Flame power, the Winx can still create simple magic regarding their main magic abilities. For example, Musa can use simple magic based on music (headphones, flutes, etc). However, for Stella, she is not able to make clothes appear even with the Dragon's Flame, due to the reason that she is the fairy of the Shining Sun (and the moon), and not a fairy of Fashion.
- It may also be that Musa's flute is magic and Musa was using the magic of the flute.
- Musa plays the flute and uses its music to lead the Pandemonium Sprites to the Pandemonium Cave. This is a reference to the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who used his magic pipe to lure rats and later children from the town of Hamelin in Germany during the Middle Ages.
- A similar scene was used in "Huntik", another series created by Iginio Straffi.
- Cassandra Morris, who replaces Ariana Grande as Diaspro's voice actress in Nickelodeon dub, is the one voicing Chimera in 4Kids dub.
- This episode aired along with Bloomix Power in the US.
- This episode marks the last appearance of Bloom's Sirenix transformation.
- This is the last hearing of the Sirenix song, not counting small portions during Daphne's transformations.
- This is the only episode where the Winx transformed with two different powers (Bloom's Sirenix and the other's Bloomix), it has not happened since Season 3 (when some of the Winx earned the Enchantix).
- This is the first and only episode in the series in which four of the Winx separately (two at a time) gain their new transformation, Bloomix.
- In one scene, Miele's wings disappear for a second.
- When Aisha and Stella were doing their trick on the Basilisks, Aisha was in her gym outfit.
- The fairies at the Golden Auditorium are playing the violins backwards (holding them on their right shoulders, instead of their left).
- Flora tells Helia and Riven to watch out to the Flying Basilisk's petrifying rays, but when she says that, Helia and Sky appeared.
- When the Trix are retreating after Aisha is ready to confront them, Darcy's right arm is missing.
- In one scene, Flora's bracelet is missing.
- In one scene, Roy's gem is blue instead of lime green.
- In one scene, Brandon's gem is blue instead of green.
- In one scene, Miele's headband is black instead of pink.
- In one scene, Aisha’s hand is incorrectly colored.
“I have the coolest sister.”
“We use music as a bait.”
“Don't forget me, Winx. Together with my Bloomix, we can face off those witches and there little flying monsters.”
“Maybe he should appreciate some classic rock. Now, how do you like this?”
“Get away from my friends!”
“What is that sound? More rare instruments?”


text:
Part of the Ruby Oliver Film Festival.
This is another one of those classics that’s actually fun, not a grind to sit through. I loved Hepburn’s embrace of the crazy that her life had become and the freedom it brought her. It was also both amusing and gripping in places and packed much more of a punch than I expected.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1951/african_queen.html
The tag on that poster (Actually filmed in the splendor and dangers of the Belgian Congo!) reminded me of my favorite part of the credits. At the very end it said, “Filmed on location in Africa and Sussix England” You know, because “Africa” is a small place, so we know exactly where you are talking about.
I also this poster for being so bodice-ripper.

domain: library


In Part 1 of our Adventures by Disney Costa Rica recap, I described my dismay when my teen and tween daughters asked to skip a Disney vacation. After the initial shock, I turned to Adventures by Disney and found a “teen centric” excursion to Costa Rica. After spending our first day in San Jose, Costa Rica, it was time for the official itinerary to begin. Our first adventure was to board two small planes, each of which carried about 20 passengers. We all had to be weighed before boarding – yeah, that kind of plane! It’s a pretty one, don’t you think?
Plus, the scenery during the 30 minute flight was amazing.
We were headed to Tortuguero, which can only be reached by plane or by boat. Even a bus ride to get us to a boat would have been 4-5 hours, we were told, so we were happy to take the flight!
When we first booked this trip my travel agent called me back to tell me that our hotel for the second night of the trip would be “rustic”, with no air conditioning, no TV, but a private bathroom. It sounded a bit, well, sketchy, but I figured, we can handle anything for one night, right? Well, I needn’t have worried – the Laguna Lodge was rustic, but in a gorgeous sort of way. The rooms were all wood paneling (walls, floor, ceiling) and the 3 low beds filled the room. No air conditioning, but a ceiling fan and another portable fan were plenty to keep us cool, and the bathroom was modern, and yes, private! We had a beautiful front porch with rockers that we never had time to really use!
We toured the canals of the Tortuguero National Park where local guides helped point our wildlife, and the teens with cameras tried out their new equipment and skills.
We learned about the massive sea turtle conservation efforts going on there, and how it has totally transformed the area. And we visited the village of Tortuguero, where about 1200 people live.
It was our official Welcome Dinner that night! We’d had a full day of interacting with one another and some really cool sights and experiences, but no chance to actually celebrate! We played games, ate food, and generally had a fantastic time.
After dinner we had the opportunity to do a sea turtle walk to see the turtles coming in from the ocean to lay their eggs. It gets dark early in Costa Rica – pitch dark by 6:30 pm!
We started out about 8 pm from the restaurant and no sooner had we headed into the woods towards the beach than the skies opened up and dumped on us. Most of us were not prepared with rain gear – the night had seemed to be clearing. They had us waiting in a holding area while their spotters roamed the beach for a turtle coming in. Then it started to thunder and lightning. And the already heavy rain got even heavier. To say we were drenched is the understatement of the trip. After about 45 minutes of waiting, my youngest had had enough. She was shivering and had lost all desire to see a turtle, and begged to go back. I was incredibly disappointed, since seeing the sea turtles was something I had really been looking forward to, but sometimes the kids’ needs have to come first. Our guide led us back to the hotel grounds before dashing back to be with the group. My oldest stayed and she said they eventually got a quick glimpse of a turtle heading back into the ocean after abandoning her effort to dig and lay, something they call a “half moon.” Unfortunately we were not permitted to take photos during this experience since any flash or light from a phone screen would have been distracting to the turtles.
The next day was a long travel day for us – a short boat ride from the hotel to a waiting area where our bus was, and then a few hours on the bus to a restaurant for lunch. During the ride we passed lots and lots of private homes on rural roads, some quite upscale, and others quite not. Several of our kids on the bus started playing some games that would become a theme throughout.
Based on the towns we were driving through towards lunch time I started to have some doubts about what kind of restaurant we were in for. Frankie and Ronald both commented how fantastic it was and while I trusted them, I just was not sure. About an hour out, they came around asking us for a choice of appetizer (ceviche or salad) and entrée (fish, chicken or beef). I think 90% of us chose the ceviche, which is supposed to be a specialty of the restaurant.
When we finally pulled up to the restaurant my doubts fell away. The restaurant was actually one that could have fit into my own city. The ceviche was in fact superb, and was a large portion. I could have walked away full after that.
But we still had our entrees (beef for me) and then dessert – probably the most delicious cake I have ever had! Strangely enough most of the kids thought it was “soggy,” but most of the adults could not get enough. As full as I was, I had to tear myself away. There’s always next time!
From the restaurant we drove to a pineapple plantation. Do you know how pineapples grow? I thought I did, but I was wrong! We hopped on the back of a tractor and got a tour through the fields. Our plantation guide, Michael “Dole Rockefeller” quizzed us and regaled us with pineapple facts. He was in fact, hilarious (some of the adults were in tears from laughing so hard), and this is made even more amazing when I think how hard it must be to be funny in a language not your native.
We also toured the packing plant – those pineapples come down the belt pretty fast! Afterwards we got to drink and eat some pineapple snacks!
Late afternoon we arrived at our next hotel in the Arenal area. It was dark by the time we got there, so we couldn’t get a feel for the layout of the place that night – it was a sprawling resort with separate buildings and roads. We had the evening to ourselves, and the next morning it was time to go – ziplining!!!
Part 3 of our series concludes our Adventures by Disney Costa Rica trip with ziplining, white water rafting, and a Disney moment. For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.


text:
This past summer I came to a startling realization. 12+ years of self-forgiveness brought me to the realization that I was born innocent and pure and I actually didn't require forgiveness.
I have realized who I am as Life which is who we all are born as... that pure, innocent, beautiful, majestic, precious, and most amazing creature of life that is a newborn baby. And as we grow and develop, the curiosity and want to explore, get to know, understand and experience compounds that reality of our true nature.
The reason this realization was so startling to me was because I had come to believe that at my core, the core of who I am, was evil, deceitful, something I couldn't trust and that was rotten. This is actually who I believed myself to be so much so that I decided I needed a process of forgiveness to purify me. From one perspective, I did because I had come to believe that I was rotten at my core and so it was. What we believe is what is real and true for ourselves - whether that is the actual truth at its truest essence or core - what is real for us is what we believe. So I walked a process of self-purification... believing that who I had accepted and allowed myself to be and become was something that was evil and that I created the evil in this world and that I must be held accountable for the evil of this world. Until I realized I'm actually not that. I am not evil, I do not need to be redeemed from evil and I do not have to suffer for the evil that has been done.
At my core I am pure. I am, as we all are, children of life and as we see in our own children, who we are are simply explorers, here to learn and get to know ourselves in this space/time reality. We get to explore ourselves in form, we get to create and experience ourselves as whatever we want to be. For me, that is to experience my utmost potential as Life but ultimately each is free to choose who they want to be.
With this realization also came the understanding that there is no right or wrong. We will not be punished, condemned, or forced to suffer or lose anything in our exploration. We are children of life, Life loves us as a mother would love her child, wanting only the best for the child and to give the child space and time to learn and grow and decide who the child wants to be and what they want to experience, with the constant desire for that child always to be happy.
This was the most freeing realization for me. With my understanding of who I am at my core being innocent, I am free to explore myself without fear of being punished or doing something wrong. That I may create an outcome I didn't intend but that does not make me a bad person that deserves to suffer. It makes me a being that has learned a lesson about being the creator of my life experience. The idea of morality, or there being right and wrongs, is a construct of restraint and enslavement that I actually had the keys to releasing myself from. I finally took my keys and let myself out of my own imprisonment and from out here, the world opened up for me. All of a sudden the world was here for me to explore and I felt encouraged to follow my passions and interests and curiosities and that I could trust that I can't get it wrong.
So I have been thoroughly enjoying myself the last few months exploring myself unconditionally and with full acceptance and love for myself. I don't judge myself and I don't tell myself there's something I can't do if I have a genuine interest in it. I no longer take account of my actions and judge if what I am doing is right or wrong as a point of comparing one action to be better than another. All actions, all moments, all decisions are valuable and in honor of me and gift me with the experience of Life. So, I cherish it all because, like Life, it is to be cherished - not judged or defined as a category of this or that but for it to be FREE to be whatever it wants to be.
Returning to my innocence allowed me to remember again what I already and have always known... we are free, we are eternal and literally
everything and anything is possible. And furthermore, this physical reality is designed to create and manifest everything and anything we BELIEVE is possible.
This story is really only just beginning as I found my way back to my beginning and my innocence.

domain: psychology


This week, the Zoo is buzzing with excitement! We are celebrating both Pollinator Week and Insect Week. These are the top 10 pollinator plants according to our Horticulture team. Plant these beauties and your pollinator friends will thank you!
Join Plant for Pollinators Challenge
The Plant for Pollinators Challenge is a public engagement campaign to increase pollinator habitat in the Greater Cincinnati region and beyond. From butterflies and bees to hummingbirds and moths, pollinators are critical to the health of our environment. They’re also important in our food production systems, as they pollinate one-third of the world’s crops. However, their populations are declining.
People can provide beautiful, vital habitat for pollinators by adding pollinator-friendly plants to their yards and landscapes while enjoying colorful blooms and butterflies all season long. Whether planting just a few pots or a larger garden, everyone can do real conservation at home to support our pollinator friends as they do their job to keep our environment healthy. Take our Plant for Pollinators Challenge here.
Special thanks to our Plant for Pollinators Sponsor Simple Truth


text:
7 Things You Need To Know About Spectre And Meltdown Security Exploits
So Far -- No "Observed Active Deployment" Of Spectre And Meltdown
Intel Vice President Stephen Smith says that so far the chip giant has observed "proof of concept" of the Spectre and Meltdown exploits but has not "observed any active deployment" of the exploits in PCs or servers.
Smith says Intel is moving forward with a "comprehensive" threat mitigation plan that includes operating system and firmware updates that will be made available in the next "few weeks." By the end of next week Intel says it expects to have issued updates for more than 90 percent of processor products introduced within the past five years.
"We have been working to put together a combination of operating system updates on the broadly used operating systems and some firmware updates that we developed that are specific to the configuration and operation of our processor," said Smith in a conference call with analysts on Wednesday night. "That has all been developed with industry partners, tested with industry partners, working with OS vendors and with OEMs. We have been working at this for some time such that we'll be ready beginning in the next few days to start the deployment of the mitigations. It will probably take a few weeks before the mitigations we have in mind will all be available to customers."
Intel Encourages Customers To Utilize Automatic Update
Intel is encouraging "computer users worldwide to utilize the automatic update functions of their operating systems and other computer software to ensure their systems are up-to-date."
The company said the system updates are being made available by system manufacturers, operating system providers and others.
"We have begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits," said Intel in a document on the security exploits. "End users and systems administrators should check with their operating system vendors and system manufacturers, and apply any updates as soon as they are available."
Intel said that for "malware to compromise security" using Spectre and Meltdow it must be running locally on a system. "Intel strongly recommends following good security practices that protect against malware in general, as that will also help protect against possible exploitation," Intel said.
Intel said that many operating system vendors, public cloud service providers, device manufacturers and others have indicated that they have already updated their products and services.
"Our approach to mitigation is that we look at this and we want to provide for Intel platforms the most comprehensive approach that we can such that we will offer the highest level of security for our users on Intel platforms," said Intel's Smith.
An Industry Wide Issue Not Specific To Intel
Intel has gone to great lengths to stress that Spectre and Meltdown are not "unique to any one architecture or processor implementation."
In fact, Intel says security researchers notified Intel, AMD and ARM of the exploits.
Intel says that Spectre and Meltdown – which allow attackers to see contents of "privileged memory" – exploits "speculative execution techniques common in modern processors."
Intel's Smith says the chip giant "brought the industry together" to come up with a "common approach" to mitigating the problem
"There was a security research team that notified Intel as well as other industry participants including AMD and ARM Holdings of the new side channel analysis exploit of the computing system," said Smith.
Solution providers, for their part, said the exploits affect most modern processors and can be executed against mobile devices, desktops, laptops and servers running in cloud environments. All told, the flaw affects nearly every device an end user has or operates, said Michael Knight, president and CTO of Encore Technology Group, Greenville, S.C.
"This is significantly different because it's a critical hardware flaw, not a software flaw," said Knight. "The scale is massive."
AMD Claims "Near Zero Risk" On AMD Processors
Chip manufacturer AMD claims there is a "near zero risk" to AMD processors in regards to Spectre and Meltdown.
In fact, AMD says it has no plans to issue operating system or firmware updates for its processors.
"The security research team identified three variants targeting speculative execution," AMD said in a prepared statement. "The threat and the response to the three variants differ by microprocessor company, and AMD is not susceptible to all three variants. Due to differences in AMD's architecture, we believe there is a near zero risk to AMD processors at this time."
AMD said the three variants are titled: "bounds check bypass, branch target injection and rogue data cache load." AMD said it resolved the bounds check bypass through software and OS updates with "negligible performance impact expected', while the other two variants did not impact the company.
When asked by an analyst about comments from AMD that the issue does not impact that company's processors, Smith responded that the researchers have demonstrated some of the exploits running across a variety of product implementations, both in hardware and software.
Intel, he said, has provided details on what that company is doing.
"It's an industry issue," he said. "And you'll have to ask each participant what their specific mitigation implementations are."
ARM – Majority Of Our Processors Are Not Impacted
ARM Holdings – which makes processors for smartphones- said the "majority of ARM processors" are not impacted by Spectre and Meltdown.
That said ARM cautioned users that it is important to note that the exploits are dependent on "malware running locally which means it's imperative for users to practice good security hygiene by keeping their software up-to-date and avoid suspicious links or downloads."
ARM said the "cache timing side-channels" involved in the exploits are a well-understood concept in the area of security research and is not a new finding. "However, this side-channel mechanism could enable someone to potentially extract some information that otherwise would not be accessible to software from processors that are performing as designed," the company said.
The Performance Impact On PCs And Servers
Intel says that using industry benchmark testing, the average impact of the mitigations on performance to be between zero and two percent, said Ronak Singhal, Intel Fellow and director of CPU compute architecture at Intel. "A workload that is largely in the user space will see little to no impact," he said.
However, for workloads that spend a lot of time going back and forth between the operating system and the application, some synthetic workloads have shown an impact of 30 percent or more, Singhal said.
Singhal said that Intel does not differentiate the performance impact on a PC vs. in a data center, but instead any impacts are really dependent on the attributes of the workload.
When asked by an analyst about how mitigations to the security issue might impact cloud and data center infrastructures vs. PCs, Intel's Smith replied, "It depends on the workload specifically in use, and a little bit less on where the workload is."
Three Attack Variants For Spectre And Meltdown
Security researchers have found three possible variants of side channel timing attacks that could let attackers gain access to data that they normally could not access and how they can be mitigated, said Intel's Singhal.
The first is the bounds check bypass, a fairly fundamental exploit that could let an attacker take advantage of existing code with access to privileged information and use it and abuse it to speculatively have access to information in memory they might normally not have access to, Singhal said. "We've been working with software partners on both the operating system side and the browser side for mitigations for the first exploit," he said.
The second variant is Branch Target Injection in which malicious code could find a way to redirect the internal structures inside the processor to speculatively execute code attackers want to see executed, Singhal said. Such an attack does not impact the basic function of the processor, but does allow the speculative attack to occur, he said. Mitigation is being done via microcode updates that provide a new interface between the operating system and the processor, which requires work on both the hardware and software sides, he said.
The final variant is Rogue Data Load which is the ability for an application to speculatively access memory that it normally does not have access to, Singhal said. Intel has already pushed patches to Linux to isolate the page tables between the kernel and the user space, he said.


text:
Bill DetailsOfficial information provided by the Congressional Research Service. Learn more or make a suggestion.
The Congressional Research Service writes summaries for most legislation. These summaries are listed here. Countable will update some legislation with a revised summary, title or other key elements.
PATIENTS Act of 2009
A bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response.
Preserving Access to Targeted, Individualized, and Effective New Treatments and Services (PATIENTS) Act of 2009 or the PATIENTS Act of 2009 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using data obtained from the conduct of comparative effectiveness research, including such research that is conducted or supported using funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to deny coverage of an item or service under a federal health care program. Requires the Secretary to ensure that comparative effectiveness research conducted or supported by the federal government accounts for factors contributing to differences in the treatment response and preferences of patients, including patient-reported outcomes, genomics and personalized medicine, the unique needs of health disparity populations, and indirect patient benefits.
- Not enactedThe President has not signed this bill
- The house has not voted
- The senate has not voted
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsIntroducedJune 15th, 2009
- senate Committees

domain: medical


text:
A full inquiry into problems at key hospitals in Edinburgh and Glasgow has been announced by the Scottish Government.
The review was ordered amid the delayed opening of Edinburgh’s new Sick Kids Hospital and infection concerns at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
Last week, health secretary Jeane Freeman rejected calls for an investigation as she announced the long-awaited site in Edinburgh will not open for another year due to construction issues.
But she has now ordered a public inquiry following intense pressure, with the probe said to be aimed at preventing similar issues arising in future NHS projects.
It comes after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed a “number of unusual infections” had meant some child cancer patients having to travel to NHS Grampian hospitals for treatment.
They had initially been moved from their usual ward in the Royal Hospital for Children to an adult ward in the adjacent QEUH due to infection risks.
However, the ward in Glasgow’s £850m super-hospital was also then closed due to infection concerns.
The health secretary confirmed the probe would be a statutory inquiry, which will give it powers to demand documents are produced and have individuals give evidence.
Freeman said: “The safety and well-being of all patients and their families is my top priority and should be the primary consideration in all NHS construction projects.
“I want to make sure this is the case for all future projects, which is why, following calls from affected parents, I am announcing a public inquiry to examine the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital sites.”
The health secretary added: “The current situation is not one anyone would choose – but it is one I am determined to resolve.”
Scottish Labour slammed Freeman, saying it should not have “taken weeks of pressure” for her to agree to demands for an inquiry.
Health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “A public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of this outrageous series of errors which has seriously disrupted patient care and cost taxpayers millions of pounds.
“It should not have taken weeks of pressure from Scottish Labour, patients and families for this to have been agreed to by the health secretary.
“Children in Scotland are being let down because the hospitals they were promised are not fit for purpose.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “This announcement is long overdue, and it’s only come about because the SNP hierarchy has become fed up of negative headlines.
“The ongoing problems at both hospitals are consequences of SNP negligence of the NHS which has gone on for more than a decade.
“It should not have taken the SNP 12 years in government to finally face up to its responsibilities on these matters.
“It is now vital that the public inquiry reports as soon as possible and considers the decisions taken around these projects by all four SNP health secretaries.”
Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The series of incidents at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital have been of the gravest magnitude, while the Sick Kids hospital has racked up bill after bill and delay and delay.
“Quite simply, we cannot have young patients being treated in facilities that are not up to scratch.”
He added: “Public trust in these projects must be urgently restored.”

domain: politics


Dirty or excessively clogged cabin air filters can produce a dusty and damp odor, especially when the HVAC system is turned on. Replacing a cabin air filter is often the most economical option and can be done in about half an hour. It involves removing the old one and installing a new unit in the cabin air cleaner housing. Be careful not to break any of the clips or pins that hold it.
A cabin air filter is essential to providing you with clean, non-toxic and non-microbial air. If you feel that not much air is coming in through the vents or that unpleasant odors are leaking out, it's probably time to replace the filter. By replacing it regularly, you ensure that the air circulating inside your vehicle's passenger compartment is largely free of pollutants, and that will make it easier for you to breathe. In most cases, you'll only have to pay the cost of a new filter and there shouldn't be any other parts that need to be replaced.
Refer to your owner's manual or repair guide for exactly how often you should replace your specific car's cabin air filter. In addition, the decrease in air quality that comes from a cabin air filter that is late to be replaced allows condensation to form on the windshield. If you answered yes to any of these questions, experts recommend changing your cabin air filter more often. Some of the more expensive ones or those in high-end cars can be activated with charcoal, which helps filter fumes and toxins from the air.
This is also one of the ways to know if a cabin air filter needs to be replaced; if the airflow through the vents is inadequate, the cabin air filter may need to be replaced. How often you need to change it will depend on the quality of your outside air and how often you use your car's heating and cooling system. Replacing a car's cabin air filter is an important part of maintaining your vehicle's health and performance. Doing it yourself is often the most economical option and can be done in about half an hour.
Be sure to refer to your owner's manual or repair guide for exactly how often you should replace your specific car's cabin air filter. This will help ensure that the air circulating inside your vehicle's passenger compartment is largely free of pollutants, making it easier for you to breathe.


text:
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission made its highly anticipated ruling relative to cable franchise fees. In the “Third Report and Order”, the FCC ruled that cable companies can now deduct certain in-kind contributions from their financial obligations, including free cable drops and costs tied to running “Institutional Networks” (“I Nets”) in their communities.
MassAccess maintains its opposition on these points but was also relieved to learn that the FCC is deferring any immediate action on assigning a monetary value to the public access channel capacity itself. The FCC had forcefully proposed to value PEG channel capacity at a “fair market valuation” for the purposes of offsetting municipal franchise fees. Most in our industry believed such an action would be catastrophic to public access funding. It its ruling, the FCC notes:
“[T]he record reveals serious difficulties regarding how to calculate the value of PEG channel capacity…Given this, we find that the questions raised by channel capacity are complex, and that the record is not developed enough to allow us to answer them…we find that the status quo should be maintained, and that channel capacity costs should not be offset against the franchise fee cap. This approach will minimize disruption and provide predictability to both local franchise authorities and cable operators.”
It is here that the Commission made specific reference to comments submitted by MassAccess, as drafted by the Cohen Law Group, which argued the “fair market valuation” of PEG channels, as envisioned by the FCC, would be zero dollars. In essence, the cable operators cannot deduct the “fair market valuation” of PEG channel capacity from the franchise fees its pays municipalities.
According to Cohen Law Firm attorney Joel Winston, “MassAccess scored a significant legal victory for community media centers in Massachusetts and nationwide. The legal arguments against excessive PEG channel valuation were able to disarm the FCC’s multi-year efforts towards dismantling community media and local journalism.”
MassAccess would like to thank its members who contributed to a fund last winter specifically designed to fight this FCC action. We used that funding in order to draft our comments with the Cohen Law Group.
“The leadership from MassAccess was instrumental in advancing these legal arguments,” said Mr. Winston.
It’s important to note that the FCC has deferred action on this critical item, not taken it off the table. It is likely to come up again, with FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly noting at the August 1st meeting that they would like it resolved within a year.
MassAccess remains committed to combating any changes, whether at the federal or state level, that could negatively impact community media centers across Massachusetts.


text:
ISBN : 9780198728450
After many years of disappointing performance, Sub-Saharan Africa has shown impressive growth performance since the start of the millenium. However, the impact of this on poverty reduction is still not well understood and this led the African Economics Research Consortium in Nairobi to undertake a major collaborative research project on the linkages between growth and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. This volume is based on research undertaken by world leading researchers on major issues influencing the extent to which growth can translate into poverty reduction. The volume includes two review chapters on the impact of growth on poverty reduction, and on the impact of widespread poverty on economic growth, and argues that both relationships are important for understanding how growth and poverty reduction interact. The volume focuses, in detail, on the role of agriculture, the labour market, the informal sector, the industrial sector, the global context, and macroeconomic issues. All chapters comprise an extensive review of the existing literature and highlight new and important directions. As more information on the evolution of poverty and living conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa emerge, this volume is important in helping to interpret and explain that evidence.
2. The Anatomy of Growth and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
3. Is Poverty a Binding Constraint on Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa?
4. Agriculture as an Engine of Growth and Poverty Reduction: Lessons for Africa
5. Growth, Employment Creation, and Poverty Reduction: An Overview of Evidence and Possible Applications to Africa
6. The Informal Economy, Economic Growth, and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa
7. Spatial Inequality and its Implications for the Growth-Poverty Reduction Relationship
8. Linking Economic Growth to Poverty Reduction under Globalization: A Case for Harnessing Globalization for the Poor in Sub-Saharan Africa
9. Real Exchange Rate Undervaluation and Poverty


text:
What to expect?
Our excursion offers you to discover the great green heart of Gran Canaria, an island called “a miniature continent “, because of the tremendous contrast of its habitat and landscapes. The northern midlands never cease to amaze you, green meadows, cultivated areas, forests, natural parks, mountains, breathtaking viewpoints, and hidden villages.
Our full-day island tour presents a full itinerary visiting the towns of Aruca, San Bartolomé, and Firgas; enjoy lunch(at your own expense) in Valleseco and admire places like the **Cruz de Tejeda and Roque Nublo.**.
Passing through and admiring extensive fields of almond trees and different crops, we will pass through the village Vecindario and the town of Telde, heading for the first stop, the charming village of Arucas with its magnificent **Neogothic Church from the 15th century**, one of the enclaves in the heart of the island of Gran Canaria. Next, we will stop in the village of Firgas, known as the “balcony of the Atlantic” for its fantastic panoramic views. We will also enjoy its beautiful waterfalls, located in the middle of the old town, and the pedestrian area of the Paseo de las Islas Canarias.
Once on the summits, we stop at a restaurant in the Valleseco area for lunch (*optional, not included in the price). After lunch, we continue the route through protected natural areas and mountains with incredible views. We will stop at the viewpoint of Cruz de Tejeda, and we will stop at Roque Nublo, the symbol of Gran Canaria, with magnificent views (weather permitting) of Teide, the highest mountain in Spain located on the island of Tenerife.
Before finishing the route, we will go down to San Bartolomé de Tirajana with its impressive views of Santa Lucía, and to finish the day we will make a stop at the Aloe Vera farm, and return to the hotel.
During the booking process, we will request the name of your accommodation in order to confirm the proper pick-up time and meeting point. After a few days, you will receive a message with your pick-up details.
We have pick-up service included in the following areas:
- Playa del Inglés
- San Agustín
- Bahía Feliz
- Puerto Rico
- Puerto Mogán
If your accommodation is not at these locations, the transfer service is not included and you must go on your own to one of our meeting points.
Included in the price
- 8-hour bus tour with a professional guide
- Guided visits with free time at the towns of Arucas, and Firgas, (approximately 45 minutes in each one)
- Stop at a Valleseco restaurant with one hour time for lunch (optional and not included in the price)
- Amazing panoramic routes through mountains with stops at several approximate viewpoints and natural areas
Know before you book
- Free for babies under 1 year.
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
- We highly recommend bringing some kind of coat or windbreaker.
-TUESDAYS: GERMAN, ENGLISH, SPANISH
-THURSDAY: GERMAN, ENGLISH, SPANISH

domain: geography


text:
By Johanna Miller
Many of our region's public schools are leaving our teens unprepared to make informed and healthy choices about sex and relationships.
The New York Civil Liberties Union recently performed an extensive analysis of sex education textbooks and materials used in 82 public school districts across the state. We found that school districts throughout the western region, including Buffalo, Hamburg and Olean, have provided sex ed instruction that is inaccurate, incomplete and biased.
These pervasive shortcomings underscore the urgent need for New York State to require comprehensive, medically accurate and bias-free sex education in its public schools.
The Buffalo School District - one of the state's largest - uses a textbook that teaches abstinence-only strategies for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. It does not even mention condoms or contraception, let alone teach students about them. Students did receive materials on HIV prevention, but the abstinence-only textbook deprives them of crucial information and skills.
Further, with few exceptions, sex ed instruction either ignores or stigmatizes LGBT students. School districts provide little instruction on sexual orientation, same-sex couples or gender identity. Several districts mention gay people only in the context of HIV lessons. For example, materials used in the Lake Shore School District instruct students that "most [HIV] infected people are homosexual men and drug users who used unsterile needles."
Sex ed materials we studied often contained negative gender stereotypes. For example, a worksheet used in the Yorkshire-Pioneer District describes women as "hazardous material" while another instructs students that "woman = problem."
When students don't receive quality sex education, they are more likely to become sexually active without the knowledge that responsible sexuality requires. The consequences can be severe and include unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Nearly 45 percent of New York's male high school students and about 40 percent of female students are sexually active - but one in three boys reported that they don't use condoms and four in five girls say they don't take birth control pills. New York's teen pregnancy rate is the 11th highest among the 50 states. And about one in three cases of new sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in New York each year occurs among residents 19 and younger.
We must reverse these disturbing trends. Requiring comprehensive, effective and bias-free sex education in all public schools is a necessary first step.
Johanna Miller is the assistant advocacy director of the New York Civil Liberties Union and an author of the new report, "Birds, Bees and Bias: How Absent Sex Ed Standards Fail New York's Students."


text:
Your Source for Precious Metal Casting Supplies & Jewelry Tools
Recently added item(s)
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Wolf Micro Precision Tungsten Scriber
Universal Work Holder Peg Clamp w/ Base
4-1/2" Glitter Line Flat Nose Pliers
4 Kg Propane Furnace Kit w/ No 3 - 4 Kg Clay Graphite Foundry Crucible and 19" Hinge Tongs

domain: hobby


text:
True or False With Kat Von D
Chances are, when you hear the name Kat Von D, you immediately think "tattoos" or "makeup", but it just so happens that her real passion is music! The multi-talented artist is gearing up to drop her debut album 'Love Made Me Do It', following the release of her super dope singles "Enough" and "I Am Nothing", and Young Hollywood heads to her gorgeous house to sit down with her and set the record straight on a wide range of topics with a game of "True or False"! Find out how often she plays piano, her favorite makeup item, and how old she was when she did her first tattoo, plus she reveals some behind the scenes tidbits about her music video for "Enough", and she clears up a rumor involving her cat's diet! Check out 'Love Made Me Do It' on August 27!


text:
RBG Revolutionary Library is books and links to books magazine and articles that i have read over the years.
Now it is turn to pass the torch to ohters who want to be an organizer,revolutionary,solider, whatever you may call yourself. You must be well versed in all the material that there is cyberspace and the world you can never learn learn. A revolutionary learns something new each and everyday. And hell to the yeah i bring it from an Nu-Afrikan perspective. Revoltionary Blessingz


text:
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed DeAndre Yedlin will link up with the squad next month.
Leeds United left back Stephen Warnock has revealed that the club haven't been in talks over a new contract.
Hear the success story of one of today's greatest games development studios.
Louis van Gaal says that he is happy with Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney.
Leicester have the unwelcome position of being bottom of the table at Christmas, and are desperate to pick up some points. They face a Tottenham side that is starting to get some momentum behind them under Mauricio Pochettino.
Derby County head coach Steve McClaren has said that Jamie Ward could return for the Championship clash against Leeds United.
Celtic are reportedly pursuing a deal for Genk star Kara Mbodj.
Louis van Gaal is pleased with the recent form of Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao.
Battlefield 3 is going for special price at 95% off right now, along with plenty of other games.
Mauricio Pochettino believes that Erik Lamela has a bright future at Tottenham Hotspur.
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Graham Dorrans is reportedly in Leeds regarding his ankle problem and could miss the start of the new season for the Ibrox club.
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Josh Windass is reportedly on Cardiff City’s radar, and the Ibrox club are claimed to want £3m.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly leading the race for Tanguy Ndombele.
Steven Gerrard’s Glasgow Rangers reportedly want Brandon Barker at Ibrox. Hull City and Hibernian are also claimed to be interested in the Manchester City youngster.
West Bromwich Albion should attempt to sign the West Ham United striker on loan this summer.
Leeds United fans are desperate for Kemar Roofe to stay at Elland Road next season.
Leeds favourite Gradel has been on loan at Toulouse during the 2017-18 campaign from Bournemouth.
West Ham United are taking matters into their own hands to seal a double transfer deal according to reports from Italy.
Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers midfielder Graham Dorrans had to leave Spain for a scheduled scan on his knee injury.
Everton sold Ramiro Funes Mori to Villarreal yesterday, with the centre-back potentially the first of many to depart Goodison Park this summer.


text:
About the Show
In the summer of 1955, it seemed as if all of Hollywood descended on the dusty West Texas town of Marfa as production began on the film Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. Based on Edna Ferber's controversial novel, Giant was a different kind of western, taking an unflinching look at feminism and class divisions, and at the racial divide between Anglos and Mexican Americans in the Southwest. The film earned ten Academy Award nominations, with a win for George Stevens as Best Director. Sixty years later, a documentary crew returns to Marfa to explore the dramatic story behind the making of the film and its enduring legacy, combining interviews with the surviving cast and crew with the recollections of residents who participated in the production, many of whose lives mirrored the controversial themes of racism and segregation explored in the film.


text:
When kids go off to college or even boarding school, there are many issues weighing on their minds: What clothes to pack, where the cell phone charger ended up, and how much it costs to mail home an entire laundry bag.
When kids go off to college or even boarding school, there are many issues weighing on their minds: What clothes to pack, where the cell phone charger ended up, and how much it costs to mail home an entire laundry bag. Something they're probably not thinking about but should be is meningitis. While other illnesses may be making headlines, meningitis should not be ignored, as it is an illness that occurs most often in children, teens and young adults.
Meningitis is an infection of the coverings around the brain and spinal cord. There are two main kinds of meningitis, viral and bacterial. Viral meningitis is fairly common but usually does not cause serious illness, often clearing up within a week or two.
Bacterial meningitis, however, is much more serious and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
The signs and symptoms of both types of meningitis are very similar and include a stiff and painful neck (especially when trying to touch your chin to your chest), fever, severe headache, possible vomiting, difficulty staying awake and, occasionally, seizures.
Dr. Alan Sugar, medical director of the HIV/AIDS program and head of Infectious Disease Clinical Services at Cape Cod Healthcare, said one of the main reasons meningitis rates seem to climb upon the start of a new school year is that children are once again in close quarters.
College and boarding students in dorms and military personnel in barracks' are at greater risk.
"Every age has its own issues," said Sugar. "In schools, when kids are in elementary school, junior high, high school, that's when meningitis is important, but it's most important when people are living together in close quarters. Those are kind of more high-risk situations."
A particular concern regarding bacterial meningitis is its contagiousness. Some forms of the disease are quite contagious and can be spread through seemingly innocuous actions as coughing, kissing, sharing a soda or simply being in close contact.
"In young people who live in crowded conditions, dorms, barracks, meningococcal (bacterial) meningitis is a disease that is very contagious," said Sugar.
While meningitis is certainly an illness for students and their parents to be mindful of, Sugar cautions against people overreacting.
"It's a sporadic infection," he said. "First of all you have to put the risk in proportion. There are a lot more important risks out there that have equally deadly consequences to people."
However, Sugar encourages anyone with potential symptoms to seek medical assistance quickly.
"You want to start treatment as soon as possible to prevent certain damage," he said. "It's very important to receive a quick diagnosis."
Such a diagnosis is usually achieved by extracting a sample of a patient's spinal fluid, from which a bacteria sample is grown. Identification of the bacteria type allows for physicians to prescribe the correct antibiotics used in treatment of the disease.
There are preventative measures children and young adults can take, as well, including visiting their family physician for the meningitis vaccine. Good hygiene and consistent hand washing are also important.
"Wash your hands," said Sugar, "and minimize the risk of [illness] all around.

domain: health


text:
Stop discrimination against individualism.
In our school dyeing your hair is seen as a crime. Your hair can only be dyed 'natural' colours yet but pure black is accepted? This rule not only breaches our right to freedom of expression, it creates a breach inl our education. If your hair has been dyed a different colour, you are advised to remove it that day. If you refuse you are excluded. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It is my opinion, also many students and techers at my school opinion, that this rule should be denounced and removed permentantly from our school rules.
If you do not believe that the descrimination, over something as small as hair colour, should get in the way of our education, please sign our petition. Help us change this unfair rule.


Hansa C13 Chipper - Road Trailer Version
The C13 comes in three versions – standard with optional drawbar (C13), or mounted on a road trailer (C13 RT), or powered by your tractor (C13 PTO).
Ideal for domestic and commercial use on acreage, parks and around farms by gardeners, hire companies, landscapers, groundskeepers and contractors. The C13 is very popular with orchard, olive and winery owners as well.
The Hansa C13 chips branches up to 90mm in diameter and features:
- GX390 Honda petrol engine (electric start option available)
- Easy start
- Heavy duty blades
- Pneumatic wheels for easy maneuvering by hand
- Optional drawbar for easy relocation – link to a ride-on mower or quad bike
- Solid-steel casing
- Twin belt drive
- Adjustable output chute
- Similar noise output to a domestic mower
- Minimal cleaning and maintenance required
The Hansa C13 easily mulches prunings, dropped branches, palm fronds, leaves, bark, paper, cardboard, hay, dried manure and kitchen waste.
- Chipping capacity: 90mm or 3.5 inches
- Dimensions: Height 1,400mm, Width 900mm, Length 1,100mm
- Weight: 185kg
- Petrol engine: Honda GX390
- Knives: 200mm x 58mm x 7mm A8 modified tool steel. Heat treated and ground all over, as used in all professional mill chippers
- Anvil: Case hardened, reversible
- Disc speed: 2,000rpm
- Disc size: 565mm x 12mm
- Pulleys: 2 x cast iron
- Belts: 2 x V belts B33
- Bearings: 2 x self-aligning ball bearings
- Infeed throat opening (intake chute): 150mm x 180mm
- Optional drawbar: 50mm coupling, 200cm long with stand
- Tyres: Pneumatic 4.00 – 8
- Finish: Powder Coated
- Warranty: On registration engine four years, chipper two years domestic warranty
The Hansa Range is the only Brand Chippers that WILL DO palm Fronds!!!!!!!