text:
A heavyweight team representing the cream of regional business, academia and civic talent has been unveiled to drive forward innovation in the North East.
The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) has created the first Innovation Board for the region, which will support the LEP in propelling innovative economic growth and investment.
The new board, who have been appointed for an initial two-year period, will be chaired by the North East LEP’s innovation lead Professor Roy Sandbach, while the private sector is represented by Dr Alan Lowdon, Neil Hemming and Dr Peter Simpson, all of whom have established international reputations for innovative work in their fields.
They are joined by senior university figures, Professor Peter Fidler of Sunderland University, Professor Nick Wright of Newcastle University, Dr Tim Hammond from Durham University and Prof George Marston, of Northumbria. Government agencies are represented by Innovate UK and Research Councils UK.
Two North East LEP board members from the business community – Gillian Hall, former senior partner of Watson Burton and Arnab Basu, chief executive of Kromek – have also joined the high powered board. North Tyneside mayor Norma Redfearn and South Tyneside Council leader Iain Malcolm will represent the North East Combined Authority.
The North East LEP’s innovation strategy is a key element of the regional Strategic Economic Plan for “more and better jobs”.
The aim is to develop the region into a “global innovation eco-system” in which corporate organisations can find innovation solutions, and smaller businesses can grow quickly.
Five priority innovation-hub projects across the region have demonstrated how progress is already being made, having secured more than £26m investment from the government’s Local Growth Fund in July.
A further investment of around £100m, including European funding, has been allocated to the area for innovation initiatives that relate to the region’s areas of business strength or in the context of broad community need.
The new Innovation Board will oversee these investments.
The North East is also building a powerful national profile in the area of innovation, with recent announcements that the Space Satellite Catapult and the Digital Catapult will locate centres in the North East being just the start.
Prof Sandbach said: “We have created a hugely talented, nationally and internationally experienced board to drive innovation in the North East.
“It was important that we put the right people in place to help deliver the strategic leadership of this important focus on innovation for the region.
“Clearly, through this leadership group, we’ll need to engage, consult and collaborate broadly across many sectors. I’m absolutely convinced that we will be able to do this. I’m looking forward to working with the Board to achieve real innovation momentum for the North East.”
Members, who are unpaid, will meet for the first time on December 1.
North East LEP chair Paul Woolston added: “The newly formed Innovation Board is a fundamental part of driving forward a new era in North East innovation and ultimately delivering more and better jobs for the North East.
“The appointment of board members allows us to push ahead with our innovation strategy.
“The members we have recruited will help the North East to engage on a regional, national and global level with those businesses and agencies able to help us to achieve our ambitions of economic growth through innovation.”


text:
Egg Bank Test (AMH/AFC)
The AMH test is a blood test used to give an indication of ovarian reserve by measuring the Anti Mullerian Hormone. Ovarian reserve refers to the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries. These reserves decrease naturally with age.
Whilst the AMH test can provide an insight egg number, it does not give any indication about the egg quality, which declines steadily over a woman’s lifetime and by the age of 36 starts to decline rapidly. A low AMH does not mean that the eggs are poor quality and vice versa, it is just a guide to how many remain. It can be a great tool to indicate that ovarian reserve is declining, which gives you chance to seek specialist help..
Our doctors will request an AMH test prior to your appointment, so they can interpret and discuss these results with you, and what it means for your future fertility. AMH testing can be a useful guide if you have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months and are now considering IVF.
Your GP can order this test for you, and if your level indicates a lower ovarian reserve, you may then wish to see a fertility specialist.
This blood test can be taken at any time in the menstrual cycle, and results may vary if you are taking hormonal contraception. The AMH test cannot be bulk-billed and will cost around $90.

domain: medical


text:
Last week, the Epic Games v Apple trial officially kicked off, with days worth of testimonials. Microsoft's VP for gaming, media and entertainment, Lori Wright, was called up to the stand during the trial, but Apple is now questioning the credibility of the testimony and wants it thrown out.
As reported by The Verge, Apple's legal team has requested an “adverse credibility finding” regarding Wright and the testimony given on behalf of Microsoft and Xbox. During the trial, Wright claimed that Microsoft has never made a profit from sales of Xbox consoles, but stated that the company does make money on services and subscriptions like Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass and games sold through the Xbox store.
Apple takes issue with this claim that Xbox hardware has never been profitable, particularly since the company's lawyers can't verify those claims. Prior to the trial, documents were requested from several parties, ranging from Microsoft to Valve.
As it turns out, Microsoft did not turn over some of the documents requested, which Apple believes would show profit and loss statements for the Xbox division. Apple's lawyers are also arguing that while Wright says Xbox does not compete with the iPhone or the App Store, no documentation to validate this claim was produced.
Whether or not Wright's testimony is permissible still remains to be seen, as a judge has not ruled on Apple's latest filing.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: The Epic Games v Apple trial has been very interesting to follow. Do you think Microsoft has truly never made a profit selling Xbox consoles?

domain: news


Dorma ED250 swing door
Are you searching for an automatic swing door that can be used in any type of house? Are you looking for a system that can open and close your door with the push of a button? Then the Dorma ED 250 door opening system is the perfect solution for you.
This door is not only beautiful, but also it can make your home look modern and attractive. It is a very easy and cost-effective solution that can give your door an attractive look.
So, let’s know about this amazing door opening system that is manufactured by Dorma, which is known as the Dorma ED 250 automatic swing door opening system.
Dorma ED 250 automatic swing door opening system
The Dorma ED 250 door opening system is an automatic swing door that can be used in homes and offices. This is one of the best automatic swing door opening systems that are available in the market. It is equipped with features like adjustable speed, speed regulation, and can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications.
This door has an elegant design and can open and close your door with the push of a button. It is an energy-efficient solution that can save up to 20% of the energy used by other automatic swing door opening systems. So, if you want to save on your electricity bill, then you must consider buying this door.
There is a push-button system that has a safety mechanism for the door. The safety mechanism makes sure that the door will not open when you are trying to enter or exit your home. So, it will help you to stay safe from intruders.
The Dorma ED 250 door opening system is equipped with LED lighting, which helps to illuminate the area near the door. It has a very attractive design and can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications.It is an energy-efficient solution that can save up to 20% of the energy used by other automatic swing door opening systems.
Door opening/closing time
In conclusion, I would say that this door opening system is one of the best automatic swing door opening systems available in the market. It is energy efficient and can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications.
So, if you want to save on your electricity bill and want to stay safe from intruders, then you must install this door opening system in your house. This door is manufactured by Dorma and can be used in both residential and commercial applications. So, it is an easy way to get rid of your energy bills and also make your home look modern and attractive.
An automatic door opener allows you to open the door without having to touch it. This eliminates the need for any type of mechanical failure, which means less money out of your pocket to fix or replace. An automatic door opener also has a built-in sensor that senses when someone or something is outside the door, and opens the door automatically for you. This prevents you from getting out of the shower or getting ready for work, and having to stop what you’re doing to open the door for yourself.
A home needs a certain type of door for different reasons. A main or family room needs a door that is very easy to open, so that you or your loved ones can quickly get in and out of the room. On the other hand, an office or study needs a door that is very difficult to open, to prevent people from barging in without your permission. In such cases, you need a door with a high threshold to allow easy passage of feet and legs, but prevent fingers and hands from reaching the doorknob.
You should also pay close attention to how your door opens and closes. If it is a sliding patio door or a French door that swings both ways, then you should put a stop-bar across the bottom to prevent it from being used as a clothes dryer or something similar.
Sliding glass doors can be a huge energy drain. They always seem to be stuck in the open or closed position, even when you don’t use them. To make matters worse, they often stick too! To solve this problem, you can get a special door sensor that will automatically close them after it detects that they’ve been opened. You should place these sensors on both sides of the glass, so that if someone tries to break in, they’ll get automatically detected and shut.
This will depend on the material your window is made of. Most commonly, tempered or laminated safety glass needs to be replaced about every 5 years. On the other hand, ordinary window glass (that isn’t tempered or laminated) only needs to be replaced if it is broken. If this happens, just call a local handyman to come out and replace it for you.
The Automatic Swing Door – Dorma ED 250 is a powered door that opens and closes automatically with the push of a button. It is ideal for use in places with high traffic, such as dorm rooms, classrooms, conference areas, and offices. This door has a powerful spring mechanism that allows it to close with up to 250 pounds (112 kg) of force. The door is constructed from impact resistant polycarbonate material, and comes with an optional digital keypad for user convenience. It features an integrated LED light, and has a decorative chrome finish. The Dorma ED 250 comes with an 18-month warranty.
The Automatic Swing Door – Dorma ED 250 is a very reliable electric door with an impressive 25-year track record. It has been used in hundreds of thousands of buildings, including hospitals, high-rise apartments, educational institutions, and military bases. ED 250 comes with three options for power supply


text:
12 pole line
NW Mailing List
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Mon Jul 18 10:28:01 EDT 2016
Use caution at Dingess Tunnel - it is one line wide; first vehicle in has the right of way;
and coal trucks always have the right of way. One day, while I was taking photos of the
south portal, watched a red Mustang enter the tunnel, at speed; followed moments later by
same Mustang backing out at even higher speed; as full coal truck expressed its authority.
Jerome Crosson; formerly NJ; now St. Peters MO.
From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Mon, Jul 18, 2016 7:12 am
Subject: 12 pole line
I am planning a trip to follow the roadbed of the 12 pole line from Lenore to Wayne to see what might be left from the N&W. I believe Dingess tunnel was built by the railroad, and on Google Maps there looks like another tunnel a couple miles South of Breeden that may have been N&W. There should be several bridges crossing 12 pole creek along this route and I am hoping that some of them are the original work of the railroad. I would be very grateful for any information on what n&w structures still remain and also any advice on following the roadbed. It appears that in some places no auto road was built on the old line or that in the intervening years any road that might have existed has been removed. Has anyone explored this area? What should I watch out for?
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To change your subscription go to
Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
More information about the NW-Mailing-List

domain: geography


text:
posted on Jun, 12 2014 @ 01:26 PM
I believe this is the correct forum to post this in. Mods, please move this thread if this is not the case. Thank you.
Heads Up: I ask that this thread doesn't veer off topic into another guns debate. That is not what I'm posting about.
After the latest school shooting, I was thinking on the statement President Obama made about the US being the only civilized country where there are
school shootings. I'm as appalled as he is over this.
I started thinking of a possible deterrent to these school shootings. As a 20 year Navy veteran, I think it would be doable to have our active duty,
guard, and reserves guarding all public schools in the country. Since things are winding down in other hotspots. This leaves many who need something
constructive to do. I think just the sight of Marines at a school will keep a lot of these dirtbags away.
Yeah, this would be a bit drastic, and there will be those who feel this country is already too militant. But I think this would be a good idea.
What do you all think about this? I'm prepared for a good debate on this. Please keep it civil.

domain: politics


text:
Released: January 1, 2009
In stock, shipping now.
Classy UK techno from Rootsix, and the keen-eared amongst you will recognise that name from an Ai records compilation of 2006. Four catchy, dancefloor friendly cuts that could quite easily be found on labels like Clear and are quite reminiscent of early Morgan Geist productions. Not totally retro, however, 'Dragondrop' EP does explore modern production nuances and successfully delivers. Highly recommended.

domain: artistic


Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett said he avoids most new stock offerings in general and passed up Uber Technologies Inc.’s initial public offering.
“In 54 years, I don’t think Berkshire has ever bought a new issue,” Buffett told CNBC.
“I’m not saying that what we’re buying is going to work out better, but there have to always be better things than one single issue,” he said.
Buffett said Investors are often buying into an IPO because of the hype involved with them and because they want to catch up with others getting rich and that’s not a sound basis for an investment, CNBC explained.
Uber currently expects to price its IPO on Thursday and begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange the following day, Reuters explained.
The ride-hailing company Uber cautioned in its IPO filing that its business would be “adversely affected” if drivers were classified as employees instead of independent contractors.
The company hopes to be valued at between $80.5 billion and $91.5 billion. Uber has yet to turn a profit. It reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2019.
Source: Ipo Search Results


text:
Located in the coastal Los Angeles resort town of Venice, California, this home brings further architectural diversity to a beachfront already famed for its modern architecture, with its own unique touches and design goals. Built by Dan Brunn Architects for a couple who live in the home year-round, the plans for this ultramodern house had a number of very important and defining factors contributing to the final design. First of all, because the home’s owners are permanent residents, the home must be much more functional as a full-time space than many beach houses, providing panoramic beach views while also protecting its owners’ privacy. In addition, the couple are both professional photographers, and wished for their home to be a public showcase for their work. A number of clever decisions made in the design process make this home engagingly attractive to the public eye, while also preserving the daily lives of the individuals within.
Dan Brunn’s design is much, much more than just practical. Inside and out, the home is filled with elaborate details within the simplest of overall shapes, completing and solidifying the ultramodern ethos of the building. It’s more than just a boxy shape, a bunch of glass, and modern furniture, featuring well-placed accent lighting, motorized exterior panels, and other high-technology fashion wherever you look. It’s one of the most striking homes on the Venice boardwalk, and that’s by design.
The three-story home has two floors that can potentially be turned into a gallery or party space, with only the top story being reserved for exclusively private use. Two sides of the building have open walls, the first of which facing the beach and the other facing a public walkway that borders the home’s property.
Watch below the stepped process of opening the home’s privacy shutters. You can see the difference in the upper-right corner of the home.
The fact that the owners of the home wished to display their photographic works prominently to the public on one side of the home while also being able to retain their privacy led to this innovation, a series of electric motorized panels on the top floor of the home meant to conceal residents if the need arises.
Some well-placed plots of grass on the home’s lot serve a dual purpose, providing a comfortable break from the sandy outdoors while also dividing up the outdoor space and creating pathways to different entrances of the home.
As the outdoor light changes throughout the day and night, specially-placed accent lighting all over the home’s lot changes color to give the house a different aura at fitting times of day. As evening progresses into night, for example, this lighting changes from a sandy yellow to a technological aqua blue.
The most unadorned part of the home is streetside, with a simple garage and some small windows. This is the business end of the home, and as such it’s much more restrained and straightforward than the extremely visible public sides of the structure.
These steps leading down from the public beach access are the grand pedestrian entrance to the home, framed by an elegantly modern section in the home perfect for receiving guests for a gallery viewing or any other gathering.
The darkest walls in the home itself are found in the ground-floor living room, a space meant for relaxation after a visit to the beach.
The staircases leading up through the various floors of the home are compact, and share a finish with the exterior walls of the house. Its borders and banisters are patterned glass, an interestingly unique design choice in an era of “floating” staircases and super-minimal railings.
The main living area of the home is not in the darker space below, but up on the middle floor with a large entertainment center and better views of the ocean. Doors in the glass at the end of the room lead out onto a spacious deck to let in an ocean breeze.
The kitchen is set in the opposite corner of the large open space that makes up the second story. Though it’s no chef’s kitchen, it still has plenty of storage and preparation space for a the needs of a fairly large group, and all the fittings and fixtures are in the style of the home around them.
An office tucked away in one of the more private areas of the home has an interesting view, opening up onto a small plot of ornamental golf grass. This setup preserves the privacy of the couple’s work on the computer while still giving them a taste of the outdoor space around them.
On another edge of the artificial grass plot is a window leading directly into the main bathroom. While this window has a retractable cover that we can assume is usually kept closed, during the off-season for the beach it’s not unreasonable to believe that’s it’s opened for the purposes of bathing with a view.
The bathroom is divided up by a thin wall, creating a circular traffic flow and providing a place to mount fixtures. Both the shower and toilet have their own compact, private rooms so that the glass area of the room can be kept open.
After such opulently modern design touches elsewhere in the home, it might come as a surprise to see that the top-floor bedroom is a relatively restrained space, its borders defined by curtains and a structural beam instead of walls. This treatment of the room actually fits into the general philosophy behind the home, though, encouraging homeowners to spend more time in view of the beach than closed off in their own world.
Less crowded than the one below it, the upper deck has just two chairs and a touch of plant life, free of distraction for the owners of the home to relax and enjoy the view.
Dan Brunn Architecture


text:
Application of High-Accuracy Laser Doppler Velocimeter in Self-Contained Land Navigation System
【Abstract】In order to improve the accuracy and maneuverability of self-contained land navigation system, the application of high-accuracy laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) in the field of land navigation is studied in this paper. The structure and basic principle of the split reuse-type LDV are expounded. Based on the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the inertial navigation system (INS) and LDV which are developed by our own department, the integrated technology of marching initial alignment, dynamic calibration and real-time errors compensation are discussed in detail. Expounded in theory that the attitude correction for marching vehicles, dynamic LDV parameter error estimation and high-precision autonomous navigation can be achieved by introducing velocity into the error equation of inertial navigation system. The results of dynamic vehicle tests show that the navigation error of inertial navigation system decreases from 2 000 m to 6 min in 1.2 h without parking. It is even proved by theory and experiment that the performance of land navigation system is greatly improved after the application of high-accuracy LDV in land inertial navigation system.
【Keywords】 measurement; laser Doppler velocimeter; self-contained navigation; inertial navigation system;
(Translated by WEI JM)
 Scheding S, Dissanayake G, Nebot E M, et al. An experiment in autonomous navigation of an underground mining vehicle [J]. IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, 1999, 15 (1): 85–95.
 Gao C F, Wei G, Zhou J, et al. Application of high-accuracy laser Doppler velocimeter in self-contained navigation [C]. SPIE, 2015, 9525: 95252A.
Yang Yucui, Yu Along, Zhu Yanhua. Research on “zero velocity update” technology applied in missile launching vehicle based on Kalman filter [J]. Electrical Automation, 2010, 32 (1): 1–3 (in Chinese).
 Bristeau P J, Petit N, Praly L. Design of a navigation filter by analysis of local observability [C]. Decision and Control of IEEE, 2010, 58 (8): 1298–1305.
Zhang Zhongping, Cheng Zhien, Zhang Haifeng, et al. Global laser ranging observation of Beidou satellites and data application [J]. Chinese J Lasers, 2017, 44 (4): 0404004 (in Chinese).
 Wang W, Wang D. Land vehicle navigation using odometry/INS/vision integrated system [C]. IEEE Conference on Cybernetics and Intelligent Systems, 2008: 754–759.
 Kleinhempel W. Automobile Doppler speedometer [C]. Vehicle Navigation and Information Systems Conference, 1993: 509–512.
Yan Gongmin. Research of vehicle autonomous position and azimuth determining system [D]. Xi’an: Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2006 (in Chinese).
Zhou Jian. Preliminary study on laser Doppler velocimeter for vehicle self–contained navigation [D]. Changsha: National University of Defense Technology, 2011 (in Chinese).
Zhou Jian, Long Xingwu. Laser Doppler velocimeter for vehicle inertial navigation system [J]. Chinese J Lasers, 2010, 37 (5): 1316–1321 (in Chinese).
Wei Guo, Wang Yu, Zhou Jian, et al. Vehicle integrated navigation based on laser Doppler velocimeter [J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2011, 23 (1): 49–53 (in Chinese).
Nie Xiaoming. Research on laser velocimeter for vehicle self-contained navigation system[D]. Changsha: National University of Defense Technology, 2014 (in Chinese).
 Gao C, Wang Q, Wei G, et al. A highly accurate calibration method for terrestrial laser Doppler velocimeter [J]. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement, 2017, 66 (8): 1994–2003.
Gao Zhongyu. Kalman filter design of inertial positioning system [J]. Journal of Chinese Inertial Technology, 2000, 8 (4): 5–9 (in Chinese).

domain: design


text:
|Most expensive month:||May|
|Average price in Bolesławiec:||$54/night|
|Cheapest price found:||$24/night|
|Most expensive day:||Wednesday|
Best prices found by HotelsCombined users in the past 24 hours.
Noclegi16 is a very popular hotel in Bolesławiec with a score of 8.5 from 562 reviews. Hotel Ambasada Boleslawiec (8.9 from 1,547 reviews) and Zielony Dom (7.7 from 302 reviews) are also highly rated Bolesławiec hotels based on recent feedback from HotelsCombined users.

domain: travel


text:
R | | Crime, Drama
A tale of greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two best friends: a mafia enforcer and a casino executive, compete against each other over a gambling empire, and over a fast living and fast loving socialite.
The costume budget for the film was one million dollars. Robert De Niro had seventy different costumes throughout the film, Sharon Stone had forty. Both were allowed to keep their costumes afterwards.
When you love someone, you've gotta trust them. There's no other way. You've got to give them the key to everything that's yours. Otherwise, what's the point? And for a while, I believed, that's the kind of love I had.
During the scene where the cowboy is exited out of the casino headfirst by the security guards, one of the guards hits his head on the door frame.
"This is a fictional story with fictional characters adapted from a true story."
$9,946,480 (USA) (22 November 1995)
Dive deep into everything about film festivals, family entertainment, IMDb Picks, and more.

domain: entertainment


The acronym stands for Twin Ion Engine and is the main single seater fighter of the Empire. Darth Vader is able to pilot a craft which he uses to try to prevent Luke Skywalker from destroying the Death Star at the end of Star Wars IV - A New Hope. In addition to being a single seater, there are bomber versions of this craft which the Empire use to flush out the Millennium Falcon but ultimately fail to do so. The Rebellion equivalent is the X-wing
In the Last Jedi, Kylo Ren uses a TIE Silencer to attack the Resistance fleet. The ship is similar to the usual TIE Fighter in shape, wings on the side etc. The Silencer is black and its wings are bit more pointed.
The T.I.E. Bomber is a variant of the fighter that is used by the Imperial Navy. The centre of the craft has two cylindical areas, the left is where the pilot/bomber sits and the right is where the pay load is dropped from.
There's no register feature and no need to give an email address if you don't need to. All messages will be reviewed before being displayed. Comments may be merged or altered slightly such as if an email address is given in the main body of the comment.
You can decline to give a name which if that is the case, the comment will be attributed to a random star. A name is preferred even if its a random made up one by yourself.


text:
Severe Weather Warning for Mandurah & Surrounds
Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds and Heavy Rainfall - this includes Mandurah and surrounds.
For people in parts of WA west of a line from Geraldton to Morawa to Southern Cross to Hyden to Mandurah. This includes people in, near or between the following towns: Geraldton, Jurien Bay, Dalwallinu, York, Southern Cross, the Perth Metropolitan area and Mandurah.
A rain band with embedded thunderstorms currently lies across northern parts of the warning area. At 3:30 pm, satellite and radar imagery showed areas of moderate to heavy rain between Geraldton and Lancelin, extending eastwards towards Southern Cross.
Areas of heavy rain will extend southwards during Thursday evening and will lie close to or over the Perth Metropolitan area. Heavy rainfall is more likely over areas to the north of Perth but there remains a risk that Perth will receive rainfall heavy enough to cause FLASH FLOODING. The period of greatest risk for the Perth Metropolitan area is from about 8pm Thursday through to about 2am Friday morning.
The rain band is expected to produce HEAVY RAINFALL that may cause FLASH FLOODING through parts of the warning area. The rain will ease during Friday morning and contract eastwards.
Flood Watches have been issued for the Central West, Central Wheat Belt and Lower West Districts. For further details please click here.
There is also the slight risk that thunderstorms with DAMAGING WINDS in excess of 90 kilometres per hour could cause DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY during late Thursday afternoon and evening northwest of a line from Lancelin to Wongan Hills to Morawa to Geraldton. This risk of DAMAGING WINDS will ease during Thursday evening. Damaging winds are not expected in the Perth Metropolitan area.
Between 9am and 3:00pm Thursday, the following rainfall totals have been recorded:
Watheroo (DAFWA): 24.8 millimetres.
Three Springs (DAFWA): 24.2 millimetres.
Warradarge East (DAFWA): 20.8 millimetres.
This weather pattern is not typical for this time of the year and winds and particularly the rain may cause damage to property and make road conditions hazardous.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
- If outside find safe shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.
- Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
- Unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line telephones if there is lightning.
- If there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home.
- If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.
- Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
- Slow down and turn your headlights on.
- Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen power lines and loose debris.
- If it is raining heavily and you can not see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.
If your home or property has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500.


text:
Iowa decision to cut swimming leaves Neenah's Osero in holding pattern
The University of Iowa's decision to drop women's swimming and diving along with three other sports has left Av Osero with an uncertain future.
The standout Neenah diver, who won four consecutive WIAA state titles in the event during her high school career, committed to the Hawkeyes her senior year in part because of the program's status and facilities.
The school announced Friday it was discontinuing women's swimming and diving along with men's tennis, men's swimming and diving and men's gymnastics, due to funding issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It’s been a little over 24 hours now and I still can’t wrap my head around it," Osero said. "It’s just crazy to think how amazing that facility is and how well known of a facility it is not just for diving, but they invented a stroke there (butterfly).
"That program has been around through World War I, World War II and the Vietnam war and the thing that’s going to cut it is COVID-19, which is insane. It’s crazy to think about."
Osero wasn't on campus when she received the news. Though the 2020 Neenah grad is enrolled in Iowa's online school courses, she is staying home the first semester to rehab an impending shoulder surgery.
"That'll allow me to get my surgery faster, recover faster and be in the pool faster," she said. "That's my plan."
Whether her future involves another school is something Osero is pursuing. She said she entered the NCAA's transfer portal.
Iowa assistant coach Todd Waikel, who coaches the divers, has been a resource for Osero during this uncertain time.
"I talked to coach Todd yesterday and we kind of had a heart-to-heart," Osero said. "He told me to put myself in the NCAA transfer portal and so I’m on that now and other coaches can legally discuss with me about attending their school."
The next step for Osero will involve surgery, rehab and the waiting game.
"So now I just wait for offers or anyone with interest in me to contact me," she said. "I talked to coach Todd and he said that if I had any interest in other schools he would make phone calls on my behalf and help me out to pursue my diving career that I was supposed to pursue at Iowa."


text:
Book two in The Mapmaker Chronicles.
In the second book in this thrilling series, Mapmaker Quinn is far from home in an exotic land filled with dangerous creatures and ruthless enemies.
When he is betrayed by someone close to him and comes face-to-face with blood-thirsty pirates, he has to decide once and for all who is a friend and who is a foe . . .
Is this the end of the race for Quinn – or just the beginning of another incredible adventure in The Mapmaker Chronicles?
Looks like there are no posts about this book.


text:
HCM CITY — A group of 15 Vietnamese citizens including ten students of the Thai language at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities began a week-long trip by road to Thailand yesterday.
They are accompanied on the trip by Natthakarn Sriyaphan, the Consulate General of Thailand in HCM City's consul of culture, her spouse and journalists. Students will get ample opportunity to practise speaking in Thai because it will be the primary language of communication during the trip.
The trip is part of the newly launched Getting to Know Thailand programme, which aims to create opportunities for Vietnamese youth and local media to learn about the neighbouring king-dom's diverse culture and history through carefully designed short-term visits.
All participants will travel to Thailand by coach along the Southern Economic Corridor route that links countries of ASEAN's sub-region together.
Participants will visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia after they leave Moc Bai Bavet border check point.
During their stay in Thailand, they will visit sites of interest in Bangkok and the provinces of Ayutthaya and Chonburi as well as other popular destinations in the country.
Panpimon Suwannapongse, consul general of Thailand in HCM City, said the programme offered a very interesting route for Vietnamese people to travel to Thailand.
He said the programme would be expanded to include a larger number of participants in the future so that more Vietnamese had the opportunity to learn about Thailand.
Apart from popular destinations, the participants in the programme will also be invited to the area that suffered serious flooding last year, and see how things have returned to normal, he said.
Sriyaphan said that the route would be promoted as a tourism service to bring more Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia and Thailand in the near future. All expenses during the trip, which ends on July 25, are covered by the Thai Government. — VNS


text:
I missed the first two days of National Novel Writing Month.
So my first day was actually yesterday.
In doing that I speed wrote the first chapter to try and catch up.
I ended yesterday with 4,221 words.
It’s below the average, but if I write again at that pace today I could exceed the goal and get more done than I’m supposed to.
Is it bad to overachieve so you may procrastinate later?
Either way, I plan to get at least half of chapter 2 done today for The Brothers Three.
If you want to read chapter one, I have it here!
Feel free to tell me what you think!

domain: hobby


text:
NETHERLANDS: Best Kept Secret has announced the return of its late night Stage Four, along with a further 10 acts for its daytime programme. The latest additions to the roster include Fidlar, Cashmere Cat, Drenge, Kero Kero Bonito, God Damn, Boxed In and many more. Also returning to Hilvarenbeek is last year’s crowd favourite Larry Gus, who will bring a number of special guests including Animal Collective’s Deakin.
The DJ St. Paul-curated Stage Four will include Mike Mago, Kenny B, Jungle by Night, Afterpartees, Jonathan Toubin, Cho (live), Doll Kraut, Applescal, Never Mind The British, Casper Stroes and more.
For more information, check out Best Kept Secret’s official website.


text:
Couldn't even finish it, the guy cannot make a clear point. He's all over the place. Fuck him. No matter what system was used to determine the playoff teams, it would be somewhat arbitrary. We have division winners and the best two of the rest ranked accordingly with extra weight to the division winners. So what?
A 12-4 team had to play on the road at an 8-8 team? Not how I see it. Rather, a wild card team went on the road to a division winner. All things are not equal in the NFL. Why not do away with the divisions altogether and play the top 6 teams ranked as they finish? Play 15 games against your conference and one more against the other for the regular season. How about that? That way everyone has the same schedule except for that one non-conf game and themselves, of course. But everything still isn't equal.
Bah. That douche is either a Colts fan or even worse, a Patsy fan.
Agree. I skimmed and chucked. Same old arguments I've heard before, rendered less than cogently.
I have no problem with the current system. There will always be teams on the outside looking in who have a legitimate argument as to why they should be in. Weak division winners. Records in one conference that wouldn't cut it in the other conference. Whatever.
I think that, if anything, a "weak" team like the Cards going on the road and plastering the "strong" 2 seed Panthers, or the magical if improbable 2005 season Super Bowl winning Steelers, make an argument that the current system has its merits, allows dark horse teams to create a great story, and keeps all the fans involved in one way or another.

domain: sports


text:
Officials still have no answers as to the cause of the massive blaze that destroyed a home on Highway 18, just north of Duncan, early last Friday morning.
Cpl. Krista Hobday, a spokeswoman for the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, said the cause of the fire is still under investigation and asked anyone who might have any information about the incident to contact the police at 250-748-5522.
More than 40 firefighters from three departments spent six hours putting out the blaze, which also destroyed three vehicles that were parked next to the home, estimated to be approximately 100 years old.
No one was home at the time, but it’s known that the single dad who lives in the home with his three children was away at the time of the fire receiving medical treatment in Vancouver.
Hobday said the resident of the home has been interviewed by police, and the investigation is continuing.
The RCMP are treating the fire as suspicious. The family’s shed was burned to the ground the week before.
A number of explosions occurred while firefighters were battling the blaze that were the result of small propane tanks and small appliances blowing up from the heat from the fire.
The house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived shortly after 2 a.m. on Friday.


text:
The shelves are stocked with pencils and pens and kids are trying on backpacks: back to school season is in full swing in the Valley.
According to an ABC30 SurveyUSA poll, nearly 70 percent of local parents started shopping for back to school items in early August. Marketing expert Dr. Bill Rice says retailers have pushed their supplies out earlier this season so it hits home.
Dr. Rice explained, "But if they get inside their head where they think target back to school right now or next week or so, they're going to think oh yah lets go to target."
Fresno mother Shelly Childers spent her Thursday finishing up back to school shopping for her two kids.
Childers said, "We bought most of the basics and so new binders and pencils and that kind of thing, but some of the teachers have special requirements when school starts so when they send the syllabus there's always a few things extra that you need to go out and get."
On average, Valley families say they're spending $50 to $100 on school supplies this school year.
Childers said, "We haven't spent a lot, we probably a few hundred dollars on school and backpacks."
On the clothing side, according to an ABC30 SurveyUSA poll, 40 percent of parents said they had planned to spend between $100 to $200-dollar, while nearly 20 percent said $200 to $300-dollars, and more than 20 percent said they would drop more than $300-dollars for new clothing. For Valley mother Charity Watts, she is spending more on clothing for her children.
"I would say this year we budgeted about 200 for each kid," Watts said. "That's everything, shoes socks, backpack."
With so many families in America taking part in the annual stock-a-thon of clothing and supplies, experts say the cost of going back to school is definitely adding up.

domain: economics


text:
Former Disney Channel star arrested in alleged domestic violence incident, police say
LIMA, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - A former Disney Channel star is facing charges in Ohio after a reported case of domestic violence.
Orlando Brown, who starred in Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” is facing an aggravated menacing charge after police took him into custody on Thursday.
He pleaded not guilty on Friday.
Police told the Los Angeles Times they were called out to a Lima home and witnessed a “fierce verbal argument.”
Brown is being held on a $25,000 bond in Lima.
Copyright 2022 WTVG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

domain: law


text:
As the conversation on gun control heats up across the country, the New Haven Police Department has taken scores of guns off the streets in three successive gun buyback events over the past month.
Sponsored by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a national injury prevention program for children, the buyback program allows Elm City residents to turn in guns, ammunition and weapons safely and anonymously in exchange for gift cards. Last December, the police organized three buybacks, collecting a total of 160 firearms, both legally and illegally purchased. Spreading nationwide in the wake of mass shooting tragedies, gun buybacks have helped reduce the number of legal and illegal firearms in the streets and provided citizens with a process to turn in weapons without fear of prosecution, NHPD spokesman David Hartman said.
Citizens who willingly turn in their weapons to police are guaranteed anonymity and amnesty, even in the case of firearms without permits, Hartman said. No questions are asked about the identity of the participants, but a survey is distributed to collect basic information about how they came into possession of the weapon and their reason for relinquishing it.
“There are millions of guns out there,“ he said. “This is an easy avenue for people to get undesired weapons out of their hands.”
After holding a daylong buyback on Dec. 1, the NHPD decided to organize two additional buyback events in response to the elementary school shooting in Newtown that killed 20 children and 14 adults on Dec. 14.
The last two gun buybacks were held on Dec. 22 and Dec. 28 and netted 128 firearms, said Pina Violano, injury prevention coordinator for Yale-New Haven Hospital. Violano said that the Newtown shooting massacre had a “strong impact” on New Haven residents who were in possession of firearms at the time.
“What happened in Newtown certainly frightened people,” she said “On the survey that we distributed, many people specifically said that they wanted to turn in their guns because of the shooting.”
One of the guns collected in the Dec. 22 buyback was a semiautomatic Bushmaster .223 rifle with a suppressor that is similar to the weapon used in the Newtown shooting. A total of eight potential assault weapons were collected, Hartman said. He added that some of the weapons that were turned in have been linked to violent crime and will be saved as potential evidence.
The rest of the firearms collected will soon be destroyed, Violano said, adding that the NHPD and the Injury Free Coalition for Kids are searching for an artist to melt down the guns and put them to creative use.
“We talked to some students and professors at the Yale Art School, and we’d like to see those guns to be made into a statue, an artwork against gun violence,” Violano said.
The city’s police department launched its buyback program in December 2011, when a total of 60 unloaded firearms were collected in only one day. Since then, the NHPD and the Injury Free Coalition for Kids have organized four more gun buybacks at the New Haven Police Academy, one of which was held in the summer of 2012 and three in last month, Hartman said.
Violano said New Haven modeled its own buyback program after a program in Worcester, Mass., through which over 1,800 guns have been collected since 2002. People who willingly decide to turn in a working weapon are rewarded with a $50 gift card for most guns and a $100 gift card for assault weapons. The gift cards, Violano said, are provided by corporate sponsors and private donors.
Despite the criticism that gun buybacks are ineffective interventions in reducing crime, both Violano and Hartman said the buyback program is primarily intended to reduce unintentional gun-related injuries.
“The general public might think that we want criminals to walk through the door and turn in their weapons, but we understand this is not going to happen,” Hartman said, adding that the majority of the weapons collected through the buybacks are lawfully registered firearms. “Most of these guns belong not to criminals, but to people that have inherited a weapon that they no longer want and that can be stolen.”
Violano agreed that, as an injury prevention program, the focus of the gun buybacks is to remove unwanted arms, which are the cause of thousand of fatal and nonfatal injuries among children every year. About 3,200 children are disabled annually after a gunshot injury, according to the National Pediatric Trauma Registry and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
“Even one gun off the street is one less gun that can harm a child,” Violano said.
Collectively, the five buybacks in New Haven have netted more than 220 firearms and about 20 assault weapons since 2011.

domain: sociology


text: Alibaba.com offers 98 premium tequila products. About 100% of these are tequila. A wide variety of premium tequila options are available to you, There are 30 premium tequila suppliers, mainly located in North America. The top supplying countries are United States, Mexico, and Canada, which supply 40%, 20%, and 13% of premium tequila respectively. Premium tequila products are most popular in North America, Eastern Europe, and South America. You can ensure product safety by selecting from certified suppliers, including 2 with Other certification.


text: “We wanted to create a new, special place, unique in the world. With this project we give the emerging designers we have handpicked from all over the world visibility, offering them a real opportunity. What happens there, happens only there and in this very moment in time. Now more than ever before, what matters to us is finding the balance between ethics and aesthetics.” Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana Spiga2, the first multi-brand store from Dolce&Gabbana, is unveiled. Not only a store, but a meeting place where one can constantly get involved. The different cultures dissolve to create an innovative aesthetic language, where tradition looks to the future and fashion meets technology, and where one can live the hospitable and warm ambiances of yesteryear’s village shops. A space that wants to open up to the young generations and to become a place of conversation, where it is possible to surf the net, share contents and take part almost actively in the shop’s very own activities. The young designers’ collections, personally handpicked by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, mix with the Dolce&Gabbana accessories collections. It becomes an exclusive window for fashion’s new names, a very real opportunity to give more visibility to fashion’s future protagonists and to their creations. The selection is in constant transformation, and it just goes to show how much this space is certain to last and is going to be a feature of its time.


text:
Is there anything more tantalising than the smell of Xmas cookies baking in the kitchen? Probably not, which is why I decided to whip up a few batches to give to friends and family as gifts this festive season.
They make a delicious, personal and fun gift especially if you decide to decorate them. I have provided the ingredients for a basic glacé icing but you can use store bought icing, royal icing, chocolate or any combination of the above. Just make sure you start about 2 days before you want to package them because they take at least 24 hours to dry.
Spiced holiday cookies
Adapted from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
For the cookies
200g butter at room temperature
280g caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
400g flour plus extra for dusting
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
A pinch of cloves
A pinch of nutmeg
A pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
For the icing
2 cups icing sugar
2 tablespoons water or milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food colouring (optional)
To make the cookies preheat your oven to 170 degrees and line 2 – 3 cookie sheets with greaseproof paper.
Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until well combined, using a rubber spatula to scrape down any unmixed ingredients. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until combined but do not overmix. The electric mixer probably won’t bring your dough together into a ball so don’t be afraid to get your hands involved.
Now dust a clean flat work surface with flour and place the dough on it (if you are working in a little apartment kitchen like me expect to do this in several batches). Roll The dough to about 3mm thick using a rolling pin. It can tend to stick so make sure you dust the dough, surface and rolling pin with flour regularly. Cut out shapes using festive cookie cutters. I did Santas, reindeer and snowflakes. Evenly space out the cookies on the prepared trays and bake on the middle shelf of the oven. The baking time will depend on your cookie size but you’re probably looking at 5 – 10 minutes. I would suggest checking regularly. You want them to be just golden on the edges and pale in the centre. Allow the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes on the tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Keep rerolling and cutting your dough until it is finished.
To make the icing sift the icing sugar and then add the water or milk, vanilla and food colouring if using. Beat together with a fork until smooth.
When the cookies are completely cool decorate using a piping bag or even just spread on with a knife or teaspoon.
Leave the cookies to dry for at least 24 hours before packaging.
Makes 30 -50 depending on the size of your cutters
I’m so behind! I’m supposed to be making cookies right now, but am blogging instead. Sigh. Gotta go make those peanutbutter cookies with the Hershey’s Kiss in the center. Whatever they’re called. Merry Christmas, and stop by soon! 🙂
Ooh wow! Those sound amazing!
Looks very YUMMY!
They have been very popular with my colleagues 🙂
They look so delicious.
Thanks! I’ve enjoyed making and eating them 🙂
I can’t resist a good cookie! And those look great 🙂
Now that looks GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! So hungry right now and this is not helping.
Oh dear. Well maybe you could make some? 😉
Well see that’s no fun I just want to eat them haha!

domain: food


|Report Index--> 2004-05--> All for 20041021|
|<-Page||<-Team||Thu 21 Oct 2004 Feyenoord 3 Hearts 0||Team->||Page->|
|<-Srce||<-Type||Scotsman ------ Report||Type->||Srce->|
|Craig Levein||<-auth||Paul Kiddie||auth->||Tonny Kolbech Poulsen|
|[D Kuyt 22] ;[B Goor 58] ;[D Kuyt 83]|
Dutch brilliance proves Kuip de grace for Hearts
HEARTS had their first whiff of the rarified atmosphere of the UEFA Cup group stages in Rotterdam - and were left gasping at the quality of Feyenoord.
The Jambos battled valiantly to contain the Dutch giants in the De Kuip but found that there is no substitute for class.
Ruud Gullit’s side, winners of the UEFA Cup just two years ago, were simply too good for the Tynecastle outfit, the 3-0 victory a fair reflection on the balance of play in the Group A opener.
The trip to Holland was always going to be a huge test for Levein’s men, who found circumstances conspiring against them both before and during the match.
Mark de Vries had travelled in the vain hope of recovering from a poisoned toe but flew back to Scotland on the morning of the game for more hospital treatment in a bid to have him available for Sunday’s derby against Hibs.
As the big day approached, Levein had probably resigned himself to having to do without the talismanic front man whose two goals against Braga in Portugal in the last round took Hearts through to the money-spinning group stages. But he wouldn’t have bargained on his midfield being shorn of the considerable presence of Phil Stamp, the Englishman having been laid low by a sickness bug yesterday.
His predicament opened the door for Joe Hamill, whose confident display was one of the plus points for Levein on a night his players experienced at first hand the difference between the SPL and the cream of Europe.
To have had any chance of snatching something from their trip to Rotterdam, the Jambos needed to be at full-strength and on top of their game. As it was, neither box was ticked and they could have no complaints about the final result. Their attempt, though, to cause a major upset wasn’t helped by two ridiculous offside decisions.
The visitors, with Kevin McKenna handed the unenviable task as the lone striker on his first start of the season, had weathered the expected early onslaught from Gullit’s side - Craig Gordon was called into action after just 25 seconds to save Dirk Kuijt’s shot. But they saw their good work undone in the 21st minute by a blunder from assistant referee Bo Blankholm Pedersen.
The official failed to spot Karim Saidi at least two yards offside in the six-yard box as Patrick Paauwe sent a cross from the right swinging into the area, the full-back clearly interfering with play as he challenged Robbie Neilson for the ball which was met by the head of Kuijt at the back post who finished well to break the deadlock.
There must have been a feeling of deja vu for the Jambos, who fell behind at Celtic Park on Saturday after another dubious offside call.
Eight minutes from the break and it became evident it wasn’t going to be Hearts’ day when stand-side assistant Jens Larsen flagged for offside against Paul Hartley after McKenna had drilled a low shot under the body of keeper Gabor Babos. Again it was another poor decision from the official, with the midfielder running away from goal and Levein was quick to tell the referee as much at the end of the game.
"I don’t have too many complaints apart from the couple of decisions which didn’t go our way," said the Hearts boss afterwards. "To get anything from a match as tough as this one we probably would have needed most of the decisions to be in our favour. The first goal was offside and our goal was clearly onside. These things can make a difference but whether we would have won the match is another thing.
"I talked to the referee at the end of the game and asked him to watch the television and acknowledge the fact that his assistants had made mistakes.
"It was typical of the type of things that can happen. It is annoying to know we had a perfectly good goal disallowed and that their first goal was offside.
"I was disappointed with the referee’s performance. It is easy to prepare yourself for the quality of opposition but it is difficult to prepare yourself for the quality of referee. Having said that I don’t want to make a big thing about it as there is no doubt that Feyenoord deserved to win the match. They are a good side with very good players and will score goals against most teams."
Such was the quality of this lightning-quick Feyenoord side, though, that even had both calls gone Hearts’ way, it is debatable if the Jambos had sufficient firepower to threaten a shock.
As much as they supplied their typically honest endeavour throughout the 90 minutes, they had no one to match the sheer class of Kuijt, Salomon Kalou, Romeo Castelen and Bart Goor.
Hearts could well have fallen behind before Kuijt’s opener, with Kalou having a sixth-minute effort ruled out for offside, and Andy Webster having to clear off the line from Pascal Bosschart.
To his credit, Levein, who celebrates his 40th birthday today, changed things before the interval replacing Neil MacFarlane with Graham Weir to try to force an equaliser with two up front.
In the 53rd minute, the diminutive striker went down under a challenge from Saidi in the box, referee Poulsen waving aside claims for a spot-kick. It was looking a bit more encouraging for Hearts in the early stages of the second half but the game was effectively killed off as the hour mark approached.
The superb Kalou split the Jambos defence with a superb pass and Goor was on to it in a flash to hold off Neilson and clip a delightful finish past the advancing Gordon.
McKenna had the chance to throw his side a lifeline in the 61st minute when Neilson’s cross picked him out in great position but instead of going for goal himself the Canadian opted the head the ball back across the box and the opportunity was lost.
Levein threw caution to the wind for the last 20 minutes when he brought on Dennis Wyness and put three up front. But it was the hosts who nearly stretched their lead, Gordon pulling off a magnificent save to tip over Kuijt’s drive, the Dutch internationalist applauding the youngster’s stop. Hamill had a chance seconds later but blasted wide and seven minutes from time Feyenoord completed a straight-forward victory with another fine finish from Kuijt after a cross from Goor.
"We didn’t expect an easy night but were all disappointed with the result," said Levein.
"We knew it was going to be an extremely difficult task to take even a point from the game. When the draw was made we realised that getting anything here was going to be our toughest test. I knew the players would work extremely hard and the second goal came at a time in the game when I thought we were doing reasonably well. The lads gave everything they had but it wasn’t to be."
Gullit felt some sympathy for Levein over the offside calls but insisted his team deserved to take the three points.
"I can understand Hearts’ feelings at the two decisions but sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don’t," he said. "We scored a goal earlier in the game which shouldn’t have been disallowed and overall I thought we played better than Hearts and deserved to win the game."
Better teams than Hearts will take a heavy beating in the De Kuip and losing to the Dutch first division leaders is no disgrace. The experience will stand them in good stead for the remaining group games over the next few weeks as their Euro adventure continues.
For now, though, it is back to the bread and butter of the league on Sunday, with the players having to find the energy from somewhere to cope with an in-form Hibs side.
|<-Page||<-Team||Thu 21 Oct 2004 Feyenoord 3 Hearts 0||Team->||Page->|


How to Find the Perfect Pressure Washer near me!
Pressure washers are powerful tools that can save you money on cleaning tasks. But there are risks involved in using these machines, so read this article to learn how to use a pressure washer safely.
The pros and cons of each type
There are two main types of pressure washers: gas powered and electric. Gas pressure washers are more common because they produce less noise than electric ones. Electric pressure washers are quieter than gas pressure washers, but they require an outlet to operate. Both types of pressure washers come with different features and benefits.
Types of pressure washers
There are two main categories of pressure washers: gas and electric. Gas models use fuel to generate high-pressure water streams.
Electric models use electricity to power a pump that generates the same type of stream as a gas model.
Both kinds of pressure washers are available in different sizes, ranging from small handheld units to large industrial models.
Top Pressure washers Gas models
Top Pressure washers electric models
Which one is best for you?
If you need a powerful machine that will clean large areas quickly, then a gas pressure washer might be right for you. These machines use pressurized water to blast dirt off surfaces. Because they work at high pressures, they can remove stubborn stains and grime from hard surfaces such as concrete and brick.
Buying Pressure washer tips
A good pressure washer should be able to handle tough jobs without breaking down. It’s important to consider how much power you’ll need when buying one. Gas pressure washers typically come with more horsepower than electric models. Electric pressure washers tend to be smaller and lighter, so they’re easier to move around.
In conclusion, pressure washers are great tools for cleaning up after a storm or other natural disaster. But they’re also handy for keeping your house clean and looking nice.
If you’re thinking about getting a pressure washer, there are some things to think about before making a purchase. First, make sure you understand what kind of pressure washer you need. Do you need a gas model or an electric model? What size do you need? Is it portable or stationary? And finally, how powerful do you need it to be?
Pressure Washer near me Rental
If you need to rent a pressure washer, one option is to visit the homedepot closest to you, to see the options they can offer you, but first you have to take into account the time you will be using the rental service, because The rent can be more expensive than buying a washing machine at a price, so it is better to compare the prices before renting.
FIND PRESSURE WASHER NEAR ME | NEAREST PRESSURE WASHER LOCATIONS
Are you looking for a pressure cleaning services in your area? Use the following maps to find the one closest to you.
- Pressure washer services in MiamiPressure washers are high-demand services that require good company and materials to; satisfy the needs of every person individually and that are […]
- Cleaning windows with pressure washerCleaning windows with pressure washer has become an essential cleaning methodology for many people who have always sought to keep their homes […]
- Pressure Cleaning Roof |Why you should clean the roof of your housePressure cleaning roofs is an effective way to remove moss, algae, lichen, and other unwanted growth from your roof. Find […]


text:
Great Bend High School seniors were notified Friday that a tentative date for their graduation ceremony has been set. At this time, graduation is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 14, on the football field at Memorial Stadium.
“That is the plan,” Assistant Principal Randy Wetzel said. “But as you know, things change rapidly during this time.”
The class of 2020 will also be honored early in May, when street lamps in downtown Great Bend will display flags honoring graduating seniors.
Wetzel said the school district is working with the yearbook staff and local photographers to create flags that will include graduates’ names and photos.
“Photos were provided to GBHS by the student/family and we have contacted all photographers for permission to use,” Wetzel said in an email to families. Parents who don’t want a student’s flag displayed must contact him by Monday afternoon if they wish to opt out. His email address is firstname.lastname@example.org.
“We would like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to Portraits by Shane for their assistance with this project,” Wetzel continued. “We will be back in touch when the installation and reveal date are confirmed.”
Seniors were sent a survey about their preferences for graduation and close to 70% of the 130 who responded said they would like to see graduation take place on June 14, four weeks after the May 17 date that was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic and the governor’s stay-at-home order. Gov. Laura Kelly’s order is set to expire on May 3 unless it is extended.
“I believe by waiting until June 14th, we have a better chance of having a traditional graduation on the football field,” Wetzel said. “Jostens will reprint the announcement insert with date and time at no extra charge.”
He estimates that the stadium could hold 900 people if everyone maintained 6 feet of separation.
“Of course, families could sit together and that number would increase. With that said, the governor would have to lift the restriction of no gathering larger than 10 people. We would have to space the seniors out at least 6 feet (as) the Air Force Academy did this last week. We are hoping to have graduation as normal as possible but we do have options if that is not possible.”
In addition to surveying students, the district created a task force to look at options for graduation and student recognition. Members were Principal Tim Friess and senior class sponsor Karen Maier, with students Daniel Abbott, Chloe Gibson, Jenna Mauler, Olivia Mull, Annette Sanchez and Bayle Sandy.
Wetzel noted that seniors must have all assignments for their classes completed and turned in by Thursday, May 14.


text:
One of the most important things to check off your to-do list when the weather warms up, is to aerate your lawn, and there is a pair of shoes doing the rounds on social media that promise to make this job easier.
Aerating your lawn is an important lawn care tip to help your lawn ideas to recover from the rain and frost from winter. It is usually done with spikes, to create pockets of space that will help to improve drainage, prevent any further water-logging, and maintain the health of your lawn in general.
One way that some gardening influencers and TikTok creators have been opting to do this recently is to use ‘aerating shoes’ – yes, you heard that right.
What are aerating shoes – and are they a good idea?
TikTok creator Nerkesha Rogers (82pondview) recently shared a video sharing how she likes to use aeration shoes to tend to her lawn – jokingly referring to them as 'the most glamorous shoes ever'.
She then proceeded to unveil the aeration shoes, which are essentially slats designed to be tied onto the bottom of your shoes, and which have long metal pins on the base to create holes in your lawn.
We’re not entirely sure which shoes Nerkesha is wearing in the video, but this affordable pair from Amazon for £12 looks incredibly similar.
Nerkesha explains that she usually straps these onto the bottom of her wellies – a process she calls ‘so easy’ – before walking around her lawn repeatedly in order to aerate it. At the end of the video, she comments, ‘this is so quick and easy to do. Job done!'
Another tongue-in-cheek video posted by Home With Wenlocks showed them aerating their lawn with these shoe inserts, leaving their followers (and us) giggling.
So while this method of aerating a lawn sounds ingenious as an incredibly low-effort way to achieve an important garden job this spring, is it something the experts would actually recommend?
Royal gardener and gardening expert Jack Stooks (speaking on behalf of Alt Index) explained that these shoes can be a great option for people with small lawns and outdoor spaces to aerate.
'These boots are very much veered towards people with smaller gardens – you won’t want to use them on a large patch of grass as it would take hours. In a smaller garden, these boots are great for creating a bit of air in the ground.'
However, he did warn that the holes created by these shoes may be a little too small to be useful for aeration generally. Jack explains, 'These shoes will just go underneath the roots of the grass, but they can still help if you have waterlogged grass, to drain water through the soil.'
Craig Morley, a gardening expert from Budget Seeds, agrees, saying that aeration shoes like this may not be as effective as you think.
'Wearing spiked aerating shoes is unfortunately unlikely to actually work,' he says. 'This is because they impact too small of an area, and by walking over the area continually, you may actually be compacting the soil even more instead.'
'Plus, the spikes used on the shoes are too thin to allow enough light and water to enter the soil, and they are also not long enough. Aerating shoes will only create holes that are around one to two inches deep, whereas the machines used by professionals create holes that are three to four inches deep.'
If you are really keen to take care of your lawn as best you can, Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk instead advises using a different, more traditional, gardening tool.
He says, 'A garden fork is a sensible option to use instead, as it won’t cause damage to the plants.'
Craig also suggests that hiring in help could be a superior option if you have the budget for it. 'A better alternative to aerating shoes is to hire a professional or rent a machine that can aerate your lawn, or use a handheld aerator to do so manually,' he says.
'Machine and hand-held aerators will remove plugs that are much larger than what the shoes would supposedly remove, cover a much larger surface area and do not add to the compaction of the soil.'
So there you have it - while they may look like a lot of fun, it's probably best to opt for more traditional methods when it comes to aerating your lawn!

domain: agronomy


text:
Of local significance as a cottage built for Lord Clifford, a significant property owner, and used as hospital headquarters for the 1955-56 Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree (an event of statewide importance), held on Clifford's Yarra Brae property. (Criterion A4, H1)
Yarra Brae Cottage is a simple, gable-roofed timber cottage with tiled roof and metal-framed windows. A large stone chimney is a feature of the main facade.
The tiled roof has been replaced. A return verandah and large carport are later extensions built by the previous owners around 1969. The garden area is enclosed by white-painted timber fencing. An H. V. McKay standard design farm gate is located on Davis Road. This is a common type of farm gate, but no other examples have been noted in the City of Manningham.


text:
9 Ways to Prevent Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Uncontrolled cases of diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and other serious conditions. Before diabetes is diagnosed, there is a period where blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This is known as prediabetes.
It’s estimated that up to 70% of people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Although there are certain factors you can’t change such as your genes, age or past behaviours, there are many actions you can take to reduce the risk of diabetes. Here are 9 ways to avoid getting diabetes:
- Cut sugar from your diet
Eating sugary foods & refined carbs can put at-risk individuals on the fast track to developing diabetes. Your body rapidly breaks these foods down into small sugar molecules, which are absorbed into your bloodstream.
The resulting rise in blood sugar stimulates your pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone that helps sugar get out of the bloodstream and into your body’s cells. In people with prediabetes, the body’s cells are resistant to insulin’s action, so sugar remains high in the blood. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin, attempting to bring blood sugar down to a healthy level. Over time, this can lead to progressively higher blood sugar and insulin levels, until the condition eventually turns into type 2 diabetes. So next time you take a bit into your favourite dessert, ask yourself whether it is worth the risk.
- Work out regularly
Performing physical activity on a regular basis may help prevent diabetes. Exercise increases the insulin sensitivity of your cells. When you exercise, less insulin is required to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Many types of physical activity have been shown to reduce insulin resistance and blood sugar in overweight, obese and prediabetic adults. These include aerobic exercise, high-intensity interval training and strength training. It is always best to choose a physical activity that you enjoy, can engage in regularly and feel you can do it long-term. Performing physical activity on a regular basis can increase insulin secretion and sensitivity, which may help prevent the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.
- Make water your favourite drink
Water is by far the most natural beverage you can drink. What’s more, sticking with water most of the time helps you avoid beverages that are high in sugar, preservatives and other questionable ingredients. Sugary beverages like cold-drinks and artificial juices have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Drinking water instead of other beverages may help control blood sugar and insulin levels, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes.
- Lose that extra weight
Although not everyone who develops type 2 diabetes is overweight or obese, studies have shown that a majority of them are. Those with prediabetes tend to carry excess weight in their midsection and around abdominal organs like the liver. This is known as visceral fat. Excess visceral fat promotes inflammation and insulin resistance, which significantly increase the risk of diabetes. Although losing even a small amount of weight can help reduce this risk, clinical research has proven that the more you lose, the more benefits you’ll experience
- Quit Smoking
Smoking has been shown to cause or contribute to many serious health conditions, including heart disease, cancers of the lung, breast, prostate and digestive tract. There’s also research linking smoking and second-hand smoke exposure to type 2 diabetes. Quitting smoking has been shown to reduce this risk over time.
- Avoid Sedentary LifeStyle
If you get no or very little physical activity, and you sit during most of your day, then you lead a sedentary lifestyle. It’s important to avoid being sedentary if you want to prevent diabetes. Changing sedentary behaviour can be as simple as standing up from your desk and walking around for a few minutes every hour. Unfortunately, it can be hard to reverse firmly entrenched habits. Set realistic and achievable goals, such as standing whitaking the stairs instead of the elevator. Committing to these easy, concrete actions may be the best way to reverse sedentary tendencies.
- Eat A High-Fiber Diet
Getting plenty of fiber is beneficial for gut health and weight management. Most unprocessed plant foods contain fiber, although some have more than others. Consuming a good fiber source at each meal can help prevent spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels, which may help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
- Minimize Your Intake of Processed Foods
One clear step you can take to improve your health is to minimize your consumption of processed foods.
They are linked to all sorts of health problems, including heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Studies suggest that cutting back on packaged foods that are high in vegetable oils, refined grains and additives may help reduce the risk of diabetes, this may be partly due to the protective effects of whole foods like nuts, vegetables, fruits and other plant foods. Minimizing processed foods and focusing on whole foods with protective effects on health may help decrease the risk of diabetes.
- Consider Taking These Natural herbs
There are a few herbs that may help increase insulin sensitivity and reduce the likelihood of diabetes progression. One of the natural herbs is Curcumin which is a component of the bright gold spice turmeric, which is one of the main ingredients in curries. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in India for centuries as part of Ayurvedic medicine. Research has shown it can be very effective against arthritis and may help reduce inflammatory markers in people with prediabetes. There’s also impressive evidence that it may decrease insulin resistance and reduce the risk of diabetes progression. In addition, the curcumin group experienced an increase in insulin sensitivity and improved functioning of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Always remember, you have control over many of the factors that influence diabetes. Rather than viewing prediabetes as a stepping stone to diabetes, it may be helpful to see it as a motivator for making changes that can help reduce your risk. Eating the right foods and adopting other lifestyle behaviours that promote healthy blood sugar and insulin levels will give you the best chance at avoiding diabetes.

domain: health


text:
Half Day Tour : 8.30 am to 12.30 pm
Making Memories Tours introduce you to the Island History 2, wherein a half-day tour, you will visit some of the most important historical landmarks in Aruba.
Our knowledgeable Private Tour Guide will tell you all about the past and present history and visit the following stops:
- Alto Vista Chapel
- Ayo Rock Formation
- Casibari Rock Formation
- Bushiriba Gold Mill Ruins


text:
The Importance of Calibration and Reliability of Clinical Examiners in Research
The importance of calibration and reliability of clinical examiners in research is expressed in each of the following statements EXCEPT one.Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A) Any change in study index should reflect treatment efficacy.
B) Change in index reflects examiner use of the index.
C) Interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability is critical to study validity.
D) Variability leads to the possibility of having statistically significant differences.

domain: literature


text:
Good morning. Here’s all you need to know about what went on in the world of music in the past 24 hours:
In its first TV performance since Taylor Hawkins’ March 2022 passing, Foo Fighters appeared on Saturday Night Live and were joined by H.E.R. for “The Glass.”
In related news, boygenius will serve as the musical guest on the next SNL episode, which will be hosted by Timothée Chalamet on Nov. 11.
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers joined Ed Sheeran at his show in Las Vegas this weekend to perform “Mr. Brightside.”

domain: celebrity


- CQC inspection of Marie Stopes International uncovers “serious concerns”
- About 250 women a week will be diverted to other providers after range of termination of pregnancy services suspended
- NHS England has launched confidential helpline for those with concerns and questions
About 250 women a week will be redirected from Marie Stopes International clinics to other services after the Care Quality Commission uncovered “serious concerns” with the abortion provider.
The regulator said on Friday evening that an inspection of Marie Stopes’ services and corporate headquarters had raised concerns about its “corporate and clinical governance arrangements and patient safety protocols in specific areas”.
In response to concerns raised by the CQC, Marie Stopes has suspended termination of pregnancy provision for under-18s and vulnerable women; for those under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation; and has suspended all surgical terminations at its Norwich centre.
The CQC said the restrictions on services would remain in place until Marie Stopes demonstrated it had “appropriate systems in place to care for all of its patients safely”.
The regulator identified a number of concerns linked to Marie Stopes’ governance arrangements during a series of inspections of the provider’s clinics. As a result, the CQC carried out an unannounced inspection of the company’s corporate headquarters in England in July, and of its call centre on 12 August.
The CQC raised “specific immediate concerns” relating to a “lack of assurance” in areas such as consent and safeguarding, and in relation to “training and competence in conscious sedation and general anaesthesia”.
Professor Edward Baker, the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Given the nature of the concerns we identified on our inspections, it is right that Marie Stopes International has suspended a number of its services.
“At all times, our priority is to ensure that patients get safe, high quality and compassionate care. We believe that the action taken is appropriate to address our concerns.
“We will continue to monitor these services very closely and we will not hesitate to take further action if needed.
“We will report fully and publicly on our inspection findings as soon as our regulatory process has concluded and we are able to do so.”
The CQC’s full findings will be published in an inspection report which is due in the autumn.
NHS England has activated contingency arrangements to ensure that all patients seeking services that have been suspended continue to get safe and high quality care. This will involve diverting around 250 women a week, both NHS and private patients, to other providers. A confidential helpline has also been established for those with concerns and questions.
Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s medical director, said: “This will be an anxious time for those women affected and we are taking immediate action to ensure everybody involved has access to the appropriate confidential advice and services.”
The government has informed Marie Stopes International that it will not receive approval for further clinics to offer termination services until the CQC is satisfied its concerns have been addressed.
- The confidential helpline number is 0300 123 1041 (9am to 5pm at the weekends and 9am to 8pm during the week)


* 5-6 years L1/L1.5 Support experience, with at least 3 years supporting a customer Production instance
- Plan and manage medium to high complexity production support tasks and activities that require subject matter knowledge regarding general application and infrastructure support (e.g., incident, change, problem management, controls, monitoring production processing) and ITIL framework.
- Troubleshoot the issues related with Cloud Infrastructure
- Execute runbook instructions and escalates unresolved issues to proper stakeholders
- Monitor application as per monitoring tools and escalates/takes appropriate actions based on the alerts received
- Promptly takes action on the calls received from Pager Duty to ensure there are no escalations on his/her area of work
- Follows the established and approved support model
Required Skills and Experience:
- Knowledge of Monitoring Tool ( e.g. Datadog)
- Good knowledge Linux and Windows Operating System knowledge
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to troubleshoot issues and find solutions.
- Good organization and communication skills. Strong aptitude for attention to details.
- Knowledge of PC usage and related software packages (e.g. outlook, browsers, SharePoint, Office Suite).
- Experience with ITIL framework, industry delivery and support standards and processes, knowledge management systems, contract metrics and SLAs and ITSM tools.
- Must have skills for Mid Level AWS , EKS (3-4) and Mid Level Kubernetes Exp (2-3 yrs.)?
- Azure would be good to have
- Experience with application support and business operations
- Learning attitude - willing to learn new things.
- Have to work in shifts, as we are supporting 24x7 customers
- May have to work on Call during holidays
- Reach out to GTAC for Product Issues and raise IRs
- Willingness to work in the night shift
- Mentoring of junior team members
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Minimum of an Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, Engineering or related field.
- 5 years of experience in an IT support role may be substituted if the degree is not in technology or mathematics.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Experience: Minimum 5+ years
* AWS Sysops Admin Associate
* AWS Solution Architect Associate (Good To Have)
Organization: Digital Industries
Company: Siemens Ltd., China, Shanghai No. 3 Branch
Experience Level: Mid-level Professional
Full / Part time: Full-time


Secretary, Ministry of Commerce Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera on Tuesday underscored that the early operationalization of China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) phase II, was essential for the mutual benefit and productive outcomes for the both countries.
The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing called on the Secretary Commerce Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera in Ministry of Commerce, said a press release issued by Ministry of commerce here.
Secretary also urged the Chinese side for expediting the implementation process CPFTA. The Secretary Commerce also highlighted the importance of regional integration and suggested that both sides should work closely for effective implementation of the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) by removing the bottle-necks and disseminating the information among the business community.
The Chinese Ambassador assured full-cooperation from the Chinese side regarding expediting the implementation process of the phase-II of the China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).
Secretary Commerce extended his gratitude to the Ambassador for rolling-out a special technical assistance program for the young civil servants of the Commerce and Trade group.
“The special technical assistance program will help in capacity building of the officers to discharge their responsibilities as economic and trade officers in befitting manner” he added.