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Necrotizing Fasciitis in an Elderly Female with Diabetes Mellitus
J Sabu Philip, V P Fay
diabetes mellitus, necrotizing fasciitis, negative pressure wound therapy, nutrition, pain management, wound care
J Sabu Philip, V P Fay. Necrotizing Fasciitis in an Elderly Female with Diabetes Mellitus. The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice. 2013 Volume 12 Number 1.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressing, life threatening soft tissue infection more common in patients with less resistance to infection. Although early diagnosis is the cornerstone of management, emergency surgical management, early antibiotic treatment, and hemodynamic stabilization decrease morbidity and mortality. This paper discusses the pathology of necrotizing fasciitis and relates the diagnosis, wound treatment, and rehabilitation via a case study of an elderly female with a history of diabetes mellitus who presented to an emergency department. Wound care included the application of negative pressure wound therapy for preparing the wound for reconstructive surgery.
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare but life threatening soft tissue infection leading to extensive necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue.1 Untreated NF can lead to sepsis and death by rapidly spreading necrosis in skin and subcutaneous fat.2 The diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis is based on clinical presentation, the patient’s history, and physical examination. Better outcomes are demonstrated when the affected area involves only the patient’s upper extremities, as compared to more extensive involvement of the abdomen, perineal region, or lower extremities.3 Conventional wound care by wet to dry dressing for maintenance of moisture balance of the wound and mechanical debridement followed by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) demonstrates improved outcomes when managing extensive wounds after surgical debridement of devitalized tissue. Negative pressure wound therapy prepares the wound for surgical closure, promotes faster wound healing, and improves skin graft outcomes by providing a bolstering effect to reduce graft failure.4
A 69 year-old Latin American female with a 16 year history of diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with oral medications presented to the emergency department (ED) with a 3 day history of fever and lower abdominal pain. She reported a lower abdominal wall blister with no history of trauma or injury to the site, subjective fever with diaphoresis, shortness of breath, nausea, and chills. On admission, the patient had a temperature of 100.5o Fahrenheit, a pulse rate of 112 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, and a blood pressure of 96/55 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Examination of the abdomen and perineum revealed a large abscess that spanned from the umbilicus to the left thigh and vulva, an area approximately 25x32centimeters (cm) in diameter. Bullae were noted at the lower abdominal wall and vulva. The area was disproportionately tender to palpation, edematous, and erythematous. No lymph nodes were palpable. The white blood cell count (WBC) showed 22 × 103 per liter (L), with 88% neutrophils and 12% lymphocytes, hemoglobin (Hg) of 11 grams per deciliter (gm/dl) with a hematocrit of 32%, and a platelet count of 429×103 /L. The blood sugar was 168 milligrams (mg)/dl on admission. The hemoglobin A1C was 6.6 %, and renal function was near normal with a serum creatinine of 1.2 mg/dl.
To aid in diagnosis, a risk score was validated using the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score. A presumptive diagnosis was made for NF based on a risk assessment score of 7, given the patient’s C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, was 150mg/L. A LRINEC score of ≥6 raises the suspicion of NF, and a score of ≥8 is strongly predictive of the disease. The variables listed in Table 1 are used for diagnosing soft tissue infections.5
Clinical features that differentiate NF from other soft tissue infections include fever, tachycardia, hypotension, tense edema outside the involved skin, disproportionate pain, blisters and bullae, crepitus, and subcutaneous gas.6 These features, along with gross evidence of wide spread fascia necrosis by direct inspection (during surgical examination under anesthesia), excludes infective gangrene, solitary perianal abscess, periurethral abscesses, and diabetic gangrene. Extensive necrosis of the superficial fascia in the absence of macrovascular occlusion is a hallmark of NF. Focal necrosis, microvascular changes, and leukocytosis in debrided tissue examination are also diagnostic indicators.7 Histopathological examination may reveal necrosis of the fascia, polymorphonuclear infiltrate, and edema of the dermis, subcutaneous fat, and superficial fascia.3
Although laboratory findings are generally nonspecific, a laboratory examination may show an increased WBC and positive blood cultures. Imaging studies, including soft tissue x-ray, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) are helpful if gas is present in the tissue.5 Gas is highly specific but not very sensitive for NF, and imaging studies should not delay surgery if crepitus is present.6 Blood cultures are positive in greater than 60% of cases with Group A streptococcous NF. Bacteremia is usually polymicrobial.
In this case scenario, given the patient’s co-morbidities, history, and the physical features as well as the extent of wound area, there were many considerations for possible infecting organisms. Microbial considerations and their related specific physical impacts and findings are illustrated in Table 2.
Microbiologic Findings of Soft Tissue Infections
In soft tissue infections, a wide spectrum of organisms, as shown in Table 3, are commonly obtained in culture. In a majority of studies, approximately two-thirds of cases are polymicrobial and one-third, monomicrobial, with predominantly gram positive bacteria.6
The etiology of NF is not fully understood. The disease occurs in patients with immunosuppression, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, malignancy, and renal failure. Additionally, NF is commonly found in patients who are obese (moisture and sweat), have been prescribed steroids (immunosuppression), use intravenous drug (autoinjection of bacteria), or are over the age of 60 (poor immunity).1 Common pathologic features of NF include extensive tissue destruction, thrombosis of blood vessels, bacteria spreading to fascia, and infiltration of acute inflammatory cells.1 Necrosis provokes an inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissue and is an irreversible process resulting in disruption of genetic material, plasma and organic cell membranes. In later stages, karyolysis (dissolution of the cell nucleus) occurs, the nucleus shrinks, and karyorrhexis (rupture of the cell nucleus followed by fragmentation) occurs. 10 After entering the human body, organisms secrete exotoxin A which stimulates production of cytokines and causes damage to the endothelial lining. This process leads to leakage of fluid into tissue, causing hypoxemia, diminished blood flow, and tissue death.7 Vasculitis and thrombosis occur in adjacent tissues leading to necrosis and nerve damage. If untreated, tissue necrosis progresses to gangrene within 4-5 days, followed by sloughing in the second week. Toxins enter into the blood stream within 24-96 hours, leading to sepsis and possible death.10
Other complications include disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), respiratory failure, and multisystem organ failure. Skin color changes from an initial redness to dusky blue, and initial complaints of pain change to numbness due to tissue and nerve death.7 During infection, increased tissue catabolism increases the endogenous production of glucose. Polymicrobial infections resulting from hyperglycemia and micro-thrombosis of cutaneous arterioles are common.9 Hyperglycemia affects the phagocytosis, adherence, and bactericidal activities of phagocytes, causing detrimental effects on cellular immunity, and promotes the growth of microorganisms in the injured tissue. Hyperglycemia can lead to low immunity and high rate of infection due to inhibition of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) or diversion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH) in the polyol (sorbitol-aldose reductase ) pathway.9 Diabetes prolongs the inflammatory response to bacterial stimulus through cytokine dysregulation.11
Necrotizing Fasciitis Management
Broad Spectrum Antibiotics/Surgical Debridement
Presumptive antibiotic treatment should be initiated, and definitive treatment instituted after obtaining culture results. Initiation of antibiotic therapy within 1 hour of onset of septic shock results in better prognosis.2 Broad spectrum antibiotics with gram positive, gram negative and anaerobic bacteria specificity should be started early.6 Monotherapeutic agents include imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin, tazobactam, and tigecycline. Multidrug regimens (e.g., triple drug regimens, including penicillin, clindamycin, and a fluroquinolone or an aminoglycoside for gram negative coverage) are indicated.6
After starting intravenous antibiotics, surgical debridement is an immediate consideration. A surgical referral for debridement of the nonviable tissue should be done as soon as possible. Hemorrhage is inevitable due to extensive debridement or DIC, and the risk of hemorrhage mandates close monitoring of intra and postoperative hemoglobin. Throughout treatment, further surgical debridement, and blood transfusions may be needed. Broad spectrum antibiotic therapy is usually continued for 10-14 weeks or until there is no need for further debridement, and the patient is asymptomatic. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is beneficial for antibiotic therapy, and antibiotic levels should be monitored, if indicated. Reconstructive surgery is an option after eradicating the infection and preparing the wound for further surgery.8
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) assists in preparing the wound for surgical closure by developing granulation tissue to cover the exposed tendon or bone. Application of NPWT by increasing blood flow to the wound bed stimulates granulation tissue formation and reduces edema that contributes to decreased tissue perfusion.4 Thus, the therapy contracts wounds so that less complex procedures (i.e., split thickness skin grafts) can be used instead of more complex procedures (i.e., free flaps). The therapy also provides a bolstering effect to improve graft survival, thereby reducing graft failure. Compared to conventional wound care, NPWT increases patient comfort, removes exudates, prevents surrounding skin maceration, and reduces frequency of dressing changes.12
A NPWT machine and supplies is shown in Figure 1. Users should follow the company’s manual when applying vacuum assisted dressings and review guidelines published by the Food and Drug Adminstration( FDA) (http:/www.fda.gov/safety/MedWatch/Safety Information/Safety Alerts for Human medical products/ucm190704.htm).
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Machine and Supplies (Courtesy of KCI website http://www.kci1.com/KCI1)
Use of NPWT is contraindicated for a wound with >25% necrotic tissue. Sharp or enzymatic debridement is performed as needed for complete removal of necrotic tissue prior to NPWT application to prevent infection and expedite the healing process.4 The use of hyperbaric oxygen along with antibiotics promotes tissue oxygenation and reduces edema. Administration of 95-100% of oxygen at pressure greater than 1.0 atmospheric absolute can cause an increase in partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, which promotes wound healing by tissue oxygenation and reduces edema by vasoconstriction. Formation of new epithelium and blood vessels causes faster wound healing.7
Diabetes (Blood Glucose) Management
Diabetes is present in 32-66% of cases where NF has been definitely diagnosed. Diabetes can cause microvascular and macrovascular changes, thereby affecting the intracellular oxidative destruction of pathogens, neutrophil adhesion, chemotaxis, and cellular immunity.9 During the infection, the endogenous production of glucose increases, and hyperglycemia leads to growth of organisms in the injured tissue and decreases cellular immunity. Polymicrobial infections resulting from hyperglycemia and micro-thrombosis of cutaneous arterioles are common. Poor glucose control leads to the pathogenesis as well as poor outcome of NF.9,13 An individualized plan for blood glucose control to achieve an optimal hemoglobin A1C level should be instituted.
Moderate to severe pain is common in patients with NF because of the large area of soft tissue necrosis and subsequent surgical debridement. Because the process of dressing changes involves removing the dressing, cleaning the wound and reapplying a dressing, patients are more comfortable if pre-medicated for anticipatory pain prior to dressing changes. Factors causing wound pain (e.g., infection, colonization, trauma, inflammation, and maceration of the surrounding skin) should be controlled as much as possible. Adopting a holistic and patient-centered pain management approach14 assists in better pain management. In addition to providing analgesia with opioids, measures such as proper seating, positioning to avoid added pressure to the affected wound areas, and the use of adaptive equipment assist in pain control. Care should be taken in moistening and removing the dressing to avoid disruption of healthy granulation tissue.15
Nutrition Consult and Management
Malnutrition is considered a major risk factor for complications and delayed recovery in hospitalized older adults and can result in higher morbidity, mortality, and health care expenses.16 A dietary consult and regular follow up aid in achieving better patient outcomes. Although laboratory tests, including serum albumin and pre-albumin (Transthyretin), are valuable in assessing and monitoring nutrition, these tests should not be used as the “gold standard” because other factors can affect a single measure.16 Sepsis and surgery increase metabolic needs, and therefore, calorie requirements double for patients with NF.17 Aggressive nutritional support improves the rate of wound healing. An increase in prealbumin from baseline denotes improved nutritional status and correlates with patient outcomes. In patients with acute inflammation, acute alcohol intoxication, and steroid use, albumin shows a more reliable and pre-existing nutritional status than prealbumin.18 Prealbumin is not a reliable indicator because the marker has a relatively short half-life of 2.5 days. CRP (an acute phase reactant) needs to be checked to evaluate the presence of inflammation. Nutritional supplements rich in protein should be included in the dietary management.
Functional limitations, pain, and restricted mobility due to deconditioning from hospitalization and the wound itself may challenge recovery from NF.19 Progressive rehabilitation done daily as tolerated promotes independence and mobility. Strategies to minimize deconditioning and enhance functional status include early mobilization, exercise and rehabilitation, pain control, nutritional supplementation, and minimally invasive surgery.20
Women with DM are prone to candidiasis colonization as hyperglycemia suppresses immunity. This commonly associated finding leads to delayed wound healing in patients with diabetes. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is also common after treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics, and a viable option is to treat the surrounding areas of the wound with topical nystatin powder 21 which controls the moisture rather than using antifungal creams.
Comprehensive Wound and Co-Morbidity Management in the Presented Case
Under general anesthesia, the case study patient underwent debridement of the lower abdominal wall, perineal area, and left posterior thigh. The necrosed layers of subcutaneous tissue with thrombosed blood vessels were removed, and the tissue was sent for gram stain and culture. In the intensive care unit (ICU), the patient was monitored for hemodynamic stability. Transient hypotension on admission was resolved with 3 liters of normal saline. Broad spectrum antibiotics (penicillin G, vancomycin, and clindamycin) were started1 and narrowed down to cefepime, metronidazole, and vancomycin according to the wound culture for Group D enterococcus. On the third day, the patient received further debridement of the necrotic tissue and fascia and was transfused with 3 units of blood. The patient’s hemoglobin of 5.9 gm% improved to 9 gm% post transfusion.
On the fifth day, the patient was extubated and transferred to a general care unit. The patient was hemodynamically stable, the WBC count trended down to normal range, and the blood sugars were normalized. Intravenous fentanyl was discontinued, and the patient was started on oral pain medications and oral nutrition. The patient was transferred to the skilled nursing facility on the fourteenth day for wound care and rehabilitation.
The wound was managed by conservative wet to dry dressing for the first week to promote a clean environment before transitioning to NPWT for 2 weeks. Negative pressure wound therapy with polymicrobial gauze was applied continuously at 100 mmHg to the lower abdominal wall, suprapubic, and left posterior thigh wound every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The exposed tendon on the inner thigh was protected with non-adherent dressings to prevent any injury. By the second week, a greenish drainage was noted and NPWT suspended. Dakin’s solution (1/4 strength) wet to dry dressings were applied for 5 days to treat the possible superficial pseudomonas colonization before switching back to NPWT. After the wounds contracted with 100% granulation tissue, the patient was transferred to the acute facility for a split thickness skin graft. The skin graft tissue was taken from the right thigh, and the donor site was medicated with bacitracin ointment; non-adherent dressings were changed every other day. Pictures of the wound after wound care are shown in Figure 2.
Photo A - Lower abdominal, vulvar wounds after wound care and Photo B - Left thigh wound after wound careFigure 2. Photo A - Lower abdominal, vulvar wounds after wound care and Photo B - Left thigh wound after wound care
Along with wound therapy, the patient was treated for vulvar candidiasis with topical nystatin powder on the surrounding areas of the wound for 2 weeks. The patient had an indwelling Foley catheter to prevent wound contamination. To manage pain, the patient was pre-medicated with morphine sulfate 4 mg intramuscular (IM) prior to each dressing change. The patient was scheduled acetaminophen/hydrocodone every 6 hours and tramadol as needed for breakthrough pain. Nutritional supplements (Glytrol® 1 can orally twice daily between meals) and protein powder (Beneprotein® 1 scoop orally twice daily) were added to the treatment along with mirtazapine 7.5 mg by mouth daily to stimulate appetite. The patient’s prealbumin was monitored weekly to ensure her nutritional status, and her weight was monitored weekly.
Because the patient had diabetes, finger stick blood glucose was checked before meals and at bedtime. A diabetic diet and sliding scale insulin were continued for promoting glycemic control and wound healing. Metformin 1000 mg orally twice daily and glyburide (3 mg in the morning and 1.5mg in the evening) were administered. A low dose of lisinopril was started to prevent diabetic nephropathy due to microvascular complications. The patient underwent progressive rehabilitation and was able to walk with a rolling walker by the fourth week of inpatient rehabilitation stay. Home health nursing was arranged for continuation of wound care and rehabilitation at home.
Continuity of Care/Implications for Advanced Practice Nurses
Continuity of care is best achieved through a multidisciplinary approach to case management. Advanced practice nurses (APNs), who are often charged with the daily comprehensive care of patients, are in unique positions to lead and organize multidisciplinary teams. Unlike the rotational nature of medical/surgical residents in teaching hospitals, APNs are unit or team based. Thus, patient/family/APN provider relationships can be more consistently established. The APN organizes daily healthcare and expedites follow-up care. In this case scenario, an APN managed communications with the primary care physician about the patient’s care and coordinated medical/rehabilitation care and specialty follow up appointments.
Discharge instructions included directions for diabetes management, wound care, home exercises, fall prevention, and home safety as well as instructions to optimize medication compliance. The patient was advised on signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain, fever, purulent drainage, or disruption of integrity of the skin graft. The patient was informed to call the primary care physician or the ED if signs of infection occurred. Home physical therapy was arranged for 3 times per week for 2 weeks to enhance strength, mobility, and promote independence for activities of daily living. The patient and the family were educated on wound care and home rehabilitation. Home health wound care was arranged for 3 times per week for 2 weeks to provide wound care and monitor wound healing as well as to provide family education.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but potentially fatal condition, especially in elderly patients with diabetes. The etiology is not fully understood, but pre-existing conditions lead to susceptibility. Early diagnosis is primarily by clinical presentation and laboratory findings, including the use of adjunct diagnostic tests. Management focuses on early diagnosis, effective surgical debridement, administration of broad spectrum antibiotics, hemodynamic stabilization, and supportive care. The use of negative pressure wound therapy facilitates wound granulation tissue formation and wound contraction for surgical reconstruction. The APN’s role is vital to ensure care coordination within the interdisciplinary team for the management of this debilitating condition.


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An Eagle Rock man was sentenced to 36 months in prison for what prosecutors call an $8 million scheme to defraud investors by selling “ancient slag,” a mining byproduct he claimed could lead to a modern-day gold rush for buyers.
Michael Godfree, 80, a United Kingdom citizen, was sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who also ordered the would-be Yosemite Sam to pay $8,336,965 in restitution. The sentencing comes after Godfree pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one count of mail fraud.
Federal prosecutors say Godfree was co-founder of The Minerals Acquisition Company (TMAC), a Pasadena-based outfit that offered to sell slag to victims who were told the company would be able to extract precious metals, including gold, which was generated from copper mining. TMAC sold ton-quantities of the slag with promises of refining the material and recovering precious metals. TMAC provided victims with bogus attorney-certified “Certificates of Title” that purported to transfer ownership of the slag to victims.
Only there was no way to extract precious metals from the piles of dirt sold to investors, who sent the Godfree’s company $8,336,965 checks and wired cash. And Godfree’s company didn’t even own the dirty they were selling.
“Godfree was nothing more than a glorified conman,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, adding that he “was selling nothing more than worthless dirt (that he generally didn’t own) along with a non-existent ‘process’ to extract value from the dirt…. Unsurprisingly, not a single victim-purchaser has ever seen any return on their purchase. Instead, the money was spent on lavish goods and personal expenses.”
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domain: economics


We are now down to six teams at Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine. Yesterday Miroslav Klose scored a key insurance goal for Germany in the 68th minute en route to a 4-2 quarterfinal win over Greece.
With the win, Germany advances to the semi-finals and will play the winner of England and Italy, who will play tomorrow (Sunday, TSN, 12:45pm).
Today, France will play Spain (TSN, 12:45pm). The French are in complete disarray after a loss to Sweden in the round robin. It is interesting that the inner turmoil in France comes after the disastrous 2010 World Cup, where expectations were very high and they simply failed to deliver.
The other sports competition I will keep an eye on this weekend is the IndyCar race tonight at the Iowa Speedway (TSN2, 7pm). James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ontario currently sits in second place in the overall standings. Indy 500 Champion Dario Franchitti has the pole.


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The development of Ukraine science has it’s beginning since the 18th century, when the Kyiv Mohyla Academy became a noted research centre. A great page in Ukraine’s history was the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Its founder was a very talented man with the world – known name- Volodymyr Vernadsky. The group of famous people made a valuable contribution into Ukraine’s science from its first steps. They were noted historians Antonovych, Hrushevsky, a mathematician Boholiubov, botanists Fomin and Kholodny, scientists in medicine Filatov, Yanovsky, Bohomolets and others.
The Ukrainian science achieved great success after the Second World War. The Ukrainian scientist Korolyov was one of the noted space designers. Ukraine’s scientists developed the “ Vulcan” unit for welding in space. Yevhen Paton and his son Boris are well- known all over the world as masters in the field of electric welding.
The people of Ukraine are proud of their culture too. You must know the name of the great philosopher Skovoroda. The play “ Natalka Poltavka ” by Kotlyarevsky, the historical novel ” Taras Bulba ” by Gogol, the “ Kobzar “ by Shevchenko, the poems by Lesya Ukrainka are well – known not only in Ukraine but abroad as well. The three most noted dramatists at the end of the 19th century were: Starytsky, Kropyvnytsky, Karpeko- Kary. The film director Dovzhenko, the great opera singe Krushelnytska, later Matvienko and Solovyanenko, Ivsiuk made Ukrainian music culture famous in the world. Ukrainian literature and arts developed very successfully in the 60s.
Among the most prominent authors were: in poetry Kostenko, Drach, Vingranovsky, Symonenko, Hutsal, Tiutiunnyk, Shevchyk; in drama: Kolomiyets, Honchar.
Stus, Holoborodko, Drozd, Kalynets developed the literature in the 70s. At present Ukrainian books are translated into many languages. Writers have got more freedom over the last year.

domain: library


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Public Participation at Board Meetings
School Board Approved: August 29, 2022
The Board encourages citizens of the District to attend its sessions so that they may become better acquainted with the operation and programs of the schools and so that the Board may have opportunity to hear the wishes and ideas of the public. All official meetings of the Board shall be open to the press and public. However, the Board reserves the right to meet and to adjourn or recess a meeting at any time to discuss such matters as are properly considered in non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3.
In order to assure that persons who wish to appear before the Board may be heard and, at the same time, it may conduct its meetings properly and efficiently, the Board adopts as policy the following procedures and rules pertaining to public participation at Board meetings.
Persons appearing before the Board are reminded that members of the Board are without authority to act independently as individuals in official matters. Thus, in most instances, any board response will be deferred pending consideration by the full Board.
The Board will set aside a minimum of 15 minutes near the beginning of the meeting and a minimum of 15 minutes near the end of the meeting for Public comments.
Public comment is reserved for district residents and parents and guardians of district students.
In the interest of preserving individual privacy and due process rights, the Board requires that comments (including complaints) regarding individual employees (other than the Superintendent) or individual students be directed to the Superintendent in accord with the complaint/grievance resolution processes set forth in School Board Policies KE and/or KEB. Complaints regarding the Superintendent may be directed to the School Board Chair as described in Board Policy KEB.
In public session the Board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel nor complaints against any person connected with the school system. Other channels are provided for Board consideration and disposition of legitimate complaints from school personnel or involving individuals, which should be referred to the Superintendent for appropriate action.
Except as otherwise provided in this policy, members of the public may offer comments on agenda items or upon any other matter of public concern directly relating to the District's school policies, programs and operations.
Any individual desiring to speak shall give his or her name, address, and the group, if any, that is represented.
The presentation should be as brief as possible. Written remarks are encouraged.
Any comments which do not adhere to the above, or which disrupt the official business of the Board may be ruled out of order by the Chair. Repeated disruption may result in the individual being asked to leave the meeting. Obscene speech, comments threatening bodily harm, or other unprotected speech will not be tolerated.
The Board Chair may terminate the speaker's privilege of address if the speaker does not follow the above rules of order. Repeated violations or disruptions may result in the intervention of law enforcement, with the potential for criminal charges.
With the aim of maintaining focus on the issues in discussion, it is desired that all speakers strive to adhere to ordinary norms of decorum and civility.
RSA 91-A:3, Public Records and Meetings: Non-Public Sessions

domain: law


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|By Marc Middleton | November 19, 2012 | Comments|
Punk says tonight isn't just about honoring the past year, it's about looking forward to the future and recognizing his place in history - the top. Punk says he won't stop til July 2018 on an episode of WWE Main Event when he passes Bruno Sammartino as the longest reigning champion of all-time. Heyman talks about Sammartino and says he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame but says Sammartino could have never beat Punk. Heyman says truth be told, Hulk Hogan could never beat CM Punk. Heyman says Steve Austin couldn't beat Punk on his best day. Heyman says it will be proven at the Royal Rumble that not even The Rock can beat CM Punk. Punk thanks Heyman for setting all this up tonight. Punk talks about the odds being stacked against him at Survivor Series and here comes Ryback.
Ryback heads to the ring but is cut off by Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. He fights them off and hits the ring. They stop him again and the fight continues. Punk hides in the corner as Ryback brawls with the three NXT stars. They drag him out of the ring and beat him down at ringside. The announce table is cleared and they powerbomb him through it, just like at Survivor Series. Heyman looks on from the floor and they look up to Punk in the ring. Punk goes to the floor where Ryback is laid out on top of the destroyed table. Punk yells that he is the best in the world as Heyman applauds him. RAW goes off the air with Punk standing over Ryback.
What are your thoughts of tonight's show? Sound off below.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.
Baron Corbin - Dean Ambrose Talking Smack Video, Naomi's Return In Slow Motion, AJ Styles Title Shot
Daniel Bryan Sends Condolences To Jim Ross On WWE TV, Snickers Ad With Enzo, Fans On WWE 205 Live
All 30 Names For Andre The Giant Battle Royal, Six-Pack Challenge At WrestleMania 33, Updated Card
James Ellsworth On Going To WrestleMania, Alexa Bliss On Naomi's Return (Video), Fans On SmackDown
WWE Talking Smack Recap (3/28): Bryan Responds To Miz-Cena, Guests AJ Styles, Baron Corbin & Naomi
Alexa Bliss On If "Talking Smack" Is Scripted, Going Into WrestleMania As Champion, Her Character
Sound Off: WWE RAW Vs. SmackDown, Which Was The Better Show This Week?
Champions Announced For Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, More Names Added To The Match
Exclusive: WWE SmackDown Star Reportedly Done With WWE
WWE Monday Night RAW Results - The Undertaker's Cemetery, Final WrestleMania 33 Hype, Braun Strowman
Photos And Videos From Early WrestleMania Set Construction, Rumors On A Roller Coaster Being Built
What Happened After WWE RAW Went Off The Air With Goldberg?, Rumored Returns At WrestleMania
Triple H On Vince McMahon Once Getting Upset With Braun Strowman, Reigns Vs. Taker, Goldberg, Lesnar
WWE SmackDown Results - WrestleMania Contract Signing, Randy Orton - Sister Abigail, Ten-Man, More
WWE Star Busted Open At RAW (Graphic Photos)
Former WWE Ring Announcer On Vince McMahon Not Caring What The Fans Think

domain: entertainment


The Marine Institute operates a Deepwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) which was funded by the European Regional Development fund (ERDF).
The vehicle is named the Holland I after John Phillip Holland from Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland who was an early inventor and builder of submarines.
This 3000 metre rated system allows an expansion in the level of deepwater research undertaken by Irish researchers as well as being available as a national resource to state agencies in emergency situations such as casualty investigation, wreck surveys or salvage.
The ROV system was designed and built by SMD Ltd (Newcastle, UK) and is designed to be capable of accommodating a wide range of user equipment without modification from the outset. Ample space is available within the vehicle frame for accommodation of scientific payload, numerous survey ports for a wide variety of equipment including multi-beam, CTD, nutrient sensors as well as numerous spare serial and I/O ports which have been incorporated into the system to allow a wide range of scientific sensors to be deployed.
The vehicle is equipped with a high level of auto control features including auto hold which is invaluable in the completion of delicate scientific tasks. The vehicle is also equipped with the latest underwater camera equipment including a HDTV camera and recording system to allow the capture of high definition footage for a variety of uses. Download more detailed ROV Specifications if you require more information.
The system is a fully contained system including launch and recovery systems and whilst primarily designed to operate from the RV Celtic Explorer, is readily capable of mobilization from a range of suitable vessels as required. To view the RV Celtic Explorer deck layout diagram download this attachment Deck Layout Holland 1/Celtic Explorer.
For further information please contact RV operations at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Return on Capital (ROC) is similar to Return on Equity, ROE which we covered before, but ROC also includes capital costs as well as Equity. So what is Return on Capital and how do you calculate this rate of return?
Return on capital is the same formula as return on equity ROE, but in addition to the value of ownership in a company (equity), we include the capital employed such as the total value of debts owed by the company in the form of loans and bonds.
The Formula is:
ROC = Net Income (profit/earnings) EBIT
(Shareholders’ Equity + Total Liabilities)
How It Works/Example:
Let’s assume Company ABC generated
- $5,000,000 in net income last year
- Shareholders’ equity equaled $20,000,000 last year, and
- Total debt or total liability $10,000,000,
then we can calculate ROC as:
ROC = $5,000,000/($20,000,000+10,000,000) = 0.17 or 17%
This means that Company ABC generated $0.17 of profit for every $1 of capital.
Why It Matters:
ROC is a measure of profit against capital as well as a measure of “efficiency”, which takes into account debt/borrowings.
If there is NO debt, the result will be the same as return on equity (ROE), however, when there is debt, the denominator (bottom) figure is larger, resulting in a lower ratio figure than the ROE.
Want to learn the core issues of share investing?
See our slides SMSF & Shares Overview to get a quick session where you can learn to easily understand Company Financial Statements, how to find healthy companies, what Tools and Ratios to use, work on examples, and also includes how to get better investment outcomes.


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The week Star Wars fans have been waiting for has finally arrived, as the second season of Star Wars: The Mandalorian is set to begin on Disney+ this Friday. The highly-anticipated sophomore debut will bring quite a lot of new and returning characters into the fold, including Moff Gideon, the Darksaber-wielding foe portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. While we're still waiting to see exactly how Gideon factors into The Mandalorian Season 2, a new video sees Esposito continuing the Mandalorian lore in an unexpected way. On Monday, the official Star Wars Twitter account shared an introduction video for this week's Monday Night Football game, which will see the Chicago Bears play against the Los Angeles Rams. The video is narrated by Esposito, and features a pretty wide array of Mandalorian-themed puns and visual cues.
While the video doesn't provide any new context for The Mandalorian's second season, it is pretty epic, and does an adorable job of capturing the energy of both the Disney+ series and the Monday Night Football faceoff itself. It also shows how imposing and ominous Esposito's role in the Star Wars franchise can be, something that fans can safely expect to see more of in Season 2.
"Star Wars is iconic. And would I have liked to have been in a Star Wars movie as opposed to The Mandalorian television show?" Esposito said in a recent interview. "I think I've made a significantly correct choice, because what drew me to Star Wars was the mythological aspect of storytelling ... for me, it was an empowering moment."
The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian, with Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Taika Waititi as IG-11, Carl Weathers as Greef Carga, Werner Herzog as The Client, Nick Nolte as Kuiil, and Emily Swallow as The Armorer.
Note: This is not a sponsored post, but if you purchase one of the awesome products featured above, we may earn a small commission from the retailer. Thank you for your support.

domain: hobby


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How to cope with depression when you are on vacation?
In this guide we are going to discuss the concerns related to coping with depression when you are on a vacation.
How to cope with depression when you are on vacation?
If you are in the middle of a vacation, one that you have planned meticulously and have been looking forward to, it can be harrowing to find yourself not enjoying any moment of it.
Here are some things you can do to cope:
- Acknowledge the reality of your diagnosis
- Accept the fact that your diagnosis impacts your experiences
- Be realistic as you plan your vacation days
- Stick to health habits
Travelling can be a stressful experience, from arranging transportation, lodging, planning activities, it can become more tedious than relaxing if not planned with caution.
You might be wondering why, while your friends and family are having such a good time, you are unable to get out of bed and look forward to the plans you have for today.
Vacations or short travels for people with a mental health condition can be especially difficult because of the symptoms of their conditions which may make it difficult to be spontaneous or even to relax.
Travelling and mental health
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has highlighted that travel can bring about mood changes, and cause anxiety and depression related symptoms or it can worsen symptoms in people with existing mental illness.
The CDC also mentioned that travel and vacations can also bring about uncharacteristic behaviors such as violence, suicidal thoughts, and excessive drug and alcohol use.
The International Association for Medical Assistance for travellers defined what is known as “travel stress” which could be one of the causes of why you might be struggling with the symptoms of depression during your vacation.
It defines travel stress as,
“Travel stress is related to the situational pressures, anxieties, or challenges of travelling.”
While you might be able to manage the stressors in your home environment because of which you can manage your symptoms and live productive lives, the IAMAT noted that these stressors
“…can become more difficult to manage when you are in a new or unfamiliar environment.”
People diagnosed with depression can become even more overwhelmed than the usual traveler because living with a mental health condition in an unfamiliar location and situations can make you run short of your ability to tolerate these challenges.
Your travel schedule can impact your sleep routine, the food might not agree with you, there may be a large number of people you will have to interact with or there might be a large number of people in your group you are forced to socialize with which might add up to your discomfort and annoyance.
All of these stressors, though it might seem inconsequential to many, can be extremely difficult to overcome if you have depression. Your sleep and diet can impact the symptoms of your depression, making you more irritable.
If you have a negative perspective of looking at yourself, others, and the world- cognitive distortions which many people with depression have- you might start to notice that your anxiety and depression is getting the best of you.
Here is a story of Meg Grant who experienced depression while on vacation and her take on the guilt she experienced because of it.
Causes of depression during vacations
While travelling has been found to reduce stress and depression over all, it can be a challenging experience to many who have a diagnosed mental health condition. Let us take a look at what causes mental health conditions to aggravate when you are on vacation.
You might be feeling exhausted and depressed due to stress related to the new routine, to the people around you, or the fact that you do not seem to have much control in this new place.
It could also be stress that you have carried on to vacation with you such as work related stress that seems to be showing up on your mail inbox or family related issues that you have not resolved yet.
You could also be stressing over the fact that you are stressing. Or that you are apprehensive about your mental health condition which is making you all the more cautious and hypervigilant.
Vacation is not your kind
Perhaps you are more of a mountain side trekking kind of vacationer rather than the beach partying kind. It could be the weather that is affecting you or the hectic schedule of a predetermined tour.
The lack of motivation and disappointment you might be experiencing could simply be because this type of vacation is simply not your idea of fun.
Not enough down time
Lack of sleep or not enough rest can negatively impact an individual’s mental health and well-being. If your schedule is not allowing you enough rest, it could be time for you to consider skipping a few things on the list for a much needed nap.
It is quite common for people who go on vacation to be disappointed, especially if you have been looking forward to it for a long time. You might feel sad when you realise that things are not how it was presented or how you pictured it. It can turn into something deeper and more depressing if you begin to personalize this disappointment with various unresolved issues that you might have taken a break from to begin with.
How to cope with depression during vacations:
The problem of depression that you are struggling with at the moment is valid, just because you are on vacation- in paradise- does not mean that you are not allowed to feel this way. It is almost unfair that you are unable to enjoy your time.
While we cannot change the location, the people, the culture, or the stressors around you because they are wholly out of your control, you do have the ability to do a few things that might make this experience a little less terrible.
Here are a few things you can start doing right now:
Acknowledge your reality
Pay attention to what you are feeling- be it sadness, nostalgia, regret, or exhaustion. Pay attention to where you feel it in your body and the thoughts that arise because of these emotions.
Acknowledgement doesn’t mean acceptance, not yet. We can start by simply saying- “I am feeling xyz right now.”
You can even take the step to acknowledge the stress, the disappointment, and the culture around you. Let your acknowledgement also include how difficult it has been for you without any judgment.
Accept your reality
You are allowed to feel this way, you are allowed to struggle when most people are not because of the fact that you have the added challenge of managing your mental health and well-being while most people do not.
Accept that this makes it difficult for you and that perhaps the kind of vacations other people have might not be for you. Perhaps 12 hour long itineraries are not exactly healthy or fun for you.
Accept that it is okay to do things a little differently or be a little different from most vacationers.
Once you have acknowledged and accepted, it is time to be realistic of where you are, the money you have put into this, and the time you have committed.
While you can simply hop on the plane and leave, there is also the issue of wasted money, wasted time, and if you are vacationing with others, their feelings.
If you think that you absolutely need professional support and need to go home asap- do it. You are most important here. If you think this is the best realistic option for you, pack your bags and head where you are most comfortable.
If you think that you can manage to stay on or you want to challenge yourself to a good time, depression and anxieties be damned! Plan your itinerary realistically.
Let your daily schedule include plenty of rest, good food, lots of hydrating fluids, and fun. It does not have to follow the beat of someone else’s drum.
Let your schedule start at 10 am if it allows you to have the rest you need, let it only include a visit to the beach side if that is what you want to do. Let it be realistic in the sense that it falls in line with your present budget, time, and your sense of fun,
Stick to your healthy habits
If you are someone who practices yoga on a daily basis, ask the hotel if they have a wellness center and a space to practice your yoga. Meditate as well. Eat a healthy diet of vegetables and fruits with plenty of water all the while allowing your treats like a dessert.
Do not skip your medication if you are on drug treatments and do not mix or engage in substances such as alcohol and other drugs.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I feel anxious on vacation?
Vacations, planned or unplanned, usually happen in unfamiliar places with an unusual schedule.
These can leave you vulnerable to various triggers that you have no control over- these triggers can lead to an increase in your anxiety symptoms and aggravate your condition.
What does Travelling do to a person?
Traveling is one way to help someone learn about themselves. It brings a new set of issues and opportunities which can give you insights on who you are and what your abilities and limitations are as you handle them.
While travelling can have a positive effect on you, you have to allow yourself to the ups and downs that come with it since coming across new cultures , new situations cannot always be easy.
How do I stop Post-vacation blues?
Post vacation blues refer to the slump of sadness and low moods after a good vacation. It is a common phenomenon and can impact a person for days even weeks after they have a good time travelling.
Ways to manage post-vacation blues:
- Get into your normal routine gradually. Take time to go back to doing your chores and pace yourself as you take on new projects at work.
- Consider the things that you love about your daily life- maybe the morning coffee you missed while on vacation
- Incorporate the cultures you came across in your life- cuisine, clothing, way of life.
- Plan more short trips to keep you looking forward to new experiences.
What does post travel blues mean?
The post travel blues are a of many travellers who travel long term or short term. It is when you get back to your reality from an exciting trip, you feel this sadness come over you. It can make you feel like you want to go back to the exciting experiences you have had as opposed to what is at home.
Usually, people who are less satisfied with their life can experience post travel blues.
How do I get out of a vacation mood?
The best way you can get out of a vacation mood- where you are unable to focus on your daily tasks or appreciate your reality- is by doing something equally exciting at home.
The reason why you might feel sad to let go of your time while on vacation could be because you miss the excitement. So you could try out something as equally exciting closer to you- like rock climbing, hitting the gym, weekend camping trips, or sunday morning treks.
Overcome Depression and Find Joy in Life Again with BetterHelp
Living with depression can feel like an uphill battle, but you don’t have to face it alone.
BetterHelp offers accessible, affordable, and convenient online therapy that can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Our licensed therapists specialize in treating depression and can provide you with the personalized support and guidance you need to overcome your challenges.
Whether you’re struggling with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or fatigue, BetterHelp can help you develop coping strategies, build resilience, and find joy in life again.
Don’t wait to start feeling better – sign up for BetterHelp today and take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow.

domain: medical


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Five people were shot in Diego Martin and Morvant on Saturday night.
Three have died. One is a young woman.
In Diego Martin, 21-year-old Josanne Ragoonanan, and 38-year-old Peter Carrera, were killed.
At about 10.15p.m. residents of Tomato Drive, Diego Martin, heard someone call out Carrera’s name, then gunshots.
The couple was found on the ground in their home.
Officers from the Western Division and the Homicide Bureau, visited the scene.
About two hours later, officers received information of a second shooting incident along Laventille Road Extension, Morvant.
Three people, including a woman, were shot.
They were all taken to the Mt Hope Hospital, where one of the men died. The identifies of the three were not immediately known.

domain: news


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BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman reiterated Tuesday his call for adopting an electoral draft law endorsed by the Cabinet for the upcoming 2013 elections, including amendments if need be, amid political differences in the country on what electoral system to use in the June polls.
“As long as we are adamant on holding the polls in light of the draft law endorsed by the Cabinet that is based on proportional representation then we should start discussing this law and possibly include amendments if need be,” He said, addressing the country’s Arab and foreign diplomatic corps.
In August, the government approved an electoral draft law that divides the country into 13 districts under a system of proportional representation.
However, the Cabinet’s proposal is one of several under discussion by rival lawmakers.
The head of the subcommittee discussing a new electoral law, MP Robert Ghanem, will later in the day hand Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri the minutes to several days of deliberations which were marked by political differences over which legislation best guarantees fair representation for all sects in Lebanon.
In his annual speech to the country’s foreign diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace, the president also stressed the importance of committing to the “Baabda declaration” to safeguard against the developments in the region.
“Despite some parties plunging into violence over the situation in Syria, members of the National Dialogue were able to agree on keeping Lebanon away from regional crises,” he said, hinting at last year’s recurrent clashes in north Lebanon between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime.
The “Baabda Declaration,” a pact between rival political leaders in the March 8 and March coalitions arrived at in mid-2012, calls for neutralizing Lebanon from regional conflicts and rejecting the creation of buffer zones and the flow of gunmen and arms from Lebanon to Syria.
Sleiman also reiterated his commitment to National Dialogue and said he would keep on trying to bring all leaders together to resume the all-party-talks.
“Efforts will be exerted to call for National Dialogue,” said Sleiman.
Sleiman has repeatedly called for the resumption of the multiparty talks in the face of a boycott by the country’s opposition.
The March 14 alliance insists that the government resign and a neutral salvation cabinet take over to oversee the upcoming elections. The move was prompted by the October assassination of police Information Branch head Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan in an car bombing in a suburb of the capital.
Sleiman told the diplomats that the country was still feeling the negative effects of Hasan’s killing.
“The status quo is that the Lebanese are still living the repercussions of Hasan's murder and are afraid of the consequences of the Syrian conflict,” he said.
“Hasan’s killing raised concerns and caused confusion in the country,” he added.
During his 2012 address to the diplomatic corps, Sleiman vowed to work for the resumption of all-party talks to discuss Hezbollah’s weapons.
He also urged that its neighbor Syria seek an end to its internal crisis and said developments in the region should not detract from the Palestinian cause.
Prior to Sleiman’s address Tuesday, the Vtican's ambassador to Lebanon, Bishop Gabriel Caccia, praised the “Baabda Declaration,” saying the agreement had managed to preserve the country's independence under Sleiman.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps in Lebanon, Caccia said it was important to revive democratic institutions and hold on time the elections, which he described as the principal factor for a sound, democratic life in Lebanon.
Caccia praised Sleiman for sponsoring the Baabda Declaration, which he said reflected the country’s independence in dealing with challenges facing the country and region.
He also said that last year’s visit by Pope Benedict XVI and U.N. Chief Ban Ki-moon reflected the positive diplomatic ties between Lebanon and the world.


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Animal-rights group PETA's beef with lobster industry comes to Canada
'We feel targeted, and it's not fair,' says spokesperson for New Brunswick company singled out by PETA
International animal-rights group PETA has traditionally been known for focusing its attention on land-based animals, but marine animals are increasingly in the group's crosshairs, which will likely mean more light shone on the Canadian seafood industry.
The group's latest target is a seafood shell recycling plant in Richibucto, N.B. Last month, CBC News reported that residents are frustrated by the odour being emitted from Omera Shells Inc., which grinds, heats and processes old lobster and crab shells and shrimp skins, turning the remains into a powder. The powder is later exported to Asia, where it's used in the bio-medical industry and as a fertilizer.
Days after the story was published, PETA issued a press release noting the company plans to fly an aerial banner or have a billboard set up near the plant with the message "I'm ME, Not MEAT. See the Individual. Go Vegan." It's the organization's latest effort to draw more attention to the seafood industry.
"PETA is always looking for new and novel ways to help animals by encouraging people to adopt a healthy, vegan lifestyle and we are focusing more and more on aquatic animals," said PETA spokesperson Amber Canavan.
She said a simple fix to the odour problem at Omera Shells is for people to stop eating lobster.
In July, PETA placed ads promoting a vegan lifestyle in Toronto subway stations. The ads featured cows, pigs, chickens or lobsters.
"Lobsters are intelligent, sensitive people who do not want to be killed," said Canavan.
"They struggle desperately to escape when they're dropped into boiling water or are steamed, and since we can get everything we need from a healthy vegan diet, there's no need to continue killing lobsters or any other animal."
Fernand Gaudet, who works in sales for Omera Shells, said it's unfair the company is being targeted.
"When Jesus fed the people with fish, there was no complaints," he said. "The fish has been put on this earth and the lobster so we can have dominion over the animals."
'People have a right to eat what they want'
Gaudet only learned of PETA's plan from a CBC News reporter. He said it hasn't caused any issues for the company, but worries it will scare off suppliers concerned about bad publicity, especially given the controversy that's already been caused by the odour problems.
"I believe that people have a right to eat what they want," he said. "People have a right to work in the lobster industry. To encourage such a thing is to say to the children of those families, you know, your parents should be out of a job."
Gaudet says the smell has improved significantly since last year, and the company is looking to nearly eliminate it. He said they've hired a company to analyze the air, identify the stinky molecules and figure out a way to neutralize them. They're also planning to install a taller chimney that would help eliminate any wafting scents from the plant.
Geoff Irvine, the executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, said the lobster industry employs about 30,000 people in Canada through fishing, processing and live shipping. Those jobs are found in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, although most are in the Maritimes.
He said he wasn't sure what impact PETA's campaigns would have on the lobster industry.
"We're always concerned about anything that may impact us, and we are proactive in terms of the work we do within an industry and communicating effectively and talking and making sure that our story gets told," he said.
"Market access and issues like this are always happening and we're on top of them."
While Irvine conveys a diplomatic message about PETA's campaigns, Gaudet is more blunt.
"We feel targeted, and it's not fair, and we're only trying to create jobs," he said.


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Milupa Apple & Banana Bedtime is a blend of 7 cereals, milk and fruits. During your baby’s weaning journey, it’s important to introduce them to a range of flavours and textures. The textures in milupa cereals are tailored for little tummies at every stage of the weaning journey all the way up to one year. Milupa Apple & Banana Bedtime contains Iron & Calcium with Vitamin D3.
It contains no added sugar and salt – contains naturally occurring sugars High in Iron: Iron is important for your baby’s normal cognitive development. High in Calcium: Calcium is important for normal bone development. High in Vitamin D3: Vitamin D supports normal bone development. Milupa Apple & Banana Bedtime is suitable to introduce baby’s to flavour and texture that spice up their weaning journey.
Milk (43%): (Skimmed Milk Powder (26%), Demineralised Whey Powder (from Milk (17%)), Cereals (36%): [Wholegrain Wheat (32%), Buckwheat (0.7%), Rice (0.7%), Wholegrain Millet (0.7%), Wholegrain Spelt (0.7%), Wholegrain Oat (0.7%), Rye (0.7%)], Vegetable Fat (Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil (contains Soy Lecithin)), Apple (5%), Banana Flakes (2%), Pear Flakes (2%), Orange (1%), Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Iron Pyrophosphate, Potassium Iodide), Vitamins (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6)
Allergy Advice: please see ingredients in Bold
1. Use a clean bowl and spoon.
2. For every spoon of cereal used, mix with 1.5 spoons of cooled, boiled water.
3. Add more or less water as required.
4. Always check the temperature of the cereal before feeding.
Kiddiestreat is your one-stop baby shop for all your baby needs. You can find the best of quality from a wide range of brand to serve your baby needs. Our baby shop provides varieties of Baby food that include cereals, formula, snacks, drinks, yogurt, and toiletries. Looking to buy your baby food and toiletries, you are at the right place. To connect more with us, check our Facebook and Instagram pages.

domain: food


Formed in Lyon (France) back in 2014, Animali are now under our radar! Their indie pop and rock tunes, that are partly inspired from the prog-rock of the 60’s, bring a modern and fresh touch to the musical landscape in France! So cool, to hear some French groups with such an international potential.
The band released a second EP titled “This plane’s going down, are we all gonna die?” in November 2015 via Gourmets Rec that has solidified their fan base after the success of their single “The Alchemists”! Some days ago, they covered Cyndi Lauper and turned her “Girls just want to have fun” into a psyche gem! Wanna know more about them? It’s in this post!
The band, who was formed by five friends who decided to play some music together, refuse to be locked into a restricted music genre. Nevertheless, some influences are prominent in their work, like psyche indie-pop. Their first EP starts with a ten-minute track, “The Spark”, that pays tribute to late Pink Floyd’s keyboardist Rick Wright. On the same EP, their track “The Alchemists” came with a psychedelic video, directed by Maxime Servoise and Jeremy Nguyen.
After a tour in France, Animali went back to the studio and gave birth to their second EP “This plane’s Going Down, are we all gonna die?.” As written in the press release, “the subjects covered are varied and, as always, politically incorrect and committed, and utterly irreverent: Delusion of grandeur, or rather bemusement at stuff that overtake us, ill-planned obsolescence of all things and people, procrastination and fear of flying”. This second EP was notably led by the single “Who?”; a track that sounds like a mix of Tame Impala and MGMT. A comparison they should not be ashamed of! By the way, Julien Barbagallo, the Tame Impala‘s drummer is also a Frenchy! Cocorico![soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/228393189″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Some days ago, ANIMALI shared a surprising cover of Cyndi Lauper, pimping her classic “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with a psychedelic touch, and sharing some love after the Orlando’s tragedy!
The video of this cover was directed by Maud Regnault and, as the band has a good sense of humor like us, the burlesque transformist artist Soa de Muse is starring in the role of a singer invited to an audition. The song, which was released for the 63rd birthday of the American singer, is also an homage to all the victims of the Orlando’s drama. Indeed, covering Cyndi Lauper is not a random choice: the interpret of “True Colors” is known to be a huge militant of the LGBTQI cause.
Connect with Animali on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Their second EP “This plane’s Going Down, are we all gonna die?” is available on iTunes via Gourmets Rec. If you are on HumanHuman you can agree on Animali there![soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/270173859″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
- Discovery Zone announces new album Quantum Web, shares “Mall of Luv” - December 5, 2023
- body / negative’s “Sleepy” is an ambient ode to their late parents - November 28, 2023
- Allie X announces new album, shares title track “Girl With No Face” - November 16, 2023


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The reinvention of the Spider-man franchise was not a desperate need in cinema, but for the third time in a decade, the wall-crawler was reborn. Sony has long had the rights to Spider-man and they turned out five solo movies, but thanks to a brilliant partnership with Marvel and Disney they have merged Spidey into the universe of the Avengers. This merger offered a lot of new opportunities, the most significant here is the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark as a mentor to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. This relationship plays extremely well due to the newness of Parker’s heroics and Stark’s own need to develop a fatherly relationship with the wayward teen. The character relationships play well here and Michael Keaton adds layers to a complex villain whose motivations are surprisingly down-to-earth.
Funny and unique, despite its limitations, this one is a great addition to two powerful franchises.
Thanks in part to its light-heartness, I’m going to give this one an easy…
4 out of 5


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I recently watched a TED Talk of Joan Hailfax discussing compassion. Joan is a Zen Buddhist teacher, anthropologist, ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver and author. She embodies compassion. She begins this TED Talk by quoting the Dalai Lama, “Love and compassion are necessities. They are not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive”. She cites research that proves that compassion enhances our immune system, fosters resiliency. She describes how compassion activates the motor cortex. That we, as human beings, actually aspire to transform suffering. What an amazing awareness that we, all of us, are able to transform suffering through compassion. By being present with an open heart and mind we can not only transform the suffering of others but also our own. Recently, there has been a palpable void of compassion. So much anger and hostility directed at one another, (some close, others strangers). Fear is the enemy to compassion. Joan’s words are so powerful, “We have a society, a world, that is paralyzed by fear. And in that paralysis, of course, our capacity for compassion is also paralyzed”.
Our capacity for compassion is paralyzed by fear. Knowing this, how can we chose to respond differently to our fears and to the fears of others with compassion? Blame, shame, indifference, anger, and judgement are responses that grow fear. Curiosity, compassion, patience, respect, validation of feelings are responses that grow compassion. We can choose to become more mindful, more intentional, with our words and our actions, giving power to compassion over fear. Compassion is responsive, fear is reactive. Let’s resolve to grow compassion by engaging in activities that transform suffering.

domain: sociology


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The Vans OTW Collection and OffTheWall.TV present the next installment of An OTW Minute featuring Alexander Spit. An OTW Minute is a joint effort produced by the Vans OTW Collection for Vans’ video platform, OffTheWall.TV, which profiles forward-thinking figures in the realms of art, music and street culture. In episode two, up-and-coming rapper/producer Alexander Spit takes viewers on a ride through Los Angeles as he speaks candidly on a range of topics that have shaped his persona and sound including his childhood, the internet and music.
“Music for me started with a bathroom, cassette tapes, a little boom box,” Spit explains his DIY beginnings in hip hop. “We’d put our little tape recorder next to the speaker of the boom box, we’d press play on the boom box and while the music was playing we would be recording the music and we’d be rapping into the little tape recorder and we would just do freestyles for hours upon end.”
The West Coast emcee exhibits his musicality and unique flow by closing out the episode with an impromptu performance of one of his newest tracks,”Dog on a Cold Sun Roof.” Check out the full clip now at OffTheWall.TV.


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- Game control:
Fat Sumo is a skill game. Control the Sumo Wrestler and eat as much food as you can. But avoid the poisonous blowfish or it could result in certain death. Instructions: use the arrow keys to move around, collect food to grow avoid the blowfish or else you will lose weight and may die. You will like it when you playing it. In fact, this is not very easy enough.

domain: game


The new facility will be a waste-to-energy generator covering 95,000 square meters of ground and serving a dual use as a 1,500 meter green-walled ski slope. The plant will incinerate rubbish collected from households and turn it into energy which will be fed back to the city.
Another novel feature will be a ‘steam ring generator’ which is being developed by architectural firm the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). This will emit a ring of steam over Copenhagen every time one tonne of carbon dioxide is released, thereby emphasizing the scale of our current contribution to man-made climate change. It will essentially be an informative art piece which will be developed in collaboration with Berlin art group realities: united, Rumlaboratorium and the Danish Technical University. The piece will incorporate a chimney utilizing three steam lines with different pressures. Two smaller-scale prototypes of the chimney have already been built, both successfully producing the desired effect at one-tenth the size of the full-scale chimney. Access to the ski-slope will be via an elevator running alongside the chimney. The smoke rings emanating from the chimney will be illuminated at night with green lasers.
With a budget of 3.5 billion DKK, this development is the largest environmental project in Denmark. It will embrace the latest waste to energy and environmental technologies and is intended as an example of what BIG calls ‘Hedonistic Sustainability’ – promoting the idea that
large sustainable energy infrastructure doesn’t have to be a burden or an eyesore but can serve a useful purpose in a variety of ways.
Five Danish municipalities own the company developing the waste to energy generator, Amager Bakke, which also operates thirteen recycling stations in addition to incineration plants. The facility will be located in an industrial plant, replacing the existing Amagerforbraending plant which is now obsolete.


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Egypt 'seizes' megaship over US$900 million Suez claim
The US$900 million compensation figure was calculated based on"the losses incurred by the grounded vessel as well as the flotation and maintenance costs, according to a court ruling handed down by the Ismailia Economic Court", Rabie added.He did not explicitly cite the Japanese owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha, but a different source at the SCA told AFP on Tuesday that negotiations over damages between that company, insurance firms and the canal authority were ongoing.
In its court filing, the SCA referred to Articles 59 and 60 of Egypt's maritime trade law which stipulates that the ship would remain seized until the amount is paid in full, Al-Ahram said.AdvertisementThe MV Ever Given was moved to unobstructive anchorage in Bitter Lake after it was freed on Mar 29, and tailbacks totalling 420 vessels at the northern and southern entrances to the canal were cleared in early April.
The Suez Canal earned Egypt just over US$5.7 billion in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, according to official figures. Read more: CNA »
Not desirable to move ministers after less than a year, but situation ‘can’t be helped’: PM Lee
SINGAPORE — It is not desirable to give Cabinet ministers short stints in their portfolios owing to the disruption it can cause, but such moves are sometimes necessary, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday (April 23).


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If you want to play games on PS4, you need the PS4 controller to work flawlessly. When you turn on the PlayStation 4, the PS4 controller should automatically connect to it. If your PS4 controller is not syncing with the game console, you may feel your day is ruined.
Many PlayStation users have complained about PS4 controller syncing/connection issues. We have discussed a few solutions that will demonstrate how to sync the PS4 controller especially when the controller does not connect automatically.
Solution One- Connect the PS4 controller with a USB cable
Though the PS4 controller is intended to connect to the PS4 console wirelessly, it does provide you an option of a wired connection. Sony recommends a USB connection between the console and the PS4 controller to sort out any syncing issues. Here are the steps to follow.
- Switch of the PlayStation 4 game console
- Connect the PlayStation 4 and the PS4 controller with a USB cable
- Start the PlayStation 4
- On your PS4 controller, press and hold the PlayStation button at the center. This step will prompt the PS4 controller to fix any sync issue
If the above steps do not work, try these steps
- Go to PlayStation 4 console settings
- Choose Devices
- Select Bluetooth Devices
- You will see a list of paired Bluetooth devices
- Select the DualShock Controller in the list and tap Forget Device
- Repeat the above steps for all DualShock Controller in the list
- Exit Settings Menu
- On your PS4 controller, press and hold the PlayStation button to sync the controller.
See if the PS4 controller syncing issue is resolved. If the above solution does not work, try the next solution
Solution Two- Reset the PS4 controller
There is a possibility the settings of the PS4 controller are corrupt. In that resetting, the PS4 controller can help. Here are the steps to follow.
- Switch off the PS4 and unplug it
- On the PS4 controller locate the reset button in a tiny hole. The reset button is located near the L2 shoulder button at the backside.
(Note- Avoid using a sharp tool to press the reset button as it may damage the button)
- Get a small tool to push the reset button in the hole. You need to press and hold the reset button with the tool for at least 3-5 seconds.
- Switch on the PlayStation 4 console
- Connect the console and PS4 controller with a USB cable
- On the PS4 controller, press the PlayStation button located at the center for a few seconds
- If the light bar on the PS4 controller turns blue, it indicates the PS4 controller is synced and ready for use.
If resetting the PS4 controller has not helped, the last resort is resetting the PlayStation 4 game console.
Solution Three – Reset PlayStation 4
Sometimes the settings of the PlayStation 4 and the controller are messed up to an extent that nothing seems to work. In that case, resetting the PlayStation 4 completely will erase all settings and allow you to start afresh. Here are the steps to follow.
- On your PlayStation 4 console, press and hold the Power button. When you hear a second beep release the power button
- Unplug the PS4 controller that does not sync with the console.
- Also, unplug the power cable from PlayStation 4
- Leave the PlayStation 4 console and the controller for 4-5 minutes. Don’t press any button on any devices during these 5 minutes.
- Plug the power cable to the PlayStation 4
- Connect the PS4 controller
- Switch on the PlayStation 4
Check whether the PS4 controller syncing issue is resolved


An assault was reported at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility, just outside Meridian, Miss.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon. The victim's name was not immediately released.
Officials at the prison have refused to comment.
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Since it’s release, Storz & Bickel Mighty vaporizer has been making serious waves across the community for its amazing performance in a portable package. But how does it do it? Read on for your ultimate guide to Storz & Bickel’s massively popular Mighty vaporizer, and why we love it so much.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the Mighty is called the Mighty - this is a considerably hefty device, so perhaps not the best choice for someone who values discretion.
That being said, the Mighty vaporizer is a mighty size for a reason. Storz & Bickel have somehow managed to condense all the amazing technology of the infamous Volcano vaporizer into a portable - which is no mean feat. Measuring in at about 14 cm x 11 cm x 3 cm and weighing approximately 225 grams, the Mighty is still easily portable in any bag, and could slip pretty comfortably into a coat or jacket pocket. This device is roughly as tall as an iPhone X, so if you can fit one of those in your most used pockets then the Mighty should fit just fine.
While the Mighty isn’t exactly the most compact device, it’s incredibly durable which makes it the perfect vape for travelling with or taking on a hike. The mouthpiece is easily tucked in to prevent breakage, while the sturdy outer shell will protect your device from any falls. The industrial design also means you could probably pass your Mighty off as a portable charging bank when taking it out and about.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the reasons the Mighty is so large is because it houses two heavy-duty rechargeable lithium ion batteries. In comparison, the Crafty vaporizer is powered by just one lithium ion battery - which is why it is substantially smaller than its big brother.
With this battery power, you should get about 90 minutes of vaping use on average, which is definitely on the higher end of endurance for a portable vaporizer of this size. One excellent feature of the Mighty is that it contains smart touch technology which can actually detect when you’re using it, by monitoring changes in temperature inside the herb chamber. After one minute of inactivity, your Mighty will automatically turn itself off to conserve battery life - which definitely makes it one of the more energy efficient portable devices available on the market.
One slight drawback of the Mighty is that it takes about two hours to fully recharge, which although is not a considerably long amount of time it is longer than other portable devices on the market. But, Storz & Bickel have made up for this by enabling the Mighty with full pass through charging. This means you can actually use your Mighty while its plugged in to charge, because the energy used by the heater is less than the amount of energy being supplied by your charger. Most portable vaporizers with pass through charging make you wait for your device to reach a certain amount of charge, but even if your Mighty battery is totally dead, as long as its plugged in you’ll be able to use it.
Hybrid Heating - the Best of Both Worlds
One of our favourite features of the Storz & Bickel Mighty vaporizer is that it uses smart hybrid heating technology to heat your material thoroughly and efficiently. Hybrid heating is basically a combination of the two most common forms of heating technology used in vaporizers - convection and conduction.
With convection ovens, hot air is pushed through the herb chamber to create vapor, which results in nice even cooking throughout your material without any burning or hot spots. Unfortunately, convection ovens contain more complex heating elements than conduction ovens, so usually have a longer heat up time - but that’s where conduction heating comes in. With conduction heating, the herb chamber also acts as the oven by applying direct heat to your material to create vapor. While conduction heating on its own can lead to uneven cooking and combustion, when combined with convection energy you get the best of both worlds - a quick heat up time for your first few draws, and even vaping throughout your session so no material is wasted.
This combination of convection and conduction energy gives you thick, flavorful vapor from the very first hit that remains consistent throughout. The presence of convection heating also means you won’t experience the same harshness and burnt taste you can get towards the end of your session with a solely conduction oven.
Versatile and User-Friendly
While the Mighty like look like an intimidating piece of equipment, in reality it couldn’t be more user-friendly to use. The LED screen is modelled after the one on the digital Volcano, which clearly allows you tailor your heat settings to your own specific tastes in single degree increments. You can even alter the heat settings to display in either Centigrade or Fahrenheit depending on your preference, with a great range of 104°F - 410°F (40 - 210°C).
With the free-flowing vapor path, this device is about as close as you can possibly get to having the premium quality vapor of the Volcano right in the palm of your hand. The Mighty’s unique vapor cooling unit reroutes your vapor through an extended vapor path, which gives it more time to cool down before it reaches your mouth. Unlike many other portable vapes, where is very little draw resistance as the unit itself is powerful enough to draw from without losing that much heat, or the risk of charring your material.
The Mighty performs just as well with oils and concentrates as it does with dry product, and can be used with oils and concentrates by inserting the liquid tabs into the herb chamber.
The only prominent drawback of the Mighty, is that it also comes with a mighty-ish price tag. While it may seem like a lot of money to cough up in comparison to some of the cheaper vapes on the market, Storz & Bickel are renowned for the amazing quality and life span of their devices - so if you’re purchasing any S & B vape, it really is an investment piece that will give back as much as you’ve put into it.

domain: design


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Songlines - March 2024
The March 2024 issue (#195) of Songlines is out now. It’s a special, bumper-sized edition of the magazine to celebrate our 25th-anniversary. We look back at 25 years of global music with stories on Orchestra Baobab, Lhasa, Taraf de Haïdouks, Gaye Su Akyol, Souad Massi, Tinariwen, The Gloaming, Ondatrópica, Qawwali Flamenco and many more of our favourite artists, albums and stories from the past 25 years. We speak to Mariza for a My World interview to find out her formative musical influences, the prolific guitarist Justin Adams gets a Beginner’s Guide, we chat to both Sona Jobarteh and Taj Mahal about an upcoming US tour that unites the histories of griots and the blues. Feminist supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique have a new album and we speak to the latest iteration of the collective. We head to Germany for a musical celebration of Kurdistan, find out about Syriana’s long-awaited second album, and appraise the importance of Shane MacGowan (he did more than just wrote good songs). Plus, the olllam, Lenhart Tapes in Belgrade, a new Sam Lee documentary, Gabba, Aron & The Jeri Jeri Band, as well as all the usual news, listings, reviews, competitions and so much more.
Print and digital subscribers will also receive our accompanying Top of the World compilation featuring our pick of the month’s best new music – Lagos Thugs, ØXN, Les Amazones d’Afrique, YĪN YĪN, Spell Songs, El Gato Negro, Amaro Freitas and more – as well as six special 25th-anniversary bonus tracks from Souad Massi, Ondatrópica, Warsaw Village Band, The Gloaming, Taraf de Haïdouks and Justin Adams.
You can buy the latest issue or subscribe to get this and future issues right to your door as soon as they're published. We also offer digital subscriptions that give you access to every one of our 195 issues from 1999 to 2023… and beyond.

domain: artistic


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The trip was amazing.
The tour agency was very nice. I missed the leaving point and they came back to pick me up. The tour guide - Alejandro- was great. He explained history in an interesting way.
Looking forward to come back to Mexico and go with this agency for more trips.
Our guide was great and the driver. He explained everything. He answer our questions. It was great time. I would recommend to everyone to take the trip to the Pyramids.
Great tour. Kevin was an excellent tour guide. Would recommend again. It does take up a large chunk of your day so plan accordingly.
Greta experience. Tour was well organized, guide was fantastic but still allowed you to explore on your own and at your pace.
Great guide, well orchestrated transportation, and an overall fantastic experience!
Tremendous tour, guide was amazing and mixed in a lovely balance of education with humor. Highly recommend
What a fun tour this was! This was the third ancient site we went to visit after Chicten Itza and Uxmal and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Walking through the site and being able to climb the temple stairs made everything so surreal and incredible. Miguel was an awesome tour guide. He was equally knowledgeable and entertaining.
The restaurant we went to afterwards was nice, a highlight. Would have liked to spent less time at the gift shop, though.
Overall wonderful experience. Recommend this tour to anyone visiting Mexico City. Bus ride isn't that long and the tour won't take up your whole day.
Excellent! This was a highlight of our trip. Really interesting guide who knew his stuff. Passionate about the subject matter. Make sure you wear sneakers and whatever you need to not get sunburned. Beautiful!
Great trip, but a private archaeologist was not the correct description, a tour guide more like it. Overall, our tour guide was great, his name was Kevin.
Beautiful site, and the tour guide/archeologist was fantastic. Getting there early on a week day meant the sun pyramid was almost empty when we got there, making for a great experience.
Love this trip. Worth going early in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat. Absolutely worth every penny and the guide was both knowledgable and friendly.
Excellent tour, the guide was fluent and always willing to explain more and answer additional questions. Leaving early was definitely worth it, as we we were the first group there and were able to visit both pyramids before the large crowd arrived...
Our guide was knowledgeable and the morning tour beat the crowds. The shopping opportunity was no pressure and not a distraction to the tour.
This was an excellent choice for touring the pyramids! The tour operator confirmed my pickup time via email the night before, and they arrived at my hotel before 6am. I highly recommend arriving early - we were one of only 2 or 3 groups at the site very early. Not only do you avoid the crowds, but also the high heat of the day. Our guide, Leonardo, was excellent as well. Very knowledgeable and excellent English. We had a nice lunch and bus ride back to the city. Everything ran very smoothly. I definitely recommend this option for seeing Teotihuacan!
This was a great tour! The guide was knowledgeable, a bit of a comic and was very eager to get the history down right.
Wonderful tour, and I highly recommend it!
The bus that arrived was clean and comfortable, our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable, and the pyramids were incredible! Well worth the money for this tour - although we'd heard that one can take public transportation to get to these pyramids, since we don't speak Spanish AND had kids along, the tour made our trip there so much easier than the alternative would have been - plus, we benefited from the knowledge of our guide as he shared many facts and stories about the temples.
Also, the restaurant where they brought us to for lunch had great food - we did not eat at their buffet, but ordered a la carte off the menu instead - delicious, and they even had entertainment during our meal :
Great experience! Excellent tour guide with very good English. A fabulous day overall!
Very well organized trip both for children and adults! Our guide was Leonardo. He was absolutely brilliant, prepared and always available,
Fantastic tour, will never for get this experience and also especially impressed with the drivers, I would not want to drive in Mexico City....
Wonderful bargain. Professional and hassle free. There was one small mix up. I called Amigo tours to confirm my hotel pick up time and was told 730am. We were just beginning to have breakfast when the van showed up. There was an email I found 2 days later that showed a pick up time of 640am. When traveling in another country you are not always able to get on the internet. Should be done by phone. Not a big problem but wanted to mention it. Back to review,... the guide was very informative and the rest speaks for itself. Lunch was good and stops were well thought out. Had a great time!
I was on a working trip and had a Sunday free and I am so glad I took the time to go on the tour as it is an amazing place well worth the time.
Miguel is a fantastic tour guide!! Knowledgeable, interesting and full of excitement. The pyramids were great but the host really made it :
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domain: travel


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It's easy to be nice and moral, to nice and moral people. That takes no special skill or talent.
But how much grace can you summon to deal with those who may not deserve (or even understand) your magnanimousness? How do you maintain the presence of mind needed to be kind and diplomatic to those whose souls are riven with arrogance, self-rightousness, gluttonous greed or unbridled wrath?
I've not stepped foot in a church in nearly a decade, but for whatever reason, as a secular man, my thoughts drifted to the words of Christ's Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even heathens do that? So I say: bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you."
By this measure, the scorecard for my actions these past few weeks is a mixed bag, with a few victories I can be genuinely proud of, and some spectacular failures that fill me with shame.
Good gravy, It seems I get all philosophical when I get past my bedtime.
And I see on my Google Cal there are further upcoming tests of my resolve and character at noon, 13:30, 16:15 and 19:00 tomorrow.

domain: literature


Biden commits to nominating first Black female Supreme Court justice as he honors retiring Breyer
President Joe Biden committed to nominating the nation's first Black female Supreme Court justice, as he honored retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer at the White House on Thursday.
"The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court," Biden said. "It's long overdue in my view. I made that commitment during the campaign for president, and I will keep that commitment."
Biden added that he expects to choose a nominee before the end of February, noting, "I have made no choice at this point."
In remarks from the White House, Biden — with Breyer by his side — said the justice's retirement marked a "bittersweet day for me."
"I'm here today to express the nation's gratitude to Justice Stephen Breyer for his remarkable career in public service and his clear-eyed commitment to making our nation's laws work for its people," Biden said.
Breyer on Thursday formally notified Biden of his intent to retire at the end of this year's Supreme Court term in a letter released by the court. Breyer told Biden in a letter that he had decided to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the term "assuming that by then my successor has been nominated and confirmed."
"I enormously appreciate the privilege of serving as part of the federal judicial system — nearly 14 years as a Court of Appeals Judge and nearly 28 years as a Member of the Supreme Court," he said and added that the work has been "challenging and meaningful."
He said that his relations "with each of my colleagues have been warm and friendly" and that he has been aware "throughout" of the "great honor of participating as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the rule of law."
The letter was dated Jan. 27.
Breyer's retirement gives Biden the opportunity to nominate his first Supreme Court justice and reinforce the high court's liberal minority. The nomination will be one of the most consequential choices of Biden's presidency, and may offer him a political lifeline ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Breyer informed the White House of his decision to retire last week, two sources familiar with the conversation told CNN. Breyer, who is 83, has faced intense pressure from the left to retire while Democrats have a clear path to confirm his replacement.
Biden's pick to replace Breyer is expected be a younger liberal judge who could serve on the court for decades. The confirmation would not alter the Supreme Court's ideological balance — the court has six conservative justices appointed by Republican presidents and three liberals appointed by Democrats.
But the confirmation of a liberal justice would be a major win for Democrats and could give the party a much-needed boost ahead of the November midterms. Biden's approval ratings have slipped significantly in recent months and Democrats are bracing for the possibility that Republicans will take control of Congress.
Biden said on the 2020 campaign trail he intended to make history by nominating the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday that Biden "certainly stands by" the promise.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday vowed that whoever Biden nominates for the court will be confirmed with "all deliberate speed." Biden will have to nominate someone who can safely get 50 votes in the Senate, as Democrats currently hold only the most narrow of majorities in the chamber. The President hopes a swift process will lead to aconfirmed justice by spring.
Well before Breyer's retirement plans became public, a short list of potential nominees had been circulating Washington and officials in the White House Counsel's Office have built files on various candidates in anticipation of a potential vacancy.
Names on the list include: DC Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, South Carolina U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs, North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls, Minnesota US District Judge Wilhelmina "Mimi" Wright, Circuit Judge Eunice Lee, Circuit Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi and Sherrilyn Ifill, a civil rights attorney who recently announced plans to step down from her role as president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Biden first made the commitment to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court in South Carolina — a key battleground state where Black voters make up a sizable portion of the electorate. The pledge helped Biden secure key endorsements, including from House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat. Clyburn's endorsement is largely credited with giving Biden's struggling campaign the boost it needed to win the South Carolina primary, which put him on the path to win the Democratic nomination.
Clyburn told CNN on Wednesday night that he is pushing for Biden to nominate South Carolina U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs.


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"Destructive": Iraqi Grand Mufti wants to ban Muslims from taking part in Christian festivals
"Tradition of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians must not be destroyed!" (Press release)
The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has condemned a call by Iraqi Arab-Sunni Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Al Sumaidaie, who stated that Muslims should not be allowed to participate in Christian celebrations of Christmas and the New Year. "The tradition of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians must not be destroyed by radical Muslim preachers," stated Kamal Sido, the STP's Iraq expert, in Göttingen on Thursday. "There have been attacks by fanatical Muslims against Christians, but Muslims in Iraq and many other Islamic countries have participated in Christian celebrations for centuries."
"Religious dignitaries should promote tolerance, equality, and peaceful coexistence – not hatred and intolerance," Sido emphasized. A few days after the Iraqi government's decision to make December 25 an official national holiday like in Iraqi Kurdistan, Al Sumaidaie had stated (in Baghdad) that Muslims were not allowed to celebrate the New Year or congratulate each other on the occasion of Christian festivals. Al Sumaidaie had stated that Muslims who took part in Christian festivities were stating to believe in Christian teachings. With this statement, Al Sumaidaie had triggered a wave of indignation in Iraq. Many Iraqis demanded him to be dismissed as Grand Mufti, emphasizing that he was trying to spread a radical Islamist ideology and, thus, supporting the destructive ideology of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS).
In Iraq, the number of Christians has fallen from 275,000 to about 150,000 since 2015. Today, most of these Christians are living in Iraqi Kurdistan in the north of the country. As in many states in the Middle East, the Christian Assyrians/Aramaeans/Chaldeans in Iraq are suffering from the worldwide conflict between Sunnis and Shiites. They live in constant fear of attacks by radical Sunni Islamists.
Header image: Kamal Sido/GfbV