text:
Fear of the Coronavirus
Fear in itself is not a problem, after all fear is there strongest motivator, engine of development, but we have to be careful with it as most fear grabs, freezes people and only a unique kind of “positive fear” can truly develop us forward.
Now the whole world is frozen by the fear of the Covid-19 infection, that locked us into our homes, stopped our socio-economic system.
The interesting thing about the virus that it didn’t cause anything new, but it awakened us, making us more sensitive, aware of the world we live in, how we live in this world and where we are heading.
The virus can be compared to the rude awakening, unplugging of Neo from the Matrix in the famous movie.
Life lived in fear
We have been living our lives in fear for as long as we can remember. Coming out of the mother’s womb awakens the “primordial fear” for our life, existence, day to day survival.
Our whole society is built on fear, the most lucrative industries - military, insurance, health, legal system, police, politics - thrives, lives on fear and in our days this “primordial fear” for our life and material possessions is purposefully, methodically exploited in a very sophisticated manner.
And as our ego keeps growing out fear also grows as we feel we have more to lose, thus we don’t even attempt to solve problems but we restrict, ban, abandon anything we become fearful from, we build walls, all kinds of security around us and everything we own, and when some great, sudden threat appears we just panic and run around like headless chickens, isolate and lock up ourselves even more.
Fearing the future
Now the virus awakened us, showing us the life we used to live - which was completely aimless and was also heading towards self-destruction being unnatural, inhumane, incompatible with the fully integrated and interdependent Natural system we exist in.
So now besides to the fear about day to day survival we also started to fear the future, because as it stands we have no future! If we return to life as it used to be before the pandemic, our present civilization will self-explode like all other self-serving, narcissistic civilizations before during history’s inevitable recurring vicious cycles.
Turning towards Human purpose in Nature
The solution is to awaken - by ourselves through a unique, methodical, educational approach - a different kind of fear that can return us to the right development towards a positive attractive purpose.
By default we are so locked into our inherently self-centered, subjective spheres of fear that we become completely unaware of the true reality around us. We only sense and compute that narrow, distorted slice of reality that serves our individual, egocentric day to day survival.
But we have a much greater purpose, role in Nature’s evolution, system. We are destined to research and attain the whole system in it’s completeness, becoming the all-knowing, all-controlling conscious part in it.
For that first of all we need to exit our original egocentric, subjective “Plato’s Caves”, and attain a selfless, objective, unlimited viewpoint through a unique educational method in special, small environments.
Fear of life opening up a new a dimension of reality
Then we can start to sense a completely different kind of fear that propels us towards our unique evolutionary Human purpose.
There is a fear we almost completely forgot as our egos incessantly grew, making us to think, care about ourselves only. But one who loves another with “true love” - unconditional, selfless, service, care for another - senses the “fear of love”, fearing that one can’t serve, love the other enough, that due to one’s egotistic, selfish tendencies one might damage the budding, fragile love.
When we start to sense, understand the beautiful, perfect but fragile Natural system around us through new, selfless, altruistic, loving connections we methodically build with each other, we develop this “new” kind of fear, fraying that we might damage, disrupt the beautiful, life giving flow, communication if we are our selfish egos to interfere.
This “fear of love” (fearing that I don’t love enough) can propel us to positive, constructive action all the time, promoting ourselves and the whole system towards integration - running parallel with Nature’s evolution.
Then this fear completely dwarfs all other fears as this kind of existence opens a completely new, unlimited dimension of consciousness, perception instead of the small, limited, distorted slice, cocoon we were holding onto, fearing so much before!

domain: literature


Fishing & Boating News
OMC INTRODUCES EVINRUDE® OUTBOARDS WITH NEW FICHT® RAM INJECTION FOR MODEL-YEAR 2000
Outboard Marine Corporation has rewritten the rules for low emission technology
(Monday, May 17,1999 - Waukegan, IL.) Outboard Marine Corporation has rewritten the rules for low emission technology with the introduction of its all-new line of Evinrude® two-stroke, direct injection outboards featuring FICHT® Ram Injection™. OMC has dramatically refined its award-winning FICHT technology and, in the process, has achieved durability and runability advantages across the entire line.
This revolutionary new outboard line is being unveiled this month at OMC's Ralph Evinrude Test Center in Stuart, Florida, to its customers, as well as its professional anglers and the consumer and trade boating media.
"Evinrude FICHT Ram Injection outboards are the result of an exhaustive research and development initiative conducted by both OMC engineers and the world's best combustion engineering firms," said David Jones, OMC President and Chief Executive Officer. "What they have learned has raised direct injection to a new level. Their accomplishments will alter the way automotive and marine engineers around the world look at this revolutionary technology."
Backing OMC's dedicated engineering team on this project were world-renowned, independent experts in the field of combustion engineering. They extensively redesigned a number of components, incorporating superb performance characteristics, such as ultra-smooth idle and xacceleration, outstanding response at all operating levels and improved durability.
Available in both salt and freshwater applications, Evinrude FICHT Ram Injection outboards come in 90, 115, 150, 175, 200 and 225-hp models.
As with previous versions of low-emission FICHT, all improve fuel economy by up to an incredible 35 percent, cut oil consumption by 50 percent and reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 80 percent over traditionally carbureted and electronically fuel injected outboards.
These all-new Evinrude FICHT Ram Injection outboards not only meet EPA 2006 and CARB 2004 requirements, but also are approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Authority for use on pristine and highly regulated Lake Tahoe.
"Evinrude FICHT Ram Injection outboards still feature elegantly simple DFI principles but with an impressive new level of performance, efficiency and durability," said Bob Gowens, President of OMC's North American Engine Operations. "We put these new engines through more than 50 engine years of grueling, targeted testing, and we are proud of the result!"
Current owners of FICHT-equipped outboards also will benefit from these enhancements. Beginning this month, an extensive Performance Enhancement Team of OMC service professionals will launch a 180-day program to install Performance Enhancement Packages on 1998 and 1999 OMC FICHT-equipped outboards in dealer inventory and in consumer hands. All current owners who accept the Performance Enhancement Packages will receive them without cost.
Rand McNally, Senior Vice President, North American marketing, sales and service, noted "With Evinrude FICHT Ram Injection, we have met the challenge that competitive outboards haven't. We've perfected this leading edge, low-emission system and provided our customers and dealers with top-performance in an outboard that is durable, reliable and efficient."
Outboard Marine Corporation is a leading manufacturer and marketer of internationally-known boat brands, including Chris-Craft®, Four Winns®, Seaswirl®, Javelin®, Stratos®, Lowe®, Hydra-Sports®, and Princecraft®; marine accessories and marine engines, under the brand names of Johnson® and Evinrude®; and FICHT® fuel injection - the industry's premier low-emission two-stroke engine technology.
Phone:903-882-8877 or 903-882-8878 — Fax: 972-619-8776


text:
Kentucky State Auditor’s Office to conduct special examination of disaster relief funds
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - The Kentucky State Auditor’s Office announced they will conduct a special examination of tornado and flood relief funds.
In February, we reported that storm relief checks meant for western Kentuckians were mistakenly sent to northern Kentuckians. Now, a larger investigation into relief funds is being called for by State Auditor Mike Harmon.
“The Team Eastern Kentucky flood relief and Team Western Kentucky tornado relief fund are the most transparent disaster recovery funds that I’ve ever seen,” said Governor Andy Beshear, reacting to Harmon’s decision to investigate the relief funds. “So then you gotta ask, why? With all that, with all the testimony that’s there, do we suddenly have an announced audit, as we have an election three months and a couple of weeks away?”
Beshear claimed Harmon has a conflict of interest.
“He was at Daniel Cameron’s announcement of his lieutenant governor yesterday. I believe that their audit would not meet the auditing standards that are out there that require that you are impartial,” said Beshear.
Harmon, who has recused himself from the audit, responded
“I would say if anybody is accusing us of being partisan, then they really haven’t looked at the full body of our work,” said Harmon
Beshear maintained his administration will cooperate with investigations into the funds.
“We’ll provide the documents to anybody. Absolutely anyone,” said Beshear. “Every transaction, every decision, every place a check was mailed, every place that received it. That’s what is available not just to the legislature or to an auditor but to each and every Kentuckian.”
The examination of the funds will cover both the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund and the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.
Copyright 2023 WKYT. All rights reserved.

domain: news


text: I'm using a DSL w AKAIO v1.8.8. The games that work are Pokemon Pearl (NDS), Professor Layton and the Curious Village (NDS), and Pokemon TCG (GBC), but this rom won't keep saves. Why doesn't Pokemon TCG keep saves? What am I doing wrong? PS I've reformatted my SD w Panassonic like 10 times in 2 days... Fresh AKAIO from Acekard site n all that.

domain: game


text:
Miss Stewart writes:-
On Friday 19th November seven Year 10 linguists accompanied Miss Stewart and Madame Monnier to the Institut Français in London to take part in the annual poetry slam. This year nearly 100 students from seven different schools took part, collaborating with each other to create and perform poems in a variety of languages on the theme of climate change.
We are very proud to announce that Lucy Beard and Elizabeth Sisley made up half of the winning team, and also took the prize for best imagery with their work likening climate change to a car breaking down. Athena Nainby and Hannah Taylor also made the finals and Darragh Halpin, Louis Finlayson and Lucas Welton were asked to join three professional poets on the judging panel. Bravo!

domain: artistic


The ICEBREAKER EXPRESS LS HALF ZIP is a women's stylish top with zippered neck form the base layers range in expandable technical merino wool of 260 g.
This model has been created for the intensive sports such as fitness, winter sports or running. Its raglan sleeves with gusset offer unparalleled freedom of movement, its longer rear panel provides improved protection and its rising zippered collar allows you to regulate your temperature. In addition to its adjusted and resolutely athletic fit, its contrasting flatlock stitching prevents irritation and friction while giving it character.
The ICEBREAKER EXPRESS LS HALF ZIP is therefore the top that you need if you like practicing your sports in an intensive way.
- Density: 260 Midweight
- Material : 97 % Acrylic, 3 % Elastane
- Cut: Slim
- Maintenance: Machine wash. Quick drying at the shade. Do not use the dryer. The garment-specific tips are listed on its label.


text:
Specialists need broad expertise in diagnosing clinical problems arising from diseases involving different organ systems
On average, about 10% of primary care visits result in a referral to a specialist,1 and of these, up to half relate to diagnostic uncertainty.2 Diagnostic error is estimated to occur in between 10% and 15% of clinical encounters.3 Medicolegal concerns loom large around missed or delayed diagnosis of potentially serious conditions such as heart disease or cancer. Patients often present with non-specific symptoms and signs, especially in the early stages of emerging illness, which can be accentuated in the complex context of multiple comorbidities, frailty or other disabilities. Accordingly, a broad differential diagnosis that includes diseases of more than one organ system has to be considered, followed by a recursive refinement of diagnostic probability in the face of uncertainty.
Limitations of specialist expertise
When confronted with such challenging scenarios, clinical expertise restricted to single organ systems may be a limitation in formulating differential diagnoses. Evidence suggests that specialists practising outside their areas of expertise are less efficient diagnosticians and provide lower quality care than generalists, even after adjustment for illness severity.4 When it comes to diagnosing routine cases, specialists practising within their (single domain) specialty tend to use a highly specific, data-driven (forward) approach, in which diagnoses are generated from data by applying a small set of if/then production rules based on prior, well organised knowledge. Intermediate hypotheses tend not to be generated or evaluated.5 When dealing with complex patients, this expert prior knowledge is automatically activated such that what an expert already knows influences how they perceive and solve diagnostic problems. When confronted with non-routine or atypical cases, specialists tend to generate more diagnostic hypotheses relevant to their specialty domain, and assign these hypotheses higher probabilities, compared with hypotheses outside their domain that may be just as, or more, salient.6,7
Clinicians of all persuasions are often more anchored to their initial diagnostic formulations, and more resistant to changing them, than they should be in light of conflicting objective evidence.8 Other forms of cognitive bias such as confirmation bias, premature closure and framing effects add to the problem.9 Vignette studies suggest that clinicians’ level of confidence in their diagnoses bears little relation to either diagnostic accuracy or degree of case difficulty.10 Indeed, the mismatch between diagnostic accuracy and confidence appears to be worse for more difficult cases.10 This increases the risk of diagnostic error, which may be compounded by failure to fully elicit contextual factors — psychosocial, financial and cultural determinants of health — that influence the mode of presentation and add more complexity in formulating a correct diagnosis.11 Further, when diagnostic errors made by one doctor are recognised by other doctors who subsequently see the patient, such errors are rarely communicated back to the original doctor for fear of endangering professional relationships.12 An opportunity to engage in reflective practice and foster trust is therefore lost.
Patients with different comorbidities may present with problems reflecting disease–disease, drug–disease or drug–drug interactions. Clinicians trained as generalists seem better at navigating this complex mixture of issues than single content domain specialists.13 Lack of experience in diagnosing and managing such patients may explain more cross-referrals to other specialists, longer stays and higher resource use incurred by single domain specialists compared with generalists within hospital settings.14,15 It may also explain why patients with specific chronic diseases managed by such specialists are often undertreated for other disorders unrelated to their primary condition, disorders that may ultimately assume greater clinical importance.16
If complex cases remain unrecognised as such and hence undiagnosed, single domain specialists may consult other specialists on the basis of a “best guess” as to which organ system is likely to be incriminated; for example, “I think this is a nerve problem and you need to see a neurologist. It does not appear to be a joint or muscle problem which is my area of expertise”. The extent to which selection of specialists for cross-specialty referrals is appropriate given the clinical scenario is uncertain, although one study suggested that generalists select more appropriately than specialists, perhaps reflecting their arguably broader social networks or range of clinical acumen.17 Over-referral driven by diagnostic uncertainty can come at a cost of fragmented care “by committee”, unnecessary investigations, potentially inappropriate polypharmacy, increased costs and more patient confusion and isolation as a result of being caught in a “pass the parcel” sequence of referrals. Each consecutive consultation carries the risk of each different specialist overestimating the predictive value of symptoms and signs as portending serious conditions related to their specialty, which may lead to overordering and overinterpretation of diagnostic tests. Specialists may be driven to overinvestigate because of an intolerance of anxiety and uncertainty within their domain of expertise, compounded by fear of reputational loss, or worse, from missing that “one in 1000” (rare) chance of a specialty-related diagnosis. However, the increasing availability of more sensitive diagnostic tests may simply breed more uncertainty by generating more false positive results or disclosing unrelated and mostly benign lesions (known as incidentalomas).18 While an exhaustive list of specialty-specific investigations may find no abnormality within a particular organ system, this may not provide diagnostic closure for the patient and may generate frustration and loss of trust in the system of care as a whole. In an audit of 120 specialist reply letters to general practitioners for referrals that involved diagnostic issues, only 69 (57.5%) stated a specific diagnostic formulation.19
Enhancing diagnostic skills outside expertise domains
Several options are open to specialists when faced with diagnostic challenges outside their area of expertise. First, they could look to upgrade their generalist skills, although achieving this could be problematic because of limited time available or credentialing requirements that mandate exclusive focus on one specialty. Given that specialists now outnumber GPs in Australia, there may need to be a commensurate step back from (over) specialisation to generalism, in recognition of the fact that diagnostic acumen in the face of increasing complexity is a specialisation in its own right.20 Becoming more self-sufficient in diagnosing unfamiliar presentations involving growing numbers of older patients with multimorbidity may require more in-depth training and continuing professional development in general internal medicine,21 and a commitment to lifelong learning that includes breadth as well as depth. Such a need is being recognised by the significant proportion of advanced physician trainees in adult medicine in 2017 undertaking dual training (ie, training in another specialty in addition to their core specialty [436/2840; 15.4%]), of whom two-thirds (286/436; 65.6%) are undertaking training in general medicine (Linda Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australia, personal communication, 2017).
Second, in perplexing cases, specialists might seek the (early) advice of generalists skilled in generating and prioritising differential diagnoses and determining the most parsimonious selection and sequence of investigations for arriving at a final diagnosis.22 Third, a conscious effort should be made to reconcile diagnostic formulations for a new problem with the list of pre-existing problems in discerning whether the former represents an atypical presentation of an organ system disease outside the (single) domain expertise of the treating specialist.
Fourth, there needs to be more emphasis on improving diagnostic calibration (ie, a match between hypothesised and correct diagnosis). Requiring specialists to better justify diagnoses, particularly in the presence of disconfirming evidence, has been found to decrease overconfidence in other domains.23 Actively discussing diagnostic possibilities with patients (asking them which of several diagnoses they think is most likely) and using debiasing techniques (cognitive strategies to overcome one’s biases in judgment and thinking)24 and reflective practice (critical self-deliberation about one’s own decision making)25 may also be useful.
Fifth, all specialists involved in the care of complex patients should be receptive to, indeed seek out, external feedback about any missteps in diagnosis that come to light over time, including after discharge from specialists’ care. Lack of follow-up often leads to assumptions that diagnoses (and consequent treatments) have been appropriate. Being notified by GPs of diagnoses that subsequent events have shown to be incorrect, and specialists sending progress letters to referring GPs (especially when re-referrals are being requested) inviting them to give their opinion on the appropriateness of current diagnoses may also improve diagnostic calibration. One study showed that half of patient-initiated second opinion requests to specialists related to diagnosis, and of these, the diagnosis was changed in 15% of cases overall, of which 20% had moderate to major clinical impact.26 Certain specialties, such as gastroenterology, neurology and rheumatology, attracted higher than average rates of diagnosis change (22–26%) with higher rates of moderate and major impact (22–27%).26
Finally, health care is moving from a disease-centred model towards a patient-centred model, and this will increasingly blur the boundaries and accountabilities between the different specialties in regards to diagnostic expertise applied to patients with multimorbidity. Greater interspecialty communication and more continuous oversight of the care of individual patients by GPs and specialists with generalist training will be required in minimising diagnostic error.
Provenance: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
- 1. Barnett ML, Song Z, Landon BE. Trends in physician referrals in the United States, 1999-2009. Arch Intern Med 2012; 172: 163-170.
- 2. Donohoe MT, Kravitz RL, Wheeler DB, et al. Reasons for outpatient referrals from generalists to specialists. J Gen Intern Med 1999; 14: 281-286.
- 3. Graber ML. The incidence of diagnostic error in medicine. BMJ Qual Saf 2013; 22 Suppl 2: ii21-ii27.
- 4. Weingarten SR, Lloyd L, Chiou CF, Braunstein GD. Do subspecialists working outside of their specialty provide less efficient and lower-quality care to hospitalised patients than do primary care physicians? Arch Intern Med 2002; 162: 527-532.
- 5. Patel VL, Groen GJ. Knowledge-based solution strategies in medical reasoning. Cogn Sci 1986; 10: 91-116.
- 6. Hashem A, Chi MTH, Friedman CP. Medical errors as a result of specialization. J Biomed Inform 2003; 36: 61-69.
- 7. Mulder J, Groenier KH, Dekker JH, et al. Is there a need for a GP consultant at a university hospital? BMC Fam Pract 2008; 9: 55.
- 8. Friedman CP, Gatti GG, Franz TM, et al. Do physicians know when their diagnoses are correct? Implications for decision support and error reduction. J Gen Intern Med 2005; 20: 334-339.
- 9. Redelmeier DA. The cognitive psychology of missed diagnoses. Ann Intern Med 2005; 142: 115-120.
- 10. Meyer AN, Payne VL, Meeks DW, et al. Physicians’ diagnostic accuracy, confidence, and resource requests: a vignette study. JAMA Intern Med 2013; 173: 1952-1958.
- 11. Weiner S, Schwartz A, Weaver F, et al. Contextual errors and failures in individualizing patient care. Ann Intern Med 2010; 153: 69-75.
- 12. Bell SK, White AA, Yi JC, et al. Transparency when things go wrong: physician attitudes about reporting medical errors to patients, peers, and institutions. J Patient Saf 2017; 13: 243-248.
- 13. Grumbach K. Chronic illness, comorbidities, and the need for medical generalism. Ann Fam Med 2003; 1: 4-7.
- 14. Bernard AM, Shapiro LR, McMahon LF. The influence of attending physician subspecialization on hospital length of stay. Med Care 1990; 28: 170-174.
- 15. Parekh V, Saint S, Furney S, et al. What effect does inpatient physician specialty and experience have on clinical outcomes and resource utilisation on a general medical service? J Gen Intern Med 2004; 19: 395-401.
- 16. Redelmeier DA, Tan SH, Booth GL. The treatment of unrelated disorders in patients with chronic medical diseases. N Engl J Med 1998; 338: 1516-1520.
- 17. Mahajan RJ, Barthel JS, Marshall JB. Appropriateness of referrals for open-access endoscopy. How do physicians in different specialties do? Arch Intern Med 1996; 156: 2065-2069.
- 18. Jha S. Uncertainty and the diagnostic leviathan. JAMA Intern Med 2015; 175: 1085-1086.
- 19. Scott IA, Mitchell CA, Logan E. Audit of consultant physicians’ reply letters for referrals to clinics in a tertiary teaching hospital. Intern Med J 2004; 34: 31-37.
- 20. Rosenblatt RA, Hart LG, Baldwin LM, et al. The generalist role of specialty physicians. Is there a hidden system of primary care? JAMA 1998; 279: 1364-1370.
- 21. Simpkin AL, Vyas JM, Armstrong KA. Diagnostic reasoning: an endangered competency in internal medicine training. Ann Intern Med 2017; 167: 507-508.
- 22. Heath I, Sweeney K. Medical generalists: connecting the map and the territory. BMJ 2005; 331: 1462-1464.
- 23. Arkes HR, Christensen C, Lai C, Blumer C. Two methods of reducing overconfidence. Organ Behav Hum Dec 1987; 39: 133-144.
- 24. Croskerry P, Norman G. Overconfidence in clinical decision making. Am J Med 2008; 121: S24-S29.
- 25. Mamede S, Schmidt HG, Rikers R. Diagnostic errors and reflective practice in medicine. J Eval Clin Pract 2007; 13: 138-145.
- 26. Meyer AN, Singh H, Graber ML. Evaluation of outcomes from a national patient-initiated second-opinion program. Am J Med 2015; 128: 1138.e25-1138.e33.
Publication of your online response is subject to the Medical Journal of Australia's editorial discretion. You will be notified by email within five working days should your response be accepted.

domain: medical


text:
Welcome to Innovating Payments Top 3 News Headlines for the Week of Feb. 19, 2023. In this issue, the number of Zelle fraud cases is rising, with customers losing millions of dollars. The instant and irreversible nature of these transactions makes them attractive targets for fraudsters. Meanwhile, more and more fraudsters are taking advantage of economic downturns, launching new waves of attacks, from fake jobs advertised online to phishing scams that reference hot topics like mortgage rates. Finally, the Securities and Exchange Commission is posing new challenges for the cryptocurrency market and decentralized finance with a lawsuit against Terraform Labs, operator of the failed terraUSD stablecoin, and CEO Do Kwon.
Read on to learn more.
1. Zelle Fraud Cases Explode, Customers Lose Millions (Fox 8)
The popular peer-to-peer money transfer system, Zelle, is owned by seven major banks and is embedded into many online accounts. Transactions are instant and irreversible, which is attractive to criminals, and consumers report losing millions. "I'm looking at my account and all of a sudden money is being transferred to somebody and I have no idea who they are," said Scott Schaefer of Pinellas Park. This story is playing out all over the country. Crooks either hack into consumers' devices or get in using phishing techniques, or crooks trick consumers into unknowingly sending them money through Zelle. (Read more.)
2. Three Fraud Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 (The PAYPERS)
Fraudsters tend to take advantage of economic downturns to launch new waves of attacks. This year, we have been seeing fake jobs advertised online to gather consumers' personal information, as well as phishing campaigns that reference hot topics like mortgage rates, interest rates, or energy grants. Meanwhile, consumers struggling with the cost of living may commit first-party fraud (claiming that goods were not delivered or damaged in transit), leading to increased disputes. We have also observed customers frustrated by delivery delays or service cancellations caused by industrial action instigating 'angry' chargebacks. (Read more.)
3. SEC Claims New Turf in Lawsuit Against TerraUSD Stablecoin Creator (Forbes)
The Securities and Exchange Commission is posing new challenges for the cryptocurrency market and decentralized finance (DeFi) with a lawsuit against Terraform Labs, operator of the failed terraUSD stablecoin, and CEO Do Kwon. The SEC's complaint, filed Thursday in the federal court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, "is advancing some very broad theories that could pose a significant threat to stablecoins, liquidity pool tokens and other decentralized finance tokens," says Mike Selig, counsel at New York-based law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher. (Read more.)
How is your financial institution responding to the uptick in Zelle fraud cases? Speaking of fraud, what new fraud scams is your financial institution seeing due to the economic downturn? Has your institution's perspective on cryptocurrency shifted with the SEC claiming new turf in its lawsuit against TerraUSD Stablecoin Creator?
Check back soon for our next issue, highlighting the industry's most pressing and need-to-know developments. Until then, visit us online at Innovating Payments.
AUTHOR: Joe Casali, AAP, NCP
Executive Vice President
As the EVP of Payments Innovation for NEACH, Joe focuses on exploring innovative solutions and technologies that will help position members for success, both now and in the future. Connect with Joe to read more of his blogs, articles, and posts.


text:
Anti-Malaria Micro Project
Country of Operation
- Rwanda-Village Concept Project (RVCP)Not-for-profit
- Malaria Foundation InternationalNot-for-profit
Target income level
- Lower-middle income (20-40%)
- Middle-income (40-60%)
SummaryThe Anti-Malaria Microproject looks at ways to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with malaria in the rural populations of Huye district in the Southern Province of Rwanda.
The Microproject aims to improve the health conditions of the target community by prevention and by reducing the prevalence of malaria. The project also intends to improve access to prompt treatment. This will be achieved by educating target communities, by strengthening Information, Education, and Communication activities (IECs) at all level, by improving access to preventive measures as well as promote the use of Long Lasting Treated Nets (LLTNs), and by environment management programs.
Key program components
The project is run by Rwanda-Village Concept Project (RVCP) a voluntary, non governmental organization run by students of different disciplines and different nationalities in close cooperation with local communities in Southern province of Rwanda. Malaria education targets community adults and primary school children. The program emphasizes malaria education and distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) as the main strategies used in reducing prevalence of malaria. As part of the education program, participants have gained a profound understanding of the causes, symptoms and transmission of malaria, leading to greater acknowledgment of the importance of preventive measures and prompt treatment.

domain: sociology


text:
I must admit that making mixed drinks doesn't occur often at our home so when it came down to the Family Throwdown I didn't really have a clue. I did a fair amount of recipe searching and decided on a Strawberry Mojito.
Personally, I thought the drink was tasty although a bit strong for my liking...the addition of mint leaves and sliced strawberries in the glass made for an attractive drink!
The Strawberry Mojito recipe is modified a bit from a Southern Lady magazine.
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 ounces light rum
3 ounces Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
2 ounces club soda
Fresh mint leaves
Sliced Strawberries (fresh)
In a large (4 cup) measuring cup combine the lime juice, rum, simple syrup and club soda, stir to combine.
Place a few sliced strawberries and mint leaves in the bottom of desired glass. Fill glass desired amount of ice and pour drink over all.
Garnish withe fresh berries & mint leaves if you wish.
Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup:
3 cups water
3 cups sugar
3 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
In a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium high heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Add the strawberries and bring to a quick boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the mint leaves, cover and steep for 15 minutes.
Strain syrup and cool completely.
The Strawberry Mojito looks most attractive and tastes good on a hot & humid day!!!
Refreshing indeed, although I would personally cut back on the rum just a bit.

domain: food


text:
S'mores icebox cake is the perfect no bake dessert for summer picnics or a sweet after dinner treat! Filled with the classic s'mores flavor, everyone will be asking for seconds.
S'mores Icebox Cake is a delightful dessert that captures the essence of a beloved campfire treat in a form that can be enjoyed at any time, in any place.
It's a recipe that combines the familiar flavors of graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate in a layered cake that requires no baking.
Whether you're reminiscing about summer campouts or simply craving a sweet treat, this dessert is sure to satisfy.
The magic of this cake lies in its layers.
Crunchy graham crackers are layered with a fluffy cream cheese and marshmallow cream mixture, then topped with a rich chocolate ganache.
As the cake chills in the refrigerator, the flavors meld together and the graham crackers soften slightly, resulting in a dessert that's wonderfully creamy yet still has a bit of crunch.
The final touch is a garnish of crushed graham crackers, chocolate curls, and mini marshmallows, adding an extra layer of texture and visual appeal.
S'mores icebox cake is both elegant and easy to make. It's a dessert that's sure to bring a smile to your face with every bite.
S'mores IceBox Cake
We love making s'mores icebox cake as a way to enjoy the flavor of s'mores without the need for a campfire.
Here are some of the other reasons we love this recipe so much:
- Simplicity: This recipe requires no baking, making it a perfect choice for those hot summer days when you want a delicious dessert without turning on the oven. It's also simple to assemble, making it a great recipe for novice bakers or one that is easy for kids to help with.
- Familiar Flavors: The combination of graham crackers, marshmallow cream, and chocolate is reminiscent of traditional s'mores enjoyed around a campfire.
- Versatility: This dessert is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue, a birthday party, or just want a sweet treat after dinner, this S'mores Icebox Cake is sure to impress.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: This dessert needs to be refrigerated for at least 4 hours or overnight, making it a great make-ahead option. You can prepare it the night before and have a delicious dessert ready to serve the next day.
We hope you love this s'mores icebox cake as much as we do.
S'mores Icebox Cake Ingredients
Graham Crackers: These form the layers of the cake, providing structure and a crunch that contrasts with the creamy fillings. They also contribute a sweet, honey-like flavor that's iconic in s'mores.
Cream Cheese: Make sure to use room temperature cream cheese so it blends well.
Marshmallow Cream: This is the key ingredient that gives the cake its s'mores identity. It adds a sweet, airy lightness to the cream layer and mimics the marshmallows you'd find in traditional s'mores.
Heavy Cream: Used in both the marshmallow cream layer and the chocolate ganache.
Milk Chocolate or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These are melted down to create the chocolate ganache layer. You can choose between milk chocolate for a sweeter, milder flavor or semi-sweet chocolate for a deeper, slightly bitter flavor, depending on your preference.
Crushed Graham Crackers, Chocolate Curls, and Mini Marshmallows: These are used as garnishes on the top of the cake.
How to Make S'mores Icebox Cake
Start the process of making your S'mores Icebox Cake by preparing your 9x13 casserole dish. Lay down a layer of graham crackers to form the base of your cake.
Next, you'll want to create the creamy marshmallow layer. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff, beating them together until they're smooth. To this mixture, add the powdered sugar and 4 cups of heavy cream. Continue to beat the mixture until you achieve soft peaks, which will give your cream layer a light, fluffy texture. Set aside.
While your cream mixture is set aside, you can start on your chocolate ganache. Place your chocolate chips into a large bowl. Heat the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream in the microwave (or on the stove over low-medium) until hot, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let it sit for a minute. This will allow the heat from the cream to melt the chocolate chips. After a minute, stir the cream and chocolate together until you have a smooth ganache. Allow this to cool to room temperature.
Now you're ready to assemble your cake. Spread about a third of your cream mixture over your base layer of graham crackers, creating an even layer. Pour about a third of your cooled ganache over the cream layer. Repeat these layers - graham crackers, cream mixture, ganache - until you've used up all your ingredients. Make sure to finish with a final layer of graham crackers and cream mixture.
For the finishing touch, sprinkle crushed graham crackers over the top of your cake. Add some chocolate curls and miniature marshmallows for garnish, creating a visually appealing and delicious topping.
Finally, cover your cake and place it in the refrigerator. It should be left to chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the graham crackers to soften slightly, creating the perfect S'mores Icebox Cake.
Tips to Make the Best S'mores Icebox Cake
Here are some tips for making this the best s'mores icebox cake.
- Make It Ahead: This cake needs at least 4 hours to chill and set, so it's a great dessert to make ahead of time. You can prepare it the night before and have a delicious dessert ready for the next day.
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before you start. This will make sure it blends smoothly with the marshmallow cream and heavy cream.
- Whip It Good: When whipping the cream cheese, marshmallow cream, powdered sugar, and heavy cream together, make sure to whip until soft peaks form. This will give your cream layer a light, fluffy texture.
- Cool Your Ganache: Allow your chocolate ganache to cool to room temperature before layering it in the cake. If it's too hot, it could melt your cream layer.
- Get Creative with Toppings: While we suggests garnishing with crushed graham crackers, chocolate curls, and mini marshmallows, feel free to get creative. You could add chopped nuts, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or even some crushed cookies.
- Try Different Flavors: For a twist on the classic s'mores flavor, try using a different type of chocolate in your ganache, like dark chocolate or white chocolate. You could also experiment with flavored marshmallow creams or add a dash of flavor extract, like vanilla or almond, to your cream mixture.
- Clean Layers: To ensure clean, distinct layers, be gentle when spreading the cream mixture and ganache. Also, make sure each layer is relatively even.
Other Delicious Desserts
If you end up with leftovers, cover with plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid and place it in the refrigerator.
For the best taste and texture, make sure to eat within 1-2 days. The graham cracker crust will become soft and then soggy the longer it sits.
S'mores Icebox Cake
- 14.4 ounces graham crackers 1 package
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 cups marshmallow cream
- 6 cups heavy cream divided
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 2 ½ cups milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons graham crackers crushed
- chocolate curls for garnish
- mini marshmallows for garnish
- In a 9x13 casserole dish, place a layer of graham crackers.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and 4 cups of heavy cream, beating until soft peaks form.
- Meanwhile, place the chocolate chips into a large bowl. Microwave the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream until hot, about 2 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat over low-medium heat in a small saucepan until hot. Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate and allow it to rest for 1 minute. Then, stir the chocolate and cream together until smooth. Bring to room temperature.
- Drop about ⅓ of the cream mixture over the cracker layer and spread into an even layer. Then, pour the ganache over the cream mixture, using about ⅓ of the ganache. Repeat the layers of crackers, cream mixture, and ganache. Top with a final layer of crackers and cream mixture.
- Sprinkle the crushed crackers over the top and garnish with chocolate curls and miniature marshmallows.
- Cover the dessert and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.


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domain: design


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On Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1930, residents of Hemet listening to the radio about 12:30 p.m. were surprised to hear a radio broadcaster by the name of Seymour Hastings mention their fine city — but not in a good way.
His mention of a feud between Hemet and the neighboring city of San Jacinto, as well as suggesting the city should change its name, didn’t go over well with the man on the street. The Hemet Chamber of Commerce was dragged into the matter and decided to take up the cause of defending Hemet and its name.
According to an article in the Dec. 19 edition of the Hemet News, Hastings said he had visited the San Jacinto Valley area and the residents of Hemet and San Jacinto were “making faces at each other.”
In a letter to Hastings, the chamber admitted that his comment might have had a grain of truth to it. However, the chamber still didn’t think it was appropriate. “We question the propriety of making such a statement, even should it be a fact.” The chamber went on to say that the best minds of both cities were working to foster cooperation between and statements such as his didn’t help the situation.
What got Hemet residents even more annoyed was Hastings’ suggestion that Hemet change its name.
He said in his radio broadcast that the initials of Hemet founder Col. Mayberry were “H.E.M.” and Mayberry added on the “et” to create the name Hemet. While this story was around before 1930, it is patently false as the man’s full name was Edward L. Mayberry. Hastings further suggested that the Hemet Chamber call a mass meeting to consider a name change. The Hemet News said not a single citizen of Hemet had come forward in support of the name change proposal.
The chamber couldn’t resist getting a bit tongue in cheek in the conclusion of its letter, suggesting that it would never do to Hastings what he did to Hemet. The letter said, “… may we say that we think Hastings is a very pretty name and we have no desire to suggest a change. If we had, we think we would first consult privately and quietly — and without any advance publicity — with the bearer of that name and learn his wishes in the matter, rather than to broadcast to the world our idea that his name wasn’t fitting or appropriate and that it should be changed or forgotten.”
The Hemet Chamber of Commerce, which was founded in 1920, merged in 1999 with the San Jacinto Chamber, to become the Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce, which still serves that area’s business community.
Meanwhile, 92 years later, Hemet still proudly bears the name Hastings suggested changing.
If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at email@example.com.


|Phelps girls 3-0 on season after two NLC?hoops wins|
By Anthony Drew
News-Review Asst. Editor
The Phelps Lady Knights are off to a 3-0 start overall in basketball after two Northern Lakes Conference (NLC) wins last week.
Phelps beat Laona-Wabeno 35-26 last Tuesday before defeating White Lake 51-15 Friday.
The game against Laona-Wabeno was the NLC?opener for the Lady Knights.“This low-scoring game was a defensive battle on both ends of floor,” said Phelps coach Jason Pertile.
|Tuesday, December 10, 2013 2:22 PM|


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Welcome to Foxglove Lane Studio
Capturing light and shade. Connecting more deeply to the love and loss of life and land. Sharing it all from a small patch of Mother Earth that deserves a future!
"One eye sees, the other feels." Paul Klee
I started a one year sabbatical from my job of over 20 years in January this year. For the first couple of months I struggled with a bout of shingles […]
“I see myself on the underworld side of that water, the darkness coming in fast, saying all the names I know for a lost land:” From The […]
I spent two days absorbing the art at Tate Modern and Tate Britain the other week. The retrospective of David Hockney was a treat. I don’t think I had […]
I feel ashamed to say it. But there is no doubt. Ireland is a two tier society. It’s a country where half of the population can sleep easy at night […]
She began to bellow just before 3.30 AM. There’s a hill of blazing gorse to the east and she had gotten herself up on the top of […]
We are drawn to the edge. Like so many flamingoes we like to dip our toes into the water and paddle while the sun goes down. Lisbon feels edgy in […]
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On a rainy Sunday in 2011 I posted a photo on the first Foxglove Lane Blog. Since then I've been a regular photoblogger. When you subscribe, you will get an occasional update to your inbox and a downloadable Guide to practicing Photography with Heart.
Catherine Drea is a contemplative photographer, writer and facilitator. She lives and works down a long green lane, in County Waterford, Ireland. An advocate for conservation and biodiversity, her blog has observed the beauty and decline of one small patch of the planet since February 2011.
The Foxglove Lane Blog has won a number of Irish Blog Awards for photography, including Best Photography Blog 2018. Find out more about Catherine here
You can buy signed prints of any image on this site or in the Galleries printed here in the Foxglove Lane Studio, up to A2 size and they can be posted anywhere within a few days. Please contact Catherine here.


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Some people see writing as an outpouring of words. The Muse visits, and words appear on the page. Not for me. My writing is more of an extraction—and a painful one at that. More times than not, I feel like I’m pulling out every word by force.
The truth is, I’m a chronic self-editor—maybe because I was a professional editor for fifteen years and old habits die hard. Or maybe because I’m a tiny bit obsessive. So when my writer friends say things like, “I write two-thousand words a day,” or “I wrote my first draft in three months,” I’m like, “Never in a million years could I do that.”
And it’s all because I can’t stop self-editing. I know how much self-editing slows me down, so I’ve tried not to do it. I’ve tried writing a thousands words without worrying about how terrible they might be. I spent a week doing just that and, yeah, I got the words out, and, yeah, I increased my page count by fifty pages. But you know what? I ended up scrapping all of it. Not because it was terrible writing (well, maybe just a little), but because writing off the top of my head means my characters tend to go on long, wandering trips—and sometimes they don’t come back. For some reason, I don’t feel like I can move on without getting a scene just where I want it. It’s hard for me to start a scene if I don’t know where the one before it left off.
Like other writers I know, I’ve spent a fair amount of time beating myself up for my shortcomings. And even though I wish I was one of those writers who could dash off a novel in a few months, I’ve come to realize that self-editing as I write is part of my process. So I’ve come to terms with my affliction. Because even though self-editing makes me a slow writer, it also makes me a careful writer. (Notice how I said “careful” and not “obsessive.”) Maybe someday, I’ll find a cure.


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Some women are unhappy with the size, shape, or look of their inner labia (inner vaginal lips). Aging, genetics, and childbirth can all adversely affect a woman’s physical comfort and diminish the visual appeal of the labia minora and labia majora. Labia that are enlarged, long, or asymmetrical can cause embarrassment and even physical irritation. Labiaplasty surgery addresses these concerns by removing excess skin and providing a labial appearance and function that allows women to be both comfortable and confident. Clitoral hood excess can also be addressed laterally for harmony with the reduced labia. Columbia, MD Labiaplasty Specialist Dr. Sarah Mess is a board-certified plastic surgeon offering patients in the DMV area personalized care.Schedule Your Consultation
The Labiaplasty Procedure in Columbia, Maryland
Labiaplasty or Vaginal Rejuvenation is a plastic surgery procedure that can be performed with general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or under sedation. We typically use local anesthesia for this procedure and it takes one to two hours to complete. A numbing cream readily absorbs into the labia, and a painless injection of buffered local anesthesia is administered to numb the area completely. Excess tissue is removed from the labia using a wedge-excision technique that preserves the natural borders of the labia, including the color, contour, and texture. The scar will be inconspicuous and is designed to lie in the groove between the labia minora and labia majora. Dr. Mess takes patient input into consideration when placing the incision in order to achieve the desired aesthetics.
Thinking About Having Labiaplasty?
If you have considered labiaplasty, you are not alone—more than Trusted Source 2018 National Plastic Surgery Statistics American Society of Plastic Surgeons Go to Source 10,000 women in the U.S. had labiaplasty surgery in 2018. Benefits of labiaplasty can include:
Exercise Without Irritation
Overly large labia minora may be physically in the way and inhibit your performance during exercise and sports. They may rub against each other, your legs, or your clothing and cause irritation and even rashes. Vaginal Rejuvenation surgery can allow you to participate in physical activities without this discomfort.
Have More Clothing Options
The presence of large labia may be uncomfortable in tight jeans, and women are often embarrassed that elongated labia will be visible through swimsuits or tight clothing. After labiaplasty, you can wear a wider variety of clothing without worrying about protruding labia.
Enjoy Intimacy More
Enlarged, asymmetrical, or otherwise irregular labia may cause physical and emotional discomfort that detract from your satisfaction during intimacy. Some women are embarrassed about the appearance of the labia minora and refrain from sexual intimacy altogether. Others may experience physical irritation of their labia during intercourse. Trusted Source Psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty: a prospective case-comparison studys Veale, D., Naismith, I., Eshkevari, E. et al Go to Source Studies show that labiaplasty can improve sexual satisfaction .
Labiaplasty Surgery With Dr. Mess
Labiaplasty Recovery Timeline
As an outpatient procedure, labiaplasty allows patients to recover in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. Dr. Mess will give you specific instructions to follow to ensure you have the safest and most effective recovery possible.
Day 1 through 3
Results will be immediately apparent, but swelling and mild discomfort will likely exist. Patients should relax and recline with ice packs. After the third day of recovery, most patients can return to work.
Weeks 2 to 3
The absorbable sutures may cause itching as the tissues heal, and the remaining sutures will be removed. Patients may resume exercise but should avoid mechanical rubbing of the labia, such as with bicycle riding, horseback riding, and sexual intercourse.
After week 6
Patients may resume sexual intercourse, strenuous exercise, and other regular activities. Dr. Mess will request a follow-up appointment at six months to ensure optimal complete healing.
How Much Does a Labiaplasty Cost?
We believe patients make better decisions when they understand the options and price ranges for labiaplasty. We are happy to provide a basic price range for labiaplasty, but final costs cannot be determined prior to your consultation appointment with Dr. Mess.
The best way to know about procedure pricing is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Mess. Our Columbia office is conveniently located and easily accessible from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Your comprehensive labiaplasty quote will also include the following:
- All appointments before and after your procedure
- Surgeon’s fee
- Facility and supply fees
Price Range for a Labiaplasty- $5,000- $6,000.
FAQs About Labiaplasty
Am I a good candidate for labiaplasty?
If you have concerns with the appearance of your genitalia, including the size and/or shape of your labia (the inner and/or outer lips), you may be a good candidate for labiaplasty. Additionally, you should be in Trusted Source Four common questions women have about recovery after labiaplasty American Society of Plastic Surgeons Go to Source good general health and have realistic expectations .
Will I have visible scars from labiaplasty?
The natural folds and skin texture of the labia hides scars very well and after you are healed labiaplasty scars are typically so undetectable that even your gynecologist may not notice them!3
What are the risks of labiaplasty?
All surgical procedures involve some risk of side effects or complications. Trusted Source Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgical Options American Society of Plastic Surgeons Go to Source Labiaplasty surgery risks include bleeding, infection, and over-resection which can result in vaginal dryness and pain. Dr. Mess prioritizes patient safety throughout your procedure.
Can I have children after labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty should not interfere with your ability to get pregnant or give birth.
Is labiaplasty part of a Mommy Makeover?
Some women choose to include labiaplasty as part of their Mommy Makeover. If you are interested in labiaplasty in addition to body reshaping cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation (breast implants or breast lift), tummy tuck, and liposuction, you can discuss options with Dr. Mess. Mommy Makeover is a totally customized rejuvenation plan.
Schedule a Consultation For Labiaplasty
If you’re self-conscious or have concerns with the shape or size of your labia and interested in a cosmetic surgery consultation for labiaplasty, please contact our office today.
1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2018 National Plastic Surgery Statistics. Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2018/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2018.pdf Accessed January 7, 2020
2 Veale, D., Naismith, I., Eshkevari, E. et al. Psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty: a prospective case-comparison study. Int Urogynecol J 25, 831–839 (2014) doi:10.1007/s00192-013-2297-2
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Four common questions women have about recovery after labiaplasty. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/four-common-questions-women-have-about-recovery-after-labiaplasty Accessed January 7, 2020
4 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgical Options. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/vaginal-rejuvenation/labiaplasty Accessed January 7, 2020 Accessed January 7, 2020
Dr. Sarah Mess has either authored or reviewed and approved this content. Page Updated

domain: health


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Cars Crushed After Hare Coursing In Sawtry
13 December 2014, 05:39 | Updated: 13 December 2014, 05:41
Footage has been released of the crushing of two vehicles which were seized in connection with an investigation into hare coursing.
The crushing took place yesterday (Friday, December 12) at 10am at Burton's Car Disposal, Cockbrook Lane, Old Weston.
PC Robin Smith said: "This could happen to anyone using a vehicle as part of committing crime and should be a warning to them."
Officers attended an incident on farmland in Sawtry on December 13 last year, after receiving reports of six men trespassing and hare coursing on the land.
A police helicopter was deployed and six men were reported for summons to appear at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court. A dog, two vehicles and cash were also seized.
Charlie Doherty, 25, from Newton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, Francis Doherty, 37, from Gipsey Lane, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, James Doran, 35, from London Road, Basildon, Essex and John-Brian Lee Senior, 43, from Gipsey Lane, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, were all charged with two counts of daytime trespass by five or more in pursuit of game.
All four denied the charges however all were found guilty on November 5 and each received a £300 fine, ordered to pay £300 in costs and forfeit the vehicles. The court order specified the destruction of the two cars.
A 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy were issued youth cautions in connection with the offence.
Stefan Gidlow, Cambridgeshire Countryside Watch Co-ordinator, said: "Hare coursing in rural areas has a huge impact on the rural community. Coursers give no consideration to landowner's property or crops, they verbally abuse and intimidate anyone challenging them, trespass on land, cause damage to crops, hedges, and gates and even sometimes use violence against farmers if challenged."
Brian Finnerty, from the National Farmers Union (NFU), said: "Hare coursing is a serious and ongoing problem in the countryside which affects a lot of our members. They feel isolated, desperate and powerless to stop the coursers who trespass on their land.
"Our experience in Cambridgeshire, and elsewhere, shows incidents of hare coursing can only be dramatically reduced where there is concerted action by farmers, police and the courts - this includes sentences that reflect the seriousness of the crime."


Particle filter with NXT
Basically the particle filter realizes that you won't have perfect odometery readings all the time, and so uses 3 ultrasonic sensors to 'correct' errors and stay on track.
"Localisation is the process of working out where you are, so localisation for a robot is having the robot work out where it is using the readings from its own sensors. Sounds easy, but it can be surprisingly challenging. The big problem stems from the fact that the robot's wheels have to slip to make the robot move (a fact of physics), so careful measurement of the motors' rotation sensors is not going to help you. Fitting streams of range readings from ultrasound or infrared sensors has problems with noise and error, too. So, over the last decade or so, roboticists have pretty well agreed that the best way to localise is to combine the all of robot's sensor readings over time using probability theory. Sounds challenging, but it can be surprisingly easy.
I've been using a probabilistic filter called a particle filter to localise a robot built around the NXT. The other name for this style of probabilistic localisation is Monte-Carlo Localisation, so called because it relies on finding the best odds from a series of seemingly random outcomes. All of the code is written in Robot-C and runs on-board the NXT in real time. This surprised me. Particle filters are supposed to be horribly computationally intensive with lots of floating point math, so surely you can't expect it to run on a LEGO brick ... but run it did."
He gives a great explanation of particle filters along with video of it in operation.
Source code in RobotC is provided for those that want to look under the hood.
I also read the stuff he is doing with some of the Mindsensors hardware - including the newly released camera sensor.
The wheels may have to slip but exactly how much is the slip over distance traveled. If proper programming and construction techniques are utilized this slippage can be minimized and dealt with. My FLL team's robot is accurate to better than 1mm linearly and .5 degrees rotationally - tested physically and programmatically.
As to a FLL robot being "Accurate to better than 1mm linearly and 0.5 degrees rotationally"... well, I'd be curious to know exactly what you mean by these. For instance, "1mm linearly" has very little meaning to me - does that mean it can navigate to the same location, 10 meters away from the start point, and end up with a pointer in a circle 2mm in diameter in 98 tries out of 100? Or does it mean that in one test, the robot stopped within 1 mm of a line located 10 cm away from the start? Likewise for angular position, how did you measure that small and angle (I survey caves, and the equipment used only reads to the half degree... and the actual accuracy is much less, usually around +/- 2 degrees). Was that an error in the way the robot moved, or in the starting positions? Etc.
Where something like this comes in handy is when you are not sure of the condition you will encounter. By taking in information from a variety of sensors, you can get a 'better' picture of exactly what your robot is doing.
Particle filters are just one way of combining several different types of data into meaningful information


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Colin Cotterill doesn't like to leave home. You can't blame him, Cotterill lives on the beach in a remote village in Thailand. Cotterill is best known for a mystery series which is set in the 1970's in Laos. The main character, Dr. Siri is a septuagenarian and the first and only coroner in Laos.
Cotterill made a rare visit to the United States to attend the BoucherCon mystery convention in St. Louis. We tracked him down to talk to him about his new series that features the crime reporter Jimm Juree. The books are
set right in the part of Thailand where Cotterill resides. Jimm and her wacky relatives are running a rather unsuccessful resort. Fortunately for Jimm, some murder cases turn up for her to solve.
Cotterill's title, "Killed at the Whim of a Hat" is a quotation from former President George W. Bush.

domain: entertainment


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3-DAY WEATHER FORECAST:
Glen Elder State Park is located on the northern shore of Glen Elder Reservoir, which is also called Waconda Lake. As part of a flood control effort, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began building the lake’s dam across the Solomon River in 1964, and it was completed in 1968.
The resulting lake covered what once was an active mineral spring called Waconda Springs. The spring’s pool was said to be 50 feet in diameter, 15 feet deep and rich in a variety of minerals. Waconda Springs was a sacred, ceremonial gathering place for many of the Native American tribes that lived in the central plains, including Pawnee, Wichita, Kaw, Kiowa, Sioux, Arapaho, Comanche, the Miami, Crow, Cheyenne, Arapaho and others. Kanza tribe members reportedly called the springs, “Wakonda,” meaning “Great Spirit.”
In addition to fishing, recreational opportunities and on site amenities include hunting, prairie dog area, electrical hook-ups, showers, picnic areas, fishing and hunting guide service, shelters, marina, swimming and beach area, boat ramps, boat rentals, nature trails, educational ranger programs, annual fishing tournaments and much more.
Members save 30% everyday on the purchase of baits that come in their box!

domain: geography


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Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Studios
Reed Watts Architects have completed new building housing new rehearsal studios and catering kitchen for the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Westminster, Central London.
The 480m2 project was built in just seven months amongst the protected Royal Parks trees and brings together the theatre’s operations onto one site for the first time in its 86 year history.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is a uniquely located cultural institution that hosts audiences of over 1,200 people each night during the summer. Reed Watts’ designs respond to the woodland setting with subtle contextual architecture that works with, and celebrates its surroundings.
The structure is constructed from a prefabricated, cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel system. This lightweight structure was erected quickly (during the winter season when the Theatre was closed) and required relatively small foundations, thus reducing the impact on neighbouring tree roots. Externally, the building is clad in a band of dark stained larch at the base, with a crown of textured cladding at higher levels. The cladding has been designed so that it presents a black restrained façade to public sides (Inner circle and Nannies lawn) with a richer golden texture visible from the Theatre.
Located in the far corner of the site the new structure is surrounded by mature trees, and so the approach is recessive and thoughtful design, which reads as a natural extension to the existing Theatre buildings along the boundary edge.
At ground level the new space is split into two with a new catering wing providing food for audience and staff which is wrapped around the double height studio. The floor above provides further rehearsal spaces and a green room.
The new studio is an innovative and adaptable rehearsal space that suits the needs of the theatre’s productions including dancers, actors and acrobats who had previously relied on off-site facilities. The open 14.3m x 10m studio includes 4.1 high ceilings and a full height mirror and curtain, natural light and a glimpse of the adjacent trees is provided via rooflights and a large framed window, all which can be blacked out by intregrated blinds. The studio also includes sprung floor which has a harlequin vinyl finish with underfloor heating. The space is be mechanically ventilated (and cooled) from ductwork at high level.
The new kitchen facilities double the catering space that was previously on the site which allows the theatre to improve and broaden its food offer. The kitchen provides stations for 5 chefs and also includes a servery which colourfully opens out pre-show onto the picnic lawn. In a further reference back to the woodland setting, the CLT frame is exposed in circulation spaces including the stair which leads to further rehearsal spaces and green room on the first floor. Given the sensitive nature of the site extensive consultation was required with Westminster, Royal Parks and local stakeholders to secure planning permission and conservation area consent. This is the second project on the site for Reed Watts having completed backstage storage works last year. Future works, planned for next year, include landscape enhancements and modifications to some existing buildings to further improve the unique site.


The comic book movie hits just keep on coming.
Fresh of a thrilling new Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, 20th Century Fox is determined to stay relevant in the super hero game, and Wolverine director James Mangold confirmed via Twitter that they will begin shooting the next installment of the Wolverine solo film series next year.
Hugh Jackman has enthusiastically agreed to keep playing the character until he dies, so they might as well continue milking it for all its worth. Wolverine Origins left me considerably cold, but The Wolverine came very close to redeeming it, and Wolverine’s presence in X-Men: Days of Future Past was nearly perfect.
It’s still hard to fathom for a comic geek that the biggest movies over the next few years will have the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the X-Men involved, but that’s the world we live in. I hope we’re all appreciating it.
@R_0_B_89 early next year.
— Mangold (@mang0ld) March 5, 2015
Check out James Mangold on Twitter for the info.
And hey, while we’re at it, let’s talk about Wolverine joining the Avengers…


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Testing Michelle Rhee
From Learning Matters: Testing Michelle Rhee.
It was a little over two years ago that we began following Michelle Rhee’s efforts to change what was one of the country’s worst public school systems. Over the course of nine episodes, we have captured her no-nonsense candor that has been a hallmark of her first two years. And now we finish two years of coverage with our 10th episode. In this report we ask the question, “Is education better in DC today?” The test scores say ‘yes,’ because almost half of elementary students are now on grade level, according to the city’s year-end DC-CAS test. That may not sound like much, but when Rhee took over, only 29% were on grade level in math. But some say that higher scores alone do not necessarily mean better schools. Watch as both sides present their case in this complex debate.


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LONDON, Ontario – A self-declared "caravan" of Americans crossed the border into Canada on Saturday seeking affordable prices for insulin and to raise awareness of the "insulin price crisis" in the United States.
Insulin costs 10 times more in the United States than it does in Canada. One woman in the group lost her son because she could not afford the drug.
The group, called Caravan to Canda, started the journey from Minnesota on Friday and arrived in London, Ontario, on Saturday.
They chose London becasue it's where the drug was discovered.
The group paid tribute to one of the drug's discoverers, Sir Frederick Banting. They stopped at his house, which is now a museum.


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Your Care Instructions
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder. It affects a person's behavior. And it makes communication and social interactions hard.
Behavior and symptoms can range from mild to severe. The type of symptoms your child has and how severe they are varies. For example, your child might prefer to play alone and avoid eye contact. Or your child may be late to develop social or verbal skills.
Children with ASD may do things because of a need for sameness or routines. For example, your child may rock his or her body. Or you may notice that your child gets attached to objects or repeats certain rituals and routines.
Some children with ASD need help in most parts of their lives. Others may learn social and verbal skills and lead independent lives as adults. Finding and treating ASD early has helped many children who have ASD to lead full lives. They can do things like go to college and have a job.
ASD now includes conditions that used to be diagnosed separately. These include:
- Asperger's syndrome.
- Pervasive developmental disorder.
- Childhood disintegrative disorder.
You or your doctor might use any of these terms to describe the condition.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
How can you care for your child at home?
- Build your child's confidence and skills. Use rules, daily routines, and visual aids such as written schedules. And try role-playing to practice social situations. Children with ASD like specific rules and consistent expectations. Help your child take things they learn and apply them in different settings. For example, if your child learned how to count money in school, have him or her use that skill to pay for something at the grocery store.
- Focus on your child's strengths. Encourage your child to explore interests at home and at school. And stay informed about what happens in your child's classroom.
- Encourage your child to learn how to interact with people. Explain why this is important. Give lots of praise, especially when he or she uses a social skill without prompting.
- Contact your school district to find out what special services your child can be a part of. Federal law requires public schools to have programs for people ages 3 through 21 with special needs.
- Learn as much as you can about ASD. Talk to others about it. The more that teachers, your child's peers, and other people learn, the better they can help and support your child.
- Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Some children with ASD also have other conditions. They may have anxiety, depression, ADHD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. So they may need medicine. Call the doctor if you have any problems with your child's medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines the doctor prescribes.
- Plan for your child's future. As your child gets older, think about where your adult child will live or go to college. Think about what training and job resources he or she may need. When a child with ASD becomes an adult, he or she is still eligible for certain services, but will have to request or apply for them. As an adult, he or she will have to ask for what they need themselves. But you can take steps now to help make sure that your child will have proper care and resources throughout life.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You think you may hurt your child or your child may hurt themself.
Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If your child talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:
- Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
- Text HOME to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line.
Consider saving these numbers in your phone.
Go to 988lifeline.org for more information or to chat online.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has a seizure.
- Your child cannot control their behavior.
- Your child shows aggressive behavior, like hitting or biting. Or your child is verbally abusive, like using angry or threatening words.
- Your child keeps wandering off.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child has any problems.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter R982 in the search box to learn more about "Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children: Care Instructions".
Current as of: October 20, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Patrice Burgess MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Louis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics & Christine R. Maldonado PhD - Behavioral Health & Fred Volkmar MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry


text: Living Outside the Circle comes from the idea of living with Achondroplasia Dwarfism, where the everyday experiences come with internal and external challenges. The individual is always in the spotlight of life on a daily basis, because of his or her physical appearances, which makes the person outside the circle of society looking in. Within the program, book, and public motivational speaking events, the creator Steve talks about the different events in his life, where he had to improvise his lifestyle to succeed with the everyday behaviors from others in the outside world. Steve discusses on childhood bullying, everyday ignorance, feeling of belongings, and overcoming daily challenges with heart filling and fun stories in his 43 years of life. Living Outside the Circle also challenges it’s audience to relate and take a look at their own lifestyle and experiences through the emotional stories that Steve brings to the pages of his biography and public appearances. ENJOY!!!


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(6 Customer Reviews)
This jewelry is designed to hold a small portion of ashes, hair or dried ceremonial flowers.
Includes a funnel and instructions to fill and seal the cremation pendant.
This Teardrop Stainless Steel Bracelet is created and designed by a professional jeweler. Our jewelers create each bracelet one at a time with a highest level of precision and detail possible. This bracelet holds a small portion of cremated remains, a lock of hair, burial soil or dried ceremonial flowers and easily seals with a threaded stopper screw. We encourage using a modeling glue or epoxy to make a permanent seal. This bracelet is 2-3/4" in diameter.
Optional Engraving An optional engraving can be done in a block style font. Engraving can be up to 2 characters. Engraving will be done on the front of the pendant.
Total Reviews: 6 (4.17 average)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: Jonelle on 04/24/2012
It looked very. But I had to return it because it was way too big for my very small wrist.Too bad they don't make them in smaller sizes. ;(
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: MommyX on 03/15/2013
This bracelet is just gorgeous. Although it says it can't be sized, I was able to warm it up and tighten it a little bit for my small wrists (though not by much). The only real issue I had is that it's open end design often gets caught up into my sleeves or whatever might be near my arm. I'd wear it everyday if it wasn't for that. It's otherwise a beautiful purchase.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: linda on 05/01/2013
I miss my mom so much that I wanted something I could wear and always have her close to my heart and I found it in this bracelet. I feel she is always with me.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: Barbara Bruce on 07/20/2012
the delivery was on time.. The braclet I feel is to big ans oddly shapes when u bend it.. But happy with it thank you..
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: Jerillyn on 12/10/2013
I love this and the reviews said it was 'big'…no it's HUGE!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By: Coke Lady on 12/18/2017
I get so many compliments on this simple piece of my mother I feel bad saying what it is. But people love it.
For my Dobbey
August 10, 2020
Our kitty was only 5 when he passed and my husband and I just adored him. It took us one day to find the cat sleeping in a basket urn. Absolutely beautiful honestly words can't express the beauty of... Read More
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Perfect Memorials • 9835 W. 69th Street • Eden Prairie, MN 55344
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OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
Mountain Division Champions 2023 I 2022 I 2021
Utah Outliers Home Opener Weekend is here! Puck drops Friday at 7:05pm and you're invited! Join this fun, exciting event with your friends and family. Games Friday and Saturday nights, final weekend series game Sunday. Come cheer on the Utah Outliers as they take on the Southern Oregon Spartans! Tickets sold at the door: $7 each, kids 10 yrs old and under are FREE!
Season Pass Information:
Individual Game Tickets:


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Giddy Up Cowgirl Corky’s Booties
Feel like a true cowgirl as you strut around town in your Nashville-inspired boots. Their sleek leather upper and 2" heel offer you a comfy, stylish ride. Plus, you'll feel fancy-free with a playful cow print design! Saddle up - it's time to hit the town!


Preservationists fight for future of Annapolis City Dock
Date: WBALTV, June 26, 2018, Saliqa A. Khan and Kim Dacey
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The redevelopment of the Annapolis City Dock has become something of a contentious issue.
The mayor has proposed changing the zoning of the waterfront, which historic preservation groups oppose.
The preservationists held a press conference Tuesday to voice their concerns. Mayor Gavin Buckley was not invited, but he showed up anyway.
The Annapolis City Dock was recently named one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 most-endangered historic places, and how to develop it has become the center of a brewing controversy.
Beautiful waterfront property in the heart of downtown Annapolis is a parking lot, which the mayor wants to change.
"Nothing has happened in eight years on the City Dock. Roughly since the City Dock Master Plan was stated, we haven't changed one thing at the City Dock, and I'm on the record saying, 'I'm for a park, not a parking lot,'" Buckley said.
Buckley introduced a proposal to the Annapolis City Council about a month ago to change the zoning to mixed use to allow for development. That proposal didn't pass, and historic preservation groups don't like it, saying the biggest concern is raising the height restrictions on buildings.
"If you have unlimited height on buildings, as someone proposed 70 feet-plus, you end up having ego alley look like ego canyon because the zoning would permit that to have tall buildings ringing ego alley. It would destroy the character of the City Dock," said Robert Clark, president and CEO of Historic Annapolis.
One developer is proposing a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar near the water. The people at Historic Annapolis said they are in favor of the hotel proposal, as long as it meets the current height restrictions. They'd like to see the waterfront developed but keeping in the spirit of the history of the City Dock.
"Responsible development, that is where all the partners of the city are engaged, and we end up with something that's tasteful and can last more centuries," Clark said.
The mayor said he's listening to all perspectives and he is willing to work with everyone to make sure the City Dock is something everyone can be proud of.
"I'm hearing what people are saying, and that's the process. We need to talk like this. You see this happen in all cities across the world. People fear the worst. We see red before you can reason, and that shouldn't be the way you do things. You should be able to talk to one another and meet in the middle and find a plan that works for everybody," Buckley said.
All of the parties involved are waiting on the results of several exploratory studies before determining how to proceed.
The annual endangered historic places list focuses on important examples of the nation's architectural and cultural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage, according to the organization.
Other places on the list include Ashley River Historic District in South Carolina, Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital in Nebraska, and Historic Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- which were among the buildings damaged by the 2017 hurricanes.
To view the article on WBALTV's website, please click here.


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A few weeks ago Sebastiana contacted me to let me know about the little free library she has set up outside her house in Didcot.
I’m a huge reader, and get a lot of my books from the local charity shops. They’re temporarily closed so this is a great idea for anyone who is running out of reading material.
Sebastiana’s library is in a weatherproof bookcase in her front garden at 37 Churchill Road, Didcot, OX11 7BU. It’s inspired by a library she saw in a village in Surrey; she thought it would be great for Didcot to have something similar.
The library is free. The basic premise is that you donate a book/pick up a new book. However, if you don’t have one to donate I’m sure it would be fine to borrow one and bring it back. On the other hand, if you’ve got a lot of books to donate (or otherwise want to get in contact) do email Sebastiana at firstname.lastname@example.org.
I popped to the library whilst on one of my exercise walks. I was pleased to see quite a variety of genres and authors; there’s probably a book for you! Most are for adults but there was a small selection for children. There were also a couple of DVDs available.
It’s a lovely idea and well worth supporting. Do pop and pick up some new reading material!


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What is the Overtime Rule?
The Department of Labor (DOL) has been talking about a new Overtime Rule, but what does that mean for you? Well, let us first consider the difference between “exempt” and “non-exempt” employees.
Exempt employees are not required to be paid overtime for work over 40 hours in a workweek. They are generally paid a salary or some sort of predetermined amount of compensation on a regular basis. This amount cannot be reduced because of variations in quality or quantity of work per the DOL.
Non-exempt employees generally work hourly and qualify for overtime pay as governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is the largest class of employee according to the DOL.
Currently, the threshold for an exempt employee has been $23,660 and this was established in 2004. The Obama administration tried to update the salary thresholds in 2016, but that rule would have almost more than doubled the thresholds currently in place and it was blocked by a federal judge just before the rule would have become active. After the Trump administration took over, the rule was re-evaluated. In early 2019, the DOL proposed rule still increased the salary thresholds, but not quite to the same degree as its predecessor.
September 24, 2019, the DOL finalized a new Overtime Rule effective 1/1/2020. The new “final rule” increases the salary level for “exempt” employees to at least $684 per pay or $35,568 a year. Any employee who works more than 40 hours, regardless of the job duties, will be required to receive overtime if they are under this threshold. But, the new rule also emphasizes bonuses and incentive payments as options to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level when qualifying employees for statuses. An employer could consider using bonuses or increasing wages to avoid having to pay overtime on employees if necessary.
The new rule also raises 'highly compensated employees’ from the current level of $100,000 to $107,432 per year. The DOL rule states that “based on the rationale that it is unnecessary to apply the standard duties test in its entirety to employees who earn at least a certain amount annually—an amount substantially higher than the annual equivalent of the weekly standard salary level—because such employees ‘have almost invariably been found to meet all the other requirements of the regulations for exemption.’”
The new regulations are hopefully not quite as much of a shock as the proposed rule in 2016; however, this will still make almost 1 million Americans eligible for overtime.
It will be imperative that employers take a look at both salaries and job duties of their staff and make sure that they are being classified correctly. The DOL has also expressed that they will continue to make salary threshold adjustments more frequently to keep up with current wages and inflation.
For more information reach out to your local TROXELL agent to learn how we can help you make sure your employees are correctly classified and internal policies are up to date. Learn more about TROXELL's HR Solutions.
This information is advisory only. The author assumes no responsibility for management or control of loss control activities. Not all exposures are identified in this article. Contact your local TROXELL insurance agent for coverage advice and policy service. Neither TROXELL nor its affiliates or representatives offer legal advice. Consult with your attorney about your specific situation
This article was written by:
REBEKAH SERVES AS THE HR GENERALIST AT TROXELL. SHE IS A GRADUATE OF OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY AND IS AN HR CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL THROUGH THE SOCIETY OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (SHRM-CP). REBEKAH HAS A DIVERSE BACKGROUND IN HR INCLUDING SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING. CONTACT REBEKAH AT 217-321-3240 OR RDEAL@TROXELLINS.COM

domain: law


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Dahshur And Saqqara
Experience Cairo day tour to Giza Pyramids Dahshur and Saqqara. Start your Cairo day tour to Pyramids of Dahshur, and visit the Red and the Bent Pyramids. And then, visit the step pyramid at Sakkara necropolis. Moreover, explore the Pyramids of Giza. This is a great excursion to see the development of Ancient Egyptian pyramids building techniques all in one day.


In a rare occurrence, researchers have recorded adult mountain gorillas playing on their own in water, just enjoying themselves.
Play is an important developmental process not just in humans but also in other primates.
Through play, humans and other animals gain more physical and mental acuity and learn behaviors that will serve them well into adulthood.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, “Gorillas share 98.3% of their genetic code with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos.”
Like humans and many other primates, gorillas — especially throughout childhood and adolescence — engage in play, which allows them to learn key skills and behaviors. Play also allows young gorillas to strengthen their muscles and become more agile.
So far, researchers have focused mostly on studying play as a social activity, but they have paid less attention to gorillas’ solitary play and what it might mean to them.
For this reason, a few recent sightings of mountain gorillas playing on their own in water have caught the attention of a team of investigators, from the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University, in Japan, the Primate Cognition Research Group, in Lisbon, Portugal, and Conservation Through Public Health, a nonprofit organization in Entebbe, Uganda.
The sightings — which occurred at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in Uganda — were even more unusual because the gorillas playing on their own were subadults and adults: a 9-year-old female, a 10-year-old female, a 7-year-old male, and a 15-year old male.
Gorillas just…want to have fun?
The scientists have published their findings in the journalPrimates. First author Raquel Costa and colleagues report that the sightings took place on three occasions at the end of the dry season in January 2018.
At these times, members of the Rushegura mountain gorilla group were seeking refreshment at a shallow stream.
During the first sighting, the 15-year-old male — called Kanywani — played on his own by submerging his fingers into the stream and making back-and-forth motions with his hand. “These movements were calm, and he did not splash the water,” the researchers write in their paper.
On the same occasion, the 9-year-old female — whom the researchers call Kamara — played with the water in a similar way, also on her own.
During the second sighting, Kamara started splashing vigorously in the water, making a “play face,” until she got completely soaked. She did this on and off for 17 minutes. During this, Kamara also briefly splashed, in a playful manner, at the 10-year-old female, Kanyindo, then went on to play on her own.
The third sighting involved the 7-year-old male, Kabunga, who played by making waves across the water with rotating arm movements.
The team believes that this solitary play may help the gorillas explore a new environment — water — while also allowing them to have fun and relax, pure and simple. As the investigators write:
“We observed a link between stimulation-seeking, exploration, and play behavior. We suggest that the observed behaviors served three direct functions: exploration or acquaintance with water as an environmental variable and resource, consumption of water, and a self-rewarding and positive action (possiblyexciting).”
“An indirect function might be enhanced behavioral flexibility and better ability to cope with challenges,” they add.
Costa and colleagues are unsure whether this solo water play behavior — which researchers have not observed in other groups of gorillas in the wild — is only specific to this mountain gorilla community or whether other gorillas also engage in it but have avoided observation so far.
In the future, they aim to remain alert to the possibility that solitary play may be more widespread among gorillas in the wild than zoologists had previously thought.
Moreover, the authors note, “Further efforts should be made to explore whether this behavior might be socially transmitted across generations within a group.”


OTSUCHI, IWATE PREF. – The rebuilding of a lighthouse that was destroyed and washed away by the March 2011 tsunami was completed Thursday, some 21 months after the catastrophe.
The new lighthouse, built on the islet of Horaijima in the town of Otsuchi, will serve as a new symbol for local residents.
The islet in Otsuchi harbor is believed to have been featured in “Hyokkori Hyotanjima,” a puppet TV series by the late author Hisashi Inoue.
The design for the new lighthouse was selected from submissions by local people.
The tsunami changed the islet’s shape and washed away the original 7.4-meter-tall lighthouse, which had stood for almost 60 years.
A candle-shape design by Minako Iwama, 60, was chosen from among 266 designs.
Iwama, whose design was also inspired by the shape of an hourglass, said she hopes for a bright future and that the lighthouse will serve as a memorial to the disaster victims.
“I hope the lighthouse will mark the way to recovery,” she said.
Residents of Otsuchi cheered when the new 11.5-meter lighthouse was lit up for an opening ceremony.
According to the Japan Coast Guard, 50 lighthouses in Iwate were damaged by the March 11 disasters, 18 of which have been restored.


While some folks might say Windows mobile isn’t doing very well, it seems some manufacturers still have faith in the OS. One such manufacturer is PC and mobile manufacturing giant, Lenovo.
Lenovo, in a joint partnership with Japanese carrier, SoftBank, has announced the SoftBank 503LV which will hit the Japanese market by late October.
The SoftBank sports mid-range specs such as a 5” HD screen, 3GB of RAM, a snapdragon 617 processor and 32GB of built-in storage. The phone is equipped with an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front facing camera for selfies, and is powered by a 2250mAh battery.
The phone weighs 144g and has a 7.6mm thickness. There is no word on pricing yet, but we’ll update this article once we get our hands on that.
Is there a chance we might see this phone outside of Japan, probably under a different Lenovo name? Maybe, maybe not.


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> My Poker Agenda
> THE-ROUNDERdot on Facebook
In mid-November, the infamous A.I. Poker genius, 'Libratus', developed by the Pennsylvania University won an HPCwire Readers' Choice Award for best use of A.I. , it's not a bracelet but it's a good start ...
A few weeks ago, I published an interesting infographics containing a ton of stats about the use of A.I. in Poker.
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domain: hobby