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Russia-NATO differences over Ukraine distract Western powers from other long-term priorities, such as addressing the growing threat of terrorism in the Middle East or reducing instability in Afghanistan.
U.S. President Barack Obama, center, is seated at a table with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, left, and British Prime Minister David Cameron as they meet about Ukraine at the NATO summit at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales. Photo: AP
While the international security agenda of late has been defined by the proliferation of violent regional conflicts around the globe, the upcoming NATO summit appears to be focused on a problem much closer to home: the crisis in Ukraine.
This NATO summit, unlike previous summits, has the potential to prove consequential both in terms of the future strategic direction of NATO development and how NATO responds to the most pressing issues of international agenda.
There are a few aspects of the summit that require particularly close attention.
First of all, the summit is to confirm the ongoing strategic readjustment of the Alliance. Since the early 2000s, the U.S. has been seeking to transform NATO into an expeditionary organization able to conduct operations around the globe. This approach was natural for Washington, which viewed the organization as an extension of its own military capabilities.
Yet, it sharply contrasted with the Alliance mandate during the Cold War, which envisioned the provision of territorial defense for its members. The renewed NATO Strategic Concept adopted in 2010 incorporated both missions, but with a clear inclination towards an expeditionary force.
Now, just a few years later, the situation has changed dramatically. The shrinking financial resources as well as results that have been ambiguous at best for NATO interventions in Afghanistan and the Middle East have diminished the appetite for new ‘Non-Article 5’ operations [external operations such as military intervention or humanitarian aid – Editor’s note]. The Expeditionary Alliance appeared too expansive and inefficient for its members.
This internal disillusionment in the projection of force around the world could have led to a renewed debate on the Alliance mandate. However, escalation in Ukraine provided NATO with a renewed purpose and brought back to the forefront the territorial defense rationale.
As Russia was not only blamed for being responsible for destabilization in Ukraine, but also suspected in asserting its influence in relations with its neighbors, the logic of containment was released from the archives and the Alliance was tasked to come back to Europe.
As of today, NATO has provided only moderate support to the struggling Kiev authorities, but it couldn’t overlook the concerns of its own members, such as Poland, Romania and the Baltic states. Still, it’s important to remember that current measures - including the announced launch of a Readiness Action Plan and basing arrangements in Central and Eastern Europe - are more of symbolic rather than substantive nature.
While military conflict between Russia and NATO remains unthinkable, despite harsh rhetoric and sanctions, there is certain restraint in actions on both sides.
Particular limits of this restraint could change over time, however. In this regard, the Summit will provide U.S. President Barack Obama one more opportunity to persuade his more reluctant European colleagues to toughen their message to Moscow. In this pursuit, he would probably focus not so much on the Alliance policies themselves. While his administration demonstrates interest in more substantive ways to affect Russia’s behavior, the NATO Summit will enable it to lobby European leaders for additional actions on behalf of the EU.
The NATO strategic adjustment could be tracked not only in measures under consideration of the Alliance leaders, but also in the issues which are not on the table, such as NATO’s engagement in the fight against Jihadists across the Middle East. Despite the fact that the situation in such countries as Iraq, Libya and Syria will be on the agenda, the Alliance (or more specifically its European allies) is clearly unwilling to commit to meaningful actions in the area. Therefore, this Summit it is unlikely that the NATO leaders will go beyond mere political statements on deterioration in the Middle East.
The one issue of the expeditionary nature, which is still relatively high on the agenda, is Afghanistan. Although the mandate of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces in this country is due to expire on January 1, 2015, the NATO allies will try to agree on a plan for continuous engagement in Afghanistan.
The current prolonged inability of local forces to come to an agreement on the results of presidential elections demonstrates the urgency of external involvement in Afghan stabilization. Ironically, the Euro-Atlantic leaders will have to discuss the critical questions related to the future of Afghanistan in the absence of its relevant representation in meetings because the new president of the country isn’t yet announced.
The real possibility of a violent clash between supporters of two major candidates for the recent Afghan elections revealed the fragility of the latest NATO-sponsored pacification in the country. In Wales, the Allies will need at least to attempt to address these disturbing developments, even though creative solutions in this regard haven’t been announced so far.
The packed agenda of the NATO Summit proves the continued relevance of the Alliance to its Members. However, the recent trend towards regional focus cannot be lasting. The premise of a Russian threat as a justification for defensive precautions is unsustainable in the long run, as it distracts Western powers from their long-term priorities.
The real and substantial challenges, related to the rising tensions in Asia Pacific, unfavorable demographic trends and flows of migration, as well as economic misbalances and a decrease in global competitiveness cannot be resolved simply by beefing up its presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Even more, both the U.S. and their allies should be interested in reduction of security expenditures, rather than escalation of confrontation with Russia. Therefore, the Alliance will probably need soon rethink its core mission once again.
The opinion of the author may not necessarily reflect the position of Russia Direct or its staff.


Throughout last year, Americans were pushing back against public school boards. The pandemic and school lockdowns allowed parents to find out exactly what their children were learning. And in many states, they were shocked to discover “critical race theory” was being taught. Parents across the country petitioned school boards to end this toxic programming.
Public schools were not happy.
The National School Boards Association turned to the DOJ. Making wild accusations against parents, they accused them of being “domestic terrorists.” Word spread that AG Merrick was planning to retaliate, to prevent parents from interfering with the left’s plans for our children. But Merrick swore before the Senate that nobody was investigating parents.
Now, a whistleblower is proving he was full of it.
FBI whistleblowers say the bureau probed parents critical of woke school boards as domestic terrorists, in a claim that may contradict Attorney General Merrick Garland’s denials, according to two GOP lawmakers.
Reps. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, and Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, say “brave whistleblowers” have come forward to say the bureau opened multiple probes all over the country as parents protested mask mandates, Critical Race Theory instruction, and other woke policies. In a letter to Garland, the lawmakers cited an internal email from the bureau’s criminal and counterterrorism divisions…
Garland, in sworn testimony before the Senate in October, assured lawmakers his memo did not instruct the bureau to open up investigations into local matters involving school boards and parents. The National School Boards Association apologized for its role in the affair amid accusations it had colluded with the White House to sic the DOJ on parents. [Source: Daily Wire]
This is pretty serious. According to this whistleblower, the FBI was probing American citizens. Not because they committed any crimes, but because they were questioning public school boards. This is beyond unconstitutional. This is a gross violation of a citizen’s First Amendment rights.
According to reports, the FBI went after people based on anonymous “tips.” The agency confronted a mother that challenged a school board. Her great crime? Belonging to a conservative group branded “right wing” and owning a gun. Another man was investigated. He did nothing wrong nor was there any information that he was dangerous. But the tipster claimed he “fit the profile of an insurrections.”
Really? Is that where we’re headed? People turning the FBI on us, simply because of assumed political views? Are Democrats so hungry for power, so desperate to maintain control of this country, that they’d violate our very principles to harass and intimidate Americans?
Yup. We shouldn’t be surprised by this now. Democrats will stop at nothing to suppress our freedoms, deny us our rights, and crush all political opposition to their socialist plans. This is why we work so hard to expose them, urging Americans with sense to vote them out of office.
If you think this will get better without action, think again. Unless Republicans have the ability to hold goons like Merrick accountable, they will keep doing this.
Author: Kit Fargo


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Ivanov – Young Chekhov Season at the National Theatre
Anton Chekhov’s plays consist of so many nuances, so many wildly changing moods that it’s rare to encounter a production that captures them all. In this respect, David Hare’s Ivanov is a success. It showcases all the humour (of which there is no shortage), the loaded glances and the weighty moments of the 130-year old text.
On the National Theatre’s Three Play Day, Chekhov enthusiasts can fill their boots with the work of the late great Russian, beginning with Platonov and finishing on The Seagull. Sandwiched as it is between the others, Ivanov makes its mark nonetheless with its sharp character observation, distinctive humour and descent into tragedy.
Our protagonist, the titular Ivanov, is a potent mix of manic depressive and gargantuan ego. His every moment on stage is marked by tortuous soliloquies on his condition. Awareness of his unworthiness, however, never prompts him into an attempt at self-improvement, and he goes on poisoning the lives of those around him with grim resignation. The beautiful young Sasha implores him to see that he is a guiltless and virtuous man, while the self-righteous Doctor Lvov pulls him in the other direction, demanding that he be accountable for his selfishness.
Geoffrey Streatfeild’s Ivanov is a believable wretch who you’ll hate or pity vehemently. It’s the tremolo in his voice and his hunched stance that give such a vivid picture of a man pained by introspection. Pete Egan deserves special mention for his turn as Count Matvyei Shabyelski. Twinkly-eyed and with a booming voice that was made for theatre, he brings an upbeat humour to the play.
Tom Pye’s sprawling set elegantly complements Chekhov’s naturalistic style. A real body of water creates a stream around the stage’s edge and lush reeds grow below towering wintry trees beset with low mist. Such detailed aesthetics do justice to the playwright’s overlapping conversations and meandering dialogue, giving rise to a fully-formed, authentic world.
It’s not all drawing room pilosophising either: we get to see “Chekhov’s Gun” (a phrase coined in honour of the man himself) in action.
Photo: Johan Persson
Ivanov is on at the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre from 3rd August until 8th October 2016. Book your tickets here.

domain: entertainment


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Florence Otedola, better known by her stage name DJ Cuppy, is a Nigerian singer and millionaire daughter who has expressed her desire to wed her fiancé, Ryan Taylor.
In a post on her Instagram story, DJ Cuppy expressed her excitement about getting married to her fiancé, Ryan Taylor.
The singer expressed her love for Ryan and said she couldn’t wait to wed him while flashing her pricey engagement ring.
“Cannot wait to marry YOU @ryan_taylor love you”.
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domain: celebrity


text:
Dream about calm tiger means that your desire to excel increases but you must be very careful not to exceed. You’ll spend more time with people you don’t see as often. The time has come to open your mind and contemplate other possibilities. In this way, when you return to your activities you will be able to concentrate effectively. You will meet someone who has a lot to give you. You may be assigned a new project at work.
Dream about calm tiger means that you will gain the respect of bosses or superiors and they will value your merits, Your desire to excel increases but you must be very careful not to exceed, You are in a vital stage of change and at times you feel nervous and at times excited, Perhaps some people in your life are being too overbearing or too dependent on you, If you are a female, feminine aspect of yourself has come to an abrupt end.
You are no longer being weighed down by some responsibility or emotional burden, You will discover what your mission in this life is, You have built a solid foundation for success in some endeavor, Today you will be very aware of everything that happens around you and that is very convenient for you, You’ll spend more time with people you don’t see as often, .
Dream about calm tiger shows that sentimental relationships will be a source of stability and gratification, Your innate sense of order and kindness will help a lot and you will get everything going smoothly, There is an aspect of yourself that has yet to be acknowledged or utilized, A period of new beginnings, new hope and new achievements begins, The time has come to open your mind and contemplate other possibilities.
You are confused about your purpose and direction in life, Good day today if you face a complex situation at work because you will know how to succeed, Today you will feel exultant with joy, euphoric, excited, If you have a partner, but today you want to go your own way, explain it to him because he might not understand, In this way, when you return to your activities you will be able to concentrate effectively, .
Dream about calm tiger signifies that those news or events you were waiting for have already arrived, You are wanting to prevent yourself from getting hurt in a relationship, You keep thinking about a person you like and you still know almost nothing about, You are holding and keeping your feelings to yourself, You will meet someone who has a lot to give you.
An escape will not hurt you today and if it is with friends, better, You are interested in him, but also in other contacts that will now be useful to you professionally, You may be assigned a new project at work, Today it will be your turn to deliver several gifts and you will be right, If you have a partner you will enjoy more of your intimate moments with her.
Dream about tiger shows that you need to reevaluate your approach to life. You are waiting for an issue that can solve part of your future. If you have doubts, look for reliable information, you will find it without difficulty. In love, you will again realize how important communication and respect are. You are experiencing a higher level of awareness. You need to see life from an optimistic point of view not pessimistic. Continue Reading …

domain: psychology


On the Laravel News site they've posted a tutorial sharing some of the basics around the optimizing Eloquent queries with the help of its own "eager loading" feature.
Object Relational mapping (ORM) makes working with databases amazingly simple. While defining database relationships in an object-oriented way makes it easy to query related model data, developers might not pay attention to the underlying database calls.
A standard database optimization for an ORM is eager-loading related data. We will set up some example relationships and then walk through how queries change with and without eager loading. I like to get my hands directly on code and experiment with things, and I hope to illustrate how eager loading works with some examples will further help you understand how to optimize your queries.
They start with a classic example of the "N+1 problem" when working with database records and how, without you knowing, you might be causing it with lazy loading. The article then talks about eager loading vs lazy loading and how they differ in most ORMs. It then covers Eloquent, setting up some migrations for an example blog application and creating the relationships between Author (user) and the Posts. The models are created and seeders are built to populate the tables with Faker data. Finally it gets to the use of eager loading, making use of the "with" functionality to modify the query structure behind the scenes. The post finishes with mentions of two other eager loading types - lazy eager loading and nested eager loading.


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The world needs new medicines and drug developers are racing to bring promising molecules to the market. However, drug development programs stall when:
- Physicochemical properties of API form and formulation are uncertain
- Lead compounds require quantifiable comparison
- Form and formulation guesswork cause incoherent tox exposures
From lead optimization to First in Human (FIH), programs are at risk of hitting significant speed bumps if the physicochemical risks for API form and formulation are never evaluated.
Innovators need a strategic and cohesive approach to move their molecule to medicine.
The Mol2Med™ Developability Assessment is a dynamic, fit-for-purpose service that helps drug developers achieve a comprehensive understanding of their molecule's potential for development.
With as little as 500mg of API and 4 weeks, Crystal Pharmatech offers a smarter path forward by:
- Determining the key physicochemical properties of your compound(s)
- Benchmarking according to industry standards
- Providing a high-level approach for achieving most probable success in GLP Tox and FIH
Look Before You Jump
Before you select a lead compound...
Before you conduct a salt screening...
Before you gavage with every possible vehicle...
Before moving to formulation...
You need to understand the key risks inherent to your molecule based on its physical properties.
A full understanding of your molecule goes well beyond test results and raw data. Industry benchmarking builds upon decades of efforts and studies to predict in vivo performance.
Combined with AI-driven technologies and in silico capabilities, you will gain powerful insights to unlock your molecule's potential and make faster, smarter decisions forward.
Crystal Pharmatech R&D and Subject Matter Experts have decades of experience moving molecules to medicine.
We derive highly accurate data from novel API-sparing technologies. We run this data through in silico simulations, industry benchmarks, and Crystal Pharmatech experts to give our partners insights that will:
- Expedite your development timeline
- Minimize costs through a strategic scope of work
- Maximize your molecule's likelihood of success in GLP Tox and FIH
Our pathway offers specific next steps to reach all major milestones throughout your drug development program - from lead compound selection to formulation development.
Leading experts will ensure CMC is not limiting Tox and Phase I success while assessing later stage developability risks of API and drug product.
The cohesion between our solid-state and formulation experts ensures continuity and a goal-oriented approach throughout every stage of development.

domain: chemistry


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Magnesium is an important micro-nutrient - it’s needed in over 300 reactions in the body! These reactions produce molecules that regulate your mood, molecules like ATP which are needed to make your muscles contract, and even activate enzymes that turn “on” and “off” parts of your DNA. It really is the kingpin of all minerals in my opinion.
Now, although a magnesium deficiency is pretty rare in healthy individuals (not true for individuals with pre-existing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism - in which case you really should be getting regular magnesium injections to ensure sufficient levels), it is OFTEN present in SUB-OPTIMAL levels. This is because stress, caffeine, alcohol, and high salt/sugar intake depletes the body’s stores. The symptoms of sub-optimal magnesium levels can be one or more of the following: tight muscles, anxiety, irritability, mental fogginess, muscle spasms, insomnia, and poor nail growth. Sound familiar?
FOOD SOURCES OF MAGNESIUM
Magnesium is found in high amounts in the fibrous capsule of whole grain foods, nuts, legumes, and seeds. This is because plants jam pack nutrients for their future offspring into the capsules so it will have enough nutrients to eventually produce a bud. Spinach and Swiss chard are also high in magnesium. Given that the standard North American diet is high in refined white flours (which remove the fibrous capsule), low in greens, nuts, seeds, and lentils, and is high in caffeine, sugar, and alcohol (foods that deplete magnesium), it then becomes fairly obvious that most of us are at sub-optimal levels.
So, one way to correct these sub-optimal levels is to obviously eat healthier! And that’s definitely going to make you feel better. For many of us however, the chronic consumption of unhealthy foods has changed the atmosphere of the gut. There tends to be low-grade inflammation in our digestive tract, our intestines are populated with more unhealthy bacteria than healthy bacteria, and our nutrient transporters aren’t working as efficiently as they should. When this happens it becomes difficult for magnesium to be adequately absorbed EVEN when eating healthy. That’s why I often recommend cleaning up your diet, and supplementing for a period of time - until your body heals.
From my clinical practice, here are some health conditions that I find can respond great with magnesium supplementation/injection:
High Blood Pressure: In many individuals, magnesium given intravenously (IV) causes an immediate drop in blood pressure. This is because magnesium helps relax your blood vessels. We use this mechanism as one way to treat hypertension.
Anxiety: Magnesium is called the relaxation mineral for a reason! It really can have a powerful effect on someone who is suffering from anxiety to feel a bit of relief.
Migraines: Migraines are thought to be caused by blood vessels in the brain inappropriately contracting and dilating. Magnesium helps regulate dilation, and when given at the correct time, and dose, and help prevent a migraine from being full-blown.
Asthma: There is tons of research on this. Magnesium given intravenously, or through inhalation (through a nebulizer) can have a SIGNIFICANT improvement in asthma symptoms.

domain: medical


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So one of my older brothers (they are both older than me, but the younger of the two) is turning 31! So for him, I made him a birthday card. He is a pretty cool brother. How many times can you say that your brother is a musician and actually has an album. You can see his album here at SlowSpokes. He is the one referred to as EMS. I once knew what it stood for, but I no longer remember. It must be my 26 year old brain. It sounds odd that I have a brother that is a --- get this --- a rapper, but he is actually pretty good.
OK so on to the crafts! I made him this card.
Since he is into music, I used Indie Art Cricut Cartridge for the cassette tape and Sweet Treats for the Hip Hip Hooray. The black and grey paper are from DCVW Street Lace Stack (which I absolutely love).
I do challenges every now and then. I really want to get more into it, I just have been trying to get some other things taken care of first. This is for the challenge from My Pink Stamper. The challenge was to make a birthday card!
Now back to the Christmas projects!
Peace. Love. Dove.

domain: artistic


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Home to Houston’s best ballers, Fonde Recreation Center still a proving ground for pros and amateurs
It’s the middle of the NBA offseason, but in a small gym on the banks of Buffalo Bayou near downtown, professional basketball players are still getting buckets. Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt warms up at a basket to the side of the main court, while former Rockets player Danuel House Jr. watches a fast break unfold from the baseline.
The game between the Frost Town and Mob Ties teams has all the trappings of an NBA competition, but with a few key differences. There are rim-rattling dunks and hard fouls, yes, but there is also a DJ in the corner spinning trap music, and a live announcer providing both play-by-play analysis and color commentary over the loudspeakers. Most importantly, perhaps, attendance at this game is free.
The Fonde Recreation Center has been the beating heart of Houston basketball for decades, and if the games here feel more like pro matchups than pickup games, that’s because they are. Many of the players in Houston’s No Excuses Pro League play professional basketball either overseas or in the NBA, and the league gives them a way to stay sharp while they’re home for the summer.
For local Houstonians and college players who haven’t made the leap to the pros yet, Fonde is a place to honor their skills and prove they can hang with the game’s best.
“This place is a breeding ground and it provides a safe, competitive atmosphere for not just local talent, but guys who are pursuing their dreams through different avenues, whether its streetball, college or what have you,” said Casey Williams, a former player and coach who is commissioner of the professional and amateur summer league
“You want to go against the best competition you can find,” Williams said.
Fonde has been home to the city’s best runs, or pickup games, since the 1960s, but it really made its name in the 1980s, when Rockets hall of fame center Moses Malone matched up against a young Hakeem Olajuwon, then a student at the University of Houston. A mural of Malone is painted on a wall of the Fonde gym near a plaque bearing his famous quotation: “You ain’t done it ’til you’ve done it at Fonde.”
In the years that followed, summer pro-ams — leagues where professionals play with and against top amateurs — continued to grow more popular in cities across the country, with competitions like the Drew League in Los Angeles regularly drawing hall of fame NBA players to match up against streetball legends and college stars. Houston’s competition, the Nike Houston Pro City league, was no different.
Andre Potts, 30, who serves as media director for the No Excuses league and plays on the Competitive Choice team, first stepped onto the floor at Fonde in 2011. During his first years in the league, the young guard who was playing at McClennan Community College in Waco at the time, suddenly found himself up against Rockets stars such as James Harden, Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley.
“At first, it’s like ‘whoa,’ but then once you get used to the environment you realize its just basketball at the end of the day,” Potts said.
Still, Potts admits that the NBA superstars bring a different level of competition to the game.
“I’m going to be honest, James Harden is everything you see on TV, he really is,” Potts said, referring to the tight ball handling and stepback threes that made Harden an MVP in the NBA. “I watched Patrick Beverley make pros look like they just started playing basketball,” he said.
Williams’ nonprofit, the No Excuses Foundation, took over the pro-am in 2016 and renamed it the No Excuses Pro League. This year, it added a women’s league to the competition, which also features Houston natives who have gone overseas to play professionally.
Anacia Wilkinson, 24, was a standout forward at Atascocita High School before she left to play for Tennessee Tech University. After playing pro ball in Germany last year, Wilkinson wanted to put some work in on the legendary courts of her hometown before heading to the Czech Republic next season.
“There’s been a lot of great basketball that’s been played at Fonde, especially on the men’s side, so (its good) to be a part of that history and that environment,” Wilkinson said. “It’s our first year, but with the amount of talent that we have on these teams, it’s a really good starting point. And next year will be even better.”
Because Fonde attracts so many professional players, it is also the ultimate showcase for local amateurs like Lorenzo “Shabooty” Phillips, a former standout at Jack Yates High School. If Phillips, 25, had any fear about going up against the pros, he certainly didn’t show it — and with good reason. Going into the playoffs on Sunday, Phillips was leading the league in scoring.
“It’s good to see my hard work pay off,” Phillips said with a smile. “Whatever you do when you’re training, during your off time when no one’s around, it’ll show out eventually.”
Dozens of people came to Fonde on Sunday to watch the first games of what will be a weeks-long playoffs for the No Excuses league.
Roster rules at the pro-am are loose, in that NBA players can usually find a spot on a team if they want to play on any given day. But even an established pro like Vanderbilt can’t always get special treatment. He’d been warming up for Frost Town, but a few minutes into the game, he suddenly appeared on the court wearing the other team’s uniform — the Frost Town coach told him to switch teams because he feared that Vanderbilt would throw off his team’s carefully constructed chemistry.
Frost Town eventually beat Mob Ties in a game that went down to the wire, but there were handshakes all around after the buzzer rang. Mob Ties star Johnathan Motley, a Houston native who played for several years in the NBA before leaving to play overseas, said all the players knew each other from playing as kids.
He most recently finished playing for PBC Lokomotiv Kuban, a team based in Krasnodar in southern Russia, and was on his way to an MVP campaign in the EuroCup when his team was booted from the tournament in March after Russia invaded Ukraine.
“It’s great to be back home after a long season,” said Motley, who attended North Shore Senior High School. “It’s fun to see all these guys I know from high school, we grew up playing against each other.”
The loss was a reminder that even with NBA talent on your team, basketball is a great equalizer.
Like Phillips says, “when we step on the court, we all bleed the same.”
Comments are closed.

domain: news


text:
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking Navient, the nation’s largest student loan servicer, to court for cheating borrowers
The CFPB claims Navient steered borrowers into payment options that made more money for Navient, and made borrowers pay more for their loans than was necessary.
the CFPB claims that Navient purposefully incentivised their customer service representatives to push numerous borrowers into forbearance
Navient services 12 million student loan borrowers and over $300 billion in federal and private student loans.
"At every stage of repayment, Navient chose to shortcut and deceive consumers
Among the allegations: that Navient failed to correctly apply borrowers' payments to their accounts; steered struggling borrowers into paying more than they had to; and hurt the credit of disabled borrowers, including injured veterans, by misreporting to the credit-reporting agencies the status of their loans.
Navient disputed the allegations, calling the suit a politically motivated "midnight action" two days before the Trump administration takes office.

domain: finance


To avoid any potential confusion, here is a notice to Britain and my British readers (all 10 or so of them): I do not consider myself, my statements, or this blog to be subject to British law, and in particular your libel law. Now, since I am an American citizen living and publishing in Arizona, you may be confused why this clarification is necessary. If so, note this article, via Captains Quarters.
The decision today, by Mr Justice Eady, has cleared the way for a libel trial in London sometime this year [against Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Miss Richardson alleges she was libelled by Schwarzenegger and two
campaign workers in an October 2003 article in The Los Angeles Times,
which also appeared on the internet.
The trial is going forward in London later this year.
Let me say that there are many, many things wrong with the tort system in the US, but one of the things we have done right is consistently protected free speech rights (at least until McCain-Feingold), and part of this protection has been resistance to onerous European, and particularly British, libel laws.
The obvious result, if this type of suit becomes successful and pesky, is of course for media to start blocking Internet traffic from British URLs. Maybe this is a secret plan to have just this happen, so the Beeb can get their monopoly back.
UPDATE: (via Overlawyered.com) It appears that US litigator Samuel Hirsch is making his own interpretation of US libel law by suing Morgan Spurlock, the maker of the film "supersize me". Though one could argue that the film ostensibly was on Mr. Hirsch's side (Mr. Hirsch makes a living in part by suing McDonalds for his clients who lack the ability to control their eating habits), it caught Mr. Hirsch on film making some comments he would rather not have been made public:
Ostensibly, this would make
Mr. Hirsch a prime ally in Mr. Spurlock's quest to edify the nation as
to the adverse affects of eating junk food. The film, however, was not
flattering to Mr. Hirsch in his brief cameo. In his only appearance on
camera, Mr. Spurlock asks Mr. Hirsch about his motivation for being
involved in the McDonald's litigation. Mr. Hirsch's reply? "You mean,
motive besides monetary compensation?" He then added, "You want to hear
a noble cause?"
Mr. Hirsch is suing for
Negligence, Unauthorized Use
of Likeness, Disparagement to Reputation, and Defamation of Character,
Fraudulent Inducement, False Misrepresentation, Damage to Business
Mr. Hirsch must know that he stands little chance of winning in US court, particularly since the film used his own words against him. So this is intimidation, pure and simple.
It is interesting to note that McDonalds, the main target of the film, has not been dumb enough to sue Spurlock, no matter what they thought of the film. And imagine if George Bush had tried to sue Michael Moore for the same stuff. Suits like this are intimidation to shut down criticism, and it is good and right that they cannot win in the US.


In larger volumetric products the pouches need to be hanged within the containers or machines or process equipment to reduce the humidity levels.
Zorb-IT Pole contains a set of 4 pouches onto a string weighing 1 kg.The string has a hanger on top to allow it to be hanged inside the container or on machines as well as equipment.
It is effective in protecting the equipment from large humidity influx.
The Zorb-IT Pole also contains VCI chemicals to take care of corrosive action of the humidity if it settles onto metal equipment.
Zorb-IT desiccants are natural yet special clays which are activated to absorb moisture. These are used to control the relative humidity in the enclosed packaging system where damp environments can cause problems. Zorb-IT has been developed to overcome the common and vexing problem of humidity damage to valuable commodities during transport through wildly differing and challenging climactic conditions. Zorb-IT can be used in wide range of commercial and domestic applications such as for textiles, food products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive components, grains as well as for defence applications.


text:
Crave You Top | Stylish Ruffled Sleeve Top
Show some 'cattitude' in this chic grey and pink leopard print top! Light weight pullover top with round neck and hem, dropped shoulder and ruffled short sleeves. 30" long.
62% polyester, 33% Rayon, 5% spandex. Hand wash cold, hang to dry.

domain: design


text:
Become a member now
Read all about the KWPN Stallion Show on our website. Members can also enjoy the videos on KWPN.tv.
Subscription to the KWPN (Stallion) Database offers numerous benefits:
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text:
STOCKHOLM (AP) — A man convicted of smuggling in Sweden outwitted his jailers by sneaking in a friend to serve most of his yearlong sentence, prison officials said Friday.
The identity of the false convict was discovered only when he'd been released on probation after serving about two-thirds of his friend's sentence "sometime in 2008 or 2009," Elisabeth Lager of Sweden's Prison and Probation Service said.
Lager said the in-lieu convict came to serve the sentence with a false ID — a driving license in the name of the smuggler friend but with his photograph. She declined to name either man or give more details about the switch.
An international arrest warrant was issued for the real convict earlier this year, Lager said, but declined to comment on why it took police more than three years after the switch was discovered to issue the warrant. It was not clear if the smuggler's friend would be punished for misleading prison authorities and assuming a false identity.
The convict, who never served his term, was sentenced for a series of smuggling offences in southwestern Sweden in 2008. Several media reports said he had fled to Asia and had paid his friend for his "prison-sitting" service.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A Navy pilot stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach was denied bond Monday after being charged with child pornography.
A Freedom of Information Act response from the Norfolk Police Department reveals more details about the attack of a woman at the Ross department store at Military Circle last week.
Virginia Beach Events is reviewing policies and procedures after a float caught fire during the TowneBank Holiday Parade Saturday night.
The Hampton Police Division needs help identifying the suspect in a motel robbery early Monday morning.
To ease holiday mailing, the Richmond District of the U.S. Postal Service is extending its Saturday window hours.
Free Christmas trees will be given to active-duty members of the military and their families Wednesday.
The Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the Bonner Bridge.


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Non sedating h1 antihistamines
The observations indicate that non-sedating antihistamines, as opposed to what has been thought previously, may be helpful in patients with allergic rhinitis in whom nasal obstruction is a major concern.
Current international guidelines need to be revised in the light of the recent evidence.
Clinical studies sponsored by the manufacturer have shown that bilastine 20 mg once daily is as efficacious as other nonsedating antihistamines in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and chronic urticaria in individuals from 12 and 18 years of age, respectively.
Bilastine is efficacious in all nasal symptoms including obstruction and in eye symptoms.
Cochrane: Me SH descriptor Common Cold explode all trees AND Me SH descriptor Histamine H1 Antagonists explode all trees 34 records 0 relevant.
Since these effects are not genuine antagonistic but rather represent a balance displacement between active and inactive forms of H1 receptors, now, the term H1 antihistamine rather than the former “antihistamine antagonist” is used .She is seeking care because she has a job interview in two days and wants to know if there is anything she can take to recover faster.You have heard that some providers use second generation antihistamines for upper respiratory infections, and wonder if there is any evidence behind the practice. Embase via the NHS Evidence Health Information Resources date of searching 04/04/11. [exp common-cold or exp respiratory-tract-infections/ or exp cough or exp nasal-obstruction or exp sneezing or exp rhinovirus] AND [exp cetirizine or exp loratadine or exp terfenadine or fexofenadine.mp].Research into aspects of pharmacokinetics and efficacy and adverse effect profiles of bilastine in children under 12 years of age is needed as are dose-response assessments and studies planned rigorously with the aim of assessing quality of life effects.Current guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria recommend nonsedating antihistamines as first line treatment [1, 2].


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Grease is an integral part of everyday meals and can make food taste more attractive. Especially when mixed with starchy food, it is delicious! Among them, animal oil has a unique aroma relative to vegetable oil. Just like when I was a child, home-made lard mixed rice, sheep tail oil mixed noodles, as well as the oil left over from the “oil slag” fried vegetables, are endlessly memories.
However, a large number of scientific studies in recent decades have shown that animal oils are rich in saturated fatty acids, which are important factors in cardiovascular disease and increase the risk of colorectal and breast cancer.
So, can you not eat oil? What do I need to pay attention to when using oil? Then look down.
Which oil is healthier to eat?
Fat not only gives food delicious, but also a good source of vitamin E, the body’s essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K can only rely on the intake of dietary fat to absorb. Grease is also an essential nutrient for the human body, it is impossible not to eat oil at all.
So, what kind of oil is better to eat?
In order to ensure normal life activities, prevent nutrient deficiencies and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) recommend cooking oil quantities of 25-30g.
Even for special groups of people who need to increase their total energy levels , pregnant women and breast mothers , the fat-to-energy ratio is required to be less than 30% of total energy .
Fats and fats can be roughly divided into saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids according to their structure.
Too much saturated fatty acids increases the risk of developing related chronic diseases. Both the World Health Organization and the Dietary Reference Intake of Chinese Residents (2013 edition) recommend that saturated fatty acid intake be less than 10% of total energy.
Considering that saturated fatty acids can be obtained from animal foods such as meat, eggs and milk in daily diets, they can also be synthesized in the body. For polyunsaturated fatty acids that protect cardiovascular health, such as α-flaxic acid (Ω-3) and flaxic acid (Ω-6), most of them come from vegetable oils.
Therefore, it can be understood that 25-30g of cooking oil should be vegetable oil.
The more expensive the vegetable oil, the better?
There are many varieties of vegetable oil, and there are no small differences in price.
Among them, the high price of oil is basically because of the oil production, oil production, oil production costs and packaging materials of refined oil, and the health benefits of oil is not directly related.
The proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oils is closely related to health.
Due to the different varieties of oil, the content and proportion of fatty acids will vary greatly. (pictured below)
For example, olive oil can be roughly divided into virgin olive oil and refined olive oil.
The price of virgin olive oil is high, but rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols, if used to stir-fry vegetables, it is easy to destroy, therefore, generally only used for cold mixing or filling.
Refined olive oil is similar to other refined vegetable oils, with high smoke points and suitable for stir-fry. However, in terms of price/performance ratio, it is better to choose rapeseed oil.
In addition, the ratio of vegetable oil central Asian lysic acid and flax acid should also be reasonable. The content and proportion of different vegetable oils are also different.
Therefore, can not eat only one oil for a long time, otherwise it may cause the body lack of certain fatty acids. It is best to store a variety of oils in your home and use them interchangeablely.
How to use oil for health?
Toxic and harmful substances can be produced if the oil temperature is too high or not stored properly during cooking. Once ingested, it can damage the body’s tissues and cells, causing chronic diseases and aging effects, and even cancerous.
Therefore, special attention should be paid to the following points.
Don’t cook food until it’s hot enough to smoke.
If you wait for the oil in the pot to smoke before frying vegetables, at this time the oil temperature is close to 250 degrees C, such a temperature will make grease deterioration, resulting in some peroxides and carcinogens.
Avoid the light and stay away from the stovetop.
The cooking oil after opening is recommended to be used within 3 months.
If the family population is small, it is recommended to use small bottles to avoid direct sunlight, away from the stovetop storage. Because in the case of light exposure and high temperature, the oxidation of oil can go bad very fast.
Do not reuse at high temperatures.
Many people use fried food oil and use it again at high temperatures, which is highly undesirable. Because oil is heated at high temperatures to produce trans fatty acids and toxic oil oxidation products, continued use can lead to a sharp increase in carcinogen production.
This kind of oil should avoid high temperature heating, can be used to make stews or flower rolls and other noodles.
Reduce cooking oil.
Regardless of the cooking oil used, the recommended daily intake for adults is 25-30g.
Choose steaming, boiling, stewing, cold mixing and other fuel-efficient cooking methods, reduce frying, frying, using air fryers, ovens, non-stick pans, electric cakes and other fuel-efficient kitchen utensils to cook.
To sum up, we still have to eat more vegetable oil on a daily basis, animal oil as little as possible to eat. When cooking to avoid hot oil smoke and then under the pot, reasonable diet, reduce the number of cooking oil calls, to ensure good health.


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Definition of Myeloma
Myeloma: A tumor of antibody-producing cells, called plasma cells, that are normally found in the bone marrow.Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
Last Editorial Review: 6/9/2016
Drug Medical Dictionary of Terms by Letter
Medical Dictionary Term:
Top RxList Drug News
Find out what women really need.

domain: health


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Nicandro Iannacci // 11/28/19 //
Impeachment-related testimony continues. Certain officials react to a district court decision denying absolute immunity to a former administration official, but that decision gets appealed. President Trump makes his 100th taxpayer-funded visit to Mar-a-Lago. And it's Thanksgiving weekend! Enjoy.
The House Judiciary Committee will hold its first impeachment hearing on December 4 (WaPo).
OMB official Mark Sandy testified that two other officials in the office resigned earlier this year party because of concerns about President Trump’s decision to withhold military aid from Ukraine (NYT, WaPo, WSJ, POLITICO).
Lawfare provides an in-depth account of the Ukraine affair.
Just Security provides a timeline of efforts by Trump associates to work with Ukraine to create misinformation about former Vice President Joe Biden.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION
DOJ and former national security adviser Michael Flynn asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing until after the release of the full Mueller Report (POLITICO).
A federal judge in Oregon enjoined the Trump administration’s policy of denying visas unless immigrants purchase health insurance within 30 days or otherwise show they can pay medical costs (POLITICO, The Hill).
ICE’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s policy of arresting immigrants when they appear in state court should be denied, writes Michael Dorf at Verdict.
The House Oversight Committee sued AG Bill Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for subpoenaed documents related to the proposed addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census (NYT, WSJ, POLITICO, The Hill).
The memory of former assistant AG John Gore is proving important - and unreliable - in two ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration, writes Tierney Sneed at Talking Points Memo.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The president’s intervention in the review of a Navy SEAL’s disciplinary case undermines the military justice system, write Geoffrey S. Corn and Rachel E. VanLandingham at Lawfare.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
A recently obtained Army contract suggests spending at Trump properties may run afoul of the Domestic Emoluments Clause (CREW).
President Trump has made 100 taxpayer-funded visits to Mar-a-Lago during his presidency (CREW).
The DOL’s inclusion of worker centers in its interpretation of “labor organization” is wrong and should be corrected, write Kate Griffith and Leslie Gates at On Labor.
Four states are appealing a legal challenge to the GOP tax law’s limit on state and local tax deductions (The Hill).

domain: law


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The B.C Government announced a $5-billion Action Plan that increases the amount British Columbians are already getting through tax credits, while also giving additional relief to businesses.
“The COVID-19 pandemic challenges our health, our economy and our way of life. People and businesses urgently need support,” said Premier John Horgan. “Our action plan focuses on services to protect people’s health and safety, gives immediate relief to people and businesses, and plans for B.C.’s economic recovery over the long term.”
$1.1 billion will go toward British Columbians impacted by COVID-19.
The new B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will provide a $1,000 tax-free payment for those who have federal Employment Insurance (EI), or the new federal Emergency Care Benefit, or federal Emergency Support Benefit.
“Workers who have been laid-off, who are sick or quarantined, parents with sick children, parents who stay at home from work while child care centres and schools are closed, and those caring for sick family members, such as an elderly parent,” are other eligible applicants, according to the provincial government. “The workers can be EI-eligible and non-EI eligible, such as the self-employed. The benefit will be paid to B.C. residents, in addition to their federal income supports.”
In addition, the Climate Action Tax Credit is getting an increase to be paid out in tandem with the federal (GST/HST) credit. Though the next payment is April 3rd, the boosted amount of up to $218 (increased from $43.50) won’t be delivered until July 3rd.
Housing and shelter supports, income and disability assistance programs and crucial health services are getting a $1.7-billion support package from the Province as well. Meanwhile, non-profits, service delivery agencies and child care providers will continue to receive funding even if their operations are suspended.
Businesses are also getting a helping hand in the sum of $2.2 billion.
“Effective immediately, businesses with a payroll over $500,000 can defer their employer health tax payments until September 30th,” announced the Office of the Premier. “Businesses with a payroll under this threshold are already exempt from the tax.”
Deadlines for paying the provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax on short-term accommodation, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax and carbon tax have been extended to September 30th. The scheduled April 1st increase to the provincial carbon tax and the implementation of PST on sweetened carbonated drinks have also been delayed.
The Province also created a $1.5-billion dollar long term recovery plan for sectors, including hospitality and tourism, who may be hit hard from COVID-19 social distancing protocols.
For more details on aid packages, follow this link to the Government of B.C’s website.


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Should All Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Receive Early Intravesical Chemotherapy after Transurethral Resection? The Results of a Prospective Randomised Multicentre Study.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
BACKGROUND: To decrease recurrences in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend immediate, intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection (TUR) for all patients with Ta/T1 tumours. OBJECTIVE: To study the benefits of a single, early, intravesical instillation of epirubicin after TUR in patients with low- to intermediate-risk NMIBC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this prospective randomised multicentre trial, 305 patients with primary as well as recurrent low- to intermediate-risk (Ta/T1, G1/G2) tumours were enrolled between 1997 and 2004. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 80mg of epirubicin in 50ml of saline intravesically within 24h of TUR or no further treatment after TUR. MEASUREMENTS: The primary end point was time to first recurrence. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 219 patients remained for analysis after exclusions. The median follow-up time was 3.9 yr. During the study period, 62% (63 of 102) of the patients in the epirubicin group and 77% (90 of 117) in the control group experienced recurrence (p=0.016). In a multivariate model, the hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence was 0.56 (p=0.002) for early instillation of epirubicin versus no treatment. In a subgroup analysis, the treatment had a profound recurrence-reducing effect on patients with primary, solitary tumours, whereas it provided no benefits in patients with recurrent or multiple tumours. Furthermore, patients with a modified European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk score of 0-2 with and without single instillation had recurrence rates of 41% and 69%, respectively (p=0.003), whereas the corresponding rates for those with a risk score of >/=3 were 81% and 85%, respectively (p=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: A single, early instillation of epirubicin after TUR for NMIBC reduces the likelihood of tumour recurrence; however, the benefit seems to be minimal in patients at intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Future trials will determine the value of early instillation in addition to serial instillations in NMIBC.
|Research areas and keywords||
Subject classification (UKÄ) – MANDATORY
|Publication status||Published - 2009|


Plus Size Button Front Cold Shoulder T-Shirt
Sometimes giving the cold shoulder can be a really good thing. Features adjustable spaghetti straps, short sleeves, button front details and a cold shoulder design. Size runs small.
- Model's Height: 5'9"
- 95% Rayon 5% Spandex
- Machine Wash In Cold Water - Gentle Cycle With Like Colours - No Bleach - Lay Flat To Dry
- Imported by U2B


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mod bbm terbaru（MOD (Unlocked Skins) v1.03）
- Current Version:
- File size: 34M
1、VehiclesRogue Agent Mod Rogue Agent v1.0 mod Features:The game modified to unlock all levels Note: first enter the game, needs to load the resource files, please wait patientlyYou awaken in a strange yet familiar place. You must use stealth and intelligence to avoid capture from the enemy agents. You must escape every world. You must learn the truth."Rogue Agent is a great way to spend an evening for stealth fans" - Touch Arcade (4/5 stars)"An original stealth game with some pretty interesting mechanics" - Adrian Moore (designer - Framed)"If You love stealth games, this one is an easy pickup" - App Addict"Roguebox Studios knows how to make a good game, and it is surprising this is their first one" - Droid Gamers"An awesome puzzle and adventure game that will keep you and your agent on your feet" - Cult of Mac"For a unique experience, this one is a terrific addition to the strategy genre" - App AdviceFEATURES-Sneak your agent's through 52 bite sized puzzling maps. Replay them and try harder routes to unlock developer commentaries and secret levels.-Use strange and creative gadgets such as the Scramble Suit, Sonic Mine, Recaller and Quick Clone-Complete fun and intuitive mini-games such as Hacking, Lockpicking and Wiring.-Avoid capture from the Guards (made even more challenging when they are upgraded with weapons or nightvision goggles)-Featuring an in-game replay system! Trim and share your replay videos on social media. Always recording so you never miss a cool moment.-Even more bragging rights with leaderboards and achievementsROGUEBOX ONLINEhttp://www.roguebox.nethttp://www.facebook.com/rogueboxhttp://www.twitter.com/rogueboxhttp://www.youtube.com/rogueboxFollow the developers on twitter!http://www.twitter.com/StephenRBerghttp://www.twitter.com/petey299
2、'"But, O my sweet, what labour is't to leaveValkyrie Rush : Idle & MergeDestruction Rush Mod Destruction Rush v 1.2 Mod Features:[Description]: Enter the level of gold coins to get a lot of valuesPump up your energy with fuel and discover your super destruction powers. Destruction Rush- The running game that brings out your superpowers. Hey, want to look more buff and have the power to destroy any obstacle in your way because with destruction rush you can have it all. Who said you can't have power in your appearance and the power of chaotic destruction too. Get buff, get tough, and get fast as you sprint thought the destruction world you now rule. Smash through barriers, dodge giant power hammers, dodge the oncoming vehicles, stuff your body with juicy burgers for fuel, pile up your coins and purchase power ups and sorcery powers.Let's see how fast and far you can go destruction runner ♂♀ Keep on running and you will shatter this game • Run fast and fierce though wild gameplay while defeating and overcoming exciting obstacles that come in your way. Watch your muscles grow as you fuel up with food to obtain maximum strength and power. • The rewards are out of this world but power usage also drains you. Strategy and speed is your best friend if you want to get far in your destruction journey. • Smash the right obstacles, gather coins and strength to increase powers • Body building has never been so fun and easy so ensure you're big and strong throughout the game for maximum super powers to achieve your goal to beat record distance. The game that turns from weak into monster gum power machine runner Colorful and realistic HD graphics! runner game
- mod bbm terbaru
- '"My parts had pow'r to charm a sacred nun,
-
Glitch Games has made quite a name for itself over the years thanks to its atmospheric, always spooky horror titles. Just in time for Halloween, three of the team's most popular games are now available on iOS for free. These include Forever Lost: Episode 1, All That Remains: Part 1, and The Forgotten Room.

They're all point-and-click adventure games at heart, with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere building and tricky puzzles. We reviewed The Forgotten Room all the way back in 2016, praising its haunting score and eerie aesthetic, before awarding it a bronze rating.
HOT DEAL!!! Three excellent #iOS adventure games are currently FREE from @GlitchGames: Forever Lost: Ep 1 https://t.co/xJvUv50ZqY The Forgotten Room https://t.co/Hc69PXw6sd All That Remains: Part 1 https://t.co/DbA0xXYyY9 #AppSale #sale— ???????????????????? ???????????????????? (@OTGGamer) October 30, 2019Glitch Games' next title, Veritas, looks to be its most ambitious yet. It's another a first-person point-and-click adventure game where you'll explore, and then try to escape, an abandoned facility. You'll use a special camera to keep track of clues that might lead you to the truth behind what's gone wrong at Veritas Industries.

The story aims to explore the theme of self-identity and how much of who we are is informed by our memories. Veritas asks: Take them away, and what remains? This one's set to launch for iOS and Android on February 12th. In the meantime, you can check out the developer's Discord channel for more info and to potentially try out the beta version.

The Great Mind of Tesla Mod The Great Mind of Tesla v1.2 mod Features:The game has been modified for a large number of currency!“The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” ~ Nikola TeslaAn ingenious inventor, a remarkable engineer, a physicist by mind and a futurist by heart. Meet the man who put electricity to your wall sockets!Follow the story of Nikola Tesla, a true dreamer, a Serbian-American scientist, one of the most controversial characters of all time! Under-acknowledged in his own time, he was the author of over 300 inventions. He was also working on his very own flying machine, and even constructed the first remote controller!It's time to lift the curtain on the background of this incredible person, scientist, inventor, but also excessive gambler, coffee drinker and a true poetry lover.RIDE THE AC CURRENT! Modulate the wave's direction and amplitude, collect diamonds and avoid various obstacles. Nikola always dreamt about flying - how about flying on the AC wave?POWER UP YOUR BRAIN Buy batteries with collected diamonds, so Tesla can alternate the current and make the AC electricity a reality! Level up Nikola, so you earn more experience or be able to use more batteries at the same time!UNLOCK NEXT CHAPTERS OF THE STORY! Use the diamonds you collected to uncover next parts of beautifully hand-drawn and animated comics!GET BETTER EVERY TIME YOU PLAY Beat your high scores and the scores of your friends! Show the world the power of your AC wave!Let this game be a guide into the life of this Great Mind!
– Stability improvements
- “APK” install it on your device.
- Enter the game.


The Vermont map below reflects a snapshot of urban and community forestry activities across the state. Each year our program staff is required to report to the US Forest Service at the community-level on activities that support establishment, conservation, protection, and maintenance of trees and forests in communities and urban areas.
More information on the categories on the map:
- Tree Ordinance or Policy: Local, community-wide laws and guidelines that identify who has the responsibility for oversight of urban and community forestry activities and that direct the use of best management practices for establishment, conservation, protection, and/or maintenance of urban and community trees and forests. More on ordinances and policies.
- Planning Document: A detailed document or set of documents that identify and prioritize action items based on professionally-based, relevant inventories and/or resource assessments, that outline the future management of the community’s trees and forests. More on community planning for urban forests.
- Tree Inventory: Municipalities that have used VT UCF's municipal tree inventory tool or ash tree inventory tool to collect data on community trees within the last 10 years. This also includes municipalities that collect and manage their own tree inventory data.
- Tree City USA: Communities that have applied for and been successfully designated as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation.
- Current Year Grant Recipient: Municipalities or communities that contain an organization or school that received a grant from VT UCF in the current year. This year these include the Caring for Canopy and Growing Urban Forests in the Face of EAB grant categories, as well as the Fruit & Nut Tree grants administered through a partnership with the Vermont Garden Network.
This map was last updated December 2023. Contact us for questions or corrections.


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Despite facing criminal charges himself, Paxton recently joined with local officials in southeast Texas to single-out and improperly prosecute the newly elected African American Sheriff of Jefferson County, Zena Stephens. They charged her with a felony violation for a minor technical offense that she responsibly disclosed herself on an amended campaign filing.
Two Male Candidates and One African American Female Candidate Made a Technical Error. ONLY the African American Female Candidate is Being Prosecuted for a Felony
- In an historic 2016 Jefferson County election, Zena Stephens became the first female African American elected to the office of Sheriff in Texas.
- Last month, Attorney General Ken Paxton – who served almost his entire term as AG under felony indictment – announced that Sheriff Stephens and the two male candidates she defeated were indicted for allegedly accepting cash campaign contributions in excess of the legal limit.
- Sheriff Stephens and the two losing male candidates were initially charged with misdemeanor offenses, however, ONLY Sheriff Stephens has been charged with the additional felony offense of “tampering with a government record.”
In short, Paxton went light on the two males who failed to disclose the cash contributions they received while lowering the boom on Sheriff Stephens who amended her reports to disclose the money.
Paxton, Abbott and Patrick have ALL filed amended financial disclosure and campaign reports acknowledging similar errors.
During each election cycle, any number of candidates and office holders file amended contribution reports with the Texas Election Commission to acknowledge and correct mistakes. Filing amended reports is a responsible act that rarely leads to prosecution because a felony offense occurs only when a candidate files a report “with intent to defraud or harm” the citizens.
Ken Paxton has amended his personal financial statements no less than nine times in recent years. Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick have all filed amended campaign finance reports since being elected to public office.
Paxton’s Applying a Double Standard to Sheriff Stephens
If the standard Paxton is setting for Sheriff Stephens were applied across the board, dozens of Texas officeholders and candidates would be subject to criminal prosecution for technical errors in campaign finance reports.
Who Will Hold Paxton Accountable?
When filing the case against Sheriff Stephens, Paxton hypocritically said: “No one is above the law. My office intends to hold them accountable.”
The better question is: When will Ken Paxton finally be held accountable for his crimes?


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An image being widely circulated on social media depicts an Israeli policewoman being protected by two Palestinian men in a conflict between settlers, Israeli police officers and Palestinian civilians.
The image surfaced online amidst increasing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, following the burning to death of a 14 month-old baby in an attack by extremist Jewish settlers.
The specific facts behind the photo are still unclear. However, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) – a group of Rabbis in Israel dedicated to informing the Israeli public about the state’s human rights violations – claims that one of the men in the photo is one of their Palestinian field workers, Zakariah Sadah, who can be seen in the blue shirt.
RHR has stated that the photograph was taken after a settler, attempting to prevent Palestinians of the village Kusra from working their iland, accused a Palestinian of throwing stones. In response to the accusation, the police attempted to arrest the Palestinians at the scene, who then began to throw stones.
According to RHR, the image shows Zakaria shouting “don’t shoot” at the police, after which he and the mayor of Kusra escorted the policewoman back to the other Israeli security forces. RHR has also stated that Zakaria has since been vilified by both settlers and by other Palestinians who saw him returning the officer without knowing the full context.


Canada’s push to legalize recreational marijuana is rippling beyond its borders as companies move to boost exports of medicinal pot.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government unveiled its framework last week, quelling concern it would clamp down on export permits for existing medical-pot producers such as Canopy Growth Corp. and Aurora Cannabis Inc. Those firms, which have a head start on the legal recreational market, will continue to be allowed to export marijuana to countries such as Germany and Australia for medical and scientific use.
“It might not be so limited,” said Emily Larose, a partner with law firm Cassels Brock who specializes in cannabis regulation. Industry fears of onerous export restrictions have receded over the past year as bureaucrats typically approve any permit so long as the main requirements are met. “The way in which they’ve been granted so far seems to be more box-ticking.”
Firms in Canada, the second country and first major economy to unveil plans for legalization of recreational pot, have already secured investments and partnerships in countries where support for legalized medical marijuana is gaining ground. The global cannabis market may be worth US$200 billion, with the medical market accounting for 25 percent to 50 percent of that, Daniel Pearlstein, a research analyst in Toronto at Eight Capital, said by email.
Canopy is already exporting to Brazil and Germany. Last year, the Smith Falls, Ontario-based company acquired pharmaceutical distributor MedCann GmbH, which has placed its cannabis strains in German pharmacies.
Bedrocan Canada Inc., a unit of Canopy, exported 10 kilograms of dried cannabis to Brazil to be used in a clinical study targeting epilepsy and pain management, according to a November statement.
Canada is emerging as a leader in public policy around marijuana and other countries will need its know-how as they shift toward making cannabis and cannabinoids part of standard medical treatment, said Chief Executive Officer Bruce Linton. That gives Canopy the chance to export product while the domestic industry makes that transition, and to set up production on the ground once it has, he said.
“All of these jurisdictions are contemplating or structuring a way in which production will occur in them,” Linton said by phone. “We are actually an exporter of public policy.”
That meshes with Trudeau’s view for the future of the Canadian economy: one pivoting from raw resource extraction toward white-collar jobs in the services sector.
“You’re going to develop know-how on how to make this stuff,” said Eileen McMahon, a partner at Torys LLP and chair of the law firm’s intellectual property and food and drug regulatory practices. “That know-how arguably could be used” outside Canada under the Trudeau law, she said, adding it’s possible “employees with that expertise could cross the border.”
Aurora intends to be a “significant” player in the Australian market and is looking at others as well, said Cam Battley, an executive vice president. The Cremona, Alberta-based company plans to use its capital and experience to export its product, and to set up in countries where marijuana may soon be legal, he said.
“Canada more broadly is a leader in the cannabis industry,” Battley said by phone. “That gives us a lot of potential power in other markets.”
Exports will be allowed “as long as they meet the strict regulatory requirements,” lawmaker Bill Blair, a former police chief and Trudeau’s point man on pot legalization, said in an interview. He brushed aside questions about whether the government wants to encourage companies to be exporters. “We want to make sure there is a viable industry capable of supplying that well-regulated retail market” domestically in Canada.
The government has to issue export permits repeatedly, and could clamp down, change guidelines or slow its issuing of permits if it wanted to cool the market.
In a notice posted last year, Canada said it “does not support facilitating a regime premised on servicing global demand given the associated public health, safety and security risks” and that export “would be permitted under very limited circumstances.” Fears stoked in industry by that notice have since eased, Larose said.
Aurora secured a 19.9 percent stake last month in Cann Group, the first Australian company to be licensed for research and cultivation of medical cannabis for human use.
Aphria Inc., based in Leamington, Ontario, is investing $25 million in a dispensing operation in Florida, the company said April 4. Aphria’s U.S. expansion strategy is to target key states that have approved medical marijuana, according to the statement.
Canada’s legalization effort may violate its obligations under international law, Steven Hoffman, director of the University of Ottawa’s Global Strategy Lab, wrote in a Globe and Mail editorial this week. “Unless we change our constitution, Canada cannot legally legalize cannabis without either renegotiating the UN treaties, obtaining special exceptions, finding creative workarounds, or withdrawing from them,” he wrote.
The government believes its restrictions on production or sale outside its strictly regulated regime, as well as restrictions on some exports and use by minors, keeps it onside, Blair said.
“We believe this enables us to uphold and maintain our obligations under those treaties,” he said, speaking in an interview after Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould referred questions on the matter to Blair.


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I woke up Sunday morning thinking about the album that got me into electronic and ambient music. It was Tangerine Dream’s 1975 release “Rubycon”. I decided to play it while lying in bed and found that it still impresses me with the sounds and moods that the band created with what we now consider primitive gear.
Rubycon consists of only two long tracks each taking up an entire side of the album, at a little over 17mins each. After breakfast I was still thinking about the band, and dug out the albums that I have on vinyl, spanning from 1970 through 1984. During that time T. Dream was a trio, with the classic line up being Edgar Froese (founder), Christopher Franke, and Peter Baumann (later the creator of the Private Music label, originally releasing New Age music such as Patrick O’Hearn’s first few albums, and many other artists). They were quintessentially German, along with several other early German electronic artists such as Klause Schultz (who was actually a member of T. Dream on their first album).
Here is my T. Dream vinyl, with the three albums in the middle being the pinnacle of the classic lineup, and also my favorite releases from the band; Phaedra (1974), Rubycon (1975), and Ricochet (1975).
Tangerine Dream performed extensively live; just three guys sitting behind monstrous banks of synths and electronics. They were extremely prolific, releasing at least an album or more every year. Their live shows were mostly extended improvisations which were always recorded and could be released as a new album.
After breakfast I remembered a piece that I made in 1975 with the Paia Modular synth that I had recently finished building, recorded through an Echoplex tape delay. Here is a pic of the Paia with the Echoplex on the right. (Note also the Vibravox in the background.)
This is the first version of the Paia before I added two upper “wings” to hold several more modules. I made a track with the Paia and Echoplex in 1975. I recorded it on a two channel reel-to-reel tape deck to which I added a switch that disabled the erase head. So I could make two passes by first recording on the left channel, and then flipping the switch to overdub on the right channel. Basically “sound-on-sound” recording as it was called. This was well before I was able to make the step up to a Teac 3340S 4-track (which still sits in the living room today).
I built the Paia because I couldn’t afford a Minimoog at the time, which was $1,500… a huge amount in 1975 dollars for a teenager. Since by then I already put three years of electronics classes under my belt, building the Paia kit was my only option for a $250 synthesizer.
Next, here I’m playing the brand new Paia synth. You can see the Paia brochure resting to the side along with the construction manuals for the synth and its modules. I built the entire project in less than a week. Below the Paia is the Hammond M3 organ in an early state with a few broken keys, and was before I painted it white when I was in the band Skyler.
It wasn’t long before I saved enough money to expand the Paia:
I added two “wing” cabinets on top and built several more modules to fill them. I was also needing more patch cords as my patches became more advanced. In the foreground is the Echoplex tape delay, made by Maestro.
Here’s another shot of the expanded version:
The keyboard to the right of the Hammond is a Fender Rhodes Stage 73 electric piano.


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Published on December 4th, 2013 | by Craig Silliphant0
The Top Ten Worst Christmas Movies
Since I became a film critic over 15 years ago, I’ve been trotted out each year at this time to give my picks for my favourite Christmas movies. I enjoy doing this, and there are a few favourites I go back to every year (It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story are two of my faves. Oh, yeah, and Die Hard — some people forget it’s a sorta kinda Yuletide film). But I thought it would be fun this year, to go the other way and write about the WORST Christmas movies I’ve ever been witness to.
For every wonderful Winterland classic, there are thousands of cloying, oversentimental, poorly written, Hallmark Channel pieces of garbage that should be tossed out with the used Christmas wrapping on Boxing Day. I trimmed the ‘worst’ list like a Christmas tree, down to the ten that came to mind for me personally. In order to make it manageable, I had to ignore some of the worst genres, like the overcooked made for TV movie turkeys. And I cheated and lumped a few together.
So without further adieu, grab a handful of Pot o’ Gold chocolate and I’ll channel my inner movie Grinch and (in no particular order) give you The Feedback Society’s Top Ten Worst Christmas Movies!
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Workaholic and shitty father Arnold Schwarzenegger fights the consumer rabble a la The Cabbage Patch Kids or Tickle Me Elmo to get his hands on a Turbo Man action figure for his kid. Meanwhile, Phil Hartman is trying to nail his wife. Also, Sinbad does Sinbad. Not only does the plot of this movie not make a hell of a lot of sense, but it also has the lamest, TV sitcom, feel-good ending ever. And then, after the credits, you see that he was so busy trying to get Turbo Man that he didn’t buy his wife a present. Arnie himself is as stiff as a plastic action figure, thought that’s actually unintentionally funny, so at least there’s some humour here.
Deck the Halls (2006)
For some reason, Danny DeVito wants to pull a Clark Griswold and use Christmas lights to make his house visible from space. Matthew Broderick hates that idea. Hilarity doesn’t ensue. It’s a terribly unfunny ‘comedy,’ full of Christmas misanthropy and hate for fellow man. In this neighbourhood, I would also accept the canned holiday movie Christmas with the Kranks (2004). I’d expect this kind of shit from Tim Allen, but someone must have had some photos of Jamie Lee Curtis’ hermaphrodite parts for her to lower herself to appearing in this trite.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Oh, how I loathe this loud, obnoxious Ron Howard movie, where Jim Carrey destroys all that was holy about The Grinch I remember from my childhood, from both the Dr. Seuss book and the awesome animated version. Not only is it shrill and abrasive in its execution, but it also attempts to stretch a half hour worth of story to an hour and 45 minutes. I’ll give it the fact that Whoville looks neat in real life, but that’s about it.
Reindeer Games (2000)
Ben Affleck plays guy that’s getting out of prison and pretends to be his dead cellmate so he can pork Charlize Theron, but gets suckered into being part of a casino heist. I remember getting a screener for this in 2000 and thinking that it might be good. After all, it was directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Seconds) and featured a hardworking cast (Ben Affleck still had indie cred at the time, and Gary Sinise and Theron were also star). But oh, no. This wannabe Tarantino movie was an utter piece of nonsense. Implausible plans, stupid twists, and enough gaping plot holes for Rudolph to guide a sleigh through.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
Actually, this one is pretty great. You know, in a horrible way. Little green men kidnap Santy Claus so their Martian kids can have Christmas. Seeing this movie will either make you laugh your ass off or cause you to die of confusion. It was given the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 treatment if that’s any indication of its excellence. It ties with Santa Claus (1959) for the best/worst Z-movie Christmas title.
Santa Buddies (2009)
Kill me. Straight-to-video Air Bud talking dogs in Santa hats save Christmas. Christopher Lloyd has never sunk so low. I can’t even talk about this movie without going rigid with seething rage. I know it’s for kids, but like George Bailey, I wish I lived in a world where this movie had never been born. Fuck you, Santa Buddies.
Jack Frost (1998)
Michael Keaton plays a man who dies in a car accident and comes back as a…wait for it…a snowman. A movie that is so predictable you’ll think you’re psychic and so schmaltzy you’ll have to brush your teeth after. Full of sitcom jokes and a general sense of depraved lameness (Four credited writers, and you know that at one point, one of them exclaimed, “Snowboarding’s cool, right? What if the snowman snowboards?!”). Though the snowman suit was made by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, it actually looks so damn scary it would be more at home in a horror film. And don’t confuse this movie with the actual horror film Jack Frost, which has a lot of similar plot points (though the horror version has way more killing). Either way, you might as well throw both of these cinematic brown Yule logs on the fire.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Unfortunately, there’s no escape clause for the audience (I’m sure I’m not the first person to make that joke). Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to take over Christmas in the threequel to the Santa Clause series. It’s hard for me to admit this, I didn’t mind the first one, as far as family friendly Christmas movies go. But this one feels like it was phoned in from the North Pole. It’s as if it was cobbled together by lazy, smelly elves that had a vicious contempt for movies. It’s so bad that it reaches back through time with Christmas magic to ruin the first movie.
Four Christmases (2008)
Between this and the equally shitty Fred Claus (2007), it’s like Vince Vaughn was a puffy-faced Scrooge that was out to ruin Christmas. This Christmas turkey seems to be for people who wear Tap Out clothes and cheer their hearts out when someone gets a ham to the groin. It’s all over the place and lands with a resounding thud and an unearned Christmassy ending. Sadly, it also features some serious talent, like Academy Award winners Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek. Hell, even director Seth Gordon, who made the excellent doc The King of Kong, got dragged into this by Vaughn. Reportedly, stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn weren’t getting along during shooting. It shows — they have the chemistry of wet, humping dogs (or, Santa Buddies, if you prefer). Even worse, it’s on TV constantly, because it’s a modern Christmas movie with stars.
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Technically, they’re celebrating ‘Life Day’ on the Wookie home planet, but it’s a veiled excuse for Christmas (you know, to celebrate the birth of Wookie Jesus). And did you know Chewbacca’s Dad’s name is Itchy and his son’s name is Lumpy? Yup. This Star-Wars-meets-variety-TV special was shown only once, before it became legendary as an underground (passed around or copied) VHS film. George Lucas spent his life trying to track down and destroy every copy, though you can see it on YouTube these days. Like Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, this is one really bad movie that’s pretty great. And it was also the first glimpse we got of Boba Fett, so that’s cool, right? Happy Life Day, folks.
Honorary mentions: Trapped in Paradise (1994), Mixed Nuts (1994), Prancer (1989), Eight Crazy Nights (2002), I’ll Be Home for Christmas, with Jonathan Taylor Thomas (1998), and Black Christmas, the remake with Lacey Chabert (2006).


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Contact one of our specialists + 44 (0) 20 3958 6120Start Planning Your Holiday
Just as the Roaring Twenties followed the Spanish Flu, we predict that ‘Gratifications’ will follow the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve all been dreaming, planning and anticipating 2022’s holidays for nearly two years, so it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a trend towards trips that are bigger and better than ever before. Not only is travel back, but it’s back in the best possible way.
This new collection of Gratification-worthy trips includes bucket-list itineraries, multi-generational family holidays, sabbaticals and more. These include some of travel’s biggest must-dos, such as seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda, chasing the Northern Lights and hiking through the Himalayas. Or it might be that you’re looking to travel for longer, whether that be a month-long sabbatical spent road tripping across the US or a slow travel train trip through Europe. Whatever type of ‘Gratification’ you’re planning, our experts are on hand to help you make up for lost time…
Gratification Holiday Ideas
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Experience a night time snowmobile adventure under (hopefully!) the Northern Lights
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text: I picked up a G&B 10 gallon visible pump at a auction yesterday but am stumped as it doesn’t seem to line up with other Gilbert and Barker 10 gallon pumps. The model # on the ID tag is TC1-1 1386. I’ve been unable to find any reference to this number. Another difference is there are no ribbed bands along the bottom of the skins. The nozzle hook and holder also seem different on this pump. Does anyone recognize this as a G&B or do you think it was re skinned sometime in the past?

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Latest California Healthline Stories
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
The federal approval of a controversial drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease has reignited the debate over drug prices and the way the Food and Drug Administration makes decisions. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden seeks to gain goodwill overseas as he announces the U.S. will provide 500 million doses of covid vaccine to international health efforts. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. And to mark the podcast’s 200th episode, the panelists discuss what has surprised them most and least over the past four years.
The agency is to decide by June 7 whether to greenlight Biogen’s drug aducanumab, despite a near-unanimous rejection of the product by an FDA advisory committee of outside experts in November. Some scientists at the agency have endorsed the drug, though.
Long before they receive a dementia diagnosis, many people begin to mismanage their finances as their memory, organizational skills and self-control falter.
Older patients with cancer, dementia or other serious illnesses should check with their doctors, but medical experts recommend the vaccine for most people.
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Dr. Dale Bredesen is a well-known, well-respected neurologist. But his colleagues think the comprehensive Alzheimer’s program he’s marketing through a private company is a mixture of free-for-the-asking common sense and unproven interventions.
Because seniors are at higher risk of cognitive impairment, proponents say screening asymptomatic older adults is an important strategy to identify people who may be developing dementia and to improve their care. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cited insufficient evidence the tests are helpful.
For those worried they have an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, testing is an option. But words to the wise: It’s hardly foolproof and could even backfire by heightening your fear of memory loss.
For Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, social and emotional isolation is a threat. But hundreds of “Memory Cafes” around the country offer them a chance to be with others who understand, and to receive social and cognitive stimulation in the process.


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Making good on a promise to slash Washington bureaucracy, The Trump team is preparing for drastic cuts in government spending.
The Trump transition team has been meeting with career staff at the White House ahead of Friday’s presidential inauguration to outline their plans for shrinking the federal bureaucracy. And the changes they propose are dramatic.
The Hill reports:
“The departments of Commerce and Energy would see major reductions in funding, with programs under their jurisdiction either being eliminated or transferred to other agencies. The departments of Transportation, Justice and State would see significant cuts and program eliminations.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting would be privatized, while the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities would be eliminated entirely.
Overall, the blueprint being used by Trump’s team would reduce federal spending by $10.5 trillion over 10 years.”
President-elect Trump is looking at 10% spending cuts and a 20% slash of federal workers.
The cuts would target discretionary spending, not mandated programs such as Medicare or Social Security.
The Washington Examiner also reports:
“The spending reductions are expected to be used to help pay for Trump’s plan to boost the Pentagon’s budget, tax cuts and some pet projects, potentially including the anti-immigration wall on the nation’s southern border.
The teams also are looking at staffing cuts over four years through attrition, a hiring freeze and reorganization.”
The plan is winning cheers in conservative, anti-tax and anti-spending corners in Washington that have long sought massive cuts in the bureaucracy.
Presidents rarely cut spending, choosing freezes instead. In the meantime, federal spending has reached historic levels. Trump has picked a budget hawk, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, to head the Office of Management and Budget, a clear sign that spending cuts are a top priority.
However, Team Trump will certainly face a wall of opposition from Democrats.


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I just finished watching a second episode of the Scandinavian mystery/police series Detective Inspector Irene Huss. I'm so happy to see a woman detective as the lead character in a murder mystery. But more than that what I'm starting to really like about Irene Huss is that she's also a wife and mother, juggling a demanding career with family responsibilities. She's also in a happy marriage for a change, and has two lovely but typical teenage daughters who challenge their parents in all sorts of unexpected ways. D.I. Huss is a great detective but also a woman you can imagine as a good friend.
D.I. Huss is played by Swedish actress Angela Kovacs. Since 2001 she's been part of the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm as well as working in films and television. I don't remember seeing Ms. Kovacs in other television series or films, but I must have seen her since her IMDB profile shows she's worked in several Wallander episodes, one of my favorite Scandinavian Mysteries. Talented actors can often change appearance and character in a way to be unrecognizable. Ms. Kovacs brings a great deal of realism to her portrayal of Irene Huss. She's no supercop, but a capable, professional, and strong policewoman who is also human and vulnerable. Her interactions with the actors who play her family come across as very believable. The actors playing the Huss are all very good and charming, especially Reuben Sallmander as her laid back husband Krister.
Irene of course has her office family, her Gottenburg police colleagues, who are a group of colorful characters. Two of my favorites are Jonny, played by Dag Malmberg, a 50'ish and sometimes chauvinistic detective who is clearly channeling Elvis, and young tech-geek policeman Frederick played by Eric Ericsson.
The Irene Huss television/film series is based on the novels by crime fiction author Helene Tursten. Before becoming an author, Ms. Tursten worked as a nurse and dentist.
Author Helene Tursten
To get a better idea of the Detective Inspector Irene Huss series, see the trailer below (for mature audiences only):
US viewers can see the Irene Huss series and other international mystery television series on the MHZ Networks: http://www.mhznetworks.org/