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Useful Notes on the Theories of Emotions
3. Cognitive Theory.
4. Opponent-Process Theory.
5. Plutchik’s Psycho-evolutionary Theory.
1. James-Lang Theory:
According to this theory, emotion is the perception of bodily changes. It was put forward in 1884-85 by William James and Carl Lange. According to this theory, first bodily changes occur and then an emotional changes i.e. bodily change precedes the emotional experience. According to this theory, following sequences are very important in the experience of emotion.
(i) Perception of an emotion producing situation.
(ii) Occurrence of bodily change
(iii) Perception and feed-back of these bodily changes.
(iv) Emotional experience.
According to this theory, we feel sad because we cry and experience fear because we run away. This theory is criticised on the ground that in general our perception of internal changes is not very accurate.
In short, according to this theory, bodily changes occur first and the emotional experience occur later.
2. Cannon Bard Theory:
According to this theory, emotion and bodily changes occur simultaneously but are independent of each other.
The two scientists who were primarily responsible for criticising the James-Lange theory and formulating an alternative theory was Walter B. Cannon and Philip Bard.
The subjective experience of emotion and the bodily changes are concurrent. Thus, Cannon-
Bard theory says that the felt emotion and the bodily reactions are independent of each other, both occur simultaneously.
According to Cannon Bard Theory, information from the outside word first reaches the cerebral cortex. If the cortex decides that the situation is emotional in nature it sends message to thalamus. The Thalamus becomes active and sends two messages simultaneously hut independently in two different directions
(i) The first message is sent to the visceral organs which gives rise to bodily changes.
(ii) The second message is sent back to cerebral cortex which gives rise to emotional experience.
The research evidence in favour of this theory is very sketchy. However, this theory for the first time pointed out towards the role of lower brain areas in causation of emotion.
3. Cognitive Theory of Emotion by Schachter and Singer:
Emotion we experience is an interpretation of given situation. This theory maintains that an emotion we feel is our interpretation of an aroused, or stirred up, bodily state.
The sequence of events in the production of emotional feelings, according to this theory is:
(i) Perception of emotion producing situation.
(ii) A stirred up bodily state which arises from the perception and which is ambiguous.
(iii) Interpretation and labelling of the state so that it fits the perceived situation.
Both experimental evidence and informal observation give some support to the Schachter Singer Theory. Similarly, over the years, Richard
Lazarus and his co-workers have developed a theory of emotions that emphasise a person’s appraisal or interpretation, of environmental situation.
Cognitive Theory of Emotion:
According to cognitive theory an individual integrates information from these three sources and interprets the .given situation. It is this interpretation that give rise to a particular emotion.
4. Opponent Process Theory of Emotion:
This theory of emotion was presented by Richard Soloman and John Corbit in 1974. According to this theory the changes in various emotional reactions follow a typical pattern.
An emotional situation (for e.g., news about failure in exam) give rise to a particular emotion (sadness). This emotion gradually increases and reaches a peak. The emotion will then level-off and will remain as long as the situation remains. However, if the situation is withdrawn (i.e. if you come to know that news about your failure in exams is false) and in reality you have passed, not only will the present emotion (sadness) disappear but a completely opposite emotion (happiness) will occur. Thus, we see that the processes are opposite of each other.
5. Plutchik’s Psycho-Evolutionary Theory:
This theory was given by Robert Plutchik. This theory explains the various ways in which primary or basic emotions can be mixed together.
In order to show the relationships among emotions, Plutchik assumes that they differ in three ways:
(ii) Similarity to one another.
(iii) Polarity or oppositeness.
He uses these three dimensions-intensity, similarity and polarity to draw a spatial model representing the relationships among the emotioners.
Plutchik maintains that these primary emotions are derived from evolutionary processes and therefore, has an adaptive value.

domain: psychology


A California lawsuit is accusing GM of negligence for not including a stability control system as a standard feature on the Chevrolet Suburban. The lawsuit stems from a 2002 rollover involving a Suburban that killed a woman and her stepdaughter. GM paid the stepdaughter’s family almost half a million dollars to settle out of court.
“The safety benefits of stability control have been known to auto manufacturers since the mid 1990s,” Avila said. “But they delayed implementing because they felt that safety was not marketable, so instead of installing on the SUVs that needed it most because of their rollover problem, they put it on luxury SUVs and cars as a performance item.”
The federal government will require the inclusion of stability control systems by 2012, but GM will offer the systems on all models by 2010. Should automakers be required to install stability control systems? Tell us in the comments. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER


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Education University of Karachi
|Name Jazib Qureshi|
Occupation Poet, Critic
|Born 3 August 1940 (age 75) (1940-08-03) Lucknow, British India|
Mushaira jazib qureshi ghazal hallagulla com
Jazib Qureshi (Urdu: جاذب قریشی) (born 3 August 1940) is a prominent Urdu poet, writer and critic from Pakistan. He has written many poetry books and works of criticism.
- Mushaira jazib qureshi ghazal hallagulla com
- Jazib qureshi pays tribute to ada jafri
- Back ground
- Literary career
Jazib qureshi pays tribute to ada jafri
Qureshi was born on 3 August 1940 in Luchnow, India, where he spent his childhood. When he was six, his father died. As a result, he could not study further and worked hard for his living. He migrated with his family to Lahore, Pakistan, in 1950. He gained work in the press. He recommenced his studies and began writing poetry, attending literary gatherings and reading his poetry. His first literary gathering was in the Shahi Qila, chaired by famous poet Ehsan Danish.
Qureshi was helped to write poetry by Shakir Dehlavi, who belonged to Dagh Dehlavi school of thought. Qureshi moved to Karachi in 1962, he worked in different magazines and newspapers. He qualified for master's degree from University of Karachi. Later he became a teacher in a college. He also made a feature film, "Pathar Kay Sanam", but it failed to gain a public response and experienced a financial loss.
Qureshi has written many books. His first work of literary criticism was published in 1982, and he also published poetry and prose books. He is an admiredable poet at the literary gatherings. As a poet and writer he has visited 35 cities across the United States, and he has also visited Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi several times.

domain: library


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Featured Pages Matchless Flat Twin 1916 An Outstanding Design by Harry Collier
Matchless 732cc HO TwinClement Ader The Stuff of Legend
Pioneer in Telephony, Aviation and Motorcycling
Moteurs AderGuzzi's Grandpa A shaft-drive transverse V-twin from 1904, another deft touch from Clement Ader.
Kingsbury were scooters and motorcycles produced from 1919 to 1923,
by aircraft builders in Croydon, Surrey. The machines were sold by London
and Midland Motors of London W1.
1919 The first model entered the market after the end of World War I. It had a 2hp two-stroke engine at the front of the platform frame.
The rear wheel was driven by chain via a countershaft, it had disc wheels with brakes and front suspension by plungers. Riders had to
stand, but a seat later became an option.
1920 A lightweight motorcycle joined the scooter. Conventional in design,
it was powered by the same 254cc two-stroke engine, but with two-speed
transmission by chain and belt through the maker's own gearbox.
1921 The motorcycle continued, but the original Kingsbury scooter
went out of production as the trend for such transport waned.
1923 After the end of the year the marque was no longer listed.

domain: design


text:
The Context Browser is located on the right side of the design canvas. Click on the expand icon to open it.
Use the Context Browser to access Fields, Functions, SmartObjects and objects from the Workflow context. You can use the Search Items box to search for an object that you know exists. You can also navigate to an object using the bottom tabs and use the Recent option to see objects you've recently used (dragged and dropped).
Objects in the Context Browser get or set information, both from within the workflow and from external sources. The available objects depend on what steps have been added to the design canvas. These objects give you the ability to access, shape, and use data that your application needs, as well as operations and functions within your Rules Designer and workflow fields. For example, you can use Employee SmartObject data within an email to personalize the message being sent, or get the amount of an order and route the flow along a different path if the amount is higher than $1000.
See the Context Browser How To topic for an example of how to use objects from the Context Browser.


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The author gives the reader a complete picture at the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her description of the young Eisenhower reads as an easy flowing narrative giving wonderful personal insights into Ike's life.
The war years are written with attention to detail and gives great insight into the people that surrounded Ike in those years and the importance of these individuals. The author leaves you with the sense that you have actually spent time with this intriguing person.
The Presidency of Eisenhower is presented in a balanced manner. Flaws and fortitude are brought to the reader and the author allows the reader to make their own decision as to Eisenhower's contributions.
An outstanding book that I will be listening to more than once!
Eisenhower and his relationship with Kay Summersby is explored in a balanced manner.
Paul Hecht gives an outstanding performance as the narrator.
Hell no. This is a meaty biography best served in smaller portions. Far too much to digest in one sitting. This a book you don't want to end!
Robert Caro gives a brilliantly detailed description of the time between the death of JFK and the 1964 election. He speaks to all the questions that the reader would have - how did Bobby Kennedy deal with LBJ becoming President? how did Johnson deal with the fact that suspicion was directed towards himself?
I have not yet read any of the other books by Robert Caro about Lyndon Johnson's years in the Senate, but this did not detract from the power of this book. Feel free to enjoy this book before the others - it stands on its own.
This biography does not contain any strong bias towards, or away from, the Kennedy mystique. Instead, Dallek writes the facts and lets the reader determine the level of appreciation, or non-appreciation, they have for JFK. The author also uses the most up-to-date information on the life of Kennedy and weaves it seamlessly into the existing facts. A wonderful book.
I draw a comparison to the book, "Eisenhower: In War and Peace" by Jean Edward Smith. Both books provide a wonderful narrative of the President from youth until death. Doing so without ever straying far from facts and balanced perspective. Both books are also highly enjoyable to listen (read) to - outstanding narration. Also, the books hold the readers interest in all facets of the Presidents' lives.
Kennedy: Perseverance and Pain. ... I cannot believe that with all his health issues that Kennedy was able to preside over the nation in an effective manner.
In terms of Spirituality, this is the best book I've read - including audio and print books.
The character of Otto as a skeptical person really reflects so much of the cynisim we see in the world today - it reflects myself. So, I related to Otto very well.
The narrator does a brilliant job. His voice is always appropriate and lets the listener just sit back, relax and enjoy.
Many moments. I find a greater sense of appreciation weaving its way through my activities.
This is a terrific book. The idea to see Lincoln through the eyes of his contemporaries is a great idea. It seems, to me, a fair and balanced book. The author portrays Lincoln, complete with faults, and his brilliance in a clear manner. It also brings to life those around Lincoln and in their lives and eventual grief, the book becomes a welcome addition to great books about this great leader!
William H. Seward from Auburn, NY. Lincoln's Secretary of State. The author weaves together a wonderful narrative of such a great man from the various sources available.
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domain: literature


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Memberships are offered for more experienced potters who prefer to work independently. They are available in our second floor studio only. Members may have studio access for a maximum of 60 hours a month when Hinckley Pottery is open and no classes or workshops are scheduled for the space (an estimated 40 hours per week). This is a common space meant to be shared with others; it is not designed for production pottery. Storage of pots and supplies is limited to the number of shelves rented. Glazing of pots is done in the glaze area on the first floor. During class times, glazing space may be limited.
Fee: $185 per month (includes two shelves – 36x18 each)
• An initial payment of one month’s rent plus a deposit equal to one month’s rent is required. Additional shelves may be rented for $50 per month per shelf if available. Private instruction can be scheduled.
• Requires a written agreement as well as an understanding of studio operations and safety and security measures.
• Requires purchase of a clay package. Outside clay is not permitted, but specific high fire clay bodies may be requested.
Clay package: $75 for stoneware, $90 for porcelain Covers 50 pounds of clay plus glazing and firing. Pots 8 inches or more in size after bisque firing will require firing tickets for glaze firing. The clay package fee covers glazes but does not cover under- and over-glazes and other additions.

domain: hobby


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Free Read Another Girl - by Allison Burnett, Another Girl, Allison Burnett, Another Girl The sequel to the novel Undiscovered Gyrl which became the feature film Ask Me Anything starring Britt Robertson Martin Sheen and Christian Slater Free Read Another Girl - by Allison Burnett - Another Girl, Another Girl The sequel to the novel Undiscovered Gyrl which became the feature film Ask Me Anything starring Britt Robertson Martin Sheen and Christian Slater
Free Read Another Girl - by Allison Burnett - Another Girl, Another Girl The sequel to the novel Undiscovered Gyrl which became the feature film Ask Me Anything starring Britt Robertson Martin Sheen and Christian Slater
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in Author of Undiscovered Gyrl, Allison Burnett, inspired me to quote Michael Corleone, after reading the sequel novella Another Girl because yes I was pulled right back into the addictive world of the internet and of Katie Kampenfelt This sequel is only 138 pages in length but, it is a power house of emotions that leaves the reader breathless, confused, intrigued and conflicted, all at the same timeAs in Undiscovered Gyrl, the format is genius in [...]
Great novellaThe only problem is it leaves a lot questions then answers is amy katie a real.female.or.a male piece of shit murderer and what happened to elle
Totally freaking brilliant but what else do we expect from the amazing Allison Burnett Totally fulfilling in an unfulfilling way it is perfection He s done it again
I ve just finished reading this book, it is very short, I bough it today and I read it in a couple of hours but it is all worth the money I played for it.If you re reading this just to find some answers, don t do it ll just mess up your mind even SPOILER ALERT READ THIS ONLY IF YOU ALREADY FINISHED THE BOOKMy brain is working hard trying to figure out what happened at the end , but mostly if there really is a connection between this book and the first one I actually think the end it s pretty cle [...]
I was taken with Katie Kampenfelt from the second I picked up Undiscovered Gyrl I loved Burnett s ability to write a character who was so realistic, raw and funny, I didn t want her story to end So I was extremely excited to see Another Girl come out, and let me say, it didn t disappoint This novella jumps right in with a dark edge that will have you speed reading till the end Burnett has a spooky ability to blur the lines between fiction and reality, playing tricks on your mind throughout A ver [...]
super quick read where we are reintroduced to an older Katie and a lonely, depressed girl seeking a friend predictable, but liked the way the author again blurred reality and fiction and had me questioning, who REALLY are we talking to on the internet.
When you don t listen to your inner voice, the universe punishes you without mercy I liked this book, but didn t love it Quick and interesting but also creepy and predictable Some people are struggling with how it ends without answers again , but I think it is super obvious what happens to Elle Totally worth the read, esp if you liked Undiscovered Gyrl
This may contain spoilers, but not really Lol.After reading Undiscovered Gyrl , I needed to figure out what happened and downloaded this book immediately At first, I was disappointed it wasnt continued in Katies point of view, but those feelings diminished the second my curiousity peaked and O M G I finished this book in like an hour, and let me tell you I HAVE THE CHILLLLSSSS Like okay, yes it is obvious what happened to both Katie and Elle, especially considering the ending of Undiscovered Gyr [...]
Quick read with a twist ending I loved the first novel, and this novella was a great way to continue the themes.
I just couldn t get out of my mind the fact that the author is a middle aged dude, not a mid 20 s girl I admit I ve not read the 1st book, just seen the film.
A short novella, yet a truly captivating and frightening story Having read Mr Burnett s prequel novel Undiscovered Gyrl a few months ago and having been left with a troublesome and unanswered cliffhanger ending, I decided to read this short sequel I am so glad that I did Another Girl effortlessly picks up where the first novel left off and neatly and chillingly fills in all the blanks.Through blog post communications between Katie and the chosen few of her many followers, Mr Burnett does an exem [...]
Creepy as hell.
BoringBook was boring and left with question than answers The format was confusing as all No originality with storyline.
Undecided.This book didn t wow me like the first one It was still a really interesting read I still want to know what happened even though I have a good idea of what did happen.


Australian researchers are warning people not to take the "wrong message" from the sequel to Finding Nemo.
- Decline populations of tropical fish featured in the film linked to popularity as pets
- The blue tang cannot be bred in captivity
- Concerns raised about use of cyanide in capturing the fish from ocean
Flinders University and the University of Queensland experts say studies conducted since the 2003 release have found clownfish populations declined on coral reefs after popularity in keeping the tropical fish as household pets soared.
"The film had a very strong fish conservation message, but instead people decided, because Marlin and Nemo were such charismatic characters, that they wanted a clownfish as a pet," Flinders University associate Professor Karen Burke da Silva said.
Some studies have looked at the declining rates of clownfish and other ornamental fish on coral reefs since the release of the animated film about clownfish Marlin, who goes on a search with blue tang Dory to find his son, Nemo, after he was abducted by a scuba diver and kept in an aquarium.
"A number of studies in America looked at the huge increase in the demand for clownfish, according to pet shop figures, exports, et cetera," she said.
"In one year alone, 2012, over 400,000 clownfish were imported to America. It was the fifth most imported species to America."Loading
Professor Burke da Silva is one of the co-founders of the Saving Nemo Conservation Fund, which aims to provide education, awareness and captive breeding programs to protect marine ornamental species that are often captured on reefs for sale in pet shops.
She said the marine fish aquarium trade has been a major cause of the decline in coral reef fish numbers, because while clownfish are quite easy to breed in captivity, for a lot of ornamental fish it is not so easy.
"About 90-95 per cent of marine fish found in aquarium shops come from the wild," she said.
"The blue tang fish, for example, cannot be bred in captivity. This is because the blue tang fish release their eggs and sperm into the sea and this cannot be mimicked in a lab."
People shocked to discover ornamental fish not bred in captivity
Professor Burke da Silva said that from what she had read of the new film, she believed Finding Dory also has a strong conservation message.
"What we hope is that people take that message home. Fish in the wild are going through enough problems, due to global warming and coral bleaching, so the worst thing we can do is add to that by taking huge numbers of them from the wild," she said.
There was also a lack of understanding about what kind of fish are being taken from the wild and what fish are bred in captivity, Professor Burke da Silva said.
"From our own surveys we've found that people who buy marine fish don't know they are taken from the wild," she said.
"Freshwater fish are bred in captivity but ornamental fish — such as clownfish and blue tang fish — are not bred in captivity.
"When we told them this, most people were shocked to discover that they weren't bred in captivity."
She said the team wanted to create more awareness and to brand ornamental fish as not captive bred, "so then people are informed when they go into a pet shop to buy a fish".
Professor Burke da Silva said there were concerns about the welfare of the animals collected from places like Sri Lanka and Philippines, huge exporters of ornamental fish to places like US.
"They sometimes use cyanide poisoning to collect fish. It is used as a kind of anaesthetic to knock them out so they can be easily collected in a short amount of time," she said.
However, Professor Burke da Silva said the lengthy process of collecting the fish and exporting them can have a huge effect on mortality rates.
She said she had once read up to 90 per cent "die before they make it into someone's living room".
"What we mostly want to achieve is an awareness about where the fish come from and the fact that ornamental fish are being taken from the wild and 100 per cent of blue tang fish are caught in the wild," she said.


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On November 15th, the Yellowhead Tribal Council, with the support of our Chiefs, held a workshop to discuss the Alberta Police Act: Alberta Police Reform Legislation.
The workshop gathered 30 participants including representatives from Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, O’Chiese First Nation and Sunchild First Nation.
Elder Howard Mustus began with a prayer followed by our opening remarks by Chief George Arcand Jr., Chief Tony Alexis and Yellowhead Tribal Council CEO Laverne Arcand.
During the workshop led by master of ceremonies Francis Alexis, participants discussed the area of policing and the "potential" changes to the Alberta Police Act: Alberta Police Reform legislation, discussions taking place within the Federal Government in Justice and Policing, the Treaty Relationship/Agreement (Red Coat protection),
Laverne Arcand, CEO of Yellowhead Tribal Council, emphasized that “our hope is that this work begins the path toward a safe and healthy community for our member First Nations.”
- Treaty Relationship on Law Enforcement and Impact of Residential Schools with Elder Howard Mustus
- Reconcili-ACTION in Policing with Indigenous Policing for Alberta RCMP Kimberly Mueller
- First Nations Police Services Legislation Update with Assistant Deputy Minister Chris Moran, and Acting Director General Mélanie Théberge (Public Safety Canada)
- Alberta Provincial Police Service Public Security Indigenous Advisory Committee with Director, Engagement & Strategy at Public Security Division, Justice and Solicitor General (GoA)Jessica Thomson, Indigenous Policing Coordinator at Alberta Justice and Solicitor General Wendy Uhlenberg
- Lakeshore Regional Police Service (First Nation Police Service) with Chief of Police Dale Cox
- First Nation Policing & Restorative Justice Forum with Assembly of First Nations Director of Justice Julie McGregor
- Enforcement and Policing Lens with Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Virtual Presentation) with Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Grand Chief Arthur Noskey, Chief Administrative Officer Margo Auger, and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Aimoe
- Police Service Delivery Models with Policing Consultants Kris Duek and Aziz Khadem
- Treaty Six Policing Model with Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. Chief Executive Officer Cam Alexis
- YTC Youth Panel with Shae Savoie representative for Alexander First Nation, Jaurie Alexis representative for Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Tiffany Mchugh representative for O’Chiese First Nation, and Shenise Lagrelle representative for Sunchild First Nation
Participants analyzed and proposed improvements focused on many issues in the area of policing and service delivery, such as crisis intervention, response time, discrimination, funding, emergency management, mental health and wellness, and addictions.
This is the first police workshop organized within the Yellowhead Tribal Council.

domain: sociology


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Photoshop has long been the industry standard for compositing images to make a single cohesive shot. A typical example, for instance, might be taking a portrait photographed against a studio backdrop and compositing it with a background image photographed elsewhere—an outdoor shot of a sky at dusk, for instance.
For as long as compositing has been possible, photographers have employed certain techniques to ensure the images look as natural as possible when combined. This may include matching lens and camera angle, as well as ensuring the lighting position is similar as well. Any discrepancy tends to make the subject stick out from the background.
One of the most obvious giveaways that a subject wasn’t photographed in situ is when the colors in the two elements don’t match. For instance, a person photographed with strobe in a studio setting may have a slightly more neutral white balance than a landscape photographed at sunset. If the background image is filled with deep blues and purples, for instance, our eyes would expect some of that tonality to be reflected in the subject. When it’s not, our brains begin to think the image is unbelievable.
Photoshop’s new Harmonization neural filter helps address this challenge by more accurately blending two images together to make them, well, more harmonious.
The Harmonization neural filter takes the colors and luminosity of one image and blends them into the colors of another image. In this way, a sterile studio portrait can begin to take on the warm orange glow of an autumn sunset and make for a more believable composite.
To start, create a composite in Photoshop such that the subject layer is separate from the background layer. Then with the top layer active, open the Neural Filters controls via the Photoshop Filter menu. From here, Photoshop presents you with all of the different Neural Filters you’ve already installed, as well as new options available for download. After downloading the Harmonization neural filter, simply click on it in the Neural Filters menu to start the process. The Harmonization controls will appear along with an image preview in the right side of the Neural Filters window.
The first thing to do is click the dropdown menu immediately below the preview image to select the layer you’d like to copy the tonality from. That’s typically going to be the background layer, so when you’ve clicked that and watched Photoshop analyze the image, it will enable a series of sliders to become active, and the image preview will now show the colors from the background have been applied to the foreground subject layer. It’s by adjusting the sliders in the Harmonization neural filter that the intensity and quality of those tones are altered.
Like so many things, a little goes a long way. So the goal here isn’t to make the foreground subject completely merge with the background but rather to pick up some of the colors from the background to make the images look better together—more harmonious. Think of it like color grading in the movies; a cool blue hue reinforces one vibe, while a warm red or orange glow creates another. With the Harmonization neural filter, the two image elements can share the same grading.
The Strength slider defaults to a value of 75, and dialing it down is likely to help make the color a bit more subtle. Below that you’ll find sliders for Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, which can be dialed up or down to fine-tune the background colors as applied to the subject, and then Saturation and Brightness sliders for further control. The Output dropdown menu at the bottom of the window allows you to choose whether the results should be delivered to the original layer, to a new layer or to a smart filter. The new layer isn’t a composite of the below layers but rather just the newly colored result of the Harmonization filter on a duplicate of the foreground/subject layer. Outputting to a smart filter simply maintains the existing subject layer but adds a smart filter layer atop it. Unlike the original layer option, both ways leave the original layer unmodified so you can make subsequent adjustments to the intensity and quality of the Harmonization neural filter without starting over from scratch.
For those who regularly composite images together, the Harmonization neural filter should take a primary place in the workflow and become standard operating procedure to help make more natural looking composites of multiple images.


Surface-mount RF switch connectors from Linx Technologies provide high isolation between ports for improved data accuracy. They are designed primarily for use in diagnostic measurement between PCB components, the compact, low-profile connectors are available in both SWD and SWF versions. The RF switch connectors allow customers to conveniently diagnose problems within a transmission line throughout […]
The post Surface-mount RF switch connectors isolate ports to improve data accuracy appeared first on Softei.com – Global Electronics Industry News.
Softei.com – Global Electronics Industry News


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As explained in our August 2010 article, “interim final regulations” issued under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) require that group health plans (other than those that are “grandfathered”) comply with a number of internal claims and appeals procedures that go beyond those previously required under ERISA. The ACA also requires group health plans to offer a new state or federal external review process to review denied claims.
Although these new requirements are generally effective for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has granted two separate extensions of this compliance deadline (in late 2010 and early 2011). Some of the delayed rules become effective for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2011, while other rules were delayed until plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2012. (See our May 2011 article for specifics regarding these extensions.) Now, however, the DOL and other federal agencies have jointly issued amendments to the interim final regulations that make significant changes to the rules.
To recap, the ACA made the following changes to ERISA’s claims and appeals procedures:
- The types of “adverse benefit determinations” for which the internal claims and appeals procedures are available must include any “rescission” of coverage.
- Notice of any denial of an “urgent care claim” must be provided within 24 hours, rather than 72 hours.
- Plans must provide claimants with any new or additional evidence considered, relied upon, or generated in connection with the claim, as well as any new or additional rationale for a denial at the initial appeals stage, and a reasonable opportunity for the claimant to respond to the new evidence or rationale.
- Decisions regarding hiring, compensation, termination, promotion, or other similar matters with respect to an individual (such as a claims adjudicator or medical expert) must not be based on the likelihood that the individual will support the denial of benefits.
- Notices must be provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
- Notices to claimants must include the following additional content:
a. Information sufficient to identify the claim involved, including the date of service, the health care provider, the claim amount, the diagnosis code and its corresponding meaning, and the treatment code and its corresponding meaning;
b. In the case of any claim denial, the denial code and its corresponding meaning, as well as a description of the plan’s standard (if any) that was used in denying the claim;
c. A description of available internal appeals and external review processes, including information on how to initiate an appeal; and
d. The availability of, and contact information for, an applicable state office of health insurance consumer assistance or ombudsman.
- If a plan fails to strictly adhere to all of these requirements, a claimant is deemed to have exhausted the plan’s internal claims and appeals procedures — regardless of whether the plan has “substantially complied” with the requirements. This will allow the claimant to initiate any available external review process or remedies available under ERISA or state law.
The new guidance makes the following revisions to these rules:
- Repeal of the 24-Hour Deadline for Urgent Care Claims. The amended regulations reject a hard and fast 24-hour deadline for decisions on urgent care claims. Instead, the amended rule permits plans to revert to the original DOL claims procedure rule (requiring a decision as soon as possible, but in no event later than 72 hours).
- No Requirement to Provide Diagnosis and Treatment Codes in Notices. The requirement that plans automatically provide diagnosis and treatment codes as part of any notice of adverse benefit determination or final internal adverse benefit determination has been eliminated. Instead, a plan must include a notification of the opportunity to request diagnosis and treatment codes (and their meanings) in all notices, and then provide this information upon request.
- Relaxation of the Strict Compliance Standard. The amended regulations provide an exception to the strict compliance standard for certain minor errors that are attributable to good cause or matters beyond the plan’s control.
- Revisions to Notice Requirements. The requirement to provide “culturally and linguistically appropriate” notices has been eased. Previously, plans were required to consider the number of participants in the plan who were literate only in the same non-English language. Now, plans need only look to whether the claimant resides in a county in which 10% or more of the population is literate only in the same non-English language. The applicable counties are based on U.S. Census data; and the guidance includes a table, which will be updated periodically, listing 255 counties and four languages.
- Clarification Regarding Binding Nature of External Review. Finally, the amended regulations clarify that a plan must provide benefits pursuant to a final external review decision, even if the plan intends to seek judicial review of that decision.
In connection with the issuance of amendments to the interim final regulations, the DOL has also issued Technical Release 2011-02. This modifies the scope of claims eligible for federal external review. Before the issuance of this latest guidance, there was some uncertainty as to whether the federal external review process applicable to self-funded plans was broader than the existing state external review processes applicable to insurers. The Technical Release clarifies that the scope of claims eligible for federal external review is limited to those involving (1) medical judgment (as determined by the external reviewer), or (2) rescission of coverage.
The external review changes apply to claims with respect to which external review has not been initiated before September 20, 2011. The technical release states that these changes are a temporary suspension of the original rule, meaning that the original rule could become applicable again if the suspension is lifted. The agencies are seeking further comments on this issue, and the technical release makes clear that if the suspension is lifted, the agencies will give advance notice to plan sponsors so that they have time to comply.
Additionally, according to the Technical Release, the DOL and IRS are modifying their enforcement policy, as previously announced in Technical Release 2010-01, with respect to independent review organizations (“IROs”). In order to be eligible for a safe harbor from enforcement, self-insured plans must contract with only two IROs (rather than three) by January 1, 2012, and with at least three IROs by July 1, 2012. The agencies have also issued revised model notices of adverse benefit determination, final internal adverse benefit determination, and final external adverse benefit determination.
The new guidance provides welcome relief for plan sponsors, particularly with respect to the scope of the federal external review process. The amendments are generally effective as of July 22nd, subject to certain enforcement grace periods discussed above.

domain: law


text:
|Figge features free family fête|
|News Releases - Food & Dining|
|Written by Susan Horan|
|Monday, 03 October 2011 11:59|
Davenport, Iowa - September 2011 – In celebration of the French poster exhibition, “Turn of the Century Posters from the Krannert Art Museum”, the Figge will be hosting a free event for the whole family! On Saturday, October 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., “A Fabulously Fun French Family Event” will feature plenty of activities for even the youngest artiste. In studios 2, 3 and 4 families will be able to design posters, learn printmaking techniques from St. Ambrose instructors, and enjoy French-themed treats!
After the studio activities, families can listen to children’s stories from France, learn simple French words and phrases, and enjoy a film about Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec—France’s most famous poster designer!
A tour of the “Turn of the Century Posters” exhibition using the Parent & Child guide provided by the Figge is also encouraged. The guide can be downloaded from the museum homepage and explains four of the most popular posters in the exhibition, how they were designed, and why they were so successful. There will also be real-life objects from the posters on display! Families are invited to sketch the opera glasses, bicycle and people dressed in period costumes. Missing out on this free family event would be a real faux pas!
This event is sponsored by John Deere and Butler Insurance Services.
The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in Downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Sundays noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563-326-7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.-end-
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domain: entertainment


text:
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- Cited by in Scopus (40)
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- LMP2-Specific Inhibitors: Chemical Genetic Tools for Proteasome Biology
Chemistry & Biology, Volume 14, Issue 4, 20 April 2007, Pages 419-430
Yik Khuan (Abby) Ho, Paola Bargagna-Mohan, Marie Wehenkel, Royce Mohan and Kyung-Bo Kim
SummaryThe immunoproteasome, having been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and hematological cancers, has been shown to play an important role in MHC class I antigen presentation. However, its other pathophysiological functions are still not very well understood. This can be attributed mainly to a lack of appropriate molecular probes that can selectively modulate the immunoproteasome catalytic subunits. Herein, we report the development of molecular probes that selectively inhibit the major catalytic subunit, LMP2, of the immunoproteasome. We show that these compounds irreversibly modify the LMP2 subunit with high specificity. Importantly, LMP2-rich cancer cells compared to LMP2-deficient cancer cells are more sensitive to growth inhibition by the LMP2-specific inhibitor, implicating an important role of LMP2 in regulating cell growth of malignant tumors that highly express LMP2.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (972 kb)
- Proteasomal Degradation Is Transcriptionally Controlled by TCF11 via an ERAD-Dependent Feedback Loop...
Molecular Cell, Volume 40, Issue 1, 8 October 2010, Pages 147-158
Janos Steffen, Michael Seeger, Annett Koch and Elke Krüger
SummaryCoordinated regulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is crucial for the cell to adjust its protein degradation capacity to changing proteolytic requirements. We have shown previously that mammalian cells upregulate proteasome gene expression in response to proteasome inhibition. Here, we report the identification of the transcription factor TCF11 (long isoform of Nrf1) as a key regulator for 26S proteasome formation in human cells to compensate for reduced proteolytic activity. Under noninducing conditions, TCF11 resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. There, TCF11 is targeted to ER-associated protein degradation requiring the E3 ubiquitin ligase HRD1 and the AAA ATPase p97. Proteasome inhibitors trigger the accumulation of oxidant-damaged proteins and promote the nuclear translocation of TCF11 from the ER, permitting activation of proteasome gene expression by binding to antioxidant response elements in their promoter regions. Thus, we uncovered the transcriptional control loop regulating human proteasome-dependent protein degradation to counteract proteotoxic stress caused by proteasome inhibition.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (1602 kb)
- Extended peptide-based inhibitors efficiently target the proteasome and reveal overlapping specifici...
Chemistry & Biology, Volume 8, Issue 9, 1 September 2001, Pages 913-929
Benedikt M Kessler, Domenico Tortorella, Mikael Altun, Alexei F Kisselev, Edda Fiebiger, Brian G Hekking, Hidde L Ploegh and Herman S Overkleeft
SummaryBackground: The 26S proteasome is responsible for most cytosolic proteolysis, and is an important protease in major histocompatibility complex class I-mediated antigen presentation. Constitutively expressed proteasomes from mammalian sources possess three distinct catalytically active species, β1, β2 and β5, which are replaced in the γ-interferon-inducible immunoproteasome by a different set of catalytic subunits, β1i, β2i and β5i, respectively. Based on preferred cleavage of short fluorogenic peptide substrates, activities of the proteasome have been assigned to individual subunits and classified as ‘chymotryptic-like’ (β5), ‘tryptic-like’ (β2) and ‘peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolyzing’ (β1). Studies with protein substrates indicate a far more complicated, less strict cleavage preference. We reasoned that inhibitors of extended size would give insight into the extent of overlapping substrate specificity of the individual activities and subunits.Results: A new class of proteasome inhibitors, considerably extended in comparison with the commonly used fluorescent substrates and peptide-based inhibitors, has been prepared. Application of the safety catch resin allowed the generation of the target compounds using a solid phase protocol. Evaluation of the new compounds revealed a set of highly potent proteasome inhibitors that target all individual active subunits with comparable affinity, unlike the other inhibitors described to date. Modification of the most active compound, adamantane-acetyl-(6-aminohexanoyl)3-(leucinyl)3-vinyl-(methyl)-sulfone (AdaAhx3L3VS), itself capable of proteasome inhibition in living cells, afforded a new set of radio- and affinity labels.Conclusions: N-terminal extension of peptide vinyl sulfones has a profound influence on both their efficiency and selectivity as proteasome inhibitors. Such extensions greatly enhance inhibition and largely obliterate selectivity towards the individual catalytic activities. We conclude that for the interaction with larger substrates, there appears to be less discrimination of different substrate sequences for the catalytic activities than is normally assumed based on the use of small peptide-based substrates and inhibitors. The compounds described here are readily accessible synthetically, and are more potent inhibitors in living cells than their shorter peptide vinyl sulfone counterparts.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (718 kb)
Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Chemistry & Biology, Volume 15, Issue 5, 501-512, 19 May 2008
Proteasome Inhibition by Fellutamide B Induces Nerve Growth Factor Synthesis
1 Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
2 Center for Integrated Protein Science at the Department Chemie, Technische Universität München, Garching D-85747, Germany
3 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
4 Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
5 Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Neurotrophic small molecules have the potential to aid in the treatment of neuronal injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The natural product fellutamide B, originally isolated from Penicillium fellutanum, potently induces nerve growth factor (NGF) release from fibroblasts and glial-derived cells, although the mechanism for this neurotrophic activity has not been elucidated. Here, we report that fellutamide B potently inhibits proteasome catalytic activity. High-resolution structural information obtained from cocrystallization of the 20S proteasome reveals novel aspects regarding β-subunit binding and adduct formation by fellutamide B to inhibit their hydrolytic activity. We demonstrate that fellutamide B and other proteasome inhibitors increased NGF gene transcription via a cis-acting element (or elements) in the promoter. These results demonstrate an unrecognized connection between proteasome inhibition and NGF production, suggesting a possible new strategy in the development of neurotrophic agents.

domain: chemistry


text:
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Riverside Girls High School
HSC year: 2008, ARTEXPRESS year: 2009
Expressive form: Collection of works
Whimsical lunacy was created in a state of subconsciousness: an absurd dwelling bordering between reality and the surreal. Inspired by surrealists such as Salvador Dalí and Yayoi Kusama, I am exploring the ever-flowing stream of the subconscious mind, through purely aesthetic works expressing little to no meaning except for the one the audience may decide to associate them with – be it love, naivety, nonsense or just plain madness. Subjectively, the ambiguity of my artworks pushes one to engage with my illogical thoughts, only to activate their own subconscious minds as they journey to the wondrous place of ‘Whimsical lunacy’.
Or view all 62 works.

domain: artistic


text:
Pariah tells the story of a courageous 17-year-old black girl growing up in Brooklyn while coming to terms with her homosexuality. Her struggle to face her very religious parents leads to finding peace within herself. It is director Dee Rees first feature film and based on her own life.
Reporter Chris Witherspoon of The Grio got the opportunity to sit down with Wayans and Oduye to discuss the uniqueness of the storyline in Hollywood and its potential controversy.
“As an actor, I want to play well-rounded characters, be a part of amazing stories. […] This character is like the role of a lifetime,” says Oduye. “It never, ever, ever crossed my mind and doesn’t cross my mind ever that there could be a stigma. I feel very thankful and fortunate that I found this role.”
Wayans found her own personal challenges in receiving the dramatic role due to her career in comedy. But the former “In Living Color” cast member says that playing the role came naturally.
“Usually I can’t even get in those rooms to read the dramatic stuff because people just think of me as a comedian,” she says. “The hardest hurdle was getting the opportunity to show people what I could do. The actual doing was fun.”
Pariah is now playing in select theaters and opens nationwide Jan. 6, 2011.
Check out the full interview below!

domain: celebrity


The talented Matthew Alderman made a comment on my post about redesigning the layout of First Things. He had some good ideas, but along the way, he mentioned one of the all-time great designs for a magazine: the art-nouveau journal Ver Sacrum from the late 1890s:
And it reminded me of an idea I’ve long had for a magazine’s design—had and rejected, but still burnished, from time to time, in that corner of the heart reserved for treasured but unworkable ideas.
Wouldn’t it be fun to vary the cover and the interior design from issue to issue, with each issue recreating—without irony—some classic and iconic moment in magazine graphics?
So, for instance, one issue that is all Ver Sacrum & art nouveau:
and another that is all old Galaxy sci-fi & Weird Tales:
and another that is all the cool elegance of early 1960s Look & Life:
and another that is pure Punch:
and so on.
Of course, you can’t actually sell magazines doing this. Conventional wisdom says, and probably rightly, that if there isn’t considerable visual continuity from issue to issue, no one subscribes: If readers can’t tell that it’s the same magazine as last month’s, then it isn’t the same magazine.


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Life smacked Danina McKinnon around in recent years. Her husband died, the recession almost destroyed their construction business, she was unemployed for a while and had to file for bankruptcy.
Her once-stellar credit score took a swan dive.
But when she bought a $30,000 Prius recently, McKinnon, who has begun a new business venture, had no trouble putting down $2,000 and getting a loan for the rest.
"It was probably the easiest purchase I've ever made," said McKinnon, 55.
Bankers expect to see an increase in consumers pursuing all types of credit this year – with lenders becoming more willing to hand it over.
That's how a majority of bank risk managers – who help decide whether loan standards should be tightened or loosened – responded to a FICO survey on credit for the second half of 2013.
The survey, conducted for FICO by the Professional Risk Managers' International Association, found that 60 percent of risk managers see the credit gap between demand and supply narrowing. More than half of those surveyed expect more credit to be extended in upcoming months.
Consumers have been paying down debt and are in much better shape to take on more credit. The ratio of household debt payments to disposable income is down to a level not seen in 20 years, after peaking during the financial crisis, according to the Federal Reserve Board. And credit card delinquencies are at their lowest since June 1990, says the American Bankers Association.
"These survey results say quite a bit about the psychology of borrowers and lenders," said Andrew Jennings, chief analytics officer at FICO. "After years of caution, lenders are clearly in growth mode.... But I find the borrower side of the equation more intriguing. It appears that borrowers are beginning to shed the frugal habits that helped them deleverage to the tune of more than a trillion dollars since 2008."
On the downside, and not unexpectedly, 56 percent of respondents said they expect student loan delinquencies to rise. U.S. students have amassed $986 billion in college debt, a figure that grew by $20 billion in the first quarter of this year alone, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Optimism over car loans, mortgages
The risk managers felt more optimistic about other types of credit, including car loans: More than three-fourths thought delinquencies would either stay the same or go down.
McKinnon, who lives in Irvine, needed an economical car for her new business, Integrity Cremation, which takes her to various parts of Southern California to help families make final arrangements.
When she bought her Prius, McKinnon said, she was told that her FICO score, once near 800, had dropped into the 500s.
"I've been trying to start over, but getting that score up is hard," she said.

domain: news


text:
Joyce D. Mandell
A Collection of Holocaust Rescuers Stories
Michael W. King
Last Chance Project
During the darkest time in the 20th century, there were righteous individuals who risked their lives, families, and careers.
Going against their own governments, to save tens of thousands of fellow human beings.
The heroic actions of these international diplomats in the face of the Holocaust have remained mostly unknown to the rest of the world.
Now, the people they saved unlock their “mystery of goodness” in “The Rescuers.”
The Rescuers – Last Chance Project is being Produced by
Michael W. King Productions
in association with the Andrew J. & Joyce D. Mandell Family Foundation.


text: Beijing / CN. (xh) China has reaped 80 percent of its wheat harvest and is expected to reap 122,5 million tonnes of summer grain this year, said the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to Xinhua news agency. This will be the sixth year in a row for China to achieve grain output growth, the MOA said. The planting area for summer grain crops this year increased by 7,3 million Mu (486’667 hectares) from last year and the average yield is expected to keep the level of last year, said Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Agriculture. China has finished rapeseed harvest, with the output expected to hit a record high of 13 million tonnes. The harvest this year is expected to be achieved despite climate difficulties including droughts in northern China and rains and relatively low temperatures in southern China, Sun Zhengcai said.


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Happy September! Despite the hot temps here in Southern California, now that Labor Day has passed it’s officially fall, which means HALLOWEEN ALL THE THINGS. Halloween has had a presence at The Disneyland Resort for a while but things are about to get serious. And Hot Topic is getting in on the act with totally awesome Disney Halloween costumes. Did you know it’s time to start thinking about your Halloween costume? You have only TWO MONTHS to go. Some of the details on these costumes are great, and I love how they are fun and flirty without being overtly sexy (my big Halloween pet peeve). And the prices? Insane. I want one of each! Which one is your favorite?


Swiss voters will have a say on whether to buy new fighter jets – but not on the type of jet. The government said on Friday the issue would be put to the nation given the large amount of money involved and that it was an essential part of national security.This content was published on March 9, 2018 - 14:58
It added that the two previous projects to buy new jets – F/A-18s in 1993 and Gripen fighters in 2014 – had also been subject to a nationwide vote. The 22-plane Gripen contract was rejected by 53.4% of voters.
A vote is expected to be held by 2020 at the latest. The government said the type of plane will be decided after the vote.
In November, the government said it wanted to spend CHF8 billion ($8.4 billion) on new fighter jets and missile defences for the Swiss army. It tasked the defence ministry with looking at potential aircraft and has asked it to begin talks with Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, Lockheed Martin and Saab.
On Friday, the pacifist Switzerland Without an Army group criticised the government’s strategy as “undemocratic”, saying voters would know neither the cost nor number of planes – or indeed what the planes could even do. The group said it would start collecting signatures for a referendum against the purchase.
This article was automatically imported from our old content management system. If you see any display errors, please let us know: email@example.com


An Eau Claire man is accused of entering his ex-girlfriend’s residence in the middle of the night and raping and choking her at knifepoint.
Alphonso Washington-Davis, 26, 5737 Renee Drive, was charged Tuesday in Eau Claire County Court with felony counts of first-degree sexual assault by use of a dangerous weapon, intimidation of a victim, strangulation and suffocation and burglary, and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
A $2,000 cash bail was set for Washington-Davis, who returns to court Dec. 18. As conditions of bail, he cannot have contact with the woman or her residence.
According to the criminal complaint:
A woman called Eau Claire police at 5:24 a.m. Sunday to report that Washington-Davis, who is her ex-boyfriend, entered her residence during the night.
The woman said she woke up to Washington-Davis choking her with a knife to her throat. He sexually assaulted her, threatened to kill her and took away her cellphone.
The woman said Washington-Davis eventually left the residence in his car.
The woman said the incident began when she and her boyfriend were at her residence Saturday night.
Washington-Davis came into the residence at 11 p.m. and yelled at her while holding a large stick.
The woman said Washington-Davis took her car and house keys and left the residence.
The woman said she went to bed after her boyfriend left at 11:45 p.m. and woke up with a knife held to her throat and being choked. She was struggling to breathe, and he used his hand to cover her mouth so she couldn’t scream.
Washington-Davis told the woman he was going to kill her before she could call the police.
The woman said Washington-Davis forcibly removed her pants and sexually assaulted her.
For the next several hours, the woman said Washington-Davis talked about how he would punish her.
He made comments about saying he would go to prison for four to five years for beating her up or he might just kill her and serve 25 years.
The woman said she feared for her life. At some point, she said, Washington-Davis got tired and left the residence.
He gave back her keys and cellphone before leaving.
When contacted by police, Washington-Davis admitted to being with the woman in the early morning hours on Sunday but said they had consensual sex.
Washington-Davis is being prosecuted as a repeat offender. He was convicted of a felony count of strangulation in March 2017 in Eau Claire County.
If convicted of the felony charges, Washington-Davis could be sentenced to up to 55 years in prison.


text:
I'M AN ORIGINAL CATCHPHRASE
I’m a paragraph. Double click here or click Edit Text to add some text of your own or to change the font. This is the place for you to tell your site visitors a little bit about you and your services.
TOP ECONOMY PRODUCTS
NSNP SOYA MINCE
TOP ECONOMY NSNP Soya Mince is approved by the Department of Education and is fully compliant with the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP) specifications.
Flavours: Beef | Packaging: 5kg
This product meets all requirements as per the NSNP specifications:
Protein content exceeds the required 24 g per 100 g of product.
Low Sodium Content below the stipulated 1500 mg per 100 g.
Includes added vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Zinc & Vitamin A.
Trans Fat Free.
The product is both Halaal and Kosher certified.
TOP ECONOMY Soya Mince is the affordable, top quality Soya Mince option when catering for large social gatherings or other feeding programs.
It can be served with rice, pap, potatoes, pasta, samp, vegetables and bread or as desired. It can also be used to extend meat dishes as well as add texture, flavour & taste.
Flavours: Rich Beef, Mutton, Tomato & Onion, Chilli Beef | Packaging: 5kg
TOP ECONOMY Soup is the affordable, top quality economy soup option when catering for large social gatherings or school and other feeding programs.
TOP ECONOMY Soup can be used as a base for casseroles, stews, sauces or even as a coating.
The product is versatile and is very effective when
used for thickening.
Flavours: Rich Beef, Oxtail | Packaging: 5kg

domain: food


text:
For all the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fan’s out there, Aish is once again coming in Mani Ratnam’s next. Earlier the actress appeared in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar, Guru and Raavan and this is the fourth time they are going to reunite.
During an interview recently held at Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya said, â€œI took a break for the past five months because of personal reasons. I’m glad I did. It meant a lot for me personally so I didn’t have any professional meetings. I started last week and I liked two subjects already. So, as and when we feel the need and the time is right, we will share the news with you. But I have just started listening to scripts. Until then, I had taken time off for work for my family, especially for my mother.â€
One of the sources related to Aish said, â€œYes, Ash and Mani are doing a film together. It’s a romantic drama, which will be a bilingual and will be made in Hindi and Tamil. The two were in talks for a film for years and it’s finally happening.â€


Standard Features of the Cameron GROVE BT-2
- Size range: 1 1/2” to 60”
- ANSI Classes: 150 to 2500
- Trunnion mounted
- Triple barrier stem seals
- Stem separate from the ball
- Anti-blow-out stem design
- Stem emergency grease fitting
- Low friction metal-backed self lubricating PTFE sleeve bearings and thrust washers
- Primary metal-to-metal seal and protected secondary O-ring seal
- Double-piston-effect seat rings (double sealing barrier in both directions)
- Pressure relief valve in the body cavity to prevent pressure lock
- Sealant injection system for emergency seal
- Factory positioned external stops
- Integral stop in the adapter plate for permanent reference to open/closed positions
- Electroless nickel coating on pressure-controlling parts and stem
- In-line maintainable
- CE marking (PED Directive)
Optional Features of the Cameron GROVE BT-2
- Self-relieving seat rings
- Lubricated seats
- PTFE spring energized lip seals for seat and stem sealing
- Metal-to-metal seat sealing
- Inconel 625 overlay on sealing areas
- Explosive decompression resistant seals (std for Class 600 and higher)
- Anti-static device
- Features for vertical installation and maintenance
- Body thickness in accordance with ASME B16.34
- Fire safe in accordance with API 6FA, BS 6755 Part 2
- The body-bonnet design is of bolted construction and its sizing complies with requirements given in ASME VIII Div. 1.
- The bolted construction allows disassembly in-line for inspections and possible repairs.
- Clearing the bonnet off the valve allows free access to the body cavity. A set of special maintenance tools permits the seats to be pushed back and to take out either ball and seats.
- After maintenance, the valve being of standard DPE design, tightness of the seating surfaces can be assessed by pressurizing the body cavity only, before any repressurization of the pipeline.
- A body drain is provided in the lowest part of the body cavity and features a NPT drain valve with a safety plug.


Two-step verification (TSV or 2SV), also known as two-step authentication, two-factor authentication, double authentication, and two-factor authentication (2FA), is a way to verify your identity upon login. The two steps required to login are:
1) something you know (your password)
2) something you have (such your phone)
To draw from a common example, your ATM uses 2-step verification when it requires something you know (your password) and something you have (your ATM card.)
Online services are increasingly jumping on the two-step verification bandwagon, as online security becomes more and more important. Here’s list of online services where you can use two-factor authentication.
To learn more about protecting your WordPress login with two-step verification, watch our tutorial How to Add 2-Step Verification to WordPress.


text:
Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge
A Sri Lankan Oceanfront Boutique Stay at Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge, Sri Lanka
Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge -Mirissa, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Escape the stressful hustle and bustle of the cities to experience nirvana amidst the beachfront Sri Lankan serenity with an intimate and opulent 3-night boutique retreat overlooking the majestic Indian Ocean at Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge, Sri Lanka.
- Daily breakfast
- A 30-minute massage for two, once during the stay
- A 25% discount on F&B
- A boat ride on the lake, once per stay
Transcend into oblivion amidst tantalising oceanfront tranquillity with an unparalleled Sri Lankan boutique getaway at Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge, offering spacious rooms, lavish amenities, delectable gastronomy, and enchanting experiences.
- Enjoy the delightful oceanfront Sri Lankan mornings with a delicious daily breakfast
- Reinvigorate yourself amid Sri Lankan serenity with a 30-minute massage for two, once during the stay
- Relish more of your culinary favourites with a 25% discount on F&B
- Indulge in an enthralling boating experience with a boat ride on the lake, once per stay
The Location – A Paradise in the Indian Ocean
Nestled amidst the cerulean Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an exotic tropical gem dotted with charming wonders of nature and ancient civilization that make it an ideal destination for avid leisure travellers. The paradisiacal island is well-known for its pristine beaches, incredible marine and terrestrial life, thousand-year-old temples, fascinating culture, and lip-smacking spicy food. While the nirvanic serenity of Sri Lanka provides an idyllic environment to calm your soul and senses, the thrilling water sports like snorkelling, scuba diving, and more completes your stay with an adventurous experience.
The Property – An Oceanfront Boutique Marvel
Sitting on an immaculate beach in Mirissa on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, Villa Atulya At Ocean’s Edge engulfs you in an intimate and tranquil vacay to help you escape the stressful hubbub of the cities. Designed by an eminent Sri Lankan architect with elements of the traditional civilization of the island, the villa takes you back in time while pampering you with modern luxury. Amidst the euphonious crashing of the ocean waves and birdsongs, the boutique villa helps you relax by offering lavish rooms, a lush garden, an azure outdoor pool, delightful dining arrangements, and endearing Sri Lankan hospitality.
Your Room – An Airy Sri Lankan Cocoon of Luxe
Deluxe Room - 23 sq.m :Adorned with a blend of antique furnishings and modern amenities, the Deluxe Room offers you a comfy, spacious sojourn amidst the tantalising oceanfront serenity of the villa. The airy room opens up to a private patio area or a lush garden, featuring a classic lounge chair with hued cushions created using hand-woven Sri Lankan cotton fabrics, to let you spend some reposeful time during your stay. The opulent room also features a cosy king-sized bed and a large en-suite bathroom that help you replenish after a day full of enthralling excursions and thrilling water sports.
Your safety is of utmost priority to us. Which is why we are bringing you certified getaways to make sure your stay is safe and worry-free. Properties that tick all the boxes on our 12-point safety checklist get the Safe Getaway stamp while the rest are self-certified and follow their own set of protective measures.
- Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.
- All guests and employees are required to wear face shields/masks.
- Every staff member and guest is required to follow proper hand hygiene such as frequent washing of hands and use of alcohol-based sanitizers. Both measures are facilitated by the hotel.
- There is sufficient provision of hand sanitizers in guest rooms and public areas.
- Guests are required to provide their travel history and medical records at the time of check-in and the same has to be looked into and maintained. ID and self-declaration form is provided by each guest at the reception.
- Luggage is disinfected before being sent to the room.
- Room service or takeaway is facilitated and encouraged.
- Regular and effective sanitation within the premises is maintained with particular focus on lavatories, drinking and handwashing stations/areas.
- Frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, benches, washroom fixtures, etc. are cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
- Deep cleaning of all washrooms is ensured at regular intervals.
- Thermal screening of all guests and employees before they enter the property is compulsory.
- Regular staff training is initiated for maintaining social distancing norms, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Valid for travel from 01/09/2020 to 31/10/2021
Surcharge: A non-refundable surcharge per room, per night, applies payable directly to FABgetaways at time of booking. Dates and prices have been identified in the Booking Calendar.
Blackout Dates: There will be dates on which this deal will be unavailable. Dates for these have been marked on the booking calendar under blackout dates.
Availability: Bookings are subject to availability. To confirm your dates of stay at purchase, click on 'Book Now' and select your preferred package. Use the calendar to browse and select the available dates. Dates with a surcharge and blackout dates are identified.
7-day Change of Heart Refund Policy: We always have one deal better than the other. So, we understand your change of heart. Within 7 days of purchase, we’ll happily give you an option to cancel your booking, with a full refund, as long as the cancellation date is at least 30 days before the arrival date. For cancellations after 7 days of purchase, the hotel’s cancellation policy and penalty apply.
Change of Date: 1 change in dates is permissible at no additional charge, provided that the change is made at least 30 days before the original arrival date and provided that the hotel has availability on the newly requested dates. The final decision regarding date changes is at the sole discretion of the Hotel and the Hotel reserves the right to decline a change in dates, should availability not exist on newly requested dates.
Partial Prepayment: Partial prepayment options are available for certain deals. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact our Travel Concierge team, by Email (firstname.lastname@example.org) or by phone (+919099061000).
Hotel Cancellation Policy: All cancellations will be completely free and qualify for a 100% refund, provided it is done at least 7 days prior to the check-in date. Past that, any cancellation, including a no-show on the day of arrival, will incur a full payment.
Validity: Each package is valid for two adults.
Maximum Guest Capacity: The maximum room capacity is two adults and one child (aged below 12 years) or 3 adults. See the ‘Extra Guest Policy’ and ‘Child Policy’ for more details.
Extra Guest Policy: Where applicable, an extra adult can stay at a surcharge of USD 20 per night, with an extra bed and the inclusions available in the package, payable directly at the resort.
Child Policy: Where applicable, one child aged between 0 - 12 years may stay free of charge with the same inclusions available in the package. In case an extra bed is required, USD 20 per night will be applicable.
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Checkout: 12:00 PM
The package cannot be split.
No connecting rooms are available.
Offer only available for consecutive nightly stays.
Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated).
Menus are subject to change without notice.
Please note that full terms and conditions apply - refer to https://www.fabgetaways.com/terms-and-conditions
Snorkelling: Discover the marvellous world underwater with the snorkelling activity in the Indian Ocean offered by the hosts, to indulge in a thrilling marine experience during your Sri Lankan vacay.
Scuba Diving: Dive deep into the cerulean waters of the majestic Indian Ocean to explore the incredible aquatic life with an adventurous scuba diving experience arranged by the hosts.
Whale Watching: Watch magnificent blue whales, the largest mammals on Earth, swimming below or making a splash in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, with an enthralling whale watching experience offered by the hosts.
Dolphin Watching: Watch adorable dolphins as they glide through or jump out of the water in the gigantic Indian Ocean with a fascinating dolphin watching experience arranged by the hosts.
Boat Ride: Traverse the pristine waters of a beautiful lake in Mirissa to revel in an unparalleled experience with an exciting boat ride offered by the hosts.
Airport Shuttle: Travel with style and convenience on your exotic Sri Lankan getaway as the hosts at the villa provide impeccable airport shuttle services for your comfort.
Swimming Pool: Rejuvenate yourself amidst the tropical oceanfront serenity by taking a refreshing dip in the mesmerising water of the pristine outdoor pool at the villa.
Spa: Satiate your senses amidst the blissful tranquillity of the beach with relaxing Ayurvedic therapies and massages arranged at the villa by the hosts.
Dining: Savour the oozing flavours of Sri Lankan as well as global cuisines prepared using fresh produce and ingredients by the proficient chefs at the villa and served amidst delightful settings for a charming culinary experience.
Colombo International Airport, located 137 km (approx. 2 hours) away, is the nearest airport from the villa. It has excellent flight connectivity with regular non-stop flights available from major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
Please select dates to view number of packages available
Prices for Two Adults with Taxes

domain: travel


S. 349 would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to solicit nominations of roads for the National Scenic Byways Program. DOT is authorized to designate scenic byways that are nominated by states, Indian tribes, and federal land management agencies and that meet certain other qualifications. States, tribes, and land management agencies that control such roads have been eligible to receive grants and technical assistance for maintenance and improvement projects. In the past, contract authority (a form of mandatory budget authority) was provided to fund such activities, but no grants have been made since 2012 and that authority expired in 2013.
Under the bill, DOT would be required to post the request for nominations on its website and to designate new scenic byways within one year. The bill would not authorize appropriations for this program and accordingly CBO does not estimate any increased spending for grants or technical assistance.
Using data from DOT about the number of designations before 2009 (the most recent year in which designations were made) and information from a recent survey of likely applicants, CBO estimates that DOT would receive roughly 50 nominations and would need the equivalent of one to two full-time staff for up to a year to assess those nominations. As a result, CBO estimates, implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2019-2024 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.


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Gunman Opens Fire At Dallas PD Headquarters, Bombs Detonated
|Dallas police officers walk down Belleview Street one block away from police headquarters searching the area Saturday June 13, 2015, in Dallas. (source)|
Interesting side note, the Dallas police department has already tweeted out pictures of some minor damage done by bullet holes to their building. Makes me wonder why a Police department, in the middle of an investigation is tweeting out pictures. Seems they may have more important things to worry themselves with.


text: Promoting Gender Equality - Women are not equally represented in the arts – this ranges from a lack of roles for women over 45 on TV and in theatre, to a glass ceiling for senior roles in business, to unequal pay. Female Arts promote women in interviews, reviews and news to redress this gender imbalance. We're interested in the performing, visual and literary arts with the focus on women including theatre, exhibitions, film, literature, comedy, music, women in business, in the UK and beyond. We support #allwomen and would like to see more women of colour, disability, and LGBTQI in the media. We welcome supportive men. #genderequality Read more About Us our Review Team and Associate Artists and please Support Us. If you'd like us to share with our readers what you're involved in please read our Review FAQ's then email your press release to Wendy Thomson firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Listen to Chelsea Handler's first ever podcast series featuring candid, hilarious conversations about her life, her work and where she’s headed next. The series is an entertaining, raw, smart, funny, heartbreaking and honest memoir of Chelsea’s life changing year of self-discovery, healing and growth. The podcast features interviews with celebrities such as Connie Britton, Jake Tapper, Sean Hayes, Mary McCormack and more. Life Will Be the Death of Me with Chelsea Handler is a production of iHeartRadio.
Typical release rate
a year ago
October 2, 2019
All content for Life Will Be the Death of Me with Chelsea Handler is the property of iHeartRadio and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podbay in any way.


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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“You said to me… that if ever you inherited any money that it was yours to dispose of, you would have a house… filled with beautiful pictures and objects of art, for people to come and enjoy. And you have carried out the dream of your youth.”
— Isabella’s friend, Ida Agassiz Higginson, 1923
Isabella Stewart Gardner and her husband Jack Gardner travelled to Venice, Florence and Rome in 1897 to gather various architectural elements that eventually would become part of the museum that was Isabella’s dream. The location of the museum, in the Back Bay Fens and part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace park system, was selected with tremendous foresight. What was originally swampland, is now an area in Boston that is central to the arts.
Designed by architect Williard T. Sears in 1903 to hold her art collection. Isabella was known to be very involved in its construction building, bringing her lunch pail and monitoring every last detail. This attention to detail remains today to preserve and restore this beautiful treasure in the city of Boston.
M&A is honored to have worked on multiple projects at this landmark building, serving as the museum’s preferred window restoration contractor.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Historic Designation: National Register of Historic Places; Part of the Boston Landmark Commission’s Back Bay Fens Historic District
Owner: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Noteworthy: Restoration of the 40′ long historic wood window wall at the loggia, including restoration of the large window sash, and structural stabilization of the window wall and the porch.
M&A’s Scope: Exterior carpentry and structural restoration, window restoration
The most recent work completed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum included:
- Loggia window wall restoration
Restoration of 14 large antique double-hung windows in the loggia that together form a beautiful wall of windows forty feet long and over eight feet high. Most sash had at least 20 lights of glass. Each sash was removed and taken to M&A’s conservation shop for restoration, completely deglazed, evaluated for wood conservation, Dutchman repairs and epoxy consolidation, and then re-glazed using the original historic glass, then primed and painted.
- Structural stabilization of the loggia
Before reinstallation of the windows, major structural stabilization was required. The window wall was built atop an existing open porch. The weak point of the structure, once the window wall was added, was the wood sill at the base of the lower sash; in time, the wall no longer was maintaining its vertical shape as it lacked a vertical member which comprised both the wall and the low porch wall below it.
M&A was able to locate reclaimed 6×6 Southern yellow pine posts, which we installed from floor to roof to secure both the low porch wall and the window wall. The condition at the porch wall required M&A to do reworking and blocking to support the installation of a new stucco wall and replicated stone balustrade with historic stone pilasters.
By reinforcing both the porch and the window wall, M&A was able to maintain the original appearance of the building as viewed from the exterior, and support the installation of the new stone and stucco work.
Noteworthy: Complete replication of a historic destabilized wood window wall
M&A’s Scope: Wood window restoration; historic carpentry replication
Architect: Lance Robson, Building Envelope Technologies
General Contractor: Shawmut Design and Construction
After more than one hundred years of operation, the museum’s Board of Trustees decided that a new wing was required to house additional space for exhibits and programming. World-renowned architect Renzo Piano designed the museum’s expansion wing, completed in 2012.
In the summer of 2015, M&A was invited to perform restoration work at a small corner of the 1903 building’s roof, including window restoration and replication of an existing window wall.
The window sash on the south wall were in extremely poor shape. Many exhibited signs of previous repairs of questionable quality. New stiles, rails, and muntins were fabricated for the restored windows, integrating new components with the old and salvaging as much of the existing building fabric as possible.
After removing the existing sash at the south wall, M&A discovered that the wall itself was in poor condition, and would benefit from replacement in lieu of restoration. An existing door at the south wall was already scheduled for removal and for a new wall infill and window sash to match the existing design to be installed in its place. Due to this previous redesign, M&A not only had to rebuild the existing south wall, but also calculate how this new portion of the wall would figure into the existing. M&A’s preservation carpenters took exact dimensions and profiles of the existing wall, fabricated new replacement components, and demolished the existing wall before installing the new components along with the restored window sash.
Although an area of the museum that few will ever see up-close, M&A nonetheless executed the work at the ISGM’s roof with all the precision and attention to detail as any other project. M&A continues to operate as the museum’s preferred window restoration contractor, demonstrating M&A’s commitment to the preservation of New England’s cultural landmarks.
Noteworthy: Repairs to deteriorated rafter tails using traditional preservation carpentry techniques
M&A’s Scope: Exterior carpentry and structural restoration, replication of original latticework
M&A’s work included the conservation of rafter ends and timbers, and replication of the extensive lattice work.
The lattice underwent record photography and drawings by conservators before it was carefully marked, disassembled and removed from the building façade. It was taken to the M&A conservation shop for replication using materials and joinery to match existing, all under the direction of conservators.
Although the work was primarily at the tails of the rafters, a few rafters were so deteriorated and required and required such serious rehabilitation that our carpentry foreman said that doing the removal of deteriorated wood was ‘like carving a dugout canoe.’ In most cases, the procedure involved cutting the rafter tail and splicing with materials to match the existing in regard to species, grain, and profiles. The rater tails were 4”x6” and required M&A craftsmen to use a band saw at the cornice level for the cutting and fitting. Once again, we reviewed our approach to the work with a conservator who then reviewed and approved the completed repairs.

domain: history


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Tom Durkin: Jan. 6, a day of infamy
Two-thirds of all Americans believe our democracy is in crisis, and I am one of those Americans.
The insurrection/riot at the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, was surely a day of infamy, ranking with Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Not as many people died this time, but no enemy has struck closer to home or shaken America’s faith in itself more deeply.
Pearl Harbor and 9/11 united us. Jan. 6 divided us.
Until last year, I thought the worst crisis in America in my lifetime was the Vietnam War era with its antiwar and civil rights protests, riots and bombings. I thought the country was going to split apart, and I was wondering which side I would choose.
I was scared for my county then, but I’m more scared for it now. Back then, nobody claimed Kent State didn’t happen or Nixon wasn’t our real president.
The University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats has found that 21 million Americans believe the “political violence” of Jan. 6 was justified.
REPUBLICANS ARE AT RISK
According to an Ipsos/NPR poll released Monday, 64% of Americans believe U.S. democracy is “in crisis and at risk of failing.” Among Republicans, about 80% believe democracy is more at risk now than a year ago.
It’s a bitter and counterintuitive irony that the Republicans who fear democracy is at risk are the very people who are putting democracy at risk.
The poll revealed that two-thirds of Republican respondents believe “The Big Lie” that voter fraud helped Joe Biden win the 2020 election.
“Although there were no instances of widespread fraud in either absentee ballots or early voting, Republicans … have pursued reforms as if there were,” stated a report from the Brookings Institution. The report noted 19 states have passed laws making it harder to vote.
In other words, 19 states with Republican-dominated legislatures and governors are putting democracy at risk.
Claims these voter restrictions are to prevent voter fraud in the future are cynically disingenuous because, “Often these states garnered headlines for their sheer pettiness and racism,” the Brookings report said.
KVMR was a storm casualty, and my Smarter Broadband cable was taken out by a tree, so I tuned into KNCO for the news. Good job people. Thank you for being there for us.
The morning programming was good, but the afternoon programming was hard to take. I was willing to listen to conservative opinions, but not disinformation and slander.
Giggling like drunken frat boys, Markley, Van Camp and Robbins derisively claimed Dr. Fauci and the CDC “lied” because they said we didn’t have to wear masks last summer and now they say we have to again. That’s about as rational as saying a sportscaster lied because 45 minutes ago, they said your team was winning but now they say your team is losing.
To say the medical and public health experts lied is undeserved calumny. Dr. Fauci — and our local public health officials — speak the truth of the moment, just as sportscasters do.
Nobody lied. The coronavirus is a moving target. Public health strategy is moving with it, trying to stay ahead of it.
Say they were wrong or stupid or misinformed, but don’t impugn their character. These are good people, dedicated public servants. They must be dedicated to put up with the abuse and intimidation they are subjected to daily for the thankless job of keeping us safe in the face of barefaced resistance.
Recently, I had a chance to speak with Gregory Diaz, Nevada County’s registrar of voters. He confirmed what I experienced working in the Placer County elections division. From here to Georgia, elections offices are committed with an almost religious zeal to fair and honest elections.
Diaz also told me how bad actors have been calling people up to falsely tell them their votes weren’t counted when in fact their votes were counted. Understandably angry people have excoriated and threatened his staff, the people who are faithfully protecting democracy itself.
Diaz stared at his hands and shook his head, visibly distressed. “It’s not right! It’s not right!” He kept saying that.
RINOS AND PINOS
Things are not looking good for America. Most Americans of all political beliefs believe we are in crisis although we can’t even agree on what the crisis is, according to the Ipsos/NPR poll. That’s scary.
I don’t know who scares me more. The people who lie or the people who believe them. The Republicans-in-name-only and patriots-in-name-only are in the process of destroying our democracy in the insane belief they are saving it.
Will history look back on Jan. 6, 2021, as the day democracy died in America?
Tom Durkin is a freelance writer, editor and photographer in Nevada County and a member of The Union Editorial Board. He may be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.org
Even international alliances can unravel when nations confront the insanity of a nuclear holocaust.
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Wearable electronics now play a more important role in our daily life. However, developing a lightweight, flexible, foldable wearable device that has sustainable power sources and effective energy storage is a big challenge.
In the past, scientists already developed fabrics that can generate electricity from physical movement. Now, researchers design a new fabric that can simultaneously harvest energy from sunshine and mechanical movement. The finding is published in Nature Energy.
The study was conducted by Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA, Chongqing University in China, and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in China.
In the study, researchers used lightweight and low-cost polymer fibres and fiber-based triboelecric nanogenerators to develop a hybrid power textile. They weaved the textile in a staggered way on an industrial weaving machine via a shuttle-flying process.
The textile is colorful, has various weaving patterns, and can be made in more than one size. Besides the beauty and robustness, this hybrid power textile can collect energy from ambient sunlight and human body movement.
When mixed with colorful wool fibres, the hybrid textile with a size of 20 cm2 can stably deliver a power of 0.5 mW with a wide range of loading resistances from 10 KΩ to 10 MΩ for a human walking under sunlight.
Moreover, the power textile can be used in tents, curtains, and other large-area applications.
Under ambient sunlight with movement of a car or wind blowing, the power textile can deliver sufficient power to charge a 2 mF commercial capacitor up to 2 V within 1 min. The power can continuously drive a smart watch and directly charge a smartphone.
Researchers suggest that the new fabric has a decent capability to work even in a harsh environment. In the next step, they will optimize the fabric for industrial uses and protect the electrical components on the textile from rain and moisture.
Citation: Chen J, et al. (2016). Micro-cable structured textile for simultaneously harvesting solar and mechanical energy. Nature Energy, published online, 1: 16138. doi: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.138.
Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is credited to Chen J et al.


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Recent studies have established the role of dietary and supplementary calcium and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the results are mixed. The objective of this research is to evaluate the association of baseline dietary and supplementary calcium intake with the progression of AMD.
This is a secondary analysis study that involves 4,751 patients enrolled in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). It included men and women with varying severity of AMD, with the primary outcomes and measures being the development of late AMD, geographic atrophy, or neovascular AMD.
Out of 4,751 participants, those with the highest quintile of dietary calcium intake had a lower risk of developing late AMD, central geographic atrophy, any geographic atrophy. The participants with the highest supplementary calcium intake had a lower risk of developing neovascular AMD than those who did not take calcium supplements. The effect was more profound in women. The findings were not evident in men, as too few men took calcium supplements to allow for the analysis.
The result concluded that higher levels of dietary and supplementary calcium intake were associated with a lower incidence of age-related macular degeneration in both men and women. The effects, however, were more evident and profound in women.

domain: medical