Agreement Between the United States and Russia for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear EnergyJohn C. Rood, Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
Statement Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee
June 12, 2008
As prepared for delivery
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Committee in support of the U.S.-Russia Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation or so-called "123 Agreement," which is required by Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
As you know, President Bush submitted this agreement to Congress on May 13 for review. This agreement satisfies all U.S. legal requirements as set forth in Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act and elsewhere in U.S. law for an agreement of this type with a nuclear weapon state as defined by the Nonproliferation Treaty. In particular, this agreement contains all of the required nonproliferation measures and controls, including a requirement that adequate physical protection measures be maintained on U.S. exports, a U.S. right of prior consent to retransfers from Russia, and a requirement that no U.S.-origin nuclear material can be enriched or reprocessed without the prior approval of the United States.
The United States has 123 Agreements with almost all countries with major nuclear energy programs, including China, Japan, and the European Atomic Energy Community, which permits cooperation with the 27 EU Member States.
The Administration believes it is important to have a 123 Agreement with Russia both to build a closer relationship as well as to improve our ability to address major challenges we face in the 21st century, such as growing energy needs, nuclear nonproliferation, and combating nuclear terrorism.
Growing energy needs and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions have increased international demand for nuclear power, which in an increasingly globalized nuclear industry places a premium on working with foreign partners. In addition, nuclear nonproliferation and the need to prevent nuclear terrorism are at the top of the U.S. national security agenda, including with Russia, generating strong interest in the development of more proliferation-resistant nuclear technologies and approaches to the fuel cycle that can be advanced through cooperation between the U.S. and Russia.
Upon entry into force, this agreement would establish a legal basis for what we expect to be mutually beneficial peaceful nuclear cooperation between the United States and Russia.
Some U.S.-Russia cooperation is already ongoing on nuclear safety and security, and Russian commercial nuclear fuel sales to the United States under the HEU Agreement. We believe that this existing cooperation will be enhanced by having this agreement in place.
At the same time, the agreement looks to additional possibilities in the future, both commercial and government-to-government. It establishes a framework of nonproliferation conditions and controls for transfers of civil nuclear commodities between the two countries, but in itself it does not deal with specific projects. Implementation of this agreement would take place on the basis of export licenses issued in conformity with the requirements of U.S. law and policy at the time the license is applied for.
For the United States, having the agreement in place will provide a framework for potential commercial sales of civil nuclear commodities like reactor fuel and major reactor components to Russia by U.S. industry. Under Russia’s export system such commodities may be transferred to the United States without such an Agreement (and in fact are taking place right now). Having the Agreement in place will rectify an imbalance between the two countries in terms of the legal structure available to accommodate commercial opportunities for the United States.
The Agreement would facilitate greater U.S.-Russia cooperation in developing technologies that are important to advancing our nuclear nonproliferation objectives under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), where we are seeking to cooperate with other nations to develop new technologies like advanced reactors that would consume plutonium and new forms of recycling spent fuel that would reduce the risk of proliferation by not separating plutonium that could be diverted for use by rogue states or terrorists for nuclear weapons. In areas like advanced fast burner reactors and advanced nuclear fuel and fuel cycle facilities, Russia possesses experience and facilities not widely available in the United States. For example, the Department of Energy would like to send advanced fuel for testing in Russian fast neutron reactors, but can only do so with a 123 Agreement in place.
The Agreement also advances mutual nonproliferation goals by facilitating the transfer of nuclear materials for forensic purposes in potential nuclear smuggling cases.
The Administration views this agreement as an important achievement. As Ambassador Burns stated when he signed the Agreement in Moscow on May 6, the United States and Russia – once nuclear rivals – today nuclear partners – at last have a basic framework to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to advance nuclear energy worldwide while enhancing our efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. By expanding the ties between our governments and our nuclear industries, this agreement will add to the strength and stability of the U.S. -Russia relationship as we confront important global challenges of the 21st century.
Conclusion of the proposed Agreement with Russia has been a high U.S. priority over the past year. The President’s commitment to finalizing it was highlighted in the Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation: Joint Actions, issued together with then-President Putin on July 3, 2007, and more recently in the Strategic Framework Declaration that they issued at the Sochi Summit on April 6 of this year.
The July 2007 Declaration makes plain how concrete, wide-ranging and ambitious the U.S.-Russia partnership is in this area so crucial to national and global security. In the Declaration, the United States and Russia jointly state their determination to play an active role in making the advantages of peaceful use of nuclear energy available to a wide range of interested countries, and in particular developing countries, provided that the common goal of prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons is achieved. The two leaders state their common vision of growth in the use of nuclear energy, including in developing countries, to increase the supply of electricity, promote economic growth and development, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thus leading to a decrease in pollution and greenhouse gasses.
They state their firm belief that the expansion of access to nuclear energy should be conducted in a way that strengthens the nuclear nonproliferation regime. They also voice their strong support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as for the International Atomic Energy Agency and in particular the IAEA Additional Protocol.
They further state their readiness to support expanded access to civil nuclear energy, consistent with national law and international legal frameworks, by working together and with other nations in the following ways:
This is the ambitious civil nuclear partnership agenda that the United States and Russia have set for themselves as a common undertaking. The proposed U.S.-Russia Agreement for Cooperation will serve as the cornerstone of the U.S.-Russia civil nuclear relationship across the whole range of these activities for many years to come.
The 123 Agreement provides a comprehensive framework for U.S. peaceful nuclear cooperation with Russia based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonproliferation.
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
The United States and Russia are working with a wide range of other states to develop the next generation of civil nuclear capability that will be safe and secure, improve the environment, and reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation. GNEP is aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced fuel cycle technologies, including recycling, that do not involve separating plutonium. Such advanced technologies, when available, will substantially reduce nuclear waste, simplify its disposition, and draw down existing inventories of civilian spent fuel in a safe, secure and proliferation resistant manner.
International Uranium Enrichment Center
Russia has announced, and the United States has expressed support for, an initiative to create a global nuclear energy infrastructure that will provide for effective access to the benefits of nuclear energy without need on the part of aspiring countries to acquire their own enrichment and reprocessing capabilities. As a first step, Russia and Kazakhstan have established on the territory of Russia the International Uranium Enrichment Center.
Reliable Access to Nuclear Fuel
Recognizing the need for an assured fuel supply as an incentive for countries that do not currently possess enrichment and reprocessing capabilities to forgo acquiring them, the United States and Russia are committed to measures aimed at establishing reliable access to nuclear fuel. Russia is working on the establishment of a stockpile of low enriched uranium to be available to the IAEA for ensuring reliable nuclear fuel supply. The United States is downblending 17.4 metric tons of excess HEU from its defense programs for use as an enriched uranium reserve to support reliable fuel supply, and is pledging $50 million to the IAEA to support establishment of an international fuel bank for this purpose.
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
The Global Initiative launched by the United States and Russia in July 2006 has grown to include 71 partner nations, ranging from all EU member states to, more recently, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Partner nations are cooperating in strengthening their individual and collective capabilities to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear materials, to deny them safe haven and financial and other support, to share information on terrorist activities, to cooperate on law enforcement matters, and to deal with the consequences of an attack. The United States and Russia are committed to expanding and strengthening this initiative and to fully implementing the agreed program of work.
The United States and Russia expect to complete agreed-upon nuclear security upgrades under the Bratislava Nuclear Security Initiative by the end of 2008. The two countries look forward to these upgraded systems continuing to serve their purpose reliably for years to come. A Senior Interagency Group will report annually on implementation of the agreed actions under the Bratislava Initiative on emergency response, best practices, security culture, research reactors, and nuclear security upgrades. The United States and Russia will continue to work together to share nuclear security best practices with other nations, including through international fora.
Proliferation Security Initiative
The United States and Russia remain committed to the Proliferation Security Initiative, which constitutes an important means to deter and prevent trafficking in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, their delivery means, and related materials. Our two countries are working cooperatively to prevent and disrupt proliferation finance in furtherance of the objectives of UNSCR 1540.Mr. Chairman, let me address concerns that some have raised about how the United States and Russia are working together to deal with nuclear challenges like those posed by North Korea and Iran.
With respect to North Korea, the United States and Russia fully support the Six-Party Talks and will continue to cooperate in accordance with the agreements reached at them as well as the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 in order to achieve the ultimate goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
With respect to Iran, Russia and the United States are both committed to political and diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution under which Iran's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and which prevents Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. Both Russia and the United States agree that Iran must comply with its NPT, United Nations Security Council, and IAEA obligations. In particular, both our governments agree that Iran must suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities as required by UN Security Council Resolution 1737 and reiterated in Resolutions 1747 and 1803. Both countries are committed to a dual track strategy with respect to Iran of offering negotiations and incentives, and increasing pressure on Iran to take the steps necessary to begin those negotiations as expressed in the March 3, 2008 statement by the P5+1 Foreign Ministers.
As is the case with any two nations, the United States and Russia can and sometimes do differ on the means for accomplishing these shared goals.With respect to the Bushehr issue in particular, which some have raised as an objection to bringing this agreement into force, the Administration examined this issue closely and determined that the steps Russia has put in place in its agreement with Iran mitigated our concerns. These measures included Russia’s supply and take back of spent fuel from Iran. These measures underscore the larger point that Iran does not need to possess the complete nuclear fuel cycle – including the proliferation risks posed by enrichment and reprocessing – to take advantage of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Moreover, the Administration has reason to believe that U.S. willingness to enter into negotiations that Russia had long sought, as well as the U.S. decision to carry them forward to a successful conclusion, had a definite and positive impact on the way Russia came to regard certain nonproliferation issues and take steps to deal with them. I cannot go into the details here, but would note that the classified annex to the Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement, which the President has submitted to Congress together with the Agreement, covers these matters thoroughly.
In conclusion, let me say that this is a good, solid agreement. It contains all the necessary nonproliferation conditions and controls that Congress has written into law. This agreement helps us build a stronger relationship and areas of cooperation with Russia in mutually beneficial ways, advances our ability to combat the critical challenges of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism in the 21st century, aids development of new nuclear energy technologies, and allows commercial opportunities for U.S. industry.
Mr. Chairman, thank you again for the opportunity to testify before the Committee. I would be happy to take any questions you have.
Released on June 12, 2008


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A SMARTT School recognizes that technology has a significant impact on every child's future and is a very dominant aspect of every aspect of modern child life. In our Creative Lab and Technology Hub, we use a variety of technologies, platforms, and tools. Tinkercad, a 3D design tool, is a simple step-by-step procedure app that helps children apply subjects such as math and science, English, and creative art.
Here at SMARTT School, we understand that we live in an age of information and technology. It occupies just about every aspect of our lives and will become more dominant in a growing child's future.
Technology is a critical part of the SMARTT School environment. The children are free to learn the basics of coding languages, and App development which will support their Young Entrepreneurial program and provide critical life foundations for their future endeavors into Adult life.
There is a rich and well-developed Technology and Creative Lab within the School environment providing access to computers in a way that will gradiently take the child through a discovery journey of Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing, Computer Coding, exploration of the Internet as an educational tool in a safe and self-governed ethical manner.
The Tech and Creative Lab is a space for the child to discover what their imagination is made of “if they can think it up they can bring it to life in the Tech and Creative Lab” The lab makes available to the child every possible material they and us can think up and encourages them to build it and explore how it works no matter what it is from designing dresses to building rockets and everything else in-between!
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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

domain: design


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The pork loin top loin chop is out. Porterhouse chop is in. Forget beef shoulder top blade steak, boneless. Just look for flatiron steak. Both are part of a new naming system for beef and pork cuts aimed at making it easier for consumers to understand what they're buying and how to cook it.
With the new names come new labels for meat. They'll now identify the species (at this point just beef or pork), whether it's from the chuck, rib, loin or round, the retail cut name and then cooking instructions.

domain: food


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Nexan hopes to get rich off Beast and Boy wonders
$81m SATA IPO to SEC
Storage system maker Nexsan Technologies is taking the public leap, today proposing an $80.5m initial public offering to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thousand Oaks, California-based Nexsan specializes in archive-class and power-saving SATA storage with its SEC filing. That figure, however, was mainly conjured to meet basic SEC filing obligations and may change as an actual IPO approaches.
Nexsan says it has no specific plans for the money and will direct the funds towards working capital and general corporate purposes. The company also says it may use the proceeds for potential acquisitions, although it currently has no commitments or agreements to do so.
The company ended fiscal 2007 with a $3m net loss on revenue of $49.8m. A year before, it reported a $5m loss on revenue of $42.8m.
The filing did not specify how many shares the company will sell or its price. Nexsan intends to list its common stock on Nasdaq under the symbol "NXSN." ®

domain: news


As good DVDs have taken the place of good books these days, people often search for shows that they can watch from beginning to end without interruption. 'Doctor Who' fans will be making themselves comfy on their couches as new stories are dropping for 'Doctor Who: The William Hartnell Years.' With six different stories to choose from fans will be satiated for sure.
Find out the rest of this week's DVD releases after the jump!
Doctor Who fans can once again rejoice. Episodes of the classic series are now available on YouTube. These are officially sanctioned by the BBC, so there's no piracy in this instance.
In this case, it's a selection of a single episode from four of the ten existing Doctors. There is The Edge of Destruction with William Hartnell, The Krotons with Patrick Troughton, Carnival of Monsters with Jon Pertwee and The Caves of Androzani and The Twin Dilemma with Peter Davison and Colin Baker, respectively.
Classic episodes have been available online before. Netflix had a few in their library for subscribers. This is the first instance I recall in which the episodes are available to anybody in the world at any time.
I note that a bunch of the available stories are written by the fantastic Doctor Who scribe Robert Holmes. This guarantees quality writing to compensate for the poor special effects of the era. Enjoy!
Doctor Who wasn't created by an individual. Rather, it was created by committee which included Sydney Newman, who was Head of Drama of the BBC at the time. As a result, the show is owned out-and-out by the BBC and no individual gets any royalties for the fundamental show (although individuals are credited with the creation of certain alien villains, such as the Daleks).
Concepts such as regeneration and Gallifrey were added later by various writers (even the Doctor's nemesis The Master was created by a group of writers for the show's 8th season). It's interesting how the memos between BBC executive describe him as an amnesiac from the future. That concept was obviously abandoned later.
It's a wonderful history lesson and gives some insight into a circumstance where television executives actually create something lasting and meaningful.
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Canadians registered a record-breaking 54,129 .CA domain names last month amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CIRA’s new report.
This represents a 39 percent year-over-year increase and was the largest number of registrations that CIRA has ever seen in a single month. For context, there were 39,319 domain registrations in the same period a year ago.
These numbers indicate that Canadians businesses and organizations are pivoting their operations online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
CIRA conducted an informal poll of 213 new registrants and found that 40 percent of them were creating a new business website, while 15 percent were building an e-commerce website. Further, 17 percent were creating a personal website.
“We are seeing thousands of companies across Canada embracing e-commerce, curb-side pickup and other new business models that leverage the power of the internet,” Byron Holland, the president of CIRA, said in a press release.
The report outlines that this is the second straight month of double-digit growth, as April saw an increase of 28 percent registrations when compared to the previous year.
“From April 1 to May 31, 2020, CIRA recorded its best-ever two-month period with a total of 108,018 .CA domains registered,” the report reads.
Over the two month period, Ontario recorded 47 percent of all registrations, followed by British Columbia with 18 percent and Quebec with 15 percent.


Welcome to Part 18 of our list of the year’s most infectious extreme metal songs. In each installment, I’ve been posting at least two songs that made the cut. For more details about what this list is all about and how it was compiled, read the introductory post via this link. To see the selections that preceded the two I’m announcing today, click here.
I think you’ll readily get the connection between the two songs I’m adding to the list today. Folk/pagan metal is not a genre of music that is as near and dear to my black heart as others, and I’d never hold myself out as any kind of expert, much less as someone who listened to a lot of albums in this field during 2012. But I do know what I fuckin’ like, and I do like these two songs.
I’m unable to disassociate this Swiss band’s recorded music from my memories of hearing them live. I’ll see them live whenever I get the chance, because every show I’ve attended has been a big kick in the ass. Those experiences make me prone to like their recorded music because I can visualize and feel the energy of them performing. But with that said, I believe I’d still think the title track to their 2012 album Helvetios is a damned fine song.


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London analysts see Hungary easing cycle reaching 3.25% by year-end
The National Bank of Hungary's easing cycle could bring the base rate to 3.25% by the end of this year from 4.75% at present, emerging market analysts at JP Morgan's office in London said in a fresh forecast. The analysts earlier said the easing cycle, started last August, would end this year at 4.00%. They now say a stronger forint, better-than-expected first-quarter GDP data and low inflation support more rate cuts. The analysts put the year-end forint-euro exchange rate at 290, firmer than the 305 rate projected earlier. They changed their GDP forecast for this year to 0.5% growth from a 0.2% contraction.
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|Field of Study:||Art/Art Studies, General
|Description:||The ICS Canada Oils & Acrylics Certificate Program is a fun and interactive collection of lessons that will teach the fundamentals of drawing, plus detailed coverage of how to handle still life, landscapes, and portraits. In addition, the student will learn how to plan and execute a complete painting.
In this program you will learn:
* Two-Dimensional Design and Perspective
* Color Theory
* Oils and Acrylics
* Glazing, Scumbling, and Underpainting
* Matting and Framing
* Professional Presentation
* and much more...

domain: artistic


HOMAG Group AG is a holding company without own operating activities. Its main tasks as the parent company are to define and implement the Group’s strategy, arrange group financing and to technically lead the production and sales companies in Germany and abroad. HOMAG Group AG holds majority shareholdings in nine German and six foreign production companies as well as 23 sales and service entities.
The HOMAG Group comprises
The HOMAG Group is organized into seven Business Units. The Technology Business Units are Automation Technology, Panel Dividing, Edge Processing, CNC Processing an Surface Processing. The Business Unit Systems comprises system solutions for cabinet shops and industrial companies and the Business Unit Life Cycle Services offer all services throughout the life cycle of our plants and machines. With our Business Units we offer our customers seamless solutions based on optimally aligned systems that comprise plant and machines together with the corresponding information and control technology and thus essentially cover the entire woodworking process chain.


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Actress Aarthi Padubidri'sunconventional looks
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10 hot pictures of leggy lass Vedhika
Ramadan 2023: 9 healthy food habits to follow during Sehri
Most stylish looks of India's hottest cricketer Shubman Gill
In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Lokesh Mittal has talked about his working experience with Ajay and Karan, his acting journey as an outsider and his surreal moment with Suniel Shetty.
The Mumbai Police on Friday has arrested the former driver of popular Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam's father Agam Kumar Nigam in connection with reported theft at the latter's Oshiwara home, according to the reports.
It is a shimmering sun-soaked mirror of small town values wherein every sneeze or fart is noted and evaluated across the communities. And yet the story of Anaarkali (Swara Bhasker, spectacular) is also the story of Everywoman, urban or rural.
Video: SRK buys Rolls-Royce worth 10 crore
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Legal notice sent to TBBT for insulting Madhuri
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Janhvi makes fun of Varun's shirtless pool pic
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Christ My Song - 2276
Among the many, I am lost and weary - Return unto thy Rest
(Horatius Bonar/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Return unto thy Rest.
In uno quies.
2. This heart, thus trying in a thousand centres,
to find an orbit round which it may roll,
comes back depressed, taught by these vain adventures:
One centre only stays the restless soul.
3. Only in One is rest for us; true quiet
for the vexed human heart is from above:
though far removed from toil, and brawl, and riot,
it cannot rest itself in creature-love.
4. Earth is all motion and disquiet; only
in One above, who changes not nor moves,
we find repose: there tranquil, but not lonely,
we rest in One who ever, ever loves.
5. Life is all tempest, o'er time's ocean ranging;
a troubled morning, and an angry even:
only in One is anchorage unchanging,
only in One is the eternal haven.
6. Creation rocks; all that is made is moving;
the strongest, brightest, goodliest, and best:
in One, the ever-fixed and ever-loving,
in One I anchor, and in One I rest!
Horatius Bonar, The Song of the New Creation, and other pieces, 1872, 33-34.

domain: literature


Getting a great laptop doesn't have to cost you a fortune. There are tons of great sub-$1,000 options out there, whether you need a business laptop for working on the go, a gaming laptop that lets you frag on a budget, or something that does a little bit of both. From the entry-level version of the excellent Dell XPS 13 to sub-$200 machines like the HP Stream 11, there's a laptop under $1,000 out there for every type of shopper.
Here are the best laptops under $1,000 you can buy right now.
How We Test
To evaluate whether a laptop is worth your hard-earned money, we run industry-standard performance benchmarks such as Geekbench and 3DMark as well as a variety of real-world tests that we've developed in our labs. This includes the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which surfs the web at 150 nits of brightness until a laptop runs out of juice, as well as a custom spreadsheet test that measures a laptop's processing power. For more on our process, see this page on how we test laptops.
No matter how you configure it, the Dell XPS 13 is the best laptop for your money. Even if you opt for the $899 configuration of Dell's flagship notebook, you'll still get a stunningly slim chassis, a gorgeous 1080p InfinityEdge display, and solid internals that include an 8th Gen Intel Core i3 processor and a battery that can last well above 12 hours.
Key Specs : Intel Core i3-8130U; 4GB RAM; 128GB SSD; 13.3-inch, 1080p Infinity Edge display; 2.67 pounds
Intel Core m3-7Y30; 4GB RAM; 32GB eMMC; 12.3-inch, 2400 x 1600 display; 3.2 pounds
What makes the HP Chromebook x2 the best of its kind is its vibrant, high resolution display, comfortable keyboard and great sound, which are qualities that are rather difficult to find in your average Chromebook. But most importantly, it’s a 2-in-1 detachable accompanied HP’s Active Pen, which makes it even more versatile for productive use. On top of that, this machine can last 8 hours and 50 minutes on a charge.
Intel Core i5-8265U; 8GB RAM; 256GB SSD; 13.3-inch 1080p display; 2.7 pounds
If you're seeking premium looks and portability on a budget, look no further than the Asus ZenBook 13. This beautiful, blue-tinted laptop has one of the best designs we've seen from a recent notebook, and backs up its eye-catching looks with strong Core i5 performance and more than 11 hours of battery life.
Intel Core i5-8300H; 8GB RAM; 1TB hard drive; Nvidia GTX 1050; 15-inch 1080p display; 6.3 pounds
The Dell G7 15 is proof that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars for a good portable gaming experience. The $849 version of this affordable powerhouse packs an Intel Core i5 processor and an Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU, which is perfect for running mainstream games on decent settings (a more powerful GTX 1060 config costs just $1049). The G7 15 also stands out with long battery life and a refreshing white and blue design that's a far cry from the overly aggressive, red-and-black looks of most gaming notebooks.
Other: Intel Core i5 | Other: 8GB RAM | Other: 128GB SSD | Other: 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824 display | Other: 1.7 pounds
Microsoft's Surface Pro is still the detachable to beat, thanks to its slim and versatile design that's a joy to use whether you're drawing with your Surface Pen in tablet mode or getting work done with a Type Cover keyboard attached. The $999 version of this 2-in-1 gets you a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, which is more than enough power for staying productive on the road. The hybrid's gorgeous PixelSense display is just icing on the cake.
Intel Core i5-8400H; 4GB RAM; 500GB hard drive; 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display; 4.48 pounds
If you need desktop-level power on a laptop budget, the Dell Precision 3530 is for you. This business powerhouse features a durable, MIL-STD 810G-tested design, a secure fingerprint reader, and enough battery life to last through a full work day and then some. And with a Core i5 processor and 15-inch anti-glare display in the machine's $929 configuration, you'll have plenty of muscle for getting work done on the go.
Intel Core i5-7200U; 4GB RAM; 500GB hard drive; 15-inch, 1080p display; 4.7 pounds
The Lenovo ThinkPad E580 is a no-nonsense work laptop that packs everything you need for running a small business or putting together a presentation, without all the bloat (and cost) of enterprise-level notebooks. The E580 packs a best-in-class keyboard with Lenovo's signature pointing stick, a ton of ports for accessories and monitors, an optional fingerprint reader and strong overall performance no matter how you configure it. You can get the E580 for just $699 with a 15-inch 1080p display and an Intel Core i5 processor, which are specs you'll rarely find at such a low price.
Intel Celeron N4000; 4GB RAM; 32GB storage; Intel UHD 600 graphics; 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display; 2.5 pounds
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When you fell down and scraped your knee in the third grade, you ran back to your parents knowing that they were ready for your tears, Band-Aids on hand. Inside a diaper bag, or worn out knapsack, they had everything you needed- granola bars, water, a favorite stuffed animal. They had exactly what was required to get by.
We turned to our parents to fix us when we were hurting. They could take away pain with a bandage and a kiss.
Yet sometimes, the pain isn’t just on the outside. Even though you feel torn up and bruised, outside it doesn’t show. You tell yourself it’s just you, it’s not real, you’re overreacting.
It’s hard to say to those who love you unconditionally that you’re down, especially if it seems like there’s no reason for it. As we grew older, we began to acknowledge that sometimes a cut still stings even after a hug from mom or dad. Slowly but surely, they began to have less and less of their healing abilities, until it seemed that even with their help a wound would still hurt. Until the point where even in hurting, it seemed like they were just as helpless as you were to fix it.
So were left with hurting, suffering alone. Because it can’t be fixed with a bandage and kiss; the way parents always helped you through.
It’s hard for parents to see their children hurting. It’s hard to know that, try as they may to protect them from harm, it reached them anyway. It’s hard knowing that inside that backpack of answers and quick fixes there isn’t an easy way out for their child.
When you’re hurting day and night, it’s hard to do anything you imagine might make anyone feel a fraction of the same way.
But it’s important to realize that as hard as it is for a parent to have a son or daughter suffering from depression, anxiety or whatever it may be, it’s harder to have not known when it’s too late.


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In 1981, Cassandra Peterson was working at a typewriter for a low wage secretarial job when her agent found her a gig as local TV horror host. She developed a sexy Goth look with a Valley Girl affectation – and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark was born.
Initially, she wasn’t pulling in enough money to quit her day job as a secretary. And when mobs of adoring (and salivating) male fans frequently flooded her place of work, Peterson’s boss encouraged her to quit, forcing her to concentrate on Elvira full time.
Once the Elvira character took off, Peterson quickly demonstrated her business acumen. She owns her Elvira character 100 percent: so, all calendars, pinball machines, films, books, etc. goes straight into her bank account. In much the same way as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley milked the KISS brand for all it was worth, Cassandra Peterson has turned Elvira into a highly profitable industry spanning three decades.
Part of Elvira’s charm is she’s not all sex – she’s also genuinely funny. Cassandra Peterson actually gained experience (prior to Elvira) with The Groundlings, the famous Los Angeles improvisational group.
“I was working with people like Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman), Phil Hartman and John Lovitz” (Femme Fatales Vol. 7, No. 7, Dec. 1998)
In fact, it was her comedy experience that got her the Elvira role in the first place. The director had spotted her doing comedy with The Groundlings, and this gave her an edge over the other girls who auditioned.
But let’s pause for a moment and rewind to the beginning, long before she donned the big black wig and cleavage enhancing gown on Los Angeles TV. Cassandra Peterson was born in Manhattan, Kansas in 1951.
When Cassandra was three years old, she was severely burned by a kettle of boiling water for making Easter eggs. Scalding 35 percent of her body with third degree burns, it left permanent scars on her neck and shoulders. Cassandra said kids in school were cruel towards her disfigurement and made fun of her.
It was this cruelty that led her to look into drama classes and theater as an escape. Perhaps, if not for this tragic incident, she would have never pursued a career in the entertainment industry.
In 1962, her town and several others were intentionally flooded by the government to create the Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir. So, her family relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1966 she began school at General William J. Palmer High School…. and go-go dancing at night!
Yes, before finishing high-school at the ripe old age of 14, she worked as a go-go dancer in a Colorado nightclub called Club A Go-Go. She went by the pseudonym “Suzanne Summers”. It wasn’t a nude gig; just white boots and a bikini.
“So, while some kids worked at how to play the piano, I was busy learning to twirl tassels.” (Femme Fatales Vol. 7, No. 7, Dec. 1998)
Just days after graduating, Peterson got a job as a Vegas showgirl, then got a minor role in the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
She was barely in the film – just two quick scenes, one in Vegas where she was still performing as a showgirl, and a brief scene in London where she got to hang with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Tony Curtis.
As a Vegas showgirl, Peterson often performed with Elvis Presley – and even had a romantic encounter with The King. How did this meeting come about? Peterson’s friend was dating Elvis’ money manager, and so got invited to a private party, where Elvis instantly gravitated to Peterson. According to her it was because she was 17 and all the other girls there were in their thirties.
According to Cassandra, Elvis was “just so down to earth and nice, and a real gentleman.” She feels he wasn’t the druggie everyone paints him to be; rather a kind human being misled to use prescription medication, which created an addiction that was impossible to overcome.
Also, during the Vegas years, Cassandra met up with another performer who wasn’t quite so gentlemanly. According to Peterson, she lost her virginity to Tom Jones – and he was, she alleges. such an aggressive lover, she had to get stitches!
Around this time, she appeared nude in several adult magazines: High Society, Debonair, Man’s Delight, Modern Man, Playboy and Oui, but never as a centerfold. Vegas showgirls were not allowed to be centerfolds, only features in the magazines. So her bare pictorials in these magazines never really garnered much attention.
Peterson said in a 2014 interview that it was advice from Elvis that motivated her to leave Vegas and travel overseas. So, in 1972, Peterson and a fellow Vegas showgirl traveled to Italy (she’d been when she was 16, and wanted to go back ever since). There, they met a crew member for Fellini’s film Roma (1972) and got a small part in the film.
Oddly enough, while in Italy, Peterson became the lead of an Italian rock band named Latins Ochanats and The Snails.
Also while in Rome, Peterson landed a small part in a movie about Salome, where she basically just crouched nude among gargoyles. Her feelings about being nude onscreen:
“It was easy for me to do nude scenes all the time because I had been a showgirl for a while, and all you wear is G-string. Basically, that’s what I wore in movies. Topless was no problem for me.”
After Rome, Peterson moved to New York. There, it was a grueling life with little reward. She worked two menial jobs and would audition for Off-Broadway parts in the evening. She didn’t last long in the Big Apple, and packed her bags for the west coast.
Finally, in 1973 Peterson landed her first substantive role in Working Girls (1973) where she performs a striptease. Leonard Maltin called it “one of the better drive-in comedies” of the year. She also had some bit parts in Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie and The Sting II.
In 1976, she appeared on the cover of Tom Wait’s album Small Change; however, whether that is really Cassandra is still up for debate. Peterson has no memory of posing for the cover.
Opportunity Lost: In 1980, Peterson was nearly cast as Ginger Grant in a revival of Gilligan’s Island. At this point, she basically was ready to throw in the towel. Abandoning acting, she made steps towards a career in advertising in the late seventies, and worked as a secretary. However, she kept her agent, in the faint hope that her big break may still come through.
Cassandra had a few other TV opportunities, but nothing of substance. She briefly appeared on Happy Days, Flying High, and Fantasy Island (and can be seen for a brief second on the opening to Westworld as a barmaid).
The big break that everyone knows her for, the role as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, didn’t come until 1981 when she was working as a secretary.
So, how did she come up with the name “Elvira”? They initially were going to go with “Vampira”, but decided that was too generic. So, the entire cast and crew of the show – the sound and lighting guys, and whoever happened to be at the station at the time – threw in names into a coffee can. Someone drew a name written on a scrap of paper – “Elvira”. To this day, Peterson doesn’t know who put that name into the coffee can. Likely, it was inspired by the Oak Ridge Boys song “Elvira” which was popular at the time. Cassandra Peterson hated the name at first, but it grew on her.
In 1981, when Elvira’s show premiered, she was by no means unique. It seemed like every town had its own horror host. Most hosts were men, and usually affiliated with a local business, like a car dealership or mattress warehouse. Cassandra Peterson’s exposure to horror hosts came from her time in New York watching Chiller Theater (featuring hosts The Count and Igor) on WPIX. Peterson no doubt drew some inspiration from these memories.
Elvira replaced the previous Los Angeles KHJ-TV horror host, “Seymour” who had passed away. As mentioned before, the director had spotted her performing with The Groundlings. The concept: A voluptuous vampire that talks like a Valley Girl.
Elvira’s Movie Macabre was an instant success on Los Angeles’ KHJ-TV. Within only eight months, her success was undeniable: the show promoted a 3-D presentation (The Mad Magician) which required purchase of 3-D glasses and 2.7 million were sold! Not long after, Elvira was already making an appearance on The Tonight Show.
Elvira guest appearance on Real People
Of course, her popularity wasn’t entirely due to her comic timing and winning personality. Let’s face it, her cleavage had a lot to do with it. When questioned about what kind of message she is sending to little girls regarding her vampy poses and cleavage, her is her response:
“I actually think it’s a good message. I think women don’t have to be covered up, because we don’t live in the Middle East, you know, and wear veils and everything. And a woman’s cleavage is perfectly normal and natural and I’ve never thought of it in a bad way, like a non-feminist way. I always think of it as women should be able to show whatever they feel like showing, whenever they want to.”
The Elvira Merchandising Machine
Elvira took a small time local TV host gig, and made it into a multi-million dollar industry, with countless products and merchandising. Cassandra Peterson demonstrated that she was a shrewd businesswoman, and genius entrepreneur. Wisely, Peterson refused pay increases on Movie Macabre, and chose property rights instead.
In 1987, As the new “spooksperson” for Coors Beer, Elvira became the first female celebrity ever to endorse a beer product. Unfortunately, Coors received a lot of flack from the religious right, and had to tame the advertising, and not make the most of Elvira’s best assets.
After advertising for Coors, Elvira got her own beer label: Elvira’s Night Brew from a microbrewery in Minneapolis. But her patented suds didn’t last long as the parent company went out of business.
In 1988, Elvira made her first appearance on the big screen in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. The film wasn’t much of a Summer hit, but did well on VHS (reaching #12 on Billboard’s video rental charts). A sequel (Elvira’s Haunted Hills) wasn’t released for another nine years.
Elvira books: Cassandra Peterson struck a deal with Berkley Publishing, and released a series of horror novels. The books were a blend of comedy and horror. For instance, Transylvania 90210 is a tale about a group of vampires that move next door to Elvira. The books were actually written by Peterson herself (and co-author John Paragon).
In the late 1980s, Peterson landed a deal with CBS for a new TV show titled Elvira. Unfortunately, the network’s corporate brass branded the show “too sexy” for prime time, and it was shelved.
Also around this time, Peterson was sued by Maila Nurmi, the 1950s horror host known as “Vampira”. She claimed the Elvira character was plagiarized from her Vampira character, but the case was thrown out of court.
Beyond books and movies, Elvira merchandise has included two Accolade video games, a couple pinball machines, a porcelain model kit, straight to VHS movies, Halloween costumes, a Matchbox car, calendars, perfume, action figures, record albums, comic books, and even Halloween lights sold at Target and K-Mart.
Move over Cindy Crawford, Elvira was the true magazine cover queen of the 1980s and 90s.
Fast forward a decade or so, and she’s still cranking out the Elvira productions. In 2014, she released a series for Hulu, and continues to appear at Comic Con type events.
It’s amazing how quickly a small-time horror host gig could turn into a national sensation almost overnight. After nearly 16 years of struggling to make it, Cassandra Peterson had become a household name, horror icon, and Halloween institution.
As Elvira’s popularity grew and grew, so did the demands of appearing at publicity events. And this meant lots of photo-ops with famous people. Magazines and newspapers of the 80s and 90s were chock full of Elvira photos hamming it up with other celebs – usually in the October issues.
So, what is to become of Elvira in the years ahead? According to Cassandra Peterson, “I hope and think there is the possibility that I can eventually retire from the live performances. It’s like the case of Superman; nobody goes around and does a live performance of him, but you can still merchandise the character….. The day I start looking pathetic in the outfit, thin it is time to hang it up.” (Femme Fatales, Vol. 5, No.7)
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domain: entertainment


One day, we enjoyed the luxury of sitting in our cars and let them take care of each individual operation. Until then, we have given the warning last vehicle technologies. Automakers have tirelessly for drivers with a growing range of tools that help them drive more safely.
Below we explore some of the latest technologies Alert behind the wheel, such as cameras blind spot, the sys my collision avoidance equipment and track. Most of these options are currently more expensive brands and models is limited. But they are obliged to keep the car manufacturers to distribute supplies drivers jostle for the latest safe driving.
cameras blind spot
blind spots are the most common barriers for driver safety. And over the vehicle, all of the blind spot. To compensate, more automakers are installing cameras outside the vehicle, objects can usually hidden. These cameras are not only to prevent accidents on return, but also help drivers avoid collisions with other drivers or structures.
avoid collision Devices
A few luxury models (Mercedes Benz) are fitted with anti collision. The sensors are in the car can detect if a collision with another vehicle just before it may be built. The system of the first reaction is to warn the driver acoustically. As she prepares for the impact by increasing the tension in the seatbelt, airbags and boot the application of power braking to reduce the severity of the collision. When the driver brakes, the system transmits all the power he or she.
Lane Departure Systems
path monitoring systems are now available in two flavors. A first version warns drivers when they start in another lane without activating the turn signal drift. In some models, the alert is given by a beep. Other models are designed to shake the wheel.
The latest version is the concept even further. Rather than simply warn the driver, the system triggers the brakes slightly to one side of the car to the back on track.
Balancing technology with automobile driver’s Brain
The ongoing challenge for automakers is the degree of controlled ; on these new devices provide security. He is determined not an easy task. While working on these systems can be as effective as possible at first seem intuitive, many drivers are not willing to give & # xE0; such control. It’s a balancing act.
For example, a new tool developed by BMW to work in heavy stop and go “traffic. The function stops the vehicle when it senses the car in front of him stood still. Then he moves the car forward again when the car moved forward before. The action of the person behind the wheel is necessary. But BMW owner is willing to give this level of control? It is too early to tell.
One thing is predictable. In the coming years, warning of the car will likely become more robust and better protect motorists and their passengers.
More Latest Safety Devices Articles
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The Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 22,000 fish and over 32,000 creatures in total, from about 1,500 species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. With about 2 million visitors annually, Shedd has been the most visited aquarium in the country multiple years, and is a major attraction in Chicago. Shedd became the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection after shipping millions of gallons of saltwater from the Atlantic waters of Florida.
The history of the aquarium is connected with the vision of its founder John G. Shedd, who wanted to build a stand-alone aquarium, not a part of the zoo to attract visitors.
Major exhibits at the Shedd Aquarium include a miniature version of the Amazon River and its jungles. Animals that are part of this exhibit include anacondas, rays, and crocodiles, which are found in the wilderness of the Amazon. The Zebra Shark at the Wild Reef is an interesting exhibit. This shark resembling a zebra is quite lazy as they wander about at a very slow speed. Another interesting exhibit at the aquarium is of the Australian lungfish, Granddad. At an age of over 80 years, this fish is the oldest in the aquarium. Also, it is the only fish to have survived for long in all the aquariums around the world.
The Caribbean Reef is represented in its own exhibit, which houses a green sea turtle (Nickel), a moray eel, rays, and sharks. The Oceanarium features an aquatic show, starring Pacific White-sided dolphins and Beluga whales, with sea otters, and sea lions. Have an extraordinary experience of meeting with Belugas. The idea of meeting a whale is really thrilling! Other animals at the aquarium are otters and octopus.
Book Shed Aquarium vacation packages to enjoy various activities:
- The visitors may choose to participate in a 30-minutes penguin encounter at the Aquarium (available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).
- Kids may splash, or play dressed up as the penguins at the Polar Play Zone.
- The Amazon Rising Exhibit takes the visitors on a memorable journey to watch the dangerous anacondas and piranhas, terrifying spiders, and camouflaged caiman, and beautiful rays.
- Watch “The Polar Express 4-D Experience” – a 15-minute movie at the aquarium. “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure 4-D” takes you on a timeless journey with one of the sea monsters. You may also choose to watch the “Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”
- The trainer for a day program lets you experience a day in the life of the trainer at Shedd. You will be taken to the Abbott Oceanarium kitchen, to see how meals are prepared for the animals at the aquarium. You will assist the trainer in his daily tasks, including feeding the animals.
- The aquarium also organizes some of the seasonal programs such as Summer Worlds Tours, Asleep with the Fishes Group Overnights, Girl’s Scout Overnight, Shedd Spring Break Camp, etc.
Volunteer Programs at the Aquarium
If you wish to be a part of the Shedd Aquarium’s workforce, you may volunteer for certain positions. The aquarium employs volunteers in the water quality laboratory to ensure the quality of water. It offers summer internships and marine mammal internships as well.
Parking at the Aquarium
There are two parking areas, while one is at the Soldier Field north garage entrance, the other is a small parking lot east of the Field Museum.
Other events at the aquarium
You may also book spaces for private events such as non-religious wedding, awards, meetings, etc.
On Wednesday evenings during the summers, Jazzin’ takes place at the aquarium. The Jellies Special exhibit visiting hours are extended during Jazzin’.
Shedd Aquarium Location Map
Shedd Aquarium Facts
- The Shedd Aquarium is named after its owner John G. Shedd.
- The aquarium was officially opened on May 30, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois.
- Backpacks, bags, and strollers of the visitors are subjected to entry inspection.
- Jonah Anderson was swallowed by a whale at the Shedd Aquarium, but he was lucky to survive the mishap.
- The aquarium works dedicatedly to preserve the Great Lakes.
- The Great Indian Circus from the Bollywood movie “Dhoom 3” was filmed at the Shedd Aquarium.
Where is Shedd Aquarium?
The Shedd Aquarium is located in Chicago, Illinois – south of Navy Pier. The aquarium sits along the shores of Lake Michigan, next to the famous Field Museum. You may choose to travel in the museum’s CTA’s #146 bus, which offers its services throughout the year.
- Distance of the Shedd Aquarium from the Navy Pier: Around 3.2 miles (via N Lake Shore Dr)
- Distance of the Shedd Aquarium from the Union Station: Around 2.4 miles (via W Jackson Blvd and S Columbus Dr)
Address:1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
Phone: +1 312-939-2438
Best time to visit Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is open year-round, with shorter hours in the fall and winter months.
Shedd Aquarium Tickets
Admission tickets to the zoo are available for several experiences :
- Chicago CityPASS costs $98 per adult. Feeding Tour: Behind the Scenes in Wild Reef costs $89.95 per person while Behind-the-Scenes Tour costs $55.95 . The Penguin Encounter costs $75.95 per adult and $66.95 per child . These packages cover some of the services. A Total Experience Pass is also available for those who wish to enjoy everything that is available with the Shedd.
- Admission to the aquarium is free on some days. Check the official website before planning.
Shedd Aquarium Entrance Fee
Adult : $30.95
Child(3-12) : $21.95
Shedd Aquarium Hours
Each Day Of Week : 9 am – 5 pm
More about Shedd Aquarium
Who is the architect of the Shedd Aquarium?
How big is the Shedd Aquarium?
It covers an area of 422,000 square feet.
What is Shedd Aquarium Mini-Pass?
The employees at the aquarium are permitted to enter free with a Mini-Pass.
What is reciprocal membership?
The reciprocal membership allows you free admission in the Shedd Aquarium and entitles you to get discounts on admission at other exciting museums and aquariums.

domain: travel


Posted at 6:50 AM on November 8, 2006
by Valerie Kahler
Filed under: The blog
Happily, late-night fans tuning in for Letterman tonight won't be seeing the soon-to-be-ex-Mr.-Britney-Spears pimping his new (and roundly panned) rap recording. No, for the first time, tonight's musical guests won't be pop stars or rock stars.
From the NY Daily News:
Opera buffs can get a sneak peak at the Met's upcoming production of Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (that's "The Barber of Seville" for all of you barbarians) tomorrow on, of all places, "Late Show With David Letterman."
It will be the first time Letterman, an opera fan, has had an opera production as his musical guest. The plan is to have six principal singers and a chorus of 12 with a 22 piece orchestra. The chorus and orchestra will be trimmed by half to fit on the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater, but it will be the biggest musical production "Late Show" has staged.
"Barber" is perhaps one of opera's most recognized works. It opens Friday at the Met, with six performances through Nov. 27.
Metsters Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, Peter Mattei, John Del Carlo, and Samuel Ramey will grace the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theatre with the finale to Act 1 of Barber of Seville, which opens at the Met this Friday.
I know where I'll be tonight at 10:30.


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There is nothing wrong with going full speed; unless of course you lack moments of rest to allow yourself to rejuvenate. It is this behavior that has rendered me wasted. Beginning over a week ago, I’ve had no more than four hours of sleep on any given night – and even less as I pushed to make all the appointments I accepted. Ultimately, I’m worn. Since moving back to NYC I feel as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that comes up. I’m not complaining. I have a fulfilling career, a rich love life and stimulating friends, but all of it can come to a screeching halt if I don’t – somehow – find time to get a minimum of 6-to-8 hours of rest each night. Just as I’ve made a commitment to work out five days a week and consciously live my life with zeal, I will commit to disconnect and recharge my batteries. As I crossed into the 38th year of my life I’m grateful for where I am and will work on showing my gratitude by respecting my body and the fact that I cannot sustain this pace much longer.
The Month of the Roar
In addition to my own birthday, some very special folks celebrate(d) their birthday this month. First, my baby sis Frances celebrates her 18th birthday. I pray the Lord protects her and she finds her way to a productive and self-respecting life. Next, Kim S. (ABA friend) celebrated her birthday just prior to mine – see, you thought I forgot, huh. Alex A., a colleague turned friend. Her exuberant love of life and self confidence has inspired me to look beyond aesthetics to allow my inner light to outshine my outer glow. Finally, my girl and voice-of-reason, Leona G. Leona came into my life close to 15 years ago when I was a diamond in the rough and needed guidance to polishing into someone who would have a short list of regrets in my life. Leona coached me on everything from professional prowess to expecting anything so that nothing in life would catch me off guard. We are proud Lions – well, Fran is actually a Virgo – but the fact remains that your birthday signals another reason for me to be thankful.
I’ll Be Your Friend; And I’ll Be Your Lover
It’s not easy finding a loyal friend and it appears even more difficult to find a lover who satisfies you mentally, emotionally and physically. I’ve been lucky to come across a man who is a true friend and an amazing lover. BD has managed to find the gap in my armor and has quickly occupied my heart. Whether we’re having soul-searching conversations, taking quick-sneak-work-day-shopping sprees or in the throes of passion for hours on end, BD always makes me feel like the most important person in the world to him. In turn, he makes it very easy to dedicate much of my free time to growing us. We’ve reached that point when we can readily admit how much we care and how much we miss each other when we’re separated. Further, we now understand that it isn’t where we’re going, but the trip itself; so each day we share an unconditional admiration and awe-inspired support for each other.
What self-imposed changes will you make to create a better you this year?
Keep passin’ the open windows…

domain: psychology


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Oman: Ahli Bank Oman (ABO) received acquisition offers from two consortiums where one is led by Oman International Development and Investment Company (Omnivest) and the other by Bank Dhofar.
Both consortiums have demonstrated a keen interest in acquiring Ahli Bank by revising their previous offers. Omnivest and Bank Dhofar, both, submitted their revised statements by 24th May 2023.
Bank Dhofar’s Offer Structure
Bank Dhofar’s consortium aims to acquire 100 percent of the issued share capital of Ahli Bank through a takeover, in compliance with the Oman Acquisition and Takeover Regulations.
Shareholders of Ahli Bank will have the option to receive up to 25 percent of their consideration in cash, while the remainder will be paid in newly issued Bank Dhofar shares. In the case of Sharia-compliant juristic shareholders or their subsidiaries, the entire consideration will be provided in cash. This is because, under Islamic banking, these shareholders are not able to receive shares in a conventional bank.
Moreover, the financial terms of the offer include a swap ratio of 1.2910 Bank Dhofar ordinary shares per ABO share, valuing each ABO share at OMR 0.200 as the cash component. The revised offer represents a premium of 30.6 percent to the ABO Unaffected Share Price, reflecting the appreciation in Bank Dhofar’s share price since the initial offer.
Essentially, the proposed combination of Bank Dhofar and Ahli Bank aims to create a leading domestically-focused Omani bank with robust competitive positions across various customer segments. We can expect the merger to generate synergies, enhance liquidity, and create value for shareholders of both entities.
Bank Dhofar remains highly confident in its ability to successfully execute the transaction, pending regulatory approvals, and other necessary requirements.
Omnivest’s Offer Structure
The Ominvest-led consortium has put forth a revised offer to acquire up to 75% of the share capital of Ahli Bank, rather than the entire issued share capital. Omnivest
Now, the shareholders of Ahli Bank will receive an increased cash offer of 200bz per share. Hence, providing a “fair, equal, and attractive cash offer to all the shareholders of Ahli Bank to participate in and benefit from the offer”.
Currently, Ominvest, through its fully-owned subsidiary, owns 8.68 percent of Ahli Bank and aims to acquire up to 66.32 percent of the issued share capital.
As part of the revised terms, Ahli United Bank, a strategic long-term investor in Ahli Bank, will receive the offer price of 200bz per share in full for their 35 percent shareholding. Other shareholders will receive a minimum of 55.6 percent consideration in cash at the offer price of 200bz per share while retaining the remaining portion as shareholders until the intended merger with Oman Arab Bank.
The proposed offer will be funded by the consortium members, ensuring a positive foreign direct investment in Oman. Moreover, it will not impose constraints on Ahli Bank’s or Oman Arab Bank’s capital or lending ability.
Additionally, the consortium members bring significant experience in the financial services sector. Also, they are committed to providing strategic direction and supporting Ahli Bank’s growth. The offer is subject to approval from shareholders, the Central Bank of Oman, and other applicable requirements.
Both consortia have revised their acquisition offers for Ahli Bank, presenting shareholders with different options.
Reporting their offer to the Muscat Stock Exchange, Omnivest commented, “‘The offer shall be pursuant to the Takeover Regulations and is subject to the approval of the shareholders, the Central Bank of Oman, and other applicable requirements”.
The Ominvest-led consortium offers shareholders the opportunity to retain a portion of their shares until the intended merger with Oman Arab Bank while receiving minimum cash consideration. On the other hand, the BankDhofar-led consortium aims to acquire the entire issued share capital of Ahli Bank, providing shareholders with the choice between cash and shares.
In the end, the outcome will depend on the decisions made by Ahli Bank’s shareholders and the necessary approvals from regulators.

domain: finance


text:
Malaysia's central bank said Thursday there is no need for "extreme measures" such as pegging the currency or capital controls to halt a slide in the ringgit.
One in five Malaysians, aged 60 and above, work. And almost 70 percent of them do it because they have to.
An unpopular new consumption tax has handed fresh ammunition to critics of Malaysia's embattled prime minister, with angry consumers complaining it has sent some prices surging, and economists warning it could harm growth.
Malaysia is the leading supplier of medical equipment among the 56-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Malaysia trimmed its 2015 growth forecast Tuesday and said the fiscal deficit would be bigger than expected after the sharp fall in oil prices hit the petroleum-exporting nation's economic plans.
MARC Rating foresees a downward trend in Malaysia's headline gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2015 to 4.7 percent, which is lower than the government's projection of 5 percent to 6 percent during Budget 2015.
Tracking the flow of global investment funds is a tricky business. But the ringgit's recent sharp depreciation against the U.S. dollar has led to suggestions by some economists that as much as 70 billion ringgit (US$20.09 billion) stands to flow out of the country.
Despite being a partner in a law firm just outside Kuala Lumpur, Ms. Puteri Mohamad, and her fiance, can only watch as apartments in the area where she lives spiral above 500,000 ringgit (US$153,334).
Malaysia's economy grew a better-than-expected 6.4 percent in the second quarter on the back of stronger exports and robust domestic demand, the central bank said Friday.
The Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) is a mega project that not only symbolizes the warming of ties between Malaysia and Singapore, but also the increased economic links between the two countries.


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Welcome the blessing of a new, refreshed "You"
All renewal comes from within. You can find yourself a million miles away from home, and if your renewal hasn't begun within, you'll find yourself stepping into the same old actions and feeling the same old feelings you felt before.
How exactly do you feel? Are you tired of life, bored, depressed? What bothers you about yourself or any situation you are encountering? Why does it bother you? What would make your situation, your circumstances, YOU better? Be as honest with yourself as possible when you answer these questions.
Let's look at a few things you can do each day to rev youreslf up if you are tired of life.
Begin each day with thanks and gratitude, just for being here. Just for being able to see, walk, talk, taste, touch and smell. A spirit of gratitude will knock out the gloomies in a second and set you up for a Universal blessing that you wouldn't believe.
Next, forgive yourself for any choices you made the day before that were not your best choices. Every moment you get to choose who you really want to be. Let go of any guilt and condemnation you may have surrounding "how could I have done this better, why didn't I do such and such," and just BE. Just BE. Become aware of who you are, where you are and how you are acting, reacting, interpreting various issues that arise before you. Let go of all the surrounding noise, and just BE.
Third step, forgive anyone for any choices they made which may have affected you adversely. Holding on to caustic, negative energy is like eating poisonous fruit. Unforgiveness allows toxins and waste to accumulate and wreak havoc not only with your body, but with your spirit.
Give Kindness a try. I was riding a crowded subway train home from work one day, eight months pregnant with my daughter and fat as a cow. Fat and tired. My legs felt like matchsticks that would break any moment. No one, not one person offered me a seat which greatly upset me. From that day forward I vowed that if I ever saw a pregnant, infirm or elderly person on a crowded subway, I would gladly give them my seat, and I’ve always kept that promise.
I’ve given my seat to dozens of people and each and every time I’ve done it, I’ve felt the joy which plain, simple kindness brings. It made me feel good about myself. It didn’t hurt, and I helped someone else. Giving has a way of going around and paving the way for kindness to return in some fashion to our lives.
Last, love and celebrate yourself. Try it. Let's be real. If you don't love yourself, why should anyone else? Look in the mirror and smile and see how your face just rejoices in the sight of you. Love, in and of itself, renews, heals and transcends. Instead of being tired of life, let yourself be a conduit for its transmission and you renew not only yourself, but others as well.


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The death of Fallon Smart has torn our community apart. A potent mixture of how she was killed (run over by a dangerous man who used his car as a deadly weapon while she legally walked across a street), where she was killed (a stretch of Hawthorne you might see in a tourism brochure), and who she was (by all accounts a bright, giving and creative 15-year-old who attended a nearby high school), has led to multiple protests, heated online debates, an outpouring of support for her grieving family, and a much-needed dose of reality on Portland’s back-patting path to “Vision Zero.”
Whenever someone dies in a traffc collision, it has an impact on the community; but every once in a while a fatality will spark something larger. Smart’s death appears to have done that. But strangely, while citizens and grassroots activists have mobilized, there’s a deafening silence from City Hall.


True to form for an administration that could make the most routine tasks somehow absurd, Donald Trump couldn’t even lose an election without making it weird. With close but clear results, he refused to concede, concocting a series of unhinged conspiracy theories about stolen votes and fraud – lies he still maintains.
But laughs soon arrived, in the form of the Trump “voter fraud hotline”, which loyal patriots were meant to call into with evidence of fraud. It soon devolved into a debacle, as an army of pranksters flooded the phone lines with ridiculous tales meant to highlight the absurdity of the proceedings.
One caller told the hotline she met the devil at her polling station in Georgia, who challenged her to a fiddle contest. Another relayed the plot of the 1980s sitcom Different Strokes. A third wiseass called to snitch on a suspicious character skulking around that bore a striking resemblance to the McDonald’s mascot the Hamburglar, who, based on his clothing, he could only assume was antifa. They put a fine point on what a lot of the country thought: this entire effort is a joke – and you, Mr President, are also a joke.
“It’s misery. It’s one of the worst ways to end a campaign you could think of,” one campaign staffer fielding the calls said, calling the prank calls traumatizing. The hotline was soon shut down. What a small joyous gift to watch it all happen in a year otherwise full of bad news.
The student who begged us not to vote for her dad
They say blood is thicker than water, but in some cases, not even that can guarantee a complimentary reference. That was the case for one of our heroes – a college graduate who begged her followers to “please, for the love of God” not to vote for her Republican father who was running in the Michigan primaries.
Why do we rate Stephanie Regan so highly? Well, it takes a lot to rat on one’s own dad – especially when he’s publicly pitching himself as a family man on his campaign website, using multiple photos of himself and his children to support his run.
The two disagreed about structural racism, white privilege and Black Lives Matter, but Regan wanted people to make up their own minds: “look him up and just read for yourself,” she said.
Her father, Robert Regan, described himself as “so conservative [he] makes Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal”. (Limbaugh, a radio host, once called a student who suggested that health insurance should cover contraception a slut and a prostitute.)
Regan, by the way, ultimately lost the primary, so perhaps his daughter’s statement was a damning blow. A father should be proud.
Doggface – the cranberry juice drinking skateboard sensation
In 2010 the artist Craig Damrauer made prints with the slogan “Modern art = I could do that + Yeah, but you didn’t”. You could say that about a lot of viral stardom, whether it’s Chewbacca Mom (who laughed in a car while wearing a mask), Mason Ramsey (who yodeled in a Walmart), or Doggface – my 2020 hero.
Doggface (AKA Nathan Apodaca) went viral in September after filming himself skating down a highway to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams while sipping a bottle of Ocean Spray. The video has 73m views on TikTok alone.
Jumping on a skateboard is not particularly noteworthy, nor is drinking a fruity drink while doing so. But there’s something in the frictionlessway Doggface does it that makes it so special.
Before his viral fame Doggface was living in a trailer in Idaho, way below the poverty line, without water or electricity. In the video he’s actually skateboarding to work because his car broke down.
Then his life changed in the blink of an eye. Ocean Spray gave him a new truck. Stevie Nicks paid tribute to him. He bought a home. He even just starred in the new music video for David Guetta’s remix of Dreams.
Some people probably see him as a champion of the American Dream, but Doggface isn’t my hero because he went viral and got rich. He’s my hero because he was just trying to make the most of another shitty day, and he put a smile on all of our faces while doing so.
The ‘This is fine’ meme and its gallows humor
“This is fine.”
Every time the meme crossed my path online this year, I saw something of myself in the dog’s vacant smile, bug-eyed paralysis, and impotent optimism. I, too, was sitting with a mug of coffee amid a global pandemic, telling myself it was fine because I needed to hear it, even though it was palpably untrue.
The meme – derived from a larger comic strip published by artist KC Green in 2013 – took off online in 2016 as capturing the collective disbelief at the election of President Trump. In 2020 the flames climbed even higher, with the onset of coronavirus in March sparking a sharp rise in Google searches for “this is fine”.
In fact, the cartoon had been inspired by Green’s misgivings about starting antidepressants for the first time; before 2016, it was embraced by teenagers worried about their upcoming exams. “It’s become a catch-all for anything,” Green says wearily from his home in western Massachusetts.
Though he has been able to monetise his creation through “This is Fine” merchandise (including, this year, a face mask), Green admits to having become somewhat numb to its outsize online presence.
Indeed, he noticed applications of the meme became more elaborate and high-concept this year as people sought to pass time in quarantine, superimposing themselves in the place of the dog, or showing him surrounded by toilet paper piled high. (The room in flames also became a popular Zoom background.)
One spin-off stood out, however. After Joe Biden was confirmed as president-elect in November, an animated gif went viral that showed the dog being carried out of a burning building by a firefighter – mug of coffee in hand.
“Never [before] has a gif made me cry,” research scientist Dan Novy tweeted.
Green, too, was moved by the hopefulness of the clip, imagining a happy ending for his tired, put-upon creation.
“I felt something,” he agrees. “The first time I saw it.”
Doug Emhoff, more widely known as “Kamala Harris’s husband”, is set to be the first US second gentleman. And in the spirit of equality, we will be referring to a man in reference to his wife for once, rather than the other way around.
Credit where credit’s due, Emhoff really did take a back seat in 2020, letting his wife shine. The entertainment lawyer will clearly do anything for his other half: last year, he physically removed a protester from the stage at a Harris event. I guess behind every great woman is a man ready to tackle anyone that interrupts her when she’s speaking.
Emhoff also took time out of his day job to campaign for Harris and has since quit his private law firm to be a full-time house-husband (White House husband, that is). Suppressing his male ego and taking one for the team may have helped Harris secure her win as the first woman of color VP.
Emhoff’s new title is an exciting opportunity to see traditional gender dynamics flipped on its head. I can’t wait to see a man help decorate the White House for Christmas. Honestly, anything will be better than the Shining theme Melania went for in 2017. If Kamala’s presidential campaign is any indication, he will handle his new role with grace and humility and live up to the name gentleman. No doubt he’ll have a delicious homemade meal ready for the vice-president when she gets home from a long day at the office. So to all you heterosexual men out there: take several notes.
Katie Porter and her whiteboard
Not all heroes wear masks. But one hero foresaw something even more important than mask-wearing in this pandemic – free, accessible and routine Covid-19 testing. That person is Representative Katie Porter.
Before Porter came along with her whiteboard, high-up officials did not seem to know the cost of the battery of tests required to discern who has the virus in the US ($1,331), nor of a federal code that would allow them to make that testing free and available instantaneously.
But Porter had done her research and was there to help out. She reminded the director of the CDC that without free testing for all, there would be no way of knowing who does and does not have the virus. “Do you wanna know who has the coronavirus and who doesn’t – not just rich people – but everybody who might have the virus?” she asked.
And just like that, the commitment was made. Sadly, 300,000 lives have been lost to the virus in the US, but without Porter, things could have been a lot worse.
There is nowhere to hide on a bookcase – which is why nosy people make a beeline for them. Your neuroses and nostalgia are laid bare in the self-help titles not quite concealed on the lower shelves, the dissonant notes struck by gifts from friends, the repeat reads revealed by cracked spines.
This year, we exposed our shelves to the world thanks to endless Zoom meetings. Their strength lay in their combining universality and individuality: more interesting than a bare wall, less intimate than a bed, easier to tidy than a kitchen.
Even an Ikea Billy gave depth (11in, to be precise) to a webcam window. But after weeks inside our own homes, starved of human interest, it is no surprise that we soon started taking a closer look.
In April, Bookcase Credibility joined Twitter to pass judgment on the book-lined backdrops of TV talking heads. Elon Musk’s bare shelves, holding only four editions of seemingly the same book, embodied the performative minimalism of Silicon Valley. The titles piling into each other like dominos behind Natalie Portman implied frequent use.
Even individual titles spoke volumes. In May, the UK cabinet office minister, Michael Gove, was called on to explain his copies of The Bell Curve (arguing a link between race and IQ) and work by the Holocaust denier David Irving after his wife posted a photo of their home.
In 2020, our shelves stood in for ourselves – so it’s no wonder we read so much into them. As Bookcase Credibility says: “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you.”
Oh, Nevada. We are in a love-hate relationship. You took five times longer than most states to deliver the election result. (I had to remind myself whether the result had been called for Nevada yet just writing this.)
A provision in Nevada’s election law meant poll workers took the night off in the middle of its ballot counting. Because of this, the whole world was waiting on the edge of its seat for a result while Nevada got some beauty sleep.
But sometimes good things happen to those who wait– or rather, good memes. From the jokes about the friend you hate, texting he’s on his way when he’s clearly still at home; to old school solitaire references; to some great theme tracks chosen to mark exactly how slow the count was, Nevada became an unsung hero of 2020 simply for giving us so many laughs during an otherwise painful election. Not to mention how satisfying it was to hear the result finally called.
Teacher of the year – as celebrated on TikTok
Between the technical difficulties and awkward silences to the sinking feeling of missing out, remote class can be a nightmare. It’s hard to feel connected when the only interaction students have with their teachers is through the dreaded Zoom Room. But one history professor at Chapman University, Dr James Brown, managed to make it work – to the point where his students organized a surprise to let him know how much they appreciated him.
In a viral TikTok, all the students started out their last class of the semester with their cameras off, prompting Brown to ask whether or not it’s a “cool new thing to do to not turn your cameras on”. Later, he grew more upset. “Seriously?” he asks. “Is it my fault that you have your cameras off?”
His students then turned on their cameras, revealing handwritten thank you posters. He starts crying. I start crying. You’ll probably start crying, too.
This year has been particularly challenging for students, but teachers and professors are adapting to the best of their ability against all odds. That makes them heroes in our eyes.
Election officials and poll workers
For nearly all of 2020, election officials faced the nearly impossible task of figuring out how to hold an election in the midst of a pandemic.
That election day passed without any systemic failures is testament to the volunteers who stepped up to help out, and officials working quietly behind the scenes to adapt. But Trump’s battle against the outcome resulted in vicious attacks and threats against election officials across the country.
One official, Tina Barton, who has been the city clerk in Rochester Hills, just outside of Detroit, since 2013, received threatening phone calls that included foul and sexually explicit language. “You start to just question your career choice. Is this something I want to continue to do and is there value in continuing to do this? You go through all those range of emotions,” she told the Guardian.
Despite the fear tactics, Barton, a Republican, publicly pushed back on claims of election irregularities in Rochester Hills.
Ultimately, it was her duty to voters that kept her going.
“You take an oath of office to the constitution of this country, the constitution of this state. Not to a party. Not to a person,” she said. “I am 100% in it for my constituents and making sure that everything is done correctly here and I know that’s the way that every election official in this country feels.”
Here’s a not-so-hot hot take: the US needs more paid, federal holidays. We’re notoriously stingy with them, especially compared with more bon vivant countries such as France and Spain. And so who is more fitting of an unsung heroes’ crown, than the woman who campaigned for, and won, an additional federal holiday for us all this year?
Enter 96-year-old Opal Lee. The Texan has fought tirelessly to see Juneteenth become a federally recognized holiday. This day is loaded with jubilation and pain for Black Americans. It celebrates 19 June 1865, when Galveston slaves first learned of the freedoms granted to them by the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday has long been observed in southern states, where Black residents eat red foods that signify freedom, including watermelon, red velvet cake and hot sauce. In 2016, Lee, then 89, walked from her Fort Worth, Texas, home to Washington DC in the hopes of pushing Congress to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
When pressed on the difference between Independence Day and Juneteenth, Opal deftly responded, “… the Fourth of July? Slaves weren’t free. You know that, don’t you?”
This year, Opal finally saw the fruits of her labor. Amid a reckoning around race in America, New York and Virginia joined 45 other states and the District of Columbia in recognizing Juneteenth as a public holiday. Now we’re looking at you, North Dakota, South Dakota and Hawaii …
When I was growing up, obsessing over a boy band was pretty low-stakes. It usually involved voting for music videos on TRL or trying to cop seats to a gig on Ticketmaster before the site crashed. This year, however, K-Pop fans used their skills to become grassroots activists; quelling racist police tactics; dampening attendance numbers for a Trump rally; and crowdsourcing a million-dollar donation for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Their ultimate show of force came this summer, during the height of Black Lives Matter protests across the globe. The Dallas police department asked residents to submit videos of “illegal protest activity” to its iWatch Dallas app. K-Pop fans took note of the serious privacy and safety risks that posed to protesters and flooded the app with fancams (which are hard to explain to anyone who can remember using a fax machine, but they’re basically montages of a celebrity set to fun music – like the Gen-Z version of fan mail). They swamped the system, with the Dallas PD announcing its app was down due to “technical difficulties” hours later. And who says all Gen-Zers do is post dance videos to TikTok?
“When we saw a minority of people being treated unfairly, we wanted to do something to help,” Mel, a K-Pop fan who lives in Texas, told the Guardian. “I thought the fancams would only slow down the app for an hour or two, so I was super-surprised when we shut the whole app down!”
Celebrities helping hospitality workers
David Chang, the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, turned to ABC’s hit game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in October to raise money for hurting restaurants who had spent months pleading with congressional members for guidance and relief.
There were some bumpy patches throughout the episode: Chang wasn’t sure about which Superman comic cover was auctioned for more than $3m, nor did he know which Peter, Paul & Mary song a SpaceX craft was named after. Luckily, he was able to ask director Alan Yang and host Jimmy Kimmel for help.
Then came the million-dollar question: which US president was the first to have electricity? Chang still had one lifeline option left, so he phoned friend and journalist Mina Kimes, who helped Chang settle on Benjamin Harrison for an answer.
Chang guessed correctly and became the first celebrity ever to win the million-dollar prize. He donated his winnings to the Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that provides grants for emergency expenses in the food industry. On his podcast, he said he had watched the show and played the app to prepare, but those exercises couldn’t ready him for the stress and anxiety of being in the hotseat.
Ultimately, it was his predilection for gambling that got him through. “I’m a gambling man and shame on me if this is wrong,” Chang said on the show, “but I’m doing this because having a million dollars right now, in this moment, is a game-changer for many, many families.”
Chang isn’t the only celeb chef pitching in to save restaurants. Guy Fieri raised more than $21.5m for the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. It shouldn’t be up to celebrity chefs to come to the rescue of the food industry – that’s the federal government’s responsibility – but it at least earns them a crown in our books.
In virus-hit New York City, it’s no longer allowed to dine indoors, it’s far too cold to eat outdoors and going grocery shopping could mean hiking through more than a foot of snow.
So how do 7 million hungry residents stay fed? The answer here, as in cities around the world, is delivery workers: disproportionately older and migrant men of color, working around the clock through conditions that were brutal and dangerous even before a life-threatening pandemic, kept precarious by unconscionably low pay, with nearly no labor protections to speak of.
Since March, local leaders and Silicon Valley CEOs have heaped praise on delivery workers, labeling them “essential”, calling them “heroes” – as close as we’ll get to an acknowledgment of the workers’ pivotal role in our collective survival. Yet under late capitalism these words really seem to mean “please keep working until you collapse”.
Delivery workers have been among the hardest-hit by Covid-19 – but because they are commonly misclassified as “independent contractors”, they have been left out of the sick pay and unemployment insurance thatkeeps millions of Americans afloat. Is this how we should treat our heroes? When will society deliver for them, for a change?


Free information event on mental health will be held in Rutland
Rutland Community Agents, Rutland County Council and the charity Rethink Mental Illness are holding a free, informal mental health information evening on Monday.
Anyone who is supporting a loved one with a mental illness can come along and get expert advice, information, support and even help with planning care.
The event will be held at The Lodge in Stamford Road, Oakham, LE15 6JX on Monday between 5.30pm- 7.30pm.
l Questionnaires have been sent to about 800 people in Rutland and Leicestershire asking for their views on the mental health care they received in the community from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. The results will be used to improve services.