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The recent flare-up of terror on high seas, off the coast of Somalia, has become a sharper concern for ship owners.
Plummeting freight rates and shrinking cargo as a result of the global financial meltdown are not the only issues presently gnawing at shipping companies. The recent flare-up of terror on high seas, off the coast of Somalia, has become a sharper concern for ship owners. Even after the Indian seafarers aboard Stolt Valor, which was hijacked by marine terrorists off the Somalia coast, returned home recently after 64 days of captivity, two more foreign flagged vessels with Indian seafarers on board were hijacked and are still held hostage. Liberian vessel Biscaglia, with 25 Indian seafarers, and Iran Delight, with seven Indians, were hijacked in the same area and in the same manner in the last few weeks.
?So far this year, hijack attempts were made on about 97 ships in the Gulf of Aden. Even as we speak now, some 300 seafarers, dominated by Indians and Filipinos, are held hostage somewhere off Somalia. The ship owners are negotiating on ransom with the pirates, but their safety is still a concern,? Mr Abdulgani Serang, General Secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), says.
As part of an international initiative, Indian shipping companies have recently agreed to pay additional bonuses for seafarers on board vessels while sailing across the Suez Canal, which takes about 33 hours. Also, naval vessels from different countries, including India, are constantly patrolling the area. But all this gives little solace to seafarers as their vessels prepare to enter the Suez Canal.
The modus operandi of the hijackers is the same. They arrive in groups of about 15 to 20 in speed boats, come alongside unsuspecting vessels and clamber overboard with the help of ropes. Then at gun-point, they force the captain to steer the vessel to certain lairs of the hijackers ? Eyl, which some years was nothing but a tiny fishing port, is today the main lair of Somalia pirates, with swanky restaurants and gleaming cars replacing the earlier tin-roofed dwellings of the local people.
Then, the ransom negotiations begin. Most ship owners have their own professional negotiators, who deal with the pirates. Ship owners are usually asked to drop the money on the hijacked vessels and sometimes paid into foreign accounts or paid in cash through middlemen in neighbouring Kenya.
The international maritime industry has declared the zone off the Somalia coast as high-risk zone. Only on November 21, the International Bargain Forum (IBF), a breakthrough negotiating forum that brings together the International Transport Workers Forum (ITF) and international maritime employers, decided to extend the limits of the zone to cover the entire Gulf of Aden.
?The expansion has been agreed because of the number of attacks that had occurred outside the previously agreed zone, like the Sirius Star that was recently hijacked off the coast of Kenya,? an ITF statement says.
The new high risk zone has been projected north and south of the existing area to the Yemeni coast in the north and to the existing war-like operations area in the south, encompassing the Island of Suqutra.
Extra wages to seafarers
Seafarers on board vessels that sail through the expanded zone will be paid bonus equal to 100 per cent of their basic wage while the vessel is in transit. ?We have communicated the recent decisions at the IBF meeting to the Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA),? Mr Serang said.
Industry observers feel that as a permanent solution, there should be a combined patrolling by the United Nations, instead of the current practice of individual countries deploying their naval ships for the safety of their citizens.


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Magic can save you.
Magic can kill you.
Students at the Magisterium are supposed to be safe. Under the watchful eyes of the mages, they are taught to use magic to bring order to a chaotic world.
But now the chaos is fighting back. Call, Tamara, and Aaron should be worrying about things like pop quizzes and magic contests. Instead, after the shocking death of one of their classmates, they must track down a sinister killer… and risk their own lives in the process.
As Call, Tamara, and Aaron discover, magic can only be as good as the person who wields it. In evil hands, it has the capacity to do immeasurable harm, unless it is stopped in time.
In this striking third book of Magisterium, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare present us with a school where anything, good or evil, can happen, and the only way to unlock the truth is to risk everything to find it.
Take me back to the good old days of Harry Potter… without actually being like Harry Potter. There is no doubt about it, Harry Potter is one of my all time favourite series. The adventures, the magic — I often have to restrain myself from re-reading it! This co-written series is able to capture that wonderful, magical spark that Harry Potter so brilliantly possessed, whilst also presenting something original and something a little darker. The overall story is definitely intriguing, the characters are great, and the twists and turns are so unexpected — you will be sitting on the edge of your seat!
Now, Cassandra Clare receives a lot of hate for “copying” Harry Potter with her TMI series. But, I do not really want to go into all that controversy — because that’s not important right now — I just wanted to say that you shouldn’t let the fact that this controversy exists make you not want to read the book. Yes, this book has been described as similar to Harry Potter, but I think that this is an unfair comparison. There are elements that both share, but this series is very different, and I would urge you to give it a go.
This book is incredibly fast paced, everything happens quickly, but all the loose ends are tied together beautifully. This book is incredibly fast paced. Very, very fast paced. I loved the fact that we still received some backstory, character development and heaps of twists and turns in such a short book. There was no stopping, hardly any time to take a breath. You were pulled into this story from the beginning and you were not let go until the very end. Seriously. This book took me less than a day to read. I started it one night and finished it by lunchtime the very next day.
Though, I will admit, it is a little short. Very short. For a book that I was so excited to read, it was extremely disappointing that it was only 249 pages. Yes, this meant that I managed to read it quite fast. Yes, it got straight to the point. But… I really wanted to spend more time in this beautiful and frightening world that both Holly Black and Cassandra Clare created. I wanted to see more of Tamara and Aaron, and even more of Jasper. There were hardly any moments with Rufus, their mentor, which was also very disappointing.
If the authors could have done anything differently, I think that they could have written this book a little longer. Then, perhaps we could have spent more time with these characters and learnt more about the world that this story is set in.
I was surprised, I was amazed, I was devastated. My emotions were seriously all over the place with this book. I laughed in certain places, and I may have cried. Oh, who am I kidding? I totally cried.

domain: artistic


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Mike Davis, one of the original prosecutors who worked on the murder case against Michael Morton in 1987, said in court filings today that he is a victim of a media and political war between the exonerated man's lawyers and Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley.
Davis filed a motion to quash Morton's lawyers' request to interview him about his role in the trial that led to Morton's wrongful conviction and nearly 25-year imprisonment for his wife's murder. Last week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals officially exonerated Morton after DNA evidence revealed that another man was likely responsible for the killing of Christine Morton.
Morton's attorneys — John Raley of the Houston law firm Raley & Bowlick and lawyers at the New York-based Innocence Project — allege that the Williamson County district attorney's office intentionally withheld a transcript in which Christine Morton’s mother told a sheriff's investigator that the couple’s 3-year-old son saw a "monster" who was not his father brutally attack his mother.
The defense attorneys also claim prosecutors withheld information about Christine Morton's credit card being used and a check being cashed with her forged signature days after her death.
This week, Morton's lawyers filed subpoenas to force Williamson County District Judge Ken Anderson, who was the district attorney at the time of Morton's 1987 trial, and Davis, who was an assistant district attorney, to testify and to provide documents related to the case.
Both Anderson and Davis filed motions to quash the depositions. Both claimed that the court had no jurisdiction to compel their testimony. Anderson said as a judge, he had a 43 matters on his docket, and he had a previously scheduled medical procedure on the day defense attorneys requested his presence.
Davis, now a lawyer in private practice, submitted a 17-page motion in which he objected hotly to the subpoena, writing that he "is now an innocent bystander in the crossfire" of political and media battles between the Innocence Project and Bradley.
The advocacy organization and Bradley have been at odds since he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2009 to lead the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Bradley objected to the commission's investigation of science used to convict and eventually execute Cameron Todd Willingham for the 1991 arson fire that killed his three children. The Innocence Project, which led the charge for the Willingham investigation, sparred publicly and repeatedly with Bradley and accused him of trying to stymie the organization's efforts to improve the criminal justice system.
"The service of the subpoena in this case is just another tit for tat in the battle between these lawyers," Davis wrote. He contends the lawyers have no legal authority to question him and that they are attempting to conduct an unauthorized investigation.
Davis wrote that his recollection of the trial was "very limited after 25 years." He said he had no memory of any conversation about Morton's son seeing the killer or of any issues relating to credit cards or checks.
But in the motion, Davis offered an apology to Morton for the years he spent behind bars for a crime he did not commit, and he offered to sit down with Morton and his lawyers informally and tell them everything he remembers about the case. "Movant's words can never give back to Michael Morton his lost life, his lost wife, nor his son, and a simple apology is not sufficient but that is all Movant has to offer at this late date," Davis wrote. In a letter to Morton's lawyer, Davis asked them to withdraw the subpoena.
Further, Davis argued that Morton's lawyers' investigation of prosecutorial misconduct in the case is moot because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has already exonerated him.
Separately, Maureen Ray, special administrative counsel for the State Bar of Texas, confirmed a report in the Austin American-Statesman today that the organization is "gathering and reviewing information" regarding allegations of misconduct in the Morton case.

domain: news


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Alis The Aviator Book
An A to Z of planes past and present, this book has stunning cut-paper art and a cute-as-a-button guide named Alis. Named for Dr. Alis Kennedy, likely one of the first Indigenous women to obtain a commercial pilot licence in Canada, Alis will take you on an aviation tour from the Avro Arrow to the Zeppelin and everything in between.
Meticulously researched and uniquely crafted, this is a one-of-a-kind book that will delight aviation fans big and little. Kalpna Patel the illustrator is a local artist, crafter and jeweler living in Toronto - and she used to do our window displays!!!!
- Ages 3-7
- 23 cm x 24 cm


LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate on Tuesday approved Sen. Jim Stamas’ legislation that would protect grain producers if a dealer declares insolvency.
“Farmers deliver grain to dealers and are paid for it after the grain is sold. My bill would ensure that producers are paid for the grain they deliver if the grain dealer goes bankrupt,” said Stamas, R-Midland. “Michigan farmers work hard to support their families and provide food for millions of people throughout the country. While they are one of the pillars of the state’s economy, they are often a missed season away from losing everything, which makes it critical that they are compensated for the fruits of their labor.”
Senate Bill 899 would establish a depositor’s lien on all farm produce assets of a grain dealer in favor of lenders and claimants who possess evidence of ownership and producers who have delivered grain but have not yet been paid.
The lien would take effect at the time the grain is delivered to the dealer for sale or storage or at the time money is advanced by the lender and would end when the dealer’s liability to the claimant has been discharged.
“The goal is to put a priority on supporting the Michigan farmer,” Stamas said. “The reform adopts practices that have been successful in other states like Indiana and Ohio and will help protect the livelihoods of Michigan grain producers.”
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.


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MOHS Awards $1.5M in ARPA Funding to Support Unhoused Youth in Baltimore
Tuesday Mar 5th, 2024
Community-based organizations to use ARPA funding to expand programs and services for Baltimore youth ages 18-24
BALTIMORE, MD (Tuesday, March 5, 2024) – Today, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) announced that two community-based organizations will be awarded a combined total of $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support youth homelessness diversion projects. Springboard Community Services (SCS) will be awarded $1 million and Point Source Youth (PSY) will be awarded $500,000 in funding to support Baltimore’s homeless youth.
Springboard Community Services (SCS) is committed to making a positive impact on communities through a wide range of services, including behavioral health support, at-risk youth resources, housing assistance, senior support, case management, domestic violence intervention, and workforce development.
“ARPA funding is designed to support our most vulnerable communities and this includes our youth,” said Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services Executive Director Ernestina Simmons. “Springboard Community Services and Point Source Youth will provide our youth with comprehensive services and support as they work on their long-term plans. I am excited for the future of our youth, as we provide them with the support and resources that align with their self-identified goals in all areas of their lives.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SCS responded to the lack of resources available for youth with its purchase of two buildings in Downtown Baltimore. SCS plans to develop a Youth Training Center that includes on-site workforce development, case management, mental health counseling alongside short-term dormitory housing and permanent supportive units for transitional aged youth ages 18-24. “Empowering youth to break the cycle of homelessness demands more than just shelter,” said Springboard Community Services CEO F.T. Burden. “It requires a comprehensive approach integrating behavioral health, case management and stable housing services. By addressing their holistic needs, we offer them a pathway to reclaim their futures and thrive.”
Point Source Youth (PSY) works with communities, large and small, alongside local youth advocates to ensure that experiences of youth homelessness are rare, brief, and non-recurring. The PSY team advances affirming, data-backed solutions such as rapid re-housing, host homes, and direct cash transfers that place power and resources directly in the hands of youth experiencing homelessness—with a focus on QTBIPOC youth who are disproportionately impacted.
"Point Source Youth is thrilled to be partnered with GreenLight Baltimore to bring CARE (Cash Assistance, Resources, and Engagement) Baltimore to fruition," said Vice President of Direct Cash Transfers at Point Source Youth Anjala Huff. "This is our opportunity to show the young people of Baltimore that we are listening, we hear their concerns, and we will act now by putting power and resources directly in their hands."
This program is designed to test and improve the structure of the existing model developed to act as a prototype for the creation of successful housing intervention in response to the alarming increase in youth homelessness across the country. Youth participants ages 18-24 will be given $1,000 each month for two years, with a larger drawdown option of $3,000 to pay for initial costs of exiting homelessness like security deposit, furniture, etc.
These projects, with the support of ARPA funding, will help to establish and increase temporary and permanent housing solutions for unhoused youth in Baltimore City which is a step closer to ensuring that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring for city residents of all ages.
About Springboard Community Services
Springboard Community Services, established in 1849, is a Maryland-based non-profit organization committed to making a positive impact on communities through a wide range of services, including behavioral health support, at-risk youth resources, housing assistance, senior support, case management, domestic violence intervention, and workforce development. Springboard Community Service’s mission is to transform lives and build resilience by addressing the unique needs of vulnerable populations throughout Maryland.
About Point Source Youth
Point Source Youth (PSY), with partners across the US, has generated a growing body of evidence and practice knowledge on effectively implementing Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) interventions with young people by placing power and resources directly into the hands of young people. Together, in partnership with GreenLight Fund Baltimore and Springboard Community Services, PSY is working with Baltimore youth consultants and community partners to co-design the Baltimore DCT Program — CARE (Cash Assistance, Resources, & Engagement) Baltimore, to serve and support youth of Baltimore City experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability. Through this pilot, PSY aims to generate evidence for designing successful housing interventions for youth experiencing homelessness, and stand-up processes, procedures, and infrastructure that are geared for sustainability, scalability, and racial and 2SLGBTQIA+ equity as part of Baltimore’s systemic response to ending youth homelessness. PSY believes that by trusting young people, removing financial barriers to housing, and offering supportive services before becoming unhoused, we will see more young people avoid homelessness and stay housed long-term.


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Massachusetts voters should take Wanda James’s story to heart.
She didn’t choose to become interested in marijuana policy; it happened by necessity when her brother was sentenced to ten years in prison for marijuana possession at the age of 17. When she decided to advocate publicly for legalization in Colorado, she spoke out about her experiences as a black woman who uses cannabis. Today, as a co-owner of a legal dispensary there, she helps her employees get the chances in life that her brother didn’t.
Here in Massachusetts, we can choose to stop sending people to prison over marijuana. If we pass Question 4, we will pass the nation’s first marijuana legalization law to require regulations focused on opening the new cannabis industry to the very communities that have been targeted by the drug war. Those policies could include job placement programs, skills-based training programs, or assistance for new minority-owned businesses. We have a rare opportunity to build a new industry from the ground up with a focus on accessibility and equality.
Data from Colorado can help us estimate the number of jobs we will create by bringing the marijuana industry above ground. ArcView Market Research, a cannabis data and investment firm, estimates the legal Massachusetts industry could be a billion-dollar market by 2020. As of September 2015, more than 25,000 Coloradans were licensed to work directly in marijuana businesses. With a population of over a million people more than in Colorado, our state can expect an even larger number of jobs available in marijuana facilities.
That doesn’t include the thousands of new ancillary jobs in areas like construction and software. Electricians, HVAC experts, and agricultural experts in subjects like irrigation engineering and plant genetics will all be needed. And with the strict safety regulations the law requires, we will see opportunities to create new high-tech packaging and security businesses. Testing laboratories which measure the potency and safety of cannabinoid products will require experts in analysis and biotechnology. Given its reputation as a center for science and innovation, Massachusetts has much to contribute to the rapidly growing market for tools to make the use of marijuana safer.
After Colorado legalized marijuana, its unemployment rate fell steadily, reaching a nine-year low of 3.5% last year, one of the lowest in the country. Jack Strauss, the University of Denver College of Business Miller Chair of Applied Economics, studied the economic impact of two Denver-based individual marijuana businesses in 2014 and found that they each generated a contribution of “seven times more jobs and output than the average retail store and restaurant.”
When we talk about marijuana policy, we often rightly focus on the devastation that has taken place in the criminal justice system. But people of color are more than just arrest statistics. When I drafted sections of Question 4, I thought about economic justice, not just criminal justice. Stopping arrests for marijuana in a community is a good thing. Helping that community become economically empowered is better.
For Massachusetts, Question 4 could lead to $100 million in new state revenue, on top of the money we’ll save when we stop throwing people like Wanda’s brother in jail. The billionaire-funded opposition to Question 4 will try to convince you prohibition is working. But we all know that’s not true; a marijuana market already exists in Massachusetts, but it operates in the shadows. Let’s regulate it and give the people who run it a chance at a better life. Question 4 will create thousands of new jobs and harness the talents, creativity and innovation potential of the people of Massachusetts.

domain: law


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Christmas Show Tickets On Sale Now!
Believe – The VM Polar Express
“All aboard” for a festive Christmas journey riding the famous VM Polar Express. This enchanted train picks up those who have lost the magic of Christmas and whisks them away to a place where they can Believe again. Celebrate with your family and friends as VM shares songs of joy and merriment to make your season bright ... “you have everything you need, if you just believe!”
In Act 2, you’ll be inspired with beloved and sacred Christmas songs performed by over 120 men’s voices that will put you in the Christmas spirit.
All performances are at the Eisemann Center at 2351 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX 75082. Please note that due to Eisemann Center calendar limitations, there are no performances on Saturday.
Ticket prices for every budget: $18, $28, $38, $48, and $58.
Discounts are available by calling the Eisemann Center ticket office at 972-744-4650 ext. 4, Monday-Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
10% off for Juniors (under age 18) and Seniors (60+)
50% off for Students and Military Discount (must provide valid ID)
10% off Groups of 10-25
15% off Groups of 26 or more
We urge you to reserve your tickets early. Last year all five of our performances were sold-out, and this year, due to the calendar at the Eisemann Center, we will only have four performances. We expect all performances to sell-out.
2020 Spring Show: A Million Dreams – The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The popular music of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s not only inspired us to launch a million dreams, but it also gifted us with the soundtrack of our lives! Songs that span from masterpieces to quirky novelties by one-hit wonders. Experience a true blast from the past as Vocal Majority floods your memory banks. Dream big by inviting your family and friends to enjoy reminiscing alongside of you ... “a million dreams for the world we’re gonna make!”
All performances are at the Eisemann Center in Richardson.


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If an individual from out-of-state is accused of a crime and given a court date, the dates can often be changed or moved to make it much more viable for the individual to make an appearance. This, however, becomes much more difficult if an individual chooses to represent themselves. For this reason an experienced Bucks County criminal defense attorney is important, as in most cases the attorney can make a majority of the court appearances and save that individual the time and cost of travel multiple times to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Seeking out the services of an experienced attorney at the earliest possible stage will ensure that an individual ultimately spends less money travelling back and forth for out-of-state to court hearings and is aware of when their court date is going to take place.
Whether an individual is out-of-state or in-state, missing a required court date will result in any bail conditions being revoked and a warrant for a person’s arrest being issued. If a warrant is issued, should the individual be stopped, whether in-state or out of state, the person will be held in a correctional facility until the warrant is remedied. If someone from out-of-state has failed to appear for a hearing in Bucks County, it is extremely important that they reach out and obtain a lawyer immediately because that person can be held in custody, without bail, for many months before they are extradited to Bucks County.
However a legal representative may be able to help by reaching out to the sheriff’s department in Bucks County and reaching out to the judge that has revoked the bail or bond conditions in an attempt to get the bail and/or bond reinstated. An individual without the aid of a lawyer may not have the chance to have their warrant lifted without a lengthy incarceration stay, whether in or out-of-state.
Lawyers in Bucks County and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will and should often have very detailed conversations with their clients, prior to any court date, whether it be at the district court level or the Court of Common Pleas. Lawyers should have gone over all documents involving the case, indicate to their client the chances of any diversionary programs, and allow their client to describe the events as they took place and as the client remembers when the alleged allegations were made. Accordingly, this permits the attorney to be better prepared to get the best possible result for the client as he or she navigates the criminal justice system.


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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – Nearly half of all voters will use debates to help make up their mind between Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.
That’s according to a Reuters poll.
With the first presidential debate now in the books, 9 On Your Side talked to some undecided voters in the area who still don’t know who they’ll circle come Election Day.
Some people have no idea who they’re going to vote for on November 8, others said it definitely won’t be the election’s two main candidates.
One thing remained constant, Monday’s debate didn’t change people’s minds.
“America does not look like the country I was raised to believe that it is,” said Lynn Caverly, independent. Based on the signs along Caverly’s lawn, the casual observer would think she was a Democrat. And for decades, she was. “I am registered as an independent for the first time since I was 15 years old.”
[That is] Until this year’s election.
“Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton,” asked 9 On Your Side.
“Neither,” she answered, adding that she’ll write Dr. Jill Stein’s name down on November 8.
And if there was a chance she might change her mind and vote for a major party’s candidate, the square off between Trump and Clinton on Monday night wasn’t the way to do it.
“It’s just more of the same thing, she said. “We need to get away from the personalities and deal with the issues.”
Comments from Monday’s debate didn’t resonate with Amy Bright either.
“I’m very disenchanted with the Democratic Party on a national level,” she said, adding that she’s definitely not voting for Trump, but she’s not convinced Clinton is the right choice either. “I may very well leave the presidential portion of the ballot blank.”
And the next couple of debates will play a huge role.
“I feel, short of her releasing a list of cabinet appointments, that’s the only way to change my mind at this point,” said Bright.
9 On Your Side reached out to a number of people for Tuesday’s story. Besides the people cited above, the majority of people in the area have their minds made up and said they’re voting for either Trump or Clinton.


text: Scuba diving may be an enjoyable habit; however, it can pose a danger to divers who are just starting to learn the basics of diving. That’s why for their efforts and courage, it’s just right to reward them with a certificate as a reminder of their rough start. Easily create one by making use of our Scuba Diving School Certificate Template. Its composition of preformatted content and graphic designs can be easily customized. This way, you can incorporate your personal touch into it with less hassle. You can have a copy of the file in PSD, AI, ID, Word, Publisher, or Pages format. Download now!

domain: hobby


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Maggie pretty much followed the cake box recipe and when the batter was in the bowl, she cut a lime in half and juiced it into the batter. I think next time we’ll get two limes and mix the second into the frosting.
In Fight Club, Tyler Durden advises that by mixing equal parts frozen orange juice and gasoline you can make napalm. I don’t know if this is true, I never tried it.
I got a short story collection by Chuck Palahniuk, “Make Something Up. Stories You Can’t Unread”. The first one I read made me laugh hard for maybe 10 minutes. I needed that.
The stuff Trump says? You can’t make it up. I don’t laugh.
Hannibal Lector was the hero, if you forgot.

domain: food


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Google is Censoring the 10 Commandments
IMPORTED FROM YOUTUBE
Google’s vice president of global government affairs and public policy, Karan Bhatia, said PragerU’s video on the 10 Commandments is restricted because it contains the word "murder." You know, as in "Thou Shalt Not Murder."
Sign the petition to help us fight Big Tech censorship: https://l.prageru.com/2Tyvcv1
Original source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZeOGpqdwm0
Follow PragerU on:
View all comments


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" ALL NEW " A DUMP BOX ORIGINAL PUNISHER "LIGHTS OUT" NVG OPERATOR PVC MORALE PATCH
Nothing but Badassery over here at DUMP BOX! This is the First official Morale Patch release of our 'Punisher as Fuck' Skullcrusers NVG Operator Artwork.
This Velcro backed Morale Patch is 3D PVC, with Toxic Green NVG Goggles For those 'Lights Out Motherfucker' Moments. You can choose to pick-up the patch by itself, or choose our Patch & Sticker Combo. The Patch measures Approximately 3" x 2.75"

domain: game


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West Virginia Attractions February 18, 2017
There’s A Tiny Town In West Virginia Completely Surrounded By Breathtaking Natural Beauty
When you want to get away from it all, there’s nothing like a small town surrounded by natural beauty. Hillsboro, West Virginia is extra special. Travel in any direction, and you’ll find natural wonders just waiting for you.
Hillsboro, West Virginia is a rural town in Pocahontas County of just 260 people.
Despite its small size, Hillsboro has some important historical and natural areas.
Here you'll find the birthplace of famous author Pearl S. Buck.
The family left the home soon after Pearl was born, but her mother, Carrie, spoke fondly of it for long after.
To the west of Hillsboro, you'll find the Cranberry Wilderness.
This natural area is part of the Monongahela National Forest.
In this area you'll also find the Falls of Hills Creek, a series of three cascading waterfalls.
To the south, you'll find the historic
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park.
This observation tower gives a great view of the Greenbrier River Valley, and the area that was the site of West Virginia's last significant Civil War battle.
Droop Mountain is Beartown State Park.
The park was named for the many crevices and caves in the rocks, which people imagined would make great homes for bears. You can read more about it
To the east of Hillsboro, you'll find Watoga State Park.
The park is home to an 11-acre lake with fishing and boating available.
To the north, you'll find the Highland Scenic Highway.
Read more about this beautiful drive
. Take this road to head off to your next adventure!
For more natural beauty near Hillsboro, take our
Natural Wonders Road Trip through the Monongahela National Forest.

domain: geography


A major consideration for fume hoods is the material of construction, specifically the liner material. There are many liner types that are used for various applications and the liner must be compatible with the chemicals being used. Selecting the right liner will make all the difference and play a major role in the longevity of your fume hood. Here is a breakdown of the more common fume hood liner types and their qualities.
These liners are typically used in non-corrosive environments. If acids were to spill on this material, action must be taken as corrosion will occur. This liner is very economical and is heat-resistant.
When considering a steel option, fume hood liners typically come in Type 304 or Type 316 Stainless Steel. These types of liners are designed to provide greater life expectancy in harsh environments. The difference between the two is their makeup. Type 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel while Type 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum. The molybdenum is added to help resist corrosion to chlorides.
Type 304 is the most versatile and widely used of the austenitic stainless steels. It is resistant to oxidation, corrosion, and durable. This material is very easy to clean and can come in a variety of finishes and appearances.
Type 316 contains 2% molybdenum giving it greater resistance to chemical corrosion than its Type 304 counterpart. It is durable, easy to fabricate, and clean. Being more resistant to sulfuric acid, chlorides, bromides, iodides, and fatty acids, this steel will also cost a bit more.
Also known as poly or vinyl, this widely produced synthetic plastic polymer is chemically resistant to acids, salts, bases, fats, and alcohols. Typical applications involve acid digestions with chemicals like perchloric, hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and nitric acids. This material is also commonly found in wash down stations. It has moderate resistance to heat and moderate structural strength.
Fiberglass Reinforced Composite Panel
A fiberglass reinforced composite panel liner is the most common fume hood liner. This inexpensive liner material offers high chemical resistance coupled with low smoke and flame toxicity properties. It also provides great temperature control, durability, moisture resistance, and structural strength.
Molded Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester
The molded fiberglass reinforced polyester offers a sleek, one-piece liner. It is corrosion and fire-resistant and makes for easy cleanup. Due to no internal seams, the interior has no cracks where contaminants can collect leading to fewer points of deterioration and longer life expectancy. The high light reflectivity surface is designed to withstand exposure to a wide range of acids, solvents, and alkalis.
Just as the purchase of a fume hood is a significant decision, so is knowing its intended use. Assess the inventory of chemicals and contaminants that are being used, so the right decision can be made for your fume hood liner. Some liners react when exposed to heat, while others react when exposed to chemicals. Make the proper choice so your fume hood will serve you well for many years.


st52 3 steel bar Related introduction
st 52.3 Round Bars, st52 Carbon Steel Round Bars ...
ST 52.3 Steel Bars are medium carbon and chromium steel, with good tensile strength. ST 52.3 Carbon Steel round bar is a high tensile carbon steel with higher strength than both 1018 and C045. ST 52.3 steel round bars are carbon-manganese grade which are worked to produce high tensile properties and often used in the automotive industry.
ST 52.3 round bar, st52-3 steel bar, st52.3 steel rod ...
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Ver. 2.0, 1/2/2020
This is an introduction to the SCAIowa project. A project to create and improve recruitment and retention infrastructure and strategies as used in the state of Iowa. The introduction covers the creation of recruitment materials, recruitment infrastructure such as social media and linking together the materials, strategies and people into coordinated efforts to improve the rate of return on recruitment efforts.

domain: library


Public Discussion of Constitutional Amendments in Batumi were held on the background of citizens` activism. The attendees had questions about the constitutional amendments, including the rule of electing the president.
"None of the elections have been conducted, which has not left too many questions. Do you think such elected people should elect for us of the President? Where are we going to Mr. Chairman? "- said one of the attendees.
The Chairman of the Parliament responded to the citizen and said that the country was moving towards democracy.
"We moved from 2012 when we had 24 500 prisoners to the reality when we have today 9 500 prisoners instead , we change the undemocratic constitution for a democracy one and that`s where we are going all together,"- said Irakli Kobakhidze


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Ktarian chocolate puff was a large dome-shaped dessert originating from the Ktarians. It was made from seventeen varieties of chocolate and was one of Deanna Troi's favorite confections. It was served at a reception held aboard the USS Enterprise-D in 2370 for a visiting Iyaaran delegation. (TNG: "Liaisons")
In 2377, The Doctor, while inhabiting Seven of Nine's body, ate three servings of Ktarian chocolate puff while dining with Ranek, the captain of a Lokirrim vessel who had taken them captive. (VOY: "Body and Soul")

domain: history


UNC gets set for USC’s 'D’
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
After three straight weeks of playing teams with fast, aggressive, top-30 defenses, you'd think North Carolina would pretty much know what's coming when South Carolina visits Kenan Stadium on Saturday. Not so, according to coach Butch Davis. "This is a totally different conceptual picture," Davis said of the Gamecocks' defense. "We have not played anybody thus far this year that lines up like South Carolina." (Greensboro News & Record)
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| Butch Davis
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Thursday May 26, 2016


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I am very pleased to introduce the first piece of legislation that the new Administration are putting before Parliament. It signals a profound change in the way in which Government will interact with the people they serve.
The national identity card scheme represents the worst of government. It is intrusive and bullying, ineffective and expensive. It is an assault on individual liberty which does not promise a greater good. The Bill is, therefore, partly symbolic. It sends a message that the Government are going to do business in a different way. We are the servants of the people, not their masters, and every action that we take must be considered in that context.
Of course our first duty is to keep people safe. That truism cannot be repeated often enough. We will do whatever it takes to honour that covenant. Sometimes, respecting the rights of the few while protecting the many will be a delicate balancing act. Not on this occasion. We have no hesitation in making the national identity card scheme an unfortunate footnote in history. There it should remain-a reminder of a less happy time when the Government allowed hubris to trump civil liberties.
Last month, the coalition set out its plans to abolish ID cards and the national identity register. The register contains the biographic and biometric fingerprint data of cardholders. In bringing forward this stand-alone Bill, we are now seeking swift approval to enable us to abolish both.
The Government are of course also bringing forward a freedom Bill, and will launch a consultation on the laws that the British people want to see repealed. So the Identity Documents Bill is just our first measure as we begin to restore the balance between national security and civil liberties-the crucial, delicate balance which was so carelessly abandoned during Labour's years in office.
Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): I opposed identity cards from the very beginning and I have not changed my views, but will the Home Secretary bear in mind that in 1996 the Conservative Home Secretary, Michael Howard, announced that the Conservative Government intended to bring in an identity card scheme? It was described as voluntary-whatever that meant. It was not possible to do so for obvious reasons: because of what happened in 1997.
Mrs May: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding us of what was done in 1996 by a former Conservative Home Secretary and what was proposed. That Conservative Government did indeed look at the possibility. We have looked at the idea brought forward by the Labour Government and we do not think that it is right. We take a different view, which is that we should abolish the identity card scheme. The hon. Gentleman referred to his opposition and indeed a number of Labour Members objected to the proposals of their Front-Bench colleagues.
Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) (Lab): The Home Secretary is talking about the abolition of the scheme. Is she telling the House, and the wider country, that the abolition of the scheme will include foreign nationals coming to this country?
Mrs May: No. I shall come to that point later. There are biometric residency permits for foreign nationals and they are completely separate from the identity card scheme. They were rolled into the ID scheme only because the Labour Government were trying desperately to bolster it; they claimed that the residency permits were somehow part of the ID card scheme, which they are not. Those biometric residency permits will continue to exist.
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): As one of the Labour Members who opposed identity cards from the beginning, I am delighted that the Bill is one of the first pieces of legislation that the new Government are putting through. Will the Home Secretary say something about people who went ahead and rather stupidly bought an identity card? Does she feel that they should be recompensed or does she think they should have listened to those of us on both sides of the House who said, "This is the wrong scheme and you shouldn't be doing that"?
Mrs May: I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. She does indeed have an honourable record of maintaining opposition to identity cards. I will make reference to this point later, but I can tell her now that we will not be offering refunds to all those who chose to get an identity card. [Hon. Members: "Outrageous!"] Labour Front Benchers shout "Outrageous", but we made it clear that we were opposed to identity cards. The Liberal Democrat party made it absolutely clear that it was opposed to identity cards. People knew well before the election what would happen if a Conservative Government were elected.
Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab): Does the Home Secretary recall that the Labour party's manifesto in 2005 had a commitment to introduce a voluntary ID card scheme? Does she recollect that it was the Labour party that won that general election? In what way was it illegitimate-or, indeed, "stupid", to quote my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey)-for people then to buy a card that was legitimate and had been set out in the manifesto of the winning party?
Mrs May: I must make a confession; I did not study the 2005 Labour party manifesto in any great detail because I was too busy promoting the 2005 Conservative party manifesto- [ Interruption. ] I am not trying to rewrite history; the right hon. Gentleman and his party won the 2005 election and introduced the identity card scheme. Let us remember; the scheme was not introduced in the very early stages of the Government's term, but we made it clear from an early stage that if the Conservative party came into government, ID cards would be scrapped. That was clear to people, and the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling)-
Mrs May: I fail to see how it is arrogant for a political party to make clear to the electors that if it gets into government it will pursue a particular policy, to allow electors to make a decision as to their actions on the basis of that knowledge.
Mrs May: I am coming on to some of the cost issues but, over the next four years, we will be saving £86 million by getting rid of the identity card scheme, with over £800 million being saved over the next 10 years.
Much of the Identity Cards Act 2006 will be undone but the Bill will re-enact certain provisions in the 2006 Act that do not relate solely to ID cards. Those provisions on offences and passport verification make available powers in relation to the detection and prevention of fraud, and the consular fees provision makes it possible to issue passports at subsidised rates. It will remain an offence to carry an identity document that a person knows or believes to be false or to hold a genuine document that relates to someone else, or that has been improperly obtained. Also it will remain illegal to possess equipment for falsifying documents. Under the Bill, ID cards will be invalidated. Holders will not be able to use them either to prove their identity or as a travel document in Europe. On the passing of the Bill, I will not issue any more cards. Following Royal Assent, cards will remain valid for just one more month.
Mrs May: I have not said that that is the case from today. I have a rather greater belief in the value of Parliament than the last Labour Government showed. Any provisions will come into force only once the Bill has been approved by Parliament and has received Royal Assent. It is after Royal Assent that cards will remain valid for one more month only. I will be writing to all those who already have a card to inform them of the change, so the right hon. Gentleman can look forward in due course to receiving a letter from me. Let us get this in proportion: fewer than 15,000 people already have a card.
Mr Blunkett: I am sorry for intervening again, but as the House will appreciate, the subject is rather close to my heart. I understand entirely that the document will not be useable for travel purposes once the Bill has received Royal Assent, but I understood the right hon. Lady to say that it would not be valid in offering any proof of identity. Just before that, she said that it would be illegal. I am trying to ascertain whether using this document, which has my fingerprints and photo and is more authentic than my passport, would make me a criminal were I to use it for other purposes, such as opening a bank account.
Mrs May: I followed the right hon. Gentleman's argument quite carefully and perhaps I can reprise what I actually said earlier. Under the Bill, the cards will be invalidated. Holders will not be able to use them either to prove their identity or as a travel document in Europe. On Royal Assent, they will remain valid for only one more month. I did not use the word "illegal", except in relation to those who possess equipment for falsifying documents. I trust that, as a former Home Secretary, the right hon. Gentleman is not intending to hold equipment for the falsification of documents.
The post of Identity Commissioner will be abolished. The public panels and experts groups that were established by the Identity and Passport Service have already been disbanded, and 60 temporary staff in Durham have already been released early.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: I am very grateful. The Home Secretary has just announced that 67 people in my constituency were made redundant last week because the Government are not continuing identity cards. What efforts will her Government make to get jobs for those people who lost them this week, and for those who are likely to lose their jobs because the Government are not going ahead with the second generation biometric passports?
If I can just correct a slight inaccuracy of terminology in the way in which the hon. Lady referred to the job losses in Durham, the people concerned were temporary staff on short-term contracts and they have been released early from those contracts. There are implications to abolishing the previous Labour Government's scheme but, as the hon. Lady may know, we as a Government have considerable proposals for helping people who are unemployed to get into work. Our single work programme, which will replace the
previous Government's proposals for helping people into work, will give people much more focused individual help on getting them into the workplace and ensuring that they are retrained and given the skills that they need.
The Bill also places a duty on me to destroy all information recorded in the national identity register within two months of Royal Assent. Photographs and fingerprint biometrics will be securely destroyed. This will not be a literal bonfire of the last Government's vanities, but it will none the less be deeply satisfying. The national identity register will then cease to exist entirely.
We will continue to work to ensure the free movement of citizens abroad. We are halting work on fingerprint passports-the so-called second generation biometric passports-because we believe, in common with the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, that we can maintain the integrity of our passports by other security measures. Already a combination of physical and electronic security features makes the British passport very hard to counterfeit and forge. A new design with improved physical security features will be issued from 5 October, and we are considering ways to strengthen further the electronic security features.
In November 2008 the previous Administration began issuing to non-EEA nationals the biometric residency permits mentioned in an intervention. I want to reiterate the point that I made in response to that intervention. For purely political reasons those permits were referred to by the previous Government as identity cards for foreign nationals. Let no one in the House be in any doubt. They are not ID cards, and they will continue.
We anticipate that the net cost of the Bill will amount to about £5 million this year, which includes termination of contracts, writing off equipment, contacting cardholders and others to inform them that the project is over, exit costs for staff who cannot be redeployed elsewhere, and payments to contractors for secure destruction of identity information. I regret that another unavoidable cost is maintaining the ability to issue new cards before our statutory obligation to do so is removed. This is yet another example of why we want to act as quickly as possible.
The good news, however, is that the taxpayer, as I said in answer to a previous intervention, will be saved some £86 million over the next four years. Moreover, the public will not be hit with the roughly £800 million of ongoing costs over the next 10 years. To put that in perspective, that is a millennium dome's worth of savings.
At any time it is utterly wrong for Government to waste taxpayers' money on a folly. In the current climate, it is obscene.
Chris Bryant: I am grateful to the right hon. Lady. In response to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods), she said that the staff were on short-term contracts. I should remind her that she, too, is on a short-term contract, as are all of us. How does she intend to use the provisions of the Bill in relation to the Consular Fees Act 1980?
Mrs May: I shall disappoint the hon. Gentleman by saying that I will not give him a precise answer in response to that point. We are ensuring that we still have those abilities in the Act to allow discounts on applications for passports under the consular fees permission in the Bill. The Bill enables us to retain the ability to do that, should we at some stage choose to do so, but I shall not give the hon. Gentleman a more detailed answer at present. I am sure he can make his points known during the debate if he chooses to catch the Speaker's eye.
Mrs May: No. I shall go a little further in my speech. I return to the subject of savings. The Bill is not just about saving money. [Interruption.] Mr. Deputy Speaker, may I be the first to congratulate you on your appointment as Chairman of Ways and Means? I look forward to many debates in the Chamber under your wise rule in the Chair.
If an overwhelming case could be made that ID cards would keep us safe without intruding on civil liberties, we would find the funding. But that is not the case. First, if databases are compromised, so too is security. The Labour Government's track record on this was appalling. We all remember the moment the House was told that HMRC had lost data for 25 million people, including their dates of birth, addresses, bank accounts and national insurance numbers, and that was just one example of many. We recognise that some data storage is essential, but these events do not point in the direction of a massive expansion of the surveillance state, which ID cards would necessarily involve.
Moreover, ID cards would not make us safer or beat benefit fraud. Benefit fraud usually involves people lying about their personal circumstances rather than their identity. Turkish and Spanish ID cards stopped neither the Istanbul bombers in 2003 nor the Madrid bombers in 2004; nor did German ID cards prevent terrorists plotting 9/11 in Hamburg. As Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, said after the 7/7 attacks here in London:

domain: politics


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We covered many issues regarding booster shots last week, but that was before the advisory committee on immunization practices and the CDC director had weighed in on the final, full US government recommendations for vaccination with the CDC Director overruling the agency’s highly respected Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. With that action, as one would expect, the final recommendations are not purely driven by science, but also have significant politics baked in. Now to be clear, we do not mean political parties or right-left influence, but influence to ensure that large interest groups are called out for special treatment. But we’ll cover what the actual recommendations are.
First, there is no change in recommendations for how Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are used. Moderna is still two shots, with a third added to the primary series for a very limited subset of people, and Johnson & Johnson is still a single-shot vaccine, and there is no change to those recommendations.
For Moderna, the evidence is still clear that the standard two-shot series results in excellent efficacy in the prevention of severe disease (meaning hospitalization) and death, for most people. There were efficacy declines noted with respect to the delta variant especially in an older population, but they were not as marked as with the Pfizer vaccine as will be discussed in a moment. In August, the Food and Drug Administration did amend the emergency use authorization to allow the use of a third shot of the Moderna vaccine in a very limited population of objectively immunocompromised people. This has not changed, and if you are not a transplant recipient or on medications that impact her immune system or have a documented immune system disorder, a third shot of the Moderna vaccine is not authorized. From what we currently know, the small added benefit does not outweigh the also small added risk – but it’s a close call and individual circumstances could change the calculus.
That brings us to the Pfizer vaccine. Large high-quality data sets were presented to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and demonstrated that persons over 65 years of age saw significant declines in vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease – down to 55%, and efficacy against severe disease was down to about 85%. Keep in mind with these numbers noted, if this vaccine was the only candidate, these efficacies would be considered highly effective, and the vaccine would be cheered as a marvel of science. But it isn’t the only vaccine, so it gets compared to the other options in determining the way forward. In any event, the noted efficacy declines were driven by the delta variant and were more noticeable when the recipient was greater than 6 months out from initial immunization series completion. Given these reductions in efficacy, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices supported recommending a booster vaccination for:
- People over 65
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- People ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions including cancer; cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, chronic kidney, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2; obesity; pregnancy and recent pregnancy; and smoking (history of or currently).
The data is clear on these three indications, so most people falling into these categories should get an additional third dose of Pfizer vaccine any time after 6 months following their primary series.
A fourth permissive, yet not specifically recommended category includes people aged 18 to 49 years with underlying medical conditions as assessed by their healthcare provider. This, of course, is a loophole and is actually not supported by the data, which found that these younger people likely have efficacy rates in both symptomatic disease and hospitalization categories that are similar to the general population. Nonetheless, the authority to get immunized now exists.
The fourth category is even more controversial. This category was added on at the sole discretion of the Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention without support from her scientific advisors. This category says that the vaccine may be given to any adult not covered by one of the previous categories if they are at increased risk for Covid exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings. In other words, not based on your personal medical risk, but based on your social circumstances. The issue is a scientific controversy over whether the vaccine’s purpose is to allow the individual to make a decision on modification of their own risk by getting vaccinated or is the role of the vaccine to modify societal risks by targeting populations that may have a higher exposure risk. The advisory committee on immunization practices focused on the latter while the leadership of the CDC focused on the former. The exposure risk approach does have scientific validity, but not all groups called out have been shown to have higher risks that lead to higher community transmission. An extension of this same controversy extends to the role of the government in mandating vaccines with the issue again being is the purpose of the vaccine is to allow an individual to decide to modify their own risk factors or is the purpose of the vaccine to modify society’s overall risks.
Of note, both the US Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisory committee and the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices did express concern about the lack of adequate safety data regarding the third dose. So far, reports of adverse effects of the third dose for Pfizer are comparable to effects reported after the second dose except that there is inadequate data to assess the incidence of myocarditis, one of the most recognized serious side effects. Also, the data does demonstrate that there is a significant increase in the incidence of lymphadenopathy or inflammation of lymph nodes, which is seen in about 1 out of 20 people receiving the booster dose versus about 1 out of 250 after the primary series. Swollen lymph nodes, by themselves, are not a big deal, but the concern is why this is happening.
Importantly, the United States is not alone in giving a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine to most if not all adults. Nine countries are offering booster doses to all adults including Austria, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Israel, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates; while eight countries are giving a third dose to the elderly population including China, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
So that is the current situation on third shots. As to where we go from here, Johnson & Johnson has submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration that clearly supports an additional dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in order to optimize efficacy. The emphasis is that the single-shot series is still highly beneficial, but a two-shot series maximizes efficacy and thereby decreasing the chance of further transmission. It is very likely that this is next up in the FDA’s EUA amendment queue.
For Moderna, their data shows decreases in efficacy in a manner similar to that shown by Pfizer, but it is also very clear that the decreases in efficacy with the Moderna vaccine are not as steep, so it is not at all clear that at least at the 6-month point an additional Moderna vaccine would have significant benefits outweighing associated small but present risks.
Lastly on boosters: So far, there is no US requirement for anyone to get a booster to still be considered fully vaccinated for administrative purposes, but that could change.
In the past weeks, we have noted that both Pfizer and Moderna are working on modified versions of their vaccine that could specifically address the delta variant. News and any kind of official discussions regarding this possibility have all but dried up. We do know that the studies regarding an additional booster with a slightly modified vaccine to specifically address the delta variant are ongoing. These studies are important to prove the ability to rapidly develop and field a modified vaccine in case of any major new variant that escapes vaccine protection. The issue with fielding these delta-modified vaccines in our current situation is that there is no evidence that a modified vaccine would have enough significant additional benefit against the delta variant to outweigh any risks. Also, if the manufacturers and the government were to announce a delta-modified vaccine is coming, it is likely that anyone who has not been vaccinated or anyone who should get a booster would decide to wait until the new vaccine is released. The public health effects of shutting down the use of a demonstrated highly effective collection of vaccines would be significant. So, the fact that we are not hearing anything about a delta-specific vaccine does not mean that nothing is in the works. But it may mean that public health authorities and the manufacturers assess that the risk associated with the inevitable delays between an announcement and feeling of a new vaccine would have a greater negative effect than the continued use of the current very effective but imperfect vaccines.
- If you are an adult who got Pfizer more than 6 months ago and you have any degree of risk factor, talk to your doctor, but it is probably in your best interest to get a booster shot.
- If you got Moderna not only, are you not supposed to get a booster but there is reasonable evidence that a booster is not a major need at least at this point.
- If you got Johnson & Johnson, you probably will need a booster but it is not available to you yet.
- Regarding AstraZeneca, there is just not enough data yet to make a determination, but we expect that a booster will be necessary.
Emergency Use Authorizations
It looks as if we are getting very close to Pfizer filing an application for emergency use authorization for its vaccine in the 5-11-year-old age group. Several authorities in the United States have announced that they are already starting to establish programs to be ready to administer this vaccine to school-aged children as soon as it is authorized. At this point, there is very little question about the likely efficacy of this vaccine but before making any further recommendations everybody wants to see the safety data especially as it relates to myocarditis and pericarditis. Prior to delta, we were not enthusiastic about vaccines for younger children, but delta is having more effects on younger kids.
The current regimen of monoclonal antibodies and/or steroids and/or intravenous antivirals has been very effective in decreasing the death rate. As you may have heard before, if you get Covid and you have any risk factors, get monoclonal antibodies as soon as possible. In addition, it is looking like Merck pharmaceuticals is moving into a phase 3 study for an oral outpatient antiviral that appears to have good efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death and is demonstrating high effectiveness against the delta variant. Additionally, the virology of this compound, molnupiravir, is such that it is theoretically highly efficacious against any SARS-CoV2 variant. Merck expects to file for emergency use authorization sometime over the upcoming quarter. While we do not have detailed data on this compound yet, it is probably reasonable to think of this as working like flu antivirals in that it is not likely to be rapidly curative, but it is likely to significantly blunt the possibility of serious disease and shorten the duration of symptoms. The degree to which it does either of these things will determine the value of this new tool.
Things are still looking good in most of the world with cases in the United States on a clear downward trajectory since the first week of this month with case rates falling 13 to 14% over the last week. Given the epidemiology that has been seen with delta-driven peaks in other parts of the world, it is reasonable to expect that in the absence of another variant this wave would come down to a relatively low baseline in the November timeframe. The major caveat to this expectation comes from the United Kingdom where after an initial steep decline from their peak, the case rate has remained stable at a high level of 50 cases per 100,000/day – although deaths continue to stay down, if not seeing further decreases.
Other major countries continuing to see case increases include Australia, especially Victoria state, South Korea, and Singapore. Singapore is especially concerning because greater than 80% of the population of Singapore has been vaccinated, yet their case rate continues to increase. New restrictions on movement and commercial operations were imposed earlier this week and will be kept in place for at least a month in order to break the current chain of transmission.
Europe continues to see a slow steady decrease in the rate of cases, roughly matching the slow steady increase in the rate of immunizations across the continent.

domain: medical


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James Widdop for beautiful presentation of work and lovely joining handwriting.
Ellie Rheam, Shumirai Zvenyika, Christine Lupepe and Jesse Crawford for trying so hard in writing stories for the Allied Arts Literary Festival Competition.
Mangomuhle Ngwena, Gelaldine Matika, Sejal Ravala, Dean Chiwombe and Nomathamsanqa Ndhlovu for finally swimming a full length. Well done!
Taro Chimvinga for trying very hard to improve his work.
Natalie Garikayi for working well and quietly.
Daniel Conolly and Kathryn Rundle for steady and conscientious work this week.
Andile Kopotsha for now having beautiful joined writing.
Sam Matabeya and Jannah Brand for swimming a length so that they can be in the Gala!
Mwaita Mukudu for excellent bonds and tables.
Shammah Chingonzoh for effort made in swimming.
Tiya Desai for hard work.
Tinotenda Gotosa for settling in so well.
The whole class for an outstanding Chapel Play.
Markos Tzircalle, Kimberley Ncube, Kian Hawa, Hannah Smit and Bradley Dube for much improved swimming.
James Thompson for good revision in science.
Mitchell Stanley and Tyla Love for their enthusiastic writing of thoughtful poetry using onomatopoeia.
Courtney Khumalo for outstanding behaviour.
Obert Chinhamo for effort in all subjects.
Caitlyn Rugara for all the care and attention she puts into all her work.
Emily Stanton for a positive, cheerful attitude.
Ndebele – Mrs Mafa
Nomathamsanqa Ndlovu, Christine Lupepe and Takudzwa Mukanya for all obtaining full marks in the Ndebele Test.
Joel, Zara, Arron, Imani, Mbongeni, Ellie, Mwaita, Erin and Nandipa for positive and enthusiastic participation in the Music Group.
Jessie Sparrow and Mikhail Hawa for diligently practicing their instruments.


"Have been delaying this job for some time. The siphon was a perfect replacement and has dual flush. Depress and hold/ depress and release gives short/full flush. What a bonus. Still don't know how it works but may fit another in the ensuite, I like it so much."
"Have bought many of theses valves over the years. No frills, fairly easy to fit (once you've got the cistern off) and saves you water with dual flush actions. Will fit most cisterns, but be careful with narrow body cisterns, as won't replace round flush valves such as freeflo or metro."
"This is what u want from a part fits as it should gives u a tight seal and works as it should and for the price u pay it is well worth it if I was to do the same job again a would buy this straight away directions are very clear and u can not fit the part wrong"
"This siphon just works and that is that, it is far better than any of its' more expensive competitors and the only siphon I fit, you can also set it for larger flushes in older cisterns. Dual flush and very durable."
"New siphon unit was really easy to fit and was swapped out in about 5 minutes after getting the cistern off. Gives the benefit of dual flush which works fine, even get a label for the loo to let you know how it operates."
"Bought this to replace my faulty syphon at home. Nom I'm not a plumber (sparky actually) but after watching a clip online of how to replace it I thought I would give it a bash. This syphon replaced my old one perfectly and worked 1st time out of the pack. You should really buy the WC close coupling kit from here whilst buying this as the old kit rarely comes off in a usable condition plus it makes the job easier & better. I would recommend this syphon to anyone who wants to replace an old one in a standard sized cistern."
"Does everything you expect from a syphon flush. The only issue was that the internal outlet seal leaked initially but this stopped when the back nut was tightened with a spanner. I didn't use any selaing compound just the washer supplied in the bag."
"The syphon on our toilet gave up the ghost last week. A quick visit to my local Screwfix outlet saw me purchase this replacement syphon. Took me longer to empty the toilet than it did to fit the replacement. The missus is impressed with the dual flush facility (which our old syphon didn't have. Saves water and money."
"The first time I have attempted any kind of plumbing and found this item so easy to install. Great value and saved me a few quid on plumbers retirement funds ;) Would recommend this easy to fit siphon"


Implementation of GateVision, Tideworks’ proprietary gate operating system, was completed in December 2006. The OCR system further advances the Port’s goals of streamlining gate processing and improving truck turnaround times at Terminal 6, its primary container handling facility. Portland has been utilising Tideworks’ Mainsail Terminal Management System, Spinnaker Planning Management System and Forecast since 2003. GateVision has been in use since late 2006.
“We’re extremely pleased with the continued progress and implementation of Tideworks’ integrated port management technologies,” said Lee Roundtree, general manager of marine operations for the Port of Portland. “The implementation of gate OCR was seamless, and has improved processing times by an additional 25–30%. The combination of GateVision with OCR represents a huge gain in efficiency versus the manual method, and ultimately has allowed us to increase Terminal 6’s processing capacity significantly.”
Because of its experience in implementing gate technologies at multiple West Coast terminals, Tideworks now has the capability and expertise to cost-effectively provide complete gate integration services, acting as the prime contractor and single point of contact for the customer. Utilising the chokepoint portal concept, it provided all of the on-site implementation and supervision for the Portland OCR project.


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Case Study: Novo Nordisk Social Media Strategy
Eager to learn how Novo Nordisk is doing in regards to social media marketing? Ambassify has created a report covering the unique aspect points and improvements for Novo Nordisk.
Continue reading to find out!
Novo Nordisk has effectively utilized social media platforms to engage with its target audience and spread awareness about diabetes management. Through their social media presence, the company aims to create an online community that offers support, inspiration, and educational resources for people living with diabetes. They regularly share informative content, success stories, and expert advice, empowering individuals to take control of their health.
Learn how KBC - one of Belgium’s biggest banks - leveraged their employees to achieve stellar social media marketing results.


Can Psychedelics Improve Mental Health? A Conversation with Christian Angermayer and Uma Thurman
October 18 at 5:00 pm PDT / 8:00 pm EDT
Sound mental health is essential to a healthy and fulfilled life, yet studies show that one in every five individuals suffers from a mental health condition at some point in their life. The social, medical and economic costs of this crisis are clear. The global economy loses nearly $1 trillion each year due to depression and anxiety, and those with mental health issues are more susceptible to facing other health challenges such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The lack of access to effective treatment options has compounded this problem, crippling our societies and damaging our communities.
Historically stigmatized drugs such as psychedelics have risen to the forefront of mental illness treatment options, with recent rigorous clinical trials demonstrating their potential to induce robust and long-lasting anti-depressant effects. In addition, regulators' embrace of psychedelics and an increasingly supportive public opinion has now encouraged investors to view this space as the next frontier in medical advances.
In this session, Uma Thurman will interview entrepreneur and investor Christian Angermayer, on the emergence of psychedelics as part of the potential solution to our mental health crisis.
Founder, Apeiron Investment Group


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Booming business: Two new businesses open in Snow Hill, one to open in Kinston
SNOW HILL | Residents in Snow Hill can beat the last of the summer heat with a new ice cream shop.
La Monarca Ice Cream and Fruit Bar opened earlier this week in Snow Hill next to La Flama. Both the La Monarca and La Flama are owned by Salvador Tinoco.
“It’s not the typical ice cream you find in the grocery store,” Tinoco said.
Customers can enjoy popsicles, ice cream, milk shakes, banana splits and traditional Hispanic specialties like Chile con mango.
“It’s something healthy that everybody can eat,” Tinoco said. “We offer water-based treats and lactose-based.”
The ice cream is made on site fresh every day, using local ingredients.
“The ice cream you eat today was made yesterday. That is how fresh it is,” he said.
With most treats under $5, customers can enjoy a fresh treat at an affordable price.
“Everyone that comes and they get a popsicle here, they taste the fruit, they don’t taste anything artificial,” he said.
Another new retailer is coming to Snow Hill, and the doors will open today.
A Dollar General, located at 905 Southeast Second Street, will have a soft opening. A grand opening scheduled for Sept. 24 at 8 a.m. will have giveaways. The first 50 adult customers will receive a complimentary three-pound package of ground beef, and the first 100 adult customers will receive a $10 gift card. There will be a tote bag for the first 200 shoppers.
The new store is approximately 12,000 square feet and 3,000 square feet of that space will allow Dollar General to provide meat and produce, according to a news release.
“Dollar General is committed to delivering a pleasant shopping experience that includes a convenient location, a wide assortment of merchandise and great prices on quality products,” said Dan Nieser, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development in the release. “We hope our Snow Hill customers will enjoy shopping at Dollar General’s new location.”
The store will employ approximately 15 people, anyone interest in a position can apply online at dollargeneral.com/careers.
In Lenoir County, Kinston will soon be home to a second Taco Bell.
Gram Spear, vice president of Perry Management, said the new franchise will be located right new to the McDonalds and across from Lenoir Community College.
“They hope to start construction in the next few weeks,” Spear said.
Although Spear will not be running the fast food chain, when approached about the business venture he said he knew where a great spot would be.
“We knew that was a good spot for food,” he said. “When I think of being close to Lenoir Community College it was a plus to them and the traffic count on the highway was a plus to them.”
The restaurant will sit on one acre of land. Spear said he is still working on placing other businesses around the restaurant.
“We’re talking to a few gas stations to try and kind of wrap around it,” he said
Michelle Piper may be reached at 252-559-1073 and firstname.lastname@example.org. You can follow her on Twitter at @MPiperKFP.


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Live Casinos It is a live broadcast of casino games in various formats. That allows gamblers to Access to online casinos in real time. This will be a live signal from the studio of the casino that offers it. There are dealers who run the game, tell the results, deal cards, talk and interact with real gamblers. It’s like playing at a casino.
And in playing live casinos Gamblers can bet at that moment. By depositing money into the system to exchange for chips for betting. And when you want to stop playing, you can withdraw cash back out.
Gamblers in casino games will love this! with live casino games that looks like a casino from service providers in many countries to combine them on your mobile screen. Just sign up, top up and enjoy many types of live casino games.
If you still don’t know what live casino is? This article will reveal all doubts. Ready to introduce fun live casino games that you can choose to play according to your preferences. also make real money.
Live Casino Games It gives you the opportunity to experience real-time betting. with dealers from anywhere. Just connect to the internet which every game can be wagered with real money. And make profits back to real money It’s no different from going to a real casino.


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Duces at DC Golf opens in Poughkeepsie, offering eclectic menu year-round
DC Golf built a loyal following among golfers in the region in the winter months.
While too cold to hit the links outdoors, the simulators at DC Golf allowed duffers to tee it up on virtual courses alongside friends.
Now, owner Dan Pizzarelli hopes to expand its clinentel by opening an on-site restaurant that is aiming to be on-par with the rest of the City of Poughkeepsie's dining scene.
Duces at DC Golf opened last week at 10 Crannell Street, bringing a varied menu and year-round service to the seasonal business.
"It's a full-blown restaurant with a French-American twist along with a bourbon and whiskey bar," Pizzarelli said.
Pizzarelli had the first floor of the space renovated, adding about 60 seats. Guests can enjoy an expansive dinner menu, grab a drink at the bar or order appetizers while using the golf simulators on the second floor.
"We've got an eclectic menu — seared duck breast, burgers, chicken and waffles, seared tuna," he said. "We're going to have all kinds of dishes on the menu, and we're going to be running specials all the time."
The chicken and waffles has proved to be a popular menu item so far, but the restaurant also offers dishes such as a tuna poke bowl and the duck banh mi.
The restaurant is only open for dinner service, but Pizzarelli says he plans to expand to lunch service once the virtual golf season starts up.
With the renovations, DC Golf now has a total of five golf simulators on the second floor.
"We're still running leagues and tournaments, that's not going to stop," Pizzarelli said.
Though the site already gets traffic from the golf simulators, Pizzarelli believes attractions such as The Chance Theater and the proposed Bow Tie Cinemas theater could boost business.
"Having all these things in one space is absolutely a benefit," he said.
Geoffrey Wilson: firstname.lastname@example.org, 845-437-4882, Twitter: @GeoffWilson_


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Polish farmers plan to organize a blockade on the border with Lithuania: when they threaten to start
Polish farmers have announced their intention to organize a blockade on the border with Lithuania. Starting March 1, they plan to block the checkpoint between the Lithuanian city of Kalvaria and the Polish city of Budzisko.
This was reported by LRT. According to Karolis Pečinskins, a co-organizer of the protest on the Lithuanian border, they will stop trucks and check them for Ukrainian agricultural products.
The protest is scheduled to begin on March 1 at 10 am. All vehicles that can transport Ukrainian grain or other agricultural products will be stopped. The co-organizer assures that it will not be a complete blockade of the checkpoint.
"Of course, this does not apply to personal vehicles, fuel tanks, vehicles for the transportation of metal or livestock. If we see grain and other agricultural products coming, we would like to know where they are coming from, why and how, to get a sense of the volume of transportation," Pečinskins said.
According to him, he understands that such inspections will create inconvenience for carriers, but asks "to be understanding of the difficult situation that the farmers of his country are in." Polak says that the main problem is suspicions that some of the Ukrainian grain that is supposed to transit through Poland actually remains in the country.
"We just want to prove and draw attention to what is happening, because we believe that our interests are being violated, and we are not getting support from anyone. The question of blocking the Lithuanian border arose when we were thinking about how to increase pressure on the Polish government," he said.
Earlier, it was reported that Lithuanian farmers no longer plan to join the Polish protest on the country's border starting March 1. Lithuanian farmers do not intend to interfere with the supply of grain from Ukraine, and food from Russia is a much bigger problem for them.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
- Polish protesters have been blockading border crossings with Germany since February 25. The farmers are against the supply of grain from Ukraine to Germany because Ukrainian products are replacing Polish ones.
- Meanwhile, Polish carriers have announced that they will resume their strike at the Ukrainian border on March 1. Drivers and representatives of logistics companies will join the blockade already organized by Polish farmers.

domain: economics


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I've picked a particularly strong kissing scene from my manuscript not for the romance of the whole situation, but for the...passion? And when I say passion, I'm thinking hungry, aching, man-eating desire type of passion.
Acidic flooded my mouth and everything I saw appeared to be covered in a haze of crimson satin.
I started to take a step back, away from David, but as I moved my eager tooth pricked my tongue and the delicious taste of blood mingled with the acid in my saliva. Shock pulsated through my muscles, freezing me into place.
My hands ached and my stomach growled.
Before I could stop myself, I lunged forward; in one fluid movement, my arms snatched up his shoulders and shoved them into the trunk of a tree, heaving my chest against his. David’s breath wheezed from his lungs. The ringing in my ears grew deafening as my neck jerked toward him and my lips parted.
Without warning, my body gave one last shove, driving my mouth to go in for the kill. He gasped as his fingers laced around my waist and squeezed at my hips. His hands worked their way up my back, clawing as they moved. I lost my focus and pulled my lips away from him. My feet staggered backward until they tripped on a dead branch and I tumbled to the ground, my rear thudding into the moist dirt floor.
“Wow,” David said with a heavy breath. He propelled himself from the tree and reached his hand out to me.

domain: literature


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ABOUT THIS ARTIST
Douglas Berger, Founder & CEO
REMIXED is a full-service, multi-disciplinary branding agency that develops strategies & tactics designed to connect customers with their audiences. We create the messaging and design frameworks that are articulated through print, broadcast and interactive campaigns — including web-based and social media initiatives.
Art Direction,Graphic Design,Illustration

domain: design


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Landon Porter is a proud geek who enjoys comic books, roleplaying, and gaming. He knows a d20 from 2d10, the Konami Code and why Pi Day is March 14. A fan of all things Fantasy and Sci-Fi, he's been writing about them on the web since 2002 and has been telling stories since before he could write.
His best known works are the superhero web fiction series, 'The Descendants' and the dungeonpunk fantasy Rune Breaker.
An avid fan of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Roleplaying Games and Superhero comics, his works tend to mix and blend tropes from each into new an original creations.
His writing philosophy heavily emphasizes themes of family, hope and redemption, rejecting the idea that works must be bleak and dark to be realistic and meaningful.

domain: entertainment


A recent report published by Harvard University shows much lower staff levels at nursing homes across the country than previously reported. The author of the study, Fangli Geng, says that a recent change in how nursing homes report their staffing levels shows that up to 70 percent of nursing homes had previously overreported the number of staff between April 2017 and March 2018. The faulty reporting was almost exclusively confined to weekends, especially when counting registered nurses or RNs.
The author of the study point to the more accurate form of reporting currently used by the government. Previously, the number of nurses on staff at a nursing home would be calculated by using the payroll data in the month immediately preceding a health inspection visit. Because nursing home inspections usually occurred around the same time each year, nursing homes apparently increased their staff levels around this time. As part of the Affordable Care Act, nursing homes were required to transmit all payroll data to the federal government – providing a more accurate and complete understanding of nursing staff levels.


Most HIPAA Violation Complaints Quietly Closed By Government Through Private Letter
Most cases alleging a doctor's violation of patient privacy or medical information security are closed out of public view through these letters. ProPublica now posts hundreds of them in its HIPAA Helper tool. In other health IT news, a New York surgeon experiments with augmented reality to help understand the brain.
The Secret Documents That Detail How Patients’ Privacy Is Breached
As part of its examination into the impact of privacy violations on patients, ProPublica has posted about 300 of these “closure letters” in our HIPAA Helper tool. The app allows users to review details of these cases and track repeat offenders. We obtained the letters under the Freedom of Information Act and this is the largest repository of them ever made public. Most of the letters we’ve received were sent to two large providers, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and CVS Health. (Ornstein, 7/21)
What A Brain Surgeon's Virtual Reality Tool And Pokemon Go Have In Common
Augmented reality may be grabbing headlines with the rise of the hit game Pokemon Go, but a New York surgeon is examining how this technology could be used to save lives during some of the most complex brain operations. (Mohney, 7/22)


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Alphabet Appoints Robin L. Washington to its Board of Directors
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (April 30, 2019) – Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) today announced it has appointed Robin L. Washington to its Board of Directors. Ms. Washington is a recognized business leader with extensive experience across finance and operations, and will serve on Alphabet’s Leadership Development and Compensation Committee. Her appointment became effective on April 25.
“I’m honored to join Alphabet’s Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to help guide the company’s important work,” said Robin Washington. “I’m excited to be part of a company that has such a tremendous opportunity to improve the lives of people around the world.”
John Hennessy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alphabet, said: “Robin’s incredible business and leadership experience will be hugely valuable to our Board and company in the years ahead.”
As Robin joins the Board, two long-standing Board members and executives will not be seeking re-election.
After over 18 years on the Board, Eric Schmidt is not seeking re-election at the expiration of his current term on June 19, 2019. He will continue as a technical advisor to Alphabet. Eric has served as a member of the Board since March 2001. He was Google’s Chief Executive Officer from July 2001 to April 2011, and its Executive Chairman from April 2011 until January 2018.
“Eric has made an extraordinary contribution to Google and Alphabet as CEO, Chairman, and Board member. We are extremely grateful for his guidance and leadership over many years,” Hennessy said.
Diane Greene, who has served as a member of the Board since January 2012, is not seeking re-election to the Board at the expiration of her current term on June 19, 2019. Diane also served as CEO of Google Cloud from December 2015 to January 2019.
“I want to thank Diane for her years of tremendous service to our Board and company, in particular for her work in leading Google’s rapidly growing cloud business,” Hennessy said.
About Robin L. Washington
Robin has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, since February 2014. She joined Gilead as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 2008. From January 2006 to June 2007, Robin served as Chief Financial Officer of Hyperion Solutions, an enterprise software company. Prior to Hyperion, Robin served in a number of executive positions with PeopleSoft, Inc., a provider of enterprise application software. Robin currently serves as a director of Honeywell International, Inc., a diversified technology and manufacturing company, since April 2013 and Salesforce.com, a global leader in customer relationship management (“CRM”) technology, since September 2013 where she currently chairs the audit committee. Robin also serves on the Board of Visitors, Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University, the Presidents Council & Ross Business School Advisory Board, University of Michigan and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Board of Directors. Robin is a certified public accountant and received a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.
About Alphabet Inc.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in September 1998. Since then, the company has grown to more than 100,000 employees worldwide, with a wide range of popular products and platforms like Search, Ads, Maps, Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and Android. In October 2015, Alphabet became the parent holding company of Google. You can read more about Alphabet’s mission here.