RUOK Day has come and gone. Let’s all get back to watching the rugby…
I know, I know. This is not a binary choice either way. It is good to be critical, and it is also good to try. You never know the consequence of your actions.
This post is about RUOK Day- it was earlier this week, and you can read my post that I posted then here.
The point is that all too often ‘raising awareness’ ends once the enthusiasm from the celebrity laced event concludes. It becomes namedropping collateral, humblebrag for another time. Or is it?
Yes, I jest. Sort of. My point is though that if we care, then we should do more than just be satisfied with a minimalist approach to slacktivism.
This blog is about improving child survival. My earlier post was about improving mental health among veterans. Where is the connection?
This is what is on my mind: too often there is great enthusiasm to talk about an initiative, especially among politicians. After the press brief, it is back to business as usual. Not for those who are in the thick of it. Not for veterans struggling. And importantly not in the remote villages where child mortality is an unwanted blight.
No, while these things still prevail, I am not ok. And neither should you be.
I was fortunate to attend a wake at the Ivy Ballroom this afternoon to celebrate the life of John Hemmes. “Mr John” as he was, and still is, affectionately known was a leader in making things happen. He had style, he did it his way, he took people with him. He inspired many people, not the least of whom is Justin Hemmes.
This post frames a story that takes place across Three Acts.
Act One, Scene One:
I didn’t stay long, and just wanted to pay my respects. He had done a lot for Sydney through his influence, perhaps more than most people will know.
It was a fitting tribute. The venue was looking wonderful as usual, and staff lined the entrance along the length of the stairway to greet people as they arrived. It really was a celebration. And it is appropriate that the lives of such people are celebrated.
Act Two, Scene One:
Earlier in the day, I attended the interring of ashes for a Korean War veteran who I had come to know very well. He was originally from New Zealand, and served with the New Zealand gun battery as an artillery observer supporting the Australian battalions. Since my roles in the army and what he actually did at war were closely aligned, there was a lot to learn from him.
He was a colourful character in life, and after migrating to Australia became a private investigator, standover man in Kings Cross night clubs, along with a string of other experiences which beggared belief. During this life of his, he went bankrupt a couple of times and laughed that off when he told his stories in his true idiosyncratic manner with his huge Cheshire grin, and in doing so shared the highs and lows of what life was like as an entrepreneur, albeit if his journey was unconventional.
For the last 10 or 15 years of his life, he had ‘found religion’ as his family would describe. They didn’t approve of his new-found Christian faith, and perhaps preferred him when he was not spending so much time on the straight and narrow. In his last few years, despite accumulating many years, he found romance with a lovely lady who was close to his age. Together they were a great couple and brought each other much happiness. Unfortunately, the family neither accepted this relationship with this woman any more than they accepted his choice to follow a Christian lifestyle because of his beliefs.
He died exactly a year ago, and it wasn’t until now that his ashes were to be interred. I wasn’t able to attend his funeral because I was overseas at the time, but was pleased to attend the placing of his ashes.
I felt sick to my guts when his daughter pulled me aside at the end of the service that was attend by only a handful of people in contrast to the vibrancy of Ivy that was to come later. Included in the small throng was the lady with whom he had struck up the relationship. His daughter whispered that everyone would all pretend that we would be going home so that the girlfriend would bugger off and not join a casual lunch at the pub afterwards ‘because she was difficult’. I felt embarrassed for the girlfriend, and made a point of asking her to phone my anytime soon and that I hoped she would continue to attend the functions where the Korean War veterans would assemble. Needless to say, I left soon after that and thought nothing of attending the lunch. It was good to honour my friend that day.
This gathering couldn’t have been a greater contrast to the open expression of hospitality and celebration found at the wake for Mr John later in the afternoon.
Act Three, Scene One:
Returning home by train after the wake, I again fingered through the book “The End of Poverty” by Jeffrey Sachs. I had only just re-read it earlier that afternoon on another train ride between appointments. Flicking to the Introduction, the sentences seemed to have been written for this unremarkable train ride returning from the grandeur of Mr John’s celebration of life. Nothing in this post is to take away anything from John Hemmes, and I pay tribute to the man as he deserves my respect. But this is what I read in the opening words of Sachs (2005):
Currently, more than eight million people around the world die each year because they are too poor to stay alive….They die namelessly, without public comment. Sadly, such stories rarely get written.
Could there have been another day with three more contrasting events about death? This final scene speaks largely of course about the blight of child mortality, a moral obscenity as Tony Lake the Executive Director of UNICEF likes to characterise it.
Act Three, Scene Two:
He closes the book, and flicks over the postcard which was handed to him as he climbed the stairway when arriving at the Ivy Ballroom about an hour before. On one side, the postcard shows a flamboyant photo of a younger John Hemmes celebrating life. The other side has a simple quote from the man himself, speaking beyond the grave:
Whatever you do, do it well.
The video below is self-explanatory by the comment which accompany the clip from Chris describing his bitter-sweet experience as he sings to his son Lennon following the death of his wife:
Chris Picco singing Blackbird to his son, Lennon James Picco, who was delivered by emergency C-section at 24 weeks after Chris’ wife Ashley unexpectedly and tragically passed away in her sleep. Lennon’s lack of movement and brain activity was a constant concern for the doctors and nurses at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where he received the absolute best care available. During the pregnancy, Ashley would often feel Lennon moving to music so Chris asked if he could bring his guitar into the NICU and play for Lennon, which he did for several hours during the last days of Lennon’s precious life. One day after filming this, Lennon went to sleep in his daddy’s arms.
Can you feel that crushing blow which must have accompanied Chris through this song and for the days, weeks, and years that will follow as he remembers his wife and child?
Many child deaths are irrevocable, and in the West in developed countries this is by and large the majority of incidents of child mortality. My brother’s son Xander is one such case as this. Lennon is another. Some reading this will have a very personal connection with that too, and I write these words with much care because I know that any reminder must be hurtful for you in ways only you could understand.
But what about those in so-called developing countries where we have no visibility of their deaths through YouTube or media? The sadness shared by their parents is no less. And the figure, while diminishing because of improvements in child survival is still too great, still over 16,000 children under the age of five per day. More than 16,000 parents singing their own version of a broken-hearted Blackbird daily. And that is not to mention the large numbers of women who die while pregnant or during labour. Life is a risky business. It is a situation we hope to address through the Design Forum accompanying the 10 City Bridge Run. Join us.
Dear Bill and Melinda,
It’s about the fog that I write you you. Not the real fog, mind you, especially now that it is colder in the Northern Hemisphere. I know you are both busy, and need not be bothered by a trifling commentary about the weather.
Knowledge helps to lift the fog which prevents us from seeing clearly. I am particularly interested in knowledge based on the experience of others that will help improve child survival.
I applaud you both for your last two Annual Letters. The commentary and insights you provided about child survival is important. Would you please point us to five good books that might help us to know more about improving child survival?
I asked you for a recommendation of five good books in the video I recorded below in Glasgow on the Clyde River in late December last year just after I completed the eighth leg of an epic quest which I had called the 10 City Bridge Run. This involved running 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries as a stunt to open a conversation asking: “how might we use our networks to improve the delivery of child survival?”
This question of child survival will be addressed though a series of Design Forum, held in each of the cities where running took place. They begin today in Osaka, and conclude in Seoul in October. We will be exploring is question about child survival and doing what we can so that as a global community we achieve the bet you have made for the future. But we need your help.
Would you please list the five best books that have helped you both best understand child survival? We would love to read those books and also make sure others can too.
It would be great if you would join our journey by sharing with us your favourite list of five books that might help us understand child survival better. The best way to share these would be by Twitter through my address at @socialalchemy.
Thanks for your help!
Matt Jones, writing from Osaka
2010 was the year an idea about challenging the action that was being taken to address child survival was conceived. The idea was bold, and from the beginning sought participation from others.
It was grounded in a plan to run 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries as a stunt to open a conversation asking: “how might we use our networks to improve the delivery of child survival?”
The reason for running 24 km was in response to the emphasis made by many organisations in 2010 promoting the 2008 figures of child death per day which had been released by UNICEF. The figure was 24,000 children dying on average daily. A wholly unacceptable figure, which has since been reduced by a third, and progress for the future shows signs of being promising.
I wasn’t an expert in the field, and it struck me that few were. Canvassing my friends about the importance of the issue showed the effectiveness of marketing campaigns from institutional aid agencies, but apart from that little more knowledge. I thought that in a networked age where communications and health infrastructure was better than ever, was there not more we could do to crowdsource and then implement some form of solution or positive intervention?
This was the point of the running stunt. I would run in 10 cities, simply to highlight the year 2010, and conclude with what I had loosely defined as a ‘Design Forum’ at the end to address the issue. There was no budget, no institutional backers. Just a mad Australian with a little bit of passion, who had been given legs by many friends each contributing a small amount through a makeshift crowdfunding campaign.
I took the idea to several institutional aid agencies and charities who had a vested interest in the idea. Would they partner, or was there somehow I could support their efforts? I wasn’t asking for money, and it just have been evident that perhaps lacked some experience in that sector. Their response, especially in hindsight having now completed that journey after much tribulation, was astounding. I was met with the same response, and that surprised me: “sorry, that is not consistent with our messaging”, “we can’t quite see how it ties in with our fundraising efforts”, and other such words that effectively closed their door to my invitation.
I was at a loss as how to respond to this response from the aid agencies that so effectively had appropriated the issue of child mortality. Was I mistaken, and maybe my ideas were ill-conceived and ridiculous?
Reflecting on their response, I remembered back to Boxing Day 2004 when a catastrophic tsunami would smash against Aceh and many other towns in the Asia Pacific. It was an unprecedented event. At the time, I was still serving as an Australian Army Officer and then had a responsibility for planning emerging operations across the region. From the moment the first phone call was received on Boxing Day afternoon and being probably the first person in Australia to hear about the incident, we spared no effort for the following weeks with literally no rest or respite so as to respond with critical support to assist the logistical, recovery and humanitarian needs which were many.
Aid agencies of every manner were part of what I describe as a third wave of tsunami after a second wave of tsunami crashed around the world as the general public awoke to the horror of what had happened. Many aid agencies were quick to adjust their messaging to receiving funding from an empathetic public.
A short while later, reports in Aceh were of degraded roads and bottle-necks from the inundation of traffic of aid agencies wanting to be the first organisation to be seen to arrive and distribute food and blankets. This hampered getting water and other critical supplies to remote areas. It would have made more sense for the aid agencies to coordinate their efforts in Kuala Lumpur and deploy as a collaborative effort without concern for which person from what organisation arrived first.
Now, a decade on, we look back on Aceh. There are questions about where some aid money ended up. Such questions are worth examining, but not too pointedly perhaps. The generosity that allowed the aid in the first place does deserve accountability, and that is a separate issue from that which is being raised in this post.
Child survival is an issue which has been strongly advocated for, from politicians such as Hilary Clinton to actors the like of Ben Aflick. All have spoken with the same staunch plea, demanding urgent attention, mirroring the words of Tony Lake the Executive Director of UNICEF who in 2012 rightly described child mortality as a “moral obscenity” and a “moral abomination”.
Earlier this year, we saw a very positive report from Bill and Melinda Gates in their Annual Letter which has taken a different approach to the ‘alarmist’ view of an appalling situation that has underpinned the messaging of institutional aid agencies to date. We have turned a corner. He future looks bright.
There is no better time to conduct the Design Forum for an issue like child survival. Just because the future is painted as a bright place to visit, it doesn’t mean the road is downhill from here. There is still a lot of work today, but through collaborating with those interventions that we know work and learning from interventions that have been less successful.
The Design Forum is a conversation that will last nine months and beyond. Is picks up a conversation which has started many decades prior. And everyone is welcome. I expect many people will watch to see how it unfolds, and then get involved once it takes shape closer to May. In the meantime, there is a lot of information out there, there are many people with first-rate experience to draw upon, there is a lot of data.
There is no ownership in this conversation. It is a collaboration. Part of that involves challenging and questioning that which has been said in the past. Even Bill and Melinda Gates’ aspiration should be challenged in order to understand it better. Theirs is a bet. I don’t propose we refute it, but we definitely should examine and scrutinise it rather than just accept everything because it is already on the interwebs. What better form of respect can we give reasoned thought than to challenge it with our own intellect, rather than just accept it blithely?
We are breaking new ground in a conversation that is long established. We give ourselves permission to question everything, even the experts.
I’m on an epic journey. It is a quest. But it is not about me. It is about us. Together.
This is about you, not me.
Only you can say that we are on this journey together. It is your decision, not mine. I’ll write more about what that journey is shortly, but first let me explain why the decision you make is important.
This is a quest.
This is a quest to make a difference. Quests come in all shapes and sizes. This one is to improve the delivery of child survival.
This is about child survival.
So let’s begin there. I have loosely defined child survival as enabling children to flourish past their fifth birthday. Not just live, because I don’t think that is enough, even though we seldom stop to think twice about the opportunities that life brings us. If you are reading this, you really are one of the fortunate on this one earth we all enjoy. You can read which means you have had the privilege of education, and you have access to a computer, which means you have access to electricity. If you have access to education, technology (a computer), and infrastructure (electricity), it probably suggests you enjoy a wide range of other benefits that a majority of the human race can only dream about. Yes really, everyone else is not just like you. You are special.
This is about building bridges.
My good mate Scott O’Brien has an idea he is working on to connect the top billion with the bottom billion on the planet. It is the ultimate bold endeavour in building bridges. There has been a lot of interplay in the ideas he and I share. And I really enjoy the challenge and inspiration that comes from hearing near ideas or having my old ideas questioned. That is how we find new horizons. It is how we make progress collectively, and it is how we grow individually.
This is about philanthropy.
My question to you is what will you do with the privileged status you have inherited. Yes, there may well be every reason to complain: job security, relationship issues, too little money, health is not where it should be, stressed to the max, and maybe even your latte arrived cold. Those are real issues. Even the latte. But compared with others, you are fortunate and special. Philanthropy is described as having a concern for human welfare, and mostly this definition is associated with giving away money. But here I want to challenge that definition. What about if we consider other resources we enjoy that we can draw upon to use to good effect to benefit human welfare? True philanthropy. Using your time, your talents, your networks, your imagination. Connecting with others so as to help address someone else’s problem in the interest of their welfare is a selfless act of generosity. It is also shown to be the best, fastest, and most reliable way to obtain a sustainable state of happiness. That is, happiness comes from working toward the betterment of others. And don’t worry, the way the world work, these things come back you you in spades. To paraphrase Churchill: “it is by giving that we get.”
This is about making a difference.
UNICEF calculate that every day more than 16,000 children under the age of five die. That figure is called child mortality. Most of those deaths occur within the first 24 hours of life. Many of these deaths are preventable. So why don’t we just prevent them? Can it be that hard? Bill and Melinda Gates have used their recent Annual Letter as a stunt to bet that this figure will fall below 8,000 in the next 15 years. That is good news and would represent the fastest rate of benefit to humanity in history. But this won’t just happen on its own. Yes, significant progress has been made across the last 10 years especially, but let’s not leave change to chance. Innovation comes about through intervention. We need to act to bring about this difference. Returning to the point about philanthropy, this is about more than just giving money. Some of us don’t have money to give. The most valuable contribution any of us can make is through the collective genius of our shared imaginations. Are you going to hold back on us?
This is about us.
This is getting to the part that I said I would come back to. This is where you need to make a decision. I am no longer on this journey alone. Together, a larger community has formed, and we are now ‘us’. The question is, are you coming with us on this journey. Many reading this post know they are. It is easy to get involved if you haven’t done so already. You just have to make a decision to join us, to make a difference together.
This is about a journey.
This is about the 10 City Bridge Run. An idea hatched by myself in 2010 to run 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries as a stunt to address an important question asking: “how might we use our networks to improve the delivery of child survival?” It took a while to commence this journey, and it was far from easy. I began running in Port Moresby on 16 September last year and concluded the running late on a dark, wet and cold night in New York on 3 January this year. But the running was merely the device to get us to the beginning of this epic journey. This journey is actually marked by a series of Design Forums that will be held in all of the 10 cities where running took place as a way of addressing this question about improving the delivery of child survival. You can join at any time. You don’t need to come with us every step of the way. That is the advantage of the ‘us’. We share the labour. We call all reach the destination, and no matter the effort you could contribute, we can all say with much satisfaction “we did this together!”
This is about Design.
We are going to use a method called Design Thinking to address this question about improving child survival. Come as you are, you don’t need special qualifications. We will draw upon the wisdom of the crowd for knowledge. We need your imagination to help us in the process of designing a better future for many.
What does this look like? Read the posts which follows (and a link will be added shortly), to talk about what is involved. There is no cost. You don’t need to travel. You can do it within whatever constraints you currently have. But first you need to decide. You can watch and observe, but why not participate?
We need you to bring whatever magic that makes you special to the table. You are more than enough just as you are. Let’s see what alchemy we can create when we literally put our minds together.
Please join us on this epic quest as we prepare to embark on the Design Forum so at the end of the journey we can all look back with satisfaction at what we have achieved and say: “we did this together!”
In their Annual Letter published this year, Bill and Melinda Gates set the scene by betting that there would be greater progress to end extreme poverty than in the previous 15 years. And they are probably right. All indications point toward this as an outcome, and their keen interest over the last 15 years would suggest that this is actually a well-tested assumption rather than an idle wager.
Progress is good, and the message from Bill and Melinda Gates is positive. Are we out of the woods yet? Does that mean the crisis is over?
The 2014 Bill and Melinda Gates Annual Letter framed the issue of child mortality as one of three key areas where they sought to dispel myths that they rightly claim are held about addressing global poverty. At the beginning of the document, they wrote how they were “disgusted” by child mortality.
Other people have used equally strong language. Tony Lake the Executive Director of UNICEF described child mortality in 2012 as a “moral obscenity” and a “moral abomination”.
What does this mean for the 10 City Bridge Run, a citizen-led initiative to open a conversation asking “how might we use our networks to improve the delivery of child survival?” Is the war over, and we didn’t hear the news? Isn’t it all over bar the shouting? After all, Bill and Melinda Gates have spoken.
We should see the current situation as the end of a beginning, and the beginning of the end. We are now riding the waves of change. There has never been a more critical time to convene the Design Forum which will unfold this conversation about child survival than now. There is political will, institutional interest, a wealth of information, technology and the ability to communicate is better than ever, and along with increasing developments in medicine and infrastructure.
The Design Forum is not a silver bullet. And in a relative sense, together we are a minnow in an ocean of information and activity. But we are part of a much larger connected effort. And that is why this is important as a conversation. We have a real part to play, and as that conversation takes shape, it will become more obvious where we can best effect change.
The Design Forum which will commence in Osaka on 9 February is a blueprint for change for improving child survival. We are not reinventing the wheel, but drawing upon the experience and networks of others to amplify our intention. And we need your voice to help make that possible.
The Dali Lama has a quote which I like:
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, then try sleeping with a mosquito.”
We are about to begin the series of Design Forum. You can join in at any time, but why not begin with us at the beginning. We are starting by asking how might we Design the Design Forum. This will be an event in Osaka to draw upon best practice, and examine how we can organise to be effective in making a difference. The first Design Firum in Osaka convenes concurrently with an Acumen Fund/IDEO free online, seven-week course which provides an introduction to Design Thinking. You can get involved. You will make a difference. So why not sign up? It is all free.
Sign up for the Introduction to Design Thinking here.
Sign up for the Osaka Design Forum here.
Looking forward to seeing you on the journey!
2015 is the year that a series of long-awaited Design Forum convened to open a conversation where a central question will be addressed: “how might we use our networks to improve the delivery of child survival?”
This is the culmination of a running stunt called the 10 City Bridge Run which involved me running 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries. Right now as I type this post, I am standing on the verge of the ninth leg here in Toronto. The weather is cold with some snow flurries, and at -9 degrees celsius, there is every possibility it could snow while I am out running. I will be running between the cusp of two years: setting off when the new year turns in Sydney, and ahead of the new year here in Toronto. Bridging the years.
The resolution is to improve child survival.
One way you can help now is by signing this petition to The Hon Julie Bishop MP, who is Australia’s Foreign Minister, where together we will be asking her to be the official champion for this series of Design Forum.
I made two videos along this journey which give a little more information below. Happy New Year!
Image Posted on Updated on
One of the problems with the MDG has been the need for education of what they actually are. Still today, if you walked down the main street of any capital city of any large Western economy, most people in the street wouldn’t know what you were talking about if you mentioned the MDG.
Too much time and money has been spent explaining and educating these MDG. Most of the publicity campaigns I have seen appeared to look something akin to massive, extravagant, community cake stalls. What outcome was really achieved by all of that?
Child mortality largely goes unseen. My friends from Sierra Leone, all who I have met outside of their country in different parts of the world, all are well educated, eloquent, intelligent, and seemingly no different to you or I. There is not a tag around their neck that proclaims they are from the country with the highest rate of child mortality.
This has been one of the failures of the MDG. They have created an image of something created by large NGOs involved in helping to address these problems through a series of well selected photographs to tug at the heart strings and wallets of people in the West who might fund their causes. It becomes the tool for the charity muggers who provide the customer facing face of these organisations as their massive fundraising and messaging campaigns ramp up.
This post is not about trying to fight the system. Rather, it is about celebrating images of healthy children with healthy mothers. That is the work of the 10 City Bridge Run. There is enough misery to go around. Let’s celebrate life instead.
The avuncular Hans Rosling was back recently staunchly arguing why child mortality is more readily overcome now than ever before. He shows that it is our dated perspective mistakenly informed through myth we cling to that which holds us back. We are closer to a solution than we think or know.
Let Hans tell the story himself below:


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Swedesplease.net Album Reviews Mockingbird Wish Me Luck Days Come And Go
Published on 19th February 2008 (UK)
Media title : Swedesplease.net
Ah, the one day break did me some good. I’m excited to share with you the first single off of Mockingbird, wish me luck’s upcoming debut record. Mockingbird comes to us out of the ashes of the band Sibyl Vane. The lineup is loose, but contains brothers Niklas and Daniel Wennergreen. This is gorgeous indie pop with embellishments of flute, cello and lovely background vocals. The lyrics are sincere but not obvious. I have a feeling I could listen to this single for months and not tire of it.” The new record is out April 14 on London’s Blow Up Records.

domain: entertainment


text:
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Cosmetic Dentistry Services
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domain: medical


The new year was already set to include new faces on Carlisle Borough Council but the last few weeks, and even days, have made the borough government change even more. Carlisle’s Mayor of 26 years, Kirk Wilson, resigned in early December to take a reporting job with CBS 21 News. Since the mayor had 2 years remaining in his term, it is up to Borough Council to appoint someone to that position for the remainder.
Borough Council is actively seeking people interested in filling the position although to date, only one person has thrown their name into the pool. Councilman Tim Scott has submitted his interest in filling the position of Mayor and also plans to run in the open election in 2 years.
Today another vacancy to Borough Government was added when it was announced that Borough Manager, Steve Heitsch, resigned to take the position at Dickinson College as Associate Vice President, Financial Operations & Auxiliary Service.
Big happenings in the sleepy village of Carlisle but hopefully fresh faces will bring more fresh ideas.


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Anniversaries marked this month include the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried Pompeii in 79 A.D., and the monstrous 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia that affected Earth's climate for years afterwards. Most recently, on August 25, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and other areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Also on the list are the devastating Turkish earthquake of 1999, a killer volcanic eruption under Cameroon's Lake Nios in 1986, and the great Charleston earthquake of 1886. The latter was the first major earthquake in the recorded history of the eastern United States.
"We know that the Atlantic Basin hurricane season peaks from August to October, but long term prediction of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes is still a developing science," said Linda Gundersen, Chief Scientist for Geology at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, VA. "These events all point out the urgent need to better understand Earth's natural processes and how to live with them."
Gundersen serves on the U.S. National Committee for International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), a joint initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). IYPE is a triennium event, celebrated around the world from January 2007 to December 2009. The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2008 as the official year.
According to Gundersen, one of the ten science themes of IYPE is natural hazards, with emphasis on maximizing awareness and minimizing risk.
"IYPE recognizes that Earth can be a dangerous place. As our growing world population tends to settle along the coastal and mountainous areas of the continents, our communities become more vulnerable to the risks of multiple hazards," said Gundersen.
"We have made important strides in hazard science and reducing risk using scientific knowledge coupled with monitoring and warning systems. There is, however, much still to learn," she continued. "It is critical to partner with communities, engineers, government officials, and emergency preparedness personnel to successfully prepare for disasters and build resilient communities."
One example of this kind of effort is the Great Southern California Shake-Out to be held November 12-16, 2008 that will feature the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history. The event is a broad coalition of public and private organizations with the goal of inspiring Southern Californians to be ready for the next large earthquake and prevent disaster from becoming catastrophe.
To learn more, visit:Great Southern California Shake-Out: http://www.shakeout.org/
For more information on International Year of Planet Earth, visit http://www.yearofplanetearth.org.Linda Gundersen,
Ann Cairns | Newswise Science News
Research sheds new light on forces that threaten sensitive coastlines
24.04.2017 | Indiana University
NASA sees the end of ex-Tropical Cyclone 02W
21.04.2017 | NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
More and more automobile companies are focusing on body parts made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). However, manufacturing and repair costs must be further reduced in order to make CFRP more economical in use. Together with the Volkswagen AG and five other partners in the project HolQueSt 3D, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) has developed laser processes for the automatic trimming, drilling and repair of three-dimensional components.
Automated manufacturing processes are the basis for ultimately establishing the series production of CFRP components. In the project HolQueSt 3D, the LZH has...
Reflecting the structure of composites found in nature and the ancient world, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have synthesized thin carbon nanotube (CNT) textiles that exhibit both high electrical conductivity and a level of toughness that is about fifty times higher than copper films, currently used in electronics.
"The structural robustness of thin metal films has significant importance for the reliable operation of smart skin and flexible electronics including...
The nearby, giant radio galaxy M87 hosts a supermassive black hole (BH) and is well-known for its bright jet dominating the spectrum over ten orders of magnitude in frequency. Due to its proximity, jet prominence, and the large black hole mass, M87 is the best laboratory for investigating the formation, acceleration, and collimation of relativistic jets. A research team led by Silke Britzen from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, has found strong indication for turbulent processes connecting the accretion disk and the jet of that galaxy providing insights into the longstanding problem of the origin of astrophysical jets.
Supermassive black holes form some of the most enigmatic phenomena in astrophysics. Their enormous energy output is supposed to be generated by the...
The probability to find a certain number of photons inside a laser pulse usually corresponds to a classical distribution of independent events, the so-called...
Microprocessors based on atomically thin materials hold the promise of the evolution of traditional processors as well as new applications in the field of flexible electronics. Now, a TU Wien research team led by Thomas Müller has made a breakthrough in this field as part of an ongoing research project.
Two-dimensional materials, or 2D materials for short, are extremely versatile, although – or often more precisely because – they are made up of just one or a...
20.04.2017 | Event News
18.04.2017 | Event News
03.04.2017 | Event News
24.04.2017 | Physics and Astronomy
24.04.2017 | Materials Sciences
24.04.2017 | Life Sciences

domain: news


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Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and the largest city of the same. It was once part of the glorious Hungarian Empire, and it has a very interesting history inspired by the German, Hungarian, Austrian, Czech, and Serbian cultures.
It is located both on the bank of the River Danube, and the River Morava on the left side. Interestingly, it was not called ‘Bratislava’ until 1919. It used to be called ‘Pressburg’ due to the high erstwhile German population here.
Husband and I spent our Sunday here (and stayed the night when we were visiting Austria), and here is a list of ‘Must go’ places in Bratislava.
1. Tea store in an underground bomb shelter: There is a beautiful little tea store gorgeously decorated which used to be an underground bomb shelter during the war. They serve several kinds of tea, and it’s one of the few (or maybe only) place in Bratislava that serves you amazing Indian Masala Chai. For tea addicts, you can’t miss this place!
2. Ice cream in black cones: Now for those who are ‘meh’ about ice cream, please skip this point. However, for those who aren’t, this is a major fun activity to do in the city square. You get ice cream in these beautifully crafted black cones! Just like this.
3. The Bratislava castle: If castles are your thing, then you should not miss this. The castle is nestled on a hill overlooking the Danube river. It makes for a really picturesque location.
Credit: Kongres magazine
4. Hlavne Namestie: This is the city square in Bratislava. It has a very vintage old-world vibe coupled with several modern restaurants, and shops. So if you want your fix of old town mixed with contemporary, then this is your place to be!
You can take the old city tour in a toy train from just outside the French embassy, and enjoy beautiful sights of the city like the hall where Mozart gave his only performance in Slovakia, the Roland fountain and the old town hall.
5. The cumil or ‘Man at work’: This is the rarest statue that I have ever seen. Bratislava is famous for this statue of a man who is peeping out of a manhole to stare at the people walking on the street. You almost miss it until you see a swarm of people around this statue taking pictures.
The old tour also shows you this interesting landmark, towards which you can proceed once the tour is done.

domain: geography


text:
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domain: finance


Hi I just bought the new dell inspiron 15 5000 series. it has AMD Radeon R7 M270 and INTEL (R) HD graphics 5500. When I load PS or bridge etc the warning comes up Display drivers stopped working. The computer will crash or PS will crash. It doesn't happen all the time but a lot. Before I send the computer back I was wondering if you know if there is any known issues with this set up. The computer is brand new 3 days old and everything has been updated etc.


C185F SKYWAGON FSX/P3D
Full FSX, P3D v2, v3, v4, and Steam compatible.
FSX features: external dynamic shadows, internal dynamic shadows on VC, volumetric normal mapping, specular mapping and bloom lights.
Polygon optimized model. Friendly FPS.
Original HQ digital stereo sounds recorded from the original aircraft
Control windows for controlling eyes candies (wheel chokes, bag & package, pitot cover, sights prop and tiedown ropes).
Pop up Skywagon manual with performance charts and normal & emergency procedures.
Interactive virtual cockpit.
Full moving parts: Ailerons, elevators, rudders, flaps, rolling wheels and trim tab.
Animated sections such as: propeller, doors, windows, sun visor, air vents, copilot seat, vibrating antenna, cowl flaps, pilot, engine and exhaust pipe.
3D modeled pilot and cockpit area.
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Nightlight effects on panel.
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**This aircraft does not have a 2D panel.
This Carenado product is an add-on to be used in a simulation platform (FSX, P3D, X-Plane or MSFS or other) (the “Product”) and corresponds to Carenado’s impression of a real-life flight experience. The Product is in no way associated, affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by a plane model and make manufacturer and/or trademark owner.


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Immingham power plant ventures into battery storage
28th February 2018
THE UK’S largest portfolio of utility-scale, enhanced frequency response battery storage sites has been completed by a joint venture involving one of the South Bank’s most enhanced energy operators.
VPI Immingham, owner of one of the largest combined heat and power plants in Europe, is helping support grid flexibility and increase reliance on greener forms of electricity generation.
Working with Low Carbon, a renewable energy investment company, the 50MW portfolio is now grid connected.
It spans two sites at either end of the country – a 40MW battery park in Glassenbury, Kent and a 10MW battery park at Cleator in Cumbria – operating under the name VLC Energy.
The two sites secured contracts as part of 2016’s 200MW National Grid Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) auction, and will deliver a quarter of its capacity.
Russell Hardy, chairman of VPI Immingham and chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa at parent company Vitol, said: “Batteries hold the key to the future of the power landscape, both in the UK and internationally. Ensuring grid resilience is a necessary step in the growth of renewable generation.”
Both sites use LG Chem lithium-ion battery modules, and advanced energy management systems from NEC, and will provide sub-second responses to surges in energy supply and demand, providing grid flexibility and electricity storage.
Roy Bedlow, chief executive of Low Carbon, said: “These battery parks represent perhaps the greatest increase in UK energy storage capacity to date as part of National Grid’s EFR auction. We’re delighted to have developed these sites with our partners at VPI Immingham, and look forward to expanding VLC Energy’s storage portfolio.
“Energy storage is critical to managing the demands on the grid, ensuring consumer needs are met, and increasing our reliance on low-carbon forms of electricity generation. These sites will help us tackle climate change and help the UK realise a cleaner and more energy efficient future.”
At Immingham, the combined heat and power plant – initially brought forward by Phillips 66, and bought in 2013 – generates 1,240 MW, about 2.5 per cent of UK peak electricity demand, and up to 930 tonnes of steam per hour, which is used by Phillips 66 and Total Lindsey Oil Refinery in their processes.
Leon Walker, quantitative analysis manager at National Grid, said: “Using battery storage is a significant development for managing the national grid. It’s an ultra-fast way of keeping electricity supply and demand balanced.
“Over four years we estimate that this service will save the system operator around £200 million. This is good news for consumers who benefit from our cost efficiencies, and paves the way for battery technology to establish itself as an important component of our energy system.”
News Courtesy: www.humberbusiness.com


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Clinical trials to begin on antibody that shows promise in treatment of Alzheimer’s
PROVIDENCE — Researchers at Butler and Rhode Island Hospitals will participate in a new clinical trial of an antibody that has shown potential to help rid the brain of beta-amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Phase III trial, named AHEAD 3-45, is being conducted by the Japanese firm Eisai and the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium, formed by the National Institute on Aging and several universities.
The antibody is known as BAN2401.
This is the second announcement this month of a promising new development in Alzheimer’s treatment. On July 8, Eisai and its U.S. partner, Biogen, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said they have applied for federal approval of aducanumab, a drug that has shown evidence of reducing cognitive decline in people living with the fatal disease. Researchers at Butler and Rhode Island Hospital participated in the development of that pharmaceutical.
“The AHEAD-3-45 study is breaking new ground by testing a drug to remove amyloid plaques much earlier to prevent and delay memory loss,” Dr. Stephen P. Salloway, head of Butler’s Memory and Aging program, told the Journal.
“As a founding member of the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial Consortium, we are excited to join with Alzheimer’s experts across the nation to accelerate the development of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Said Dr. Jonathan Drake, Associate Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center: “The AHEAD study will provide valuable information on a drug that shows real promise to be a key component of treatment to combat Alzheimer’s disease.”
“As part of our human healthcare mission, we are committed to making a difference for patients, their families, and health care professionals across the globe,” said Eisai Neurology Business Group chief clinical officer Lynn Kramer.
“The initiation of AHEAD 3-45 with BAN2401, focused on therapies for the earliest stages of the AD continuum through our collaboration with the ACTC group, marks an exciting time for us.”
Researchers hope to recruit 1,4000 volunteers for the randomized, double-blind study, in which one group will receive the antibody and a second will get a placebo. The trial is being conducted in the U.S. and Canada, Japan, Europe, Australia and Singapore, and Europe.
Participants will be individuals from 55 to 80 who have normal memory but are beginning to accumulate amyloid plaques, as revealed with medical imaging.


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Madonna recently shared some images where she looked radiant and evergreen. The music icon was not alone in her Instagram post as she was seen having some cozy time with her boyfriend Ahlamalik Williams.
Madonna looked stunning in new pictures she posted to Instagram, giving fans updates on her ageless beauty. The music legend looked gorgeous in a stylish ensemble that flattered her figure.
The singer also teased a romantic show-off of herself and her boyfriend, Ahlamalik Williams, where the pair were locked in a sweet moment just reveling in each other's arms.
Madonna at the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana | Photo: Getty Images
BEAUTY AND ROMANCE
The "Borderline" crooner wore an intricately colored dress that clung to her hourglass figure. She styled her hair in a middle part that left the bleach blonde tresses falling down her shoulders and well made-up face.
Madonna's photos were taken in the late evening with the location being greenery with a bushy terrain. She arched her hips to one side, with one hand raising a bottle of rum to her lips.
The last photo presented a romantic aura with Madonna cozying up with her tall boyfriend. He had on an all-black outfit and held a glass of cocktail in one hand. The couple had their eyes closed.
[Madonna's friend Debi Mazar] added that [Ahlamalik] and the "Dress You Up" crooner were sweet together.
WHO IS MADONNA'S BOYFRIEND?
Ahlamalik is a professional dancer and choreographer who has been active since the 2010s. He and Madonna worked together in 2015, and their love life kicked off.
Before meeting the 62-year-old musician, Ahlamalik, who is 27, first got public attention when he performed at the Michael Jackson ONE event in 2013. He is also one of the crew members of the dance group "Raw By Nature."
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE
The couple has hinted at when their relationship started, and most of their updates point to 2019. Ahlamalik'z father, Drue Williams, once confirmed the couple's relationship.
He showed that they had his blessings, while also affirming that love had no age limit. Drue added that his son was happy and enjoying his life. Madonna has also posted photos of the young man calling him her love.
During his 27th birthday, the award-winning singer celebrated Ahlamalik sent a shout-out on social media and dedicated one of her classic songs to him. The dancer goes on vacation with Madonna and her family.
INSIDE THEIR RELATIONSHIP
Ahlamalik has a cordial relationship with Madonna's kids, and this was proven during one of the couple's hangouts. The pair had walked hand-in-hand to her son, David Banda's soccer game.
After the stylishly dressed couple settled down for the game, Ahlamalik was spotted giving David a hearty hug. David also played soccer with the 27-year-old and his siblings.
Madonna's longtime friend, Debi Mazar, has commented on her relationship with Ahlamalik, noting that the young man was a lovely person. She added that he and the "Dress You Up" crooner were sweet together.
In one of their latest updates on social media, the lovers showed that their relationship was going on strong. The pair had been in attendance at a pride performance where they enjoyed each other's company.
During the LGBTQ special performance, the "Hung up" crooner and her man rocked pride colors and celebrated with the community. She shared some of the photos from the event on social media.

domain: artistic


text:
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues, government officials around the world have raised questions and concerns about how to ensure that their countries have adequate access to, and supplies of, medical goods, including personal protective equipment (e.g., masks, gloves, garments), medical equipment (e.g., ventilators), and pharmaceuticals.
This Sidebar presents an overview of some of the trade-related measures taken by the United States and its trading partners in their efforts to address these concerns, including: (1) introducing export restrictions; (2) reducing or eliminating tariffs; (3) revising import procedures; and (4) prioritizing domestic production. It then discusses possible legal challenges to each of these measures, as well as avenues for congressional action or oversight.
Method One: Introducing Export Restrictions
Several of the United States’ trading partners have imposed export restrictions on certain medical goods to meet their domestic supply needs. For example, the European Union (EU) introduced export authorization measures that prohibit the export of personal protective equipment (e.g., masks, protective glasses, and garments) from the EU without prior regulatory approval.
India restricted exports of twenty- six pharmaceutical components, as well as medicines and vitamins made from them, accounting for approximately ten percent of India’s pharmaceutical exports. To date, the United States has not supported its trading partners’ use of export restrictions to address potential supply shortages.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) international trade regime generally prohibits quantitative restrictions on the export of goods, whether in the form of export bans, licensing requirements, or other measures having similar restrictive effects. In light of this general rule, the export restrictions described above may arguably cause some to raise concerns.
At the same time, however, three exceptions may apply. First, the general prohibition does not cover export restrictions “temporarily applied to prevent or relieve critical shortages of … products essential to the exporting contracting party.” Second, the WTO regime permits its Members to implement measures contrary to their general obligations if the measures are “necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health” or “essential to the acquisition or distribution of products in general or local short supply.”
Any potentially WTO-inconsistent measures must also meet other conditions, including that their application not create “arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail.”
Measures taken to address the acquisition or distribution of products in short supply must also be time-limited and conform to the principle that all WTO Members “are entitled to an equitable share of the international supply of such products.” Third, the WTO does not prevent any Member from implementing measures “that it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests . . . in time of war or other emergency in international relations.”
It is uncertain whether the export restrictions imposed by WTO Members (or any future restrictions that may be imposed by other WTO Members, including the United States) to address concerns about shortages of medical supplies are WTO-inconsistent and, if so, fall within one of the exceptions, as this precise issue has not yet been litigated before the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body.
However, in a joint study, the WTO and World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that some trade-restrictive measures used to address widespread infectious diseases are “unlikely to conflict with WTO rules,” provided that they are time-limited and crafted to minimize trade disruptions.
Nonetheless, the WHO has advised against export restrictions to address COVID-19, instead recommending that countries incentivize increased domestic production of the needed products (discussed below).
The WTO Director-General has also stressed that “maintaining open trade and investment flows will be critical to protect jobs, prevent supply chain breakdown, and ensure that vital products do not become unaffordable for consumers.”
Method Two: Reducing or Eliminating Tariffs
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of a number of medical goods has increased dramatically. For example, the cost of surgical masks has increased 600% and the cost of medical gowns has doubled.
To alleviate the financial pressure on firms and other entities that must buy these products, the United States has removed some tariffs on certain medical goods from China imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
However, some commentators remain concerned that the remaining Section 301 tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration may impair the United States’ ability to respond to COVID-19. Some Members of Congress have urged the Administration to remove or suspend tariffs on a number of products from China to alleviate the economic impact from COVID-19, including by reducing the cost for firms to purchase medical supplies.
Congress could potentially remove or eliminate tariffs, as it possesses constitutional authority to “lay and collect . . . Duties” (i.e., tariffs). Alternatively, the President could “authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to permit . . . the importation free of duty of food, clothing, and medical, surgical, and other supplies for use in emergency relief work” under Section 318 of the Tariff Act of 1930, after a declaration that “an emergency . . . exist[s] by reason of a state of war, or otherwise.”
The scope of Section 318 may raise the question of whether its broad delegation of authority may violate the non-delegation doctrine, which prohibits the transfer of legislative functions to the Executive without an “intelligible principle” to limit the Executive’s discretion when implementing such functions. However, a recent challenge to another trade statute that grants the President broad authority to restrict imports may suggest otherwise.
Specifically, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the constitutionality of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which permits the President to restrict imports if he determines they are entering the United States “in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten the national security.” As of the time of writing, no court has considered the legality of Section 318.
The impact of tariffs on access to medical goods has long been of interest to WTO Members, even in the absence of immediate public health crises. In 2006, they committed to negotiating the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on a number of healthcare-related goods. These negotiations remain ongoing.
To view the full report, click here.

domain: politics


Motor transport has a great impact on the environment. We are aware of this fact in Kawczyński Logistics. Therefore, taking care of the future of our planet and new generations, we strive for sustainable development in our operations, implementing a number of solutions focused on reduction of CO2 emission to the atmosphere. They include equipment (fleet, tires), activities increasing ecological awareness among our employees (training), and investments in advanced solutions supporting the environment. In the same time, we look into the future and prepare to expand our activity by intermodal transport.


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Singer-songwriter and accordionist Hector Gonzalez of Conjunto X2G remains in the ICU, two days after he was hospitalized for complications from diabetes on Monday.
News of Gonzalez’s hospitalization came via a Facebook post from his fiancée Rocio “RoRo” Velazquez late Monday night, “I just wanted to let you know that Hector is in the hospital in ICU due to his diabetes, he has some complications. He is reacting very well to the treatment he is under. He will be here for few days.”
Gonzalez later updated his fans via Facebook early Tuesday morning, “Still in MICU, but doing way better. Should be out by the end of the week! Keep me in your prayers.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Velazquez gave an update on the musician’s status, “Still in ICU and he is doing a bit better. The treatment is working slowly but thank God is working.”
The latest update on Gonzalez by Velazquez early Wednesday morning says, “Hector is well…recovering little by little…They will keep him here several days, until he’s stable.”
Gonzalez is known for his traditional Conjunto music, but he has also experimented with Tejano, Norteño, Gospel and many genres of Latin music.
In 2014, the singer and musician joined Los Dos Gilbertos as an accordion player and second voice.
“I remember the day he called me and asked if I could help him on accordion! It is a privilege to have been chosen by Gilberto himself,” Gonzalez said about the experience. “I thank God everyday for giving me the honor, and the ability to work with such an accomplished artist like Gilberto Garcia!”
After the passing of Gilberto Garcia in September 2015, Gonzalez and Ruben Garza continued the tradition of Los Dos Gilbertos’ music with two albums, Porque Nosotros No and Tribute Vol. 1, a tribute to Gilberto Garcia and Ruben Vela.
In October 2016, Gonzalez formed Conjunto X2G and released the band’s debut album, Que Siga La Tradición, in February 2017.
We’ll keep you updated on Gonzalez status as more information becomes available. Follow Tejano Nation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, @TejanoNation, for the latest Tejano music, news and entertainment.
0 comments on “Conjunto musician Hector Gonzalez hospitalized with diabetes complications”


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Sixty students from across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa - excluding South Africa where M-Net is running its 4-year old Magic in Motion Academy that the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is based on - are getting the opportunity of a yearlong internship in film and TV production.
Out of over 3 100 applications, 20 students were chosen for each of the three new film academies.
Dora Siliya, Zambia's minister of information and broadcasting services and chief Zambian government spokesperson who did the ribbon-cutting of the building, who was the keynote speaker at the event that saw media, TV producers, artists, singers, government and broadcast regulatory officials, as well as MultiChoice Africa executives from across Southern Africa attending.
It took place at the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM) in Lusaka, an independent media training trust, where the Southern African MultiChoice Talent Factory is located in a recently refurbished section of the ZAMCOM building equipped with new technology, lecture and study rooms, as well as a green screen studio/lecture room.
Students at each of the three film academies will create local content that will be broadcast on the various M-Net channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms throughout Africa, including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Bongo, Zambezi Magic, Pearl Magic, M-Net and SuperSport.
Here is the official opening evening in photos:
The menu of the gala dinner was prepared by chef Marco from the InterContinental Lusaka hotel in Zambia. His selection was inspired by dishes from across the Southern Africa region.
Guests dined on entrees that included mixed Zambia salad, Chikanda salad and Chillie papaya salad.
The main course consisted out of Namibian kapana, Mozambican chicken peri-peri, whole bream "Zambian style", pasta salad with mixed vegetables, buttered and herbed mixed vegetables, roast potato wedges with rosemary, and steamed rice.
Dessert was a selection of delectable sweets, cakes and tarts. The dinner was a "dinner-and-a-show" with dishes that were served as platters throughout the speeches and performances.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice Africa officially opens its brand-new MultiChoice Talent Factory film academy for Southern Africa.
ALSO READ: 'Their stories had us in tears'. Academy director of the Southern Africa MultiChoice Talent Factory says tales of the film students during the selection process made people cry; that their stories will help change film making in Africa.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice urges all stakeholders in Africa's TV industry to work together to fight the growing scourge of content piracy.
ALSO READ: 'We don't want to fail. We want to make a big success out of it' - first film students of 2018's inaugural class at the MultiChoice Talent Factory film academy.


text: There's no mistaking that it's going to be a fun baby shower with this cute banner! It features white shiplap cutouts with "What do you think? Blue or Pink?" text. Hang your banner across the entryway to the party or behind the table for a photo backdrop. For an extra touch, tie coordinating balloons to both ends.

domain: design


Storm impact on businesses uncertain
The storm that hit Marshalltown on Monday tore trees apart, brought down power lines and damaged many homes and businesses. In the immediate aftermath, it is difficult to know how hard local businesses have been hit.
“I think things are ranging from loss of power to damage of property,” Lynn Olberding said.
Many businesses are unable to serve customers because of power outages and staffing shortages with employees being unable to come to work because of streets being barred by fallen trees and other debris.
While Marshalltown businesses will likely need the community’s support in the coming days, now is not the time for that.
“Right now everyone is assessing their own situation,” Olberding said.
She encouraged people to keep themselves safe and stay off the streets to help workers make repairs to downed power lines and other damage.
According to Olberding, the Chamber has had trouble reaching out to business members due to the outages. Because of this, they are not sure how many businesses have been affected.
Olberding said it will take some time to figure out the extent of the damage and the repercussions it will have on local businesses.
At the very least, stores will need electricity returned in order to open their doors to customers.
“I think we’ll know more tomorrow,” Olberding said
Contact Anna Shearer at 641-753-6611 or email@example.com


Young Liverpool forward Ben Woodburn wants to follow the example of former Arsenal man Serge Gnabry, after watching his brilliant rise over in Germany.
Woodburn, on a season-long loan at Oxford United, has been speaking about his long-term ambitions of becoming a regular in the first-team at Anfield.
The Wales international has caught the eye in 2019/20 with one goal and four assists in 10 appearances, but he unfortunately may not feature again this year due to a foot injury.
Woodburn, who turns 20 today, has revealed ex-Gunner Gnabry has inspired him to work hard to reach the top.
He told The Daily Mail: “I feel like I have had so much experience and yet I am still only young and learning. Watching someone like Serge Gnabry develop is a big help.
“I saw his four goals for Bayern Munich against Tottenham in the Champions League. When he was 20, he couldn’t get a game on loan at West Brom.
“He has shown you can push through if you keep working hard and hopefully I can do something like he’s done.”
Gnabry’s has created an excellent example for young players to try and follow.
His loan spell at West Brom was an infamous disaster, with Tony Pulis’ comments about his ‘lack of quality’ often brought up on social media whenever Gnabry shines now.
That is the case quite often these days, with the 24-year-old now one of the best players at European heavyweights Bayern.
Last term he beat Robert Lewandowski to the club’s Player of the Year award, and his rise is something Woodburn can take real heart from.
Whether it means he will have to leave Anfield to achieve something similar though remains to be seen.


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Dr. Swanson was a guest on Channel 8 News Midday to discuss the importance of orthopedists providing patients with information surrounding stem cell therapy for joint pain.
Stem Cell Therapy is a great alternative to joint replacement. Ideal candidates are those who have tried conservative measures but may be too young for – or are not a candidate for joint replacement. Our office has performed Stem Cell Therapy for nearly two years with great results. Our physicians isolate the patient’s own stem cells and inject them into the patient’s painful joint. Those stem cells can then differentiate and turn into cartilage to help heal the arthritic joint.
To learn more, watch Dr. Swanson’s interview below regarding the stem cell treatment process. You can visit our stem cell website page by following the link here: Stem Cell Therapy. You may call our office at (402) 488-3322 to schedule an appointment to discuss your options with us.


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An oil on canvas painting by Karel Lodewijk Bruckman (Dutch, American, 1903 to 1980). Still life with flowers and fruit in a landscape, Peace and Plen... [more detail available via subscription]
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Two sites each in Gujarat, Haryana added to Ramsar List as Wetlands of International Importance
New Delhi, August 14, 2021
Four more wetlands from India -- Thol and Wadhwana in Gujarat and Sultanpur and Bhindawas in Haryana -- have been recognised by the Ramsar Secretariat as Ramsar sites for being wetlands of international importance.
This was announced here by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on microblogging site Twitter. He said it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special concern for the environment which has led to overall improvement in how India cares for its wetlands.
With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India have gone up to 46 and the surface area covered by these sites is now 1,083,322 hectares.
While Haryana gets its first Ramsar sites, Gujarat now has four, includin the famous Nal Sarovar, which was added to the list in 2012.
The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits”.
Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. They are, in fact, a major source of water and the main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest wetland in Haryana, is a human-made freshwater wetland. Over 250 bird species use the sanctuary throughout the year as a resting and roosting site. The site supports more than ten globally threatened species including the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and Black-bellied Tern.
Sultanpur National Park in Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. More than ten of these are globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable lapwing, and the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Black-bellied Tern.
Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here. The wetland supports more than 30 threatened waterbird species, such as the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture and Sociable Lapwing, and the vulnerable Sarus Crane, Common Pochard and Lesser White-fronted Goose.
Wadhvana Wetland in Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway. They include some threatened or near-threatened species such as the endangered Pallas’s Fish-Eagle, the vulnerable Common Pochard, and the near-threatened Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and Ferruginous Duck.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change would be working closely with the State Wetland Authorities to ensure the wise use of these sites, an official press release added.


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A selection of the best luxury hotels in Edinburgh, UK. A selection by Laura Becker
A luxurious stay awaits at the historic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, situated only one minute away from the iconic Princes Street. Guests can enjoy modern leisure facilities, free WiFi, and stunning views of the Edinburgh Castle. With George Street’s bars, restaurants and shops just a 5-minute walk away, and the UNESCO heritage site and Edinburgh Old Town within a 20-minute walk, this hotel is a great choice for exploring the city. Each room features a flat-screen TV, a designer bathroom, and a selection of toiletries and bathrobes. Guests can also make use of the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Grazing by Mark Greenaway, as well as the spa, offering a range of treatments, a steam room, sauna, whirl pool, swimming pool and gym. The Caley Bar and Peacock Alley provide bar food, drinks and afternoon tea.
Rooms: 241 Stars: 5
Tigerlily Hotel is the epitome of boutique cool. Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, just a 10-minute walk from the Scott Monument and 15 minutes from Edinburgh Castle, this chic hotel offers stunning rooms with flat-screen TVs and Bluetooth speakers, plus White Company toiletries and free WiFi throughout. Enjoy a delicious meal or cocktail in the elegant bar, or head downstairs to Lulu nightclub and bar for free entry. With a plethora of smart restaurants and cocktail bars right on your doorstep, Tigerlily is the perfect place to stay when exploring the city.
Rooms: 33 Stars: 4
Prestonfield House, a 5-star boutique hotel, is one of the top luxury retreats in Edinburgh. Surrounded by gardens and a golf course, the property is just 3 km from the Royal Mile and offers free parking. Its romantic bedrooms, with antique furnishings, free Wi-Fi, plasma TVs, and stocked minibars, overlook the beautiful gardens and parkland. Relax in the drawing room, terraces, or gardens, and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea or a meal at the fine-dining Rhubarb Restaurant. Getting to the city centre is easy, with buses just a 5-minute walk away.
Rooms: 23 Stars: 5
The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh offers a luxurious stay with stylish rooms featuring flat-screen Smart TVs, 300 thread count bed linen, complimentary treat boxes, and fridges with fresh milk and mineral water. Enjoy breakfast in the indoor courtyard of The Garden, or dine at BABA, a mezze and charcoal grill restaurant and cocktail bar. With complimentary access to the gym, swimming pool, and spa, plus proximity to Princes Street, George Street, and Waverley Railway Station, and only 7 miles to Edinburgh Airport, this is the perfect city centre retreat.
Rooms: 199 Stars: 5
Experience the height of luxury at The Roseate Edinburgh, a 5-star hotel set across two Victorian townhouses in Edinburgh’s West End. Individually decorated rooms feature original features like open fireplaces, Egyptian cotton bed linen, LCD flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee trays with home-made shortbread, en-suite facilities with free toiletries and 4-poster beds. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, all-day dining, daily afternoon tea, over 100 types of whisky and 30 craft gins at the Dunstane Restaurant and Bar. The hotel is conveniently located 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre and 550 yards from Haymarket Station. Edinburgh Airport can be reached in 15 minutes by car or bus. Free private parking is available.
Rooms: 38 Stars: 5
This boutique hotel is situated in the heart of Edinburgh, just a few minutes’ walk from the Royal Mile and 650 yards away from The Real Mary King’s Close. Every room is furnished with locally made fabrics, bespoke furniture, artworks and a locally roasted coffee blend, while all come with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Some have views of the city, and all have Chromecast and Apple TV. The hotel also provides evening entertainment and a 24-hour front desk service. Guests can enjoy breakfast, snacks and drinks on the rooftop Nor’ Loft lounge which offers stunning panoramic views of the city. Popular attractions such as Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Playhouse and University of Edinburgh are all within a 1.5 km radius from the hotel. The nearest airport is Edinburgh Airport, 16 km away.
Rooms: 98 Stars: 4
The Old Town Chambers is one of the best luxury hotels in Edinburgh. Located in the heart of the city, just a 2-minute walk from Waverley railway station and a 5-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, this exclusive apartment development offers modern, luxury apartments with free Wi-Fi. Each apartment features an open plan fully fitted kitchen, a dining and living area, smart flat-screen TV, luxury bathroom, free toiletries, and some boast balconies with scenic city views, a cinema TV system, and a Bose sound system. Enjoy convenient access to the Royal Mile, a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars in Edinburgh city centre, and stunning views of the city.
Rooms: 47 Stars: 5
The Witchery by the Castle is a charming and highly elegant boutique hotel in Edinburgh. Its lavish suites feature gothic touches such as large oak beds and four-posters, velvet-lined walls and red and gold décor, with separate seating areas and large bathrooms with free-standing silver baths. Each of the nine suites are unique, with walk-in dressing rooms, love seats and tapestries. Some offer views of the Royal Mile, Princes Street or the old town. An indulgent breakfast hamper is served in the room each morning, or guests can opt for a cooked breakfast in the opulent restaurant. The Witchery has been praised by The Times, The Telegraph and Condé Nast Traveller, and many celebrities have enjoyed its luxurious suites.
Rooms: 9 Stars: 5
The Scotsman Hotel, built in 1905 and listed as a historic building, is a 4-star hotel offering beautiful and cosy rooms to its guests. Located just a minute’s walk away from the Royal Mile and Princes Street, it overlooks the stunning views of Carlton Hill, Princes Street Gardens and Waverley Station. Every room and suite is unique and features curved corner window bays, marble-tiled en suite bathrooms and luxury Egyptian cotton linen. Guests can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, a 48-seat cinema and a privacy hatch for 24-hour room service, as well as a free copy of The Scotsman newspaper. Discounted parking is available at the Edinburgh Waverley Station car park (long stay) on New Street, just 5-10 minutes away.
Rooms: 79 Stars: 4
The Edinburgh Grand offers modern apartment accommodation just a few steps away from Princes Street. Enjoy free WiFi, a fully equipped kitchen, flat-screen TV and either a rainfall shower or bathtub. Take a stroll to the nearby Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill and Scottish National Gallery, or take a short 3-minute walk to the nearest station. The Grand also features an on-site restaurant, bar and coffee house. Edinburgh Airport is 8 miles away.
Rooms: 50 Stars: 5
Best areas to find hotels in Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh is a beautiful city located in Scotland, UK. With its stunning architecture, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty, it is a popular destination for travelers from around the world. With so many different areas to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to stay. To help you out, here are some of the best areas to search for a hotel in Edinburgh.
The Old Town is one of the most popular areas for accommodation in Edinburgh. This charming part of the city is filled with cobbled streets, historic buildings, and plenty of things to do. There are plenty of hotels in the area, ranging from boutique to luxury, so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your budget and needs.
The New Town is another great area to look for a hotel in Edinburgh. This area is known for its grand Georgian architecture, excellent restaurants, and plenty of shopping. It’s also the home of the famous Edinburgh Castle, so you’ll be sure to find plenty of sights to explore. The area is full of hotels, from budget to luxury, so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs.
The West End is a great area to look for a hotel in Edinburgh. This area is known for its fantastic restaurants, lively bars, and plenty of things to do. It’s also the home of the University of Edinburgh, so there are plenty of student-friendly hotels in the area.
The Leith area is also a great place to look for a hotel in Edinburgh. This area is known for its excellent seafood restaurants, lively pubs, and plenty of sights to explore. There are plenty of hotels in the area, ranging from budget to luxury, so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs.
The Portobello area is also a great option for accommodation in Edinburgh. This charming beachside area is known for its seafood restaurants, lively pubs, and plenty of things to do. There are plenty of hotels in the area, from budget to luxury, so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs.
The Haymarket area is also a great place to look for a hotel in Edinburgh. This vibrant area is known for its excellent restaurants, lively bars, and plenty of things to do. There are plenty of hotels in the area, ranging from budget to luxury, so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs.
No matter where you choose to stay in Edinburgh, you’ll be sure to find plenty of excellent accommodation options. Whether you’re looking for a budget hotel or a luxury one, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs.

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Your Carmel Valley, Encinitas, and 4S Ranch Orthodontist
At Braces By Grant, our leading orthodontist, Richard Grant has 20 years of experience in helping patients achieve straight, properly aligned smiles that promote long-lasting oral health and enhance self-confidence. Dr. Grant and his team provide complete orthodontic care for adults and children that are tailored to the specific needs of each patient.
Although our main office is in Carmel Valley we have locations in Encinitas, and 4S Ranch and are available six days a week to better serve patients and their families throughout San Diego County.
We invite you to experience the compassionate and skilled orthodontic intervention that has made us a trusted staple in our community for over two decades. We welcome families from all backgrounds, and we are fluent in Spanish and Tagalog.
Contact us at (858) 205-3872 to schedule a consultation today!
Personalized Orthodontic Solutions from Dr. Richard Grant
Orthodontia, more commonly known as orthodontics, is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on the proper diagnosis, prevention, and corrective treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws. With our advanced, in-office technology and Dr. Grant’s extensive skill, we can offer tailored treatment plans designed to address any number of dental complications, no matter how complex.
New and existing patients visiting any of our locations can take advantage of the following orthodontic solutions:
- Misalignment Analysis with Innovative Digital Technology
- Accurate Malocclusion Diagnosis with Digital X-Rays
- Phase 1 & 2 Orthodontics
- Invisalign Teen®
- Inspire ICE™ Clear Brackets
- Traditional and Reliable Metal Braces
- Lingual Braces
- Ceramic Braces
- Mouth Guards
- Growth Modification Appliances
- Orthodontic Emergency Care
- Orthodontic Surgery
Exceptional Treatment Through Patient Education and Trust
We work with every patient to help them fully understand how treatments affect their teeth as well as the surrounding oral structures. We will always suggest the least invasive and most reasonable treatments to get you to your individual goal and achieve optimal oral health. Education and communication build trust and will help you feel comfortable and confident in your personalized treatment plan.
Come in For a Complimentary Consultation
Every day we look forward to meeting new people, catching up with established patients, creating lasting friendships and transforming smiles. If you are looking for skilled and personalized orthodontic care to achieve ideal health, function, and uniform aesthetics, contact us today. We can show you how to achieve the smile of your dreams!
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We genuinely hope this site is helpful to you in learning more about our practice, orthodontic treatments, recommendations, and more.
Please browse through our website and be sure to give us a call if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
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Canadian wholesale sales rose 0.6 percent to C$53 billion (US$48.4 billion) in June, a third consecutive increase. Gains in five subsectors, which together represented 69 percent of wholesale sales, more than offset a decline in the motor vehicle and parts subsector. Excluding this subsector, wholesale sales rose 1.2 percent.
In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 0.7 percent.
The miscellaneous subsector was up 3.1 percent to C$6.9 billion (US$6.3 billion), contributing the most in dollar terms to the gain in June. This was the sixth increase in seven months for the subsector. While all of the subsector's industries recorded higher sales, the agricultural supplies industry (+4.9 percent) and the other miscellaneous industry (+5.1 percent) were the largest contributors to the gain. The other miscellaneous industry includes wholesalers of logs and wood chips, minerals, ores and precious metals, and second-hand goods (excluding machinery and automotive goods), as well as wholesalers not elsewhere classified.
Sales in the building material and supplies subsector, up 2.2 percent to C$7.6 billion (US$6.9 billion), rose for a sixth consecutive month to the highest level on record. The largest contributor to the increase was the lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies industry (+3.7 percent), which posted a seventh consecutive monthly gain.
For the fourth time in five months, sales increased in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector, rising 1.5 percent to C$10.4 billion (US$9.5 billion) in June. Higher sales in the food industry (+1.4 percent) and the cigarette and tobacco product industry (+3.9 percent) were the largest contributors to the increase.
The farm product subsector rose 1.4 percent to C$672 million (US$614 million), its sixth increase in seven months. Despite the gain, the subsector remained below its historical peak from April 2014.
Following the strong gain in May, sales in the motor vehicles and parts subsector declined 2.4 percent to C$9.1 billion (US$8.3 billion) in June. All of the subsector's industries contributed to the decline, led by the motor vehicle industry (-2.6 percent).
Sales increased in seven provinces in June. Alberta contributed the most to the gain.
Sales in Alberta rose for a sixth consecutive month, up 2 percent to C$7.1 billion (US$6.5 billion). This was the highest level on record for the province. Gains were recorded in most subsectors.
In Ontario, sales edged up 0.3 percent to C$25.6 billion (US$23.4 billion) in June, a third consecutive increase. Gains in several subsectors more than offset a decline in the motor vehicle and parts subsector.
Sales rose 13.1 percent to C$438 million (US$400.2 million) in Newfoundland and Labrador, more than offsetting the decline in May.
In Saskatchewan, sales rose 1.8 percent to C$2.1 billion (US$1.9 billion), a second consecutive increase. Higher sales in the farm product subsector contributed to the gain.
New Brunswick recorded a second consecutive sales increase, up 7 percent to C$565 million (US$516.2 million). Led by the food, beverage and tobacco subsector, widespread gains across subsectors were recorded.
Manitoba and Prince Edward Island also recorded sales increases as a result of widespread gains across subsectors. Sales in Manitoba rose 2.3 percent to C$1.5 billion (US$1.4 billion), its highest level on record, while sales in Prince Edward Island rose 7.2 percent to C$58 million (US$53 million) following three consecutive monthly declines.
After three consecutive monthly gains, sales in British Columbia decreased 0.7 percent to C$5.2 billion (US$4.8 billion). Lower sales were recorded in several subsectors, led by motor vehicle and parts.
Inventories rose 1 percent to C$65.9 billion (US$60.2 billion) in June. Gains were recorded in six of seven subsectors, which together represented 83 percent of wholesale inventories.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector rose 3.5 percent to the highest level on record in June.
Inventories rose for a sixth consecutive month in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+0.9 percent) and a fifth consecutive month in the miscellaneous subsector (+2 percent).
Following two consecutive declines, inventories in the motor vehicle and parts subsector rose 0.7 percent.
The lone subsector to decline in June was the personal and household goods subsector, which edged down 0.3 percent following three consecutive monthly gains.
The inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.24 in June. The inventory-to-sales ratio is a measure of the time in months required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current level.


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Africa exports more than it imports. Whilst African Trade is a slow burner, it’s interesting to note where these commodities arrive and depart from. North Africa tends to be the major importer. Whereas South Africa remains the key exporter. Construction imports, particularly cement, have decreased over the years, despite South Africa’s drive to modernise. There have been significant changes in the last ten years to crude oil, as well as oil product imports in Africa. Ores and mineral exports are growing, specifically aluminium ore from Guinea.
Dry Cargo Imports are Lacklustre
Dry bulk imports into Africa have been relatively stable throughout the last ten years. This could be considered poor form for a developing nation. The largest commodity group imported overall during this period is agricultural products. Despite efforts to home grow produce, reliance on other countries is still strong.
Construction materials actually saw significant decreases during the last five years as cement empires led by the infamous Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian business tycoon, met the need internally. So, most of these imports heading…where? The answer is Northern Africa which receives the majority of this dry cargo. In 2020, they required a whopping 125 million tonnes out of the total 244 million tonnes shipped to Africa. It would appear grain is the main commodity which continues to be imported to Africa, suggesting some development is taking place.
Dry Cargo Exports are Mainly Project Driven
Africa exports more dry cargo than it imports. Peaking in 2020, Africa managed to churn out nearly 355 million tonnes of dry cargo. Ores and minerals in particular have experienced a huge increase. In the last five years exports jumped from 32 million tonnes in 2005 to over 117 million tonnes in 2020. Various mineral projects have appeared, funded by China’s insatiable appetite for materials. South Africa appears to be responsible for the majority of dry exports. 172 million tonnes of dry cargo were exported from here in 2020. A steady output of South African coal provides the backbone of this regions’ trade.
Africa as whole exported around 75.5 million tonnes of aluminium ore (bauxite) in 2020. Almost all of this, 72.7 million tonnes to be exact, came from Guinea. Exports of this commodity are growing continuously as China’s capacity increases.
Africa and Crude Oil
Crude oil exports have experienced a gentle downward trend over the last ten years. Much of Africa’s economy depends on oil revenues. In order to industrialize and create more jobs, power infrastructure needs to improve and more refineries need to be built to assert more independence. Crude oil contracts between Nigeria and the US provided a steady receiver of Africa’s crude oil. However, the Shale gas revolution has meant a reduced need for oil in the US, whilst Asia’s demand has been met by the Middle East. In short, Nigeria appears to have lost out in the midst of this with export levels shrinking in turn.
A major crude oil exporter tends to be Middle Africa. Closely following behind are Western Africa and then Northern. Despite these commonalities, Nigerian (West) crude oil exports average around 85 million tonnes per annum over the last five years. Nigeria also ranks 7th globally for exporting crude oil. Imports of crude oil into Africa are decreasing by the year. However, quantities of oil products received remain significant.
On the whole, Africa is relatively stable in terms of both imports and exports. There have been some significant peaks, like with agriculture imports and mineral exports. If Africa can get the wheels of changing turning faster, volumes of dry and wet cargo would have much more potential.
The pandemic and lower oil consumption levels have clearly dented tanker volumes. While key nations like Nigeria and South Africa continue to lead the charge, there are many mineral rich counties around the continent that have new projects in the wings. Therefore, it’s likely exports will continue to grow. It would be ideal if imports were to match. Hopefully, any revenues earnt through their resources will be fed back to the economy and not pocketed by the few.
Written by Elizabeth Tebay