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The Momo Challenge: What schools need to know
Written by Family Zone Team on Mar 5, 2019 10:54:23 AM
By now you've probably heard a lot about the Momo Challenge, a deadly online game that's been scaring the daylights out of students - and parents - around the world. The object? To drive players to self-harm or suicide with the threat of making their private information public.
At the centre of this sick digital blackmail plot is the character Momo - a creepy bird-woman with bulging eyes, stringy black hair, and a boomerang-shaped mouth.
Momo is purported to hack into users' mobiles, once they engage with her by sharing their phone number, then send disturbing and graphic photos. Users are then challenged to perform 'dares', including acts of self-harm, or face the consequences of having their secrets and private information shared online.
When it first surfaced in 2018, the Momo challenge was linked to a number of teen suicides around the world. But digging deeper into the scandal - as many reputable news organisations have now done - none of these incidents has been substantiated.
Is there a 'real' Momo involved? Was there ever? Experts say: very likely not.
Nevertheless, in recent days, reports of Momo images and animations cropping up on YouTube and YouTube Kids have rekindled the panic.
This time around, say experts, the Momo invasion simply the result of kids scaring other kids (and themselves) by copying and sharing creepy images and videos - and parental anxiety and social-media-sharing fanning flames - and all of it in response to widespread, unverified reporting by the media.
The take-home message? Momo is well and truly 'fake news' - a digital bogeyman of global proportions.
But that doesn't mean that the fear isn't real. Or that Momo hasn't been a useful disguise for a handful of cyberbullies of all ages.
We spoke to cyber expert and child psychologist Jordan Foster from ySafe to ask about this phenomenon and find out what information schools should be sharing with their students and parent communities.
Q : What are your thoughts about the Momo challenge?
A: The Momo Challenge presents two key learning opportunities for us as members of a digital community. The first is that fact-checking is essential before investing our worry and concern into something we've read. Much of what is posted online is done so by unreliable sources who are seeking attention or notoriety. People's trust can be easily exploited when information shared implies a threat to our children's safety.
Secondly, the relief about the 'fake news' nature of Momo should not deter parents from being vigilant about what their child is looking at online. There is an abundance of inappropriate and harmful content posted on platforms like YouTube and YouTube for Kids. Pornographic content and violent videos continue to seep into these video platforms that are beloved by our kids. This dark Momo challenge therefore serves as a timely reminder that we need to be active in our child's digital lives, and safeguarding them every time they enter into the online world.
Q : What advice would you give to parents?
A: Fact check, always. What's more, make sure you fact check to credible sources of information. Blog posts, social media comments and YouTube videos uploaded by unverified authors are not valid sources of information.
Use parental control tools to block access to inappropriate or unsafe websites and apps. One of the most important features of a parental control tool is the report that parents receive about what has been blocked, and WHY. Make sure you regularly read the reports about why an app or website has been blocked. This helps improve your knowledge and keeps you up-to-date on current cyber safety threats.
Talk to your kids about how information is posted on the internet. Teach them the difference between credible news websites and people sharing opinions or experiences. During the talk, discuss with them what they can do if they ever feel scared or worried about something they have seen online. Kids feel empowered and less distressed by online content when they are equipped with information about how to protect themselves.
Q : What advice would you give to students?
A: There are some great people on the internet posting some amazing stuff, but sometimes there are nasty people who post things that try and scare and upset us. We're all lucky in that we are in control of what we look at and what we don't. So if you ever see something that seems strange, upsets you or asks you to do something you think is worrisome, turn it off and talk to a trusted adult about it.
Hoax or not, many parents have asked us the best way to keep their kids safe from this type of content, so below you'll find questions and answers from some of the most common queries we've received from Family Zone customers
What can School Manager do to help keep students safe?
Due to the way that Momo images may be spread between students, we can't guarantee they won't find a way to share it with their friends. However, we can offer some solutions, thanks to School Manager's child safety features, that will help to minimise the risk.
We can offer solutions involving YouTube restricted mode enforcement, and Layer 7 application filtering to help block network access to potentially dangerous applications.
We also recommend ensuring that your school's parents make use of our Mobile Zone application, to help parents to observe and control their child's internet behaviour outside of school hours. This helps parents to feel safer, and helps you to know that the content won't be brought in to the school from the child's home internet access. Contact your accounts manager for more information on how to become a Mobile Zone-enabled school and easily provide this solution for your solutions.
See below for some insight in to how to help minimise the risk of students being exposed to Momo-related content.
How do I block Momo videos on YouTube?
Videos that contain Momo are not listed as Momo videos; instead, people put Momo into other innocent-looking videos. YouTube has been marking videos including Momo content as being "identified by the YouTube community as inappropriate or offensive to some audiences" and that "viewer discretion is advised." If you have Restricted mode on for your student accounts, this content is not available to them; however this will block all uncategorised content also. To do this;
Log into your School Manager cloud console
Click on 'Filtering' on the dark grey bar
Click on the 'Safe Search' section in the second menu
Click 'Add rule' to add a new Safe Search policy
Select which networks or groups that you'd like to enforce Safe Search for, then tick 'YouTube Strict'
Click 'Save'
Perform a test to ensure that YouTube enforcement is working correctly for your chosen groups/networks. If you have any issues, please call our education support team for further assistance.
What other applications can I block, to prevent the student from receiving Momo-related content?
There have been reported incidents of students receiving Momo-related videos & content on WhatsApp, as well as multiple online games which provide a chat facility. The safest way to comply with your duty of care and prevent students from accessing these applications is to block WhatsApp & Gaming applications directly.
To do this;
Log in to your School Manager cloud console
Click on the 'Content Filtering' section
Click 'Add Rule' to add new filtering policy
In the 'Type' field, enter 'Momo' then click on the 'Momo Internet and Telecom: Social Media' row
Repeat the above step to add the following items to the type field:
'WhatsApp Internet and Telecom: Voip and Messaging'
'Gaming All gaming'
Choose the groups/networks that you'd like to apply this restriction to under the 'Criteria' field, then click 'Save' to save the new rule
Is there a way to block searches by a keyword? For instance, if a student searches for "Momo" the search is automatically blocked.
While we can't currently block searches based on a single term, we can identify which students have searched for this term. This can help your pastoral care or counselling team to discuss the topic with the student, and help them to understand what it is and why they don't have to follow through with the challenges set out. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the student's mental health with them, and provide any support that the school might see as necessary.
What can I do to stop students from showing Momo content at school?
After the content has been downloaded to the student's device, it can be shown to other students and shared with other students freely (via any platforms that are not blocked by your school policies). To prevent this from happening, we recommend becoming a Family Zone partner school so you can provide our Mobile Zone solution to your parents, to help prevent the students from getting access to this content at home, so that it can't be brought in to your school.
The Momo image - featured left - is a cropped picture of a sculpture by Japanese artist Keisuke Aisawa. It first appeared in a series of Facebook posts in July 2018 challenging readers to message a certain number - variously recorded as having Japanese, Colombian and Mexican country codes.
Family Zone Education Solutions is committed to helping create school communities where students thrive.
Online Safety. Insights. Advice.
Topics: Cyber Safety, Cyber Experts, suicide, self-harm, momo, hoax


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Block O fires up the crowd and builds student bonds along the way
Block O cheers on Ohio State against Michigan State
Photo by: Erica Eisz
Block O cheers on Ohio State against Cincinnati
Students from Block O cheer on Ohio State basketball
Students from Block O support the football team from the south stands
Add me on LinkedIn (opens in new window)
Chris Booker
booker.9@osu.edu
A showdown made for Saturdays in autumn: Penn State versus Ohio State. The storied programs and rivals are vying for a shot at the Big Ten Championship and, if their winning ways continue, a chance for a national title.
As 103,000 Buckeye fans and a few Nittany Lions make their way into Ohio Stadium this weekend, it will be cold, it will be crowded and it will be loud. And the loudest fans in the 'Shoe will likely be the students in Block O.
"It's like the craziest kids in this school, that are coming here at 8 a.m. to paint their whole bodies and run around the 'Shoe," said Gracie Klatt, a first-year early childhood education major. "It's so fun. Everybody loves Buckeye Nation and everybody wants to be here."
Whether it's cheering until they can't speak anymore, getting painted head-to-toe in scarlet and gray in the cold fall weather or performing card stunts, Block O has been leading the way for fans of Ohio State for more than 80 years.
The university's largest student organization traces its roots to 1938 and Clancy Isaac, head cheerleader and student. Isaac launched the first official cheering section at that season's homecoming game against Indiana. For each game, the student section would perform elaborate card stunts while cheering for the Buckeyes.
"We started out just doing card stunts and then we were just supporting football for a really long time but now we have … technically 13 [student support] sections," said Nicole Zaayer, vice president of Block O. "So we support everything from football and basketball to tennis, gymnastics and volleyball."
Zaayer, a fourth-year strategic communication major, joined Block O as a sophomore. She said the spent time this summer at a conference for student sections and came away with a belief that her team is unique.
"A lot of other schools, their student sections are within athletics and so they don't really get to have that side of truly controlling everything they're doing," she said. "I think it matters a lot that it's just student driven. It shows that the students are the ones really holding a lot of the traditions and keeping them going."
The Block O students are recognizable in the south and north stands in Ohio Stadium. They lead the chants and fire up the crowd. At basketball games, they make up the Nut House section. The Ohio State hockey teams have the Knucklebucks in their corner. Gymnastics, volleyball and other sports get similar support.
Membership in Block O is $20 per year. Students who sign up to sit in the Block O section for football games pay the fee with their tickets. About 2,300 of the 2,700 members of the student organization join through the football tickets.
"The core mission of Block O is to support every student, especially our student-athletes, no matter what," Zaayer said. "We really did start out with just one student section. If someone wants to add a section, they come to us and propose it and we vote on it and if it's approved, then they'll get a budget."
More than supporting student athletes, Block O is a student support system for its members. For Emily Pesce, it's a way to build new relationships far from home.
Pesce is a first-year accounting major from New Jersey. She chose Ohio State because her father was a huge Buckeye fan.
"I signed up for a game day setup and I made a bunch of friends," she said. "It was great to just get to know people and get that sense of family, because all my roommates are from Ohio and they go home every weekend. They get to see their family. I don't get to do that but [Block O] is my weekend home."
Beyond friendship, Pesce uses Block O to build her network. She works on the Block O treasury committee and interacts with the student organization's sponsors.
"I can make those connections with companies; I can make those connections with students. It's just a huge help," she said.
Griffin Spielman, the president of Block O, has a similar story. The fourth-year marketing major is also from New Jersey and has no family connections to Ohio State. He just fell in love with the football team when he was 10 years old and never looked back.
"It's amazing. I've met all of my best friends here and the kids I live with, the kids I'm going to talk to for the rest of my life," he said. "The first meeting I went to my freshman year, I told the president at the time that I was going to be president one day because I was a crazier fan than he was."
Spielman said the leadership skills he's learned in his time at Block O are serving him in the real world.
"The leadership and the selling aspect recruiting Block O members – that's what all of these companies are seeing and saying, 'Wow, this is a section of people that scream at sports, but it's actually really applicable to anything,'" he said.
As senior members of the student organization, Zaayer and Spielman are preparing to hand over their leadership roles. Both said they've made incredible memories at home and on the road supporting the Buckeyes.
"I really love that we're able to represent the university in so many different ways," Zaayer said, "just to be a part of a lot of the traditions and experiences that people have at Ohio State, even when it's not always evident that it's Block O. It's great just being a part of the tradition of Ohio State and part of that legacy."
They'll be making it loud when @OhioStateFB takes the field. @OSUBlockO fires up the fans and builds lifelong friendships. #GoBucks #BuckeyesForLife I @OhioStateNews

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Monsoon Season on the Mogollon Rim (9/15)
Free Photos > USA Photos > Arizona Photos > Coconino National Forest > Monsoon Season on the Mogollon Rim (9/15)
View from the edge of the Mogollon Rim along the Rim Road (FR 300). Low monsoon season clouds float over the valley below. The Mogollon Rim is one of the most striking geologic features in Arizona. This steep escarpment, measured in thousands of feet and hundreds of miles, begins just across the border in New Mexico and stretches diagonally two thirds of the way across Arizona. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and is one of the most impressive overlooks in the Grand Canyon State. Photo taken July 21, 2017 by Deborah Lee Soltesz. Source: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
General Crook Trail
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim Ranger District
monsoon season
USFS
Camera Maker: Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
Camera Model: PENTAX K-1


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The Mississippi River Flooding, Explained
Several homes sit in a neighborhood flooded by rivers that lead off of the Mississippi river in north Memphis. The river is expected to reach record levels tonight in the Memphis area as over one thousand across the area have left their homes due to fear of flooding.Dan Anderson/Zuma
The Midwest and the South are once again in the middle of record floods. The mighty Mississippi River is now six times its normal size and police have evacuated parts of Memphis as the river crested overnight just shy of 48 feet.
It neared, but didn't reach, the record of 48.7 feet set there in 1937. The water levels are expected to break records in other parts of the region set in two major floods of the past century, in 1927 and 1937. While Memphis is experiencing the brunt of it right now, the flood crest is expected to "move slowly downstream towards New Orleans during the next three weeks," according to the National Weather Service, and will likely also impact southern tributaries like the White River, the Arkansas River, and Big Black River, among others.
Here are answers to a few common questions about the flood:
What caused the flooding?
The 2,320-mile-long Mississippi drains approximately 41 percent of the continental US. A lot of snow in the upper Midwest this winter and an extremely wet April—where up to four times the normal amount of rain fell in some parts of the region—compounded to overflow the banks of the river.
Bloomberg reports that 3,075 buildings, 949 homes and 12 apartment complexes are affected in just Shelby County, Tenn., home to Memphis. As Jeff Master's writes over on WunderBlog, these are the highest water levels on record for the 70-mile stretch between Missouri and Tennessee. As the crest moves south, many more towns may be affected, including New Orleans. Here's what the Mississippi looks like now, as it has expanded to up to 3 miles wide at some points:
Images of the Mississippi River, before and after the flooding: NASA Earth Observatory
What are they doing to protect towns and cities?
The Army Corps already breached levees to protect Cairo, Ill. They have also opened floodgates on the Bonnet Carre spillway near New Orleans to try to divert some of the water and may open others. The Army Corps released a map on Monday showing the estimated inundation areas for Louisiana.
Does climate change have anything to do with this?
Most scientists will urge caution in saying that any particular weather event is directly "caused" by climate change. However, increases in both snow and rain are tied to climate change. The melting snow from the winter and torrential downpours this spring have overwhelmed the river. Scientists say that we can expect more floods in the US and around the world as the planet gets warmer. The US Global Change Research Program has warned of more extreme events like heavy downpours in Midwest in the future as the climate changes. Treehugger has more on this subject.
Is this as bad as the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927?
The 1927 flood is often referred to as the worst in US history. It impacted seven states in an area of 27,000 square miles and destroyed 130,000 homes, as a local paper recently recalled. It also killed 246 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The damage would have totaled $1.5 billion at today's prices, according to the Corps. Infrastructure and transportation have improved substantially since then, as have the early-warning systems that allow people to evacuate, which makes helps limit the damage for this latest flood. Reuters has more historic floods in the region.
What is a "100-year flood," anyway?
This term is used colloquially to refer to major floods, but most people don't really know what it means. The US Geological Survey explains:
The term "100-year flood" is misleading because it leads people to believe that it happens only once every 100 years. The truth is that an uncommonly big flood can happen any year. The term "100-year flood" is really a statistical designation, and there is a 1-in-100 chance that a flood this size will happen during any year. Perhaps a better term would be the "1-in-100 chance flood."
So that means these floods can happen more than once in a 100-year period—or more than once in a single year, really.
Budget Axes NOAA's Climate Service
Sen. Barrosso's Climate Plan: Don't Prevent, Don't Adapt
Chicago's Smog-Eating Cement vs. NYC's Fancy Flood Maps


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Welcome to Linde in Puerto Rico.
Please select your area of interest.
Linde @ Social Media
Jobs @ Linde
2013-11-12 Linde experts to discuss advances in LNG fuel and energized gas solutions in hydraulic fracturing at DUG Unconventional Resource Conference
Linde experts to discuss advances in LNG fuel and energized gas solutions in hydraulic fracturing at DUG Unconventional Resource Conference Will also introduce its new LNG fueling station
Murray Hill and New Providence, New Jersey, U.S., November 12, 2013 – Linde LLC will introduce its new LNG fueling station and will highlight its comprehensive solutions for upstream oil and gas operation that create cost savings and productivity gains at the DUG East Conference and Exposition.
Linde LLC, is a member of The Linde Group, a global leader in the growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and fueling market. DUG East is one of a conference series produced by Hart Energy that is focused on developing unconventional oil and gas resources. The 2013 conference will be held in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 13-15. Linde will be in booth #267.
Linde representatives will discuss how Linde fuels drilling rigs and frac spreads throughout North America with liquefied natural gas (LNG). The company also offers alternatives to slickwater completions with the industry's largest network of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) plants. Brian Kubalik, national sales manager, said, "With off-road capable equipment and dedicated service-minded personnel even the demanding terrain of Appalachia cannot keep us from meeting the customer's frac date. We will also help our customers save costs of fueling high horsepower equipment and maximize the long-term performance of their wells."
Linde has also developed technology that involve fluids energized with carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrogen (N2) to reduce water volume for more economical hydraulic fracturing. "In certain situations, the increased productivity achieved with energized solutions can lower overall unit cost of production," said Kubalik.
Linde will be introducing its new LNG fueling station that offers important advantages compared with competitive LNG stations. "The new, permanent commercial stations are economical and scalable as fleet needs expand, and offer exceptional performance," said Bryan Luftglass, head of strategic market and business development for LNG. Linde has commissioned the first stations incorporating these design elements in the United Kingdom and Australia, and is building its first station in North America. "Linde also supplies mobile fueling equipment; together with the new station, we can help truck fleets supplying sand, cement and water services economically convert their fleets over to LNG, whatever their level of fuel usage," Luftglass said.
Linde LLC is a member of The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 63,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2012 financial year, Linde generated revenue of Eur 15.280 bn ($19.9 billion). The strategy of the Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com
Amy Ficon
Linde corporate communications
amy.ficon@linde.com


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Home/LOCAL NEWS/COVID-19: Ghana tightens airport protocols to keep out new coronavirus strain
COVID-19: Ghana tightens airport protocols to keep out new coronavirus strain
Ghana is the latest to strengthen its airport restrictions due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, causing travel chaos in parts of the world.
In his latest update on Ghana's management of the coronavirus pandemic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that all arriving passengers who test positive for COVID-19, asymptomatic or not, will undergo mandatory isolation and treatment at a designated health facility or isolation centre.
The isolation will be for seven days at the cost of the Government.
All passengers who are in isolation will undergo a repeat COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival, with the cost also borne by Government.
This test will also include genomic sequencing for COVID-19, the president indicated.
"I want to assure all Ghanaians that the testing regime in place at Kotoka is amongst the strictest in the world, and, as certified by the Food and Drugs Authority, it is capable of detecting this new variant of COVID-19, which is plaguing other nations around the world," President Akufo-Addo assured further.
COVID case count at KIA
As of January 1, 2021, 712 positive cases, out of 118,278 tests conducted, have been recorded among international arrivals at the Kotoka International Airport.
The President noted that December alone recorded 387 cases with the positivity rate among international arrivals rising from 0.26 percent in September to 0.93 percent in December.
"These developments call for the strengthening of the existing protocols to prevent the spread of the disease in Ghana, in light of the new variant of the virus," President Akufo-Addo said.
The Kotoka International Airport reopened to international passenger traffic on September 1, 2020, after an initial border closure.
Arriving passengers must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.
All passengers aged five and over must undertake an additional antigen test on arrival at the cost of $150 per passenger, with results available within 30 minutes.
Passengers, who tested positive for Covid-19 were to be handled by the health authorities for further clinical management.
Coronavirus Ghana
SC overrules Tsikata's objection against Honyenugah
We have enough reserves to keep cedi stable in 2021 – BoG


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AK Reserve - Jackson Architecture
Featured, Public, Sport
AK Reserve, Cambridge, WA
In association with Peter Hunt
This basketball stadium of six practice and two show courts is dynamic and uniquely tuned to its site, taking full advantage of its significant, location and environs. The form of the building responds to its sports function in an athletic and dynamic manner that can be easily expanded. From the flora and fauna strip to the south, the building rises to the street, with a series of masts and cables that aid support and herald its presence to the street.
The metal clad fuselage like form is raised above the ground with a lower band of glass providing a sensitive connection with the landscape. At the entrance, a slice is literally taken through the form and glazed, offering a clear sense of entry and transparency. It is here that from the street one can view through the building to the flora and fauna strip beyond.


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Ben Gurion University.(Photo by: WWW.PIKIWIKI.ORG.IL)
BGU receives 6 million shekel grant to establish entrepreneurship center
The center will run courses, hackathons and initiatives to create bonds within the nation's startup ecosystem and BGU's 20,000 students, researchers and 130,000 graduates.
The Council of Higher Education awarded Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in southern Israel with a 6 million shekel grant for the establishment of an interdisciplinary center for entrepreneurship.
The center, called Yazamut 360°, will host activities to encourage the BGU community to develop entrepreneurial skills.
"This grant is a gratifying vote of confidence in BGU's future and our ability to guide energetic, intelligent students, faculty members and Negev region residents as they transform their ideas into solid businesses," said BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz.
"Entrepreneurship and creativity, together with community outreach and a commitment to participate in the social, business and economic life of the Negev region, has been a critical part of BGU's raison d'être since the University was founded," said Prof. Chamovitz.


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Replicating Labs
By Michael Lucas '02 and Emily Gold / January / February 2005
Technology makes it easier than ever for scholars to work together across disciplines, but there's still no substitute for being down the hall from one another. In four years, the brain science program, along with the departments of neuroscience, cognitive and linguistic sciences, and molecular and cell biology, will move in together under one roof: a new life-sciences center to be built for an estimated $78 million. The plan is for the new building to contain primarily lab and research space, freeing up more classroom space elsewhere.
Brown officials announced in March that they had settled on a location for the building between Olive and Meeting streets, on a block where a pizza shop and a post office now stand. In addition to raising money to pay for the life-sciences center, the University must now select an architect. The hope is to break ground in the fall.
Other construction projects recently completed or under way around campus:
An $8.5 million expansion of Barus & Holley, in the form of a two-level, 17,000-square-foot addition to the buildingat the intersection of George and Brook streets. The project turns a parking lot into classroom space for physics and engineering.
Conversion of the former Sayles Gym into Smith-Buonanno Hall, which contains classrooms, a seminar room, and a 128-seat lecture hall. The $6.2 million renovation has preserved the architecture of the old gymnasium, while adding state-of-the-art multimedia systems.
A new $18.7 million home for the Watson Institute for International Studies, to be built on Thayer Street between Charlesfield and Benevolent.
Construction of a new $10 million building for the English Department on the corner of Brown and Angell streets.
Reader Responses to Replicating Labs


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The Key Considerations When Choosing a Vocation Over a Career
Lewis Humphries
If you are considering pursuing a vocation it is important that it is due to passion and not the shaky job market! We have some tips to help you out!
If you were to look briefly at the state of the labour market in the UK, you could be forgiven for thinking that it is quite healthy. For anyone with an interest beyond top level figures and the aesthetics of the market, however, it is clear that even a national unemployment rate of just 4.9% is not enough to disguise the real issues that exist at present.
Wage growth has stagnated as unemployment has fallen, for example, while the number of young adults who remain out of work remains uncomfortably high. More than a quarter of graduates are still on the hunt for work 12 months after completing their studies, with almost half of students wishing that they had pursued alternative career paths and eschewed higher education.
Choosing a Vocation over a Career: The Key Considerations
More specifically, many students wished that they had followed a vocational route to the job market, although this in itself reveals a dangerous mind-set that completely misunderstands the definition of a vocation and its core meaning. After all, while a vocation remains one of the three main perspectives on employment (along with a job and a career), it also represents an exact calling through which the work itself is the prime motivational factor.
In this respect, a vocation is something that you pursue regardless of the state of the job market, rather than as a convenient option in an economic climate where skilled roles and career opportunities are scarce. This is one of many considerations that you will need to take when considering a vocational career path, however, especially if you are to make an informed and ultimately satisfying choice. For example: -
1. The Origin of Vocational Careers and their Meaning
While we have already touched on the way vocational careers are perceived in the current climate, it is important to understand their origin in further detail. The word vocation comes from the Latin term 'vocare', for example, which translates into 'to call' in English.
With this in mind, a vacation can best be described as a voice summoning a person to a unique purpose, and one that reflects their individual passions and special talents. In this respect, a vocational call comes from within you from a relatively young age, rather than as a response to failed academic pursuits or the unpredictable nature of the job market.
Now, this internal voice will often be contradicted by those around you, while your own common sense will encourage you to pursue more lucrative and financially rewarding careers. These arguments are something that those with a true vocation and a genuine understanding of their calling will have the strength to ignore.
If you are easily discouraged from a vocational route that initially appeals to you, the chances are that it is less of a true vocation and more of a convenient crutch in a difficult economy.
2. There are Numerous Types of Vocational Career
This definition of a vocation is interesting, not least because it contradicts one of the main misconceptions surrounding such a career path. The term 'vocation' is often used exclusively to describe careers that are objectively deemed as worthy or selfless, but this narrow application can cause confusion among job seekers when they look to plot their future paths.
In fact, whether or not something is a vocation remains entirely subjective, depending on the outlook and perspective of each individual. Although all vocational careers are bound by their innate calling and the need for selfless dedication to a specific cause, they can be extremely varied in their nature and cover many different industries.
Take a look at the recent Manufacturing Awards in the UK, which recognised a number of small but dedicated businesses that have pursued the unique passions of their owners. Such pursuits and innovations often come at the expense of bottom line profits but improve the lives of customers.
So while manufacturing is not typically considered as a vocation, this depends almost entirely on your own unique calling and skill-set as an individual. It is, therefore, crucial that you keep an open mind when considering your potential career paths, and remember that vocational callings can exist in the most unlikely places.
3. The Importance of Financial Remuneration When Making Your Choice
If you consider traditional vocational careers such as nursing, you will notice they are often described as being relatively low-paid. As a result, some careers are mistakenly classed as being vocational because of their low salary, but this negates the fact that some vocations can deliver a deceptively high rate of pay.
In fact, true vocations are pursued regardless of the financial remuneration on offer, meaning that some individuals may automatically be required to compromise on their earnings to follow their calling and fulfil their unique, professional goals. In simple terms, vocational careers should be followed unconditionally, irrespective of the working hours, salary or the sacrifices that must be made by you as an individual.
Nursing is an excellent example, as the majority of those who undertake the role are motivated by an innate desire to help others and make a genuine difference to the lives of patients. This creates a tremendous sense of spirit and camaraderie between those in the profession, which in turn is reflected by the sheer range of communal nursing blogs that offer help and guidance to workers.
But depending on your stage in life you may need to balance the desire to follow a vocation with sustaining an existing standard of life. So even if you are willing to compromise on your basic rate of pay, there may be instances where this is entirely unrealistic.
These considerations will put you in good stead when appraising your career options, particularly if you are considering pursuing a so-called vocation as a response to the ongoing challenges that exist within the job market. By first understanding the nature of vocational careers and how they relate to your own, unique skill-set, you can make an informed choice that leads to a bright future!
Are you considering pursuing a vocation? Is it due to passion or the unstable job market? Let us know in the comments section below...
Vocational advice


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Metro North Restores Full Hudson Line Service
Late this afternoon, the MTA Metro-North Railroad announced that it has restored full service on the Hudson Line for Thursday morning. Here are the details via press release:
Crews from Metro-North Railroad have completed the reconstruction of a second Hudson Line track in the area of Sunday's derailment, allowing resumption of full service Thursday morning.
The work, including new ties, ballast, running rails, third rails and signal system, was completed in mid-afternoon and it was inspected by the Sperry Rail Car, which uses ultrasonic technology.
"I want to thank our customers for their patience during the railroad's recovery from this most tragic accident," said Metro-North President Howard Permut. "And I want to thank the dedicated men and women of Metro-North who worked long and hard to achieve this reconstruction."
A full AM peak service will be provided on the Hudson Line Thursday. The three trains that did not run on Wednesday morning will be restored to the schedule.
Reconstruction of Track 4, the most seriously damaged, will continue for the remainder of the week.
Ridership on the Hudson Line was about 25% below the normal AM peak on Wednesday, possibly as some customers diverted to the Harlem Line. The railroad expects customers to return on Thursday.
Comment by rssfeedsone on December 4, 2013 @ 8:28 PM
Metro North Restores Full Hudson Line Service: Late this afternoon, the MTA Metro-North Railroad announced tha… http://t.co/6dPmnFaySm


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Eyes on 2020
Activist Center
Independent's Scorecard for the June 26 – 27 Presidential Primary Debates
Print out the scorecard for independent voters and use it to measure the appeal of each of the 20 candidates participating in the first Democratic Party presidential primary debates sponsored by NBC/MSNBC and Telemundo on June 26th and 27th. Once you've completed the scorecard, scan it and send your results to [email protected] or use the online scorecard to enter your results.
We will tabulate your responses and release the results of the "independents' scorecard" to the media.
Twenty candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination will appear in the first televised debates on Wednesday, June 26th and Thursday, June 27th. By lottery the candidates were divided by NBC into two groups of ten. The five debate moderators are: Rachel Maddox, Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, José Diaz-Balart and Chuck Todd.
You can send a debate question to NBC here.
Democrats' support among independent voters has declined over the last three presidential elections. In 2008, Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama received 52% of the independent vote to John McCain's 44%. In 2012, independents broke for Republican Mitt Romney over Obama 50% to 45% and in 2016, for Trump over Clinton by a margin of 46% to 42%. Independents share of the electorate grew over the same period, from 29% in the 2008 and 2012 elections, to 31% of the electorate in 2016. While current polling shows a majority of independent voters inclined towards supporting a Democrat for President, the primary process is just getting underway. In approximately half the states, including the early primary states of NH and SC, local Democratic Party organizations permit independents to vote in presidential primary elections.
Candidate Scorecard Questions:
Did any of the candidates mention independent voters?
Did any of the candidates give any indication that there is massive distrust with both parties, not just Trump and Republicans?
Did any of the candidates offer a critique of the parties?
Was political reform mentioned?
Were there any advocates for political reform among the candidates?
Did any of the candidates mention that 40% of the American people are independents?
Did any of the candidates strike you as being other than a politician?
Did any of the candidates express values that you felt close to?
Did any of the candidates put the interest of people before the interest of the parties?
Did any of the moderators speak about independent voters?
As an independent does the Democratic Party allow you to vote in the presidential primary in your state?
Last summer, over 5,000 independents participated in a summer survey conducted by Independent Voting. The survey asked unique questions about how independents view their place within the political system, their relationship to the parties and the rules of the electoral game. Survey Results – PDF
Independents are now the largest voting bloc in the American electorate according to Gallup, which has tracked voters by party affiliation for decades. This year the percentage of Americans who self-identify as independent has fluctuated between 41% – 45%, far outpacing both Democrats (27% – 32%) and Republicans (22% – 28%).
BECOME PART OF THE INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT
Independent Voting
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Angus Pigott
Angus started his working life in the film industry, climbing the ladder from Runner to Producer. After a spell in London he spent over 10 years in Glasgow working for first STV and the BBC and latterly with Sigma Films producing independent feature films. In 2007 Angus decided on a change of life and career and moved to Mallorca. There he trained up in Interiors and Architectural photography which became, and still remains, his 'day job'. Always a keen amateur photographer he took to it quickly but continues to passionately enjoy, landscape, lifestyle, portrait and street photography.
Having moved to the southwest 4 years ago, 'Observations' is his first exhibition and explores the beauty and interest in the everyday: the people, places and things we pass all the time but rarely actually look at.
Angus lives in Dorset with his girlfriend and 3 children.


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'The Revenant' Takes Home Most Wins at 2016 BAFTA Awards
The drama film "The Revenant" took home the most wins at this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards night which happened on Sunday.
'Colombian Oscars' Announces Nominees for National Film Awards
Ciro Guerra's "Embrace of the Serpent" has the most number of nominations.
'Tokyo Ghoul' Season 1 Limited Edition DVD/Blu-ray Set Comes Out Today: Price, Where to Buy & More
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Limited edition and standard edition of the 'Tokyo Ghoul' DVD/Blu-ray set is now available.
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Here five Latino personalities who are making a positive impact on their respective industries.
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HBO's documentary film "The Latin Explosion: A New America" will showcase a bunch of famous Latino personalities.
'The View' Co-Host Kelly Osbourne Backpedals After Racy Statement on Latinos: 'I Clean My Own F*** Toilets'
Kelly Osbourne has apologized for her racist remarks against the Latino community while discussing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on "The View."
'The Revenant' Teaser Trailer Unveiled! Will Leonardo DiCaprio Hit an Oscar? [Watch]
Jul 20, 2015 06:00 AM EDT
The trailer for Alejandro G. Iñárritu's "The Revenant" is finally here.
Javier Bardem & Penelope Cruz Mark 7th Collaboration in Pablo Escobar Biopic
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are reportedly collaborating on the big screen once again.
'The LEGO Movie' Franchise Gets Three More Installments!
Apr 21, 2015 06:00 AM EDT
Warner Bros. has unveiled its official release dates for its upcoming "LEGO" movies roster.
'Ben-Hur' Jesus Christ Actor Rodrigo Santoro Blessed by Pope Francis
Rodrigo Santoro, the actor who is portraying Jesus Christ in the new version of "Ben-Hur," has received a special gift -- Pope Francis' blessing.
'Beauty and the Beast' Live-Action Remake Release Date & Cast: Sir Ian McKellen to Voice the Talking Clock Cogsworth
Disney's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" will feature Sir Ian McKellen as the voice behind the talking clock Cosgworth.
Catalina Sandino Moreno & JD Pardo Join 'East Los High'
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'American Sniper' Star Bradley Cooper Splits With Suki Waterhouse
Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse have reportedly split after two years of dating.
Alejandro González Iñarritu Talks 'Birdman,' Says Uninterrupted Scenes in Movie Tackle Ego & Art
Director Alejandro González Iñarritu revealed how the continuous, uninterrupted shots played a significant role in "Birdman's" storytelling.


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Prize Year: 2002
Jadwiga Lopata
By elomonico
Jadwiga Lopata created an eco-tourism program that promoted the environmental, economic and health advantages of small family farms over large-scale factory agriculture.
Alexis Massol González
A civil engineer, Alexis Massol-González established Puerto Rico's first community-managed forest reserve, Bosque del Pueblo (People's Forest), where shade-grown coffee and eco-tourism bring income to the community.
Sarah James & Norma Kassi & Jonathan Solomon
Gwich'in tribal leaders, Sarah James, Norma Kassi and Jonathon Solomon (d. 2006) defended the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling that targets the heart of the refuge's wildlife habitat and coastal plain.
Fatima Jibrell
Fatima Jibrell saved northeastern Somalia from the massive logging of old-growth acacia trees by persuading the regional government to create and enforce a ban on exports of charcoal made from the trees.
Jean La Rose
A key leader in the Amerindian struggle for full rights to traditional lands, Jean La Rose coordinated the first indigenous land rights lawsuit in Guyana to protect streams, rainforests and endangered indigenous communities harmed by mining.
Pisit Charnsnoh
Pisit Charnsnoh's work has led to the restoration and protection of the mangroves and improved yields for local fishers. As a result, the Thai government has allowed local sustainable management of environmental resources.
Five Highlights from the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize
Prize Winners Today: How Alexis Massol is Creating a Community-Based Environmental Revolution in Puerto Rico


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NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Health, North Dakota News
Fargo Cass Public Health to Hold Flu Shot Friday Event
The North Dakota Department of Health says it is not too late to get a flu shot.
Kendra Johnson,
FARGO, N.D.–Fargo Cass Public Health hopes to increase flu vaccination rates with a walk-in Flu Shot Friday event on January 10. The event is in response to the North Dakota Department of Health's reported increase in influenza activity. The event will be from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Linden Room at Fargo Cass Public Health. Flu shots will…
Community, Local News, North Dakota News, Politics / Elections
Senator Kevin Cramer Receives "Gold Insulin Vial"
He was awarded for his work on lowering the cost of insulin.
Paola Belloso,
FARGO, N.D. — Members of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation presented the senator with the "Gold Insulin Vial" and shared stories about their day to day struggles. Senator Cramer along with other members of the Senate have been working towards bringing down the cost of insulin, holding manufacturers responsible for the increase of prices of this vital medicine and looking…
Construction & Traffic Updates, Local News, North Dakota News
2018 Traffic Fatalities Down from Previous Years in North Dakota
Grand Forks County had the most road deaths with 14.
BISMARCK, N.D.–Traffic fatalities were down last year according to the 2018 North Dakota Crash Summary. North Dakota documented over 15-thousand motor vehicle accidents last year, resulting in 105 deaths. The fatality count has been falling each year since the modern-day high of 170 in 2012. Of the 105 road deaths, 48-percent were not wearing their seat-belt and 32-percent were alcohol-related….
NDDoH Raising Awareness about Safe Antibiotic Use
November 18-22 is Antibiotics Awareness Week.
BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Health is raising awareness about the importance of safe antibiotic use. The NDDoH says about two million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection every year, and at least 23,000 of those people die. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria in the body develop an immunity to the antibiotics designed to kill them. The Department of Health…
North Dakota Department of Health Reports Increase in Syphilis Cases
There have been 72 confirmed reports of syphilis in North Dakota this year.
BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Health is reporting multiple clusters of syphilis in Stark and Cass Counties. The increase in reports show infections among pregnant women, which increases the risk for syphilis among newborn infants that could result in malformations or stillbirth. There have been 72 confirmed reports of people with syphilis in North Dakota this year. Twenty-five of…
Possible Cluster of Vaping-Related Illness Reported in North Dakota
The NDDoH has received seven confirmed, five probable and three suspected reports of vaping-related illness.
BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Health has confirmed three cases of vaping-related illness in northeast North Dakota in the last week, indicating a potential cluster. The NDDoH has received seven confirmed, five probable and three suspected reports of vaping-related illness. Similar to nationwide trends, most, but not all confirmed or probable cases in North Dakota reported using THC products….
Grand Forks Public Health to Begin Syringe Service Program
the program seeks to reduce the spread of infectious disease related to injection drug use
GRAND FORKS, N.D.–Grand Forks Public Health is set to begin operation of their Syringe Service Program on Friday, October 18 at 1 p.m. The program will operate as "The Any Positive Change (APC) Project" and seeks to reduce the spread of infectious disease related to injection drug use, provide positive connections to clients in active substance use, and prevent opioid…
NDDoH Reminds Parents to Vaccinate Children Before October 1
Children who are not in compliance by October 1 will be excluded from school for not meeting requirements.
BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Health is reminding parents to make sure their children are up-to-date on immunizations. North Dakota state law requires students in grades K-12 to meet a minimum number of required immunizations before they can attend school. Children who are not in compliance, either up-to-date or have a signed exemption form, by October 1 will be…
Local News, North Dakota News
Meningococcal Meningitis Case Under Investigation At Grand Forks Air Force Base
They are working to identify and notify close contacts to ensure they receive appropriate antibiotics
TJ Nelson,
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE — North Dakota Department of Health and Grand Forks Air Force Base are investigating a case of meningococcal meningitis. They are working to identify and notify close contacts to ensure they receive appropriate antibiotics. There is no risk to those who were not in close contact with the infected individual, who has not been identified….
Health, Local News, North Dakota News
North Dakota Confirms Severe Vaping Illness, Investigating 6
Seven deaths have been reported from six states.
BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Health says the state has one confirmed case of severe vaping-related lung illness and six probable cases under investigation. Health officials say the state is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the agency continues to investigate the vaping illness cases. The CDC says 36 states and 1 U.S. territory…
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Community Kitchen Offers Fresh Meals To FM Area


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Home > Sport > Lancaster swept aside in squash
Lancaster swept aside in squash
11th May 2017 Michael YoungSport
The first match saw David Aitken take on York, it was a fast paced game but York were more clinical in their finishing and took the point. David came back for Lancaster and had to fight hard after initially being 10-4 up to 10-9 to eventually win the second game.
After this game, however, York appeared to find another level in their performance and took the next two games and eventually York won the first match of this best-of-five competition. The second match was much more straight forward for York and although Lancaster put in a good performance they were unable to match up to York's standards.
A controversial dangerous play decision by the umpire against York was unable to slow down their winning ways and the second match was won 3-0. It appeared in the third match that Lancaster would be winning their first match of the competition when they went 2-0 up in games. A large crowd of York supporters then arrived to give their player a boost and it wasn't long until York managed to bring the match back to 2-2.
The final game of this match was worth more than just this match, Lancaster were playing to remain in the competition and York were playing to take the Roses points. There was brilliant play from both sides but edged out on front to win the game and securing York took the points.
Speaking to SCAN at the end of the match, Aitken said "competing in Roses is unlike anything I've ever done before and is essentially mini Olympic's game between the two universities. The atmosphere was exhilarating particularly due to the large crowd that spectated and the close competition.
"I built stronger friendships with my team mates and their motivation was essential due to playing away. Playing my match was very challenging however enjoyable due to the scores being so close. Overall I would recommend taking part if you have the opportunity and come try out Squash!"
There was disappointment in the other games, as Lancaster failed to take any Roses points in 2017. Whilst last year the women shone as the men faltered, they could only manage a 3-2 loss. The men's 1sts and 3rds were able to take a game at least, but both fell 4-1 to give York a whitewash in the squash.
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Advertisements for lost husbands; agunos helping themselves through the pages of the Hebrew newspaper Hamaggid
The founder and editor of Hamaggid decided to use the pages of his newspaper to print notices from agunot, chained women, whose husbands had gone missing. These notices are heartbreaking, even as we appreciate the humanity of Eliezer Lipmann Silbermann in trying to do something to help these women. Sadly, there were many, many of these notices. Occasionally they seem to have worked and the whereabouts of a missing husband was located.
Here is a sample, from Hamaggid June 17, 1858:
Two women write that in 1849 their husbands left their town of Ponovezh to sell merchandise. Chaya Yenta's husband is named Shmuel ben Nisan. He was born in Troki and grew up in Vilna. He married her, the daughter of Reb Shalom Finfer of Ponovezh, a merchant. Physically, he is short, has a thin, long face, with pockmarks, a small beard, and blonde hair, and light eyes. He has a wart on one side of his head. He is a ben Torah, very learned.
The second one, Yehudis, is married to Aryeh Leib. She is the daughter of Reb Binyamin Slauker, also based near Ponovezh. He grew up in Kurland. Physically, he is very fat, with a ruddy face and black hair.
They say that when they reached their destination they received letters from them stating that they planned to return, but that was the last they ever heard from them. Thus, they have been left as agunos, chained women. Therefore they ask all Jews, wherever they may be, to do them a kindness for they and their children are as two widows of living men. If anyone recognizes these men and knows if they are alive, please speak to them and encourage them to return home, or to send them a divorce. If they are already deceased, perhaps someone knows the date and place of death and can inform the rabbi, editor of Hamaggid.
"This is the request of the afflicted agunos,
1) Chaya Yenta, wife of Shmuel.2) Yehudis, wife of Aryeh Leib."
In the July 15, 1858 issue a reply was printed:
A man called Meshulam Kaufman writes that he may have information about Yehudis' husband, Aryeh Leib of Kurland. He says that here in Kvil (sp) in Poland a man has been living for three years, and he says he was raised in Kurland. He also knows from the man's own words that he has been dwelling in Poland for about nine years. He works as a melamed (teacher) for small children, and gives a shiur in Gemara and Tosafos, and conducts himself properly (i.e, religiously). He is unmarried, and Kaufman does not know why, and physically he matches her description exactly; except that he is not called Aryeh Leib; rather, here the man is known as Tzemach, and nicknamed "Chayma." Nevertheless, the fact that this man has a different name is no proof, of course. Kaufman says that he spoke to him about it, and implored him that if it is true then he should face up to it, and if not then in order to clear his reputation, he ought to inform the Beit Din in their city and clarify the matter, if he is really named Tzemach and so on. The man responded, what business is it of yours? If I decide to get married here, sure, let them investigate me. But barring that, what business is it of yours if I am really named Tzemach or Aryeh? So, Kaufman wishes this be made known to Yehudis and maybe with the help of the editor inquiries can be made and perhaps the matter, the disgrace of this scorned Jewish (Yehudis) woman can be ameliorated.
I don't know if anything came from it, but it is nice to have seen a glimmer of hope.
ira 1:34 PM, August 16, 2012
I'm glad you are posting this. The Agunah problem was far worse back then than it is now. Before the era of communications, husbands would just "fall off the planet" and leave their wives without ever being held accountable, nowadays there is much more community pressure and accountability. There still exists the problem, but on a much smaller scale. Plus we are forgetting that non religious jews have "solved" the problem by eliminating it altogether.
If one is really truthful and honest, the agunah issue in the 21st century is really a small fraction of the problem it was 200 years ago.
News Tip 8:42 PM, August 16, 2012
http://rygb.blogspot.com/2012/08/chodesh-lshana-overviewreview.html
Unknown 11:39 AM, August 20, 2012
An interesting difference I see between then and now is that the people writing these letters to the editor didn't do so anonymously.
Blogger 9:11 PM, August 16, 2018
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Toronto GTA May Rent Report 2021
Posted in Market Trends, Real Estate News On Jun 16, 2021
Greater Toronto Area Rental Apartment Market
The following graphic presents data on the average and median monthly asking rents for GTA rental listings (all property types: basement apartments, rental apartments, condo apartments, townhouses and single-family homes) from January 2020 to April 2021 based on listings on TorontoRentals.com.
The average rent for all property types was $1,977 per month in April 2021. The dramatic declines in average rental rates over the last year appear to have leveled off.
Between January and December 2020, the average rent in the GTA decreased 16%, while so far in 2021, the average rental rate has decreased by less than 1%.
Per-Square-Foot Rent Levels in the GTA
This graphic looks at the average rent per square foot for all property types in the GTA from January 2020 to April 2021.
For most of 2020, the average rent per square foot steadily declined, ending the year at $2.76 per square foot in December 2020. In April 2021, the average rent per square foot was $2.78. While this represents a 13.7% decrease year over year, the average rent per square foot has stayed relatively stable throughout 2021 so far, ticking up $0.04 per square foot from January.
Furnished versus Unfurnished Rentals
The figure below presents data on the average rent and average rent per square foot for condo and rental apartments by the furnished level over the last 13 months in the GTA.
The average monthly rent for a furnished unit was 5.1% higher than the average monthly rent for an unfurnished unit in April 2021, while the average rent per square foot for a furnished unit was 6.1% higher than the average rent per square foot for an unfurnished unit.
In April 2020, the average rent for a furnished unit was 4.7% higher than that of an unfurnished unit — so the disparity has not changed substantially from a year ago. However, the average rent per square foot in April 2020 for a furnished unit was 12% higher than the average rent per square foot for an unfurnished unit, showing that the price difference between furnished and unfurnished units has diminished moving from April 2020 to April 2021.
Unit Mix by Bedroom Type in the GTA
One of the factors contributing to the lower rent levels in the GTA is the high demand for large properties. These units are being leased quickly, and the number of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes for lease is much lower year to date in 2021 in comparison to 2020 and 2019.
The pie charts below show the breakdown of listings on TorontoRentals.com in the GTA by bedroom type
during the first four months of the year in 2019, 2020 and 2021 (six- and seven-bedroom properties were eliminated).
In 2019, the three-bedroom units made up 15% of the market, while four-bedroom units made up 5%, and five-bedroom units made up 1% (21% total).
In 2020, the three-bedroom segment shrank to 12%, while the four-bedroom segment decreased to 3% of the market and five-bedroom units again at 1% (the total for three-, four- and five-bedroom units came to 16% of the total).
In 2021, the market segment of larger units continued to shrink, as three-bedroom units made up 9% of the market, while four-bedroom units made up 1%. The five-bedroom units available in 2021 made up less than 1% over the total. Overall, these large units made up just 10% of the total, half of market share from 2019.
Average Rental Rates by Bedroom Type in the GTA
The figure below presents data on the average rent by bedroom type in the GTA from April 2020 to April 2021 for all property types.
Five- and six-bedroom units have been removed from the chart.
The rental rates for different bedroom types have diverged over the course of the past year. The average rent for four-bedroom units (primarily single-family dwellings) has increased, while the average rent for smaller units has decreased. Tenants are seeking larger properties while they work from home and their children learn virtually. With the stay-at-home order in place, many prospective tenants are looking for a property with a back yard.
The average rent for studio, one-, and two-bedroom suites are all down over 15% annually. Average rents in April 2021 were $1,453 for a studio, $1,753 for a one-bedroom, and $2,210 for a two-bedroom. All three were down by around $250 from a year earlier.
Four-bedroom units experienced an annual increase in average rent of 10% in April 2021.
Average Rental Rates by Property Type in the GTA
The following graphic presents GTA data on the average rent for single-family homes, condominium apartments, townhouses and rental apartments in March and April of 2020 and 2021 via TorontoRentals.com listings.
The average rent for a single family home in April 2021 was $2,823 per month, which represented a mon
th-over-month increase of 8.7%, and a year-over-year increase of 0.6%. Single-detached rental rates are volatile because the homes can range widely in size, and there are different lot frontages and depths which play a factor in the asking rents.
The average rent for a townhouse in April 2021 was $2,673 per month, a month-over-month increase of 15.4%, the larges
t increase of all the property types. The sample size of townhouses is relatively small, leading to monthly volatility. The average townhouse was listed for 4% more than a year earlier.
Condo apartments were offered at an average monthly rental rate of $2,074 per month in April, which represents a month-over-month increase of 1%, and an annual decrease of 11.8%. The average rent for purpose-built rental apartments in April 2021 was $1,895 per month, a 0.2% month-over-month increase, compared to a 4% year-over-year decrease.
Lastly, the average rent for basement apartments in April 2021 was $1,573 per month. This represents a monthly increase of 3.5%, and a year-over-year decrease of 3%.
The increase in rents overall was not compositional, as rental rates increased across the board.
Average Rents by Municipality
Average rent for condominium and rental apartments in GTA municipalities in April 2021 is presented below. Toronto is br
oken up into its former municipalities, prior to amalgamation.
The average rent for a condo or rental apartment in Vaughan has experienced the largest month-to-month increase in April 2021, rising by nearly 10% to $2,136 per month. Pickering was a close second, experiencing a month-over-month increase of 8.3% to $1,790 per month. The sample size of listings in these municipalities is not large, and as a result, their average rental rates can fluctuate monthly.
Toronto, which has a robust sample of listings, grew by just under 1% month over month, and the data indicates that tenant demand is increasing downtown.
Whitchurch-Stouffville and Richmond Hill are the municipalities that had experienced the largest month-over-month decrease in average rent, both declining by over 5%. The average rent in Whitchurch-Stouffville was $1,806 per month in April 2021, while the average rent in Richmond Hill was $1,690 per month.
10th & 90th Percentile Rent Levels
The bar graph below shows the 10th percentile rent level for condo and rental apartments in the former City of Toronto (pre-amalgamation boundaries), which is essentially the cheapest rents in the market (there are always a few outliers we eliminate). The 90th percentile is also shown, which is essentially the luxury rental market.
The average rent for a condo or rental apartment in Vaughan has experienced the largest month-to-month in
crease in April 2021, rising by nearly 10% to $2,136 per month. Pickering was a close second, experiencing a month-over-month increase of 8.3% to $1,790 per month. The sample size of listings in these municipalities is not large, and as a result, their average rental rates can fluctuate monthly.
Condo & Rental Apartment by Neighbourhood in Toronto
The chart below shows the average rent, the annual change in average rent, and the average rent per square foot by neighbourhood for condominium and rental apartments in Toronto for January to April 2021 using listings data from TorontoRentals.com.
The most expensive rent this year was in Rosedale-Moore Park at $2,308 per month or $3 per square foot (769 square-foot average), which is down 14% from the first four months of 2020.
In the Yonge and Eglinton area, where the average rent is $1,838 per month or $2.97 per square foot (619 square-foot average) year-to-date in 2021, the average rent declined by 13% year over year.
High Park North had the lowest annual decline at 3%, while Yonge-St. Clair experienced the biggest decline at 39%. The composition of the listings plays a factor in movements in the average rent on a monthly basis. If there were a lot of large units for rent last year and a lot of smaller units for lease this year, the average rent is lower, but it may not reflect landlords actually lowering rents.
Annual Change in Rent Per Square Foot for Condo and Rental Apartment Projects
The chart below looks at condominium and rental apartments with at least 20 listings on TorontoRentals.com in January to April 2020 and the same period this year.
The average rent per square foot year to date is shown, as well as the annual change in rent per foot.
The purpose-built rental apartments are clustered near the top of the list,. These listings are more likely to offer rental incentives.
The only properties to experience a year-over-year increase in average rent per square foot were The Jazz, and Fifty on the Park at 6.8% and 5.4% respectively — both are purpose-built rental apartments.
Many condominium apartments have experienced significant year-over-year decreases, with seven projects experiencing a yearly decline of over 20%. The projects that experienced the most significant declines were Alter and Grid Condos which experienced year-over-year decreases of 27.9% and 27.7%, respectively.
Covid lockdowns and vaccine setbacks in Toronto have forced many employees to continue working from home. There remains strong demand for larger units in the suburban areas. Rents increased month over month in Vaughan, Aurora, Oakville, Markham, Brampton, Milton, Ajax and Pickering. Average rents declined month over month in North York, but were up slightly in both the former cities of Toronto and Scarborough.
The rapid declines in rental rates experienced in 2020 have dissipated in 2021, as the average monthly rental rates as well as the average rents per square foot appear to have remained fairly steady over the past four months.
Despite more vaccines getting into arms and an inevitable end of the lockdowns in the GTA, the work-from-home trend looks like it's here to stay for many workplaces in 2021. This most likely means the rental rates for the smaller units in the downtown area will be slow to recover, while the rental rates for larger units in the suburbs will continue to be popular in the foreseeable future.
Bullpen Research & Consulting and TorontoRentals.com believe rents will start to pick up in the fall, but it won't be until 2022 that we see a rapid rise in rental rates when the borders are reopened and university students return to the classroom.
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