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Thursday 5 July 2018 (other days)
Come, let us adore the Lord, for he is our God.
Year: B(II). Psalm week: 1. Liturgical Colour: Green.
St Antony Mary Zaccaria (1502 - 1539)
He was born in Cremona in Lombardy and started by studying medicine, but soon decided to become a priest instead and was ordained in 1528. He founded the Congregation of Clerks Regular of St Paul, generally known as the Barnabites (after the church that was their headquarters), whose aim was the reform of the clergy and laity. He was part of the general movement to self-reform in a Church that was coming increasingly under attack from the Protestant Reformation.
Other saints: Saint Modwen
The memory of St Modwen is strongly established at Burton-on-Trent where she is venerated as a virgin who lived as a hermit on the island-meadow of Andressey on the Trent. Her name is Irish and she seems to have belonged to the group of Irish monks and hermits who worked for the conversion of Anglo-Saxons in the seventh century; Irish women hermits, such as St Dympna, are also known at that period. The medieval parish church at Burton is dedicated to her; she was adopted as patron of the restored Catholic parish when the Catholic Church in Guild Street was built in 1879.
Birmingham Ordo
Other saints: Blessed George Nichols, Richard Yaxley, Thomas Belson, Humphrey Pritchard (-1589)
These four men were executed at Oxford on 5 July 1589. Two were priests: George Nichols, born at Oxford, and Richard Yaxley, born at Boston, Lincolnshire, both ordained at the English College at Rheims. Thomas Belson was a gentleman from Oxfordshire who worked as a layman to support the underground work of the priests in Elizabethan England and had previously been imprisoned and deported; he was 26. All three were arrested at the Catherine Wheel at Oxford, together with Humphrey Pritchard, employed by the widow who owned the public house; she was condemned to perpetual imprisonment. After examination and torture in London, the four were tried and executed at Oxford. Blessed Humphrey Pritchard, the barman, was taunted for his ignorance by some of the university men present at the execution. When he said that he died for being a Catholic, one of them shouted that he was unable to explain what being a Catholic meant. Blessed Humphrey replied: "What I cannot say in words, I will seal with my blood". They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987.
Second Reading: St Jerome (340 - 420)
Jerome was born in Strido, in Dalmatia. He studied in Rome and was baptized there. He was attracted by the ascetic life and travelled to the East, where he was (unwillingly) ordained a priest. He was recalled to Rome to act as secretary to Pope Damasus, but on the Pope's death he returned to the East, to Bethlehem, where (with the aid of St Paula and others) he founded a monastery, a hospice, and a school, and settled down to the most important work of his life, the translation of the Bible into Latin, a translation which, with some revisions, is still in use today. He wrote many works of his own, including letters and commentaries on Holy Scripture. When a time of troubles came upon the world, through barbarian invasions, and to the Church, through internal dissension, he helped the refugees and those in need. He died at Bethlehem.
Liturgical colour: green
The theological virtue of hope is symbolized by the colour green, just as the burning fire of love is symbolized by red. Green is the colour of growing things, and hope, like them, is always new and always fresh. Liturgically, green is the colour of Ordinary Time, the season in which we are being neither especially penitent (in purple) nor overwhelmingly joyful (in white).
Amos 4:13 ©
He it was who formed the mountains, created the wind, reveals his mind to man, makes both dawn and dark, and walks on the top of the heights of the world; the Lord, the God of Hosts, is his name.
Amos 5:8 ©
He made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns the dusk to dawn and day to darkest night. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the land. 'The Lord' is his name.
He has built his high dwelling place in the heavens and supported his vault on the earth; he summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the land. 'The Lord' is his name.


NCIS 3D sees the return of the game that shook the world that is of course based on the hit television series from the United States. This game is unbelievable in every way and apart from the brilliant graphics and game play has a truly mesmerizing plot where you must help the team solve many mysteries and crimes.
We have also compiled a Review System for this, of which NCIS 3D is Rated as Four Stars, the second highest possible score available from the Game Review Team.


There are several different possible bets in Roulette, including the different outside bets. These include whether the ball will land in a red- or black-coloured panel, or whether the number on the panel will fall in the first or second set of 18 numbers that run from 1 to 36. The other outside wager is the Odd/Even Bet – whether the ball will land in an odd-numbered or even-numbered slot.
If the ball lands in the green panels, labelled 0 and 00, in outside bets, you automatically lose. With no 00 panel, European Roulette offers better odds than American Roulette does. With an almost 50% chance of winning they are also the Roulette bets that pay out most frequently, although because they carry less risk they also carry less reward. These are among the easiest Roulette bets to place, and are a great place for beginners to start.
There are a few different betting strategies that can be applied to Odd/Even and other outside bets. It's a good idea to get familiar with them all and then choose whichever one works best for you. For that reason, we've outlined the 3 most common betting plans here. They all operate on the same idea of recouping your losses, and making a small win. All of them will work – if you have enough time and funds to see them through.
Martingale betting strategies were developed among French mathematicians in the 18th century and have become popular with players who like to place measured Roulette bets. They involve doubling your bet when you are losing and halving your bet when you are winning. This can feel counterintuitive at first, but if you bet this way you will eventually win, recoup all your losses and make a small profit. If you bet 5 coins and lose, then bet 10 so you have 15 on the table and win, you will get 20 coins back. That means you get the 15 that you bet, and 5 as a win.
The Fibonacci betting strategy is based on the Fibonacci numbers sequence, where each number is the sum of the 2 that came before. It starts at 0 and then proceeds to 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on. When you're betting on Odd/Even numbers in Roulette with the Fibonacci method, you move to the next number up whenever you lose, and returning to the beginning of the sequence when you win. This also allows you to recoup your losses and make a small win, and also requires that you have enough money to see it through.
French mathematician D'Alembert asserted that when there are 2 possible outcomes to an event, over time they will occur the same amount of times. The Roulette betting strategy also works on increasing and decreasing your stake as you lose and win respectively, so that you recoup and win small returns over time.
In the case of the D'Alembert system you decide on your own initial stake and the unit you will increase or decrease your bet by. You also choose an odd or even outcome as a starting point. Then, if you lose you increase your bet by the unit amount you settled on. Do this until you win, when you need to decrease your bet by the same unit.


Shareholder Asha Echeverria is member of Bernstein Shur's Construction Law Practice Group. She authored sections of the 2015-2016 Construction Law Update: Case Law & Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry, published by ABA Forum on Construction Law, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island.
Read the full update here.


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Person: Nadine Le Bris
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Sulfurovum riftiae sp. nov., a mesophilic, thiosulfate-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing chemolithoautotrophic epsilonproteobacterium isolated from the tube of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent polychaete Riftia pachyptila
Authors: Donato Giovannelli, Matthew Chung, Justin Staley, Costantino Vetriani, Valentin Starovoytov, Nadine Le Bris
An anaerobic, nitrate-reducing, sulfur- and thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium, designated strain 1812ET, was isolated from the vent polychaete Riftia pachyptila, which was collected from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent on the East Pacific Rise. Cells were Gram-stain-negative rods, measuring approximately 1.05±0.11 µm by 0.40±0.05 µm. Strain 1812ET grew at 25 – –45 °C (optimum 35 °C), with 1.5–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0 %) and at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 6.0). The generation time under optimal conditions was 3 h. Strain 1812ET was an anaerobic chemolithotroph that grew with either sulfur or thiosulfate as the energy source and carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source. Nitrate was used as a sole terminal electron acceptor. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c, C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6 and the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 47.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of strain 1812ET showed that the isolate belonged to the Epsilonproteobacteria , and its closest relatives were Sulfurovum lithotrophicum 42BKTT and Sulfurovum aggregans Monchim 33T (98.3 and 95.7 % sequence similarity, respectively). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 1812ET and the type strain of S. lithotrophicum was 29.7 %, demonstrating that the two strains are not members of the same species. Based on the phylogenetic, molecular, chemotaxonomic and physiological evidence, strain 1812ET represents a novel species within the genus Sulfurovum , for which the name Sulfurovum riftiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1812ET (=DSM 101780T=JCM 30810T).
Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.001106

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Name: Ware, Nancy
Current Position: Director
On August 2, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Nancy M. Ware to serve as the Director of the District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), a large agency that supervises offenders who are on probation, parole, or supervised release. Although it is a local, District of Columbia agency, the position is subject to federal control under the District's home rule charter.
Born in 1950, Ware earned a B.A. and an M.Ed. at Howard University. Early in her career, Ware worked as a clinical psychologist for the (D.C.) Public Schools Special Education Department, director of the Paul Robeson Psychoeducational School for emotionally disturbed children, and chief of emergency mental health services and outreach for children in the
District of Columbia.
She was also Executive Director of the District of Columbia Mayor's Youth Initiatives Office under Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, Executive Director of the Citizenship Education Fund and executive director of the Rainbow Coalition.
Her work in the criminal justice field began when she served as the Director of Program Development for the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Office of Justice Programs, after which she became Director of Technical Assistance and Training for the Department of Justice Executive Office for Weed and Seed, where she was responsible for helping local communities implement plans to fight crime and promote public safety.
From 2002 to 2010, Ware served as the Executive Director for the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, an independent agency established by Congress, whose members include the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the D.C. police chief and other city officials, the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the chairman of the U.S. Parole Commission. She developed the infrastructure to support law enforcement, juvenile justice, and other criminal justice branches.
In 2010, Ware joined CSOSA as a management analyst and wrote its five-year strategic plan mandated by federal law.
According to the OpenSecrets website, Ware once contributed $250 to the Congressional campaign Jesse Jackson, Jr., who is the son of her former employer, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who founded the Rainbow Coalition in 1984.
Howard Alum tapped by Obama to head CSOSA (by Reginald Johnson, Washington Examiner)
Court Services & Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia


How are the panels chosen or created at Omni Fandom Expo?
With the exception of Special Guest, Main Events, and Exhibitor panels, all panels are created and hosted by attendees just like you!
How can I host a panel? Does it cost anything?
The process to host a panel at Omni Fandom Expo is simple and starts with making sure you have an account at OmniFandomExpo.com. After that, just follow go to the Events -> Schedule page, click on the "Create your own Event/Panel!" button, and follow the form to submit your panel idea to us! Creating and submitting a panel costs you nothing beyond the price of your Omni Fandom Expo ticket.
I submitted a panel, now what?
Awesome! While we love seeing so many different ideas, we are unfortunately limited on the amount of time and space available. All panels submitted to Omni Fandom Expo are carefully looked over on a case-by-case basis by our Panel Coordinators and Moderators to make sure we are giving our attendees the best quality events possible. Please be patient once you've submitted your idea, as it may take a few days for the Panel Staff to get to you. If your panel idea passes the scrutiny of our staff, it will be approved and you can move forward to the next step. If not, you will receive a Private Message or email from a member of the Panel Staff explaining why and if there is anything you can do to get your panel approved.
Yay, my panel got approved! Does that mean you'll be giving it a time slot?
First off, congrats on getting your approval email! While we look forward to seeing your panel idea come to life, and we're sure your fellow attendees feel the same, we do not schedule your panel's time slot for you (unless your event was submitted for Main Events or Special Events). This part of the process is solely up to you, that way you are the one who is in charge of your convention schedule! So make sure you select times for your panel once it is approved - first come, first served. Our staff will only ever move a panel's time/day if it is required.
Is there a minimum/maximum time period I can have to run a panel?
The minimum time a panel can be scheduled for is one (1) hour, but in this sense a panel can only run for about 45-50 minutes in order to give enough time for turn-over between panels. While panels can possibly run for longer than an hour, we request panelists to keep their time to only one in order to allow for a larger variety of panels and events. Please be courteous of other Panelists and end your panel on time.
How do I select my panel time?
First of all, please keep in mind that all panel time slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have your schedule set in your mind with a specific time period to host your panel, please make sure you act quickly to secure it before someone else schedules theirs!
The process for panel time selection is simple on OmniFandomExpo.com in the same area you submitted your panel. If you have any difficulty, please make sure to contact us!
Because my panel got approved that means I can place my panel in Special Events or Main Events if it's a show, right?
While we appreciate the enthusiasm, we must remind everyone that the scheduling of certain rooms is not open to panelists. Only our regular panel rooms will be available to choose from, and only Panel and Administration/Operations Staff will be able to place events/panels in our other rooms, such as Special Guest Track, Main Events, Special Events, and Video Rooms.
I've selected my panel times on multiple days! I can't wait to run this panel for everyone to see!
While we love your enthusiasm for your content, we do need to stress that having a variety of content is key to any event's success. As much as we would like to see you run the same panel or event on more than one day so that as many people as possible can enjoy it, we unfortunately also need to make sure that there is enough time available for everyone that is approved to run panels in. This may mean that we may be required to limit multi-hour and/or multi-day panel requests down to one hour on one day per unique panel. For the fairness of everyone, Panel Staff will moderate panel scheduling as necessary, and when they are required to move or remove a panel time they will contact you directly to let you know why. As the Convention Operations Staff, we do however hold the right to move or remove a panel time if it becomes necessary for the convention; however, we do not like to do it and keep that as a last resort.
How often is the Event Schedule updated on the Omni Fandom Expo website?
Our Event Schedule is updated as often as events and panels are given their times through OmniFandomExpo.com. If you have submitted your own panel and selected a time, you'll be able to see it appear in the Event Schedule on our website instantly. Nifty, huh?


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Cales är ett släkte av steklar. Cales ingår i familjen växtlussteklar.

Kladogram enligt Catalogue of Life:

Bildgalleri

Källor

Externa länkar

Växtlussteklar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
All NewsNature Camp Inc. News
News from Nature Camp
By Philip CoullingMay 4, 2018 No Comments
Fifteen years ago the former Board of Trustees established the Roll of Honor to recognize those individuals who have made extraordinary, non-monetary contributions to Nature Camp. This year we induct into the Roll of Honor the two most recent presidents of the Nature Camp Foundation and Nature Camp Inc.
Since her first session as a camper in 1991, Annie White has served Nature Camp in many capacities, including four summers on staff, frequent participation in Service Weekends, and several evening program presentations. Following the difficult decision of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs to close Nature Camp in September 2006, Annie devoted her entire fall break at the University of Michigan (where she was dually enrolled in the School of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ross School of Business) to gather information, crunch numbers, and prepare for the October meeting at Nature Camp, when the NCF board and a throng of Camp supporters made a firm commitment to keep Nature Camp's doors open. Although she couldn't even be there, as she had to return to Ann Arbor beforehand, Annie's herculean efforts and diligent research helped illuminate the way forward and establish a vision for a new role for NCF. In 2013, Annie agreed to succeed Powell Hutton as president of the NCF and immediately made her own important contributions to help streamline operations and further strengthen the relationship between NCF and NCI. Perhaps her two most significant and important legacies are the adoption of eTapestry as a platform for managing donor and volunteer information, which have improved NCF's outreach and fundraising efforts, and the establishment of a grant program, by which NCI applies for annual funding for capital improvements and Service Weekend projects and which has aided both organizations in financial planning and identifying future needs.
After four summers as a camper in the 1960s and early 1970s, Amy Gonzalez (née Kasdorf) spent 35 years away from Nature Camp before returning for Adult Session in 2005. She has been a fixture at this event and Service Weekends ever since. Nearly everyone who has attended a Service Weekend in the past dozen years has probably found her- or himself at one end of Amy's camera—with a smiling face with a twinkle in her eye at the other end. She enlivens every gathering of Camp folk with her grace, humor, and generosity, and she has represented Nature Camp outside of Vesuvius in numerous ways, most notably at the Richmond Council of Garden Clubs's annual Fashions with Flowers event, which has generated several thousand dollars for Camp over the years. Amy joined the NCI board as Vice President/Secretary in 2007 and assumed the position of president in 2012, succeeding Anne Balto. During her tenure, Amy spearheaded a number of initiatives appropriate for a maturing management organization, including registering Nature Camp as a Charitable Solicitation organization with the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, implementing liability waivers for Service Weekends and Fall Hike Day, reviving the annual Orientation Day for new and prospective campers, and creating a performance review process for Nature Camp's full-time employees. She even helped find a good home for Nature Camp's old mattresses when they were replaced en masse a few years ago so that they wouldn't all wind up in the Rockbridge County landfill.
For these myriad contributions, Annie and Amy, we salute you and thank you for your invaluable service to Camp! We know we don't have to tell either one of you not to be a stranger in the Big Mary's Creek valley.
As this issue of the Afterglow goes to press, a handful of spaces remain open for boys (currently in grades 9-12) in First Session (June 17-30) and for girls (grades 5-6) in Fourth Session (July 29 – August 11), and many vacancies still exist for boys in Fourth Session. Some financial aid may still be available for applicants in need. For more information or to submit an application, please visit www.naturecamp.net or call or e-mail Executive Director Philip Coulling at 540-460-7897 or director@naturecamp.net.
Nature Camp welcomes suggestions for evening program speakers and volunteers to present programs during our summer sessions, especially on topics of natural history, life and physical sciences, sustainability and other environmental issues, and eco-travel. We are also always on the lookout for instrumentalists and singers to provide programs of traditional, acoustic string-band music. Nature Camp has modest funds to offer stipends to speakers, but we are happy to cover travel expenses, to feed guests dinner beforehand, and to provide overnight accommodations if necessary. Please direct any suggestions or inquiries to Director of Education Nina Anderson at gfgirl10@hotmail.com.
Previous PostEducation Building Project
Next PostAdult Session 2018, June 7-11, 2018: The Invisible in Nature


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Q: How to store iv used to create cipher in nodejs's createcipheriv, for future decryption? I'm new to cryptography and I'm using nodejs to serve an app.
My app uses config files that I want to encrypt them before production, and when nodejs server needs these files (in production) it will decrypt them.
I'm using crypto.createCipheriv(algo, key, iv) to encrypt. The algo is: 'aes-256-ctr'. The key is created with a password:
const key=crypto.createHash('sha256').update(String(password)).digest('base64').substr(0,32)

The iv is generated with:
const iv = crypto.randomBytes(16)

So if I want to decrypt the file, I need the key and the iv. I store the password used to generate the key (hashed), and I match it against user given password, but how I store and retrieve the iv?
When I write the iv  (using fs.writefile and the iv const) to file and try to read it, when I try to decrypt I see the error:

Error: Invalid key length

even though when I generate and use the iv in the server it encrypts/decrypts without any issue.
So my question is: how do I store the IV that I used in order to decrypt the files later? How do I use it later when trying to decrypt?
Is there a better way/practice to encrypt configuration files and decrypt them?
I want to serve my app with encrypted/hashed personal data, such as configuration data, user/password etc.
Is my way a good one or am I in the wrong direction? I will appreciate is some encryption savvy user can help me...
Thanks

A:
So my quetion is: How do I store the IV that I used in order to decrypt the files later? How do I use it later when trying to decrypt?

You may store the IV as part prepanded to the ciphertext. When decrypting, you shall read the iv and then decrypt the rest
examples:
base64(iv)+'.'+base64(encrypted_data)
base64(iv + encrypted_data)
...

Is there a better way/practice to encrypt configuration files and decrypt them?

There are a lot of questions / answers for this on SO. The issue with encrypted configuration files is that the application needs the decryption key at its hand. So once someone gets access to the server, he may access the decryption key as well. But at least you don't leave the configuration credentials in plain sight.
In theory - it is possible to use TPM to encrypt the encryption key itself, but I have no idea if you can use TPM in NodeJS and as well your app would be bound to a specific motherboard (often you don't want that).

I want to serve my app with encrypted/hashed personal data, such as configuration data,

To pass the data to an application, just use SSL. Do not complicate it with own custom encryption. Still you may want to encrypt data at rest (stored in files or in a database), that's where the encryption should take place.

user/password etc.

Do not ever store user passwords. Even encrypted. Proper way to authenticate users is salted slow hash. Event that's not optimal, but it's the best we have.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


LifeFORCE Pet Health approached RMG with the idea to launch a business focused on natural pet products made with high quality ingredients. LifeFORCE required a strong, strategic marketing plan as well as design assistance.
Utilizing base designs provided by LifeFORCE, RMG developed strong, consistent branding across a multitude of pet product categories. As the line expanded, RMG was solely responsible for the packaging. They introduced a collection of POP's consistent with this branding, which increased online retailer orders and in-store purchases, and opened up new opportunities for marketing ventures.
LifeFORCE began outbound marketing with the assistance of the RMG digital marketing team. From organic social media posts and engaging email blasts to targeted ads campaigns, LifeFORCE accumulated a significant database of consumers and retailers while seeing an increase in overall sales.
At the end of 2018, LifeFORCE's website got an overhaul after load speed and poor user experience failed to effectively convert leads into sales. RMG led the charge on this project.
Posts were created using precise imagery and captions designed to target the desired audience. Tactics were put in place to encourage consistent organic growth.
RMG assisted LifeFORCE with exposure across various platforms by creating an assortment of ad sizes for products and promotions depending on budget. Tracking codes were used in some instances to determine which ads had the most impact.
RMG hosted numerous photo shoots to procure a catalogue of product shots to be used for various purposes. Photos were taken using professional equipment and edited by RMG's design team. Most recently, a promotional video was created to be used for outbound marketing as well as in-store advertising.


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Édouard Schneider (1880-1960) was a French author. He won three prizes from the Académie française: the Prix Montyon for Les Mages in 1912; the Prix Marcelin Guérin for Les heures bénédictines in 1926; and the Prix Brieux for L'Exaltation in 1928.

Works

References

1880 births
1960 deaths
French novelists
French non-fiction writers
French dramatists and playwrights


Hitler loved animals, and was quite merciful towards them. History's most feared man was also a strict vegetarian.
Pictured here in his judo gear, Putin was originally turned down by his judo instructors. The teachers didn't think that 14-year-old Vladimir was tall enough.But young Vladimir didn't lose hope. Today, Russian President Putin has a black belt in judo!
Late Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, was deeply interested in politics, so much so that it took him seven years to graduate!
Not without a sense of humour, Yasser is known to have guests wait so he can watch his favourite television show, Tom & Jerry!
At age four, the Dalai Lama was named the Supreme head of Tibet!
Having authored over 500 books, his primary hobby still remains collecting and repairing watches!
India to outsource maths coaching to U.S.
The latest business to be outsourced to India in the US is maths coaching.Into the breach steps a handful of Indian companies such as Career Launcher India Ltd, which provide maths tutoring through two US online tutoring companies and directly to students," the article informed.
Software developed by Career Launcher, says the article, allows teachers and students to talk to each other during the live session. They can even see each other through a Web camera.
The report noted that two things have led to this unique outsourcing: One, US students are doing badly in maths. American 15-year-olds ranked 24th among 29 industrialized countries in a study of maths skills released last year by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Hitler loved animals, and was quite merciful towards them. History's most feared man was also a strict vegetarian.
Pictured here in his judo gear, Putin was originally turned down by his judo instructors. The teachers didn't think that 14-year-old Vladimir was tall enough.But young Vladimir didn't lose hope. Today, Russian President Putin has a black belt in judo!
The latest business to be outsourced to India in the US is maths coaching.Into the breach steps a handful of Indian companies such as Career Launcher India Ltd, which provide maths tutoring through two US online tutoring companies and directly to students," the article informed.
You are currently browsing the Free to share your thoughts blog archives for the day Tuesday, July 12th, 2005.


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Home Press Release USINPAC PRAISES PASSAGE OF HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS ACT
By USINPAC Press Release December 10, 2020
U.S. Senate bill (S.386) provides relief for hundreds-of-thousands of Indian professionals
WASHINGTON DC, December 10, 2020 –
The United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) proudly celebrates the recent passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S.386) in the United States Senate. Originally introduced in 2019 by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), this legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country limitation for employment-based immigrants in the U.S. and increases the per-country limitation for family-sponsored immigrants.
While it remains far from being a done deal that this legislation will officially become law, the Senate's passage of the bill provided relief for hundreds-of-thousands of Indian professionals working in the United States on H1-B work visas as at least one hurdle has been cleared. This legislation must now be reconciled with the House of Representatives legislation (H.R. 1044) which passed in 2019 but has significant differences. Congress will need to agree to a final, identical version of the bill for both houses to pass before sending it to the President's desk. Should that legislation make it to the President, chances are high that it would be signed into law as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris co-sponsored the legislation.
"We still have a long road ahead to get this legislation on the President's desk and signed into law, but having it pass the U.S. Senate is significant progress," said USINPAC Chairman, Sanjay Puri. "I'd like to thank Sen. Mike Lee for introducing this legislation as well as a number of other U.S. Senators, including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, for their support in passing this bill. For Indian nationals who cannot get through the heavily backlogged process of acquiring an H1-B work visa, there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
Currently, the United States enforces a 7 percent per-country cap for employment-based visas which is a significant roadblock for Indian nationals hoping to work here. The signing into law of this legislation would completely eliminate the current backlog.
About USINPAC:The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that leverages the over 4.3 million Indian Americans to bring about outcomes that matter. USINPAC provides support to candidates for federal, state, and local offices, and serves as a resource for federal agencies, lawmakers, and Congressional staff. For more information, please visit www.usinpac.com.
Ranjit K Avasarala
Please help passage of HR1044 in congress and enact into law
Ankur Sharma
Thank you for your valuable support.


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Ask Nutridor
& Brands
Abevia
Nutrisip
Fruit max
Fruit max Healthy Living
NRG (Energy Drink)
Nutridor
Nutridor Limited takes forward TGI Group's mission to invest in emerging economies with a view to adding value to the locally available resources - targeting an end product both for local consumption and world market.
During only four decades TGI has turned from a start-up company to one of the most prominent Corporate Groups in Emerging Markets. We have been endeavoring to create wealth and well being - with opportunities for growth and development and it has been a conscious and constant attempt to share this with employees, investors, consumers and indeed everyone we come in contact with.
Over the past three decades, we at TGI have been paving the way for a healthier tomorrow, with products that bring home the bounty of nature. We have been endeavoring to create wealth and well being - with opportunities for growth and development. And it has been a conscious and constant attempt to share this with stakeholders, investors, end consumers and everyone we come in contact with. Nutridor Limited brings this rich heritage to the rest of the World.
Nutridor Limited is a 100% subsidiary of TGI Group, an international investment and holding company with diversified interests and investments in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Morocco, UAE, South Africa, China and several other emerging markets. Nutridor as a company is dedicated to achieving health through food. We execute our mission to benefit people of every age, from every social and cultural environment and in every part of the world.
Nutridor Limited takes forward TGI Group's mission to invest in emerging economies with a view to adding value to the locally available resources - targeting an end product both for local consumption and world market. Taking prosperity everywhere is where Nutridor starts it journey in South East Asia region with its core mission of "DELIGHTING FAMILY, INSPIRING LIFE.
The ZMF'S Little Chef
Project: Quarterly
Follow us on -


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Business rates, the BBC in Scotland and other conundrums
by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp
There is no point in sugaring the pill – the Scottish Government dropped the ball on business rates. However, to be fair, it did manage to turn adversity into advantage simply by getting its act together before the UK Government, making the Scottish Government look more competent by comparison.
Ironically, on this issue, the lack of a Scottish Six news programme worked in the SNP's favour this week. On the day that the Scottish opposition parties were trying to paint the SNP as making an embarrassing climb down in the face of growing business opposition, the main UK news programmes led with English business rates problems and the pressure on the UK Government.
By the time we reached the Scottish news and Derek Mackay appeared on Scotland Tonight, his fairly comprehensive and quite cleverly targeted support measures looked pretty damn good compared to the Tory MPs lining up to accuse Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid of being dishonest about the impact of rates rises in England.
Earlier in the week, Business for Scotland called for the Scottish Government to step up and be the champion of the business community on rates and to propose a robust set of rates relief measures that protect businesses from rapid rates rises, protecting jobs and economic growth. This seemed to surprise many of the seven or so major newspapers and media outlets that carried the call, with the Scotsman editorial amusingly pointing out that this was the first time BfS has been critical of the SNP Government.
That's not the case, it's just that we like to discuss and offer expert opinion rather than lobby through newspapers. Business rates have been re-evaluated right across the UK, so it's not a problem of the Scottish Government's own making. However, the solution was always in their hands, and rather than just reacting to the inevitable they could have got in front of the problem.
The Government needs to listen to business groups, surveyors, hoteliers and retailers much earlier in the policy-making process to avoid situations like this arising again.
I am not calling for big corporations to have more of a say in policies, but small to medium-sized Scottish businesses, especially in retail and hospitality, were the ones that would be least able to pay increased rates. All this was pointed out beforehand by many commercial property experts, industry groups and business organisations, so reviewing the potential issues with those stakeholders in more detail would have put the Scottish Government in a position to instantly offer a tailored relief package that would secure jobs and the future of the affected small firms that are the real lifeblood of the Scottish economy.
Aberdeen has had a hard time of it recently and the UK Government's broad shoulders have just shrugged off their duty to the city, so the region receiving special status with respect to the economic conditions in the oil and gas sector is to be welcomed.
The 12.5 per cent cap for hotels, pubs, restaurants and cafes is a great outcome for many businesses that were genuinely worried about their ability to continue trading. However, rural businesses in general need more help and a more radical approach is due to business rates policy that takes into account the poor trading conditions that Brexit will bring. The Barclay Review into business rates is a start, but it is narrow in its remit and it may well be that the best solution is a complete reinvention of how we tax business property use.
One excellent move by the Scottish Government on business rates was the expansion of the SBBS (Small Business Bonus Scheme), raising the eligibility threshold for 100 per cent relief to a rateable value of £15,000, taking 100,000 properties out of rates altogether, generating a saving of up to £6,990 per property.
Also making the news this week was the fact the BBC has rejected the idea of a Scottish Six and instead plumped for a Scottish TV channel to take over BBC2 from 7pm till midnight with a budget of £30 million a year. The channel will run a Scottish-led international and domestically focused news programme at 9pm. The cynic in me says that's a massively underfunded fudge of a compromise with a news programme airing in a prime drama slot when no-one wants to watch news. It seems like its built to fail, while giving the impression that they tried. The optimistic viewpoint, and I assume the SNP are going down this route, is they think that this means we will have a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation in waiting and a team of journalists ready to take over and launch a Sottish Broadcasting Corporation after independence.
People might watch the 9pm news programme because more and more will realise that hours of stories about NHS England and Wales, English business rates, English immigration worries and complaints about the route of HS2 before a singe relevant thing to Scotland is discussed in the regional "news where you are" section is pretty demeaning. Don't get me wrong, England has a bigger population and if you make news for the whole of the UK its only fair it is dominated by English issues. I just don't see why we can't have a national Scottish news programme at 6pm that does all the international news coverage but doesn't cover news that's irrelevant to most Scots.
It will be interesting to see how the two news channels treat the issue of independence. If one takes a balanced and fair view and the other takes its lead from London's impression of what's going on in Scotland, then the news will be reported very differently, and that will be a Trojan horse in the heart of the BBC. The lack of a Scottish Six could even help the independence movement, with the UK Government falling apart during Brexit and independence looking all the better for the comparison just as with business rates.
In 2014, during the closing weeks of the referendum campaign, the BBC's lead journalists arrived in Scotland and didn't understand where the debate was. They brought a typical Home Counties understanding of the issues and through unconscious incompetence (that looked very much like bias) helped stem the growth of the Yes vote. By adding a second-rate Scottish channel, the BBC might think it has reached a compromise that works for everyone, but I suspect it will work for no-one.
Update: Victory – Since the UK government has now been forced to admit that HS2 will never reach Scotland. The civil servants who compile the GERS report have confirmed to Business for Scotland that they will now refuse to accept any contributions to the cost of HS2 on Scotland's behalf.
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Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is the Founder and Chief Executive of Business for Scotland. Before becoming CEO of Business for Scotland Gordon ran a business strategy and social media, sales & marketing consultancy.
With a degree in business, marketing and economics, Gordon has worked as an economic development planning professional, and in marketing roles specialising in pricing modelling and promotional evaluation for global companies (including P&G).
Gordon benefits (not suffers) from dyslexia, and is a proponent of the emerging New Economics School. Gordon contributes articles to Business for Scotland, The National and Believe in Scotland.


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Q: clearTimeout not working? I'm currently working on my assignment.
Now i got an animation banner which cycles through different images.
Each functions linked to an image. Now everything is working fine. Just that when i try to clear the timer(stop cycling the images) when the element with id'contact' is mouseOver, i cant clear the timeout and it still keep looping. Please help.
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A: You are overriding the timer every time
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The musical that defined an era is back on the West End, allowing a new generation to see what all the fuss was about 33 years ago when a non-narrative extravaganza as heavy on dance and scenic effects as it was light on plot launched itself in London and, soon after, the world. The terpsichorean ambition of Cats is holding up pretty well now, it must be said, thanks in large part to a new breed of triple-threat performer whose movement skills were harder to come by three decades ago.
And if the second half of the TS Eliot-inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber/Trevor Nunn collaboration trails off into wonky mumbo-jumbo, well, best to sit back and enjoy the kind of soaring athleticism unmatched by any homegrown British musical (and that includes Billy Elliot, which is a show about dance). Dame Gillian Lynne may be 88, but the footwork made possible by the show's choreographer and associate director seems eternally fresh.
Musical devotees will want to approach Cats anew for much the same reason they came to a previous Palladium entry, A Chorus Line, the Broadway landmark that in fact Cats unseated to become the longest-running show in Broadway history – a perch since toppled by Lloyd Webber's own The Phantom of the Opera as well as the revival of Chicago. And the two musicals – one steeped in the very fabric of dancers' lives, the other a mystical confection best-known in melodic terms for the enduringly soul-searing number, "Memory" – function as a kind of yin and yang. A Chorus Line in every way speaks to that New York tradition of entertainment that makes showbiz its theme just as the echt-British Cats suggests itself as the glossiest evening of music hall or variety ever.
There are those who jeered in its day at Cats and still do – "they're making a movie of Cats?", the characters in John Guare's seminal 1990 play Six Degrees of Separation remark in tones of rising incredulity – but on its own take-no-prisoners terms, Nunn's revival serves as a salient reminder of the piece that, after all, sparked a decade-long explosion: no period since has seen a prevailing confidence in British musicals to match the 1980s, and Cats was there at the very start.
The headline-making occasion this time around is the UK stage debut of recording and reality TV name (and celebrity girlfriend to Lewis Hamilton), Nicole Scherzinger (pictured right), whose status as a onetime Pussycat Doll allies her immediately to the landscape of Cats. And playing the faded glamour puss, Grizabella (a part once positioned for Judi Dench only to end up associated either side of the Atlantic with Elaine Paige and Betty Buckley), Scherzinger allows an ensemble role to seize the spotlight as and when it must, some tentative vocals before the interval giving way later to the roof-rattling money notes on "Memory" – the hortatory "touch me!" as ever the song's litmus test – that finds a keyed-up audience applauding midway through the number. Her fierce eyes calling to mind a taller but scarcely less sinuous Eartha Kitt, Scherzinger prowls in and among proceedings without taking the final bow, in keeping with the collective nature of the event itself.
Elsewhere, Cats is as good as each individual number and the performer given his or her moment to emerge from the pack. Watched over by a cloud-flecked "jellicle moon" beneath which the company assembles like some feline equivalent of the peace-minded tribe from the musical Hair, the cast writhes, gyrates, and scampers above and about the stage, spilling into the auditorium now and again in an attempt to recreate the environmental feel of the West End and Broadway original. An exact replica of that signature approach is not really possible within the proscenium arch of the Palladium, however fully John Napier's detritus-filled set pushes well beyond the footlights: a visual riot of the discards of daily life that commands attention even when the various set pieces it encloses begin to pall.
I could have done with considerably less of Paul F Monaghan's rather lugubrious turn as Gus the theatre cat (here a Leslie Phillips soundalike), and though his Growltiger works better, that number falls away into a head-scratching sequence of dancing Siamese: The King and I was never like this. And in conceptual terms, the most obvious change – Rum Tum Tugger now resembles a contemporary street kid, complete with tattoos, bling and the inevitable baseball cap on backwards – might work better if Antoine Murray-Straughan (pictured above) were up to it vocally: alas, the performance consists of lots of attitude and little else.
The eleventh-hour return of "Memory" following the first-act teaser of the same song notwithstanding, the second half veers between happy-clappy theatrics and a half-baked metaphysics to remind one that the original production followed in the wake of such films as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which Lloyd Webber and co seem to want to approximate in theatrical terms. But give yourself over to Joseph Poulton's vaulting Mistoffelees or Nicholas Pound's orotund Old Deuteronomy (one of the very best occupants of this role in my experience, and I date back to Brian Blessed), and the memory – so the slogan goes – doesn't so much live again as it does demand from an audience at least partial surrender even as you're left wondering in the end, "Is that it?"


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Firestations - Never Closer
Firestations are five Londoners who create energetic dream pop with some shoegaze and psychedelic moments. Twelve of their creations comprise their Never Closer LP, which recently was released on Waltz Time Records. The instrumental centerpiece is chiming, ringing, jangling guitars, but in addition to a traditional rhythm section the band makes use of electronics, flugelhorn and flute to flesh out the sound. The vocals are strong and the arrangements interesting. I'm listening to the album while writing this post as Pacific Northwest rain slams into my office windows, and I'm quite sure that this brand of melodic indie rock is just about perfect for the day. Standout songs include "Forgetful Man", the title track, "French Caves" (all of which can be streamed below), and "Tightrope". If you like dream pop, this may well be an album for you. You can stream the entire album at the band's website.
The band members are Michael Cranny (guitar/vocals), Laura Copsey (laptop/flugelhorn/flute/vocals), Martin Thompson (guitar), Chin Keeler (drums), and Giles Littleford (bass). Prior bands include Dark Captain, Quickspace, and Left With Pictures.
Waltz Time Records
Soul Corner: "The First Cut is the Deepest"
It being Thanksgiving, we thought we'd resurrect the Soul Corner and present you a great one with a history I'll bet some of you didn't know.
If you assumed Sheryl Crow wrote or did the original version of "The First Cut is the Deepest" in 2003 you would be wrong. You'd also be wrong if you thought the 1977 Rod Stewart version was the original.
"The First Cut is the Deepest" was written in 1967 by a British songwriter you may have heard of, Cat Stevens, and released on his second record New Masters. But Stevens' version was overshadowed by the P.P. Arnold cover which came out in 1967 just before the release of New Masters. Even Stevens considered P.P. Arnold's tremendous recording the definitive version:
P.P. Arnold was an American, an Ikette who left the Ike and Tina Turner Revue to move to England to start her solo career. England was crazy then for American soul music, and her version of "First Cut" got the classic UK soul-pop treatment, much like the great Dusty Springfield singles of the same era.
P.P. Arnold returned to live in the US for a time in the mid-1970's after marrying bassist Fuzzy Samuels (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). Following their divorce, she moved back to England. Arnold had a successful and varied career, including being backed by the Small Faces, appearing in major stage musicals, and recording with a wide variety of major artists, including Eric Clapton, Barry Gibb, Roger Waters, and Steel Pulse.
Speaking of Steel Pulse, "The First Cut is the Deepest" has been recorded by various reggae artists including Marcia Griffiths and this fine version by Norma Fraser:
We'll leave you with the Cat Stevens recording:
Rolling Stones Friday: You Better Move On
So how does a young singer from London become so convincing a soul, R&B and even country vocalist? In the case of Mick Jagger, he learns from the best - Arthur Alexander. For those of you not familiar with Arthur Alexander, his work is essential (his best of compilation is an absolute must own CD). Mick's phrasing and vocal style in 1964 and still today are straight up Arthur Alexander.
Very early in their career, The Rolling Stones released a faithful and tremendous cover of one of Alexander's best songs "You Better Move On". Here is a terrific live version from 1964:
But you must listen to the Arthur Alexander original, recorded in 1961, which not only introduced Alexander but helped establish FAME Studios and the city of Memphis as the artistic center of R&B music:
And speaking of great singers, here's the George Jones version of "You Better Move On" from 1980 (backed by Johnny Paycheck):
Arthur Alexander never got his due, and ended up working as bus driver at one point, though he enjoyed a very brief comeback before dying of a heart attack in 1993 at the age of 53. But he will forever be the only songwriter in history to have been covered on studio recordings by the Rolling Stones ("You Better Move On"), The Beatles ("Anna") and Bob Dylan ("Sally Sue Brown" on 1988's Down in the Groove).
We'll leave you with a bonus track today, another of my favorite Arthur Alexander songs, "Soldier or Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" beautifully covered by Marshall Crenshaw on his 1982 debut, followed by the Arthur Alexander original:
Introducing: Danny and the Darleans
Danny and the Darleans aren't a brand new band, and the music we are featuring here is from the 2013 album. But it would violate the spirit of this website to not introduce our readers to a garage band this good. The Detroit three piece is Danny Kroha (guitar/vocals), Colleen Burke (bass/vocals) and Richie Wohlfeil (drums/vocals). They remind me of a high octane blend of The Sonics and the early White Stripes. No frills, no fuss, just great, gritty, close to the edge garage rock. If you like it, hit the Bandcamp link and download for a ten spot.
Danny and the Darleans by DANNY AND THE DARLEANS
Danny Kroha - guitar, vocals
Colleen Burke - bass, vocals
Richie Wohlfeil - drums, vocals
Milky Chance - Sadnecessary
I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about a style of music described as folktronic, but Sadnecessary, the album from Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch, the German duo known as Milky Chance, is full of compelling songs that just make me feel good. The set up is a laptop loaded with the electronic component and wielded by Philipp, and a guitar (sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric) in the hands of singer/songwriter Clemens. The DJ's grooves are substantial and infectious, and the vocal performances warm and sincere. Unsurprisingly, I found myself liking some songs better than others; for my ears, Milky Chance's music is best on the songs with a faster tempo. But fortunately the 14 song set includes many of such nuggets and all of the songs are worthy. And the contemplative "Loveland" is a treasure.
Of course, the best introduction to the album is the group's solid gold hit, "Stolen Dance". Enjoy it below and then check out two other strong tracks, "Flashed Junk Mind" and "Down by the River". Sadnecessary is out now. If you are an online shopper it is available at Amazon and iTunes. Milky Chance will be touring North America in 2015. The dates and venues are at the bottom of this post.
Milky Chance 2015 Tour Dates
March 20 Dallas, TX South Side Music Hall
March 21 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
March 23 Charlotte, NC Amos' Southend
March 24 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
March 25 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club
March 27 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre
March 28 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
March 29 Boston, MA House of Blues
March 31 New York, NY Webster Hall
April 3 Montreal, QC Metropolis
April 4 Toronto, ONT Phoenix Concert Theater
April 7 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
April 14 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
April 21 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
April 22 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
April 24 Chicago, IL The Vic Theatre
April 26 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe at Old National Center
April 28 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Theatre
April 29 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
April 30 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
May 1 Richmond, VA National Theatre
May 5 Charleston, SC Music Farm
May 6 Nashville, TN The Cannery Ballroom
May 11 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
May 1 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
May 14 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
May 15 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
May 17 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Centre
May 19 Edmonton, AB Union Hall
May 20 Calgary, AB Flames Central
May 22 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
alansmithee, featuring Marklar - Checking Out
Four young men based in Livingston, Scotland comprise alansmithee, a band that has featured here several times. It seems that they are still evolving, but their sweet spot is woozy, frayed pop with psychedelic leanings. Depending on their muse of the moment, added ingredients may be blues, shoegaze or something else. For their latest edition, the two-track Checking Out, the band teams up with Marklar for a delightfully foggy and layered psychedelic pop record. The single was just released by Glasgow label Flowers In The Dustbin. Tune in and drop out -- but hit the play button first.
alansmithee feat. Marklar - Checking Out by alansmithee feat. Marklar
alansmithee is Ryan Macpherson (bass), Andrew Burns (guitar/vocals), Ruaridh Macpherson (guitar/vocals), and Joe White (drums).
Facebook for AlanSmithee
AlanSmithee's Bandcamp
Bandcamp for Flowers in the Dustbin
Twitter for Alansmithee
Facebook for Flowers In The Dustbin
Twitter for Flowers In The Dustbin
"Katie Sue" from Thee Gold Blooms
Thee Gold Blooms are a garage rock quartet with surf rock tendencies. The Perth boys have their roots in the '60s, but smear it enough to keep it fresh and fun. Their latest effort is the jangling, rootsy jam "Katie Sue", which will be released by Pavement Records in early December. I'll warn you that you may be tempted to sing along, It happened to me, but I took mercy on my neighbors and closed my office door first.
An earlier garage rock nugget titled "Alana" is below, and their Soundcloud page includes a third track called "My Girlfriend".
Thee Gold Blooms are Dylan (guitar/vocals), Jase (guitar/vocals), Goldy (bass/vocals), and Sean (drums).
REVIEW: The Solicitors - Blank Check
The Solicitors are the sound of Friday night. Get out of work, head straight to a smart bar with desirable romantic options. Dance, drink, and try your luck. On stage are four sharply dressed guys (maybe they just left work too) laying down an end of the work week soundtrack that is a perfect mix of new wave and power pop. You aren't sure, but they seem perfectly in tune with what's happening around you: Found love, lost love, laughter and tears. How the hell to they do that anyway?
Their debut LP, Blank Check, races through ten songs in a little over a half an hour. With one exception, the tempo is high and adrenaline-charged. The instruments pull no tricks -- there is a rock-solid and straightforward rhythm section, a guitar driving the hooks and a call-and-response approach with the lead and backing vocals. The lyrics can have a bite, but no worries -- you are young and it is a Friday night. Let some other band carry the load on date night, the work week is over and lust is in the air -- find The Solicitors.
The Solicitors were formed in Melbourne by English songwriter Lee Jones and American guitarist Laf Zucallerello. James Manning (bass and vocals) and Max Sterling (drums) complete the quartet. There is a bit of Elvis Costello, The Knack and Joe Jackson here, but the garage rock energy and power pop arrangements bring it all up to date. These guys are too good to be a pub band, but if you were filming a movie and wanted a top drawer band that could play the part of a pub band, only be really, really good, these guys should be at the casting call. Of course, that probably is why Popbboomerang Records snapped them up soon after their birth. Blank Check is available at the Bandcamp site, and you have a few more days to get ready for Friday.
The Solicitors - If You Let Me Hold You from The Solicitors on Vimeo.
(PB:102) The Solicitors: Blank Check by Popboomerang Records
The Solicitors on Facebook
Bandcamp for Blank Check
Popboomerang Records


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17 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy
A rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac, is an allergic reaction to the oil, or sap, from inside the plant. Cappi Thompson / Getty Images
Contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac often goes hand-in-hand with camping and other outdoor activities. Outdoor enthusiasts by the tentful have had to cut trips short after an unfortunate encounter with one of this threesome.
The problem stems from the plant's colorless oil called urushiol. Whenever one of these plants is cut, crushed, stepped on, sat on, grabbed, rolled on, kicked, or disturbed, the oil is released. It oozes from any cut or crushed part of the leaves or stem, so just brushing a plant may not elicit a reaction. Oil content in the plants runs highest in the spring and summer, but cases are reported even in the dead of winter.
Once on the victim, the toxic oil penetrates the skin and a rash appears within 12 to 48 hours after exposure. This is a true allergic reaction to compounds in the urushiol. The rash starts as small bumps and progresses into enlarged, itchy blisters. No body part is immune to the oil, although areas most often irritated are the face, arms, hands, legs, and genitals.
Poison ivy, oak and sumac are uncomfortable plants to come into contact with, but there are ways to calm the itchy rash that they can cause. In fact, a number of simple home remedies exist. In this article, we'll discuss 17 ways to prevent getting a rash from poison ivy, oak or sumac and how to treat such a rash, using medicines and common household items, if one should occur. But first, let's take a look at what these plants are and where they are.
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are hardy weeds that can be found throughout the United States, except in Hawaii, Alaska, and some desert areas of Nevada. Poison ivy is found east of the Rockies, poison oak grows in the West and Southwest, and poison sumac thrives east of the Mississippi River. All three produce similar reactions, and if you're allergic to one, you'll probably react to the others as well.
Cases of poison ivy, oak, and sumac affect 10 to 50 million people in the United States each year. In fact, these plants constitute the single most common cause of allergic reactions. A lucky 10 to 15 percent of Americans don't react to these plants, but another 10 to 15 percent are quite sensitive to them. The rest of us fall somewhere in between, with varying levels of sensitivity.
What muddies the waters is that a person's sensitivity can change over time, even from season to season. You could be quite sensitive to poison ivy as a child but seem immune to the weed as an adult. Or you may not have your first bad reaction to one of these poisonous plants until late in life, though sensitivity tends to decline with age.
Your level of sensitivity determines how bad a reaction you'll have. Once the oil touches the skin, it starts to penetrate in minutes. Within 12 to 48 hours, the red, itchy rash appears, followed by blisters that may weep and later get crusty. The area usually heals in about ten days. Among the very sensitive population, affected areas of skin will quickly swell up, the rash can be severe and painful, and the reaction may take up to three weeks to clear if left untreated. If you are highly sensitive to these plants, see a doctor as soon as you come in contact with one.
Even for people who are only mildly sensitive, a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac is no fun. The itching can drive you absolutely crazy. You try to ignore it, but you can't. All you want to do is scratch like a maniac. It's almost enough to make you want to give up going outside ever again.
Fortunately, you don't have to. You simply need to know how to take steps to avoid these foes and what to do to get relief if your preventive steps fail. There are a number of home remedies that can help ease the discomfort of plant-induced itching. See the next section for some tips to prevent the problem in the first place.
For more information about allergies and skin ailments and how to treat them, try the following links:
To see our home remedies for food poisoning, go to our Home Remedies for Food Poisoning page.
If you want to learn more about allergies, try the How Allergies Work page.
Dealing with a more heated skin situation? Read our Home Remedies for Sunburn article.
Home Remedy Treatments for Poison Ivy
More Home Remedy Treatments for Poison Ivy
Even More Home Remedy Treatments for Poison Ivy
Pets can sometimes give you a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac.
The best way to treat poison ivy, oak, and sumac? Avoid it like the plague! Here are some home remedies on how to do just that.
Know the plant so you can avoid it. Find out what the plant looks like in the area you live or plan to visit, because appearance will vary, even within a state. For instance, poison oak that grows in Northern California doesn't look like poison oak native to Southern California. Typically, poison ivy is a vine or a low shrub with grayish white berries and smooth, pointed leaves that are usually clustered in groups of three. The reddish leaves turn green in the summer and redden again by autumn. Poison oak is a shrub or small tree with greenish white berries and oak-like leaves that, again, usually appear in groups of three. Poison sumac is a woody shrub found in swampy, boggy areas that has smooth-edged leaves and cream-colored berries. The leaves of poison sumac retain their reddish color and aren't grouped in threes.
Spotting the plants isn't always easy. Poison ivy can mimic other plants, such as Virginia creeper, and can twine itself around English ivy. Even doctors who warn their patients to avoid these plants can't always identify them. You'll decrease your chance of being exposed to one of these plants, however, if you become familiar with their typical appearance.
Poison ivy. Poison ivy plants have serrated, pointed leaves that appear in groups of three leaflets. The leaves are green in summer but are reddish in spring and fall. While their appearance can vary, poison ivy plants are found everywhere in the United States. In the East, Midwest, and South, it grows as a climbing vine. In the West and northern states, poison ivy resembles a shrub. Poison ivy rarely appears above 5,000 feet.
Poison oak. Like poison ivy, poison oak has leaves of three and the shrub's size differs depending on location. In the Southeast it appears as a small shrub, while in the West, poison oak appears as a large shrub. It has greenish-white berries and oak-like leaves.
Poison sumac. The leafy one of this threesome is poison sumac, a small shrub with two rows of 7 to 13 leaflets. Sumac prefers swampy bogs of northern states and swamps in southern states. Its leaves are smooth-edged and remain red; the plant has cream-colored berries. Unlike poison ivy and oak, poison sumac does not produce leaves in groups of three.
Don't Touch! Touching the oil after initial contact is what spreads the rash -- something easily done. For example, say you unknowingly walk over poison ivy and the oily residue sticks like glue to your hiking boot. Later, you remove the boot, unwittingly touching the residue in the process. Since few people wash their hands after removing boots, the oil easily spreads from the hands, to the face, and even to the genital area should you make the unfortunate decision to use the bathroom. The damage is done by the time the rash breaks out. Touching the rash once it appears does not spread the oil -- or the rash.
Cover up. Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, boots, and gloves provide a barrier between you and th plant's oil. This is especially important if you're sensitive and you know you're going to be in an area that might contain poison ivy.
Don't let your pets romp in wooded areas. If you get a rash from poison ivy but can't remember being near the plant, you may have your pet to thank. If your dog or cat strolls through a patch of poison ivy, the oils may cling to the animal's fur. Pat or pick up the pet, and the oils rub off on you. The same is true of anything that comes in contact with oil from poisonous plants, including gardening tools, bicycle tires, and golf balls. Once there, the oil can remain active for a long time, so you can get poison ivy again and again without touching the plant itself if you don't use care when handling these outdoor items and rinse them off after each use.
Rinse your clothes outside. If you think you've had a close encounter with poison ivy, the oil may be all over your clothes. If you walk inside your home without rinsing your clothes, you may transfer the oil to rugs or furniture. Water deactivates the oil, so once your clothes are soaked, they're safe. It's also a good idea to rinse off camping, hunting, and fishing gear so you don't start off your next vacation with a case of poison ivy. Since poison plant oils don't just disappear, it's crucial to wash anything that has had contact with the victim or the oil, including clothing, boots, pets, other people, sleeping bags, fishing poles, walking sticks, etc. Use gloves when cleaning pets, people, and objects that may have had contact with the oil. Don't forget your shoes, which can pick up oils from twigs or vines. At night, if you take your shoes off by grabbing the sole or the heel, you may grab onto more than you bargained for and end up with a nasty case of poison ivy.
Head for water fast. This should be your first step if you suspect you've gotten into poison ivy. Don't hesitate -- the sooner you're soaked, the better. Whether it comes from a stream, lake, garden hose, or faucet, if you can get to water within five to ten minutes after contact with the plant, you may be able to wash off the oil before all of it sinks in.
Carry rubbing alcohol with you. The oil from poison ivy isn't absorbed into the skin all at once; it sinks in fairly gradually. If you move quickly enough, you may be able to use rubbing alcohol to extract some oil from the skin. If you think you've been exposed to the weed and you're heading back inside for the day, wash down the exposed areas with rubbing alcohol and then rinse well with water. Don't use a cloth wipe, which may simply pick up the oil and transfer it somewhere else. And don't use the alcohol near your eyes.
Try a protectant. Consider using a product called IvyBlock, which is a protectant that helps diminish contact with urushiol. This can be applied before heading out into potential poison-plant territory.
If it's too late and you've already had a brush with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, don't worry. There are some simple and effective ways to treat the negative effects of poison ivy, oak and sumac with items found around the house. See the next page for some suggested home remedies.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Cold coffee is a home remedy that can help ease the discomfort of poison ivy.
So, you did your best to avoid the itch, but it still got you? Never fear -- here are some simple home remedies to treat the rash if it does occur. Many include common items you can find in your kitchen. (While these remedies often refer to poison ivy, the steps are generally appropriate for poison oak and poison sumac as well.)
Home Remedies from the Kitchen
for Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Cool off. If the itch has already begun, a cool bath or shower may help ease the itch. Placing ice-cold compresses on the rash for a few minutes every hour may also provide relief.
Baking soda. Concoct a paste of baking soda and water, and spread it on the affected area. Freshen the application every two hours for a total of 3 applications each day. Before going to bed, pour a cup of baking soda into a lukewarm bath and take a soak.
Coffee. If you have any leftover (cold) coffee in your cup, pouring it on a poison ivy rash may be a good way to get rid of the coffee and the rash. Appalachian folk medicine followers believe in washing the affected area with a cup of cold black coffee. Coffee beans contain chlorogenic acid, an anti-inflammatory. This coffee cure hasn't been proved, as there haven't been any studies done on it.
Vinegar. Be it from plant, insect, or allergic reaction, itches of all sorts are tamed by a simple vinegar rinse. First, wash the affected area with soap and lukewarm water, then rinse. Apply vinegar with a cotton ball, rub gently, and rinse.
Soap and water. Waste no time in getting the poisonous plant victim in contact with water -- urushiol is water soluble so use lots and lots of water when you rinse. Rinse before using soap; this will reduce the risk of spreading the oil. And hurry! You have only 10 minutes or so before the oil will start to penetrate your skin. Air-dry the skin. Any towels used for cleaning should be washed immediately in hot water and detergent -- the oil can linger on towels to "get you" again.
Aloe vera. According to the folk medicine taught by Seventh Day Adventists, aloe vera sap helps treat poison ivy rash through its anti-inflammatory constituents. Break off a leaf and apply the sap to the affected area. Allow to dry and gently wash off. Reapply every two hours.
Soak in oats. Bathing in lukewarm water mixed with oatmeal or baking soda may help dry oozing blisters and soothe irritated skin.
Looking for more relief? Even more common home remedies, along with information about which poison ivy myths are true and which are false, can be found in the next section.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider. The brand name products mentioned in this publication are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. The mention of any product in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the respective proprietors of Publications International, Ltd. or HowStuffWorks.com, nor does it constitute an endorsement by any of these companies that their products should be used in the manner described in this publication
Still itching? Some other common home remedies can help battle the poison ivy, oak or sumac discomfort. In addition to items found in your kitchen, some common medicine cabinet items can offer relief.
Remedies from the Medicine Cabinet
Smooth on some calamine lotion. Your mother probably painted your skin pink with this goop if you had a brush with poison ivy as a kid. Smart thinking, Mom: Calamine lotion can be mildly soothing and help dry the rash. Apply it in a thin layer, however, so that the pores in your skin are not sealed.
Apply Burow's solution. This lesser-known product (sold without a prescription) can soothe and relieve mild rashes when put on compress-style. It's often sold under the name Domeboro, in a tablet or powder form that you mix with water (according to package directions). Ask your pharmacist if you're having trouble locating it.
Try hydrocortisone creams. Sold without a prescription, these creams may offer some relief for mild rashes. However, for more serious cases, hydrocortisone creams are not strong enough to help. If you have a rash that is severe enough to take you to the doctor, he or she may prescribe more potent steroids.
Getting a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac can be a huge discomfort, causing a rash and significant itching. Luckily, there are home remedies to calm both effects, and by using one or more of a number of natural treatment options -- some using common kitchen items -- those infected with poison ivy, oak or sumac can find relief.
Publications International, Ltd.
Poison-Ivy Myths
A number of widely held beliefs about poison ivy simply aren't true. Here's the real story on some long-standing myths:
Scratching poison ivy blisters will spread the rash. The oil in the plant spreads the rash, not the fluid in the blisters. If you get the oil on your hands, for instance, and you touch different parts of your body, it will spread to them. This happens long before the blisters have even formed. It is true that you should avoid scratching the blisters, but only because your fingernails may have germs on them that could start an infection.
The old saying "Leaves of three, let them be," always holds true. This is usually the case for poison ivy and oak -- but not every time. Leaflets may come in groups of five, seven, or even nine.
You can catch a poison ivy rash from someone else. The rash can't travel from person to person through the blister fluid or any other way. Only the oil can be spread by contact.
Dead poison ivy plants can do you no harm. This may seem logical, but it's not true. The oil from the leaves and stem can remain an active allergenic chemical for up to several years after the plant itself dies. The oil even remains a threat in winter, when it's possible to pick up poison ivy while gathering kindling and firewood.
The juice from crushed plantain leaves will prevent a case of poison ivy rash. There's no scientific proof to back this claim, although hikers often try this as a preventive strategy.
You can't be immunized against poison ivy. You can, but the procedure requires a great deal of time, effort, and commitment from both the patient and doctor, and there are side effects. If you're considering immunization, talk to an expert and get the facts. Some patients end up deciding that undergoing the treatments is worse than putting up with a poison ivy rash. Doctors usually suggest immunization as a last resort for people who experience very troublesome reactions.
Editors of Consumer Guide "17 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy" 15 January 2007.
HowStuffWorks.com. <https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-poison-ivy.htm> 30 January 2023


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In reply to: Image preview from URL pasted within bbpress posts?
You know what's even more irritating is that when I pasted the link into my reply above, guess what happened… Yes, that's right, the URL generated a PREVIEW with exactly the sort of information I want my own forum to generate whenever someone pastes in a URL.
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Don't worry, I think it's unloaded.
One persistent suggestion in the post-Newtown conversation about gun control is a law requiring the registration of all guns, even so-called "long guns" like the rifle Adam Lanza used in the school killings. Lost in the discussion: Canada tried it and gave up, discovering like several other nations that attempting to identify every gun in the country is an expensive and ultimately unproductive exercise. Criminals, of course, don't register their guns. And even law-abiding citizens tend to ignore registration when it comes to long guns mostly used for hunting and target shooting.
Fans say a central registry would make it easier for police to track down weapons used in crimes, and perhaps even make gun owners more responsible. With all the guns registered, owners could be held liable if their guns turn up at a crime scene and they failed to report them as stolen.
Universal registration drives NRA types nuts: The more paranoid among them fear it would be a tool for government agents to seize their guns, while the less so worry that anything that has been registered also can be taxed.
Maybe they shouldn't worry. Universal registration has been tried in several countries, most recently in Canada. The program turned out to be far more expensive than expected and didn't have any discernable impact on crime, perhaps because long guns are used so rarely by criminals in the first place. Canada's gun homicide rate, according to the handy statistics at Gunpolicy.org, has held steady since the late 1990s.
Canada passed a strict gun-control law in 1995, partly in reaction to a 1989 shooting at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique with a semiautomatic rifle. The law required universal regulation of guns, including rifles and shotguns. Proponents said the central registry would give law-enforcement agencies a powerful new tool for tracking guns used in crimes. They also claimed it would help reduce domestic violence and suicide.
the result may be different.
The law passed and starting in 1998 Canadians were required to have a license to own firearms and register their weapons with the government. According to Canadian researcher (and gun enthusiast) Gary Mauser, the Canada Firearms Center quickly rose to 600 employees and the cost of the effort climbed past $600 million. In 2002 Canada's auditor general released a report saying initial cost estimates of $2 million (Canadian) had increased to $1 billion as the government tried to register the estimated 15 million guns owned by Canada's 34 million residents.
The registry was plagued with complications like duplicate serial numbers and millions of incomplete records, Mauser reports. One person managed to register a soldering gun, demonstrating the lack of precise standards. And overshadowing the effort was the suspicion of misplaced effort: Pistols were used in 66% of gun homicides in 2011, yet they represent about 6% of the guns in Canada. Legal long guns were used in 11% of killings that year, according to Statistics Canada, while illegal weapons like sawed-off shotguns and machine guns, which by definition cannot be registered, were used in another 12%.
So the government was spending the bulk of its money -- about $17 million of the Firearms Center's $82 million annual budget -- trying to register long guns when the statistics showed they weren't the problem.
There was also the question of how registering guns was supposed to reduce crime and suicide in the first place. From 1997 to 2005, only 13% of the guns used in homicides were registered. Police studies in Canada estimated that 2-16% of guns used in crimes were stolen from legal owners and thus potentially in the registry. The bulk of the guns, Canadian officials concluded, were unregistered weapons imported illegally from the U.S. by criminal gangs.
Finally in 2011, conservatives led by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper voted to abolish the long-gun registry and destroy all its records. Liberals argued the law had contributed to the decline in gun homicides since it was passed. But Mauser notes that gun homicides have actually been rising in recent years, from 151 in 1999 to 173 in 2009, as violent criminal gangs use guns in their drug turf wars and other disputes. As in the U.S., most gun homicides in Canada are committed by young males, many of them with criminal records. In the majority of homicides involving young males, the victim and the killer are know each other.
Canada's suicide rates don't appear to have been affected by the gun law, either. The overall suicide rate fell by 2% between 1995 and 2009, according to Statistics Canada, but gun deaths only average about 16% of suicides and a decline in gun deaths was almost entirely made up by increases in hangings.
Some police officers also questioned the efficacy of the registry in protecting them on domestic-violence calls, since the registry was riddled with inaccuracies and didn't say where guns are located, only who owns them. Either way, long guns are only involved in about 18% of female spousal killings in Canada. Knives account for 31%, according to Mauser.
Canada's gun homicide rate is also proportionally lower at 0.5 per 100,000, a rate that has held roughly constant since the late 1990s (versus a significant decline in the U.S. rate to 3.6). But Canada's 173 gun homicides -- many of them with pistols smuggled in from the U.S. -- are little more than statistical noise on this side of the border, representing just 4 days' worth of gun killings on American streets.
The bottom line is there are sensible things the U.S. can do to try and curb gun violence, including following Canada's lead and passing strict regulations covering who can possess handguns -- and jailing anyone found with one illegally. I believe most gun owners would agree to personal gun licenses, since hundreds of thousands of pistol owners have already gotten licenses. Most hunters also grew up in a culture of strict regulation, where any passing game warden can ask to see your license and inspect your semiautomatic shotgun to make sure it has a plug limiting it to three shells. Any more and you lose your guns.
But Canada's experience suggests focusing on the hardware instead of the shooter is an expensive and ultimately fruitless endeavor. I would be curious whether that country's pistol registry has been more effective.


text:
Home /Free Will (Paperback)
Free Will (Paperback)
The Doylestown Bookshop
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A BELIEF IN FREE WILL touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion.
In this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.
Sam Harris is the author of the bestselling books The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, and Lying. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. His writing has been published in over fifteen languages. Dr. Harris is cofounder and CEO of Project Reason, a nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. He received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. Please visit his website at SamHarris.org.
"In this elegant and provocative book, Sam Harris demonstrates—with great intellectual ferocity and panache—that free will is an inherently flawed and incoherent concept, even in subjective terms. If he is right, the book will radically change the way we view ourselves as human beings."
—V. S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, and author of The Tell-Tale Brain
"Brilliant and witty—and never less than incisive—Free Will shows that Sam Harris can say more in 13,000 words than most people do in 100,000."
"Free will is an illusion so convincing that people simply refuse to believe that we don't have it. In Free Will, Sam Harris combines neuroscience and psychology to lay this illusion to rest at last. Like all of Harris's books, this one will not only unsettle you but make you think deeply. Read it: you have no choice."—Jerry A. Coyne, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, and author of Why Evolution Is True
"Many say that believing that there is no free will is impossible—or, if possible, will cause nihilism and despair. In this feisty and personal essay, Harris offers himself as an example of a heart made less self-absorbed, and more morally sensitive and creative, because this particular wicked witch is dead."
—Owen Flanagan, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University, and author of The Really Hard Problem
"If you believe in free will, or know someone who does, here is the perfect antidote. In this smart, engaging, and extremely readable little book, Sam Harris argues that free will doesn't exist, that we're better off knowing that it doesn't exist, and that—once we think about it in the right way—we can appreciate from our own experience that it doesn't exist. This is a delightful discussion by one of the sharpest scholars around."
—Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology, Yale University, and author of How Pleasure Works
Publisher: Free Press
Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects
Social Science / Sociology of Religion
Kobo eBook (March 6th, 2012): $8.99
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text:
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign event, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Boone, Iowa. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Shadow group provides Sanders super PAC support he scorns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders says he doesn't want a super PAC. Instead, he has Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization he founded that functions much the same as one. Like a super PAC, which is shorthand for super political action committee, Our Revolution can raise unlimited sums...
Democratic presidential contender Michael Bloomberg speaks to gun control advocates and victims of gun violence in Aurora, Colo., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. The billionaire former New York City mayor unveiled a gun control policy just steps from one of Colorado's worst mass shootings, calling for a ban on all assault weapons. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
'We're going to be everywhere:' Inside Bloomberg's 2020 plan
AURORA, Colo. (AP) — For any other candidate, a crowd of just 38 voters at a high-profile policy announcement might be cause for panic. But Michael Bloomberg is not just any candidate. The New York billionaire unveiled his signature plan to end gun violence this week at an invitation-only event in...
Democratic presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks to local residents during a stop at the Sykora Bakery, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Patrick defends corporations and capitalism in primary bid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Deval Patrick is centering his fledgling campaign on a defense of corporations and capitalism that puts him directly at odds with some of the party's most progressive figures. "There is a role in the economy for private equity. You bet your...
Democratic presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick campaigns Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at The Bridge Cafe in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Patrick announces Dem presidential bid
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Thursday he is running for president, making a late entry into the Democratic race less than three months before primary voting begins. In an announcement video, Patrick highlighted his poverty-stricken childhood on Chicago's South...
FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview at his Statehouse office in Boston. Former Massachusetts Gov. Patrick is considering making a late run for the Democratic presidential nomination. That is according to people with knowledge of Patrick's deliberations. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
AP sources: Deval Patrick tells allies he plans 2020 bid
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has told allies he will join the 2020 presidential race, according to two people familiar with his plans. An official announcement is expected before Friday, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary. Patrick's move injects a new...
AP sources: Deval Patrick mulling Democratic White House run
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is considering making a late run for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to two people with knowledge of his deliberations, underscoring some Democrats' deep uncertainty about the party's current crop of contenders. Patrick, a...
Correction: Trump-Politics story
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story Nov. 6 about elections in Virginia and Kentucky, The Associated Press reported erroneously that more than twice as many people in Virginia voted in state legislative races than 2015. The number of ballots case Tuesday increased by more than 50% compared with four years...
Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer speaks to reporters before hosting a town hall in Henderson, Nev., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michelle L. Price)
AP Exclusive: Steyer aide offered money for endorsements
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A top aide to Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer in Iowa privately offered campaign contributions to local politicians in exchange for endorsing his White House bid, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the conversations. The overtures from Pat...
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters at Hillside High School in Durham, NC on Sunday, Oct 27, 2019. Approximately 850 people attended the rally in Durham. (Bryan Cereijo/The News & Observer via AP)
After Biden reversal on super PAC, allies form outside group
WASHINGTON (AP) — Allies of former Vice President Joe Biden formed an outside group this week that would allow wealthy individuals and corporations to spend massive amounts boosting his 2020 Democratic presidential bid. Leaders of the super PAC called Unite the Country filed a statement of...
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., greets attendees at a campaign event, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, in Laconia, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Warren's no top-dollar fundraiser pledge includes big caveat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of donors enjoyed a white-tablecloth dinner, an open bar and sweeping views of the U.S. Capitol this month when Elizabeth Warren strode on stage to headline a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. The setting was similarly swanky in August, when Warren addressed party...