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Ontario Newsroom
Ontario Invests $900,000 in Indigenous Economic Development in the Greater Toronto Area
Archived News Release
Province Helping Urban Indigenous Communities Create Jobs and Opportunities
February 4, 2016 9:30 A.M.
Ministry of Indigenous Affairs
Ontario is helping to create jobs, support new skills training opportunities and improve economic outcomes for Indigenous people in the Greater Toronto Area
Through the Aboriginal Economic Development Fund (AEDF), the province is investing more than $900,000 towards the following projects:
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training is receiving $199,700 over two years to help develop programming that will increase participation, training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people
Kagita Mikam Aboriginal Employment and Training is receiving $481,400 over two years to implement a strategy to attract, hire, train and retain Indigenous apprentices in Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is receiving $224,200 over two years to design and implement a centralized online service to connect Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses to service providers across Ontario and Canada
Supporting economic development for urban Indigenous communities through the AEDF is one of many steps on Ontario's journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It reflects the government's commitment to work with Indigenous partners, creating a better future for everyone in the province.
Partnering with Indigenous organizations is part of the government's plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Ontario is investing $25 million over three years in Aboriginal businesses and communities through the AEDF.
To date, Ontario has funded 44 projects with Indigenous partners through the AEDF.
Ontario has also partnered with six Aboriginal financial institutions to deliver the AEDF Business and Community Fund, which provides grants for economic capacity-building projects in Indigenous communities and business financing for promising community projects and Indigenous-owned businesses.
The next round of applications for the Economic Diversification Grant and Regional Partnership Grant streams are now open on Grants Ontario.
The Aboriginal Economic Development Fund
"The Aboriginal Economic Development Fund is helping Aboriginal businesses, communities and organizations create, diversify and collaborate. We're excited to announce additional grants that will help Indigenous students, workers and businesses have a bright and prosperous future."
David Zimmer
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
"Investing in the economic development of urban Indigenous communities will sharpen Ontario's competitive edge by offering students, entrepreneurs, workers and businesses critical tools for success. Ensuring all Ontarians have access to resources to develop their skills and innovate is the key to driving our economy forward for years to come."
Brad Duguid
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
"The funding provided under the Aboriginal Economic Development Fund allows programs like the Partners on Aboriginal Inclusion Durham-GTA (PAID) project improve partnerships. PAID will offer Aboriginal community members the opportunity to connect with skilled trades and construction industry representatives, all committed to reinforcing Aboriginal inclusion within their organizations."
Gavin Lawrence
Project Coordinator, Partners on Aboriginal Inclusion Durham-GTA, Kagita Mikam Aboriginal Employment and Training
"Miziwe Biik has seen significant growth in the number of clients seeking to enter the skilled trades and we are continually increasing our network of unions, training providers and employers in the GTA."
Denise Davad
Manager, Employment Services, Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
Flavia Mussio
Communications Branch
Flavia.Mussio@ontario.ca
Sydney Stonier
Minister's Office
Sydney.Stonier@ontario.ca
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This document was published on February 04, 2016 and is provided for archival and research purposes.
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Travel|36 Hours in Bend, Ore. (and Environs)
36 Hours in Bend, Ore. (and Environs)
This small, woodsy city is the perfect base for family fun, with enough hiking, fishing, biking, doughnut-eating and parental beer-sipping to keep everybody happy.
Camp Sherman is a community of about 200 souls, deep in the woods along the Metolius River, a fly fisherman's dream.CreditCreditLeah Nash for The New York Times
By Dave Seminara
Residents of Bend unite around the core conviction that they live in a beautiful place. But great beauty also inspires an undercurrent of concern that this mountain town's natural splendor will be imperiled if too many people show up and spoil the place. A popular local bumper sticker reads, "Bend Sucks, Don't Move Here," and Visit Bend, the local tourism promotion board, has launched a campaign asking visitors to take "The Bend Pledge," essentially warning them against rotten behavior with the lure of a free trip to — where else? — Bend.
Once called Quelah, the Beautiful Valley, by Native Americans, central Oregon is home to the world's last Blockbuster video store and it's known for its proliferation of cannabis dispensaries and craft breweries. But drinking, smoking and renting videos aren't the key attractions here. With all the opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, fish and daydream in the unspoiled nature that surrounds Bend, the place is a natural for family fun. Start with this kid-tested, parent-approved weekend and you might end up joining the crowd that hopes everyone else keeps out.
36 Hours in Bend, Ore.
1) 2 p.m. Immersion therapy
There's no better family-friendly introduction to Bend and its environs on a warm day than to float the Deschutes River. Rent a river tube from Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe ($16), and take the Ride the River Shuttle ($3, unlimited rides, June 15 to Labor Day), or walk to Riverbend Park, where you'll float down to Drake Park and then take the shuttle back. Your lazy float will take you north through the Old Mill District, with its three towering smokestacks — a legacy of the competing lumber mills that once operated here — then through a narrow section of the river where you'll float by the backyards of some lovely homes before ending up at pretty Drake Park, named after Alexander Drake, a Midwestern businessman who built a cabin here in 1900. After you clean up, treat yourself to a delicious almond cronut ($3.50), a doughnut-croissant hybrid at Too Sweet Cakes, owned and operated by the 25-year-old pastry chef prodigy Shelbi Blok.
More on traveling in Oregon
The 52 Places Traveler: On the Water, and Off, the Rogue River in Oregon Charms
The Remote Oregon Town to Try Next
Five Places to Visit in Portland, Ore.
2) 5:30 p.m. Downtown action
In 1905, the year the city was incorporated, Bend's first doctor, Urling Coe, wrote in a letter that the town had two saw mills, eight all-night saloons with gambling, seven phone lines and a "lusty red-light district consisting of several shacks on the river bank," frequented by "freighters, stockman, buckaroos, sheep herders, timber cruisers, gamblers and transients of all kinds." The vibe these days is less raucous, but the walkable downtown's two main north/south streets, Bond and Wall, still host much of the action. Downtown is particularly lively after work on the first Friday of each month, as child-friendly local businesses like Leapin' Lizards Toy Company and Dudley's Bookshop Café stay open late and frequently offer free wine and snacks for the First Friday Art Walk. Sit on one of the picnic tables with a view of Mirror Pond and the snow-capped Three Sisters peaks at Crow's Feet Commons, a combination cafe, bar, bike and ski shop, and you'll feel like you've landed on Bend's front porch.
The Worthy Brewing Company, which opened in 2013 and brews a full portfolio of craft beers, also boasts a "Hopservatory" — a research-grade telescope.CreditLeah Nash for The New York Times
3) 7:30 p.m. Dinner, old school and new
The venerable Pine Tavern, established by a pair of enterprising women during the Great Depression, is a Bend classic, with an expansive patio overlooking Mirror Pond, curtained booths and a giant Ponderosa pine tree growing through the dining room. The happy hour bar menu specials are a good value, and their delicious, warm sourdough scones with honey butter, served after 5 p.m, are a bargain at 75 cents each. Children can feast on mac-n-cheese, chicken strips or grilled cheese for only $5.95. If you want something a bit less old school, try Bos Taurus, an upscale steakhouse that features premium meats from around the world, or Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, a busy, stylish spot where you can feast on grilled redfish ($27) while sitting at a sidewalk table enjoying the parade of people strolling by. Dinner runs about $20 to $30 without drinks at Pine Tavern or Zydeco, and about $30 to $50 at Bos Taurus.
4) 9 p.m. Beer, with and without the kids
With nearly two dozen breweries in town, almost anytime is beer o'clock. Companies like Wanderlust Tours and the Bend Tour Company operate tours if you want to make the rounds. The tattooed, dog-owning parent set loves Crux Fermentation Project, which has a fenced yard and is pure Bend magic around sunset. For a taste of Bend history to go with your cream stout, head to the family-friendly McMenamins Old St. Francis School, an atmospheric complex built on the grounds of a former Catholic school that includes a small hotel, a cinema, an on-site brewery and restaurant, four intimate bars (including the hidden and aptly named Broom Closet bar) and, if you come a few hours earlier, a Turkish-style soaking pool where anyone can soak for $5 amid the fountains and ornate tiles depicting scenes with St. Francis. (Non-hotel guests can soak until 8 p.m., minors allowed until 6 p.m.; bring your own towel.) Hidden behind the main restaurant across a courtyard is Okanes, McMenamins' most charming pub. Its namesake, Hugh O'Kane, was a 300-pound Irishman who traveled the world as a stowaway before founding Bend's first hotel and saloon in 1905. Sit outside by the firepits, but don't overlook the tiny pub's stained glass windows and old church doors.
The venerable Pine Tavern, established by a pair of enterprising women during the Great Depression, is a Bend classic, with curtained booths and a giant Ponderosa pine tree growing through the dining room.CreditLeah Nash for The New York Times
5) 7 a.m. Ocean rolls
Get to the Sparrow Bakery's original location off the Bend Parkway early, before a line forms for ocean rolls ($4.50), Bend's must-eat pastry. Made with hand-folded croissant dough and layered with sugar, vanilla and cardamom, it's dense, rich and sensationally good. Sparrow's treats are on sale at several other places in Bend, so if you'd rather enjoy your ocean roll with a view of the river, go to Looney Bean Coffee, and pair your roll with the Dirty Hippy, a chai tea latte with shots of espresso. If pastries aren't your thing, get a mouth-watering, organic, free-range breakfast burrito ($6) and a dragon fruit smoothie ($5 to $8) from a drive-through (Life & Time:Free Range Fast Food). Then work off your breakfast on a Zagster bike share bike ($1.50 per 30 minutes, adult size only), or rent bikes of all sizes, as well as child trailers and buggies at Wheel Fun Rentals. Take a spin along the (partially) paved Deschutes River Trail or through the Drake Park Historic District to see some lovely homes, including the G.P. Putnam House at 606 Northwest Congress, which was once home to George Palmer Putnam. A New Yorker, Putnam came to Bend in 1909 at 21, became publisher of the local newspaper and then mayor in 1912 when the incumbent fell out a window to his death. He later married Amelia Earhart.
6) 10 a.m. Tortoises and river otters
Bend is more Mother Nature than museums, but you can enjoy both at the superb High Desert Museum (adults $17; children 3 to 12 $10), a 135-acre, indoor/outdoor museum in a woodsy spot south of downtown. The museum showcases the cultural and natural history of the Oregon High Desert, with an emphasis on Native American history and folklore, and animals that cannot survive on their own in the wild. Children will love the (injured) birds of prey, the desert tortoises, who inch around their habitat about as rapidly as some locals drive, and Pitch, Rogue and Brook, three musky-smelling river otters who showboat around their habitat like they're auditioning to be reality TV stars.
The Camp Sherman Store & Fly Shop has everything from fly-fishing equipment to souvenirs to surprisingly tasty breakfast burritos.CreditLeah Nash for The New York Times
7) 1 p.m. The great outdoors
The experts at Visit Bend can help you narrow the dizzying number of outdoor activities and tour options, based on your tastes and fitness level. In town, a two-mile, round-trip hike (or drive) up 480-foot Pilot Butte offers panoramic views of the arid, sagebrush-dotted High Desert country to the east and the snow-capped mountains to the west. Families with younger children can cycle the closed-to-traffic road through Shevlin Park, one of the city's prettiest green spaces. Farther afield, the trails at Dillon Falls and the North Fork trail at Tumalo Falls are photogenic, or you can cool off inside the Lava River Cave ($5), where it's always 38 degrees. And don't leave town without venturing out to Mount Bachelor, Bend's premier ski resort, where in midsummer you can take the chairlift up to the 7,775-foot elevation Pine Marten Lodge ($20 adults, $14 youth 6 to 12), and have dinner or bomb down the 13 miles of downhill mountain bike trails. Cap off your afternoon of fun by driving along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway to idyllic Lucky Lake, where an easy one-mile hike through the woods earns you the right to take a blissful dip away from the summer crowds.
8) 7:30 p.m. The bend in the river
The hamlet that grew up around the Farewell Bend Ranch was named Farewell Bend, until it was shortened by scrooges at the post office to Bend. You can learn about the city's logging history by reading the interpretive signs along the Deschutes River Trail in Bend's lively Old Mill District, where you'll see the three smoke stacks that have dominated Bend's skyline since the 1920s. For dinner, order the two-choice plate with kalbi beef and volcano chicken ($16.25) at the friendly Hawaiian restaurant Big Island Kona Mix Plate, or have the super-indulgent wagyu beef burger ($16) at the nearby Boxwood Kitchen & Supper Club, which also has a children's menu with options like buttered pasta or cheeseburgers for $8. Bend is a long way from the Caribbean, but if you travel a mile west of the Old Mill District to Cuban Kitchen, you can play dominoes and tuck into down home Latin delights like thin cut palomilla steak or puerco asado ($12 and $13 with two sides; children's meals are $7), lovingly made by the Aguilar family.
A starter kit for escaping into the world.
9) 9 p.m. Beyond gelato
Bontà means "goodness" in Italian, but the term undersells how outstanding the gelato is at this popular local business. They vat pasteurize their milk and cream in house, ensuring that flavors like their Oregon hazelnut and peanut butter Theo fudge are intensely creamy. Before calling it a night, save time for a bit of family roistering at Worthy Brewing Company, which has its own "Hopservatory" — a research-grade telescope, manned by a "sky guy," or teach your children how to play Tapper and Donkey Kong at the Vector Volcano Classic Arcade.
10) 8 a.m. Country style
Sisters is a charming ranch town north of Bend, originally called Three Sisters for the nearby peaks Faith, Hope and Charity, more prosaically known as North, Middle and South. The town is graced with Old West-style storefronts, a fun annual rodeo, and a hyper-abundance of outdoor activities in the vicinity. Start your day with a cup of what many consider central Oregon's best coffee at Sisters Coffee, a block off the town's touristy main drag, and across the street from Paulina Springs Books, arguably the region's best independent bookstore. Then walk through town to Sisters Bakery, which has scones, doughnuts and other treats, and is housed in a 1908 building that was the town's general store from 1925 to 1950. Try the superb marionberry or bacon-smoked cheddar scones ($4 and $4.50) or the double chocolate doughnuts ($1.25).
Sisters, Ore., a charming ranch town north of Bend, is graced with Old West-style storefronts and an annual rodeo.CreditLeah Nash for The New York Times
11) 11 a.m. The end of the road
Drive another 20 minutes north of Sisters to Camp Sherman, a delightful it's-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know it community of about 200 souls, deep in the woods, along the exceptionally pretty, spring-fed Metolius River, a fly fisherman's dream. Kids love the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, where you can feed the rainbow trout for a quarter, and there are picturesque trails and campgrounds up and down the river, particularly Allen Springs and Lower Bridge. Wind up your weekend by checking out what may be the coolest general store in the West, the Camp Sherman Store & Fly Shop, which has been a hub of community life here since it was established in 1918. The place has everything from fly-fishing equipment to souvenirs to surprisingly tasty breakfast burritos.
Vacation rentals are extremely popular in Bend. Look for a place with outdoor space that's (preferably) walking distance to the Deschutes River. Prices start at about $150 a night for a single family home and go up depending on size, quality and season.
The luxurious Tetherow Resort is a family- and dog-friendly golf resort on the way to Mount Bachelor that has a lovely heated pool that's open year round. (Rooms from $159.) In Sisters, FivePine offers Craftsman-style cabins, stylish suites and complimentary bike rentals, next to a fine brewpub (Three Creeks Brewing Company) and the four-screen Sisters Movie House, where you can have draft beer and food delivered to your seat. (Rates from $159)
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A version of this article appears in print on , Section TR, Page 9 of the New York edition with the headline: Bend, Ore.. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A tree fell across the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, halting traffic Thursday, officials say.
The tree fell across Troy and Schenectady avenues.
Repair crews and police temporarily blocked off the road and cleared the tree after about two hours.
The road has since been opened, and no injuries were reported.
Witnesses say they believe the tree was already rotted and fell due to heavy snow that collected on its branches.


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Our reader Jonathan Fraser: A prediction of what is likely to happen in the following months
As U.S. led strikes continue in Afghanistan, the possibility of retaliatory strikes on the United States grows by the hour. In the presence of a massive hostile threat to its sovereignty, an ultimatum was issued (but not reported by Western media)by the N.G.O's of the Moslem world similar to that issued by the then U.S. President, J.F.K, "An attack on Afghanistan, would be seen as an attack upon the Moslem world, and would require a full retaliatory response, upon, the United States". Lets examine the position the respective governments faced with that ultimatum. The Soviet Union decided to act with restraint, in accordance with the detent'e policies of that time. It was a wise decision, considering that nuclear war may have resulted, and did what was asked. The United States however, reacted with belligerence, in the face of massive threat, and has most likely started what will be at least bad publicity, and at worst, full conventional conflict and the sceptre of nuclear war.
The American National Security Advisers and other planners in the Pentagon didn't stop to think that the name Operation "Infinite Justice" may be offensive to Muslems. What else had they not thought of?
Here's a prediction of what is likely to happen in the following months.
Attacks upon Afghanistan continue, with U.S. recitient to send in ground troops, and not capturing Osama Bin Laden.
Further terrorist strikes occur in major U.S. cities.
Many Islamic fighters join in the holy war against the U.S.
Attacks intensify against Iraq. The Moslem governments issue a sharp edict, but do nothing.
Provoked by the events in Iraq and religion, military divisions in Pakistan, stage a coup-de-tat in support of the Taleban.
Syria sends military assistance to Iraq to support Saddam Hussein. In response to what it sees as hostile threat, Israel sends troops back into Lebanon.
The U.S. sends finally commits to a ground war, and easily occupy the main cities, but are beaten back in the Afghani mountains.
Moderate European governments still agree to combat terrorism, but are increasingly against the attacks.
Pakistan joins in on the side of the Taleban. To earn favour with the U.S., India declares war on Pakistan.
Once this final stage is reached, nuclear war is a definite possibility. Is this what we want the U.S. to lead us to?
The way the American administration had handled this crisis looked like it may have been good, until it started issuing ultimatums of its own. "You are either with us or against us", "We make no distinction between those who (supposedly) committed the terrorist acts and those whom harbour them". These two ultimatums are very inflammatory. The first one implies that we are invincible, compared to anyone else, so if you don't co-operate entirely with everything we want you to do, "we will come and kick your commie ass". It was never established to the public how the terrorist attacks were directly linked to Bin Laden. Maybe the first ultimatum was issued as their reasoning. Also, even if Bin Laden did perpetrate these attacks, he would have likely expected the U.S. to retaliate in this kind of way, and built up a massive force in Afghanistan that the Taleban could not control if it wanted to. Maybe the Taleban is at war with Bin Laden also, but does not want to lose face by saying it can't control its own territory.
So it is unfair to use the second ultimatum against the Taleban, without proof that they are actually condoning what Bin Laden does, I mean you don't arrest Bob's father, if Bob was arrested for drug dealing and living at home, do you?
It wasn't Bob's Dad that did it, was it?
What the U.S. government should really do, is find out why (they would actually already know if they pulled their heads out of their arses, instead of shoving it in further) some nations hate them. Perhaps they could re-examine their foreign policy? There is a reason why Americans are hated, and instead of making more enemies by "bombing the shit out of the bastards", should actually leave these countries to mind their own business, and not sell them weapons either.
Just finally, I like to use the analogy that "America treats the world like it is the most popular person in a class in a school". Imagine that the U.N. is the teacher, and can't really do anything about how America acts. Other students want to be 'cool' like America, and America picks on unpopular students. Occasionally, a threat might arise to America, like Russia. Russia was making friends after a long time having none. Fellow students could see she was honest. But she was poor, and because she didn't have all of the label clothing, her group of friends became the "nerds". America thought she was a threat to her, because Russia was righteous. So she upped the stakes. She made life so uncomfortable for Russia and her friends that they had watch their backs wherever they were. Finally, most of Russia's friends got so sick of being criticized that they went to join America's side. Russia became so upset and had almost no friends. She has had to lose her principles and morals so she fit in like America, and sometimes America is still mean to her. Now though, America can pick on anyone she likes without having the risk of told on, for the risk of retaliation is much too high.
Jonathan Fraser Student Youth Alliance Party of New Zealand


My son is Mr. Sports. As soon as one season ends he's on to the next. And not necessarily the same sport. He'll jump from baseball to basketball to soccer to whatever else he can think of. I don't think he has a love for a single sport yet so in the meantime he wants to try it all. And at 5 I think he should! He has his whole life to play one sport, now is the time for him to find out what he loves. But, as a single working mom, juggling this athletic life can be complicated.
Last year was our first full year in sports mode. Luckily, soccer was only a one-day commitment, which made the schedule juggle super easy. We moved on to baseball in the spring and I was so fortunate to have a job that was pretty flexible with adjusting my lunch hour to be there for games and practices when needed. I also have very helpful family members to pick up/drop off when I couldn't. And now I have a different job this year where I get to work from home, so essentially I can take my son anywhere, anytime.
But it really got me thinking – what do single working moms (or dads) do during a sport season? From my experience, practices are in the afternoon (during regular business hours), and some games are during the week. Is your child not allowed to participate in their local little league due to scheduling conflicts? I haven't been in this sports world for too long but I really feel that there is a demographic that is completely forgotten about. Not every family is able to logistically get to a practice and/or game. It's really not fair that they can't participate solely because they don't live in a two-parent household or have family nearby that can help.
I am SO grateful for my current job situation but you never know when that can change. You never know when life is going to throw you upside down. I don't have any answers but I think we should start a conversation. Children living in a single parent household (or even a two working parent household) shouldn't have to sit out on a sports experience because practices are at 3pm. There has to be another way!
And while we're here… why don't we know the practice schedule when we sign up? Why don't we know until 2 weeks before practices start? How is anybody supposed to plan anything?! It really just feels like they're marketing towards families that have at least one at home parent.
Do you have any suggestions on how we can be more inclusive? I would love to hear in the comments.
Just before Christmas I took my son to Legoland for a little 2-day staycation. I wasn't going to be spending Christmas with him that year so I wanted to do something to make this holiday season still special. One of his most favorite places to go is Legoland! I thought I would up the "special" this time and add one night in their new Legoland Castle Hotel…and it was pretty spectacular! Read below for everything they have to offer and even take a peek at a pretty sweet deal at the bottom. Enjoy!
The Legoland Castle Hotel is incredible with all of the lego features on the outside, complete with a drawbridge! It's also right in front of the Legoland Park – literally like 10 feet. Can't beat that!
This was probably my favorite part of the hotel. This amazing lego sculpture is in the lobby centered right where the adults check-in. Below the sculpture is a huge bin full legos to occupy the kiddos. Also, just behind is a slide! I love that everything at the hotel is catered to kids as soon as you walk in the door.
Below the bunk beds is a pull out cot, perfect if you have lots of kids with you! Also, the kids have their own TV and lego station to build to their hearts content.
One of the highlights of our stay was the scavenger hunt throughout the Legoland Castle Hotel. Hidden in the hotel are clues that unlock a treasure chest that is in every room. It was so much fun running around the hotel room looking for the clues. And then of course unlocking the treasure box to find TWO lego sets! Honestly, I had no idea the hotel did this, but it truly was one of my highlights.
We didn't make it out to the pool on this trip as it was SO cold but from a distance I could see they offered water slides, splash pads, and lots of water activities for littles that aren't ready to swim just yet.
We did however get to enjoy the outdoor common area which included a HUGE movie screen, life-size games, and a very stimulating park area. I really think you could spend the entire time at the hotel, not even go into Legoland and still feel highly entertained. Especially if you came in the summer and took advantage of the pool activities.
If you know me, then you know I am a big proponent of fun. I want to go everywhere and do everything. I'm always looking for the next adventure even when I'm already in the middle of the fun. It's hard for me to really tone it down but ultimately I don't want my child thinking he can just wish for something and it happens. I want him to understand that we must work for the things that we want. They just don't magically happen.
Last year my son really wanted to go to Legoland. We already had Disneyland passes so I felt it was hard to justify taking him to Legoland "just because". Instead, I made a plan. I told him that for every good choice he made he could put a mini lego in a mason jar. For every poor choice he made we had to take a mini lego out. Once the mason jar was filled up, he earned his trip to Legoland! It was such a satisfying experience for him. Especially it being something tangible and visual rather than just words floating around of "keep working on earning your trip to Legoland." And honestly, it truly made the day at Legoland THAT much more enjoyable because he worked so hard for it.
I haven't done anything since then because Summer came and behavior wasn't such an issue as before. But now we're halfway through the school year and truthfully my son has great days at school and some not so great ones. He came from a little tiny preschool where everybody wanted to be his friend. Now he's at a school with so many kids that somehow already knew each other and it's been a bit of a struggle for him.
His class has a system in place with a colored chart that reflects their behavior throughout the day. At the end of the day his teacher hands out "golden tickets" for those that earned them, and for every 15 they get to go to the treasure box. I have been trying to encourage making smart choices and being kind to everyone but of course my son isn't perfect so some days he doesn't receive one.
I've decided to incorporate a similar plan to what I had last year but instead of a jar with legos I made a chart. I know similar charts can be found at Target or most any store, but I wanted to make ours unique to our goal.
Braden knows that school is his job, so I have made the "golden tickets" his currency. Once he has received 25 "golden tickets" he can "buy" his ticket to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. I LOVE the idea of having a visual that he can look at on his wall every day for every ticket earned he can add a sticker to a square (there are 25 squares). Once he has filled in all of the squares – he will be on his way! Having something tangible he can add to it so he knows where he is on his journey to the aquarium is so helpful. Also this way we are focused more on the positive behavior rather than the negative. Which is where my energy needs to be focused as a parent in this season of our lives.
I'm attaching pictures below of what our chart looks like. It was super easy to create and not to mention a great project to work on together.
Do you have any reward charts in your help? What has helped positive behavior in your house? Would love to hear in the comments!
January 2, 2019 by Britnee GrahamLeave a Comment on Happy New Year!
Are you ready for 2019?! Well, ready or not here it comes! As you've noticed, I took some time out of blogging during this last quarter of the year. Between B starting Kindergarten (and homework!), my new job, teaching more and trying to be more present, it was a struggle to find the balance with it all. Writing and sharing my experiences was so heavy on my heart – especially during the holidays. I had so many things I wanted to share with you! But truthfully, I was having a hard time adjusting to our new normal and could never find the time to sit down and write.
That's the thing with writing (or really anything), time is not going to find you. You have to seek it out. You have to make the time. As hard as it may be, you are the only who has that power.
Can you guess what my resolution is this year? YEP! MAKE TIME. I have unwritten screenplays, pieces of choreography in my head, unfinished films, unedited photographs, half-written blogs, that ALL need to put to use. I've promised myself that I will do one piece of something every day. So here is my start to the New Year with this simple post as my re-entry in the blog-o-sphere.
When I was a child, every year my family and I would go apple picking in Julian, CA. I loved it. We'd wake up really early, gather our warmest clothes, load up the car and drive (what felt like hours) out to Julian. Some years it was hot, others it was cold, but it didn't matter. We'd walk the orchards and scour the trees for the BEST apples to take home so we could make apple pie. Once we finished picking apples we'd spent the rest of the day enjoying the small town. Going in out of the historic little shops, eating lunch, maybe taking a horse-drawn carriage ride all nestled under the blankets, and of course eat some fresh baked apple pie.
As I got older we stopped going, but I couldn't wait until my son was old enough to start this tradition with. Except when the time came, I was torn…Julian or Oak Glen?! I had never heard been to Oak Glen, much less heard of it! So, I did some research, asked a lot of questions and 2 years ago I drove my son and I out to Oak Glen to start our new Fall tradition.
Truth be told, I haven't been to Julian since I was a kid so I can't really speak on what they have there now. But, from what I've read, Oak Glen has a lot more activities for kids. Besides apple picking there is; pony rides, corn mazes, u-apple cider press, hay rides, petting zoos, apple tastings, and lots of games!
The big number one factor for me is the drive. Driving to Oak Glen is SO easy. I personally have a fear of driving windy roads (due to being in a car accident in Laguna Canyon several years ago). When I learned that the drive to Oak Glen was mostly on the freeway, I was sold. I took my son to a camel dairy farm 3 years ago, and it was just 20 minutes south of Julian. I wasn't even thinking of that terrifying drive until I was in it, and I just can't ever do that again. Oak Glen is freeway, streets, and then maybe a 15 minute drive up the mountain – no cliffs! If I can do it – you can do it!
Yes, there are two Riley's. No, they are not the same. Well, the Riley name is the same, but the owners of the property are different. This was our first year spending the entirety of our day here. It was amazing. We picked our apples on the Botanical Garden side this year. Truthfully, next year we'll park on this side, but go pick apples across the street at their bigger property as they have a bigger variety of apples over there.
Like I mentioned above, the line for the restaurant was incredibly long and I'm sure it's amazing. But if you have kids that are anything like my son, he will not want to wait an hour for a table. We always bring our lunch with us and luckily there is a HUGE grassy area to throw down a blanket and eat. There is not a lot of shade so either bring an umbrella or a big hat. They do have a few picnic benches under some trees but those get taken up quickly. You'll see tons of families with their coolers and kids playing catch. It's so awesome!
Personally, *HOT TIP* I would go as soon as they announce it's time to pick apples. This year apple season came really early so you may have missed the initial announcement, or maybe you didn't even know they made an announcement. Follow Riley's at Los Rios Rancho on Facebook and you'll never miss it again. This year I saw the post but I couldn't make it out for a couple weeks. By the time we got there, a lot of the bigger and better apples were already gone. The trick is to try and go within a few days of when they release a specie of apple so that you get the first pick.
Depends on the weather, but most likely you'll want to wear a hat and definitely bring sunscreen.
Closed toed shoes. I know you can get hot, but you'll come home with the dirtiest feet if you wear sandals.
An ice chest/cooler with all of your food, water and snacks. The property is not that big so you can easily just slip back to your car to grab some food or more water.
Cash. They do take credit/debit cards. But a couple of food booths only take cash. However, you can purchase with your card inside the store and bring them a voucher. But just bring the cash – it's easier!
Those are my biggest tips for apple picking in Oak Glen. I'll be sure to share in more details about Riley's at Los Rios Rancho on my next blog post.
Do you go apple picking with your family? What are some of your Fall traditions?
August 31, 2018 August 31, 2018 by Britnee GrahamLeave a Comment on Will You Be Friends With My Son?
It's the second week of Kindergarten and my son already got his feelings hurt. I knew it was coming because well, kids can be mean. But it didn't hurt my heart any less – and it very obviously hurt my sons. So much so that he pushed the little boy that said " I don't like you. We're not friends….I don't like you – double." Should my son have pushed? Absolutely not. But should he have stood up for himself? Absolutely yes.
Little kids can be cliquey and a lot of the times I don't think it's intentional. It's like they have blinders on and can only see what's directly in front of them. They have a neighbor friend and that's all they need. Why would they look around and try to be friends with the person next to them? The majority don't have the instinct to do that. And that's fine. But it's hard to watch when my son is standing in front of a group of kids smiling, thinking he's part of the group too. I know that they don't notice him and it breaks my heart. I want to scream, "BE FRIENDS WITH MY SON! HE'S FUN! AND KIND!" But, I can't…this is his journey that he needs to be on. Not mine, not ours. His.
For me this is the hardest part of parenting: letting our kids just figure it out. We can't make all of the decisions for them, even as young as 5. I can't be with him at school to guide him. All I can do is teach him at home, give him all of the resources and tools he needs so he can go out into the world and be successful. But, that's not easy.
So what did I do after I heard my son got his feelings hurt and he made the poor decision to push? I wanted to cry. My son cried. His heart was sad but he also was worried that he wasn't a kind person anymore. But, I reminded him that he was kind and he just needed to remember to use his kind heart. And I also let him know other acceptable forms of standing up for himself that didn't involve hurting other people. He cried some more and said, "Mom, I just forgot to turn my heart on, that's all." We decided to pray. We asked God to help remind him to turn his heart on every morning.
I know I can't be naive and think that this is the only time his feelings are going to be heart. But I wish it would be. I'm not asking for my son to be the most popular kid in school, I just hope and pray that he finds his little community of friends he can call home.
How are you adjusting to your kids at school? Have they had problems making friends? Would love to know your story – leave me a comment!


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Home Entertainment Interviews K'Naan 'Wavin' Flag' Interview with Kam Williams
K'Naan 'Wavin' Flag' Interview with Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Mon September 13, 2010
Kickin' Back with K'Naan
Somalia. The name alone conjures up images of unbridled destruction, merciless warlords and ruthless terror. A place where nobody is safe from the atrocities of war, and where 8-year olds handle AK-47s like toys. When Forbes magazine recently unveiled their "Most Dangerous Destinations," Somalia, above Iraq and Afghanistan, topped the list. But it's also "The Nation of Poets," where a poem can both inspire peace and end wars.
Growing up, it was both of these Somalias that informed musician/emcee K'naan Warsame, who is forging his own musical path via a unique blend of reggae, funk, pop, soul and, above all, hip-hop. Recorded primarily in Kingston, Jamaica at Bob Marley's home studio, his second album, "Troubadour," includes contributions by the likes of Damian Marley, Mos Def, Chali 2na, Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Adam Levine of Maroon 5.
During his early childhood, the Western music which reached K'naan's ears was pretty much limited to "Bob Marley and Tracy Chapman," until at 10, he became fascinated by the hip-hop being emitting from a tinny car speaker. "I had heard a rap verse, but I had no idea what it was back then," he recalls.
At 14, K'naan and his three best friends were attacked by warlords, just one of countless indelible images for the impressionable teenager. Having chased them through the streets of Mogadishu, eventually cornering the boys in an alley, the men began shooting. K'naan avoided injury, but his three friends were brutally gunned down.
Certain that it was only a matter of time before her family met the same fate, K'naan's mother would travel daily through the firefight to the U.S. embassy in the hopes of securing visas for her and her loved ones. Despite daily denials, she persisted, and on the last day the U.S. embassy was in Somalia, received visas to leave for America.
"You can't even describe it," says K'naan. "It is the most sensational, liberating feeling. There was the weight of a world of hope on your shoulder that has suddenly landed. It was only then that I started to get this certain value of life that I never had before." With little possessions and no knowledge of English, K'naan and his family boarded the last commercial flight out of Mogadishu for New York before settling in Toronto.
The tunes on Troubadour reflect the sum of K'Nasan's life experiences. Having spent the better part of the last two years on the road, visiting over 50 countries from Slovenia to Peru to Vietnam to Uganda, the album is the sonic document of an artist with much to share, and disproves rap music's detractors who say that hip-hop has nothing new left to say.
The CD's first single, "Wavin' Flag," has become an international sensation, and was the official anthem of the World Cup Championship hosted this summer by South Africa. Reaching over 150 countries, the signature song was featured on K'Naan's FIFA-sponsored Trophy Tour, which saw the emerging rap star spreading his message to soccer fans in concerts staged all around the world.
K'naan has also re-recorded new versions of the track with Will.i.Am and French dance producer David Guetta and a bilingual versions with Spanish pop singer David Bisbal, French MC Fefe, AI Otsuka from Japan, Jackie Cheung and Jane Zhang from China, Tattoo Colour from Thailand, Nancy Arjam from Egypt, HHP from South Africa, and other artists in Greece, Turkey and elsewhere.
K: My pleasure.
KW: Celia Chazelle asks, what was the inspiration for Wavin' Flag?
K: I can't remember specifically, it was just one of those moments when I had a melody in my head and a discontented, melancholy feeling. I just wrote that.
KW: Did it emanate at all from your childhood?
K: I think everything kinda' does. Everything is kind of shaped by life in general, so I guess it does feel like my childhood might have been an influence. But those things are pretty subconscious.
KW: Do you still feel a strong connection to Somalia?
K: Yes, I have many, many memories which have impacted my life.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
K: We used to have an open-roofed courtyard. My earliest childhood memory is of sitting around as a child looking up to the sky and dreaming while listening to poetry.
KW: Were you listening to a lot of American music while growing up?
K: You could live in Somalia forever and never need music from outside Somalia. There are a lot of different styles and a variety of musical ideas developing right there.
KW: FSU grad Laz Lyles asks, what did it mean for you to have Wavin' Flag become the anthem of the World Cup?
K: I used to get very excited watching the World Cup on TV as a child. So, to have any kind of involvement with the World Cup is a big, big honor.
KW: Children's book author Irene Smalls was wondering whether you're a soccer fan and if you played soccer in your youth?**
K: Yes I am, and I did play, like most other children.
KW: *Author/filmmaker Hisani Dubose asks, how have you been received by the American hip-hop community?
K: Great! You can tell from what's been happening for me. They've all been very supportive and showing love for what I do.
KW: Irene also asks, where do you think hip-hop is headed?
K: I think it will always go through phases, like how philosophy in ancient times would celebrate the body and the physical for awhile, then focus on the mind and the spiritual. I think that those phases happen to us as well, and hip-hop is one of the best barometers of what is happening, because it reflects the feeling of young people. I see my music as following the feeling.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
K: [Chuckles] Interesting… I often try to find the face of my teenage years. I don't know whether it's like this for everybody, but I can't find it.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
K: It probably would be good if I cooked more, but I just don't do it very often. When I do, I find it very enjoyable. I made a dish about a year ago. It was stir-fried vegetables with Szechuan sauce. I made it a little too spicy, I admit, but I think everybody enjoyed it, aside from all the sweating.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
K: "The Story of Forgetting." It's a novel about Alzheimer's.
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
K: Vampire Weekend.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Do you have a favorite clothes designer?
K: I probably do, because I know what I like, but I wouldn't know who it is by name.
KW: Uduak also asks, "How do you think African music will influence the rest of the world in the coming years?" **
K: I think it's actually already affecting the world in a big way now. People just aren't aware of it. For instance, there's a great tune by Coldplay called "Strawberry Swing." It's essentially Afro-Pop music. And most of Vampire Weekend's music is Afro-Pop. Africa has influenced many of the biggest bands. So, I believe Africa has already crept in and changed music in the West. People just don't know to call it African.
KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
K: Wow! That would be for a sudden shift in my country from war, distrust and death to peace, love and harmony.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
K: About a week ago on the road with my band when we were talking. It was just one of those things where we've been together so long, that a running joke that's about five years-old could crack us all up for about an hour.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
K: Yes I am, but not of what people ordinarily fear, fortunately. My fears are all internal. I'm afraid of my own self more than of anything external.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
K: Happiness, I think, is one of the most elusive things on the planet. I believe that happiness is only appreciated in retrospect. So, I'm always happy, given that I later find out that I was.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?
K: By being understanding of the fact that I don't make music for them, but that I make music that's about my past and about my most honest internal instincts. They need to understand that more than anything else. Wherever I go, it's not about them, but where the music takes me.
KW: What has been the happiest moment of your life?
K: The birth of my first son.
KW: The Zane question: Do you have any regrets?
K: I guess I do have some regrets, but none big enough to obsess about.
KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?
K: As someone who was always interested in walking through life in a positive way and in affecting people in a positive way.
KW: Thanks again for the interview, K'Naan, and best of luck on your world tour.
K: Thank you so much, Kam.
To see K'Naan performing "Waving Flag," visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxmEd9lcn0k
To order a copy of K'Naan's CD "Troubadour," visit: B001L2I27O
Kam Williams is a popular and top NewsBlaze reviewer, our chief critic. Kam gives his unvarnished opinion on movies, DVDs and books, plus many in-depth and revealing celebrity interviews.
Sadly, Lloyd Kam Williams passed away in 2019, leaving behind a huge body of work focused on America's black entertainment community. We were as sad to hear of his passing as we were overjoyed to have him as part of our team.
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Big Just Called On Military Overnight To Overthrow Trump After Declaring It's Time
Kara Curry
Cue outrage as the media, political pundits, and talking heads are all aflutter this morning with claims that President Donald Trump's language and demeanor on Monday's summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin was somehow treasonous. The summit is being billed as the #TreasonSummit on Twitter came just a scant 72 hours after the Department of Justice issued its unsourced and suspiciously timed indictment of 12 Russian officials for hacking the DNC despite having never even laid eyes on the DNC server.
The DOJ "indicts" 12 Russians that will never stand trial just one business day prior to President Trump meeting with Putin. The mainstream media goes into overdrive cranking out propaganda hit pieces like New York Times veteran employee Charles Blow's Sunday op-ed "Trump, Treasonous Traitor" hours before the event even took place.
President Trump and Putin held a joint press conference and pointed out that both sides are to blame for the poor relationship the countries have. Then he declined the opportunity to slam Putin for buying some Facebook ads in the 2016 election.
President Trump's position has more or less been that peace with Russia is more important than election meddling, which did not influence the election. America is far from innocent in this process as they have been meddling in the elections of foreign nations for a long time. Perhaps let us simply mend fences and call it a day. Move forward as two nuclear superpowers and work together. I believe we call that diplomacy?
US has intervened in foreign elections for decades, including leaking stolen documents. . . nations regularly try to influence elections and this is nothing new for the United States, either as the culprit or as the target of such efforts."Jonathan Turley https://t.co/AoFFyZVIdo
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 15, 2018
Yet that clearly is not the goal here from Washington.
Hillary asks President Trump via Twitter – "Do you know what team you play for?" referring to the Trump/Putin Summit.
Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 16, 2018
My question for Hillary – I dunno. Do you?
After all, Hillary sold Russia 20% of American uranium after a bunch of people connected to the transaction heavily contributed to her foundation which was approved by a rubber-stamp committee under the former Obama administration while Hillary "served" as Secretary of State. Then just four months later, former President Bill Clinton collected a cool $500k in speaking fees from a Russian investment bank during a trip after he and Putin hung out at Putin's private home.
So Obama & Hillary give Russia Uranium One after accepting kickbacks & foundation donations, Bill Clinton received 500k from a Russian bank, Mark Warner conspires with a Russian oligarch's lobbyist to manufacture fraudulent evidence, but SOMEHOW Trump commited #Treason? pic.twitter.com/FwLzjKYXXY
— Mike Tokes (@MikeTokes) July 16, 2018
Then Putin himself dropped the bombshell at Monday's Summit where he claims U.S. Intelligence agents funneled some $400 million in illegally earned profits into Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign by associates of American-born British financier Bill Browder – at one time the largest foreign portfolio investors in Russia. The scheme involved members of the U.S. intelligence community said Putin, who he said "accompanied and guided these transactions."
Hillary sells 20% of our nuclear fuel supply to Russia – Eh…no biggy! It's all good.
President Trump says nice things to Putin – OMG!! IT'S TREASON!!!
(((Cue incoherent screeching)))
Then former CIA Director John Brennan called President Trump's performance at the Summit "nothing short of treasonous" yet he himself effectively called for a coup against the president should President Trump give the order to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Donald Trump's press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of "high crimes & misdemeanors." It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) July 16, 2018
Yet in July 2018 Brennan told CNN's Wolf Blitzer at the Aspen Security Forum – "I think it's the obligation of some executive branch officials to refuse to carry that out. I would just hope that this is not going to be a partisan issue. That Republicans, Democrats are going to see that the future of this government is at stake and something needs to be done for the good of the future."
Brennan openly supported the USSR, voted Communist, and supported Communist rule over America while Putin was still working as an agent with the KGB. Yet now Brennan wants to tell the American people that President Trump having a 2-hour closed-door meeting with Putin consists of "treason." How does that work exactly?
Senator Rand Paul (KY-R) took to social media to call Brennan out publically and remind Brennan of his own record, stating – "This is coming from the guy who voted for the Communist Party USA candidate in 1976. Give me a break."
This is coming from the guy who voted for the Communist Party USA candidate in 1976. Give me a break https://t.co/0l8X8wiNWA
Then former FBI Director James Comey issued what many may be construed as a call to action against a sitting US President also known as a coup d'etat. Comey tweeted late Monday afternoon after the Summit had concluded – "This was the day an American president stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country. Patriots need to stand up and reject the behavior of this president."
This was the day an American president stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country. Patriots need to stand up and reject the behavior of this president.
— James Comey (@Comey) July 16, 2018
Meanwhile, Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-D) who stated he would award the Purple Heart to anti-Trump FBI lovebird Peter Strzok during testimony in front of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees regarding Strzok's bias against President Trump. Amid significant backlash for his grotesquely disrespectful comments, Cohen tried to walk it back shortly thereafter, stating in an interview with CNN's Ana Cabrera – "I regret using the term 'Purple Heart. I used it metaphorically, not literally. I never thought, literally, it should be given to Agent Strzok."
To review for the ignorant – The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration. This is what this political despot want to award a lying disgrace of humanity subpoenaed before Congress to answer for his actions.
After the Summit, Cohen revealed he meant every word quite literally as he then took to Twitter to call for the military to rise up against a sitting President. Cohen tweeted – "Where are our military folks ? The Commander in Chief is in the hands of our enemy!"
Where are our military folks ? The Commander in Chief is in the hands of our enemy! https://t.co/3eF7OLKEdN
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) July 16, 2018
Cohen meanwhile makes it a habit to disrespect the very same military that he is calling on to rise up against a sitting president from believe Purple Hearts should go to liars and traitors to sitting down at a Memphis Grizzlies playing with his cell phone during the National Anthem.
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-D) represents the 9th District of Tennessee. Here he is at a Memphis Grizzlies game on…
Posted by Sassy Liberty's No Consent From the Governed on Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Just to review the word of the day is TREASON. Strictly defined that means – the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government. Synonmous with words like treachery, disloyalty, betrayal, faithlessness.
Treason is selling Putin our uranium.
Treason is purchasing a fraudulent Dossier which was connected to the Kremlin.
Treason is giving billions of dollars to Iran.
Putin from the Summit – "I was an intelligence officer myself, and I know how dossiers are made up," suggesting the Steele dossier was fake.
Got that? Good! Glad we cleared that up…
After Bashing Trump For Not Shaming Putin, Chuck & Nancy Humiliated With Obama's Untimely Leak
Deep State In Mass Panic Over Putin Sharing Devastating Info With Trump Not Yet Reported


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Every Town and Village, Volume-17 Number-04, 1982
Apr 1, 1982 | Every Town & Village, Volume-17 Number-04
A look at the worldwide activities of the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
Radio ATMA on the Air in Paris
Paris – The International Society for Krishna Consciousness now broadcasts music and discussions on spiritual themes to the Paris area. Taking advantage of President Mitterand's policy of open access to the airwaves for private groups, devotees have mounted an 8,000-watt transmitter on the roof of their temple annex in the suburb of Suresnes and begun beaming Krsna conscious programs around the clock to fifteen million people in and around Paris.
While permission for a permanent station is pending. Radio ATMA 95 has initiated an ambitious broadcast schedule of devotional music, vegetarian cooking classes, yoga lessons, Krsna conscious news commentary, and poetry readings. A popular feature of the programs is a series of debates on such topics as abortion, animal slaughter, social reform, and the origins of life and the universe.
Indriya-damana dasa, director of operations for the programs, receives dozens of calls each week from satisfied listeners. "One woman called today," he recently related, "to tell us we are the only station that speaks personally and directly to its listeners, and that she recommends us to all her friends."
"Terrible Demon" Recommended for Children
New York – When Lord Krsna conquered the giant serpent Agha five thousand years ago. He rescued His childhood friends from the jaws of the cruel demon. Now the National Council of Teachers of English has chosen Agha, the Terrible Demon, a children's adaptation of the original Sanskrit story, as recommended reading. The Council has placed Agha on its booklist for parents, teachers, and librarians.
Bala Books, children's publishers for the Hare Krsna movement, first printed the full-color storybook three and a half years ago. Since then, more than 15,000 copies have been sold. French, Italian, Spanish, and Hindi editions are now in production.
Festival in New Orleans
New Orleans – The devotees of four Hare Krsna centers worked together to hold Ratha-yatra, "The Festival of the Chariots," in New Orleans. Joining in the two days of festivities were devotees from Atlanta, New Orleans, and the Hare Krsna farms in Mississippi and Tennessee. Guest speakers were Srila Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada and Srila Jayapataka Swami Acaryapada, who are among the spiritual masters now initiating disciples in the Hare Krsna movement.


2018 Renault Koleos is the new SUV car that will be launched soon. The company still works on the improvements and changes in this car so some detail information is still unknown. The improvements in this car are predicted will be able to impress people who are interested in the SUV car especially in this car.
The new platform is predicted will be used for the body of the car. It is the CMF-CD platform mixed with the Renault-Nissan platform. The new platform will be completed with some changes in the front and also rear parts of the car. In the front part, there will be changes in the headlights, wheels, and others. The rear parts of the car will get some changes in the taillights and others. The lightning system will be supported with the LED system. Moreover, the company will also complete the changes with the new options for the colours of the car. In the interior designs, the cabin will come with the spacious room. It is proved by the capacity of the car to accommodate for about seven adults passengers. The high quality materials are used in this car such as wooden and leather. The leather material will cover the seats and also steering wheel of the car. The features provided by this car will cover the infotainment features, entertainment features, and also safety features. Those improvements will enhance the comfort for both driver and passengers in having driving experience using new 2018 Renault Koleos.
The engine that will be powered to this new 2018 Renault Koleos is the 1.6-liter engine capacity with the turbocharged and V4 petrol engine unit. The output that can be resulted by this car will reach up to 163 horsepower and also 235 lb-ft of torque. The engine is completed with the eight-speed EDC automatic gearbox and the six-speed manual gearbox as the other option. The other engine is also prepared for this car which is the 2.-liter engine capacity with the 4-cylinder engine unit. This engine will be equipped with the lithium-ion battery, electric motor, and XTRONIC gearbox. All of the engines used in this car will be equipped with the all wheels drive system.
This new SUV is predicted will be launched in around the late of 2017 or even in the beginning of 2018. However, unfortunately, the price that is tagged to this car is not known yet for now. It is predicted the company will tag this car with the slightly higher price. So, people who are interested in this car should wait for the official information about the release date and also the price of new 2018 Renault Koleos.


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Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth
Queen Laments Passing Of Husband In Xmas Message
PBS NewsHour reports: Queen Elizabeth II in her Christmas Day message shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate with friends and family, despite the grief caused by the ongoing pandemic. Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season "with one familiar laugh missing," the monarch delivered her …
Sprained Back Sidelines Queen From Military Tribute
The Associated Press reports: Queen Elizabeth II missed out on the Remembrance Sunday service in London to pay tribute to Britain's war dead because she sprained her back, Buckingham Palace said Sunday. The service is one of the most important events on the 95-year-old monarch's calendar, and was meant to be her first public appearance after taking a few weeks …
Ailing Queen Elizabeth Advised To Rest For Two Weeks
The Associated Press reports: Queen Elizabeth II has been advised to rest for at least the next two weeks, accepting doctors' recommendations to take on only light duties and not travel, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The decision comes days after the 95-year-old sovereign underwent medical tests and spent the night at London's King Edward VII's Hospital, her first such stay …
Hot Mic Catches Queen Elizabeth Tearing Into World Leaders On Climate Change: They Talk, They Don't Do
The Washington Post reports: Queen Elizabeth II is not amused. Britain's monarch has hit out world leaders who "talk" but they "don't do" on climate change, remarks that have been interpreted as expressing a degree of exasperation at possible no-shows for the upcoming COP26 climate conference. Her remarks weren't meant for public consumption — this is the queen, after all, …
Queen Elizabeth Hosts Her 13th US President [VIDEO]
Reuters reports: Britain's Queen Elizabeth met U.S President Joe Biden under the canopy of the world's largest indoor rainforest on Friday as she hosted a reception for leaders of the Group of Seven richest nations, who are holding a three-day summit. At the reception, held at the Eden Project, whose distinctive bubble-like Biomes house thousands of plant varieties, the queen …
Buckingham Palace: Take Queen's Pic Off Trump Bus
Buzzfeed News reports: Buckingham Palace has made a formal request to have a doctored image of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat and a QAnon brooch removed from a "Trump Train" bus that was seen at a rally held by Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene in Florida last week. A Palace spokesperson told BuzzFeed …
Queen Zooms Vax Plea: "Think About Other People"
The BBC reports: The Queen has urged the public to "think about other people" and get a Covid jab when they are offered one. The monarch, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, received their first doses of the vaccine in January. In a video call with health leaders delivering the Covid vaccine across the UK, the Queen was asked …
Britain's Prince Philip, 99, Hospitalized "As Precaution"
The BBC reports: The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening "as a precautionary measure" after feeling unwell, Buckingham Palace has said. Prince Philip, 99, was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital in London, the statement added. A palace source told the BBC that he travelled by car to the hospital, where he was admitted as …
Queen To Host Biden And Other G7 Leaders In June
The Sunday Times reports: The Queen will lead a post-Brexit charm offensive by hosting Joe Biden and other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before the G7 summit in Cornwall in June. She will be joined at the "soft power" reception in June by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge under plans …
100 Year-Old Knighted For NHS Campaign Has COVID
The BBC reports: Captain Sir Tom Moore has been admitted to hospital with coronavirus, his daughter has said. The 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for the NHS, was taken to Bedford Hospital after requiring help with his breathing, Hannah Ingram-Moore said on Twitter. She said he had been treated for pneumonia over the past few weeks and last week tested …
Queen Emphasizes Hope In Annual Xmas Speech
The Washington Post reports: In one of Queen Elizabeth II's most memorable speeches, she referred to the year of 1992 as an "annus horribilis," a Latin term for horrible year. During her televised Christmas broadcast last year, she described 2019 as "quite bumpy," after a string of tumultuous events that shook Britain and the monarchy. While the queen has not …
Queen Elizabeth To Get Vax When Other "Over-80s" Do
The Independent reports: The Queen of England and Prince Philip are expected to get the Covid-19 vaccine within the next few weeks, in line with national guidelines on the prioritisation of vulnerable groups. A source told The Mail on Sunday that Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, will not get preferential treatment, but will instead "wait in line" …
Queen Knights WWII Vet Who Raised $41M For NHS
NBC News reports: The WWII veteran who raised millions for Britain's National Health Service during the coronavirus pandemic was bestowed the highest of accolades on Friday receiving knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Tom Moore, whose fundraising campaign captured the hearts of the country, met with the Queen at Windsor Castle for a private ceremony with members of his family. …
LIVE VIDEO: Queen Elizabeth Speaks About Pandemic
The BBC reports: The Queen is to stress the value of self-discipline and resolve during the coronavirus pandemic in a special address to the nation on Sunday. In a rare speech, she will acknowledge the grief, pain and financial difficulties Britons are facing during this "time of disruption". She will also thank NHS staff and key workers, and emphasise the …
Queen Elizabeth Dons Gloves Per Advice On Virus
March 3, 2020	0
The Independent reports: Queen Elizabeth donned a pair of gloves during an investiture ceremony Tuesday — the first time she has done so in more than 60 years — amid snowballing coronavirus fears in the UK and around the world, according to new reports. The 93-year-old monarch was pictured wearing a pair of long white gloves — which also covered …
Queen To Address "Bumpy" Year In Xmas Speech
The Associated Press reports: Queen Elizabeth II plans to acknowledge that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year by saying during her Christmas message that it has been a "bumpy" time. The pre-recorded message will be broadcast in Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Christmas Day. She is thought to be referring both to Britain's tortuous path …
Boris Johnson Asks Queen To Dissolve Parliament
The Metro reports: Boris Johnson left Downing Street this morning to visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace as campaigning for the general election kicked off. The prime minister must formally ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament – shutting it down for five weeks – ahead of the 12 December election. Mr Johnson will then return to Downing Street where he …
Queen To Parliament: Brexit By Oct. 31st Is Top Priority
Agence France-Presse reports: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out his government's priorities at a parliamentary ceremony full of pomp and pageantry attended by the queen, with Brexit top of the agenda. But with time running out for an amicable divorce deal before EU leaders meet later this week, few of the proposals look likely to be enacted, …
Boris Johnson Denies Lying To Queen About Parliament
The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson has denied lying to the Queen over the suspension of parliament, insisting such claims were "absolutely not" true. Speaking on a visit to NLV Pharos, a lighthouse tender, which is moored alongside HMS Belfast on the Thames, he was asked if he had lied to the Queen when he asked her to prorogue parliament for …
Queen Approves Tory Request To Suspend Parliament
Sky News reports: The Queen has approved Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament from the middle of next month, which will restrict MPs' ability to block a no-deal Brexit. In a move prompting a furious political row, parliament will be prorogued in the week beginning 9 September until 14 October. This is the date on which a new Queen's Speech …


Join us in enjoying this unusually warm July on Jones' beautiful back patio! A popular spot near Union Square, Jones offers classic bites and cocktails, along with a selection of beer and wine.
Please note that the bar is cash only.


Correspondence to: J. Scott VanEpps, MD, PhD, FACEP. Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC), University of Michigan, NCRC 26-327N, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Email: jvane@med.umich.edu.
Provenance: This is an invited Editorial commissioned by our Section Editor Dr. Wei Li (Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China).
Comment on: Andini N, Hu A, Zhou L, et al. A "Culture" Shift: Broad Bacterial Detection, Identification, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Directly from Whole Blood. Clin Chem 2018;64:1453-62.
Received: 22 November 2018; Accepted: 27 November 2018; Published: 12 December 2018.
Sepsis is an overwhelming, dysregulated inflammatory response caused by infection (1) and commonly results specifically from bloodstream infections (BSI). Annually, there are well over 19 million world-wide cases of sepsis with more than a million in the US (2). With annual costs exceeding $20 billion, sepsis is the most expensive condition treated in US hospitals (3). Timely treatment with antibiotics is so important that broad spectrum antibiotics are administered sometimes without knowledge of the source of infection and always without knowledge of the particular pathogen or its antibiotic susceptibility. According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines (4), empiric antimicrobial drugs with activity against all likely pathogens should be administered in the first hour of recognition of sepsis or septic shock. This shotgun approach is used because the current standard of care for pathogen detection, identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility (i.e., body fluid culture) is a very poor diagnostic. The time to result for blood cultures can exceed 48 hours. In addition, cultures have low sensitivity. When bacteria in the blood are in low numbers, growth is sufficiently slow to produce a negative result. In addition, certain bacteria do not grow at all under standard culture conditions (5). Worse still, cultures lack specificity and are routinely contaminated with normal flora of the skin (6). The result is a one-size-fits-all use of antibacterial drugs which leads to antibiotic resistance, opportunistic infection (e.g., Clostridium difficile), severe side effects (e.g., renal or hepatic failure) or potential under treatment of critically ill patients. A rapid diagnostic for pathogen ID and more importantly, antimicrobial susceptibility would reduce exposure time to empiric, broad-spectrum antibiotics and allow for rapid de-escalation to pathogen targeted therapy.
A unique yet critical subset of BSI worth noting are those associated with implanted medical devices. The cardiovascular devices market, specifically those with direct contact with the bloodstream (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators, prosthetic heart valves, left ventricular assist devices, stents, vascular access devices, and venous filters), is one of the fastest growing medical device industries. This growth is a function of increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease (7), expanding indications for implantation (8), and fundamental bioengineering improvements in materials and electronics (9). As indications for implantation continue to expand, patients with increasing comorbidities and decreasing immunocompetence will receive these devices. Despite the significant benefits afforded by these devices, any foreign material placed within the bloodstream poses a significant threat of infection. The underlying pathology is related to the adaptive strategy of bacteria to adhere to, colonize, and form biofilms on abiotic materials (10). These biofilms confer significant protection from both host immune clearance as well as antibiotics. While medical device implantation rates have increased by as much as 65% over the last few decades (11), infection rates have increased disproportionately (i.e., >200%) (12). As a result, implanted medical devices are a leading cause of BSI in the US. Novel antimicrobial/antibiofilm device strategies are being investigated, but the time horizon for their development, regulatory approval and clinical adoption is quite long. Therefore, the trend of increasing medical device associated BSI will likely continue or worsen in the near future.
With the recent adoption of the Sepsis Core Measure (SEP-1) by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) there are strong economic incentives to increase vigilance for diagnosing sepsis. That combined with the current Sepsis-3 definitions (1) and Surviving Sepsis Guidelines (4) will continue to drive a low threshold for initiating empiric, broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, since the current diagnostic criteria are neither sensitive nor specific, there will be continued inappropriate use of broad- spectrum antibiotics with all the associated adverse effects (not the least of which is the continued selective pressure for antibiotic resistant species). This highlights the obvious clinical need to diagnosis BSI earlier and with improved accuracy including pathogen ID and antibiotic susceptibility. To that end, in a recent issue of Clinical Chemistry, Andini et al. (13) describe a nucleic acid amplification assay for detection, pathogen ID, and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) that shortens the time to result (and potentially the time to targeted antibiotic therapy) to ~7 hours. This is a profound improvement over the current standard of care which requires 48 hours or more (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Comparison of the time-to-result for conventional blood culture, the qPCR ID + AST method proposed by Andini et al., and an idealized potential future technology. Note that the qPCR ID + AST method allows for de-escalation of therapy after the first empiric dose. An idealized future state could essentially eliminate empiric, broad-spectrum antibiotics by having a time-to-result less than one hour. qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; ID, identification; AST, antibiotic susceptibility testing.
There are five key features of the described assay which contribute to it realized benefits. First, there is a custom initial sample processing step to remove human cells and DNA. This process is critical to remove inhibitors of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as remove the large quantity of human DNA. In general, clinically significant bacteremia involves just a few bacterial cells per milliliter of blood. Therefore, there is a minuscule amount of bacterial DNA in a large background of human DNA. Removing the leukocyte DNA effectively improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Second, there is a brief culture enrichment period. Current quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods are not sufficiently sensitive to detect the very low concentrations of bacterial DNA directly from a blood sample. Therefore, the sample is cultured for 4 hours to allow bacteria to multiply to a level adequate for detection. Indeed, this allowed detection of 1 CFU/mL in the original sample. Third, the gene target for amplification by PCR was the 16–23 s ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region rather than the traditionally used 16 s rDNA. This sequence provides improved analytic specificity of different bacterial species. Fourth, the authors have developed a rich library of melt curves of the ITS region that effectively identify the bacterial species via high resolution melt curve analysis (HRMA) of the amplified gene product. In essence, this allows for sequential detection and ID without additional sample manipulation. Fifth, phenotypic AST that uses rapid qPCR to shorten the time to detect growth in the presence of antibiotics was incorporated. While many nucleic acid technologies focus on detection of antibiotic resistance genes, this technique evaluates the actual response of the bacteria to the antibiotic. This is more analogous to the currently accepted use of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and breakpoints for determining susceptibility. Furthermore, not all resistance mechanisms are known or related to single specific genetic sequences (e.g., efflux pumps) (14). Lastly, there is significant discordance between the presence of a particular resistance gene and phenotypic manifestation of resistance (15).
Empiric antibiotics recommendations are based purely on covering the most likely pathogen without actual knowledge of the case specific pathogen. As such, it is prone to both over and under treatment of patients. Typically, if diagnostic testing is performed, the empiric antibiotic choice can be adjusted or de-escalated once the microbiologic testing is complete. Even shortening the time to result for such testing has significant benefits. For example, using the Verigene® technology from Nanosphere, Inc., Sango et al. demonstrated that reducing the time to detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) by 23.4 hours lead to a 21.7-day reduction in length of stay and more than $60,000 reduction in health costs (16). This benefit was attributed to timely administration of appropriate antibiotics. However, that technology still depends on traditional blood cultures and at best had time to result of 18 hours, suggesting room for continued improvement. The benefit of appropriate pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy is further illustrated in a study comparing hospitalized patients with penicillin allergy versus non-allergic patients (17). It found that penicillin allergic patients received broader spectrum antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, vancomycin, and clindamycin. They averaged 0.59 more total days in the hospital, had 23.4% more Clostridium difficile infections, 14.1% more methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, and 30.1% more VRE infections. Over three years, the increased lengths of stay and complications cost the health care system ~$60 million. In general, maximal benefit of rapid molecular microbial testing is realized when paired with a well-designed antibiotic stewardship program. More specifically, the implementation of a rapid diagnostic bundle combined with evidence based antibiotic stewardship improved appropriateness of initial broad spectrum antibiotics and actually decreased broad-spectrum antibiotic utilization in a multi-hospital system (18). Overall, the use of rapid molecular diagnostics to improve time to appropriate, targeted therapy has shown positive clinical effects both in terms of patient outcomes and health care costs (19,20). Clearly, getting the right drug for the right bug has the potential to save lives and money.
The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in 1928. Since then we have seen a tremendous improvement in global health and longevity. Unfortunately, emerging antimicrobial resistance is becoming one of the greatest threats to global human health. Less than two decades after his discovery of penicillin, Alexander Fleming noted that microbes become educated to resist penicillin (21). The time from development of a new class of antibiotics to the detection of resistance has been consistently decreasing (22). In a recent study of urinary tract infections diagnosed in the emergency department, up to 5% of positive cultures had extended-spectrum lactamase producing strains (23). Worse still, 46% of the patients had discordant initial empiric antibiotic coverage (i.e., antibiotics that do not cover the isolated strain). As more and more pathogenic bacteria develop resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, previously treatable illnesses will become lethal. Addressing this challenge requires investment in not only new antimicrobial drug discovery but also rapid diagnostics and antibiotic stewardship to reduce the selective pressure for resistance (24).
The combined qPCR-based ID + AST assay described by Andini et al. improves the time-to-result for ID and AST of a few BSI pathogens. This improvement surpasses both the current standard of care and many of the emerging technologies coming to market (14) in terms of both ID and phenotypic AST. As such, it is anticipated that, if implement on a larger scale, this assay could improve both individual patient outcomes as well as emerging antibiotic resistance by reducing the utilization of broad-spectrum antibiotics in favor of appropriate targeted therapy. That said, some caution is required with this optimism. First, the assay still relies on culture enrichment of the bacteria in Mueller-Hinton broth for detection. While dramatically reducing the culture time, the other limitations of blood culture (as noted above) remain. Specifically, like traditional blood cultures this system will have poor sensitivity for fastidious organisms and may under perform in biofilm infections where bacteria have reduced growth rates. Likewise, the potential for contamination by rapidly growing commensal skin strains remains high and therefore may lead to false positives. Second, the initial sample processing to remove leukocytes may reduce the potential detection of intracellular pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Legionella, and Mycobacterium). Additionally, the exceedingly common BSI pathogen S. aureus, which was once considered an extracellular pathogen, can survive and even replicate within phagosomes thus evading immune detection and clearance (25). Therefore, under certain conditions, S. aureus may also evade detection by this strategy. Third, this proof-of-concept study only evaluated four common BSI pathogens. While this group represents roughly a third of all BSIs, the process for multiplex scale-up is certainly not trivial. Fourth, the direct inoculation method of AST used here represents a paradigm shift from conventional AST. Typically, bacterial growth in the presence of antibiotics is measured by optical density to determine susceptibility. However, this method is highly sensitive to the initial inoculum and therefore requires subculture from a positive blood culture bottle to obtain a standard concentration. The method described using a △Ct from qPCR to determine response to antibiotics removes the subculture step and is less sensitive to initial inoculum. While the use of direct inoculation methods is gaining traction there is significant inertia to challenge current standards to define resistance by MIC and breakpoints. The activation energy to replace this industry standard will be quite high. Taken together, these concerns suggest that the qPCR-based ID + AST system (though likely to be beneficial) will be unable to fully replace traditional blood culture. However, even as a purely additive strategy, rapid diagnostics coupled to antibiotic stewardship programs have demonstrate cost effectiveness (19).
At this point the significance of BSI including medical device associated BSI and resulting sepsis should be clearly evident. Furthermore, the potential benefits of improved diagnostics not just around predicting outcomes in sepsis but rather identifying culprit pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility are equally obvious. In pursuing that goal, the assay described by Andini et al. is capable of reducing exposure to empiric broad spectrum antibiotics to a single dose (Figure 1). Indeed, it motivates a greater challenge. Can empiric broad spectrum antibiotics be eliminated all together? Will the continued improvement of diagnostic technologies allow for ID and AST in less than hour? Imagine a future where new antibiotics are narrow, even species specific and prescribed initially based on rapid, molecular, culture-free, diagnostics. The development of the qPCR ID + AST assay represents a collaboration between Emergency Medicine and Mechanical Engineering. This type of multidisciplinary approach is key to future success on this challenge. There are myriad of technologies at all developmental stages including chiroplasmonic nanomaterials (26,27), quantum tunneling enzymatic detection (28), magnetic resonance (29), and microfluidics (30) that may have impact in this space if given sufficient resources for multidisciplinary collaborative research and translation. Diagnostic-selected, narrow-spectrum antimicrobials are an obvious manifestation of precision medicine for infectious diseases and is clearly worthy of future pursuit and financial investment.
Khan W, Muntimadugu E, Jaffe M, et al. Implantable Medical Devices. In: Focal Controlled Drug Delivery. Domb AJ, Khan W, editors. Boston: Springer US;2014:33-59.
Cite this article as: VanEpps JS. Reducing exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics for bloodstream infection. J Lab Precis Med 2018;3:100.


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Penthouse Magazine Launches 3D Adult Programming Channel
By Ian Paul
How do you know when a technology has gone from gimmick to cutting edge? When the porn industry adopts it, of course. Penthouse Magazine will launch the first adult 3D high-definition channel in Europe today, a venture dubbed PENTHOUSE 3D. The new channel offers naked programming daily from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. (5 to 11 p.m. Eastern) to satisfy every European's quest for ooh-la-la. It's not clear whether Penthouse has any plans to launch its 3D channel in the United States.
Penthouse 3D will offer 30 hours of new 3D programming every month with content to satisfy the prurient interests of both softcore and hardcore fans in what the company describes as "100 percent Full 3D Native HD." The channel is available through European satellite provider SES Astra.
Naked Pioneers
If nothing else, Penthouse's 3D launch reveals that 3D just might be here to stay this time, contrary to what the critics say. The world's porn purveyors have a healthy track record when it comes to poking and prodding new technologies that are later adopted by the mainstream. Porn helped to popularize online payment systems, video streaming, live chat, broadband Internet and many other technologies.
[Check out PC World's look at 12 Ways The Sex Trade Has Changed The Web]
As for 3D, the porn industry has been playing around with the technology for some time, but Penthouse's entry into 3DTV signals that things are about to get serious. Penthouse won't be flying solo for much longer either, as its rival Hustler is also expected to launch a 3D channel in March. Playboy is also said to be considering 3DTV, according to the Financial Post.
It will be interesting to see if porn's march into 3D television will cause a sudden spike in 3D HDTV purchases in the coming months.
Connect with Ian Paul ( @ianpaul ) and Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the latest tech news and analysis.
This story, "Penthouse Magazine Launches 3D Adult Programming Channel" was originally published by PCWorld.