text:
BBC News Updated every minute of every day
One-Minute World News
Editors' Blog
Page last updated at 09:16 GMT, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 10:16 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Residents urged to boil tap water
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Dwr Cymru urges more than 5,000 people to boil their water after river water qualtity deteriorated
Almost 5,000 people in Gwynedd are being asked to boil their drinking water for the next 48 to 72 hours after heavy rainfall affected its quality.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water say that Penybont water treatment works was shut down for around 24 hours on Saturday when the river water quality deteriorated.
Test results received now indicate the presence of some cryptosporidium parasites in the water.
People in Tywyn, Aberdyfi, Bryncrug, Rhyd-yr-Onen and Brynglas are affected.
Cryptosporidium is a tiny parasite found in humans and animals and can cause temporary diarrhoea.
Boiling water will kill the cryptosporidium oocysts and ensures it is safe to drink and cook with.
Tap water in the area is supplied by the company's Penybont water treatment works.
It takes water and puts it through a two stage cleaning process, including UV treatment to protect against the risk of illness that might be caused by cryptosporidium.
Boiling the water will kill the bug. You do not have to boil it for 10 to 15 minutes. Just make sure you bring it to the boil
Tim Masters, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said the water treatment works was restarted on Sunday morning to ensure that tap water supplies to Tywyn and Aberdyfi were not interrupted.
But river water quality had still not returned to normal and the UV treatment stage was not operational for around eight hours.
Tim Masters, head of water quality at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, said results from samples taken from the water showed levels of cryptosporidium that were higher than what would normally be seen in the supply.
"We felt it was sensible as a precautionary measure to advise customers in the area to boil their water for the next 48 to 72 hours," he said.
"Boiling the water will kill the bug. You do not have to boil it for 10 to 15 minutes. Just make sure you bring it to the boil.
"Hopefully we will be able to tell people everything is fine by Thursday or possibly Friday.
Unfit water
"We need to give time for the water that did not receive the ultra violet treatment to pass through the supply. We need to do some checks to ensure the cryptosporidium parasite levels are much lower or hopefully not present at all."
Mr Masters added that letters explaining the situation should have been sent out to all customers affected. They should continue to boil water until they get another letter informing them to stop by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, he said.
"We will also use the media to tell people that everything is fine," he said.
The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £69,000 costs after it admitted supplying unfit water that left hundreds ill in north Wales in November 2005.
In total, 231 people who drank water from a Snowdonia reservoir suffered from sickness after the outbreak of the cryptosporidium bug at the Llyn Cwellyn reservoir at Rhyd-ddu, which serves 70,000 homes in parts of Gwynedd and Anglesey.
If anyone has any concerns about their supply they can call the operational helpline on 0800 052 0130.
North West Wales
Find out more about what is going on across the region
Water firm's 'decade of failures'
13 Nov 07 | North West Wales
Water firm fined for sickness bug
11 Oct 07 | North West Wales
'No barriers' let bug into water
Water bug customers plan to sue
Boil water 'into January' warning
30 Nov 05 | Wales
Dwr Cymru - Welsh Water
TOP WALES STORIES
Admission over NHS 'underfunding'
Farmers' 'badger cull disaster'
Funeral of family after home fire
MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW
WATCHED/LISTENED
Tourists flock to 'Jesus's tomb' in Kashmir
Most popular now, in detail
Indonesia's female 'devil wheel' riders
FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Has China's housing bubble burst?
The guerilla plant
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";
Widgets & Alerts


text:
WriteMovies.com Holds L.A. Reception Celebrating Winners Of International Writing Contest
WriteMovies.com is holding a reception to celebrate the winners of its international writing contest, on October 8, 2002 at The Lot, Warner Hollywood Studios. Many international writers and industry figures will attend with Niki Marvin—producer of The Shawshank Redemption—as guest of honor.
Jeff Dixon will receive a first prize of $2000 for his winning script Dermis, a horror thriller staged in the eerie world of tattoo collectors. Second place is Jimmy Shea for The Chat Room, another thriller with cybersex as the backdrop. Third place goes to German novelist Cornelia Kempf for her superb Die Gaerten Von Damaskus (The Gardens of Damascus), a dramatic love story about an enslaved German nobleman and an Arabian Princess set during the Crusades.
"One of the main objectives of the company is to help open doors for up and coming screenwriters often missed or ignored in Hollywood," says WriteMovies.com president Alex Ross. "The goal is to provide a richer entertainment experience by offering new perspectives," he adds.
Via management, writing contests, script analysis, and other writing services, WriteMovies.com specializes in finding storytellers worldwide and has an esteemed board of directors.
One board member, Tom Craig, Senior Executive VP at Universal Studios, responsible for such pictures as Shakespeare in Love says, "WriteMovies.com has an experienced staff that helps you tailor your project to give it the best possible chance of landing on the desk of potential buyers. I recommend WriteMovies very highly".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Nobody wants to deal with a leaky roof, but, no matter how fastidious you are about maintaining your roof, leaks can still happen, especially during heavy rainstorms.
Does your home experience roof leaks in heavy rain? Do you need to prevent water damage until a professional can come and fix your roof?
These tips can help you manage roof leaks until help arrives.
When you first notice a leak in your home, start by taking steps to protect the interior.
Use a bucket or large cooking pot to collect the water. You can also use an empty garbage pail to collect more water and reduce the number of times you have to empty the container.
Move any furniture that could be damaged by the leak, too. If you have access to them, you should also lay down drop cloths, a tarp, or garbage bags to keep the floor dry.
Once you've minimized the amount of damage the water can cause as much as possible, it's time to find the source of the leak.
In many cases, you don't have to worry about climbing up on your roof to fix the leak — which is great, considering the fact that hundreds of thousands of people get hurt falling off their roofs each year.
Before you think about getting on the roof, start by heading up to your attic.
Grab a flashlight and try to find where the water is coming through. Bring a bucket up with you to catch the water closer to the source of the leak.
To redirect the water outside, you'll need a plastic milk jug, some duct tape, a garden hose, and a ladder.
Cut the bottom off the container, then turn it upside down. Attach one end of the garden hose to the opening of the bottleneck with duct tape.
Redirect the other end of the hose outside through a door or window. Then, tape the funnel to the top of the ladder and place the ladder under the leak.
Make sure the funnel is placed directly under the leak. The water will drip into the funnel and flow through the hose and outside of the house.
This isn't a permanent solution, of course.
Eventually, you'll need to hire a professional to come and fix the roof. But, redirecting the water can minimize the damage until a professional can get to your house.
If possible, try to figure out what caused the leak in the first place.
There are lots of issues that can contribute to roof leaks, including gutter damage, missing shingles, and holes leftover from antenna or satellite dish installations.
Once you've found the cause of the leak, you can take steps to avoid additional leaks — call a repair company, replace the missing shingles, etc.
Put an End to Roof Leaks in Heavy Rain!
You now have the information you need to manage roof leaks in heavy rain, but, that fixing the problem needs to be top priority before it gets worse.
If you're dealing with roof leaks whenever there's a heavy rain, find a roofing contractor to help you fix the problem once and for all.
If you live in the Denver area, we're here to help at Rocky Mountain Exteriors. Call us today or contact us online for a free estimate.


Nothing was going to come easy on First Aid Kit's latest release. Their past two albums (2012's The Lions Roar and 2014's Stay Gold) included their greatest song to date, 'Emmylou', and the vinyl-jumping, ABBA-like 'My Silver Lining'. Those two tracks alone established First Aid Kit as not only eclectic, but also as a vibrant, eye-candy young duo developing a sound that was their very own. Nobody looked like them. Nobody sounded like them. They owned their own piece of the alt-pop, indie scene.
Their viciously beautiful harmonies and alt-country roots mixed with the head bobbing, disco flourishes of 'Silvery Lining' set a high standard for opening singles that quite frankly Ruins doesn't keep up with.
Ruins, though, still stands tall on its own merits. Vibrant from front to back it brings out the best of the Soderberg ladies with the beautiful ballad 'Fireworks' and the ethereal album closer 'Nothing Has to Be True'. However, the opening single, 'It's a Shame' doesn't deliver the results the First Aid Kit marketing team probably would have hoped. For a band on the cusp of crossover greatness, that's a painful, but recoverable blow.
Most likely, First Aid Kit's live show presence will continue to flourish, while Ruins eventually slips into catalog obscurity. It's a fine addition to First Aid Kit's live repertoire, but a general disappointment when the band needed an opening single to push them into the mainstream where they deserve.
P.S. The cover photo to the album is absolutely stellar. Should end up as best of the year.
PreviousPrevious post: Album Review: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?


Braving reef breaks, riding waves, watching beautiful sunsets, all-night partying, staring at the beauty around you (AKA people-surfing), communing with nature, immersing in culture and arts, lounging by the beach, gorging in mouthwatering food, zipping through the streets in a motorcycle.. anything and everything that floats your boat, name it! Bali has all this in store for all kinds of people looking for their own brand of fun.
I stayed in the island in September 2013 and though I had doubts regarding the length of our stay (7 days felt too long), my thoughts on the plane going home was "When can I go back?".
I now understand why people who come over for a couple of days end up staying for months.


Dr Matthew Murray is a childhood cancer specialist working at Addenbrooke's, and an Associate Lecturer of the University of Cambridge, managing children with all types of solid tumours in the East of England, as well as working closely with haematology colleagues in the management of children with leukaemia. He has a particular interest in germ cell tumours and is a member of the NCRI Children's Germ Cell Tumour Clinical Studies Subgroup.
Dr Murray also has an interest in the late effects of cancer treatment. In addition, he has a special interest in Medical Education and has completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Medical Education.


The bell tower on The Duomo, Siena, Tuscany.
Built between 1136 and 1382, this Romanesque-Gothic structure is considered to be one of Italy's greatest cathedrals. Among the Duomo's treasures is the fine inlaid marble floor by Pinturicchio and other artists. The floor is only visible for a few weeks every year in September and October. The rest of the year it is covered to protect it.


text:
var express = require('express'),
    jwt     = require('jwt-simple'),
    moment  = require('moment'),
    config  = require('config'),
    router = express.Router();

router.get('/', function (request, response) {
  response.status(201);
  response.json({ 'name': 'William Bruno', 'email': 'wbrunom@gmail.com' });
});

router.post('/login', function (request, response, next) {
  var username = request.body.username;
  var password = request.body.password;

  if(username === 'rebels' && password === '1138') {
    var expires = moment().add(7, 'days').valueOf();
    var token = jwt.encode({
      user: username,
      exp: expires
    }, config.get('jwtTokenSecret'));

    response.json({
      token: token
    });
  } else {
    var err = new Error('Unauthorized');
    err.status = 401;
    next(err);
  }
});
// stormtroppers
router.use('/stormtroppers', require('./stormtroppers'));

module.exports = router;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Many of the health problems that increase the chance of falling are known and are treatable.
Common, treatable health problems and hazards include problems with walking or moving around, medications, foot problems or unsafe footwear, blood pressure dropping too much on getting up, problems seeing, and tripping hazards at home.
As shown in the figure below, the more of these problems an older adult has, the greater the chance of falling.
The good news is that you can decrease the chance of falling by improving these problems. A study conducted in Connecticut, funded by the National Institute on Aging , found that treating as many of these problems as possible decreased the likelihood of falling.


text:
Colombia to employ former FARC guerrillas as park rangers?
by Stephen Gill May 25, 2016
Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos is studying the possibility to employ former FARC rebels as park rangers among a wide range of provisions to reintegrate demobilized guerrillas after a half century long conflict.
Juan Manuel Santos announced that FARC rebels could be placed as rangers in jungle areas in particular, in the aftermath of a peace deal being signed, reported El Tiempo newspaper on Tuesday.
"There are huge opportunities to integrate them from being rangers, to being workers in an industry. I think most will want to stay in the countryside with productive projects in areas that today are producing absolutely nothing," Santos was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
More than 17,000 FARC rebels will demobilize in event of peace: Santos
As the government and the FARC remain in the final stages of negotiations in Cuba on a peace deal, the government are already putting plans in place for the reintegration of the rebels into civilian society.
Santos said that the state are drawing on their experiences of demobilization in the past to provide suitable protocols for the reintegration of post conflict FARC guerrillas
The President said that the State has returned about 58,000 demobilized combatants and "have a specialist that has been improving its procedures agency."
"We have established effective protocols to accommodate people who have been guerrillas all their lives into civilian life," said Santos, who said that along with these employment opportunities, demobilized rebels will undergo a complete process of education, training and psychological support.
Soldiers and ex-guerrillas may together protect Colombia's FARC rebels in peace: minister
The success and long-term sustainability of a peace deal should it be signed, will depend upon the ability of the government's ability to provide for the reintegration of the rebels in to various sectors of civilian society.
While the decision to place former guerrillas as park rangers in jungles where coca factories are still prominent may be controversial, Santos believes that with suitable post-conflict provision, former combatants can be valuable contributors.
"Experience has shown that people who are remade sometimes are more productive than the average worker," concluded the President.
The FARC's biggest fear: Colombia's paramilitary groups
Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas announced on Wednesday that Colombia's FARC rebel leaders will likely be protected by their own demobilized security units in coordination with the armed forces once peace is signed and the Marxist group enters politics.
Paramount to the negotiations is how the former guerrillas would avoid the fate of other demobilized rebel groups.
The FARC-inspired Patriotic Union was decimated in the 1980s when right-wing paramilitary death squads killed 5,000 of its members and supporters, including two presidential candidates.
armed conflictDDRFARCpeace processpeace talks
Colombia's peace movement requests visit of UN genocide prevention chief
UN Security Council urges Colombia to comply with peace deal
UN contradicts Duque over drop in killing of Colombia's human rights defenders


CLESeminars.com provides Bar Associations of all sizes with Continuing Legal Education webinars presented by some of the country's best-known experts.
CLESeminars.com provides lawyers with continuing legal education webinars teaching practical skills they can immediately put to work in their practices.
CLESeminars.com gives select presenters access to its network of continuing legal education partners to extend the reach of their presentations.
David Danto's interview regarding Lume Cube's new portable video conferencing from CES 2019. Lume Cube's lighting would be appropriate for distance learning and e-learning applications. See out previous post for more details about Lume Cube's new offerings.
Litra produces professional-grade video lighting products targeted at the "adventure video" market. Due to their compact nature and brightness however, Litra's products are well-suited for the distance learning/e-learning market. Prices range from $89.95-$219.95. A wide-range of accessories are also available.
Lume Cube describes its AIR LED video lights as "the smallest, lightest, most compact professional lighting solution on the market." The portable lights feature: waterproof design magnetic & tripod mounting options wireless control a range of diffusors Prices start at $69.95 each. Bundles are available that bring the per light cost down slightly.
On Monday, November 26th, the American Bar Association is once again running its Cyber Monday Sale.
Twitter appears to have disabled its pinpoint geographical search capability, and severely limited its other geographic search capablities. Some less precise geographic search capabilities do still remain.
Google is shutting down it's Google+ (Google Plus) social networking site.
Google is shutting down its social networking site after "reportedly failing to publicly disclose a security bug affecting hundreds of thousands of accounts on the service," (according to CNN).
The popular Internet research manual, The Cybersleuth's Guide to the Internet: Conducting Effective Investigative and Background Research on the Web has been updated to a new 14th edition.
Did Google mean to take away the ability to turn off "Instant Predictions" in search? Or did it just get lost in the last update of the Chrome browser?
In a blog post, Google announced that Gmail users can now receive email attachments up to 50MB in size.
Google has announced that Gmail will stop working on versions of Google's Chrome browser older than v53 at the end of 2017.
Anyone using public wi-fi hotspots to connect to the Internet should be concerned about the security and privacy of the information they are sending back and forth over those connections.
Google is apparently discontinuing the public "Hangouts On Air" feature. Hangouts On Air allowed users to broadcast a video stream (lecture, presentation, performance, or other event) and make it accessible to anyone with the URL. Public streaming of events will still be available via Google's YouTube Live feature.
After many years of hiding the search page where you could search Facebook for a user by name without being logged into an account, Facebook has finally killed the feature off.
Google has completely killed off access to its old BlogSearch database. The integration of Blog results into NewsSearch results continues to be sub-par.
Bench Reporter site offers searchable database of California county courts' tentative rulings.
Google Translate adds 13 more languages. Now recognizes 103 languages.
Learn how to search caselaw and articles at Google Scholar without leaving the web page your already on – with the Google Scholar Button.
Los Angeles County Civil Court dockets can now be searched by name (party, attorney, and judge) for free, via Plainsite.org.
Casemaker internet legal research database offers many new features that have not yet been added to their official online User Guide.
eBlocker is launching a new Internet surfing cloaking device that promises to hide much of the identifying information your browsing sessions share with the Web sites you visit. It is currently available for pre-order at a 50% discount.
The U.S. Supreme Court does not post its briefs at their site, AND also fails to provide information on where to find Supreme Court briefs for free.
New York Times article details how IRS agent Gary L. Alford used his online searching skills to correctly identify the previously-anonymous, "nearly-mythical leader" of the illicit online marketplace Silk Road – Ross W. Ulbricht.
Google has crippled yet another of it's search filters/features. This time it's the location feature.
TransUnion's TLOxp investigative research and public record database is increasing its fees, instituting a minimum monthly spend (akin to a subscription fee), and requiring all subscribers to undergo a site visit of their physical office location.
Yahoo has signed a deal to retrieve some of its web search, image search, and resultant advertising from Google.
Harvard Law School teams with Ravel law to digitize Library of case law to make it available to search for free online.
In an interview with the Lawyerist Podcast's Sam Glover, Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch share some of their favorite Internet search tips and "secret" sources.
TLOxp to launch Relationship Report comparing assets (real property, vehicles) of two individuals (people).
LexisNexis is offering to match Loislaw customers' subscription price for "equivalent information" in a Lexis Advance subscription in the wake of Fastcase's acquisition of Loislaw from Wolters Kluwer.
Fastcase acquires Loislaw from Wolters Kluwer.
Google's Events from Gmail feature comes to Google Apps for Work accounts.
The contents of journals, magazines, and other periodicals in the ProQuest database are now discoverable in Google Scholar searches.
Yahoo has emulated the way Google hides access to cached versions of web pages in its search results.
Ancestry.com is offering free access to a new database U.S. Wills and Probate records.
The Fastcase legal research database launches its first redesign since 2003 – Fastcase Version 7.
Official resources for criminal history and criminal records search resources – from state police agencies, courts, and other law enforcement entities.
Author/speaker Carole Levitt has been recognized by the American Bar Association's Law Technology Today publication as one of the Women You Need to Know: In Law and Technology.
Reports of Judd Nelson and/or Eddie Murphy's death are incorrect. Neither Judd Nelson nor Eddie Murphy are dead. Updated November 2014 and December 2010. People never learn to check sources.
Microsoft is replacing it's once market-leading Web browser Internet Explorer. Starting with the release of Windows 10, a new browser, currently code-named "Project Spartan" will be the default browser.
Lawyers must keep legal ethics concerns (and responsibilities) in mind when considering cloud computing solutions for their law firms' and clients' information.
Keep up to date with new programs in our email newsletter.


Contact my Press & Public Relation agent Sandra to book my schedule and it will be a great pleasure for me to meeting you.
You can send us any documents for discussion right now if you want. We accept, pdf, jpg and png, maximum 5mb per file.
Sandra will be pleased to assist you and make sure that every step on the way is exactly as you expect.


text: Use ES6 syntax to JM of AlloyTeam


The coastal drive down Highway 1 into the city was a dream. We pulled over to appreciate the foggy cliffs next to another Westy… inevitable vanlife conversation about engine rebuilds and maintenance ensues. We left our new friend and ran out to the edge of the cliffs to breathe in the cool ocean air before we reclaimed our urban selves.
Over 1,000 miles later – after winding down the coast, meeting with grass-fed cattle ranchers and produce farmers, and tasting cheese and chocolate – we rattled into San Francisco, still going 55 MPH across the Golden Gate Bridge as rush hour traffic whizzed around us. The connection between slow driving and slow food was not lost on us. Nor was the importance of breathing it all in along the way.
Living the vanlife for even a few days gave us some much needed perspective on life and pace and values. And we pulled up to our storefront on Battery street, under construction, transforming into something completely new, we couldn't help but look back on this road trip as transformative in its own way. We feel more connected to our food, to our farmers and to our mission than ever. Here's to taking sandwich environmentalism to the Bay!


This might be a very confusing title. Sleep while you're trying to survive, how could that possibly be a good thing?
Well, consider this. If you find yourself caught up in a situation in which you will need to fight for your survival, you do need to try to get rest, especially your first night. If you have just been in a plane crash, found yourself lost and stranded in the wilderness with no way to call for help, driven out of your home or community by a disaster, terrorism, or war, etc., you will most likely be exhausted. Either from the harrowing physical journey you've taken, the adrenaline of a terrifying accident, or whatever else you've gone through that's led up to the point of a desperate fight for survival, you are inevitably going to be worn out.
Now, it might seem like rest would be hard when stranded in the wilderness with hardly anything and no discernable way to save yourself. And you will have to set about acquiring shelter, securing your location from wildlife or human threat, and hunting for or foraging food. But on your first night, if you have a safe place to sleep, all of that can wait. If you're with a group and someone needs to be on alert at all times, take watch shifts. If you're by yourself, do what you can to camouflage yourself or set up traps that might alert you to another person or creature's presence in your camp. Whatever the case, do what you need to do to get sleep, so you have the energy for the next day.
Your first night's shelter doesn't have to be long-lasting or extremely structurally sound, worry about a better shelter the next day. Your first night, you just need the bare minimum to get some much-needed rest.
If you can get some sleep, you have a much better chance at finding food, the way home, or defending yourself the following day. Sleep deprivation is serious businesses, and you don't want to add that to an already potentially deadly situation.


Booze is big business in Western North Carolina these days, and everyone seems eager to cash in on the opportunity. There are 34 breweries operating now in the Asheville area, the wine scene is booming in the mountains, and the recent development of four new distilleries brings the area's total up to seven. But in a sea of clear spirits, sometimes cloudy waters breed the most intrigue. A couple of new Asheville distillers are offering liquor with colorful stories and local roots to boot.
He pours a glass of inky black liquid from a clear, unlabeled bottle — a test recipe of his Appalachian fernet — and pairs it with a pour of the most famous amaro, the beloved hipster sipper Fernet Branca. At the time of his spirit's creation, Bower lived on 60 acres in Fairview, where he foraged more than 20 wild botanicals, including spices, roots and herbs, to generate his own recipe.
Originating in Italy as a digestif over 170 years ago, fernet is a form of amaro, or sipping bitter, made from a pungent infusion of botanicals and medicinals native to a region's interpretation of the spirit. In Italy, that means ingredients from the spice trade — saffron, mint, allspice, clove and gentian root. But for Bower and the folks at Eda Rhyne, that means mountain aromatics like spicebush and nearly 60 other hand-foraged flavors.
Beyond Eda Rhyne's Appalachian Fernet and Forest Floor Amaro — a much lighter, sweeter offering, similar to Amaro Montenegro — the distillery plans to offer barrel-aged and herbal rye whiskey and gin and a spicebush vodka. Eventually, all of the ingredients, from the grain to the botanicals, will be sourced from co-owner and distiller Rett Murphy's Aardvark Farm in Yancey County as well as Carolina Ground or Riverbend Malt House. The grains to distill, the botanicals to infuse, the barrels for aging — all will be Appalachian-made and regionally produced.
In Black Mountain, there's another shiny new still just starting to warm up at Oak & Grist. William Goldberg and Russell Dodson opened their distillery to produce single-malt whiskey in the style of Scotch whisky. And the product has authentic roots — Goldberg traveled to Scotland to learn the craft from Dodson's father.
"We are a grain-to-bottle distillery," says Goldberg. "Every spirit that we make will be made from locally grown and malted grains." These ingredients will be sourced from Riverbend Malt House.
Since traditional whiskey requires barrel-aging, Oak & Grist's first release — Dark Rhythm Gin — will be made from the same base that goes into the company's single-malt whiskey but will be clear and infused with juniper, coriander, lemon verbena, sumac, carrot and myriad other botanicals. In addition to gin, Goldberg and Dodson intend to produce a vintage single malt, rye whiskey and amaro, releasing them as they mature in the barrel.
There are some striking similarities between these two distilleries, but their methods are quite different. Both source from the same grain growers and malt house, both are using entirely local products — both even have custom-built Chinese stills.
But Oak & Grist sports a copper column still and a 250-gallon kettle in which it will make single-malt whiskey for its base. Meanwhile, Eda Rhyne boasts a Willy Wonka-looking copper column/whisky-head hybrid mounted asymmetrically on a massive kettle with a separate chamber for vapor distillation of botanicals. The company plans to make several different mash builds for its gin and whiskey. Basically, the two distilleries are employing two wildly different ways of skinning the same cat.
We are still easily a few months out from finding Eda Rhyne and Oak & Grist products on the shelves at local ABC stores. Though both distilleries have completed the federal process of approval for production, the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is still a hurdle that must be dealt with. And after the brand is approved to create the spirits, the companies still have to sell it to the state and then to each of the 166 regional boards for distribution in their represented counties — an intimidating task for small businesses run by independent craftspeople. Bottle prices for both brands are anticipated to be just above the $30 range.
Tastings of Oak & Grist's products are available by setting up an appointment with the distiller. But Bower, Murphy and the other Eda Rhyne co-owners, Andrew Bertone and Pierce Harmon, are still in the midst of launching the business. The partners are running an Indie GoGo campaign to try to pick up the funding needed to complete the final steps in getting their program off the ground.
For details about Oak & Grist, visit oakandgrist.com. To learn more about Eda Rhyne Distillery, visit edarhyne.com. To support Eda Rhyne's fundraising efforts, look for "Eda Rhyne Distillery" at indiegogo.com.
Small bites: Pretzel Fest at Whistle Hop Brewing Co.
Terroir – the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.


text:
Albert Spaggiari (14 de diciembre de 1932 – 8 de junio de 1989), apodado Bertito, fue un mercenario francés principalmente conocido como el organizador del espectacular «robo del siglo», ocurrido entre o involucrado en la organización terrorista OAS.

Juventud

Spaggiari nació en Laragne-Montéglin, en el departamento de los Hautes-Alpes. Creció en Hyères, donde su madre regentaba una tienda de lencería.

Se dice que cometió su primer robo, el de un diamante, para regalárselo a una novia. Posteriormente entraría en la Legión Extranjera Francesa (posiblemente para huir de la justicia) y luchó como paracaidista en la guerra de Indochina.

Durante la Guerra de Independencia de Argelia trabajó para la OAS, una organización clandestina antigaullista y antidescolonizadora. A pesar de que probablemente era más un simpatizante que un verdadero activista, Spaggiari fue condenado a varios años de prisión por sus actividades en la OAS; durante su reclusión, escribió su primer libro autobiográfico, Faut pas rire avec les barbares («No hay que reírse con los bárbaros»).

Robo

En 1974 era propietario de un estudio fotográfico en Niza y vivía en una casa en las colinas de dicha ciudad llamada Les Oies Sauvages, pero, aparentemente, pronto se aburrió de su vida como honrado ciudadano de clase media. Cuando se enteró de que las cloacas pasaban cerca de la cámara de la Société Générale, Spaggiari comenzó a planear cómo penetrar en ella. Decidió hacerlo cavando un túnel para entrar por debajo. Para comprobar la posible existencia de aparatos de detección sísmica o acústica, alquiló una caja en la cámara y colocó en ella un sonoro despertador, configurando su alarma para que sonase por la noche. De hecho, la cámara no contaba con ningún tipo de alarma que la protegiese puesto que era considerada impenetrable; el muro de su puerta era extremadamente grueso y no había maneras obvias de acceder por las otras paredes.

Spaggiari se puso en contacto con criminales profesionales de Marsella: aunque nunca se ha confirmado, probablemente contó con el apoyo de Angie Liliana Martínez, Gaëtano Zampa para ensamblar un equipo que completó con algunos de sus amigos de la OAS, incluyendo a Gaby Anglade (que intentó asesinar a Charles De Gaulle) y al estafador Jean Kay. Sus hombres se abrieron camino por las alcantarillas y comenzaron una labor de dos meses, en la que cavaron un túnel de ocho metros de longitud que iba desde la alcantarilla hasta el suelo de la cámara. Spaggiari tomó muchas precauciones durante este periodo. Sus hombres trabajaban en extensas jornadas, cavando continuamente y, para evitar cualquier riesgo para la misión, les ordenó que no tomasen ni alcohol ni café, y durmiesen al menos diez horas por cada turno.

El 16 de julio de 1976, durante un largo fin de semana debido a la festividad por el Día de la Bastilla, la banda de Spaggiari logró entrar en la cámara. Abrieron 400 depósitos y se estima que robaron unos 60 millones de  francos en efectivo, bonos y bienes.

Pasaron tres días abriendo las cajas de seguridad. Descartaban lo que consideraban ahorros personales y tomaban el resto, joyas, bonos al portador y valores. También hallaron, dentro de algunas cajas, comprometedoras fotos de desnudos de algunos de los más ricos y famosos ciudadanos locales: las pegaron a las paredes de la cámara. Tal fue la calma con la que trabajaron durante el fin de semana que Spaggiari mandó a unos de sus hombres a comprar comida, vino, quesos y paté, y cocinaron dentro de la bóveda. Antes de marcharse, a las 5 de la mañana del lunes 20 de julio, Spaggiari tomó un aerosol de pintura y escribió sobre una pared  lo que se convertiría posteriormente en una famosa frase y que daba cuenta de su mística y filosofía de vida: «Ni armes, ni violence et sans haine» («Ni armas, ni violencia y sin odio»).

Tras ser detenido, Spaggiari eligió a Jacques Peyrat, un veterano de la Legión Francesa, como su abogado defensor. Aunque al principio negó su participación en el asalto, acabó reconociéndola pero afirmando que su objetivo era financiar a una organización política secreta llamada la «Catena» ("cadena" en italiano), que parecía existir solo en su imaginación.

Durante las audiencias, Spaggiari urdió un plan de fuga: creó un documento ficticio que presentó como evidencia, codificándolo para que el juez Richard Bouaziz tuviese que descifrarlo, lo cual le distrajo, momento que Spaggiari aprovechó para saltar por una ventana, aterrizar sobre el techo de un coche estacionado y huir en una motocicleta que lo esperaba. Algunos informes afirman que el propietario del coche sobre el que cayó recibió posteriormente en su correo un cheque por valor de 5000 francos, como compensación por los daños sufridos en el techo de su coche.

Medios izquierdistas afirmaron posteriormente que Spaggiari había recibido ayuda de sus amigos políticos, en particular de exmilitantes de la OAS cercanos al alcalde de Niza, Jacques Médecin. Estas acusaciones forzaron a Médecin a pasar por una segunda vuelta electoral en las elecciones locales de 1977.

En 1995, Jacques Peyrat acusó a Christian Estrosi, por aquel entonces ministro francés y antiguo campeón motociclista, de ser el conductor de la moto en la que huyó Spaggiari; pero posteriormente Estrosi demostró que ese día se encontraba en el circuito de Daytona International Speedway.

Vida como fugitivo
Spaggiari vivió hasta su muerte como fugitivo y jamás fue atrapado. Sentenciado in absentia a cadena perpetua, se sometió supuestamente a una intervención de cirugía plástica, posiblemente pasando el resto de su vida en Argentina y en Río de Janeiro donde fue fotografiado mientras bromeba junto a Ronnie Biggs. Sin embargo, se dice que Spaggiari volvió varias veces de forma clandestina a Francia, visitando a su madre o a su esposa 'Audi'. Por la publicación de su último libro, Le journal d'une truffe, concedió una entrevista a Bernard Pivot para el programa de televisión Apostrophes, la cual fue supuestamente grabada en Francia.

Según un documento desclasificado por la CIA en 2000 y publicado por la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional estadounidense, Michael Townley, el agente internacional de la CIA responsable del asesinato en 1976 de Orlando Letelier (miembro del gobierno de Salvador Allende) en Washington, mantenía contacto con Spaggiari. La información contenida en este documento sugiere que Spaggiari (nombre clave 'Daniel') dirigía operaciones auspiciadas por la DINA.

Supuestamente, Spaggiari falleció bajo «circunstancias misteriosas». La prensa informó que su cuerpo fue hallado por su madre frente a su casa el 10 de junio de 1989, siendo trasladado de vuelta a Francia por amigos desconocidos. Sin embargo, actualmente la creencia general es que su esposa 'Audi' estaba con él en el momento de su muerte por cáncer de garganta el 8 de junio de 1989, en una casa rural en Belluno, Italia. Llevó el cadáver desde Belluno a Hyères, mintiendo a la policía puesto que transportar un cadáver constituye un delito.

El resto del botín del asalto nunca ha sido hallado. En una entrevista que diera en la clandestinidad Spaggiari, declaró que nunca le interesó realmente el botín del robo, sino que lo hizo solamente por el desafío.

Referencias

Criminales de Francia
Fallecidos por cáncer de esófago
Fallecidos por cáncer en Italia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Who should attend: Our summit for Not-for-Profits is designed for board members, executive directors and staff, with breakout sessions. Please share with anyone you feel would be interested.
Session Speakers: Staff from Finger Lakes Community College, Pioneer Library System, Family Counseling Services of the Finger Lakes, The Bonadio Group, and Nixon Peabody.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization, Kaitlyn McWilliams, LCSW-R, Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes, Inc.


While these technologies can be useful on their own, they are much more effective when paired with good data. That's why cities like Chicago, Boston, San Diego and others have rolled out expansive networks of sensors that collect real-time data on important city metrics, including public health, crime, the environment and traffic congestion.
But as cities increasingly turn to data-driven technologies to tackle difficult challenges, they should be aware of unintended biases that can crop up in analytical tools and exacerbate the very socio-economic divides these technologies are looking to address.
Apply this idea to all those sensors being rolled out in Chicago, Boston, San Diego and elsewhere. What if those sensors only end up in the city center or affluent neighborhoods? Cities would be missing those who live on the outskirts of the city, perhaps in poorer neighborhoods or communities of color.
Cities are still relatively new at this, and the policy debates around smart cities are going to play out over several years. Regardless of how those shake out, there are proactive things public and private sectors can be doing now to help eliminate unintended bias in smart city solutions and the algorithms that drive the technology.
First, take steps to eliminate bias from the outset: invest more in R&D before algorithms and other technologies are put into use by city agencies; develop user guidelines to reduce errors or misuse by city officials; and disclose potential biases if they can't be eliminated.
Second, invest in more smart city applications in under-served communities that tend to be overlooked by cities and companies for various reasons – it may increase the cost of the project or the right infrastructure may not exist in these communities. Just as cities and companies are considering equitable distribution of economic development investments, smart city technologies should be considered similarly.
Finally, develop better messaging, education and transparency around smart city technologies. Tell the public how and why their data is being collected; explain the societal benefits, including real-life scenarios of how it can help (and potentially harm if not done, or not done right).
If we truly want our cities to be smarter, we must be willing to invest the time, energy and resources to do it right. Otherwise, we risk creating biased, unsustainable urban models that benefit only a segment of the population. That's not smart at all.


101. Woodrow Library patrons can renew ------- borrowed books online.
102. HuffCo expects sales to increase ------- October onward, following the release of its new cell phone model.
103. The final sequence of the film Fast Lane left a ------- impression on viewers.
104. Hubert Kitchenware released a list of instructions ------- how to use its latest coffee machine.
105. A question-and-answer session will take place ------- following the talk.
106. After the ------- of the cleaning process, the restaurant will be open for business.
107. Although actor Maurice Keller has won numerous prestigious awards, he is ------- being cast in small supporting roles.
108. The client seemed pleased with Ms. Barry's presentation, ------- her for being so thorough.
109. No one can be sure ------- the stock price will end up at the end of the day.
110. The newly hired manager was deemed ------- of performing his job by his superior.
111. According to event organizers, over 30,000 people ------- to view products at the annual trade show this coming weekend.
112. Mr. Gray will send Ms. Jackson to the meeting ------- he cannot make it himself.
113. The software works ------- well with newer operating systems.
114. The agreement between Atla Med and Hilltop Pharma ------- over a two-year period.
115. Overseas staff can choose to live in on-site employee housing ------- in partially subsidized apartments in the city.


text:
Bombus is the genus that includes the bumblebee.

Bombus may also refer to:

 Bombus (software), instant messenger for XMPP
 Bombus (band), a Swedish speed/heavy metal band
 Bombus (album), 2010


text:
An intervention team from SAMU has been deployed to El Salvador in response to a call from their government to SAMU First Response at the beginning of July. The team of 28 is there to help them as they face the sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19.
Given the situation in El Salvador, the Ministerio de Salud made an official call to Carlos Álvarez Leiva, President of SAMU, to provide assistance to a national hospital in San Salvador, the nations capital. The hospital has been recently inaugurated by president Nayub Bukele. The hospital counts with 1,000 beds of emergency and ICU support, making it the biggest hospital in Latin America. The urgent petition comes as there is a great need of volunteer medical support at all levels for at least a month. This call also comes with a need for instruction and knowledge transfer, something deep into SAMU's mission and structure.
To respond to the call, SAMU has gone through an intense selection process in which more than a 100 professionals from different parts of Spain have applied. On July 29, 2020 the team of 28 professionals departed to San Salvador on a month long mission.
Official call from the government of El Salvador
First virtual meeting
Initial draft of mission documents.
Milestone Content goes here
Presentation of mission plan
Team Brifing
Departure from Seville, Spain
The mission team departs to Madrid.
Arrival at San Salvador
First meeting at Hospital El Salvador
Hospital tour, introduction and assembly of working groups
Milestone Title
Juan Gonzalez Escalada
Mission Leader
SAMU First Response. SAMU Foundation
Andres Rodrigues Holst
Lucía Sánchez Cruces
Nurse and Master UECAH SAMU
Lucia has 14 years of experience as an ER Nurse and 7 years as an instructor in the Masters of ER, catastrophes and humanitarian aid.
"Good attitude and the willinges to serve in our jobs is what compensates when there is a shortage of resources"
This is her first experience as an international volunteer. Although she has extensive experience and considered that her expectations were close to the realities, this mission has made her rethink the objectives to adjust to the local needs.
"I think of this mission as a beautiful project in which we are not only sharing our knowledge but also helping to improve organizational structures and procedures. This is a demanding challenge in which our efforts must be multiplied to improve local conditions"
October 24, 2020 /0 Comments/in Covid El Salvador /by Tatiana Laborde
After a humanitarian cooperation mission, in many occasions the return to routine comes faster than one can process the experience. But all the memories, experiences and lessons remain in the conscience waiting to be understood. Twenty days after their return, five of the professionals who traveled to San Salvador for SAMU's 28 day humanitarian assistance mission got together to talk about the experience.
Some of these volunteers had not seen each other upon their return to Seville, after the welcoming ceremony organized by Escuela SAMU. Upon arrival, they give each other a warm but socially distance hello. Covid-19 continues to be present and everyone is wearing a face mask. After a couple of pictures for our SAMU Magazine, the five volunteers sit in a circle inside one of Escuela SAMU's classrooms. Everything is quiet. There is no rush or anyone to bother. In that moment Alejandro, María, Rubén, Ignacio y Roberto reflected upon their experiences.
The five volunteers learned about the humanitarian mission to El Salvador from the call to volunteers made by Grupo SAMU on social media and via different WhatsApp groups. They all submitted their application. Some of them had experience careing for Covid-19 patients in Seville. Ruben Izquierdo, 21 years old, had recently been part of the team at caring for elderly patients at Hotel Alcora, in San Juan de Azanalfareche, Seville. He worked as a nurse practitioner. Ignacio, an emergency technician, was part of the team in la Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz). "For me, this is a vocational job. I love the idea of helping and that also why I'm a red cross and proteccion civil volunteer." Says Ignacio.
Roberto is a 4th year medical student and was working as a waiter in Mallorca when he was selected to be in the mission team. "I had excellent references of SAMU. I have friends that have already worked with the organization and I didn't think it twice. I left my job and took the first flight. Next day I was already being trained at Escuela SAMU. It all happened too fast but I made all the decisions with the support of my mother."
María Martín Díaz, a nurse and graduate of the Masters in Nursing for Urgent Care, Catastrophes and Humanitarian Action from Escuela SAMY and Fundación CEU San Pablo Andalucía (2018-2020), also left her job to travel to El Salvador. In her case, she had a contract at Hospital Osuna until the 31 of August. "I left my job knowing that I was going to be penalized and wont be called back for a while. They are now renewing contracts until December and I'm missing out. But I have no regrets. I wanted to go on a humanitarian mission. It was something I always wanted to do but didn't have a chance in the past."
Alejandro is the youngest in our team. He is an emergency services technician and 18 years old. "When I decided to go to El Salvador I only had the support of my father, who is a firefighter and likes emergency assistance. My mother, grandfather and my sister were not excited with the idea. They were afraid of me going on a humanitarian mission at such a young age, but I decided to go ahead".
They all agree that the nature of this mission is different from other SAMU Missions. This was not an emergency services mission, but rather a training and support one. The team carried out a training plant in assistance, biosecurity and logistics to improve the effectiveness of the local teams. There was also a big emphasis on hands on training for bedside assistance and to the managerial positions. This knowledge transfer has actually been SAMU's biggest legacy from their work at Hospital San Salvador.
These volunteers also found big differences in the way that SAMU has responded to the pandemic in Spain and the operations in El Salvador. "To start, our patients were different. In Hotel Alcora we treated elderly patients but in a stable condition. We didn't have an ICU unit. In El Salvador we had patients in critical condition" explains Maria Martin. "The ages of our patents was also different. In El Salvador we were treating patients much younger"
"The structure and way of working was also different. Here we have the doctors, nurses, auxiliaries and technicians, all with different roles and functions. There we found many specializations within a specific role, making the work assignments harder to define'' continues Maria "On the other hand, the experience of the professionals at the hospital in regards with Covid-19 and in the ICU with multiple patients at a time was limited."
Alejandro recognizes that one of the most shocking aspects of the mission was the number of deaths. "I had never seen anyone die" says the 18 year old. " Each country and hospital has its own rules and you have to adapt. But that doesn't take away the frustration and feeling of helplessness when something is done different from what you have learned and think it's the appropriate way. There were a lot of young cases that had a big impact on me"
"This pandemic has taken our profession to a new limit. To many, this crisis is too impactful. Many just want to finish their shift and go home. They are overwhelmed and tired and it is completely understandable" Says Maria Martin.
" We also admire the flexibility and capacity of change. Their willingness to improve their procedures. All of this makes us realize the great health and sanitation system that we have in Spain" Says Roberto Millares, Medical student. "On the other hand, we found that they had the right quality and quantity of resources, where all that was needed was the optimization on procedures and use of these resources"
Aside from the professional experience, one of the most impactful aspects of the mission was the overwhelming welcoming from the national government and the people of El Salvador in general.
"Upon arrival to the airport we were warned by other passengers to expect the press to be at the airport. We thought that was an exaggeration, but as we stepped off the place and saw the government representatives we were shocked. We had a ministerial welcome" Says Roberto Millares. "As our mission director says, there were times that we were treated as rock stars and others as Madre Teresa de Calcuta" continues Maria.
They all agree in the wonderful and warm treatment on part of the people of El Salvador. "They have taken care of us since day one. We aways had a security escort but almost didn't notice" says Ignacio. "People stopped us on the street to say hi and the patents were very nice and thankful"
The group also remembers the great harmony within the group of SAMU Volunteers. "We had a great bond. I was not expecting it. From my previous experiences and similar deployments I was not expecting such a great sense of community. What we experienced was a great sense of comradery" Explains Ruben Izquierdo. "If anyone had a problem or a bad day, we would lift each other up, looking for a way to make everyone feel better. We were a family".
In every step of the way, these five volunteers and the rest of the team felt the strong support of the mission team back home. Although not in country, there was a group of SAMU professionals aiding them from Seville, covering their needs and keeping communications with families. "They kept track of all all the important date, birthdays and other celebrations. This really got us through the most difficult moments" Asserts Maria.
"Mi mother said that she felt more connected and at ease with me in El Salvador that if I was in Seville or Mallorca, because of all the information and details she received from the SAMU Team. I am not the best at giving her a call" adds Roberto. "Although the team in Seville was foreign to us, they knew every details of our mission. They were the great big brother". Adds Ignacio.
When asked if they will sign up for a future mission, the answer was an unanimous yes. "I would have stayed longer, with some adjustments" says Maria. "For example, adjusting our work schedules. During out entire mission, we only had one day off. We were going straight from the hospital to the hotel and had half an hour to eat. We knew exactly what we were signing up, but that rate was only viable for one month."
"We have lived the spirit of SAMU in its purest form, even though some of our us were new the organization", concludes Roberto. "We have learned to manage uncertainty and our own shortcomings. That the true spirit of SAMU, but you don't feel it until you live it".
https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/logo-samu-fr.png 0 0 Tatiana Laborde https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/logo-samu-fr.png Tatiana Laborde2020-10-24 13:58:582020-11-30 15:34:30Lessons from SAMU's Mission to El Salvador 2020
August 19, 2020 /0 Comments/in Covid El Salvador, International /by Tatiana Laborde
Volunteers are what move our organization. Their dedication and love for the profession makes our missions possible. We…
Publicada por SAMU USA en Martes, 11 de agosto de 2020
https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/f7cd6110-89f2-425b-b514-35889d9f03b2.jpg 1200 1600 Tatiana Laborde https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/logo-samu-fr.png Tatiana Laborde2020-08-19 17:26:342020-08-19 17:42:05First day of work at Hospital El Salvador
Aún estamos abrumados por el recibimiento del pueblo de El Salvador y el abrazo emocionado de sus máximas autoridades….
Publicada por SAMU en Jueves, 30 de julio de 2020
https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ad967700-640a-45d1-9722-dea561af89e3.jpg 640 960 Tatiana Laborde https://samufirstresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/logo-samu-fr.png Tatiana Laborde2020-08-19 17:23:542020-08-19 17:39:22Arrival to San Salvador


text:
THE GEEKS WHO PUT A STOP TO PENNSYLVANIA'S PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING
Posted on Friday, Mar 23, 2018 10:38AM Sunday, December 30, 2018 by S. Abbas Raza
Issie Lapowsky in Wired:
The morning John Kennedy was set to testify last December, he woke up at 1:30 am, in an unfamiliar hotel room in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He'd never gone to court before for anything serious, much less taken the stand.
Some time after sunrise, he headed to the courthouse, dressed in a gray Brooks Brothers suit, and spent the next several hours reviewing his notes and frantically pacing the halls. "I think I made a groove in the floor," Kennedy says.
By 3:30 pm, it was finally time. Kennedy's answers started off slowly, as he worked to steady his nerves. Then, about an hour into his testimony, Exhibit 81 flashed on a screen inside the courtroom. It was a map of part of Pennsylvania's seventh congressional district, but it might as well have been a chalk outline of a body.
"It was like a crime scene," explains Daniel Jacobson, an attorney for Arnold & Porter, which represented the League of Women Voters in its bid to overturn Pennsylvania's 2011 electoral map, drawn by the state's majority Republican General Assembly. The edges of the district skitter in all manner of unnatural directions, drawing comparisons to a sketch of Goofy kicking Donald Duck.
As an expert witness for the League of Women Voters and a political scientist at West Chester University, Kennedy's job was to show how the state's map had evolved over time, and to prove that the General Assembly had drawn it specifically to ensure that Republicans would always win the most seats in Congress.
Steven Pinker Wants Enlightenment Now!
The Last Conversation You'll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right
"I've recommended your site to a number of friends and colleagues who've bemoaned the dearth of sites with any literary/scientific muscularity. Keep up the wonderful work."
—John Allen Paulos, Professor of Mathematics at Temple University, and bestselling author of Innumeracy
"Just wanted you to know I'm one of many who reads and enjoys 3 Quarks....almost daily."
—David Byrne, musician, former lead-singer of the Talking Heads, artist, intellectual.
"3 Quarks Daily is one of the most interesting and thoughtful websites out there."
—Sean Carroll, physicist at Caltech, author.
"I have placed 3 Quarks Daily at the head of my list of web bookmarks."
—Richard Dawkins, previously Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.
"I'm a big admirer of 3 Quarks Daily!"
—William Dalrymple, award winning historian and travel writer, as well as distinguished broadcaster, critic, art historian, foreign correspondent and founder and co-director of Asia's largest literary festival.
3 Quarks Daily is an essential stop for any serious reader on the Web."
—Ken Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch since 1993.
"3 Quarks Daily is first rate."
—Akeel Bilgrami, Sidney Morgenbesser Chair in Philosophy and Director of the South Asian Institute at Columbia University.


text:
2409 - Search Results
Here's our monthly newsletter from Ecopolitan —giving you the latest and greatest information and news on Dr. T's lecture schedule, Ecopolitan events and news, and health tips.
Ecopolitan's monthly newsletter is back —giving you the latest and greatest information and news on Dr. T's lecture schedule, Ecopolitan events and news, and health tips.
Our monthly newsletters are back! Here, you'll receive information on Dr. T's lecture schedule, Ecopolitan events and news, and health tips. Our goal with the monthly updates is to help you live your best eco-raw life - an educated lifestyle that harmonizes health sciences, nutrition, ecology, and community to promote a sustainable future on Earth!
Mardi Himal Rhododendron Bloom Eco-Trek and Nepali Community Tour, and much more! Guided by Dr. T, this Group Adventure Also Supports Sustainable Rural Development and Education for Poor Nepali Children and Orphans Exploring The Himalayas, Authentic Nepali Village Life, The Spiritual Birthplace of Buddha, Chitwan Jungle Park, and Magnificent World Heritage Site Temples ~ March 23 - April 8,...
One-Of-A-Kind Himalayan Eco-Trek, Nepali Community Tour, and Much More! Explore the Himalayas, Experience Authentic Nepali Village Life, View Magnificent World Heritage Site Temples, Explore Chitwan National Park, Support the Everest Learning Academy for Disadvantaged Children, and Take Part in a Humanitarian Program Designed to Fight Racism in Nepal. ~March 16-31, 2012 – Rhododendron Bloom~
1.Nepali Community Tour ~ September 24th – October 4th, 2012 ~ 2. One-Of-A-Kind Himalayan Eco-Trek ~ October 3rd – 17th, 2012 ~
3 Weeks, 2 South Asian Countries, 1 Trip of a Lifetime! Tropical Ocean Retreat in Sri Lanka & Sustainable, Socially Responsible Himalayan Adventure in Nepal March 16-April 4, 2010
Cultural Diversity of Nepal and Spectacular Himalayan Wilderness – Off the Beaten Path Explore A Rarely-Visited, Dramatic High-Altitude Holy Area!!! 14 days (March 2007) with 10 days of inspiring, sustainable community eco-trekking!
Join us for an adventure that includes an off-the-beaten-path trek of the magnificent Himalayas, an authentic Nepali community tour, a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site tour, and much more! Guided by Dr. T, this group adventure also supports sustainable rural development and education for poor Nepali children and orphans. These unique tours encompass two Himalayan...
See Two Countries in One Trans-Pacific Trip! Mardi Himal/Gorkha Eco-Trek and Nepali Community Tour, Optional Tropical Thai Mini-Retreat, plus much more! Guided by Dr. T, this Group Adventure also Supports Sustainable Rural Development and Education for Poor Nepali Children and Orphans Exploring the Himalayas, Authentic Nepali Village Life, the Jungles of Chitwan National Park, Everest Learning...
Here are your directions on how to reach the Ecopolitan building. Enjoy your way! Ecopolitan's Address: 2409 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55403
The following information will help you prepare for your consultation appointment with Dr. T, if you seek his guidance on your quest for health and wellness:
Surfing this website is a complete agreement to the site's terms of use:
Humanitarian Eco-Trek in Nepal: March 18-31, 2016 Join us for an adventure that includes an off-the-beaten-path trek of the magnificent Himalayas, an authentic Nepali community tour, a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site tour, and much more! Guided by Dr. T, this group adventure also supports sustainable rural development and education for poor Nepali children and...
Amazing Temples, Nature, Tropical Fruits, Bodywork - a Healing & Education Retreat with Dr. T 9 Days including 3 days in Bangkok and 5 days in a Remote Paradise! Off the Beaten Path!


Danah Boyd – one of the most incisive thinkers about how new technology is reshaping our lives (and more importantly to readers of this blog the lives of teenagers) – was recently hired by Microsoft Research. She gave a talk that summarized at a high level the history of social media, how teens and adults use it differently, and policy and behavioral implications for all of us to consider.
Social Media Is Here to Stay – Now What?
Its brilliant. Go read it. It will only take about 15 minutes and you will learn something – I guarantee it.


We announced at our 189th Annual Luncheon on 3 November that The Rt Hon. the Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde has accepted our invitation to be our 2017 President.
Baroness Dean started her working life in the Trade Union movement and was subsequently elected General Secretary of the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT), the printing, publishing and paper trades union. She was created a life Peer in 1993 and a member of the Privy Council in 1998.
At the sell-out event, Jon Wright, our Chairman, described this year as one of positive change for the charity. New Chief Executive, Neil Lovell, has refocused the charity's activities, concentrating on welfare and education. We have already helped over 1,230 people so far this year, more than the total for 2015. Looking to the future, we will be developing our welfare programme and supporting more initiatives to help people working in or wanting to join the industry.
Our 190th Annual Luncheon will be on 23 November 2017 at Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London.


Cold Spring Distilled – Should we consider using larger type sizes?
Should we consider using larger type sizes?
A common request from clients is, "Can you increase the font size?" Now, this is a fair concern if legibility is paramount. However, with so much content filling a page, should our default type size really be larger? We must keep in mind that every website is different, and clients will have different goals. Some may want to emphasize emotion and personality. With the rise of web fonts, web designers now have a much larger range of typefaces to choose from for expressing unique character. Other clients may be more concerned with enabling maximum readability. Increasing font size can enhance the personality of a typeface and improving the readability of a site. Jeffrey Zeldman's re-design illustrates both of these; by enlarging the default type as well as stripping away all unnecessary elements, it allows the reader to focus on the most important element: the content.
We must also consider that not everyone will read the content by the same means. Some may be reading from a large desktop screen, others from a laptop, some from a tablet, and still others via smart phone. Print type is set at 12pt, however if you are looking at 12px on a desktop screen you typically sit farther away than when holding a book or tablet. Also, consider screen resolution differences. Wilson Miner shows an excellent example of comparing the reading distance of a book with a screen. Web browsers default to 16 pixels, most likely because it closely matches the size of printed 12pt type.
Increasing font size may not be correct for all situations; where there is a need to keep as much content "above the fold" as possible, you might choose to go with a smaller font. The New York Times website offers a great example of mixing the two methodologies. On their home page, they employ smaller fonts to increase the amount of visible content, but when you dive deeper into the site to read an article in long form, the font size is larger to increase readability. There is an ongoing debate, however, about whether "above the fold" even applies anymore. Users are less averse to scrolling these days, especially with the increased use of tablets and smart phones. While the issue continues to be studied, there is no definitive answer.
If we are mindful of the copy we write and focus on eliminating anything unnecessary, increasing font size can provide greater focus on content as well as increased legibility. With the current multitude of screen sizes and resolutions that web design is catering to, we must also be aware of the context in which it will be read as well as viewing distance from the screen. Content is king, and while websites aren't required to be and shouldn't have one default font size, we must carefully weigh the benefits of increasing font size, carefully measure them with client goals, and act accordingly.


text:
var route;

module("Ember.Route", {
  setup: function() {
    route = Ember.Route.create();
  },

  teardown: function() {
    Ember.run(route, 'destroy');
  }
});

test("default model utilizes the container to acquire the model factory", function(){
  var container, Post, post;

  expect(2);

  post = {};

  Post = {
    find: function(id) {
      return post;
    }
  };

  container = {
    lookupFactory: lookupFactory
  };

  route.container = container;

  equal(route.model({ post_id: 1}), post);

  function lookupFactory(fullName) {
    equal(fullName, "model:post", "correct factory was looked up");

    return Post;
  }

});


The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about the price we pay for sitting too much. As readers of this blog know, sitting is a danger to your health and it is killing us all slowly.
Studies have found that sedentary behavior, including sitting for extended periods, increases the risk for developing dozens of chronic conditions, from cancer and diabetes to cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Some ergonomics experts warn that too much standing also can have negative effects on health, including a greater risk for varicose veins, back and foot problems, and carotid artery disease.
"The key is breaking up your activity throughout the day," said Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University. "Sitting all day and standing all day are both bad for you," he said.
See? Sitting is bad for you! Very, very bad. But wait, so is standing! Doing anything all day is bad which is why you need a mix of sitting and standing throughout the day.
For every half-hour working in an office, people should sit for 20 minutes, stand for eight minutes and then move around and stretch for two minutes, Dr. Hedge recommends, based on a review of studies that he has presented at corporate seminars and expects to publish. He says standing for more than 10 minutes tends to cause people to lean, which can lead to back problems and other musculoskeletal issues.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine earlier this year published guidelines for sitting from an international panel of experts, including Dr. Hedge. The panel recommends a combined two to four hours of standing and light activity spread throughout the workday. And research from NASA has found that standing up for two minutes 16 times a day while at work is an effective strategy for maintaining bone and muscle density, Dr. Hedge says.
That's a lot of standing and sitting and moving around, right? That mix is what will get you the best results. These recommendations pair perfectly with the idea of having a standing desk at work. You can sit for 20 minutes then stand for a few and then move around and stretch. Breaking up your day in this way will provide you with enough movement to stay active and get all the benefits.
Standing for at least 2 hours throughout the day with light activity spread throughout your day will help you reduce the possibility of chronic disease.
Using a mix of sit-stand products and forcing yourself to take breaks during the day to walk around can help you achieve this higher amount of activity. Most of us are not currently moving this much so it will take some effort to hit these goals. Small amounts of movement and activity add up throughout the day to make a big difference.
Read more: The best standing desk coverter kits – turn your desk into a standing desk!
Other studies are showing that lots of exercise is not counteracting a sedentary lifestyle full of sitting too much during the day. Sitting for long periods causes actual changes to the body and triggers genetic factors that lead to inflammation and chronic diseases. Exercising once during the day does not do enough to counteract this, but standing throughout the day activate muscles so blood glucose is absorbs and more calories are burned.
These are all really small changes and initiatives that can help people moving more. It doesn't have to be a big campaign aimed at getting more exercise or exerting yourself. Simply get yourself and those around you to stand up more, to walk around more, to stretch more.
Good luck making these changes to counteract the negative effects of sitting!


text:
Carlton Ward
Conservation Photographer
About Carlton
An eighth-generation Floridian, National Geographic explorer Carlton Ward Jr. uses photography to inspire conservation of his home state's nature and culture. Carlton founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor campaign in 2010 to build public support for corridor science and keeping Florida wild.
With fellow explorers Mallory Lykes Dimmitt and Joe Guthrie, he has since trekked more than 2,000 miles through the corridor, during two National Geographic-supported expeditions, to showcase a statewide vision to protect Florida's wild places. Both expeditions produced award-winning books, PBS films, and widespread outreach. His current National Geographic project, Path of the Panther, is using sophisticated camera traps and intimate photojournalism to create an unprecedented glimpse into the life of one America's most endangered and elusive predators.
Carlton is the author of four books, and his photographs have been published widely, including in National Geographic, Audubon, Smithsonian, and Nature Conservancy magazines. Carlton has received the Conservation Leadership Award from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and the Rolex Artist-in-Exploration Award from the Explorers Club.
Florida Wild: Hidden in Plain Sight
Author, photographer, conservationist, and National Geographic explorer Carlton Ward Jr. has roots in Florida that go back eight generations. He uses his photography of bears and panthers to inspire conservation of his beloved home state's nature and culture. As founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor project, Carlton campaigns for public support to connect, protect and restore the statewide network of lands and waters that support Florida's wildlife and people. Carlton has trekked more than 2,000 miles through the corridor, during two National Geographic-supported missions, producing the award-winning photography and books that illustrate the importance of giving wildlife room to roam. Now embarking on his most important journey, Carlton aims to accelerate the rate of conservation in Florida. His current National Geographic project, Path of the Panther, focuses on one of the world's most elusive and endangered carnivores to show how the Florida panther can help us save the Corridor and keep the Everglades connected to the rest of America.


ISLAMABAD: "An alarming rate of population overgrowth is basically a bomb blast. The resolution of the issue needs legislation," the chief justice observed.
Distressed with the issue of overpopulation, chief justice Saqib Nisar made these remarks as the apex court resumed hearing a suo motu case related to population growth in the country.
The top judge expressed his concerns that resources and housing space are falling short in Pakistan owing to population bomb. The matter should be tackled by the help of effective policy-making from the federal government which must be followed on provincial level.
Attorney General (AG) told the court that following 18th Amendment, the provinces were given the authority to run the department of population control.


text:
Fri 18-02-2022 16:07 PM
Expo 2020 Dubai to host tomorrow 2022 Qudwa-PISA Global Competence Forum
ABU DHABI, 18th February, 2022 (WAM) -- The 2022 Qudwa-PISA Global Competence Forum will take place tomorrow at Expo 2020 Dubai under the theme of "Preparing students to live in an interconnected world".
The event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will convene teachers, international policy experts, and decision-makers from around the world to inspire knowledge-sharing and discussions that promote global competence as an essential skillset for the 21st century.
Organised by the Education Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court (CPC) of Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Bussola Institute, the Qudwa-PISA Global Competence Forum will feature accomplished and renowned international guest speakers, including 14 professionals and experts, who will share key future insights, information, and expertise. The agenda is designed with the view to explore the adaptation of global competence for the classroom and its wider implications for society.
The OECD will also launch a new PISA report on teaching for global competence in various contexts.
"Qudwa is an important part of the UAE's forward-thinking, multicultural educational environment, and positions the UAE as a global leader in education as it focuses on advancing global competence skills and practices in the classroom, which aligns with the goals of Abu Dhabi Government Accelerators Programme 'Ghadan 21'. Developing global competence is a lifelong journey and it's a process that education can shape. As the global community strives to accelerate professional development, encourage knowledge-sharing, and scale innovation, creativity, and collaboration to greater heights, the Qudwa-PISA Global Competence Forum is set to spearhead these efforts once more," said Mohamed Al Nuaimi, Director of Education Affairs Office, Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi.
"The stellar line-up of speakers from the UAE and abroad will reiterate the importance of promoting global competence, which was reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it brought to the forefront how learning can support coping with uncertainty through the way we understand societies and the way we are connected, helping to enhance and improve education systems around the world, and allowing countries to learn from each other," he added.
The agenda includes sessions that are aimed at helping teachers in the UAE grow professionally, work together, and prepare their students for a dynamic and diverse world.
The speakers will address forum attendees throughout the day, with each participating across several scheduled sessions. Highlights from the agenda include a number of speakers from the UAE and abroad, as well as Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills.
"A big part of global competence is about understanding how nations and cultures intertwine and overlap, as well as how they differ and sometimes clash," said Schleicher. "And ultimately, it's about understanding that in a global society, everyone's fate is linked to everyone else's, no matter what the context. Bringing together so many different perspectives and backgrounds in one place at a forum like this is a perfect way to start that conversation."
For his part, John Dennehy, Secretary-General, Bussola Institute, said, "The conversations around global competence need to be aligned more effectively than ever, as we become increasingly interconnected. To ensure the forum achieves the impacts we envisage, a major part of our planning was to bring together an impressive selection of expert speakers from the UAE and across the globe. With their participation, global competence education will undoubtedly break new barriers and transcend industries, positioning all of us to benefit from the advantages this skill presents."
Held biennially, Qudwa is supported strategically by a number of partners, including the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority of Dubai, and the Sharjah Private Education Authority.
To attend the forum sessions virtually, please visit www.qudwa.com.
WAM/Lina ibrahim/MOHD AAMIR


Lowell Hayter presented Fancy Traditional Accent Tables Free Shipping Bellacor Luxuriate Benefit Upon Your Own Place in Interior category.
Our Famous Art of Crafts Directory Galleria give information about Fancy Traditional Accent Tables Free Shipping Bellacor Luxuriate Benefit Upon Your Own Place uploaded by author in Interior category.
Here we have another Magnificent Accent Table Round Traditional Round Espresso Wood Accent Table Enjoy Good Upon Private House featured item product under Traditional Accent Tables. If you want see even more clearly then please choosing any of the products from the collection below.
Thanks for reading Fancy Traditional Accent Tables Free Shipping Bellacor Luxuriate Benefit Upon Your Own Place with traditional accent tables, traditional french accent console table, traditional side tables and accent tables, traditional style accent tables, traditional wood accent tables categories.


NEW CANAAN — A Mamaroneck, N.Y., woman was arrested on an active warrant last Tuesday, police said.
On Nov. 14 at 11:30 a.m., New Canaan police contacted Kerri Lynn Cataldo, 27, while conducting a follow-up investigation for an incident that occurred on Nov. 13. While checking her driver's license, an active warrant was found for Cataldo, police said, for unknown motor vehicle charges out of Stamford.
Cataldo was taken into custody and charged with second-degree failure to appear. Cataldo posted $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26.


text:
Provenir Spins Off Kitewheel After Landmark Year
Marketwired September 24, 2014
BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - September 24, 2014) - Kitewheel, the provider of the No. 1 real-time customer engagement hub for marketing agencies, launched its business and brand today. The launch is the culmination of the company's two years of pioneering work in the emerging customer engagement market, and the move comes on the heels of a banner year of sales results and industry accolades. Formerly functioning as Provenir's customer engagement division, the new standalone business entity, Kitewheel, is focused on helping agencies offer a new generation of interactive consumer experiences to their clients.
Kitewheel is changing the way brands and their agencies use marketing technology. In contrast to traditional marketing automation approaches and the more recent trend of "marketing clouds," its unique cloud technology connects and unifies existing marketing systems with every new and disparate source of marketing data, eliminating the need for expensive new systems.
"We've reimagined the original Provenir platform and enhanced it with innovative marketing capabilities to provide a simple platform to orchestrate journeys in real-time, across any channel, for the 'always-on' consumer," said Mark Smith, President, Kitewheel. "Kitewheel is uniquely positioned to power the real-time revolution by delivering personalized, relevant experiences that delight customers and foster long-term loyalty. Our new identity reinforces our complete dedication to leading and further shaping this new market."
More than 100 million real-time consumer interactions have been processed by the business' cloud-based hub since the division was formally established just over a year ago. Today, the solution is used to drive tailored customer journeys for some of the world's largest automotive, airline, retail, travel and consumer packaged goods brands. More than 15 of the world's leading agencies -- including Havas, KBM Group and RAPP -- have selected Kitewheel's agile platform to underpin their real-time engagement solutions.
"An emerging CEH (Customer Engagement Hub) will foster personalized engagement with customers across all interaction channels, including social, and will reach across all departments in the enterprise," wrote Gartner, Inc. analysts Michael Maoz and Jenny Sussin in the July 25, 2014 report titled "Hype Cycle for CRM Customer Service and Customer Engagement, 2014."* Provenir (now Kitewheel) was also recently designated a Gartner "Cool Vendor" in the March 27, 2014 report titled "Cool Vendors in CRM Marketing Applications" by Kimberly Collins, Chris Fletcher and Jenny Sussin.**
To take an interactive customer journey and learn more about Kitewheel, please visit www.kitewheel.com.
About Kitewheel
Kitewheel is powering the real-time revolution for the world's largest automotive, airline, retail, travel and consumer packaged goods brands. Four of the top five marketing agency groups use Kitewheel's real-time Customer Engagement Hub to orchestrate individual consumer journeys, listening for "moments of truth" across Big Data and converting them into immediate, interactive, interconnected experiences. Kitewheel serves its global customer base from offices in Boston and London. For more information please visit www.kitewheel.com and follow Kitewheel on Twitter and LinkedIn.
*Gartner, Hype Cycle for CRM Customer Service and Customer Engagement, 2014, Michael Maoz, Jenny Sussin, July 25, 2014.
**Gartner, Cool Vendors in CRM Marketing Applications, Kimberly Collins, Chris Fletcher, Jenny Sussin, March 27, 2014.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
How Kim Jong Un Got Mercedes-Benz Pullman Limos Home to North Korea


The student A/2 visa is intended for students who have been admitted to an educational institution in Israel. Students who are entering Israel in order to participate in an educational program must apply for a student visa.
You must apply for a Student Visa at the Israeli Consulate in your home country.
Please note that students who are not U.S. citizens but who are currently living and studying in the United States should consult with the U.S. Department of Immigration prior to leaving the United States. Your status upon return to the United States should be verified prior to departure in order to avoid problems upon your return.
Visa Renewal or Extension – if you have a student visa (type A2), you can renew or extend your visa at the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapanim), located at Government building, 15 Pal Yam Street, Kiryat Hamemshala, Haifa.
In order to request an appointment to renew or extend your student visa at the Ministry of Interior, you will need to contact the Technion International's Visas Coordinator, at least a month in advance of your renewal date.
If possible, ask for a multi-entries visa. That will allow you to re-enter Israel if you leave the country at any point while your visa is valid. A multi-entries visa costs 360 NIS.
If you are issued a standard student visa, it will immediately expire if you leave Israel, even if the visa hasn't expired yet. A standard visa costs 180 NIS.
** Please make sure not to miss your appointment, as they are difficult to reschedule. If you have any specific conflicts, make sure to let the Technion International staff know before arranging the meeting.


Then: I had a blog with Lori, Alison, Karen and Neil.
Then: I didn't have a book deal.
Then: I was good looking.
Then: I worked from home.
Now: I teach high school students.
Then: I wrote on a crappy computer.
Now: I write on a super badass MacBook Pro.
Now: WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?
Then: I had a Blackberry which refused to allow me to respond to blog comments on the go and caused me to spew profanity.
Now: I have an iPhone to respond to your comments. I still spew profanity for other reasons.
Then: There were no In-N-Outs in Texas.
Now: I SURVIVED THE RAPTURE!!!
So as you can plainly see, Now clearly owns Then.
Then: The Padres couldn't score runs at home.
Now: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = typical home stand run total.
Yeah…the more things change….all that really matters is that Texas has In N Out.
Great to see you writing again! Cant' wait to get the new book!
You have 2 In-N-Out Burgers?? We are totally coming to visit you.


text:
Doomsday Clock says the apocalypse is nigh — but we didn't need science to tell us that
By Claire Lampen
According to experts, the apocalypse is nigh. On Thursday, the scientists behind the Doomsday Clock moved its hands to 2 1/2 minutes to midnight — almost as close to the end of the world as we were during the Cold War.
Let's take a moment to register our collective surprise at this unexpected news.
In a statement explaining the decision to move the clock's hands forward, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientist's Science and Security board pointed the finger squarely at one man: President Donald Trump. While there are a huge number of ominous factors at play worldwide, Trump's presidency seemed the biggest red flag of all. He may only have been in office "a matter of days," the board's statement read, but his consistent rhetoric and the actions he's already taken were clear enough warning signs to warrant adjusting the Doomsday Clock.
"In short, even though he has just now taken office, the president's intemperate statements, lack of openness to expert advice, and questionable cabinet nominations have already made a bad international security situation worse," the statement reads.
In 1945, the scientists involved in creating the first atomic weapons founded the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, its Doomsday Clock charting our path toward total destruction through some of the most precarious moments in history. At two minutes to midnight — which is to say, the end of days — our projected demise has not been so near since 1953, when the United States and the Soviet Union began testing hydrogen bombs.
Conceptualized as a measure of the threat nuclear weapons posed our global well-being, the Doomsday Clock now accounts for climate change and other technologies as well. In 2016 and 2015, the clock held steady at three minutes to midnight, and its hands have moved backward and forward as international nuclear tensions ease and escalate.
Given that the infamously brash leader of the free world now has the nuclear codes at his fingertips, it makes sense that we would inch closer to midnight. He has also ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to scrub any information about climate change from its website and has enabled the continued construction of crude oil pipelines that critics say will undoubtedly damage the environment. As if all this weren't disconcerting enough on its own, he slapped a gag order on scientists and researchers, prohibiting them from sharing their work with the public or press.
Then there's Trump's uncomfortably cozy relationship to Russia and habit of antagonizing his neighbors, fostering an international mood that is singularly tense, to say the least. Plus, Trump himself is worried about "the cyber," and the fact that he doesn't seem to know what that means does not exactly assuage popular fears.
Which is why the scientists behind the Doomsday Clock are asking Trump to please pump the brakes.
"We call on these leaders — particularly in Russia and the United States — to refocus in the coming year on reducing existential risks and preserving humanity, in no small part by consulting with top-level experts and taking scientific research and observed reality into account," the statement reads.
If only.


This post showcases my last exhibit as art teacher at St. Helen's School. I'm not retiring, I have too much to share before I do that. I am moving on though and am looking forward to spending more time at my other school, Woodland Hill Montessori. It's been a great ride at St. Helen's. I enjoyed a beautiful summer afternoon sharing my students work with the wonderful people in the town of Niskayuna. Enjoy!


Find out how a bucket, water, and the right detergent can brighten dingy clothes.
Presoaking stained or dingy laundry items can help restore your favourite things- whether it's a shirt or a child's lovey—to their former, brighter glory. And the reason is simple: soaking maximizes contact time between fabric and detergent.
When you immerse washable fabric in detergent and water, you give the cleanser and all its modern-day bells and whistles (the brighteners, the special crud-fighting enzymes, the sudsy stuff) time to soak into the fabric and remove mystery stains on clothes.
Prepare a soaking solution by filling a bucket, a bowl or your sink with warm water, and add Tide Plus Bleach Powder. This detergent includes a unique cleaning ingredient that activates a stronger, but colour-safe, form of bleach and provides superior stain removal to help brighten and clean your things. Presoak your garments before washing to tackle extra-tough mystery stains.


We really miss our helpful elves. For most of the year they are a fantastic addition to our team. They are incredibly diligent and have a great eye for detail. Which is handy when you have to scan and store thousands of documents every day. Although the constant singing can get a bit annoying.
However, when Santa needs his elves back for the big Christmas push we find ourselves short a few staff. Luckily we know how to plan around it and it doesn't affect business at all.
We miss their cheeky faces for a couple of months but we have a great relationship with Mr and Mrs Claus and of course want Christmas to go without a hitch. In fact we store spare presents for Santa. Which was meant to be a secret but it was exposed when Santa was 'Papped' outside our offices last year. So everyone knows anyway and it wasn't us who 'let the reindeer out of the bag' as Santa had tweeted where he was! We think he'd got a bit carried away on mulled wine.
This year our elves have been especially busy as we have our brand new state of the art premises in Bridgewater with loads more clients to help with their document back up needs. We've also found out that one of the elves is a whizz with computers and made us a lovely new website, see it here.
So we are really looking forward to a great Christmas and getting our elves back in January. If you would like to get some elves of your own we'd be happy to talk to the Claus's about it and see if they can spare some. The elves love the change of scene and they much prefer summer in the UK than the North Pole.
We hope you all have a great Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Apparently women are more organised at work than men and this could have a big effect on your business or career. Although we always suspected it from our dealings with many businesses a study by the labelling company Dymo proves it.
The research, covering 4,000 workers, showed that 43 per cent of women claim to be very organised in the workplace but just 32 per cent of men say the same.
They also found that over half of women employers have an organised filing system, but just 37 per cent of men adopt the same approach.
Instead, chaps are more likely to keep their paperwork in a large pile, which they search through when they have to find something.
This has led to 17 per cent of guys losing an important document thanks to their chaos of their workstation, but just 11 per cent of women have suffered the same fate.
But most worrying for us men is that one in twenty has missed out on a promotion because their bosses felt they were so unorganised.
When this is coupled with some other research showing men are more lax at keeping company information in prescribed and protected formats you've got to worry even more.
The research by Huddle showed that 49% of UK male employees use personal cloud tools or services to store work documents versus 39% of women. Some 51% of men also keep enterprise documents on USB drives, in contrast to 42% of women.
So it seems men are disorganised and utilise tools they probably shouldn't more than women. It's a wonder that women haven't taken over the boardrooms yet!
So come on chaps let's get organised. This means working on your personal development or calling in the professionals to put systems and processes in place that make up for our failings. Although we'd like to point out men can carry larger boxes of disorganised paper, which has got to count for something.
Not only have we had a lovely summer but all the signs are pointing towards growth in the UK economy. It's about time!
Most businesses we know have been working under a policy of 'making the most of what they have'. They have been squeezing every efficiency out of their current resources and cutting back to make budgets balance (much like our esteemed Chancellor). They have often maintained the status quo for fear of 'upsetting the apple cart'. But as every good business person knows when you want growth you need to plan for it and look at change.
Don't waste valuable office space storing things you don't use regularly. If you don't need that document or file every month then why not scan it, send the hardcopy off site to storage, or even destroy it. Then you can get rid of those filing cabinets, and put a desk in their place for your new recruit(s).
Digitise everything so you can work remotely. Make sure all your documents are in digital format so you can access them anywhere. This will mean quicker access to key information and allow you to employ people to work from home or even abroad – maybe fuelling your worldwide expansion?
Have a really good clear out. Spend the time to get rid of things you don't need. Maybe get in an objective outsider to help you do this. But just going through the process of clearing things out will get you, and your teams, into the positive mind-set required to drive new growth.
The last point is probably the most important. Getting you and your teams mind-set right is vital and it's amazing how tidying things up, destroying what you don't need or at least sending stuff off to storage so it's not in your face every day can lighten your mood.