There are a flurry of reports on Monday morning detailing extensive benchmarks for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform, the chip that will power some of the best Android handsets this year including the Galaxy S9. I immediately thought of all the previous years when Qualcomm would come out with test results for its flagship chips ahead of launches. The company would round up a few media outlets, provide them with reference devices packing the latest Snapdragon hardware and allow them to publish their findings well before the first handsets to pack that chip were actually released. Wait a minute… that has never happened before today!
Yes, Qualcomm would unveil its next-gen mobile platform before the Galaxy S model that would use it was even official. And yes, we would see benchmark tests pop up before the phone launched, but they were never official. This means Qualcomm is dying to tell the world how fast the Galaxy S9 will be. So what changed?
UPDATE: Qualcomm reached out to BGR to point out that it had conducted similar public benchmark tests for the Snapdragon 835 and 820 in previous years before the first commercial devices were launched in stores — see the full update at the end of this post.
Well, for starters, Qualcomm isn't in the same position anymore as in previous years. It has to fight a bunch of battles that may all be affecting its bottom line.
The most critical conflict is the legal war with Apple over chip exclusivity deals and royalties. Tied to it are various investigations from regulators in markets around the world. In those cases, Qualcomm is facing fines of around $1 billion, give or take a few hundred million. The most recent penalty comes from the EU region, but there are plenty of others.
Then there's increased competition from the likes of Samsung and Huawei, which are coming up with their own alternatives to Apple's and Qualcomm's best chips. Finally, there's a possible takeover from Broadcom that just won't go away.
With all that in mind, we shouldn't be surprised to see various tech sites dedicate ample time to Snapdragon 845 and its performance. Stories in Android Central, Android Police, and CNET are a few examples. We're looking at thorough tests that show how fast the Snapdragon 845 is compared to the Snapdragon 835. They're great, if you're into benchmarks. They also have a particular type of narrative that almost sounds like an apology.
Of course it's fast! That's what we expect from every new Snapdragon generation, to be faster than the chipset it's replacing.
But all these reports are quick to point out that benchmarks do not tell the whole story, and that synthetic scores will not always result in the same smooth experience. Just look at last year's plethora of Snapdragon 835-powered devices. They all score similarly in benchmarks, yet not all of them are able to deliver the same performance, and it's usually the iPhone that wins, including older models. The same thing will happen with the 845-powered phones this year.
This isn't even about the iPhone X at this point, although I will point out that, in light of Qualcomm's decision to allow the media to publish benchmarks, the best Snapdragon chip from 2018 is nowhere near as powerful as the best iPhone chip from 2017. This is about Qualcomm's fears.
A report last week suggested that the US version of the Galaxy S9 will be slower than the international one. Guess which one has a Snapdragon 845 chip inside and which one comes with an Exynos 9810 chipset under the hood. The newly published benchmarks confirm that the leaked Snapdragon 845 Geekbench screenshot was accurate. The chip averages around 2,400 and 8,200 in single- and multi-core tests, respectively. Compare that to over 4,200 and 10,000 for the iPhone X and 8 in the same test.
Remember, again, this isn't about the iPhone, though none of these Snapdragon 845 benchmark reviews mention Apple's A11 processor, which happens to be Qualcomm's main rival right now. Isn't that convenient?
If the Exynos 9810 chip that Samsung just made is significantly faster than the Snapdragon 845, as rumors suggest, Samsung won't be able to really show it this year. The company has to offer the same Galaxy S9 experience around the world. But who's to say that, come next year, the Galaxy S10 will still use a flagship Snapdragon chip? If Samsung is getting that good at making smartphone chips, Qualcomm is in a world of trouble. Because Samsung might be looking to sell those chips to Android device makers who would usually ink deals with Qualcomm.
All of that would explain why Qualcomm is dying to tell the world how incredibly fast the Snapdragon 845 is with less than two weeks to go until the Galaxy S9 launches.
UPDATE: Qualcomm reached out to BGR to point out that it had conducted similar public benchmark tests for the Snapdragon 835 and 820 in previous years before the first commercial devices were launched in stores.
The Snapdragon 835 performance reviews were released in mid-March last year, a few days before the Galaxy S8 was unveiled. The benchmarks were performed more than a month later compared to 2018, but the Galaxy S8 was announced only in late March 2017, more than a month later than the Galaxy S9's launch schedule. Here are some of them: AnandTech, Android Police, and CNET. This explains why I could not find any Snapdragon 825 reviews from January or February 2017, and my own memory wasn't at all helpful.
The same goes for the Snapdragon 820, whose early performance reviews were published in mid-December 2015, about a month before the Le Max Pro was unveiled at CES 2016 — that was the first Snapdragon 820 phone to be announced. Here's AnandTech's take on the chip's performance.
In light of all that, I do have to slightly alter my initial opinion. Qualcomm may indeed have a harder year ahead than usual, both when it comes to legal problems and more pressure from competitors. An Exynos 9810 benchmark leak that hit the web after my original post went up seems to reinforce the idea that Samsung might become a tough Qualcomm competitor in the near future. Furthermore, Qualcomm may be dying to tell you how fast the Galaxy S9's Snapdragon 835 chip is. But when it comes to allowing the media to test its latest mobile platform before it hits the market, Qualcomm did not change a thing.


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La Jornada – Vargas, with fear of returning to the gym due to infection
Madison Gordon 12 months ago 3 min read
Getting back into activity wasn't a delicate decision like these days. Former World Boxing Council (WBC) superweight champion Rey Vargas will be back in the ring after a year-and-a-half hiatus. Putting aside the excitement of getting back in the ring, you realize you can't hide your fear of returning to the gym and connecting with more people. Fear of Coronavirus infection is a newly acquired one.
"Yes, I'm afraid to go into someone else's gym and share the space with others who don't know if they are looking after themselves, because we don't know who they are," says Vargas, whose workplace has been the Romanza Gym until now, in Iztacalco, Ciudad de Mexico led by its manager Ignacio Berustin.
"I don't know how to prepare in the United States to avoid infection at work," Vargas says. "I am thinking about the possibility of forming a team and bringing everyone to my gym (in Utumba) to be secluded and safe. I don't want to risk getting sick, nor do I want to cut short my career again."
Rey Vargas left the WBC superhero bantamweight title after a year and a half without a fight. During that time he was suffering from some physical problems with one knee and a fracture, which required medical attention and rehabilitation.
On his return he decided to risk everything and seek a superior division to confront the dangerous king, American Gary Russell. Vargas says he chose to upgrade because there were no more challenges available at Super Bantamweight. The next step is Russell, whose position as king appears constant.
See also Exatln Mexico: Participants will be the new leaders of "Cobras" and "Leones" in Guerreros 2021 | Pictures
"I decided to take the risk and return in a difficult battle," Vargas explains. "I'm not going soft back, with comfortable spells to see how I feel the featherweight. I go straight through the front door to get a belt against a serious opponent. I also think I have a chance to win, which is why I take advantage of it. It's not invincible and it's a chance to prove that I have that level."
Vargas only laments that there are no conditions for requesting uniformity in the weight he left behind. Without options to take on other champions, the belt that Lewis Neri carries today is best left.
He concludes by saying: "Now I will focus on my return and the plans are to climb the teams, crowning myself in more than one category."
On the other hand, WBC announced the 2020 Best Boxing Awards. Mauricio Suleiman, president of the organization, noted that despite the fact that it was a very complex year due to the epidemic, this sport was able to conclude with good exhibitions.
Saúl lvarez and coach Eddy Reynoso are recognized in their categories as the best of 2020.
"Canelo He saved the year with a new title in a high profile job and crowned Eddie with three fighters who made him one of the most successful coaches at the moment. "
Madison Gordon
"Hardcore web nerd. Twitteraholic. Analyst. Reader. Coffee guru. Travel ninja. Amateur troublemaker. Zombie geek."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home > Special > DIT > Books > 1
The Story of the Dublin Institute of Technology
Thomas Duff, Dublin Institute of Technology
Joe Hegarty, Dublin Institute of Technology
Matthew Hussey, Dublin Institute of Technology
Download Technical Education in Ireland before 1922 (1.0 MB)
Download Development of the Dublin Colleges to the Dublin Institute of Technology (3.2 MB)
Download Government Policy and Legislative Backdrop to the Emergence of the DIT (2.9 MB)
Download Partnership Agreement between CDVEC/DIT and the University of Dublin (1976-present) (1.2 MB)
Download Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992 (1.5 MB)
Download Organisational Development of the Institute under the DIT Act 1992 (2.6 MB)
Download Apprenticeship Education (775 KB)
Download Higher Level Courses in the Institute (1.2 MB)
Download Postgraduate Research (891 KB)
Download Accommodation and Facilities (711 KB)
Download Academic Quality Assurance in the DIT (2.0 MB)
Download The Challenges Facing DIT Beyond 2000 (2.2 MB)
Download Index (652 KB)
Download Images (1.0 MB)
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) was statutorily established as an autonomous institution on 1 January 1993, under the Dublin Instute of Technology Act (1992). It was constituted from the six higher education colleges of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. This book describes the evolution and accomplishments of the Institute from its beginnings 113 years ago, and includes its rapid academic developments over the past thirty years. The DIT is now a multi-level higher education institution with the largest enrolment of all the higher education institutions in the state - about 22,000 (10,500 full-time students, 4,000 apprentices and some 7,500 other part-time students).
1-842180-13-4
dit, history, higher education, university, ireland
Education Commons
Journal Collection
TU Dublin Authors


KUTZTOWN | Fans of Kutztown University athletics can download new free content of their favorite Golden Bear teams for the 2017-18 winter season.
Computer wallpapers are available for all KU teams with five different dimension availabilities.
Schedule posters and wallpapers are free to download for all winter teams. Indoor track & field, and the remaining spring posters will be available when schedules are finalized.
The 2017 winter schedule card allows fans to keep up to date with upcoming Golden Bear events, both at home and on the road. The official winter schedule card is sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn Allentown West.


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Shoalhaven Landcare Association Incorporated
Barbara Liddle - Chair
chair@shoalhavenlandcare.org.au
as above, Nowra, 2541
http://www.shoalhavenlandcare.org.au
website www.shoalhavenlandcare.org.au
Bringing the Stuttering Frog back...
Bringing the Stuttering Frog back... Reintroducing the Stuttering Frog to the Cambewarra Ranges in the Shoalhaven https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/groups/shoalhaven-landcare-association-inc/bringing-the-stuttering-frog-back https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/@@site-logo/landcare-nsw-logo-200.png
Reintroducing the Stuttering Frog to the Cambewarra Ranges in the Shoalhaven
Taking Action -
LLCI024-010
The Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) was once widespread through rainforests and tall open forests of south eastern New South Wales. However, under threat from the world-wide epidemic, chytrid fungus from Africa as well as a reduction in suitable habitat availability and predation from foxes, their range has shrunk dramatically. Now locally extinct in the Shoalhaven, the Stuttering Frog has not been recorded south of Sydney since 2006.
The Stuttering Frog is listed as Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Shoalhaven Landcare and Bundanon Trust determined that a strategic approach was required to bring back the Stuttering Frog including: targeted habitat selection and rehabilitation, reduction of threats, community awareness and participation, capture and rearing of frog and tadpole individuals from wild populations, chytrid testing, frog/tadpole release and ongoing monitoring.
The NSW Environmental Trust funded this three year project which began in 2017. Since then, a dedicated team of motivated volunteers have been working on habitat rehabilitation. Meanwhile, rearing of frogs and tadpoles in captivity and chytrid testing has been underway at the Frogarium north of Sydney.
Over 600 trees have been planted and protected with wire cages from the grazing and rubbing of wombats and deer. Weeds have been controlled over 10 hectares and foxes shot around our sites. Drought conditions have affected this project as fewer frogs were available in the wild north coast populations. Also as Stuttering Frogs require moist leaf litter and pools present in creeks, conditions at the receiving habitat were monitored for suitability.
Despite this, the project has progressed and recent rain has allowed for an upcoming frog release and working bee with 50 participants expected. The awareness amongst the local community in this project is high due to cross-promotion across the combined networks of both Bundanon Trust and Shoalhaven Landcare.
Strength and mutual appreciation in the Shoalhaven Landcare/Bundanon Trust partnership is key
Many other partners are involved in this project including National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests
Consideration of and flexibility around climatic conditions is essential in project design
Dedicated and motivated volunteers achieve great outcomes!


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Sale and export of 'fake' halloumi blocked
July 25, 2019 at 11:24am
Authorities have stepped up their checks on halloumi produced either for domestic or foreign consumption, in two cases blocking the export of two consignments to Romania and Bahrain because they did not meet the specifications set out by law as to what constitutes the specific cheese, Phileleftheros reports.
It said that the ministry's aim is to ensure that cheese sold as halloumi is produced in line with specifications.
Commerce Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis told the newspaper that a special team set up at the ministry has drawn up a plan of action for both the local market and for exports.
Checks have been carried out and letters sent to producers in cases where the halloumi was found not to satisfy specifications — particularly as regards halloumi with flavours such as chilli, basil and pepper as well as light and delact versions of the cheese.
Halloumi has still to be registered under the EU's PDO (designation of origin) system. The process is currently pending before the European Commission since July 2014.
Lakkotrypis said that once designated as PDO this will stop efforts to abolish the trademark — as occurred in the UK earlier in the year.
These efforts are understood to aim at rendering halloumi a generic cheese that can be produced anywhere in the world, Phileleftheros added.
Britons consume 12,000 tonnes of Cyprus halloumi annually
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Masculinity Breaking Bad: Walter White and the Fallouts from Complicit Masculinity
AMC's award-winning and groundbreaking drama Breaking Bad is, although complemented by a number of highly intriguing and well-played characters, primarily the story of its lead protagonist Walter White, a disillusioned high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer, who turns to cooking crystal meth in order to provide for his family's financial security after he will have passed away. Thus, Breaking Bad is a reflection on the destructive potential of masculinity in our society.
[Warning: Spoilers for the series finale of Breaking Bad ahead]
[This article was first published at Sociology Lens]
Even though we as viewers start out as sympathetic to Walt, over the course of the show, we realize just how problematic Walt's actions and motives are, and that – although he tries to justify his actions as selfless and as rooted in his commitment to serving his family – what really drives him are notions of masculinity deeply entrenched in our society. Even if we accept that his willingness to become a producer of illegal substances (and eventually kill repeatedly) stems from his urge to set his family up with a financial safety net in anticipation of his imminent deaths, this ability to put aside all moral convictions for the sake of achieving his goal is clearly more than a simple act of one man's altruism but rather embedded in hegemonic notions of masculinity. Despite shifts in the gender order, our society still expects men to take on the role of the provider and rewards those men who can, while shaming those that cannot. It is no surprise then that Walter White would make a desperate if illegal final attempt at living up to this standard, given that he appears to be running out of time. In addition to these internalized self-identification as the provider of his family – even beyond his grave – the social arrangements and gender relations in our society, and those within the White family more specifically, exert very real and material pressures on Walt to take steps to ensure the financial future of his wife and kids. The White family adheres to dominant social scripts about family life in the US, with Walt filling the role of the primary breadwinner, while his wife Skyler is a mother and homemaker first, working odd jobs and in later seasons being employed as an accountant. Clearly, due to these unequal gendered relations of production – and against the backdrop of a healthcare system that is failing Walt, and a social security system that would most likely fail the White family sans Walt – the possible death of Walter will put the family in deep financial problems, prompting him to find a solution for these economic pressures.
The more we learn about the protagonist over the course of the series, however, the more we understand that Walt's motives are, at least in part, darker and rooted in additional notions of masculinity. After having lied to his family, the viewers (and possibly himself) that he had committed all these atrocities and had put his family into danger only in order to provide for them, Walt finally admits in the series finale what the viewers have figured out a long time ago: He built his meth empire because he was was the best at what he did, because he took pride in his achievements and because the power it provided him with validated his sense of self. Or put differently, it made him feel like a man. Walt's character can be described as what RW Connell calls an exemplar of complicit masculinity: Our society upholds hegemonic notions of masculinity, that are only ever achieved by a small minority of (white, upper/ middle class, powerful, able bodied, straight, Western, …) men, who reap the most benefits from these gendered arrangements, while other men relate in different ways to these hegemonic masculinities. However, it is not as though men outside the hegemonic position reject the hegemonic notions. Rather a majority falls within the category of 'complicit masculinities': These men hold on to the goal of achieving hegemonic status, buying into dominant conceptions and thereby legitimizing and reproducing them, while at the same time shouldering the dangers inherent in these constructions of masculinity. At the same time, by being complicit with hegemonic masculinities they receive at least some of the benefits of a gender order that overall privileges men vis a vis women. The Walter White we meet in the pilot episode is far from being able to lay claim to hegemonic masculinity: His work as a high school teacher is far below his aspirations and potential as a scientist, he has just been diagnosed with a disease that will make his 50 year old body weaker and weaker (and will ultimately prevent him from even fulfilling the most basic requirement of masculinity in our culture, that is, providing financially for his wife and children), and his sex life has been reduced to the occasional hand job by his wife – while she monitors her ebay auctions on the laptop screen.
It is being involved in the meth business (and the dangers and violence that comes with it) that, for the first time in years, enables Walt to approach hegemonic notions of masculinity. Walt takes pride in his meth cooking craftsmanship, and in the power his new profession provides him with. It is no coincidence that after Walt comes home from one of his first meth cooking sessions and the killing of a rival drug crew, he approaches his wife with a new found passionate-aggressive sexuality, feeling masculine for the first time in a long time.
The more we learn about Walt's back story, the more we realize that Walt's motive for entering (and later on choosing not to leave the drug business despite having made enough money to set his family up for life) is rooted in his repeated pattern of feeling emasculated. Before settling for a teaching profession at a high school, Walt had been a brilliant chemist and had co-founded a company that was soon to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits with his graduate school friends Elliot and Gretchen, his girlfriend at the time. Although Walt claims his two friends have betrayed him, we learn that it was Walt who had walked out on Gretchen; a decision clearly rooted in his claim to notions of masculinity as he was unable to cope with having a partner professionally his equal and superior in her class background. It is Walt's adherence to and insecurity about masculinity that thus lead him to adandon his girlfriend and the opportunity to become rich and successful (and later blaming her for it), which, of course, results in an even deeper feeling of emasculation as he finds himself stuck in a mundane life, ultimately setting forth his transformation from Walt to the larger-than-life drug kingpin Heisenberg as a last ditch effort to achieve the standards of masculinity he buys into.
That these notions of masculinity matter culturally far beyond the fictional Walt's individual motivations is also obvious in the audience's response to Walt's trajectory. Even though it is safe to say that many fans watching the show transitioned from empathizing with Walt to strongly feeling he deserves to die or end up in cuffs, the internet is nevertheless populated by a significant number of fans intrigued by his Heisenberg persona; as exemplified by the vast amount of paraphernalia adorned with Heisenberg's face and his catchphrases. Rather than judging Walt for what he has done, these fans continue to root for him because of his badass masculinity and the fact that he is playing the game according to his rules, bowing to no one.
And like us viewers, even the show's writers and producers ultimately cannot escape the appeal of Walt's story of achieving masculinity. Although Walt has been stripped of everything that was once dear to him (his family, his meth empire, even avenues of providing his family with the remainder of his drug money), and is bound to find his fitting end and succumb to his cancer alone in a cottage somewhere in the New Hampshire backcountry, the show ultimately is not able to tell a story of his lonesome demise or the humiliation of his turning himself in to the police. Instead, we are presented with one last stand of Walt in Heisenberg-mode, as he not only comes up with a plan for secretly providing his family with his drug money but also executes Todd, the psychopath meth cook and his uncle's white supremacist drug crew – probably the only form of antagonist that could be construed as clearly even more morally objectionable than Walter White – leaving Walt to go out on his own terms and perpetrating one more act of heroic-tragic vengeful violence. As Vince Gilligan, producer of the show, pointed out on the Breaking Bad Insider podcast, the writers felt that Walt had earned being able to die 'like a man', and, although redemption at this point is impossible, we thus get the closest thing to it: Although Walter is never able to achieve all-out hegemonic masculinity – since working toward it by building a meth empire comes with high risks, violence, murder and ultimately results in his own death – we are presented with an ending that shows the protagonist dying a relatively honorable death, at least given the alternatives, glossing over the fact that it was Walt's hyperidentification with notions of masculinity that lead him down this road in the first place.
Ultimately, understanding Walter White as a character stuck in a hopeless version of complicit masculinity makes clear that the title of the show conveys more than it seems: Over the course of the show, Walter White's masculinity is breaking bad, transforming him from the average father and husband into a manipulative serial killer and drug kingpin. Rather than suffering from a case of inherently broken masculinity, it is hegemonic notions – and complicit embodiments – of masculinity in our society that are necessarily structured in a way that allow for this process of breaking bad, carrying with them the potentiality of destruction, violence and death. Walter White is not automatically and inherently Heisenberg. But the toxic notions of masculinity dominant in our society and the unequal class and gender orders that prevail at the very least carry the potential of him transitioning from one to the other.
Connell, RW. 1995. Masculinities. University of California Press.
Ferber, Abby L. & Michael Kimmel. 2008. The Gendered Face of Terrorism. Sociology Compass, 2(3): 870–887.
Kimmel, Michael. 1998. Manhood in America. A Cultural History. Oxford University Press.
Kimmel, Michael. 2013. Angry White Men. American Masculinity at the End of an Era. New York, NY: Nation Books.
Markus Gerke, co-founder and editor at Masculinities101, is a doctoral student in the Sociology Department at Stony Brook University.
Tags: drugs, Family, Father, masculinities, Masculinity, media, men, Reality television, Sociology, violence
Categories Masculinities, Media, Violence
Author Markus Gerke
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One Response to "Masculinity Breaking Bad: Walter White and the Fallouts from Complicit Masculinity"
Masculinity Breaking Bad: Walter White and the Fallouts from Complicit Masculinity — The Good Men Project - December 10, 2013
[…] This article was first published at Sociology Lens, also published at Masculinities 101. […]


Discover and release your voice!
Learn to produce the ethereal and meditative vocal sounds of ancient Mongolian overtone-chanting: one of the most powerful tools for self healing and for healing others. As an international pioneer of sound and voice therapy, over four decades Jill has perfected a unique approach to literally re-enchanting health and abundance. Her weekend workshops and full week workshops provide essential grounding for professional healers, singers, non-singers or anyone who feels their throat or vocal expression is blocked or weakened.
"Jill Purce's chanting will help you discover the magical and mysterious in you. Through these chants you will encounter your sacred self and your life will be changed forever "
"Through her work, Jill Purce discovers the unifying qualities, the spiritual principles which are true throughout the universe and we constantly need these reminders that come through her voice and words."
"I saw the words pouring from her lips, the liquid and visible embodiment of language. Surely she is the leader of the elfin choirs of hyperspace."
"One of the great teachers of our time."
"I'm always very grateful to Jill Purce, everything started with her, the work that she did with me was very, very important -the year after I worked with her I started to open the inner part of my singing."
"With your help, I have really begun to live my life in a richer, fuller way. Many of the small hurdles which seemed problematic and few of the large boulders which impeded my life's progress have just dissolved away."
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Aftermath of Political Intimidation Abu Conteh Escapes Death
News Brief / This day (studio discussion)
HomeAYV NewsAftermath of Political Intimidation Abu Conteh Escapes Death
AYV NewsNews
Immediately after the presidential result was announced on the 4th April 2018 by the country's National Electoral Commission, thugs, purported to be members of the new SLPP government stormed the residence of Abu Conteh in the east end part of Freetown and demanded that his family produce him as he needed to be taught a serious lesson.
According to eye witnesses at the scene, the thugs started beating members of his family when they refused to reveal his location. That caused serious panic that members of the community had to leave for fear of their own lives as the scene was chaotic and there was no police presence to rescue them. The irate thugs demanded that if Conteh is not produced they would not cease to visit the residence and whenever or wherever they lay their eyes on him they will either kill or render him paralysed for life.
According to an eye witness who identify herself as Aminata Bangura, she overheard the thugs saying that their goal is to kill or render Conteh paralysed so that he would stay off politics for life. She revealed that they were blaming Conteh as the main reason why their member of parliament was unable to win in that constituency and that Conteh did not allow all their members to vote in that ward. She admitted that family members of Abu Conteh have also escaped for fear of their lives, as the house is presently empty.
According to sources within the family it was reported that Conteh had absconded from Sierra Leone, as he is seeking refuge elsewhere for the fear of his life. It was also revealed that his properties were destroyed and his apartment vandalized including that of his parents.
According to police source no arrest was made, as they are still investigating the incident. But according to members of the community the perpetrators are not in hiding as they are still visit the residence to check whether he had returned.
"The police are afraid to arrest them because they are members of the ruling government; police officers are afraid of them especially when the police acted unprofessionally during the general elections, supporting the then ruling APC against SLPP who are now in governance," Kumba Sesay informed this medium.
The thugs are seriously searching for him.
Timbo, Others Sacked Over Chinese Rice Saga


The New Jersey legislature approved two big bills Thursday designed to counteract some of President Trump's changes to the Affordable Care Act and stabilize the state's individual insurance market.
Why it matters: Some ACA allies have pinned their hope on states to counteract the administration's policy moves, but there will likely only be limited effects in blue states. But if Gov. Phil Murphy approves these bills, it could give other blue states more encouragement to move forward.
The bills: One would begin the process of seeking a federal waiver to establish a reinsurance program. The other would create an individual mandate in the state.
If Gov. Phil Murphy signs off, New Jersey would become only the second state in the country to have an individual mandate, and the first state to pass one since the federal coverage requirement was repealed.
The mandate bill would require New Jersey residents to buy coverage that meets New Jersey's standards — not the federal government's. And New Jersey already bans the sale of short-term health plans, which the Trump administration is expanding.
Together, this means that New Jersey's market would function a lot like the pre-Trump ACA.
Go deeper: Freelance health care journalist/analyst Andrew Sprung has written a lot about how these measures could preempt the administration's priorities.


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<?php
# Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
# source: google/cloud/compute/v1/compute.proto

namespace Google\Cloud\Compute\V1;

use Google\Protobuf\Internal\GPBType;
use Google\Protobuf\Internal\RepeatedField;
use Google\Protobuf\Internal\GPBUtil;

/**
 * Time window specified for hourly operations.
 *
 * Generated from protobuf message google.cloud.compute.v1.ResourcePolicyHourlyCycle
 */
class ResourcePolicyHourlyCycle extends \Google\Protobuf\Internal\Message
{
    /**
     * [Output only] Duration of the time window, automatically chosen to be smallest possible in the given scenario.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string duration = 155471252;
     */
    private $duration = null;
    /**
     * Defines a schedule with units measured in hours. The value determines how many hours pass between the start of each cycle.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional int32 hours_in_cycle = 526763132;
     */
    private $hours_in_cycle = null;
    /**
     * Time within the window to start the operations. It must be in format "HH:MM", where HH : [00-23] and MM : [00-00] GMT.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string start_time = 37467274;
     */
    private $start_time = null;

    /**
     * Constructor.
     *
     * @param array $data {
     *     Optional. Data for populating the Message object.
     *
     *     @type string $duration
     *           [Output only] Duration of the time window, automatically chosen to be smallest possible in the given scenario.
     *     @type int $hours_in_cycle
     *           Defines a schedule with units measured in hours. The value determines how many hours pass between the start of each cycle.
     *     @type string $start_time
     *           Time within the window to start the operations. It must be in format "HH:MM", where HH : [00-23] and MM : [00-00] GMT.
     * }
     */
    public function __construct($data = NULL) {
        \GPBMetadata\Google\Cloud\Compute\V1\Compute::initOnce();
        parent::__construct($data);
    }

    /**
     * [Output only] Duration of the time window, automatically chosen to be smallest possible in the given scenario.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string duration = 155471252;
     * @return string
     */
    public function getDuration()
    {
        return isset($this->duration) ? $this->duration : '';
    }

    public function hasDuration()
    {
        return isset($this->duration);
    }

    public function clearDuration()
    {
        unset($this->duration);
    }

    /**
     * [Output only] Duration of the time window, automatically chosen to be smallest possible in the given scenario.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string duration = 155471252;
     * @param string $var
     * @return $this
     */
    public function setDuration($var)
    {
        GPBUtil::checkString($var, True);
        $this->duration = $var;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Defines a schedule with units measured in hours. The value determines how many hours pass between the start of each cycle.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional int32 hours_in_cycle = 526763132;
     * @return int
     */
    public function getHoursInCycle()
    {
        return isset($this->hours_in_cycle) ? $this->hours_in_cycle : 0;
    }

    public function hasHoursInCycle()
    {
        return isset($this->hours_in_cycle);
    }

    public function clearHoursInCycle()
    {
        unset($this->hours_in_cycle);
    }

    /**
     * Defines a schedule with units measured in hours. The value determines how many hours pass between the start of each cycle.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional int32 hours_in_cycle = 526763132;
     * @param int $var
     * @return $this
     */
    public function setHoursInCycle($var)
    {
        GPBUtil::checkInt32($var);
        $this->hours_in_cycle = $var;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Time within the window to start the operations. It must be in format "HH:MM", where HH : [00-23] and MM : [00-00] GMT.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string start_time = 37467274;
     * @return string
     */
    public function getStartTime()
    {
        return isset($this->start_time) ? $this->start_time : '';
    }

    public function hasStartTime()
    {
        return isset($this->start_time);
    }

    public function clearStartTime()
    {
        unset($this->start_time);
    }

    /**
     * Time within the window to start the operations. It must be in format "HH:MM", where HH : [00-23] and MM : [00-00] GMT.
     *
     * Generated from protobuf field optional string start_time = 37467274;
     * @param string $var
     * @return $this
     */
    public function setStartTime($var)
    {
        GPBUtil::checkString($var, True);
        $this->start_time = $var;

        return $this;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I am going away this weekend, I haven't been away in so long so I am excited for this brief break with my church friends. My bags are packed, new books have been downloaded, caramel slice has been made and my anxiety has been locked away in a box (I wish that were possible! So instead I am just doing my best to ignore it and put it out of my mind for the weekend).
The past couple of weeks have been highly emotional so last Sunday I just crashed and pretty much stayed curled up on the couch watching Chesapeake Shores. I saw my psych on Tuesday which was perfect timing and I found it was great to get her thoughts on a few things including the job hunt. I find with my anxiety I can dip at times and it takes me a while to get out of those dips so it's something I am working on and hoping that any more dips won't take me as long to get out of. My psych gave me some reading to do regarding negative thinking and just coping in general, which looks like it will be helpful.
My anxiety has been running rampant lately regardless of what I do and I am overthinking every little thing, plus feeling jumpy and just wanting to hide. A big part of me wants to just give up on everything and hide for the rest of my life but I know that isn't practical, so I am giving it all to God and taking it one day at a time.
Chesapeake Shores - I came across this series on Netflix last week and I really enjoyed it, it was good wholesome viewing and I loved getting to know all the O'Brien clan. It reminds me a bit of Parenthood but set on the coast and with a bit less drama. It's really nice getting to know all the siblings and how they each have their own struggles and where they fit in with the families dynamics. It's done by the same people as Good Witch so if you loved that you will love this.
Goodbye by Echosmith - Echosmith have finally released some new music and it was well worth the wait! I love Echosmith (Cool Kids, Safest Place and Bright are some of my favourite songs of all time), so I downloaded the song the moment it came out and it will now be in heavy rotation on my iPod. I can't wait for their new album to come out (29th September) and if this song is anything to go by it will be an amazing album.
Once and For All by Sarah Dessen - this is one of the books downloaded on my Kobo ready to be read. I love Sarah's books and find they are perfect holiday reads for when you want something light and fun. I first read Sarah's books in high school and I still love them, they are all standalone novels too but set in the same settings. If I need a break from the craziness of this weekend you can find me curled up reading this book.
Nokia 6 - yesterday I finally got a new phone! You know how some people are loyal to iPhones, Samsung's etc I am loyal to Nokia. My old phone was Nokia Lumia 520 and it was still going strong (despite being dropped multiple times) after 3 years but it was 2g and as of the start of August that would be switching off so I needed a 3g phone or higher to keep getting decent reception. I was thrilled when it was announced they would bringing out new Nokia's that would be android (my 520 ran on Windows which was not fun!) and for $400 outright for the top model I could actually afford a new phone. It's a great phone and with it being a Nokia I know it will last (though I have ordered a case for it), my parents already have their eyes on buying themselves one. I will say it uses a Nano SIM but some googling showed me how I could cut my micro SIM into a nano and I have had no problems with it.
Descendents 2 - so I was minding my own business out and about and I spotted this poster on the side of a building. It was so funny to see it (and unexpected, apparently putting posters up on buildings is still a thing?) and I sent the pic to Megan (who is obsessed with the movie and even insists on getting called Mal at times!), it made her day. You can also download the complete soundtrack and if that's anything to go by the movie should be amazing.


text:
Reward offered in fire that killed 5, including 2 children
By Thomas Peipert Associated Press
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 8:45 AM
DENVER – A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrests of people responsible for setting a house fire in Denver that killed five recent immigrants, including two children, from the West African nation of Senegal.
The Colorado chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced Tuesday it was contributing $10,000 to the $40,000 already put forward by Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
"We hope this reward will encourage those who have valuable information regarding this arson to come forward," said Krista Cole, acting board chairwoman of CAIR-Colorado, which bills itself as the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the country.
Police have released a surveillance photo showing three suspects wearing full face masks and hoodies. Investigators say the three fled in a dark-colored sedan after the Aug. 5 fire was set in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood, a relatively new development of closely spaced homes near Denver International Airport.
Killed were Djibril and Adja Diol, along with their 22-month-old daughter Khadija, as well as relative Hassan Diol and her infant daughter Hawa Baye. Their bodies were discovered after firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was first reported by a police officer at 2:40 a.m.
Three other people managed to escape by jumping from the second floor of the home. They were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police, fire officials and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating because there are indications that the fire was arson. Authorities have not elaborated on the evidence because they say they do not want to compromise the investigation.
Meanwhile, some Muslim advocacy groups, including CAIR-Colorado, have called on police to consider the possibility of a hate crime.
"Because the family members who perished in this tragedy are members of minority and immigrant communities, it would only be prudent to investigate the possibility of a bias motive," Cole said the day after the fire.
Authorities have said detectives are looking at all possible angles.
"This is certainly an element of the investigation that we're actively probing," Lt. Matt Clark with the Denver Police Department's Major Crimes Division said in September.


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text:
Mary Orr (born September 17, 1996) is a Canadian pair skater. With former partner Phelan Simpson, she finished in the top ten at the 2014 and 2015 World Junior Championships.

Career
Orr started learning to skate in 2000. She trained as a single skater at the Brantford Skating Club before moving to the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club, where she began skating pairs. In January 2013, she and Anthony Furiano became the Canadian junior bronze medalists for the second year in a row.

Orr teamed up with Phelan Simpson in 2013. The pair won the junior bronze medal at the 2014 Canadian Championships. They were assigned to the 2014 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, where they finished sixth.

Orr/Simpson won the national junior title at the 2015 Canadian Championships and were named in Canada's team to the 2015 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, where they finished tenth. After the event, Simpson retired from competitive skating. Orr teamed up with Brett Varley in 2016.

Orr has also competed in running, mainly in 5 kilometre races.

Programs
(with Simpson)

Competitive highlights
JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Simpson

With Furiano

References

External links

1996 births
Canadian female pair skaters
Living people
Sportspeople from Burlington, Ontario

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Dr. Dog: Bowery Ballroom 17 January 2015
This ticket was purchased back in September. violaleeblue suggested the show – I'd never heard of the band but thought I'd take a chance. Turns out they're pretty popular. They sold out four shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg and four shows at Bowery Ballroom. This was the last of their eight nights in NYC.
I'm still not feeling well, although I'm seeing a light at the end of this depression tunnel. Good friends and finally getting my meds back (lost them because of loss of health insurance and then my new health insurance company not getting the proper information to my pharmacy in over two weeks) are helping me on the road to recovery. But I managed to get myself out of the house to meet violaleeblue for dinner at the One Mile House next door to the Bowery Ballroom. We ran into Kenny while we were there and spent some time listening to his very funny stories. Once again Kenny came through and reserved a table for four of us – violaleeblue's friend A and Mrs. Devereaux were joining us at the club. Later we found out that Mrs. Devereaux would not be coming and that was a disappointment but she was there in spirit.
Dinner was very good. One Mile House serves bar food but it's good bar food. The place with packed with drinkers and diners but fortunately we did not have to wait long for a table.
Kenny had warned us about the tiki lights but I don't think I was prepared for the entire set-up. There were lights strung over the floor, palm trees in the corners, a huge flamingo backdrop and lights that took up a lot of the stage. The opening act had barely the lip of the stage for their performance.
Field Mouse was the opener. Their bios only list four musicians – founders Rachel Browne (lead vocals/guitar) and Andrew Futral (lead guitar), Saysha (bass), and Tim (drums). Also on stage was Rachel's sister on keyboards. Their Facebook page lists them as post-goth/melodic gentle-metal and Wikipedia lists them as dream pop. What I got from them was a sort of 80s/Breeders sound. Anyway, they were pleasant enough to listen to.
Dr. Dog is Toby Leaman (vocals/bass), Scott McMicken (vocals/lead guitar/piano), Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar/vocals), Zach Miller (piano/vocals/guitar), Eric Slick (drums), and Dimitri Manos (percussion, electronics, guitar). They are a lot of fun. All the guys were wearing saddle shoes and some were wearing sunglasses throughout the show.
Interesting postscript to the t-shirt etiquette conversation – many in the audience were wearing wool hats that said, "Dr. Dog" with a pom-pom on top. It was like Where's Waldo? except there were more Waldos than not. So, yay or nay on wool hats with the band name on them?
Dr. Dog is like Vampire Weekend mashed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a little jam band and twee indie rock thrown in. They will remind you of The Flaming Lips. The band was dancing all over the stage and not really looking where they were going – several times I thought someone was going to be bashed with a guitar neck or head.
Some of the songs had abrupt endings and every time there would be roar from the crowd the likes of which I'd never heard before. It was louder than the band. When the band simply faded out there would be the usual clapping and "whoahs!"
Two standout songs for me were "Jackie Wants a Black Eye" and "Shadow People" both of which are less representative of the live band as a whole I think. These were ballads and most of what they played last night were higher energy and dance songs.
The audience knew every word to every song and threw their fists in the air and roared for the entire two hours that the band played.
← Mates of State: Mercury Lounge 19 December 2014
Chatham County Line: Rockwood Music Hall 14 February 2015 →


text:
AFGE urges telework expansion amid coronavirus spread
The American Federation of Government Employees is asking the Office of Personnel Management to extend telework to any federal employee capable of working remotely, in light of the spread of coronavirus.
Everett Kelley, who was sworn in as AFGE's national president earlier this week, asked OPM Director Dale Cabaniss to allow telework governmentwide, "regardless of any specific agency action that may have limited telework for other reasons."
As of March 6, there are three known cases of COVID-19 in the national capital region, which is the workplace of about 350,000 federal employees.
"The federal workforce has significant experience with telework, and it could be utilized much more extensively should the coronavirus crisis become more widespread," Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform told FCW in an emailed statement. "While the Trump Administration has rolled back telework options over the past few years, our committee has been exploring legislation to make telework more effective and efficient. Obviously, classified and other secure facilities will need to maintain a strong presence, and telework simply may not be an option for all of those programs, in which case our military and civilian agencies need to have robust plans in place to maintain continuity of operations at all times."
Separately, a group of Senate Democrats urged Cabaniss to assure federal employees and contractors that they won't face any discipline or adverse employment actions for following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on when to stay home from work.
The senators, including capital-area members Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urged Cabaniss in a March 6 letter to instruct agencies to "take a generous and public health-facing position on expanding telework availability before agencies need to implement their [continuity of operations] plans and approving unscheduled leave when federal employees and contractors are unable to work due to their own illness or that of a loved one."
The lawmakers also said that they are worried that "OPM's guidance to date does not demonstrate to our nation's hardworking public servants that the federal government is prioritizing their health, well-being and economic security."
OPM issued preliminary guidance for federal agency heads on March 3, reminding leaders that continuity of operation plans are required to provide for telework, that "as many employees as possible" should be telework ready and that any emergency plans "shall supersede" existing telework policies.
Telework, which flourished under the Obama administration, has been subject to new restrictions under President Donald Trump, and in some cases it has been rolled back as part of collective bargaining agreements. The Social Security Administration, the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior and component agencies at the Departments of Commerce and Health and Human Services have all seen telework agreements pared back in recent years.
A Government Accountability Office report from February 2017, based on data and responses from Obama-era telework policies, found that OPM needed to do more to validate telework data it received from agencies and that agencies lagged in revisiting eligibility for employees as telework programs matured.
Federal employees exposed to COVID-19
Separately, AFGE contacted the heads of the House and Senate Armed Services and general oversight committees to alert them to concerns about federal employees at Veterans Health Administration facilities, military bases and others who may have been exposed to coronavirus on the job.
Returning American travelers at high risk have been quarantined at military sites, and a VA facility in Palo Alto, Calif., is caring for a veteran with COVID-19.
In the letter to lawmakers, Kelley noted that while VA is tasked with taking a role in national health emergencies -- the agency's so-called fourth mission -- the Defense Department is not funded or staffed to participate in such crises.
"We are concerned not only about the diversion of resources and risk to the health of civilian and military employees, but also to their ability to carry out their national security mission as this health risk is introduced to the installations," Kelley wrote. In the letter he urged the help of lawmakers in securing meetings with DOD, VA and other agency leaders to make sure that federal employees are provided needed training and protective gear as needed.
At a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing earlier this week, the panel's chairman, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) urged senior leaders to "look carefully at how we prepare for an impending public health crisis."


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She is knowledgeble in doing ll household chores such s mopping nd sweeping the floor, clening windows nd toilets, wshing nd ironing clothes nd cooking simple food such s fried fish/chicken, fried noodle, fried rice, stir fry vegetbles nd soup. She tke cre of her 2 siblings ges (6 nd 7 yrs. old). She bring nd fetch them in school. She lso ssist in their homework. She hs clen look nd plesnt personlity nd humble type of person.


Single section & multi section floor plans in a range of square footage options.
The Sommerset Series by Redman features both single section & multi-section home types. Homes feature 2-4 bedrooms and can be customized. Square footage ranges from 850 - 2027.
Construction Types	 This manufactured home is built to the federal (HUD) building code.


Even with an alias like Lucky Date, Jordan Atkins-Loria had to hustle hard to carve out his own space in the electronic dance music world.
His diligent devotion to the craft has recently begun to payoff in a big way though. With an inimitable progressive house sound, he's become a sought-after artist and remixer, drawing the attention and endorsement of everyone from David Guetta and Tommy Lee to Porter Robinson and Excision.
How he came to the name "Lucky Date"
Answers audience questions such as how do you layer your tracks, can you talk about your collaboration with Moby, and how do you overcome and deal with any doubts about yourself as an artist.
Are you ready to learn more about Reason or have questions about Pyramind?


Estorian is a pioneer in Storage Resource Management for complex mainframe storage environments. With a dedicated focus on delivering robust, easy-to-use and cost-effective solutions, Estorian provides world-class software products that save you money, time and worry.
There is every reason to believe that history will replay itself during this current financial crisis with a new wave of corporate compliance requirements.
How Service-Oriented Software with Storage Analytics Addresses the Real Problems of Storage Management.
Rising power costs have server makers and other technology companies exploiting energy-efficient solutions.
Estorian Introduces Solution for Stolen Laptop Data.
Visibility into your storage infrastructure.
The role of analytics in managing the technical infrastructure to sustain operational alignment with changing business needs.
Find out why businesses need SRM.
Documents are in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader.


River Dragons is the deceptively deep board game from Bergsala Enigma. In the Mekong delta, the bravest young people face each other in a famous contest where they have to cross the river by building bridges with planks and stones. To arrive safely on the opposite bank, care will have to be taken by avoiding your opponents and those pesky dragons.
Don't just take our word for it! Check out this review of River Dragons.


text:
HTTPS Everywhere Introduces New Feature: Continual Ruleset Updates
By Bill Budington
Today we're proud to announce the launch of a new version of HTTPS Everywhere, 2018.4.3, which brings with it exciting new features. With this newest update, you'll receive our list of HTTPS-supporting sites more regularly, bundled as a package that is delivered to the extension on a continual basis. This means that your HTTPS-Everywhere-protected browser will have more up-to-date coverage for sites that offer HTTPS, and you'll encounter fewer sites that break due to bugs in our list of supported sites. It also means that in the future, third parties can create their own list of URL redirects for use in the extension. This could be useful, for instance, in the Tor Browser to improve the user experience for .onion URLs. This new version is the same old extension you know and love, now with a cleaner behind-the-scenes process to ensure that it's protecting you better than ever before.
You may be familiar with our popular browser extension, available for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and the Tor Browser. The idea is simple: whenever a user visits a site that we know offers HTTPS, we ensure that their browser connects to that site with the security of HTTPS rather than insecure HTTP. This means that users will have the best security available, avoiding subtle attacks that can downgrade their connections and compromise their data. But knowing is half the battle. Keeping the list of sites that offer HTTPS updated is an enormous effort, comprising a collaboration between hundreds of contributors to the extension and a handful of active maintainers to craft what are known as HTTPS Everywhere's "rulesets." At the time of writing, there are over 23,000 ruleset files - each containing at least one domain name (or FQDN, like sub.example.com).
We've modified the extension to periodically check in with EFF to see if a new list is available.
Why go through all this trouble to maintain a list of sites supporting HTTPS, instead of just defaulting to HTTPS? Because a lot of sites still only offer HTTP. Without knowing that a site supports HTTPS, we'd have to try HTTPS first, and then downgrade your connection if it's not available. And for a network attacker, it's easy to fake the browser into thinking that a site does not offer HTTPS. That's why downgrading connections can be dangerous - you can fall right into the trap of an attacker. HTTPS Everywhere forces your browser to use the secure endpoint if it's on our list, thus ensuring that you'll have the highest level of security available for these sites.
Ordinarily, we'll deliver this ruleset list bundled with the extension when you install or update it. But it's a lot of work to release a new version just to deliver a new list of rulesets to you! So we've modified the extension to periodically check in with EFF to see if a new list is available. That way you'll get the newest ruleset list in a timely manner, without having to wait for a new version to be released. In order to verify that these are the authentic EFF rulesets, we've signed them so that your browser can check that they're legitimate, using the Web Crypto API. We've also made it easy for developers and third parties to publish their own rulesets, signed with their own key, and build that into a custom-made edition of HTTPS Everywhere. We've called these "update channels," and the extension is capable of digesting multiple update channels at the same time.
This is just the start
In the future, we plan to build on this feature, making it easy for users to modify the set of update channels they digest in their own HTTPS Everywhere instance. This will entail building out a nicer user experience to modify, delete, and edit update channels.
The fact is that only a small subset of the ruleset files change in a given time. So we'll also be researching how to safely deliver to your browser only the changes between one edition of the rulesets and the next. This will save you a lot of bandwidth, which is especially important in contexts where your ISP provides a slow or throttled connection.
Today, as always, we aim to better your browsing experience by protecting your data with this latest release. We're excited to use bring you these new features, just as we've been glad to keep your browsing safe ever since we launched HTTPS Everywhere in 2010.
We'd like to thank Fastly for providing the bandwidth necessary to deliver our ruleset updates.
If you haven't already, please install and contribute to HTTPS Everywhere, and consider donating to EFF to support our work!
Security Education
Deeplinks Blog by Karen Gullo | January 9, 2023
EFF and Partners Call Out Threats to Free Expression in Draft Text as UN Cybersecurity Treaty Negotiations Resume
EFF is attending this week and next a new round of negotiations over the proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty to raise concerns that draft provisions now on the table include a long list of content-related crimes that pose serious threats to free expression, privacy, and the legitimate activities of journalists,...
Deeplinks Blog by Bill Budington, Cooper Quintin | December 24, 2022
EFF's Threat Lab Sharpens Its Knives: 2022 in Review
EFF's Threat Lab is dedicated to deep-dive investigations that examine technology-enforced power imbalances in society. In 2022 we've sharpened our knives and honed our skills in an effort to bring down the stalkerware industry, taken aim at invasive surveillance by police, raised red flags around the security and privacy...
Deeplinks Blog by Cindy Cohn | December 22, 2022
It's impossible to cover everything we've done this year in a blog post that doesn't take the whole new year to read. But rest assured, we did a lot and none of it would be possible without our members, supporters, and all of you who stood up and took action...
Press Release | December 1, 2022
International Coalition of Rights Groups Call on Internet Infrastructure Providers to Avoid Content Policing
San Francisco—Internet infrastructure services—the heart of a secure and resilient internet where free speech and expression flows—should continue to focus their energy on making the web an essential resource for users and, with rare exceptions, avoid content policing. Such intervention often causes more harm than good, EFF and its partners...
Deeplinks Blog by Katharine Trendacosta, Erica Portnoy | November 8, 2022
The Filter Mandate Bill Is a Privacy and Security Mess
Among its many other problems, the Strengthening Measures to Advance Rights Technologies Copyright Act would mandate a slew of filtering technologies that online service providers must "accommodate." And that mandate is broad, so poorly-conceived, and so technically misguided that it will inevitably create serious privacy and security risks. Since 1998,...
Deeplinks Blog by Gennie Gebhart | September 7, 2022
VICTORY: Slack Offers Retention Settings to Free Workspaces
In a victory for users, Slack has fixed its long-standing retention problems for free workspaces. Instead of holding onto your messages on its servers for as long as your workspace exists, Slack is now giving free workspace admins the option to automatically delete all messages older than 90 days....
Deeplinks Blog by Karen Gullo | August 17, 2022
Arrest of a Stalkerware-maker in Australia Underscores Link Between Stalkerware and Domestic Abuse
The ease with which bad actors can find a worldwide market for malicious apps that spy on people's digital devices is at the center of an Australian Federal Police case against a man who, starting at the age of 15, wrote a stalkerware application and sold it to 14,500 people...
Deeplinks Blog by Jillian C. York, Gennie Gebhart, Jason Kelley, David Greene | April 25, 2022
Twitter Has a New Owner. Here's What He Should Do.
Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter highlights the risks to human rights and personal safety when any single person has complete control over policies affecting almost 400 million users. And in this case, that person has repeatedly demonstrated that they do not understand the realities of platform policy at scale.
Deeplinks Blog by rainey Reitman | March 29, 2022
Podcast Episode: Securing the Internet of Things
Today almost everything is connected to the internet - from your coffeemaker to your car to your thermostat. But the "Internet of Things" may not be hardwired for security. Window Snyder, computer security expert and author, joins EFF hosts Cindy Cohn and Danny O'Brien as they delve into the scary...


text:
Afrolucina discontinua is een tweekleppigensoort uit de familie van de Lucinidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 2006 door Cosel.

Lucinidae


text:
Oscars: Hottest After Parties
Published at 1:00 am on March 3, 2014
Your favorite stars mixing and mingling off the red carpet.
Getty Images for EJAF
Lady Gaga, tv personality Kelly Osbourne and Sir Elton John attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Kim Kardashian, Sir Elton John and Kourtney Kardashian attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Taylor Swift (L) and Sir Elton John attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Filmmaker Spike Jonze and director Alfonso Cuaron attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Britney Spears attends the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Actor Brad Pitt kisses screenwriter John Ridley's hand as they attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
WireImage
Actors Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling, and B. J. Novak attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Viewing Dinner Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Actress Anjelica Huston (L) and designer Tom Ford attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Viewing Dinner Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Sari Mercer and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Lauren Miller, Leslie Mann, and Seth Rogen attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Viewing Dinner Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Actress Jaime King (L) and recording artist Taylor Swift attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Judges on "America's Got Talent" Heidi Klum and Mel B attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Singer Steven Tyler (L) and Russell Simmons attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
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Actress Jane Fonda, Sir Elton John, and designer Donatella Versace attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party with Chopard at the City of West Hollywood Park on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Musician Adam Levine (L) and actor Jon Hamm attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Viewing Dinner Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
Actor/musician Jared Leto and brother Shannon Leto pose with his Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role award at the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt at the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Lupita Nyong'o with her Best Actress award at the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Cate Blanchett poses with her Oscar at the Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.


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WSKG (https://wskg.org/news/new-education-leaders-in-pa-legislature-seek-to-reduce-role-of-state-tests/)
New Education Leaders In PA Legislature Seek To Reduce Role Of State Tests
By Avi Wolfman-Arent | January 23, 2019
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KEYSTONE CROSSROADS – State Rep. Curt Sonney hails from just outside Erie representing an 'L'-shaped district jammed into the state's northwestern corner.
State Sen. Ryan Aument comes from the state's heartland, and represents a chunk of fast-growing Lancaster County.
But the two Republican lawmakers have something important in common: they will lead the education committees in their respective chambers this legislative session. Their appointments make them major players on an issue that tends to draw considerable attention in Harrisburg.
Aument, a fixture on House and Senate Education Committees since arriving in Harrisburg eight years ago, has personal and professional ties to education. He majored in the subject while in college at The Citadel, and his wife taught for years at the Milton Hershey School near Harrisburg.
As a freshman representative in 2011 he quickly identified education as a way to establish himself in Harrisburg.
"I recognized early on there was a real opportunity to have an influence and be really useful in the caucus," Aument said.
Within months of arriving in the capitol, Aument helped spearhead the creation of a statewide teacher evaluation law — which, in part, uses student performance on standardized tests to determine a teacher's effectiveness.
Aument now says that system relies too heavily on exam scores and plans to work across the aisle to adjust that balance.
FILE PHOTO: Sen. Ryan Aument (R- Lancaster). (Photo: Marie Cusick/ StateImpact Pensnylvania)
"There is a sense that the pendulum has swung too far and we need to do more to allow our educators, our school leaders, to be innovative, more creative, and to do what they do best," Aument said.
Aument was also a major backer of legislation that diminished teacher seniority rules and gave school districts more flexibility when it comes to layoffs. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the bill initially, but allowed it to pass into law without his signature in 2017 as part of a larger package of education-related policies.
As committee chair, Aument says he wants to focus on legislation that has bipartisan support. He expects those bills to cover topics like career and technical education and funding for higher education.
He acknowledges, however, that old education debates are likely to reemerge this session.
He expects some of his Republican colleagues to reintroduce legislation on education savings accounts, which would set aside some taxpayer money for parents to use to pay private school tuition.
Although Republicans lost a potential ally when Democrats didn't reappoint school-choice-supporter Anthony Hardy Williams (D-Philadelphia) to the Senate Education Committee, Aument believes there will be enough conservative support to "elevate a conversation around those issues."
The state's two-decade-old charter law also inspires annual debate in Harrisburg, and Aument again expects the topic to surface. He says he favors "greater accountability and greater transparency of academic outcomes at our charter and cyber charter schools," which is the kind of rhetoric many can get behind. But when it comes to details, Aument admits it will be difficult to strike a balance that works for all sides.
Aument lists his other top priorities as "bolstering school safety, reducing dependence on property taxes for school funding, and tackling student loan debt."
Rep. Sonney says he wanted the chairmanship of the House Education Committee, but admits he'll have a lot of catching up to do since he hasn't served on the body since 2008.
"I personally am coming into this very open-minded," he said.
Sonney hasn't been a lead sponsor on many education-related bills in recent years. One exception: he has repeatedly introduced a measure that would require families to pay for their spot in a cyber charter school if their district offers an in-house cyber option.
A longtime member of the House Appropriations Committee, Sonney also helpedthe Erie City School District secure $14 million in extra state funding in 2017 after the superintendent threatened to shutter its high schools in the midst of a budget crisis.
School leaders in Erie have advocated for the state to run more money through the school funding formula enacted in 2016, which greatly benefits districts with high poverty, high tax effort and stable or growing enrollment.
The formula is designed to make education funding more predictable while, in theory, eliminating the need for emergency cash injections such as Erie received.
Sonney, though, disagrees that the formula should be implemented more rapidly, noting the ill-effects it would cause to many districts where population has plummeted. As of now, only increases to state funding since 2015-16 are distributed through the formula.
"The only thing the new funding formula does is make a different set of winners and losers," said Sonney. "That's all it does. That's why it has to be graduated in."
Like Aument, Sonney plans to prioritize legislation on career and technical education. He also wants to get into classrooms around the state and says he plans to visit the wealthiest and poorest districts to "see what the difference is."
On the Democratic side of the aisle, there were no changes in committee leadership. State Rep. James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia) remains the education committee's minority chair in the House and State Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) will keep that role in the Senate.


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This creative greeting card is handmade and intricately designed by talented artisans in Jordan. The women that make the cards benefit from this fair trade business model dedicated to their economic and personal advancement. The card is blank on the inside for a personal note and individually packaged with a high quality envelope and sealed in a plastic sleeve.


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Allahabad HC grants a day's parole to Unnao rape survivor's uncle to attend last rites of wife killed in Sunday's accident
Allahabad HC granted one-day parole to Unnao rape survivor's uncle Mahesh Singh to attend the last rites of his wife who was killed in a road accident. The Unnao rape survivor's family filed a complaint alleging 'conspiracy' behind the Sunday's car crash. The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the road accident.
Press Trust of India July 30, 2019 14:35:30 IST
Allahabad HC granted one-day parole to Unnao rape survivor's uncle Mahesh Singh to attend the last rites of his wife who was killed in a road accident
The Unnao rape survivor's family filed a complaint alleging 'conspiracy' behind the Sunday's car crash
The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the road accident
Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted one-day parole to Unnao rape survivor's uncle Mahesh Singh to attend the last rites of his wife who was killed in a road accident on Sunday. The Lucknow bench of the high court directed the jail superintendent and district authorities to ensure that Singh is taken for the cremation at Gangaghat in tight security.
Representational image. CNN News 18
The court directed senior registrar of the high court to communicate the copy of the order to jail and district authorities immediately for compliance. Justice Mohammad F A Khan directed officials to bring Singh back to the jail by the evening after the cremation. Singh's appeal against his conviction in a criminal case is pending in the high court.
The rape survivor's family members sat on a dharna outside the hospital where she is undergoing treatment, demanding parole to her uncle. The Unnao rape survivor's family filed a complaint alleging "conspiracy" behind the Sunday's car crash.
Jailed BJP MLA Sengar and nine others were booked for murder on Monday, a day after the car in which the 19-year old rape survivor, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by a speeding truck in Rae Bareli, killing two members and leaving her and the advocate critically injured.
The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the road accident. The woman belonging to Makhi police station area in Unnao had alleged that Sengar, a four-time MLA who represents Bangermau in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, raped her teenage daughter at his residence in 2017.
The case had come to light after the victim allegedly attempted self-immolation outside chief minister Yogi Adityanath's residence. Sengar, who is an accused in the rape case, was arrested on 13 April last year.
Updated Date: July 31, 2019 13:24:32 IST
Kuldeep Singh Sengar
Mahesh Singh
UP polls will be about '80 percent vs 20 percent' and BJP will win says Adityanath
The BJP after forming government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, has worked on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Adityanath said
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In a video, Rana can be seen sobbing and claiming that the party has made him a joke
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It would be unwise to jump to conclusions on the basis of the exit of a slew of OBC leaders from the BJP. As of now, the OBC revolt is a small one and has not resulted in an explosion.
UP Assembly Election 2022: BJP to return to power with 'overwhelming majority', says Yogi Adityanath after EC announces poll dates
The Election Commission has announced seven-phase voting in Uttar Pradesh starting 10 February. Counting of votes will take place in March, along with four other poll-bound states
Elections in pandemic times: Why our political parties need to switch to digital canvassing
If the nation, pushed by Covid-19, switched to online working in a short time, then in similar circumstances, it can move to digital canvassing
Head-on | Is Uttar Pradesh still an 80:20 contest, as Yogi Adityanath says, or have the odds shortened?
The Samajwadi Party hopes to build a Yadav-Muslim-OBC rainbow coalition, unravelling Yogi Adityanath's 80:20 formula
'Hare Ram, Hare Krishna': Ahead of 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls, politicians seek divine intervention
All eyes are on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and whether he will visit Ram temple during his Ayodhya visit on 9 January.
Uttar Pradesh Election 2022 Voting Dates: Polling to be held in 7 phases; check key details here
According to the official schedule given by the Election Commission, the Uttar Pradesh polls will be held in seven phases from 10 February to 7 March this year.


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Home InDepth Op-Eds Canadians, UN, Judges: Palestinian Authority Is Rigging the Courts
Khaled Abu Toameh
Canadians, UN, Judges: Palestinian Authority Is Rigging the Courts
The judges accuse the Palestinian Authority of making a mockery of the Palestinian court system.
20 Tishri 5773 – October 5, 2012
Photo Credit: Ma'an Images
Deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Hassan Khraishah says the PA is trying to take over the judiciary system.
In an unprecedented move, Palestinian judges in Judea and Samaria this week went on strike in protest against the Palestinian Authority's repeated attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of the judiciary system.
The judges' protest shows that the Palestinian Authority is making a mockery of the courts in the West Bank. Moreover, it shows that the Palestinian Authority leadership wants the judges to issue verdicts that do not embarrass or harm senior Palestinian officials.
The protest raises serious questions about the international community's efforts to help the Palestinian Authority build a proper and credible judicial system in the West Bank.
The Canadian Development Agency, with the help of the UN Development Program, has been funding projects aimed at building new courthouses in the Judea and Samaria "to improve the Palestinians' access to justice."
But building new courthouses is not exactly what Palestinians need. Justice can be achieved even if the judges, lawyers, prosecutors and defendants sit in a tent.
Instead of investing in new buildings, it would be more helpful if the Canadians and UN agency demanded that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his aides stop obstructing the work of the judges.
Hasan Khraisheh, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), told the daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the Palestinian Authority was trying to seize control over the judiciary system by appointing its supporters to senior positions.
By seeking to appoint the justice minister as attorney-general, the Palestinian Authority leadership is trying to avoid the possibility of holding any of its senior officials accountable, Khraisheh added. "There should be complete separation between the executive and legislative bodies," he argued.
The attorney-general's job has been vacant since the resignation last month of Ahmed al-Mughni, who had filed corruption charges against two cabinet ministers.
"We want to be fully independent in our work," said Ibrahim Amr, chairman of the Palestinian Judges' Society. "We don't want anyone or any party to interfere with our work."
Amr said that decision to strike came after his colleagues and he felt that there were attempts to "affect judges' rulings."
He also warned the Palestinian Authority leadership against pursuing its attempts to take control of the judiciary system. "This marks the beginning of the collapse of the Palestinian judicial system," he cautioned.
The judges say they are particularly concerned by the Palestinian Authority government's attempt to appoint the justice minister also as attorney-general, saying the move violates the Palestinian constitution and threatens the independence of the judiciary system.
In addition, the Palestinian judges are angry because the Palestinian Authority has been amending and passing new laws without consulting them or seeking the approval of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
Now it remains to be seen whether the Canadians and U.N. agencies will listen to the voices of the angry judges and demand that the Palestinian Authority halt its attempts to control the judiciary system. Ignoring these voices will allow Abbas and his top aides to turn Palestinian judges into obedient servants of the Palestinian Authority leadership.
Originally published by the Gatestone Institute.
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Khaled Abu Toameh, an Arab Muslim, is a veteran award-winning journalist who has been covering Palestinian affairs for nearly three decades.
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Charlie Hall 20 Tishri 5773 – October 5, 2012 at 11:03 PM
And independent judiciary is essential to a free society — the words of Alexander Hamilton ring as true today as over two centuries ago. And powerful special interests will do what they can to compromise that independence. This is true in Israel as well as in the PA; the vitriol directed towards the Israeli Supreme Court is worse than I've seen in any other democracy.
Beshalaḥ: Between Freedom & Liberation
The Hebrew Identity Rav Yehuda Hakohen
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I didn't always have acne. Growing up in high school, I had just a few spots every now and then. I didn't have perfect skin, but I also didn't have the worst skin.
Last year, my skin reached a new level of bad. I lived in a small town in Louisiana, and there weren't many healthy and organic options to choose from when it came to food. I ate a lot of organic chili, organic garbanzo beans, and organic carrots. Naturally, I ended up eating some non-organic things due to a number of factors (which I take full responsibility for), so my health declined along with that. My skin progressively got worse and worse.
I know for a fact that my acne was correlated with my diet because I was breaking out mainly on my lower cheeks, which is often thought of as being a mirror for our stomachs, digestive system, large intestines, etc. You get the idea! I wasn't breaking out nearly as bad anywhere else compared to my cheeks. At one point, it got pretttttty bad. I should have taken a picture of just how bad it got so you guys could see for yourself, but around this time I was avoiding cameras like the plague. Which is a shame, because I'm really passionate about modeling. Anyway, thanks to Face Mapping Charts, it wasn't very hard to isolate the issue.
I'll talk more about diet later.
In this post, I want to share with you the things I did to totally eliminate my acne and acne scars. I'm going to mention several things, because I can't attribute my clear skin to one thing in particular. When I got fed up with having bad skin, I did A TON of research, and started implementing several different healthy habits and natural routines into my life. My skin's healing was a result of a number of different factors, which all worked together in harmony to nourish my skin. I wish I could say straight up 100% *THIS ONE THING* is what cured my acne, but it wasn't that simple. It took a lot of experimenting to find what worked for me. All I know for sure is that what I'm going to share with you are the things that have worked and are still working for me now.
I use a lot of honey in my life. I get the big jars of raw organic honey from the health food store, and I scoop a decent amount into a smaller jar to keep in the bathroom. It's important to keep things used in the bathroom for skin care separate from things used in the kitchen for cooking for obvious reasons! I felt I should mention that just in case. Anyway, sometimes I'll just dampen my fingertips with warm water and rub honey on my face and then splash it off. Other times I'll put the honey on my face and leave it on for a while-- sometimes over an hour! I just pull my hair back in a ponytail, wash dishes or something, and sometimes I forget I have it on my face until I lick my lips or accidentally touch my skin and it's all sweet and sticky! I feel the longer I leave it on- the better. I find that honey is a perfect cleanser for my face, and it also helps fade acne scars. Overall, I love this stuff.
I like this because it's super inexpensive and works great. I keep some baking soda in a upcycled glass spice jar in my shower. Whenever I am showering, I splash some warm water on my face (never use hot water!!) to open my pores a little bit, next I shake about a tablespoon of baking soda from the spice jar into the palm of my hand, then I rub it into my face in a circular motion. I love cleansing with baking soda because, not only is an effective cleanser for the skin, but it also acts as a mild exfoliant.
I am in love with Dr. Bronner's soaps. My favorites are the rose and almond ones. I'm currently using the almond scented one, and I love it. I always buy the biggest bottle they sell because this stuff last me a long time. I find if I pour some in my hands and lather it with a bit of water, it makes for one helluva incredible-smelling and gentle cleanser.
Sometimes I will massage my face with a combination of castor oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and macadamia nut oil. I have a lot more oils, too. Sometimes I use castor oil on its own, but often times I will dilute it with one or more of the other oils I mentioned. I can imagine some people with what they believe to be oily skin are saying, "What?? Why would I want to put oil on my face?!" but trust me, oil cleansing can actually help balance out your natural oil production! It's similar to how not shampooing hair can balance the oil production from our scalp. There's a whole science behind oil cleansing which I don't want to get into here. There are tons of articles and testimonials on the web, so if you're interested in reading more about the oil cleansing method, click here. I highly recommend it for all skin types! This is one of the reasons my face glows!
Hydrosols are flower waters made by steam-distilling plants. The hydrosol encapsulates all the good stuff each plant has to offer. They smell wonderful too, so when you mist your face with them, not only are you nourishing and replenishing your skin, you also get some awesome aromatherapeutic benefits. I'm just now discovering the wonderful world of Hydrosols. I plan on making my own blends with herbs like jasmine, sage, and lavender. My favorite so far is classic rosewater. My skin just loves it. On top of that, it smells heavenly. I can only imagine how good a jasmine one would smell!
Witch Hazel is commonly used to treat cuts and wounds. As a toner, it refreshes and tightens the skin, while also locking in moisture. If you buy witch hazel, make sure you buy an alcohol-free brand, like Thayers.
I like to use tea tree oil as a spot-treatment after I cleanse my skin. Some people don't like the smell, but I personally love it. I find it refreshing and invigorating. Tea tree oil is anti-fungal and antibacterial. I notice it reduces redness. Most people recommend diluting it with water, but I apply it straight onto my trouble areas. Otherwise, if I feel like using it all over my face, I dilute it with a little olive, coconut, jojoba, or rose hip seed oil.
I can't say enough good things about aloe. It helps fade scars, helps heal existing acne, tightens the skin, improves complexion, etc. It basically does it all. I couldn't go without mentioning Aloe Vera!
*Rose Hip Seed Oil - Rich in Vitamin C, helps fade acne scars, improves complexion.
*Jojoba Oil - Similar to our skin's natural oil, loaded in B vitamins, leaves nothing to be desired.
*Coconut Oil - Promotes collagen production, helps retain moisture already present in the skin, a must-have for skincare DIYs.
This stuff is seriously amazing. I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is. But I'll try. I don't know why it took me so long to discover this stuff. I've heard of vegetable glycerin before in countless DIYs, such as beet juice lip stains and homemade essential oil perfumes. Finally, I decided I must have some to play around with. I bought a big bottle, and I am so glad I did. Once I had it in my hands, I said, "Okay, show me what you're made of.." I started googling all the uses for vegetable glycerin. I stumbled across an article saying it's great to moisturize curly hair, so I tried that and was impressed. I figured, why not try it on my face too? Hehe, I love experimenting. So I did one night. Best thing I ever did! I woke up the next day with glowing skin.. somehow my entire complexion seemed brighter! I wont ever go without this stuff again. Total win for my skin.
I actually have a funny story about how I found out Schizandra is great for skin. I often travel to Rochester, New York to work for an upcoming organic line of teas called Tea Witch Tea. The last time I was there, I chose my plant name. There was a ritual involving a blindfold, drums, sage, and, well, you get the picture.. I chose Schizandra. I didn't know much about Schizandra apart from the fact that it's a staple superfood for many health gurus. What I didn't know is that it's also one of the best gifts I would ever give my skin. When purchasing Schizandra, make sure you find a pure, high quality source. The best source I've found is 100% hands down Lucidera. I just mix a little bit of Schizandra powder with some water and drink up. I also sometimes blend it in a smoothie, mix it in kava, or take the powder straight up.
This one took forever to sink in! For a long time, I was combining grains and fats, which was a major problem for my digestive system. Now I try to keep digestion as simple as possible, but I still allow myself to indulge and stray from the path a little. If you want to see a really cool chart for food combining, check this one out here.
Living in a clean environment should be common sense when preventing acne, yet somehow I remained ignorant to this fact for most of my life! Why I hadn't made the connection sooner, I don't know, but now that I do know, I make sure to always avoid letting any bacteria come into contact with my skin.
It's super important to not touch your face when you have acne. It only makes it worse! I know because I used to hide behind my hands and hair when I had acne. Even though I would wash my hands a lot, the bacteria from my hands would transfer onto my skin and wreak havoc. And popping pimples is a big DON'T! I know having a big zit that's ready to blow is *really* unsightly, but popping it will just force the bacteria back into your skin and it will spread to the surrounding tissue. So not only will you cause potential scarring from popping it, but you will also cause more spots.. which is not what we want, right? Think to yourself, "Stop before you Pop!"
Washing pillow cases often may seem obvious, but I was totally ignorant of this before! We rub our faces on our pillow cases every night, and if our faces aren't clean every time, we transfer the bacteria onto the pillow cases! Eww! It's so important to routinely wash your pillow cases. Once every two weeks or every month should be okay. The more often, the better! Keep those babies clean!
Keeping my cell phone clean was another thing I didn't think about until a dear friend of mine (who's an esthetician and herbalist) and I were talking about my acne. She looked at me and asked, "How often do you clean your phone?" I was ashamed to realize that I hardly ever clean my phone, and I was putting it up to my face to answer calls all the time! Now I wipe it down with antibacterial wipes or rubbing alcohol to keep it clean, but I also avoid holding it to my face due to Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMFs) now anyway.
I want to reiterate how important it is to eat a pure and simple diet. Our skin loves hydrating foods and especially loves veggies! Greens, such as kale and spinach, nourish our bodies on a cellular level. It's *super important* to eat a healthy, well-rounded diet if you want to see improvement in your skin.
Wow, that was a lot of typing, and I really hope you enjoyed this post and maybe even learned something! If you struggle with acne, I hope what I shared with you here will help you on your journey to beautiful, clear skin! Trust me, you will get there.
Check back Wednesday for a new post!
This is the best thing I've read in awhile,very detailed. I look forward to reading the book. I will be your first buyer,let me know when it is published..I loved it especially pictures of the gorgeous veggies..