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How SMEs can prepare for Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone
Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone could be just a year away. Rebecca Chedd, Environmental Business Advisor at GC Business Growth Hub, sets out how businesses should prepare.
Trouble with air pollution in our towns and cities has been consistently in the news for several years now. Emissions of nitrogen dioxide and tiny particulate matter from vehicle exhausts, particularly diesel vehicles, are linked with respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and even dementia. In Manchester, which has the highest levels of air pollution in the North West, emergency hospital admissions for asthma are more than twice the national average. In total, air pollution is thought to cause around 40,000 early deaths a year nationwide, including 1,200 in Greater Manchester.
What's a Clean Air Zone?
These shocking statistics mean we have, in the words of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, a moral obligation to act. After being tasked by government to work up a suitable solution, Greater Manchester has set out plans for a comprehensive Clean Air Zone (CAZ), within which the most polluting vans, lorries, private hire vehicles, coaches, buses and taxis will be charged a daily penalty for travelling on local roads.
The ultimate aim is to discourage the use of heavily polluting vehicles and encourage businesses to upgrade them to a cleaner model. Greater Manchester isn't acting alone – a network of Clean Air Zones is being established in major urban areas across the country. However, the scale of Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone is unprecedented outside of London. It will cover the entirety of the city region's 500 square miles 24 hours a day, encompassing not just Manchester but also Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
Under the proposals, non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs (those typically registered before 2013) would be charged £100 per day from 2021. Non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, vans and minibuses (typically pre-2016) would be charged £7.50 per day, although Greater Manchester leaders are pushing for an exemption for vans until 2023.
What does the CAZ mean for my business?
Whether directly or indirectly, every single SME in Greater Manchester will be affected. There are currently around 11,000 non-compliant HGVs and 77,000 non-compliant vans registered in Greater Manchester, notwithstanding the many thousands registered elsewhere that travel through the city region every day. Even if you don't use a van in your business, your suppliers will, and they will face increasing costs to deliver to you if they don't upgrade their older vehicles.
Under the current plan, a single non-compliant van using Greater Manchester's roads five days a week would rack up just under £2,000 in charges over the course of a year. A non-compliant HGV would be charged £26,000.
To support businesses with upgrading their vehicles, Greater Manchester has asked government for a series of Clean Vehicle Funds. One of these is a £59 million Clean Commercial Vehicle Fund, which would provide small businesses, sole traders and the voluntary sector with a discount on a compliant vehicle when scrapping their old one. Officials are also exploring options for a Clean Air Loan Scheme, which could provide capital loans at preferential rates. To encourage more businesses to go electric, Greater Manchester also intends to triple the size of its electric vehicle charging network.
How should I prepare for the CAZ?
The government is currently considering Greater Manchester's proposals, and a statutory public consultation on the plans will take place over the coming months. In the meantime, here is what you can do to prepare yourself:
Familiarise yourself with Greater Manchester's Clean Air Plan: Visit www.cleanairgm.com to learn more about the proposals and sign up to receive updates. There is a tool on the website to help you establish whether your vehicle is compliant or not.
Check for Clean Air Zones in other destinations: If you regularly use a van to visit or deliver to other cities, check to see if they have their own Clean Air Zone plans. Birmingham and Leeds will be implementing charging zones later this year, while Sheffield, Bristol and others are finalising proposals.
Calculate the lifetime costs of any non-compliant vehicles: If you have a non-compliant vehicle, work out how much you will likely be charged for its normal expected use and add this cost into your financial forecasts. This will help you build a business case for deciding whether to upgrade the vehicle or pay the penalties.
If you are planning to purchase a new vehicle, make sure it's compliant: Compliant vehicles are petrol or diesels with a Euro 6 engine, or a hybrid or pure electric model if feasible. There are an increasing number of pure electric vans coming onto the market and although the upfront cost is higher, the lifetime costs are far lower when you take into account running, maintenance and tax. Government grants are available for both vehicles and workplace charging infrastructure.
Don't rule out tighter requirements in future: When planning your next vehicle purchase, consider the long-term risks of choosing petrol or diesel over electric. An electric vehicle will ensure you are compliant with any possible future climate change or air pollution measures. They also provide additional benefits in terms of environmental performance and improving your corporate image.
Consider the market value of any non-compliant vehicles: Once Clean Air Zones kick in around the country, expect the re-sale value of older vans to drop significantly. Selling sooner rather than later may recoup more funds to invest in a compliant vehicle or electric model.
Speak to your customers and suppliers: It could be less than a year away, yet awareness of the proposed Clean Air Zone remains low amongst SMEs. Make sure your suppliers know about it so that they can make their own mitigation plans.
Please note, The Clean Air Plan is being postponed due to the Covid19 outbreak, and may look different to the original plan. Please see the full update here.
Want to learn more? Get in touch with our Resource Efficiency Team.
This article originally appeared on www.green-growth.org.uk.
Rebecca Chedd, Environmental Business Advisor
Rebecca has eight years' experience of working in the environmental sector and has been supporting SMEs as part of the Hub's Resource Efficiency team since 2015. Rebecca has previously delivered carbon reduction workshops for organisations including Transport for Greater Manchester and Great Places Housing Group. Rebecca holds an MSc in Energy and the Environment and is an Associate Member of IEMA.


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Law firms start collective action against BA
Law firm SPG Law has started the process of gathering names for a group action in the recent British Airways security breach that compromised more than 380,000 customers sensitive personal data.
The data that was hacked included names, debit/credit card numbers (including expiry dates and CVV's), addresses and email addresses. While BA dutifully notified the ICO and its customers, and promised to reimburse customers who suffer "direct financial losses", it now faces an ICO investigation and is likely to receive a hefty fine under the UK DP Act 2018.
EU GDPR's Article 82 provides individuals a right to compensation for non-material damage. "This means compensation for inconvenience, distress and annoyance associated with the data leak… By joining a group action that we believe will attract thousands of others like you led by the experts at SPG Law, you have the best chance of ensuring you receiver the highest compensation possible from BA," SPG says.
Law firm Hayes Connor Solicitors is also starting collective action against BA, and says that it expects to claim up to £5,000 per person.
The ICO announced that it has received BA's breach notification and is investigating the incident. A criminal inquiry is being led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
i - British Airways data attack record fine threat
SPG Law - Why you should claim compensation
Hayes Connor Solicitors - What happened in the British Airways data breach?
Privacy Laws & Business has organised, in association with the Brussels Privacy Hub, a workshop on 23 October in Brussels to raise awareness of upcoming challenges flowing from the GDPR's Art. 80 on individuals' right of redress via collective (class) action.
The workshop, 'The future for collective action under the GDPR' is a side event to the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. The event is free of charge but requires pre-registration as places are limited.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If you're a semi-regular reader, or if you're a follower on any of my social media accounts, you've probably noticed something about me: I write. A lot. Like, every day.
I suppose that's not an entirely unique quality for a writer to have. But I'm sure, for some who do follow me, it's annoying. Or weirdly inspiring. Or I'm just putting words in your mouth again. Sorry, my bad.
Maybe you're one of those who wonders how I do it—write so much, I mean. Honestly, I've been waiting for the chance to let you in on a few of my secrets. Once again, Darren Rowse has pushed that door wide open. Today, I've been challenged to be honest. To show you how I balance my life as an aspiring, apparently prolific writer with, well, everything else.
It's not easy to wake up and decide you're going to write an article, a blog post and a few good tweets (what? That takes some effort). Sometimes you just don't feel like it. Honestly, lately, I haven't felt like it at all. Yet I still post here daily, among other things. So what's my strategy for overcoming the "I don't feel like writing" mindset? Planning ahead. Come on, you knew that was coming.
I plan my weeks out every Sunday night. I know when I have an article due and I make sure to work on it multiple days in a row, a little at a time, if I know I'm going to be swamped with other projects. I have some specific days on Novelty Revisions dedicated to specific topics (i.e., Solution Saturday, discussion days and my midweek novel updates). I always try to write 1,000 words of my book. I make sure I know what's coming every day so that I'm ready, and motivated, even when I'd rather be doing something else.
I'll admit, it does get boring, writing what feels like the same thing over and over again. I don't think I would be able to keep up a daily blog and make steady progress on writing a novel if I only stuck to those things, never branching out to do anything else.
So I try to contribute regularly to multiple publications, such as Lifehack and College Lifestyles (I don't write as much there lately, but I'm behind the scenes, trust me). Basically, I write anywhere I can, as often as I can. Does that take a lot of time? Of course. But it's a lot easier to write a few paragraphs for one article, switch over to some fiction writing and then move on to pitching some new ideas somewhere else than it would be to just focus on one thing. I get a lot more done that way, and I'm less likely to suffer a gap in my productivity.
"I'll just write it later" is not a phrase I allow myself to use very often. Yes, school and work, relationships, keeping up with too many YouTube subscriptions—that's all important. But writing is always near the top of my prioritized to-do list, if it's currently not holding the top spot.
If you want to be a writer, that's just what you have to do. Look at John Green: he just started a social media hiatus to focus on writing for awhile. WHO DOES THAT? Someone dedicated to their work. Someone who recognizes how important it is. I live by the same philosophy—no, I won't be going on a social media hiatus anytime soon. But my writing is like work to me. I do it every day because it is just as important to me as school or family or friends.
If I have something temporarily more important to do, like study or go watch a soccer game, most of the time, I'll put my writing aside for the time being. That might mean staying up later to get it done last, or waking up earlier to get it done first. It is that important to me.
It's not about writing when you feel like it or when you have a free moment. It's about finding time to write regardless of what else might be going on. I find time daily. That probably aggravates some people. Fine. It's not going to stop me from writing as often as I can, and you shouldn't let anything stand in your way, either.
Maybe writing every day isn't your thing. That's okay. But once it becomes a habit, it's kind of hard to function without it.
Previous postWhen Is It Okay to Edit As You Write?
I really like your way of doing things! I need to try it, too. I'd like to think of myself as organized and routinely, but with my writing . . . well, most often, I prefer to do it at nighttime, but that's when my family's free, so they always want to do things. So I don't really feel like I can say no (and I do enjoy spending time with them), and my mom doesn't enjoy me staying up late (still a high school student, heh). I suppose I should try and write more in the mornings. Or maybe do it in chunks, like I've heard lots of people do it, instead of all at once, like I usually do . . .


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Development paradigms contributing to the transformation of the Brazilian Amazon: do people matter?
Elsevier,
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Volumes 26–27, June 2017, Pages 77-83
In the Brazilian Amazon, environmental considerations have not been adequately incorporated into long-term land use planning and this failure has partly been due to the complexities of the country's existing inter-sectorial institutional arrangements. The authors point out the major challenges for the balance between of use of natural resources under a capital-driven agenda and the needs and aspirations of large and widely distributed populations throughout the Amazon region, which could have an important role in sustainability. This article demonstrates the multidiscilpinary nature of the SDGs by exploring the interconnectedness of economic development and environmental concerns.
Biodiversity and ecosystems; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture; Rural development, South America
Land quality, sustainable development and environmental degradation in agricultural districts: A computational approach based on entropy indexes
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Volume 64, May 2017, Pages 37-46
Land Degradation (LD) in socio-environmental systems negatively impacts sustainable development paths. This paper provides an in-depth investigation of changes in biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of agricultural districts over time with the objective to assess local-scale spatial diversification in the degree of land susceptibility to degradation, taken as a proxy of desertification risk, related to SDG 15 (life on land).
Desertification, land degradation and drought; Sustainable consumption and production, Europe
How arable farmers can use livestock to improve soil health
Farmers Weekly,
Livestock has disappeared from swathes of England in the past 50 years as many growers became increasingly specialised. However as our soils increasingly suffer leaching, erosion and compaction from ever-heavier modern machinery, more and more arable farmers are reaping the benefits of bringing sheep and cattle back on to the land. Such measures help support SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
Biodiversity and ecosystems; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture, Europe
What has Driven Deforestation in Developing Countries Since the 2000s? Evidence from New Remote-Sensing Data
World Development, Volume 92, April 2017, Pages 82-102
Using newly-released and globally available high-resolution remote sensing data on forest loss, the authors update the assessment of the cross-country determinants of deforestation in developing countries. Agricultural trade, relatively neglected to date, is found to be one of the main factors causing deforestation. Insights into the relationship between the levels of forestation and trade are vital for understanding how to address SDG 15.2 to promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests.
Biodiversity and ecosystems; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Forests; Trade, Global
Farming and the geography of nutrient production for human use: a transdisciplinary analysis
The Lancet Planetary Health, April 2017
This study has investigated how smallholder farmers contribute to our global food supply. They looked at where farms are located, what type of commodities are produced (plants, livestock's or fish) from farms of different sizes and their nutrition implications. They found that small farms produce 75–100% of all cereal in North America and South America, Australia, and New Zealand , livestock, and fruit in these regions, whereas small farms (<20 ha) found in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, southeast Asia, and China produce 75% of food commodities globally. This is in line with the attainment of SDG 2.
Desertification, land degradation and drought; Food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture; Sustainable consumption and production, Global
How maize growers are countering critics with good husbandry
Critics claim that maize can cause unwanted environmental impacts. But supporters of the crop are able to show how by use of cover crops it can be grown responsibly, reducing or eliminating, for example, nutrient leaching and soil erosion. In south-west England, a Wessex Water project is using cover crops to protect and improve drinking water quality by working with growers whose farms surround boreholes and reservoirs that supply water for human consumption. Steps like this can contribute to SDG 6 to ensure sustainable management of water and SDG 12 to ensure sustainable production.
Biodiversity and ecosystems; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture; Water and sanitation, Europe; Global
Conditions influencing the adoption of effective anti-deforestation policies in South America's commodity frontiers
Global Environmental Change, Volume 43, March 2017, Pages 1-14
Reducing large-scale deforestation in commodity frontiers remains a key challenge for climate change mitigation and the conservation of biodiversity. Public and private anti-deforestation policies have been shown to effectively reduce forest loss, but the conditions under which such policies get adopted are rarely examined. This paper proposes a set of conditions for the adoption of effective anti-deforestation policies. Such conditions will help to advance SDG 15.2 to promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests and halt deforestation.
Climate change; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Forests; Information for integrated Decision-Making & Participation, South America
Recent increases in human pressure and forest loss threaten many Natural World Heritage Sites
Biological Conservation, Volume 206, February 2017, Pages 47-55.
Contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land), this Elsevier Atlas Award winning article quantifies changes in spatial and temporal patterns of human pressure and ecological state across the entire global network of Natural World Heritage Sites and their surrounding landscapes for the first time.
Sustainable cities and human settlements; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Biodiversity and ecosystems; Forests, Global
Blueprint for Business Leadership on SDG 15
The Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs aims to inspire all business — regardless of size, sector or geography — to take leading action in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It illustrates how the five leadership qualities of Ambition, Collaboration, Accountability, Consistency, and Intentional can be applied to a business' strategy, business model, products, supply chain, partnerships, and operations to raise the bar and create impact at scale. The Blueprint is a tool for any business that is ready to advance its principled approach to SDG action to become a leader. This chapter relates specifically to SDG 15.
Biodiversity and ecosystems; Desertification, land degradation and drought; Forests; Mountains; Partner content, Global
Urban adaptation to mega-drought: Anticipatory water modeling, policy, and planning for the urban Southwest
Sustainable Cities and Society, Volume 27, November 2016, Pages 497-504
This paper uses 'Medieval' drought conditions from the 12th Century to simulate the implications of severe and persistent drought for the future of water resource management in metropolitan Phoenix, one of the largest and fastest growing urban areas in the southwestern USA. Anticipatory models enable long-term policy analysis for climate change. Mega-drought results in unsustainable groundwater use between 2000 and 2060. Aggressive drought management policies can produce sustainable yield. The time to manage droughts is before they occur. This relates to SDG 6, SDG 11 and SDG 13.
Desertification, land degradation and drought; Sustainable cities and human settlements; Water and sanitation, North America


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Jordan Horston (25) shoots the ball during the Lady Vols vs Texas A&M game on Jan. 6, 2022 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon
Lady Vols get it done on road behind Horston's big game
Andrew Peters, Staff Writer
Jordan Horston once again led the No. 7 Tennessee Lady Vols to victory, this time on the road against Ole Miss.
Tennessee defeated Ole Miss 70-58 Sunday afternoon after Horston put up her seventh double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 boards.
"I'm just playing basketball. I guess I'm in the right spots at the right times," Horston said. "My teammates are looking for me, I'm looking for my teammates and I'm crashing hard. I'm just here to win basketball games."
Horston, who is averaging a double-double in SEC play, was a big factor in Tennessee's win Sunday, but also helping lead the way was graduate transfer Alexus Dye.
Dye, who has had a quiet first season at Tennessee, had 17 points and 4 rebounds on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting. Dye had a big third quarter, coming out of halftime and scoring 8 quick points to get the Lady Vols started.
"Everybody can get hot, everybody on this team," Horston said. "We have a really good team and when someone's not playing well somebody else is picking up the slack. I love that about this team."
Tess Darby also put up big numbers for the Lady Vols with 13 points and 4 boards. Darby was responsible for a big second quarter run that gave the Lady Vols an 18-point lead going into the half. Darby had 3 three-pointers in the second quarter.
"It's just the same thing start to finish. We have to come out and win every quarter," Darby said. "We knew after halftime they would come in and pressure us. We just had to stay focused."
While some players stepped up and had big performances, others had some games to forget.
Tamari Key had a quieter game than the Lady Vols have gotten accustomed to with just 6 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block. Ole Miss put a focus on containing Key and the Rebels were able to do just that. Fortunately for the Lady Vols, there were other options to look to.
"TK is down there and she does have a presence offensively and defensively," Darby said. "If she doesn't have a solid game that helps us open up but also we know we have to get her the ball down there as well."
On the other hand, the Rebels paint presence was on tonight. Shakira Austin, Ole Miss center and future WNBA first-round pick, was a problem for Tennessee Sunday. Austin had 26 points on a scorching hot 8-of-10 from the field while also tracking down 9 boards.
Despite Austin's big game, Tennessee was able to contain the rest of the Rebels, largely in part due to its control of the boards.
Tennessee out-rebounded the Rebels 46-28 Sunday.
"Offense sells tickets, defense wins games and rebounding wins championships," Horston said. "That's what we're trying to do and the little things matter. I feel like that's a big part of who we are and we embrace that."
Though unranked, Ole Miss was a tough opponent for the Lady Vols. The Rebels came into the game on a 13-game win streak.
"We talked to them about how good this team is and I think they understood that," head coach Kellie Harper said. "They did a good job of tracking on our opponents. They have a good idea of how good a team is well before the scouting report is in our hands."
Follow Andrew Peters


Richard Hadden is a Certified Speaking Professional who helps organizations improve business results by creating a great place to work. An internationally recognized thought leader in the field of Employee Engagement, he is co-author of Contented Cows Give Better Milk, Contented Cows Moove Faster, Rebooting Leadership and Contented Cows STILL Give Better Milk, Revised and Expanded, published by John Wiley & Sons.
He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Fox, and his work has been featured on National Public Radio and in the pages of Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, Workforce Management and many trade and professional association journals. Richard has also earned a Master of Business Administration from The University of North Florida, Jacksonville and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Jacksonville University.
Richard Hadden was a manager for a large savings and loan association in the 1980's. He learned computer programming and worked as a programmer and systems analyst in the field of multi-user microcomputer software, before the advent of PC's. He was Director of Product Development for a software house in North Florida before starting his own software consulting business in 1986.
While consulting, he taught software design, principles of management and international economics at Jacksonville University from 1988-1991. Since 1990 he has delivered keynote presentations and training programs for more than 800 audiences on five continents. In 2000, he received the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. This is the highest earned designation in the speaking profession.
Contented Cows Give Better Milk: Your People...Your Profit - Not your average "leadership" speech. Your People...Your Profit helps leaders make the connection between the work environment they create...and their organization's profitability. Based on Richard's books, Contented Cows Give Better Milk and the new Contented Cows STILL Give Better Milk, this keynote is research-based and filled with practical "to-do's." Audience members will leave this presentation with the knowledge and motivation to turn their workforces into vibrant, competitive weapons.
Bottom Line Leadership - An interactive version of Your People...Your Profit and perfect for leadership training workshops and concurrent session breakouts for groups smaller than a keynote audience.
Rebooting Leadership - The events of the last decade - political, social, technological, and economic, coupled with unprecedented changes in the workforce, call for a hard, new look at our leadership practices. Just as we "reboot" the computer when its operating system fails, the leadership system in most people-intensive organizations needs to hit its reset button. While the fundamentals of leadership have not changed, the way we practice them must reflect today's new realities - a world redefined by the economy, technology, and the "new deal" in the workplace. Based on Richard Hadden's book of the same title, Rebooting Leadership is light on theory, with a heavy dose of practicality. This program provides down-and-dirty nitty-gritty how-to's for leaders charged with getting maximum productivity and customer-winning service in today's world of work.
The Journey Thus Far: Foundations for a Fabulous Future! - Celebrate, recognize, energize, and reward members of your winning organization. Designed for award and recognition events, milestones, annual meetings, or entering a new era in your organization's history. This is your story. Using information gathered through in-depth research from your organization, Richard takes a look at your past and what it took to get where you are today. He will present the current day challenges facing your industry, then he'll combine the two to project the exciting future that lies ahead. Using music, photography, an exciting customized multi-media presentation and something he calls "The View Through The Rear-View Mirror," he leaves your group excited, inspired and moved to achieve even greater successes.
Making the Extra Mile the Best Part of the Trip - Designed for non-management or general audiences, this program explores Employee Engagement from the employee's perspective and provides inspiration and practical advice on going the "extra mile" enthusiastically, while getting more out of your work...and life.


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Home Brooklyn Nets Nets' Jared Dudley Responds To Luke Walton Saying He 'Shouldn't Be Blowing By' Lakers 'At This Stage Of His Career'
Nets' Jared Dudley Responds To Luke Walton Saying He 'Shouldn't Be Blowing By' Lakers 'At This Stage Of His Career'
Lakers Rumors: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Would Approve Trade To Houston Rockets, Who Have Him Atop Wish List
In the 115-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers battled, but could not overcome their poor shooting and defense.
As the Lakers focused in on D'Angelo Russell, his 22 points and 13 assists led six Nets players in double-figures. However, out of those players, Jared Dudley had 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter — including four layups and a timely 3-pointer when the Lakers were making a final push.
After their second consecutive loss to end the four-game road trip, head coach Luke Walton was particularly disappointed with the team's defense on Dudley, via Spectrum SportsNet:
"Dudley had 10 points in the fourth quarter and three of them were blow-by layups. All respect to Dudley. He's been a very good player for years, but he shouldn't be blowing by anyone at this stage of his career."
That drew a response from Dudley, who explained how he set up the Lakers:
Wasn't a blow by.. They was switching every screen, so on my dribbling hand offs I set it up all game by passing them to my teammates until The 4th.. Thats when I started to fake the pass and kept my dribble towards the rim. Not about speed it's about the angles and timing https://t.co/UHbvfEUWpp
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) December 19, 2018
Love Luke! San Diego guy.. nothing but respect to him and his team.. As a coach you hold many hats to your team.. As a future coach I know that sometimes your comments are trying to inspire or get after guys.. https://t.co/uJ4wypypNd
While the Lakers are 18-13 and fourth in the Western Conference, it was clear their depth was tested during the road trip.
Along with Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Rajon Rondo (hand) already out, the Lakers lost JaVale McGee (flu-like symptoms) for the final two games. As a result, Walton had to play Svi Mykhailiuk and Moritz Wagner, who tried their best under the circumstances.
As the Lakers return home, they could very well have all three players back against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the extremely competitive Western Conference, it could not have come at a better time as LeBron James understands the importance of winning now.
Kobe Bryant Joins Twitter For Several Hours Wednesday Night
Last night the internet was ablaze with the news that Los Angeles…
Daniel Buerge
Lakers News: D'Angelo Russell Blames Himself For Lack Of Trust Among Starters
As the Los Angeles Lakers have lost five of their last six games, a theme has begun to emerge of a lack of trust amongst the starters…
Los Angeles Lakers Sign Wesley Matthews To 1-Year Contract
The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of Wesley Matthews, who was the team's first reported addition…
Kobe Bryant's Five Birthday Wishes For This Season
Kobe Bryant just celebrated his 34th birthday and just like every person,…


at any age, can use for their benefit. You no longer have to live your life based on the limitations of what you did or did not learn in high school or college. The answers to nearly every question you will ever have in life are just a few clicks away on the Internet. The worldwide revolution in learning is, self-learning. Become your own best teacher. For those who believe the 'Commencement' exercise you had as you graduated from your last school was the end of learning, you didn't understand the word 'commencement', it's only the beginning of learning life's best kept secrets. Spend two hours a day studying any subject and in five years, or less, you'll become a world class expert in that subject. Go for it! The only limitations you have in today's world are in your own mind.
Presented here is a system, the key that unlocks the door to that secret part of your mind that controls your long-term happiness.
To permanently increase your level of happiness, follow Dr Hansen's suggestions. Make behavioral "baby steps" and continue with those new behaviors until they become habits, the only way of doing what you do.
It's never important what happens to you.
What is important is... WHAT YOU DO (about what happens to you).
The story of "Thomas Edison's Reaction To His Factory Burning Down Shows Why He Was So Successful"
"Touch of a Master's Hand"
MYTH #3: Procrastinating is delaying decisions. "Good leaders often wait and gather more information before choosing a course of action. Procrastinators, on the other hand, avoid making the decision at all...You work on A so you don't have to think about B. It's active avoidance," says Joseph Ferrari, PhD, professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago. Here are all eight (#1 is on point). Fast Company.


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Living Between The Lines Show
Review by Scott-Patrick Mitchell on 23 Jan 2019
FringeFeed Rating
When creating a Fringe show, performers are aware of the risks they must take in order to create particular emotional states in the audience: the more complex the emotions, the greater the risk a performer must fearlessly face head on.
In Living Between The Lines, Los Angeles based actor, singer and writer Michael DeLara takes such an immense risk that the pay-off is simply astounding.
But of course, as is sometimes the case with Fringe, the show begins on a janky, nerve-wracking foot, so much so that one audience member even openly offered DeLara some much needed moral support.
From there, DeLara swerves, nose-dives and lifts. The result is an incredible roller-coaster ride that will leave many stunned.
Definitive highlights are the music: through the use of guitar, vocals and loop pedals, DeLara executes a number of songs that are sincere, uplifting and emotionally astute.
These songs act as a much-needed balm, soothing the savage beast that is the audience, particularly since some of the anecdotes do test the nerve of those present.
What makes this work so brilliant is that it's an incredibly polarising piece of theatre: some people will love it, others will hate it.
There will be those whose empathy is brought so much to the fore that they'll simply want to hug DeLara, who verges so close to an emotional breakdown that yeah, it is a little uncomfortable to watch.
And even more people will be left thinking "WTF" throughout the entire piece and long after they leave the venue.
This work ultimately holds a mirror up to the audience and makes them question their overall reactions to what they are witnessing.
Living Between The Lines is audaciously challenging, almost recklessly so. But DeLara is a deft hand at taking risks, resulting in a nuanced work, one that straddles cabaret, confessional and theatre with brilliant (un)ease.
Love the show? Have your say!
Scott-Patrick Mitchell (SPM) is a West Australian performance poet and writer. SPM appears in such literary journals as Island, Southerly, Westerly and Cordite. SPM has been writing since 1998 and has been involved in the West Australian arts scene since 2002. Visit his 'gram, @spmpoet, for daily doses of wholesome micropoetry.
Music & Musicals 2019
Tony Galati: The Musical
Tony Galati's trademark blue singlet, bushy brows and curly mop are instantly recognisable to almost anyone who calls Perth home…
Tony Galati's trademark blue singlet, bushy brows and curly mop are instantly recognisable to almost anyone who calls Perth home.
Comedy 2019
Kim Kardashian Causes Climate Change (?)
A licensed medical practitioner and Queensland's Raw Comedy winner in 2009, Dr Pam Rana debuts her new show at FRINGE WORLD 2019…
A licensed medical practitioner and Queensland's Raw Comedy winner in 2009, Dr Pam Rana debuts her new show at FRINGE…
Deets of the show


New video of a triangle-shaped formation of lights hovering in the sky above Ituzaingó, the capital of the Ituzaingó Partido in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Argentina. This was recorded on Saturday, 22nd May 2015 around 9 pm.
Russia UFO Hotspot Update: Developing Secret Warplanes?
Fido thoroughly Enjoyed it !!


Have questions regarding health, nutrition or fitness? You have come to the right place!
At BioTrust, our coaches take pride in giving you the coaching support you need to succeed. Below, you will see our most popular questions addressed by our coaches. If you do not see your question below, feel free to contact our coaches by filling out the form below. Our coaches will respond to you via email as quickly as possible.
Ask the Coaches: Why Do I Always Wake Up Sore?
Ask the Coaches: What is Moringa? And What are the Benefits?


Student loan reimbursement programs are a fast growing employee benefit. Approximately 70 percent of 2016 college graduates have student loans with an average balance of $37,000.¹ The Society for Human Resource Management reports that while only about 3 percent of employers offer this benefit, interest among employers is growing rapidly. Research also shows that a student loan repayment benefit is an attractive recruitment and retention benefit.
Employers can take a couple of approaches to help employees with student loan debt repayment. One approach is to offer student loan consolidation services. These services specialize in helping students refinance student loan debt into single monthly payments. Employers make the program available through the workplace and provide administrative/payroll services. Under a consolidation approach there is not an employer contribution being made to pay down the employee's student loan debt.
More and more companies are providing student loan repayment assistance benefits. With this approach, companies are providing financial assistance to help pay down an employee's student loan debt. Typically, the employer agrees to pay a specific amount toward an employee's student loan debt. An important item to keep in mind is that under current IRS regulations, an employer provided student loan debt repayment is taxable to the employee. Various forms of legislation have been proposed to make employer provided student loan debt repayment tax-free up to certain amounts but nothing has been enacted by Congress.
Natixis Global – Pays a $1,000 annual benefit to employees. The benefit is paid out in direct payments to the student loan servicer at $83.33 per month. Maximum benefit is $10,000 over 10 years.
Nvidia – Offers up to $500 per month on student loans to a maximum of $6,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $30,000.
Fidelity Investments – Employees can get $2,000 per year paid to their servicer for a maximum of $10,000.
PricewaterhouseCooper – Employees are eligible to receive $1,200 per year paid directly to the loan servicer for up to six years ($10,000 maximum).
It is important to research student loan debt repayment services available and the type of program your company would like to offer employees. As with any new benefit, there are different variations of these programs coming to market every week.
Student loan debt is a high profile media topic. Employers are moving this benefit up on the priority list to differentiate themselves against their competition in the cut-throat quest to attract and retain great employees.
¹Wall Street Journal. Student Debt is about to Set Another Record, But the Picture Isn't All Bad. May 2016.
Burnham Gibson Wealth Advisors, Inc., is an independent, privately-held firm offering financial planning and investment advice for individuals, and retirement plan services to corporations.
Check the background of your financial professional on - FINRA BrokerCheck.
Investment advisory and asset management services are offered by investment adviser representatives (IARs) through Burnham Gibson Wealth Advisors, Inc. (Burnham Gibson), a registered investment adviser. Burnham Gibson IARs are also, separately and apart from Burnham Gibson, registered representatives who offer securities through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC, as well as agents who offer insurance and annuity products through AXA Network, LLC, which conducts business as AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC in California, and as AXA Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC in Utah. Please note that any Burnham Gibson IAR holding the QKA (Qualified 401(k) Plan Administrator) and/or the CPFA (Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor) professional designation does so only in his or her capacity as an investment advisory representative with Burnham Gibson and entirely outside of AXA Advisors and AXA Network. Neither designation reflects any AXA Advisors/AXA Network investment advisory or other service or product offering. AXA Advisors and AXA Network do not provide ERISA fiduciary, tax or legal advice and are not affiliates of Burnham Gibson. Individuals may transact business and/or respond to inquiries only in state(s) in which they are properly qualified.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. The CLU®, ChFC®, Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® marks are the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use, and is used by permission.
Please note that although Burnham Gibson Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a "registered investment adviser", readers should be aware that registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about the Adviser is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.


Tampa, FL – Repeated, low-dose injections of mononuclear cells derived from human umbilical cord blood (MNC hUCB, tradename: U-CORD-CELL™) have been found effective in protecting motor neuron cells, delaying disease progression and increasing lifespan for mice modeling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, report University of South Florida researchers and colleagues from Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc., and the Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Their study was published in the Feb. 3, 2012 issue of PloS ONE.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis and death. To date, there are no reliable treatments available for ALS, although cell transplantation therapies are promising. The researchers considered MNC hUBC preferable to other potential cell sources for injection because the hUBC cells are rich in primitive stem cells and can develop into various kinds of cells, including neural cells.
According to Dr. Garbuzova-Davis, a "modulatory effect" of the MNC hUCB cells was determined on the inflammatory environment of the spinal cord.
"We hypothesized that the effect of the multiple MNC hUCB cell administrations decreased neuroinflammation in the spinal cord, even when administered into symptomatic mice, resulting in neuroprotection that promoted motor neuron survival," said co-author Maria C. O. Rodrigues, MD, PhD, associated with both USF and the University of Sao Paulo.
Additionally, the researchers found that although the number of grafted cells identified in the spinal cord was low, the treatment was effective, suggesting that various factors secreted by the cells accounted for the therapeutic impact.
Functional improvement in the test mice was determined through a number of tests.
"Because functional improvement was detected in the mice shortly after MNC hUCB administration, a neuroprotective function of the factors secreted by the administered cells is likely, along with some degree of motor neuron repair" Dr. Garbuzova-Davis said.
The study results should provide essential information and the impetus for future clinical trials of low-dose MNC hUBC, said co-author Nicole Kuzmin-Nichols, MBA, president and COO of Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc.
The findings provide new insights and may be key to future treatment in patients with ALS, said Clifton L. Gooch, MD, FAAN, professor and chair of the USF Department of Neurology, director of the USF Neuroscience Collaborative, and founder of the USF ALS Center.
Citation: Garbuzova-Davis S, Rodrigues MCO, Mirtyl S, Turner S, Mitha S, Sodhi J, Suthakaran S, Eve DJ, Sanberg CD, Kuzmin-Nichols N, Sanberg PR. Multiple Intravenous Administrations of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Benefit in a Mouse Model of ALS, PLoS ONE, February 2012.


I just got an email from Antec letting me know about their new 80mm coloured light-emitting case fans - They look very cool indeed, the perfect addition for owners of window modded computer cases. I have posted the press release and a picture of the Blue LED version of the product in the New Products section of our forums.
Antec's LED fans are available in blue only or TriLight (red, green and blue) models. Both are completely translucent, down to the bearings, for maximum illumination. The LED fans feature a four-pin molex connector and separate three-pin tachometer wire to measure the fan speed. "Computer components are just too dull and boring for the gamer and upgrade markets," said Scott Richards, vice-president of sales and marketing at Antec. "With this new fan we're bringing style and fun to the PC without compromising on high performance standards."
More information in the New Products Forum.


October Hidden Crown Facebook Contest Winner!
Congratulations Charity L. Eady ! You are our October Hidden Crown Hair Extensions Giveaway WINNER!
♥ You now get to enjoy a Hidden Crown in the color and length of your choice.
Charity, please Facebook message us to claim your prize!
Stay tuned for our November giveaway!


I have just harvested the last of my broad beans. The plants were beginning to die off, and had attracted some kind of aphid. However, the beans themselves, once podded, were fine.
I now have a large bowl of beans – probably enough for a week's worth of dinners, if I hadn't already been eating them with almost every hot meal!
However, just as the broad beans end, my sugar snaps have begun. In a week they seem to have gone from nothing to being covered with pods.
As the sugar snaps are definitely best eaten young, and I have had my fill of broad beans (for now), I am going to blanch the beans, remove the outer skin, then freeze them. Then when I need a taste of sunshine in November, I'll know what to cook.
I understand that I should cut the bean plants off at ground level, leaving the roots in the earth to rot, as they are a valuable source of nitrogen for the soil. I'll probably plant some more salad leaves there, as my remaining lettuces are bolting.


Essence classic Elena in bronze by the sculptor Miguel Guía. The artist places us in a remote era, situating us in the classical world, with his collection "Essences," beginning with the Greek head, an interesting work which gains strength from the shapes and volumes of the era, full of air, breakage, and simplicity.
Among the sculptural languages of the author, is this Magical Figuration of Miguel Guia called Essence Classic Elena is a perfect choice for your private collection. If, as a collector, you wish to invest in art due to its revaluation over time, this highly valued sculpture is currently being exhibited at art galleries. It belongs to a limited, original and numbered collection that the artist offers to you for a limited time. Once the edition is sold out, no more works will be produced.
Merchants and gallery owners count on the guarantee of an exclusive, quality and unique work that collectors, as well as subsequent generations and/or heirs, can enjoy.


text:
Emmy's Equal update with Review
Don't you love it when old friends come to visit? Personally, I really enjoy it. That's how I felt about the last installment of the Texas Fortunes series Emmy's Equal by Marcia Gruver.
This time we get to learn Emmy's future. It's certainly not one she expects! We've come away from book 2 Chasing Charity with Charity having married Buddy. So, when Emmy's parents decide to head to Southern Texas with Charity's mom Bertha, Emmy hopes to be sent to visit Charity and her new baby.
Her parents have something else in mind, to take her to Texas with her. Emmy's antics, even at 21, get her into trouble and solidify her fate with her parents. They make it to the Triple R Ranch where the rancher's son, Cuddy, has been anticipating meeting this young woman. What he didn't plan on was the ranch hand Diego not being able to take his eyes off of Emmy either.
There are a lot of people involved in this story, and they each play a pivotal role. Diego's mom tries to instill in him the way of his heritage. Bertha hunts down heads of cattle to take back to Humble, TX. Cuddy's parents welcome Emmy's family warmly and the escapades begin.
In the press release author Marcia Gruver shares about the parts of the book that she wanted to make sure her readers received. The one that especially touched me was the roles the fathers played. It's the part of the broken father/daughter relationship. We girls are so profoundly affected by our relationships with our dad whether whole or lacking; full or empty; close or distant.
Marcia encourages her readers to refocus because we can't "force a neglectful father to become the parent we need." We need to turn our attentions toward our heavenly Father. Marcia also speaks to our ability to show mercy.
One topic she covers is the comparison of our earthly father to our heavenly Father. I agree with her when she responds by saying, "I'm convinced this is the reason Satan attacks our fathers so fiercely." Satan would like nothing better than for dads to be crappy dads and for us to view God as a crappy Father also.
I'm also thankful that she shares about the single parent life. Melatha, Diego's mom, loves her son very much and it's hard for her to step away from the plans she believes God has and let it happen as God wants it to. It's not easy doing this parenting alone, and I know from experience.
If you are looking for a wonderful series to read, I would highly suggest Texas Fortunes. I love it when a series is available in full instead of having to wait for each book to come out separately.
I wanted to repost the FIRST Wild Card Tour information for those who didn't read it a couple days ago...
Marcia Gruver
Emmy's Equal
Barbour Books (October 9, 2009)
***Special thanks to Angie Brillhart of Barbour Publishing for sending me a review copy.***
Marcia Gruver lives with her husband in Huffman, Texas, and has published various articles, poems, and devotionals. Her novel, Love Never Fails (renamed Chasing Charity), won third place in the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest. Marcia is a member of ACFW, Fellowship of Christian Writers (FCW), and The Writers View.
Publisher: Barbour Books (October 9, 2009)
Humble, Texas, August, 1906
The stagnant well appeared bottomless, as dank and murky as a grave. Emmy rested her arms on the cold, jagged stones and leaned to peer into the abyss. Mama's embroidered lace hankie, shimmering in the meager light, hung from an outcropping of rock about four feet down. Narrowing her eyes, she peered at the spot of white that stood out from the surrounding darkness and heaved a sigh, stirring the fetid air below and raising a noxious odor that took her breath.
She pushed up her sleeves and blasted a droopy blonde ringlet from her eyes with a frustrated puff of air. There was no help for it—at the risk of certain death, she had to retrieve that handkerchief.
A figure loomed, drawing alongside her with a grunt.
She jumped, and her heart shot past her throat. Chest pounding, she wasted a glare on the dark profile, noticing for the first time a scatter of lines around his eyes and tiny gray curlicues in his sideburns.
"Nash! I nearly leapt over the side." She swatted his arm. "I've asked you to stop sneaking up on me. I've a good mind to fit you with a cowbell."
A chuckle rumbled from his chest, as deep as the chasm. "I didn't go to scare you, Miss Emmy." He bent his lanky body so far she feared he'd tumble headfirst into the never-ending shaft. "Say, what we looking for inside this hole?"
"We're not looking for anything. I've already found it." Emmy clutched his shirtsleeve and pulled him away. "Go fetch me a lantern, and be quick about it." She tucked her chin in the direction of the palomino pony languishing under a nearby oak, nibbling at the circle of high grass around the trunk. "Take Trouble. He'll be quicker than walking."
Nash frowned and rubbed the knuckles of one hand along his temple, as if an ache had sprung up there. "What you need a lantern for, with the sun up and shining the past five hours? There's plenty of light to see."
She braced herself and pointed. "Not down there."
Nash's sleepy eyes flew open. His startled gaze bounced along her finger to the circular wall of weathered stones. "Down there?" He took a cautious step back. "What's in this sour old pit that might concern you?"
Emmy swallowed hard. She could trust Nash with anything but dreaded his reaction all the same. "It's. . .one of mama's hankies." She squeezed her eyes shut and ducked her head.
His shoulders eased, and he ambled over to gaze inside. "Is that all?"
If only it were. Emmy risked a peek at him. "You don't understand."
He winced as if she'd spoken a bad omen. "Uh, uh. Not from her good batch? Them she's always cackling about?"
Emmy cringed and nodded.
The delicate, lacy linens held an uncommon depth of meaning for Emmy's mama. Hand embroidered in Germany by her grandmother then brought to the Americas and placed in Mama's hope chest, they represented heart, hearth, and homeland to Magdalena Dane. In equal measure, they represented distress, discontent, and discord to her only daughter, because the bothersome bits of cloth seemed determined to cause Emmy grief.
Nash's stunned expression hardened into an accusing glare. "Why, Miss Emmy? Why you done brought about such misery? You ain't s'posed to touch 'em, and you know it." His graying brows fluttered up and down, like two moths bent on escape. "There's scarce few left, and your mama blames you for them what's missing."
She moaned and flapped her hands. "I didn't mean to take the silly thing. It was warm when I rode out this morning. I knew I'd likely sweat, so I snagged a hankie from the clothesline. I never looked at it until a few minutes ago. That's how this terrible mishap came about. I held it up as I rode, staring in disbelief. Trouble was galloping across the yard when the wind caught it and. . ." She motioned behind her. "The willful rag drifted down the well before I could stop the horse and chase after it."
Emmy lowered her eyes then peered up at him through her lashes. "None of this is my fault, Nash. Papa should've covered this smelly cistern months ago, and those wretched handkerchiefs have a mind of their own."
The hint of a smile played around Nash's lips. "If so, they harbor a mighty poor opinion of you."
She wrinkled her nose at him.
Wagging his head, he rested the back of his hand on his side. "In all my years of working for your family, of all the fits I've seen your mama pitch, the worst have been over the loss of them fancy scraps of cloth." He shuddered. "Miss Emmy, I'd be mighty grateful if you'd wait and break the news to her after I leave for the day. She gon' be powerful upset."
Emmy held up and wiggled a finger. "On the contrary. I won't be upsetting Mama."
"How you figure that?"
"Because there's no need to tell her."
Nash propped his elbow in one hand and rubbed his chin with the other. "Missy, I thought you was done telling lies and scheming. Don't forget you're a saint of God now."
A saint of God. Yes, she was, through no fault of her own. Like Elijah's fiery chariot, God had swirled into Emmy's life in a weak moment and delivered her from herself. Not that she minded His day-to-day presence. In fact, she rather enjoyed the peace He brought. It was during times of temptation when she found the constant stirring in her heart to do the right thing a bit of a bother. Yet no wonder, really. In the past, she'd had precious little practice in doing the right thing.
She blinked up at Nash. "I have no plans to lie, and I won't need to scheme. We're simply going to return great-grandmother's hankie to Mama's clothesline, washed, rinsed, and fresh as a newborn calf."
Nash stared then shook his head. "No ma'am. You jus' forget about what we gon' do. Question is how are you gon' pull it off?"
"I'll show you." She shooed him with her hands. "Run fetch that lantern like I asked and leave the rest to me."
Still shaking his head, Nash mounted Trouble and laid in his heels. The horse bolted the short distance across the yard to the well-kept shed tucked behind Emmy's two-story house. With a furtive glance toward the porch, Nash eased the door open and slipped inside.
While she waited, Emmy watched a rowdy band of crows swarm Nash's cornfield. The black bandits bickered and pecked for position before settling in for a meal, oblivious to the mop-headed stick Nash had dressed in a ragged shirt and floppy hat and then shoved in the ground. She dared not call his attention to the culprits or he'd bluster after them, shouting and waving his arms like a demented windmill, leaving her to cope alone with her pressing dilemma.
She jerked her gaze from the birds when Nash rode up and slid off Trouble to the ground, a lighted lantern in his hand.
Handing over the light with a flourish, he lowered one brow and pinned her with a squinty look. "Here's what you asked for. Jus' be sure to leave me plumb out of the story when you go explaining yourself to your mama."
He turned to go, but Emmy caught hold of his shirttail. "Not so fast. I'm not done with you."
Nash covered his ears and reeled away. "Don't tell me no mo'. I ain't seen nothing, and I ain't heard nothing. If anybody needs me, I'll be feeding the chickens."
Emmy aimed a haughty laugh at his back. "It's too late for that. You're in up to your hat, and it's no less punishment than you deserve for sneaking about all the time."
Nash dug in his heels and stood facing the grove of loblolly pine at the edge of the yard, his body stiff as a post.
Repentant, she softened her voice to a plea. "I'm sorry, Nash. I had no call to utter such a thing. It's just. . .I can't do this without you."
Arms dangling at his sides, he tipped his head toward the sky and whispered something, a prayer no doubt, before turning to face her. "What you want me to do?"
She peppered him with grateful kisses then grabbed his hand. "Come over here." Hauling him to the gaping cavity, she lowered the lamp. "See? There it is."
They gazed at the only bright spot in the oppressive gloom, their ability to see inside the shaft made no better by the frail circle of yellow light.
Nash shrugged and drew back from the side. "Too far down. May as well wave it goodbye then go fess up to what you done."
Emmy gripped his arm. "Nonsense. We can get it out of there."
"How, short of fishing it out with a cane pole? And I got no hooks." He scratched his head. "I reckon I could take my hammer and pound a bend in a nail."
She shook her head. "Too risky. If the hankie slips off it'll settle to the bottom, and that'll be the end of it." She drew a determined breath. "I have a better idea."
Nash's eyebrows rose on his forehead, reaching new heights, even for him. "What sort of idea? Harebrained or foolhardy? Them's the only two kinds you have."
She swallowed hard and fingered the wooden bucket sitting on the wall. "I'm going to straddle this, and you'll lower me down to fetch it."
The shaggy brows bested their last mark. "You cain't mean it, Miss Emmy."
"I do so."
"Then your idea is both harebrained and foolhardy. You must be plain tetched up under them pretty white locks. S'pose that rope snaps in two?"
"Oh, pooh." She patted the heavy hemp coiled around the crank. "This rope is thick and sound." She pointed over her shoulder at the horse. "You could lower Trouble down that well."
He nodded. "Yes'm. That's exactly what I'd be doing." He jerked off his weathered hat and dashed it against his leg. "Don't ask me to put you in that kind of danger. No, missy. I won't do it. Not for nothing in this wide world."
Touched, Emmy smiled at the man who'd been like a father to her over the years, far more of a parent than her own papa, who didn't stay home often enough to have much practice at the role. She took Nash's hand and squeezed it. "I won't be in any danger. As long as you're holding the handle, I know I'll be safe." She peered up into his sulky brown eyes. "You know if you don't help me I'll just find a way to do it myself. I have to get that hankie."
He gaped at her. "The silly thing ain't worth dying for, is it? Your mama has fussed at you before, and you lived to tell the tale. Why is this time so all-fired special?"
She squared around to face him. "I can't have her angry about anything just now. I'm planning to ask permission to go to St. Louis when Mama travels with Aunt Bertha to South Texas. It'll be hard enough to convince her as it is. If she gets in a snit, my plan is doomed."
"Why they going off so far?"
"It's Aunt Bertha's idea. Now that she has money, she's determined to go into the cattle business. She's bent on learning all she can. Papa knows a very successful rancher down south who's willing to teach her everything he knows."
"Cain't you jus' stay home?"
"They'll be gone for a month or better. Mama refuses to leave me here alone for that long, and I'd much prefer going to see Charity."
Nash smiled and nodded. " 'Specially with her jus' done birthing the little one."
Emmy beamed. "Exactly. I can help Charity bring him home."
A thrill coursed through her at the thought of seeing Charity and Buddy's new baby boy. Emmy and Charity were as close as twin sisters, best friends like their mamas had always been. Emmy's mama and Aunt Bertha had grown up together in Jefferson before moving to Humble.
Last year, a handsome young oilman came to town and found oil on Aunt Bertha's land. Charity wound up married to him and soon left for St. Louis to meet his parents. When Buddy found out she was expecting, he kept her in the city so she'd be close to good medical care.
Not a day had passed that Emmy didn't think of Charity and long to see her. She was coming home next month, bringing little Thad to meet the family.
Nash narrowed his eyes. "You ain't jus' trying to sneak off to St. Louis to see that oilman friend of Mistah Buddy's, are you? Don't think I didn't see you making eyes at him the whole time that preacher was trying to marry off Miss Charity."
Emmy whirled. "Who? Mr. Ritter?" She dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. "Jerry Ritter was just a passing fancy."
Nash raised a cynical brow.
"Oh, pooh, Nash! You stop that!" She fiddled the row of tiny buttons on her sleeve. "Besides. . .Aunt Bertha claims Mr. Ritter was recently betrothed to a childhood sweetheart." She flicked off an insect from the cuff of her blouse and dashed away her humiliation with the same resolve. "Therefore, my desire to be in St. Louis has nothing to do with him. I just need to see Charity. If I get into any more trouble, Mama's bound to haul me with them to that dreadful desert town instead. If she does, I'll just dry up along with it and perish. I mean it!"
Grinding the toe of his oversized boot in the dirt, Nash sighed and shifted his weight. "I don't know, Miss Emmy. . ."
Emmy stifled a grin. She had him. "I'll be just fine. I promise. Now help me climb up."
Still mumbling his objections, he offered an elbow to Emmy so she could pull up and sit on the uneven stones. Unfastening the buttoned flap on her split skirt, she swung her legs over and settled on the side, trying hard not to look past her boots. "Turn your head while I sit astride the pail. It won't look so dainty in this outfit."
Nash gazed toward the field, obviously too distracted to notice the raiding crows.
Still clinging to his arm, Emmy held her breath and pulled the dangling rope closer, guiding it between her legs. "All right, I'm ready. Lean your weight into the handle. I'm about to push off."
Nash shifted his gaze to the sky. "Oh, sweet Jesus. Please protect this chil'."
Holding her breath, she scooted from the edge, squealing when her body spun and dipped about a foot. "Nash! Have you got it?"
"I've got it. Stop squirming now. You heavier than you look."
Emmy forced herself to still, more afraid than she'd expected to be. She felt more than saw the yawning gulf, a great gaping mouth poised to swallow her whole. "Hand me the lantern and then you can lower me. But go slowly, for heaven's sake."
She breathed a prayer as she spiraled past the opening and descended. Glancing up, she bit her lip and watched the rope unwind from the wobbly reel, outlined by a circle of light. Misguided but determined white roots that had pushed through cracks in the mortar groped at her, snagging her hem and sleeves. Crisscrossed nets of taught, silky threads offered whispers of resistance before giving way and sticking to the exposed parts of her legs. Emmy held the soft glow of the lamp closer to the side, shuddering when eight-legged bodies skittered in every direction. She gritted her teeth, suppressing a shriek and the urge to order Nash to haul her out of the wide-awake nightmare.
You can do this. Just a little more and you'll be there. Three more turns and you'll have Mama's hankie in your hands. This will all be worth it then.
Exhaling her relief, she drew even with the jutting rock that had caught the precious heirloom. Holding the lantern out of the way, she swayed her body until the motion brought her closer to the wall.
She snatched at the white spot. Instead of soft linen, she felt thick, sticky padding. In place of the crush of a napkin gathered in her palm, there was the unmistakable writhing of something alive.
Words Woven by Mimi B at 8:42 AM
Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...
Ohhh this book sounds so good I can't wait to read it! Thank you for sharing!
Lori (sugarandgrits) said...
I'm reading this book now, but am having a hard time getting "into" it. I hope it gets better soon. :)
Great review! Thanks for sharing!
~ Lori
Mimi B said...
Lori, sorry you're having such a hard time getting into it. I'm trying to remember the beginning...I don't know how far you are, but I think it gets away from Emmy's antics and such when they get to TX. I really just liked Diego. :)
~Mimi
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:Piece de Resistance by Sandra Byrd ~ FIRST
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Over The Top Blog Award
My Awesome New Design!!
Guardian of the Flame by T. L. Higley ~ FIRST & GI...


text:
ACCEPTED

#### According to
The Catalogue of Life, 3rd January 2011

#### Published in
Syst. Ascom. 5(1): 183 (1986)

#### Original name
Verrucariales Mattick ex D. Hawksw. & O.E. Erikss.

### Remarks
null

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
"""
Encryption has a dependency on the pycrypto. If pycrypto is not available,
CryptoUnavailableError will be raised.

"""

import base64
import functools
import hashlib
import os
import pickle

try:
    from cryptography.hazmat import backends as crypto_backends
    from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import ciphers
    from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.ciphers import algorithms
    from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.ciphers import modes
    from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import padding
except ImportError:
    ciphers = None

from zaqar.conf import transport
from zaqar.i18n import _

class EncryptionFailed(ValueError):
    """Encryption failed when encrypting messages."""

    def __init__(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
        msg = msg.format(*args, **kwargs)
        super(EncryptionFailed, self).__init__(msg)

class DecryptError(Exception):
    """raise when unable to decrypt encrypted data."""
    pass

class CryptoUnavailableError(Exception):
    """raise when Python Crypto module is not available."""
    pass

def assert_crypto_availability(f):
    """Ensure cryptography module is available."""
    @functools.wraps(f)
    def wrapper(*args, **kwds):
        if ciphers is None:
            raise CryptoUnavailableError()
        return f(*args, **kwds)
    return wrapper

class EncryptionFactory(object):

    def __init__(self, conf):
        self._conf = conf
        self._conf.register_opts(transport.ALL_OPTS,
                                 group=transport.GROUP_NAME)
        self._limits_conf = self._conf[transport.GROUP_NAME]
        self._algorithm = self._limits_conf.message_encryption_algorithms
        self._encryption_key = None
        if self._limits_conf.message_encryption_key:
            hash_function = hashlib.sha256()
            key = bytes(self._limits_conf.message_encryption_key, 'utf-8')
            hash_function.update(key)
            self._encryption_key = hash_function.digest()

    def getEncryptor(self):
        if self._algorithm == 'AES256' and self._encryption_key:
            return AES256Encryptor(self._encryption_key)

class Encryptor(object):

    def __init__(self, encryption_key):
        self._encryption_key = encryption_key

    def message_encrypted(self, messages):
        """Encrypting a list of messages.

        :param messages: A list of messages
        """
        pass

    def message_decrypted(self, messages):
        """decrypting a list of messages.

        :param messages: A list of messages
        """
        pass

    def get_cipher(self):
        pass

    def get_encryption_key(self):
        return self._encryption_key

class AES256Encryptor(Encryptor):

    def get_cipher(self):
        iv = os.urandom(16)
        cipher = ciphers.Cipher(
            algorithms.AES(self.get_encryption_key()),
            modes.CBC(iv), backend=crypto_backends.default_backend())
        # AES algorithm uses block size of 16 bytes = 128 bits, defined in
        # algorithms.AES.block_size. Using ``cryptography``, we will
        # analogously use hazmat.primitives.padding to pad it to
        # the 128-bit block size.
        padder = padding.PKCS7(algorithms.AES.block_size).padder()
        return iv, cipher, padder

    def _encrypt_string_message(self, message):
        """Encrypt the message type of string"""
        message = message.encode('utf-8')
        iv, cipher, padder = self.get_cipher()
        encryptor = cipher.encryptor()
        padded_data = padder.update(message) + padder.finalize()
        data = iv + encryptor.update(padded_data) + encryptor.finalize()
        return base64.b64encode(data)

    def _encrypt_other_types_message(self, message):
        """Encrypt the message type of other types"""
        iv, cipher, padder = self.get_cipher()
        encryptor = cipher.encryptor()
        padded_data = padder.update(message) + padder.finalize()
        data = iv + encryptor.update(padded_data) + encryptor.finalize()
        return base64.b64encode(data)

    def _encrypt_message(self, message):
        """Encrypt the message data with the given secret key.

        Padding is n bytes of the value n, where 1 <= n <= blocksize.
        """
        if isinstance(message['body'], str):
            message['body'] = self._encrypt_string_message(message['body'])
        else:
            # For other types like dict or list, we need to serialize them
            # first.
            try:
                s_message = pickle.dumps(message['body'])
            except pickle.PickleError:
                return
            message['body'] = self._encrypt_other_types_message(s_message)

    def _decrypt_message(self, message):
        try:
            encrypted_message = base64.b64decode(message['body'])
        except (ValueError, TypeError):
            return
        iv = encrypted_message[:16]
        cipher = ciphers.Cipher(
            algorithms.AES(self._encryption_key),
            modes.CBC(iv),
            backend=crypto_backends.default_backend())
        try:
            decryptor = cipher.decryptor()
            data = (decryptor.update(encrypted_message[16:]) +
                    decryptor.finalize())
        except Exception:
            raise DecryptError(_('Encrypted data appears to be corrupted.'))

        # Strip the last n padding bytes where n is the last value in
        # the plaintext
        unpadder = padding.PKCS7(algorithms.AES.block_size).unpadder()
        data = unpadder.update(data) + unpadder.finalize()
        try:
            message['body'] = pickle.loads(data)
        except pickle.UnpicklingError:
            # If the data is a string which didn't be serialized, there will
            # raise an exception. We just try to return the string itself.
            message['body'] = str(data, encoding="utf-8")

    @assert_crypto_availability
    def message_encrypted(self, messages):
        """Encrypting a list of messages.

        :param messages: A list of messages
        """
        if self.get_encryption_key():
            for msg in messages:
                self._encrypt_message(msg)
        else:
            msg = _(u'Now Zaqar only support AES-256 and need to specify the'
                    u'key.')
            raise EncryptionFailed(msg)

    @assert_crypto_availability
    def message_decrypted(self, messages):
        """decrypting a list of messages.

        :param messages: A list of messages
        """
        if self.get_encryption_key():
            for msg in messages:
                self._decrypt_message(msg)
        else:
            msg = _(u'Now Zaqar only support AES-256 and need to specify the'
                    u'key.')
            raise EncryptionFailed(msg)


text:
Locris mongana är en insektsart som beskrevs av Victor Lallemand 1941. Locris mongana ingår i släktet Locris och familjen spottstritar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Spottstritar
mongana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Soil is a fundame ntal resource, both for people and for natural biological systems. It supports plant life and, as a consequence, all terrestrial ecosystems are dependent on it. Soil is also the basis of production agriculture and forestry, which provide food and materials for the global community. However, it is very vulnerable to misuse and abuse. Erosion is thought by many experts to be the most important environmental problem facing humanity today. But even where the soil cover is kept intact, the quality and characteristics of the soil can be drastically altered by our actions. Many of the changes are unseen, and often unsuspected, because they occur within the soil. But the results of those changes - to soil structure, processes and properties - can often affect food production, food quality, ecosystem viability, and the general welfare of communities, both human and non-human, dependent on the soil for their wellbeing and life.
The characteristics and structure of soils; nutrient systems; human impact on soils; a project and laboratories as required.
There are four main sections to the paper. The first section deals with the form and dynamics of the soil from an ecological perspective, the second section provides the theoretical basis for understanding soil formation processes, the third section covers the influence of soil conditions on plant life and the fourth section deals with the impact of human actions of soil, and indirectly on vegetation, using the principles established earlier in the course.


text:
\section{Introduction}
\noindent
It has been suggested that physics can and should be formulated in the language of information theory, where all interactions are viewed as information transfer between agents \cite{Wheeler1989}. The channel capacity represents the maximum amount of information that can be transferred in such interactions. When the channel capacity between two systems, $A$ and $B$,  drops to zero, $B$ cannot learn anything about the state of $A$. Consequently, $A$ cannot have any effect on $B$. This is a stronger condition on the range of influence than mere locality, in which $A$ and $B$ have to be outside each other's light cones to prohibit interactions between them. This fundamental link between information channels and causality can further our knowledge of the structure of a quantum theory of gravity. When $A$ and $B$ are quantum mechanical systems, the communication channels that can be defined between them are described by quantum information theory \cite{Nielsen2000,Desurvire2009}. Quantum communication channels are generally different from the classical channels, because there are more ways we can communicate with quantum systems than there are with classical systems \cite{Shannon1949,Bennett1992,Schumacher1997,Abeyesinghe2009,Lupo2010}. Their channel capacities therefore require different definitions \cite{Horodecki2005,Horodecki2006}.

Quantum channel capacities have been studied extensively in non-relativistic settings, but to date relatively little work has been done on relativistic quantum information channels. In relativistic quantum information theory \cite{Peres2004a,Terno2005} the structure of spacetime affects the ways in which information can be sent from $A$ to $B$ \cite{Alsing2003,Kok2006,Cliche2010,Cliche2010a}. The presence of horizons will introduce noise in the form of Unruh-Hawking radiation \cite{Fuentes-Schuller2005,Martin-Martinez2010b,Mathur2009,Smolin2011,Pan2008}, and generally reduce the quantum channel capacity \cite{Bradler2010}. Trade-off capacities have been studied, where the rate of classical and quantum communication is traded off with rate of entanglement consumption \cite{Bradler2010b,Jochym-OConnor2011a,Wilde2011c}.

In this paper we study the classical channel capacity and quantum coherent information, which allows us to compare their behaviour in the situation where Alice and Rob communicate near a black hole. In Section \ref{sec:setup} we present the particular communication setup we consider in this paper. In Section \ref{sec:modes} we describe the transformation from Rindler modes to Unruh modes, and in Section \ref{sec:channels} we calculate the classical channel capacities and coherent information. Finally, we present our conclusions in Section \ref{sec:conclusions}.

\section{Communication Setup}\label{sec:setup}
\noindent
Imagine the situation where Alice is an inertial observer free-falling into a Schwarzschild black hole, while Rob hovers at a fixed distance from the horizon. Alice wants to send a message to Rob. As shown in \cite{Martin-Martinez2010a}, for the case where Rob is near the horizon of a large black hole, this situation is equivalent to a constantly accelerating observer in Minkowski space. We compare classical and quantum communication in the setting of two physical encoding methods using bosonic fields. The classical case is where Alice creates two correlated bits and transfers one to Rob. In the quantum case Alice creates an entangled pair of qubits and transfers one to Rob. Both protocols are analysed using two encoding methods, namely \emph{single rail} and \emph{dual rail}. Single rail represents a $\left|0\ra$ and $\left|1\ra$ by the absence and presence of an excitation (photon), respectively. In the dual rail encoding there is always exactly one excitation that can exist in a superposition of two modes. We
calculate the distinguishability of the qubit states, as well as the channel capacity and coherent information of the various channels. We concentrate on the effect of the Unruh-Hawking noise, and ignore the reduction of the channels due to the gravitational redshift, since this affects all channels in equal measure.
These channels will inform us of the way quantum information is affected by general relativistic situations.

To quantify information, we use the Von Neumann entropy $S(\rho) = -\mbox{Tr}[\rho \lb{\rho}] = -\sum_i \lambda_i \lb{\lambda_i}$, where $\lambda_i$ are the eigenvalues of the density matrix $\rho$. This reduces to the Shannon entropy when the $\lambda_i$ are elements of a classical probability distribution. We measure the amount of classical information that is shared between Alice and Rob by the {\em mutual information} $S(\rho_A;\rho_R) \equiv S(\rho_A)+S(\rho_R)-S(\rho_{AR})$, where $\rho_{AR}$ is the state of the joint system, and $\rho_A = \mbox{Tr}_R(\rho_{AR})$ and $\rho_R = \mbox{Tr}_A(\rho_{AR})$ are the reduced density operators for Alice and Rob's subsystems \cite{Desurvire2009}. Quantum mechanically, the mutual information is a measure of the correlations between Alice and Rob, which can manifest itself as entanglement: a system can have finite mutual information even if the state $\rho_{AR}$ is pure [$S(\rho_{AR})=0$]. In addition, for quantum communication we want to know the amount of extra information that is
required for Rob to fully specify Alice's state. This can be negative, which is interpreted as the amount of information that may be sent at a later time using the correlations of the channel. This quantity is the {\em conditional entropy} $S(\rho_A | \rho_R) \equiv S(\rho_{AR})-S(\rho_R)$ \cite{Horodecki2005}. The classical channel capacity is the maximum of the mutual information, and is interpreted as the classical information shared per use of the channel \cite{Shannon1949}. The quantum coherent information is the negative conditional entropy, and it is interpreted as the amount of information per use of the channel that Alice and Rob can communicate in the future, given unlimited classical communication \cite{Horodecki2005}.

Alice prepares a qubit in the state $\rho$ and correlates it with a photonic qubit via $\ket{0}_A\to\ket{0}_A\ket{0}_p$ and $\ket{1}_A\to\ket{1}_A\ket{1}_p$. The photon is sent to Rob and the joint system is in the state $\rho_{AR}$. Rob measures his local mode with an ideal detector. We consider the various information channels that are established this way. Particle number is not conserved due to Unruh-Hawking noise, and Alice and Rob will have to choose an error correction scheme and measurement basis that optimises the amount of information sent through the channel. Here we will assume that this is possible and consider only the channels themselves.

\section{Mode transformations}\label{sec:modes}
\noindent
Alice describes the field using Minkowski modes, which form a complete orthonormal set in Minkowski space-time. Since Rob observes a horizon, we need to separate his description of the field into two causally disconnected parts, called region I (inhabited by Rob) and region IV (inhabited by ``anti-Rob''). Rob and anti-Rob define so-called Rindler modes in their respective regions, which together cover all space-time. The Rindler modes approximate the Schwarzschild modes required to describe field modes in a Schwarzschild metric \cite{Martin-Martinez2010b}. We can therefore draw conclusions about Schwarzschild black holes in the appropriate limit from studying the mathematically simpler Rindler space-time.

Alice has the freedom to create excitations in any accessible mode. Hence, we choose Alice's modes as superpositions of different frequencies such that each of Alice's modes maps to single-frequency Rindler modes $\omega$, forming a Minkowski packet $\hat{a}^\dagger_P$.
We then transform it to the creation operators of Unruh modes, $\hat{A}^\dagger_L$ and $\hat{A}^\dagger_R$ for left and right wedges respectively, using the most general transformation $\hat{a}^\dagger_P = q_L \hat{A}^\dagger_L + q_R \hat{A}^\dagger_R$, where $q_L$ and $q_R$ are complex numbers such that $\modsq{q_L}+\modsq{q_R}=1$ \cite{Bruschi2010}.
This means that the Minkowski packets can relate to a superposition of Unruh modes, in the left and right wedges. The single mode approximation is where we set $q_R=1$ and $q_L=0$, breaking the symmetry between the left and right Unruh wedge, which correspond to the Rindler wedges I and IV, respectively.  Using the Unruh modes allows us to maximise the correlations between Alice and Rob. Since we are interested in communication channels we maximise the mutual information and the coherent information. This maximisation forces the choice of $q_R$ and $q_L$ to match the single mode approximation.

The transformation between the Unruh and Rindler modes is given by the two-mode squeezing operator $U = \exp[ i r ( \hat{a}_I \hat{a}_{IV} + \hat{a}_I^\dagger \hat{a}_{IV}^\dagger )  ]$, with $r$ a real squeezing parameter and $\hbar=c=G=1$ \cite{Unruh1976}.
This parameter is related to Rob's proper acceleration $a$ via $\tanh r = \exp(-\omega\pi/a)$ and can be used to approximate the proper acceleration of Rob at a distance $R$ from the black hole with mass $M$ and Schwarzschild radius $R_S$ as $a^{-1} = 4M\sqrt{1-R_S/R}$ \cite{Martin-Martinez2010a}.
The transformation mixes creation and annihilation operators and does not preserve photon number. However, unitarity ensures that the transformation preserves information globally.

Using the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff theorem for optical modes \cite{Kok2010} we can write the effect of the transformation on the Minkowski vacuum and single photon state as
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:vacuumtransform}
 \hat{U} \ket{\varnothing} & = \frac{1}{\cosh r} \sum_{n=0}^\infty \tanh^n r \ket{n_I,n_{IV}}, \\
  \label{eq:particletransform}
\hat{U} \acrea{I} \ket{\varnothing} & = \frac{1}{\cosh^2 r} \sum_{n=0}^\infty \tanh^n r\; \sqrt{n+1} \ket{(n+1)_I,n_{IV}}.
\end{align}
This operation creates entanglement between Rindler modes in region I (Rob) and in region IV (Anti-Rob). Rob is causally disconnected from region IV and has no access to information there so we must trace out all region IV modes. This results in an effective non-unitary transformation and local information loss. In the Rindler vacuum $R$ the density operator elements of the Minkowski modes $M$ become
\begin{align}
 \label{eq:transformelementjk}
 \ket{j}_M\bra{k} \to& \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{\tanh^{2n}r}{\cosh^{(2+j+k)}r}\left(n+1\right)^{\frac12(j+k)}\ket{n+j}_R\bra{n+k}\, ,
\end{align}
where $j,k\in\{0,1\}$.
We consider two logical states prepared by Alice, namely the classical state $\rho = |\alpha|^2 \ket{0}\bra{0} + |\beta|^2 \ket{1}\bra{1}$ and the  qubit state $\ket{\psi} = \alpha\ket{0} + \beta\ket{1}$. The former leads to strictly classical correlations between Alice and Rob, while the latter generally leads to entanglement. We will analyse the mutual information and conditional entropy that these states will give rise to.

To quantify how the channel reduces the distinguishability between the logical states sent by Alice, we use the probability of mistaking $\rho_0 = \ket{0}_M\bra{0}$ for $\rho_1=\ket{1}_M\bra{1}$ when performing any measurement, given by the fidelity $F = \mbox{Tr} [\sqrt{\sqrt{\rho_0}\rho_1\sqrt{\rho_0}}]^2$ \cite{Jozsa1994}.
This is calculated using the states to which Rob has access, so when Alice sends a logical zero his state is given by Eq.~(\ref{eq:transformelementjk}) with $j=k=0$, and when Alice sends a logical one his state is given by $j=k=1$. These states are diagonal in the same basis, and the fidelity reduces to
\begin{equation}
 \label{eq:overlapbetween0and1}
F = \mbox{Tr} \left[\sqrt{\rho_0\rho_1}\right]^2 = \left(\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\tanh^{2n-1}r}{\cosh^3r}\sqrt{n}\right)^2\, ,
\end{equation}
shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:fidelity-of-zero-vs-one} for both dual rail and single rail encoding. For small $a$ the system approaches a perfect channel, indicated by a near-zero fidelity between the logical states. As $a$ increases, the probability of Rob getting an incorrect measurement result increases, reducing the channel channel capacity. Note that when $a\to\infty$ we find $F\to F_0<1$. This is due to the persistent difference of a single photon in the two Rindler states. Consequently, the classical channel capacity should never drop to zero.

\begin{figure}[t]
  \begin{center}
      \includegraphics[width=8.5cm]{./fig1.pdf}
  \caption[Fidelity between recieved zero and one]{Fidelity between the logical zero and one states received by Rob as a function of the acceleration $a$ for single and dual rail qubits.}  \label{fig:fidelity-of-zero-vs-one}
  \end{center}
\end{figure}

\section{Communication channels}\label{sec:channels}
\noindent
In this section we calculate and compare the channel capacities and coherent information of single and dual rail classical and quantum communication. Dual rail communication is physically symmetrical in the logical zero and logical one states, which means that the maximum mutual information is obtained when $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$. For single rail encoding the situation is slightly more complicated so we give the full expressions here.
\begin{widetext}
We calculate the mutual information for the classical case $\rho$ in the single rail encoding as
\begin{align}\label{eq:MIclassicalsingle}
S\left(\rho_A;\rho_R\right) = & -\modsq{\alpha} \lb{\modsq{\alpha}} - \modsq{\beta}\lb{\modsq{\beta}} \\
                             & - \sum_{n=0}^\infty \left[ \frac{\modsq{\alpha}}{\cosh^2r} \tanh^{2n}r \lb{1+\frac{n \modsq{\beta}}{\modsq{\alpha}\sinh^2r}}
                                + \frac{n \modsq{\beta}}{\cosh^2r\sinh^2r}\tanh^{2n}r \lb{1+\frac{\modsq{\alpha}\sinh^2r}{n \modsq{\beta}}} \right] ,\nonumber
\end{align}
The mutual information for the classical case, in the dual rail encoding, having substituted $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$ is calculated as
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:MIclassicaldual}
S\left(\rho_A;\rho_R\right)= 1 - \sum_{p=0}^\infty  \frac{\tanh^{2p}r}{\cosh^6r} \sum_{q=0}^p (q+1)\lb{1+\frac{p-q}{q+1}} ,
\end{align}
For simplicity when plotting we use the parameters $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$ for the single rail encoding, as they are near-optimal and provide representative behaviour of all information measures considered here.
These are plotted together in Fig.~\ref{fig:ME-compare-single-dual-mixed-full}.

The conditional entropy is related to the mutual information via $S(\rho_A | \rho_R ) = S(\rho_A) - S(\rho_A ; \rho_R )$.
We calculate it for the quantum case $\ket{\psi}$ in the single rail encoding as
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:CEquantumsingle}
S\left(\rho_A|\rho_R\right) = & - \sum_{n=0}^\infty \left[ \frac{\modsq{\alpha}}{\cosh^2r} \tanh^{2n}r
                                        \lb{\tanh^2r \left(\frac{\modsq{\alpha}\cosh^2r + \modsq{\beta}(n+1)}
                                            {\modsq{\alpha}\sinh^2r + \modsq{\beta}n}\right)}\right. \nonumber \\
                                 & + \left. 2n \tanh^{2n}r \frac{\modsq{\beta}}{\cosh^2r} \left( \frac{n+1}{\cosh^2r}-\frac{n}{\sinh^2r}\right) \lb{\tanh r} \right. \nonumber
                                  + \frac{\modsq{\beta}}{\cosh^2r} \tanh^{2n}r \frac{n+1}{\cosh^2r} \lb{\frac{\modsq{\alpha}}{\cosh^2r}+\frac{\modsq{\beta}(n+1)}{\cosh^4r} } \nonumber \\
                                  & - \left. \frac{\modsq{\beta}n}{\sinh^2r\cosh^2r} \tanh^{2n}r\lb{\frac{\modsq{\alpha}}{\cosh^2r} + \frac{\modsq{\beta}n}{\sinh^2r\cosh^2r}}  \right].
\end{align}
The conditional entropy for the dual rail quantum case, using the parameter values $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$ is given by
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:CEquantumdual}
S\left(\rho_A|\rho_R\right)= - \sum_{p=0}^\infty \frac{\tanh^{2p}r}{\cosh^6r} \lb{\frac{p+2}{p+1}} \sum_{q=0}^p (q+1) .
\end{align}
\end{widetext}

\begin{figure}[th]
  \begin{center}
      \includegraphics[width=8.5cm]{./fig2.pdf}
  \caption[Mutual Information]{Mutual information as a function of the  acceleration $a$ when $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$.}
  \label{fig:ME-compare-single-dual-mixed-full}
  \end{center}
\end{figure}

Using the same parameter values for the single rail case, we obtain the conditional entropy shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:conditionalentropy}. The graph starts at zero for both classical communication methods, showing that Rob fully learns Alice's state when there is no squeezing. We also find that as the squeezing increases, Rob needs more and more extra information to be able to fully specify Alice's state. For quantum communication, we see that the conditional entropy starts at $-1$ in the absence of acceleration ($a=0$). This means that Alice and Rob share entanglement, which allows them to share a qubit in the future using additional classical communication. The conditional entropy tends to zero when $a\to\infty$.
Note that we have not taken relativistic time dilation into account, which will affect the \emph{rate} of each communication channel in equal measure.

\begin{figure}[b]
  \begin{center}
      \includegraphics[width=8.5cm]{./fig3.pdf}
  \caption[Conditional Entropy]{Conditional Entropy as a function of the acceleration $a$ when $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$.}
  \label{fig:conditionalentropy}
  \end{center}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[t]
  \begin{center}
      \includegraphics[width=8.5cm]{./fig4.pdf}
  \caption[Channel Capacity]{The channel capacity $C$ as a function of the acceleration $a$ when $\modsq{\alpha} = \modsq{\beta} =\frac12$. The figure does not take into account relativistic time dilation, which reduces all communication \emph{rates} to zero equally. While the classical channel capacity reaches a finite value at the Schwarzschild horizon, the quantum coherent information (also measured in bits) drops to zero. Dual rail encoding outperforms single rail encoding in both classical and quantum communication.}
  \label{fig:compare-capacities}
  \end{center}
\end{figure}

Next, we compare the resulting channel capacities and coherent information. The classical channel capacity measures the amount of recoverable classical bits, while the quantum coherent information measures the entanglement that is generated using the state merging protocol. This quantum channel requires a classical channel of unlimited capacity. The comparison of all four channel capacities is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:compare-capacities}.
When Rob is hovering far away from a black hole, there is little Unruh-Hawking noise ($a\simeq 0$), and all channel capacities are equal to one. Hovering closer to the black hole increases the noise and consequently reduces the channel capacity. Both classical channels tend towards finite values in the limit of large $a$, indicating that even when the communication rate drops to zero due to time dilation, each message that reaches Rob carries a finite amount of information.
This is explained by the fidelity between the logical bit states sent by Alice, which never reaches one when $a\to\infty$ (see
Fig.~\ref{fig:fidelity-of-zero-vs-one}).

On the other hand, the quantum coherent information falls off exponentially with $r$ as Rob hovers closer to the Schwarzschild horizon [$C \propto \exp(-\gamma r)$ for large $r$, with $\gamma\approx 2$ for the dual rail quantum channel].
Relating this back to the acceleration and distance from the horizon, we find that the quantum coherent information fully drops to zero for infinite acceleration, or at the horizon.
This is a fundamental difference between classical and quantum communication.
Classical communication relies on the occupation number, where, even at infinite acceleration, there is always a difference.
Quantum communication however relies on coherence, which gets completely washed out at infinite acceleration.

\section{Conclusion}\label{sec:conclusions}
\noindent
In conclusion, we studied communication channels between an inertial observer Alice and an accelerated observer Rob, using both single and dual rail encoding of a bosonic field. We found that the quantum coherent information tends to zero with increasing acceleration (i.e., approaching the horizon). The classical channel remained finite arbitrarily close to the Schwarzschild horizon, indicating that statistical correlations still exist between Alice and Rob even in the limit of infinite acceleration, whereas quantum correlations are fully removed. In both cases the channel degradation is due to Unruh-Hawking noise, and in both cases we ignored the time dilation that affects the rate of all communication channels equally.

\section*{Acknowledgments}
\noindent
The authors thank M. Wilde for valuable comments on the manuscript, and J. Dunningham and V. Palge for stimulating discussions. D. Hosler is funded by a University of Sheffield Studentship.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv