How do I use The Shakti Mat?
The Shakti Mat is designed for self-care, so use it in whatever way will best enhance your well-being. Common practices for lying down on it are before you go to bed, or after the gym. Common practices for standing on it are after a long day at work or first thing in the morning. While you can experiment with it in many ways, the most common way to lie down on it before you go to bed.
Instructions: Slowly lower yourself down onto The Shakti Mat so the points press up into your back. For best effects, use direct skin contact, but you can use a thin T-shirt if you find the sensation too strong. Focus on deep, relaxed belly breathing and avoid any sudden movements. Observe the sensations and try to relax. While you can use your Shakti while watching TV or reading a book, remember why you are here - take a bit of time to focus on self-care, without distractions. Listening to some meditation music or binaural beats can help. We recommend using The Shakti Mat for 20-40 minutes, but it is fine to go longer.
While this is the most common way to use it, you can apply the spikes to your feet, calves, thighs, glutes, wherever. For more information on using the mat on different areas of the body, click here.
Acupressure is an ancient healing technique, often denoted as "acupuncture without needles" because it applies the same principles to promote relaxation and channel the body's own ability to naturally heal itself. Acupressure is used as a means of muscle recovery and to promote deep states of relaxation, similar to massage therapy. As opposed to needles in the practice of acupuncture, acupressure concentrates on these same pressure points, or acupoints, that lie along meridians or channels in the body. It is believed that these meridians are interconnected with organs and tissues throughout the body, and those which are out of balance can cause illness. Because of its concentration on acupoints and their relation to the body's overall balance, acupressure practitioners have also developed techniques that can treat recovery from conditions like headaches, insomnia pain and much more. Acupressure (and acupuncture) are just some ways to help your body find balance through the pressures of modern life.
What is the bed of nails?
Historians estimate that the Chinese began practicing acupressure over 7000 years ago, but it wasn't until about 2000 years ago that people in what is now India started using acupressure mats – more commonly known to us as the 'bed of nails'.
There is a lot of mysticism around the bed of nails and what they were used for. Contrary to popular belief, those Indian yogis weren't doing it as some kind of pain tolerance stunt, but actually as a meditation aid! These yogis (mostly in the Himalayas) found that the physiological change the body underwent on nail beds aided their meditation practice. By getting through the initial feelings of discomfort it helped to cultivate mental resilience, and eventually eased the body and mind into a place of stillness. The Shakti Mat is the 21st-century bed of nails!
The Shakti Mat is covered in spiky points which are designed to stimulate, then relax acupoints on the body. When these points are stimulated, energy (also called chi/ prana) flows through the body. When energy is flowing freely in the body, it is believed that the body's own built-in healing systems have a better chance to do their job. The points simply put your attention on the area you want it. Overall, this process aims to encourage healthy circulation, healthy sleep, recovery from stress and tension headaches, and improvement in general wellbeing.
How long should I lay on my Shakti Mat, and when?
We recommend lying on your Shakti Mat for 20 minutes or more, to get the full benefits. There is no time limit to using your mat, some even fall asleep on the mat for hours! You can use your mat at different times of the day for different benefits. If you use your mat at night in bed before sleeping, it can aid a deep and restful sleep. If you use it in the morning, it can energize and rejuvenate you for the day.
Is it best used on the floor or the bed?
The Shakti Mat is beneficial on any surface. It is a matter of personal preference where you choose to use it. The floor is a harder surface, so the feeling will be more intense, whereas a bed or other soft surface is a little easier and wraps up around the body.
Which mat should I buy?
The Shakti Original (Orange, Black or Green) has 6,000 points and is the mat we recommend for 90% of people.
The Shakti Light (Yellow) has 8,000 points and is recommended for those who are elderly, those more sensitive to pain, those who have fragile skin or those who already have a condition that causes discomfort (e.g. Fibromyalgia). Because it has more spikes than the Original mat, your weight becomes more evenly distributed, resulting in gentler intensity treatment.
The Shakti Advanced (Blue) is a step up for all the Shakti veterans out there looking to intensify their Shakti experience. The Advanced has the least number of spikes (only 4,000), so your body weight is distributed over less points. Try the Advanced mat if you have a strong pain threshold or have been using the Original mat for 6 months or more. This is a step up!
Can I stand on The Shakti Mat?
Sometimes we spend all day on our feet, so standing on your Shakti Mat will give them some well-deserved TLC. Our feet are covered in pressure points, so standing on the mat is powerful. Try standing on the Shakti Mat first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. Both may help to massage tired feet or support an energized and fresh start to the day. Start with socks or try placing one foot at a time to get the right pressure for you.
Can I lie on The Shakti Mat for my back, neck, and shoulders?
Stimulate your muscles: encouraging natural healing.
Target pressure points on your back/neck/shoulders.
Induce a relaxing feeling – restoring your vitality.
Encourage healthy circulation - bringing a warm, pleasant sensation that is soothing and re-balancing.
Does The Shakti Mat hurt?
The first couples of times you use your Shakti Mat, it may feel uncomfortable. However the longer you spend on your mat, the more comfortable you will feel. Acupressure can be a powerful experience: during the first few minutes of using your Shakti Mat, it is common to feel a prickly, warm, sometimes pulsating sensation on the areas the mat is applied to. The mat is putting a large amount of pressure and stimulation on your muscles, and the sensations that you feel are normal responses. These sensations which will subside after about 10-15 minutes of using your Shakti Mat. You might find these sensations quite intense to begin with, and you may have an urge to move or adjust yourself, but try to observe the sensations and breathe through it. If your skin is very sensitive, you may want to start out with a thin cloth between you and your Shakti Mat. As humans, we all have a different sensitivity to pain and certain medical conditions can intensify this sensitivity. Try it out until you find the right level of sensation.
Regular users of the Shakti Mat get little to no pain at all, because tension is much lower in the areas the mat is applied to. Think of the first and tenth massage you get on a stressed area – regular use will help your muscles feel great. Just remember, the benefits of The Shakti Mat always outweigh the initial discomfort.
If you have any serious medical condition or disease, we recommend you consult your physician before using this product.
If you are, or are planning to become pregnant, consult your physician prior to use.
What is The Shakti Mat made from?
The Shakti Mat is handmade using 100% Organic Cotton and GOTS Certified dyes. Laid flat out, The Shakti Mat measures 74cm by 42cm (Original Mats) or 68cm by 42cm (Light or Advanced Mats) and they weigh about half a kilo. The mat is filled with an inner foam, making it a soft surface for you to use. The spikes are ABS recyclable and non-toxic plastic, and the foam is polythene (non-toxic, latex free and typically used for bedding).
Can my child use The Shakti Mat?
Children tend to really enjoy using The Shakti Mat because they relax into it very quickly. It helps them to calm down and relax, so try using it with your child at bedtime. If you are buying a Shakti Mat for your child, then consider trying the Light mat for them to begin with. We love getting photos of kids using The Shakti Mat!
Will I be too heavy for The Shakti Mat?
We find it is a person's level of skin sensitivity that determines how they respond to The Shakti Mat, not how heavy they are. So no matter what you weigh, you can use and benefit from The Shakti Mat.
Is there a time limit on how long I can use my mat for?
The suggested time for positive effects is 20 minutes or more. The good news is, it is not dangerous to exceed this limit. Many people fall asleep on their Shakti Mat, and this is perfectly safe.
What do the symbols on The Shakti Mat mean?
The concept of The Shakti Mat begun in India, originating from the bed of nails. The name 'Shakti' and the symbols used are to represent the Vedic culture that it arose from.
The word 'Shakti' in Sanskrit is a feminine principle and symbolizes empowerment, abundance, and change.
The 'Om' symbol next to the word Shakti on the mat is mostly associated in the West with yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices. It is a mystical and sacred syllable that is used in Hinduism and Buddhism.
The 'Sri Yantra' symbol that is on the back of The Shakti Mat is a mystical diagram that means 'holy instrument'. The Sri Yantra is considered to be the tool for obtaining and fulfilling all worldly desires and for material manifestation. This can be through increasing our focus and by clearing our minds so that we may see our goals clearly.
We understand that purchasing a Shakti Mat may be a big investment and that The Shakti Mat isn't for everyone. We have a 60-day returns policy, so you are welcome to give your Shakti Mat a decent trial period. While we absolutely recommend persevering with your Shakti Mat to access its benefits, if you find it's really not for you we'll refund the full cost you paid for your Shakti Mat in keeping with our Returns Policy - please do note that it's not our policy to refund you the cost of returning it to us.
Get in touch via the contact form below and we'll let you know how you can arrange this.
We will happily exchange your mat if you find you ordered the wrong one. The whole point of using our products is to ensure you have the one that is right for you. Contact us via the form below and we can arrange an exchange for you. Please note shipping costs to cover sending the product back to us are not covered by us.
We process and dispatch your order the following working day after we receive your order. If you order before 9 am that day, then we will send it out the same day.
Yes, absolutely! If you're after New Zealand shipping please take a look on our Shakti New Zealand website, or if you want check out our Australian shipping services, take a look on our Shakti Australia site.
How Long Will it Take You to Process My Order?
Where Is My Shakti Mat?
Oh no, apologies that we've sent you a Shakti Mat missing a spike!
Each spikey disc is individually, manually popped into place with love – and so occasionally the two parts may not be clicked into place properly. Sometimes if the discs catch on something (eg. when we're putting the foam inner into the Shakti Mat) they can pop off without us realising!
My Shakti Mat is Really Painful, I Think I Ordered the Wrong One!
Firstly, well done on your perseverance with the Shakti Mat so far! Everyone finds it sore at the start - some more than others - but your body will absolutely get used to it.
While the Shakti Mat definitely works best against bare skin, people can find it a little more comfortable with a thin (and old!) t shirt on to begin with.
Another trick to ease into it is to use your Shakti Mat on your bed - because there's more 'give', the treatment is a little less intense.


Totley Rifle range, now disused is located West of Sheffield near the suburb of Totley. The range closed in 1997 and is overgrown but with the aid of the attached map and a couple of hours spare you can walk round the site and locate many of the firing points and target areas. I once spent a afternoon there with a metal detector and found dozens of spent cartridges and bullets uo to 20mm caliber.
Colonel Hughes of the Hallamshire Rifle Volunteer corp acquired the land at Totley and it opened as a rifle range on 15 September 1900. In order for a man of a rifle battalion to receive a grant of 35 shillings a year he had to pass a course of rifle training and practice regularly. as the rifle they were using was a Lee Enfield .303 rifle with a range of over a 1000 yards they needed a suitable site and this was the only area available in Sheffield. Once the land was acquired the range and out building were constructed and the range was used by the military and then public for nearly a hundred years.
The Hallamshires fought in the 1914-1918 war at Ypres, somme Messine and Passendale losing 45 officers and 1325 NCO and men all these men probably practiced there rifle training at Totley range. The range finally closed in 1997.
The site is quite overgrown and well hidden, although the range in disussed expect to loose some blood as there are the most massive lethal brambles all over the place. Its not until you see a warning sign of Danger Steep Drop that you know you are in the right area, a walk over some raised ground and you jump down into a concrete area which is the protected area for the target markers. having explored this area and photographed the various graffiti covered areas I wandered further up the range to find the massive bullet stop, a wall of loose sand, a quick few handfuls soon rewarded me with some flattened spent bullets of various calibers.
I then walked back down to the concrete area and found the target channels in the concrete and a store area which had seen better days but all interesting features. Walking down the range I soon found the raised areas which were the different firing points starting at 100 yard and then every 100 yards, I also found some communication plug sockets on wooden posts, probably connected to the target marker areas. Continuing further down the range I came to a road and followed that up to the 700, 800 and 900 yard firing points, never mind seeing a target at this range I could only just make out the massive bullet back stop, they must of been great shots in those days.
Nice to see that place again. That was the first range I fired a large calibre rifle; whilst it was many years ago, I recall saying, "F'me" after I'd pulled the trigger. We are laid prone at 500 yards, albeit at the time, I thought it was further, but I don't remember the 800 & 900 yards being offset as your diagram shows. We had to have a person on each end of the public footpath which runs North-South at the back of the range which frequently stopped play due to hikers. "I'm entitled to walk here, so I will" attitude.
I have a very vague memory of a irate farmer turning up one day with a dead sheep which had been shot, but that could be codswallop.
Hi and thanks for interesting comments, great that you actually fired at the range, you would not recognize it today very overgrown as photos show. The 900 yard firing point is right next to the main road, think this were closed a while back, must of been impressive to see 3 or 4 machine guns firing from there.
Good stuff pal, coincidentally I was looking at this on a map the other day whilst planning a walk and wondering if it was still in use.
Not the most epic of places, but I quite like the look of it, nice place for a sunny sunday stroll i'd say!
Hi as you can see from photos very overgrown and not been used for 20 years, there are some paths that are regularly used crossing the site and it is a nice area to walk heading up onto the moors, thanks for your comments.
As always, I admire the effort you've got to to seek this out.
Report - Historic Rifle Range, Burton Meadows April 2012 Very Pic Heavy!


"호랑이 두 마리가 한국에 들어가요."
wow because i said "the two tigers" instead of just "two tigers" my answer is wrong??
Yes, because "the two tigers" would be 호랑이 두 마리는, not 호랑이 두 마리가, as "the" puts emphasis on the topic in this case.
Is it not supposed to be 호랑 두 마리가?
The 이 is a part of 호랑이 and not an affix. Another such word is 고양이, meaning cat.
Two tigers enter, one tiger leaves.


Palms of Golf Course". Signed lower right "Jane Peterson". Provenance: Artist's Estate.
Watercolor on paper, 24" x 19". Framed."
Very slight amount of foxing throughout the paper. Small amount of discoloration or paper rub (1) to the central right extreme right edge. Pencil outline marks throughout."


text:
Stormwater Rulemakers Approve Largescale Revisions, Additions
Program Helps Towns Provide Electric Vehicle Charging Spots
Gov. McCrory Signs Law Enforcement Legislation
Budget Among Other Bills Signed; Many Still Pending
State Projects Budget Surplus
Hearing Set on HB2 Lawsuit
Sen. Apodaca Resigns After 14 Years
Report: Mayors Value Economic Development Above All
ICYMI - Podcast: Reps. Ross, Torbett Discuss Local Infrastructure
Nat'l Ranks: Motorists Fare Better in N.C. Municipalities
Top state regulators voted on Thursday to adopt a large package of stormwater rules that would affect cities and towns. The N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) gave final approval to a proposal brought forward after several years of stakeholder involvement and a recent public comment period. Four municipal stormwater experts took part in stakeholder discussions, which focused on defining technical standards for stormwater control measures as well as creating a fast-track permitting option for these devices (read more background here).
The package also included a substantial reorganization and update of existing stormwater rules, which was prompted by the "review of rules" process, a legislative mandate requiring state agencies to review and potentially change their rules every 10 years.
Commissioners' discussions of the rule package focused on which licensed professionals should be allowed to access the new fast-track permitting process, noting that since plans for stormwater control measures will not be reviewed prior to being built, the submitting professional needs to be competent in stormwater design to ensure the protection of the public and property. Additionally, under their federal stormwater permits, cities and towns are generally required to ensure that stormwater control measures operate in perpetuity. League affiliate organization the Storm Water Association of North Carolina provided detailed advance comments to the EMC that highlighted these issues. The rules package next heads to the Rules Review Commission for approval. The scheduled effective date of the rule package is January 1, 2017.
Duke Energy is investing in the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in cities and towns around the state. Its goal: to see 30 percent more of them. The utility announced its "EV Charging Infrastructure Support Project" on Tuesday, reserving $1 million to help municipalities develop public charging stations. According to a press release, Duke Energy will cover all costs up to $5,000 per charge port; $20,000 per site, or $50,000 per city. "Adoption of EVs depends on a robust infrastructure for consumers," said David Fountain, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. There are roughly 4,700 registered plug-in EVs and about 700 public charging stations in North Carolina right now, according to the industry. An article posted Tuesday on techcrunch.com reported expectations of 62 percent year-over-year growth in the EV market in 2016, as the vehicles become more accessible and affordable.
"Duke Energy's new program will give communities the opportunity to provide a new amenity for residents and visitors that also benefits the local economy and air quality," said Dr. Robert Koger, president of Advanced Energy, a nonprofit established by the N.C. Utilities Commission. The program also includes $500,000 for electric bus charging for transit agencies. The utility would pay fully for electric bus-charging infrastructure up to $250,000 per entity, the press release says. To apply, download this EV charging form, or this one for the bus program. The deadline is Sept. 1. Questions may be directed to PlugIn@Duke-Energy.com. Click here for media coverage.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law HB 972 Law Enforcement Recordings/No Public Record during a ceremony with bill sponsors on Monday, setting up a much-needed legal framework regarding access to police footage from body-worn or dashboard cameras. The governor's office in a press release explained that the legislation "seeks to gain public trust while respecting the rights of public safety officers by establishing clear and distinct procedures and standards by which a law enforcement agency may disclose or release a recording from a body-worn or dashboard camera."
Bill sponsors including Reps. John Faircloth and Allen McNeill, who come from law enforcement backgrounds, received bipartisan recognition during the legislation's development for their diligent work on a complicated topic. It involved League-member presentations to an interim legislative study committee on the vast and complex issues related to law enforcement agencies' use of body-worn cameras. That feedback helped to shape the final language, which does not mandate the use of body cams. Click here for past League coverage.
Gov. McCrory at the same ceremony also signed HB 1044 Law Enforcement Omnibus Bill, which makes various minor changes to state law enforcement statutes but also establishes a Blue Alert System to help apprehend suspects of murder or serious bodily injury committed on a law enforcement officer. "This legislation will help curtail violence against our police officers by engaging the community to help capture suspects who seek to harm an officer," the governor's office said.
Nearly 30 bills approved in the 2016 legislative session still awaited Gov. Pat McCrory's signature as of Friday morning, including measures of interest to municipalities. But the governor has been reducing the stack. In addition to signing the state's $22.3 billion budget and law enforcement legislation mentioned earlier in this newsletter, this week he put into law a handful of bills including House Bill 959 DOT Proposed Legislative Changes. That one includes a provision responding to a N.C. Supreme Court Ruling from June 10 that struck down the state's 29-year-old law allowing NCDOT to place development restrictions on land planned for future roads. The legislative changes include using dollars currently earmarked for state-funded transportation projects to pay court costs and landowner fees, which could eventually run into amounts of hundreds of millions of dollars. The FY16-17 state budget included just over $32 million in additional amounts for this same transportation program. The new transportation law includes various other technical changes and updates requested by NCDOT. Click here for a rundown of that and other bills the governor signed this week. Click here for a governor's-office press release and here for news coverage about the signing of the budget, which includes several wins for municipalities, as noted in previous League coverage.
Many bills still await the governor's pen as of Friday morning, according to the General Assembly's website. They include:
HB 483 Land-Use Regulatory Changes – Passed on the final day of the 2016 General Assembly after negotiations by municipal officials and land-use attorneys, this measure is a much-abbreviated version of its prior form. This legislation would grant statutory vested rights for multi-phase developments for a period of seven years. Click here for previous League coverage of the bill's earlier language.
HB 630 Drinking Water Protect'n/Coal Ash Cleanup Act – Includes League-requested language to assure that a public water system's solvency be taken into account when electric providers are required provide alternative drinking water supplies to property owners near coal ash impoundments.
SB 326 Local Gov'ts/Bldgs/Structures/Inspections – Places restrictions on the ways cities run rental registration programs. Cities around the state have used these programs successfully to force absentee landlords to address repeated housing violations on their properties, improving the quality of available housing and protecting the public safety of neighboring tenants and property owners. (Click here to read the League's previous coverage of the bill and changes made.)
SB 667 Elections Omnibus Revisions – A League-opposed provision in this bill sets sight on even-numbered-year municipal elections by 2020. Section 5 directs the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee to study implementation options and recommend any related legislation.
Click here to see a full list of bills pending on the governor's desk. Click here to see a full list of bills the governor has already signed.
State revenue analysts project that North Carolina will have $425 million more in tax collections than expected from the recently ended fiscal year. The office of Gov. Pat McCrory announced the surplus in a press release on Tuesday. "North Carolina has posted record revenue surpluses driven by strong economic growth, job creation and responsible financial management," Gov. McCrory said. "At a time when neighboring states are revealing steep revenue deficits, North Carolina's economy is firing on all cylinders." This latest revenue projection is $95 million more than projected in May. Officials say the surplus is driven by increased employment and better income. Click here for media coverage.
A federal judge on Aug. 1 is set to hear arguments on whether to suspend parts of House Bill 2 while a lawsuit is pending against the legislation, the Raleigh News & Observer reported on Thursday. According the newspaper, it's one of four legal challenges against HB2, which went into law after a one-day special session of the N.C. General Assembly in March. Plaintiffs in this case took issue with the law's requirement that individuals in schools and public buildings use only the restrooms that match their biological sex as noted on their birth certificates, as opposed to their gender identity, a measures seen as discriminatory to the transgender community. The plaintiffs claim HB2 violates federal law on gender equity, the newspaper reported. The U.S. Department of Justice has also sued over the law. HB2 separately prohibits local governments from regulating against discrimination in places of public accommodation.
Sen. Tom Apodaca, the Hendersonville lawmaker known as second-in-command in the N.C. Senate as chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, has announced his resignation from the state legislature after seven terms of service. "It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent and serve the people of Western North Carolina in the State Senate," he said in a Friday morning statement quoted by news outlets across the state. "It was a privilege to serve in such a special institution and I am grateful for the many friendships formed with constituents and colleagues on both sides of the aisle." Apodaca had previously announced that this term would be his last in the General Assembly. The News & Observer's Insider State Government News Service reported that Apodaca may have his eye on a lobbying career. He was first elected to the legislature in 2002. "Sure will be strange serving in the (General Assembly) and representing Henderson County without him," Rep. Chuck McGrady tweeted Friday morning. Click here for more media coverage.
Economic development remains the number-one focus of U.S. mayors, the National League of Cities reported on Thursday from the findings of its annual State of the Cities study examining mayors' state-of-the-city speeches in 100 municipalities of various sizes and regional traits. According to NLC's summary, economic development was mentioned in 75 percent of those speeches, followed by public safety at 70 percent and city budgets at 52 percent. All in all, the bottom lines represent what cities and towns have accomplished and the challenges still ahead. "As the economy rebounds, mayors are utilizing their state of the city speeches to highlight the progress their communities have made since the Great Recession," said NLC CEO Clarence E. Anthony in a press release about the study. "Mayors are focusing on innovative strategies to grow jobs, modernize manufacturing and keep our residents safe. But we must work hard to address critical challenges -- including inequality, gun violence, inclusion issues and a dilapidated infrastructure -- for our cities, and our nation, to thrive and succeed."
Other top issues for mayors this year included housing, energy, data and technology issues, and healthcare. Public safety's second-place focus in these speeches is a change from last year's heavy emphasis on infrastructure, which was still mentioned in 48 percent of speeches and concentrated mostly on roads and bicycling. Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane's speech, delivered in March, was among those NLC sampled for its study. Read the full report here, which includes tools for local leaders to address the various issues most highlighted in state-of-the-city speeches.
State Reps. Stephen Ross and John Torbett weighed in on the local infrastructure funding burden in the latest episode of Municipal Equation, the League's recently launched podcast about local government and great communities. "We're not treating the economic engine the way it needs to be treated," Rep. Ross, a former mayor of Burlington, said in a featured interview about the lack of funding resources available to municipalities -- being the economic engines -- so they can keep up with growth by way of reliable infrastructure. He said he hopes the legislature can soon discuss new funding options. Rep. Torbett, a chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said the state feels obligated to road funding but would like to see municipalities be able to handle water and sewer needs. He called for essential planning to highly prioritize maintenance of existing infrastructure. Some cities' underground pipes are several decades old. Listen in to hear more about the local infrastructure funding quandary, learn about tools to reduce the deficit and a piece of creative thinking that the City of Raleigh has put to use.
Our next episode -- an interview with renowned innovation and entrepreneurship expert Christopher Gergen on how municipal government can help foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem -- will be out on Tuesday, July 19. Click here for a preview.
Four North Carolina cities are in a new, national top-20 list of best cities for driving. Popular consumer finance website WalletHub recognized Greensboro (14th), Winston-Salem (17th), Charlotte (19th) and Durham (20th) after a narrative about the increasingly burdensome nature of owning and operating an automobile. "Each year, those who drive spend an average of about 200 hours on the road -- plus another 41 hours in gridlock. For a full-time worker, 241 hours is the equivalent of a six-week vacation," the site explained. It tabulated the collective cost of wasted time and fuel by way of traffic congestion at $1,700 per household, or $124 billion overall, per year. "But some cities are friendlier toward Americans behind the wheel," WalletHub contributor Richard Bernardo notes. The report is a number-crunch involving the nation's 100 most populous cities with attention to gas prices, average annual hours of traffic delays and number of automobile repair establishments per capita. Beneath the overall rankings, which saw Greensboro along the forefront nationally, are individual accolades that consider Winston-Salem among the top-five in the U.S. for lowest average annual hours of traffic delays. Raleigh was fifth for lowest auto maintenance costs. And three North Carolina municipalities were in the top-five for lowest parking rates: Durham (1st), Winston-Salem (2nd) and Greensboro (5th).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
UN Global Compact Letter to Pope Francis Opens Dialogue on Business as a Force for Good
.@globalcompact delivers open letter to representative of @Pontifex asking to call on business to care for climate. http://bit.ly/1P7Aoc2
Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 10:00am
NEWSROOM: United Nations Global Compact
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, August 13, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability network, said that the recent papal encyclical on environmental principles "should inspire the private sector to do more to protect the environment and address climate change," in an open letter delivered Friday to the representative of His Holiness Pope Francis in New York.
With more than 8,500 participating businesses worldwide pledged to adhere to core UN principles, the UN Global Compact offered its network-based infrastructure as "a bridge, connecting the encyclical's vision of integral ecology with practical efforts underway to mobilize responsible business." The letter highlights the critical role business and investors play in advancing sustainable business practices and being catalysts "for a just, inclusive and low-carbon economy."
The Pope is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on 25 September, at the outset of a Summit weekend at which more than 150 Heads of State will attend, and Member States will officially ratify a set of "sustainable development goals," including successful action on climate change. The SDG document, agreed in its final form last week, calls on the private sector to engage as a full partner in the eradication of poverty, attaining social justice, and protecting the common planetary home of humanity. CEOs attending a Private Sector Forum organized by the UN Global Compact the following day will be announcing commitments and partnerships to empower the effort.
The open letter asks the Pope, while at the United Nations, "to call directly upon business and financial markets to do more to care for our climate and our common home". The UN Global Compact offers its support in convening further dialogue within its diverse international network of business actors, civil society partners and labour organisations. "In markets all over the world, we want to ensure that the encyclical is heard and the ethic of care it heralds is appreciated," the letter says.
Read the Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Francis from the United Nations Global Compact Responding to Laudato Si' (Español | Italiano)
Tim Wall
+1-213447595
wallt@un.org
http://www.unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
https://www.facebook.com/UNGlobalCompact
https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact
bwilson@unglobalcompact.org
More From United Nations Global Compact
Corporate Leaders Commit to Ramping up Climate Action in the Lead-up to the Climate Ambition Summit and COP26, but the Race to Zero Has Only Just Begun
African Business Leaders Call for Sustainable Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic at UN Global Compact Event
Media Advisory: High-level Caring for Climate Meeting Aims to Ramp up Ambition in Race to Net Zero Emissions
Videos from United Nations Global Compact
Annual Letter From CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact : A Year of Tipping Points
United Nations Global Compact Recognizes Ten Business Leaders for Championing the Sustainable Development Goals
The Search is On at the UN Global Compact for SDG Pioneers!


Textured gray fabric offers contemporary style to the loveseat with wide track arms. With this loveseat you will have a great neutral piece that can complement any decor, and from there you can accessorize it to make it your own.
The Termoli Contemporary Loveseat with Track Arms in Gray Fabric by Signature Design by Ashley at Sam Levitz Furniture in the Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, and Green Valley, AZ area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
The Termoli collection is a great option if you are looking for furniture in the Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, and Green Valley, AZ area.
Browse other items in the Termoli collection from Sam Levitz Furniture in the Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, and Green Valley, AZ area.


text:
Exmouth Journal > Lifestyle
Tribute to Timothy John Cockett
Published: 11:54 AM December 30, 2009 Updated: 10:44 PM November 6, 2020
30/12/2008: TRIBUTES are pouring in for a 20-year-old unique and amazing Exmouth man who died on Christmas Eve after suffering serious injuries from a motorbike accident.
30/12/2008: TRIBUTES are pouring in for a 20-year-old 'unique' and 'amazing' Exmouth man who died on Christmas Eve after suffering serious injuries from a motorbike accident.
Timothy John Cockett - known by his friends as Timmy - had been riding a 125cc motorcycle along Montpellier Road last week when it hit a number of parked cars and a brick wall.
Since the accident the 20-year-old, of Merrion Avenue, had been on a life support machine with serious head and internal injuries at Derrfiford Hospital, Plymouth, after being transferred from Exeter's Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
He died 'peacefully' with his family around him on December 24.
After the accident friends and family left floral tributes and cards at the spot the young motorcyclist was found.
Timothy's parents, Celia and John, and sister Mary, have been collecting the tribute cards to keep at home, to protect them from rain.
The family said they would 'never be able to fill the space' caused by Timothy's death.
Mr and Mrs Cockett said they hoped their son was now at peace with his grandparents.
"You are now safe in the loving arms of Jesus - your spirit freed. We shall hold you in our hearts forever," said a family tribute.
Nestled among the floral tributes, left by friends, are cans of larger, a roll-up cigarette and cards and messages of love.
A tribute left by friend Lewis said: "In loving memory of an amazing person and my best friend. I will think about you every day and you will always be missed by everyone.
"Exmouth's not going to be the same place without you mate. So many good memories. Sleep well."
Pritch and family said Timmy was 'such a unique guy. You will be missed'.
Friends Matt and Steve said: "You were a proper soldier and you'll never be forgotten."
A card left in loving memory of a dear friend by someone calling themselves Barlow, said: "You were a funny lad and a good mate. "Will miss you every day."
Simon Santucci, co-owner of Supreme Leisure, suppliers of decking, veranda and fencing in Colaton Raleigh, where Mr Cockett had worked as an engineer for the past six months, said:
"He was a really nice honest, loyal, hard working member of staff. He was lovely and always had a great smile on his face. We work really close as a team and Timmy was part of that team. He'll be sorely missed."
READERS TRIBUTES:
Tim was a great friend to a lot of people and is going to be sorely missed by everyone who new him. He filled the lives of all his friends with joy and laughter and we all have loads of great memories that we will cherish forever. He will never be forgotten. He was one in a million and can never be replaced. He has left a huge hole amongst his friends. We will NEVER forget you Tim... so many great memories. Love Lewis x
Lewis Jefferies
Timmy was one of those people that you will never meet again. Every time you would see him, somehow he would make you laugh! My thoughts and feelings are with his family at this unfortunate time! He will be remembered as a legend in his own right! He will be forever in our heads and hearts. Peace out Timmy! x You were adored by many.
Mike Amos
I think everyone loved Timmy to bits you see. He had great mates and family. I haven't known Timmy For Long Only A Couple Of Months And We Just got On So Great He Was Such A Easy Guy To Get Along with He Always had A Smile On His Face And Never Wanted to Hurt Any one....But Timmy You Was A Great Boyfreind And You Will Always Be In My Heart And ThankYou For Being There xx
Typhany Curtis


If you follow phones, this won't be surprising to hear — the next Galaxy Note, presumably called the Galaxy Note 10, will support 5G cellular networks.
Measles just hit a major milestone as it spreads across the country, infecting the most people since the year 2000, when public health officials declared the virus eliminated in the US. Thanks to the anti-vaccination movement, the virus has come roaring back.
5G is here, but not all 5G is equal — there's the blazing-fast-but-barely-there millimeter wave 5G which has trouble covering wide areas and penetrating buildings, and the "sub-6GHz" frequency flavor of 5G that can be deployed more easily using existing spectrum.
And now, Verizon and T-Mobile are publicly admitting something that anyone could have predicted: good luck getting the fastest version of 5G unless you live in an urban metropolitan area.
The NSA spying program could soon come to an end — if the White House listens to the NSA's recommendation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the National Security Agency is recommending that the White House abandon the agency's metadata surveillance program, which was first brought to light by the leaks released by former contractor Edward Snowden in 2013.
Another one bites the dust. Probably.
The dark-web marketplace Wallstreet Market has for some time now been an online place to buy drugs, stolen data sets, and other illicit goods and services with cryptocurrency. Now, with the market supposedly down "for maintenance," users are crying exit scam and accusing those who ran the site of making off with their funds.
Tesla's robo-taxis are needed more than ever.
The company lost $702 million in the first three months of the year and the EV maker doesn't expect to be profitable again until the second half of the year, according to first quarter earnings results reported Wednesday. Revenue was lower than expected at $4.5 billion.
Don't sweat it, hot sleepers. Buffy's new comforter, the Breeze will keep you cool while you catch those zzz's—and it will give you peace of mind, too. The Breeze is 100% made from soft, breathable eucalyptus fiber, and according to the brand, it's the first comforter to be completely plant-based.
Elon Musk would prefer if Tesla, which is known for its volatile share price and is among the most heavily shorted stock, were a private company, but acknowledged during an earnings call Wednesday that it wasn't likely.
Musk can dream, can't he?
"Unfortunately that ship had sailed," Musk said flatly, in response to a question from Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas.


In retail, the benefits of people counting are widely known and counting devices are used in many stores worldwide. The Irisys Vector 4D is the next generation of these sensors – featuring advanced functionality that goes beyond just counting people, allowing you to optimise the whole customer experience.
The Vector 4D is the latest product from Irisys and is the result of many years of development and listening to customer feedback. Irisys have a reputation for high quality products and counting accuracy – the Vector 4D delivers both of these by utilising innovative Time of Flight technology.
Time of Flight people counting uses invisible infrared light that ensures the same high level of accuracy in the brightest of sunlight and total darkness. In real world test installations, accuracy levels in excess of 99% were recorded.
Installation and setup is extremely simple; the PoE version requiring only one cable. Devices are able to be configured locally or remotely via the Irisys' Estate Manager platform.
Using the Estate Manager platform, multiple devices can be configured to create one counting network to cover large openings or even entire stores. Specially created algorithms ensure customers are seamlessly tracked when moving between each device's field of view. This ensures accurate counting by any one of up to 32 registers that can be set up on each counting network.
Customer demographics can be estimated using height data that is accurate to within +/- 2cm. This is much more accurate than other technologies used to count people which only estimate the height and can vary by as much as +/- 10cm. The Vector 4D has a smart auto height set up feature that learns the height of the floor it is looking at. Stairs and ramps are not an issue and accurate heights of customers using these can be detected. This precise height data could also be used to filter out children if required.
These two functions are made possible thanks to the Time of Flight sensor technology. Other people counting device manufacturers claim that their devices can do this too, however they are not as accurate as often dwelling people are lost by the sensor and their staff detection feature requires additional hardware and complicated set up.
With the Vector 4D, these functions are built in as standard. The infrared Time of Flight sensor does not lose track of a person whether they are moving or standing still. And employees are easily detected by wearing a passive lanyard made of a special material.
Future blog posts in this series will detail how each of these functions work and some of the numerous applications that they can be used for.


text:
Q: Etymology of "sink" in SwiftUI / Combine? I'm joining development on an existing SwiftUI / Combine iOS project, which is my first exposure to the technology.
The names of functions like assign(to:on:) are easy enough to grok, but I'm lost at sink.
This function is mentioned in some of the most basic Apple documentation, but seemingly never defined.

Combine provides two built-in subscribers, which automatically match the output and failure types of their attached publisher:

*

*sink(receiveCompletion:receiveValue:) takes two closures. The first closure executes when it receives Subscribers.Completion, which is an enumeration that indicates whether the publisher finished normally or failed with an error. The second closure executes when it receives an element from the publisher.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/combine/receiving-and-handling-events-with-combine

What is a "sink" function in the the world of SwiftUI, Combine, reactive programming?
Why is it called "sink"? What's the etymology? What's the meaning?
Is it intended to refer to "sync" as in syncing? Kitchen sink? Heat sink? Going below the surface? Why is the name "sink"?

A: let's start from the beginning.
What is Combine?

The Combine framework provides a declarative Swift API for
processing values over time. These values can represent many kinds of asynchronous events. Combine declares publishers to expose values
that can change over time, and subscribers to receive those values
from the publishers.

in Reactive programming, the connection between a Publisher (Observable) and Subscriber (Observer) is called a Stream. The reason behind this naming is that this connection really looks like a stream that an Event Publisher uses to deliver things (Events) to the observers.

During this stream, just like a real stream we can create branches or transform it into a completely new stream using Operators like Map, ...
Why Sink?
the "Sink" function represents the end of the stream and it means that you do not access the stream anymore after you sink it. You can't have any operator after Sinking a stream.
We have upstream and downstream as well Which makes the naming more reasonable.
         upstream          downstream
source <--------- operator -----------> consumer/further operators

I think it is worth mentioning that because of functional programming and function composing, we need an executor, I mean you can compose Operators together as much as you want on a stream, but they don't do anything if you don't run the composed function. Sink and Assign are considered as Executors (It's my personal naming) that execute the final composed function and handle the results.

A: Sink : (verb) intransitive verb

*

*to soak or become absorbed : PENETRATE

*to become impressively known or felt
the lesson had sunk in

*to become deeply absorbed
sank into reverie
The formal connection and point in time where data that is being sent from a publisher is sank/sunk/sinked in with your app's subscriber.

A: In SwiftUI we use a different assign: assign(to:) which "Republishes elements received from a publisher, by assigning them to a property marked as a publisher." I've always considered sink as meaning down the drain, i.e. something you would not want to use in SwiftUI.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Tid og sted: Trial Lecture: Harald Arne Bergan 3. des. 2018 11:30, Blått Aud Rikshopsitalet.
Cand.med. Harald Arne Bergan at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Therapeutic hypothermia in the post-resuscitation phase – What is the evidence on effects on brain damage from animal models?"
MSc Tor Espen Stav-Noraas at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Mechanisms of release of interleukin-1 family members".
MD Eva Zsuzsanna Hoseth at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Microbiota and mental health, implications for clinical practice".
MSc Quirino Puzo at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "The global epidemiology and social determinants of suicide, with particular focus on Norway."
Cand.med. Øygunn Aass Utheim at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: Treatment of large skin wounds with artificial membranes or genetically manipulated cells.
M.Sc. Helena Kames Kjeldgaard at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Eating disorders and their effects on pregnancy and vice versa" for the degree of PhD.
M.Sc. Chinh Bkrong Thi Thuy Nguyen at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: «Relations between gene expression and behavioural characteristics».
M.Sc. Shadab Abadpour at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Alternative unrestricted sources for beta-cell replacement and the hurdles for their clinical translation"
Cand.med. Jesper Brandstorp-Boesen at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Surgical treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis: the relative merits of injection augmentation, laryngeal framework techniques and non-selective reinnervation"
MSc Nils Oskar Gunnar Hansson at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Epigenetics in forensics".
Tid og sted: Trial Lecture - Anders Wensaas 16. nov. 2018 11:00, Festsalen Gaustad sykehus, Sognsv 21 - bygg 10.
Cand.med. Peder Aabel at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Tilhelingen av et kirurgisk snitt gjennom huden, med vekt på de ulike involverte cellers og de viktigste parakrine regulatorers roller".
Cand.med. Cecilie Heramb at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Clinical follow-up and risk reduction after cancer genetic counseling and molecular genetic testing from a hereditary breast cancer perspective".
Tid og sted: Trial Lecture - Anders Wensaas 16. nov. 2018 09:30, Festsalen Gaustad sykehus, Sognsv 21 - bygg 10.
MD Panagiota Mantaka at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: T‐cell lymphomas ‐ biology, classification and clinical features.
Cand.med. Maia Blomhoff Holm ved Institutt for klinisk medisin avholder prøveforelesning over oppgitt emne: "Diagnosing and treating placental dysfunction in fetal growth restriction"
Cand.med. Silje Bakken Jørgensen at Institute of Clinical Medicine will give a trial lecture on the given topic: "Vankomycinresistens hos enterokokker - fra resistensmekanisme til folkehelseperspektiv"