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Home/AMERICAS/U.S. Senate passes spy agency's surveillance reform bill
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U.S. Senate passes spy agency's surveillance reform bill
Xinhua News Agency Follow on Twitter Send an email June 2, 2015
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed the USA Freedom Act, a domestic surveillance reform bill that would extend the bulk phone metadata collection program of the National Security Agency (NSA) for another six months, after which the practice will be ended.
The 67-32 vote for the bill came more than 36 hours after three parts of the Patriot Act expired Monday, forcing the NSA to wind down its bulk collection of U.S. phone data.
According to the USA Freedom Act, the NSA's controversial bulk phone metadata collection program, which expired Monday, will continue for another six months. After the six-month transition period, the U.S. government will no longer be allowed to store any phone metadata of the U.S. public. Instead, phone companies will take on the responsibility of storing phone metadata, and federal agencies will be required to get a court warrant before accessing phone metadata of certain case.
As the House of Representatives passed the bill with a 338-88 vote last month, the Senate vote helps advance the bill to the White House, where President Barack Obama has promised to sign it into law. The measure will replace a program in which NSA harvests data about Americans' phone calls with a more targeted system.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suffered a political criticism during the bruising fight over the measure. He and other hawkish Republican senators opposed the bill even after the House approved it in a broad, bipartisan vote last month.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid lambasted McConnell for the lapse in Patriot Act provisions, arguing it would not have happened if the GOP leader hadn't spent so much time on trade legislation in the previous month.
Approval of the surveillance reform bill in Congress, which voted to affirmatively rein in the nation's surveillance powers, is considered as a significant victory for critics of the NSA program that had been in place since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The bill, which came after almost two years to the day when NSA contractor Edward Snowden first revealed the existence of the program to the world, will end the NSA's collection of phone " metadata" and also limit other types of data collection, as well as add new transparency measures and put in place a new expert panel on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees intelligence activities but currently only hears the government's side of an argument.
Barack Obama National Security Agency United States
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Spain's Iberia resumed flights to Cuba after a two-year absence
Serbian PM expresses readiness to reduce country's dependence on Russian gas

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I consider New Zealand my adoptive country in many ways, but of course I'm hardly a local. So with that caveat, here are my very favourite New Zealand highlights in no particular order.
This entry was posted in New Zealand and tagged glowworm cave, highlights, mountains, nature, new zealand, north island, photography, scenery, south island, things to do, travel, wildlife on February 23, 2018 by Lorna.


With a new London-based CEO to introduce to the world, this international financial business was keen to make a bold statement about its brand, history and tradition, as well as re-affirming its reputation for knowledge, insight and industry-leading expertise.
Expertise is a tricky thing to get right, since too much emphasis on expertise can seem cold and impersonal. Instead, we felt that our client needed to demonstrate an ongoing hunger for knowledge, and a willingness to share that with their clients and prospects. By selecting the iconic Natural History Museum, we were able to engage the imagination, as well as the intellect of our guests, while also establishing a sense of status and heritage from this one-of-a-kind venue.
450 invited guests soaked up the spectacular historical ambiance of Britain's most recognisable museum, made extra with the addition of ambient up-lighting in red and gold. This distinctive colour treatment was accented in floral displays exclusively designed and created by royal florist Simon Lycett. Giant sculptural spheres of red carnations added a contemporary twist, and helped to create a sense of impact and scale within this cavernous space. An acclaimed all-female octet added to the atmosphere with a selection played on the violin, viola and cello.
Following a champagne reception, guests sampled a diverse menu of mouth-watering dishes that included ham hock and guinea fowl terrine, duck wonton with duck consommé, fillet steak béarnaise and scallops wrapped in pancetta and lemon beurre blanc.
The single greatest sign of the evening's success, was the decision to make this an annual event, since when it has become a must-attend function for clients and prospects.


When someone comes to your home, or even just drives or walks by, they get a first impression of your house. This first impression is based on the curb appeal your house has (or doesn't have). So, how do you enhance the curb appeal of your home to set the stage that your home is a beautiful, happy place?
Most houses have a neutral exterior color palette. What better way to bring in some life into your home than by painting your front door in a bold color like red or yellow? A bright door will automatically look more inviting.
Check out these examples of welcoming front door colors!
Breathe life into the front of your home but adding some colorful vegetation. Be mindful of what will work with how much sun or shade the front of your house gets. Add some charm and beauty with hydrangeas, azaleas or rhododendrons which offer colorful blooms.
Regardless of your lawn or front yard style, every outdoor space needs a focal point to draw the eye. What works for your style? A showy dogwood or willow tree? An ornate iron fence? A charming bench or swing? A fountain or other water feature? Decide what you like and what will work with your existing home style and function. As a focal point, this feature should be bold enough to set the stage for your entire front property.
If you have a garage or multiple entry doors, guests can be confused about which is the main entrance to your house. Make it obvious for guests (and anyone else who's looking) to understand where people should go to enter your home. I always think it's odd to see a gorgeous front door that has steps going down into a perfectly, lush lawn. As pretty as it is, no one is going feel comfortable walking all over that lawn to get to the front door. Even if it's not a door to be used daily, consider having a paver pathway connect from this front door to your driveway or the street/sidewalk. Even a less structured path of stepping stones will look more inviting.
Even well-cared for homes may have elements that are on their property, or part of neighboring properties, that not pleasing to look at - electrical transformers; utility meters, lines or poles, neighboring houses fences or decks in disrepair. Try to hide these unpleasant distractions with large bushes, hedges, fences, trees or even stone walls. These can disguise eyesores while beautifying your property even more. Just be sure to check with local ordinances on how high fences can be and how close fences and other elements can be to neighboring properties.
Hardscapes are the solid, built surfaces in an outdoor space like patios, pathways, fire pits, pool surrounds, decorative walls, even outdoor kitchens and living rooms. A hardscape can add immediate value by improving the aesthetic and/or function of your home and also by increasing the actual property value of your home.
Take your landscape into account. You might want to hire a professional to help you with this step. While it seems simple to decide whether you want a patio here or a pathway there, factors like how much turf you'd like to keep (or add), what focal points you might like, where the sun rises and sets, traffic patterns and day-to-day functionality for your family should be considered.
Preserve greenery. Grass, plants, flowers and other vegetation provide a nice contrast to the stark, solid surface of a hardscape. Consider a stone wall with tall flowers or trees behind it, or a patio that abuts a grassy area. An area of turf provides a pleasant playing area for children and pets and also can be a cool relief on hot days.
Understand water and drainage patterns. Nothing can be more damaging to a hardscape than drainage problems. Especially in Massachusetts and other areas in the northeast where snow and ice can leave an impact, you must plan how drainage will be affected when you add your hardscape to your property. Even if you don't think there are any water drainage issues, it's prudent to level out any surfaces where you might put a hardscape or have the grade as a decline away from your house.
Choose materials that work for you. Your home has a style that you'll want to extend in your hardscape. You also have your own sense of style that you'll want to incorporate. Consider these styles when looking at stones, bricks, pavers and other materials. Don't feel limited to one color or one texture. Having a variety of two to three colors and textures tends to provide most homeowners with an overall look and feel they enjoy. The size of your property and the hardscape your considering should influence how many different materials you choose as well.
Hire help. Even if you typically do your own landscaping and gardening, it's a good idea to call in the experts for a hardscape project. Professional landscape designers can offer suggestions for a hardscape design that works with your current property landscape, provide advice on appropriate materials, and help identify any issues that could cause trouble. They typically have the complete knowledge of the many steps involved in hardscape installation. When you're hiring a pro, ask for references and to see examples of their hardscape work.
Check out our photos to see some of the hardscape design and installation Gardenin' Angels has done throughout the South Shore!


India and China – "the two most important countries going forward in this century" – will both experience domestic concerns as a result of environmental change, but they are responding very differently, said Cleo Paskal, an associate fellow at Chatham House, in an interview with the Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation (ECC) Platform.
"China is well ahead of the game, when it comes to trying to position itself in this new world, and we should really take a good hard look at that, and figure out how we want to incorporate our futures into that new global future," said Paskal.
China is reaching far beyond its borders to extend its geopolitical and economic influence, Paskal said.
"China is very aggressively incorporating a changing global environment into its foreign policy, and you can see that clearly in the Arctic," she said. They have one icebreaker ship and "more on order." They're also funding science research stations, and campaigning for "observer" status on the Arctic Council. Widespread melting of ice cover has increased access to the Arctic's mineral resources, potentially igniting a resource rush. By the end of 2015, China plans to invest in iron ore and possibly rare earth mineral mining projects in Greenland, Paskal said.
"It is not so much about climate change risks in India as it is about having the right development process," said Uttam Sinha, a research fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in an interview for ECC in the same series.
With a population of 1.2 billion and a faster rate of population growth than China, India is poised to be "at the center of global debate on climate change," Sinha said.
"The critical element in the climate change debate in the region will be the centrality of water," Sinha said. For example, the Brahmaputra River flows through China, India, and Bangladesh – the world's first-, second-, and eighth-most populous countries. Water diversion projects for agricultural or energy purposes combined with altered climate patterns run the risk of straining water resources in the region and creating cross-border tensions.
To avoid transnational conflict, especially over watersheds, Sinha stressed the importance of constructing a cooperative framework agreement in the region. "India has to work in a cooperative manner with its neighborhood," he said.
Sinha suggested that a focus on domestic development policy will concurrently prepare India to adapt to the consequences of global climate change, in contrast to China's calculated global strategy.
Who the "winners and losers" might be is still an open question.
Sources: Bloomberg Businessweek, ECC Platform, Global Water Forum, UN Population Data.
Video Credit: Cleo Paskal and Uttam Sinha, courtesy of the ECC Platform.


Following on from my previous posts on the marital coercion case involving former Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce today marked the sentencing hearing for the two defendants after being found guilty of Perverting the Course of Justice last week.
Next mitigation began for the two defendants. The ability to mitigate plausibly is as great a skill in a defence barrister as knowing the law and examining witnesses in an actual trial. The purpose of mitigation is to persuade the trial judge that what you contend for is not only plausible but also most suitable in terms of sentencing, as well as to maximise the chances of a successful appeal on the given sentence if the judge decided to ignore the points made to them. Letters were presented to the court of the defendants' previous good character, and that they had never previously offended, and that the offence itself was out of character for those that were involved.
Julian Knowles QC, for Pryce, appealed to Mr Justice Sweeney for a suspended sentence for Pryce due to "specific and unique" circumstances. Arguing that Pryce's offence is "towards the lower end of culpability" as it was done for a family member with no reward for herself. She was also pressured, he argues, even if that was not deemed to amount to marital coercion under the law. He went on to say that Pryce "accepts that it was something she should never have done. This is something Miss Pryce would not have done but for the actions of her husband," Knowles argued.
Finally delivering his ruling Mr Justice Sweeney decided that both had decided to lie about this offence and were "acting together" in deciding to pervert course of justice. "No doubt you thought that you would get away with it", said the judge. Of Huhne, Mr Justice Sweeney said that while he had used his high office to try to get the case kicked out of court his attempt to "lie and manipulate the court" would not add to sentence as he had decided to plead guilty. His guilty plea would therefore receive a 10% reduction in his sentence. The judge says that the offence "was your idea" and he was thus slightly more culpable than Pryce. Huhne was sentenced to 8 months in prison at Wandsworth Prison.
Mr Justice Sweeney said on Pryce that she "sought to manipulate and control the press so as to achieve your dual objective" of bringing down Huhne and not implicating herself. He referred to Pryce as having a "controlling, manipulative and devious side to [her] character" taking into consideration that she recorded her conversations with her ex-husband and attempted to get at him through the media without implicating herself. Mr Justice Sweeney handed down an 8 month sentence on Pryce.
Mr Justice Sweeney's full remarks on sentencing can be found here. He said that the sentences must be used as a deterrent against any such further attempts to pervert the course of justice by other members of the public in a similar way. While it would appear that the matching sentences suggest an equal amount of culpability on behalf of the two defendants one should not forget that Chris Huhne was afforded a 10% reduction due to his guilty plea early on. If he, like Pryce, had taken his case to trial then he would now likely be facing a more lengthy term behind bars. Perverting the Course of Justice is a serious offence and that has clearly been reflected in the sentencing handed out today at Southwark Crown Court.
However, this legal saga is not yet over as both parties, or at the very least their lawyers, will be coming back to court at a date to be determined in order to argue at a costs hearing to see who will be paying the cost to the tax payer for prosecuting this matter in the first place. Furthermore, debate still surrounds whether or not the defence of marital coercion remains a valid defence in 21st Century Britain.


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Within the life of every education, the expectation is that they are growing personally within their own lives and professions of which will assist them in reaching the lives of their student/learners effectively for the purposes of academic achievement. This growth is received through that activity on the part of the education within professional development….
Professional development is a process of increasing and improving the performance of workers through access to education and training opportunities in the workplace, through outside organizations, or through watching others perform the task. Basically it helps in improving the teamwork among the workers and also it helps to attract high quality workers in an organization….


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Marian Sarah Ogilvie Farquharson, née Ridley, le  à West Meon, dans le Hampshire, et morte le  à Nice, est une naturaliste et militante des droits des femmes britannique. Elle est la première femme membre de la Royal Microscopical Society, et elle est surtout connue pour sa campagne en faveur de l'accès des femmes aux sociétés savantes, particulièrement la Linnean Society of London, dont elle est élue membre en 1908.

Biographie
Marian Sarah Ridley est la fille aînée du pasteur Nicholas James Ridley et de Frances Joucriet. Elle est d'abord éduquée à domicile, puis elle prend des cours à Londres. En 1881, elle publie A Pocket Guide to British Ferns un livre sur les Fougères.

En 1883, elle épouse Robert Francis Ogilvie Farquharson, naturaliste originaire de la région d'Alford (Aberdeenshire), où elle s'installe. Le couple participe aux activités de plusieurs sociétés savantes écossaises, notamment l'East of Scotland Union of Naturalists et le Alford Field Club. Marian Farquharson poursuit ses recherches en histoire naturelle et publie deux articles dans le Scottish Naturalist. Le , elle est la première femme élue membre de la , tout en étant privée du droit de participer aux réunions de la société ou de voter.

Actions en faveur du droit des femmes à être membres de sociétés savantes

Après la mort de son mari en 1890, Farquharson s'investit en faveur du droit pour les femmes d'être membres à part entière des sociétés savantes. Elle fonde et préside la Scottish Association for Promotion of Women's Public Work.

Le , Farquharson écrit à la Royal Society et à la Linnean Society of London en indiquant que les femmes . La société linnéenne lui oppose alors un refus, arguant du fait qu'une telle requête ne peut être formulée que par un membre de la société. L'ancien président de la société, John Lubbock, soumet alors la même requête le , au nom de Marian Farquharson, à nouveau refusée par la société linnéenne le , qui estime que la charte royale qui organise son activité ne pourrait sans doute pas s'appliquer aux femmes. La Royal Society quant à elle oppose la même fin de non recevoir, pour les mêmes raisons. En 1901, Marian Farquharson renouvelle sa demande, avec l'appui d'un membre du conseil de la Linnean, F. DuCane Godman, et du secrétaire de la section zoologique, G. B. Howes, puis en novembre, avec l'appui de Reynolds Green, un autre membre du conseil. Finalement, en 1902, le comité de la société accepte de solliciter une modification de la charte royale, ce qui est fait en , pour permettre aux femmes de devenir membres de plein droit. Les candidatures d'une quinzaine de femmes sont examinées le . Elles sont toutes élues, à l'exception de Marian Farquharson. Farquharson n'est pas élue avant 1908, où sa candidature est à nouveau soumise le . Toutefois, en raison de la dégradation de son état de santé, elle n'est pas en mesure de signer le registre des membres de la société. Elle meurt à Nice le  et est enterrée au côté de son époux, à Alford, le .

Distinctions
 1885 : membre de la Royal Microscopical Society
 1908 : membre de la Linnean Society

Publications
 A Pocket Guide to British Ferns [Un Guide de poche des fougères britanniques]  (1881) (en ligne)
 Notes on mosses of the north of Scotland, Scottish Naturalist, vol. 8, 1885-1886, p. 381 (en ligne)
 Ferns and mosses of the Alford district  Scottish Naturalist, vol. 10, 1889-1890, p. 193-198

Références

Voir aussi

Bibliographie

 .

Articles connexes
 Linnean Society of London

Liens externes

Naissance en juillet 1846
Naissance dans le Hampshire
Décès en avril 1912
Décès à Nice
Naturaliste britannique (femme)
Membre de la Linnean Society of London
Décès à 65 ans

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Tristania's new gothic metal masterpiece _Beyond the Veil_ [CoC #45] has been out some time now, but this fall was supposed to be a big deal for Tristania's career. The band was to tour parts of the United States and Mexico, as well as participate in the metal festival November to Dismember in Los Angeles. While the band has a core following, praised by critics and fans around the globe, this trek to North American soil was going to bring about more exposure for this Norwegian act. That was the plan.
As the interview takes place, Morten Veland is holed up in a hotel room in Los Angeles with the flu and getting ready to go back home after just a brief four-day visit to the United States. The tour they had planned is canceled and there will be no show in Mexico. And to boot, the band only played a 30-minute set at the festival, which was marred (how unusual?) by cancellations by anticipated acts like Venom and label mates The Sins of thy Beloved. Welcome to America, Morten!
"It has been a short trip for us here, but I guess it was worth it. The festival was good exposure for the band. Playing the festival was okay; a few technical problems with our set but it was okay. We're getting ready to go home tomorrow", explains Veland. "In the beginning we were supposed to do a bunch of shows here in the US and in Mexico, but that didn't happen. It's quite unfortunate."
"This whole trip hasn't been a real big thing because we have not really been a big part of it. We came to our hotel after we arrived and I got real sick and I have just stayed in my hotel room drinking lots of water and taking painkillers. Then we went to the festival an hour before we played, talked to the stage managers, set up our equipment, played and then came back to the hotel. From that point on I have been nursing this cold." Veland adds: "As I said before, we weren't a big part of all of these things going on, but it was a treat for our fans to see us play in the US and that makes me happy. It is a shame that there were all of these problems with the festival, but at least we played."
Talking about the way the band (female vocalist Vibeke Stene, synth/programmer Einar Moen, bassist Rune Osterhus, drummer Kenneth Olsson and guitarist Anders H. Hidle) approached the new disc, he offers: "We have always been about expanding our sound. With each release, we take what we have as a band and try to make it go a lot further. We want to be able to keep all of the elements and influences, but not be afraid to bring in new ideas. With the new disc, we wanted to take the music of Tristania into a much harder direction. We added some aggressive parts to the record and tried to add a bit more of an electronic feel as well. It worked out well for us, I think."
What draws Veland into the music of the band and keeps him interested in what he does musically? "I think the main reason is that we as a band always try to make the music so versatile and we never get sick of it. We have tried so many different things over the years. Each song has its own form of expression and ideas making it up. When we started we kept to the same style of music and it was getting boring for us. By changing things up and doing new things with the music, we are all still very excited about what Tristania does as a band and within the music."
"Making music for this band has become a lot easier over the years", he states. "It has become a luxury of sorts for me to do. I enjoy making music. In the beginning of the band, after a record, I had very few ideas left over. Now I have hundreds left over and that is great because I know that I have so much to look forward to with the next release."
Any new sounds and ideas for a new disc yet? "Oh yeah. We are in the middle of the process of writing new material for the next record. We go into the studio in February and the record should be out sometime in May or so. It is a bit too early to really say just what the new stuff sounds like, but it is a definite progression for us. At least that is what we are trying to do."
"I love the studio", he says. "Studio work is one of the things I love most about working with this band and making music. I like to be able to come into the studio with the sketches of songs and carefully work on them and watch them grow into new songs. It is just a great feeling to be able to go into a studio and have your songs turn out the way you want them to."
He finishes, "There is nothing more exciting than making music that you can be really happy about and fall in love with your work. I have been very lucky with Tristania and I'm sure things in the future will be just as good."


I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #5348551). Please send me more information regarding 2589 S Stanford Drive (unit 88 & 89), Casa Grande, AZ, 85194. Thank you!
I'd like to request a showing of 2589 S Stanford Drive (unit 88 & 89), Casa Grande, AZ, 85194 (MLS® #5348551). Thank you!


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Singer and rapper Aaron Carter dies at 34
Published November 5, 2022 at 4:10 PM MDT
Cindy Ord
Singer Aaron Carter, pictured in 2012 in New York City, has died at 34.
Updated November 6, 2022 at 3:56 PM ET
The singer, rapper and actor Aaron Carter has died at age 34, his representative confirmed to NPR.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said on Saturday that police were investigating the suspicious death at Carter's home in Lancaster, Calif.
Carter's fiancée, Melanie Martin, asked for privacy as the family grieves.
"We are still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality," Martin said in a statement Saturday. "Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated."
Carter had his first hit when he was just 9 years old, a cover of The Jets' 1980s hit "Crush on You."
Carter's 2000 album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It), sold 3 million copies and produced hit singles including the title song and "I Want Candy." His videos received regular airplay on Disney and Nickelodeon.
The Florida native went on to tour with his older brother Nick Carter's band, the Backstreet Boys, release four studio albums and appear on Dancing with the Stars.
His life was also riddled with controversy. Carter was arrested multiple times on drug-related charges, aired his family feuds on social media and accused his siblings of sexually abusing him.
Nick Carter said in an Instagram post on Sunday: "My heart is broken. Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded."
The elder Carter blamed "addiction and mental illness" for his brother's death.
"I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know," he wrote. "I love you Chizz. Now you can finally have the peace you could never find here on earth....I love you baby brother."
Material from The Associated Press was included in this report.


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The Louvre Museum insider guide
Best for over 35,000 pieces of art
Don't miss Géricault's Raft of the Medusa
Round the corner a romantic view on Pont des Arts
There's so much more to the Louvre than that Mona Lisa enigmatic smile. Turned over to culture vultures during the French Revolution, this palace of kings is a jumble of venerable galleries, underground chambers and gilded ballrooms. You won't see it all in one day, so pace yourself – this is one must-see sight in Paris worth coming back for.
The Beyoncé trail
Powerful hip-hop duo Beyoncé and Jay Z caused a storm on social media after shooting their latest music video in the Louvre. Follow Queen Bey's footsteps on this trail, sweeping from the marbled grandeur of the Winged Victory of Samothrace to Marie-Guillemine Benoist's arresting Portrait of a Black Woman.
The Denon Wing
These rooms' iconic wine-red walls make a striking backdrop for monumental paintings depicting key moments in France's tumultuous history. Napoleon brandishing a crown for his Empress Joséphine, Liberty scaling barricades, the plight of the Raft of the Medusa – it's all there, in glorious larger-than-life detail.
The Sully Wing
Pei's triumphant Pyramid hints at the Louvre's unsurpassed treasure trove of Egyptian wonders. Thousands of artefacts are on display in the Sully Wing's 35 rooms, among them eye-catching sphinxes, pristine sarcophagi and a colossal statue of Rameses II. Don't miss the Osiris trail offering clues to the beliefs of Ancient Egyptians.
La Guinguette d'Angèle – Le Take Away
34, rue Coquillière, 75001
Join health-conscious Parisians at this charming little take-away window. Almost everything is some combination of raw, vegan and gluten-free, with particularly enticing desserts. Perfect for a picnic in the nearby Palais Royal gardens.
Jardin des Tuileries, 75001
Amorino's hand-sculpted gelatos are pretty as a petal – and just the thing to revive retired culture vultures. If the notoriously long queue in the garden gets overwhelming, hop across to the Left Bank for one of Grom's all-natural numbers.
Café Kitsuné
51, Galerie Montpensier 75001
Maison Kitsuné's hip coffee shop rustles up beautiful patisseries and picture-perfect matcha lattes. The interior's titchy, though; if there's no room on the terrace grab your order to go and wander down the Galerie de Montpensier's elegant arcades.
There's no play or activity area for little ones as such, though the nearby Jardin des Tuileries offers all the space, fair rides and ponies they'll need to burn off excess energy. Photography, art and dance workshops are offered in some of the galleries, offering bite-sized insight into special exhibitions. Head to Porte des Lions for the full programme.
Japanese artist Kohei Nawa's monumental Throne is an eye-catching tribute to his country's enduring relationship with France. It's entirely covered in gold leaf, blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.
Archaeology Goes Graphic
Archaeology meets comic book art in this innovative, family-friendly exhibition in the Louvre's Petite Galerie. Delve into the world of expert time-travellers – and investigate how comic book artists have drawn inspiration from them.
A Dream of Italy
A romantic figure, the Marquis Campana was an avid collector (and master embezzler) who amassed the 19th century's largest private collection. 500 of his most dazzling pieces are presented here, thanks to a collaboration with the State Hermitage Museum.
The Louvre is open 9am–6pm, with lates on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9.45pm. It's closed on Tuesdays, as well as 1 January, 1 May, 8 May and 25 December.
For the fastest access, get off at the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station on Métro lines 1 and 7. Line 14 also stops at Pyramides, a little further away.
At-the-door tickets are €15; under-18s (and EU citizens under 26) get in free.
The museum's at its most quiet at opening time and in the evenings; check the Affluences app for live updates on waiting times. You'll be charged an extra €2 to buy your ticket online, but it's well worth it to be guaranteed entrance in less than 30 minutes. If you're feeling spontaneous, try the often-quieter entrance in the Carrousel du Louvre.
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Image credits: © Olivier Ouadah; © Olivier Ouadah; © Robin Harper; © Musée du Louvre; © Sully Wing; © La Guinguette d'Angèle; © Alamy; © Café Kitsuné; © Musée du Louvre; © Throne,-pyramide-du-musée-du-Louvre-©-Kohei-Nawa--SANDWICH-Inc; © Isabelle-Dethan,-Gaspard-et-la-malédiction-du-prince-fantôme-©-Isabelle-Dethan---Editions-Delcourt---Musée-du-Louvre-Editions-2017.jpg; © Plaque-Campana,-Terre-cuite,-Vers-1-50-ap.-J.-C.-Paris,-musée-du-Louvre,-département-des-Antiquités-grecques,-étrusques-et-romaines-©-Musée-du-Louvre,-dist.-RMN---Grand-Palais
Disneyland® Paris vacation


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Common Pine Shoot Beetle Facts & Information
Protect your home or business from common pine shoot beetles by learning techniques for identification and control.
Tomicus piniperda
Clyinder-shaped
Shiny black or dark brown
How do I get rid of common pine shoot beetles?
Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage carpet beetles and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique beetle treatment program for your situation.
Orkin can provide the right solution to keep carpet beetles in their place...out of your home, or business.
Understanding Common Pine Shoot Beetles
Common pine shoot beetles closely resemble both the southern pine beetle and black turpentine beetle. They can be distinguished from other members of the genus by their smooth second elytral interval. Adult beetles are 1 mm in length, cylinder-shaped and dark brown or black and shiny in color. The larvae are white grubs with brown heads (which is typical of many beetle species) that can grow up to 5 mm in length. Eggs and larvae can be found under the bark of weak trees or stumps.
Common pine shoot beetles are known for infesting pine timber in forests, railway stations, timber yards and other wood storage areas. They spread into surrounding pine forests if no preventative measures are taken. Forest fires, windstorms and defoliating insects create favorable conditions for the breeding of pine shoot beetles, which leads to shoot damage in the pine forests.
Pine shoot beetles live in a tree's trunk and crown but attack the tree's shoots, which are its small branch or sprout portions, making the tree appear dramatically smaller in height and diameter. Their preferred host is the Scotch pine. Pine shoot beetles prefer slightly cooler climates, preferably 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adult pine shoot beetles typically overwinter in twigs or galleries located at the base of a tree. Maturation from egg to adult takes about three months and adults typically emerge in June. Recently emerged adults move up to the tree's crown to feed on growing tips throughout the summer. Adults then move back into the trunks in order to construct additional galleries and lay a second batch of eggs.
Soon after laying eggs, the adults surface and die. The larvae then appear and feed in separate galleries from April to June. In May or June, the larvae pupate and a new generation emerges through the bark and attaches onto pine trees' new shoots. The common pine shoot beetles move into the soil or the base of pine trees to overwinter. Adults can generally overwinter in shoots during warmer weather, but they move under the bark at the base of trees when colder weather approaches.
The larvae are white grubs with brown heads (which is typical of many beetle species) that can grow up to 5 mm in length. Eggs and larvae can be found under the bark of weak trees or stumps.
To detect signs of an infestation, look for the following: dieback, yellowing and bored-out shoots littering the ground under infested trees. The damage may resemble what is sometimes caused by pine tip moths, so damage should be carefully examined. Adults create exit and entrance holes about 2 to 3 mm in size near the broken end of shoots. The first and second year shoots begin yellowing and eventually turn red in the early summer.
Since first invading Canada and the United States in the late 1990s, pine shoot beetles have caused extensive damage. There is no proven way to successfully manage these pests, but some management techniques attempted in Europe include the debarking of cut timber and precisely timing any cutting operations.


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George Martin Zinkhan, III  (17 februari 1952 - Bogart (Georgia), april/mei 2009) was een Amerikaans wetenschapper, die als hoogleraar in marketing verbonden was aan de Universiteit van Georgia en de Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam.

Loopbaan
Zinkhan was werkzaam aan de Universiteit van Houston en de Universiteit van Pittsburgh voordat hij in 1994 als hoogleraar aan de slag ging bij de University of Georgia. Sinds april 2007 was hij parttime, gedurende zes weken per jaar, verbonden aan de Vrije Universiteit. Volgens een persbericht van de Vrije Universiteit stond Zinkhan bekend als een rustige, inspirerende man en een uitstekend wetenschapper met een brede interesse en een toegewijd begeleider van jonge onderzoekers.

Klopjacht
Er werd vanaf 25 april 2009 een klopjacht gehouden door de Amerikaanse politie nadat Zinkhan ervan verdacht werd zijn vrouw en twee anderen vermoord te hebben in zijn woonplaats Athens (Georgia). Volgens getuigen had Zinkhan in zijn woonplaats Athens bij Atlanta zijn vrouw en twee andere leden van een toneelgroep doodgeschoten tijdens een feestelijke picknick. Deze gebeurtenissen waren aanleiding voor de VU om een ontslagprocedure te starten.

Op 9 mei 2009 werd bekendgemaakt dat de Amerikaanse politie het lichaam van Zinkhan gevonden had in dichte bossen nabij Bogart (Georgia), op ca 1,5 km van de plaats waar eerder al zijn auto gevonden was. Er was midden in het bos een kuil gegraven. Zinkhan had zichzelf in de kuil met een pistool door het hoofd geschoten.

Publicaties
Zinhan heeft meer dan honderdveertig artikelen in collegiaal getoetste wetenschappelijke tijdschriften op zijn naam staan. Daarnaast schreef hij enkele hoofdstukken in wetenschappelijke boeken. Hij is (mede)auteur van de volgende boeken:

Zinkham schreef gedurende zijn loopbaan ook, voornamelijk werk- en onderzoeksgerelateerde, gedichten waarvan een aantal gepubliceerd zijn op de website van de American Marketing Association.

Prijzen
 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research van de American Academy of Advertising (2004)
 Terry Outstanding Faculty Award van de VU (2006) en (2009)

Noten

Marketingwetenschapper
Amerikaans hoogleraar
Amerikaans dichter
Hoogleraar aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam


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Les  (chinois simplifié : 横断山脉 pinyin : Héngduàn shānmài) sont un massif montagneux situé dans la partie orientale du Xinan, au Sud-Ouest de la Chine. La direction nord-sud de ces chaînes de montagnes, perpendiculaire aux chaînes de l'Himalaya, caractérise ce massif montagneux.

Leur altitude va d'un peu plus de  au fond de certaines vallées, jusqu'à  d'altitude au Minya Konka dans les . Ils forment la partie sud-est du plateau Tibétain au contact à l'est du bassin du Sichuan et à l'ouest du plateau Tibétain sec, et s'étendent au sud jusqu'à la frontière de la Birmanie (Myanmar) et sont bordés au nord par la  (洮河 Taohe) au sud du Gansu. La majeure partie est en Chine, mais ils concernent aussi le Nord du Myanmar. La partie chinoise couvre approximativement la province historique du Kham (le Tibet oriental). La superficie totale du massif fait environ .

Ces montagnes de la Chine occidentale possèdent une forêt de conifères répertoriée comme écorégion terrestre du WWF. Elles sont considérées par Conservation International comme un point chaud de biodiversité.

Elles abritent des espèces emblématiques comme le panda géant, ne survivant à l'état sauvage que dans quelques réserves, et les singes Rhinopithèques de Roxellane, à la fourrure rousse et ayant la face bleutée, se nourrissant de lichen dans les forêts alpines entre  et , mais lui aussi classé  par l'Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature. Les monts Hengduan abritent 27 espèces de Phasianidés.

Les monts Hengduan possèdent aussi une des plus riches flores des régions tempérées de l'hémisphère nord, avec  de plantes vasculaires (à comparer aux  de la flore vasculaire indigène de la France métropolitaine). Les Rhododendrons y sont représentés par 230 espèces. La plupart des espèces mondiales d'Aconits et un tiers des espèces de Delphinium se trouvent dans les monts Hengduan.

Géographie

Le système des monts Hengduan est formé d'un groupe de chaînes de montagnes s'étirant entre les fleuves qui descendent dans la direction nord-sud du plateau Tibétain.

Cinq des plus grands fleuves d'Asie descendent du haut plateau Tibétain à  vers l'est : le fleuve Jaune, le Jinsha (en aval nommé le Yangzi), le Lancang (futur Mékong), le Nu (futur Salouen) et le Yarlung Tsangpo (futur Brahmapoutre). Ils coulent tout d'abord d'ouest en est, puis changent radicalement de direction quand ils se heurtent aux monts Hengduan :
 le fleuve Jaune par une boucle en épingle à cheveu (à 180°) remonte vers le nord-ouest, alors que les quatre autres prennent la direction nord-sud pour traverser les monts Hengduan, puis se dirigent respectivement ;
 vers l'est pour le Jinsha, nommé Yangzi à partir de Yichang, pour aboutir à Shanghai ;
 vers le sud pour le Lancang, nommé Mékong à partir du Laos, et qui aboutit, après la traversée du Cambodge, au Vietnam ;
 vers le sud-sud-ouest pour le Nu qui devient la Salouen quand elle traverse du nord au sud le Myanmar ;
 vers l'ouest pour le Yarlung Tsangpo qui, après un crochet en épingle à cheveu, devient le Brahmapoutre en Inde.

Trois de ces fleuves et leurs affluents découpent les monts Hengduan sur environ  en six grandes chaînes composites qui d'ouest en est sont :
 la chaîne de montagnes la plus à l'ouest, à l'ouest du fleuve Nu, au nord se nomme Boshula ling, et plus au sud, sur la frontière nord-est du Myanmar, est appelée  ;
 la chaîne de montagnes, entre le Nu-Salouen et le Lancang-Mékong, est appelée Taniantaweng shan au Tibet puis monts Nu (Nu shan) au Yunnan ;
 la chaîne entre le Lancang-Mékong et le Jinsha-Yangzi, composée de plusieurs éléments dont la partie nord est nommée Markham, la partie centrale Ningjing shan et plus au sud Yunling ;
 la chaîne entre le Jingsha-Yangzi et le Yalong (son affluent), est appelée Shaluli shan ;
 entre les rivières Yalong et Dadu (affluent de la Min) se trouve la chaîne des monts Daxue, dominée par les  du Minya Konka, le plus haut sommet du Tibet oriental ;
 entre les rivières Min à l'ouest et la Jialing à l'est, sur la frontière entre le Gansu et le Sichuan, s'étendent les monts Min.

Subdivisions

Le massif est donc constitué d'une succession de chaînes orientées approximativement nord-sud ; il s'agit d'ouest en est :
 des monts  (伯舒拉岭 Bóshūlā lǐng), chaîne la plus à l'ouest des monts Hengduan, à l'ouest du fleuve Nu, au Tibet ;
 des  (高黎贡山 Gāolígòng shān), dans le prolongement de la précédente, chaîne étroite située entre les basses terres de l'Irrawaddy à l'ouest et le fleuve Nu à l'est, dans le Yunnan ;
 des  (塔尼安滕山 Tǎ.ní.ān.téng shān), situés dans la Région autonome du Tibet, près de la frontière avec le Qinghai ;
 des  (怒山 Nù shān) dans le prolongement sud des derniers ; le plus haut sommet est le Meili xueshan (梅里雪山), avec une altitude de  ;
 des monts Markham (芒康山 Mángkāng shān) à l'extrême est de la Région autonome du Tibet, commune principale Gartog (嘎托镇 Gātuō zhèn) ;
 des monts Ningjing (宁静山 Ningjing shan), dans le prolongement des derniers ;
 des Yunling (云岭 Yún lǐng), dans le prolongement des deux derniers, possèdent une réserve pour le Rhinopithèque brun ;
 des  (沙鲁里山 Shālǔlǐ shān), administrés par le Préfecture autonome tibétaine de Garzê ;
 des monts Daxue (大雪山 ), dominés par le Gongga Shan (Minya Konka) de , au centre de l'ancienne province tibétaine du Kham ;
 les  (锦屏山 Jǐnpíng shān) ;
 des monts Qionglai (邛崃山 Qiónglái shān) entre les rivières Dadu et Min, avec le sommet du Siguniang shan à  et la réserve naturelle de Wolong de pandas géants, à  au nord-ouest du centre de Chengdu, à vol d'oiseau ;
 les monts Min (岷山 Mín shān), sur la frontière Sichuan-Gansu, abritent la plupart des pandas de Chine.

Biodiversité

Diversité de la végétation
Entre , la végétation est constituée de forêts humides tropicales et subtropicales de feuillus sempervirents, de taillis de vallées sèches, ou de forêts de feuillus sempervirents. Les forêts de conifères subalpines situées entre  sont dominées par le Pin du Tibet (Pinus densata), l'épicéa Picea likiangensis (et d'autres espèces d'épicéas) et le sapin écailleux Abies squamata. Les forêts d'épicéas dominées par Picea likiangensis et Picea brachytyla se trouvent dans les montagnes du Nord-Ouest du Yunnan (de ). Les peuplements forestiers dominés par Abies georgei se trouvent à des altitudes de . Les forêts de feuillus caducs sont dominées par le bouleau de Mandchourie (Betula platyphylla) et des espèces de peupliers (Populus). Au-dessus de , se trouve la végétation alpine de taillis et de prairies alpines.

La végétation subalpine de taillis est dominée par des espèces de Rhododendron, Sabina, Caragana, Artemisia et Salix. À , les prairies et brousses d'altitude sont remplacées par la végétation alpine d'éboulis avec beaucoup d'espèces endémiques de Saussurea.

Dans le Sud-Est du Tibet, la chaîne de montagne du xian de Mêdog est couverte d'une végétation de forêts avec des Castanopsis, Lithocarpus, Cyclobalanopsis, Cinnamomum, Magnolia, Illicium et avec pour arbres dominants les Alcimandra de la famille des Magnoliaceae. À plus haute altitude, les forêts de conifères comportent des Abies, Tsuga et Pinus densata.

La diversité des plantes vasculaires de ce point chaud est remarquable, elle représente environ  ( d'après une évaluation de 2017). Parmi elles,  sont endémiques (soit 29,2 % des ). Dans les monts Hengduan du Sichuan occidental, croissent plus du quart des espèces mondiales de Rhododendron, Primula, Corydalis, Anaphalis, Delphinium, Gentiana, Saussurea et Sorbus, tandis que la moitié des espèces de Ligularia, Cremanthodium, Cotoneaster et Pedicularis y sont représentées. Il existe même deux familles endémiques : les Circaeasteraceae et les Acanthochlamydaceae.

Diversité de la faune
Boufford & van Dijk estiment que le point chaud des monts Hengduan possèdent au moins  de mammifères dont  endémiques.

L'avifaune des monts Hengduan est assez riche, avec  d'oiseaux enregistrées, comprenant les résidents, migrants et les vagabonds. Cette valeur est à comparer aux  de l'Union européenne pour une surface plus de 5 fois plus grande. Dans les monts Hengduan, 36 espèces d'oiseaux sont endémiques.

L'herpétofaune régionale est assez diverse malgré de rudes conditions climatiques et des altitudes élevées. Ce point chaud comporte  de reptiles dont 47 de serpents et 19 de lézards. De tous les reptiles, 16 espèces (22,9 %) sont endémiques. Les amphibiens sont représentés par 85 espèces dont 74 de grenouilles.

Point chaud de biodiversité
Un point chaud de biodiversité (ou zone critique de biodiversité) est une zone possédant une concentration exceptionnelle d'espèces endémiques et connaissant une perte d'habitat exceptionnelle. Les auteurs ont retenu les zones contenant au moins  de plantes vasculaires endémiques et ayant perdu au moins 70 % de leur végétation primaire. Les monts Hengduan, avec  endémiques et 92 % de perte de végétation primaire, méritent le qualificatif de « hotspot ».

Espèces-phares
Pour une région peu connue, les monts Hengduan possèdent quelques-unes des espèces-phares (ou porte-drapeau), très largement populaires, servant de symbole pour stimuler la sensibilisation à la conservation.

Panda

Le panda géant (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) est devenu un symbole mondialement connu depuis qu'il a été adopté par le WWF en 1961. Cet animal à l'allure d'une grosse peluche ayant occupé une aire de distribution très large, l'a vu se rétrécir au Centre-Ouest de la Chine en raison de changement climatique puis avec les destructions humaines de son habitat, connaître une contraction encore plus drastique. Actuellement, des populations fragmentées sont confinées dans une série de réserves allant du Sichuan occidental au Gansu méridional et au Shaanxi méridional. C'est actuellement une espèce très menacée, classée  d'extinction par l'UICN.

Le panda géant occupe les forêts décidues basses en hiver et au printemps et monte dans les forêts de conifères durant les mois les plus chauds, pour profiter de certaines espèces de bambous dont il est friand. Les autorités chinoises ont fait de gros efforts pour protéger l'espèce en développant des programmes d'élevage en captivité et en créant des réserves naturelles pour les protéger dans la nature. La réserve naturelle de Wolong couvre une superficie de  dans les monts Qionglai et héberge 150 individus sauvages. La réserve naturelle de Huanglong située dans la partie sud des monts Min, protège un territoire de  qui abrite  sauvages selon le recensement de 1999-2003.

Rhinopithèques

Le Rhinopithèque de Roxellane est orné d'une fourrure rousse, d'une face bleutée et d'un petit nez retroussé comme l'esclave exquise Roxelane. Il habite les mêmes forêts que le Panda géant et partage une même distribution mais qui s'étend un peu plus au sud-est dans la province du Hubei. Il vit en grand groupes dans les forêts de montagnes entre , et se nourrit de lichen, de feuilles tendres et de fruits.

Du même genre, le Rhinopithèque brun (Rhinopithecus bieti) est parmi les primates non humains celui qui vit aux plus hautes altitudes ; on le trouve de  jusqu'à , dans une zone où une température moyenne négative peut durer pendant plusieurs mois et où la neige est commune. Son habitat typique est la forêt sempervirente, composée de sapin, chêne à feuilles persistantes, et de rhododendrons. Il est dispersé en 13 sous-populations distinctes dans les monts Yunling du Yunnan et Tibet.

Ces deux rhinopithèques sont sur la liste rouge de UICN des espèces .

Bovidés

Le Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) un bovidé caprin ressemblant un peu pour certains au bœuf musqué ou pour d'autres au gnou africain, de . Ils parcourent en petits troupeaux l'alpage au-dessus de  et descendent dans les forêts de conifères ou les forêts mixtes pour échapper à la rudesse de l'hiver. La sous-espèce qui vit dans les montagnes du Sichuan a un pelage doré.

Le Goral roux (Nemorhaedus baileyi), un autre caprin (de la famille des Bovidés), est une petite chèvre au pelage brun-roux, vivant seulement dans les monts Gaoligong. Ils vivent en petits groupes, sur les pentes les plus raides.

Prédateurs

La Panthère des neiges (Panthera uncia), établie en hautes montagnes, est capable de se dissimuler au milieu des rochers couverts de lichens pour chasser les ongulés. Elle se déplace agilement par grands bonds d'un rocher à l'autre. Elle est braconnée pour sa fourrure, très prisée en Asie, en Europe de l'Est et en Russie sous forme de manteau et autres vêtements. Ses os sont aussi recherchés en médecine traditionnelle chinoise. Elle est également menacée par l'accroissement de l'élevage dans les régions où elle vit. Avec la dégradation et la disparition de son habitat au profit de l'activité humaine, le braconnage et l'accroissement des conflits avec les communautés locales, la population du félin a décliné de plus de 20 % ces 20 dernières années.

L'ours noir d'Asie (Ursus thibetanus), ou ours à collier du Tibet survit encore dans cette région. Sa bile, très prisée par la médecine traditionnelle chinoise, le condamne à être exploité dans des fermes d'élevage financées par l'État. En 2011, on estimait à , surtout les ours à collier, à être ainsi cruellement exploités dans des cages de contention très étroites. Nombre de ces ours sont mis en cage juste après avoir été capturés dans la nature alors qu'ils sont encore des oursons. En mars 2020, la Chine a autorisé la mise sur le marché d'un médicament à base de bile d'ours pour soigner la covid-19 . Au Vietnam, l'élevage d'ours est également développé en raison de l'élévation du niveau de vie qui stimule la demande de bile.

Oiseaux

Les monts Hengduan est la région du monde la plus riche en espèces de faisans et apparentés. Sur un total de 196 espèces de Phasianidae, 52 vivent en Chine et 27 dans les monts Hengduan. Le faisan doré (Chrysolophus pictus), le faisan de Lady Amherst (Chrysolophus amherstiae) et beaucoup d'autres sont les habitants des forêts de montagnes portant un plumage joliment coloré. En matière de couleurs brillantes, rien n'égale la splendeur iridescente du monal chinois (Lophophorus lhuysii) et du monal de Sclater (Lophophorus sclateri). Ces Lophophorus habitent les zones arbustives à rhododendrons, et les zones ouvertes au-dessus de la limite des arbres.

Autres splendeurs, les cinq espèces de Tragopan existant tous en Chine dont au moins deux, le Tragopan de Temminck (Tragopan temminckii) et le Tragopan de Blyth (Tragopan blythii) habitent le point chaud des monts Hengduan. Lors de la parade nuptiale, le tragopan de Temminck mâle déploie ses ailes et sa queue puis secoue frénétiquement la tête pour étaler sa bavette. Les Tragopans préfèrent les forêts de hêtres, lauriers, théiers et houx où ils se nourrissent de baies et de feuilles. En raison de la beauté de leur plumage, les amateurs de parure font peser une menace pour leur survie.

Plantes

Pour beaucoup d'humains moins attrayantes que les animaux, les plantes des monts Hengduan sont pourtant remarquables tant par leur diversité que par leur beauté, pour qui sait les voir. Les Rhododendrons sont représentés dans les monts Hengduan par 230 espèces, dont beaucoup sont endémiques et assez rares. Les fleurs s'épanouissent dans une grande variété de couleurs, du rouge profond au rose pâle, au jaune, pourpre, bleuâtre et blanc pur. La menace pour les rhododendrons tient à la coutume de les couper pour le bois de chauffage.

Beaucoup de plantes ont subi le même sort que le panda, leur population et leur aire de distribution ont été grandement réduites en raison des prélèvements et de la perte de leur habitat. Tetracentron sinense est un arbre caducifolié pouvant atteindre  de haut ; comme pour le panda, c'est le seul membre de sa famille des Tetracentraceae, avec une aire très réduite et très fragmentée. On le trouve encore dans la région des Wolong shan et Gonga shan.

Parmi les plantes-phares se trouvent aussi les pivoines arbustives (du sous-genre Moutan), comme Paeonia delavayi var. lutea et Paeonia szechuanica, réduites toutes les deux aux monts Hengduan. Toutes les pivoines sauvage de Chine sont menacées d'être déterrées pour leurs racines, afin d'approvisionner le commerce des plantes médicinales. Elles sont devenues très rares à l'état sauvage.

La plupart des espèces mondiales d'Aconits et un tiers des espèces de Delphinium se trouvent dans les monts Hengduan, dont un grand nombre menacées par les récoltes excessives de leurs rhizomes par les récolteurs de plantes médicinales.

Le genre Saussurea, de la famille des Asteraceae (Composées) est caractéristique des monts Hengduan ; les espèces sont de morphologie très diverse suivant l'habitat alpin, subalpin ou boréal. Certaines espèces couvertes de poils sont particulièrement adaptées aux éboulis en hautes altitudes. De grandes quantités de ces plantes sont récoltées, séchées et consommées localement comme tisanes ou vendues aux touristes en sachets, dans la région de Zhongdian et Lijiang (Nord Yunnan). Il est possible que 90 % de toutes les Saussurées du monde sont dans les monts Hengduan.

Menaces

Surexploitation forestière
À la fin du , les forêts des monts Hengduan, comme beaucoup de forêts en Chine, étaient gravement menacées par l'exploitation forestière. La plupart des forêts restantes se trouvaient sur les pentes abruptes le long de profondes vallées fluviales. La fragmentation forestière dans les préfectures autonomes tibétaines d'Aba et Ganzê, est le résultat des activités d'exploitation forestière menées par les agences gouvernementales depuis le milieu des années 1950. Les forêts étaient considérées comme des ressources inépuisables.

En 1999, David E. Boufford, Peter P. van Dijk constataient que .

Un tournant de la politique d'exploitation forestière a lieu à la suite des inondations désastreuses dans le centre de la Chine au cours de l'été 1998. Elles furent en partie attribuées à des décennies de coupes à blanc intensives des forêts dans les zones du Tibet oriental, où se trouvent la plupart des forêts qui subsistent dans le sud-ouest de la Chine. Le gouvernement chinois a réagi à l'automne 1998 en instituant une interdiction d'exploitation forestière dans les préfectures tibétaines du sud-ouest de la Chine et en levant certaines restrictions à l'importation de produits forestiers. À la même époque, la construction du barrage des Trois Gorges sur le Yangzi, l'érosion dans le bassin versant faisait craindre des problèmes d'envasement du nouveau réservoir.

Depuis cette époque les ressources forestières ont commencé à croître après la période de forte décroissance. La croissance nette dans la division forestière du Sud-Ouest qui englobe largement les monts Hengduan vers le nord et l'ouest, est significative, avec une augmentation de 16,41 % entre les années  de la couverture forestière.

Surpâturage
Les éleveurs nomades tibétains se déplacent dans la région avec leurs troupeaux de yaks, de moutons et de chèvres, à la recherche des pâturages naturels. Traditionnellement, ils montent aux alpages en été et redescendent dans les vallées pour l'hiver. Des troupeaux d'animaux de pâturage ont probablement toujours étaient présents à hautes altitudes, mais leur population n'a jamais été aussi dense qu'actuellement. De plus les bergers recourent également au défrichage de la forêt pour ouvrir de nouveaux pâturages. Surpâturage et défrichage sont donc aussi responsables de la déforestation.

Collecte excessive de matières médicales
Une autre menace environnementale est la collecte de plantes et d'animaux pour le marché de la pharmacopée traditionnelle. Les collecteurs peuvent complètement prélever toutes les plantes médicinales d'une zone. Il n'est pas rare de voir circuler dans la région des camions chargés de rhizomes, racines, écorces et autres parties de plantes. Même si les collecteurs savent que leur pratique n'est pas soutenable, aucune incitation n'est mise en place pour l'infléchir. De telles pratiques détruisent irrémédiablement les plantes. Aussi certaines plantes sont devenues excessivement rares dans la région.

Les pharmacopées traditionnelles chinoise et tibétaine sont devenues avec l'enrichissement général du pays, de très grandes consommatrices tant de végétaux que d'animaux, contrairement à ce qui s'était passé durant leur longue histoire. Le marché des animaux « médicinaux » très lucratif a mis une pression si forte sur certaines espèces qu'elles ont décliné ou disparu. Une fois que les espèces locales sont en voie d'extinction, les commerçants et trafiquants vont chercher leurs spécimens à l'étranger. Les espèces touchées par ce commerce sont les singes, pangolins, serpents, tortues (Trionyx de Chine) et geckos, et les parties d'animaux comme le musc (du chevrotain porte-musc, Moschus berezovskii), les bois de velours des andouillers des cerfs, les pattes et vésicules biliaires d'ours, les pénis et os de tigres etc. Quand une espèce devient rare, son prix monte pour inciter à la capture des derniers animaux.

Conservation
En 1996, plus de 60 aires protégées avaient été créées dans le point chaud des monts Hengduan dont 30 au Sichuan, 40 au Yunnan et 5 au Sud-Ouest du Xizang. Ce qui représente au total , de parcs et réserves. Les types d'habitats y sont très diversement protégés. Ainsi si les forêts froides de conifères ou les forêts de feuillus décidus sont bien protégées, par contre les forêts subtropicales de conifères qui ont sévèrement déclinées, ne représentent plus que , soit 0,4 % de la surface d'origine.

L'aire protégée la plus célèbre est la Réserve naturelle de Wolong, couvrant actuellement . Elle dispose d'un large spectre d'habitats : forêts subtropicales de feuillus, forêts de feuillus tempérés, forêts mixtes et forêts subalpines de conifères, le tout dominé par le Pic des Siguniang de  et sa neige éternelle. On y trouve quelques espèces végétales remarquables comme Tetracentron sinense, l'if chinois (Taxus chinensis) ou l'arbre au caramel (Cercidiphyllum japonicum var. sinense). Pour les animaux, outre la vedette, le Panda géant, on trouve le Petit panda (Ailurus fulgens), le Rhinopithèque de Roxellane, le grand bharal (Pseudois nayaur) ou mouton bleu, et la Panthère des neiges.

Le mont Emei est un site protégé d'importance à la fois religieuse et pour la biodiversité. C'est un des quatre monts bouddhistes sacrés ainsi qu'un site d'une exceptionnelle richesse sur le plan de la flore et de la faune.

La réserve naturelle Luoji shan, couverte par une forêt subtropicale dense, contient plus de  de plantes supérieures dont 26 avec un statut de protection spécial. Elle est un centre de diversité pour les rhododendrons, avec plus de  répertoriées.

La réserve naturelle de Gaoligongshan est une réserve de biosphère située au nord-ouest du Yunnan, de .

L'énorme valeur de la protection des bassins versants des monts Hengduan fournit une justification plus que suffisante pour protéger plus que les 2,1 % actuel de la superficie de la région.

Notes et références

Notes

Références

Massif de montagnes en Chine
Montagne en Birmanie
Montagne dans la région autonome du Tibet
Montagne dans la province du Sichuan
Montagne dans la province du Yunnan


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A.I.G.S.S. Association
The structure of human prions
Description of GSS
Codon P102L
Codon A117V
Codon G131V
Codon Y145STOP
Codon H187R
Codon F198S
Codons N202V e P212M
Codon Q217R
Codon M232R
Diagnostics in GSS
Therapeutic perspectives
Our Neuropathologists
Database for research
Cell Factory Franco Calori
Vuoi associarti?
Drugs not available in your country
Home Risk factors
RISK FACTORS FOR ASYMPTOMATICS
To date, the risk factors that make the predisposition to the disease "explode" into a real disease are not fully known. First of all, it is necessary to try to avoid the use of substances that inhibit normal neuronal functioning: therefore, avoid the intake of alcohol, hashish, marijuana but above all COCAINE: it is in fact demonstrated that a single dose of cocaine damages the functioning of the brain glutamate for at least 6 months. ABSOLUTELY AVOID! Under the difference found by a P.E.T. (positron emission tomography):
Only in the last 10 years have few risk factors been identified for positive but asymptomatic subjects.
CALCIUM: The toxic mechanism of prions has been discovered for the first time, anomalous versions of the cellular prion protein, still rather mysterious for scientists all over the world: to describe it in the pages of Neuron is Roberto Chiesa, researcher at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan and the Telethon Dulbecco Institute, Telethon's career program.
This work by Roberto Chiesa is dedicated to the recently deceased Nobel laureate Renato Dulbecco, who also made use of the collaboration of the University of Milan and the University College of London. "We have studied - he explains Roberto Chiesa - what happens in the cerebellum, the area of the brain that controls movement, before neuronal degeneration begins. We have seen that in correspondence with the first motor deficits there is an alteration in the release of a particular chemical messenger in the brain, the neurotransmitter glutamate. This is because, by accumulating inside the neuron, the altered prion protein hinders the transport on the cell surface of another protein, a voltage-gated calcium channel, involved in regulating the release of neurotransmitters.
This "traffic" problem is a completely new pathological mechanism that could be at the basis of neuronal dysfunction also in other neurodegenerative diseases in which an accumulation of altered proteins is observed within the cell. Furthermore, it is an early and probably reversible event and therefore potentially interesting from a therapeutic point of view. Restoring the correct transport of calcium channels could therefore prove to be the key to avoiding the degeneration of neurons, but of course there is still a lot to understand and to discover about the mechanisms by which this occurs ». To do this, Chiesa and his group used a mouse model of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of genetic origin (what in the infectious variant is commonly defined "mad cow disease"), which faithfully reproduces the course of the disease: apparently healthy at birth, over time develops problems in the coordination of movements and balance, subsequently a neurological deficit.
REFERENCES: https://www.telethon.it/storie-e-news/news/dalla-ricerca/malattie-da-prioni-un-problema-di-traffico/
HIGH VALUES OF CHOLESTEROL: According to some scientist of the University of Montpellier, in France, at the time when the blood-mediated transmission of prions was demonstrated, in vitro studies indicated a high binding affinity of the scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) with apoB-containing lipoproteins, i.e., the main carriers of cholesterol in human blood.
The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between circulating cholesterol-containing lipoproteins and the pathogenicity of prions in vivo. We showed that, in mice with a genetically engineered deficiency for the plasma lipid transporter, phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), abnormally low circulating cholesterol concentrations were associated with a significant prolongation of survival time after intraperitoneal inoculation of the 22L prion strain. Moreover, when circulating cholesterol levels rose after feeding PLTP-deficient mice a lipid-enriched diet, a significant reduction in survival time of mice together with a marked increase in the accumulation rate of PrPSc deposits in their brain were observed.
Our results suggest that the circulating cholesterol level is a determinant of prion propagation in vivo and that cholesterol-lowering strategies might be a successful therapeutic approach for patients suffering from prion diseases. Given this discovery, it would be necessary to do a complete blood count every 6 months for the evaluation of HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides.
MANAGING GOOD, BAD AND TRIGLYCERIDES CHOLESTEROL.
HDL, commonly known as good cholesterol, are High-Density Lipoproteins.
Contrary to what many thinks, HDL as well as other lipoproteins are not made up of "pure cholesterol"; in fact, they also contain various specific proteins necessary for their function, ie the transport of some fats in the blood.
There are various types of lipoproteins and they all have a specific metabolic role; none of them can be considered useless or evil, even if alterations of their structure, of their quantity and of their percentage on the total lipoproteins can cause a disease condition and facilitate the onset of other very serious pathologies.
By transporting cholesterol from the periphery to the liver and reducing its deposit in the arteries (a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis), HDLs are considered beneficial and therefore are defined as "good cholesterol". In practice, they act as a "scavenger" of cholesterol.
LDL, on the other hand, by channeling cholesterol towards the peripheries and, if in excess, promoting its deposit in the arteries (thus raising the risk of atherosclerosis) are potentially harmful and for this reason they are defined as "bad cholesterol".
Low HDL and high HDL
Low HDLs are not part of the good lipemia picture. If associated with normal cholesterol, it is necessary that they determine an equally regular HDL / LDL ratio; conversely, it would increase the health risk. Low HDL and high LDL, especially when combined with other risk factors, can greatly increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
We therefore summarize what are the typical values:
HDL cholesterol: > 40 mg /dl (in men, preferably > 55 mg /dl, in women preferably > 65 mg /dl).
Often the values of triglycerides are also evaluated, the standard values of which are:
Triglyceridemic: between 50 and 170 mg /dl.
If the HDL cholesterol and triglyceride values exceed, since the cause is exogenous, you can regulate everything with a good diet (limit elements such as milk derivatives, especially butter, milk cream and aged cheeses (fontina, Parmesan); fatty meats and sausages (Lamb, Salami) and some offal (bovine liver)). You can also help with the daily intake of supplements such as OMEGA 3 (cod oil) which plays its part in lowering high triglycerides.
With regard to "BAD-LDL CHOLESTEROL", however, if the values are altered, it is not possible to reduce LDL with the diet, as it is endogenous, ie produced by the individual himself.
Ideal values for LDL cholesterol
Scientific standards suggest that LDL cholesterol between 70 mg /dl and 130 mg / dl are optimal values for people with medium cardiovascular risk. For values between 160 mg / dl and 250 mg / dl the person is exposed to a high-risk factor: he must immediately contact his doctor. Possible therapy: statins.
Statins, or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are drugs that inhibit the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol by acting on the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme, which converts the 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA molecule into mevalonic acid, a precursor cholesterol.
They are present in all pharmacies in the world although with different names. The important thing is to stick to the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Statins Commercial name
Atorvastatina Arkas, Ator, Atoris, Lipitor, Torvast, Totalip
Atorvastatina + Amlodipina Caduet, Envacar
Atorvastatina + Perindopril + Amlodipina Lipertance, Triveram
Fluvastatina Lescol, Lipaxan, Primesin
Lovastatina Lovinacor, Rextat, Tavacor
Lovastatina + Niacina RP Advicor
Mevastatina Compactin, Compactina
Pitavastatina Alipza, Livalo, Livazo, Pitava
Pravastatina Aplactin, Lipostat, Prasterol, Pravachol, Pravaselect, Sanaprav, Selectin, Selektine, Vasticor
Rosuvastatina Colcardiol, Colfri, Crativ, Crestor, Dilivas, Exorta, Koleros, Lipidover, Miastina, Provisacor, Rosastin, Simestat, Staros
Rosuvastatina + Ezetimibe Aurozeb, Compuna, Cholecomb, Delipid Plus, Ezateros, Maoris, Quiloga, Rosetem, Rosulip, Rosumibe, Rozeiond, Rozetimad, Viazet
Simvastatina Alpheus, Krustat, Lipenil, Lipex, Liponorm, Medipo, Omistat, Rosim, Setorilin, Simbatrix, Sincol, Sinvacor, Sinvalip, Sivastin, Sinvat, Vastgen, Vastin, Xipocol, Zocor
Simvastatina + Ezetimibe Goltor, Inegy, Staticol, Vytorin, Zestan, Zevistat
Simvastatina + Niacina RP Simcor, Simcora
Below, by way of example we show at random (it is NOT our intention to do any advertising) a box of statin used in the U.S:
PERIODIC DIAGNOSTICS
This is a very sensitive issue. Most MRI equipment operates with a power of 1.5 tesla. The 3 tesla MRI operates at double the normal power and it is mainly for this reason that it is able to provide very high-quality images of internal organs.
BRAIN TOMOSCINTIGRAPHY WITH DATSCAN
(DaT scan or Dopamine Transporter Scan) commonly refers to a diagnostic method to investigate if there is a loss of dopaminergic neurons in striatum. The term may also refer to a brand name of Ioflupane (123I) which is used for the study. Brain scintigraphy with DATSCAN is a non-invasive examination that allows to study some neurological pathologies associated with movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, ataxic syndrome and other movement disorders in general through the evaluation of specific brain regions called "nuclei of the base ".
Why is it done:
In particular conditions, the nuclei of the base are damaged causing, therefore, some disturbances of the movements. The most common of these disorders is tremor, but also the presence of slowness in movements and difficulty in their execution. Brain scintigraphy with DATSCAN allows us to understand if these symptoms are caused by damage to the nuclei of the base or by another type of problem. In this way, the neurologist can direct the cause of the disorder and, therefore, identify the best therapy.
How the exam is performed:
Scintigraphy is performed in the Nuclear Medicine ward. It is necessary to show up for acceptance and deliver the referral completed by the Doctor. The reception staff will provide the first indications and will also tell you how and when it will be possible to collect the exam result. The Patient will be called by the Nuclear Doctor who will explain in detail the methods of the examination and will have him sign the informed consent form. Once the interview is over, the nuclear doctor will inject the radiopharmaceutical into your vein.
The patient will have to wait in a waiting room (the so-called warm waiting room) for about 3-4 hours (time necessary for the radiopharmaceutical to settle optimally in the nuclei of the base) after which he will be laid down on the Gamma bed. - Room for about 30 minutes. During this time the machine will rotate around the patient's head to perform what is commonly called cerebral SPECT. The total exam time is therefore approximately 4-5 hours. At the end of the exam, the patient will have to leave the ward through a door other than the one from which he entered.
In Milan it is possible to do this at the POLICLINICO DI MILANO at the NUCLEAR MEDICINE department.
In Rome, on the other hand, it is possible to do so at the POLICLINICO GEMELLI at the NUCLEAR MEDICINE department.
© 2023 A.I.G.S.S.
Italian Association against the disease of GERSTMANN STRAUSSLER SCHEINKER
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Bay Weekly Calendar
AMM Winter Lecture Series
« Captain Avery Museum Winter Luncheon Series
Mud to Music: Clay Flute-making Workshop »
Thursday, February 16 | 7:00-8:30pm
The Annapolis Maritime Museum holds its annual Winter Lecture Series over eight consecutive Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. from mid-January through early March. You will be challenged to question and to learn by engaging speakers on diverse topics including maritime history, local history, science, and maritime art.
The 2023 series will be held in person at the Museum Campus (723 Second Street Annapolis, MD 21403). Pre-registration is strongly suggested as space is limited. Registration fee of $10 per person at the door – first come, first served. Free admission for First Mate ($150) and above.
A Cartoonist at Sea: Two Years Sailing the World through Photographs and Cartoons
For over twenty years, Jim Toomey has been bringing the sea into the homes of millions of newspaper readers through his comic strip Sherman's Jim will discuss what inspired him to draw a comic strip set under the sea, and with a live- drawing demonstration, he'll demonstrate how he creates his comic strip.Presenter: Jim Toomey | Writer & Cartoonist
https://amaritime.org/events/wls/
Annapolis Maritime Museum
program@amaritime.org
MD United States + Google Map
Please note that all submissions are subject to approval prior to publication.


text:
Ground Insects
Get Rid of Bed Worms
Get Rid of Camel Crickets
Get Rid of Carpenter Ants
Get Rid of Christmas Tree Bugs
Get Rid of Dust Mites
Get Rid of Grasshoppers
Get Rid of Pill Bugs
Get Rid of Spider Mites
Get Rid of Wood Roaches
Get Rid of Bees
Get Rid of Cluster Flies
Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Get Rid of Horse Flies
Get Rid of June Bugs
Get Rid of Sweat Bees
Get Rid of Barn Swallows
Get Rid of Geese
Get Rid of Hawks
Get Rid of Pigeons
Get Rid of Chipmunks
Get Rid of Groundhogs
Get Rid of Prairie Dogs
Get Rid of Rats
Get Rid of Squirrels
Get Rid of Spiders
Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders
Get Rid of Hobo Spiders
Get Rid of Spider Eggs
Get Rid of Spider Webs
Get Rid of Wolf Spiders
Get Rid of Frogs
Get Rid of Lizards
Get Rid of Bats
Get Rid of Deer
Get Rid of Foxes
Get Rid of Raccoons
How to Get Rid of Spider Webs (and Cobwebs)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.
It can happen for any number of reasons. Perhaps you've been busy and haven't had a chance to clean. Or perhaps an arachnid snuck into the room and set up home. Whatever the reason, you now have webs decorating bits of furniture or ceiling corners.
Getting rid of a spider web can be easier than you think, and it may have some unseen benefits as well.
Want to Let the Pros Handle It?
Get a free quote from top pest control companies in your area.
See Also: Get Rid of Spiders (and Keep Them Away)
Some Notes About Webs
Why Should You Remove Webs?
Webs on Plants Might be Mites
Spider Web vs Cobweb (What's the Difference?)
Getting Rid of Spider Webs and Cobwebs
Suck It Up
Dust Them Out
Bonus Tip: Harvesting Webs
There are a few things to keep in mind when you see a web. They can be a sign of poor cleaning habits, as common house spiders prefer to build webs in relatively undisturbed locations.
It can also be a sign that you have access points around your home, such as a poorly caulked window frame. But most importantly, looking at a web closely will reveal any captured prey, which in turn can warn you of an insect infestation.
We're guessing you already know that webs make a house look unkempt. But there are other reasons you should get rid of spider webs when you see them.
Allergies are one good example, as webs will collect dust and allergen particles over time, not to mention the obvious implications for those with spider allergies.
Removing webs can also encourage spiders to move along, as they produce a limited supply of silk and need time to recharge before they can replace a destroyed web. No web, no food, no reason to stay.
Spider mites are a common pest on plants that can create webbing. These aren't actual spiders, so you'll need to use different methods to take care of these critters first if you want their webs to go away.
Contrary to popular belief, cobwebs are very different from spider webs. The term "cobweb" is commonly used in reference to an old, abandoned, dusty spider web. In reality, this usage is usually referring to spider webs, not actual cobweb. The same goes for changing the name based on whether the web is occupied.
In a more precise definition, cobwebs are produced exclusively by spiders in the Linyphiidae and Theridiidae families, and have a different silk composition than that of other spiders. The name itself is derived from the Old English word for spider, coppe.
Cobwebs are easy to spot because they resemble a tangled mass of netting made after Ms. Spider had one too many.
Cobweb has many important qualities. It was commonly used in the Alps to make fabrics for painting throughout the 16th century. It's also chock full of antifungal and antiseptic goodness, as well as vitamin K, making it a popular folk remedy in first aid to this day.
Conversely, spider webs can be made by most other web-spinning spider families. They're well-designed and will be a flat net, funnel, or similar structure designed to protect egg sacs or capture prey.
Spider webs have similar medicinal qualities, but some care must be taken to ensure the web doesn't belong to a venomous species.
There are a lot of methods out there, such as using bleach water, but these can often be quite impractical or even damage your furniture or wallpaper. The following methods are generally safe and effective for around the home and even outside.
Vacuum cleaners are the quickest and safest method out there, especially if you're in an area that has black widows or brown recluse spiders. A good shop vacuum (ie: Shop-Vac or Vacmaster) will make quick work of removing spider webs or cobwebs. You can also use your regular indoor vacuum with a wand extension or a handheld model such as Shark or Black+Decker.
Not only can you suck up the webs, but also any spiders or egg sacs present. The wand and edger attachments allow you to safely get into tight spaces, around window and door frames, and under furniture.
Dispose of the bag or carefully empty the container into a sealed bag to avoid letting any surviving spiders escape.
Using a broom or duster to take on webs is a tried-and-true solution. You will want to clean the webbing off afterwards, preferably wearing gloves to avoid any surprise bites.
Highly textured surfaces such as popcorn ceilings can be hard to clean without damaging them, but a simple lint roller will get the job done without any risk to paint or fragile materials.
See Also: Getting Rid of Hobo Spiders
Due to the medicinal properties of fresh cobweb and spider web, you may wish to collect the web rather than destroy it. To do this, you will want to scare away any spiders and ensure the webbing is fresh (i.e. no caught bugs or dust).
Using a meat skewer or a gloved finger, gently run along the edges of the web to detach it. Twirling the skewer slowly works especially well.
Once collected, roll the webbing into a ball and store it in an airtight container inside your first aid kit. The web can be used to pack wounds and will help form scabs as long as it's touching the edges of the wound.
Cover the packed web with a bandage to hold it in. Webs won't cause a reaction, and can be safely absorbed or removed one the wound is healing.
Please note that you should avoid collecting webs made by venomous spiders and should never use a folk remedy if you're unsure how to perform them safely.
Categories Arachnids, Blog
How to Get Rid of Spider Mites
How to Get Rid of Barn Swallows
How to Get Rid of Christmas Tree Bugs and Spiders
How to Get Rid of Foxes
© 2021 Rid My Critters. All rights reserved.


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Q: Opening a Access database using Python I'm trying to open a Access database using Python. All I want it to do is open the .accdb file, as I have a macro that auto-runs. The only code I can find is this:
import win32api
import time
from win32com.client import Dispatch

strDbName = 'Empactis Delete Cloud v1.accdb'
objAccess = Dispatch("Access.Application")
objAccess.Visible = True
objAccess.OpenCurrentDatabase(strDbName)
objDB = objAccess.CurrentDb()
objAccess.run('test')
objAccess.Application.Quit()

My first issue is, I'm not running a macro from Python so I'm not sure which parts to remove and which parts to keep.
Second issue is, I cannot find win32api as a module anywhere. I have Python 3.8 and it's not an included module, PIP also can't find it to install.
There must be a simple way of just opening an MS Access file?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The effects of antemortem ingestion of ethanol by domestic pigs, Sus scrofa L., on postmortem insect successional patterns and the development of Phormia regina (Meigen) were studied during summer 2003 in Blacksburg, VA. Insect samples were collected from the carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs for 10 d postmortem during two successional studies. In total, 32 insect taxa were collected during the two studies, with 29 and 27 taxa observed on the carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs, respectively. The earliest arrivers to both carcass types were dipterans. This group was represented by six families, with P. regina and Phaenicia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) being the most common calliphorids. Beetles in six families were collected on the carcasses of ethanol-treated pigs, but only three of the families were collected on carcasses of the untreated pigs. Permutation analyses to test the null hypothesis of no similarity between successional patterns of insect taxa from carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs showed that the successional patterns were similar between carcass types in the first (P = 0.003) and the second (P = 0.01) studies. The results of the development study of P. regina maggots in the field show that there was a significant difference between the distributions of length for maggots reared on loin tissue from ethanol-treated and untreated pigs. Maggots that fed on tissue from ethanol-treated pigs took ≈11.9 h longer to reach the pupal stage than maggots that fed on tissue from untreated pigs. The longer developmental time for maggots on tissue from ethanol-treated pigs was due mainly to the longer postfeeding period of the third instar.


DPS Software are happy to confirm that we have once again achieved G Cloud Supplier Status under the Governments Crown Commercial Service. Our Legal Software Solutions have now been available via the Digital Marketplace for a number of years and several local authority legal teams have taken the opportunity to procure our software in this way.
The G Cloud Framework is an agreement between the government and cloud based suppliers. G Cloud Services are divided into 3 categories, Cloud Hosting, Cloud Software and Cloud Support. DPS provide all of these options.
Cloud Hosting: We are Microsoft Certified Partner and host via their Azure platform. As the largest legal cloud services supplier in the UK, we provide hosting solutions specifically tailored to the needs and requirements of the modern legal team.
Cloud Software: Our Practice, Case and Document Management Software can be accessed via the cloud allowing the end user the flexibility to work from anywhere, the security that cloud software provides and a beautiful interface that makes day to day tasks more enjoyable.
Cloud Support: Our managed IT solution provides your legal team with a cost effective and scalable network, hardware and IT management solution for one monthly fee.


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$10,043,952 - Personal Injury Case
Gerry Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
$4,034,000 - Personal Injury Case
A couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania was awarded over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting. The 51 year old client lost his sight because a convicted felon - who should not have even possessed a gun - went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger.
$2,200,000 - Auto Accident Case
Scott Cooper obtained a verdict on behalf of his client who is the widow of a man who died in a crash on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County. The awarded verdict of $2.2 million was in a nonjury proceeding before a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. That verdict includes $100,000 in punitive damages assessed against the owner of the trucking company.
$1,024,040 - Wrongful Death Case
Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death case on behalf of the widow of a police office who was killed in a car accident in the line of duty for $1,024,040.80. The claim against the other driver was amicably resolved before suit was filed for the entire available policy limits for the other driver. The case took place in Adams County, PA.
$950,000 - Personal Injury Case
Gerry Kramer won a $950,000.00 suit in Perry County for a motor vehicle accident. The personal injury action for a wrongful death was filed on behalf of a 19-year-old female killed in the accident. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle that left the roadway striking a fixed object.
$742,000 - Wrongful Death Case
Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death claim for $742,000 on behalf of a the estate of a trash worker killed in a car accident in Franklin County. The case was amicably resolved for all of the available insurance policy coverage for the other driver and under insured motorist carrier. Also, Mr. Cooper was able to amicably resolved all subrogation interests with the worker's compensation carrier for a lump sum and agreement for the subrogation claim to be waived in full.
Gerry Kramer won a $215,000.00 personal injury action on behalf of a drunk driving victim in York County. The victim was a 56-year-old man who was struck by drunk driver in Lancaster County, PA. He suffered a subdural hematoma which resulted in severe headaches.