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MY SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS
My Creative Journey
Cultural Sites
Science for Cultural Heritage
Cultural Traditions
Creating a Better World
Geological Wonders
NAICA CAVE OF CRYSTALS Mexico - DEADLY GIANT Selenite Crystals Cave
There is a place on Earth with such high temperature and humidity conditions that if you stay there for more than about 20 minutes, you could drown in the vapors of your own breath. I'm talking about one of our world's natural heritage sites, the Giant Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico.
Imagine being a miner excavating a mountain for minerals and when digging a new tunnel you come across a place that looks like superman's cave. Can you imagine being there? Though completely immersed in water in the beginning, when the miners pumped out the water from the cave, it felt like they were walking through an alien landscape.
The Cave of Crystals
The Naica Cave of Crystals is home to some enormous crystals that weigh up to about 40-50 tones and have grown to about 12 meters in length and 1 meter in width. You can get an idea about the size of these crystals when you look at the person standing next to them. The cave environment is not exactly a friendly one, but it is perfect for the growth of these giant crystals.
To understand how these enormous crystals were formed, we first need to understand the geology of the region.
The Cave of Crystals is located about 290 meters underground, beneath a mineral-rich mountain close to Naica, in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. This mountain was born about 26 million years ago when magma raised to the surface.
When that happened, the caves beneath the mountain filled with water rich in minerals. And the mineral that found the environment of this cave perfect to flourish was selenite, a form of gypsum.
What is gypsum? What is selenite?
Gypsum is a sulphate mineral with this chemical formula: CaSO4·2H2O. It is called calcium sulphate dihydrate. What this means is that for every calcium sulphate (CaSO4) molecule in the crystal structure, we find two water (H2O) molecules. As we combine more and more of these molecules, we can grow larger and larger gypsum crystals.
And when the gypsum crystal grows, we get beautiful minerals that we can often admire in the minerals sections in museums. Aren't they pretty?! I always love looking at minerals! I find it inspiring to see the beautiful structures nature creates with the help of chemistry!
The gypsum crystals can vary from colorless, clear crystals to white crystals, though sometimes there can be other hues when impurities are present in the crystal structure.
The clear crystal are the ones we refer to as selenite, and these are the crystals we find in the Giant Crystal Cave in Naica. Its chemical formula is the same as that of gypsum, but the difference between these two minerals comes from the way and the shapes under which the crystals grow.
Naica Cave Environmental Conditions
When magma raised to the surface, forming the mountain, the caves beneath the mountain filled with hot mineral-rich water. The predominant mineral was anhydrite.
Anhydrite is a calcium sulphate mineral that doesn't contain water molecules, whereas gypsum/selenite is formed by bringing together calcium sulphate and water molecules. Anhydrite is stable above 58 degrees Celsius, while gypsum/selenite is stable below 58 degrees. In time, as the temperature started slowly decreasing below 58 degrees, anhydrite began dissolving into calcium and sulphate ions, creating a slightly supersaturated solution containing these ions.
The calcium and sulphate ions combined with the water molecules and started forming small selenite crystals. The low levers of supersaturation were ideal for the growth of few, but large, crystals. On top of that, the temperature just below 58 degrees, ideal for the transition from anhydrite to selenite, promoted the growth of selenite crystals. All in all, the cave environment ensured crystals growing larger and larger over time to form the huge selenite crystals that we see in the Giant Cave of Crystals.
Surviving in the Deadly Giant Crystal Cave
While the environmental conditions in the Cave of Crystals are perfect for the growth of giant selenite crystals, they can be very harmful to humans. Staying in that environment for more than a few minutes without some sort of protective equipment, you could actually drown in your own breath. That's because of the difference in temperature between the temperature of the human body and the temperature inside the cave.
The average normal temperature of a human body is around 36.5 degrees Celsius (about 98 degrees Fahrenheit). So the human body temperature is much lower than that of the cave environment. That means that the air you're breathing is hotter than the inside of your lungs. In these conditions, the humidity from the hot air will start condensing in your lungs. The fluid build-up in the lungs can lead to lung failure and that could cause death if there's no immediate medical intervention. So if you want to go there, you'd have to wear protective cooling gear, and even with the protective equipment, you can still only stay for about 20-30 minutes.
Despite the harsh environment, it would be so cool to visit the Naica Crystal Cave, even for just a few minutes! Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below if you would also like to visit the Naica cave. However, even if we wanted to visit the giant crystal cave and had the proper authorization, we might be waiting a long time because the cave is now flooded again. The good news about the re-flooding is that the crystals are now protected again, and they are back to their preferred growth environment.
*Picture of the giant gypsum crystals of the Cave of the Crystals: Cristales cueva de Naica.JPG By author Alexander Van Driessche from Wikimedia Commons (CC by 3.0)
*gypsum crystal images - from Canva
WHAT IS CULTURAL HERITAGE, and How Can Science Protect It?
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF TANGIBLE HERITAGE: Atoms, Molecules, and Crystals
WHAT IS NATURAL HERITAGE? THREATS to Natural Heritage Caused by Human Activity
JOIN ME ON MY ADVENTURE!
Get updates on my upcoming Sci-Fi & Fantasy novels, my creative journey,
& updates on new Wonders of Heritage videos
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The Stone Flower Cave, formerly named Qian Zhen Cave,located in Fangshan District, it is a national famous scenic spot and geological park which is noted for the unique Karst cave sightseeing and a valuable informational bank on geological research.It was first discovered in 1446, Ming Dynasty by a Buddhist monk, Yuanguang. The structure of the cave is multi-level and multi-branch. To tourists the whole tour route is about 2.5km.
It is one of the biggest caves in China, and contains a superb collection of beautiful sights. At present, only two levels are open to the public. The first level is more than 300 meters long, and contains a corridor, a pool like a lotus flower, three big halls, and a cave with an inner cave. All these caves are 10 to 20 meters high and 4 to 30 meters wide, the corridor is 2 to 3 meters high and 2 to 5 meters wide. The second level is 30 meters below the first level. Its total length is nearly 1,000 meters, and there are lots of branches connected with the cave and stone or iron stairs for the visitor. The visitor can enjoy stalactites, cobbles, stone curtains, stone piliars, and stone flowers everywhere inside the cave-an eye-opening experience.
The cave is a great place for sightseeing, and refreshing the mind with its constantly cool temperature and the gentle breeze.


I had such a fun session with little L today - a beautiful sunny spring afternoon. We walked around Linden Hills and found some wonderful spots for photos. Of course L didn't slow down one bit - he's such a ball of energy - always on the go! He did, however, sit still for an ice cream in the middle of our session. I've been taking photos of L and his big sister since they were both born - I can't believe he's already two years old now!


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THE SO
UND OF
THE SOUND OF SILENCEPeriodical 17
I have become addicted to the title of a song. Not just a song. A "Hall of Fame" song from the time before I was born. The lyrics however, hit a point, they are quite up to date. "Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk to you again, Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping."
Simon & Garfunkel told the story about the daily struggle between overcoming the usual and the resisting the new. We all want to reinvent ourselves and pray to the masters of disruption – but have hard times in treading really new paths. Even before we start, we consider all available facts…and before we have drawn a vision, we have factored in all problems.
It's time to recall that men only hit what they aim at. I therefore strongly recommend to go with the American Philosopher Thoreau: "Even though men should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high."
To overcome the usual, you need to have belief and courage. To take the risk to go down with an idea – having the own house of cards tumbling. In today's business assessment one easily forgets that the winners of today's revolution went through a calm before they conquered the storm – and some will go the other way. But they all aimed at something very high.
What could be more telling than a true anecdote? Especially from where you think you know all. But you don't: In 2006, Tesla made it. When the first product series was almost final, obviously, the first owners should be an elected circle: the board of management.
The excitement was huge, bringing the first chapter to a happy end. And indeed, the car resembled more a giant computer, something which might have come out of Back to the Future.
After the cars had been distributed, one of the board members finally dared to raise a question: What… what happens if the car suddenly stops moving somewhere?
You can imagine this sound of silence…Since there were definitely no garages available to fix, also Tesla's head of R&D grew nervous seeing the penetrating look of the founder. But instead of blaming and show stopping, Elon Musk came up with a pragmatic solution: cell phones in the glove compartment. The idea of the flying doctor was born!
Welcome to this 17th issue of our periodical. Our authors are masters in their attempt to listen and shape the sound of silence.

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text:
namespace GoogleMobileAds.Api
{
    // The position of the ad on the screen.
    public enum AdPosition
    {
        Top = 0,
        Bottom = 1
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Sprint Treo Pro not being released the 15th, new date TBD
By Jonathan S. Geller
We just got a hold of this internal Sprint newsflash stating that the Treo Pro, which we all assumed would launch on Sprint on the 15th, now meets the fate of a new "TBD" launch date. We're not sure what's up here, but the information is definitely legit — it's a proven BGR ninja. We have reached out to Sprint and will update this post accordingly. We're not sure there will be that many bummed out people, however. There's something called the Palm Pre on the horizon… There's a larger image after the jump.
UPDATE: Official statement from Sprint:
"Sprint has not announced availability for the Treo Pro. Sprint looks forward to welcoming this exciting, new device into our portfolio as soon as it has been approved through our customary testing process. We will share details on the correct availability date as soon as the standard testing of both the device and its interaction with our network has concluded. Thank you for your interest in Sprint products."
Jonathan Geller is the founder of Boy Genius Report, now known as BGR, and one of the biggest tech & mobile destinations in the world.
BGR was acquired by leading digital media company PMC in April 2010 and Jonathan is President and Editor-in-chief of BGR Media, LLC. Jonathan was named to Forbes' coveted 30 under 30 list in 2016, and frequently appears as a commentator on news channels such as CNBC, Fox News, ABC News and Bloomberg.


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by KYOTY
Release Date: February 25, 2022 Catalog Number: DA037 Release Formats:
Isolation was written across the divide of quarantine, with KYOTY recording and sharing songs back and forth electronically. They wrote, recorded, and mixed the songs starting early during the NH stay-at-home order in 2020, releasing one track every week until the order was lifted. In all, KYOTY wrote nine songs for the Isolation series. They added a tenth bonus track to include in the album version of Isolation.
© Deafening Assembly 2023
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LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada lawmakers are debating a bill for a specialty license plate aimed at honoring the victims of the 1 October shooting.
The plate would be designed to raise funds for those impacted by the tragedy.
Money from the plates would eventually be distributed to the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center.
Renderings of the proposed plate have not been released yet.


Katonah Fire Department capped off a busy Sunday with a brush fire call on Cantitoe Street. Following a day that started with an early morning car fire, followed by a rescue, and then a gas leak, this fourth call came in at 5:40 p.m. A downed wire on Cantitoe Street near the intersection with Girdle Ridge Road caused a small area brush fire. Engine 117, Tanker 6 and Cars 2211 and 2212 responded. After securing the scene and establishing traffic control, units waited until NYSEG arrived to kill the power to the affected power line and pole. After that, the fire was extinguished by KFD personnel, and the department went back in service by 745 p.m.


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Breck Dumas
Trump associate Roger Stone arrested by FBI in pre-dawn raid
Facing seven charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller
Update (12:45 p.m., Jan. 25):
Former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone was released on $250,000 bond at his court appearance on Friday, the Associated Press reported. Stone told the press he will plead not guilty, and says he will not testify against the president.
Original post follows...
Political consultant Roger Stone, a longtime associate of President Donald Trump, was arrested in a pre-dawn FBI raid on Friday. Stone faces seven federal charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller.
FBI agents wearing body armor with weapons drawn swarmed Stone's home in southern Florida just after 6 a.m. to serve a warrant for what the Daily Mail referred to as "process crimes." He was charged with five counts of making false statements, one count of witness tampering, and one count of obstruction of official proceedings.
Stone was not charged with crimes directly related to Russian collusion or with conspiracy to sway the 2016 election, which is the subject of the special counsel's investigation.
The grand jury indictment accuses Stone of seeking emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee, which were obtained by WikiLeaks (referred to as Organization 1 in the document). The emails were stolen from John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors allege that Stone lied to Congress in 2017 when he denied asking an intermediary to contact WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during the campaign. Stone was a consultant to the Trump campaign.
"After the July 22, 2016, release of stolen (Democratic National Committee) emails by Organization 1, a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact STONE about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1 had regarding the Clinton Campaign," prosecutors wrote. "STONE thereafter told the Trump Campaign about potential future releases of damaging material by Organization 1."
The New York Times reported in November that emails show Stone "sold himself to Trump campaign advisers as a potential conduit to WikiLeaks, which published thousands of emails in 2016 damaging to Hillary Clinton's campaign."
Stone has repeatedly maintained his innocence, and told the Daily Mail in early January that he didn't expect to be indicted.
"They got nothing," he said of the special counsel. "They've tried hard, but I didn't do anything illegal. That's why I'm not worried."
CNN reported that Stone is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 11 a.m. ET Friday.
Roger Stone on Mueller indictment: I'm 'probably' unnamed U.S. ... ›
Has Robert Mueller Just Revealed His Next Target? | Vanity Fair ›
Roger Stone 'prepared' for Mueller indictment ›


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The Burning Question
Seattle leaders have been making a big promise for more than 15 years: that our city will lead the nation in fighting climate change. And yet, Seattle is polluting as much as it was 25 years ago. What went wrong? How can we do better? Explore the stories in our new series, The Burning Question, below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfu_ctiZJU0Meet our reporting team: David Hyde, Amy Radil, John Ryan. Editor: Gil Aegerter.
'Water in the streets': a glimpse of the Northwest's watery future
KUOW | By Eilís O'Neill
Published January 10, 2018 at 9:25 PM AKST
Ely Thomas, 7, runs from water spilling over a set of stairs that normally lead to the beach during a King Tide at Alki Beach Park on Friday, January 5, 2018, in West Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A boat is shown through the morning fog on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, during a King Tide in Olympia.
Water spills over a set of stairs that typically lead to the beach during a King Tide at Alki Beach Park on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in West Seattle.
Tom and Marie Cawrse live on the far east side of Port Townsend, on the northeast point of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, right on the beach.
Since their house was built three decades ago, ice caps have been melting and the ocean's been expanding as it warms up.
The Cawrses got a taste of just how close the sea might come to their home in March 2016, when a massive storm blew into Port Townsend at the same time as an extra high tide known as a king tide.
"We probably had 4-to-6-foot waves coming ashore here," Tom Cawrse remembers. It was just before dawn, and 60 mile-per-hour winds were pushing the high water towards the Cawrses' house.
"There was a lot of spray hitting the east side of our house, and you could feel vibrations coming through the house. I got out of bed and came out and looked, and I thought, 'Oh my goodness, if this goes on a lot we're going to have to move the house.'"
This story was produced for KUOW's The Burning Question, which explores the question: What would a climate-friendly Seattle actually look like?
Across the Pacific Northwest, the sea's already at the doorstep of homes, businesses, infrastructure, and habitat - and the problem's only going to get worse as the sea continues to rise. In the winter, king tides give us a glimpse of what might be at risk.
In Washington and Oregon, nearly 40,000 people live in homes that are likely to get flooded during the next few decades. And it's not just houses that are at risk; it's billions of dollars of infrastructure.
Sewage treatment plants in Olympia and other cities could be destroyed by salt water unless they are modified or moved.
[asset-images[{"caption": "Water spills over a set of stairs that typically lead to the beach during a King Tide at Alki Beach Park on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in West Seattle. ", "fid": "141918", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201801/MF_KingTide02_1.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer"}]]The Port of Tacoma and other highly contaminated SuperFund sites could soon be underwater. And hundreds of miles of roads might get regularly flooded.
"The implications of sea level rise are more expensive than we could ever imagine having budget to cover," says Guillaume Mauger, an expert on flooding and climate change adaptation at the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group.
Even if we stop emitting carbon tomorrow, he says, "We're virtually guaranteed to get six inches of sea level rise in the next 50 years."
[asset-images[{"caption": "Water spills over a set of stairs that typically lead to the beach during a King Tide at Alki Beach Park on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in West Seattle. ", "fid": "141903", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201801/MF_KingTide04.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer"}]]
That's more than a foot above where the sea was in 1900, which is when a lot of our infrastructure was built.
One way to get a glimpse of the future is to look at a king tide today. That's why I headed to Olympia during one of January's king tides.
I met Eric Christensen, who does sea level rise planning with Olympia's Public Works Department, at Budd Inlet, the very southern end of Puget Sound.
"We've got a tide coming in that should hit about 17 feet, which happens a few times a year here," Christensen says.
"With a foot of sea level rise, we could see this happening maybe 30 times a year. A few times a year, we'd see water creep over the shoreline and flood up to 20, 25 square blocks of downtown."
[asset-images[{"caption": "Tom and Marie Cawrse live right on the beach in Port Townsend.", "fid": "141909", "style": "card_280", "uri": "public://201801/010918EO_TomMarieCawrse2_c63h6y.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW/EarthFix photo/Eilis O'Neill"}]]
Christensen says a tide like today's, plus that six inches of sea level rise scientists say we're guaranteed to get, could mean "you'll begin to see water in the streets. This corner here will flood. Columbia Street, the next block over, will flood. The parking lot that you parked in, you wouldn't want to walk to your car."
Christensen estimates it will cost 60 to 65 million to protect downtown Olympia from a rising sea, but, if the city did nothing to prepare, the damage would cost billions.
Olympia is ahead of most other cities in terms of sea level planning and preparedness; many communities that could face grave threats have yet to get started.
[asset-images[{"caption": "Water spills over a set of stairs that typically lead to the beach during a King Tide at Alki Beach Park on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in West Seattle. ", "fid": "141906", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201801/MF_KingTide05.jpg", "attribution": ""}]]"Sea level rise is inevitable, and sea level rise is going to change the landscape," Christensen says. "This is my community, and I feel very strongly that I'd like to protect it."
Back in Port Townsend, the Cawrses' short-term plan is to keep building the berm between the beach and their house higher and higher.
But long-term, Tom Cawrse says, "These houses will probably have to be moved. That's probably the final outcome but it won't affect Marie and myself because we'll be gone."
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "Sea Level Rise On The North Olympic Peninsula", "style": "wide"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Within the next 12 years, annual flooding during coastal storms is expected to reach areas of the Northwest it hasn't before. By 2100, the potential damage grows significantly. These maps show the likelihood of flooding during the annual extreme storm scenario. The darker the blue, the more likely it is to flood.", "fid": "141998", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201801/floodzones.png", "attribution": "Credit Tony Schick, OPB/EarthFix. Sources: North Olympic Peninsula Development Council; Ian Miller, Washington Sea Grant. "}]]
Copyright 2018 EarthFix
News environmentclimate changegovernmentfeaturecarbonBurning Question
Eilís O'Neill
Year started with KUOW: 2017
See stories by Eilís O'Neill


Stocks and broth aren't just for soups anymore. Nope, it's all about sipping nowadays. Move over coffee and hot chocolate, we're warming up with these 10 brodo recipes. Packed with flavor and nutrients, they're a great way to fight off the cold (and colds) this winter. You'll want to get in on this hot new trend, stat!
What kind of brodo would you like to sip on this season? Let's talk in the comments.


Rabbi Yirmiyahu Ullman studied Literature and Chemistry at Harvard University, later graduating from Williams College where he majored in History and the Sciences. After receiving his rabbinical ordination in Jerusalem, he published a 600-page halachic work titled "Iyunei Deah" that is studied by many aspiring rabbis preparing for semicha in Yoreh Deah. He teaches at Ohr Somayach's Jerusalem campus where he lectures on a variety of topics in Jewish thought and writes the "Ask the Rabbi" column for the Yeshiva's website and Ohrnet publication. He has published articles in numerous Jewish magazines and journals, and lectures for a variety of kiruv organizations worldwide.


Read our latest news, blogs and articles that we've written or contributed to. View our latest press releases here.
Working with award winning start up Ostique, we are helping to develop better and more beautiful solutions for stoma users.
David is a leading figure in the drug delivery sector and brings a wealth of experience with him.
How interactive technology could transform the patient experience in intensive care.


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ON YOUR MARKS
THREE hundred entries, eight short-listed teams and nine judges later, the three winning teams for this year's Make Your Mark in Fashion competition have been announced. [b] Berrie, Miawi and R.A.J.E will work with Enamore, Junky Styling and The Hemp Trading Company respectively to develop a new sustainable clothing range to be shown during London Fashion Week in September. "We are thrilled that Berrie has won; now we can take our vision of a sexy and feminine sustainable fashion label and turn it into a reality. We are also delighted to be working with Jenny at Enamore, who has already been incredibly supportive," says Berrie's Deborah Luffman. "All our mentors are pioneers in the field of sustainable fashion and with the standard of entries so high they have found the judging tough but inspiring," says Make Your Mark's Alex McIntosh of the judges, which included A-List favourite label Ciel. "To see the next generation of eco-fashion designers passionate to make their ideas a reality is good new for the industry - and the planet," he adds. (May 9 2008, AM) Jessica Bumpus
Should You Be Using Foundation On Your Body As Well As Your Face?
We've Reached Peak Jade Roller – So What's Next For Face-Sculpting Tools?
By Hannah Coates
Fenty Beauty's First Skincare Product Has Arrived
Big Little Lies Fans, The Second Season Trailer Has Arrived
By Christian Allaire


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Review into residential care placement decisions report released
A report on the placement decisions made for children with harmful sexual behaviours in residential care has been tabled in Parliament by the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
Commissioner Colin Pettit said he has made recommendations on what is required to ensure that the rights of all children and young people in care are upheld every day and that responses to children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours are strengthened.
"The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and other previous inquiries have consistently highlighted the vulnerability of children and young people to abuse and harm in institutional settings and the unique barriers they face in speaking up and seeking help," Mr Pettit said.
The Commissioner has made six findings on systemic issues related to the wellbeing of children and young people in residential care and made nine recommendations, three to the Minister for Child Protection and six to the Department of Communities.
The recommendations, listed in full within the report, cover:
• implementation of Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommendations
• providing comprehensive specialist services to children and young people in care who experience or exhibit harmful sexual behaviours
• establishing an independent advocacy function for children and young people in care
• implementing a framework to guide the Department's responses to children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours
• resourcing, mandating and delivering harmful sexual behaviours training for all staff working directly with children in residential care
• commissioning the scoping of work to implement an information management system fit for the functions of the Department.
The Commissioner has a legislated function to advocate for all WA children and young people and to give priority to the interests and needs of children and young people who are vulnerable.
Mr Pettit acknowledged the Minister for Child Protection the Hon Simone McGurk MLA's support of the Review and the cooperation of Department of Communities and non-government care sector staff.
This report contains information some may find distressing or uncomfortable. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person at home or in care, it may be a difficult reading experience. If you find the report's content distressing, please seek support. If you are not sure how or where to access support, contact the Commissioner's office for assistance.
Independent Review of Department of Communities policies and practices in the placement of children with harmful sexual behaviours in residential care settings
pdf 800Kb Download pdf


These adorable little studs are crafted from matte pastel acrylic and measure about 18mm (3/4") in height and width. Their cheeks are accented with Swarovski crystals.
The earring posts are made from titanium.
A perfect addition to any outfit!


I'm Danielle, wife of a brilliant man and mother to three rambunctious boys. Join me as I share our adventures in learning, cooking, DIY-ing and sewing. Fair warning: I have a million and one interests, so this could get a bit random.


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National	Jul 7, 2020
Tokyo home of 'Astro Boy' creator and other manga legends opens as museum
A museum replicating the Tokyo apartment building that was home to the late Osamu Tezuka and other legendary manga artists opened Tuesday, 38 years after the original wooden building was dismantled in 1982.
Entertainment News	Jan 28, 2020
Japan box-office revenue hit record ¥261 billion in 2019
Total box-office revenue in Japan hit a record ¥261.1 billion ($2.4 billion) in 2019, up 17.4 percent from the previous year, aided by mega-hits such as the animated film "Weathering With You," the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan said Tuesday. Cinema attendance surpassed 190 ...
Our Lives | TELLING LIVES	Sep 22, 2019
'I stuck out more in Japan than in America'
by Alyssa I. Smith
Illustrator Christine Mari Inzer used her talent for drawing as a way to process identity in her homeland.
Entertainment News | FOCUS	Jun 24, 2018
In cartoon arms race against Japan, Chinese tech giants splash out
by Pei Li, Anita Li and Adam Jourdan
Growing up in the Chinese port city of Dalian in the 1990s, Zhang Hongchang spent hours immersed in Japanese cartoons like "Dragon Ball" and "Naruto." China's home-grown cartoons paled in comparison to the Japanese anime series on television and in comic books that captured the ...
National | GENERATIONAL CHANGE	Jul 5, 2015
Life's ups, downs lift manga artist Misako Rocks! to success
by Sayuri Daimon
Manga artist Misako Rocks! is a challenger and a woman of passion. Despite being raised in a conservative family in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture, with father and son police officers, her life has been full of adventure. She has worked as a puppeteer in New York, experienced ...
Entertainment News	May 14, 2015
Beloved Doraemon voice actress Nobuyo Oyama struggling with dementia
by Tomohiro Osaki
A veteran anime voice actress of Japan's beloved Doraemon robot cat is struggling with dementia, her talent agency and husband have revealed. Despite her disease, Nobuyo Oyama, 78, remains physically healthy and eager to continue with her voice acting duties, albeit to a limited degree, ...
World	Sep 14, 2014
Springfield comes alive as 'The Simpsons' take over the Hollywood Bowl
Under the starry skies of Hollywood on Friday, the animated world of America's longest-running television series "The Simpsons" came alive through music and lively performances from the cast on stage at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl. Matt Groening, the show's creator, kicked off the first night ...
National	Mar 19, 2014
'Tank girls' lead the charge
by Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo
Being a soldier in Japan after World War II was seen as a job for failed police recruits and unemployed youths from depressed rural towns. But as tension with China chips away at Japan's postwar pacifism, the military is regaining its prestige — helped by ...
National	Sep 10, 2013
Manga majors a big draw in the job market
by Kaoru Otsu
With manga becoming more popular internationally, an increasing number of Japanese universities have been providing courses on the subject, producing graduates who have gone on to work in a broad spectrum of society. "The number of students finding employment at companies unrelated (to manga) has ...
National	Sep 6, 2013
'Sazae-san' sets Guiness cartoon record
The TV cartoon "Sazae-san," which began airing in 1969, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running animated series in the world, beating the U.S. show "The Simpsons." "I am full of emotions. It is a testament to the fact that people of ...


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text:
Heart-throb actor who died tragically young
Rudolph Valentino in a publicity shot for his
hit movie The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The man who would become Rudolph Valentino was born on this day in 1895 in Castellaneta, a small town in a rocky region of Puglia notable for steep ravines.
Born the second youngest of four children by the French wife of an Italian veterinary surgeon, he was christened Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla.
When he arrived in America as an immigrant in 1913, he was registered as Rodolfo Guglielmi. His first movie credit listed him as Rudolpho di Valentina and he appeared under nine different variations of that name before achieving fame as Rudolph Valentino in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in 1920.
During the silent movie boom, he enjoyed more success in The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and The Son of the Sheik and his smouldering good looks made him a 1920s sex symbol, nicknamed "The Latin Lover" and adored by countless female fans.
Yet his route to fame was difficult. Unable to find work at home, he joined the exodus of southern Italians to the United States and aged just 18 boarded a boat to New York, disembarking at Ellis Island on 13 December, 1913.
He soon ran out of money and, even in the harsh New York winter, he had to sleep rough in Central Park. Eventually, after working as a dishwasher and a gardener, he found employment at Maxim's Restaurant-Cabaret as a "taxi dancer", a paid-for partner for female clients.
Maxim's attracted a wealthy clientele and it is there that Valentino began to capitalise on his good looks and natural charm to become a sought-after partner. But he had to leave after the relationship he developed with a Chilean heiress landed him in jail.
When the lady in question sought a divorce from her husband, Valentino agreed to take the stand to support her claims of infidelity on her husband's part, testifying that he was seeing a female dancer at Maxim's. Out of revenge, the husband, a well-connected businessman, had Valentino arrested, along with a known madam, on trumped-up vice charges.
He was released after only a few days but the scandal cost him his job and when the heiress then shot her ex-husband during a custody dispute, he decided it would be in his interests to move on and he joined a travelling musical troupe that would eventually lead him to the West Coast, and Hollywood.
There he inveigled himself with more wealthy women by offering private dance tuition. At the same time, he was pursuing his ambition to work in the cinema and landed a series of bit-part roles.
It was while travelling to Florida for one of these that he read the novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, by the Spanish author Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, and decided to seek out June Mathis, a screenwriter for Metro Pictures, who had bought the rights to the novel, in the hope of securing a part. As it happens, Mathis had seen him perform and already had him in mind.
The movie was a massive success, one of the first to make more than $1 million at the box office, and Valentino became a star. He was paid accordingly. At his peak he earned $10,000 a week at a time when the average wage in the United States was $2,000 a year.
Yet contentment eluded him. At times difficult to work with, he clashed with a number of directors and a bitter dispute with one of his studios led to him being unable to work at all after they refused to release him from his contract. Despite his earnings power, he also ran up huge debts.
Although he was married twice, albeit divorced both times, he found himself the target for gossip and innuendo about his sexuality. His taste for jewellery and exotic clothes led some male writers to imply that he was gay. One columnist enraged him so much he took boxing lessons from Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight champion, and challenged the writer to a fight.
Crowds gather outside the Campbell Funeral Home in
New York ahead of Rudolph Valentino's funeral
Valentino's death in 1926 at the age of only 31 shocked the world. He collapsed at a New York hotel and was taken to hospital. At first he was thought to have appendicitis but it transpired he had perforated gastric ulcers. This in turn led him to develop peritonitis and pleuritis, conditions affecting the membranes lining his abdomen and lungs, which proved fatal.
The outpouring of grief among his fans was such that 100,000 people, mainly female, lined the streets of New York as his funeral cortege made its way to St Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in the Broadway theatre district. A similar number were said to have filed past his coffin at the Frank Campbell Funeral Home, where his body was displayed for a number of days before the private ceremony.
Although his debts meant there was little in his estate to pay the costs, a second funeral then took place in Beverley Hills in California and Valentino's body was laid to rest in the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, in a crypt provided by June Mathis, his scriptwriter friend, who had bought it for a husband she subsequently divorced.
Valentino is honoured in several ways in his home town of Castellaneta. A Rudolph Valentino Museum was opened in his childhood home and a statue unveiled in 1961. A Foundation was created to promote his life and his work and in 2009 a film school - the Centro Studi Cine Club Rodolfo Valentino Castellaneta - was opened in the town.
Hotels in Castellaneta by Hotels.com
Rudolph Valentino's family home in Castellaneta
The Valentino Museum, where the exhibits include the bed in which he slept as a boy, can be found on Via Vittorio Emanuele, in the old part of Castellaneta, which has a medieval layout of narrow alleys and streets and sits on a ridge above the sheer-sided Gravina di Castellaneta.
Castellaneta hotels by Expedia.co.uk
(Photo of Valentino family home by Pietro d'Ambrosio CC BY-SA 3.0)
Pina Menichelli: silent movie diva who achieved worldwide fame
How Shakespeare made Zeffirelli a household name
Spaghetti westerns opened doors for top producer
1527: The Sack of Rome
1963: The birth of Alessandra Ferri, prima ballerina assoluta
Labels: 1895, Apulia, Castellaneta, Cinema, Film, Puglia, Rudolph Valentino


Incredible sculpture consisting of 41 suspended canoes weighing over 2,000 kilos.
Frank Sinatra is worldwide known for his song about New York, but when he sang about "that toddling town, where on state street that great street they do things they don't do on Broadway" he was clearly referring to the city of blues for excellence: Chicago.
The city of renaissance: in 1871, after the great fire caused by a cow that had knocked over a lantern destroying the entire city, it was a good opportunity to rebuild the whole city. Architects from all over the world came to Chicago to transform this city in one of the most beautiful in all Americas, being nowadays proud of its outstanding architecture.
Chicago is also knows as the city of corruption, crime and gangsters like Al Capone, the city of the prohibition era. Obama' s hometown, great proud for the city.
As a Dj, Frankie Knuckles developed in Chicago a sound that became known as House Music, a rawer brand of 70′s disco that would spread all over the world making dance entire generations. He is now considered the Godfather of this kind of music, which I personally adore.
Mostly considered as the Windy City and not only for its weather peculiarity but also in a metaphoric way. It is said that people in this city change their mind as often as the wind, and New Yorkers often judged its citizens for their endless political conventions.
Chicago is also called the City that works for its labour tradition, and for its people who actively participate on civic projects.
I loved Chicago, or how a local would say, Shicago. Its architecture is harmonious, it is incredibly clean, tidy and extremely elegant.
My friend Tosh lives just downtown Chicago in probably the best intersection, in a modern and cool skyscraper in Delaware and State street (yes, the great street Sinatra was talking about in the above mentioned song) and has amazing views on the city and on lake Michigan.
On my first morning in Chicago we walked towards Millennium Park through the beautiful and elegant boutiques on Michigan Avenue, kissed by a stunning sun. I felt really lucky for the sweet weather that was accompanying me.
Barney, Saks, Burberry, Nike, Apple, and Victoria Secret are just few of the great labels concentrated on this big avenue called the Magnificent Mile.
We went to pick up Natalie at work and we had a nice salad at Panera's. It is a popular bakery/cafe chain, characterized by its interest towards nutrition and calories even in a fast food environment. Apparently it was the first in the Food industry to voluntarily post calorie information in the menu.
Millennium Park is considered the worlds' largest rooftop garden since it sits on the top of a parking garage and a station. It is incredible, situated in the middle of the town and it was originally planned to celebrate the millennium. It is home of the famous piece of architecture from Anish kapoor, called The Cloud Gate, also nicknamed "the bean" because of its shape. Looks like it was also inspired by liquid mercury. Its surface is reflective. Tosh and me enjoyed a lot walking by it and seeing reflected both the city skyline and us. Pretty cool.
Among all the skyscrapers there is one the rumours say it was built with a feminine shape from an architect who was annoyed by the fact that the skyscrapers normally look like phallic symbols.
In the park there is also a marvellous pavilion designed by Jay Pritzker where during summer many concerts happen. As a music lover, I thought in this city I would never get bored.
I was so lucky enough to be in that park during this time of the year and enjoy its incredible colours of the foliage!
Us three walked through the park and enjoyed to look at different types of architecture, and I bumped into a very tall red chair with legs that might refer to those of a dancer. It was actually called the Red Dancer, designed by Gary Kulak.
Music, dance and architecture. Passions all together in this amazing city!
We walked to the Navy Pier – full of restaurants and shops and a big Ferris wheel with stunning views on the shoreline of lake Michigan.
In the end we realized to have walked for about six miles during that day, walking by the beach of Chicago full of sporty people running and biking on the sand and before getting home I passed by one of the most prestigious universities in USA, the Northwestern.
Once back at home, we chilled a little bit before to meet Dino for a cocktail at the Signature Room, an amazing bar situated at the floor 96th of the John Hancock tower, a 1506 feet's skyscraper that back in 1968 was considered the tallest building in the world outside NYC. Now it is still the tallest in Chicago but sixth in the United states.
Dino is a lovely and funny guy originally from Naples; I met him in London while I was living there for the past two years. He is now living in the windy city for a one-year fellowship at a famous Chicago hospital. I always called him "the coach" for his wise and precious advises.
After the signature cocktail, we left that building and walked towards home, but first we bumped into the stunning "HOPE" sculpture from Robert Indiana, a pop artist from Chicago area, famous for his "LOVE" sculpture in New York.
Once home, we had Triscuits with Philadelphia cheese before to go to sleep: it was first bizarre to Tosh's eyes but afterwards we both agreed it was a great discovery, she had never tried this famous American crackers with one of my favourite cream cheese.
Staring at the amazing views from my room, I thought I was just living a dream!


Obituary for Yolanda M. Stringer | House of Wheat Funeral Home, Inc.
STRINGER, Yolanda M., age 53, born February 10, 1965 in Dayton, Ohio, passed away Monday, September 10, 2018. Visitation 4-7 pm Monday, September 17, 2018 at House of Wheat Funeral Home, Inc., 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave. Family will receive friends 5-7 pm. Funeral service will be held 1 pm Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at the funeral home. Interment Shiloh Park Cemetery.


What is the change? The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation has announced changes to employment pass salary and contract requirements.
What does the change mean? Effective Sept. 1, employment pass submissions to MDEC must adhere to the new criteria. The salary minimum for foreign nationals seeking Category 1 employment passes will be set at 10,000 ringgits (about US$2,340) per month. Category II pass holders will have to be paid between 5,000 and 9,999 ringgits per month. Category III pass holders will have a salary requirement of 3,000 to 4,999 ringgits per month. Contract requirements will also change so that Category I permit holders will be allowed to apply for passes valid for up to five years. Category II permit holders will have to have a contract valid for up to two years. MDEC is adopting the changes after the MYXpats Centre announced similar changes in April.
Visas/permits affected: Employment passes (categories I, II and III).
Who is affected: Companies under MSC or ICT status submitting employment pass applications to MDEC.
Impact on processing times: No impact expected.
Business impact: Employers may see increased costs to meet the new salary requirements.
MDEC indicated that all other requirements for submitting employment pass applications will remain unchanged unless further notice is provided.
BAL Analysis: MDEC's changes to the salary requirements for employment pass holders are fairly significant, especially in Category 1, where the minimum salary will double to 10,000 ringgits per month. Employers who are affected should take note of the pending changes and budget accordingly.


Want to watch those amusing videos from Android phone on the large-screen iPad? Want to enjoy the Hollywood blockbusters on iPad with high resolution? Or want to play those interesting Android games on your iPad device? Why not simply transfer files from Android to iPad?
In this case, the all-in-one Phone Transfer software is highly recommended to your. With this software, you are free to sync Android within iPad without any restrictions. This software is fully compatible with all files including contacts, messages, videos, photos, apps and many more, as well as different devices of Android, iOS and Symbian operating systems. So you can freely transfer any files from Android to iPad, from iPad to Android or between any other devices as long as they are running Android, iOS or Symbian. Moreover, this software boasts of a simple user guide, which enables you to sync Android with iPad within simple steps.
Now want to give it a try by yourself? You can actually download the right version of this software and then give it a try by yourself! This software surely won't let you down!
Step 1. To start with, open the installed software on the computer and then link two devices to the computer via the USB cord. Then, choose the Phone to Phone Transfer mode and hit the Start option to go on.
Step 2. This software will then detect your device and scan for all files saved on the two devices. You can then enter the right file folder to preview more detailed file information. While previewing, select the wanted files under the corresponding device column.
Step 3. Then click on the right or left arrow direction to sync Android with iPad. On the pop-up window, hit the OK option to continue the process. Then, just wait patiently for the process to get completed within a little while.
This professional Phone Transfer software actually makes it as easy as pie to transfer files from Android to iPad. So if this is what you are looking for, why are still hesitating? Just get this all-in-one program as needed!


In the darkest days of World War II, English-born Greer Garson became Hollywood's most inspiring icon of strength and courage. Garson combined an everywoman quality with grace, charm, and refinement. She won the Academy Award in 1941 for her role in "Mrs. Miniver, " and for the next decade she reigned as the queen of MGM. She earned a total of seven Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, and 14 of her films premiered at Radio City Music Hall, playing for a total of 84 weeks - a record never equaled by any other actress. In this first-ever biography of Garson, Michael Troyan sweeps away the many myths that even today veil her life. The true origins of her birth, her fairy-tale discovery in Hollywood, and her career struggles at MGM are revealed for the first time. Garson's experiences offer a fascinating glimpse at the studio system in the years when stars were closely linked to a particular studio and moguls such as L.B. Mayer made careers or broke them. With the benefit of exclusive access to studio production files, personal letters and diaries, and the cooperation of the family, Troyan explores the triumphs and tragedies of her personal life, a story more colorful than any role she played on screen.


The Yellow Butterwort, Pinguicula lutea is named for its beautiful sulfur yellow flower. It is a perennial with bright pale green leaves that curl upward along the margins, and pointed leaf tips. The digestive glands on the leaf surface often glisten in the light, giving it a "slippery" look. It is a medium size butterwort, about 2-6" across with a rosette of sticky leaves. It prefers moist, not wet, sandy peat soils, with no standing water, and benefits from brief drier conditions for a few days. It is often associated with P. caerulea and P. pumila, but not P. ionantha, P. planifolia or P. primuliflora which favor wetter habitats. They benefit from the dappled light provided by growing among grasses and other plants. The brilliant yellow flower show in Spring. It can tolerate a light frost, but definitely prefers winters without it. There is no winter bud. The Yellow Butterwort is a delightful companion in the carnivorous collection with its flaming yellow flowers. It does well as a terrarium plant. This selection comes from leaf pulls or seed, and may show some natural variations.


Luckily for homeowners, termites leave various clues around the home that are strong indicators of an infestation. exterminator will often see the insects crawling on and around structural beams, boards and other items constructed out of wood.
Depending on the specific termite species, these insects are approximately one-fourth to one-half inch in length. exterminator and soldier termites have soft bodies that are light in color. exterminator will also have large mouth parts that extend past the front of the body.


Last week we introduced Kingdom of Stone Age on hightechholic. This fast-paced, super-fun and constantly challenging real time tower defense game impressed us in every aspect. That's why, we decided to make it our strategy game of the month. Read more why!
Starting in the last free village, you are beginning this td game with basic fight squads. Then this thrilling real time TD game puts you on real test of your strategy and battle skills. With its incredible graphics and sounds, the game will get you hooked to playing fast as you try to defend the kingdom from the waves of the attackers.
To expand your kingdom just take the sword into your hands and use your hero to find the allies you need to win against the opponents. Become a leader in the epic battle, get the horses ready and sharpen the spears to kill the enemies and protect the kingdom.
The Kingdom of Stone Age offers the most amazing gameplay and features that will keep your attention each time you play. You are required in the game to fight the opponents and expand your kingdom by conquering new territories and colonies while protecting the wall. Upgrade your defenses and unlock new weapons. More than that, you can unlock more soldiers and generals too.
The level can be increased too so you become much stronger. Kill the enemies attacking the kingdom and attack their fortresses by saddling the horses and searching for mercenaries. In real time lead the army into battle, improving your hero and unlocking the defenses. To survive the attack and win the battle you need to send more soldiers against the enemies. Be careful and keep eye on the warries and make sure the defensive walls don't break. Let the slaughter horn sound strengthen your units in short term and use the defensive towers to protect the kingdom.
Improve and upgrade the defenses and upgrade your warries, heroes and soldiers too. At the end, for ultimate success, you need to create the smartest strategy possible to conquer new territories and protect the kingdom.


The variety of grape where I come from grows in France, yet it is in the Veneto region where I express myself fully. I am rooted in a loam soil that gives me body and structure, transforming me into a wine of firm convictions. I am the warmth in an illuminated house with a table beautifully set after a long day of work, while retaining all the elegance of an herbaceous, spicy aroma that gives off a reassuring refinement.
Our Cabernet Marca Trevigiana I.G.T. is born of a clever combination of 70% Sauvignon grapes and the remaining 30% of Franc grapes. Vinified using the traditional red method, the grapes are left to macerate in their peels for a week then matured in temperature controlled steel autoclaves. The result is a surprising and full-flavored wine – a perfect Autumn tale that can also be enjoyed all the year round.


The Qashqai and X-Trail are two of Nissan's compact crossover SUV's made by the innovative Japanese automaker that are sold in European, Asian and Canadian markets. Both vehicles can now be added to the ever growing list of engines that are enhanced with the help of a K&N replacement air filter.
Qashqai is a sleek, dynamic, elegantly styled SUV. Despite it's classy look it is also a surprisingly capable off-road vehicle. The X-Trail on the other hand is a big, tough, well equipped SUV that is as adept off-road as it is on them.
K&N's 33-2944 replacement air filter helps keep both of these vehicle's engines running at peak performance. The 33-2944 air filter is designed to improve horsepower and acceleration while keeping the engine clean with it's excellent filtration. On the road or off,K&N performance air filters are designed to protect your Nissan engine from all elements.
K&N stock replacement air filters for street vehicles are covered by our famous K&N Million-Mile Limited Warranty™ and will be the last air filter your vehicle will ever need.


The popularity of CBD keeps rising with no signs of stopping. Among CBD products, CBD Oil is by far the most popular. In this post, we are going to introduce both CBD and CBD Oil, as well as discussing the steps to find the purest CBD Oil possible.
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound found in Hemp or Marijuana. It's important to distinguish "Hemp" and "Marijuana," with the former having a concentration of less than 0.3% THC. Hemp is federally legal due to its low THC concentration.
CBD is one of over 80 cannabinoids in the Hemp plant. It is also the second most abundant compound in Hemp. Some CBD is sourced from European farms in countries like Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, while other CBD is sourced from Hemp farms across the United States.
In order to understand how CBD works, you need to first understand basic biology. CBD interacts with something called the Endocannabinoid System, a collection of cell receptors and molecules. The receptors in the ECS are activated by chemical molecules called agonists. Whenever agonists bind to different receptors, a certain message or function takes place.
The two main cell receptors in the ECS are called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are concentrated in the central nervous system and CB2 receptors are more likely found in the immune systems. The agonists for these receptors and called endocannabinoids.
While THC binds directly to the receptors in the Endocannabinoid System, CBD works with enzymes within the ECS. In the ECS, enzymes break down leftover endocannabinoids. CBD in particular inhibits FAAH, or fatty acid amide hydrolase, an enzyme that breaks down anandamide. Anandamide is known as the "bliss molecule," and has wide-ranging effects on appetite, pleasure, reward, pain, and sleep. Simply put, the more of it in your body, the better.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what CBD is and how it works, what does it do?
Now that we have spoken about CBD and what it does, it's time to find the best and purest products.
It can be difficult to choose a CBD Oil with all of the brands on the market. Luckily, there are a few things to check for to help find the purest CBD Oil.
You will find that manufacturing speaks volumes about a company's quality and commitment. Many CBD companies outsource manufacturing, or "dropship" their products through other businesses. In both of these manufacturing practices, companies are at the mercy of other businesses for quality control. If a company is willing to outsource quality control, what other sacrifices are they willing to make? If you can, do some research on how a company manufactures its products. It's a good sign if a company keeps manufacturing and quality control in-house.
Extraction refers to the method the CBD is separated and isolated from the Hemp plant. Companies trying to cut costs may go with less refined extraction techniques involving propane, hexane, pentane, and butane. One approved method of extraction is ethanol extraction, helps remove toxins and residues from the plant while yielding high levels of cannabinoids. Last, and most preferred, is extraction by Supercritical CO2. This process uses expensive equipment and technical expertise to manipulate carbon dioxide by pressure and temperature. CO2 Extraction yields most pure CBD Oil. Any company that has the means to extract CBD by this method likely has a quality product.
The highest quality Hemp usually originates in either the United States or Europe. If a company sources from either of these locations and meets the other requirements on this checklist, they are a good choice. Sourcing is doubly important because of the way Hemp works as a "hyper-accumulator," meaning it soaks up all the nutrients in the surrounding environment. If Hemp is located in an area high with pesticides and metals, it will absorb them at a high rate.
Trustworthy CBD brands with quality products will either post their lab tests on the website or make them easily accessible to the customer. Make sure the lab tests are recent (within the last six months) and product-specific. It's important for a company to have current lab tests because CBD is typically extracted in batches, which can be different.
Our pure CBD Oil is manufactured in-house by professionals, extracted via Supercritical CO2, sourced from high-quality farms and tested by third parties. While we encourage consumers to do their research, it's clear that Hemp Bombs has one of the purest CBD Oils out there.


Leadership is an integral part of ministry. After all, you need to be able to cast a vision people will follow and manage relationships in a way that is both empowering and inspiring.
If you want to increase your skills, reading is an important place to start. But if you only plow through the latest and greatest leadership and business books, you'll end up falling into a couple of traps.
First, you'll end up thinking the same thing as all your contemporaries. It's helpful to stay on top of the most popular, cutting-edge books, but finding inspiration from multiple sources helps you develop more creative ideas.
Second, you will miss out on advice and information that has stood the test of time. Some books are classic for a reason, and a lot of the latest leadership books are built upon the foundation set by older, definitive works. By reading more broadly, you develop a wider appreciation for the entire leadership spectrum.
Here are several classic works to consider adding to your repertoire. The summaries below were created by each book's publisher.
It is estimated that Charles Spurgeon preached 600 sermons by his 26th birthday and that during his lifetime he delivered nearly 3,600 sermons and preached to 10 million people.
As were all of Spurgeon's messages, each of these lectures is saturated with Scripture. They move swiftly and are fascinating in their depth and sage advice.
For over 30 years, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones ministered at Westminster Chapel in London. Today he is widely considered one of the greatest 20th century preachers. Based on a series of lectures originally given by Lloyd-Jones to the students of Westminster Theological Seminary in the spring of 1969, this collection of essays on the essence of powerful preaching has become a modern classic.
He also provides practical direction on the task of preparing a sermon, sharing insights on the shape and form of a message as well as covering such topics as the use of humor, giving invitations in a message, and the preacher's relationship to the congregation.
J. Oswald Sanders, a Christian leader for nearly 70 years, presents the key principles of leadership in this work. He illustrates his points with examples from Scripture and biographies of eminent people of God, such as Moses, Nehemiah, the apostle Paul, David Livingstone, Charles Spurgeon, and others.
Sanders holds that even natural leadership qualities are God-given, and their true effectiveness can only be reached when they are used to the glory of God.
How can you be more effective with less effort? Learn how to identify and leverage the 80/20 principle—the well-known, unpublicized secret that 80% of all our results in business and in life stem from a mere 20% of our efforts.
Did you know, for example, that 20% of customers account for 80% of revenues? That 20% of our time accounts for 80% of the work we accomplish? We can achieve much more with much less effort, time, and resources, simply by identifying and focusing our efforts on the 20% that really counts.
Although the 80/20 principle has long influenced today's business world, author Richard Koch reveals how the principle works and shows how we can use it in a systematic and practical way to vastly increase our effectiveness and improve the effectiveness of our churches.
Strong leaders are committed readers. By adding these classic works to your reading rotation, you'll add depth and wisdom to your pastoral ministry. If you're looking for even more reading resources, check out our Leadership Reading Guide for Pastors.


Static shield bags provide protection against electro static discharge ESD. Our bags are suitable for packaging any products which are sensitive to static damage. We can supply a range of sizes to meet your specific requirements.
Moisture barrier bags provide protection against electro static discharge and are constructed in such a way to give the added protection against humidity. It is essential to ensure surface mounted components are processed and stored in a controlled environment. After processing the devices may need baking / drying before being packed ready for storage and shipping. Our moisture barrier bags are available in three layer or four layer construction.
Designed to be vacuum and heat sealed.
Metalized finish giving protection against moisture ingress and ESD.
Humidity Indicator cards (HIC's) are required to be inserted into the moisture barrier bag with your contents to provide a reliable indicator at the time of use that the contents have been safely stored and shipped. The indicator spots change colour when exposed to moisture and give a true indication of the humidity level within the sealed package.
Available as one spot, three spot, four spot and six spot.
Large quantities always available from stock.
If you are interested to learn more, contact us here.
All products listed on this page are available from stock.


Marion Anderson, MsEd joined Heartsong as Executive Director in March, 2008. Marion directs the planning, organization, implementation of all services provided by Heartsong, Inc. Marion holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University and MsEd from Sarah Lawrence College. Marion held a dual position as the Director of Community Services at Andrus Children's Center and Executive Director of Family & Community Service.
Sandra is a New York State licensed mental health practitioner and nationally board-certified music therapist. Sandra has been the clinical director at Heartsong, Inc since 2015. She also serves as a board member for the New York State Office of the Professions/Mental Health Practitioners. Sandra has maintained a private practice in the Bronx since 2010.
Sean is a New York State licensed creative arts therapist who earned his Master's at Pratt Institute in 2013. Sean has worked with various populations, including children, adolescents, and adults with diverse backgrounds and ranges of concerns which have informed his practice. Sean has been the clinical supervisor at Heartsong, Inc. since 2017.


text:
Mark Leno
by Jim Wood September 15, 2009
Photo by Tim Porter
Soon after being elected to office, state Senator Mark Leno received a call from talk show host Jay Leno. "He congratulated me and asked if we had any family in common." He laughed when I suggested that I was from the Russian Jewish side of his Italian family. The entertainer asked the politician to call when he came to L. A. "You mean to be on your show?" Mark Leno eagerly inquired.
"Of course not," replied the talk show host. " Just to have another chat…off camera."
"Somehow my ego recovered," says Leno the politician, who represents more than 900,000 constituents in a portion of San Francisco, all of Marin and southern Sonoma County.
Actually, when all is said and done, Senator Leno might have the last laugh. Someday, not far away, Jay Leno could be begging Mark Leno to be on the show. The swarthy 3rd District senator with the 100-watt smile is the first openly gay man to serve in the California Senate; he's leading the charge for single-payer, universal health care in California; he's an articulate advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana; and he's frequently mentioned as a possible contender to be San Francisco's next mayor.
"It's too soon to speculate," Leno says of running for mayor. "That election is two and a half years away and I've got a lot to do between now and then."
Indeed. In addition to advocating single-payer health care for Californians and liberalizing the marijuana laws, Leno is working to expand rights for same-sex couples married elsewhere but now living in California and to restrict the use of toxic flame-retarding chemicals being applied to nonflammable children's strollers, cribs and high chairs.
Moreover, as the owner of a San Francisco sign shop, he still is a small businessperson. Regarding his personal life: "I'm a single man living in Noe Valley," he answers with that megawatt smile.
The grandson of Jewish Russian immigrants, Leno, 58, entered elective politics in 1998, when then-Mayor Willie Brown appointed him to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. After two terms, he ran for a seat in the California state Assembly, where he was reelected twice before making a bid for the state Senate in 2008. There, in a hard-fought Democratic primary, he emerged victorious with 43 percent of the vote against incumbent Carole Migden (29 percent) and former assemblyman Joe Nation (28 percent). In the general election, Leno overwhelmed his Republican opponent, garnering 80 percent of the vote with more votes than any other Senate candidate in California.
For starters, where do you stand on Marin's two current hot-button issues, collectively purchasing power through Marin Clean Energy and construction of a $110 million desalination plant? Regarding Marin Clean Energy, I'm 100 percent in support of making more renewable energy sources available to Marin residents than what PG&E is currently providing. In addition, I applaud the leadership county Supervisor Charles McGlashan has shown on this issue; we are both longtime proponents of public power and California's new Community Choice Aggregation concept. I have no doubt Charles and the group behind Marin Clean Energy have crunched every number and we'll not see surprises once the program gets under way. As for a desalination plant, I have concerns about its environmental impact on San Francisco Bay's marine life and the amount of power it will consume. At the same time, we cannot know the severity of future droughts other than (the fact) that with global warming they are quite likely to occur. One thing we do know, however, is that large green lawns are a 20th-century concept that cannot go on. I am following both issues closely.
What fuels your passion about universal health care? It's simple: the World Health Organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland, recently rated the United States as being 37th in the world for quality of health care. Think about that: 37th, just above Slovenia—and our costs are twice that of most nations ahead of us, including France, which was ranked number one. This survey was based on access, quality, costs, resulting life expectancy and infant mortality. Much of America's problem stems from the fact we have a "middleman" standing between doctors and patients. Our middleman is the insurance industry, which stands to make more money when health care is denied to those who need it. I have heard stories of children being denied asthma medication because they once had a cold and that cold was considered a preexisting condition. And that's just one reason why I'm passionate about universal health care.
In the public arena, who are your heroes, your role models? Mahatma Gandhi, for one. He was a human being who through his spiritual leadership—and without killing or even injuring another human being—reached seemingly superhuman powers. He brought down the most powerful empire on earth without ever firing a single shot—that, to me, is impressive. In the same vein, I have great respect for Martin Luther King Jr., who was a follower of Gandhi's principles of nonviolence and who has inspired generations in our struggle for civil rights and human dignity.
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text:
António Pinho Vargas (født 15. august 1951 i Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) er en portugisisk komponist, pianist, lærer og skribent.

Vargas studerede komposition og klaver på Rotterdam Musikkonservatorium (1987-1990). Han begyndte at undervise i komposition (1991) på Escola Superior de Música i Lissabon, og skrev soundtracks til mange portugisiske film og teater stykker.
Vargas har også skrevet orkesterværker, koncertmusik, oratorier, kammermusik, operaer, strygerkvartetter, jazzkompositioner etc.
Han var i en periode udøvende jazzpianist, og indspillede plader med egne grupper, feks albummet Outros Lugares (1983).
Vargas har også skrevet bøger , historier og anmeldelser om musik. Han er i dag freelance komponist primært i den klassiske Verden.

Udvalgte værker

 Qardros - (Moderne kunst) - (2014) - for orkester
 Violinkoncert "Til Minde Om Gareguin Aroutiounian" - (2016) - for violin og orkester
 Graffiti - (2006) - for stort orkester
 De Profundis - opera/oratorium - (2014) - kor a cappella
 Tempos difíceis (1988) - filmmusik
 Spejle - (1989) - for solo klaver

Eksterne henvisninger
 om António Pinho Vargas

Komponister fra Portugal
Pianister
Lærere
Forfattere fra Portugal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Libyan 5+5 joint military committee convenes for first time in 7 months
Türkiye proposed Ukraine-Russia a humanitarian corridor through Istanbul
Ankara urges US to preserve balance in ties with Türkiye, Greece
Images capture 850-year-old aftermath of stellar collision
Growing interest helps Turkish missile makers expand into Far East
Türkiye's 1st mini satellite collects over 10,000 data items in a year
Report: NATO aircraft track Russian frigate armed with hypersonic missiles
Norway stocks up on ammunition with major order
German defense giant launches production of new fighting vehicle in Hungary
UK will send heavy tanks to Ukraine to 'push back Russian troops
Home/Defence News/German defense giant launches production of new fighting vehicle in Hungary
German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall announced that it has launched low-rate initial production of new Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Hungary.
According to a press release from Rheinmetall, pre-series production is an important milestone, one which also encompasses the fabrication of the Lance medium-caliber turret as well as additional variants of the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle.
Full-rate production, or FRP, is due to commence in July 2023. Recruitment of qualified personnel and the inflow of technical equipment for the Lynx center of excellence is now in full swing.
The Hungarian ministry of defense contracted with Rheinmetall in September 2020 to supply combat vehicles and related services worth over €2 billion. In the first production phase, Hungary will take delivery of 46 Lynx IFVs and command & control vehicles as well as nine Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armoured recovery vehicles, all made in Germany. In a second phase, a joint venture in Hungary will produce a further 172 Lynx IFVs and combat support vehicles.
The first of these vehicles are to be delivered in 2024. In addition to the armoured fighting vehicles, the scope of supply includes ammunition and logistic services as well as 16 trucks.
A high-tech factory for this innovative fighting vehicle is now under construction in Zalaegerszeg, where it forms part of the ZALAZone industrial complex. It encompasses modern assembly lines, a paint shop, internal logistic systems and an automated warehouse. Other facilities include a powerpack testbed, an EMC chamber, a climate chamber, an underground firing range and a test track. This centre of excellence will not only contribute to maintaining and expanding Hungary's ability to develop and produce modern fighting vehicles. It also strengthens the country's economy.
Rheinmetall's new Hungarian colleagues are already working on the new Lynx in Germany, gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will facilitate the transfer of know-how and technology.
On 15 October 2022 Rheinmetall handed over the first of a total of 209 Lynx vehicles to the Hungarian armed forces. The Lynx will form the backbone of Hungary's mechanized infantry corps.


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Here's why journalists should be on TikTok
TikTok is a social media hotbed for communities, culture, creativity, and disinformation, making it an invaluable tool for journalists, said Laura Garcia, the training and support manager at First Draft.
More and more people are downloading TikTok. Where people go, so should journalists, Garcia said. She showed attendees at the International Symposium on Online Journalism (ISOJ) how to navigate the app and understand the culture of it during a brunch workshop on July 22 titled, "How journalists can use TikTok to find stories and monitor disinformation."
"Journalism is about people, right, and that means that we need to understand the communities that we write about and that we want to get our journalism to regardless of where they live, whether that is Facebook groups...or a community that trades information on TikTok, " Garcia said.
The video-sharing platform was the second most downloaded app in 2019. The users typically fall between the ages of 16 and 24.
This is an age group that newsrooms have been actively trying to engage, and TikTok gives a window into their interests. Surgeons, university admission counselors, psychologists, gynecologists, and more have already begun using the app to reach younger users.
In addition to monitoring for story ideas, TikTok can also be a platform for journalists to connect with new audiences by upload their own content. Newsrooms like the Washington Post, which pioneered journalism content on the app, make relatable and informative videos about the news in order to grow their audience.
"[We need to challenge ourselves] to think about storytelling beyond just print. How do we tell stories across screens? How do we do transmedia storytelling, where your TikTok compliments your print story or your TV news?" Garcia said.
Lastly, it can also be a place to monitor disinformation. As with any social media platform, TikTok has seen conspiracy theories spread on the app. Journalists can keep a pulse on what is spreading and work to debunk those claims.
As part of the brunch workshop, Garcia showed users a step-by-step tutorial for how to search for content, the anatomy of the app, and how to post and create a TikTok. To see the full recording of the workshop visit ISOJ's YouTube channel.


India's most significant and probably most trusted car maker Maruti Suzuki manufactures and sells 140,000 units every month. From small hatchbacks such as Alto and Wagon R to mini SUVs like Vitara Brezza and the trendy Ciaz, all types of models are sold through its two thousand showrooms. Till now Maruti Suzuki showrooms have been decked out in the familiar blue and white and had a rather dull interior design. The company has now decided to upgrade 80 of the showrooms to Maruti Suzuki Arena in 2018. It plans to aggressively redesign every Maruti outlet in the country to allow all customers to explore Maruti Suzuki Arena.
Based on the feedback the other showrooms will also be improved in the coming few years. This comes hot on heels of the premium Nexa showrooms. Maruti is in a mood to overhaul. It has just changed its True Value used car dealerships. Now it wants to explore Maruti Suzuki Arena into the new customer experience.
All customer relationship managers will be equipped with tablets which will allow them to display the whole product portfolio easily and will enable the customer to compare between models. It will also contain a lot of information allowing the relationship managers to answer customer's questions promptly.
With the help of a new program called iCreate customers will be able to choose specific configurations for Swift and Brezza. This is very innovative to explore Maruti Suzuki Arena.
The new Arena dealerships will do away with the decades-old brochure that every customer is presented with when they enter a showroom. Maruti is embracing new tech in a big way to win over new customers. The new dealerships will have an excellent new touchscreen panel which will offer details of model, specs, features and a 360-degree view of the car from any angle.
Customers of Maruti will now be able to book the vehicle they want to buy or configure them from a new website. The same facility as offered in the dealership touchscreen will also be available at home. The customer can not only book a car on the site, but also adapt its features and specs. To do this, the customer must first register before he can view and configure the vehicle selection on the site.
There will be a change in ambiance and design language. Warm yellow lighting with ivory theme and polished wood finish countertops will make it more inviting and less clinical than the harsh fluorescent glare. The Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships, however, will not do away with the familiar blue walls altogether. They will remain with Suzuki's backlit logo.
Each Arena dealership will have a dedicated zone with accessories and car personalization items on sale.
Instead of a pantry, the newly rechristened dealerships will have a café and a lounge for customers to be able to sit quietly and discuss.
Significant changes in Maruti Suzuki dealerships will be all about enhancing customer experience to a new high. The Arena dealerships are at the core of Maruti's efforts to revamp the brand and shake off its slightly dowdy image. It will be a really relaxing experience for customers to explore Maruti Suzuki Arena. The company wants to be seen as a new and innovative automobile manufacturer offering new and innovative models and not as a producer of staid and trusty workhorses.


This is awesome. Vultr recently upgraded the $5/month plan so that I now have 1GB memory with 25GB storage! YAY!
And what is more fun is there is $2.5/month option, which has less bandwidth, storage, and memory. The only thing is there is no possibility to downgrade a plan, otherwise I might just go for this one (since my old plan was 768MB memory and 15GB SSD).
Here is the referral link if you are interested in it. I'll answer any questions if you get any.
Just show you a photo you'll understand.
Blah blah blah. In short, that treated my site as a potential malicious site.
But my stuff are all legit and do no harm to anyone.
So I now switched to Certbot. I will write some details about switching to Certbot shortly.