As GTE and others sell their rural networks to focus on urban areas, smaller providers may be the salvation for tiny towns craving advanced phone and Net services.
The small West Texas town of Pecos is about to lose its phone company--and some of its citizens couldn't be happier.
Located about 200 miles east of El Paso, Pecos is typical of scores of rural communities around the United States where big local phone companies are selling their networks to focus more heavily on cities and populous suburbs. GTE recently announced that it plans to sell all of its New Mexico networks and much of its Texas systems to a smaller, local phone company.
These sales have raised some concerns over whether the big phone companies are leaving hard-to-serve rural properties in the technological dust as they move on to more lucrative land with high-speed Internet offerings.
But these small communities say they are happy to see the incumbents go. Town residents and consumer groups believe that companies that aren't distracted by corporate business concerns or urban demands can do a better job than the large phone carriers.
Still, the telecommunications newcomers aren't guaranteed success. They'll face the same hurdles as did the large companies--outdated networks, high upgrade costs, as well as low profit margins.
"I feel sure it will turn out better," said Kenneth Neal, Pecos's city manager. "We don't exactly have a Main Street-, New York-, or San Francisco-style phone system here. We almost never see [GTE] in town."
Far from having high-speed Net connections through technology such as ISDN or digital subscriber line (DSL), Pecos has only just recently gotten caller ID. A single GTE serviceman serves the town's 12,000 residents, Neal said, and residents must wait weeks before phone problems can be remedied.
Sarahlee Tiede, chief of the customer complaints division for the Texas Public Utilities Commission, said her group has been looking into complaints of poor service in some rural GTE communities. But that company is not alone, she said. Other large phone firms have had similar complaints from outlying rural areas--areas often the last to receive investment dollars and network upgrades.
The trouble, many firms lament, is that rural phone service is expensive to provide. The government does give subsidies through the Universal Service Program--fees that appear on every consumer's phone bill. But since profit margins in metropolitan areas are much higher than in rural regions, companies like US West complain that they can not afford to bring advanced services to outlying areas.
That's led some of the big local phone companies to simply sell their lines and move on.
GTE has sold of a number of its rural networks in recent months, nearly completing its planned sale of 1.6 million lines this year. US West has also been active in selling outlying properties, claiming the most rural networks of all the Baby Bells. In its most recent round of sales, US West sold 531,000 lines for around $1.65 billion, spokesman Jeremy Story said.
The companies say they are using the capital from these sales to help fund the introduction of high-speed Internet, data, and wireless services in their territories. Yet companies that are focused on serving rural communities can provide these types of services more efficiently, the Bells say. However, they are also quick to add that they have no intention of leaving their rural customers in a technological backwater.
"We're not abandoning all of our small markets. We will continue to operate any number of rural communities," said Bill Kula, a spokesman for GTE. "Our commitment is to provide customers with the latest advances in technology regardless of where they live or work."
The sales of rural lines has spawned a new breed of telecommunications company--many of them owned and operated by minority investors--that are optimistic about revitalizing rural communities with new services.
DBA Communications, run by a group of Hispanic investors, created the firm specifically to buy portions of GTE's rural network. They hope to expand their reach with other acquisitions, but will first focus on modernizing their newly acquired 400,000 phone lines.
"We have a different vision, a different goal for these communities," said Toney Anaya, an investor in DBA and former governor of New Mexico. The group plans to bring DSL to the communities, in an effort to jump-start the rural communities' participation in the information economy.
"This will be very important to the future development of these communities," Anaya said. "Those that don't prepare for the new telecom world will be leapfrogged."
Citizens Utilities, a more established rural telecom provider has similar plans, although the firm says it will take time to modernize much of the network it has acquired from the likes of GTE and US West.
"We've got to make some basic infrastructure investments before we can make those kind of promises," said Brigid Smith, the company's assistant vice president of corporate communications. "In some places, it's more basic than even caller ID and call waiting--things that other areas take for granted."
The transfer of networks to these small companies has been closely scrutinized by state regulators, who worry that newcomers won't have the capital to maintain the existing infrastructure. But for the most part, the firms are well funded--DBA, for example, is backed by more than $8 billion in venture capital, and even grabbed a senior executive from Qwest Communications International to be its chief executive officer.
The companies are keeping their collective eye on long-term prospects, they say. Many of these rural communities are growing quickly, and could become the profitable suburban regions of the future--a process that could be speeded by the addition of a modern telecommunications infrastructure, the companies note.
Smith cites her company's investment in Elk Grove, California--a now-thriving suburban of Sacramento--as an example of rural investments growing well beyond expectations.
Consumer groups have looked at the transfer of these rural phone systems to small companies with some initial skepticism--but agree that the competitive firms will likely do a better job then the large carriers, both with ordinary quality of service concerns and in deploying new high-tech services.
"The factor that they're selling these off is not of special concern to us, because we didn't think they'd roll stuff out there anyway," said Mark Cooper, the lead telecommunications analyst for the Consumers Federation of America.


text: Q: IAsyncResult interface and AsyncCallback missing in .NET Core? Today I installed .NET Core on mac to code some c# and I found out that IAsyncResult interface and AsyncCallback delegate are not supported in .NET Core, I used to use them to call sync methods asynchronously. so the question is , are they deprecated? or should I use Task<>s in .Net core?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


BARBADOS PUBLIC WORKERS' CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNION LIMITED (hereinafter interchangeably referred to either as "we" or "us" or " the Credit Union") is committed to protecting your privacy through the use of the best technology that can give a safe member experience both online and offline. As a credit union we are primarily focused on our members and pride ourselves on offering them quality, relevant services.
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Scene By Scene: STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN – Pt XI – 'Live Long and Prosper'
As voted for on Twitter by followers, I will be analysing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan scene by scene in this multi-part exploration of Nicholas Meyer's 1982 sequel… Given how powerfully The Wrath of Khan ends, it is easy to miss the beauty in it, certainly in terms of how perfectly it caps …
Categories: Movie Reviews - 1982, Scene by Scene•Tags: A Tale of Two Cities, Avengers: Endgame, Gene Roddenberry, James Bond, Leonard Nimoy, Nicholas Meyer, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek: The Original Series, The X-Files, William Shatner•
THE DARK KNIGHT JOKES: How JOKER builds on Nolan's revolutionary thesis
When in 2012 the culmination of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, arrived on the landscape, it suggested a conclusion to a series which defied convention. Batman doesn't simply defeat the villain and live to protect Gotham City another day. He has to die (or at the least the symbol of him has …
Categories: Essays, Movies•Tags: A Tale of Two Cities, Anne Hathaway, Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman (1989), Batman Begins, Charles Dickens, Christopher Nolan, Heath Ledger, Joker, Liam Neeson, Richard Donner, Superman (1978), The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Tim Burton, Todd Phillips, Tom Hardy, X-Men•
Scene By Scene: STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN – Pt II – 'Surely, the Best of Times'
As voted for on Twitter by followers, I will be analysing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan scene by scene in this multi-part exploration of Nicholas Meyer's 1982 sequel… Very early on, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan positions itself as a film not just about life and death, but also about age. …
Categories: Essays, Scene by Scene•Tags: A Tale of Two Cities, C. S. Forester, Charles Dickens, Gene Roddenberry, Horatio Hornblower, Nicholas Meyer, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Wagon Train•

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The Azahar earrings are made with semi-transparent matte resin. These earrings are original and elegant fine jewelery earrings that you can wear both at weddings and daily. The Azahar earrings have a large flower shape, about 5 cm in diameter so you will not need more accessories.


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The Sennheiser PC37X is a Fantastic Deal For a Headset Without Bells or Whistles
Michael Crider @MichaelCrider
November 8, 2019, 9:00am EDT November 14, 2019, 2:03pm EDT
Rating: 9/10 ?
1 - Absolute Hot Garbage
2 - Sorta Lukewarm Garbage
3 - Strongly Flawed Design
4 - Some Pros, Lots Of Cons
5 - Acceptably Imperfect
6 - Good Enough to Buy On Sale
7 - Great, But Not Best-In-Class
8 - Fantastic, with Some Footnotes
9 - Shut Up And Take My Money
10 - Absolute Design Nirvana
There are a ton of PC gaming headsets out there, and plenty that offer whiz-bang features like wireless or simulated surround sound. So why go for Sennheiser and Massdrop's collaboration, the PC37X? Because it nails the basics in an open-back design.
Here's What We Like
Fantastic sound
Good recording quality
And What We Don't
No surround sound options
No management software
Lacks isolation
If you're unfamiliar with open-back headphones, check out our review of another Massdrop and Sennheiser collaboration, the HD 6XX. The PC37X shares a lot of design elements with that set, but adds a noise-canceling microphone and tweaks the design for sitting at a desktop PC.
And it delivers. The sound is great, the recording is excellent, and the fit and finish are top-notch. While the PC37X won't blow you away in terms of features, it's a great value at $120, and a fantastic all-around headset if your goal is to mix gaming and more conventional media.
Mic In the Front, Party Open Back
The PC37X is the first PC headset I've seen that uses an open-back design, a feature more typically reserved for audiophile-grade headphones. This means that its sound-isolating powers are minimal—practically non-existent—but that its sound profile is more natural and comparable to standard speaker listening.
The PC37X includes a high-quality boom mic. Michael Crider
The sound coming from the stereo drivers is clean and full-bodied throughout its range. I was able to switch between listening to music, video, and my usual frantic sessions of Overwatch and appreciate new details that I'd missed using more conventional headsets. The sound isn't as "open" as the bigger and more targeted HD 6XX, but considering the lower price and microphone inclusion, I'd say it's an acceptable compromise.
Note that open-back headphones can't blast you with bass the way standard around-the-ear designs can. So if you want to be checked for a concussion profile after getting blasted in-game, this isn't the set for you.
The driver housing has minimal plastic with slats for air. Michael Crider
The PC37X uses an analog connection for both input and output, with no drivers or software. That means that it also doesn't do simulated surround sound (though individual games that use a stereo-surround mix will work fine). Massdrop says the angled drivers are explicitly designed to give better "location accuracy." Still, I can't say that I was any more or less able to pinpoint enemy movements than on other stereo headsets.
Lightweight and Comfy
The headset is pretty comfy, though not the most comfortable I've used. Premium materials in the padding, including velvet on the earcups, are a nice touch. It's also pretty light, but that's not too surprising considering it's a wired unit made mostly from plastic.
The earcup pads are removable and replaceable. Michael Crider
There's only one control on the headset: a volume wheel on the right cup. Roll it back and forth for analog audio control, which doesn't sync with your PC's digital level. That's about it: it fits with the PC37X's focus on simplicity, but I could hope for an easy mute button.
The left cup holds the boom mic and the single-sided cord attachment. It doesn't detach, which I would have appreciated, but swiveling it up automatically mutes the microphone input, which is almost as good. The boom is strong and flexible, and my teammates told me I was clearly audible even over a less-than-stellar connection.
Analog volume is the only control on the headset. Michael Crider
Recording quality is extremely crisp for a headset mic but naturally won't match a dedicated condenser microphone like the Blue Yeti. It's definitely the best I've tried on a headset design.
Great Value for Sound Quality
As I've said, the PC37X doesn't beat out competitors from names like Logitech, Corsair, or Razer in terms of on-paper features, especially if you demand surround sound. But what it does is absolutely stomp them in terms of value and sound quality.
Drop.com
The set has a retail price (in so much as you can apply the term to Drop.com listings) of $120, and it's on sale for $100 at the time of writing. And as a collaborative product, it ships right away, unlike most of the site's group buy offerings. To put it bluntly, there's no gaming-focused headset out there that can get you such wonderful, open sound for so little cash.
Those hoping for wireless, RGB light syncing, noise cancellation, extensive bindable controls, or head-thumping bass won't appreciate the PC37X's focus on great sound and straightforward function. But for gamers who don't need those specific bells and whistles, it's a fantastic choice.
Here's What We Like
› New Chromebooks to Get Extended Lifespans, but Updates Remain Confusing
› YouTube TV Comes to Your PS4 Just in Time To Say Goodbye to PlayStation Vue
› Deal Alert: Get a Free Camera When you Purchase Eufy's Outdoor Security System
› The Surface Pro X is Only Two Months Old and Already Can Be Yours For Up To $200 Off
› The Newest LEGO Ideas Kit Will Take You to the International Space Station
Michael Crider has been writing about computers, phones, video games, and general nerdy things on the internet for ten years. He's never happier than when he's tinkering with his home-built desktop or soldering a new keyboard. Read Full Bio »
The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support Review Geek.
The Surface Pro X is Only Two Months Old and Already Can Be Yours For Up To $200 Off
Williams Pelegrin | January 21st
Microsoft's Surface Pro X launched at a penny shy of $1,000, and that's before you factor in the Signature Keyboard and Surface Pen. As such, we wouldn't blame you if the price was the biggest reason for not considering this device. The good news is it's already available for up to $200 off, despite being only two months old.
New Chromebooks to Get Extended Lifespans, but Updates Remain Confusing
From the fiery Samsung Galaxy Chromebook to the adorable Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook, 2020 looks promising in terms of Chrome OS hardware. It also looks promising on the update front, as Google announced today new Chromebooks will get up to eight years of automatic updates.
12 Accessories to Beef Up Your Trading Card Game Experience
Jonathon Heddings | January 21st
Trading card games like Magic: The Gathering are jokingly said to be more expensive than a drug habit. On top of building decks and buying rare cards, there are tons of accessories every serious player will invest in at some point. No Magic player goes outside without their bag of dice and a deck box filled with their favorite double-sleeved Commander deck.
The Best Alternatives to the Pepperplate Recipe App Now That It's Not Free
Josh Hendrickson | January 21st
Pepperplate, a popular and cross-platform recipe management app, announced yesterday that it's changing to a subscription-based model. The company had offered its apps and services for free and with minimal advertising for years, but going forward, the service will cost $3 a month or $33 a year. If that sounds like too much, we have a few suggestions for you.
PSA: Starting in May, Sonos Will Drop Update Support for Legacy Products
Today, Sonos announced that it will cut off certain legacy products from future updates starting this May. That includes both software updates and new features. If you happen to own both legacy and newer Sonos products, your entire multi-audio system won't be able to use new features released in the coming months. Legacy products include the original Zone Players, Connect, and Connect:Amp, first-generation Play:5, CR200, and Bridge.
The Newest LEGO Ideas Kit Will Take You to the International Space Station
LEGO occasionally crowdsources its ideas through the appropriately named LEGO Ideas platform. There, Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL) can submit proposals for future sets, and the program has led to gems like the Doctor Who set, the Flintstones kit, and even a ship in a bottle. Now the latest $80 LEGO Ideas inspired set is ready to take us to space—specifically to the International Space Station (ISS).


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The History of Angel Island: The Ellis Island of the West
Learn the dynamic history of San Francisco's Angel Island, the gateway for approximately 175,000 Chinese immigrants to the US in the 1900s.
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"This place is called an island of immortals, But in fact the mountain wilderness is a prison. Once you see the open net, why throw yourself in? It is only because of empty pockets I can do nothing else." -Poem carved into barracks wall Angel Island Immigration Station, author unknown.
On a weekend summer day, as the morning fog lifts over the San Francisco Bay, China Cove on the northeastern shore of Angel Island State Park is washed in sunlight--tranquil except for the laughter of children playing on the small stretch of sandy beach and the voices of 200 to 300 visitors.
To most first-time visitors, the cove is another picturesque spot from which to picnic and watch tankers and yachts sail by. To others who know about the island's history, the cove is a curiosity. But to those whose relatives passed through the old immigration barracks on the north slope of the cove, the small, drafty, wooden building--bare and sparse--represents the "Ellis Island of the West."
Its more famous sister island, Alcatraz, often overshadows the largest island in the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island. Activities and attractions offered on the island include picnic sites with breathtaking views, fishing and sunbathing at coves and beaches, hiking trails through wooded terrain, biking on the five-mile Perimeter Road, camping, historic military sites and buildings and an educational tram tour. The most popular attraction, however, is the old Immigration Station at China Cove.
Originally built to process an anticipated flood of European immigrants entering the United States through the newly opened Panama Canal, the Immigration Station on Angel Island opened on Jan. 21, 1910, in time for World War I and the closing of America's "open door" to stem the tide of these immigrants from Europe. The facility instead served as a detention center for the majority of the approximately 175,000 Chinese immigrants who came to America between 1910 and 1940, seeking escape from the economic and political hardships of their homeland. At any one time, between 200 and 300 males and 30 to 50 females were detained on Angel Island.
What these newcomers found when they reached America was discrimination and a series of restrictive anti-Asian laws, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Although all Asians were affected, 97 percent of the immigrants processed through Angel Island were Chinese.
After the earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed records that verified citizenship, many Chinese residents of California were able to claim citizenship for themselves and dozens of "paper children."
Citizenship papers were then sold to prospective immigrants. Entire villages would often purchase papers for one representative in the hopes that he would return from "Gam Saan" or "Gold Mountain" and share his expected wealth. Immigration officials responded to this deception by detaining all working-class Chinese immigrants for interrogation.
Typical questions asked in these interviews include: How many stairs lead up to your house? How many chickens did you own? Recite your family history. Those whose answers did not match those of their "paper parents" were deported.
According to Immigration Station docents, almost 10 percent of the detainees were deported. Rather than face the humiliation of being sent back to their villages, which had pooled meager resources to buy citizenship papers, many deportees committed suicide.
The Chinese immigrants were held on the island for weeks, months, even years while awaiting hearings or appeals on their applications. In contrast, immigrants passing through Ellis Island were processed within hours or days and merely had to pass medical hurdles.
To vent their frustrations at their forced idleness and isolation--authorities separated family members to prevent exchange of coaching information and routinely inspected letters and gift packages. Detainees wrote poems expressing their anger, despair, homesickness and loneliness.
The poetry, written and intricately carved on the walls in the classical style of the Tang dynasty, were recorded by two detainees in the early 1930s and rediscovered in 1970. Some of the writing on the walls is still legible today. It was this poetry that led to the $250,000 appropriation from the State Legislature for the preservation of the Immigration Station barracks.
In the now sparse and airy rooms, one can only imagine the isolation and lack of privacy each detainee was forced to endure. Crowded into bunks three tiers high, the men and women imprisoned in the cramped "dormitories" lived in constant distrust of each other.
The women's bathroom, site of many suicides, looks bright and almost cheerful with its new coat of paint. However, visitors are chilled by the building's draftiness--or is it the thought of unhappy ghosts trapped on this island of immortals?
Although complaints about unsatisfactory conditions and mistreatment were filed frequently--the first filed only a few days after the station opened--bureaucrats were slow to address the charges and did not abandon the detention center until a fire on Aug. 12, 1940 destroyed the administration building.
Three months later, on Nov. 5, a group of Chinese immigrants, 125 men and 19 women, were loaded onto ferries and transferred to temporary quarters in South San Francisco.
On this seemingly ordinary day came the end of a sad and bitter era: The Ellis Island of the West had finally closed its doors. For the thousands of Chinese immigrants who passed through the Angel Island Immigration Station, it is an era best forgotten. On the whole, former detainees have been reluctant to talk about their experiences, preferring to leave this chapter closed. More than 50 years after the closing of the immigration station, there is finally a sense of conclusion. Over 2,000 former detainees have been able to return to their island-prison to make peace with the past.
"We finally made it to Gold Mountain," said Paul Chow, former chairman of the Angel Island Immigration Station Historical Advisory Committee. "And we're here to stay. We are part of the United States, just as much as the Europeans are," he said of the Chinese-Americans. "We have put the pain behind us. Now we are free to open a new chapter in Asian-American history."
For more information about Angel Island, visit www.angelisland.org or www.angelisland.com.


The MS hug can cause painful constrictions, but there are ways to ease the symptoms.
Erika Richardson, 47, of Green Cove Springs, Florida, twice experienced pain and pressure in her chest so extreme that emergency room doctors suspected she was having a heart attack. "They started administering baby aspirin, ordering nitroglycerin and running an electrocardiogram," says Richardson, who has had progressive multiple sclerosis since childhood. Her mother, who was acting as her care advocate, explained the possibility that the intense chest pressure and stabbing sensations between Richardson's ribs were actually from an "MS hug"-and proceeded to educate the bewildered hospital staff on what that is.
The MS hug, a type of pain associated with MS that goes by the medical term dysesthesia, feels different for each person. "Some people describe a boa constrictor-type squeezing that is almost constant. Other people describe a band of burning pain that comes and goes," explains Mary Alissa Willis, MD, associate program director of the Mellen Center for MS at the Cleveland Clinic. "The pressure can be so intense at times that taking a deep breath is difficult." And yet no actual tightening is taking place. Rather, the sensation is caused by lesions-or scarring from MS disease activity-affecting the sensory pathways in the spinal cord. The brain may respond to the signals with a mix of sensations that include tightening, tingling, burning, stabbing pain or an electric-shock-like feeling. It ranges from "annoying" to "very painful," and can last a few seconds or persist. Some people feel the sensations in their hands, their legs and feet, or around their head.
The MS hug, a type of pain associated with MS that goes by the medical term dysesthesia, feels different for each person. Some people describe a boa constrictor-type squeezing that is almost constant. Other people describe a band of burning pain that comes and goes.
Not everyone with MS experiences the MS hug, but some 15 to 20 percent of people with MS report painful spasms, and 25 percent or more report dysesthesias, abnormal or unpleasant sensations, according to Dr. Willis. MS hugs may develop as a symptom of an MS relapse or flare-up and may be worsened by fatigue, heat, infection, stress or overexertion. There's no specific treatment, and people who experience it deal with it in a variety of ways.
No medications address the MS hug specifically, but because it's linked to hypersensitivity of damaged nerves, doctors may prescribe drugs that stabilize the irritated nerve membranes. Those include anti-convulsants like Neurontin, Trileptal and Lyrica.
A muscle relaxer, such as baclofen, also may be helpful, Dr. Willis says. An antidepressant such as Elavil, can help as well, as it modifies how the central nervous system reacts to pain. Some patients find relief with topical lidocaine. Traditional pain-relieving medications such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol and topical diclofenac, another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), don't work because they don't affect the nerves, Dr. Willis says.
Richardson, who has experienced MS hugs for 28 years, takes an anticonvulsant, muscle relaxer and Percocet, a prescription painkiller.
Caroline Kyriakou, 37, of Boston, received IV steroids to treat an MS hug that lasted two weeks-during the flare-up that led to her diagnosis in 2006, as well as during a relapse. "The steroids luckily helped decrease my symptoms," she says.
Avoid triggers. Ashley Ringstaff, 29, of Austin, Texas, tries to minimize stress and heat, and she avoids wearing anything constricting, which can trigger her MS hugs. "It feels like I'm being squeezed in a bear hug from the inside out," she says. But she can't control weather change, which also sets off her MS hugs.
Keisha Kuma, 45, who lives in Atlanta, isn't sure of her exact triggers but has noticed some patterns. "If I'm tired and keep pushing myself, especially in the heat, all my symptoms are more prevalent." Her MS hugs last 5 to 20 minutes. "It feels as if the Incredible Hulk is getting a mammoth from prehistoric times and placing it on my chest," she says.
Relaxation techniques. Kuma, who experiences MS hugs about every other month, lies down in a cool, quiet place to wait for the feeling to pass. "It calms the body and focuses the mind away from the pain," Maloni explains. Richardson uses deep breathing techniques to relax. Kyriakou also tries to relax and not panic. "The MS hug is a very uncomfortable feeling, but stressing out will only make it worse," she says.
Managing clothing. While tight clothing can be a trigger for some people, others find it actually helps ease MS hugs. One of Maloni's patients wears an abdominal brace. "It's the gate theory of pain," Maloni explains. "You close the gate on one type of pain and open the gate on a lesser sensation," in this case, pressure.
Warm compresses. Temperature sensations travel along the same nerve pathways as pain, so heat can tamp down pain. "When you have pain, there are chemicals that are released in the muscles-histamine (a compound involved in the body's immune response) and prostaglandins (compounds that act like hormones)," Maloni explains. "Heat decreases the expression of both." Richardson finds it helpful to wrap a heating pad around the affected area. Topical capsaicin, made from hot peppers, can also bring heat to the skin.
Exercise. Walking, stretching, yoga, gentle swimming and other movement can help manage MS hugs. "When we have pain, signals coming into the body from the central nervous system, the pain is sensed, and our body modulates it with the neurotransmitters serotonin, adrenaline and endorphins," Maloni says. "Exercise is pain modulation" in that it stimulates those same neurotransmitters. It's also a distraction, she adds.
Nutrition. Certain minerals are known to reduce muscle spasms and may help with MS hugs. In a blog on Multiple Sclerosis News Today, Judy Lynn writes that after testing her mineral levels, a naturopath suggested potassium, calcium and magnesium supplements to ease her MS hugs.
Acupuncture. The Chinese medicine practice has been shown in clinical trials to reduce pain in general, and may be a way to help manage MS hugs. " Hypnosis. Studies at the University of Washington show that it helps ease neuropathic pain. "Hypnosis is self-management at its best because you own it, and you can use it anytime you feel out of control," Maloni says.
To learn more, see the National MS Society's page on Pain or the Momentum story, Pain, pain go away.


On November 30, 2018, Rainforest Protectors Trust successfully completed the purchase and permanent protection of a highly biodiverse 4 acre rainforest directly bordering Kudawa River in the buffer zone of Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest and within close proximity to its main entrance gate. Due to many years of deforestation and forest fragmentation, Sinharaja rainforest has lost all the rivers that once flowed through it. Through this purchase and subsequent planned projects, Rainforest Protectors Trust aims to rebuild the lost riverine ecosystem and gradually connect with the core rainforest.


All Whitewater homes currently listed for sale in Whitewater as of 04/18/2019 are shown below. You can change the search criteria at any time by pressing the 'Change Search' button below.
"Nice house, lake views, acreage, and magnificent shop... what more could you want?! This home is situated on over 12 acres directly across from Lake Girardeau. When getting out of your car at the top of the driveway, you will instantly fall in love with the lake views. Absolutely beautiful. Inside the home you will find a formal living room with a gorgeous fireplace, master suite with 3/4 bath, 2 additional bedrooms, full bathroom, kitchen, large open dining room, a family room/den, and utility"


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Upcoming Google Allo Chat Themes Revealed: Here's What They Look Like
Chris Loterina, Tech Times 30 October 2016, 09:10 am
It is safe to say that Google has been pulling all the stops to push Google Allo to the top of the instant messaging pecking order. The company has consistently rolled out a series of updates to refine and, ultimately, make the app more popular since its release last September.
In this vein, a new update is coming our way that will see Google Allo supporting chat themes. How this new function will look in the app has been revealed in recently leaked images showing the themes in their full glory. To be fair, they do look awesome.
It is important to underscore that chat theme has been introduced in Allo's version 2.0. The update largely focused on the new split-screen and Quick Reply features. The chat themes functionality was also not mentioned in the update's change log.
At this point, a user with the latest version of Google Allo is only able to see a Monochrome theme in the General Settings menu. Tapping this option will not really do anything different to the chat interface because the Allo's default theme has almost similar color scheme.
9to5Google's Stephen Hall was able to get his hands on several chat themes, which included names like Moon, Sorbet and Clouds. The implementation is not really that different from those themes we see in rival instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Viber. One particular curiosity involves the possibility that the app will suggest that the user choose a theme when starting a conversation.
At this point, the chat themes could be one small feature that can help propel Google Allo to become one of the best messaging apps. It belongs to the apps that have 5 to 10 million downloads, which is still a far cry to the hundreds of millions of users of rival platforms such as Snapchat.
Unlike Duo, Google Allo is not going to be part of the core Google Mobile Services (GMS) component for OEMs using the Android OS. It will miss the opportunity for expansion that will come with being preinstalled in all Android devices, an advantage enjoyed by apps such as YouTube, Gmail and Chrome. So Google is working hard to ensure that the app excels in user engagement. It is certainly a tall order especially when the bulk of its target users are now deeply entrenched in other instant messaging platforms.
Tags: Google Google Allo Duo Hangouts
Google Launches 'Stranger Things' Sticker Pack For Allo And Scavenger Hunt To Find Barb For New York Users
Android 7.1 Nougat Update Will Bring Tons Of New Emojis To Enjoy
Google Allo Update 2.0 Brings Android 7.0 Nougat Features To The Table: Split-Screen, Quick Reply Support
Pixel And Pixel XL Camera Lens Flaring Problem And Halo Issue To Be Fixed With Software Update According To Google
Exclusive: Whilo Is The Social Network App For Gift Giving For Shopping For What People Love This Holiday Season


Jones has yet to practice this week after popping up on the injury report with a foot injury. While Jones certainly isn't a player who must get practice time in to play, back-to-back DNPs has us concerned. Jones has been relatively healthy this year, only being limited for a few weeks with a calf injury. Unfortunately, Jones' history of lower body injuries in previous years leaves him at a High Injury Risk. If Jones is out there, he's worth the start, but just know that his foot injury will affect his performance. Even a mild foot sprain comes with a 2 week Optimal Recovery Time.
Thomas had us all scared after he missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury, but his return to a full participant on Thursday suggests his absence was more of a rest day. Thomas likely tweaked his ankle against Dallas last Thursday, but he had 10 days to recover when he takes the field on Sunday. The Inside Injuries algorithm calculated just a 1 week Optimal Recovery Time for Thomas' twisted ankle, so he should be fine for Week 14.
This is a new one for Mixon, who had troubles with his knee earlier in the season. He popped up on the injury report on Wednesday with a foot injury and has been limited at practice all week. It's unlikely that Mixon sits out Week 14, but it's important to address his High Injury Risk. A mild foot injury still requires two weeks to fully heal, so he won't be 100% this weekend in LA. The Inside Injuries algorithm is calculating a Below Average HPF, suggesting Mixon's performance and effectiveness will be affected by his foot injury.
After getting in a full week of practice, Mitch Trubisky is scheduled to make his return this weekend against the Rams. He's missed the past two weeks with a shoulder sprain. Trubisky will have just reached his Optimal Recovery Time in time for Week 14 and has dropped to a Low Injury Risk. Unfortunately, his HPF remains Below Average. Throwing shoulder injuries are tough for quarterbacks to overcome, and lingering effects from the injury could affect Trubisky's performance over the next week or two.
Last week it was a groin injury that limited Hilton at practice and this week it's a shoulder injury. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which truly puts his Week 14 availability in question. Hilton was able to return to practice on Friday, suggesting he has a shot to play, but it's not looking promising. A mild shoulder sprain comes with a 1 week Optimal Recovery Time, so Hilton has a chance to play this weekend, but taking a week off would definitely benefit his overall health. Because of Hilton's trouble staying healthy this season, he's still a very High Injury Risk. His Poor HPF (our metric for measuring player performance), also means he would be a very risky fantasy option this week.
Despite successfully playing through his nagging knee injury last week, we still aren't convinced Stefon Diggs is ready to go for Week 14. He's remained limited in practice all week, which isn't a huge surprise, but it just proves the injury is still bothering him. He will be nearing in on his Optimal Recovery Time this weekend, but it won't be until Week 15 that he's out of the woods. Diggs remains a High Injury Risk as he plays this weekend, and his Below Average HPF makes him a risky fantasy option.
Carson has been participating in practice this week, though as a limited participant, which lends us to believe he will be out there on Monday despite suffering a dislocated finger last week. It's possible to play just a week after dislocating a finger as long as there were no fractures or ligament tears. Pain tolerance will be a major factor, but it's Carson's ability to secure the ball that suggests his fantasy value could drop this week, hence his Below Average HPF.
Doug Baldwin's season has already been riddled with injuries, and he just added another injury to the list on Thursday. The receiver missed practice on Thursday with a new hip injury. The Seahawks don't play until Monday this week, so it's possible his absence is more of a maintenance day, but Baldwin's durability is already a concern. He dealt with lingering knee injuries all season and was also limited with a groin injury as recently as last week. Baldwin hasn't been healthy all season, and he'll continue to be less than 100% until the season ends. Needless to say, he is an extremely High Injury Risk.
There isn't much concern about Watson's Week 14 availability, but this is still an important injury to monitor. Watson has dealt with various wear and tear injuries all season and has taken some exceptionally big hits. Also, any throwing shoulder injury for a quarterback is worth a second look. Watson was limited at practice on Wednesday, but returned as a full participant on Thursday. Still, Watson's Below Average HPF means the throwing shoulder injury could affect his performance this weekend. Even minor tweaks can affect a QB's throwing mechanics.
Follow Inside Injuries on Twitter for breaking news and updates on all of these players heading into week 14.


Woopiedoo! I have a post in today's O'Reilly SOLID blog (which is, among other things, promoting their SOLID conference in SF next month) about how the Internet of Things will transform manufacturing.
we will also be able to share that information, again, on a real-time basis, with everyone who could benefit from that information.
We're already starting to see signs of that transformation, with GE's Durathon battery factory (with 10,000 sensors on the assembly line plus others designed into the batteries themselves), SAP's Future Factory, and Siemens' Electronic Works factory. As the price, size and energy demands of sensors continues to plummet, the trend will accelerate.
"Designing sensors into products, rather than adding them on retroactively, will allow companies to identify defective products immediately, rather than waiting for post-production testing.
The built-in sensors will also allow companies to create new revenue streams. They will be able to sell customers real-time data on product operations that will allow the customers to optimize their use, and they may also choose, instead of selling the products, to lease them, with the price determined dynamically based on how much the product is actually used — take, for instance, jet turbines that are now priced on the basis of how many hours they actually operate.
The product design cycle will accelerate. Companies will be able to monitor a product's actual usage in the field, then implement more rapid upgrades.
The SOLID conference focuses on the convergence of hardware and software. It's about time the two are fully integrated, and the results will be incredible!


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Die Kleinbahn Bossel–Blankenstein war eine normalspurige Eisenbahnstrecke im südlichen Ruhrgebiet. Die nur 9,37 km lange Bahn verband durch das Hammertal die Bahnhöfe Bossel an der Bahnstrecke Hattingen–Wuppertal und Blankenstein an der Ruhrtalbahn und wurde im Zeitraum von 1909 bis 1912 erbaut.

Geschichte

Gründung

Die Eröffnung fand abschnittsweise statt:
 18. Oktober 1910: Blankenstein – Zeche Glückauf Barmen
 22. Juli 1911: bis Ibachsmühle
 7. Februar 1912: bis Bossel

Die Bahn diente in erster Linie dem Güterverkehr, besonders zum Transport der in der Gegend des Pleßbachs gewonnenen Bodenschätze Steinkohle und Sandstein. Der Streckenverlauf war der einer Gebirgsbahn mit Steigung von bis zu 2,5 %, 20 m tiefen Einschnitten und 15 m hohen Dämmen. Der noch vorhandene Sirrenbergtunnel mit einer Länge von 35 m gilt als einer der kürzesten in Deutschland. Der Höhenunterschied zwischen den beiden Endbahnhöfen beträgt 156 m.

Die Initiative zum Bau und Betrieb der Strecke ging von den umgebenden Gemeinden Nieder- und Obersprockhövel, Durchholz, Buchholz und Westerherbede aus und sollte die Kohlekrise zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts überwinden helfen, indem sie durch Verringerung der Transportkosten die in der Nähe abgebauten Kohle wieder konkurrenzfähig machte.

Angebunden wurden die Zechen Kleine Windmühle, Elisabethenglück, Tinsbank, Cleverbank bzw. Plessbach, Vereinigte Hammerthal und Harmonie an. Die Zeche Vereinigte Adolar hatte einen eigenen Gleisanschluss.

Der Betrieb der Bahn wurde von der Continentalen Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebs-Gesellschaft von Blankenstein ausgehend durchgeführt, wo sich ein umfangreicher Bahnhof und Werkstätten für die elf Eisenbahnwagen und die beiden eigenen Dampflokomotiven befanden.

Betriebsgesellschaft für die Kleinbahn Bossel-Blankenstein
Ab 1. April 1921 übernahm die Betriebsgesellschaft für die Kleinbahn Bossel-Blankenstein pachtweise die Anlagen, nachdem die Vorgängergesellschaft schon Ende 1920 die Verträge wegen mangelnder Gewinnaussichten gekündigt hatte.

Kleinbahn Bossel-Blankenstein GmbH
Am 1. September 1950 übertrug die aus den Gemeinden gebildete Kleinbahn Bossel-Blankenstein die Betriebsführung dem Provinzialverband Westfalen, dem späteren Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe.

Eisenbahngesellschaft Bossel-Blankenstein mbH
Seit etwa 1960 firmierte die Eigentümerin als Eisenbahngesellschaft Bossel-Blankenstein mbH.

Personenzüge befuhren die Strecke nicht planmäßig. Lediglich im Ersten und Zweiten Weltkrieg und danach (1914–1918/1939–1949) durften Bergleute die Bahn nutzen. 1914 wurden in umgerüsteten Güterwagen 72.744 Personen befördert.

Die wirtschaftliche Situation der Bahn war zunächst wider Erwarten gut. 1912 wurden 111.800 t Güter befördert, 1914 135.882 t. Es gab einen nichtöffentlichen Personenverkehr im Zugführerabteil, 7058 Personen wurden 1912 transportiert. Dann machte der Erste Weltkrieg die Hoffnungen zunichte, besonders seine Folgen, die Ruhrbesetzung und die Weltwirtschaftskrise. Erst die wirtschaftliche Scheinblüte während der Herrschaft des Nationalsozialismus sorgte für schwarze Zahlen in den Bilanzen. Mit dem Beginn des Zweiten Weltkriegs begann der Niedergang der Bahn, an dessen Ende sämtliche Betriebsgüter komplett heruntergewirtschaftet waren.

In der Zeit des Wirtschaftswunders wurde die Bahn wegen der Nähe zu den immer noch wichtigen Zechen wieder gebraucht und saniert. So konnten sämtliche Schienen und Bahnschwellen ausgetauscht werden. Weiterhin wurden die Dampflokomotiven durch Diesellokomotiven ersetzt. Dennoch ließ sich die Stilllegung nicht verhindern, als in den 1960er Jahren das Zechensterben begann und Teile der Trasse zum Bau der Bundesautobahn 43 benötigt wurden. 1964 wurde die letzte Zeche an der Strecke stillgelegt. Am 1. April 1968 wurde der gesamte Schienenverkehr eingestellt, nachdem schon ab 17. September 1966 zwischen Bossel und Durchholz keine Züge mehr gefahren waren.

Der Streckenverlauf ist heute zum Teil noch gut zu erkennen, selbst der Sirrenbergtunnel als einer der kürzesten Eisenbahntunnel Deutschlands ist noch vorhanden. Zu einem Bahntrassenradweg umgebaut, ist dort teilweise auch eine Nutzung als Wanderweg möglich.

Ende 2011 wurden die letzten Gleisteile aus dem Straßenbelag im Hammertal entfernt.

Die beiden 1910 von Orenstein & Koppel gebauten Dampfloks waren dreiachsig. 1954 wurde eine Diesellok bei Deutz und 1963 bei Jung (Typ R 30 C) gekauft. Die Deutzer Lok, die heutige D 52, wurde an die Ruhr-Lippe-Eisenbahn verkauft und ist inzwischen bei der Museumseisenbahn Hamm.

Literatur
 Rolf Swoboda: Die Bossel-Blankensteiner Kleinbahn. Neddermeyer, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-933254-00-0.
 Gerd Wolff, Lothar Riedel: Deutsche Klein- und Privatbahnen, Band 5: Nordrhein-Westfalen / Nordwestlicher Teil. EK-Verlag, Freiburg 1998, ISBN 3-88255-662-5.

Weblinks
 Bossel-Blankensteiner Eisenbahn
 Historische Karte mit Streckenführung
 Bossel-Blankensteiner Eisenbahn (Youtube)
 Bahnen-im-bergischen.de
 eisenbahn-EN.de

Einzelnachweise

Bossel
Verkehr (Sprockhövel)
Ehemaliges Unternehmen (Hattingen)
Ehemaliges Verkehrsunternehmen (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
Bossel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A four-day workshop on conservation and maintenance of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) and its related assets such as station buildings and tracks concluded at Elysia Buildings, the DHR headquarters in Kurseong, on Thursday.
Officials said the workshop was part of the preparation of the Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) for the toy train service, which was declared a world heritage by Unesco 19 years ago.
"The CCMP, which would be prepared by Unesco, is at its final stage of completion. Keeping it in mind, a technical workshop on its manuals and interactions with stakeholders were held in Kurseong from November 19 to November 22 in the presence of representatives of Unesco," said an official.
During the workshop, the Unesco representatives discussed the restoration, preservation and management of the DHR with the participants. Those present were railway officials, local community groups and technical experts.
The initiative to prepare a CCMP was taken about a year ago following an agreement that was signed between Union railway ministry and Unesco. The ministry is paying Rs 4.2 crore to Unesco for the plan.
Last year, the toy train service had suffered because of the shutdown and statehood agitation. The service remained shut for over three months. Two stations, Sonada and Gayabari, were torched in July last year. One of the floors of Elysia Building was also ransacked.
This year train services between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling have suffered because of recurring landslides.
"During the four-day programme, the representatives of Unesco visited the gutted Sonada station. In the CCMP there will be a manual for architectural conservation and renovation. This would be followed up to refurbish the structures of both Sonada and Gayabari, while keeping the heritage look unaltered," said the official.
During the workshop, the Unesco representatives apprised railway officials and local community groups on how the tracks should be maintained and conserved and their preparedness in case of any disaster.
"Once the CCMP is ready, we will follow its manuals in every case, right from conservation to repairing, so that the heritage property is conserved in the best-possible manner," a senior railway official said.
"That is why Unesco has been assigned to prepare it as they have experts in this field. The workshop was necessary as locals as well as our employees posted in DHR, right from NJP to Darjeeling, should know about the plan and the processes that should be adopted for conservation," said a senior railway official.


University of Alabama Chemistry Professor, Yank who pretends to understand footy, husband and father. These are my views. I need a nap.
Head marketer @spectrumreach. Co-founder of creative agency @Kernel_Est2014. Tweets are mine and mine alone.
Good doer trying to live my life to the fullest!


Crappie.com - America's Friendliest Crappie Fishing Community > STATE Forums > Missouri > Missouri Fishing > LOZ Gravios Arm fish kill?
View Full Version : LOZ Gravios Arm fish kill?
Does anyone know why there is a fish kill going on in the Gravios Arm? I have seen it throught a couple other coves but nothing is as bad as the Gravios Arm, there are fish just about in the back of every cover dead or barely breathing on their sides waffling around.
Not crappie but last week end we were finding dead catfish onthe trout line in the main channel at the 46mm, never had any problem before.
I've heard the thermocline is trying to set up my guess is there are a few fish trying to live below it and are suffering the consequences.
I just reread my post, man did I have some spelling errors... I expected it had something to do with the thermocline. I did not think the lake would turnover this time of the year. But with that being said I am not familiar with LOZ. I have had readings on and off over 90 degrees, most of the time the temp is around 88.
It has to be the culprit especially after the dead fish on a trotline,no big deal it happens every year.
I gotcha - I did see some floating fish starting to showup in workmens hollow and buck creek earlier today.


One thing I like about the clownfishes is that whenever you are looking at them through your dive mask, they will know it and they will come out of their seemingly comfortable anemone to check you out, literally. They make such good subject for taking pictures and I have tons of them using my G7X with Ikelite housing and this particular image always catch my eye whenever I browse through my pictures because of the composition and the position of the clownfish is just right in the center of the anemone. This was taken during my dive in Talima Marine Sanctuary, Cebu, Philippines with absolutely great water condition.
When we were just cruising around in the water depth of approximately 18 meter, I spotted my first bunch of striped catfishes and I was so excited that I finned my way quickly towards them. First wrong move, I scared them away and they dispersed right even before I can even compose my shot! Learning my lesson, I hang around the same spot for the school of striped catfishes to gather again and start gazing on the sand as a bunch. I approached slowly and was finally ready to click on my shutter button on my G7X, I breathed in then out.
Second wrong move, as bubbles gushed out of my regulator, the catfishes dispersed, again. I was indeed amazed at how sensitive the catfishes can be. I was definitely more than an arm's length away from them and I had to zoom in on them to compose my shot. Luckily, I was at the beginning of my dive and I still can afford to hang around again while waiting for them to gather again. This time, I was really careful and creep up to them as close as I can and held my breath while pressing on my shutter button repeatedly so that I would have more pictures to choose from.
After adjusting the image and a little cropping, I have finally found the picture I really like a lot. It's not bad for my first try of capturing the little striped catfishes that were no longer than my thumb. Thumbs up for G7X with Ikelite housing!
This is definitely my very first time having such close encounters with so many panda nudibranch while diving in one of the shipwreck in Coron, Palawan. It was a great experience to be encountering so much marine life in the water around and in the shipwreck, very interesting dive and the shipwreck dive is indeed popular and well-known in Coron, Palawan. I used G7X in Ikelite housing and used the nature light source for capturing this image of a big and elegant panda nudibranch.
The moment our boat leaves the port of Coron, Palawan, I realized just how calm can the open water be. Out in the sea, as our boat glides through the water for almost half an hour, I decided to pick up my camera and start composing my shot from the bow of the boat, the calm sea made it so easy for me to just stand on the bow of the boat without any fear of dropping myself and my precious camera into the water. It was indeed an absolutely great experiences for me to be able to capture the reflections of the sky on the open water out in the sea. Incredible!
Talking about serenity, I really enjoyed the whole morning I spent on the boat ride which was such a smooth one. Other than the cruise ships I have taken before, this is the next smoothest boat ride I have experienced and moreover, the boat we were on was just a small one. Overlooking one of the island we passed by, I composed my shot on it so that my horizon line can be broken with a prominent foreground. With the beautiful cloud formation, I made my shot and captured the image where I can look back in time.
So long you are a beach lover, you will find that Pass Island is a beautiful island and there is no doubt about it that you will love it there either! In fact, the thought of staying overnight on the island has actually crossed my mind. There are small cottages on the island that you can rent to stay overnight but there are so few cottages there that everyone who stays there for the night will have their own spaces leaving one another the tranquility that the island offers. We all loved the sun, sand and the sea with great sunny weather at Pass Island during our short stay there during our island hopping of the day. We were definitely very fortunate to have such a nice weather to be at Pass Island.
We did not expect that the Pass Island, which is not very well known to tourists, to be such a beauty with its tranquility in place! Surrounded by crystal clear and shallow water, this small island surprised us when we stopped by for our day of island hopping and almost immediately, we decided that we will stay at the Pass Island for our lunch and spend more time indulging ourselves in the sun, sand and the sea! The crystal clear water on the beach is so shallow that you can see right through the water to the sand below with the water at our waist level.
The water is so calm that it was definitely not easy resisting the temptations jumping into the water for a swim or snorkeling! You will never get tired of the white sandy beach and the crystal clear water glittering like thousands of diamonds right in your eyes. With the great weather, the Pass Island is definitely a beauty to visit and wonderful experiences will be expected.
The image below was made by me when I went into the water till knee deep and I knelt down into the water to get a closer composition of the crystal clear water with the rock formations far behind under the beautiful sunny weather.
As the pump boat cuts through the glittering blue water as we were making our way for our island hopping activities for the day, we took time to indulge ourselves in the gorgeous view of the beautiful rock formations that surrounded us. With such beautiful landscape in Coron, it's really hard to miss out the view. Throughout my boat rides, the only noise we can hear comes from the engine of the boat, surrounded by such tranquility, we took our turns to seat ourselves on the bow of the boat and get ourselves treated to the million dollar view of our lifetime.
I was looking for photography opportunities when I saw Elaine sitting on the bow of the boat immersing herself in the beautiful works of nature, that was a postcard picture I had wanted. With the combination of the gorgeously blue sea water and the clear blue sky, I took a shot of Elaine in her own wanderlust dreamland.


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Rescuers struggled to save lots of lives after a Russian strike destroyed a Dnipro condo constructing
January 14, 2023 at 6:38 p.m. EST
Rescuers work to free victims from the rubble of a residential condo complicated that was hit by Russian forces in Dnipro, Ukraine, on January 14, 2023. (Wojciech Grzedzinski for The Washington Publish)
Touch upon this story
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Two hours after a Russian missile slammed right into a Ukrainian condo complicated on Saturday, stunning town that has served as a comparatively protected haven for the warfare's displaced, rescue staff digging by means of rubble noticed a sudden motion from above.
On the eighth flooring, they might see the arm of a bloodied aged girl, so buried in particles she may barely transfer, waving a bit of pink material. Beneath her, dozens of flats had collapsed, swallowing residents into some 30 toes of rubble.
From contained in the broken constructing, she was in some way alive — and calling for assist.
Russia's blatant assault on civilians right here — the worst to strike this metropolis since Russia invaded Ukraine final February — got here simply days after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed his most senior navy officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, as the brand new overseer of his relentless warfare in Ukraine.
The strike, which coincided with the Orthodox New 12 months, served as a grim message that Putin's shut confidant is more likely to proceed the violent missile strikes on civilian targets which have turn into an indicator of Russia's assault. The bombing, one in all a wave of assaults Saturday throughout Ukraine, might have destroyed as many as 30 flats within the sprawling complicated, mentioned Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky who shared a video of the destruction.
Residents have been trapped as flames engulfed a part of the construction, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president's workplace, mentioned on Telegram.
At the least 12 folks died within the condo constructing Saturday and dozens of others have been wounded. At dusk, about 20 folks had been rescued, he mentioned. Many extra are believed to be buried within the ruins. . As town neared its midnight curfew, canines carrying specialised sneakers to guard them from accidents have been scaling the mound of particles, sniffing for survivors. Off to the aspect, the useless lay on the bottom in white luggage, pink and white tape wrapped round them.
The dwelling, lots of of them, appeared out of the darkness, as they do in so many Ukrainian cities on so many nights, to scrub up and hand out meals and sizzling drinks.
Whereas Russian missiles struck different Ukrainian cities on Saturday, none prompted something near the dimensions of injury in Dnipro. The assault got here as an distinctive shock right here as a result of it's been one thing of a refuge. Many displaced folks, from locations such because the Russian-occupied metropolis of Mariupol or the entrance line areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, have relocated right here searching for security and normalcy.
"We don't have any safe spaces in Ukraine anymore," mentioned Maksym Chornyi, 32, who volunteered to assist rescue folks on the scene. "It needs to be clear to Europe as well, because these rockets can land there too."
He was at residence on the opposite aspect of Dnipro on Saturday afternoon when he heard the assault — so highly effective it despatched a shock wave by means of a lot of town.
He rushed to the scene, the place he climbed by means of the wreckage to seek for survivors with nothing greater than a face masks to guard him from the smoke billowing by means of the air. After a number of hours, rescue staff requested him and different volunteers to maneuver again so they might carry heavy equipment into the realm to maintain digging. He stepped away, his face darkish with soot.
What he witnessed contained in the wreckage was nightmarish.
At one level, he heard screaming and thought it was coming from under. Then he realized it was the lady trapped on the eighth flooring, who instructed rescuers her identify was Lyuba. Later, he regarded up and realized a useless man was hanging off the opposite aspect of the constructing — his intestines ripped out of his physique.
Simply close by, "there was blood streaked down the wall," Chornyi mentioned. "I feel horrible."
Simply earlier than 8 p.m., rescue staff lastly dug Lyuba out of the stays of her residence and slowly lowered her to the bottom in a yellow stretcher. She lay silently as they wrapped her in a foil blanket.
One of many staff who carried her down blew her a kiss and leaned over her. "I promised I was going to save you and I did," he mentioned. "Everything is going to be ok."
Then they whisked her away in an ambulance.
One of many Ukrainian Pink Cross medics who helped carry her to security mentioned she believed each her legs have been damaged. Her face was lined in blood.
When requested what message she would need to ship the world after this assault, the medic, who recognized herself solely as Natalya, 36, didn't hesitate.
"Stop Russia," she mentioned.
Nadya Yaroshenko's son Rostyslav, who's 12, was residence alone of their third-floor condo when the missile struck. He referred to as his mother in a panic, asking how he may flee, she recalled.
"'There are no stairs,'" he instructed her. With a lot of the constructing destroyed, he crawled towards the elevator and waited for assist, she mentioned.
Her associates pushed previous first responders, screaming that there was a toddler trapped inside. Then one scaled the constructing and carried him out by means of a window, unhurt.
Hours later, the household was nonetheless ready for any signal of their lacking cat and canine.
Then her neighbor, Andriy Filkovich referred to as with excellent news. "Nadya, the dog is next to me with her savior. Where are you?" he mentioned.
Russian missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities; Britain to ship battle tanks
A firefighter handed the shaking dachshund, named Cola, again to Yaroshenko, who wrapped her in her arms. "You were so scared," she cooed. "Don't be scared."
Their cat, Bilyash, whose blue and yellow eyes match the Ukrainian flag, was nonetheless lacking.
Struggle in Ukraine: What it is advisable know
The newest: Russia claimed Friday to have seized management of Soledar, a closely contested salt-mining city in japanese Ukraine the place combating has raged in current days, however a Ukrainian navy official maintained that the battle was not but over.
Russia's Gamble: The Publish examined the street to warfare in Ukraine, and Western efforts to unite to thwart the Kremlin's plans, by means of in depth interviews with greater than three dozen senior U.S., Ukrainian, European and NATO officers.
Pictures: Washington Publish photographers have been on the bottom from the start of the warfare — right here's a few of their strongest work.
How one can assist: Listed below are methods these within the U.S. can assist the Ukrainian folks in addition to what folks all over the world have been donating.
Learn our full protection of the Russia-Ukraine warfare. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and unique video.
Understanding the Russia-Ukraine battle
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Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry turns 45 today. Mahima has worked in many Bollywood films as lead as well as supporting actress. When Mahima Chaudhry made her debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 1997 with Pardes, everyone thought that the actress is ready to create magic on the silver screen. But as time passed, the actress started working less in films and later vanished from the film industry.
So, on the occasion of Mahima's birthday, let's take a look at some of the unknown facts about forgotten star.
Mahima Chaudhry was born on January 13, 1973. Mahima Chaudhry's real name is Ritu Chaudhry.
Mahima Chaudhry started her career as a VJ. After gaining much popularity as a VJ, Mahima appeared in a super hit Pepsi ad with Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
It's hard to believe but Mahima had given 3000 auditions before she got selected for her debut film, Pardes (1997). Apart from that, Mahima worked in popular films like Daag: The Fire, Dil Kya Kare, Dhadkan and so on.
Many people don't know that Mahima Chaudhry's name was reportedly changed by Subhash Ghai. The superstitious director always wanted to cast actresses whose name start with 'M' like Madhuri Dixit, Meenakshi Sheshadri and Manisha Koirala.
Reportedly, Mahima was in a relationship with Tennis player Leander Paes. However, they broke up with each other.
After break up, Mahima explained the reason of break up by saying that Leander was having an affair with Sanjay Dutt's ex-wife model, Rhea Pillai.
Sadly, Mahima considers that she lost her valuable years of work just because of being in a relationship.
Later, Mahima got married to her best friend's brother, Bobby Mukherjee in 2006.
The duo has an 8-year-old daughter, Ariana, however, they got divorced in 2013.
Apart from failure in relationship, Mahima was also in news in 2015 for allegedly having a Swiss bank account.


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CaribVenture is a partnership between the CSF, CADSTI and well-known technology investors, executives and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Through CaribVenture, the CSF intends to help foster an entrepreneurial culture in the Caribbean and facilitate the launch and growth of technology-based start-up Caribbean businesses by providing:
Opportunities to receive initial seed funding.
Access to advisors and mentors including researchers, academics, industry experts and successful entrepreneurs and executives who have created and/or managed successful, globally competitive technology businesses.
Exposure to angel investors and technology venture capital firms.
Access to decision makers both inside and outside the Region who can help provide introductions and access to markets, customers and potential strategic partners.
Annual seed funding on a competitive basis of up to US$ 100K each to 2 technology businesses that have the potential to be globally competitive and to scale to annual revenues of about US$ 50M in about 5 to 7 years.
Exposure to opportunities for potential Series A venture capital funding.
Start-up businesses will be identified through the CaribVenture Start-Up Challenge, a business plan competition for individuals or teams based in the Caribbean who have a technology-based business model, a motivated and entrepreneurial founding team, a realistic go-to-market strategy with a feasible work plan and timeline, and the potential for scaling to annual revenues of at least US$100M within 5 years. Targeted companies include those that have partnerships with businesses or industry experts outside of the Caribbean, and founding members who are based in the Diaspora. The startup businesses, however, must be registered in the Caribbean, have a plan for regionally generated intellectual property through Caribbean based research and development activities, and must have the potential to create hundreds of jobs in the Region.
Preferred will be Caribbean-based technology and technology-enabled entities with business models focusing primarily on serving regional and international markets, not just local market opportunities. These companies must show the potential to create new economic growth sectors and strengthen the economies of Caribbean countries by providing opportunities for high levels of employment (including a significant percentage of knowledge-based workers). Preference will be given to businesses that are either led by entrepreneurs with a track record of success and credible management teams, or entrepreneurs and management teams that are open to guidance, direction and mentorship from CaribVenture and its network of advisors.
Winners of the CaribVenture Start-Up Challenge will incubate at a new CaribVenture Innovation and Impact Center, to be based in the Caribbean, where on-site mentorship and guidance for the start-up leadership team will be available 24/7 from an Entrepreneur-In-Residence. The plan is for CaribVenture to make investments primarily in angel seed rounds, but with the flexibility to participate in Series A rounds. Assuming an initial 3-year period with a target investment of US$ 100K in each of 2 businesses every year, and assuming an average "hold back" of US$ 100K for potential follow on investment in each company, then over the next 3 years, CaribVenture could provide about US$ 1.2M in seed funding to 6 high potential start-up ventures.
To raise these funds (US$ 1.2M initially), CaribVenture will be seeking investments from high net worth individuals, international and Diaspora organizations, regional companies and regional governments, and co-investments by partners, and others. Further investments could come from multi-national businesses which would co-invest in any of the companies that appear to be a strategic fit for them. The aim is also to set up strategic VC relationships with international VC firms which would agree to review these companies within the first year of funding by CaribVenture, as potential opportunities for Series A investment.
CaribVenture will be managed by a combination of technology and investment professionals with proven experience investing in, creating, developing, and/or managing technology businesses (perhaps within the VC firm). All money raised will be invested directly in the startup businesses. No management fees will be charged. The longer term goal is that 1 or 2 of these companies will achieve a level of success that would allow CaribVenture to be able to raise a US$ 20M – 30M venture fund at the end of the initial 3-year period.
CaribVenture Makes its First Investment
CaribVenture published a request for proposals to participate in the ITCity consortium in the fall of 2016. The competition was open only to Barbados companies. The ITCity project is aimed at responding to the citizens' needs for new information technology applications of various energy technologies usage, integrated in an intelligent way at the City level. The general expected results are based on the design of an intelligent ICT platform that will promote energy efficiency initiatives in cities and municipalities, will contribute to urban planning and environmental lifestyle, will take part in active power management of energy consumption, and will support energy end users who become active market players.
AES Energy Award.JPGThe winner was AES Energy systems, and the grant award of 20,000 Euros was made in February of 2017. The photo shows Kevin Devonish (right) of AES Energy Systems receiving the award for Professor Cardinal Warde (left) of the Caribbean Science Foundation, with Lois Oliver looking on.


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Australia Award Scholarships For International Students
November 2, 2022 April 14, 2022 by Henry
International students who want to study in Australia can apply for the Australia Awards Scholarships. The scholarships are open to students from all countries, and they cover a wide range of courses at different levels of education.
The world has entered a post-crisis period, where citizens are deeply concerned about climate change and sustainable development. Against this backdrop, globalization has received increased attention from policymakers, as it can enhance international collaboration and alleviate problems related to poverty and inequality.
Globalization can help to transform our global societies by supporting economic growth, facilitating the integration of domestic policies and economies, promoting more open markets, enhancing the cross-border exchange of goods and services, promoting international co-operation and enabling policy dialogue, therefore the need to help those in the developing country get quality education.
Australia has been one of the top countries for international students and most international students from developing countries cannot afford to handle their tuition bills hence the need for the Australian scholarship which helps in providing funds to assist them to complete their studies in Australia. The scholarships provided by Australia Government will be used for undergraduates and postgraduate study purposes. This research attempts to assess the impact of the Australia Award Scholarship program on overseas students'
To provide evidence for this research, two research methods were employed; quantitative and qualitative methods. The qualitative method involved interviewing ten OIS scholars who completed their study in Australia between 2008 and 2013. Data was collected by utilizing three key questions:
1) what have been the barriers that you faced when coming to Australia?
Lewis-Clark State College Out-of-State Scholarship is for Top Students Like You
2) What do you feel that Australian higher education providers could have done better?
3) How can Australian higher education providers be supported to increase international student enrollments?
Results showed that over 90% of OIS scholars indicated that they would recommend Australia as a study destination. Based on these results, suggestions were made on how Australian higher education providers can be supported to increase international student enrollments.
This research made several recommendations. It is also recommended that further research should be conducted on this subject matter.
List Of Australian Scholarship Scheme
The Leo Howard Memorial Bursary Scholarship at the University of Queensland
Aiming to give full support to talented international students who show a commitment to community service, this bursary provides financial assistance for undergraduate study at the University of Queensland.
Value: AUS$ 7,000 (full amount); Duration: 3 years; Description: Offered by the Leo Howard Memorial Trust.
ANU Chancellor's International Scholarships, Australia
These scholarships are available to applicants from all around the world, but priority will be given to ANU students from China, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, etc.
In addition to receiving an undergraduate scholarship, successful applicants may also be offered an award for graduate study or a master's or doctoral degree at ANU.
RMIT University Ph.D. Scholarship in Upcycled Textile Waste Used as Construction Material in Concrete Application, Australia
With more than 120 different undergraduate programs available at RMIT, there are countless options for future study and many different careers are possible after graduating from RMIT. These scholarships provide partial tuition fees and some living expenses for those studying a Ph .D. in one of RMIT's internationally recognized postgraduate research programs.
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List Of Scholarships In Australia
There are a lot of Australian universities which offer students some sort of scholarship and these can vary greatly. The availability of scholarships in Australia is at a relatively high level, due to the country's system of having public universities funded by the government. However, there are also private universities that charge tuition fees for their students, but it's up to them whether they give any scholarship or not.
It's hard to generalize because each university has its own policy and so there's no set rule for how many scholarships they provide for their students. There are, however, a few major factors that determine whether or not you get a scholarship from an Australian university. Firstly, if you have good grades in your final year of high school then you will probably get a scholarship from an Australian university.
International students have been having the split opinion of which is a better country to study in between Canada and Australia however, they are both great places to study in. However, do not expect it from all universities as they might require good grades in your earlier years as well. Another major factor is that if you have been offered a job by the time you apply for your studies, then chances are that you won't get a scholarship from an Australian university.
Finally, if you want to study at a particular university and there are not enough spaces available for your chosen degree then there's no guarantee that you will get a scholarship from them. All scholarships can be funded through student loans but most students who receive scholarships have their expenses paid by the university itself. However, most scholarships don't come with any assistance with tuition fees.
The University Of Ottawa Scholarship for Winners
Griffith University Scholarships
Some of the scholarships are fully funded and others are partly funded. They are meant for undergraduates, postgraduates, and post-doctoral studies. This scholarship scheme is for international students who are to undergo a full-time course at Griffith University.
Deakin University Scholarships
The Deakin University Scholarships is proposed for postgraduate studies alone and is aimed at awarding the scholarship to international students that have shown academic excellence in their bachelor's degree. The scholarship award is rated at $28,600 per annum, and a relocation allowance from $500 to $1,500, and also taking care of the health insurance.
Deakin Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship
This is for both undergraduates and postgraduates, the scholarship will cover all your tuition or half of it.
Melbourne Research Scholarships
The Melbourne Research Scholarships is a fully-funded scholarship scheme for international students giving approximately 600 scholarships available for Masters and doctoral research studies. The scholarship covers the living expenses of $31,200 per year, Full fee offset, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership, Relocation grant, and many other benefits.
Charles Darwin University Scholarships
There are different types of scholarships that Charles Darwin University offers. There are two types of scholarships that are fully funded, and four types that are partially funded – they cover up to half of the tuition fees.
Categories Scholarships Tags Awards, Health Scholarships, International Scholarships, International Students
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