text:
Red Cross donor celebrates 'Grand Slam' donation milestone, encourages others to help save lives
Jonesboro, Ark. — A baseball player stepping up to the plate understands the significance of a grand slam. With bases loaded, the pressure to be the team's hero rests on the batter's shoulders. American Red Cross platelet donor Shaun Brennan didn't have to wield a bat to become a hero and hit his grand slam. He simply rolled up a sleeve in the hopes of helping save lives.
Brennan dedicated his Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays, the grand slam of donations, to giving platelets to help patients the Red Cross serves. On Jan. 1, 2014, the beginning of National Blood Donor Month, Brennan marked his 332nd donation.
"Saving lives through donating is very important to me," Brennan said. "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if my blood has been received by patients living on all seven continents across the world. The need for blood is worldwide."
Brennan may have a better understanding of that need than most. He's worked at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for nearly 15 years. Some of his 332 donations have even been transfused to patients his employer serves. Blood products are often used by patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments and those with chronic illnesses.
"It's amazing, because St. Jude is a special place to work," he said. "I know that at one point I was a primary donor for a 17-year-old leukemia patient. He had a number of bone marrow transplants and was on dialysis. It just so happened that my platelets were a great match for him. It was amazing to learn that 15 of my donations were making a difference in his life."
Throughout the years, Brennan has donated to a variety of hospitals and blood banks. He began donating to the Red Cross because of its wide reach and its mission to serve patients whenever and wherever they might need blood. But it wasn't without effort and commitment. For each donation, he travels 170 miles round trip, between Memphis and the Jonesboro Blood Donation Center.
"It's the easiest 170 miles I ever drive. And it's not about finding time to do this, it's about making time for it," he said. "When it comes to helping save lives, there's nothing more important than that."
Brennan sees himself not only as a dedicated donor, but an advocate for the process. He uses his Facebook page to consistently update friends, co-workers and the community about his donation experiences, hoping to recruit others to help out.
"The statistics show that about 40 percent of people are eligible to donate blood, but only a fraction of them donate," Brennan said. "I'm just one person, and I've been able to contribute what I have. But no matter what I do individually, it's not nearly as powerful as what we could do collectively."
And his outreach is having an impact. Comments on his Facebook page include those like the one posted by a senior director of St. Jude that reads, "I talked to someone today who has decided to donate blood for the first time EVER because they were inspired by you! That's pretty cool!"
The chief administrative officer also chimed in regarding Brennan's efforts emailing, "This is wonderful, Shaun. How special you are to the world."
"Inspiring others to give means the world to me," Brennan said. "I look at this as a three-part approach: donating the blood, sharing my experiences and promoting the benefits."
And the benefits, Brennan said, outweigh any perceived inconvenience.
"A lot of people talk about how they don't have time, don't like needles or don't like blood. I'm a busy guy. I don't really like needles, and I don't really like blood," he said. "But I overlook that, because the bigger picture is about the person I'm helping, the life I could be saving. When you add it all up, there's no comparison."
Another misconception, Brennan said, is that donating somehow keeps people from being involved in the activities they love.
"I'm an avid runner. I run daily, and even on days where I've donated platelets I have been able to go for a run afterwards. I haven't taken a sick day in 28 years. I play on the hospital sports team," he said. "Donating doesn't prevent me from doing a single activity I want to be involved in."
Perhaps his biggest endeavor now is encouraging others to get involved.
"I don't see why anyone who could donate wouldn't. So many of us dream of being heroes or making a difference, and you can do that by becoming a blood donor."
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.


My family eats here regularly, and I have never gotten sick. They have many tasty food choices on their gluten free menu and a dedicated prep area to avoid cross contamination. Celiac friendly and the managers and staff have always been accommodating. Highly recommended!!!
Staff seemed knowledgeable and the gluten free menu was posted right at the counter you order. Fantastic!
They had no ribs, and there wasn't much else on the menu.
Gluten free daughter had pulled pork & bake beans, delicious and plentiful for sure!!! The staff was nice and helpful.
They have a separate gluten free menu. Staff were knowledgeable. The ribs and the baked beans were fabulous. Service was great. All of their BBQ sauce is GF except for the teriyaki.
Shane's has always been a good option and chain to go to when we are traveling. My salad was good and came out GF and I had no issues. But wish I could give this Shane's a 3.5 stars for its service and cleanliness. Service was terrible - I think only one staff member cared about her place of employment (she was cleaning, picking up and talking to customers), the rest were just useless in my mind. Just stood there and acted as if you were bothering them to give your order. This was by far the dirtiest Shane's I have ever been too. Corporate you need to come check this branch out. I will avoid this one in the future and only return as a last resort.
I verified that everything I ordered was part of the gluten free menu and stressed the "no toast" but spent the entire night sick. I haven't had a reaction this bad for a long time, so it could have been more than just gluten.
I've eaten at three different Shane's and have never had any issues. GF menu is readily available; simply tell the cashier it's a GF order and it goes right into the computer, thereby eliminating the bread from the plate. Shane's is my go-to place for BBQ!
Great food! They have a separate gluten free menu that shows options on the main menu but clearly lists what is gluten free. Cashier designated as gluten free in the register and went back and told cooks of my gluten allergy. Brought my food out separate to ensure no cross contamination. Only downside was my husbands food took longer to come out but I believe it took longer because he ordered grilled chicken tenders. Great quick serve restaurant that is definitely cautious about food being gluten free. Seems to be celiac friendly...I felt comfortable eating here because of the above mentioned things. It has been almost 24 hours and no signs of eating gluten for me.
The staff who served me knew nothing about GF he served Texas toast with my meal.
The hamburger patties and pulled pork are good but everything comes with bread, so, if you're celiac, I wouldn't recommend.
Excellent gluten free ribs. Ordered the half slab and two side salads. They made special note on my tab and got it right.
Gluten free menu. Staff was knowledgeable. Great experience.
Great BBQ and service. GF menu, limited, but filling. Have had pulled pork, coleslaw, and baked beans probably 15 times for lunch and have never been sick. Just to be safe, I tell them no toast even though they have a button on the register for GF.
Went on a recommendation from our hotel. Reviews were promising. Shane's knew all about gluten. I felt comfortable eating here. The food was great!! I highly recommend it! I didn't get sick.
Friendly staff, delicious food. Waitress had never had a celiac order before but the kitchen knew what to do. Second time here and the cashier assured me my food would be made separate from the glutens and even came to our table to check on me several times. So friendly, so wonderful.
Friendly staff went above and beyond to accommodate our son with Celiac. Meats and GF along with several sides and sauces. Food was excellent!
Good pulled pork but this location did not have gluten-free buns.
Let them know you are gluten free. They put it into register and also go back to confirm with the kitchen. They bring food out separately. I've never had an issue and food is delicious! Now, if they would just dedicate a fryer!
I loved the chopped barbecue chicken, baked beans, and coleslaw. The staff seemed knowledgeable. They were quick and efficient. I will definitely return! No problems after eating there.
ate there several times now with no issues. They told me the BBQ sauces are gluten free. I only ate BBQ meat and slaw, so not sure on fries, ect. No gluten free buns but I don't like my BBQ on bread anyway. Very good BBQ place!
Gluten Free pork, ribs, chicken, salad, baked beans, greens beans and slaw. Spoke with manager seemed knowledgeable.
Shane's Rib Shack has a great gluten free menu. I ordered ribs, pulled pork, and BBQ beans. Very delicious!!
Staff isn't knowledgeable regarding dietary requirements. Food is mishandled and I get sick every time.
Eaten here several times with no issue. Good gf menu. Accommodating and knowledgeable.
they have a gluten free menu I let them know I was ordering gluten free and had celiac. I've been to another shanes before and did fine but unfortunately I reacted from this location.
Shane's was able to accommodate our very large party with fast, efficient, polite service. The gluten free options for my son were excellent. Great find!
good food and great prices.
Reliable and they seem to care. Would love a GF fryer for the fries!
I have Celiac and they have a GF menu. Remind them no bread!! They mark GF on your ticket. Have eaten there several times with no issues at all! I order pulled pork, baked beans, and coke slaw!
They have a gluten free menu and even list their gluten free sauces (yummy). Notified them of allergy when ordering, they red flagged it for kitchen and confirmed when they brought to table. No issues here!
The servers are very knowledgeable and the food is delicious.
So good and I never get sick. Just make sure you reiterate no texas toast, fried onions, etc.
amazing, I never thought I'd be able to eat out at what is essentially a fast food restaurant! The food was good, service was quick, the price was great, and there was no getting sick!
BBQ Salad is wonderful. I have eaten here many times and have never had an issue.
Excellent service. Great options. Order taker was knowledgeable.
This is a great place for BBQ. Ask for the GF menu and you order at the counter. Tell them about Celiac. They change gloves etc. The owner/manager is Kirk and he is very nice and approachable. We will be back when in the area.
Great food with knowledge staff. Separate gluten free menu. Servings are large. Be prepared to share or take some home.
Great BBQ lots of options!!
I've been there many times. I tell them I have cd and they change there gloves. I've had a couple of times when food came out with bread. I only go during the week.
I love Shane's! I have never gotten sick here and if you tell them you have a gluten allergy they will make sure to change their gloves and leave the bread off your plate.
Meh. I asked for the GF menu. Ordered off the GF menu and even said 'gluten free' as I ordered... Still came with Texas Toast on both mine and my hubby's order. I sent mine back. Hubby is GF because it is a smart thing to be... I'm GF because I get SICK. Waitress was nice and apologized. (We ordered at a counter so it's not like the waitress screwed up, it was the either the person entering the order or the one making it up.) Both our side salads came without the croutons (yay!) but hubby had a chicken tender chunk buried in the lettuce. Food was fine, but not impressed with the care taken in entering our orders.
It's challenging to find a GF BBQ place, much less one that serves really good BBQ, so I was delighted to find Shane's Rib Shack while staying in Atlanta. This was my second visit to Shane's, but first to this location. My earlier visit was to the location over near Perimeter Mall. My meal was a two-meat plate and I selected ribs and half a chicken with beans and cole slaw as sides. The cashier provided me with a GF menu and assisted me with my selection. The ribs were nice and tender and easy to remove from the bone with a plastic fork. The chicken was also excellent, although a knife comes in handy. Both the ribs and chicken had what I'd call just enough smoke without making the smoke the star. There are four different BBQ sauces; I tried the Mustard and Tangy and actually found that combining the two gave me the flavors I like best in BBQ. I will normally have issues when I've had contaminated food in about 72 hours that last for two weeks or longer, but I didn't experience any problems on my first visit nor on this second at a different location. For BBQ lovers I highly recommend Shane's as the place to go!


This page provides information for those considering recruitment to the Hutt Valley DHB's NETP programme and those within the DHB who need access to information regarding new graduates and the NETP programme.
Hutt Valley DHB currently recruits nursing graduates who have completed and passed their New Zealand state final examinations, from around New Zealand.
Hutt Valley DHB offers a 12 month programme with a fixed term contract in one clinical area at a minimum of 0.8 FTE as negotiated with the employer. A postgraduate paper is integrated into the programme and is delivered by The Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Victoria University.
In the past graduates have been employed in Medical, General Surgery & Gynaecology, Burns & Plastics, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Special Care Baby Unit, Theatres, Older Persons & Rehabilitation Services, Emergency Department, Medical Assessment & Planning Unit and District Nursing. Graduate nurses have also been employed in Aged Residential Care and Primary Health.
Either be a New Zealand Citizen, Australian Citizen or hold a Permanent Resident Visa (or Returning Resident Visa).
Be in the final year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) leading to registration as a registered nurse or be awarded a Bachelor of Nursing degree approved by the NCNZ leading to registration as a registered nurse, no longer than 24 months before starting on a NETP/NESP programme.
You must have completed your Bachelor of Nursing degree in New Zealand and have passed your state final exam no more than 2 years prior to starting on a NETP/NESP programme. You therefore have up to four opportunities to apply via ACE provided you still meet all eligibility criterions each time you apply.
You must not have practiced as a New Zealand registered nurse continuously (full time, 0.8 FTE or more) for longer than six months before starting on the NETP/NESP programme.
Applications are currently open for the August 2019 NETP intake. Applications close 7th May 2019.
This NETP programme is Nursing Council of New Zealand accredited and accommodates new graduates within hospital, aged care and primary health care settings.
The aim of the NETP programme is to provide graduate Registered Nurses support and professional development to facilitate their transition during their first year of practice.
On completion of the NETP year, nursing graduates will meet competencies and standards of practice at "competent" level on the Hutt Valley DHB Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) which is consistent with the Nursing Council of New Zealand requirements for registered nurses.
Clinical Nurse Educators, Preceptors, Nurse Specialists, Clinical Nurse Managers, Afterhours Managers and other nursing staff to complete this programme.


In the first week Lapdog revealed she is gender fluid. But that seems to be the only thing she knows for sure. While she has undoubtedly excellent people skills, she has no idea how she does it. All she knows is that everyone she encounters loves her and would do anything for her. In the last week she had an identity crisis when the contestants were asked whether or not they enjoyed the outdoors. As a dog she would love to romp around the garden, but as a Dede it is prudent to stay inside. She hasn't made her mind up yet.
Milky Bar Devil always wants to do the right thing and he has been studying hard to fulfil his parents' expectations. However, in the first week of the competition he finally realised he did not want to take over the family business. Truth to be told, he is a caring guy and loves to bake, particularly hamburger buns. But no matter how good his intentions, people are always suspicious of him.
Once again, if you like this post, each of the contestants will get one point and if you comment on one of the Dedes, they will get an extra 5 points.


U.S. anti-snoring devices market held the largest revenue share in 2017 due to high awareness among patients regarding deleterious effects of snoring. According to American Sleep Foundation, in 2017, over 90 million Americans were affected with some or the other respiratory disease leading to snoring. Increasing prevalence of snoring, high healthcare expenditure and presence of major industry players will further accelerate the U.S. anti-snoring devices market growth.
Indian anti-snoring devices market is estimated to witness robust growth throughout the analysis period due to availability of large pool of untreated people. Growing geriatric population base, rising prevalence of obesity, increasing disposable income and inclination of people towards technologically advanced treatments will fuel the demand for anti-snoring devices.
Some of the notable players in the anti-snoring devices market include Apnea Sciences Corporation, Somnomed, Airway Management, Theravent, Tomed, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pure Sleep Company, Meditas, Resmed, Fisher & Paykel, Medtronic and Philips Healthcare. Key strategies adopted by the industry players include new product launches, strategic acquisitions, partnerships and mergers to expand their business product portfolio. For instance, Tomed launched SomnoBelt, an anti-snoring chest strap that prevents supine position during sleep and disables snoring by providing correct sleeping position at night.


MDS of Sydenham, South London are continuing a nice little promotion on the Ideal Logic 24KW combination boiler. The Ideal Logic is a firm favourite with the professional installer and we are selling this package for only £572 including VAT. Included in this deal is a 24KW Ideal logic combi with flue, clock, filling loop and VAT. The Logic combi boiler is one of the more popular Ideal boilers and a 24KW unit is suitable for a flat or smaller house. The significant savings on this current model will run whilst stocks last. Call the MDS sales team on 020 8778 2887 or just drop into the trade counter.
Where can i buy a Worcester boiler in London ?


text:
Refugee stranded for weeks at Turkish airport fears 'imminent deportation': Amnesty
Rights group says Palestinian refugee from Syria has no access to adequate food, natural light or fresh air
The international departures hall of Istanbul Airport on 6 April 2019 (AFP/File photo)
MEE staff
Published date: 8 July 2019 21:27 UTC | Last update: 3 years 6 months ago
A Palestinian refugee from Syria has been stranded at Istanbul Airport in Turkey for more than six weeks and is "at risk of imminent deportation", Amnesty International reported.
Mohamed Ajlani Younes has been living in the airport with no access to adequate food, natural light or fresh air since 26 May, the rights group said in a statement on Monday.
"Mohamed has nowhere to sleep or bathe and has been surviving on cheese sandwiches, water and fruit juice, and the situation is adversely affecting his health," said Adriana Tidona, a migration researcher at Amnesty International, said in the statement.
"As thousands of passengers stream through Istanbul's new airport terminal, all Mohamed Ajlani Younes can do is watch and wait," she said.
'Mohamed has nowhere to sleep or bathe and has been surviving on cheese sandwiches, water and fruit juice, and the situation is adversely affecting his health'
- Adriana Tidona, Amnesty International
Younes fled the Syrian civil war in 2012, moving with his family to a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
He then left Lebanon out of fear that the government would send him back to Syria.
"He is at risk of imminent deportation to Lebanon which would put him in danger of being sent to Syria, where he would be at risk of serious human rights violations," said Tidona.
Younes was stopped at the airport and denied entry into Turkey for allegedly travelling with a fake passport, Amnesty said. He then applied for asylum.
Turkey's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to Middle East Eye's request for comment on Monday.
The rights group said that while Younes's application for asylum in Turkey has yet to be ruled on and there is no deportation order against him, there have been two attempts to send him back to Lebanon.
Amnesty called on the Turkish authorities to immediately "allow [Younes] to enter Turkey and access the support to which he is entitled as an asylum seeker".
Anti-refugee sentiment
The report comes amid heightened anti-refugee sentiment in both Turkey and Lebanon, each of which hosts a large number of Syrian refugees.
Last month, Amnesty International detailed "escalating hostility" towards Syrian refugees in Lebanon in particular.
The group said that the Lebanese authorities have been arranging for refugees to return to Syria since July 2018.
While the Lebanese government has said the returns have been voluntary, Amnesty said that refugees are being "pushed back to Syria through a combination of restrictive government policies, dire humanitarian conditions and rampant discrimination".
Anti-Syrian refugee sentiment ramps up in increasingly hostile Lebanon
Last month, around 700 Syrian refugees were forced to flee Deir al-Ahmar, a town in eastern Lebanon, following an altercation between some of the Syrians and Lebanon's Civil Defence.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) told local media that this was a form of "collective punishment", adding that some refugees were not allowed to return to their tents to pick up personal documents, medicine and other belongings.
In addition, some local governments in Lebanon have imposed curfews on Syrian refugees, claiming the measure would prevent altercations between them and their host communities, Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star reported.
Anti-refugee sentiment also recently ramped in Turkey, after an anti-Syrian riot broke out in Istanbul late last month as rumours spread that a Syrian refugee boy had verbally abused a 12-year-old girl.
According to UNHCR estimates, Turkey is home to about 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees, while just over 935,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Lebanon.
Turkey Elections 2023
Turkish far right 'sells bus tickets' to deport Syrian refugees in new campaign
Greek court drops charges against refugee aid workers
Trauma, memory and hope: The story of Syrian refugees
Syria War
'I just want to survive': Syrian refugees in Lebanon weather storm after storm
Inside Lebanon
Palestinian refugees allegedly banned from AFC Cup match in Lebanon
'Our lives matter': Lebanon's migrant workers fight for their rights

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Welcome to our People Strategy (2016-2020). Your interactive experience is designed to give you an in depth understanding of how Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is continually looking to move its workforce forward alongside the Service's visions, aims and priorities.
The people strategy is a comprehensive road map of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Services success through a living documentation of our peoples achievements.
The strategy is broken into five key areas where we evidence our successes against our improvement criteria. Exploring this site can find you going in a different direction each time you visit. We want to encourage you to have a look around and get to know us better.
The challenges for the Authority over the next 5 years are well documented within the Public Safety Plan and Corporate Plan. These plans demonstrate our commitment to delivering consistent improvement, as well as taking a fresh look at how we deliver our services.
Our Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) identifies the financial resources required, projected into the future based on the delivery of specific aims and objectives as set out in the Public Safety Plan and Corporate Plan.
Together these plans establish a responsibility to diversify the services we provide and how we provide them, to proactively look for collaboration opportunities and to become more flexible, ensuring we can deliver our vision in new and exciting ways.
The best way to meet these challenges is by having the most high performing and highly motivated people. Our people must feel that they can engage and provide a valuable contribution to making improvements, no matter what role they undertake within the Service.
We will accept responsibility and accountability for our performance and actions, being answerable to those we serve.
'Our Vision is that Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are the safest areas in England in which to live, work and travel.
To optimise the contribution and well-being of our people.
Adapt and refresh the workforce to improve service delivery, resilience and deliver Public Safety Plan outcomes.
Where appropriate move to flexible, affordable and local terms and conditions to support demand and risk-led people resourcing.
Ensure the people strategy, employment policy, supporting contracts and building capacity and capability systems are established to support demand and risk-led people resourcing.
Adapt the employee proposition to optimise employee motivation, attract and retain the right calibre, high performing people.
Ensure the utmost well-being of our people.
The key to achieving our Vision, Aim and Priorities is developing an excellent Employee Proposition.
Have a high level of positive employee involvement through effective and productive employee relations.
We aim to provide a safe and accessible working environment that values and respects the identity and culture of each person. We insist on a culture and working environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and violence.
Effective employee engagement seeks to gain stakeholder commitment to the achievement of the Authority's goals and objectives, and to establish and maintain an environment where the workforce has the information required to undertake their role effectively and efficiency through appropriate communication channels. It also seeks to build and reinforce effective working relationships with staff, trade unions and staff representatives, ensuring the Authority is able to deliver its objectives.
Strategic resourcing assists effective organisational management by identifying potential changes and implementing improvements in advance. This ensures the Authority can plan for the future and will manage the Service to meet Public Safety Plan goals.
Talent management is the systematic attraction, identification, development, engagement, retention and deployment of individuals who are of value to an organisation, either in view of their 'high potential' for the future or because they are fulfilling business/operation-critical roles.
Talent consists of those individuals who can make a difference to organisational performance either through their immediate contribution, by developing their strengths or, in the longer-term, by demonstrating the highest levels of potential.
Employee well-being creates an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organisation.
Our vision is that Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are the safest areas in England in which to live, work and travel.
We aim to optimise the contribution and well-being of our people.
Where appropriate move to flexible, affordable and local terms & conditions to support demand and risk-led people resourcing.


text:
\section{\label{sec:level1}Introduction}

The discovery of copper oxide-based High critical Temperature Superconductors (HTSs), more than 30 years ago, ranks among the major scientific events in solid state physics and has given a tremendous boost to the field of superconductivity. The strong electron-electron correlations of these compounds lead to a plethora of symmetry breaking orders, such as charge density wave and spin density wave orders, which strongly depend on the doping of these materials \cite{keimer2015quantum}. The rather similar energy scales of those orders result in an intertwined ground state where charge, spin, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom are entangled in a complex manner. The study of HTSs in the form of nanowires \cite{MOHANTY2004666,bonetti2004electronic} and nanodots \cite{gustafsson2013fully} at various doping levels is expected to shine light on the microscopic mechanism leading to superconductivity in these materials, which emerges from such a complex ground state below the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$. At the same time nanoscale superconductors allow for the development of quantum limited sensors such as nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices \cite{arpaia2014ultra,arzeo2016toward,trabaldo2019grooved,trabaldo2019squid} and single photon detectors \cite{arpaia2017transport,andersson2020fabrication}.

Typically, nanowires with different doping levels are obtained by nanopatterning of thin-films  having the corresponding doping level or oxygen content in the case of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (YBCO) \cite{andersson2020fabrication,arpaia2017transport}. However, such a fabrication process is very challenging, especially for lower doping levels, and requires a separate YBCO film for each doping level \cite{andersson2020fabrication}. Moreover, this approach makes the comparison between transport properties of nanowires of different doping levels difficult since properties such as critical current sensitively depend on wire morphology on the nanoscale \cite{nawaz2013microwave}, which will unavoidably vary between devices.

Tuning the doping of YBCO ex-situ would solve the limitations inherent to fabrication. One way to tune the material's electrical properties is via electric field effect or gating. Although moderate success has been achieved, most gating techniques require either the use of ferroelectric materials \cite{lemanov1993ybco,crassous2013bifeo3} or electrolytes \cite{zhang2017mechanism}, in combination with strong electric fields. Moreover, the effectiveness of gating is tied to the thickness of the material and limits its application to ultra-thin films \cite{xi1991electric}.
Another promising route to modify the doping level in one and the same structure is to use electromigration (EM) \cite{moeckly1993electromigration,baumans2019electromigration}, i.e. displacing the dopant oxygen atoms by subjecting the material to large current densities in the normal state, thus tuning the doping level ex-situ. YBCO is a particularly good candidate for EM due to the low activation energy of the dopant oxygen atoms \cite{scouten1994low}. However, electromigration on $\mu$m wide structures still suffer from rather inhomogeneous doping distributions along YBCO bridges \cite{Marinkovic2020}.

In this work we use EM to tune the doping level of YBCO nanowires. We find that the doping can be increased or decreased depending on the waveform of the applied bias current. By applying a DC current we can replenish the oxygen in the nanostructures, while an AC current can be used to deplete it. The effect of the EM is studied by measuring the resistance versus temperature of the nanowires before and after the process. The resulting curves generally show a single sharp superconductive transition, which indicates homogeneity of the doping distribution. Successive steps of EM on a single nanowire are used to recreate most of the phase diagram of YBCO, covering a wide range of doping.
Finally, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) preformed on nanowires after EM confirms the homogeneous doping distribution along the wire.

\begin{figure}[]
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{Figure1.png}
\caption{Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a typical nanowire used for electromigration. An arbitrary waveform generator supplies the electromigraion current $I_{EM}$ and a low noise amplifier (LNA) is used to simultaneously probe the resistance of the nanowire.}
\label{Fig:1}
\end{figure}

\section{\label{sec:level2}Results}

The quality of the pristine YBCO nanowires is of paramount importance since defects are affected by the electromigration process and may worsen the quality of the nanowire with each EM step. The YBCO nanowires used in this work have been fabricated from thin films (close to optimally doped) with thickness of $50$~nm. The thin films were first deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) onto MgO substrates, and then covered by a hard layer of carbon, also deposited by PLD. Electron beam lithography and oxygen plasma etching are used to define the carbon mask, which is then used to etch the thin films in the final shape of the nanowires through Ar ion milling. This fabrication has been shown to yield high quality nanowires, both for optimally- \cite{nawaz2013approaching,trabaldo2017noise} and under-doped \cite{andersson2020fabrication} films.

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a nanowire is shown in Fig.~\ref{Fig:1}. The nanowires are patterned with a 4-point geometry, with $200$~nm width and $400$~nm length (distance between voltage probes). We use rounded inner corners at the end points of the nanowires to mitigate the effect of current crowding \cite{nawaz2013microwave}, which could locally affect the EM. In Fig.~\ref{Fig:1} is also reported the schematic of the electromigration and measurement setup connected to the nanowire. An arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) is connected to the nanowire and supplies the EM current, while the voltage drop along the nanowire is amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA).

The electromigration is typically performed at room temperature, although it can be done also at lower temperature, $T$, without significant changes. We perform two types of electromigration: DC-EM, where the AWG is maintained at a DC bias value (single DC pulse), and AC-EM, where the AWG output is an ambipolar square wave signal, i.e. a pulse train. These two type of EM waveforms have different effects on the nanowire doping as will be discussed below.

\begin{figure}[]
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{Figure2.pdf}
\caption{(a) DC-EM process. DC current density, $j_\mathrm{DC}$ (left axis), and resistance, $R$ (right axis) as a function of time during DC-EM. In the inset, the resistance is shown as a function of the bias current used in the DC-EM process. (b) AC-EM process. AC current density , $j_\mathrm{AC}$ (left axis), and resistance, $R$ (right axis) as a function of time during AC-EM. }
\label{Fig:1p5}
\end{figure}

An example of DC-EM is shown in Fig.~\ref{Fig:1p5}(a). Here, we start with an optimally doped nanowire with hole doping $p\simeq 0.16$ and resistance $R=159$~$\Omega$. The DC bias current density across the wire, $j_\mathrm{DC}$, is manually increased while $R$ is monitored. For low values of $j_\mathrm{DC}$ ($<7$~MA/cm$^2$) the resistance increases as the local temperature increases, $\Delta T \propto Rj_\mathrm{DC}^2$, due to Joule heating, see Fig.~\ref{Fig:1p5}(b). This trend is approximately quadratic in temperature due to the linear in $T$ resistance of optimally doped YBCO. The bias current is further increased until it is sufficiently high to start the EM of the dopant oxygen atoms, which happens for $j_\mathrm{DC}\simeq 7$~MA/cm$^2$. In this regime, when $j_\mathrm{DC}$ is kept constant, i.e. DC output, the nanowire resistance slowly decrease over time. A reduction in $R$ indicates that the doping level of the nanowire is increased \cite{arpaia2018probing} and oxygen is being replenished in the nanostructure. Once $j_\mathrm{DC}$ is increased even further, $R$ starts decreasing faster (see Fig.~\ref{Fig:1p5}(a)). After the DC-EM, i.e. $j_\mathrm{DC}$ is brought back to $0$, the nanowire resistance drops to $R=111$~$\Omega$. From this value and the superconducting transition temperature (data not shown) we estimate that the doping inside the wire has increased to a value $p\simeq 0.175$ \cite{arpaia2018probing}.

However, the bias current used for DC-EM cannot be increased indefinitely. We observe that if $j_\mathrm{DC}$ is raised above a certain threshold ($>15$~MA/cm$^2$), the DC-EM causes a depletion of the oxygen atoms within the wire. This means that at high bias, DC-EM lowers a nanowire doping instead of increasing it. Moreover, when the oxygen is reduced by DC-EM, the resulting nanowires show inhomogeneous transport properties, e.g. multiple superconducting transitions (data not shown). Therefore, DC-EM is only suitable for increasing the doping of YBCO nanowires.

To achieve homogeneous reduction of the doping level one can instead use AC-EM, which results in a controlled depletion of oxygen in the nanowires. The bias current waveform used for AC-EM is a square wavefunction centered around zero, with peak to peak current density $j_\mathrm{AC}$ and frequency $f_\mathrm{AC}=1$ kHz. Here, similar to the DC-EM, the resistance of the nanowire is measured simultaneously to monitor the effect of the electromigration. An example of AC-EM is shown in Fig.~\ref{Fig:1p5}(b), here we start with a nanowire with $p\simeq 0.17$ and $R=92$~$\Omega$. When $j_\mathrm{AC}$ is sufficiently high ($\simeq 17$~MA/cm$^2$), $R$ starts to increase. Increasing $j_\mathrm{AC}$ further causes a faster increase of the wire resistance $R$.
During AC-EM, $j_\mathrm{AC}$ needs to be increase slowly to avoid thermal runaway related to the abrupt increase of $R$, which would be detrimental for the nanowire. In Fig.~\ref{Fig:1p5}(b) the bias current is adjusted multiple times during the EM to avoid thermal runaway. After the AC-EM process, the nanowire resistance has increased to $R=508$~$\Omega$ corresponding to a reduction of the doping value to $p=0.08$ (determined from $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ of the resistive transition \cite{arpaia2018probing}).

\begin{figure}[]
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{Figure3.pdf}
\caption{Evolution of the R(T) measured on the same nanowire after successive electromigration steps. The initial doping, $p=0.175$, is first decreased to $p=0.12$ and then to $p=0.08$ through AC-EM. The doping is then increased to $p=0.155$ using DC-EM. The gray, broken line have been obtained by fitting the quadratic section of the R(T) at $p=0.08$.}
\label{Fig:2}
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{Fig:2} we show four measurements of resistance versus temperature, $R(T)$, done on the same nanowire to compare the effect of DC- and AC-EM. Starting from a slightly overdoped nanowire, $p=0.175$, we apply first AC-EM  to lower the doping to $p=0.12$, and a second time to further lower the nanowire doping to $p=0.08$. The decrease in doping results in an increase of the resistance, and a lower critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c}\simeq32$~K. DC-EM is then used to increase the nanowire doping up to $p\simeq0.155$, i.e. in the optimally doped regime of YBCO. Higher $p$ is accompanied by higher $T_\mathrm{c}\simeq87$~K and lower value of resistance. It is important to note that the $R(T)$ curves after EM (both AC and DC) present a single superconductive transition, which indicates homogeneity of the doping along the nanowire. Thus, a combination of DC- and AC-EM can be used respectively to increase or to decrease the doping of our nanowires and therefore fine tune the doping of a nanowire. This will be instrumental in investigating the properties of YBCO at the nanoscale as a function of oxygen doping.

\begin{table}[]
    \centering
    \begin{tabular}{r|c|c|c}
         & doping $p$ & $T^*$ [K] & $T^{**}$ [K] \\
        \hline
        nanowire & 0.155 & 148 & - \\
        film & 0.155 & 145 & - \\
        \hline
        nanowire & 0.12 & 230 & 120 \\
        film & 0.12 & 215 & 118 \\
        \hline
        nanowire & 0.08 & 271 & 170 \\
        film & 0.08 & 263 & 170
    \end{tabular}
    \caption{Characteristic temperatures $T^*$ and $T^{**}$ (see text for details) extracted from a single electromigrated nanowire (see Fig.~\ref{Fig:2}) compared to the values reported for YBCO thin films \cite{arpaia2018probing}}
    \label{tab:1}
\end{table}

Of particular interest are the different characteristic temperatures which can be extracted from the $R(T)$ curve of a YBCO nanowire. These temperatures can be compared to those extracted from YBCO thin films \cite{arpaia2018probing} to further asses the quality of our nanowires after electromigration. Here we focus on two characteristic temperatures, the first is $T^*$, i.e. the temperature below which the $R(T)$ departs from linearity ($R\propto T$), as indicated in Fig.~\ref{Fig:2} for $p=0.12$. The second characteristic temperature is $T^{**}$, i.e. the upper bound of the $T$ range in which $R\propto T^2$, as shown in Fig.~\ref{Fig:2} for $p=0.08$.

In Table~\ref{tab:1} the values of $T^*$ and $T^{**}$ extracted from the $R(T)$ curves from Fig.~\ref{Fig:2} are compared to the values reported for YBCO thin films at similar doping \cite{arpaia2018probing}. Indeed, from this table one can see only small variations between thin-films and our nanowires properties. This indicates that after EM the nanowire properties are still close to pristine YBCO films, strongly suggesting that the effects of EM on doping are very homogeneous along the nanowire and limited to the displacement of oxygen atoms only, without physical degradation of the underlying YBCO nanowires.

Using a single nanowire we reproduced the phase diagram of YBCO shown in Fig.~\ref{Fig:3}. The nanowire was fabricated with with $p=0.175$, its doping was reduced in successive steps of AC-EM, while the $R(T)$ was measured after each step. In Fig.~\ref{Fig:3} we show the second derivative of the measured resistance versus temperature, $d^2R/dT^2$, as a function of temperature and doping. This phase diagram is in good agreement with the one obtained from YBCO thin films \cite{arpaia2018probing,ando2004electronic}.

\begin{figure}[]
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{figure3.pdf}
\caption{Second derivative of the resistance, $dR^2/dT^2$, versus temperature and doping, obtained on the same nanowire after successive electromigration steps. The values of $T_\mathrm{c}, T^*$ and $T^{**}$ have been adapted from \cite{arpaia2018probing}.}
\label{Fig:3}
\end{figure}

The values of $T^*$, $T^{**}$ and $T_\mathrm{c}$ reported in Fig.~\ref{Fig:3} have been extracted from measurement performed on YBCO thin films \cite{arpaia2018probing}. We find a good agreement between our phase diagram and these data, confirming that EM can be used for tuning ex-situ the doping of indicidual YBCO nanowires while preserving electrical properties close to those of pristine thin films.

\begin{figure}[]
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{Figure5.pdf}
\caption{Work function map of a YBCO nanowire extracted from KPFM images before EM (optimally doped) (a) and after EM (underdoped) (b). (c) Line cuts of the work function along the YBCO wire for the optimally doped wire (blue line, see also dashed blue line in panel (a)) and underdoped nanowire after AC-EM (red line,  see also dashed red line in panel (b)).}
\label{Fig:4}
\end{figure}

To further investigate the local effect of EM on the nanowires, we employ Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) to visualize the doping distribution after EM with nanometer resolution. KPFM is a variant of non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM), which measures the difference in work function, $\Phi$, between the nanowire surface and the conductive AFM tip \cite{melitz2011kelvin}.

Two nanowires, one optimally doped (as-fabricated, $p=0.175$) and one underdoped ($p\simeq 0.05$, obtained through AC-EM),  have been imaged. In order to obtain absolute values of the work function in YBCO  $\Phi_{\mathrm{YBCO}}$, we have performed a calibration of the AFM tip work function, $\Phi_{\mathrm{tip}}$, using a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite sample (HOPG): $\Phi_{\mathrm{tip}} = eV_{\mathrm{CPD}}+\Phi_{\mathrm{HOPG}}$, where $V_{\mathrm{CPD}}$ is the measured potential difference between the AFM tip and the HOPG surface, and $\Phi_{\mathrm{HOPG}} = 4.48$~eV is the work function of HOPG. The work function of the YBCO nanowire can then be obtained as $\Phi_{\mathrm{YBCO}} = \Phi_{\mathrm{tip}}  - eV_{\mathrm{CPD}}$, where $V_{\mathrm{CPD}}$ is the measured surface potential difference between the tip and the YBCO nanowire. The measured KPFM maps of $\Phi_{\mathrm{YBCO}}$ of the YBCO nanowire before and after EM treatment are shown in the Fig. \ref{Fig:4}. The absolute value of the $\Phi_{\mathrm{YBCO}}\simeq 4.3$~eV is close to values reported earlier for optimally doped YBCO bulk polycrystalline \cite{Koshida_1990} and thin film \cite{Rietveld_1992} samples. In the EM-treated underdoped YBCO nanowire, the central region has significantly lower work function as compared with the wide electrodes. The value of the work function taken along the nanowire, i.e. along the linecuts in panel (a) and (b), are shown in panel (c). The difference in work function is about $0.5$~V between optimally doped and underdoped YBCO nanowires.

The work function is defined as a difference between Fermi energy of a metal and vacuum level just outside the surface. Thus the work function of YBCO, $\Phi_{\mathrm{YBCO}}$ and cuprates in general, is expected to be influenced by the doping, and by measuring the work function one can indirectly map the doping distribution in our nanowires. Indeed, the difference between work functions of optimally doped and unerdoped YBCO nanowires is in good agreement with the chemical potential shift as a function of doping measured by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy \cite{maiti2009doping,yagi2010characteristic}. On the other hand, KPFM is a surface sensitive technique and the potential difference may also depend on a surface dipole layer due to the presence of adsorbates. A similar change in work function was found in the YBCO film modified using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) \cite{Urazhdin_2003}. The result was interpreted due to the presence of trapped charges at the oxygen vacancies at the modified surface. While we cannot rule out that similar effects contribute to the difference in work function in our nanowires, we emphasize that the transport properties indicate that the modification occurs in the bulk of the YBCO rather than at the surface.

In conclusion, we have presented an electromigration technique which can be used to fine tune the oxygen content, and thus doping level, of YBCO nanowires. Depending on the bias current waveform used for the EM we can increase (DC-EM) or decrease (AC-EM) the nanowire doping. We used EM to reproduce most of the phase diagram of YBCO with a single nanowire. We used KPFM imaging to asses the effect of the EM on the morphology and work function of the nanowires after EM. This confirmed that the doping distribution in electromigrated nanowires is homogeneous over a consistent area. The ex-situ control of the doping level in YBCO nanowires is a milestone towards an in-depth study of the phase diagram of cuprates on the nanoscale. The EM bypasses the challenges of different fabrication techniques and opens the way for using the same nanowire to study the entire doping range. Moreover, this technique is interesting for the technological applications of YBCO weak links, where the tuning of the nanowire properties, such as critical current and kinetic inductance, is required.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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Brokaw, Tom (Author). Dean, Robertson (Added Author). Books on Tape, Inc. (Added Author).
Participant or Performer Note: Read by Robertson Dean.
Summary, etc.: In The greatest generation, his landmark bestseller, Tom Brokaw eloquently evoked for America what it meant to come of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Now, in BOOM!, one of America's premier journalists gives us an epic portrait of another defining era in America, as he brings to life the tumultuous sixties, a fault line in American history. The voices and stories of both famous people and ordinary citizens come together as Brokaw takes us on a memorable journey through a remarkable time, exploring how individual lives and the national mindset were affected by a controversial era and showing how the aftershocks of the sixties continue to resound in our lives today. In the reflections of a generation, Brokaw also discovers lessons that might guide us in the years ahead. "Boom! One minute it was Ike and the man in the grey flannel suit, and the next minute it was time to Turn on, Tune in, Drop out. While Americans were walking on the moon, Americans were dying in Vietnam. Nothing was beyond question, and there were far fewer answers than before."
Requires OverDrive Media Console (file size: 262643 KB).


Regardless of size, lighting is a crucial factor for bathrooms of all shapes and styles. Bathroom lights are not only important for aesthetic reasons, but also for your safety. For the elderly and small kids, the bathroom needs to be completely lit, be it through natural or decorative lights. Also, your bathroom needs to be illuminated perfectly whenever in use so that you can avoid accidents or injuries.
Whenever possible, let natural light brighten and freshen up your bathroom. But for night time, use sufficient decorative lights for each of your tasks. Here are some ways to light up your bathroom using decorative lighting fixtures.
For general lighting, you can use recessed lighting, chandeliers, or ceiling-mounted bathroom lights. You can use an ambient light fixture with a dimmer to help you with visual clarity at different times of the day. For overall illumination, fluorescent light bulbs or strips can work in the bathrooms. Go by your local area's building codes when using pendant lights or chandeliers in the bathroom, especially above the tub. If your bath or shower area is large, you might need more than one bathroom light. For your shower area, safety is really important, so use practical bathroom light fixtures rather than mere decorative ones.
Another important bathroom light aspect is brightness by the vanity. Scone lights at both sides of the mirror work best as task lighting in this area of the bathroom. Install these lights at your eye level for best results. You can also use the side space on the walls by the mirror to install these scones. Avoid any bathroom light fixtures above the mirror as this can make it difficult for you to see and perform tasks in front of the mirror. For task lighting in the bathroom, use fluorescent lights with minimum 24 watts and for light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures, use at least 20 watts if not more.
To add style to your bathroom, you can use wall arts with accent lights or an interesting-looking pendant light at the entrance or by the vanity. For large-sized bathrooms, you can easily use 3–4 pendant lights in all areas other than the shower space.
One of the best ways to light up your bathroom is to keep the artificial illumination as close to natural light as possible. For this, you can use bathroom light fixtures with white bulbs or you can use compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) or LED lights.
If you want a functional bathroom only with fancy features, you can opt for just the basics. You will need bathroom lights at the vanity and general lighting for overall illumination. If you can add an extra pendant light in the entryway or wall-mounted lights by the shower area, then these are the only lights you will need in your bathroom. To minimize your power bills, you can use all LED light fixtures in your bathroom.


text:
Tvnz On Demand Review
TVNZ On Demand Review [2021]
TVNZ is the pioneer broadcasting company in New Zealand. TVNZ's popularity rose to new heights when it launched its impressive online streaming service by the name of TVNZ On Demand.
The service allows you to access content across different TVNZ channels like TVNZ One, TVNZ Two, and TVNZ Duke. Interestingly, you can watch all the latest content of these channels free of cost.
This guide will highlight the salient features of TVNZ's famous online streaming services like content type, compatibility, and others in detail.
TVNZ On Demand Price and Package
Comparison with other streaming services
How can I sign up for TVNZ On Demand?
What to watch on TVNZ On Demand?
TVNZ On Demand Best Shows
TVNZ On Demand Best Movies
What's new on TVNZ On Demand
How can I watch TVNZ On Demand outside New Zealand?
TVNZ On Demand Compatible Platforms and Devices
TVNZ on Demand Pros & Cons
How do I get TVNZ On Demand?
Do I have to Pay for TVNZ On Demand?
Why does TVNZ On Demand keep buffering?
Why can't I Chromecast TVNZ On Demand?
How to get TVNZ On Demand on Sony Smart TV?
How to get TVNZ On Demand on Apple TV?
How to get TVNZ On Demand on LG Smart TV?
As already discussed, it is a free online streaming service. Compared to other paid video-on-demand streaming providers, you do not have to provide any financial information while doing registration.
Luckily, you need to mention your basic login details like username, password, and so on. By doing so, you are ready to explore a plethora of online entertainment in the shape of movies, TV series, documentaries, and others.
TVNZ is famous for telecasting top-notch TV shows like Killing Eve, Shortland Street, and others among Kiwi users. Moreover, TVNZ On Demand, the online streaming service of TVNZ, allows you to watch such popular shows without any subscription cost.
This is undoubtedly a big plus considering its competitors like Netflix NZ, Disney Plus NZ, LightBox, and others that are relatively regarded as expensive streaming options. You will have to pay $11.99 per month to avail Netflix NZ monthly pricing plan.
Likewise, Disney Plus is available at the price of $9.99, and LightBox is accessible at the cost of $12.99 per month in New Zealand. If we talk about the multi-logins feature, all these services except TVNZ On Demand enable you to access any media content on up to four (4) different devices simultaneously.
It is one significant downside of TVNZ On Demand that does not let you watch TV shows or movies on multiple devices. But, the service does not charge anything from you. Thus, the said disadvantage is easily negligible. Furthermore, all these streaming providers offer video-on-demand content to their subscribers.
Lastly, the service helps its users watch content in HD quality. As far as other services go, Netflix provides its media content in SD quality. Besides, Disney Plus offers its content in 4K/UHD quality, and LightBox allows its users to access content in HD quality.
The signup process of TVNZ On-Demand is not complicated at all. Here are some steps you have to follow:
Visit its official site and click "Login."
You will be redirected to its users' sign-in section.
Enter your email address, password, first name, last name, and mark 'I agree to the House Rules" check to complete the registration process
TVNZ On Demand lets you watch some of the most famous and highly rated TV shows, movies, documentaries, and other media content. Once you explore the content library, you would realize that it offers a superb blend of movies, TV shows, documentaries, news, and current affairs programs.
If you want to watch local and international TV shows under one roof, TVNZ On Demand should be your preferred choice. Here is the list that includes such popular TV shows:
The same goes for movies as you can watch the famous film of all time on TVNZ On Demand in no time. These movies are:
In A Flash
If you are willing to know what is coming during January 2021 and onward, go through the following list:
Shortland Street (New Season)
A Perfect Planet (New Season)
Reef Break (New Season)
Good Grief (New Season)
The Bachelor (New Season)
Similar to other streaming services like Netflix NZ, Disney Plus NZ, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, TVNZ On Demand is a geo-restricted service. Thus, you cannot watch the service from abroad. If you want to access it outside New Zealand, you have to use a VPN to circumvent geo-restrictions. You should read this ultimate guide here to unblock TVNZ on Demand outside New Zealand.
Offers an extended media library including local and internationally produced content
Provides exclusive features like extra behind-the-scenes content
Users may face connectivity issues on some devices
You cannot select streaming quality yourself
The service is a TVNZ brainchild that allows you to watch your favorite content, be it TV shows, movies, news, documentaries, and current affairs programs. If you want to get TVNZ On Demand on your desired devices, you will need to download its exclusive apps.
You can download the Apps from the App Store and Google Play Store for your iOS and Android devices, respectively.
No, you do not have to pay for TVNZ On Demand. Moreover, you do not need to provide your credit card information while signing up for the service. You have to enter your login details like username and password to start using TVNZ On Demand.
At times, you cannot watch your preferred TV show or movie on TVNZ On Demand. This happens due to insufficient bandwidth that does not allow you to stream videos accordingly. In this situation, you should close other apps and programs that are running on your devices.
Furthermore, you may power cycle your modem, and the router means to turn them off for few seconds and turn them on later to avoid video buffering problems.
As already mentioned, TVNZ On Demand is compatible with Google Chromecast. There is a strong likelihood that you have not updated your TVNZ On Demand app. As a result, you cannot Chromecast the app.
Similarly, you should uninstall and reinstall TVNZ On Demand app to see if you can cast the app or not.
You can watch TVNZ On Demand on Sony Smart TV by searching and downloading the app via Google Play Store. However, the latest Sony Smart TVs have Android TV pre-installed. Hence, you have to open the Google Play Store on your TV and search for TVNZ.
TVNZ's Apple TV app is available for 4K Apple TV devices. If you want to get TVNZ On Demand on your Apple TV, then you should download and install the app using App Store. Here is what you should do:
Through your Apple TV, go to the App Store.
Search for 'TVNZ On Demand' then click 'get.'
Use your login credentials to start watching your favorite Kiwi movies or shows.
Your LG Smart TV should support Web3.0 OS or above if you want to download TVNZ On Demand app. Otherwise, you cannot access TVNZ's coverage accordingly. Here are some steps you should follow:
Open the LG Smart TV's App Store and search for "TVNZ On Demand."
Click install to complete the installation process on your TV.
Login to your TVNZ account and start watching anything you want
TVNZ On Demand is one of the most sought streaming services within New Zealand. What makes this famous kiwi streaming service different from the other is its impressive media library that includes some of the best local and foreign media TV shows, movies, documentaries, etc.
Above all, you do not have to pay any subscription fee to access TVNZ's latest coverage on your multiple devices.
Netflix New Zealand Review
Disney Plus New Zealand Review
How to Watch HBO in New Zealand
Streaming Services Available in New Zealand
How to Watch Amazon Prime in New Zealand


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The Walking Dead, iZombie, and More Among Walmart's Deeply Discounted Black Friday DVDs
By Russ Burlingame - September 5, 2017 11:25 pm EDT
If you still buy your movies and TV shows on DVD, Walmart has comic book and pop culture fan covered this Black Friday.
The mega-retailer is having in-store and online sales that include DVDs priced from $1.96, and TV shows starting at less than $10.
Among those? Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice can be yours on DVD for $7.96, Deadpool for $3.96 -- and there's no shortage of comic book TV to be had for a little bit of nothing.
Recent seasons of AMC's The Walking Dead will run you $9.96, while earlier seasons of the hit drama cost just $6.96. iZombie's newly-released second season is part of the $6.96 deal, while DC's Legends of Tomorrow is $9.96.
Other TV series you can get for under $10? Birds of Prey and the complete 1990-91 The Flash, for starters. Also genre and animated hits like Archer, Ren & Stimpy, Doctor Who, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Back to the Future: The Animated Series.
On the Blu-ray side, selection is a little more sparse...but you can get the Ghostbusters remake, the animated Beauty and the Beast, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse, or Captain America: Civil War for under $10.
(Photo: Walmart)
Many of these deals may not be available online, since smaller items like DVDs tend to be a way to draw in frugal customers who ordinarily wouldn't want to make the trek to the store on Black Friday -- but you can ask the website to send you an alert when the item is in stock.
You can check out the retailer's full Black Friday lineup here.
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CBI Probe in Kotkhai Gudia Case Under Scanner, Forensic Report Suggests Involvement of More Than One Person
Shimla-Gudia Nyay Manch has demanded fresh probe into the ill-fated 2017 Kotkhai Gudia rape and murder case after new revelations were made in the recent hearing in the case.
The case was closed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team after booking and arresting a woodcutter for the said crime with a conclusion that it was not a gangrape and only one person was involved. The turn of events left the family of the 16-year-old victim and the people of the state stumped and unsatisfied. Media reports had also challenged the probe.
While CBI claimed to have solved the case after eleven months of investigation, hardly anyone was convinced that a woodcutter could have possibly committed this crime and managed to fool CBI and bribe nine police personals including IG, SP, and DSP to frame wrong people.
The accused police officials, who were booked for the custodial killing of Suraj – one of the six suspects allegedly framed by them, were defending someone, the public suspected. There were many other questions which remained unanswered thus the CBI's claim failed to convince anyone that justice was done to Gudia.
After a silence of about one year, the inquiry conducted by the CBI is in the public court. During the hearing of the case of custodial death at Chandigarh-based CBI court, forensic experts claimed that there is a possibility that more than one persons were involved in the rape and murder of Gudia.
These forensic experts – HV Acharya, Assistant Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar, and Hemangi Shah Assistant Director, Forensic Psychological Division, Directorate of Forensic Science, Gandhinagar- had conducted polygraph and Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature Profiling (BEO) tests on the five accused – Rajinder Singh, Lokjan, Deepak, Ashish Chauhan, and Subhash Singh.
During this hearing, they were cross-questioned by the defense counsel, Atvinder Singh.
Singh asked Dr Acharya if he still stands by his observation that the crime in Gudia was conducted by more than one person, Acharya said "Yes" as an affirmative response. Dr Shan also supported Acharya.
A joint observation report was compiled by the two experts and submitted to the CBI.
While their report clearly said that no role of these five accused was observed in Gudia case. Their report had also said that no role of Rajinder was observed in killing of Suraj.
Moreover, the report of these experts has also observed that there was "definite police effort to defend someone".
The experts stood by their observation that these six accused were arrested and tortured without any direct evidence.
The Gudia Nyay Manch is up in arms again against CBI for an allegedly botched up investigation in the case. The Manch said it would be staging fresh protest against CBI soon.
What is Kotkhai Gudia Case
On July 4, 2017, a 16-year-old girl, who was returning home from her school in Mahasu are of Kotkhai, Shimla, went missing. Her naked body was found in the forest of Halaila on July 6. As per the initial investigation by the police SIT, Gudia was gang-raped and then murdered. The SIT on July 13 arrested six persons claiming that they cracked the case.
However, the family and locals were not convinced that these six accused, five of which were laborers and daily wagers, had committed the crime. The pubic, as well as the media, wasn't convinced with the theory given by the police SIT. On July 18, public outrage was witnessed after one of these accused was killed in the police custody while locked up at the police station, Kotkhai. The locals pelted stones on the police staff and compelled them to leave the station. The station was then set on fire.
Under huge pressure from the public, then Congress-led state government asked the CBI to investigate the case. By the end of August 2017, CBI had arrested nine police officials including the head of the SIT Zahur H Zaidi, IG, Southern Range, DSP, Theog, Manoj Joshi, and six others for the custodial killing of Suraj. Later, the CBI also booked then Superintendent of Police, Shimla, D W Negi.
In its charge-sheet submitted to the court, the CBI had said that all six accused were falsely framed by the SIT.
The CBI had filed a separate case to investigate rape and murder of Gudia. The CBI team investigated for next eleven months without any success, thereby, facing backlash from the state high court over delay in the investigation. Ultimately, disappointed with the CBI, the court questioned the competence of CBI and asked its Director to appear personally before it.
Immediately after this summon, CBI claimed to have cracked the case in which a woodcutter was arrested. The case was considered to be closed thereafter.
However, doubts remain over botched up CBI investigation in the case.
Related Topics:CBI Kotkhai ProbefeaturedGuida CaseHP PoliceKotkhai Gudiya CaseKotkhai Probe
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Madan has studied English Literature and Journalism from HP University and lives in Shimla. He is an amateur photographer and has been writing on topics ranging from environmental, socio-economic, development programs, education, eco-tourism, eco-friendly lifestyle and to green technologies for over 9 years now. He has an inclination for all things green, wonderful and loves to live in solitude. When not writing, he can be seen wandering, trying to capture the world around him in his DSLR lens.
PIL Filed in HP High Court Re-Ignites Quest for Recognizing Pahari (Himachali) as Hill State's Official Language
Shimla- November 10, 2021, Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday passed an order concerning a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to recognize Pahari (Himachali) as an official language of the state. The petition also sought effective steps on the part of the government to preserve and promote the Pahari language in the State as its culture and language give it a distinct identity.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by Arsh Dhanotia with a prayer that the state be directed to declare Pahari (Himachali) as one of the official languages in the State of Himachal Pradesh in any script and also promote further research towards a long-term formal Pahari (Himachali) nuclear language structure and nuclear Tankri script.
Bhawani Pratap Singh Kutlahria, the advocate for the petitioner, argued in the court that the State Government be directed to promote Pahari (Himachali) and other local languages as the medium of instruction in primary and middle-level schools as per the New Education Policy, 2020. On behalf of the petitioner, he also prayed the court to direct the state government to include Pahari (Himachali) language as a separate category for the 2021 Census and simultaneously undertake an awareness campaign to create awareness amongst the masses, especially the youth of the State who speak Pahari (Himachali), to get it marked as their mother tongue in the upcoming Census.
A bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Sabina while disposing off the PIL stated,
"The direction as has been prayed for, cannot be issued to the State Government until and unless it is established on record that the Pahari (Himachali) language has its own script and that a common Pahari dialect is spoken throughout the State of Himachal Pradesh. We, however, set the petitioner at liberty to approach the Department of Language Art & Culture to the Government of Himachal Pradesh with his demand for undertaking research to promote a common Pahari (Himachali) nuclear language structure and nuclear Tankri script. If the petitioner approaches the respondents-State through its Additional Chief Secretary (Language Art & Culture) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh) for the prayer made in the Civil Writ Public Interest Litigation, it would be for the said authority to consider the same in accordance with the law."
Additionally, the petition had emphasised that Sanskrit, which is the second official language of the state, had only 936 speakers according to the 2011 census and Pahari (Himachali) dialect chain which is spoken by more than 40 lakh people was being neglected and has not been made an official language even after having so many speakers.
The petition also highlighted works of Former Chief Minister Late YS Parmar and Former Education Minister Late Narain Chand Parashar towards the promotion of the Pahari (Himachali) language.
What's Pahari (Himachali) Language, How Many Districts It Covers
It is to be noted that according to the petitioner, Pahari (Himachali) is a combined term used for the Western Pahari dialect chain spoken in Himachal Pradesh and majorly includes Kangri, Mandeali, Chambeali, Kulvi, Mahasu Pahari and Sirmauri. According to him ever since the creation of Himachal Pradesh, there has been a demand for recognition of Pahari (Himachali) under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and it is also officially listed with 37 more languages as a language which is in significant demand to be included in the scheduled languages category.
In his plea, he also stated that the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in 1970 and 2010 have also passed resolutions concerning the promotion and development of Pahari (Himachali).
Himachal's Snow Covered Area Has Decreased, Poses Big Threat to State Economy's Lifelines: Report
Shimla-The area under snow cover in Himachal Pradesh has declined by 18.5% according to a recent report published by State Centre on Climate Change (SCCC) and Space Application Center (ISRO) Ahmedabad. The report revealed this decreasing trend for the five major river basins in the State.
As the report points out, the high altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh receive precipitation mainly in the form of snow during the winter season. One-third of the geographical area of the state is covered by a thick blanket of snow during the winter season. Rivers like Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti, Ravi, Sutlej and its tributaries flowing through Himachal are dependent on snowfall in winter. These rivers mainly feed into the Indus water system and a decline at this rate rings a death knell for water and also food security for millions of people from Himachal to Kashmir, the plains of Punjab, the food bowl of the country.
Using images and data received from satellites, the report states, that the winter precipitation was mapped in all the basins from October 2020 to May 2021 (a period of two years). The findings indicate that there has been an average decrease of 8.92 percent in Chenab basin, 18.54 percent in Beas basin, 23.16 percent in Ravi basin, 23.49 percent in Sutlej basin compared to last year. The ice covered area of Chenab basin was 7154.11 sq km in 2019-20, which has come down to 6515.91 sq km in 2020-21. Similarly, Beas basin was reduced from 2457.68 to 2002.03 square kilometer, Ravi basin from 2108.13 square kilometer to 1619.82 square kilometer and Sutlej from 11823.1 square kilometer to 9045 square kilometers. Overall, the snow covered area was reduced from 23542 square kilometer to 19183 square kilometer in the entire Himachal.
Figure Source: Hindustan Times
Sutlej Basin covers 45 per cent of the total geographical area of Himachal and it is the longest river of the state. It flows for around 320 kms here, passing through Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Solan and Bilaspur districts, along its course. The above study shows that the maximum reduction in snow cover has occurred in the Sutlej basin. An area of 4359 square kilometers under snow cover has decreased for the whole state, of which more than half of the Sutlej Basin.
Just two years ago another study had indicated that more than half of glaciers in Sutlej Basin are set to vanish by 2050. Yet another study also showed that the Sutlej basin has the highest 562 number of glacial lakes. These lakes stand the risk of sudden outbursts, which then causes flash floods downstream as the valley has already experienced. So, while the crisis that is unfolding, be it deglaciation, lake formation or reduction in area under snow cover, it seems that the Sutlej river basin is more vulnerable to these changes.
Prakash Bhandari, an environmental researcher and activist and member of Himdhara Collective expressing his concern states that the situation in the Sutlej river basin is certainly indicative of a serious climate emergency and it is critical to look into the drivers of this both local and global.
"The Sutlej basin catchment is the largest and so the changes visible here are more significant. Many factors have worked together to create this crisis which should be studied closely. There is no doubt that global warming is contributing to these changes. But the local conditions also play a role in reducing or increasing its impact", he says.
The upper reaches of the Sutlej Valley, especially areas like Kinnaur are geologically fragile, with sharp gradients and loose soil strata. Vegetation is in a very small area so the proneness to erosion. We have seen the catastrophic impacts of flashfloods and landslides over the last decade and a half, where crores worth of property has been damaged. This year saw a spate of landslides where lives were lost. "In such a sensitive and also strategically important area, changes in the landscape will have far reaching and irreversible impacts. More construction activities will lead to more deforestation, more erosion".
Construction of dams has been rampant in the Sutlej valley, a phenomena that started post independence and continues today. If all of the planned dams are built the Sutlej will be cho-a-cloc with more then 150, large and small projects. At the bottom of the valley in Bilaspur is the Bhakra Dam, built almost 6 decades ago, which has a size of 168 sq km and a storage capacity of 9.340 cubic km. Is. This is followed by the Kol Dam which extends for 42 km up to Sunni, which has a total storage capacity of 90 million cubic metres. Nathpa Jhakri Project which is 27.394 kms. is long. When a dam is built, a huge amount of water is stored. The debris of many villages, trees etc. also gets absorbed inside the dam. When water is stagnant, it receives heat from the Sun to form mist in the surrounding area by evaporation and simultaneously generates methane gas. The experience of the lake formed by the Kol dam at Tattapani in Mandi district shows that the area is experiencing heavy haze which was not there earlier.
"In the 30s and 40s, Shikari Devi and Kamrunag used to have snow on the peaks for about 6 months, which now could barely stop for only 2 months. The air route distance of Shikari Devi and Kamrunag is only 26 to 30 kms from Tattapani lake. At the same time, their distance is not much from the cement factories of Darlaghat, Sundernagar", the elders in the area say. "Today, fog is prevalent and this has also made the area warmer".
Due to the warming of the weather due to the clouds formed from the mist, the snow has started melting quickly. Apart from this the local crop patterns are affected. Post the 1990s, the Sutlej became a site for run of the river hydroelectric projects using extensive underground tunneling. This involves massive use of explosives for blasting through the mountains. Of the 23,000 MW worth of projects to be constructed in Himachal more than 10,000, a third are from this valley alone. Kinnaur continues to be a hydel powerhouse with 10 run of the river projects in progress and 30 more to be set up including two mega projects of 1500 MW and 1000 MW each. This paints a scary picture.
Interactive Sutlej River-Basin Map indicate Hydropower Station location
It is not just the hydro-electric dams but unplanned tourism and other development activities like mining, cement plants, road expansion and mindless construction across the high Himalayan regions have also add to the shift in local weather patterns, land use changes and thus the ecological crisis. But the reason why we should put the limelight on hydropower is that this is being pushed as "Green Energy", in the name of climate change mitigation. As opposed to other forms of generating power, hydropower projects are said to cause lesser carbon emissions, which is why there has been a global push to shift to renewable resources. But the climate emergency in the Himalayas has put a question mark on 'water' as a renewable resource.
The question then arises that with all this data indicating a steady decline in river discharge and snow cover have our planners and policy makers not considered what will happen to these projects? Will they be able to generate the power they propose to? The people of Himalaya have to wake up to this wastage of public resources. Scarce funds should be diverted to better planning for securing local livelihoods by protecting the forest ecosystems and water sources for the future.
Author: Gagandeep Singh-From Himdhara (Environment Research and Action Collective)
Feature Images: unsplash/@raimondklavins
Himachal: Warnings of Delta Plus Virulence Fall on Deaf Ears, No Restriction on Visitors from Affected States
Shimla-Yesterday, the Centre government directed the state governments to take immediate measure in wake of the spread of more infectious Delta Plus variant. As the Delta Plus variant is posing a threat of the third wave, the states were told to take steps like preventing crowds, increase testing, more focus on surveillance, contact tracing and put boosting vaccine coverage on a priority basis. Following it, Himachal Pradesh Government might have announced an alert over Delta plus variant, but there wasn't any follow up on instructions passed by scientists and health experts to take strict restrictive measures ahead of the impending third wave.
To make it worse, high rank officials and political leaders were seen flouting Covid-19 SOPs on several occasion, which sent wrong messages to the masses. The pictures and videos showing flouting of Covid appropriate behavior by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and Directorial General of Police, Sanjay Kundu, alongwith other staff for Anupam Kher is the most recent to mention. A group photograph and video of the same were widely circulated on social media and invited huge criticism from the people.
So far, the state has not reported any case of the Delta Plus variant. But the neighboring states – Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir – reported their first cases yesterday. This puts the boarding areas, like in Una district, at a higher risk. Chief Secretary to HP Government, Anil Khachi, yesterday said samples have been sent for genome sequencing.
Despite repeated warnings of Delta plus variant (B.1.617.2.1.), Himachal Pradesh has thrown its borders open to all and lifted all restrictions for inter-state travel in just one go. From June 23 onwards, the state government removed the condition for registering on the e-pass portal for visitors intending to enter the state. In the Cabinet meeting held on June 22, 201, the government first decided that e-pass restrictions would be removed from July 1, but later it changed the decision and instead implemented it immediately.
This haphazard decision is said to have come under huge pressure from the hospitality industry – the worst-hit sector, leading to financial crisis and mass unemployment among its stakeholders. Related associations had been approaching Chief Minister Jairam Thakur with their pleas to provide relief, but mostly faced disappointment. The stakeholders say the state government didn't provide any significant relief, which is making the survival of the industry difficult.
Also Read: Read Eight Reliefs That Himachal's Devastated Tourism Industry Seeks from HP Govt
Also, stakeholder of the industry, especially hoteliers, had been demanding the removal of restrictions and conditions on the entry of tourists to Himachal so that they could fetch the remaining peak tourist season.
With its inability to offer relief, the HP Government took the chance to waive off restrictions in a haste.
At the same time, the state government has decided to conduct offline examinations for the undergraduate classes starting from July. A section of the students had been condemning the HP government for scheduling exams without vaccinating students. Some student bodies had been asking the government as to why online classes were possible but not online exams.
The state government also waived off restrictions on timings for the opening of markets/shops.
As scientists and health experts warn of the virulence of the new variant and with neighboring states already on alert after reporting cases of the new variant, the HP government hasn't even mentioned any intention to at least put a check on the visitor from the states where cases of Delta Plus are being reported. Carrying an RT-PCR negative report for visitors from such states/cities would have been a wiser step.
Officially, the state is on alert, but no measures have been announced to check the entry and spread of the variant into the state. The state government does speak of preparing for the anticipated third wave, but there is hardly any long-term preventive strategy. The Covid appropriate behavior is hard to adopt when markets and tourist places are crowded with visitors.
Why Delta Plus is a Big Concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled the Delta variant as 'Variant of Concern'.
The Centre and scientific/medical institutes in India also agree with that Delta Plus as a variant of concern and could be the cause of impending third wave. Last Tuesday, based on the findings of INSACOG, the Union Health Ministry had alerted and advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh regarding the Delta Plus variant of COVID19.
INSACOG had warned that the Delta Plus variant has increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.
"Delta variant is more resistant to medication, treatment and vaccination. Therefore, people who have been vaccinated can still be affected by this variant and can go on to get a clinical illness, Archana Dhawan Bajaj, director, Nurture IVF, told a national English Daily.
"Neutralising antibodies against this variant post-vaccination seem to be nearly five times lower in people who have already been vaccinated than the other variants," she said.
Further, Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, ex-Head Scientist of Epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR, has also expressed concern over the reports that Delta Plus has reported pathophysiologic change and affecting different organs. Dr Raman says that it could transfer from cell to cell and would more likely produce neurological symptoms as a common manifestation.
So far India has reported 51 cases of the Delta Plus variant.
Delta Plus variant is a variant of Delta with an additional mutation -B.1.617.2.1.


Between the Lines: Why do some Wahhabis want the Ayodhya temple for Lord Ram?
Wahhabi preacher Salman Nadwi and others like him support the temple for Ram as a strategic retreat, citing the historical Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. But what exactly is this treaty?
A closer look at the DNA of Islamist groups based in Wayanad, some of which are supporting Rahul Gandhi's candidature.
Venomous propaganda by hatemongers aims to vitiate the atmosphere.
The Qatar issue has further escalated tension in the region.
The question is, why Bangladesh? The answer is simple.
The problem is that contrary to all evidence Salafi-Wahhabis refuse to accept that it is their own theology.
Why are Indian Wahhabis angry with Modi for promoting Sufism?
The PM is the only political leader in India who understands the dynamics of the Muslim problem.
The answer lies in a book called 'Taqwiat-ul-Iman' (Strengthening Faith), written in 1820s, by a famous Indian preacher, Shah Ismail Dehlvi.


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