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Competitions & Social Networks
Deletion of Copyright Metadata
How Does a User Know Who Owns an Image?
The Orphan Works Problem
A significant problem with social networks is that many of them actually delete copyright information from uploaded digital content. Without this metadata information (and a watermark), images that are shared and re-shared, ad infinitum, across the web become "orphans", i.e., losing all ability to have identifiable ownership.
Images contain metadata, i.e., information about the photograph such as when it was taken, the lens used, and the name and contact information of the author. This latter item, the name of the photographer, is part of the copyright metadata, and usually this will be accompanied by another piece of information, the copyright status, e.g. copyrighted and all rights reserved.
This copyright information is embedded in the photograph, and although not displayed can easily be revealed by a tool such as Jeffrey's EXIF viewer.
Digital copyright metadata is the equivalent of an artists' signature on a painting or the authors' name on a book It is an artists' moral (and legal) right to be identified as the author of their work. To remove the authors' name from a creative work is a dishonourable practice, at best, and contravenes the law in many countries. Below is an excerpt from Title 17, Chapter 12, of the US Code related to Copyright Law.
§ 1202 . Integrity of copyright management information
(b) Removal or Alteration of Copyright Management Information. — No person shall, without the authority of the copyright owner or the law —
(1) intentionally remove or alter any copyright management information,
(2) distribute or import for distribution copyright management information knowing that the copyright management information has been removed or altered without authority of the copyright owner or the law, or
(3) distribute, import for distribution, or publicly perform works, copies of works, or phonorecords, knowing that copyright management information has been removed or altered without authority of the copyright owner or the law, knowing, or, with respect to civil remedies under section 1203, having reasonable grounds to know, that it will induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal an infringement of any right under this title.
Unfortunately the practice of removing copyright metadata is common. Twitter and Instagram automatically remove embedded copyright metadata from all images. You can expect nearly the same from Facebook. The result is that when a user shares or downloads your image, it becomes an "Orphan Work", a work whose author is unknown. There are millions of orphan works created each day in this way and they are subject to considerable abuse. In the UK, it is now possible to use these orphaned works commercially. The US is considering ways to do the same.
Protect Yourself
Embedded Metadata Manifesto published a survey of social media and image hosting services (OSPs) that remove metadata from images. Study it and learn who is doing what to your image metadata.
To learn about metadata standards and digital asset management, visit Controlled Vocabulary and the IPTC (Click the Standards menu item.)
How You Can Help
At present, various associations and campaign groups are pressing for legislative action to give regulatory authorities the power to require that OSPs (Online Service Providers) preserve copyright metadata. You can help. A first step would be to support the Embedded Metadata Manifesto!
Multiple Terms and Conditions
Some competitions require entrants to upload their creative works through services such Facebook, Google+, Flickr, Twitter, etc., etc.
One of the problems with this approach to running a competition is that the entrants' creative works are not just subject to the terms and conditions of the competition. They also become subject to the terms and conditions of the social network through which the entrants' creative works are being uploaded.
In addition to being subject to the terms and conditions of the social network at the time of uploading the works, they will also be subject to future changes to social networks' terms and conditions. These can happen at any time and are normally applied retrospectively. This means that it is impossible to be entirely certain about how creative works submitted to competitions will be used in future by the social network and its partners. Even if their T&Cs were fine today (and at present we know of none that comply with the Artists' Bill of Rights) there is no guarantee that they would remain so.
These concerns mean that we cannot recommend any competition that requires entrants to upload their creative works through a social network. Competitions should arrange that entrants upload works directly to the promoters bespoke competition website, this ensures the entrants' works will only be subject to one set of terms and conditions, i.e. the competition organisers. This ensures clarity and simplicity. It is possible to promote the competition via a Facebook page to engage with your community. It is also possible, by means of a customised Facebook page, to display competion entries that are hosted on the competition website.
While we will not go into detail about the various social network terms and conditions it should be noted that they all have terms of service that claim extensive rights to use any content uploaded to them, including passing on such rights to third parties. They all claim more rights than those set out in the Artists' Bill of Rights which is yet another reason why competition submissions should not be uploaded via social networks.
However, the competition may be promoted via social networks to engage with potential entrants, but uploading of competition submissions should not be routed via social network services or file sharing sites.


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Toyota 5EFE Distributor Seal Kit for distributors 19050-11010 and 19050-11011
Kit contents.
(1) Internal Bearing (1) External O-ring (1) Internal shaft oil seal (1) Cap to Distributor gasket seal (1) Replacement shaft pin
Applications include the following vehicles. Please check your specific motor prior to purchasing.
1992-95 Toyota Paseo Base 5E-FE - L4 - 1.5L - Gas
Major Applications:

subset: commoncrawl


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Introducing Square for Retail: A full POS system to help retailers run their business
Toronto, ON – January 19, 2021– Today, payments and point-of-sale company Square announced the launch of Square for Retail, a new full POS system to help retailers reimagine their operations and better run their businesses. Square for Retail simplifies two aspects that retailers without a tailored POS find overly time-consuming and complicated: selling anywhere and managing their inventory.
"Many retailers have rushed online with in-store selling restrictions. The real difficulty in selling online for any retail business owner is not just being able to accept an order, it's that sellers must digitize their entire operations to do so," said Alyssa Henry, Seller Lead at Square. "Square for Retail gives business owners an easier way to digitize their retail operations so they have a firm handle on their inventory and are ready to reach their customers online or in-store amid COVID-19 and long after."
Ginette Matthews, owner of The Local Refillery in Vancouver, opened the zero-waste grocery store and cafe in February of 2020, a mere six weeks before COVID-19 forced the store to temporarily close. With much of her inventory made up of bulk goods, Matthews required an inventory management solution that could accommodate individual items while also tracking bulk items by weight. With these complex needs, and a heavy reliance on in-person transactions, the store faced challenges that Square for Retail helped to solve.
"Square is very key to our business, particularly when it comes to inventory management, because we sell many bulk items, and therefore need to be able to track these by weight rather than by unit," said Matthews. "The integration with our online store has also been invaluable. At the start of COVID we were taking orders by email, but the online system has enabled us to be able to turn around orders within two hours. This never would have been possible without Square."
Square for Retail's seamless integration with Square Online lets retailers sell online, in-store and on social, while the inventory management tool lets them print barcode labels, track inventory across locations, create reports and manage purchase orders. The all-in-one POS also provides real-time insights into inventory performance, tracks costs and monitors profits. Retailers can get started with Square for Retail free.
About Square
Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) builds tools to empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. Sellers use Square to reach buyers online and in person, and to manage their business. Square has offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Spain and the UK. More information about Square is available at square.ca.
SOURCE: Square, Inc.


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Our mission is to ensure public safety in Santa Cruz County. We accomplish this through open communication and collaboration with our community as well as continuous professional development of staff to address crime and promote innovative corrections solutions
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office has a proud history of aggressively attacking crime in a proactive and timely manner. We strive to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity, and we are committed to the proper treatment of those in custody. We are also committed to developing and applying community-based policing and problem-solving techniques. To this end, we augment our use of time-tested police and corrections methods with innovative approaches to community protection and involvement.
If the above link does not work, please go to the App Store on your device and search for "My Santa Cruz County" to download the latest version.


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1500 series desiccators are single and multi-chamber cabinets designed for storing humidity-sensitive samples products, and electronics in a clean, dry and oxygen-free environment. When used in conjunction with a nitrogen purge control unit or any inert gas purging, you can control relative humidity and oxygen level down to 1% and eliminate the oxygen-related degradation of samples.
- ¼'' Thick Clear Acrylic.
- Ideal for general purpose processing but can be damaged by alcohol and some cleaning agents.
- Overall Dimensions: 48'' W x 24'' D x 60'' H
- Stainless steel door frame and door hinge.
- Stainless steel wire rack for shelving. A pair of wire racks is needed for each chamber and are optional if there are no shelves.
- Metal lift-and-turn latch.
- Single-piece Santoprene seal.
- Door Opening: 22.375'' W x 10.1875'' H
- Internal Usable Space: 22.125'' D x 11.75'' H


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#10: Are The Issues The Issue?
:Eco-defense strategy and insurrection; "Desert" review; prisoner updates
Listen to the Episode — 55 min
Building on our previous exploration of insurrectionary anarchism, our tenth episode examines how these ideas apply to environmental struggles today, as we share excerpts from a debate about "The Issues Are Not The Issue," a critical discussion of tactics and strategy in eco-defense movements. We also take a look at Desert, an anarchist analysis of climate change and the possibilities for resistance in a world of ecological disaster, as well as sharing updates from prisoners, news from global uprisings, more reading recommendations, and more. {September 19, 2013}
Notes and Links
The debate we excerpted in this episode was catalyzed by "The Issues Are Not the Issue", a pamphlet that circulated at the Earth First! Rendezvous in July.
Panagioti referred to several past and present campaigns, including the successful fight to stop the Primate Products vivisection lab, the campaign against biotech company Scripps, the efforts to stop the construction of a nuclear power plant in Levy County, Florida, and the "SHAC model" for campaign organizing. He also referred to the famous 1999 WTO protests in Seattle and the anti-FTAA demonstrations in Miami in 2003.
Neal mentioned the ZAD land occupation in France, as well as the North American "free state" land occupations - specifically, check out the Minnehaha Free State and the Cascadia Free State.
The discussion of campaigns and insurrection in Greece mentioned the anti-gold mining and anti-landfill campaigns.
Some of the theoretical ideas that came up included anarchist critiques of the left, biocentrism, criticisms of green capitalism and technology, and of course insurrectionary anarchism.
"Desert", our Chopping Block review, as well as "Down With the Empire, Up With Spring!", a previous text that informed its analysis.
As we mentioned, we're looking for more Ex-Workers to help with the podcast: writers, contributors, audio engineers, researchers, and correspondents. if you want to get involved, get in touch at podcast [at] crimethinc [dot] com.
The brand new CrimethInc "After the Crest" reports, which we'll discuss in our next episode, on the how social upheavals swelled and receded in Oakland, Barcelona, and Montreal.
Anarchist prisoner Sean Swain's essay "Days of Tear Gas, Blood, and Vomit" is one of the most entertaining and inspiring pieces we've read recently.
Anarchist perspectives on Syria: an interview with a Syrian anarchist, and statements from the First of May Anarchist Alliance and the Wingnut Anarchist Collective in Richmond, Virginia.
From issue #39 of Hors Service (roughly, "Out of Service" or "Out of Order"), a Belgian insurrectionary newssheet: an article translated into English, or the full issue in the original French or Dutch. UPDATE: Issue #40 has just come out, though we haven't found any English translations yet.
Statement from Pelican Bay prisoners announcing the suspension of the hunger strike
Audio statement on Running Down the Walls 2013, from United Freedom Front prisoner Jaan Laaman
Statement from grand jury resistor Jerry Koch, who you can write to at this address:
Gerald Koch #68631–054
MCC New York
150 Park Row
New York, New York 10007 -
Prisoners with upcoming birthdays:
Brian Church #2012–0519002
Cook County Department of Corrections
Post Office Box 089002
Chicago, Illinois 60608Brian McCarvill #11037967
Snake River Correctional Institution
777 Stanton Boulevard
Ontario, Oregon 97914–8335
Note: Must have hand-written, non-post office box return addressJorge Cornell
Piedmont Regional Jail
PO Drawer 388
Farmville VA 23901–0388Justin Solondz #98291–011
FCI Loretto
Post Office Box 1000
Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940Joshua Stafford #57976–060
2240 Hubbard Road
Youngstown, Ohio 44505
Note: Address card/letter to Skelly.Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin #99974–555
USP Florence ADMAX
Post Office Box 8500
Florence, Colorado 81226Greg Curry #213–159
Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd
Youngstown OH 44505–4635


text: WinCapWEB Employee Self-Service is used by Greece Central School District employees to access their payroll information, deductions, leave balances, and attendance. To access an established account, type in your user name and password to review your personal information. If you forgot your password, please select "Forgot Password" from the WinCap login box at left. A message will then be sent to your Greece email account with a blue embedded link to reset your password.


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C-Level View | Feature
"The CMS became the IMS became the LMS became…"
A few short years from now, what will we tell our children about the storied past of the LMS? What will it become? In the 1990s, the course management system (CMS) emerged to help faculty manage their courses through the Web. The name morphed to IMS (instructional management system), and then to LMS (learning management system).
Historical LMS/ePortfolio Distinctions
Under any name, though, the LMS was always distinctly different from another promising technology: electronic portfolios.
- The LMS is course based; ePortfolios are learner-based
- The LMS is faculty-centered; ePortfolios are student-centered
- LMS content disappears after the course; ePortfolio content persists
- An LMS is 'owned' by the institution; ePortfolios are owned by the student
- The LMS supports the status quo; ePortfolios anticipate the future
In past conversations I've had with educators, it seemed to me that the LMS almost always took on the reputation of a "necessary evil." Still, there was no sign of this technology going away. And ePortfolios, it seemed, held the place of a minor player on the stage of education technology. But all that is starting to change.
A Culture Change Puts the Focus on Learning
As part of the general cultural shift to a dominant knowledge economy driven by information technologies and attendant changes in expectations of college graduates, the conversation about higher education has also changed. In this conversation, the trend now is away from teaching to learning, from learning in an academic course to continuous learning, and from classroom-centric to learning-centric designs; away from tools for the individual learner to social learning, from lecture to activity, from artificial to authentic, and from testing to evidence. It makes one wonder if we will retain, over time, the word instruction, or even education? Or will we just use the all-encompassing term learning?
These cultural trends and the demands of the knowledge economy lead educators to recognize the values of the ePortfolio over the LMS--especially considering the commonly held understanding of the distinctions between the two technologies as outlined above. The LMS is the legacy technology; the ePortfolio is the anticipatory technology.
The trends we're seeing now toward a focus on learning and on the learner provide a context for understanding the significant shift in how these two technologies are evolving and realigning: LMS and ePortfolio technologies appear to be in the early stages of a major re-imagining.
Sakai OAE: New Directions
Sakai's OAE (Open Academic Environment; formerly "Sakai 3") provides an excellent example.
- In OAE, all users--students and faculty--have equal privileges, except within the more discrete "membership" category of a course (one can have dozens of memberships, all treated equally)--but even there, the instructor has only slightly more weight.
- The new architecture behind Sakai OAE is "learning centered," that is, not course centered.
- OAE easily incorporates apps, plug-ins, and widgets. Within rSmart Academic (based on OAE with extra functionality), you'll find a kind of "app store" with technologies that can be incorporated into the institutional instance of OAE. [See http://www.rsmart.com/sakai/sakai-3 for more about rSmart's version of OAE.]
- Content can be placed in a library that can be shared on campus with all or with a select group. The library persists over time and thus takes on the nature of a local OER (Open Educational Resource) repository.
- Through one's "profile," users can now create an "almost-ePortfolio." The profile, however, can immediately be used for promotion and tenure documentation.
- New features are being added that will flesh out the ePortfolio capabilities as OAE continues to be developed by the community.
The LMS and the ePortfolio: Removing the Distinctions
Sakai OAE now encompasses the learner's life and at least potentially all learning. It reflects the fact that the culture now owns learning--and OAE can manage ambient learning, not just parsed blocks of learning tied necessarily to a particular program or course. Probably the most profound statement that OAE makes epistemologically is that "knowledge," as in the libraries and in the Piazza discussion forum, is a continuing process. Knowledge is not a thing that can be chopped into discrete segments as in the classic course structure but is, instead, a flow. These new directions of OAE technology, to the extent they indicate a broad trend, are beginning to overturn the stark distinctions between the LMS and the ePortfolio mentioned above.
The rSmart instance of the Sakai OAE in particular actually completely eliminates the old distinctions between LMS and ePortfolio. By enlarging the problem space almost infinitely (because it's open to including apps from the Web), it is more than the sum of LMS and the ePortfolio, but something much larger.
What we see in all this is a conceptual breakthrough in LMS thinking that brings the LMS closer to the epistemology behind ePortfolio technology. This new thinking--and I know it is not limited to the Sakai development community--is a watershed moment in the history of education technology. We see both the influence of the social Web and of our accumulated knowledge about learning in this new architecture.
Playing Out the Future of Learning Technologies
OAE is a new part of the larger trend and cultural focus on learning, that at least in the rSmart instance completely eliminates any vestige of the old LMS-ePortfolio distinctions. Some other LMS providers also have incorporated an ePortfolio system and, in some of these multi-centered systems, LMS features and ePortfolio features overlap, content is available for both purposes, and we again see less of a distinction between the LMS and the ePortfolio. Some traditional ePortfolio systems have, as well, added LMS capabilities.
Still, we're at the beginning of a transitional process. I learned during a demo of rSmart Academic a couple of weeks ago that OAE does not yet have the learning outcomes backend that Sakai CLE has. It is still evolving. That's why NYU, University of Michigan, Indiana University, Berkeley, Cambridge, and Charles Sturt University (AU) still use CLE even while they pilot OAE.
And, as is often the case, the technology, and our attendant understanding of learning are ahead of academic practice. For intelligent comment on this phenomenon, see a recent article by Randy Bass entitled "Disrupting Ourselves: The Problem of Learning in Higher Education" at https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/cndls/2012/03/29/article-by-randy-bass-published-in-educause-review/
And while it's not a clear-cut path to the engagement of the LMS and the ePortfolio to support learning, the trend toward unified systems that better fit the cultural conditions I mentioned above is well under way.
The move from the traditional LMS of the past 15 years toward architectures represented by Sakai OAE also coincide with other major new movements in our culture such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and badges. If the traditional course and the traditional academic curriculum are no longer the "primary center" of learning, as Bass claims, then the traditional design of the LMS can no longer be geared toward the course and the traditional curriculum. The LMS, like the ePortfolio will necessarily be geared toward the life-long learner.
What we used to call the education technology industry, but which now should be called "the learning technology industry," has wrestled with the terminology "LMS" and "ePortfolio" for a while.
Ramesh Sabetiashraf of RCampus said:
"During the development of RCampus, we were faced with a terminology dilemma. RCampus merged course management and ePortfolios, and a proper term for this combo would be 'Learning Management,' but the term 'LMS' is commonly used to refer to 'Course Management.' As ePortfolios gain acceptance as viable learning tools, and as new features in various solutions evolve to cover a wider range of learning activities, the industry needs a term that encompasses this broader view of learning. By redefining the LMS as the umbrella for various learning activities, we also embrace the emergence of new tools for learning." [Personal e-mail 5-8-12]
And, Heather Hiles, CEO of Pathbrite said:
"Students today like to think of themselves as whole people and not some composite of non-overlapping silos. Next-generation portfolios should reflect the whole person, enabling an individual to assemble and curate all of the digital breadcrumbs from a life's work and accomplishment into a single, beautiful expression of both achievement and possibility." [Personal e-mail 5-6-12]
I'm a long-time advocate of ePortfolios. I was Chair of the Board of the Open Source Portfolio Initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that resulted in OSP, the Open Source Portfolio, which became the ePortfolio platform within Sakai. I have waited a long time for the predominant learning technologies to support new learning designs. It seems the wait is over.
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Orijen Puppy 13kg
A complete dry puppy food, made from free-range chicken and turkey, nest-laid eggs and wild-caught fish. Contains 80% meat, 20% fruit and vegetables and 0% grain. Prepared from Canada's best and freshest ingredients to keep your puppy healthy and happy.
Age: Puppy Breed: All Food Type: Dry RRP: £69.98 Brand: Orijen
Flavour: Chicken
Main Ingredients: Fresh Chicken 20%, Dehydrated Chicken 15%, Fresh Chicken Liver 4%, Fresh Herring
Omega-3: 1.2%, Omega-6: 3%, Taurine: n/a mg/kg, Vitamin A: 18000 IU/kg, Vitamin E: 395 IU/kg
Nutritional Information (%) [?NutritionProtein: The best protein sources are good quality meat and fish.
Fat: Fats are essential, but too much can cause weight gain.
Fibre: Fibre is the part of plants that can't be digested, and provides some useful digestive functions.
Ash: The ash content of a food refers to the mineral content of a food, and is not something added as a filler as some believe.] (What's in Pet Food?)


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I offer comprehensive training which goes above and beyond to get you in the best shape of your life.
If you commit and do everything within my coaching program and don't see and feel noticeable results after 12 weeks I will refund you your entire investment. No questions asked, we just simply part as friends, not that I've ever had to give anyone a refund before.


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Fed up with the unpredictable cost of health insurance for his small business, Mike Sarafolean last year made a dramatic change: Instead of picking a plan to offer workers, he now sends them to a "private exchange" or marketplace where they compare and choose their own insurance. And the amount his company pays toward coverage is capped.
The move puts his St. Paul, Minn.-based company on the leading edge of a nascent trend that could shape how more employers offer and pay for their health benefits in the coming years. It is part of an ongoing evolution in job-based health benefits that is gradually shifting cost and responsibility to workers.
The private exchanges, mainly run by former insurance executives and employee benefit consulting firms, operate in more than 20 states.
While representing only a tiny fraction of workplaces, the movement may be about to grow: One of the nation's largest employer-benefits consulting firms — Aon Hewitt — said Wednesday it will launch an exchange aimed at large companies. It hopes to have at least 100,000 workers enrolled by early next year.
Proponents say the effort shields employers from unpredictable premium hikes because they will choose how much to increase their contribution each year and those amounts may be less than premiums actually increase. If so, workers would make up the difference.
Tempering such increases, proponents say, would be competition among insurers because workers would have a wider choice of plans, rather than the one or two currently offered by many employers.
"We're trying to create a retail marketplace that is competitive," says Ken Sperling, who is overseeing the Aon Hewitt effort. Employees would be able to choose among several carriers. "Insurers would have to compete for their business."
What about state-based exchanges?
Here's how different, state-based exchanges may operate:
The exchanges, which have some similarities to state-based programs mandated by the federal health overhaul law, also save employers money partly because workers, when given a variety of choices, are likely to choose less generous benefit plans, which will carry lower premiums, say proponents.
"Most companies are over-insuring their employees right now. We want to right-size that," says Curtiss Butler, chief marketing officer at Liazon, which also operates a private exchange.
Others, including Carmen Balber of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, caution that private exchanges potentially could be used by insurers to "cherry pick" employers with younger and healthier workforces. Balber also said private exchanges potentially could steer workers toward policies that have low premiums, but also high annual deductibles and other charges. Such policies are more profitable for insurers but can leave unprepared consumers on the hook for thousands in medical costs each year.
Private exchanges "absolve the employer from having any responsibility for providing benefits or getting a good deal for consumers," says Balber.
Frustrated By Double-Digit Premium Hikes
Sarafolean, CEO of Orion Corp. of Minnesota, which provides services for people with disabilities, doesn't see it that way.
Before he made the switch, Sarafolean said he had a limited number of insurance choices to offer his 70 workers: "I had to buy a plan that would make sense and fit for most people. Now they make choices that fit for them."
For the past few years, his company faced "double-digit premium increases every renewal." To slow those increases, Sarafolean said he had switched to a policy with large annual deductibles: payments of $4,500 by individuals or $9,000 by families before insurance began paying most medical costs. His employees also paid about $90 a month toward their premium.
A little more than a year ago, Orion received a 40 percent renewal increase, prompting him to move to Minneapolis-based Bloom Health, which set up private exchanges in Michigan, Minneapolis and Indiana.
Now, his company makes contributions ranging $125 a month for younger workers to $350 for older ones to special health reimbursement accounts, which workers then use to buy an insurance policy.
By making the change to a flat contribution and a private exchange, the company is saving 10 percent over its previous year's cost of insurance, he says. Many of his workers also spend less, he says.
He's not sure what he will choose in 2014, when the state-based insurance exchanges are set to open as part of the health care law approved by Congress last year. Initially, those exchanges are aimed at individuals and small companies that are shopping for insurance. States can decide later in the decade whether to open them to large businesses.
Sperling, who is overseeing Aon Hewitt's private exchange, compares the flat-payment change to one that gained speed in the early 1990s: Employers abandoning pensions in favor of offering workers 401(k) plans for retirement savings.
But just as 401(k) plans transferred the risk of market downturns to workers, the flat-payment model would shift risk to workers if rapidly rising health costs outpace increases in employer contributions.
"From a consumer point of view, it makes me nervous because as premiums go up, it's simply a mechanism to cost-shift," says Sabrina Corlette, research professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. "That said, if it allows a small employer to continue to offer insurance it's not a terrible compromise."
The model has been compared to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's proposal to cap government payments for future Medicare enrollees, giving them a set amount to buy coverage from private insurers. Under Ryan's plan, the government contribution would grow with general inflation, which is less than medical inflation, saving taxpayer dollars, but substantially increasing beneficiaries' costs, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Sperling says he expects most employers will annually set increases in their health insurance contributions to an amount approximating wage increases about 2 to 3 percent annually which are generally well below medical inflation. But he says the competition created by the exchanges will help slow medical premium growth.
Rejection For Health Conditions
Unlike most of the private exchanges, the Bloom Health model, which serves about 25,000 people, sends workers to buy their own policies on the so-called individual market, rather than through a group health policy.
However, insurers selling individual policies in most states can reject applicants with medical problems, a practice that will end in 2014 under rules in the health care law.
Bloom CEO Abir Sen says his company offers its services only in states where rejected applicants can qualify for special state-run, high-risk insurance programs, which generally cost at least 25 percent more.
Gabrielle Smith, a 16-year employee of Orion who has an auto-immune disease, worried that under Bloom she would be unable to get insurance "or it would be so in excess of what I could afford."
Smith, 48, did get coverage through Minnesota's high-risk pool and found that she still was able to lower her deductible by $1,500 a year compared with the former $4,500 deductible plan offered at Orion. She now pays $45 a month for her premium.
"I haven't heard anyone who is unhappy with the current insurance because it was all individualized," says Smith. "Some of the younger employees with no medical conditions (found low-cost plans that) don't require any money out of their paychecks."
Other private exchanges, including Buffalo-N.Y.-based Liazon, which serves about 25,000 employees in 23 states, and the new Aon Hewitt model send workers to group policies, which cannot reject applicants with health problems. The exchanges vary in other ways, too: While Bloom and Aon Hewitt offer a variety of insurers, for example, Liazon contracts primarily with one main health insurer in each region.
Aon Hewitt's model would offer only five different types of policies, ranging from high-deductible "bronze" and "silver" level plans to a high-end "platinum" plan with a broad network of doctors and hospitals and minimal consumer spending on deductibles or co-payments.
All the exchanges plan to collect revenue by charging employers a monthly fee, receiving commissions from insurers, or both.
It's unclear how the advent of state-based exchanges will affect programs such as Bloom, Liazon and Aon Hewitt, or whether there will still be a demand for their services by small businesses.
"As of 2014, why will the private exchanges be needed?" asks Paul Fronstin of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a nonprofit research group based in Washington.
On their websites, the private exchanges say what sets them apart from future state exchanges will be their level of customer service. By opening now, private exchanges also could be in a position to bid for contracts to run state exchanges, a move Sperling says Aon Hewitt would consider.
But Balber at Consumer Watchdog counters that the state exchanges may be better for consumers than private ones because states can choose to actively monitor the quality and cost of the insurers allowed to participate. In theory, private exchanges could do the same, but Balber is skeptical.
"To presume a private exchange is going to examine trends in premium increases and pressure insurers to lower prices is unlikely," she says.
Benefit experts say there is growing interest in the move to a flat payment model, dubbed "defined contribution." A March survey of very large employers by the HR Policy Association found that 36 percent are considering capping contributions for workers' insurance over the next 10 years.
Some firms already set a cap on contributions for retirees, Fronstin says. But he predicts that most employers will take a wait-and-see approach before changing their health coverage for current employees.
Aon Hewitt's Sperling says as the health system overhaul takes effect, most employers will continue to offer coverage to workers: "They're either going to stay in the game and be more requiring of their employees (around healthy behavior) or will look for a realistic exit strategy, which could be a corporate exchange."


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So, we scheduled ourselves a long weekend in this city laced with some 165 canals and linked by 1,281 bridges, on our return from Greece last spring.
What we found was that when the sun shines (as it did periodically during our stay) Amsterdam sheds its dark gray rain coat, and comes to life with a a colorful vibrancy! Let us take you on a tour:
The boat, pictured above, painted in the color of its famous Heineken beer cans and bottles, caused many heads to turn as it glided past.
Although the canals get all the tourist photos, I must say that the city's electric-powered blue and white trams should be getting equal billing. They are sleek, modern and so quiet that you must stay on guard for them as they can slide up behind you without much notice. . .well, other than a ding of their bells.
While we did our explorations on foot, we were tempted to hop aboard and take a 'tram tour' of the town. There are 16 lines in and around the city center and they always travel on the right hand track. Most pass near Dam Square (in the heart of the old town) before terminating at the Central Train Station.
If the architectural design isn't enough on the buildings, then the signage should catch your eye. I'll be showing you more of the art we discovered as we wound our way past the more than 6,000 shops that operate in the city in a future post.
We'd lucked out because the tulips were late bloomers this year so we actually caught them still in bloom . Of course with more than 600,000 bulbs in parks and public gardens here, it would have been difficult to miss them.
That is it for Travel Photo Thursday. Head over to Budget Travelers Sandbox for some more armchair travels today. Or to The Tablescraper on Friday for "Oh, the Places I have been"But before you do, I must thank Francesca at Postcard Pictures for tapping us to participate in this year's Capture the Colour Contest sponsored by Travel Supermarket. This post is our entry.
And now it is my turn to tap five other bloggers, inviting them to participate as well. So here I go:
Poppy at PoppyView, who's created a wonderful blog set in Crete.
Krista at Rambling Tart who illuminates Australia (and other wonderful places) in her blog.
Helen at Helen Tilston Painter who's introduced us to the wonders of art and travel.
Inka at GlamourGrannyTravels who has brought Turkey and Spain to life in recent years.
Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox who writes from South Korea – the hostess of
Travel Photo Thursday


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Lennox zoning systems in Omaha, Nebraska, have improved the way families utilize heating or cooling in their residences.
This control system works with your HVAC unit to provide different temperatures for up to four areas in your house. It uses zone dampers to open or close ducts to change airflow.
Utilizing a system to zone your house also enables you to change temperatures based on room usage or season. When it's cold you may want to set the temperature warmer for frequently used areas, such as your living room or kitchen. And keep occasionally utilized spaces, like a spare bedroom, cooler by controlling airflow.
This efficient method could also help lessen your utility bills throughout the year, especially when paired with a Lennox smart thermostat. Then, you can set your temperature from anywhere with a web-enabled device.
Want to discover additional options for controlling your family's comfort and home energy usage? Connect with the Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning experts at 402-509-5940 right now! We'll help you select the right system for your needs.
3 Advantages of a Zone Control System
A zoning system can provide many advantages for your residence, including:
1. Added control over your heating and cooling products
Enhanced control over your HVAC system, since you can select the temperature for specific rooms.
2. Improved energy efficiency
Better energy efficiency, since you only need to heat or cool the rooms you frequently use.
3. Improved satisfaction
Increased comfort, especially when you have family members who need different temperatures.


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MMShoes Better in Texas Scrunch Cowboy Boots in Brown
MMShoes Better in Texas Scrunch Cowboy Boots in Brown
Cowboy boots have taken the internet by storm this season, and these ones are a great pick! They add a sophisticated touch with their scrunch design, which pairs so well with slim-fit jeans or a midi dress.
- Size fit: True to size
- Pattern type: Solid
- Type: Boots
- Toe: Point toe
- Heel height: Low heels
- Heel shape: Block heels
- Material: PU leather /Wood sole
- Imported
- Product measurements:
Heel height: 2.5 inch
MMShoes has made a name for itself in European and Asian markets through footwear trade shows, In 2021, MMShoes started its journey to the US market. All products are crafted with high-quality materials and designs that have been well-received in European and Asian markets. MMShoes aims to provide fashionable and high-quality shoes at an affordable price to customers around the world.
Upgrade your footwear game with MMShoes and experience the perfect combination of style, quality, and affordability.


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"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1Tim 1:15)
In these few words, the whole purpose of the incarnation is summarized for us by the Holy Apostle Paul. As we look forward to the feast of the incarnation and the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is good to have this reminder of why it all happened. The "reason for the season", as they say, is not simply "peace on earth", giving presents to one another, and all the warm family and friendly togetherness (although these things are all good); the "reason for the season" is to remember that "God became man and dwelt among us", "to save sinners of whom I am chief."
When God created the universe and all that is in it, He saw that everything was good. He created man in order to be the pinnacle of all creation, the perfect embodiment of all that exists in the universe and the ruler over it. Through man, God would commune with His creation and through man all of creation would commune with God. For this high calling – to be the link between creator and created – man was first created.
However, as we know, man strayed from that calling by his own sin. Rather than ruling over all creation, man was made subject to creation – vulnerable to all the hardships and dangers within it. This change in place did not negate the high calling and purpose for which he was created, but it did result in many insurmountable barriers to the fulfillment of that purpose. In order to rescue man from this predicament in which he put himself, God has come to raise up again as many as will hear His voice and follow Him. And so, God, the creator, has become man in order to restore man, the creature, to his original place in the order of creation. The God/man Jesus Christ has come to save us, that is to restore to us our life of union and communion with God that was lost by our sin.
In the Gospel today, we heard an account of the healing of a woman who had been disabled, that is bent over and unable to stand erect, for 18 years. This healing illustrates for us the salvation that God has come to give to us. Just as this woman suffered and was crippled by a twisted and bent body, so also we are all crippled by a twisted and bent soul. The burden of our sins has weighed us down and though we may desire to reach up to God, it is not possible because our soul is bent so severely.
This woman had no ability to straighten herself or even to look up at another person, but Jesus seeing her condition came to her and spoke to her, raised her up by his word and blessed her with the laying on of His hands. He is the good shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep and when He sees one of His lambs caught in the trap of his sins, half dead and injured by the thorns of sin, He does not wait for the lamb to cry out for help, but makes the first move to come and free His lamb.
In this case, He spoke to the woman first, saying to her "Woman!" He did not say "Cripple" or "Monster" or "Sinner", but rather "Woman". With these words He reminds her that she is not merely some animal or some useless cast off, but she is a unique creation – a creation in the image of God. She is called not to look constantly at the dirt and dust of the world, but to look up to the heavens to search out the face of God. She is called not to be an outcast but rather to live in union and communion with God.
"By this word alone, the Lord restored her lost dignity. He then loosed her from her infirmity by his word and lastly He placed His most pure hands on her, to perfect [her]." He gives to her "first: a compassionate look; second: a word of power; and third: a loving hand." (St Nicholai of Ochrid)
This is the same thing that our Lord offers to us. He does not come in wrath to punish us, but He comes as a loving and compassionate shepherd to rescue us from our crippled state.
He first speaks to us, reminding us of the purpose for which we were created, restoring to us the dignity that we had cast aside in our sin and which was then stripped from us by the demonic tormentors. Jesus speaks to us calling us "Man" and "Woman" reminding us that we are not animals, we are not driven by instinct and passion, we are created with a high purpose and calling, that we do not look down at the earth but rather up towards heaven. In this way He restores to us our lost dignity – as a prince who had been captured, beaten down and enslaved by enemies is suddenly ennobled again by the memory of his birth and the reminder of what he was born to be.
Having reminded us of our calling and purpose, our Lord then frees us from the crippling hold of sin on us. He lifts the burden of our sins which we carry and heals the damage inflicted by our sins.
When we sin, it is not just that we disobey a law or break a rule; each time that we sin we inflict upon our soul a new and fresh wound and we pick up a stone which is then added to the load that we carry. This burden of stones weighs us down and holds us back from ascending towards heaven. Each injury that is inflicted weakens us and impairs us a little more so that our soul is constantly sapped of its strength. But simply by His healing word, Jesus removes this burden from us and heals our wounds making it possible to straighten up and to strive again towards that purpose to live in union and communion with Him.
But it is not enough to simply know of our calling and to strive towards it. No man, by his own power, can ascend into heaven and stand before the throne of God. We need help and so our Lord gives us what we need. He lays His hands upon us and fills us with His grace. It is this grace of God working in us that lifts us up from this world and which transforms us into the image and likeness of God.
The grace of God makes up that which is lacking in us and it is by this grace, this gift of God, that we are then able to pursue our calling and purpose. By using the grace that God has given us and by joining our labors to that grace, we can be transformed, we can be changed, we can become not only new, but perfect creatures rising to stand before God and to bask in the light and warmth of His presence.
With the help of God's grace, not only can we look up into heaven seeking the face of God but we can ourselves rise up to heaven and stand before Him living in union and communion with Him. This is our calling and our purpose; this is the reason for which we were created.
The "reason for the season" – that is the reason that Christ Jesus came into the world – is just this, to save all of us who suffer under the burden of sin.
He restores to us the dignity of our calling. He heals us with His word and delivers us from the burden of our sins and the injuries which they have inflicted upon our souls. He touches us with his hands and imbues us with His grace by which we are perfected and brought into union and communion with Him.
This is the purpose of the incarnation, the coming of the God-man Jesus Christ. God has come and dwells among us so that we might also live with Him.
"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief:" this is the true "reason for the season."
Posted with permission from Archpriest David Moser
St Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church (ROCOR)
Homilies: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/propoved/
Website: http://stseraphimboise.org
Priest Seraphim Holland 3010.
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This homily is at:
The original text, from Fr David's sermon's list is at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/propoved/message/427;_ylc=X3oDMTJxZ3U1MDRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzEwNjYwMDc4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA3NDU5OARtc2dJZAM0MjcEc2VjA2Rtc2cEc2xrA3Ztc2cEc3RpbWUDMTI5MjIyODk4NA--
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WHO – COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths linked to transmissible Omicron variant
Globally, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 reported over the past six weeks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There have also been an increase in deaths, but they have not been increasing at the same pace as the number of cases at the moment, notes the WHO.
In his opening remarks at the COVID-19 media briefing, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated: "Incoming cases will lead to more hospitalizations and deaths in the weeks ahead. There are many sublineages of the Omicron variant, notably BA.5, which is the most transmissible variant detected to date."
"As we have stated consistently, this virus will continue to evolve, and no matter what it throws at us, whether it is a new variant of one we already know or something completely different, we must be prepared. So all countries must be ready. Countries that have dismantled some parts of their pandemic response systems are taking a huge risk."
Dr. Tedros urged countries to address gaps in surveillance, immunity, workforce, supplies, and resilience. The waves of infection will continue, but we don't have to see the waves of deaths and hospitalizations. We are equipped with vaccines, tests, therapeutics, and public health tools that can save lives.


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Find out what's new in InnateDB
Start the tourInnateDB is publicly available database of the genes, proteins, experimentally-verified interactions and signaling pathways involved in the innate immune response of humans, mice and bovines to microbial infection. The database captures an improved coverage of the innate immunity interactome by integrating known interactions and pathways from major public databases together with manually-curated data into a centralised resource. To date, 18,780 interactions have been manually curated by the InnateDB curation team. The database can be mined as a knowledgebase or used with our integrated bioinformatics and visualization tools for the systems level analysis of the innate immune response.


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Realm Identity Stores Support
Since Payara Server 5.194
A security realm contains a collection of users with a password and the optional roles that are used to authenticate the users. Payara Server comes with a set of preconfigured realms(file, certificate, and admin) which can be specified in the deployment descriptor of web application but the web deployment descriptor allows only a single realm-name definition per module.
The Payara API provides a way to easily secure a web application with single or multiple realms in a portable way using the Jakarta EE Identity Stores which may register the non-existing realm in the server using the application defined configuration and mapped to Payara realms to authenticate the users. The realm identity stores are initialized by specifying any of the following annotations in a valid place as defined by the Jakarta EE Security API.


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Ready to beat the heat? Our Avery Dennison HP Pro Window Tint Kit for Chevrolet S-10 2001-2005 4 Door is the ultimate solar performance solution. Looking for a little extra protection from the sun's harmful rays? Our Precut Window Tint Kit with Avery Dennison Pro Series Window Film has got you covered. Say goodbye to glare and hello to style with our Avery Dennison HP Pro Window Tint, featuring optimized metallized polyester and color-stable dye for ultimate performance. Featuring a broad range of light transmission levels from 5, 15, 25 to 37% VLT. Our Precut Window Tint Kit with Avery Dennison Pro Series Window Film is designed specifically for your , so you'll get a perfect fit every time. Avery Dennison HP Pro High-Performing automotive window films are the ultimate solution for car enthusiasts who want the best. With exceptional solar performance and a stylish, modern look, you'll love the way your car looks and feels. Don't wait, get the perfect tint job for your with our Precut Avery Dennison Window Tint Kit now. 0
When you're looking to add cool and comfort to your ride, you're looking for Avery Dennison HP Pro Series Hybrid automotive window films — even if you don't know it yet. Specially formulated for keeping car interiors safer from the harmful sun, this HP High-Performance Pro Series Hybrid tint is a metal and dyed hybrid window film. HP Pro Series Hybrid Window Film gives you a warm charcoal look with rugged, 2-ply construction. Best of all, unlike non-reflective films, HP Pro Series tint actively rejects solar radiation keeping your vehicle's interior cooler without requiring you to turn on your AC.
Window tint films are classified by the amount of light they allow in, by percentage. A 5% tint is much darker - and almost universally illegal on passenger vehicles - than a 50% tint. Factory tints on rear windows tend to be in the 50-70% range, so buying something on the lighter side might not actually accomplish what you are going for.
Avery Dennison's HP High-Performance Hybrid Series window films are available in the following VLTs:
Unlike non-reflective window tint, this metalized and dyed hybrid actual reflects light and rejects heat. Here are the reflection percentages for each type of HP Pro Series films we carry:
Another great feature of these HP Pro Series Hybrid Films is that they are engineered to be as easy to apply as they are to remove. No more scraping and using harsh chemicals. Just heat and peel away when it's time to replace or if you want a different VLT. Best of all, this HP Pro Series Hybrid auto film provides excellent shrinkabillity and dot matrix fitting.
Avery Dennison HP Pro Series Hybrid precut window tint kits are produced using the latest in computer-aided-design technology and cut on flatbed plotters for precision. And, since we cut this film to fit specifically for your year, make and model you can count on saving precious time and money as compared to bringing it to a shop or attempting to tint your windows using an uncut sheet or roll of film. Best of all, we offer you the most selection and choices you'll find anywhere on the web or in a shop. Choose only the tint you need and get it in any combination of VLT you can imagine.
Our intuitively designed, graphical user interface makes ordering the kit you want so simple that even a child could do it. Once you have made your selection using our convenient drop-down make, model and year menu you will see a schematic diagram representing all of the windows of your vehicle. Click into the product options and you will be presented with a graphic that represents each section of your vehicle's window tint in 5%, 15%, 20%, 35%, 40% or 50% VLT. You can also choose not to order a specific sections in case you don't need them or already have them tinted. In other words, you can choose 15% for the front windows and visors, 40% for the back windows, 35% for your cargo windows and nothing for your rear windshield all by using color coded pictures!
We've not only made it incredibly easy to choose your window tints by section and shade we've also made it simple to get the tools you need to install your kit in no time. That's right, we offer a professional Gila installation kit at a deep discount when you purchase it with your precut window tint kit. Every professional application kit includes a spray bottle pre-filled with specially formulated application fluid, a conqueror squeegee, an Olfa-style razor blade and a micro-fiber, lint free cloth. We also offer a wide range of additional window tinting tools la carte in case you need a Lil Chizler or Red Devil. Be sure to check out the guidelines for your state regarding window tinting laws and have fun with your tint choices!
Tinting windows can be hard but at Rvinyl we want you to know that we've got your back which is why your window tint kit comes with a three-year warranty against delamination, discoloration or bubbling. We are also proud to offer each window tint package that we sell with an optional Lifetime Warranty. What this means for you is that if you ever have a problem that's covered under the guarantee, even if it's ten years after your purchase, you can send us a photo and we will have a free replacement sent out the very next business day. We also offer Discounted Replacements in case anything should happen during or after installation that isn't covered under our warranty (such as a mistake on your part) simply because our reputation is only as good as your results. In addition to our unmatched warranties we also offer customer support via email, chat and phones to ensure that any questions you have will be answered as soon as humanly possible.
Unsure if you should tackle the job yourself? Learn more about the advantages of DIY window tinting.
Number of questions: 0
Have questions about the product? Ask your question here, and one of our experts will post an answer within 48 hours.


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NPR's ongoing investigation of the advanced stage of the fatal lung disease that afflicts coal miners has identified an additional 1,000 cases in Appalachia.
That brings the NPR count of progressive massive fibrosis, the most serious stage of the disease known as black lung, to nearly 2,000 cases in the region, all of which were diagnosed since 2010.
In the same period, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported just 99 cases nationwide. NPR's count is now 20 times what had been considered the official tally of the advanced stage of disease.
NPR contacted black lung clinics, physicians and attorneys across the country. Seventeen in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky provided data. Their diagnoses of advanced disease have not been independently confirmed. But the actual occurrence of disease is likely higher because many clinics across the region and the country were unable to provide data and because others didn't have data for the full 2010-16 time period.
NIOSH is surveying clinics and has also found astonishing rates of disease, according to epidemiologist Scott Laney.
"There's a great deal of evidence ... that definitively demonstrates that we are in the midst of an epidemic of black lung disease in central Appalachia," Laney said Thursday in Morgantown, W.Va., during a presentation before a National Academy of Sciences committee investigating efforts to control the coal mine dust that causes the disease.
Laney and a team of NIOSH epidemiologists have reviewed medical records and diagnostic X-rays at four clinics in Kentucky and Virginia and are continuing to approach clinics so that they can get an accurate count of PMF cases.
As part of that effort, Laney addressed an auditorium filled with coal miners, medical students, physicians and attorneys in Pikeville, Ky., in April.
"If we come to your town, there's generally something bad going on there," Laney told the crowd. "We're at the epicenter of one of the largest industrial medicine disasters that the United States has ever seen."
So far, Laney's team has published one study focused on a single clinic in Kentucky, reporting 60 cases there of advanced black lung.
Laney declined to reveal specific findings at other clinics until a new study is published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are also conducting an independent study of the spike in advanced black lung.
Black lung results from exposure to coal dust. PMF is an especially aggressive form of the disease blamed on inhalation of silica dust, which results from the cutting of quartz rock and coal together.
Laney's grim assessment Thursday at the NAS committee meeting was preceded by a much sunnier presentation from a federal regulator about the efforts to control coal mine dust.
Gregory Meikle of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said 99 percent of mining companies were complying with new and tougher dust exposure limits and more rigorous requirements for detecting dangerous levels of dust.
"The compliance rates are very impressive," Meikle said. "It's meeting the objective."
Meikle also acknowledged that black lung can take a decade or more to be detected or show symptoms.
"Have we eliminated the disease?" he asked. "That's a question and we won't know. But if we wait until we do know, it'll be too late to do anything about it. So we continue to look and analyze and work."
But Laney said the mining industry's compliance record has been high for at least a decade. There wouldn't be as much advanced black lung disease now, he suggested, if the compliance rates accurately reflected actual exposure to the coal and silica dust that cause advanced disease.
"I don't think there's any reason for me to believe that there's any exposure measurements on the books that can account for that level of impairment," Laney said.
A spokesman for the National Mining Association, the industry's main lobbying group, said there was no one available to comment.
Members of Congress have also expressed concern about the spike in disease. NIOSH, the Labor Department and the Department of Health and Human Services have responded with pledges to work together to get an accurate count of PMF cases and to assess the impact of more severe cases on the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which provides medical and wage replacement benefits to miners disabled by black lung.
Congress also recently provided the first budget increase for federally-funded black lung clinics in five years.
Those clinics across Appalachia report a growing flow of sick miners. In just three clinics in Virginia in the last four months, 84 miners were diagnosed with advanced black lung.


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Do you want a guy you admire featured in the "Men in the Movement" social media series by International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western Hemisphere Region?
With Father's Day coming up, we want to amplify your stories about men whose support, guidance, and commitment to social change is helping to build a better world.
Send a 500-800 word story to email@example.com by June 1st that explains who he is and what he's done that's so special. (Include a photo if you can!) The stories we receive will be posted throughout June to our blog, Facebook, and Pinterest.


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A new page has been added as a Collecting Guide for new stamp collectors.
We are continuing to add country details and
expanding the Stamp Identifier page with images and
symbols as a further aid to identification.
The International sets show a list of countries associated with
large international sets. Typically these sets have been issued to mark an important event, such as a coronation, royal wedding, olympic event and
other similar periods of interest to multiple countries around the world.
If you find it difficult to identify a stamp, try scanning it at a high resolution. This will give you more detail than using a magnifying glass.
The image below is an example of this, I could identify the stamp as Republic Dominican once it was larger.
If you do not have a scanner try photographing it.


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Original price was: £40.00.£30.00Current price is: £30.00.
Size A5 (14.81 x 21.01 cms) Year 2020
This is an En Plein Air Painting, hand painted live on the spot with Gouache Colours on on 250GSM Coloured Paper. This vibrant Landscape Painting is bound to get compliments and brighten up your home space. Perfect for your own home or to gift for a special occasion, like House Warming. The Ultimate Gift for any Art Lover or Art Collector! It comes with the certificate of authentication stating it is an original piece of artwork and only one of a kind, signed by yours truly Gunja Bhatt (aka Artist Gunja).
– UK – Royal Mail 1st class ship within 1-3 business days.
– International – Royal Mail International signed and tracked 3-11 days, Kindly note, due to current situation It may take 2 to 8 weeks for the international shipping arrival at your shipping address.
– It has been fixed with fixative material and comes with 8×10 inches white mat, so simply slide in any 8×10 inch photo frame of your choice to hang on wall.
– Due to the different computer monitor calibrations or other factors, colours may differ slightly from the pictures as shown.
If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Instagram or Email me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
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45" Rayon - Liriope Border - Brown Bark
$ 14.00
45" Stamped Batik Rayon.
Liriope is a border design that runs along one selvage edge. The border motif measures approximately 13"-14" from the selvage edge. The remaining portion of the design is hand dyed.
These fabric designs are perfect for longer garments, jackets, skirt, and basically everything!
When planning yardage know that our minimum cut is one yard. Use the drop down button to identify the yardage you would like. Remember, we will always cut continuous yards!
Click to View All shades of Liriope


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...one of the most highly
regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the
— Herb Sutter and Andrei
Alexandrescu, C++
Coding Standards
is implemented by calling
the function hash_value
The namespace isn't specified so that it can detect overloads via argument
dependant lookup. So if there is a free function hash_value
in the same namespace as a custom type, it will get called.
If you have a structure library::book
, where
each book
is uniquely defined
by it's member id
namespace library { struct book { int id; std::string author; std::string title; // .... }; bool operator==(book const& a, book const& b) { return a.id == b.id; } }
Then all you would need to do is write the function library::hash_value
namespace library
std::size_t hash_value(book const& b)
<int> hasher;
return hasher(b.id);
And you can now use boost::hash
library::book knife(3458, "Zane Grey", "The Hash Knife Outfit"); library::book dandelion(1354, "Paul J. Shanley", "Hash & Dandelion Greens");boost::hash
<library::book> book_hasher; std::size_t knife_hash_value = book_hasher(knife); // If std::unordered_set is available: std::unordered_set<library::book,boost::hash
<library::book> > books; books.insert(knife); books.insert(library::book(2443, "Lindgren, Torgny", "Hash")); books.insert(library::book(1953, "Snyder, Bernadette M.", "Heavenly Hash: A Tasty Mix of a Mother's Meditations")); assert(books.find(knife) != books.end()); assert(books.find(dandelion) == books.end());
The full example can be found in: /libs/container_hash/examples/books.hpp and /libs/container_hash/examples/books.cpp.
Tip | |
When writing a hash function, first look at how the equality function works. Objects that are equal must generate the same hash value. When objects are not equal they should generate different hash values. In this object equality was based just on the id so the hash function only hashes the id. If it was based on the object's name and author then the hash function should take them into account (how to do this is discussed in the next section). |


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"Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien" - Voltaire |
Last Wednesday this weblog reported on one of the latest cases in which a national court in Europe decided to stay the proceedings before it and refer some questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling --Case C-657/11, Belgian Electronic Sorting Technology, a reference from the Hof van Cassatie van Belgie. Not knowing anything about the facts of the original dispute, the Kat appealed to readers to help him out. First to respond was Stephen Vousden, with a very full and helpful description of the background to the dispute. Explains Stephen:
"The parties in the case each design, make and sell sorting-machines which use laser technology. The claimant company, Belgian Electronic Sorting Technology, was set up in 1996. Its various machines were named: Helius, Genius, LS9000, and Argus. In 2008, it also registered the word BEST as a Benelux trade mark.
The defendant company was set up in 2004 and in 2007 registered the domain name www.bestlasersorter.com . The content of the website, together with that of www.bestlaser.com was identical to the content found on the defendant company's more usual websites of www.visys.be and www.visysglobal.be . In the metadata of the defendants' websites were the words 'Heliussorter, LS9000, Geniussorter, Best+helius, Best+genius, ... Best nv,' - words which refer back to the claimant's identity and products.For the sake of completeness, Stephen has also told the Kats that the Belgian courts revoked the claimant's Benelux trade mark registration of the word mark BEST for lack of distinctive character.
The claimant sued the defendants for misleading advertising contrary to the 1991 Belgian Trade Practices Act [Handelspraktijkenwet], and this was the matter which gave rise to the reference to the CJEU. Article 93(3) of the Belgian Trade Practices Act defines 'advertising' as 'any representation which directly or indirectly aims to encourage the sale of products or services irrespective of the place or the means of communication used'. This provision of Belgian law is to be interpreted in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Directive 2006/114/EC that define the concepts of 'advertising', 'misleading advertising' and 'comparative advertising'.
According to the appellate judges, neither the registration nor the use of a domain name constituted 'advertising' for the purposes of the Belgian Act for there was no 'representation'. The same reasoning applies to the metatags in the website metadata. A metatag is only ever a term incorporated into the programming language of a website that is recognised by a search engine. Metatags remain invisible to the user. A metatag is thus only a technical means of assistance that increases the chance of a website being displayed in the results of a search engine when searching for a specific word.
The question therefore arises of whether the term 'advertising' in Article 2 of Council Directive 84/450 ... relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising and in Article 2 of Directive 2006/114 ... concerning misleading and comparative advertising to be interpreted as encompassing, on the one hand, the registration and use of a domain name and, on the other, the use of metatags in a website's metadata?".
A kat-pat goes to Stephen for his kind assistance. Kat-pats also go to Nathan Waijsman and Jasper Groot Koerkamp for their contributions to this Kat's understanding.
The good is the enemy of the best here
The best is the enemy of the good here


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A simple, professional solution that streams live audio over a WiFi network direct to smartphones. Audio is live, with a low delay, suitable for live performances, audio from TV screens, cinema, translations, events, conferences and for hearing assistance, audio description and the like. An app is available for iOS and Android phones. A low-cost, compact (and lime green!) box is all you need. Even better, it's designed to work out of the box - no complicated network setup or technical knowledge is needed to get up and running.
Professional quality audio that exceeds smartphone users' expectations. Suitable for a wide range of applications - from TV sound to music
Allows for close-sync in TV audio applications, sound reinforcement, translation, hearing assistance, conferences and concerts
Works right out of the box in most applications. No complicated network setup or configuration. Just plug in your audio and go.
A LimeOnAir system in a venue might provide just one audio source - for example, audio from a TV screen on the wall. Or it might provide tens or even hundreds of channels. Each user can simply select the one they want to hear from the app. If you wish, you can give each audio channel a name, a description and even a small image or logo. Audio is sent and received using our own high-reliability, high-quality, low-delay protocols which are designed and refined for WiFi networks and for anything from tens to thousands of users with their own iOS and Android smartphones or tablets. This BYOD (bring your own device) model is one that we find customers welcome - after all they use their own Smartphone for everything else - and they get to use their own preferred headphones. It also frees venue staff from the hassle of charging, maintaining and looking after equipment and sanitizing earpieces and headsets.
Use LimeOnAir anywhere you need to stream audio content to visitors - direct to their smartphones and tablets. Use it for TVs in bars and restaurants or at the gym - so you can keep the sound turned down low or muted, but customers who want to listen can. Or in venues with multiple TVs showing different channels or events, they can choose what to hear. In Cinemas and Theatres, it's perfect for hearing assistance, language support and audio description. At conferences and events LimeOnAir allows you to offer translations, sound reinforcement and alternate audio sources. Let fans at sporting events hear what the commentators are saying live… use it in tourism and for tour guides. Or bring audio to silent screens – for example in advertising or promotional applications. Distribute audio choices on public transport. The possibilities are endless.
You can use an existing WiFi router (or network) for smaller installations or those where you expect only a small percentage of visitors to use the system at any one time. For larger installations or those with more users, it makes sense to have one or more dedicated WiFi access points. At the smallest end of things, we even offer a single LimeOnAir encoder with a WiFi Access Point built in. The system scales well and so is suitable for anything from a small café or gym all the way up to a major conference centre or sporting arena.
Either way, our technology means that LimeOnAir is incredibly efficient and can support large numbers of visitors and audio channels.
LimeOnAir works straight out of the box. Plug your audio directly into the funky looking green box and switch on. That's all… your system will be working straight away and is ready for your visitors or customers to start listening from their app. Later you can personalise a little more. You can give your audio channel(s) a name, a description and even a small picture or logo which will show up on the user's phone. If you have more than one audio channel, just add an additional box for each one. Again, nothing more to do… just plug in your extra LimeOnAir units and turn them on. Your visitors will love LimeOnAir too... it's just so easy to download the app and be listening in seconds; and the quality is amazing!
Audio over IP is what we do.
LimeOnAir is the perfect solution for streaming to mobile phones.
Here are a few examples of the types of venues and locations where you might need the LimeOnAir system -
click on any example for a more detailed explanation. Of course there are many more.
We're here to help.
Ask us how we might work with you...
Want to know more about the LimeOnAir system? Please do get in touch. We're happy to advise and assist whether it's for a small, single channel installation, a chain of venues or just one big place!


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Re-Engineering Performance Management
Learn why traditional performance management systems are being disrupted, and how to improve them at your organization.
Traditional performance management systems are outdated and ineffective.
Companies have long participated in time-consuming performance reviews that have not yielded any clear improvements in performance.
We knew there had to be a better way.
Gallup has worked with clients to improve performance management for decades, but changes in the modern workplace have precipitated new, in-depth research over the past four years.
Now we bring you all the most useful insights to improve performance management, from leadership to the front line.
This research paper, Re-Engineering Performance Management, features:
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Only 2 in 10 employees strongly agree that their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work.
of employees strongly agree that their manager involves them in goal setting. Employees whose managers involve them in goal setting are
3.6xmore likely than other employees to be engaged.
21%of employees strongly agree they have performance metrics that are within their control.
The purpose of performance management is to improve quality of work, productivity and other business outcomes, but traditional approaches have consistently fallen short.
Discover our findings in the Re-Engineering Performance Management research paper.
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Read the Research Paper
Download Re-Engineering Performance Management to learn how to equip, inspire and improve performance in your organization. Gallup may contact you about your interest in this report.


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Indigo Nomad Cargo Denim is the perfect pant for men who are always on the go. Its cargo pockets offer extra storage space for small items. With its comfortable fit and modern style, you can feel confident and comfortable wherever you go.
Once the order is placed. The order is dispatched in 24 – 48 hours.
The product is delivered with in 3 – 5 working days from the product dispatch date. However sometimes it takes longer than usual.
Product purchased during Black Friday Sale, Clearance Sale or any other sale period will not be applicable for Return, Exchange, Refund or Store Credit on any conditions.
We offer returns and exchanges on our denims. You can opt for any one option mentioned below :
In-case, the size doesn't fit, you can opt for replacement. We will arrange a reverse pick up from your address.
If you wish to return but do not wish to purchase any item right away, you can opt for a store credit.
All shipments (COD & PREPAID) are eligible for a refund. 100% REFUND of product cost.


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BENCHMARK: Over the course of the last year, Morimoto was hard at work developing a new kind of LED bulb. It re-creates the original beam pattern from your optics effectively by doing more with less. They will put more light on the road for you as the driver, while creating less glare for oncoming traffic compared to any other LED bulb on the market today. While LED bulbs still aren't DOT approved for use in headlights in the states.. foreign markets and fog light users can enjoy the best plug n play LED bulb to date. The 2Stroke 3.0. (Patents Pending)
SUPERIOR BEAM QUALITY: The advanced PCB technology at the core of the 2Stroke 3.0 sets a new industry benchmark emission surface interval of just 2mm total. The PCB core itself is just 1.0mm thick. The dielectric layer: 300um. The circuit pattern: 140um, and the Osram Oslon HKL351.TE LED chips: just .43mm each. Paired with the 1.03 x 4.33mm light-emitting surface area of the LEDs: this adds up to a total cubic volume of 4.46mm. At the end of the day, no LED bulb in the world more closely simulates the filament size of an incandescent bulb more accurately than the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0.and for those in the know, this is critical when it comes to proper beam distribution.
OPTIMIZED FOCAL LENGTH: Each size in the 2Stroke 3.0 lineup has been painstakingly optimized for proper output in its designated application. The critical reference distance has been calculated based on the geometry of the bulb base and the footprint of the Osram HKL emitter. To ensure consistency, special tools were designed to quality-control the accuracy of each bulb as it comes off the production line. Most other LED fog light bulbs on the market use a 'set it and forget it' reference distance across all sizes in the series, which is not the case here.
360 DEGREES OF ROTATION: The 2Stroke 3.0 LED bulbs feature a fully adjustable base. In order to fully utilize the optical facets in any reflector or projector: The light emitting diodes must face the 3-o-clock and 9-o-clock positions. Since no single standard exists across different headlight and fog light assemblies, all bulbs in the 2Stroke 3.0 range are fully adjustable. A geared step rotational adjuster mechanism is installed for all bulbs which twist-to-lock, offering adjustability in 15-degree intervals. An omni-adjustable rotation mechanism is utilized on all bulbs that are press-fit or clip into the housing.
THERMAL MANAGEMENT: Once the bulb is installed, the high-speed fan contained within is completely sealed, making the 2Stroke 3.0 the first actively cooled LED bulb with a fan that's not susceptible to outside elements. Their unique internal circulation cooling system uses a 12,000-rpm cyclone fan to suck cool air into the body of the bulb and blow warm air out, back into the housing. On the intake side, cold air is sucked in past the sidewall of the PCB to exchange heat and is blown out the opposite side of the bulb. This effectively cools the bulb while warming the ambient temperature inside of the housing, increasing resistance to snow/ice buildup on the lens during the winter months. The cooling system on the 2Stroke 3.0 not only does it's job to protect the longevity of the bulb, but serves up a bad-weather benefit not found elsewhere. US Patent #11079090 (Click for Details)
DRL DRIVE: The LED Driver is configured to accept a wide range of input voltage, making them compatible with low voltage daytime running lights commonly found on modern vehicles. When the LED driver detects 6-9V of input: The system logic automatically switches to produce just 30% of the standard output. The low power drive rate of 250mA produces only 460lm per emitter and enables the 2Stroke 3.0 to produce a suitably low output volume as a daytime running light. In this mode, the cooling fan also shuts off to conserve power/lifespan. For vehicles with a PWM-based DRL signal, an inline PWM module that produces a clean DC6V will be required. The driver is completely potted, making it completely weather-proof. Note that the DRL-Drive function is only for use in non-US markets.


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An Effective SEO Consultant and Design service to enable increased enquiries and sales for your business
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By using an SEO Consultant you will save considerably more than using a company/agency. Our SEO Consultant has a wealth of experience in making sure you have a well managed campaign.


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Newly hacked technologies cause disruptions to public utilities
We've previously seen how certain automated transportation systems could be susceptible to cyber-attacks, and now we're seeing possible threats in aviation. The first incident took place when security researcher Chris Roberts tweeted messages that suggested that he was tampering with the in-flight systems of the 737/800 plane that he was on. This was followed by a DDoS attack on Warsaw's Okecie airport, causing delays that grounded more than 1,400 people flying with LOT Polish Airlines.
[Read: Mile High Hacking: Should You Worry?]
Routers were next. Our researchers observed an increase in attacks that used DNS changer malware that targeted home routers. Much of the detected infections were in Brazil, US, and Japan. Brazil took the lion's share of the infections, with 81%. These attacks aimed to steal personal information from the devices connected to home routers using malware.
[Read: DNS Changer Malware Sets Sights on Home Routers]
These attacks aimed to steal personal information from the devices connected to home routers using DNS changer malware. Like its name suggests, DNS changer malware changes the DNS of a router so that any device connected to it would load a malicious version of any website it tries to log into, including online banking websites. While DNS changer malware is nothing new, its significance continues to increase as homes and businesses become more connected to the Internet of Things.
[Read: DNS Changer Malware Sets Sights on Home Routers ]
Finally, in early April, an attack on French TV Network TV5 Monde crippled the company's network, disrupting all broadcasts for four hours. The attackers also took control of TV5 Monde's social networking accounts, using them to not only post propaganda but also reveal personal information of the relatives of French soldiers involved in military operations.
[Read: The TV5Monde Attack: Four Hours that Changed the World]
These incidents show that cybercriminals are looking past our desktops and mobile devices. They are expanding their targets to include public-facing infrastructure and gadgets we normally take for granted in terms of security.


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When tax season rolls around every year, many pet owners wonder if they can get a tax break for their furry companions – after all, "pet parents" often consider their fur babies to be as much a part of the family as actual children.
Pet expenses are big business in the United States. Charlotte NBC affiliate WCNC noted that Americans spent $109 billion on pets, pet services, and pet products in 2023. While the average pet owner won't qualify for tax deductions related to their pets, there are some exceptions worth exploring.
Service Animals and Medical Expenses
Service animals play a crucial role in the lives of individuals with disabilities, providing essential support and assistance. If you require a guide, service, or therapy animal due to a diagnosed medical condition, such as blindness, epilepsy, or anxiety, you may be eligible to deduct the cost of their care as a medical expense on your taxes.
This typically includes expenses like grooming, food, veterinary care, and training. However, it's important to note that your pet must be certified and trained as a service animal to qualify for this deduction.
Guard Dogs for Business Use
If you use a guard dog primarily for business purposes, you may be legally allowed to deduct the cost of their care as a business expense. While you CAN'T deduct the cost of purchasing the dog itself, you may be eligible to deduct expenses such as food, training, boarding, and medical care.
This deduction applies to expenses incurred during the dog's working hours and is limited to the dog's business-related activities. For example, you cannot deduct costs associated with traveling with your dog for personal activities like a family vacation.
Pet Fostering and Charitable Contributions
Volunteering with a service animal agency or pet rescue organization can also have tax benefits. If you foster pets in your home or on your property, you may be eligible to claim deductions for unreimbursed expenses related to their care. This includes the overall cost of food, shelter, veterinary bills, grooming costs, litter, and bedding materials.
These expenses typically qualify as charitable donations and are deductible up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.
Professional Breeders and Law Enforcement Handlers
Professional breeders and law enforcement dog handlers may also qualify for tax deductions related to their pets. Smart Asset notes that breeders can deduct expenses like food, medical bills, boarding costs, advertising, and other business-related expenses.
Similarly, law enforcement handlers may deduct expenses associated with maintaining a police dog, such as food and kennel expenses, if they're not reimbursed through their job.
The keys to claiming deductions for pet-related expenses are careful documentation and professional assistance. Keep detailed records of anything you spend on pet-related items – including receipts and invoices – to support your deductions. Whether your pet serves a medical or business-related purpose, your tax professional will need proper documentation to successfully claim the federal and state tax deductions to which you are entitled.
Although the average pet owner may not qualify for tax deductions related to their pets, there are certain circumstances where deductions may be available. By understanding the rules and requirements for each deduction category and maintaining thorough records of your expenses, you can maximize your tax benefits while providing the best care for your furry companions.
Remember, consulting with a financial advisor can provide valuable guidance and assistance in optimizing your complete tax strategy.


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Member Companies · Associated Insurance Agency of Westchester, Inc. in Armonk, NY · Comprehensive Insurance Brokerage, Inc. in Pelham, NY · Bruce Farnham Associates, Ltd
To contact Martha Quizhpi directly please fill out the following form as completely as possible. When finished, click the Submit button to send your contact request. You will receive a response from us shortly.


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Water or Coke?
Could not believe this..... Very interesting
#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population.)
#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.
#4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
#5.Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
#7.A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on
the computer screen or on a printed page.
#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast
cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?
#1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from
the highway after a car accident.
#2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.
#3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour,
then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
#4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
#5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
away the corrosion.
#6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
#7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.
Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
#8... To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.
#1. the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major
contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.
#2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) the commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place
cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
#3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean engines of the trucks for about 20 years!
Now the question is,
would you like a glass of water? or Coke?