text:
PORTLAND, Ore. — This summer has been one of the hottest on record for states across the U.S. For farmers, high temperatures mean much smaller harvests and smaller profits. Now, it's not just farmers feeling the burn. Shoppers may feel the pinch as food prices rise with a smaller supply of produce available.
For family farmers, that struggle holds even more weight. It's about keeping their family legacy alive.
Jacque Duyck Jones has been farming her entire life.
"Duyck Family Farm was established in 1907. I am fourth generation on this farm."
Every day growing up, this was her playground.
"Whether it was just riding along in a truck or riding along in a harvester in a buggy seat, it's kind of how it all began. I love farming. I love watching things grow," she said.
But with her love for berries, seeds, and other crops comes the struggle of helping them survive.
This year, that job on her farm outside Portland, Oregon became the toughest yet.
"We had the COVID-19 struggles and concerns with safety and processing. Coming into this year, though, everything was looking normal," said Duyck Jones.
The growing season was normal until a heatwave hit the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures soared above 115 for days on end.
"The heat and UV rays during those three extreme days," Duyck Jones described. "It pretty much just singed the fruit that was ripening."
Duyck Jones watched as her livelihood shriveled and died before her eyes.
"Every time we went to look, it was like more fruit was gone. Everything was out of our control," she said.
At least half of their crop for the year was destroyed in a matter of hours.
"It was really devastating. It didn't really hit me until my dad said we worked all year, you know, on this, that it just felt so heavy."
The berries they could harvest weren't the same. The berries were smaller than usual. For a producer who gets paid in volume, that was very hard for the family to hear.
Oregon produces 90% of the blackberries for the entire United States and in just 3 days, 77% of those crops in the Willamette Valley were destroyed by the heat, but it wasn't just the berries that were damaged. The heatwave hit almost all other crops and Christmas trees, especially.
Oregon is also the top producer of Christmas trees in the country, and Jacob Hemphill's family farm saw at least $100,000 in losses.
"It's a big number for a guy, you know, a small guy like me," said Hemphill. "It's been pretty stressful wondering what trees are going to make it, what trees aren't going to make it."
His seedlings, the trees people would buy years from now, were destroyed. He said the farm can hopefully make up for the loss by replanting next season, but it is always a gamble.
Many of his older trees were damaged too. Hemphill called the damage a "sunburn," some of which can be shaved off, so the tree can still be used this year. But, he said this heatwave will interrupt the supply chain in some way.
"It's going to make a shortage. You know, we were just kind of coming out of an issue where there was a shortage of trees, and now, it was looking better. Long term, yeah, they'll probably be a little hiccup in the road, but we're going to make it through for sure," Hemphill said.
All of these losses mean higher prices for the consumer. It is a tough reality these farmers face to make a living.
"It's tougher this year, but we have toughness," said Hemphill. "We've made it through it, you know, that's what we do."
Farmers like Hemphill and Duyck Jones are working with groups like the Oregon Farm Bureau to help them survive. Anne Marie Moss of the Oregon Farm Bureau said weather events like this heatwave this summer need to be covered in more state and federal aid programs.
"The light and heat loss isn't necessarily covered because the entire the entire vine or the entire plant wasn't destroyed," said Moss. "So, that might be an example of a gap that where it's not covered, so these people really need help."
Moss has dedicated much of her time to contacting legislative leaders, sharing farmers' stories and helping the community understand the incredible importance of preserving the specialty crops grown in Oregon.
Duyck Jones hopes people will see her passion for farming and support her family's work in any way they can.
"We're not just saying we need money. We're saying we need agriculture to be valued, supported, and I hope that when people are shopping and they see blackberries, that they buy USA," she said.
With more state and federal help and support from shoppers across the country, these producers hope their family legacies can outlast the extreme weather.


text:
Hello, I'm Lynn Jenkins, Congresswoman from the Second District of Kansas and Vice-Chair of the House Republican Conference. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Independence Day.
The spirit of 1776 is fresh in our hearts this weekend. America is at its best when it lives up to the blessings our forebears pledged everything to secure. Their ideas have survived and thrived because every generation has worked hard to expand the pursuit of happiness and ensure our children are free to live a better life.
Today these essentials of the American Dream are at risk. Last week, I spoke with hundreds of college students who are concerned they won't have the same opportunities their parents had. They find it hard to see beyond paying off their education, stretching to afford rent, and finding a job in this tough economy.
That's why, over the last few months, Republicans made every effort to stop interest rates on some student loans from doubling, as they unnecessarily did on July 1st. For too long, politicians have been in charge of setting these rates, and we keep coming back to cliffs and deadlines like this one. Paying for college is difficult enough without all this uncertainty. I have two kids in college, I know how hard it can be.
So in the spring, when President Obama proposed letting the markets set interest rates instead, the Republican-led House passed a bill reflecting his plan. Republicans in the Senate came to the table with similar ideas. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats attacked the president's plan, refused to work with us, and allowed this rate hike to take effect, leaving for the July 4th holiday without passing a solution.
Because of this inaction, millions of undergraduates who want to take out a subsidized Stafford loan are now being told they will have to pay an interest rate that's double what they were expecting. That's just not right.
You deserve a fairer approach, one free of politics that allows you to take advantage of lower rates and have more peace of mind. That's what we've been working on. In the House, we haven't just talked about it; we've actually passed it. Now we need the Democratic-controlled Senate to act.
On behalf of parents and students across the nation, I call on Senate Democrats to join with us and help pass bipartisan student loan reform when the Senate returns to work next week. And President Obama should do his part by urging his fellow Democrats in the Senate to work with us. We will not let up until they agree to do the right thing.
Thank you for listening, and God bless the United States of America.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alphabet Frieze
Learn the a-z, alphabetical order, the Aa-Zz pairs and the letter sounds. An excellent interactive teaching aid for finger-tracing, letter-spotting and discussion, featuring each the 26 Letterland characters. A great first frieze, perfect for pre-schools and nurseries. Mount in seven strips to form a large poster or in a full a-z line. Includes the long vowels. Please note that this is a fairly large frieze. It does, however, come in sections so that it can be spaced out.


text:
The quickest, best way to slow the rapid melting of Arctic sea ice is to reduce soot emissions from the burning of fossil fuel, wood and dung, according to a new study by Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson.
His analysis shows that soot is second only to carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. But, he said, climate models to date have mischaracterized the effects of soot in the atmosphere.
Because of that, soot's contribution to global warming has been ignored in national and international global warming policy legislation, he said.
"Controlling soot may be the only method of significantly slowing Arctic warming within the next two decades," said Jacobson, director of Stanford's Atmosphere/Energy Program. "We have to start taking its effects into account in planning our mitigation efforts and the sooner we start making changes, the better."
To reach his conclusions, Jacobson used an intricate computer model of global climate, air pollution and weather that he developed over the last 20 years that included atmospheric processes not incorporated in previous models.
He examined the effects of soot -- black and brown particles that absorb solar radiation -- from two types of sources. He analyzed the impacts of soot from fossil fuels -- diesel, coal, gasoline, jet fuel -- and from solid biofuels, such as wood, manure, dung, and other solid biomass used for home heating and cooking in many locations. He also focused in detail on the effects of soot on heating clouds, snow and ice.
What he found was that the combination of both types of soot is the second-leading cause of global warming after carbon dioxide. That ranks the effects of soot ahead of methane, an important greenhouse gas. He also found that soot emissions kill more than 1.5 million people prematurely worldwide each year, and afflicts millions more with respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and asthma, mostly in the developing world where biofuels are used for home heating and cooking.
Jacobson's study will be published in Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres).
Reducing soot could have immediate impact
It is the magnitude of soot's contribution, combined with the fact that it lingers in the atmosphere for only a few weeks before being washed out, that leads to the conclusion that a reduction in soot output would start slowing the pace of global warming almost immediately.
Greenhouse gases, in contrast, typically persist in the atmosphere for decades -- some up to a century or more -- creating a considerable time lag between when emissions are cut and when the results become apparent.
Mark Jacobson found that eliminating soot produced by the burning of fossil fuel and solid biofuel could reduce warming above parts of the Arctic Circle in the next 15 years by up to 1.7 degrees Celsius.
Jacobson found that eliminating soot produced by the burning of fossil fuel and solid biofuel could reduce warming above parts of the Arctic Circle in the next 15 years by up to 1.7 degrees Celsius. For perspective, net warming in the Arctic has been at least 2.5 degrees Celsius during the last century and is expected to warm significantly more in the future if nothing is done.
The most immediate, effective and low-cost way to reduce soot emissions is to put particle traps on vehicles, diesel trucks, buses, and construction equipment. Particle traps filter out soot particles from exhaust fumes.
Soot could be further reduced by converting vehicles to run on clean, renewable electric power.
Jacobson found that although fossil fuel soot contributed more to global warming, biofuel-derived soot caused about eight times the number of deaths as fossil fuel soot. Providing electricity to rural developing areas, thereby reducing usage of solid biofuels for home heating and cooking, would have major health benefits, he said.
Soot from fossil fuels contains more black carbon than soot produced by burning biofuels, which is why there is a difference in impact.
Black carbon is highly efficient at absorbing solar radiation in the atmosphere, just like a black shirt on a sunny day. Black carbon converts sunlight to heat and radiates it back to the air around it. This is different from greenhouse gases, which primarily trap heat that rises from the Earth's surface. Black carbon can also absorb light reflecting from the surface, which helps make it such a potent warming agent.
First model of its type
Jacobson's climate model is the first global model to use mathematical equations to describe the physical and chemical interactions of soot particles in cloud droplets in the atmosphere. This allowed him to include details such as light bouncing around inside clouds and within cloud drops, which he said are critical for understanding the full effect of black carbon on heating the atmosphere.
"The key to modeling the climate effects of soot is to account for all of its effects on clouds, sea ice, snow and atmospheric heating," Jacobson said. Because of the complexity of the processes, he said it is not a surprise that previous models have not correctly treated the physical interactions required to simulate cloud, snow, and atmospheric heating by soot. "But without treating these processes, no model can give the correct answer with respect to soot's effects," he said.
Jacobson argues that leaving out this scale of detail in other models has led many scientists and policy makers to undervalue the role of black carbon as a warming agent.
The strong global heating due to soot that Jacobson found is supported by recent findings of Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a professor of climate and atmospheric science at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, who measures and models the climate effects of soot.
"Jacobson's study is the first time that a model has looked at the various ways black carbon can impact climate in a quantitative way," said Ramanathan, who was not involved in the study.
Black carbon has an especially potent warming effect over the Arctic. When black carbon is present in the air over snow or ice, sunlight can hit the black carbon on its way towards Earth, and also hit it as light reflects off the ice and heads back towards space.
"It's a double-whammy over the ice surface in terms of heating the air," Jacobson said.
Black carbon also lands on the snow, darkening the surface and enhancing melting.
"There is a big concern that if the Arctic melts, it will be a tipping point for the Earth's climate because the reflective sea ice will be replaced by a much darker, heat absorbing, ocean below," said Jacobson. "Once the sea ice is gone, it is really hard to regenerate because there is not an efficient mechanism to cool the ocean down in the short term."
Jacobson's work was supported by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the NASA high-end computing program and the National Science Foundation.


text:
More4 Live
More4 is a subsidiary of the Channel 4 network which is aimed at a more mature audience and focuses on drama series, art and investigative documentaries.
History/about the channel in general: Launched in 2005, More4 broadcasts between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm daily. Initially airing a combination of critically acclaimed dramas and documentaries, it has more recently incorporated a series of lifestyle and arts programmes which have also contributed to its continued success. In addition to these programmes, More4 also provides news features as well as programmes which focus on current affairs and politics.
Main programs of More4
Grand Designs: Australia: A lifestyle series presented by architect Peter Maddison and focusing on the attempts of featured individuals to build custom made houses.
Scandal: A political series focusing on Olivia Pope the owner of a crisis management firm and detailing her attempts to leave behind a past which constantly draws her back.
The Closer: A crime series starring LAPD Deputy Chief, Brenda Leigh Jackson and her attempts to obtain confessions – and convictions, from suspects using any means possible.
The Good Wife: A US series focusing on Alicia Florrick as she returns to her career as a litigator following the conviction and subsequent jailing of her husband following a very public scandal. The show details her challenges as she struggles to rebuild her career all over again starting from the very bottom of the ladder
Other programs: Selling Houses with Amanda Lamb, World's Worst Natural Disasters, 4more Live, Crufts, Car S.O.S, The Bermuda Triangle, Return of Jaws, Nashville, Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, OJ Simpson: Caught on Camera, Boss, Hugh's 3 Good Things, Building the Dream, Southland, The Fabulous Baker Brothers,Shipping Wars,The Taste USA, Mammon,Kirstie Allsopp's Home Style, A Very British Witchcraft, Ken Follett's Journey into the Dark Ages ... Grand Designs: Weald of Kent, Location, Location, Location, Time Team, etc, 4more Live.
Tags: 4more, 4morespace, 4moreideas, london, 4 more live, 4 more inc, 4 more band, 4moreyards, innovation, tv, 4more - raiffeisenkasse ritten, tattoos, 4 more to adore, conto, fotos, 4more, united kingdom, english.


text:
Your cart is empty now.
Present your water bottle design and template in the right way using this water bottle mockup! Simply place your design with a single click using the Photoshop smart object. It's really that simple!
The mockup is fully layered and customizable so you can make any changes. Every element is a single layer. You can change/remove background, you can change any colors (background, any water bottle part...), adjust or remove shadows and reflections, you can make literally any changes!
The mockup is compatible with Photoshop versions CC 2022, CC 2023+.
If you need any help with any SimplDesign product or got any questions, please contact us by email provided in the 'Readme' file.


text:
By Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., ABPP and Alan Korwin, Author, Gun Laws of America
Abstract: Hoplophobia, the morbid fear of guns, is a real, extremely dangerous, widespread and clinically recognizable complex specific phobia with a number of unique characteristics, described. It has caused and continues to cause grievous harm in America. Dr. Sarah Thompson, M.D., author of two seminal papers on gun phobia, claims hoplophobia is little more than name calling and rare, points we dispute. Because one of the avoidance mechanisms of this phobia uniquely involves politics, its effects and importance are greater than for other phobias. Co-morbidities include suppressed rage, post-traumatic stress disorder, delusional disorder and panic disorder, with implications for society at large. Some behaviors heretofore written off because they seemed irrational may be explained.
A battle is currently raging over the causes and consequences of an extreme fear of guns, and whether or how often it constitutes the mental condition known as hoplophobia. The questions raised include: a) Is this a serious psychological condition? b) Is it a true phobia? c) To what degree does it affect individuals, especially people who claim to hate guns? and d) How prevalent is this condition in the general population?
Do those who work vigorously to ban guns or deny other people's gun rights, labor under a fairly common mental disorder or disability? Are they afflicted by hoplophobia? Do they project their own fears, self-distrust, and pent-up anger onto others, as some professionals claim? Do they displace inner rage and mental anguish into the political arena — a potentially unique phobic criteria absent in existing medical literature? Does this dynamic color the politics of guns and threaten the continued existence of the Second Amendment?
One thing is clear — it would be beneficial to address these concerns with a great deal more scrutiny than they have received thus far, especially from psychiatric and psychological perspectives. There is no rational reason to continue to avoid or evade the subject.
The problem
Our research indicates that hoplophobia is a real, extremely dangerous, widespread, and clinically recognizable complex specific phobia that meets most but not all of the gauges the American Psychiatric Association and medical community has set out for phobias, for reasons we will examine. We will demonstrate that hoplophobia actually falls into its own category of anxiety and phobic disorders.
We will offer an explanation for why its prevalence has been ignored. The unique parameters of this complex specific phobia explain some of the formerly inexplicable features of the gun debate in the United States, as well as certain of the irrational behaviors of people on the anti-gun-rights side of the national debate.
Hoplophobia has caused and continues to cause grievous harm in America. Large swaths of the public and the medical community are in denial about the pernicious effects and pandemic nature of this malady. Some of what we deal with in the public arena as politics is instead a manifestation of this psychiatric condition. Additionally, it is our thesis that politics and media-driven ideation contribute to the genesis and proliferation of hoplophobia.
Dr. Sarah Thompson, M.D., a psychiatrist and former Executive Director of the Utah Gun Owners Alliance, is the author of two seminal papers that literally set the stage for examining the links between mental health and gun politics. She dislikes the term "hoplophobia," and currently claims in correspondence with us it is little more than "name calling" and not a true psychiatric condition, or if it exists at all, is extremely limited in nature.
Col. Jeff Cooper, known widely and revered within the firearms community as "The father of the modern technique of shooting," originally coined the term hoplophobia in 1966, a fascinating neologistic history we will explore in a future article.
Dr. Thompson's first paper, Raging Against Self Defense, published in 2000, and her second, an illustrated booklet in 2001, Do Gun Prohibitionists Have a Mental Problem?, were both published by the late Aaron Zelman, founder of the organization Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, a Wisconsin-based civil-rights group. We can only speculate as to the underlying reasons for Dr. Thompson's recent back-pedaling, since her papers do not square well with her current reluctance to acknowledge the existence, prevalence and consequences of hoplophobia (by any name), or with what we believe is obvious, but she holds fast to her position.
Dr. Thompson is not alone in her apparent reluctance, as the medical and mental-health professional communities are by-and-large vigorously anti-gun, a fact that is not under dispute. Many doctors are guilty of "boundary violations" when they, with some frequency, inject anti-gun political opinions or content into their clinical work as health-care providers. It is our assertion that this constitutes several serious ethical violations including at least: mixing politics and health care, violating the requirement to be value neutral in the practice of medicine and psychiatry or psychology, and practicing outside one's recognized fields of expertise.Driven by a questionably zealous desire to ban firearms, many doctors are known to use their medical credentials in an attempt to validate the legitimacy of the agenda typically referred to as "gun control." The other side of the political spectrum refers to the same agenda as "rights denial," reflecting its inherently political and not medical nature.
The degree to which this occurs approaches the bizarre, with some in the medical community and even the federal Centers for Disease Control at different times attempting to portray gun ownership and violence as diseases that can be cured, and guns themselves as pathogens or germs. Patently absurd, this borders on irrational, a word we do not use lightly in the context of our study.
Physicians nationwide, often encouraged by their professional associations (pediatricians are widely recognized as especially at fault here), have counseled patients regarding firearms ownership, possession and use, areas where most physical health and mental-health care providers hold no certifications and are completely unqualified to give any advice at all.
What forces could drive medical professionals to act so far outside the boundaries of their practices and expertise? We see this as potentially a tangential symptom and consequence of hoplophobic behavior. At the very least it shows a concern with political allegiance and desire for social acceptance that intrudes upon a patients' welfare and the practice of medicine. In our opinion, the medical establishment needs to step back a bit and examine itself with regard to its position and political activism on this issue. We suspect it may resist this suggestion.
Dr. Thompson never actually embraced the term hoplophobia in her two original papers, preferring gun phobia instead. She described afflicted people filled with rage and out of touch with the realities of responsible gun ownership, or the fundamental rights to self defense and balance of power the Second Amendment was written to protect (she goes into some detail on this).We will demonstrate how hoplophobia (by any name) fits seamlessly into the category of complex specific phobias with features of an accompanying delusional disorder in certain cases, along with some crucial additional features.
The nature of phobias
Technically, a phobia is an extreme, irrational, overwhelming and disabling fear of an activity, situation, place, item or object (i.e., a living thing or inanimate object). The American Psychiatric Association's evolving series of Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals for diagnosing mental and emotional disorders (i.e., the DSM), is the Bible of mental health and psychiatric disorders. It defines five types of specific phobias as extreme fears of:
— specific animals
— natural environmental occurrences such as fears of heights, storms, and being near water
— blood, injections and injuries
— specific situations such as driving, flying, elevators, and enclosed places.
— miscellaneous items or occurrences such as choking or vomiting after eating specific foods or food in general, balloons bursting, loud sounds, clowns, ladies in red dresses, etc.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have concluded that specific phobias are highly prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorders in the United States adult population and that they have frequent co-morbidities. Based on 30 years of clinical experience as a psychologist, Dr. Eimer has found the NIH conclusions to be correct in every respect.
Those are the specific phobia types. What makes a phobia complex is when it is difficult if not impossible to avoid the feared object or situation, or aspects of them, and the feared object or situation is typically not just an item, but rather a process that incorporates interactions of different phobic objects, situations, events and experiences over time.
The incessant focus on firearms in popular culture, especially in a fear-filled negative light, exacerbates this for a significant portion of the public, in our view. Even a cursory review of pop culture shows this has increased dramatically in recent decades.
An example of complex phobia is readily seen in people afraid of flying, aerophobia. There are individual differences in the core components of their underlying anxieties. Some are claustrophobic and cannot stand being confined in a flying tube. Other sufferers fear that the tube will fall out of the sky and they will meet a violent death when the plane crashes, while still others fear being burned alive if the plane crashes. In fact, many aerophobes fear all of the above and more. This multiplicity of underlying fears is characteristic of a complex phobia.
How hoplophobia manifests
Hoplophobia presents as an unusually complex phobia, with a multitude of sub or component fears intersecting in people with the condition, plus a striking anomaly. That anomaly, a poorly understood simultaneous linkage and disconnect, exists in their contrasting perceptions and feelings about armed authority figures, and firearms outside the control of authority figures. This disconnect or comfortable dissonance, a true anomaly and contradiction, remains to be examined, along with how it mitigates or exacerbates the reactions for many sufferers. In other words, for this group, police with guns are fine, even welcomed, while the public with guns is a source of terror. That connection with authority figures is a unique characteristic of the disorder.
Outside this insular authority envelope, the complexities include fear of what they themselves might do ("crack") if they were even near a real gun, fear of what others with a gun might do, fear that a gun could go off all by itself, fear that a gun could make them or other people who have one in their possession "go crazy," or that even proximity could cause such a reaction. Some hoplophobes fear that possession would lead them to being perceived as a murderer, or lead to their being attacked, being disarmed and shot with their own gun, killed, crippled, etc. A host of fantasies swirl in the hoplophobes mind.
Clearly hoplophobia is a complex phobia that falls into the DSM's blood, injections and injuries category of specific phobias. In a forthcoming paper, we will look at what goes into the DSM, what is kept out, the financial, political and medical issues surrounding how those decisions are made, the role of the DSM in prescribing medication for psychiatric purposes, insurance company billing practices based on the DSM, and the startling growth of DSM-based diagnoses, especially in children, in the U.S. as compared with other countries. The new 5th edition of the DSM is set for release soon. Hoplophobia will not appear. Some remarkably arcane and controversial (critics say "fabricated") disorders will.
Why hoplophobia is so dangerous
Complex phobias vary in the degree to which they disable the afflicted person socially, interpersonally, vocationally and personally. Often, the effects of one person's complex phobia extend to the people around them. This appears to be more frequently the case when the phobia has to do with guns than with other phobias, as for example, aquaphobia (water fear) or aerophobia. If this tendency for one person to be somewhat affected by another person's phobia were to be exploited politically, it would exacerbate issues in the national debate over the right to keep and bear arms.
Hoplophobia is far and away the most dangerous of all phobias,
because of its unique nexus to political action.
Because sufferers act out their fears in the political arena,
it represents a significant and underappreciated threat to the nation.
All phobias are reinforced and maintained through the mechanism of avoidance of the anxiety and panic triggered by the feared object or situation. In other words, the condition perpetuates and festers, by the afflicted person's reluctance to confront the underlying fear. It is our contention that hoplophobia is far and away the most dangerous of all phobias, because of its unique nexus to political action which serves as its primary, though not only, defensive avoidance mechanism and reinforcer.
It is our thesis that hoplophobia appears to be the only phobia known with such a socially detrimental, large-scale, wide-reaching avoidance mechanism. Because sufferers act out their fears in the political arena, it represents a significant and underappreciated threat to the nation.This means the effects of hoplophobia are not innocuous like, for example, the effects of aquaphobia on people who simply buy homes without swimming pools. Their phobia has negligible effect on anyone but themselves (and perhaps pool builders). It seems that hoplophobes, on the other hand, sometimes also suffering from co-morbidities such as PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, work collectively to fashion national legislation that can compromise the U.S. Constitution and human freedom itself.
If we are correct, and psychology is predictive at all, we can expect vigorous denials, personal attacks, and every classic defense mechanism described in the medical and psychiatric literature to what we have uncovered and expose with this series of papers and our unfunded research. We would offer in return desensitization and the full palette of APA evidence-based treatments for addressing this inherent and insidious confluence of problems, approaches with which we believe, or at least would hope, Dr. Thompson and professionals like her would agree.
What needs to be done?
We would ask, in a measured and empirical way — how much of what you think of as the political gun debate boils down to psychological defense mechanisms such as repression, denial, projection, avoidance and displacement? In Dr. Thompson's original article, Do Gun Prohibitionists Have A Mental Problem, we read, "There ARE people who suffer from gun phobia, an excessive and irrational fear of firearms (emphasis in the original). The anti-gun conditioning delivered constantly by the media, political figures and others can cause gun phobia. Some cases are caused by an authentic bad experience with a firearm. However, most anti-gun people do not have a true phobia."
So, how many is most? What we ask is how widespread is the malady, how bad is the suffering, how guilty are those who deliberately promote the condition, and what must be done about this deplorable situation?One dangerous circumstance gives us pause. Anecdotal evidence repeatedly shows that cross sections of the U.S. population believe that we live in a violent society. Yet when probed, most people cannot recall ever having personally witnessed or experienced any acts of violence, especially serious violence, recently — or even ever. Their own lives, their day-to-day orbit if that is any gauge, is actually delightfully peaceful.
It turns out that the violence they think they are familiar with comes essentially from only one single source — illuminated screens — TV, movies and the Internet. The rest comes from so-called "news" publications. Their lives are functionally devoid of the violence they have been convinced they live mired in. Is "our violent society" largely a fabrication of the mainstream media — outside of isolated incidents, crimes in bad parts of town and video productions? Is it a mass delusion? For too many people reading this the answer unfortunately is yes.
Yet another startling circumstance comes to light. At least three of the most virulent anti-gun-rights crusaders in the nation suffered extreme gun trauma before entering the fray: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (discovered Harvey Milk's body), Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (husband shot dead on commuter train) and Sarah Brady (husband disabled in assassination attempt on President Reagan). Are there others? Have they received counseling for the gun trauma they experienced? And to what extent, if any, does hoplophobic displacement influence and skew what otherwise seems like politics as usual? The biggest question here would be: Is America required to accept psychological acting out as a legitimate form of legislative discourse?
The debate over the precise nature of the condition is likely to continue for a long period of time. This is normal in the psychiatric and mental-health field. The more pressing concern, it seems to us, is the scope of the condition, the numbers of people who may be afflicted, and the extent to which they sublimate their fear by pressing politicians to act in denying the rights of their fellow citizens. That, it seems to us, is intolerable — the idea that a festering and untreated psychological condition may have more influence over the acts of Congress than does intelligent consideration of life-or-death issues.
In seeking to quell their own turmoil, those so afflicted project their own fears and rage onto others. This is a fairly normal method for handling overwhelming fear and anger, but in doing so, politically active hoplophobes infringe on the rights of healthy law-abiding citizens and the stability of our society. This makes hoplophobia not only unique among all phobias, it makes it perilous.
Voices have been raised anew for CDC funding into firearms issues — this sorely neglected subject could not be more worthy of such study. Will the scientists and doctors at work in those prestigious halls look in this direction, if Congress decides to lift its funding ban?
We see again in the Thompson/Zelman pamphlet, "…these people cause serious harm, or even death to others by denying them the tools for self-defense. Feeling superior while harming others — that is what makes reaction formation psychologically powerful and hard to counteract." We see further that in many cases these gun-fearing people, "have an impaired ability to recognize reality… anti-gun people persist in believing that their neighbors and co-workers will become mass murderers if allowed to own firearms."
Is it rational?
Because this little recognized phobia markedly affects politics and the body politic, as we contend and have set about to demonstrate — even throughout recorded history — it explains a lot of the irrational behavior of otherwise very bright and rational politically involved citizens.
Often, when an observer is tempted to say, "That's irrational," about modern gun politics, we're finding that it indeed is irrational. Why, for example, would a rational person offer $50 grocery gift cards and expect criminals to turn in their guns in exchange? It's simply irrational. Why do that as a response to a madman's psychotic acts 2,000 miles away? How can rational actors expect to solve real problems with irrational solutions like that?
The answer is rational people cannot, and those acts cannot provide solutions, because like so many similar examples, they are an irrational manifestation of a complex specific phobic disorder. But such actions do feel good, and that's the nub.This is pure psychological avoidance. What it accomplishes is to assuage the angst of the phobic sufferer, at the expense of providing workable solutions. The large-scale support such a program sometimes finds, including within the media, implies a mass-hysteria or mass-hypnosis effect deserving of its own study, especially in light of the considerable harm such a program causes.
Acting out on "hoplo-remedies" misleads substantial portions of the public and politicians, many of whom do truly want to do good but who don't know better. Such misdirection only serves to delay the creation of real solutions, reinforcing and perpetuating the problem. It confuses an easily misled "news" media and highly suggestible portions of the public. Most critically, it diverts scarce resources to where they can do no good. This is the ultimate insult of allowing phobias to drive efforts and interfere with desperately needed pragmatic solutions to real-world problems.
Real-world experience
As a practicing, board-certified, licensed clinical psychologist and certified firearms instructor, Dr. Eimer, co-author of this paper, has, over the years, helped hundreds of individuals who presented to his offices with a variety of specific phobias including hoplophobia, the morbid fear of firearms. Given the prevalence of this complex specific phobia, variously termed "firearms phobia," "gun phobia," and "hoplophobia," and given its variably disabling outcomes and co-morbidities (i.e., stemming from an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, such as death and disease), there is a current need for systematic research into its causes and cures.
As a writer and researcher in this field for more than 20 years, Mr. Korwin, co-author of this paper, has observed numerous people with paralyzing gun fears, and has interviewed hundreds with stories of their own, or tales of other people's overwhelming fear of guns, especially from firearms trainers. Their stories of how they dealt with this disabling fear, overcame it, or still suffer are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The desensitization experience so many Americans have witnessed, where the abject horror of a gun melts into enjoyment and eager curiosity, for a formerly terrified first timer at a shooting range, is a joy to behold. It makes you feel sorry for those who are so terrified they cannot risk the experience at all.
The literature on the subject, considering the widespread and damaging nature of the condition, is appallingly thin. We add to the literature with this series of papers, and a forthcoming book on the subject. We invite others to join us in this important and neglected field of research.
Dr. Eimer points out that, "I have witnessed hoplophobia wreck marriages, ruin careers, diminish qualify of life and lead to the onset of other anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder. Perhaps most distressingly, politicians and other public figures sometimes give the appearance of behaving in a hoplophobic manner, instead of dealing rationally with matters of serious national importance." Without personally interviewing such people, diagnosis is impossible. This is not to say that early diagnosis and treatment would be unwise, especially for those with a history of trauma.
The co-authors are working on the second in this series of papers, leading up to a book on the subject.
Copyright 2013 Bruce N. Eimer and Alan Korwin
Dr. Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The author of nine books, he holds numerous firearms-training qualifications, including as a Pennsylvania State Police certified law-enforcement and NRA-certified firearms instructor. Dr. Eimer has conducted thousands of psychological evaluations of security officers and law-enforcement personnel to assess mental fitness to carry a firearm on the job. Dr. Eimer can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Alan Korwin's 10th book, the unabridged Supreme Court Gun Cases, one of 14 he has written, was named one of the best Second Amendment books of all time (co-written with David B. Kopel and Stephen P. Halbrook). He runs the website GunLaws.com, and Bloomfield Press, the largest publisher and distributor of gun-law books in the nation. His news-media commentary as The Uninvited Ombudsman in the Page Nine newsletter reaches more than a quarter-million readers. Sign up at GunLaws.com.


text:
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. One of the biggest myths around the illness is that it isnt treatable. With the right supports, people can work or volunteer, be active in their own care, and contribute to their communities.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects the way you understand and interact with the world around you.
At the beginning of an episode, people may feel that things around them seem different or strange. They may start to experience problems concentrating, thinking or communicating clearly, or taking part in their usual activities. At the height of the episode, people may experience breaks from reality called psychosis. These could be hallucinations (sensations, like voices, that arent real) and delusions (strong beliefs that arent true, like the belief that they have superpowers). Some people feel flat or numb. They may also experience changes in mood, motivation, and the ability to complete tasks. After an episode, signs can continue for some time. People may feel restless, withdraw from others, or have a hard time concentrating.
The exact course and impact of schizophrenia is unique for each person. Some people only experience one episode in their lifetime while others experience many episodes. Some people experience periods of wellness between episodes while others may experience episodes that last a long time. Some people experience a psychotic episode without warning while others experience many early warning signs. No matter how someone experiences schizophrenia, researchers agree that early treatment can help reduce the impact of episodes in the future.
Who does it affect?
Schizophrenia can affect anyone. It usually starts to affect people in the teen years, though females often start to experience the illness a little later than males. No one knows exactly what causes schizophrenia or why it can affect people so differently. Genes, the way a persons brain develops, and life events may all play a part.
What can I do about it?
While there is no cure for schizophrenia, people can and do recover. Recovery may mean learning to reduce the impact of problems, work around challenges, or maintain wellness. Most people use some combination of the following treatments and supports.
Some people need to spend time in hospital if they experience a severe episode of psychosis. This is a time to figure out the best treatment for you and begin your journey to health. Before you leave the hospital, care providers should help you map out the service providers (like doctors, counsellors, and social workers) who will be involved in your care and support your recovery.
Medication called antipsychotics may help reduce the severity of symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, and may eliminate these symptoms all together for many people. Continuing medication after you feel well again may help reduce the risk of relapse (when symptoms come back). There are many different kinds of antipsychotics, so it may take time and patience to find the best one for you.
All medications can cause side effectssome of which can be uncomfortable or difficult. Its best to have ongoing, open conversations about medication with a doctor so that everyone understands how a medication is affecting you, what can be done, and what other options you may have.
Counselling and supports
Counselling can help with many problems like low mood, anxiety, and relationships. You can learn helpful skills like problem-solving and setting goals. There are also therapies to help reduce the impact of delusions and hallucinations. Schizophrenia can affect peoples goals around education, work, and independent living. Professionals like occupational therapists and social workers can help with daily living, social skills, employment or volunteer training, and community activities. They can also connect you with community supports like home care, housing, and income assistance.
A big part of managing schizophrenia is relapse prevention. You can learn what might trigger an episode and learn to recognize early warning signs of an episode. The goal is to learn when to seek extra supports, which may help reduce the impact or length of the episode.
Self-care is important for everyone. Small steps like eating well, getting regular exercise, building healthy sleep habits, spending time on activities you enjoy, spirituality, and connecting with loved ones can make a big difference.
Schizophrenia can leave people feeling very isolated and alone. At times, many people who experience schizophrenia feel uncomfortable around others. But many also worry about what others will think of them. The right relationships can be supportive and healing. Your support team can help you connect with support groups.
How can I help a loved one?
Supporting a loved one can be hard. It can be difficult to understand what a loved one is experiencing, and their behaviour may be confusing at times. Many people worry about their loved ones future. The good news is that schizophrenia is treatableand love and support can go a long way. Here are some tips for helping a loved one:
- Learn more about schizophrenia so you have a better idea of what to expect and how you can help.
- Schizophrenia can have a big impact on peoples ability to concentrate and make sense of information. Loved ones may not react to things in ways you expect or may struggle with tasks that seem simple to you. Its okay to feel frustrated, but it isnt anyones fault.
- If a loved one has trouble following conversations, choose a quiet space and speaking calmly and clearly.
- Its best to avoid arguing with delusions or hallucinations. A more helpful strategy is to focus on the feelings that delusions or hallucinations bring up.
- Ask your loved one how you can help. This may be a simple as helping with day-to-day tasks.
- Talk about dealing with emergencies when your loved one is feeling well and decide how you can contribute. Write it down in a crisis plan and share it with your care team. This is also a good time to talk about behaviours you arent willing to deal with.
- Learn more about support services for care providers through your loved ones care team, provincial or territorial health services, or community organizations.
- Depending on the barriers that your loved one experiences, planning for the future with tools like a Registered Disability Savings Plan can bring peace of mind.
- Set your own boundaries, and seek support for yourself when you need it. Think about joining a support group for loved ones and seeking counselling for the entire family.
Do you need more help?
Contact a community organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association to learn more about support and resources in your area.
Founded in 1918, The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.


text:
Hire Smart. Hire A Good Employee.
A Good Employee was formed to give employers peace of mind when making a hiring decision. Our employment background screening solutions are the easiest to read and understand in the industry. We use an extensive network of databases to provide a comprehensive report. Order one of our bundled packages for an instant report or contact us and we'll create a custom solution that fits your company's needs. With over a decade of experience, you can trust our FCRA compliant reports will help you hire smart.
How it Works
1. Order a Report
Select from our most popular packages or order a specific report separately
2. Access It instantly
Most background check items can be processed instantly
3. hire a good employee
Use our easy to read reports to make a confident decision
A Good Employee – Why Choose Us
Identity Verification
Know exactly who you are hiring. Checking for social security number fraud and verifying a job applicant's current and past addresses is an integral part of background screening.
Read More
County, Statewide, National Criminal Search
A thorough criminal background check is crucial for workplace safety. We run instant and repository criminal searches at the county, state, and federal level.
Read More
Sex Offender Search
We use a nationwide database that captures more information than a criminal county search alone. Help to maintain a safe workplace and create a safe environment for customers.
Read More
Employment Verification
Save time verifying employment dates, previous job title, salary information, and rehire status with our employee background checks. We contact previous employers or authorized agents for you and call references to provide a complete resume check.
Read More
Education Verification
Education is one of the most commonly falsified items on a resume. Stay alert and check school attendance, graduation date, degree, and GPA to make sure you are hiring a qualified individual.
Read More
Drug Screening
A drug-free workplace has an overwhelming positive effect on overall environment and employee productivity. We provide custom drug screening before and after an individual is hired.
Read More
Easy, Instant, and Comprehensive Reports
A Good Employee features a streamlined portal that makes it easy to order and review employee background checks. Our intuitive system keeps you consistently updated via email and allows you to view real-time status updates in your account dashboard. The reports you'll receive are easy to understand, giving you the clarity you need when making a hiring decision. You'll also have peace of mind knowing that our reports are compliant with federal and state regulations. Experience more efficient and consistent hiring, starting with A Good Employee's background screening solutions.
I'm so glad to have found A Good Employee. Ordering reports with them has been super affordable and simple. They're also always available to answer my questions.
My property management company is growing and we knew we needed to start thoroughly checking backgrounds of employees, especially those visiting client properties. By using A Good Employee, we have found peace of mind and we know our properties and tenants are safe.
Unfortunately, people aren't always honest on their applications. A Good Employee not only helped us with providing easy to read reports, they guided us through tricky situations. It's great to know they're there to help!


text:
In Carcassonne: Amazonas, players sail their boats to the Amazon to discover abundant wildlife. Players score points not only for discovering animals, but also for visiting native villages and water courses while their boat moves forward on the Amazon. Amazon is full of caimans and piranhas which often (and somewhat unpredictably) bring points to those who are farthest down the river (you move your boats forward when you encounter boat symbols on your water courses and also when you do not place any meeple on water courses or villages, nor huts in jungles). The game ends - as usual - when all tiles have been used up, and the two boats fartherst down the river score some bonus points (depending on the number of players).
Carcassonne: Amazonas is the third title in the "Carcassonne Around the World" series.


text:
Trusted Same Day HVAC Repair in Santa Clarita
In Santa Clarita, you cannot afford delays when comfort is at stake. Same day HVAC repair services keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems optimal. If you require urgent commercial HVAC repair or an emergency fix, our skilled technicians act swiftly and effectively.
Our services prioritize speed and reliability for homeowners and businesses alike in Santa Clarita. We offer instant, top-quality same day AC repair solutions, eliminating the hassle of searching for "HVAC repair near me". Experience the convenience of dependable same-day service.
Pertinent Highlights
- Fast and reliable Santa Clarita same day HVAC repair services.
- Expert technicians for quick and efficient HVAC repair solutions.
- Available for both residential and commercial HVAC repair needs.
- Emergency HVAC repair services to address urgent issues immediately.
- Eliminates the hassle of searching "HVAC repair near me."
Why Choose Santa Clarita Same Day HVAC Repair Services?
When an HVAC emergency strikes, finding a fast, reliable emergency hvac repair near me is vital. Santa Clarita Same Day HVAC Repair Services delivers quick response times, safeguarding your comfort and safety.
Our experts handle everything from residential hvac repair to complex commercial systems. Choosing our hvac repair service means quick action on issues, preventing further damage and costly repairs later.
Opting for us guarantees a trusted hvac repair service near me is always within reach. We ensure a professional reaches you quickly to avert small problems turning into large ones.
We recognize the importance of consistent HVAC operation for a healthy, comfortable space. Our services quickly address repair hvac needs, ensuring your environment returns to normal rapidly, regardless of the season.
Santa Clarita Same Day HVAC Repair Services is your best choice for speedy, skilled, and preventative HVAC solutions.
Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating: Your Trusted HVAC Partner
Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating stands as a leading figure in local HVAC repair. They are committed to superior hvac repair services for both homeowners and businesses. Their expertise and fast response set them apart from other hvac repair companies in Santa Clarita.
Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating is unique due to their outstanding technicians, ready for 24 hour hvac repair near me. This means you always have expert help on hand, ensuring your space remains comfortable round the clock.
This company is celebrated for its exceptional customer service in the local hvac repair realm. Their unwavering dedication to quality and reliability underscores their aim to dominate the industry.
Here's a snapshot of what they provide:
Service | Description | Availability |
Residential HVAC Repair | Expert repairs tailored for homes | 24/7 |
Commercial HVAC Repair | Customized solutions for businesses | Business Hours & Emergency |
HVAC System Maintenance | Regular upkeep to prevent issues | Scheduled |
Emergency Repair Services | Immediate response for urgent needs | 24/7 |
By partnering with Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating, you choose a team dedicated to your satisfaction. Their excellence in offering efficient hvac repair services makes them a premier choice among hvac repair companies.
Comprehensive AC Repair Services
At Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating, we know how crucial a working AC is for home comfort. We offer extensive ac repair solutions, tackling a broad range of issues to keep your system running smoothly.
Our skilled technicians excel in ductless ac repair. They deliver efficient, swift services to keep these advanced systems in peak condition. No matter the age or type of your unit, our crew can handle all your ac repair needs effectively.
In the event of a sudden system failure, our emergency ac repair services are available around the clock. We act fast to reduce inconvenience, aiming to get your AC up and running quickly.
Choosing us for your ac repair near me needs means tapping into our deep experience and strong commitment to satisfaction. We take care of everything, from regular checks to intricate repairs, always striving to meet and surpass client expectations.
To better understand our service spectrum and dependability, below are the ac repair services we provide:
Service Type | Description | Availability |
Ductless AC Repair | Specialized repairs for ductless AC systems, ensuring they operate efficiently. | Available |
Emergency AC Repair | 24/7 repair services for sudden AC breakdowns, ensuring quick restoration of comfort. | 24/7 |
General AC Repair | Comprehensive repairs for a wide range of AC makes and models. | Available |
Preventive Maintenance | Routine check-ups and servicing to prevent future AC problems. | Available |
Count on Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating for dependable, top-notch ac repair services. We ensure your home is cozy throughout the year.
Fast and Affordable AC Repair Solutions
Keeping your home cool and pleasant is essential, especially in the hot summer months. But, when your AC fails, stress ensues. Thankfully, with 24-hour AC repair services in Santa Clarita, you won't suffer in discomfort for long.
Quickly hiring an expert AC repair service prevents small problems from becoming expensive. Timely repairs not only bring back comfort but also prolong your unit's life. With 24-hour AC repair available, professional help is always ready, day or night.
An efficiently running AC system saves you money on energy bills. Knowing the cost of AC repair beforehand allows for smart planning, free from the worry of hidden charges. This clarity in pricing helps in budgeting and prevents unexpected expenses later.
Below is a detailed table showing typical repair cost breakdowns for common AC issues:
Service Type | Average Cost |
Thermostat Replacement | $150 – $300 |
Refrigerant Leak Repair | $200 – $1,500 |
Electrical Issues | $100 – $400 |
Fan Motor Replacement | $300 – $600 |
Prompt repair by skilled technicians ensures your AC runs optimally. Choosing 24-hour AC repair services prevents more issues and offers peace of mind. With reliable AC repair in Santa Clarita, your home stays comfortable despite the heat outside.
Heating and AC Repair Services
Keeping your climate control systems optimal is crucial for both comfort and energy efficiency. Regular upkeep and prompt fixes for your heating and AC can avert expensive malfunctions. They can also significantly prolong your equipment's operational lifespan.
When searching for heating and ac repair near me, consider Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating. Regardless of seasonal extremes, our technicians are ready. They can swiftly address any issues, ensuring your comfort during both hot summers and cold winters.
Why Choose Us for Your Home AC Repair?
- Our technicians are experts in home ac repair near me.
- We offer swift responses for any repair emergencies.
- Our use of high-quality materials ensures lasting repairs.
- We provide wide-ranging services, from simple adjustments to comprehensive repairs.
Opt for Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating for unparalleled best ac repair near me. We ensure a comfortable living environment year-round. For top-notch maintenance of your heating and cooling systems, Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating stands as the prime choice.
Preventive HVAC Maintenance Services
Adopting a proactive approach to hvac maintenance services guarantees your system's optimal functionality and longevity. Regularly scheduled inspections significantly lessen the necessity for emergency repairs. Our skilled technicians excel in pinpointing and fixing imminent issues early. They ensure the dependability of 24 7 ac repair services when absolutely necessary.
Hvac maintenance services do more than just prolong your equipment's life; they enhance its efficiency. This improvement means your home enjoys consistent comfort through more efficient, cost-effective operation. Furthermore, timely servicing prevents unforeseen system breakdowns, making same day ac repair services rarely needed.
The critical role of ac duct repair in maintenance is often underestimated. Clean, well-sealed ducts vastly enhance indoor air quality and system operation. This is especially vital in residential ac repair, where flawed ducts can cause uneven cooling and inflated energy expenses.
We tailor our preventive maintenance plans to meet your unique needs, ensuring thorough care and meticulous attention to detail. Here are the advantages you can expect:
Service Benefit | Description |
Extended Equipment Lifespan | Addressing small issues early through routine checks keeps your HVAC system running longer, avoiding major setbacks. |
Improved Efficiency | Efficient system operation thanks to regular maintenance lowers energy costs and heightens home comfort levels. |
Better Air Quality | Maintaining clean ducts and changing filters regularly are key to healthy air quality, particularly in homes. |
Reduced Emergency Repairs | Early detection of potential problems minimizes the need for urgent repairs, streamlining 24 7 ac repair processes. |
Incorporating hvac maintenance services into your home maintenance routine is a wise move. Contact us to book an appointment and discover firsthand the advantages of preventive care.
Customer Testimonials and Reviews
Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating stands out due to glowing hvac repair reviews from their clients. They're praised for efficiently handling tasks like heating ac repair and thorough hvac service and repair. This feedback underscores the team's commitment to providing superior service.
- "We experienced the best hvac repair service near me right in Santa Clarita. The technicians were professional and fixed our AC quickly."
- "Timely and efficient service! We called Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating for a heating ac repair and they exceeded our expectations."
- "I was impressed with the detailed attention and results of their hvac service and repair. They are indeed the best hvac repair service near me."
Customer testimonials validate Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating's reliability and skill. They showcase real feedback that highlights the team's dedication to excellence in hvac service and repair. This further reinforces their strong reputation.
Customer | Service Received | Feedback |
Amanda K. | AC Repair |
Outstanding service! Their technicians are skilled and courteous. |
Michael S. | Heating Repair |
Quick response time and very effective repairs. |
Jacqueline R. | HVAC Service and Repair |
Highly recommend them for any HVAC issues. Truly the best! |
The hvac repair reviews reflect Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating's commitment to excellence. They've set high standards, focused on customer needs, and established themselves as the leading option for top-notch hvac service and repair.
Contact Us for Same Day HVAC Repair in Santa Clarita
If your HVAC system fails unexpectedly, you need swift, reliable help from experts at Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating. For emergency AC repair near me or scheduled maintenance, our skilled team is prepared to assist you.
For quick service, reach out through various channels:
Phone: Immediately call us for local AC repair services. Our attentive customer service team will take your call and quickly send a technician to you.
Email: Perfect for less urgent needs. Send us a message, and we'll arrange an appointment that suits your schedule.
Online Form: Our web form is a simple way to explain your issues and ask for a callback. It's an effective method to contact HVAC repair services.
Here's the service speed you can expect when you call for HVAC service:
Service | Response Time |
Emergency AC Repair | Within 2 Hours |
Standard HVAC Repair | Same Day |
Maintenance Service | Scheduled as Needed |
Avoid letting small issues escalate. Utilize your Santa Clarita HVAC contact, and allow Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating to bring back comfort to your space today!
In Closing
Choosing Santa Clarita same day HVAC repair from Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating brings exemplary, rapid, and efficient solutions to your space. This excellence averts potential harms. It also relieves the stress tied to sudden failures, positioning them as a foremost choice in ac repair and service.
Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating distinguishes itself among ac repair services. They are noted for quick responses, informed technicians, and a strong focus on customer happiness. Their holistic strategy to ac repair ensures your system's every need is adeptly met, offering significant peace of mind.
HVAC troubles need not ruin your comfort if you have a dependable ally ready for any crisis. Choose cost-effective ac repair options that center on your demands and deliver unparalleled worth. Reach out to Fresh Air Conditioning and Heating now. Revel in the advantages of speedy, expert ac repair and service designed for you.


text:
John De Bastiani Interiors is a nationally-recognized, full service interior design firm based in Los Angeles and Montecito. Our projects range in size from single rooms and cozy beach town cottages to high-rise apartments and gracious estates across both the east and west coasts.
Our work has been described as elegant, sophisticated, and understated, with clean lines and a calming color palette, yet extremely livable and comfortable. We emphasize rich textures and a relaxed aesthetic, and let the fully customized yet immediately relatable nature of each project speak for itself.
Our services are tailored to each client's needs, and range from ground-up construction to the adaptive redesign and decoration of existing homes. From initial consultation and design concept through installation, our priority is always a strong designer-client collaboration.
John De Bastiani Interiors has completed projects in locations as diverse as Boston, Palm Beach, Miami, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Maine, Vermont, Cape Cod and North Carolina, as well as his home city of Los Angeles. Our designs have been featured in a variety of national publications including Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and Luxe, as well as those local to markets where we've completed work.
We welcome each opportunity to share our timelessly modern touch, and look forward to working together to make your home, more you.
Los Angeles
John De Bastiani Interiors
615 Romero Canyon Road
Montecito, CA 93108
310 882 9117
[email protected]


text:
Send send sms from SMSLink for new message received in Microsoft Teams
Perhaps you want to respond to the customer quickly and don't have time to type out a response on your phone. Maybe you want to keep all customer communication in one place, or perhaps you just want an extra layer of security by sending confidential information via send sms instead of message.
No matter what your reason, setting up send sms notifications for incoming message is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Give it a try today!


text:
Gulf Savannah Way Darwin to Cairns Tours 8 Days
- Duração: 8 Dias (Aproximadamente)
- Localização: Cairns, Qld
- Código de produto: 10GDC8
Gulf Savannah Tours Darwin to Cairns via Lost City 8 days - , Matarranka, Daly Waters, Cape Crawford, Lost City, (optional heli flight) Caranbirini Nature Reserve, Hells Gate, Borroloola, Riversleigh Megafauna Fossil Fields, Lawn Hill National Park, (now Boodjamulla National Park), Cruise Lawn Hill Gorge, Adel's Grove (2 nights), Bourke & Wills Last Camp 119, Normanton, Gulflander & Savannahlander Railways, Karumba, Gulf Carpentaria sunset cruise, Undarra Lava Tubes to Cairns.
Gulf Savannah Way Darwin to Cairns tour 8 days …
Day 1 – Depart Darwin 8am via Stuart Highway to Pine Creek (gold and railway history – and great coffee and cakes at the Railway Cafe) then Katherine, NTs 3rd largest town. On to Mataranka for the Elsey's history of "We of the Never Never" fame. We then head for Daly Waters. View Australia's first international airport here and historic WWII relics. Enjoy the amusing Daly Waters Pub and township adornments, including an old helicopter and the thong tree. We take a short tour of the WWII airbase and aircraft hanger here – with a fascinating historic display of WWII equipment, aircraft images and life here at that time. Overnight Daly Waters.
Day 2 – We leave the Stuart Highway and head east to Cape Crawford, near the Southern Lost City, a vast sandstone rock formation. The Lost City can be explored by (optional extra) helicopter from base at the Heartbreak Hotel at Cape Crawford, with an amazing 15 or optional 30 minute flight over these ancient sandstone pillars, formed when all this area was underwater. We also walk in a similar towering rocky formation at the nearby Caranbirini Conservation Reserve (shown in video). This is in one of the oldest and most isolated areas in Australia. It is twice as old as Uluru at around 1.4 billion years old. We travel on to Borroloola for supplies and view the museum and history of this once wild frontier town, now a popular fishing destination. Population is around 800 (about 200 whites and 600 Aboriginal), with Aborigines living in camps around the town. Borroloola has some very different Aboriginal cultures ie the Yanyuwa and Mara are 'saltwater people' from the nearby islands while the Kurdanji and Karawa people are 'mainland people'.
Borroloola is also the main support town for the McArthur River mine – one of the world's largest zinc, lead and silver mines, situated about 70 kilometres southwest of Borroloola. We head toward the Gulf and visit King Ash Bay on the MacArthur River – a top spot to experience the atmosphere of the Gulf and a shady lunch place by the river. Overnight at Boroloola BLD
Day 3 – We travel through Savannah forest and river crossings to the large Aboriginal community of Doomadgee, then south to Adel's Grove for 2 nights. It was originally gazetted in 1904 as a Miners Homestead Lease. In 1920 Albert de Lestang took up the property as an experimental Botanical Garden (hence the name "Adel" arose from Albert's initials). Albert planted many species of trees and shrubs and supplied the Botanical Gardens of the world with the seeds produced by his nursery. This is adjacent Lawn Hill National Park (now Boodjamulla National Park) where we walk, canoe or swim in the beautiful lagoon and river with waterfalls.
Day 4 – Today we take a tour to visit the amazing Riversleigh Megafauna Fossil Fields and immerse in this unique landscape. Alternatively enjoy a relaxing day of walks and swims or canoeing – your choice. Overnight Adels Grove BLD
Day 5 – Departing Adels Grove we travel via Gregory Downs to Burke & Wills last camp 119, an historic site with fascinating history and stories to tell. Enjoy a break in the frontier town of Burketown, named after Burke of the Burke and Wills Expedition of 1860 who reached the gulf near here in February 1861. Burketown was established in 1865 to service new pastoral holdings established in the region.
We reach the Leichardt River, named after Ludwig Leichardt who walked this country in 1845. We check out the Leichardt Falls then travel across the "Plains of Promise" named when H M Brig Beagle (the famous ship which had carried Charles Darwin on his voyage) visited here in 1841. On to Normanton, and view the old Burns Philp store, and the 1870 railway history from the goldrush days, plus the Purple Pub. Arriving Karumba on the edge of the Gulf of Carpentaria, we enjoy a sunset river cruise. Karumba was the base of the gulf Barramundi and prawning industry and home to many salt water crocodiles. Overnight Karumba BL – Dinner at own expense in local restaurant – great fresh fish and prawns here at economical price !
Day 6– We follow the Gulflander Railway line via the Gulf Development Road through Croydon which in goldrush days had 7000 people and 122 pubs.Travel via Georgetown and the multi award winning, Terrestrial – the Ted Elliott Mineral Collection, the largest minerals collection in the world. Overnight Mt Surpise on where the Savannahlander train also overnights. BLD
Day 7 – Undarra Lava Tubes tour. The Undara Lava Tubes were formed some 190,000 years ago when a major volcano erupted, its molten lava flowing down a dry river bed. As the top layer quickly cooled and crusted, the fiery magma below continued to flow through the tubes taking it further and further from the volcano. The Undara tubes are the world's longest lava flow.
The word Undara means 'a long way' in Aboriginal language. One of the lava flows from Undara extends over 160 kilometres (or 100 miles). This makes it one of the longest lava flows from a single volcano on our planet in modern geological time. The original tube formed by the flow extended for approximately 100kilometres, and several sections are accessible. After our 2 hour tour and tasty lunch, we travel via the Atherton Tablelands to Cairns for a celebration dinner together at our Cairns Hotel. BLDDay 8 – After a good nights sleep and an easy breakfast, we can transfer you to the airport or other hotels if staying on in Cairns. Tour completes 10am. Or join our Cape York & Thursday Island Adventure
8 days Accommodated or Camping or a combination available- select when booking


text:
Graphane is the material of choice for physicists on the cutting edge of materials science, and Rice University researchers are right there with the pack — and perhaps a little ahead.
Researchers mentored by Boris Yakobson, a Rice professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of chemistry, have discovered the strategic extraction of hydrogen atoms from a two-dimensional sheet of graphane naturally opens up spaces of pure graphene that look — and act — like quantum dots.
That opens up a new world of possibilities for an ever-shrinking class of nanoelectronics that depend on the highly controllable semiconducting properties of quantum dots, particularly in the realm of advanced optics.
The theoretical work by Abhishek Singh and Evgeni Penev, both postdoctoral researchers in co-author Yakobson's group, was published online last week in the journal ACS Nano and will be on the cover of the print version in June. Rice was recently named the world's No. 1 institution for materials science research by a United Kingdom publication.
Graphene has become the Flat Stanley of materials. The one-atom-thick, honeycomb-like form of carbon may be two-dimensional, but it seems to be everywhere, touted as a solution to stepping beyond the limits of Moore's Law.
Graphane is simply graphene modified by hydrogen atoms added to both sides of the matrix, which makes it an insulator. While it's still technically only a single atom thick, graphane offers great possibilities for the manipulation of the material's semiconducting properties.
Quantum dots are crystalline molecules from a few to many atoms in size that interact with light and magnetic fields in unique ways. The size of a dot determines its band gap — the amount of energy needed to close the circuit — and makes it tunable to a precise degree. The frequencies of light and energy released by activated dots make them particularly useful for chemical sensors, solar cells, medical imaging and nanoscale circuitry.
Singh and Penev calculated that removing islands of hydrogen from both sides of a graphane matrix leaves a well with all the properties of quantum dots, which may also be useful in creating arrays of dots for many applications.
"We arrived at these ideas from an entirely different study of energy storage in a form of hydrogen adsorption on graphene," Yakobson said. "Abhishek and Evgeni realized that this phase transformation (from graphene to graphane), accompanied by the change from metal to insulator, offers a novel palette for nanoengineering."
Their work revealed several interesting characteristics. They found that when chunks of the hydrogen sublattice are removed, the area left behind is always hexagonal, with a sharp interface between the graphene and graphane. This is important, they said, because it means each dot is highly contained; calculations show very little leakage of charge into the graphane host material. (How, precisely, to remove hydrogen atoms from the lattice remains a question for materials scientists, who are working on it, they said.)
"You have an atom-like spectra embedded within a media, and then you can play with the band gap by changing the size of the dot," Singh said. "You can essentially tune the optical properties."
Along with optical applications, the dots may be useful in single-molecule sensing and could lead to very tiny transistors or semiconductor lasers, he said.
Challenges remain in figuring out how to make arrays of quantum dots in a sheet of graphane, but neither Singh nor Penev sees the obstacles as insurmountable.
"We think the major conclusions in the paper are enough to excite experimentalists," said Singh, who will soon leave Rice to become an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. "Some are already working in the directions we explored."
"Their work is actually supporting what we're suggesting, that you can do this patterning in a controlled way," Penev said.
When might their calculations bear commercial fruit? "That's a tough question," Singh said. "It won't be that far, probably — but there are challenges. I don't know that we can give it a time frame, but it could happen soon."
Funding from the Office of Naval Research supported the work. Computations were performed at the Department of Defense Supercomputing Resource Center at the Air Force Research Laboratory.


text:
Getting Started with JMP
Learn the basics of using JMP at your own pace, when your schedule allows. See how to navigate the JMP menus and data tables, import data into JMP, summarize and graph data, and perform basic statistical analyses.
Practical JMP techniques to address common analytic challenges.
Learn about some of the latest features and improvements introduced with each new release of JMP.


text:
In the Flesh: Female Sex Work & HIV in the Middle East & North Africa
Shereen El-Feki*
As my Egyptian grandmother used to say: "I am not a prostitute, and my husband isn't giving me money, so where am I supposed to find the cash?"
With only a quarter of women across the Arab world, on average, in the workforce,[1] this question is a lived reality for millions today.
For the half-dozen or so women sitting with me in a café in downtown Casablanca, the answer to that question was clear. Starting at 50-plus dirhams (6 USD) and up per client—and with the prospect of servicing several clients a day—prostitution provides much-needed income to women who are having a hard time to make ends meet by other means.
In Morocco, as across the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, female sex workers are, arguably, a major economic success story. The industry can be considered a triumph of private enterprise, offering an array of services to suit all tastes and budgets—albeit with a heavy human price.
It is also one of the clearest reflections of the ongoing power of patriarchy and a measure of just how conflicted individuals and societies are about sex.
In the Arab world, many publicly proclaim their Islamic credentials while ignoring, or indeed perpetrating, the exploitation and abuse of women. As a result, female sex workers carry a double burden: as women who not only have sex outside of marriage, but who also actively trade in it.
This stigma, reinforced by the law, leads them to remain quiet.[2] This makes female sex work both the most obvious and most hidden aspect of sexual life across the Arab world.
HIV: A Growing Epidemic
In many ways, female sex workers in Casablanca are typical of their counterparts across the region.
They are married or—more often than not—divorced, twenty- to forty-something's, with a couple of kids and/or parents and siblings to support, and without any other viable employment opportunities.
According to rough estimates, there are at least 60,000 female sex workers in Morocco alone. [3]
For these women, selling sex is more of a last resort than a lifestyle choice.
There is a sobering consistency to their experiences: frequent economic insecurity; rampant police harassment and violence; poor access to health and legal services; and psychological problems.
HIV is rapidly becoming an additional occupational hazard.
Morocco, like most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, has minimal rates of HIV infection in the population-at-large: around one in every 1,000 people is infected.
But among female sex workers, one out of every fifty women is living with HIV. That figure is almost three-fold higher in some parts of the country.[4]
While this rate is significantly lower than the average among sex workers across the Global South, this may not be the case for long. HIV rates in the Arab world continue to head in the wrong direction—the Middle East and North Africa is one of only two regions where new infections, and AIDS-related deaths, continue to rise.
The Arab region is grappling with "concentrated" epidemics of HIV, in which the virus has taken root in "key" populations, whose behaviors put them at greater risk of infection.
In addition to men-who-have-sex-with-men (known as MSM, in public health-speak) and injecting drug users, female sex workers are among the key groups where elevated levels of HIV have been detected.
But, these populations are by no means islands: MSM also have sex with women, including female sex workers, who may themselves be injecting drug or have users as their clients.
As a result, HIV is starting to seep into the broader population: roughly 70 percent of women in Morocco living with the virus were infected by their husbands, an untold number of whom had unprotected intercourse with a female sex worker.[5]
Most countries in the Middle East and North Africa are struggling to come to grips with sex work in their societies—beyond simply throwing offenders in prison—and are slow to devote adequate resources to tackling HIV among key populations.
Female sex workers themselves are ill-placed to help their own situation. With lives full of hard knocks, they often assume that helping hands, even from public health workers, are more likely to beat them down than lift them up.
As a result, researchers in Egypt, Libya, and a number of other countries have found it difficult to accurately assess levels of HIV among female sex workers (and much more so than among MSM, for all the stigma associated with homosexuality)—these women are reluctant to come forward and lack the social networks found among other key populations.
The Turning Tide: Morocco as a Model
Morocco has shown that things can be different.
It is home to a handful of NGOs working on HIV and reaching out to female sex workers.
Among them, the Association for the Fight Against AIDS (ALCS) is trying to promote safe sex through more than twenty programs for female sex workers throughout the country.
By day, outreach workers from the organization do the rounds of city markets, where "occasionals"—women looking to pick up day work as cleaners but agreeable to being picked up for a quickie and some cash—gather.
At night, representatives from ALCS take to the streets downtown, handing out free condoms and hugely popular sachets of lubricant.
They have their work cut out for them: a map of Casablanca posted at ALCS's local headquarters, is a rash of red dots marking the hot spots for sex workers in the city.
I joined them for a night on the town in Casablanca, and we walked the streets for hours.
It was a slow evening, just after Eid al-Adha, one of the most important feasts in the Islamic calendar, and most of the women had gone back to their towns and villages to see their families.
"You should have seen it just before," one member of the team told me. "We had seventy beneficiaries [of our outreach] a night, working to get money for presents, the sheep to slaughter."
We headed down a side street and into a neon-lit basement.
Two girls, dressed identically in skintight jeans, short puffy jackets with fur-trimmed hoods, and pink headbands, sat in a corner, nursing a drink, as some young men stared at them from the bar and pool table.
Their story was brief and blunt: both in their early twenties, these women were studying hairdressing, but came from poor families and so could not afford to keep up with their more fashionable classmates.
To earn a little pocket money, they took themselves off to Casablanca's Atlantic Corniche and made themselves available to men cruising in cars.
The ALCS team gently probed the girls' knowledge of how HIV is transmitted and how they could protect themselves.
Although roughly half of Morocco's sex workers say they used a condom with their last client (this is twice the rate among their peers in Egypt), these girls were not among them.
This was for one simple reason: they specialized in anal and oral sexual practices, so condoms never struck them as necessary since pregnancy was not considered a likely prospect.
Vaginal intercourse was out of the question, as far as they were concerned, because both had their eyes on marriage, and virginity— that is, an intact hymen— was essential.
The ALCS outreach workers gave them a lesson on condom use and urged them to visit the NGO's office for free HIV testing and other services.
But, there is more to safe sex than just latex.
"I tell the women that they are young, they are beautiful, they need to protect themselves. It's a question of developing their self-esteem," one team member told me. "The woman, when she has confidence in herself, she wants to protect herself and to save her health. In this case, she can transmit the message to her clients."
ALCS offers many services, including legal advice; information sessions on sexual and reproductive health; discussion circles, as well as the occasional hair and makeup classes to help the women take pride in themselves; and parties, organized by the women themselves, to give them a sense of community and a break from an unrelenting routine.
"Eighty percent of the women in the work, they want to get out," the team told me. But the means for doing so, such as microfinance to open their own tiny businesses, is hard to come by.
Our next stop was a café full of men watching a football game on television. Clustered in the back corner and completely ignored by the patrons, were half a dozen women in velour burnooses, drinking tea, and smoking.
It looked like a coffee klatch of housewives, but the reality was a little different: all the women were sex workers, on a break between clients.
They eagerly took the condoms offered by the team and told me they insisted clients use them.
Money is tight for these women, who have little education and few other options.
If a client refused to use protection, I asked, could they really afford to say no? "'Go to your mother!' we tell them." The women laughed. So long as the group holds the line on condoms, those clients who refuse will find it hard to get laid anywhere in the vicinity.
But condom use is far from routine for most female sex workers. Though aware of their benefits and where to find them, sex workers have plenty of reasons not to use them, including arrest for prostitution on the grounds of possessing condoms and fear that the mere suggestion of protection implies they themselves are infected, which would be bad for business.
In the Arab region, it is easier to talk about sex when it is wrapped in a white coat of public health.
HIV is, in one sense, a boon in that it provides a way of prompting authorities to address the realities of sexual life, including sex work.
But a medical lens offers less than 20/20 vision, and the broader political, economic, and social conditions that make women turn to sex work in the first place, and render all women vulnerable to HIV, can be overlooked.
There are attempts—again under the umbrella of HIV—to bring female sex workers together with their peers outside the business. MENARosa, a new regional NGO that tries to empower women living with the HIV, is doing just this.
But beyond public health, few women's rights groups in the region want to talk about sex work, let alone actively engage with and empower female sex workers.
The Arab world is very far from accepting the sort of sex worker collectives, such as those in India and elsewhere in the Global South, which equip women to defend their rights. For all the promise of the "Arab Spring," such developments look a long way off.
*Shereen El Feki (@shereenelfeki) is the author of Sex and the Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab Worldand former Vice-Chair of the United Nations Global Commission on HIV and the Law.
[1] Opening Doors: Gender, Equality, and Development in the Middle East and North Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank. 2013.
[2] While prostitution is regularly criminalized throughout the Arab world, there are forms of legalized (and in some cases, state-regulated) sex work that exist in a handful of Arab countries, among them Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia.
[3] Global AIDS Report 2013. Geneva: UNAIDS. 2013.
[4] Mise en Oeuvre de la Declaration Politique sur le VIH/SIDA. Rapport national 2012. Rabat: Royaume du Maroc. 2012.
[5] Mise en Oeuvre de la Declaration Politique sur le VIH/SIDA. Rapport national 2012. Rabat: Royaume du Maroc. 2012.


text:
Riding in Nepal on a trail at four thousand metres (13,000 ft) elevation and looking over at a mountain that is eight thousand metres (26,000 ft) tall is a surreal experience. The fact that the trail below your bike has never seen tyres on it makes it even more surreal.
Anthill Films traveled to Nepal in the fall of 2011 to shoot a segment for Strength in Numbers – premiering April 2012. We went to Nepal with Rene Wildhaber and Andrew Shandro to tell the story of Nepal's young and growing mountain bike culture.
Most people have heard of Nepal. It is well known as the home to many of the tallest mountains in the world and its bustling capital city Kathmandu. Many have heard tales brought home from trekkers suggesting supposedly abundant forests of wild marijuana found growing all over the Nepalese hillsides. Unless you have been to this isolated nation, it is hard to separate fact from fiction. A trip to Nepal is an adventure of constant discovery – from the vast spread in climate from region to region, to the rules of the road when driving. As Mads Mathiasen a Danish expatriate who has lived in Nepal for 17 years and operates Kathmandu-based Unique Trails says, "Very few people realise how big a contrast there is in Nepal. From seventy metres above sea level, the lowest place in Nepal, to 8850 metres at the top of the world in Everest. You have every climate zone imaginable from sub-tropical to fully arctic. They think the Himalayas and they think cold."
There is a lot of trail to be explored in Nepal. It is a country with few roads and where walking is the primary form of transportation for the majority of the population. Trails connect the people. From the urban jungle of Kathmandu on up to the remote villages surrounding the peaks of the Himalaya. Kathmandu. Hetauda. Pokhara. Jomsom. Kagbeni. The Upper Mustang. These are places to experience. They will be forever locked in your mind, easily revisited in an instant with the slight stimulus of a photo or story from a fellow traveller.
Like the trails we experienced in Nepal, Strength In Numbers is about the threads that tie different communities of mountain bikers together. The bike is a tool of connections: tyre to ground. Foot to pedal. Hand to handlebar. Effort put out, in turn rewarded with full body happiness. Go to Nepal, meet the people and find singletrack that has never seen a mountain bike. It is the place to do it.
Anthill Films
Look forward to a feature story on Nepal coming in the May issue of Bike magazine.
Our trip was made possible by Ride Nepal, with assistance from Big Mountain Adventures .