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It's the Magic Shell from hell.
A truck containing 12 tons of liquid milk chocolate overturned on a Polish highway on Wednesday, coating the road in sticky candy goop. Now, crews are struggling to clean it all up because it's hardening onto the asphalt. Fun!
According to the New York Times, the secret weapon for this type of situation is hot water, which is now being sprayed onto the street to re-melt the chocolate. Cleanup is expected to take several hours, which we bet people in cars are thrilled about.
Tweet may have been deleted
The driver of the truck was hospitalized for a minor injury. No one else was harmed. And, fortunately, milk chocolate is only okay, so this situation isn't as tragic as it could be.
Imagine if society had lost 12 tons of dark chocolate.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, February 25, 2008
Turtle News
Pet Tortoise Sets House On Fire
Fred, a 70-year old female tortoise, piled up the straw in her tank under the heat lamp and the rest, well, you know the rest. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire.
Strangely, another turtle story caught my eye. This one from November 2007:
Rocket Thugs Launch Terrapin
Two extremes of people. One good and loving; the second horrible and cruel.
4 comments:
- cube said...
Funny, turtles are usually associated with water... Squirtle! ... not fire.
- February 25, 2008 10:53 AM
- BeckEye said...
That lady looks more like a turtle than the turtle!
- February 25, 2008 8:53 PM
- cube said...
Maybe, in a shell-less sort of way ;-)
- February 26, 2008 9:22 AM
the turtle woman is a saint. I'd be drop-kicking that turtle if she started a fire at my house.
-pez - February 26, 2008 10:39 AM
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We use cookies to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how you can disable them.
When it comes to religious belief, Bahrain rules and customs are relaxed in comparison to other countries.Islam is the official religion of Bahrain and to learn more about Islam one should visit Al Fatih mosque, the largest building in the country. This modern structure is built with imported marble from Italy, the glass from Austria, and the teak wood from India. The Grand Mosque in Juffair offers free tours for non-Muslims, every day except Friday. The Ad-DirazTemple is a small Dilmun site. Its stone base which is the centrepiece is considered to be an altar.


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Mutation analysis of ASPM gene in two Pakistani Famillies with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly
Paper Details
Mutation analysis of ASPM gene in two Pakistani Famillies with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly
Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a disorder of fetal brain growth, with reduced head circumference. The affected individuals exhibit reduced occipital-frontal head circumference (>2 SD) and mild-to-severe mental retardation. Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly is genetically heterogeneous and 18 loci have been reported to date. Mutations in ASPM gene are the most common cause of MCPH in the majority of the cases. The objective of the study was to search for pathogenic mutations in two Pakistani families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. In the current investigation, we have identified a previously reported mutation in ASPM gene. DNA samples of all available affected and unaffected individuals were PCR amplified using microsatellite markers and further analyzed by DNA sequencing. DNA sequence analysis revealed a previously reported mutation (p.W1326*) in ASPM gene. This study furthur validate that mutations in ASPM are the major cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly in the Pakistani population.
Bond J, Roberts E, Mochida GH, Hampshire DJ, Scott S, Askham JM, Springell K, Mahadevan M, Crow YJ, Markham AF, Walsh CA, Woods CG. 2002. ASPM is a major determinant of cerebral cortical size. Nature Genetics 32, 316-320.
Fish JL, Kosodo Y, Enard W, Paabo S, Huttner WB. 2006. Aspm specifically maintains symmetric proliferative divisions of neuroepithelial cells. Proc Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 103, 10438-10443.
Mahmood S, Ahmad W, Hassan MJ. 2011. Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH): clinical manifestations, genetic heterogeneity and mutation continuum. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 39, 1172-1186.
Matise TC, Chen F, Chen W, De La Vega FM, Hansen M, He C, Hyland FC, Kennedy GC, Kong X, Murray SS, Ziegle JS, Stewart WC, Buyske S. 2007. A second-generation combined linkage physical map of the human genome. Genome Research 17, 1783-1786.
Mir H, Khan S, Arif MS, Ali G, Wali A, Ansar M, Ahmad W. 2012. Mutations in the gene phospholipase C, delta-1 (PLCD1) underlying hereditary leukonychia. European Journal of Dermatology 22, 736-739.
Nicholas AK, Swanson EA, Cox JJ, Karbani G, Malik S, Springell K, Hampshire D, Ahmed M, Bond J, Di Benedetto D, Fichera M, Romano C, Dobyns WB, Woods CG. 2009. The molecular landscape of ASPM mutations in primary microcephaly. Journa of Medical Genetics 46, 249-253.
Paramasivam M, Chang YJ, LoTurco JJ. 2007. ASPM and Citron Kinase Co-Localize to the Midbody Ring During Cytokinasis. Cell Cycle 6, 1605-1613.
Saunders RD, Avides MC, Howard T, Gonzalez C, Glover DM. 1997. The Drosophila gene abnormal spindle encodes a novel microtubule-associated protein that associates with the polar regions of the mitotic spindle. Journal of Cell Biology 137, 881-890.
Thornton GK, Woods CG. 2009. Primary microcephaly: do all roads lead to Rome? Trends in Genetics 25, 501-510.
Wang R, Khan A, Han S, Zhang X. 2017. Molecular analysis of 23 Pakistani families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly using targeted next-generation sequencing Journal of Human Genetics 62, 299-304.
Zhong X, Liu L, Zhao A, Pfeifer GP, Xu X. 2005. The abnormal spindle-like, microcephaly-associated (ASPM) gene encodes a centrosomal protein. Cell Cycle 4, 1227-9.
Hina Mir, Abdul Haleem Shah, Ayesha Haleem Shah, Wasim Ahmad (2019), Mutation analysis of ASPM gene in two Pakistani Famillies with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly; IJB, V14, N3, March, P488-492
Copyright © 2019
By Authors and International
Network for Natural Sciences
(INNSPUB) https://innspub.net
This article is published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0


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Jewish World Review / Oct. 1, 1998 /11 Tishrei, 5759
Cal Thomas
The race panel: lies in black and white
AS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S "RACE PANEL'' concluded its work with
the predictable lament that blacks have trouble getting
anywhere solely because of "white privilege,'' Washington
Mayor Marion Barry said the November election could
produce a majority-white D.C. City Council, which he thinks
would be bad for the city's 63 percent black majority. Why?
According to Barry, when it comes to legislating, whites and
blacks are different in terms of culture, in terms of
A Klansman couldn't have said it better. Perhaps the mayor
might explain why the mostly white 4th district of Oklahoma
believes that Rep. J.C. Watts, a black man, can represent its
interests quite well in Congress.
The president's race panel reached conclusions familiar to
those who have been listening to the liberals' siren song for
four decades. Though more blacks than ever are in the
middle and upper class, how they got there is not to be our
concern. Neither is the reason why other blacks have been
left behind. The panel said the president should take the lead
in educating people about "the country's history of white
privilege'' and how an inferior status was assigned to people of
color. Better we should focus on how those who refused to
accept that status overcame and how they might show others
the way.
The race panel also said that whites and Asians enjoy greater
advantages economically and have better access to health
care and education. It found social and economic progress for
blacks slowed between the mid-1970s and early 1990s. And
it urged an end to sentence disparity for crimes involving
powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. Crack is more often
used by minority drug abusers than whites, and the panel
thinks longer sentences for crack use than for the powdered
variety is "morally and intellectually indefensible.'' Certain
"leaders'' in the black community have promoted the myth
that crack cocaine and AIDS are part of the white man's
"plan'' to rid them of their "black problem.''
The impediment to greater black progress is not racial
discrimination. It is family breakdown. In every category --
from out-of-wedlock births and fatherless homes, to the
percentage of young males in prison and victims or
perpetrators of violent crimes --- blacks are disproportionately
affected because it is their racial group that suffers most from
broken or never-formed two-parent homes.
Since the 1965 "War on Poverty'' began, more than $5
trillion have been spent on various programs to help the poor
overcome poverty. They have not ended poverty because
money was never the sole answer. Every study known to
government has shown that families formed by a man and
woman marrying and staying together to rear their children
produces a more economically and socially stable outcome
than single motherhood and absent fathers.
While the race panel points to a drop in government
programs in the '70s and '80s, the Population Issues Research
Institute at Pennsylvania State University found that "51
percent of the 4.5 percentage-point increase in child poverty
between 1980 and 1988 can be accounted for by changes in
family structure during the 1980s.'' Furthermore, the study
said, "Changing family structure also accounted for 48
percent of the increase during the 1980s in deep poverty, and
59 percent of the rise in relative poverty among U.S.
Sure, racism exists. But the best way to reduce its impact is
not to pass more laws or fund more failed government
programs. It is to help rebuild the black family and liberate
blacks not only from poverty but also from the white
paternalism that is little different from the plantation -- when
slave masters said that blacks couldn't make it on their own.
Liberal Democrats are today's slave masters. They should let
these people go, instead of holding them in indentured
political servitude, trading their votes for a few government
The race panel should have committed itself to putting the
black family back together again. But that might solve the
problem and unemploy certain black "leaders'' who seem to
have made a lucrative career for themselves by ensuring that
the misery of others never
9/18/98: The Clinton strategy and the Clinton legacy
9/18/98: Stopping him before he sins again
9/15/98: Repenting when the end is near
9/11/98: Faithfully executing: Congress vs. the President
9/10/98: The degrees of separation between Dan Burton and Bill Clinton
9/08/98: Joe Lieberman and the Democrats' conscience
9/04/98: Clinton vs. Reagan and the struggle for power
9/02/98: If only Bubba had been a Boy Scout
8/31/98: Liberal clergy and the Lewinsky affair
8/27/98: Combating the terrorists among us
8/25/98: The president as 'Chicken Little'
8/20/98: That was no apology
8/18/98: Big government's crab grab
8/14/98:Untruths, half-truths and anything but the
8/12/98: Lying under oath: past and present impeachable offenses
8/10/98: Endangered species
8/04/98: In search of an unstained president
7/31/98: The UK is ahead of US in one area...
7/28/98: Murder near and far
7/21/98: Telling the truth about
homosexual behavior
7/17/98: One Nation? Indivisible?
7/14/98: Who cares about killing when the 'good times' are rolling?
7/10/98: George W. Bush: a different 'boomer'
7/08/98: My lunch with Roy Rogers
7/06/98: News unfit to print (or broadcast)
6/30/98: Smoke gets in their eyes
6/25/98: Sugar and Spice Girls
6/19/98: William Perry opposed
technology transfers to China
6/19/98: The Clinton hare vs.the Starr tortoise
6/17/98: The President's rocky road to China
6/15/98: Let the children go
6/9/98: Oregon: the new killing fields
6/5/98: Speaking plainly: the cover-up continues
6/2/98: Barry Goldwater: in our hearts
5/28/98:The Speaker's insightful remarks
5/26/98: As bad as it gets
5/25/98:Union dues and don'ts
Connecting those Chinese campaign
contribution dots
5/19/98: Clinton on the couch
John Ashcroft: another
Jimmy Carter?
5/8/98: Terms of dismemberment
5/5/98: Clinton's tangled Webb
4/30/98: Return of the Jedi
4/28/98: Desparately seeking Susan
4/23/98: RICO's threat to free-speech and expression
4/21/98: Educating children v. preserving an institution
4/19/98: Analyzing the birth of a possible new nation
4/14/98: What's fair about our tax system?
4/10/98: CBS: 'Touched by a perv'
4/8/98: Judge Wright's wrong reasoning on sexual harassment
4/2/98: How about helping American cities before African?
3/31/98:Revenge of the children
3/29/98: The Clinton strategy: delay, deceive, deny, and destroy
3/26/98: Moralist Gary Hart
3/23/98: CNN's century of (liberal) women
3/17/98: Dandy Dan
3/15/98: An imposed 'settlement' settles nothing
3/13/98: David Brock's Turnabout


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Did you know that a gingivectomy can help improve your smile? Gingivectomy Is a surgical procedure carried out to remove hard and painful tissue that causes irritation, recession of gums, and tooth mobility. This procedure is used to regenerate the gums.
Being a dentist Dr. Sethi has treated thousands of patients that have experienced significant pain and discomfort caused by soft tissue buildup on their gums. Gingivectomy is an uncomplicated cosmetic procedure performed at dental clinics daily. Removing diseased gums is a simple procedure that can have you back to your old self in no time.
Opening Hours
- Tuesday 12:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM


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Sunday, May 14, 2006
My first dai
Comparing the red oak from Taiwan with red oak dais I have from Japan, I can tell that the former is of very good quality. It is noticeably dense. I told to myself I would precisely measure this density but haven't done it so far.
The only concern I have is that the remaining stock is only mainly masame (straight grain), and very few pieces are oimasame (quarter sawn stock, more stable for a dai).
Drilling holes will be of great help in this hard wood.
Start chopping.
Chopping in progress
Checking the blade width and marking it
Mouth chopping, a critical operation where it's so easy to ruin previous job. Mouth opeing is done after about 2/3rd of the chopping have been done on the other face.
Side cleaning (chopping at that stage looks like a mess, doesn't it?)
Sawing the side grooves
The cutting is finished, now remains to tune the sole.
For dai making, I recommend Jay Van Arsdale's detailed step by step explanation on dai making:
I've seen it after my first attempt... Thanks Bob for the link!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Reading wood
It was in a really bad shape and had been probably in contact with water. The picture shows part of it in its original state.
Original condition of the Taiwanese Juniper.
But I decided to try to give the piece a new life.
I used a block plane, with a rather large mounth opening to first get rid of the outer surface, completely fibrous as if it had been teared appart, and to clean the brownish parts.
After this cleanup, I switched to a smoother plane, set to take fine shavings, as my experience in planing this wood indicates it may be unfriendly depending on the grain. And that is the topic of my post: how to find out about the grain, and what to expect when planing. I don't mean to write anything new, and I know you will easily understand. But I just want to make you aware of that fact so that you know how to work with the wood, and anticipate its behaviour under your blade.
So let's read, directly from the picture. It will be straightforward.
How about that grain?
Ideal grain orientation
This grain is friendly, if you take it in the correct direction of course.
The grain on the foregound runs in a same direction (see the yellow lines I've added). The perpendicular surface planed easily and took a nice smooth finish.
On the following surface, on the other hand, observe the grain. Do you see it changing direction? Well, the corresponding perpendicular surface was a pain to plane. Even with very fine shavings setting, well sharpened blade, I've got tiny tearouts. I had to plane with an angle, and I know that my subblade setting was not optimum.
Unfriendly grain orientation
Someone who is fluent in wood reading, will probably be able to see right away from which part of the tree this piece of wood came from. He will know which part should be exposed, either for the beauty of its grain, or because it will plane well and thus will feature a very nice finish.
Please note that I do not mean to act as a teacher here, this is not my goal neither my position. My writings here are just to illustrate what I figure out during my woodworking experiences. I may be wrong, and in that case, please let me know!


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Jewerly nearby Canada
Welcome to the world of Swarovski Jewelry, Watches, Accessories and sparkling crystal objects. Come visit us in our boutique to shop the latest collections and let us add sparkle to your everyday life!
Bandiera Jewellers
Bandiera Jewellers combines its passion for old-world craftsmanship with a taste for modern luxury.
Mike's Jewellery Repair
Located in Saint John, Mike's Jewellery Repair offers a large selection of consignment and estate jewellery. We also specialize in antique and fine jewellery repair, as well as custom orders, watch straps, remounts, corporate jewellery and more.
Peoples Jewellers
For over 100 years, Peoples has provided an accessible and comfortable shopping experience for its Canadian consumers. With its strong assortment of affordable fine jewellery and brand‐name watches, Peoples Jewellers provides selections for every occasion and every customer.
Dowd Supply Co
Dowd Supply Company is your one-stop-shop for tools, supplies, and equipment for contractors, jewelers, beaders, craftsmen, designers and hobbyists. Serving customers in Ottawa, all our tools and supplies are of professional quality, and with our large selection of products we'll have everything ...


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For decades, pizza has been a bonding experience, bringing family, friends, and colleagues together over hot slices of cheesy goodness. It's a great way to satisfy your hunger and build relationships. While some, okay many, of us, have been known to eat more pizza than we should during a special gathering, it helps to know how much to order. It helps to know what size is a large pizza.
It's the ultimate comfort food and luckily ordering a pizza is fast and easy. And with so much variety, you could eat a different pizza every day. There aren't any toppings that are off-limits, although there are some that are controversial (we're looking at you, pineapple). Pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, veggies, and cheese exist in harmony on a beautiful round pie.
Why Size Is Important
From fast food to gourmet, there are many kinds and many sizes of pizza available. And that's where it gets murky. Pizzas generally come in small, medium, and large, with the occasional extra-large thrown in for good measure. In some cases, a pizzeria may skip medium altogether and go right from small to large.
None of this answers the question of how many inches is in a large pizza. These sizes can be vague, and when ordering, it's nice to know the measurements of these generic sizes. And when you are ordering for a crowd, it's even more important to know how large a large pizza really is.
Consider the awkward situations that can be averted when the right amount of pizza arrives for the birthday parties, office lunches, and the big game.
- A fight to the death over the last slice of pizza
- Not enough leftovers to have pizza for breakfast
- Too many leftovers – never mind, that is not a thing
When it comes to ordering the right amount of pizza, guesswork just doesn't cut it. Getting pizza sizes right can be a Herculean feat or maybe the eighth wonder of the modern world. There is no shortage of pizza sizes, so ordering the right amount for your special occasion can be problematic.
Does a Name Really Matter?
What one pizza place might call a large is not always the same as what a different one would. This does nothing to help hosts who try to order the right amount of food for their shindigs or even casual family dinners.
You can very easily order a large pizza hoping to have some leftovers and get something either smaller or larger than you expected. The main reason for this is because there is no standardization of pizza sizes. It's every pizzeria for themselves when it comes to determining the size of their pies.
Although the biggest pizza ever made clocks in at 131 feet across and we don't even want to know how small is the smallest (because who wants a small pizza), it's fair to say that a large pizza falls somewhere in between.
Make a Spur-of-the-Moment Party Great
Pizza is hands down the perfect option when throwing parties with very little notice. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't like pizza, so a steaming hot slice or two is always a treat. Even if they've had pizza for lunch, they'll be happy to indulge again at dinner time.
Pizza's charm lies in how casual and convenient it is, compared to a full-on, sit-down meal that requires tons of prep on your part. With pizza, you don't even need cutlery, and no one complains when you break out the paper plates. In fact, they are almost mandatory.
And you can't get much more economical than pizza when you are hosting a large group. Pizza offers a tasty and satisfying experience with very little cost and preparation. When planning an impromptu get-together, it is a good idea to find out how many slices are actually in a large pizza, so you order just the right amount.
Pizza by the Numbers
It can get a little mathematical when you are planning to feed a large group, and an extra-large pizza just won't be enough. For example, if you expect a crowd of twenty, you need to figure out the right size pizza and how many of them will feed this crowd. Knowing how many slices are in a large pizza will help you make the right choice. Here are some things to consider:
- The number of adults—most adults will eat more than one slice, 2-3 is average
- The number of children under 5—one slice per child
- The number of children 5 and up—2 extra slices for every 6 children
Order Plenty of Large Pizza Pies for Your Special Occasion
A Hungry Howie's® pizza size large is 14 inches, which is, in fact, the industry average. This gives you plenty of leeway to order a gluten-free pie and a vegan pie for those with dietary restrictions, a meat-eaters pie for those who like a meaty pizza, the works for those who want it all, and any other type of pizza that will please your guests. And don't forget to pair a free Flavored Crust® with each pizza you order.
You can order online for delivery or call ahead and pick up your pizzas in person. Either way, there'll be plenty of deliciousness to go around.


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When wheat arrives at the mill a number of tests are completed to determine the quality of the wheat being delivered.
Most contracts for a consignment of grain will require it to be "sound, sweet and clean, free from bug damage, foreign grains, smut, decay, insect and grain storage pests, vermin, visible sprout, and any other blemish or damage" or similar wording. Some microbial infection or diseases are not visible with the naked eye, but off smells can be an indicator of an issue.
Visual appearance
It is sometimes possible to identify wheat varieties by their physical characteristics alone. It is not uncommon, due to shared storage facilities, that some contamination may occur, and even at levels as low as 3% can affect the milling and baking quality of the contracted grain variety.
Protein content
Most wheat is purchased on a protein basis, as this dictates the potential end use of the flour.
Moisture Content
The moisture content of a wheat will dictate its' suitability for long term storage.
Hagberg Falling Number test
The Hagberg Falling Number test is a measure of the enzyme activity in the wheat. If wheat has been stored in damp and moist conditions prior to delivery, or harvested incorrectly, it may begin to germinate or sprout. The enzymes released during this process will make the resultant flour almost useless for breadmaking, as these enzymes can no longer be used in the fermentation process.
Gluten Quality
Gluten is a protein made from a combination of the proteins glutenin and gliadin which forms around 85% of the total protein. Protein quality is important for baking purposes. Strong elastic gluten indicates it is good for breadmaking, a weak and slack gluten is better used in biscuits and cakes. Gluten quantity and quality is usually dictated by varietal origin, but can be affected by such things as heat damage caused during drying.
Specific Weight
Is measured as kilograms per hectolitre which checks the density of the grain. Typically, denser grains have a higher extraction potential compared to less dense grains of a similar size. Lower or higher than expected hectolitre weights will pick up such things as shrivelled grains, higher or lower than normal moisture, or other contaminants which all serve to reduce the potential extraction of flour.
Admixture (screenings or contaminants)
Even with best practices followed, wheat can be contaminated during the harvesting and on-farm storage process. Contaminants can include ergot, insects, other cereal grains, straw, stones, chaff and soil. It is normal to have between 1% and 3% "admix" but at levels above this it may adversely affect the performance of the cleaning process, or interfere with the transport process.


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Urban Proof Ding Dong Bike Bell – Dots
Dotty ding dong
Out of stock
Let people know you are coming in style with this trendy black bell with white spots. A classic bike bell shape with that familiar ding dong sound.
- Extra protective layer to ensure pattern and colour stays strong whatever the weather
- Attaches to the handlebar with bracket and two screws, you just need a screwdriver to secure it on.
- Length 6.5cm, Width 6.5cm, height 7cm
- Weight: 225g
- Material: Steel
Bells are not only a functional accessory but they can be a pretty and stylish addition to your bike. We LOVE this very cool dotty pattern.
Weight | 0.24 kg |
Brand | Urban Proof |
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Behind The Scenes Of A Quality Slate Roof Installation
It's no wonder you're looking forward to getting your new slate roof installed. In addition to its beauty and distinctive texture, slate is durable – capable of lasting from 75 to 150 years. It's fireproof, too, which means it's safe. And the fact that it's a great insulator means it may even lower your energy costs.
But all this is taking the long view. Until you can take a step back on your front lawn and admire your smart roofing choice, you have questions about what goes on behind the scenes of a quality slate roof installation. To aid your learning curve, the experts at Stevens Roofing Corporation have the answers.
How slate roofing is installed
- Step 1: All construction projects create some degree of mess, so our first priority is to fully safeguard your home and your property while our crews install your new roof. We use tarps to protect your plants and other landscaping from falling dust. And if the ground is wet, we lay plywood to contain dirt and mud.
- Step 2: For many homeowners, watching us remove the old roofing material is the most entertaining step. Whether it's asphalt, wood, clay or concrete shingles or metal or copper sheeting, the old roofing material usually looks worse up-close than it does from a distance.
- Step 3: Any roof should be inspected at this juncture, but this step is even more crucial when a slate roof is at the center of the action. Your roof surface must be solid, and any soft, wet or rotted wood should be replaced. Slate can add an extra 500 pounds of weight to your home, and your roof must be strong enough to withstand the pressure.
- Step 4: Think of the installation of underlayment as an insurance policy for your new slate roof. Underlayment serves many purposes, including: protecting your home until the slate is installed; providing the crucial first layer of waterproofing; bolstering the slate's fire-resistance value; and providing a good surface for the chalk lines which are drawn in the next step.
- Step 5: Installation time is often the most intriguing for onlookers. The precision involved in installing a slate roof is critical. It means keeping water and moisture from leaking inside a home. Novices may simply call it "overlap," but the pros know installing a slate roof properly means achieving just the right amount of sidelap as well as headlap, which refers to the amount of overlap at the top of each slate.
- Step 6: Since we clean up at the end of every work day, it doesn't take our crews long to leave a home site even cleaner than how we found it. A clean roof is also important to a final inspection.
The pleased look on the faces of our customers makes the entire process worthwhile – even before they begin to experience the benefits of choosing a slate roof or the most skilled crew in town that installs it. You can, too, when you call Stevens Roofing.


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Submit Artwork Here
1 (800) 333-1838
Regular price $169.99
Our standard table cover is a great table topper for trade shows, exhibitions, and any presentations. Our table covers are dye sublimated and are 100% washable if it ever gets dirty. This table cover is made from our 8.8 oz. polyester table fabric that drapes over 3 sides of a 96" x 30" x 30" display table. The table cover is sewn with rounded corners and hang approximately 2" above the floor. Complete your presentation with our simple and cost-effective table cover.
Features :


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Class model defines the structure of the entire system by identifying the static structure of objects in that system. A class model defines attributes and operations for the objects of each class and also the relationship between the objects in the systems.
A class model prepares the platform for the other two models i.e. the state model and interaction model. Class model is considered important as it represents the graphical representation of the entire system and helps in analysis while communicating with the customers.
The motive behind constructing the class model is to concentrate on those concepts of real world that are important from the application point of view. In this section, we will discuss the class model along with its elements like the objects, classes, links and association between the classes.
Content: Class Model
- Objects in Class Model
- Classes in Class Model
- Relationship Between Objects and Classes
- Key Takeaways
Objects in Class Model
An object is an abstracted thing that comprises data structure and behaviour. Each object can be identified distictly from the application perspective. The objects that share the same data structure and behaviour are classified to a single class.
We can classify the object into two types, concrete object and a conceptual object. A concrete object is the one which has existence in the real world, for example, Jhon, IBM company, a file in a file system etc. Conceptual object is one which has existence in the real world but can not be accessed or sensed for example an insurance policy, a formula to solve a quadratic equation, scheduling policy of an operating system etc.
The objects in the system are identified from the problem statement provided for developing the software. Generally, the objects in the system are proper noun and identified such that they are important from the applications view point.
Every object is distinctly identified in the system, even though they have the same attribute values and share the same functions. Consider two bikes that are of the same company, same model, same features and even have the same colour. Still, two bikes are two different instances of the same class and have an individual identity.
Classes in Class Model
We can define a class as a group of objects possessing the same attributes and the same operations. An object is said to be an instance or an occurrence of the class. To understand this in a better way consider a class Person. Look at the image below you can observe, two objects of the class person i.e. Joe and Smith. They share the same attributes such as name, city and same operation such as change-city, change-job.
Generally, a class is always a common noun or a noun phrase that is derived from the problem statement provided to develop the system. Objects in the class can be distinguished identically on the basis of their attribute values although two objects from the same class can have all attributes values same.
Whenever the class is derived from the problem statement, choice of its properties (attributes) and behaviour (operation) depends upon the purpose of the application while the rest properties and functions are ignored.
Let us suppose, a company has several people then they all will be classified to a class employee. Now consider a shopping centre here the people will be classified into two different classes employee and customer. So, the interpretation of the classes depends on the purpose of the application.
The class model is represented using the class diagram which is the graphical representation of the classes and their relationship with each other. It also describes the possible objects for each class.
Relationship Between Objects and Classes
To define the relationship between the objects and classes two terms are used, link and association. A link defines the connection between the objects. A link can relate two or more objects.
Association can be defined as the group of links and a link is said to be an instance of the association. Like a class describes all possible objects similarly association describe all possible links. In a problem statement, a link or association can be identified by the verbs present in the problem statement.
When some classes have some common features then those features are factored out in a superclass. The superclass has the general information which is shared by all its subclasses. This relation between a superclass and one or more of its subclasses is called Generalization.
Generalization is referred to as 'is-a' relationship. The concept of generalization organizes the classes in a hierarchy where the subclasses inherit the features of superclass.
Key Takeaways
- The class model is the graphical representation of the structure of the system and also the relation between the objects and classes in the system.
- Each object in the system has data structure and behaviour.
- Object sharing the same features are grouped to a class.
- Objects are the proper nouns and classes are common nouns identified in the problem statement provided for the development of the application.
- The relationship between the objects is the link and the group of links with the same structure is termed as an association.
- The class model focuses on the factors that are essential from the applications point of view.
So, this is all about the class model which is the graphical representation that incorporates objects, classes, the relation between objects and classes.


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Ten Lessons on Filmmaking from David Lynch
After 25 years, the wait is over for Twin Peaks fans. David Lynch and Mark Frost have announced a return to the mythical town coming in 2016 to Showtime. The show is often credited for having paved the way for the golden age of television today, when many TV programs rival cinema for compelling stories. Through the episodic medium of television, Lynch was able to create a multi-layered world full of rich stories, diving deep into the lives of its characters. The season will pick up in the present day and bring back many of the show's iconic roles.
Shortly before the announcement, David Lynch teased the possible comeback at the Lucca Film Festival in Tuscany's storied city, where the director picked up a lifetime achievement award. There are few directors today as zen-like as Lynch. Today, he rarely discusses cinema, or even his own life progress, without delving into Transcendental Meditation. Not surprisingly, Lynch preached the benefits of Transcendental Meditation throughout the festival, discussing the path he's used to expand his mind toward catching cinematic ideas, as well as achieving inner peace. We've gathered Lynch's best advice from the festival on the secret to his success over the years.
1. The thrill is in the hunt for a good idea.
We don't know an idea until it enters a conscious mind. Ideas have to travel quite a ways before they come into the conscious mind. So by transcending, you start expanding that consciousness, making the subconscious conscious.
You'll catch ideas on a deeper level. And they have more information and more of a thrill. It's the happiness in the doing that got greater for me. Catching more ideas became easier, along with a kind of inner self-assuredness. Looking back, I did not have much self-assuredness in the beginning.
2. Inner strength is key to working in the entertainment business.
In this business, or in any business, you can just get streamrolled if you don't have this inner strength. And the more happiness you have going in, life becomes more of a game than a torment. And so you look out at the world of people that used to stress you. It could happen that you would just put your arm around them and say, "Let's go have a coffee." Everything seems happier.
I always wondered if Transcendental Meditation would make someone just so calm that they didn't want to do anything. They'd just become a bland person and only wanted to eat nuts and raisins. But it's not that way. You get more energy. That's the field of unbounded energy within every human being. It's very, very important for the work, this thing of happiness. It's so important to be happy in the doing.
3. Positivity is essential to the creative process.
Stories always have held conflicts and contrasts, highs and lows, life and death situations. And there can be much suffering in stories, but now we say the artist doesn't have to suffer to show suffering. You just have to understand the human condition, understand the suffering.
A lot of artists say anger or even the experience of fear or these things feeds the work, and so the suffering artist is a romantic concept. But if you think about it, it's romantic for everybody except the artist. If the artist is really suffering, then the ideas don't flow so good, and if [he is] really suffering, he can't even work. I say that negativity is the enemy to creativity.
4. Everything must serve to push the idea forward.
For me there is always a plot. There is a story that makes sense to me. But in the story, there are things that are more abstract. There are feelings, and cinema can say feelings and can say abstract thoughts. Cinema can go back in time, or forward, and it's very magical. But you do not do it just to do it. You do it to realize the ideas you fall in love with. The ideas are gifts, such beautiful gifts. And I am always so thankful when I get an idea that I fall in love with. It is a beautiful day to get an idea that you love. What we need is ideas. That is the only thing we really need.
5. Don't get ahead of your idea.
Don't think about the money or what's going to happen after the film is finished. The first thing you need is an idea, an idea that you fall in love with. The idea tells you the mood you choose for the characters, how the characters talk. It tells you the story, it shows you all the details, and so all you have to do is stay true to that idea as you shoot your film.
Even with a little amount of money it is possible to figure out a way to do things. So you stay true to the idea, and you don't let anyone interfere with it. And all rules include final cut and total creative freedom. If you don't have the final say or the creative freedom what's the point of doing anything?
6. Everyone must be on board with your idea.
The trick is to get everyone working with you to go on the same road, based on the same ideas. And you do this by talking. In the prop department for instance, the prop person can bring me some things. They may be very good things, but they're not in line with the idea. So, you tell the prop man the reason that they're not in line, and to look for things that are more like this. And the next time he comes, it will be much closer to the idea. And one day he will bring things because he catches the idea.
It's the same way with actors. You have rehearsals, and it gets closer by talking and talking. I always say, they catch that idea there, the way they talk, the way they think, the way they move. It's the same way with all the departments that are helping me.
7. Get inspired, not influenced.
There's a difference between influence and inspiration. I was never a film buff, and I was not really interested in art history when I was a painter. For me, I always say the city of Philadelphia was my greatest influence. The mood of that place when I was there, the feeling in the air, the architecture, the decay, insanity, corruption and fear swimming in that city are the things I saw in films.
I don't really care what is going on in the world, nor with cinema. However, once in awhile, you can see a film that is truly great. Or you see some new paintings and say, "That person has really got something fantastic." It is an inspiration, and it pushes you forward.
8. Don't ignore your transitions.
Cinema is very close to music. In music, lots of times you have different sections, so a very loud, fast technique and then very, slow; very high things and very low things. It is all moving forward at a certain pace, and everybody knows that the piece of music written on the page, that a certain conductor with a certain orchestra can get something so profoundly above the others. It's a magical thing. Cinema moves through time like music. It goes from one scene to another. One of the things that is important is these transitions between one thing and another, one thing flowing into another. And these transitions are very important and very beautiful.
9. Cinema doesn't need to make sweeping statements on society.
A lot of times, someone finishes a film and in the film there's a man and a woman, and certain things happen. And the journalists will say, "Oh, does this mean you feel this way about women and men in general?" No. It's this particular woman in this particular place going through these particular things. That woman does not represent all women — and this is very important.
10. Stop the film vs. digital debate. There's room for both.
For a long time I championed digital. I fell in love with digital with Inland Empire. And recently, I was working on deleted scenes from Twin Peaks. And for the first time in a long time, I saw the footage shot on film, and I was overwhelmed by the depth of the beauty that celluloid, that film can give. It has such a depth and such a beauty. And I like to photograph factories, and I think that in photographing factories I also saw the difference between digital and celluloid in film.
So, there are all these different choices we have. In digital we have very long takes. You don't have to stop the camera. You can keep it rolling. And you can talk about the scene while the camera is rolling, and a lot of time that helps to get a film deeper and deeper. Digital is lightweight, much faster, no dirt, no scratches, no tearing, and there is so much control in post-production. It is a beautiful thing. But maybe these different mediums will all stay alive and one thing will be right for this project and another thing will be right for that project.


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Levi Thompson
Graphic Artist and Illustrator Extraordinaire
Levi Thompson is a self-trained illustrator living in Port Orford, Oregon. His art illustrations are strongly influenced in equal parts by the realms of science fiction and Japanese anime. He has a strong sense of color, an intense imagination and a unique sensitivity that enables him to construct worlds based in an alternate reality – either of his own creation or through listening to others.
Levi works as a graphic artist at Point.B Studio and is a vector wizard at the Rural Design Collective. You can see more of his work here.
Port Orford Historical Buildings – 2015 (In Progress)
KPOZ-FM Logo – 2013
Levi updated the original buoy mark that the Rural Design Collective created in 2008 (shown in his hand at right) with a jazzy fresh new logo modeled after a compass rose.
#deBUG Insect Illustrations – 2011
Selected Work from the RDC Program, 2008 – 2009
In 2008, Levi created a custom book cover illustration from concept to completion working with a professional client on revisions, specifications and deadlines. He also designed web and print collateral for a variety of projects, including the buoy logo and map artwork for the North Curry Community Radio website plus the official Rural Design Collective crest and the design superheroes used in our launch illustration. He also adapted his traditional art skills to the digital medium, independently honing his skills in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and mastering a Wacom drawing tablet.
In 2009, he created the icon set for our public domain books for kids collection as seen in the RDC UI Lab. These icons will be released into the public domain as part of our genCollectionInterface (gCI) rollout.


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Coracoid process
Scapula bone have three process. A. Spinous process B. Acromion process C. Coracoid process – three muscles attach on it. Teres minor muscle Biceps brachii muscle (short head) Corocobrachialis muscle NOTE : Don't confuse with coronoid process because It is present on upper end of ulna bone and brachialis muscle attach on it.


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We're going to learn a new word today. "Nutrigenomics" is a term I believe you are going to be hearing a lot more about in the next few years. Nutrigenomics refers to the science of how nutritious food can "turn on" good genes and "turn off" bad genes.
For instance, say diabetes runs in your family. If that is the case, it is quite likely that you carry certain genes that make you more likely to develop diabetes as well. However, science is finding that in many cases, genetics is not destiny. If you eat bioactive foods that work with your metabolism instead of against it–as well as foods that influence gene expression in a positive direction– you may be able to prevent (or at least decrease the risk of developing) diabetes and other "genetic" diseases.
One of the best bioactive foods on the planet are broccoli sprouts. As many of you already know, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are powerful sources of enzymes and nutrients that promote health and combat disease. However, broccoli sprouts deliver even more of these disease-fighting compounds, including one that acts on a genetic level.
Sulforaphane — A Super Nutrient That is Key to Health
Broccoli sprouts are especially rich in a substance called sulforaphane, which numerous studies have shown to be one of the most beneficial plant-based molecules when it comes to human health. When consumed in sufficient amounts, sulforaphane plays a key role in supporting cellular processes, improving cellular detoxification, and protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation.
In fact, numerous studies have found that sulforaphane has shown promise in treating a wide range of conditions including gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disease, and even autism. Understanding how sulforaphane works at the cellular level can help illustrate why this compound is so biochemically versatile.
Scientists believe sulforaphane is a potent activator of a cellular defense mechanism known as Nrf2. Put simply, when this genetic switch is triggered, then a vast number of beneficial enzymes and molecules are upregulated, which means they are made available in abundance. As a result, these beneficial cellular molecules can scavenge for free radicals and metabolize toxins.
Amazingly, sulforaphane helps keep metabolic pathways open that allow cells to expel environmental toxins, but at the same time, it blocks enzymes that can promote cancers. Now, that, what I call a win-win.
Sulforaphane supports health in so many ways and it is an especially bioavailable molecule too. Unlike many other nutritive supplements, 80 percent of the compound consumed is actually absorbed and used by the body. And there is virtually no better source of this vital nutrient than the humble but delectable broccoli sprout.
Growing Your Own Super Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts have been shown to help people regulate blood sugar, improve liver function, and detoxify environmental chemical exposures. I encourage everyone to add this delicious and healthy superfood to their diet.
You can buy broccoli sprout at most health food stores but the best way to enjoy this delicacy is to grow or sprout your own. All it takes is a mason jar, some broccoli seeds, a little water, and a few days.
You can learn more about ordering, growing, and sprouting broccoli sprouts from Sproutpeople, a leader in providing organic a GMO-free seeds. They sell seeds and a variety of simple sprouting kits available that make the process even easier and more fun. They also have some great resources, including instructional videos, educational info, and recipes, which will get you started with this very healthy activity.
Happy Sprouting!
Dr. Joshua Levitt


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Via the people who want to organise the world's information for us (google.com/insights/search), a few insights about the world of VJing and motion graphics, comparing results between 2004 and 2010.
"Insights for Search aims to provide insights into broad search patterns. Several approximations are used to compute these results. (And it has to be said – their secret sauce yields a few surprising results) The Insights for Search map is intended for general analysis of volume patterns. Borders are an approximation and may not be accurate."
( Remember, the map is not the territory, Google said so. )
VJ as a search term? Down slightly, but still flying along. Most popular by far, by people searching from countries in South East Asia, topped by Indonesia. Top search? MTV VJ, followed by Burma VJ. Couldn't find the part where they listed 'cool people squinting into laptops'.
VJ Software?
Arkaos lovers are most likely to live in Portugal, then Belgium, Argentina.
Resolume: Portugal, Czech Republic, Austria.
Quartz Composer: Japan, Austria, Switzerland (*Australia 4th!)
Modul8: Esp Switzerland then Austria, Italy.
VDMX: Esp Germany then UK, US.
Of note – Portugal and Austria seem to be pixel hotspots! The Arkaos graph is on a sharp decline over time, and if the search is restricted to just 2010, the numbers tilt a little differently. And also – *why do more people in Australia search for Quartz Composer, than all of the people in the United States?
And for less off the shelf VJ related packages, in order of popularity: Isadora (by a fair margin), VVVV, processing + video, max msp + jitter, pure data + gem.
Questions People Ask VJs
"What software are you using?" +300% (Bedroom VJs are on the up )
"Can you play this song?" -57% (People are getting better at distinguishing DJs / VJs, or are just sending their requests through twitter and facebook )
'Video Jockey' as a search term, is thankfully on a decline. ( Most popular by far, in India.)
'Scratch video' peaked in late 2005, declined, and seems to have stabilised since then. ( Most popular in U.S. )
'DVDJ' – by far most popular in the U.S., on a slow decline.
'Video mapping' – on the up and up, esp in India.
And In the Wild: What's it like for practicing VJs? Are conditions improving? A few more search terms:
"Goddammit! I'm VJing from a milk crate on the side of stage again, drowning in foldback." -24%
"This venue has built-in projectors, as well as preview monitors and cameras for use in our in-house digital mixer." +6%
"Your VJ rider includes meals, top shelf drinks and professional shoulder massages on the hour." +1.7%
MIDI vs OSC: Midi canes, and is apparently searched for the most in Madagascar, 4 times the nearest search-nation, France. Something to do with evolution and volcanoes I suppose. Germany loves OSC the most, followed by the Taiwanese.
Adobe After Effects Vs Apple Motion : Unsurprisingly, AE is the gorilla here, and especially in the Philippines.
Final Cut Pro VS Adobe Premiere : Premiere well ahead, though in decline. Australians are the 2nd biggest searchers for FCP ( after the U.S.).
VJ iPhone vs VJ Android: One side gets steamrollered. Guess which has the flat graph.
VJ Styles:
Worryingly, kaleidoscope is on the increase (esp in UK) and fractal remains high. Tunnel effect sacred geometry and lens flare remain threatening. 'Data moshing' is not yet searched for in high enough volume to warrant google graphing.
[Update: From the heart of pixelated heart of Berlin, Lucy confirms in the comments, that indeed, Google's aim is true – Germans love beer, hiking *and* VDMX. And confirmed again via Kyle, searching for VJ Loops -"Seems Portugal is the mecca!"]
[[ Update 2 (aka newsflash) : Apparently people who play behind laptops making real-time video – seem to really like statistics. The comments keep on coming – from India, Germany, Austria.. y'know, all the pixel powerhouses… ]]


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Where: The National Library, Solli Plass, Oslo (Henrik Ibsens gate 110)
When: Friday October 18th 2013, 12:00-17:00
The German record company ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is frequently referred to as one of the most important labels for contemporary, classical, and jazz music. As of today their discography counts close to 1400 titles, several hundreds of which have been recorded in Norway. Over the last decades producer Manfred Eicher has been travelling to Oslo to make records with mainly improvising musicians in the studios of recording engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug. From the very start in 1970 this work set a standard in studio production, and many of the releases have become seminal in the history of recorded jazz.
In 2013 ECM deposited their archive of master and production tapes from Rainbow studio with the National Library of Norway for preservation and research purposes. With this as a backdrop, the National Library, in collaboration with the Department of Musicology at the University of Oslo (with the NFR Kulver Contemporary Soundspaces project), invite to a research seminar.
The seminar will revolve around the ECM recordings of jazz made in Norway, and will from different perspectives discuss the production and reception of these records. The emphasis will be on the music, the sound, the records, but in this context, equally important, on the different roles of the producer, the contribution of the engineer, and the very process of capturing editions of contemporary music in the recording studio.
We are proud to announce that director and main producer of ECM Manfred Eicher will contribute with his insights at the seminar, as will recording engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug and musician Arild Andersen, in dialogue with professor Hans Weisethaunet and research librarian Ivar Håkon Eikje. In addition two of the leading researchers in jazz studies and recorded music, professor Krin Gabbard and lecturer Peter Elsdon, will share their thoughts on the topic presented: ECM recordings as artistic expression and cultural practice.
"Die Siebziger Jahre waren ein Füllhorn, eine Wundertüte, ein "power spot", und Manfred Eicher war damals ein "halber Norweger", der in Oslo Meilensteine am laufenden Band produzierte, von Sart bis Open, to Love, von Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away bis Northern Song, von Solstice bis Belonging, von Facing You bis Piano Improvisations, Vol. 1 and 2, von The Following Morning bis Dansere etc etc. Und ich glaube mich zu erinnern, wie er mir im Interview erzählte von tagelangen Zugfahrten und den Masterbändern im Gepäck. Was für Reisefrachten, und da stand nicht mal "Be careful! Fragile!" drauf." (M.E. In den Klanghorizonten, Oktober 1993)


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It was touch and go there for a while for Town Brookhaven. Breaking ground in late 2007, megalithic Florida-based developer Sembler's massive mixed-used development on Peachtree Road ran head-on into the economic downturn and housing collapse. As national retailers were beginning to scale back and both homeowners and renters were running for cover, Sembler pushed ahead with demolition and construction on their 54-acre site near Oglethorpe University on Peachtree Road. And while the apartment residences of Alexan Brookhaven and The GoodWynn opened and began to steadily fill, for a couple of years the project was a vast, lonely sea of red clay and concrete.
Fast forward to late 2010 and into 2011, and the retail elements of the development began to take shape. Costco, Publix, LA Fitness, Marshalls and CineBistro all opened, along with a mix of sit-down and fast casual eating options in what can best be described as quasi-open air food court. Residents and visitors alike can now choose from Noche, Slack's Bar and the Flying Biscuit, among many others. With the demand for rental housing skyrocketing (a third mid-rise apartment complex was announced last spring), and businesses like Tom Catherall's Noche reporting strong numbers, it would appear Town may have turned the corner. -with Scott Barr
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What used to be considered as everlasting is now looked upon as being in danger of running out. People are becoming much more aware of dwindling resources and environmentally unfriendly practices.
While water may not be about to run out, it is still something that people waste every single day. According to Nature Research Journals, we are heading for a shortage of water. More than a billion people on our planet live without fresh water every day, and yet in first world countries, it is flushed down the drain without thought at times.
Here are some ways you can look at your own water usage, wastage, and how to consider saving water and, in doing so, saving yourself money and helping the planet just a little bit.
Fixing leaks
One area of wasted water is from leaks. There are some leaks that you can note from observation. The presence of a green patch within your compound can be an indication of a leak. However, some leaks can be tricky to note as it may be happening underground without you even noticing. If you have a pump to help water flow, you may notice it running when there are no taps open. This is a sure sign of a leak somewhere and needs to be investigated. Ensure that you have an expert come and inspect your pipes once in a while.
Tankless water heaters
If your traditional water heating tank is coming to the end of its life, you might want to consider a tankless version. These modern heaters, don't have a tank, so there is no storage of water. They only heat water on demand, i.e., when you open up the water in your shower. There is various models on the market today. Happily, most of them you can find online, on websites such as WaterHeaterHub.
This means that you save on electricity for heating the water, and when you turn on the tap, there is less cold water to run off, which invariably goes straight down that plughole.
Burst pipes
This is a problem that may happen in winter when water freezes and then expands, breaking the pipe. It could also happen due to undue water pressure on fragile older piping. Weather variations are always a threat to the survival of pipes. You must thus prepare such pipes for weather variations or have an expert fix them after seasonal changes.
Modern houses often have more than one bathroom, which means family members showering and using water simultaneously. The volume of water flowing through the house might exceed what your old pipes can take. To compute the flow rate of the pipe would mean using a special calculator, which you can find online at this website. Specialized plumbers can look at your water system and advise if it needs modernizing.
Older houses can have pipes that are too narrow for the flow rate of water from modern appliances and general usage. The flow rate can be applied to gas pipes too. Modern bathrooms and walk-in showers need to be fitted by professionals, so check with them about your current plumbing.
Washing machines vs. hand washing
You love your washer because it takes away that chore from you and saves time, but it can be very uneconomical with water and energy. If you have the time, consider hand washing clothes, even if it is in the shower while you wash.
If you use a washing machine, make sure the load is full, so the machine is being used to the max and wasting less water. As an aside, you could also switch to cold washing and save yourself around 90% on electricity usage too. Ensure that you use washing machines with an energy-star rating to reduce energy consumption in your home.
Pouring money down the drain
One area that everyone could do better is the amount of water that is sent needlessly down the drain. Did you ever pour some water from a tap into a glass, drink half, and then pour the rest away? You are not the only one. This water could be added to a jug or bucket and used on flowers and plants instead of just being wasted. You hear about renewable energy for your home, so why not reusable water? You might be able to save water by using modern ECO friendly faucets and taps. You can as well invest in a system that recycles water in your home. Such an approach ensures that you do not get high water bills every end month.
Programmed faucets
There are now a few options for you to change your old style faucets to water-saving versions. Some of these are programmed to run just the right amount for various purposes such as filling a mug or kettle. Others have a feature to shut themselves off so they are never left open for too long.
While you are thinking about faucets, what about that dripping tap in the bathroom? Simply changing a washer might be enough to save all that wasted water. Remember the money you will save too.
Take advantage of rainwater
Water is supposed to be a natural resource. However, it has now been commercialized but you can still take charge. The water that drains through your roofs can be put into better use and reduce your reliance on water suppliers. You just need to fit your roofing system with gutters and tap the water into a storage tank. You can treat the water before utilizing it for domestic use. However, you can use it the way it is when tending to plants and flowers in your home garden.
While some changes might involve changing plumbing systems to increase flow rates and reduce the chance of blockages, most things could be implemented very easily to help to stop wasting water. You could just start waiting for a full load before putting a wash in the machine. You might want to switch baths for showers and if you want to make it fun you could share one with your partner. Saving water is as simple as not having flowing water while brushing your teeth or washing plates.


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Transportation is a notable element in the country's investigation, and we're going to talk about rail prospects for tours in Kyrgyzstan in this report. There is a rail service company, including the Kyrgyz Temir Joly, or the Kyrgyz Railroad. Not all travelers have the ability to get to the nation by train, as the location of the mountains restricts rail tours.
It is mandatory to know that the integration of the country's railroad is seen to be of two major sections, northern and southern, beginning a tour in Kyrgyzstan and car rental. It is not necessary to rent a car in order to get to the Issyk Kul area, but to get tickets on the rail and leave Bishkek for Balykchy. And there is a daily train to Kazakhstan. Having an urge to fly to Uzbekistan, the tourists had the feeling of coming from Osh and Jalal Abad in the past. It is troublesome at the moment.
When you visit a Railroad Company website, or tutu.ru, the timetable is likely to be found to know how to get to the country. You cannot get to any place by train in the shortest time, but there are chances of selecting the amount of comfort during the journey on it. Then, after coming to our country, anyone can use the Bishkek car rental service and observe the distant places in Kyrgyzstan on tours.


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A Twist of Willow offers rustic farm accommodation in a lovely Yarra Valley location next to the Warburton Trail. With cottage and lodge accommodation, this property can cater for large families. There is a pool with waterslide too.
Not what you were looking for? Check out more family friendly accommodation in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.


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Scott Pruitt is slowly strangling the EPA
The unprecedented regulatory slowdown and rollbacks at the Environmental Protection Agency.
By Umair Irfan January 29, 2018
Javier Zarracina/Vox
The mandate of the head of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and enforce environmental regulations.
Yet since he was confirmed last February, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has worked to stall or roll back this core function of his agency, efforts he's now celebrating with posters:
Eric Lipton @EricLiptonNYT: EPA has put these posters up at agency buildings. Celebrating regulatory rollbacks.
He's also taken some highly unusual, even paranoid, precautions, armoring himself with a 24/7 security detail, building a $25,000 secret phone booth in his office, spending $9,000 to sweep his office for surveillance bugs, and hiding his schedule from the public. When one employee turned one of the celebratory posters around, Pruitt assigned a worker to look through security camera records to see who did it, Newsweek reported.
Pruitt's posters are a list of the regulatory rollbacks he's delivered to his allies in coal, oil, gas, and chemicals industries. These gifts include the reversal of a ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to developmental problems in children.
Some of the biggest changes Pruitt has made at the EPA have come by not doing anything at all. He's steering the EPA's work at an agonizingly slow pace, delaying and slowing the implementation of laws and running interference for many of the sectors EPA is supposed to regulate.
With more staff and funding cuts looming, even fewer toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards will be measured, and the statues that protect against them won't be enforced.
"People will get sick and die," Christine Todd Whitman, who served as EPA administrator under President George W. Bush, told Vox. "It's that simple." Some 230,000 Americans already die each year due to hazardous chemical exposures. "You stop enforcing those regulations and that number will go way up," she said.
Chaos at the White House and on Capitol Hill has provided Pruitt cover to quietly position himself, his critics argue, as the greatest threat to the EPA in its entire existence. But some lawmakers and the courts are starting to catch onto him. Since the EPA's inception, it's been the judiciary that's again and again beaten back attempts to undermine the agency from the inside. This year is again shaping up to be momentous.
States are now suing to block Pruitt's regulatory changes, and federal judges are starting to force him to speed up. Pruitt will have to choose between knock-down, drag-out legal fights to deliver for his allies in industry or fold and grudgingly enforce environmental rules. Whatever he decides, Congress, courts, industry, and activists will be watching.
There's a massive, unprecedented slowdown going on across the EPA
Pruitt can't simply repeal all the rules he doesn't like, so he's had to embrace a different strategy: stall.
Much of EPA's work is governed by statute, so dismantling most environmental regulations requires an arduous rule-making process that requires public comments, as well as new rules to comply with the law. The whole endeavor is inevitably beset by lawsuits at every step.
"In order to roll back rules, you have to not just have a different policy inclination," said former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, who worked under President Barack Obama. "If you have a final rule, you actually have to find a flaw with the rule, you have to justify it."
By stalling, Pruitt can effectively shift policy by doing nothing. If he leaves regulations in limbo or delays their implementation, industries get relief from environmental rules while the EPA retains plausible deniability. The result is a drastic slowdown in the pace of work at an agency that faces a constant churn of new rules, regulations, enforcement actions, and lawsuits that affect the health, safety, and livelihoods of millions of Americans.
Here are some of the environmental rules, actions, and proposals that have become mired in the morass:
- The EPA announced it was seeking a two-year delay in implementing the 2015 Clean Water Rule, which defines the waterways that are regulated by the agency under the Clean Water Act.
- In May, the EPA dialed backtracking the health impacts of more than a dozen hazardous chemicals at the behest of a Trump appointee at the agency, Nancy Beck.
- The agency has said nothing about counties that failed to meet new ozone standards by an October 2017 deadline and now face fines.
- Environmental law enforcement has declined. By September, the Trump administration launched 30 percent fewer cases and collected about 60 percent fewer fines than in the same period under President Obama.
- The EPA punted on regulations on dangerous solvents like methylene chloride, a paint stripper, that were already on track to be banned, instead moving the process to "long term action."
- The EPA asked for a six-year schedule to review 17-year-old regulations on lead paint.
- The implementation date of new safety procedures at chemical plants to prevent explosions and spills was pushed back to 2019.
- Pruitt issued a directive to end "Sue & Settle," a legal strategy that fast-tracks settlements for litigation filed against the EPA to force the agency to do its job. The agency will spend more time in courts fighting cases that it's likely to lose.
- The agency's enforcement division now has to get approval from headquarters before investigating potential violations of environmental regulations, slowing down efforts to catch violators of laws like the Clean Water Act.
"The problem at EPA right now is there is a chilling effect on enforcement," Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, told E&E News.
Even programs Pruitt ostensibly liked are suffering under his leadership, like the cleanup of highly contaminated Superfund sites. In an interview with CBS, Pruitt said he's aiming to take 27 to 30 sites fully or partially off the list this year. He's also threatened to cut agency funds for pursuing polluters to make them pay for cleaning up these locations.
Pruitt has taken credit for removing seven Superfund sites from the list, but that work started years before he got to the agency and was completed before he took office, as Timothy Cama reported for The Hill.
The Superfund cleanup program is now run by Albert Kelly, an Oklahoma banker who was banned for life from the industry after receiving a $125,000 federal fine and has no experience in environmental remediation. The Intercept reported that Pruitt received loans from Kelly's bank.
This is not to say that Pruitt isn't deregulating the old-fashioned way as well. Under his leadership, the EPA already has tried to roll back at least 19 environmental regulations, from undoing proposed greenhouse gas regulations to relaxing standards for ozone pollution. (The EPA did not respond to requests for comment for this article.)
Just last week, the EPA announced it was going to allow some toxic chemical polluters to be held to a lower standard under the Clean Air Act, allowing them to increase emissions of substances like mercury, lead, and dioxin. The White House's infrastructure plan would block the EPA from evaluating and rejecting projects based on their Environmental Impact Statements, the Washington Post reported.
"He is much more organized, much more focused than the other Cabinet-level officials, who have not really taken charge of their agencies," Richard Lazarus, a professor of environmental law at Harvard University, told the New York Times. "Just the number of environmental rollbacks in this time frame is astounding."
Losing the environmental protections established by the EPA could harm millions of Americans
The EPA is essentially an environmental public health agency. Its regulations directly affect millions of Americans as it diagnoses ailments in the air, water, and soil, to name a few, and prescribes solutions.
It has had a pretty great track record.
The Clean Air Act, for example, reduced conventional air pollutants by 70 percent since 1970. Substances like ozone, carbon monoxide, and lead have dangerous consequences for human health like heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory arrests.
According to one estimate, the legislation prevents 184,000 premature deaths each year and has saved $22 trillion in health care costs over a period of 20 years.
But enforcing these rules bears a cost as well, and critics say that continuing to make many of these regulations more stringent is regulatory malpractice since these rules are reaching diminishing returns, costing businesses and individuals more and more to comply with them. This is the main rationale for the White House's aim to cut back on "job-killing"regulations.
Staff cuts and unfilled positions may be part of Pruitt's strategy
It's hard to tell whether the lingering vacancies at the EPA are a deliberate effort by Pruitt to avoid the congressional scrutiny that comes with every new appointee, or a consequence of the dysfunction inside the agency and the White House.
EPA has only filled five out of 14 positions that require Senate approval a year after Trump took office. Throughout the federal government, of the 624 positions that require congressional confirmation, only 242 slots have been filled, and 244 jobs don't have any nominee at all.
Trump has suggested that many of these vacancies may never be filled.
"I'm generally not going to make a lot of the appointments that would normally be —because you don't need them," he told Forbes in November. "I mean, you look at some of these agencies, how massive they are, and it's totally unnecessary. They have hundreds of thousands of people."
The remaining EPA officials are now further constrained since the Federal Vacancies Reform Act deadline expired last November. The law prevents interim workers from performing many of their duties 300 days after inauguration.
"On Day 301, whenever that day might occur for a particular office, the office would be designated vacant, for purposes of the Vacancies Act, and only the head of the agency would be able to perform the functions and duties of that vacant office," according to the Congressional Research Service.
That means every decision that would normally fall to a lower ranking official has to be kicked up to the top office. For an agency like EPA, that means actions on monitoring the environment, pursuing polluters, and filing lawsuits end up bottlenecked at the desk of Pruitt, who has shown little appetite for fulfilling the agency's mandates to begin with.
More than 700 employees have left the agency since it began to try to buy out more than 1,200 workers began last year. And more staff cuts are likely still in store, though they may not be as severe as the 20 percent workforce cut requested in the White House's initial budget.
Even Pruitt's allies are perturbed by the EPA's slow walking
Pruitt's tenure leading the EPA has enraged environmental activists, but some of his deregulation allies are unhappy with the pace of work and staffing vacancies at the agency too.
Myron Ebell, who leads the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and led Pruitt's transition team at the EPA, warned that not having enough staff in place means that the agency will miss statutory deadlines on regulations, leaving it open to further lawsuits that will sap time and money that could otherwise go toward permanently shrinking the scope of the agency.
"I started complaining, 'Where are the nominees?' in March," Ebell said. "I think over time, this is going to catch up with them. They're going to have failures and obstacles if they don't have people in play."
Another factor, according to Ebell, is that many of the career civil servants at the EPA are not on board with Pruitt, offering less-than-enthusiastic support for the Back to Basics agenda.
"The acting general counsel at EPA is a very competent lawyer and he's a very nice guy but he's not going to help Scott Pruitt implement his agenda," Ebell said. "He's going to slow walk that."
This is dimming the prospects for rolling back many of the big prizes for anti-regulation Republicans like Pruitt, like undoing the 2009 endangerment finding for carbon dioxide, EPA's legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases. These repeals stand to be long, messy fights that cut across law and science.
Many of these regulations took years to put together and will require years to take apart, endeavors that would likely not resolve until well into President Trump's second term.
"It's very clear to me that there's no real intent to redo these things because there's not a schedule to do these things, and it takes years for a process to revise these rules," said former administrator McCarthy.
Instead, it seems the EPA is working to prevent the existing greenhouse gas regulations from going into effect as it scrambles to come up with a replacement rule for greenhouse gases by 2019.
Pruitt's allies' concern is that without getting these rollbacks enshrined in law, many of EPA's environmental regulations could snap back into place under a future administration.
While the executive branch is slowing down environmental regulations, it's speeding up judicial nominations. Many of these new judges are expected to rule on Pruitt's agenda.
Pruitt, for his part, may be padding his resume for a run for office. He has demurred when asked about his political ambitions, but Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin hits her term limit in 2018, and Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe plans to retire in 2020. He shot down swirling rumors that he may even be angling for the post of US attorney general should Jeff Sessions step down.
The courts are losing their patience with the agency and are now forcing Pruitt's hand
Federal agencies like the EPA have broad license to interpret law. Under the Chevron doctrine, courts defer to agencies to interpret statutes on issues that Congress hasn't addressed head-on.
Pruitt described his approach as paring back EPA's regulations down to the bare minimum authorized by Congress.
"We aren't deregulating," he told the National Review. "We're regulating in accordance with the law."
However, federal courts don't agree and are no longer deferring to the new administration. Courts have already blocked the EPA's efforts to suspend rules on methane emissions and denied the EPA's request to spend years researching lead paint, instead giving the agency 90 days to come up with a new regulation.
"I think you're going to see courts get more involved in the work of the agency," said former EPA general counsel Avi Garbow, who served under President Obama. "That judicial patience cannot be counted on forever."
Others are taking a page from Pruitt's old playbook. Already eight states are suing EPA for failing to expand ozone regulations. The EPA has set a target date of April 30 for designating areas of the country that are not meeting the new, stricter ozone standard.
In January 17 interview with CBS, Pruitt said that ozone is something "we most definitely have to regulate." Michael Honeycutt, the new chair of EPA's Science Advisory Board, said cutting ozone regulations would have a "negative health benefit."
Meanwhile, other states are suing the department for not controlling air pollution moving across state lines. Some of the scientists who were ousted from the EPA's advisory boards are now suing the agency, arguing that their removal violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Public lawsuits are also going forward to try to force the agency's hand to fight climate change.
There are also some regulations Pruitt supports. He wants to remove lead from all drinking water in the United States in 10 years and has started taking comments on revising rules for water pipes. He also wants to control leaks of methane, the primary component in natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas.
All the while, lawmakers are also growing increasingly suspicious about Pruitt's activities and are launching investigations. Michael Dourson, a former chemical industry consultant who was nominated to lead the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, withdrew his name from consideration after facing stiff opposition from Congress.
Senate Democrats are preparing to grill Pruitt when he testifies this week before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. They are already putting together their agenda for the EPA administrator should they clinch control of the chamber this fall.
This means that in the coming year, the EPA will have to speed up its work as a regulator or face stiff legal consequences. "I do not think the agency is capable of replicating in 2018 the same degree of affirmative regulatory output that we saw in 2017," Garbow said.
The laws that govern the EPA require action, and whether those demands come from Congress, the courts, or constituents, the agency needs to produce results that stand up to legal challenges from all sides on a deadline, Garbow said.
The goal is not just to give the regulatory certainty that industries crave, but to protect American lives. Pruitt may soon find out that doing nothing, or even very little, is not an option.
Got a tip or idea for stories about the EPA we should pursue? Contact Umair at firstname.lastname@example.com, or on Keybase at umairfan.
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Send eCards and donate the cost of cards and stamps to Fiona Foundation for Kids. Choose a category below to view all designs for that occasion.
Charity Registration No. 1176655
About Fiona Foundation for Kids
The Fiona Foundation for Kids has been set up to care as if she were there. Fiona looked after many children who were in care, sharing her home and love for the moment of time they needed it most. This was either from the day they were born until they were adopted or when their own family could no longer offer them the care that they needed. As a teacher working with young people with special needs she provided the education and inspiration they needed to flourish and reach their true potential. She wanted such help to be available to children everywhere particularly where life was really hard, somewhere where a little help could help mums and children stay together and help themselves. We are here to help make that happen and do what we can to help children across the world.
Fiona Foundation for Kids ensures that our children have enough food, have enough fun and have the chance to stay with their family and thrive, not just survive.
Learn more at http://www.fionafoundationforkids.org/


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Pet Age Staff //April 17, 2019//
The phrase "pet apparel" has been a relevant buzzword in the industry. And the debate of whether or not to dress up pets in any sort of clothing is an ongoing topic of conversation.
But whether you support pet fashion or not, there is no denying that pets are being treated more and more like humans and members of the family. This is one of the reasons that the pet apparel category is beginning to grow in popularity, especially for dogs.
It started out as a trend of dressing dogs up in costumes or similar fashions for Halloween and other celebrations and holidays. This led to a growing sector within the pet industry that has adapted to the needs of pets and pet parents. And while the costume trend is still relevant and popular, the industry is branching out further into the apparel category.
In fact, today it's more than just putting dogs into a cute outfit; it's widely considered that there are benefits to pet apparel.
Wearing pet apparel minimizes shedding, keeping fur within the garment and making cleanup much easier—just throw the garment in the wash. Pet apparel also reduces itching, chewing or scratching, which is particularly beneficial after a pet receives surgery or has allergies. It can provide a sense of comfort and protection, reducing anxiety and keeping them at comfortable temperatures. It also keeps them dry on rainy days, which is important as spring showers approach. Additionally, pet clothing keeps dander in check, thus reducing human allergy symptoms.
Ultimately, pet apparel can help pets and humans alike.
These products are perfect for any dog wardrobe, providing the creativity, individuality and function pet parents are looking for in dog apparel. There's a piece of clothing for any activity, occasion or situation, which is beneficial for manufacturers and retailers to offer to their customers. With a wide selection and knowledge of the available styles, industry leaders can help pet parents find the styles they want for their dogs and keep them coming back for more.
Watermelon Dog Graphic Tee
Fun, vibrant, screen-printed tees are perfect for year-round dress up as well as helping to control dander and shedding. This ultra-soft cotton/poly blend tee features a screen-printed cool pooch holding a watermelon. Machine wash cold; tumble dry low. Available in XS, S, M and L.
Reversible Puffy Coat by Fashion Pet
The Reversible Puffy Coat offers stylish protection for dogs from the wind and cold weather with two coats in one. It's reversible in purple/gray or red/black, with faux fur trim around the hood for extra warmth. The coat attaches at the front with Velcro brand fasteners for a comfortable fit and to ensure the chest stays warm and dry. It's also machine-washable and has a convenient leash hole for walks.
Ultra Doggie Socks by Ultra Paws
Ultra Paws Ultra Doggie Socks have patterns that are printed using state-of-the-art methods, so they have no interior threads—which means there's nothing to catch on a dog's nails. The socks have a generous swirl of silicone on the bottom to give dogs traction on slick surfaces, and an extra-tall, double-layer cuff holds the sock in place. These machine-washable socks are available in three fun patterns and five sizes to fit any dog perfectly.
Hasbro Pet Costumes by Rubie's Pet Shop
Rubie's Pet Shop Boutique, under license with Hasbro, Inc., has launched a line of officially licensed pet costumes celebrating Transformers and My Little Pony. The Transformers-inspired costumes include Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee, both with a fiber-filled shirt and headpiece. The My Little Pony costumes include Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle hoods, tutus, harnesses and leashes.
Snugpups Fleece Coats
Not only does the machine-washable Snugpups fleece coat come in dozens of adorable patterns, it is made with super cozy, double-lined polyester fleece to keep dogs warm and dry in any weather. The easy on/off design allows owners to slip it over the head and quickly attach the army-grade, two-inch-wide nylon belting around the belly. A sturdy strip of Velcro ensures that the coat will stay on and stay in place while the dog runs, romps or even curls up for a nap.
Duluth Double Fleece Coat
Duluth Double Fleece Coat now comes in even more color combinations! Garnet/pumpkin, leopard/red, cobalt/grass, mulberry plaid/fuchsia, wintergreen plaid/emerald and red tartan/black options are now available to keep dogs both stylish and warm. The double-layered, reversible popover coat can be purchased in sizes 6 to 26, and custom sizing is also available.
Mantra Muttsoks
Cozy and fun all in one, these Mantra Muttsoks feature the fun and unique Doga Lotus Paw design. They're available in sizes itty-bitty to extra-large.
Buffalo Plaid Dog Scarf
The Buffalo Plaid Dog Scarf is warm without the added bulk of a sweater and has a slit to attach a leash to any collar. It has reflective trim and can be worn folded over or fully extended. As with all Wildebeest products, it is machine washable, designed and assembled in the Bay Area and carries a Wild4Life guarantee.
Quinzee Jacket
The Quinzee is a weather-resistant, packable jacket featuring recycled polyester insulation that packs down into its integrated stuff-sack for storage. The leash portal on the back allows the Quinzee to be worn over most harnesses. It's made with 75D polyester shell fabric with a 30D polyester lining.
Wildebeest VIVA Dog Bandanas
The fun, reversible prints of Wildebeest VIVA Bandanas add style, while a secure magnetic clasp allows for knot-free on and off. Adjustable and machine washable, every VIVA Bandana is made in California with care. Featuring four all-new reversible designs and a secure magnetic clasp, the VIVA is the perfect everyday dog accessory.
Beverly Hills Dog Rainbow Button Sweater
This stylish sweater features eight buttons in bright colors and collar that's bound to make it a dog's favorite. This machine-washable sweater can be worn as a turtle neck or an open collar. Available in kelly green and starlight blue. It comes in three sizes.


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The EU is a major investor and player in Polar research. The EU also supports the development and the international access to research infrastructures (terrestrial research stations, remote and in-situ observing systems, research aircrafts and vessels, etc.) throughout the Polar Regions, with relevant international scientific cooperation activities with non-EU countries. Previous actions proved to be instrumental in providing the needed support and the high degree of coordination within the European landscape and beyond.
Proposals should provide a platform to co-develop the strategies to advance and further coordinate the European Polar Research action and its contribution to the policy-making processes. This should include the prioritisation of research areas during transdisciplinary workshops, strategies for capacity building related to meaningful stakeholder involvement, allocation of seed money for the preparation of pre-studies and interaction with national funding agencies on ways of building synergies and optimising the use of resources. Proposals should cooperate with the relevant services of the European Commission and provide evidence-based policy advice. A special focus should be placed on supporting the implementation of sustained observation systems in the Arctic and Antarctic by setting up a European coordination office and by identifying measures to sustain it beyond the termination of the project. The office should also coordinate and support the contributions of the EU and the Associated Countries to International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS). Proposals should coordinate the EU Arctic Research Cluster ensuring a good cooperation between the projects in areas such as communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement. Proposals should build upon the previous action funded under Horizon 2020 and avoid duplications or overlaps.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 3 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
For more information, see the Call in Funding & Tenders Portal.


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The Catalan Diaries
After the 'Yes' Vote
Demonstrations are rife as a general strike shuts down the city
A man wrapped in a Catalan pro-independence 'Estelada' flag puts flowers on the gate of Barcelona's Ramon Llull School // © AFP 2017, PAU BARRENA
At a critical juncture in its political future, Catalonia comes to a halt as a mass strike takes over the city. Instead of going to work, people attend demonstrations against the Spanish authorities, and in favor of their independence.
Catalonia's regional government has announced that they are preparing to declare independence within the next few days, despite Mariano Rajoy's announcement on Sunday that 'no referendum took place.'
Streets are Closed as People March // © Photo: Sputnik
Following Sunday's contentious referendum, which left almost 900 Catalan citizens in hospital, anger has turned to the National Police and the Civil Guards. Riled up youths gather outside Barcelona's national police station late on Monday night.
They throw white paper airplanes at the building and onto police vehicles. Banners reading 'Sin Violencia' are placed onto bumpers. Woman punch their fists into the air, red tears painted onto their faces.
March In Via Liaetana during General Strike // © Photo: Sputnik
True to their word, there is no violence here, but the anger hangs thick in the air. The atmosphere feels fragile, the protesters look deprived of both sleep and, as states Tomas, 26, 'of their rightful independence.' The Mossos, Catalonia's state police, barricade the entrance to the police station to try to retain some distance between the angry revelers and the condemned police force. In contrast, earlier in the day, a 15-minute round of applause was held in honor of the Catalan fire service, who fought off police as they tried to force their way into polling stations.
Some 844 people required medical attention at the hands of law enforcement, as ballot boxes were ripped from their fixings. Disturbing footage shows the moment civilians try to revive a man fallen due to a heart attack, triggered no doubt by the arrival of the national police. A heavily armored policeman lunges at the people gathered in aid, toppling them onto the fallen man. This man was taken to hospital and survived.
Pro-Independence Banners // © Photo: Sputnik
On Monday morning, Carles Puigdemont ordered the Civil Guards and National Police out of the region. He said it was the only sensible course of action given the violent scenes of Sunday's vote.
The Spanish Police have said they will not leave until the Catalonian authorities declare that the region is not independent.
Sign Urging Spanish Police to 'Chill' // © Photo: Sputnik
According to the regional government, an overwhelming 90% majority of ballots were cast in favor of independence, despite only 56.75% of registered Catalans voting. Out of the 3,032,424 registered Catalans that participated in the vote, 2,020,144 ballots were cast in favor of independence. 65,715 of the total cast were null, or blank votes, 770,000 people were unable to vote, or their votes were stolen by the Spanish police.
The referendum had been declared as illegal by the Spanish Government from its conception a few weeks ago.
There has been a disconcerting lack of support from European leaders. The morning after the vote, international press 'Shamed Spain', demonizing an entire nation for the actions of a few. Catalonia is insistent towards its will for a peaceful dialogue, but Europe is hesitant to take notice.
Catalan protesters © Photo: Sputnik
Whilst a large proportion of Catalonia will take part in this, many Catalan citizens against independence want to get on with their lives. Not every resident is supportive of the recent events taking place in Catalonia. Whilst fundamentally against the actions of the police, a large number of the locals disagree with how the regional government has handled the last few days, valorizing only those in favor of independence.
Barcelona is deadly quiet apart from the continual drone of helicopters overhead. There is no public transport whatsoever as the transport workers have joined the general strike. This morning, citizens woke early to prepare banners and practice chants. They are hoping for a peaceful day, but they have told me with concerned faces that they cannot guarantee it. "Be careful today," they say. I have been to a number of local marches, families and anarchists marching with banners. For them it almost seems like some kind of holiday, it is unusual that everybody is away from work at the same time. Now I am walking the long journey to the center. There is no other way to get there.
The few taxis that have passed sped off when I asked them to take me there. "We're not going there. No one is. The roads are closed and the protesters don't want us working. You'll have to walk.'
Tourists stand outside shuttered restaurants, wondering why they are unable to find somewhere to eat lunch. I have talked to many holiday makers who don't have an inkling of the political unrest surrounding them.
When I arrive at the center I expect hordes of people brandishing flags and shouting in anguish. I am curious to see whether there are Spanish flags being waved and whether anyone showed up to their work. The pressure not to show is strong. I talked to Jose who told me timidly when I asked why he was working: "I work for money. Not all of us need to fight this fight. I do not want this independence. I do not agree with violence." He asked me to change his name. Others have said "servicio minimo," this is a school. It is not closed and the children have to eat. Some companies are running skeleton services.
Reporting by Maud Start
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