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Taileen Alvarez
Union City, New Jersey, United States
This band has no press
Lose Control...."Stop Playing Games" Fuzion Records
Singles……featured ad libs……..Alexandre Pires "Cosas Del Destino" for BMG Records (Airplay nation wide)
Albums……………BGVS……………………..Yadira Coradin "Me Levantare" for RDC Records
(Airplay throughout Puerto Rico)
High School……………………………….…..Leader Of The Pack as Annie Golden Annie Get Your Gun as Annie Oakley
Park Players Theatrical Company…………….Damn Yankees, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll & Hyde, Once Upon A Slipper
Artist Showcase..……………………………..NYC's Satalla, Dillon's, The Bitter End & CBGB's
Sultry, Soulful, Seductive, & Smooth, just a few words to introduce the music industry's newest vocal sensation Taileen Alvarez: Her time is now.
"I like to think of myself as spunky, outspoken, fun-loving, spontaneous, and resilient."
In a sea of fabricated talent, Taileen Alvarez is truly a breath of fresh air. She adds a certain level of sophistication and class to anything she sings. A timeless voice, elegant lyrics and a passion for life is what makes Taileen the artist of our future.
Born in Secaucus New Jersey on May 7, 1987 to parents of Cuban descent, Taileen was blessed to have grown up in an atmosphere filled with music of all genres. Her journey to musical prominence began at the ripe old age of four. Through a special program run by the local Board of Education, Tai attended Westminster Choir College's vocal camp. She went on to study under Roseanne Vitro, a prominent jazz vocal coach at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and subsequently performed at the Victoria theatre; an experience that solidified her confidence. Taileen's bluesy/rock & jazzy style has often earned her comparisons to musical great, Janis Joplin. In fact:
"Some of the greats that have made their way into my psyche are Janis Joplin's raspy voice and mellow tone, Lauren Hill's emotional interpretations, Jim Morrison's free spiritedness, Pink Floyd's metaphysical lyrics, and Guns and Roses' timelessness of their classics."
Taileen has developed a wide range of musical styles, absorbing some from each. A well rounded talent both as a recording artist, dancer, and stage actor; a true professional with a little bit of this and a whole lot of that. Taileen has recorded on commercially released records and held prominent roles in community theatre as well as the lead in her school play. Tai's songwriting and lyrical skills extend well beyond her years: A prolific writer both in song and verse who will one day be one of the music industry's best. A triple threat no doubt and a natural performer, Taileen is comfortable on any stage…in any setting.
Taileen is also one of the featured artists on the latest release from Fuzion Records called "Lose Control". She co-wrote and performed the song entitled "Playing Games With My Mind" which is an energetic soulful house jam. Taileen is also currently writing for an up and coming smooth jazz CD soon to be released by produced and co-owner of Fuzion Records, George Mena.
Most recently, Taileen was interviewed on WKCR Jazz radio in NY which played three of her original compositions.


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Behind the blooms | Bridal Show Birthday Bash with TAWP
TAWP {Tallahassee Association of Wedding Professionals} knows how to throw a party! When you fill a venue with some of the area's top wedding vendors you can bet it will be 3 things...beautiful, fun and sheer interesting perfection!
Yesterday Pebble Hill Plantation's Sugar Hill Barn was host location for TAWP's annual bridal show and your At Last Florals team ventured into new territory. Our first bridal show and we nailed it...well, almost! I have to laugh because I am pretty sure the flower Gods were laughing at me because it was my birthday. Gorgeousness and calm, then suddenly minutes before the event opens a vase sent one of the TAWP interns to the hospital and let's just say the walls came crashing down. But we're seasoned in the art of saving the day and although our cute little backdrop didn't want to cooperate we lived the saying, "the show must go on".
And go on it did. Starting with beautiful Sugar Hill Barn with ceilings for days and so much excitement {and hustle} from all of the TAWP members. Seriously, if you knew how many hands it takes to put on such a great event you would be amazed. Our "Grace" farm table was front and center with a vibrant tablescape of about 30 flower varieties. We showcased a bit of rustic with metallics and a wild little black animal print runner. Meeting so many couples from North Florida and South Georgia and getting to hear all about their ideas for wedding day was icing on the cake. I'm so looking forward to sitting down one on one with each of them in the days ahead. Thank you to all of the vendors that worked so hard to make this show a hit and to the brides and grooms for coming by to talk flowers! and rentals! and more flowers! Cheers to a new first for us and some awesome weddings to come in 2017 and 2018.
Be sure to check out more of our booth details and some of our favorite TAWP vendor booths on our Instagram. We'll announce the winner of our #loveatlast giveaway later this week.
To schedule your consultation email Kristi at email@example.com
#BridalShow #TallahasseeWeddingVenue #GeorgiaWedding #FloridaWedding #Greenery #TeamAtLast

subset: commoncrawl


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Mechanisms by which human filarial parasites cause disease and modulate the host's immune response are poorly understood. Although the pathways and products of arachidonic acid metabolism in mammalian cells have been intensely studied, the presence and function of pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism in helminthic parasites are largely undefined. Parasite elaboration of bioactive arachidonate derivatives, such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, or hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, with their known potent activities; including effects on platelet aggregation, vascular permeability, and inflammatory and immunological responses, would represent a novel means of regulating the microenvironment surrounding helminthic parasites. Utilizing adults and microfilariae of the human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi, this project will investigate the biochemical pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism in these filarial nematodes. The ability of adults or microfilariae to incorporate 3H-arachidonic acid in vitro into parasite neutral and phospholipids has been assessed utilizing thin layer chromatography and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mechanisms of parasite incorporation of arachidonate will be further evaluated and compared with those for other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Pathways of parasite metabolism of arachidonic acid to cyclooxygenase (e.g., prostaglandins) or lipoxygenase (e.g., leukotrienes) products will be defined utilizing reverse phase HPLC and radioimmunoassays. Possible actions of the antifilarial agent, diethylcarbamazine, on the pathways of parasite arachidonic acid metabolism will be determined. The potential roles of filarial parasite-derived arachidonic acid metabolites as mediators of pathogenicity and as modulators of host immunity will be examined. The effects of filarial arachidonate derivatives on human eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet functions will be assessed. These investigations may document the existence within multicellular metazoan parasites of biochemical pathways heretofore appreciated only in mammalian cells. Further, by characterizing the biological activities of any filarial arachidonate derivatives, these studies may provide insights into novel mechanisms of parasite pathogenicity and may suggest rational approaches to the development of antifilarial agents.
|Liu, L X; Buhlmann, J E; Weller, P F (1992) Release of prostaglandin E2 by microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Am J Trop Med Hyg 46:520-3
|Liu, L X; Weller, P F (1992) Intravascular filarial parasites inhibit platelet aggregation. Role of parasite-derived prostanoids. J Clin Invest 89:1113-20
|Liu, L X; Serhan, C N; Weller, P F (1991) Formation of cyclooxygenase-derived eicosanoids by a parasitic intravascular nematode. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Leukot Res 21B:509-12
|Liu, L X; Serhan, C N; Weller, P F (1990) Intravascular filarial parasites elaborate cyclooxygenase-derived eicosanoids. J Exp Med 172:993-6
|Lucey, D R; Dorsky, D I; Nicholson-Weller, A et al. (1989) Human eosinophils express CD4 protein and bind human immunodeficiency virus 1 gp120. J Exp Med 169:327-32
|Liu, L X; Weller, P F (1989) Brugia malayi: microfilarial polyunsaturated fatty acid composition and synthesis. Exp Parasitol 69:198-203
|Lucey, D R; Nicholson-Weller, A; Weller, P F (1989) Mature human eosinophils have the capacity to express HLA-DR. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86:1348-51
|Weller, P F; Longworth, D L; Jaffe, J J (1989) Leukotriene C4 synthesis catalyzed by Dirofilaria immitis glutathione S-transferase. Am J Trop Med Hyg 40:171-5
|Longworth, D L; Monahan-Earley, R A; Dvorak, A M et al. (1988) Brugia malayi: arachidonic acid uptake into lipid bodies of adult parasites. Exp Parasitol 65:251-7
|McCrone, E L; Lucey, D R; Weller, P F (1988) Fluorescent staining for leukocyte chemotaxis. Eosinophil-specific fluorescence with aniline blue. J Immunol Methods 114:79-88
Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications


text: Brenda Beshara ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR®, CLHMS MILLION DOLLAR GUILD Brenda Beshara Phone: 404-580-8248 Office: 678-337-3185 Email: [email protected] Facebook Click to view Instagram Click to view Youtube Click to view View Open House $675,000 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Full Baths, 2 Partial Baths Floors 2 3320 Sulky Circle SE City Marietta State GA ZIP 30067 MLS# 6865609 Schedule A Tour View video tour Property Overview Property Insights The Area About this property Your best life awaits you in this stunning East Cobb smarthome! The main level teems with light as natural hardwood floors guide you to the office, complete with built-in bookshelves, and the formal dining room with ample space for all of your family and friends. The main level owner's bedroom boasts its own AC/furnace unit while the en-suite bath enjoys separate his/hers vanities, a jetted tub, and two dual-showerhead systems to make getting ready for your day as convenient as ever. A wall of windows illuminates the living room, allowing you to enjoy nature's beauty while still staying cozy indoors. Grandeur continues into the recently renovated kitchen, offering gorgeous stone countertops, pull-out shelving, and an open view to the family room so you'll never miss a beat when entertaining guests. Upstairs is shared by three secondary bedrooms; one enjoys its own full bath while the remaining two share a full Jack and Jill bath. Beauty extends to the brick-fenced backyard, where you and your guests can lounge on the covered deck, roast snacks and treats over the fire pit, or try a new recipe on the natural gas grill. Relax in the heated pool on weekends, stress pouring away as you watch the waterfall from the koi pond. Beyond the home is an active and friendly HOA preparing for its next event, excellent area schools, and quick access to major roads, making the location just as splendid as the home itself. Make your appointment today and see how special this darling haven is for yourself! Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Full Baths, 2 Partial Baths Floors 2 Garages 2 Car Schools Elementary SchoolSope CreekMiddle SchoolEast CobbHigh SchoolWheeler East Cobb East Cobb is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods to live and raise a family in the Atlanta area. Nestled between GA-400 and I-75, it's about 20 minutes north of the heart of Atlanta. East Cobb residents have access to major job corridors and tons of recreational activities. Residents enjoy the convenience of in-town neighborhoods while also having many recreational options in the immediate area. Above all, East Cobb is known for it's highly ranked schools. Tree-lined streets and large wooded lots give the area a similar feel to a small town. In 2016 Money Magazine named East Cobb as one of the Best Places to Live in the country. Lower taxes are certainly a part of that, as Cobb County has the lowest taxes of any Metro Atlanta county. Cobb County is debt-free, as a result, is considered one of the most fiscally responsible county governments in all of Georgia. Things To Do Shopping and Dining options are abundant. Centers like Merchant's Walk, The Avenue, and Paper Mill Village offer outdoor shopping, just to name a few. Residents enjoy close proximity to several Chattahoochee River Recreation Areas plus many other county sports complexes and passive parks. As a result, there is something for everyone along the banks of the Chattahoochee….hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and rafting to name a few. Pack a picnic lunch and eat al fresco at one of the many parks in East Cobb. Another reason residents love to call it home is the small-town feel. High School Sports, the East Cobber Parade, and Taste of East Cobb bring the community together. View The Area X CLOSE Want to take a tour of this property? Fill in your details and we will contact you to confirm a time. Your name * Email address * Phone number What days of the week are best for you? *MonTuesWedsThurFriSatSun What times are best for you? *MorningAfternoonEvening Feel free to leave me any additional comments SCHEDULE A VIEWING X CLOSE 3320 Sulky Circle SE SEE YOU AT THE OPEN HOUSE! Join us Apr 25th 0 DAYS 0 HOURS 0 MINUTES 0 SECONDS First Name * Last Name * Email * SEND ME UPDATES FOR THIS PROPERTY


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Emerson was a surname in Old England, as seen in the name of the famous poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The name transitioned to a first name throughout historical English times, becoming used for sons that were named to people called Emery. Though only on the Social Security Index since 2002, the name Emerson is one of the most popular for both boys and girls today.
Meaning of the name Emerson:
Old English: Emery's son
Origin of the name Emerson:
The baby name Emerson comes from a patriarchal history. It was made to be a name for any son that was born to a man by the name of Emery in historical English times. It was used as a surname as well in Old England, but it has since transitioned to primarily a first name.
Symbolism of the name Emerson:
The meaning of the name Emerson is Emery's son, and this meaning remains today. Your son does have to have a father named Emery now, however, to receive this cute and wholesome name. The name can even be used for girls now too, so you could even change the meaning to say Emery's daughter if you want to get creative.
Style of the name Emerson:
The style of the name Emerson is traditional, though when considering the popularity Index, it does seem more modern in its usage.
Gender of the name Emerson:
The gender of the baby name Emerson is unisex, and both boys and girls tend to use it. It actually started as primarily used for boys, but now, the name is mostly seen among girls.
Pronunciation of the name Emerson:
Number of syllables in the name Emerson:
There are three syllables in the baby name Emerson.
Emotion evoked from the name Emerson:
The baby name Emerson is a wholesome name, and in modern times, it has a bit of quirkiness to it. It is best reserved for those children who will have an outgoing personality and who will be fun to be around.
Alternative spellings for the name Emerson:
- Emmerson
- Emersyn
- Emmersyn
- Emmersen
- Emersen
Nicknames for the name Emerson:
Popularity of the name Emerson:
The name Emerson found its way to the Social Security Popularity Index in the year 2002, ranking at number 833. It entered the top 200 list just in 2014, at number 196. Now, the name ranks at number 155 as of the year 2020.
Related names for the name Emerson:
Great middle names for Emerson and their meanings:
- Rose (rose, a flower)
- Lilah (languishing, lovelorn, night beauty)
- Claire (clear)
- Alex (men's defender, warrior)
- Isla (island)
- Scott (person from Scotland)
- Dove (peace)
- Shaw (dweller by the wood)
Famous people with the name Emerson:
- Emerson Barrett (professional drummer, Palaye Royale)
- Emerson Fittipaldi (professional racecar driver)
- Emerson Palmieri (professional soccer player, Chelsea)
- Emerson Hart (rock singer, Tonic)
- Emerson Alexander (professional dancer)
- Emerson Boozer (professional football player, New York Jets)
- Emerson Sheik (professional soccer player, Ponte Preta)


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By (author): David Szalay
James and Katherine meet at a wedding in London in 2006, towards the end of the money-for-nothing years. James is a man with a varied past now living alone in a flat in Bloomsbury; Katherine is separated from her husband and working in an interim job in a luxury hotel. They exchange phone numbers at the wedding, but from then on not much goes according to the script... See more
Current price €13.59
Original price €15.99
Delivery/Collection within 10-20 working days


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Mary Bassett's M.D., M.P.H, Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, experience as a young doctor and researcher in Zimbabwe continues to frame her perspective as a doctor today. In an honest and powerful TedMed… Read More
Paul E. Sax, M.D. explains "If you're not immersed in the ID or the Infection Control world, you might not be aware that there's currently quite the controversy about whether doctors should wear white coats." The medical question is of… Read More
One of the themes of this blog has been to critique the idea that "physician engagement" can be achieved through management techniques alone. As Donald Milliken writes in the Canadian Medical Association Journal "… 'physician engagement' can sometimes seem… Read More


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Solidarität mit der Ukraine
Prozorro+: ukrainische Plattform für die öffentliche Auftragsvergabe
United Kingdom-Preston: Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting authority
Section II: Object
Consultants DPS
Procurement Hub are seeking providers to be appointed onto a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of a range of consultancy services which will be offered for use to the entire public sector in United Kingdom.
Procurement Hub are seeking to appoint a number of consultants that constantly meet the standards required. The consultants will be able to apply for any number of the workstreams listed and need to meet the varying requirements of Procurement Hub members. As such Procurement Hub wish to form a Consultants Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which will be owned and utilised by Procurement Hub.
It is intended that this DPS will be capable of being used by contracting authorities in the United Kingdom.
Below are work streams that Procurement Hub members have a requirement for, this is not an exhaustive list and further work streams can be added during the life of the DPS:
— project and cost management,
— auditing, development monitoring,
— property investment, appraisal and financial services,
— sales/marketing and valuations,
— risk management and governance,
— technical and site investigation,
— engineering design,
— architecture,
— landscape design,
— planning,
— consultation,
— masterplanning and urban design,
— Construction Design and Management (CDM) Services,
— property advisory and employers agents services,
— sustainability and environmental services,
— health and safety.
Accordingly, it is the intention that these other UK public organisations should be able to rely on this procurement to purchase such services without the need for any further OJEU procurement process via mini-competition. The Hub can be joined by Contracting Authorities and stream-lines processes for members of the Hub, reducing time and expense incurred in such procurement processes. Procurement Hub then wish to market these services so other Contracting Authority clients can use them ensuring quality and value for money and use a best value services supply chain. The successful suppliers will be expected to work with Procurement Hub to develop the DPS and encourage its growth.
Providers will be required to work with us to provide a quality, consistent service, have an understanding of our values and take responsibility for achieving a responsive and innovative approach to service provision. In an intricate legal and regulatory environment, Procurement Hub require providers that take responsibility for achieving:
— compliance with legislation and regulations,
— minimisation of risk, in respect of all aspects of the service provision,
— diversity and equality of opportunity,
— complete financial regularity,
— work to all relevant and applicable Health and Safety Policies and Procedures as required by law.
All providers will be required to demonstrate a proven track record on delivering similar type contracts along with providing sustainable competitive pricing throughout the term of the contract. The provider must also have excellent customer service and be able to provide dedicated account management. When procuring energy services, products and equipment that have, or can have, an impact on significant energy use, the procurement is partly evaluated on the basis of energy performance. Successful tenders may be privy to commercially sensitive information and as such will be expected to adhere to any policies and procedures surrounding this during the course of the contract and will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://procurementhub.delta-esourcing.com/respond/2VAT9793AZ
For details of the nationwide public sector eligibility list, including public sector bodies who are able to use this Framework Agreement without limitation, please follow the below link:
Section IV: Procedure
Section VI: Complementary information
The Contracting Authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
GO Reference: GO-201975-PRO-15062659


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KVIC Outpassed Its Assigned Targets for PMEGP Scheme
While in 2008-09, the utilization of total subsidy allotted by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for implementation of Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) was less than 50 percent, in 2016-17 – it even crossed the 100 percent mark, i.e. 100.37 percent. And, the credit for this success goes to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), the nodal agency for PMEGP.
Notably, the Ministry of MSME had set a target of Rs 1,100 crore for PMEGP in 2016-17, but KVIC achieved it only on March 15. Later, the ministry added another Rs 100 crore in the target, which also was achieved on March 25. Again, Rs 50 crore was added in it, but KVIC's overall achievement also crossed it with the annual figure of Rs 1,281 crore in 2016-17. Not only that, nearly 4 lakh new employments were generated, with an estimated project cost of Rs 4,800 crore, which is a huge growth of approximately 24 percent with respect to financial year 2015-16.
It was observed in an independent study done by a national-level agency Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram. After physical verification of 10044 PMEGP units (five percent of the total units) all over the country and collecting data from the beneficiaries, stakeholders and external sources, the evaluation study said that the average employment per project was 7.66 persons, with an average cost of Rs 94,855 for generating unit employment and an average cost per project of Rs 7,26,760. "The maximum and minimum costs for generating unit employment were Rs 2,65,412 (Nagaland) and Rs 25,070 (Tamil Nadu)," the report states.
The MDI study further indicates that the average age of the beneficiaries was 36.8 years and 42.39 percent of them were from SC, ST and OBC categories, besides 5.8 percent of minorities and 10 percent of women. "With 53 percent and 45 percent of beneficiaries involved in manufacturing and services respectively, collateral taken by the banks over and above hypothecation of assets by banks were recorded 46 percent and 54 percent respectively," the report.
In connection with the units – not been able to perform and non-profitable assets (NPA), the MDI report categorically observed: "It could be lack of stringent or proper feasibility or viability analysis on the part of banks and other financial institutions at the time of sanctioning the unit. To a great extent, the key factors of NPAs are disconnect among stakeholders and beneficiaries, lack of knowledge of various facets of running or setting up a unit among beneficiaries. These facets are 'importance of product quality' and availability of skilled manpower etc. first generation entrepreneurs are more prone to such problems."
In context with the consumption, the report indicated that while majority of the beneficiaries (79.53 percent) reported that their products/services are consumed domestically only, among the rural beneficiaries, the percentage was slightly higher (9.56 percent) with respect to their urban counterparts (5.84 percent). "Majority of the beneficiaries (75.07 percent) reported that the physical verification of their units had been done," the report further said.
It may be noted here that the methodology of the study was designed to keep in view the all four objectives of PMEGP schemes and 14 points of the terms of reverence. In all the states, the number of DLTFC meetings was less than three specified value of three-quarter. While in North zone, the highest number of DLTFC meetings was highest in Chandigarh, i.e. 1.15, highest in East zone and North-east Zone were Jharkhand (1.05) and Assam (0.7) respectively.
In most of the cases, the loan sanction was delayed beyond the given limit of 30 days after the recommended application reached the banks. It was found that time taken to sanction loan was more for manufacturing sector than the service sector. While in North zone, no state was reported for collateral security over and above the hypothecated value of assets, in the East zone, only Odisha and West Bengal had reported for collateral security over and above the hypothecated value of assets. Similarly, in Northeast and South zones, Meghalaya/Mizoram and Amdhra Pradesh/Kerala had reported collateral security over and above the hypothecated value of assets. While in West zone, no state was reported for collateral security over and above the hypothecated value of assets, it was Uttarakhand in the Central zone.
Enthused with this report, KVIC Chairman Vinai K Saxena said that even the Central Government had taken cognizance the success rate of the KVIC in implementation of PMEGP. "In the recent budget of 2018-19, we have got a Rs 1,800 crore with respect to previous 2017-18 fiscal's Rs 1,024 crore, which is 78 percent growth. Since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a lot of affection with Khadi as he considers it a tool of economical transformation of the country, we will leave no stone unturned to follow and implement his vision," he said.


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Underwriting Applications of Predictive Analytics
As predictive analytics has become more common within the insurance industry, actuaries and data scientists are often getting involved in predictive modeling projects outside of traditional pricing and reserving applications. Involvement in these projects can expand an actuary's knowledge of the business and challenge them to address new problems. One area where actuaries have historically been consulted is in underwriting. The underwriting process typically includes the correct classification and pricing of risks as well as evaluating the acceptability of risks within an insurer's appetite guidelines. In this article we look at a few areas where predictive analytics could potentially help insurers make better decisions in underwriting beyond pricing.
During the submission and risk selection process, insurers would like to identify customers with high profitability potential from its list of new customers, and then prioritize the quoting process to actively target those profitable customers. To achieve this goal, insurers can use historical exposure information and insurance performance as inputs from their current customers, choose a metric to be optimized such as loss ratio or combined ratio, and build a supervised model to predict this metric. In this application, robust machine-learning techniques such as gradient boosting, random forests or neutral-network can be used as a powerful tool for the prediction model given the flexibility of the techniques to account for non-linear relationship and interactions. Because prediction accuracy has the highest priority in this application, these more sophisticated modeling techniques are expected to yield the best outcome, as opposed to techniques that are easy to interpret an underperforming in prediction accuracy, such as linear regression. Insurers can then optimize its selection of customers based on the predicted metric, e.g., top 20 percent customers with lowest predicted loss ratio or combined ratio.
As an enhancement to the above application, insurers can introduce survival analysis (retention analysis) for each customer in the list, and vary the expense assumption over the analysis period (acquisition cost vs. retention cost), so that insurers can have a long-term expectance of profitability for each customer based on the likelihood of the customer staying with the insurer over time and the customer's expected combined ratios with varying expense assumptions over time. Not only can insurers apply this model at the time of customer prospecting to target selected customers with highest profitability expectancy, they can also apply this model when quoting a customer (new or renewal) to have an indication of future profitability, which may lead to other pricing decisions, such as rate decrease for a high-value customer or nonrenewal for a low-value customer without breaching compliance requirements.
We mentioned the need to appropriately classify risks when underwriting. This can be very difficult to do for many commercial lines coverages such as general liability where the nature of different business type classifications can be somewhat nuanced but result in dramatically different risk exposure. A model to help identify accounts that are more likely to be misclassified can help the insurer focus manual review efforts on the accounts that would add the most value. This model would normally result in a binary classification of "needs review" or "does not need review" but the model output is often in the form of a score. To result in a classification of what to review, the insurer needs to choose a cutoff score to distinguish which risks to review. A useful tool to help select the cutoff where the model will deliver benefits is the confusion matrix. The costs/benefits of each of the four possible outcomes of correct versus incorrect classification can be combined to measure net benefit, with knowledge of the model accuracy at different thresholds, in order to choose a cost-effective cutoff. Even a very good model requires careful review of the threshold when the aim is to classify.
In addition to identifying the most profitable customers, an insurer needs to clearly identify those customers who potentially have exposures that are beyond what is contemplated for typical risks in the classifications an insurer is offering.
Another concern for commercial lines carriers relates to the heterogeneity of businesses even within well-defined classifications. An insurer may have a very sophisticated pricing model capturing many variables correlated with expected costs but still not have enough granularity in the models to accurately price for the specific characteristics of all applicants. In this case it is typically the role of the underwriter to review the risks for acceptability, but reviewing all policies in detail is not cost-effective. The target variable of such a model would need to be some measure of extreme loss ratio probability determined by the company's appetite. Because there is so much heterogeneity and potentially different indicators of potential risk for each of the company's rating classification, a typical GLM structure as used in pricing may not be appropriate. A common technique that is already well-proven in other industries and applications is to apply random forest modeling to the data. This technique combines a large number of decision tree models to avoid the typical over-fitting problem found with traditional decision trees, whereas it takes advantage of tree models to capture complex data relationship.
As with many data science problems, an important role for the actuary in the underwriting process is to help define the business objectives and costs to be considered in the models. This can include giving feedback on model effectiveness measures and target variables but may also extend to the actuary applying the modeling techniques and providing final recommendations for model implementation.


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Kendellove Walker is a Holistic Therapist & Alternative Medicine Advisor and an Oracle Intuitive since 2003. She has given relationship guidance and sex coaching to couples since 2008 and specializes in healing the physical, energetic and emotional bodies simultaneously. She is currently in school to obtain her Ph.D. in Sexology and will pursue research on human sexuality, offer sex and relationship therapies and teach sexual education and communication.
Nick-named Dr. Love by her clientele, she has embraced the responsibility of offering a judgment-free space for over 15 years to speak freely on such topics as kinks, fetishes, passion, desires, fantasies, emotional bonding, love connection and sex ed 101 questions you want to discuss.
In 2015 she obtained her YTT certification. The guided meditation circles are held in conjunction with the Lunar Energy Cycles and are part of the healing process that is overlooked during transformation, death and rebirth. Kendellove love offers one on one guided meditations for those integrating their body work with energetic and emotional modalities as well as for anyone who simply needs a guide to realize their intentions, higher awareness, insight and personal & professional goals.
Her studies and research put heavy focus on bringing couples to deeper connections and more intimate bonds as well as opening up avenues for individuals and couples who are ready to break out of their shells and delve into their sexually charged hidden alter ego. These practices include, but are not limited to, empowering individuals in their sexuality and finding comfortable communication avenues to share creative ideas with their partners.
Additionally, Dr. Love is an Ordained Priestess and Reiki Master who performs HandFasting and Commitment Ceremonies, officiates weddings and vow renewals and holds sacred love circles for polyamorous couples.
Her referral program as well as her motto is: #giveloveback
Interested in a service for you or a loved one? Take a peek at my services page where you'll find everything you need to start finding health, healing, and happiness.


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Thermoplastics for AM: Semi-Crystalline vs Amorphous
A Brief Overview of the Thermoplastics Pyramid
Sometimes, the use of simple diagrams is the best way to get into a complex subject like semi-crystalline vs amorphous plastics. What better way to start than by introducing thermoplastics through the following pyramid:
The diagram above is a widespread tool used to sort out the numerous plastic polymers available today and improve critical decision-making processes in the industry.
There are dozens of versions of this pyramid on the web, each one with varying complexity and detail. Most of these pyramids, however, classify thermoplastics in the same ways:
- Vertically, by performance: Standard or Commodity, Engineering, High-performance, and sometimes Ultra-high performance
- Horizontally, by crystallinity: Semi-crystalline vs Amorphous, sometimes adding Elastomers
Materials placed at the top of the pyramid offer the best overall performances (mechanical properties, thermal stability, chemical resistance, etc.), but– as a rule of thumb– are also the most expensive and require the highest processing temperatures.
More on the performance classification:
Thermoplastics for AM: Breakdown by Performance
The crystalline dimension enables us to truly understand the nature of thermoplastics and how to make the best out of them in practical applications. But what's the difference between an amorphous material and a crystalline material? The answer lies in molecular interactions.
The Science Behind Materials: Amorphous Vs Crystalline
Starting with the basics, we can say that the main difference between liquid and solid matter is that while the first can flow, the latter maintains a rigid structure. That solid structure can be organized in two, main ways: in a crystalline manner or in a random, amorphous manner.
Many solids are formed by crystal lattices, which are repeating, densely packed, geometrical patterns. Some examples include salts, gemstones, and most metals, which naturally form grains and prisms. They are crystalline materials.
Here is some spectacular footage of crystals forming:
However, not every solid material tends to form crystals. Solids can also form random structures which do not maintain any specific order, and this is what we call amorphous materials.
The most representative example is, without a doubt, glass, which is commonly and erroneously referred to as crystalline.
The image below illustrates simplified molecular structures of crystal and glass:
At a macro level, crystalline structures grant materials with distinctive properties. Crystalline materials tend to be stronger and stiffer than their amorphous counterparts. They also offer superior chemical resistance and tend to be opaque.
On the other hand, amorphous materials are more flexible and are ideal for impact resistance and optical applications.
Most polymers (i.e. materials with very large molecules) are amorphous, but some can partially form crystals and are therefore considered semi-crystalline.
Semi-Crystallinity Explained
Unlike metals or ceramics, polymers are complex macromolecules (large molecules) with long monomer chains.
With their spaghetti-like composition, they are unlikely to form lattice structures. Despite this, a number of thermoplastics are able to form semi-crystalline structures.
Indeed, some polymers have a tendency to partially fold into compact structures called lamellae. A semi-crystalline composition is an amalgamation of both crystalline and amorphous domains throughout the material.
Ultimately, by controlling how polymers crystalize, we can add crystalline attributes to our parts to make them stronger or more resistant to different elements.
Transition Temperatures of Thermoplastics
Unlike thermosets, thermoplastics won't change their chemical composition as temperatures vary; they only change how their particles flow and rearrange. In simple words, a thermoplastic-made box could be melted into another shape, while a thermoset plastic-like silicone is permanently "set" into its final shape.
Given the reversibility of thermoplastics, what happens with polymer structures as they melt? What happens as they cool down?
To understand this, we must define three transition temperatures:
- Glass transition temperature (Tg): The point at which amorphous domains start to flow.
- Melting temperature (Tm): The point at which crystalline structures break.
- Crystallization temperature (Tc): The point at which crystalline structures rearrange.
As we cross over Tg, amorphous bonds break, and thermoplastics begin to flow. Now we can talk about viscosity– the resistance to flow. As temperatures increase, viscosity decreases and plastics progressively deform until they melt.
Practical example (see video below): A chewing gum, below its Tg, will be hard and easily snap in two. However, if you leave a pack of gum in the car on a hot, sunlit day (or even in your jean pockets), you will find it in a rubbery, sticky state at the end of the day.
The video below explains this in further detail, using ramen noodles and chewing gum as practical examples:
Since amorphous materials don't have a defined melting point (Tm), Tg is all we need to understand an amorphous material's behavior. In contrast, crystalline domains do have a transition temperature at which crystal bonds break, the melting temperature (Tm).
To translate this into an FDM printing scenario:
- amorphous thermoplastics can flow through the nozzle after it reaches Tg,
- while semi-crystalline materials require the nozzle to be over Tm.
Once the thermoplastic has completely melted, how do its molecules rearrange their structures as they cool down? Just between Tm and Tg, we get the crystallization temperature (Tc), the point at which crystals begin to form.
However, things aren't that simple in practice. If the cooling happens too fast, crystals won't have enough time to rearrange, resulting in a structure with a higher degree of amorphous domains.
Additionally, as crystals form, polymer chains become tightly packed, causing higher shrinkage rates and thus a higher tendency for warping and delamination issues.
Final thoughts
Processing semi-crystalline thermoplastics implies many complexities and dedicated high-temperature 3D printers. Manufacturing thermoplastic parts becomes a more significant challenge now that we know about crystallization properties.
What implications does it have for FDM printing? How can we tune process parameters for optimal results? Undoubtedly, heating and cooling rates are essential.


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You do not know what to do with a noisy group of children? O! It couldn't be easier – use the Emoji Scavenger Hunt web application and have a lot of fun and fun with a new project from Google.
♥ BY TOPIC: 7 Games You Can Play Right on Google Search.
What to do in Emoji Scavenger Hunt?
The words "emoji scavenger hunt" in the name of the site are translated from English as "emoji scavenging". The site is a pilot project where Google demonstrates the power of its machine learning tools through fun little games. In this case, you will use your smartphone's camera to search for objects that match certain emoji for a limited time. With each discovered object, the time allotted for the search will increase.
♥ BY TOPIC: The best games for iPhone and iPad according to the editors of Apple: 100 of the most-most.
How to play?
1. Go to emojiscavengerhunt.withgoogle.com from any mobile device with a camera.
2. Press the button "Let's Play".
3. A 3-second countdown will begin, after which an emoji will appear on the screen.
4. Within 20 seconds, you need to point the camera at a real object corresponding to the emoticon shown on the screen.
The game is an excellent implementation of the experiment, although the object recognition function works quite instantly. However, sometimes there are incidents – she can stubbornly not recognize some objects (for example, a plug) and take some objects for others (it is quite possible to slip a kitchen towel on her under the guise of a scarf). In addition, some of the objects requested by the game are quite difficult to get (where, for example, to find strawberries if it's not in season?).
Be that as it may, such experiments are an excellent example of the use of artificial intelligence functions (in this case, object recognition functions) in everyday life.
See also:


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This is the third part of a 13-episode German documentary mini-series, covering the history of Christianity from it's beginnings to the modern-day. Although it's a German production, the narration is in English. It was filmed at many different holy and historic sites. In this episode, the locations used are mostly throughout Rome, which gives a good frame of reference for those of us who haven't been able to visit this part of the world.
Separate Ways shows how politics and religion became intertwined early on. It even gives a brief synopsis of the earliest conflicts between Islamics and Christians which seems to show the roots of our current conflict go back thirteen centuries. The split in the early Church which would ultimately result in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church is also touched on as the religious world seems to keep fracturing.
Separate Ways picks up history when the Teutonic Tribes invade Rome. The known world seemed in turmoil as the Roman Empire fell. It was only the Bishop in Rome who managed to hold the Church together. It was Pope Leo I who managed to keep Attila the Hun from invading Rome. The Teutonic Tribes did not embrace the divinity of Christ and did not see him as God's equal but as a human being. A preserved page from a Gothic translation of the Bible is shown, which supports this vision of Christ.
Constantinople became the center of Christianity and home to the Emperor. The Church became more politicized and involved in governing. The preeminence of the Pope above all other believers became a bone of contention which hasn't been resolved throughout Christianity to this day. There was also the use of imagery in the Roman Catholic Church which the Emperor also rejected, adhering to the thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images… verse from the Bible.
The emergence of Islam in the seventh century is also touched on as it entered into competition with Christianity. Christ is revered by Islamics, but as a prophet; a forerunner to Mohamed. Intolerance was sprung right from the beginning as a bloody conflict was begun. Islam penetrated through the Balkans, Africa, and Spain before being stopped by the Franks. It was through these battles that the French kingdom rose up and eventually under Charlemange with its close ties to the Roman Catholic Church.
To illustrate the history, there are many aids used including reenactments during the narration. The narration is clear and with a certain amount of inflection in the narrative but without being overly dramatic. Also used to illustrate what's going on are maps, which are handy in grasping the actual geography and distances involved, rather than just abstract locations. Buildings are shown that were constructed at the time and which many of the players during this time in history inhabited. There are statues, paintings, and mosaics used to illustrate the ongoing story. The history of the art is presented as well as the backstory of some of the artists and their works as this is all that remains to illustrate what was happening at the time.
I found it hard to follow some of the names during the story. It seems to be a complicated time of great politics in the Church as the Pope and the Emperor competed to see who the supreme ruler of the people would be. I did find the fact that almost immediately upon the rise of Islam there seemed to be conflicts with Christianity as they embarked on their Jihads with "non-believers". I knew of the Crusades from history, but not of the early Jihads on the part of Islamics.
The main problem is all of this is an overview. There is so much more depth to the historical happenings which are only touched on here. Any one of these subjects could easily fill a 40-minute documentary, never mind all being squeezed together into one 40-minute episode of this series. As much as I would like to know more, I look upon it the same way I look at many movies which portray history even when they are inaccurate: it might spark enough interest in people to seek out further information.
The theology touched on here really centers on what has separated Christians from each other – and from the rest of the world – throughout the centuries. Most of the facts are presented straightforwardly; not everyone accepts the preeminence of the Pope and it has caused conflicts throughout history. The points are not debated as to what is right or wrong but just presented as historical facts as to what has happened.
This is a good series to view to get an idea of how religion has become intertwined with politics throughout the centuries and the realization that our modern wars really are built on conflicts that began 1300 years ago. I thought the reenactments were well done to the history they illustrated and the artwork and architecture used were pertinent. It's well worth viewing this series, especially for Christians, many of whom don't know much of the history of the religion except for Biblical stories. Non-Christians who are interested in this history would probably also find it interesting without feeling like they are being preached to.
" Book List
Previous episode in the series (link): 2000 Years of Christianity Episode II: Shackles of Power
Next episode in the series (link): 2000 Years of Christianity Episode IV: The Cross and the Sword
Categories: 2000 Years of Christianity, Television Reviews


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Filing for Bankruptcy in Washington DC
Experienced Counsel for Residents of the Beltway Region
The lawyers at The Belmont Firm know firsthand that debt can hit without warning, especially in our current economic climate. From losing your job to facing unexpected medical expenses, financial hardship can add an additional unneeded strain during troubled times. Our legal team is dedicated to helping clients throughout Washington DC and the surrounding areas navigate every phase of the bankruptcy process so they can secure a fresh start on their finances.
Whatever your situation, The Belmont Firm is ready to help. Let us provide trusted counsel and leverage our considerable experience to assist you. Call (202) 875-8445 today.
Types of Cases We HandleTrusted Guidance That Exceeds Expectations
What Are the Advantages of Filing for Bankruptcy?
The U.S. government created the bankruptcy system to give individuals and business owners the opportunity to find a fresh start. Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows individuals to gather their debts and, at the end of the process, see them partly or totally dismissed or made more manageable with a repayment plan. While bankruptcy laws are ultimately meant to help, the process itself can be complex. Each type of bankruptcy has its own requirements and rules and a failure to follow these rules can lead to additional financial consequences.
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our firm. Attorney Maurice "Mac" VerStandig has years of experience handling complex bankruptcy cases and has deep roots in the local courts. He understands economic growth pockets, where there are opportunities for consumers, and the nuances of Federal Court. As a preeminent local bankruptcy attorney, you can trust The Belmont Firm to handle your case with the professionalism, care, and compassion you deserve.
Our Bankruptcy & Debt Relief Services
- Chapter 7: This form of bankruptcy liquidates assets to pay off creditors. Those seeking Chapter 7 must be eligible via a means test.
- Chapter 13: This helps those who have a regular income create a repayment plan to pay back some or all of their debts over a period of 3 to 5 years.
- Chapter 11: This is a "reorganization" bankruptcy for business owners. Like Chapter 13, Chapter 11 proposes a plan to pay back their debts over time, while keeping their business alive.
- Debt relief for individuals and students: We can explore various strategies to consolidate, negotiate, manage, reduce, eliminate, and settle your debts and student loans.
Why Do I Need a Bankruptcy Lawyer?
At The Belmont Firm, our skilled lawyer has spent his career developing the knowledge to help people through bankruptcy so they can take control of their debt. Our attorney possesses a deep understanding of the Bankruptcy Code and we can help you decide the best avenue going forward.
Even if bankruptcy isn't in the cards for you, we can negotiate with creditors to get you some debt relief. The Belmont Firm can also work with the IRS to work out a repayment plan for back taxes. When you choose our bankruptcy firm to represent you, you can trust we have your back each step of the way.
Call our law office in Washington DC today at (202) 875-8445 to request a free case consultation.
We're Ready to Help You!
Contact Us Today for Your Free Initial Consultation


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Gifts and reads for the New Year
By Shaheena
The Mancunion books team has created a list of books that can be gifted for Christmas or taken through to the next year. We've narrowed it down to a few of the team's favourites from the year and we hope this list is useful!
Where Reasons End, Yiyun Li
I think we're at a general consensus now where we agree that mental health, with all its nuances and needs, is an important issue.
Yiyun Li's Where Reasons End is a book that contemplates life through a mother's grief for her son. We find that her son has taken his own life and the book takes the readers on a journey of the mother's grief.
Li makes a beautiful narrative choice in having our grieving mother in conversation with her son, who remains alive with vibrancy and clarity in her own mind.
This story of a mother grieving her child is difficult to read and often difficult to digest as the grief sits uncomfortably with a reader – or at least that's the feeling I experienced when I attentively, though not feverishly turned each page.
An Orchestra of Minorities, Chigozie Obioma
Once Obiama's An Orchestra of Minorities gets going, you've got to keep up. For as long as a book it actually is, the complex depiction of Igbo society and cultural ideas challenges you to restructure the way you see pressures of the world in relation to self. The novel itself is loosely based on a Greek classic, The Odyssey.
Our protagonist embarks on a rather typical quest, trying to win the hand of a woman he isn't socially on par with. These ideas unfold in the first few chapters which, in all honesty, are a little slow. I didn't mind the pace at which the narrative begins to flow after these chapters, but I probably wouldn't have stuck with it if the pacing didn't speed up. Spiritual elements of the novel, and narrative perspective intermingle with the plot to create exciting episodes, though they prove challenging for our protagonist.
Without giving anything much away, if you're looking for a read that will challenge you throughout its 500 pages, An Orchestra of Minorities is a perfect read for the season.
Underland, Robert Macfarlane
Macfarlane's Underland has already been reviewed by one of our writers, Will Stonier, this year, although I think it deserves a mention on this list. One of the most important things about the book is a reconsideration of how we look at the world underneath us to then reconsider how we interact with the earth.
Will's review can be found on the Mancunion website.
The Book of Dust, Philip Pullman
The next instalment from Pullman's universe has been released this year, for which we will have a review up in the new year. It's a favourite for us at The Mancunion this year, with a couple of avid fans amongst our writers. It is a series immersed in fantastical world and with the presence of overarching authorities which makes for tantalising adventure. It would make the perfect gift for a relative or friend looking to get into an epic series with plenty of books to read, as there are links to Pullman's His Dark Materials.
That's all for now, but keep an eye out for a reflection on the past decade's books in the new semester, as we'll have plenty to tell you about as a team.
But for now, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a promising New Year here from The Mancunion Books section!


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Do you struggle with redness or bumps on your cheeks, maybe even full-blow rosacea? Are you tired of having your face flushing more easily than others? If you're a woman, are you constantly trying to cover up these skin imperfections with make-up, often causing the problems to get even worse?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then you are most likely a HEATH skin type. You may have tried creams, topical medications, or antibiotics to squelch the inflammation, or lasers and other light treatments, but your symptoms probably keep returning. Luckily, a natural approach can help you minimize these troublesome issues and give you lasting results for your skin problems.
(It's quick and easy to learn if you're an HEATH)
HEATH Skin Type Overview
Let's look at exactly what it means to have HEATH skin. It's important to recognize the characteristics and root causes of the skin conditions in order for you to improve the health of your skin.
Common skin conditions for HEATH skin:
- Red or inflamed skin that may include a bumpy texture
- Rosacea – redness on cheeks, forehead, or chin that may include bumps
- Sensitive skin that reacts easily to skincare products
- Skin that flushes easily
- Skin that reacts to changes in weather or temperature
- Visible blood vessels called telangiectasia
What causes HEATH type skin?
The three main root causes of HEATH skin are:
- Inflammation
- Microbiome disturbance
- Hormonal imbalances
Typically, external inflammation, such as redness and swelling, is a sign of internal inflammation. You can calm this inflammatory response by balancing both your microbiome (including gut and skin) and hormones.
A Holistic Approach For HEATH Skin
You are a HEATH type; therefore, calming your reactive and inflamed skin means addressing your root causes through some simple diet and lifestyle changes. Here are some tips on how to get started:
- Reduce Inflammation
Redness, swelling, and heat are all signs of external inflammation. These signs of inflammation don't occur only on the outside, however. Most likely you have internal inflammation fueling the fire. When internal inflammation shows up on the skin like this, I call it "skinflammation." When you learn to put out those internal flames, you'll see the skin on your face calm down. When you also eliminate the external inflammation, you'll see the healthy glow you deserve.
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is key for HEATH types. A good place to start is focusing on a plant-based diet (veggies, fruit, legumes, nuts and seeds) with some anti-inflammatory types of protein such as wild salmon. If you want to boost your anti-inflammatory omega 3 intake, consider taking an Astaxanthin Omega Krill supplement.
- Balance Your Gut
Gut microbiome imbalance is a trigger for red, inflamed and reactive skin in HEATH types. Once you have irritated skin, that means your skin microbiome is disrupted. Because of this, you'll need to take both an internal and external approach to address the disturbance. Balance your gut. Eating probiotic-rich foods such as fermented vegetables or coconut yogurt is a great place to start. For extra support, consider taking a high quality probiotic such as Microbiome Builder.
- De-Stress Every Day
The stress hormone cortisol also triggers skinflammation". Balance your inflammatory hormones with daily techniques, such as breath-work, yoga, meditation, and other stress-management exercises.
- Use Clean and Balancing Skin Care
What you put on your skin also impacts "skinflammation". If you are the HEATH skin type, you need to use anti-inflammatory ingredients that nourish skin without the toxic triggers found in many skin care products. Since you may have sensitive skin, I suggest doing a patch test with all skin care products before applying them to your face. Just apply a small amount on the inside of your arm, and if you have any redness, itching or other signs of a reaction over the next 24 hours, do not use that skin care product. For HEATH skin types, I recommend using all four steps of the Daily Essentials Skin Care System both morning and night (after doing a skin patch test).
Easy DIY Skin Care Recipe
Natural skin care options can be really simple. Just check out this quick DIY non-toxic skin care recipe from my best-selling book, Clean Skin from Within to see what I mean.
This toner is excellent for those with HEATH skin. The natural astringent properties are gently vasoconstricting, but it's still nourishing, so it may decrease the appearance of redness and dilated capillaries without starving them of nourishment.
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) rose water
In a small bowl, mix the aloe gel and rose water. Pat onto your face with your fingertips. Use within 3 days.
What People with HEATH Skin are Saying
"I have been using The Spa Dr skin care line for over 2 years. It is the only product I will use on my skin. I had rosacea so I was afraid to use any products. This system is so pure and I always get compliments on my skin. Since I can't use makeup if I want a glow to my face I use a little dab of oil and I'm ready to go."
~ Kathleen M.
Ready to Dig Deeper?
In this podcast episode I go over all five skin types and discuss some of the holistic approaches to overcoming the root causes of their individual issues.
If you want to learn even more about how you can improve your HEATH skin using natural approaches to achieve glowing, healthy, youthful skin… then, I'd like to offer you a free copy of my best-selling book Clean Skin from Within. It will guide you through a 2-week program for improving your skin from the inside out. It also goes into a lot more detail about all of the skin types and how to change your diet and skin care routines so they best suit your skin's needs.


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The Norfolk County Mosquito Control District will be conducting helicopter applications of the biorational larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to control mosquito larvae. These applications will be conducted over specific large wetlands in the Towns of: Avon/ Bellingham/ Braintree/ Canton/ Dedham/ Dover/ Foxboro/ Franklin/ Holbrook Medfield/ Medway/ Millis/ Milton/ Needham/ Norfolk/ Norwood/ Plainville/ Quincy/ Randolph/ Sharon/ Stoughton/ Walpole/ Westwood/ Weymouth/ Wrentham
These applications will be conducted for 2 to 4 days, anytime between April 16, 2019, and April 26, 2019. As always, the weather in the spring is unpredictable. For this reason the District cannot pin down actual application dates with any more accuracy at this time.
The trade name of the granular formulations of Bti to be used is VectoBac GR (EPA Reg. #73049-486). For further information contact David A. Lawson, Director at (781) 762-3681 or the Boards of Health in the towns listed above. Information is also available on line at www.norfolkcountymosquito.org
Respectfully submitted
Read online at
|Norfolk County Mosquito Control District - Arial application begins April 16


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Alice LaPlante
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 annotations associated with LaPlante, Alice
Turn of Mind
LaPlante, AliceLast Updated: Jun-19-2012
Annotated by:
- Miksanek, Tony
Primary Category: Literature / Fiction
Genre: Novel
Summary:Dr. Jennifer White, age 64, is read her rights in a Chicago police station. But how much does the retired orthopedist who specializes in hand surgery really understand? Dr. White has Alzheimer's dementia. Her score of 19 on a mini-mental state examination (MMSE) is consistent with a moderate degree of cognitive impairment. She is questioned about the death of a neighbor, 75-year-old Amanda O'Toole, who lives 3 houses away. Amanda happens to be Dr. White's best friend and the godmother of her daughter. Amanda died at home, the result of head trauma. Four fingers of her right hand were cleanly and expertly chopped off. It seems that Dr. White is genuinely incapable of recalling whether she committed a murder or not. The physician is not charged with the crime but remains a suspect.
Dr. White's memory and mind are no longer reliable. In her lucid moments, she jots down notes in a journal. She dubs the notebook her "Bible of consciousness" [5] and it assists her in filling in the blanks of her past life. Her husband James has died. She has approximately $2.5 million of financial assets. Her two adult children - Mark and Fiona - squabble. Throughout the course of her disease, family secrets are revealed and intimate details are exposed. Relationships fray.
Despite a slew of prescription medications (galantamine, an antipsychotic, an antidepressant, and a benzodiazepine as needed), Dr. White's mental status and behavior deteriorate. Her confusion, wandering, forgetfulness, and episodes of agitation worsen. The story is structured in four sections, based on the residence of the protagonist: First is Dr. White's time in her own home aided by a live-in caregiver, Magdalena. Next is her stay in an assisted living facility. Then she briefly escapes from that place and has a 36 hour adventure of sorts. Finally, Dr. White is incarcerated in a state mental health facility.
Ultimately, the circumstances of Amanda's death are made known. And while Dr. White did not kill her best friend, the surgeon was present at the scene with a scalpel in her hand. Another character was there too.


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Learn the ins and outs of the meaning of "BLW", or "baby-led weaning", with tips for safety and allergy introduction.
This post is sponsored by SpoonfulONE.
BLW Meaning
The term "BLW" stands for baby-led weaning, the infant feeding method where we allow baby to take the lead on feeding themselves from an early age with appropriately prepared foods. As the style of feeding has grown in popularity, so has the idea that this is the "right" way to feed a baby.
It may help to remember that there are lots of ways to start solids and the only "right" one is the one that's safe and works for your family.
Baby Led Weaning 6 Months
Introducing solids of any type is usually recommended around 6 months, or the time that baby is sitting mostly on their own and has good head control. This is also the time that the iron-stores that babies are born with typically start to run out, so we can offer iron-rich foods to ensure baby has enough.
How to Introduce Your Baby To Potential Food Allergens
Whether starting baby on purees or with the BLW-style of feeding, the recommendation is to introduce common food allergens early and often—which multiple studies have shown can decrease food allergy risk.
(Food allergy rates have doubled over the past 10 years, so having a plan for potentially allergenic foods is really important.)
Which means you'll want to include them right from the start regularly, unless there are risk factors such as eczema or a family history of food allergies. Talk to your own pediatrician or allergist for information specific to your child.
One of the easiest ways to do this consistently is to use SpoonfulONE—their products include Mix-Ins, which can be added to formula or breastmilk in a bottle or any baby food puree; Puffs; and Oat Crackers. Each contains a small amount of the 16 food proteins associated with more than 90% of food allergies including peanuts, milk, shrimp, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, egg, cod, salmon, oats, wheat, soy, and sesame.
SpoonfulONE is a super simple way to include these foods into our kids' diets regularly…especially if you don't use these foods in your usual cooking.
The products work in the tummy by helping to introduce common food allergens early during the immune system's development. The precisely portioned amount of proteins (30mg) in each serving is large enough to safely increase the production of IgG4 (good, protective antibodies). Plus, they're recommended by more than 3,000 pediatricians.
Recipes that Include Common Food Allergens
We also try to include as many of these foods in our meals as we can through easy recipes including the ones below.
Below is the method for making nut powder, plus links to my favorite recipes that include nuts, nut butters, and seeds. Nutrition will vary depending on how much you use. Info here is per tablespoon.
This fluffy peanut butter puree should have the consistency of yogurt and be easy for a baby to move around in their mouths. Remember to offer just a little at a time.
This is an easy method to introduce eggs to baby, whether they're starting solids on purees or with the baby led weaning approach. Adjust the number of eggs up or down as you like.
Learn how to prepare and serve bread to babies and toddlers to maximize safety and nutrition.
Learn how to make tofu for babies and big kids with this easy pan-fried tofu recipe. It's so easy and yummy that parents enjoy it too!
Baby-Lead Weaning Safety Tips
Babies can eat a lot of foods, but not all of them, so there are some considerations to keep in mind when feeding any baby:
- The food should be easy to hold and easily squished between your fingers.
- Avoid foods that are choking hazards such as anything hard, round, chewy, or sticky.
- Always make sure baby is safely seated in a highchair and is upright, rather than leaning back or reclined.
- Avoid honey for babies under 12 months and avoid replacing formula or breastmilk with cow's milk until over age 12 months.
- You can offer some of a puree on a preloaded spoon, then hand it over to baby to feed themselves. This allows them to have control, but expands the options for the types of foods you can feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
BLW stands for "baby-led weaning" or the style of infant feeding where baby takes the lead on picking up the food and putting it into their mouth.
The name grew in popularity after the publication of the book, Baby Led Weaning: The Essential Guide to Introducing Solid Food by UK author Gill Rapley a little over a decade ago.
To start, secure baby in their highchair and offer one food for them to explore at a time. You can find some favorite baby-led weaning first foods as well as BLW breakfast ideas to get you started.
Favorite Baby Led Weaning Recipes
For some of our favorite BLW recipes to try, head to my library of baby food recipes.
Best Tips for Success
Related Posts
I'd love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!


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New materials may bring advanced optical technologies, cloaking
Researchers are developing a new class of "plasmonic metamaterials" as potential building blocks for advanced optical technologies, including ultrapowerful microscopes and computers, improved solar cells, and a possible invisibility cloak. The new materials could make possible "nanophotonic" devices for numerous applications, said Alexandra Boltasseva, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University.
Unlike natural materials, metamaterials may possess an index of refraction less than one or less than zero. Refraction occurs as electromagnetic waves, including light, bend when passing from one material into another. It causes the bent-stick-in-water effect, which occurs when a stick placed in a glass of water appears crooked when viewed from the outside.
Being able to create materials with an index of refraction that's negative or between one and zero promises a range of potential breakthroughs in a new field called transformation optics. However, development of new technologies using metamaterials has been hindered by two major limitations: too much light is "lost," or absorbed by metals such as silver and gold contained in the metamaterials, and the materials need to be more precisely tuned so that they possess the proper index of refraction.
Now, researchers are proposing a new approach to overcome these obstacles. Findings will be detailed in an article appearing Friday (Jan. 21) in the journal Science. The article was written by Boltasseva and Harry Atwater, Howard Hughes Professor and a professor of applied physics and materials science at the California Institute of Technology.
The researchers are working to replace silver and gold in materials that are created using two options: making semiconductors more metallic by adding metal impurities to them; or adding non-metallic elements to metals, in effect making them less metallic. Examples of these materials include aluminum oxides and titanium nitride, which looks like gold and is used to coat the domes of Russian churches.
Researchers have tested some of the new materials, demonstrating their optical properties and finding that they outperform silver and gold, in work based at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue's Discovery Park.
Plasmonic metamaterials are promising for various advances, including a possible "hyperlens" that could make optical microscopes 10 times more powerful and able to see objects as small as DNA; advanced sensors; new types of light-harvesting systems for more efficient solar cells; computers and consumer electronics that use light instead of electronic signals to process information; and a cloak of invisibility.
Optical nanophotonic circuits might harness clouds of electrons called "surface plasmons" to manipulate and control the routing of light in devices too tiny for conventional lasers.
Some of the new materials are showing promise in uses involving near-infrared light, the range of the spectrum critical for telecommunications and fiberoptics. Other materials also might work for light in the visible range of the spectrum. The new materials might be tuned so that their refractive index is ideal for specific ranges of the spectrum, allowing their use for particular applications.
Future photonics technologies will revolve around new types of optical transistors, switches and data processors. Conventional computers transmit and process pieces of information in serial form, or one piece at a time. However, future computers may use parallel streams of data, resulting in much faster networks and computers.
Source: Purdue University
Articles on the same topic
- GRIN plasmonicsMon, 24 Jan 2011, 22:06:25 UTC
Other sources
- New materials may bring advanced optical technologies, cloakingfrom Science BlogTue, 25 Jan 2011, 17:00:23 UTC
- New materials may bring advanced optical technologies, cloakingfrom Science DailyTue, 25 Jan 2011, 16:30:19 UTC
- GRIN plasmonics: A practical path to superfast computing, ultrapowerful optical microscopy and invisibility carpet-cloaking devicesfrom Science DailyTue, 25 Jan 2011, 0:20:42 UTC
- GRIN plasmonicsfrom Science BlogMon, 24 Jan 2011, 23:10:23 UTC
- GRIN plasmonics: A practical path to superfast computing, invisibility carpet-cloaking devicesfrom PhysorgMon, 24 Jan 2011, 22:03:34 UTC


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Next to the old Alcazar of Madrid (a historic fortress that served as a royal palace), this area was soon forgotten once the Alcazar burned down in the 18th century. That is until the 19th century when the garden was designed and created. Nowadays, Campo del Moro is one of the green areas surrounding the (current) Royal Palace, close to Sabatini Gardens and opposite the river and Casa de Campo. But it's not a place for bike rides or picnics, you cannot step on the grass, so picnics are not allowed in here. In that sense, it is more like Capricho Park.
Do not be fooled by its location – this park is practically unknown to tourists. That's not a problem, as it is not crowded, which would not be possible either way due to pandemic reasons; but it does make me wonder why it is not a more popular spot. The bright side of this? Your pictures of the landscape will be perfect.
I think you can be transported to another era while walking around its pines, bushes, fountains, and flowers, maybe even reflecting on the history behind the palace walls. Soon enough, it will also be perfect for escaping the summer heat – I know it will be for me. Whichever your reason, do not miss the chance to visit Campo del Moro. You can honestly listen to the sound of silence here.


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text: Bishop MichaelJan 26, 20213 min readSharing Is CaringA Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, January 26th, 2021What did you learn in Kindergarten? My wife and I used to joke, back when our children were young — we learned sharing.Sharing is one of the earliest life skills that our parents attempt to teach their children. Being generous and gracious with our possessions doesn't seem to be automatically ingrained in the hearts and minds of Children.Put a couple of one and two-year-olds in a room with a few toys, and inevitably the most common refrain you'll hear is "MINE." That proclamation, unless restrained may be followed up with more strenuous objections, often resulting in fighting, biting, and tears, with the victor possessing the lion's share of the toys. Jesus, in today's Gospel parable, reminds his followers that what we are given is not solely for our own benefit, but to be shared with others — freely, and even generously.Our Lord tells us that the words we are given are similar to a fiery light. Of course, we know that they weren't using incandescent or LED lights two-thousand years ago. NO, they were using flaming oil lamps. The disciples clearly understood the folly of placing a burning lamp under a bed or basket.Lamps today just as so long ago, have one particular purpose, and that's to dispel darkness, to make visible things that are hidden in the shadows. The same is true for the Word of God.One of the descriptions of Jesus uses for Himself, is that He is the "Light of the World." (John 8:12) what did he mean by that?Jesus consistently focused on linking Himself to the Father. The Greek word for light in this verse is phos, defined as the light; anything emitting light; light, i.e. brightness. God profoundly states, "I am." Light is part of who He is. Subtle but powerful.Each day, the sun rises to warm, illuminate, and provide growth on earth. The moon and stars light the night, serving as navigators long before smartphones. We reach for the light-switch when we enter a dark room, and we depend on our accumulation of knowledge to shed light on our lives. Light permeates into every crack and crevice of our lives and beings, whether visible, tangible in regard to warmth, or metaphorically enlightening. The origin of phos describes how light makes manifest, evident, exposed or clear.Light is required for any vegetation to grow, and the light clarifies the human spirit. Christ was present at the creation of the world. The Author of Light has the authority to illuminate His creation in its truest form. Jesus saying He is the Light of the world is the outer recognition of His Father's creation and presence, and the inward dwelling of the Holy Spirit, by which we know our Father and walk with Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world, our world, and in the world. Like God is omnipresent, so Jesus is Light. Through Him and His sacrificial death on the cross, we are exposed to the light and of our sins.Jesus came to share his light with us so that we could share it with others. We are told to take care of what we hear. We are called to be stewards of the word. Like old-time lighthouse keepers, we're to make sure that the light stays on so that it will illuminate the right path for our journey, keeping us off the rocky shoals, or dangers of sin. Jesus is the pure and unfiltered light. We must take care that we don't allow filters of modernism to distort the light. What children don't understand is that sharing can be a blessing to others. This metaphor becomes even more powerful when we consider the virtual lifesaving nature of Jesus' sacrificial work.In this understanding, today's gospel reading becomes an admonition that we, His followers, must work to share the pure Light of Christ. The Gospel of our Lord wasn't given to be hidden under a basket, but to shine like a beacon in the night, illuminating the right path for the whole world to see. GOSPELMark 4:21-25Jesus said to his disciples,"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."Reflections and Homilies9 views0 comments2 likes. Post not marked as liked2


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|UCAS course code
|Institution code
|1 year
|Course type
|Full-time, Part-time route available
|City College Plymouth
Course details
Course overview
Core modules
Interdisciplinary Practice and Wider Professional Issues (CITY3001)
With the professions of strength & conditioning and sports therapy rapidly gaining increased recognition and regulation globally it is imperative for developing professionals to have an appreciation of the principles and practices of international peers and organisations. Holistic understanding of the profession and its application in the wider, non-athlete population will add to the employability of learners.
Employability and Reflective Practice (CITY3002)
Having an understanding of industry requirements in relation to employability is essential for graduates in an increasingly competitive market. This module allows learners to explore current opportunities to further develop their skills and understanding of their professional identity. Reflective practice will be encouraged to highlight and support individual continuing professional development.
Advanced Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation (CITY3003)
This module consolidates previous sports therapy knowledge whilst developing advanced manual & electrotherapy modalities for the treatment, management & rehabilitation of sporting injuries. Current & contemporary themes of effective injury management will be critically explored in a practical, problem solving environment to replicate the demands of the skilled sports therapy & injury rehabilitation specialist.
Strength and Conditioning for Sports Therapists (CITY3005)
This module exposes learners to concepts influencing the design of athletic training for a range of athletes. Exploration of performance testing and principles of sports biomechanics will further enhance the sports therapists theoretical knowledge and practical application of strength and conditioning, exercise and performance analysis.
Research Project (CITY3014)
Fees, costs and funding
How to apply
Our partnership with City College Plymouth
Help & enquiries
- Admission enquiries
- email@example.com
- +44 1752 305786
- http://www.cityplym.ac.uk
Open days
Partner college open days
This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.
University of Plymouth open days
You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.
Studying with City College Plymouth
Just one-and-a-half miles from the University of Plymouth, we're one of the largest colleges in the South West, with two main sites linked by shuttle buses, with a dynamic Students' Union and Student Liaison Team.


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8in1 Perfect Coat DeShedder undercoat brush for large dogs
Undercoat brush to effectively remove loose hair and undercoat
Reduces shedding up to 90%
Gentle grooming without cutting or damaging the coat
Supports a healthy, shiny coat
Ergonomic, non-slip handle for a good grip during use
Ideal for large dog breeds
Suitable for all coat lengths
Regular grooming is essential for keeping dogs' coats healthy. The 8in1 Perfect Coat DeShedder undercoat brush in size L is the ideal solution for effectively removing loose hair and undercoat of large shedding dogs. If used regularly, the undercoat brush can reduce shedding up to 90%. Another advantage is that it cares for your pet's fur gently, without cutting or damaging it. The undercoat brush is the ideal way to support a healthy, shiny coat. It is extremely simple to use. Thanks to its ergonomic, non-slip handle, the undercoat brush fits securely in your hand. It is suitable for all coat lengths – for long- and short-haired dogs. Grooming is particularly important for dogs with an undercoat as it helps to prevent tangles and any associated inflammations. The 8in1 Perfect Coat DeShedder is also the perfect solution for less pet hair at your home.
1. For best results, the pet's coat should be clean and completely dry.
2. Before using the 8in1 Perfect Coat DeShedder, brush your pet to remove any mats or tangles and perform an inspection of your pet's skin.
Look for sores, bruises and skin conditions that may be hidden by the pet's coat. Seek the advice of your pet's veterinarian if you are concerned
about anything found during the inspection.
3. Work the 8in1 Perfect Coat DeShedder in the direction of hair growth, starting at the neck and working to the back of the pet, using gentle strokes.
Extra caution should be taken around the stomach, genitals and anus. Avoid excessive strokes in one area, checking the skin often. If you notice
redness or irritation, discontinue use for the grooming session.
For best results, use the tool 1-2 times a week for 10 to 20 minutes each session.


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Summer Employment Options and the Respect They Earn
Editor's Note: This article was written by Intern Tavi of Study Party Die fame.
As June comes to an end and school has officially wrapped up for the year, summer is upon us again. No longer are the days of diligent "studying" during the school year, nor the late nights of "hitting the books." Instead, college students find themselves pushing their limits in different ways–finding summer employment. So it will be both informative and necessary to turn our attention to the options that college students face when it comes to how they want to spend their summer break.
Power Ranking College Student Summer Employment Options
It may seem funny to begin with unemployment as an employment option for students, but we all have a friend who doesn't seem to need a summer job. Instead of working all summer, this college student travels, visits their friends at school, bums around at home, and generally proves that maybe money does grow on trees. One week they're in Europe, the next they're hitting the bars in their hometown. Either way, they're not working, and they're certainly not looking for work.
"Looking for a job"
Don't be fooled by how this one is phrased: "looking for a job" means "I was too lazy to start looking for work in May when I should have and now I casually scroll through Indeed.com in the mornings when I wake up, which is usually around 1pm." The college student "looking for a job" isn't getting any looks for companies because their work timeline hovers around "like a month or two until I go back to school." Yeah, good luck.
Minimum Wage Job
The minimum wage job is the classic summer job. You come home and work at some restaurant, store, or local business near home and make decent money. When you live at home, these jobs can sustain a decent flow of income. Yes, the wise student would put this money to the side or pay off student loans, but let's be honest–these paychecks might as well say "beer money" right at the top.
Unpaid Internships
The unpaid internship is how the US Department of Labor actively turns a blind eye to unpaid child labor. When you have inexperienced student-workers who are eager to work for a company, you have the archetype for a hardworking employee who works for free. All these students want to talk about is how much experience they're getting, how they get to work in a real work environment, and how great this job looks on their resume. What they don't tell you is that they are miserable getting up every morning at 7am to put on a collared shirt and sit in an office all day long. Congrats! Welcome to the corporate workforce. All of the fun of the office with the added benefit that you don't get paid. Yay!
Paid Internship
Students with paid internships on the other hand love to reassure you that they are getting paid for their internships. Doing bitch work around the office is all worth it when you get a decent salary–not a bad gig. Paid internships are pretty hard to find; you usually have to know someone in the company. For the sake of argument, let's say your rich daddy gets you a paid internship at some big corporate office, and when someone asks you what you do, you say: "I don't know. Uh, I make coffee runs." That pretty much sums it up.
So these are the basic options for students during their summer break. Whatever you may choose, at the end of the day we are all just counting down the days to the degeneracy during the school year that we know and love. Happy summer!


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MADRID — The terrorist attack in Barcelona resulted in unusual scenes of unity between the Spanish government and the regional executive of Catalonia.
Let's see how long it lasts.
After jihadists caused carnage on Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas and in the coastal town of Cambrils — the death toll now stands at 15 — Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Catalan President Carles Puigdemont appeared together three times to pay tribute to the victims and coordinate security operations.
The two leaders are normally at loggerheads over Catalan plans to hold an independence referendum on October 1 — a vote that Rajoy has vowed to prevent by all legal means necessary. But they have been at pains to stress unity and cooperation when it comes to fighting terror. No top official on either side has explicitly used the attacks to make political gains, be they pro-independence or pro-unity.
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Yet there are subtle differences between Rajoy and Puigdemont's public pronouncements, reflecting underlying tensions. In his first appearance after the attacks, the Spanish PM spoke of the "pain of the Spanish nation" and didn't mention Catalonia once. Puigdemont didn't mention Spain once in his public remarks and repeatedly referred to Catalonia as a country.
The Spanish government has emphasized the importance of national security and intelligence services in managing the crisis — and played up the role of the national court judge leading the investigation. The Catalan cabinet, on the other hand, has singled out the work of the regional police — the Mossos d'Esquadra — who dealt with the attacks on the ground and partly frustrated the strike in Cambrils.
Frictions have also surfaced in the public communications of both governments, the most obvious being on Saturday when Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said the terrorist cell was "practically … totally dismantled," only to be contradicted just minutes later by a spokesman for the Catalan regional police, Albert Oliva. "It will be us who conclude the final result of the investigation when we consider that the cell is totally dismantled," Oliva said.
A member of Rajoy's cabinet said cooperation between both sides had been "good." Yet an adviser to Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras described it as "cold" and "basic," pointing out that Rajoy didn't show up in Barcelona until very late on the day of the attack.
Opposing views
Officials from both sides appear to have drawn different, and opposite, lessons from the attacks.
Whereas Rajoy's cabinet member said a terror strike such as this should change political "priorities," referring to the Catalan government's push for secession, the Catalan official said local authorities have proven they can stand up to such a challenge on their own.
Ferran Casas, of digital newspaper Nació Digital, said politicians are holding back from criticizing each other because they're afraid doing so "may take its toll" politically after such a tragedy.
Pau Marí-Klose, a sociology professor at Zaragoza University, added that "frontline politicians" in Spain have learnt the lesson of the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which left 192 dead. The conservative government of the time, led by José María Aznar, attempted to link the carnage to domestic Basque terrorism. The strategy backfired and his successor, Rajoy, was beaten by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Socialists in an election three days after the attack.
Yet Mari-Klose is skeptical the apparent truce between unionist and independence supporters, and the governments of Madrid and Barcelona, can last much longer. He said the attitude of lower-ranked politicians and media commentators over the past few days has convinced him the tragedy will "be used brutally in the coming weeks."
On Friday, the day after the attacks, op-eds in Spain's biggest newspapers, El País and El Mundo, called for the Catalan government to abandon its push for secession and focus instead on the security of its citizens.
Puigdemont responded in a radio interview, saying it was "miserable" to link terror and the independence process, adding that his government's priority was to attend to the victims and catch the perpetrators.
Some unionist commentators and politicians have chastised Catalan officials for giving their press conferences in Catalan instead of Spanish, and many more denounced Catalan Interior Minister Joaquim Forn for differentiating between Catalan and Spanish citizens when adding up the victims of the attack in a TV interview.
PR victories
On the independence side, Puigdemont's chief press officer, Pere Martí, portrayed the meeting between the German and French foreign ministers — who flew in after the attack — with their Catalan counterpart Raül Romeva as a public relations victory. "They said that we wouldn't have international relations. That no one would receive us," Martí tweeted. He later deleted the message.
International media have also come under fire. The international communications director of the Catalan government, Joan Maria Piqué, rebuked British newspaper the Telegraph for running a cartoon depicting a bull stopping a van, in reference to the attack in Barcelona. "This is Catalonia and bullfighting is forbidden in this country. Wrongest (and stereotyped) cartoon in ages," he tweeted.
This is Catalonia and bullfighting is forbidden in this country. Wrongest (and stereotyped) cartoon in ages cc @MStothard https://t.co/FMc9GsaIBC
— Joan Maria Piqué ن (@joanmariapique) August 18, 2017
If the rifts between Madrid and Barcelona were to increase, there's plenty of ammunition for both sides to engage in a dangerous blame game.
The Catalan government repeatedly asked Madrid to include Catalan regional police in international intelligence exchange mechanisms such as Europol, a request Madrid only recently agreed to and hadn't fully implemented at the time of last week's attacks.
Also, the national interior ministry had recommended city halls install obstacles or bollards in sensitive and busy parts of cities to make it more difficult for terrorists to strike. Barcelona didn't have such protections in place in Las Ramblas.
Finally, the investigation has shown weaknesses in the security apparatus that may be exploited by both sides, such as the criminal record of the imam who alleged masterminded the plot — which Catalan authorities said they weren't aware of — and the time it took to link an explosion at a house in the village of Alcanar — where more than 100 gas tanks were found — and a terror cell.
"Let's see what happens in the coming hours," said Mari-Klose. "There's an attempt [by politicians] to avoid losing control of the whole thing, but I doubt that this can be done in a moment of such tension between both governments."