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School holidays are almost upon us, so to celebrate and to offer an amazing kids school holiday boredom busting activity pack to 4 of our readers, enter the competition now - entries close Wednesday 22nd June 2016.
Terms & Conditions
Information on how to enter forms part of the terms of entry. Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.
- Entry is open to all residents of Australia. Employees and their immediate families of Fairfax Media Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd and its associated agencies and companies are not eligible to enter.
- The competition commences on 9th June at 10.00am(AEST) and closes 22nd June 2016 at 5pm (AEST).
- To enter, complete the form and in 25 words or less tell us what is your favourite school holiday activity and why?
- Entries (including winner) into the competition is limited to one (1) entry per person.
- Entrants must be 18 years or older. Winners will be contacted via email.
- Entries submitted will be reviewed and the prize winners will be notified by email after 23th June 2016. The entries that are judged the best and most creative entries will be deemed the prize winners. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. All entries become the property of Essential Kids and cannot be returned.
- The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Terms & Conditions of Entry or who has, in the opinion of Promoter, engaged in conduct in entering the Promotion which is fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the Promotion and/or Promoter. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify a winner if Promoter becomes aware that the winner and/or the winner's entry is of a type described in this clause.
- PRIZE pool value $432.00
1 x Colouring Set – A day at the Zoo $18.00
1 x Oodle Doodle – Shapes $20.00
1 x How to Draw - Animals $20.00
1 x Paper Scrunch World $15.00
1 x Giant Colouring Poster – World Map $15.00
1 x Mini Patternation $20.00
TOTAL $108.00 each pack
- If the prize is unavailable, for whatever reason, the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for a prize of equal or greater value, subject to State Regulation.
- In the event that for any reason whatsoever a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter or is unable to attend the event, then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element of the prize.
- Prize values are based upon the recommended retail prices at the time of printing (inclusive of GST). The promoter accepts no responsibility for change in prize value between now and the ultimate prize redemption date.
- Should an entrant's contact details change during the promotional period, it is the entrant's responsibility to notify the Promoter. A request to access or modify any information provided in an entry should be directed to Promoter.
- Fairfax Media Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd and its associated agencies and companies assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, or alteration of entries, and reserves the right to take any action that may be available.
- All entries become the property of the Promoter. The Promoter collects personal information about you to enable you to participate in this promotion but no further use of this information will be made without prior consent.
- The Promoter is Fairfax Media Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd, (ABN: 34 087 887 456) of Level 4, 1 Darling Island Road, Pyrmont NSW 2009.
We collect personal data such as your contact, demographic, delivery information for the purposes of administration and/or identification in relation to attending events, entering Fairfax competitions or promotions. For full details please refer to our Privacy Policy.


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The universe is full of celebrities, this is why The Almighty creator of ALL living and non living things made each one of us (human beings), an important part of His plan for our world (earth).
What have you done, or are doing to make yourself or another fulfill your/their purpose of existence?
Your voice or that of another, needs to make a difference, speak out, let the world know your worth and that of others!

subset: commoncrawl


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Wait Entertainment: None!! Very boring.
Length of Event: 15 minutes
Actor Performance: Very low! I did not see many actors, it was a long maze which could have been good if there were people jumping out and trying to scare us.
Patron Flow Inside Attraction: Low, my 6 year niece was more scared at last years kiddy haunted house than this years adult one. I was very disappointed!
Appropriate Ages: The adult one was not even scary for children under 5 years of age
Props / Special FX: very nice
Costumes / Make-up: I did not see any
Summary: I was disappointed I know the people who usually run the haunted house. We stood in line for 2.5 hours which is understandable but as we approached the door the workers came out to see the line really long approaching the closing hours and cussed in front of 7 children. I feel like the workers were tired and slacking on their job which was very disappointing for children. I doubt that I will go back next year to this haunted house and will go out of town to another one!
Wait Entertainment: They had one of those Haunted Video tapes playing on a disguised TV. Staff were friendly and polite.
Length of Event: 15 - 20 minutes
Actor Performance: The actors were good. A lot of it was jumping out of hiding places and screaming.
Patron Flow Inside Attraction: Flow was good. You could tell which direction you were to move in. The mazes were wonderful. You could get lost, but they had monsters to keep you moving.
Appropriate Ages: 10 and up.
Props / Special FX: Basically it was a low tech house. The vortex tunnel is one of the best that I have experienced.
Costumes / Make-up: Costumes were fair. Mostly consisted of masks and clothes. They did have a few elaborate costumes.
Summary: Overall this is a great house to take the family. Some of the rooms are very detailed and others are very simple. But, all rooms are constructed so that you keep looking around to try and spot the next scare.


text: For the 52% of the population that use Facebook, the "like" button has become part of standard, everyday conversation. Even for people who are not Facebook users, you could hardly not have heard of a Facebook like, or seen the thumbs up logo on a website or document. Facebook has dominated social media since it was launched nearly a decade ago. However, the Facebook like button hit the news this week when it was revealed that a company is suing Facebook over its use of the iconic symbol. Rembrandt Social Media holds patents that were granted to Dutch programmer Joannes Jozef Everardus van Der Meer in 1998, 5 years before college student Mark Zuckerberg created the social networking site. He used them to create a social network site called Surfbook before he died in 2004. According to the legal firm acting on Rembrandt's behalf, Surfbook allowed users to share information with their friends and family, who could approve entries in the social diary using a like button. Rembrandt Social Media claims that the success of Facebook in part comes from Mr Van Der Meer's patents, which were used without his permission. The legal firm acting on behalf of Rembrandt Social Media said: "We believe Rembrandt's patents represent an important foundation of social media as we know it, and we expect a judge and jury to reach the same conclusion based on the evidence".


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By Zuzana Vilikovská
The Chamois in the Tatras now number over 1,000; thus, it is clear that the population of the Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica; in Slovak – Kamzík vrchovský tatranský) continues to grow.
In 1999 only about 320 chamois, a goat-antelope species, lived in the Tatra mountains, and prior to winter 2005, their number did not exceed 500. According to this year's autumn census, however, that number has since ballooned to 1,096, Lenka Burdová, of the State Forests of the Tatra National Park (TANAP), informed the TASR newswire. Out of that, 810 were living in the Slovak part of the mountain range and 286 on the Polish side. By the time of the census, 134 young chamois were found grazing in the Slovak Tatras and 43 in the Polish Tatras.
A notable feature of this year's census was the existence of large herds: in the Hlinská valley more than 70 were counted in one herd, while most of the biggest herds were found in Belianske Tatry.
"The viability of the chamois population is evaluated by the size of individual herds, not just by the total number of the population," TANAP zoologist Jozef Hybler told the SITA newswire. "In general, the bigger the herds, the more viable the whole population is. Seeing such a big herd is not a rarity, but it is not very common, either. That said, the existence of such a big herd is a good sign that this rare native sub-species typical of the Tatras is faring well these days," he concluded. More....


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Women in Aviation (WIA) Scholarships for International Students 2018
Women in Aviation International scholarships are awarded annually to women and sometimes male members (students, teachers and professionals) who want to further their studies in Aviation.
Application Deadline: 12th November 2018
Applicants must be a member of Women in Aviation International by November 1, 2018, and may apply for up to three scholarships.
About Award: The WAI scholarships also help teachers fulfill their dreams, by providing them with the resources they need to bring aviation into their classrooms or to enhance their skills. The scholarship awards are a major part of what the organization is all about. Each applicant must be a WAI member and may apply for no more than two scholarships
- Open to Women in Aviation International members who are seeking a degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, Aviation Maintenance Technology or an A & P through an Aviation Technician Program.
- Applicants must either be currently enrolled or officially accepted into an Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering program, Aviation Maintenance Technology program or Aviation Technician Program at an accredited University, College or AMT School in the U.S.
- Applicants must currently have a GPA of 3.0 or equivalent at the time of application – either in High School or their current Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering program, Aviation Maintenance Technology program or Aviation Technician program.
- Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Applicant to provide copy of a College Acceptance letter.
Value of Scholarship: $1500.
Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the winner's educational institution. Funds can be used for tuition, books or fees related to obtaining the A & P from an AMT School in the U.S.
Number of Awardees: Two(2)
How to Apply:
- All scholarships may be applied for electronically through the WIA website. Please submit your application only once you have all of the necessary files ready.
- Should you wish to print out the application form and submit your application on paper, all application materials can be submitted in the same envelope.
- Scholarship applications must be submitted or postmarked by November 13, 2017. Scholarship application materials may be mailed to WAI Scholarships, 3647 State Route 503 South, West Alexandria, OH 45381.
To download application and Find Scholarships Offered, visit scholarship webpage.
Important Note: The applicant understands and accepts that WAI has no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any scholarship awards other than those specifically identified as WAI scholarships.


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Sludge dewatering achieved at abattoir
Over 2500 HUBER QPRESS rotary screw presses have been installed worldwide in hundreds of different applications.
Just about every type of wet sludge is currently being successfully dewatered in HUBER QPRESS rotary screw presses, including aerobic, anaerobic, primary, chemical, or a combination of these produced by both industrial trade waste plants and municipal sewage treatment plants.
In 2016, Hydroflux Industrial installed a HyDAF Dissolved Air Flotation system at an abattoir in SE Queensland. The HyDAF system was designed to remove fats from the abattoir's wastewater, which it is doing successfully without any chemical addition. With several ML of wastewater being treated per day, the volume of fatty sludge removed by the DAF is significant, so a means of reducing the free water content was investigated.
Hydroflux Utilities conducted test work using several new HydraBond flocculants specially formulated to work with high fat laden waste streams. These tests were successful with only a low dose of polymer and no other chemical conditioning being required. It was concluded that utilising one of these specific flocculants, the HUBER QPRESS would be able to provide a high volume reduction in the sludge and subsequently the system was installed and successfully commissioned in early 2018.
The final results were outstanding, with the HUBER QPRESS rotary screw press generating a spadable cake with dry solids concentration well in excess of 25%, excellent solids capture and a clear filtrate.
This installation demonstrates the HUBER QPRESS's unique ability to even dewater sludge with a high fat content whilst producing a dry cake and is one of many reference sites where Hydroflux have successfully applied the HUBER QPRESS to industrial applications. The HUBER QPRESS uses 90% less energy compared to a traditional centrifuge, which results in exceptionally low power and maintenance costs. It also uses a fraction of the washwater and has a higher capture rate than traditional belt presses.
Click here for more information on the HUBER QPRESS.
Electromagnetic flowmeter for unrestricted measurements
In the water and wastewater industry, high measurement accuracy from electromagnetic flow...
Aeration system is safer but also cost-effective
Designers have many options to choose from when designing an aeration system...
Engineered protection for water and wastewater applications
More than just a protective coating, Polibrid 705E is an engineering solution that is suitable...


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Let everyone know what chromosomes your baby is packing. Ultra geeking way of sharing the sex of your baby. It's a girl! Get this original design printed on a super soft Cotton/Poly Blended children's shirt, made in the USA. Choose from a white baseball shirt with either red or black sleeves.
- Blended cotton for an extra soft hand
- Made in the USA
- Non-toxic Inks
- Turn Inside Out, Wash on Cold and Dry on Low to maintain integrity of print.
- Support a Small Woman Owned Business and Your Local Economy.


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Matthew 7:12 says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Christmas is a time of giving, yes and receiving but essentially a time of giving. Those who follow the Golden Rule must absolutely love this time of year because it means they really can give and give and give because it is what they would expect others to do for them. True followers of the Golden Rule though are not like spoilt kids, spoilt kids give to expect something back and cry like babies when they don't. True Golden Rule followers don't expect others to give something back, sometimes they give knowing full well the recipient of their giving can never repay the gift. True Golden Rule followers know the secret to giving that many don't.
Giving and not expecting a like for like return comes from the heart. If you are giving in the hope of an exchange gift coming back forget it, you are not following the Golden Rule you are following a selfish, greedy and worldly way. Even giving then not receiving and hoping the person now feels guilty and will do something out of that guilt is wrong, especially at Christmas.
Christmas is a time for giving and the secret the Golden Rule followers exploit at this time of year is just that. Giving should give you immense satisfaction, it should not be boasting. True Golden Rule followers understand Matthew 6:2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." That is their secret. They know the feeling inside and the eternal reward is greater than anything else. This is not to say they do not receive, far from it, Golden Rule followers often get rewards that far outpay what they have given and pay in ways that are unexpected, outrageous or even miraculous to the point of impossible.
There is no magic in their giving, the giving looks like any other giving but it is how and why they give that makes it so rewarding for them. They give not because they can but because it is the right thing to do, they give from the heart, they do not boast or make a big noise out of their giving and they give expecting nothing, not a cent, not even a smile back in return. It is unconditional living and they have been conditioned through this giving and, whilst they never tell, they get returns that cannot be measured in the way most people measure a return.
Unconditional and selfless to the point of being almost selfish giving is where the Golden Rule pays off. The Golden rules says "expect others to do unto you", it doesn't say anyone must or even will but leaves the response to giving up to them.
Unconditional Giving is what Christmas should be. Christmas is actually the beginning of the end, today we know the story before it was written back then, we know that the birth of a child ends in tragedy, heartache, blood, sweat and tears on a cross on a hill called Calvary. Christ, the son of God was given out of love, given not asking for anything in return just a hope, not even an expectation that people, but just a hope that the world would listen. Two Thousand years later are we listening?
The song "While you were sleeping" by Casting crowns pretty much says we are not listening. These lyrics point a finger at those who have not seen or reacted to the gift that was given like no other gift has ever been given:
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
Giving, in terms of the Golden Rule at Christmas really does mean giving from the heart, giving because you care and giving selflessly. Giving really is better than receiving, at Christmas time the giving and the receiving is all part of the modern celebration and there is always that someone, someone like me, who loves the giving more than the receiving. The reward for that person comes from the smiles on the faces of others; he doesn't expect reward because his reward came on a cross when the baby that was born in a manager died to save the world. No gift can ever outgive that, the gift of life received through the shedding of blood.
Do you look forward to Christmas because of receiving or giving?
The world today is a mess, we are all chasing the next dollar to pay the next bill and yet we barely pause to consider the gift we were all given two thousand years ago. We have all received more than enough so surely we can give to others from the heart. Don't go giving cheap Chinese plastic if you are giving, give from the heart, give something of value, something that will show you care give something with meaning that reminds you of Matthew 7:12 and reminds the one you love of the one that loves them more than any other. Remind them they have a heavenly father who sent his son to die so that they may have life.
Merry Christmas Everyone.
Matt Newnham is a Christian, Writer and Speaker. He is a single father and lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Matt is passionate about life and success and his ability to touch the heart of readers has earned him the title "The Master of Emotional Appeal" Follow Matt on Twitter @MattNewnhamZA and on his Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/mattwjnewnham


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Blackheart Creations makes custom graphic art & handmade crafts.
Inspired by nature, plants, animals, and livin' vegan in Denver, CO.
Let me create your perfect piece of art! Contact me for a quote!
Custom Art, Graphic Design, and Crafts
Hi, my name is Kayla Gilbert! I love to create and make art. I'm also an avid community organizer, event planner, and advocate for humanity. I've lived in Denver all my life and love this city, and dedicate a lot of my time toward making it a better place, whether with my art, vegan advocacy, or transportation mobility work.
I am primarily an artist and crafter, but constantly have my hands in various other projects as a dabbler at heart, such as organizing Denver's Annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale, web design, and murals. Also locally, you can find my artwork on beer labels and flyers from Alternation Brewing Company, and stickers and crafts on sale at Nooch Vegan Market.
As an artist and graphic designer for hire, I love collaborating with other people to create that perfect piece of art. I particularly enjoy working for local causes, including vegan, female-run, active transportation advocacy, or other community-led work and keep reasonable rates for this passion work. Contact me about your project at email@example.com.
Blackheart Creations was originally founded in 2012 as a small catering and pop-up shop with co-founder Melanie, and has since then involved into arts and crafts, though still with the same homestyle mentality. The name is in memory of our friend Gelseigh, who died in a bike crash in 2012. I have a black heart tattoo on my wrist in memory of Gelseigh, as a reminder to always extend love and positivity to everyone I meet, and strive to continue that through my artwork.


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Triple Spinner – Happy Campers
Size: 33 x 27 in.
Diameters: 10.5, 14.5, 17 in.
$34.65 (as of December 17, 2018, 10:12 am)
- Description
The very first spinner we developed and our most popular to date, Triple Spinners are admired for many reasons: First and foremost, their counter-rotating wheels create a colorful stroboscopic effect that is simply dazzling to watch from many angles. In addition, they have been known to last for years, enduring all kinds of weather. Finally, they are available in many stylish themes that people love.
Size: 33 x 27 in.
Diameters: 10.5, 14.5, 17 in.


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For instance, when you are looking for a new option for the floors in your home, you should take the time to explore all the solutions you can go for. There are a few options most people know of, but they are not the only ones. If you are open to new suggestions, you can turn to cork flooring instead. This offers a number of benefits you can enjoy.
It is one of the best options you can turn to, but you have to be sure you will do it right so you can reap the benefits. There are some things you have to avoid during the installation of the cork tiles. If you do not think about them from the start, you will waste a great deal of resources and you will not be able to see the difference you expected out of it.
One of the most important things you must consider when it comes to cork flooring is that it should not be installed over any other type of flooring. Even if it may seem like it will fit nicely over the things you had before, this is going to compromise the overall results you were going for. And this is the last problem you want to deal with at the end.
The materials you will use to install the cork tiles will play an important role in the outcomes. This happens because they have been tested with a certain range adhesives and they are specifically made for cork. Other options may not glue the tiles to the floor properly, they may not react properly and it can ruin the final look or any other issues.
Another aspect you must consider is the tools you will use for the installation of the cork flooring. You are looking for a flat surface with no bumps or design flaws at the end. A trowel is not the best choice for this since it is not able to deliver the perfect results you seek. Roll-on application is the best way to go if you want to achieve your goal.
If you are looking for a complete guide when you are installing cork tiles, you should take the time to visit the site of icorkfloor.com. This is where you will find the products you can use in the process as well as the things you need to avoid so you can get the results you had in mind. If you want to make the right choices, you can trust the guide here.
Article Source: https://www.bharatbhasha.com
Article Url: https://www.bharatbhasha.com/home_improvement.php/492571
Article Added on Thursday, November 9, 2017
|home improvement >> Top 50 Articles on Home Improvement
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If you follow Food Dudes regularly, and I hope that you do, you'd know that Damion is our "burger guy." I'm actually trying to convince him to be The Hamburglar for Halloween. So Damion, I apologize in advance for taking the market away from you for just one post. I hope that you'll understand that I had to do this for the glory of cooked meat eaters everywhere.
Allow me to drop some hamburger knowledge on you for a minute. The term "hamburger" originally comes from Hamburg, Germany's second largest city. In fact, in Germany someone from Hamburg can be referred to as a Hamburger. Someone from Frankfurt can be called a Frankfurter, and of course someone from Vienna, Austria can be called a Wiener (Wien is its official German name). And now that I've covered all of the bases in childish jokes we can continue.
The hamburger is a ground beef patty. You better have already known that though. But did you know that New Haven has claimed fame for the creation of the hamburger? And Food Dudes has been to and reviewed the baby daddy of the burger, Louis' Lunch in New Haven. Little did Louis Lassen know that on that day in 1900, his name would be in the history books thanks to a man in a hurry and some ground steak trimmings between two slices of toast. And now this tasty tradition can continue with places like Flipside in Fairfield.
I'm a big fan of blue cheese. I would eat it all the time if it was deemed socially acceptable. I've even gone as far as having it on steak. In my opinion it's the ultimate flavor enhancer. Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese, so this was right up my alley.
The burger was exceptionally cooked, although I was not asked how I would like it. I would later find out that Flipside cooks all their burgers medium unless you tell them otherwise. I happen to like it medium so there was no issue.
The gorgonzola hits your mouth and melts, and then you get the sweetness from the apricots. Add that to a juicy patty and a grilled bun and it's quite the flavorful experience. The dish also comes with: fries, coleslaw and pickle chips. I substituted my fries for sweet potato fries, which proved to be very addictive. The coleslaw and pickle chips were crunchy and fresh.
Of course, I couldn't stop at just getting a burger. You can't have a complete retro meal without a milkshake. Or in my case, a malt. A malt is a variation of the milkshake with malted milk powder added, making it thicker.
Flipside has a few varieties to choose from, including the basics: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. But then there are the uncommon flavors: Black and White, Coffee, Mocha, and my Orange Creamsicle. Take one sip of this and prepare to be blown away.
If you've ever had creamsicle ice cream then you've got an idea of what this tastes likes. Creamy, sweet, and "sherbety." It will remind you of summertime during your childhood and make you forget all about the price tag, which hovers above the "Five Dollar Ice Cream" quote without the added malt option. If you don't know what I'm talking about, sit down and watch Pulp Fiction immediately after reading this review.
I enjoyed my overall experience at Flipside. It was like being in a throwback diner, but with less tacky dining room furniture and no roller skating waitresses. The prices don't necessarily reflect the 50's though. A burger will set you back anywhere from $9 (a hamburger with no toppings) to $14 (the custom Hawaii Five-O Burger with: pulled pork, bacon and grilled pineapple). But of course you get what you pay for, and this is worth it.
But if you don't want a burger for whatever reason, Flipside has other options like sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, and mac 'n cheese. And Flipside is pretty new to Fairfield, having just opened in 2009. But with a growing fan base that includes Fairfield University about a mile away, this place has staying power potential. So grab your best Hamburglar costume and head to downtown Fairfield to try Flipside. But just remember that Food Dudes cannot be held responsible for anything that happens to you should you decide to actually do that.
Flipside Burgers & Bar
1125 Post Road, Fairfield
(203) 292 – 8233
Facebook: FlipsideBurger


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Google's Buzz is all in your Gmail now, and after a few days of the world collectively playing with it and publishing more than 9 million items, its strengths, weaknesses and bugs are becoming more apparent. We're of mixed minds here at Wired.com and wanted to see what you, the readers, think. Submit your comments, bug reports, feature requests and revelations in the Reddit widget and vote up the entries you find useful or insightful. Who knows? The Borg might even pay attention.
Show Buzz impressions/suggestions that are: hot | new | top-rated or submit your own thoughts
Submit a thought about Buzz
While you can submit as many entries as you want, you can only submit one every 30 minutes. No HTML allowed.


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The Bard Of The Prison ShankPosted: February 14, 2008 Filed under: Animation | Tags: Animation Leave a comment
"Prison ain't so bad. You can make sangria in the terlet. 'Course it's shank or be shanked."
A few minutes ago, while in mid IM conversation with a fellow engineer, I recalled this line from Futurama (the best cartoon of the last 20 years or more). I laughed out loud, and promptly stuck it on my Twitter (a wonderfully pointless web app). The quotation is both informative and pragmatic. It speaks of the life of incarceration as one of harsh conditions, and necessity, but not without it's simple pleasures. As truth-laden as anything sung by The Man in Black. I don't mind telling you that my impression of gaol has altered substantially since first hearing Scruffy's sage words.
It occurs to me that Scruffy hasn't received the recognition his laconic genius demands. So to part-remedy this I dedicate this post to the noble bard of the prison shanking. Please join with me in saluting Scruffy. Truly a man of the future.


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As someone who is both a vegetarian and gluten-free, I am always on the lookout for interesting recipes that fit this category. It is not an easy category though as time goes by, it is becoming easier to find more available foods and good recipes. When I was sent information about an "Idiot's Guides as easy as it gets! - The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook", I was very interested. True, this book contains recipes that are not vegetarian and are not gluten-free, too.
When I received a copy of this book I liked the size, shape and presentation of the recipes. There is something in its design that is very "user friendly". The recipes that I tried are also easy to follow and construct and they were delicious. One thing that I learned in trying these recipes is that the portions are very large which would be great for a large family and/or entertaining. Since I generally only need to serve two of us, I will decrease the amounts the next time I make these dishes.
I tried four of the dishes and I had company one night so three of us enjoyed the recipes I served. I do not frequently follow recipes so I was really pleased that this book made it "as easy as it gets". The layout of the pages is appealing and not overwhelming. The information includes: Comments on why the recipe is good; How much the recipe makes; how long it takes; serving size to determine – calories, fat, cholesterol, protein, sodium etc. Then the ingredients are listed and they are easy to see. In general the ingredients were easy to find and I had many of them on hand. Step by step easy to follow instructions followed and the a few tips for serving.
I tried a salad, a main dish, a dip and a dessert. I frequently serve green salads but my husband loves bean salad and the recipe for Bean Salad in the book says this salad is chock full of protein. It calls for two kinds of beans, cannellini and fava. I had to search for the fava beans but it was worth it. This salad was very easy and just delicious.
My husband requests that I make quinoa instead of rice so when I saw the recipe for Vegetarian Quinoa Pilaf, how could I resist? This was delicious and made enough for dinners for most of the week. There were a few more ingredients in this recipe and it required 20 minutes but was greatly enjoyed.
I was advised to make the hummus recipe. This was a ten-minute recipe with Tahini paste being the ingredient that I needed to chase down. But now I have some for the next time I make this recipe, which will be soon. We like hummus, and buy it often, but this was the best we have ever tasted. Both my husband and I loved it.
Another dish that we like to order when we can find it is rice pudding. I was rather excited to try the rice pudding recipe to see how it compared to some we have had out. The unusual ingredient in this recipe is orange blossom water, which surprisingly, wasn't that hard to find. The portion was enough for us to enjoy for a week, and it was delicious. It matched some of the best of the rice puddings we have ordered in restaurants.
In addition to the limited recipes that I am looking for, this book contains a wide range of Mediterranean dishes that are healthy and relatively low in calories. There are lamb, chicken and fish dishes, some dishes I recognize and some that are very unusual. I look forward to using this book regularly and sharing recipes with others. It is a great addition to any kitchen and it doesn't take up a lot of space.
Check out The Idiot's Guides for more information.
Photos: Leon Keer unless otherwise noted


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05.18.2017 12:20 PM (1183 Days Ago) 0 comments Categories: Memoir Tags: non-fiction
Join us for a very special luncheon with author Malachy McCourt to discuss his recent book, Death Need Not be Fatal on Tuesday, JUNE 20th at 12:30 p.m. at the Friars' Club, NYC From Amazon site (http...
11.16.2016 07:15 PM (1366 Days Ago) 0 comments Categories: Non-Fiction Tags: non-fiction
JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL BOOK CLUB LUNCHEON -- ON DECEMBER 13TH AT THE FRIAR'S CLUB -- TO DISCUSS "THE RED BANDANNA" WITH AUTHOR TOM RINALDI. A New York Times bestsellerWhat would you do in the las...
09.22.2016 09:41 AM (1421 Days Ago) 0 comments Categories: Memoir Tags: memoir non-fiction
In 1974, at the age of seventeen, author Glenn Berger served as "Schlepper" and apprentice to the legendary recording engineer Phil Ramone at New York City's A&R Studios, and was witness to music ...
07.01.2016 06:52 AM (1504 Days Ago) 1 comments Categories: Fiction Tags: fiction short stories
Lauren Acampora will be joining us in person at the Friars's Club to discuss THE WONDER GARDEN on September 21st! From the author's website (www.laurenacampora.com): "In her stunning debut The Won...
From Frank Bruni's Website -- http://www.frankbrunibooks.com/
"Over the last few decades, Americans have turned college admissions into a terrifying and occasionally devastating process, preceded by test prep, tutors, all sorts of stratagems, all kinds of rankings, and a conviction among too many young people that their futures will be determined and their worth established by which schools say yes and which say no.
That belief is wrong. It's cruel. And in Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, Frank Bruni explains why, giving students and their parents a new perspective on this brutal, deeply flawed competition and a path out of the anxiety that it provokes."
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This book is a helpful tool for parents and teenagers alike, reminding us all that the true value of higher education is not where you go, but what you make of it.
Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be
Copyright © 2020 Gotham City Networking, Inc.


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What is meditation? or Why meditate?
I go on meditation retreats. Not everyone understands this–my sister, for one. She knows I'm reasonably intelligent and sane (I'm her business partner, after all), so she wants to understand this odd behavior. However, it'd difficult to explain yourself or have a discussion with someone when there's so little, maybe no, common ground. So I recently sent her a note, the text of which is as follows:
Hi J-,
You've on several occasions asked me about meditation and my retreat experiences. However, because of the strangeness or newness of these activities from your perspective, I think what I say about them is likely to go in one ear and then mostly out the other. Writing it down, so you can read, review, consider, read again, and—if you are so moved—to ask further questions, seems the more productive approach.
I think rather than lengthy theorizing or explanation the best approach is through demonstration. The following are a few exercises you can do on your own time which illustrate what meditation is and what it might offer.
Exercise 1, "The everyday mind"
Stop reading this paper. Put it down. Wherever you are, whether standing or sitting, look around. Don't do anything you would not ordinarily do. Do this for one minute. After one minute or so, ask yourself the following questions: "Was I breathing?" "What was I just thinking?" "Where is my self?" You will note these questions are progressively more profound. I suggest you try exercise #1 three times, each time concluding it with one of the above three questions. The first two ought to be readily answerable. The third will be much more difficult, and assumes you've already developed the faculty of internal awareness to a good degree. The point of this exercise is to show several things: 1) Your "everyday" experience is unaware of a great deal that is happening inside you and around you. 2) Much of what you consider "my self"—such as thoughts and memories—is automatic and conditioned, carrying on without apparent control or supervision. 3) The entity/center/ego you refer to as "my self" is actually a very difficult "thing" to find or pin down, which begs the question: "What exactly is it?"
Now, I am going to make a proposition: The reason you "suffer" (and you can interpret that word in the narrowest or widest sense, however you wish), is because you are fundamentally confused/ignorant/unaware of the real nature of your experience/self/consciousness. In other words, not only is ignorance not bliss, it is in fact hell. The more acutely you become aware of this, the more you will want the situation to end or resolve. (Which is why I go on these retreats!)
Exercise 2, "Attempting to focus attention"
Put this paper down. Close your eyes. Adopt a restful posture. Be aware of your experience, whether of thoughts or sensations or whatever. Don't try to do anything special. After a minute or so, direct your attention to your breathing, whether in the chest, the abdomen, or in the nostrils. Do not follow the breath. Just be aware of the sensations, of the fact of breathing. You can even label the in-breaths "in", the out-breaths "out." Do this for five minutes. (It might help if you set an alarm watch for this.) Now reflect on what you've just experienced.
Probably you had to struggle to stay focused on the breathing. Thoughts, sensations, sounds, whatever, intruded. Your attention chased after them, then you had to bring it back to the breath. This continued until the end of the period. Don't worry, this is perfectly normal.
I am going to make a second proposition: This state of affairs—of having a mind that jumps and wanders and scrambles every which way—is not optimal. In fact, it is the cause of immense human stress, sickness, negligence and foolishness, even great evil. In other words, it is a prime symptom of human suffering. (This assertion is massively supported by scientific research as regards the causes and conditions of mental health and illness.)
My third proposition is as follows: This state of affairs is not fixed; it can be changed. You can train your mind to more optimal states. That is what meditation is. Note, this is not easy. It requires work, just like toning your muscles or developing your lungs. In fact, it is really not so different from these things with which you are very familiar. The big difference, however, lies in that body training of that sort will never fundamentally alter your mode of experience in the world, how you exist consciously, moment to moment. Meditation can do this.
There is of course much more I could say on this topic; as I said on the phone, whole libraries have been filled with books about it—it is inexhaustible.
As is always the case, after I send something off I think of other incredible things I could have, should have written. So, I append these here for your reading pleasure.
From Nisargadatta, the Indian nondual teacher par excellence (after Ramana Maharshi):
Question: All teachers advise to meditate. What is the purpose of meditation?
Answer: We know the outer world of sensations and actions. But of our inner world of thoughts and feelings we know very little. The primary purpose of meditation is to become conscious of, and familiar with, our inner life. The ultimate purpose is to reach the source of life and consciousness. Incidentally, practice of meditation affects deeply our character. We are slaves to what we do not know. Whatever vice or weakness in ourselves we discover and understand its causes and its workings, we overcome it by the very knowing; the unconscious dissolves when brought into the conscious. The dissolution of the unconscious release energy; the mind feels adequate and becomes quiet.
Finally, see here this wonderful article from Gary Weber's blog on nondual teachings.
Now you know what meditation is and why you should do it. What are you waiting for?


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I need some help coming up with the correct coding for the count on cantor problem. You can read an explanation of the problem in here:The only difference is that I have to read the number from a file (already did it) and it does work that way, BUT I also have to calculate the sum of all terms before that number.Code:
3 is 2/1 - Sum: 2 1/2
14 is 2/4 - Sum: 22 3/4
I'm using a class named Racional, which I call from this problem to set the numerator and denominator of my number, and after that I call the sum method (also in my racional class). I can't seem to find the problem, but when I run the program it shows an error regarding my sum method. I did a somewhat similar code and the sum does work but not in the right way.
Here's my racional class
And my codeCode:
I put a link to the files since they are quite long.Code:
I would really appreciate it if someone could help me!


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Month: October 2017
"What you look for you always find. It only makes sense, then, that you see your ideal reality long before it arrives." – EP
Special People (A Tribute to Educators) by Don Dilley
Who go forth every day.
To face another special group,
And show to them the way.
That way is knowledge, truth and light,
That way is what they teach.
They try to tell our precious kids,
And show them goals to reach.
They sometimes put their very life,
Upon the chopping block.
But through it all they still stand fast,
Stand fast as if a rock.
Each child they teach is one more seed,
To sprout and then unfurl.
Those kids they teach now will soon be,
The leaders of this world.
Our teachers will instill the best,
In all our children's minds.
To make them adults, smart and proud,
They won't be left behind.
So let me say to all who read,
These words I put down here.
Give praise to all our teachers now,
And raise a hearty cheer.
For my own self, I'll tell them now,
I do appreciate.
The work you do so well I see,
Will gain you heaven's gate.
You teach our young and watch them grow,
You teach them right from wrong.
To thank you for this selfless work,
I'll write this little song.
It is the way I have this day,
To say "thanks for my son".
To tell you now, I thank you all,
It is a job well done.


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Overstuffed trick-or-treat bags make children smile and parents cringe. This Halloween, do not let the thought of tummy aches and future cavities ruin the holiday. Halloween candy is a treat, not a meal, so you must avoid letting your children gorge themselves on sweets this season.
Limit Candy Consumption
After carefully examining the Halloween haul and removing any opened or damaged candy, ask the children to help you sort the sweets. Make piles based on the type of candy: chocolates, gummies, hard candies, fruit-flavored chews and caramels.
Next, use small snack-size sandwich bags to create candy rations. Include one piece of candy from each category in each bag, then decide if your child gets one bag each day, every other day or weekly. Stash the excess candy in the freezer to keep it fresh.
Make Snacking Healthier
When it is time to indulge, enforce a healthy-eating rule. Permit candy consumption only at mealtime when saliva production helps to rinse food particles from teeth, suggests the American Dental Association.
For each bite of candy, you should require your child also to have a piece of produce or glass of water. For example, when your son is snacking on a miniature chocolate candy bar, offer him apple slices or grapes, which taste great with chocolate. If he is having a lollipop, have him drink a bottle of water while enjoying the candy to periodically rinse sugar from his teeth.
Do a Trade
If your little one collected more than he or she should eat in the span of a month or so, offer to make a few trades. Let the child "buy" other items, such as toys or tickets for an outing, by using the candy as currency. Try trading a pound of candy for movie passes or a new doll. You will be amazed at how quickly your child forgets about the sugary treats. Unwanted candy can be placed in the freezer and used as mix-ins when making cookies or bars for an upcoming holiday gathering.
Halloween candy does not have to cause a headache, cavities or a tummy ache. Remember to end each day by helping your child brush his or her teeth to remove sugary build-up and food acids. Try Colgate's 2 in 1 Toothpaste & Mouthwash, Colgate for Kids Fruit Flavored Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste in watermelon or strawberry flavors. Always manage your child's snacking through portion control and healthy eating practices so everyone has a happy Halloween.


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Archive for the 'sepsis' Tag
Procalcitonin – D Dimer for sepsis?
The following discussion is taken from a presentation given at JC by Dr Dave Hewson, ST5 Anaesthetics, in which he explores the utility of PROCALCITONIN: Continue reading
Esmolol in septic shock
Effect of heart rate control with esmolol on hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock: a randomized clinical trial.
Morelli A1 et al
JAMA. 2013 Oct 23;310(16):1683-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.278477.
STUDY APPRAISER: Dr David Smith Continue reading
A Black Water Day ?
Mortality after Fluid Bolus in African Children with Severe Infection. Maitland, K et al. New England Journal of Medicine, May 26th 2011 (epub ahead of print) (DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe1105490)
An interesting paper published in this weeks NEJM will cause substantial comment and concern after it's headline result showed increased mortality with rapid fluid resuscitation in paediatric sepsis. This surprising result is potentially extremely important as, if verified, undermines much of peadiatric (and adult)emergency care.
Before examining the paper in detail it's worth making a few comments on what we think we know already….
SOAP II – That's cleaned that up then.
Dopamine has been the vasopressor of choice in septic patients in continental europe historically, although this may be changing. Dopamine has theoretically beneficial effects in maintaining splancnic and renal perfusion although in the SOAP trial (observational) suggested that there was an excess of mortality of dopamine treated patients. The old story of "renal dose dopamine" having an additional effect over and above the improvement in perfusing pressure has been discredited, but this result suggests a harmful signal over and above noradrenaline (the preferred agent in the UK).
Comparison of dopamine and norepinephrine in the treatment of shock. De Backer DN, et al. N Engl J Med. 2010 Mar 4;362(9):779-89.
Continue reading
Special K – time for a reappraisal ?
2 recent articles highlight the potential benefit of an often overlooked induction agent in critically ill patients.
Etomidate versus ketamine for rapid sequence intubation in acutely ill patients: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Jabre, P. et al. Lancet. Volume 374, Issue 9686, Pages 293 – 300, 25 July 2009.
This multicentre, randomised, blinded trial in 65 french ICUs & 12 field teams enrolled 655 patients to either etomidate or ketamine for emergent intubation for critical illness. Patients were analysed only if they remained in ICU after day 3 (469). Adequate and reasonable power calculation, including predetermined septic & trauma subgroups. Primary end point was maximal SOFA score within 3 days (chosen as etomidate's effects on adrenocortical axis thought to last <48 hrs). Secondary end points included intubation conditions, and 28 day ICU stay, catecholamine requirement, mortality & adrenocortical insufficiency. Continue reading
Use of Polyclonal Ig as Adjuvant Therapy for Sepsis/Severe Sepsis K Georg. Kreymann et al CCM 2007 35(12) 2677-
This important paper is a meta analysis of all trials including the use of IVIG in patients (adult and Children-including neonates) with sepsis and severe sepsis. IVIG bind up toxins, allow oponisation and bind toxins and superantigens Previous papers from the Cochrane group have apparently not included all studies which this meta analysis has tried to do.
The search criteria was vigorous, including peer reviewed articles as well as personal communications, letters etc. They particularly included studies which used mortality as an end point. They graded papers on strict guidelines as there was a paucity of double blinded randomised placebo controlled trials (DBRPCT) to try and add some power to the meta analysis.
In all 27 trials were included. In 15 trials, including 1492 patients (adults and children) showed the use of IVIG created a RR of 0.79 (significant). When split into type of IVIG, the IVIGAM (immunoglobulins containing predominantly IVIG A and M) were used in 560 patients with a significant RR of 0.66. With just IVIG, including 932 patients, RR was 0.85 (significant). IVIG A and M showed further benefit over just IVIG. It is interesting to note many studies showed a positive trend but these trials were rated as significantly heterogeneous on tests. The largest trial showed no difference between those treated with IVIG and these not. 12 trials included neonates and are not discussed further here.


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Alexa, Amazon's artificially intelligent assistant, is spreading like wildfire. It's in robots, vacuum cleaners, and apps coded by the more than 10,000 developers with Alexa Voice Services. More conveniently, though, it's on a smartphone — the Huawei Mate 9.
More: Need a doctor? Just talk to Alexa and its new HealthTap integration
The Mate 9 is the first to ship with native Alexa support, thanks to close collaboration between the two companies. A March over-the-air update installs the app that puts the AI assistant at your fingertips. In many ways, it's just like Alexa on the Echo, but the Mate 9's flavor of Alexa has peculiarities worth mentioning. Here's everything you need to know.
How to set up Alexa on the Mate 9
Setting up Alexa on the Mate 9's a cinch once you have the update (to check, go to Settings > System Update > and the software update version is MHA-L29C567B183). Open the new Huawei Alexa app on your phone and you'll be prompted to enter your Amazon account credentials (set up an account if don't have one). Next, you'll need to read and accept the Terms of Service agreement to continue.
The Huawei Alexa app does not offer much in the way of customization, but it is not completely devoid of options. A Quick Start setting lets you launch Alexa by making a gesture with your knuckle on any screen, though you may have some trouble triggering this. A language selector lets you switch between one of three languages: German, British English, and English. There's also a link to the official, separate Amazon Alexa phone companion app, which lets you control Alexa's settings. On the main screen of the app, you'll see a giant mic to trigger Alexa, and an icon below to mute Alexa when you are not using the assistant.
How to use Alexa on the Mate 9
Personalizing Alexa on the Mate 9 requires installing Amazon's dedicated Alexa app via the Google Play Store. It lets you enter a home and work address (for traffic updates and directions), and you can link your calendar, check your search history, manage your shopping list, and more.
Every time you want to use Alexa, you have to open the Mate 9's Alexa app. Unlike Apple's Siri on iOS devices and Google Assistant on Android devices, there isn't a hands-free way to interact with Amazon's assistant — you have to open the app and tap on the bright blue microphone icon. That may not sound like a big deal, but when you're used to lazily lobbing commands at the Google Assistant and Amazon's own Echo speakers, it feels like a step backward.
More: BMW set to make Amazon's Alexa your backseat driver this fall
Carrying on a conversation with Alexa on the Mate 9 seems a little harder than it should be, too. The Huawei Alexa app does not prevent the screen from dimming — when your phone switches off automatically, you have to unlock if you want to feed Alexa a follow-up command. You can set the auto-dim time to the maximum (10 minutes) by heading to Settings > Display > Sleep > 10 minutes. Keep in mind that this will drain your battery faster.
A Huawei spokesperson told Digital Trends that the company's working closely with Amazon on solutions. They weren't willing to provide a timeline, but it's good to know they're coming.
What you can — and can't — do with Alexa on the Mate 9
In many ways, Alexa on the Mate 9 feels like a natural extension of the assistant's other manifestations. The Huawei Alexa app, just like the Echo, can tell the time in any country, supply a weather report, or provide a customized daily sports and news summary from NPR, CNN, the Associated Press, and more.
Here are a few of the commands Alexa supports:
- "Alexa, what's the time?"
- "Alexa, flip a coin."
- "Alexa, 10 dollars to pounds."
- "Alexa, 15 times 32."
- "Alexa, how's the weather outside today?"
- "Alexa, set a timer [X] minutes."
- "Alexa, add milk to my shopping list."
- "Alexa, what's on my calendar?"
- "Alexa, start a 7-minute workout."
- "Alexa, tell a bedtime story to [your child's name here]."
Alexa on the Mate 9 is fully compatible with Amazon's Kindle and Audible services. If you ask it, "Alexa, read my Kindle book," it will read the most recent addition to your library using text-to-speech technology. Asking, "Alexa, read my audiobook" prompts it to start or resume any audiobook you've purchased from Audible. You can play different titles, skip chapters, restart chapters, or go back to a specific chapter.
You can also control smart home devices and connected cars. If you have a Philips Hue or Samsung SmartThings devices, for example, you can use Alexa on the Mate 9 to toggle the lights, switch TV channels, and more. Hyundai's Blue Link platform lets you remotely start vehicles, change the interior temperature, and turn on the horn and lights. Here's a list of all the supported Internet of Things devices for Alexa — some of these may not work with the Huawei Alexa app.
Unsurprisingly, the Huawei Alexa app is tightly integrated with Amazon's shopping platform. You can place an order for anything on Amazon Prime, including Amazon Fresh groceries, Amazon Prime Pantry non perishables, and Amazon Prime Now 2-hour delivery items. You can say, "Alexa where's my stuff?" to get tracking information on packages, and you can take advantage of Alexa-exclusive deals that run regularly throughout the year.
More: Yamaha announces it is bringing Alexa voice control to its MusicCast products
With the Huawei Alexa app, you get access to Amazon's collection of more than 10,000 skills, or apps, that tap the assistant's voice recognition. Particularly useful ones include the My Chef app, which can read recipes, send shopping lists, and track expiration dates. Uber and Lyft's apps can summon rides to your approximate location; Fitbit's app can tell you how many steps you've taken; the Capital One app details your bank balance; and apps from Dominos, Pizza Hut, and Grubhub can place your favorite delivery orders.
Alexa on the Mate 9 isn't quite on par with Amazon's Echo speakers, though. It cannot add reminders to the Mate 9's note-taking app, instead tossing them to Amazon's web-based To-Do list. Alarms are a no-go, too. Most surprisingly, the Huawei Alexa app doesn't support Prime Music, Amazon's catalog of millions of songs, albums, playlists, and radio stations. Considering Amazon sells a paid subscription exclusively for Alexa-enabled Echo speakers (Amazon Music Unlimited), it is a bizarre omission.
Not to fret, though. Huawei said future versions of the app will add new features and integrations. Here's hoping music is one of them.
- What can't she do? The best ways to use Amazon's Alexa around the house
- Amazon's Alexa comes to Huawei Mate 9 smartphones in U.S. via update
- Amazon's Alexa is now accessible straight through the Amazon iPhone app
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This article and images was originally posted on Digital Trends
By Kyle Wigger


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Q&A – Colin Firth on the Emotional Life of A Single Man
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Golden Globe-nominee Colin Firth is enjoying his first major Oscar buzz, for his performance in A Single Man as George Falconer, a lonely, gay college professor in 1962 who's devastated by the death of his lover and contemplating suicide. It's a highly nuanced performance that required every human emotion from the actor, Firth explains.
Q: How much of the character came from the script and how much came from you?
A: Basically, he wakes up and we find him in a state of utter despair. He's chosen this to be his last day, and so everything's different today. What happens in the course of that day — he experiences every human emotion you can imagine, and he looks at everything as if for the last time. And suddenly it's as if he's looking at it for the first time, paradoxically. So you look at a rose, and suddenly it's the most red rose you've ever seen. The world is now more vibrant to him. It's about a man who's taking a journey toward a death that he's sure of, and then he dies really at the very moment he falls in love with life.
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Really, the character and the story line are one and the same. The script was very, very basic: "He comes in, he picks up his mail, and this is what he says." No "he gazes at her," no "he inhales deeply," no "he walks with a stiff gait." None of that. So there was a lot of space to be filled, and I was intrigued by it. But not endless stage directions. A lot of the scenes were written in one line of stage direction, so it was up to me. It's unusual material to not have it all be explicit in the dialogue.
Q: What did Tom Ford bring out in you?
A: He's not an interfering director. He sets up a very controlled environment, with strong stimuli, the costumes, the set, the atmosphere, and then he lets you get on with it. He just lets you be alone with your character, which is rare. It's rare to be alone on a set this much, although it becomes a relief when other actors are around. We shot for 21 days, with very intense night shoots, and it was lovely for 3 days, when Julianne Moore showed up. And Tom just lets you bring it to him. He didn't push in. He didn't change lenses. He didn't track it in or cover it. He kept it very simple.
Q: Especially in the phone-call scene, when George is notified of his partner's death.
A: I was a little afraid of that scene, because it takes you through not just finding an emotion, but starting in a scene in one mental state and ending up in another. It's not, "Roll camera and then cry." I couldn't prepare my tears beforehand and get in the zone for the emotion I'm trying to conjure, because I have to end up there, after a series of shocks. The news has to sink in, and it has to feel real. Tom let the camera roll for about twelve minutes for that one.
Q: How much of the shock do you think stems from Jim's parents not wanting George to be notified?
A: It's possible being gay in 1962 might have something to do with his isolation — he's not invited to the funeral — but that scene is a reminder that everyone has a right to that kind of love. Love is just love. I don't think George defines himself by his sexuality any more than I do. The issues are more about love and loss and isolation and rediscovering life. I think the flashbacks show a comfort level you earn after sixteen years together, and you know that George has no hope of finding that again. He feels he has nothing left to live for. I think he's been thinking about this for a while. He's been suffocating; his life is intolerable.
Q: And yet he's able to find humor in that, playing with the gun.
A: Some people think he's actually contemplating suicide in that moment, but he's not. It's a rehearsal. What are the places he can do it and make the least mess? He wants to know exactly where the blood and brains are going to go. It's just part of his personality to keep tweaking things until he got it right. It's like the suit. It's a sign of how he faces the world. He desperately needs to create this appearance of perfect control, but, if you take his cuff links off, he'll fall apart. The film is about what penetrates that barrier.
Q: Does the Oscar buzz for this film affect you in any way?
A: I think the important thing is that a small film like this thrives on a good response. It's not got a massive amount of money to campaign, so it thrives on its merits. And if it gets traction on that basis, I hope that's what gets people into the theater.Read More


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LONDON (REUTERS) - Hackers working on behalf of Chinese intelligence breached the network of Norwegian software firm Visma to steal secrets from its clients, cybersecurity researchers said, in what a company executive described as a potentially catastrophic attack.
The attack was part of what Western countries said in December is a global hacking campaign by China's Ministry of State Security to steal intellectual property and corporate secrets, according to investigators at cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.
China's Ministry of State Security has no publicly available contacts. The foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment, but Beijing has repeatedly denied any involvement in cyber-enabled spying.
Visma took the decision to talk publicly about the breach to raise industry awareness about the hacking campaign, which is known as Cloudhopper and targets technology service and software providers in order to reach their clients.
Cybersecurity firms and Western governments have warned about Cloudhopper several times since 2017 but have not disclosed the identities of the companies affected.
Reuters reported in December that Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co and IBM were two of the campaign's victims, and Western officials caution in private that there are many more.
At the time IBM said it had no evidence that sensitive corporate data had been compromised, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it could not comment on the Cloudhopper campaign.
Visma, which reported global revenues of US$1.3 billion (S$1.7 billion) last year, provides business software products to more than 900,000 companies across Scandinavia and parts of Europe.
The company's operations and security manager, Espen Johansen, said the attack was detected shortly after the hackers accessed Visma's systems and he was confident no client networks were accessed.
"But if I put on my paranoia hat, this could have been catastrophic," he said. "If you are a big intelligence agency somewhere in the world and you want to harvest as much information as possible, you of course go for the convergence points, it's a given fact." "I'm aware that we do have clients which are very interesting for nation states," he said, declining to name any specific customers.
Paul Chichester, director for operations at Britain's National Cyber Security Centre, said the Visma case highlighted the dangers organisations increasingly face from cyber attacks on their supply chains.
"Because organisations are focused on improving their own cyber security, we are seeing an increase in activity targeting supply chains as actors try to find other ways in," he said.
In a report with investigators at cybersecurity firm Rapid7, Recorded Future said the attackers first accessed Visma's network by using a stolen set of login credentials and were operating as part of a hacking group known as APT 10, which Western officials say is behind the Cloudhopper campaign.
The US Department of Justice in December charged two alleged members of APT 10 with hacking US government agencies and dozens of businesses around the world on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security.
Priscilla Moriuchi, director of strategic threat development at Recorded Future and a former intelligence officer at the Us National Security Agency, said the hackers' activity inside Visma's network suggested they intended to infiltrate client systems in search of commercially-sensitive information.
"We believe that APT 10 in this case exploited Visma networks to enable secondary operations against Visma's customers, not necessarily to steal Visma's own intellectual property," she said. "Because they caught it so early they were able to discourage and prevent those secondary attacks."


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VIDEO vs. TEXT vs. PODCAST - What's Your Opinion? How Does it Change Your Learning and Which Do You Prefer?
So far, you were able to read or listen to the texts we have provided and occasionally watch a youtube or TEDtalk video as part of the additional material section. How did the different materials change your learning and course experience?
If you need more inspiration to answer this question, check the following TED Talks, text and TED Talk podcasts in order to decide what type of resources change your learning:
This TED Talk by Salman Khan even talks about using videos for education.
Video by TED Talk.
And here are 7 more talks about learning and MOOCs and about education in general.
Or would you rather read up on this topic? Then maybe you would prefer this article by Yaro Starak on "What Content Is Best – Audio, Video Or Text".
The NPR TED Talk Podcast interviews keynote speakers and presenters about their TED talk. You can either watch the talk or listen to it. Here are two episodes about learning for you to try out:
The first and the second one.
Think about what type of material and content suited your needs best and spiked your interest the most. Are you more #teamaudio, #teamvideo or #teamreading?
What changed your learning and your course experience?
Write down a short explanation in your journal and make sure to set the entry to public, so the course community can read and comment on it.
My learning preference
Before I completed this module I thought that my preference was Video. I guess it is is because I am a Kinesthetic learner. I'll be honest, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the three modes Video, Voice & Text (In the order). Each had it's own benefit. I think more than the mode of Learning the quality of content that's being consumed defines the engagement of the Learner.


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About Drumming
Our Roots
Drum Café has educated, inspired and united school children, workforces and a multitude of Fortune 500 executives through motivational techniques, ice breakers for meetings, fun team building activities and interactive drumming across Canada and the world over.
It all started in early post-Apartheid South Africa…
Rewind back to 1998 and you'll find yourself in a divided South Africa, still reeling from one of the greatest political transitions in recent history. President Mandela was in power and change was well underway, but wounds were fresh and people confronted the uncertainty of their country and culture on a daily basis. Divisions, while closing, were still strong. Everyone wanted change, everyone wanted unity and equality. It is in this climate that Drum Café was born.
Warren Lieberman opened an actual Café in Johannesburg. Inspired by hope for a better country, where cultural and racial bias can be set aside in favor of a respectful, harmonized and united country he drew on traditional African roots and began offering drumming workshops to break down barriers and inspire patrons to believe in change as he does.
The very first Drum Café was a success. People loved the vibe, the freedom to make some noise together. More importantly, they got the message and left a little more certain, a little more united and much more optimistic. Change was happening, one beat at a time.
Brett Schlesinger later partnered up with Warren and opened the famous Drum Café Club in South Africa's mother city, Cape Town. It quickly took off and soon garnered enough attention to attract the international crowd, becoming an essential part of the tourist route. The message of unity continued to spread, took wings and slowly took hold across the world.
Companies began to see value in what Drum Café had to say and the efficacy with which it was communicated. This wasn't just team building, this was something else. It brought people together in a dynamic way, it levelled the playing field, created joy, enthusiasm and hope. Drum Café was fun, but it also had meaning. Soon they began approaching Warren and Brett for private sessions.
Understanding that an office environment is a micro culture, a little country of its own, with politics, structure and citizens, the Drum Café model was adapted to create change within corporate culture; the ultimate unifier, the ultimate team building activity.
Interactive drumming activities grew into something bigger
The interactive drumming activities grew into something bigger — something global. Music is a universal language — there's rhythm in all of us ¬— that allows us to communicate, work together and experience a common sense of belonging. Through music, we learn to be receptive and creative at the same time.
Drum Café was in demand. From Germany to Texas, businesses wanted to create positive change, get everyone on the same page, and unite staff and management within corporate cultures. Drum Café was the answer.
Today, Drum Café's message is needed more than ever. With Drum Cafes operating throughout the world, offering their services to an international audience, we are now a leader in team building and entertainment. Always remaining true to our message, we want to inspire you, to create a unified workforce and to leave you and everyone on your team with something special.
It doesn't matter if you are a startup of five or a Fortune 500 company of thousands, our message is for everyone. Each attendee gets a drum to play; each person participates in something truly breathtaking that opens new ways of thinking, closes cultural divides, and unifies toward a common goal.
We also perform at social events, bringing some of the best dancers, musicians and speakers to your venue. Drum Café is on a mission to create positive change and we want you to be a part of it.
Whatever we do, whether succeed or fail, we do together – that's the most important message of all. Everyone brings their A game when they know where they fit in and realize their value as an individual and part of the whole. Each individual, with their unique personality, traits, and skills functions better within the group when they experience a sense of belonging.
Read some of our testimonials to hear what our clients have to say.
Bottom Line: Drum Café's methods were forged out of a need to unify in turbulent times, and have since expanded to include corporate clients. We have a proven track record after 19 years in business and have contributed to positive change the world over. Whether an event or a scheduled team building experience; whether participatory or non-participatory; we consistently blow our client's minds with some of the most spectacular and meaningful performances out there. We are ready to work with you in crafting the most perfect experience for your event or company, and offer our services to everyone, no matter the size of your team.
Drum Cafe Canada's most popular locations for ice breakers, interactive entertainment, fun team building and interactive drumming include various cities and resorts in across Canada in Toronto, Mississauga, London, Niagara, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Ontario, Quebec & Manitoba.


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Home > Steam Oil & Accessories
Ref:: DSWWFBBrand: Dream Steam Works
Weight: 100g
In stock
Plastic bottle for conveniant filling of your boiler with water. Works by squeezing water from the spout into the opening in your boiler. This is not suitable for filling the boiler whilst under pressure but is ideal for filling gravity fed boilers such as standard Mamod or MSS type boilers. 250ml capacity.
Be the first to Write a Review for this item!
[ Go Top | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Site Map | Contact Us | About ] © 2020 Dream Steam Ltd.Dream Steam Ltd (A Maud Group comapny) is registered in the UK, Company No. 7421907, VAT No. GB 101 8665 33Trading address: Ground Floor, Vanguard House, Quarry Wood Industrial Estate, Mills Road, Aylesford, KENT, ME20 7NA.


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Driving Change in the Agri-food Sector
Over 50 representatives from the Northern Ireland Agri-Food sector, were today informed of exciting developments driven by the Food Strategy Implementation Partnership (FSIP), that will greatly enhance the focus, capability and competitiveness of the sector.
FSIP, which emerged from industry views expressed in the Fit For Market Report in 2004, has, in association with its delivery partners Invest Northern Ireland and DARD, driven change by ensuring new initiatives have been implemented in the important areas of marketing, innovation, supply chain and new skills development.
Speaking at the industry update event, Dan Flinter, FSIP Chairman, said:
"Significant achievements made by FSIP within the sector over the last six months include quantum changes in the depth of market research available to local companies and the appointment of two full time executives in Great Britain to secure significant local product listings for SME's in export markets."
Commenting on a range of initiatives to attract new talent to the industry Dan continued:
"The agri-food industry is of vital importance to the Northern Ireland economy. In order to invest in the industry's future leadership skills, FSIP has funded the placement of fifty graduates in the industry over two years, the launch of a brand new Masters in Food Marketing qualification at UU and the introduction of a new entrepreneurial management development programme which takes a unique approach to developing management skills.
Recently, FSIP has taken receipt of significant propositions in relation to future developments within the industry. These include the Foresight Leadership report, outlining a specific innovation vision for the sector in 2020 and the opportunity to develop a joined up marketing communication concept for Northern Ireland agri-food industry.
Looking to the future Dan concluded: "Much has been achieved to date, and the findings from the recent Foresight Leadership Report identify further opportunities to develop a vibrant innovative sector in an industry of vital importance to the Northern Ireland economy. A number of key challenges remain and we will continue to put proposals on the table to ensure sustainable, effective change."


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Our store is now open 7 days a week as normal.
Our huge carpet stock changes almost daily. A visit to our spacious Chester carpet showroom is highly recommended where we can arrange free measuring and fitting for your home.
Monday – Saturday 1000 – 1700
Sunday 1000 -1600
At Carpet Clearance Centre in Chester we stock a huge range of high quality flooring including vinyl, laminate flooring, rugs and carpets at prices way below other carpet retailers in Chester.
We are an independently owned business that has been serving our satisfied customers for many years. Most of our customers choose us because a friend or a family member has recommended us. They tell us that they are not only attracted by our hugely competitive prices, but by the high level of customer service and commitment that only a local business can offer.
We offer plenty of free advice on measuring if you would like to give yourself a rough estimate for budgeting, but our free carpet measuring service will ensure you buy the right amount of carpet – whatever the shape of your rooms. Of course carpet fitting is a skill and our expert team of fitters will fit your new carpet to the highest possible standard – completely free of charge.
Right now in addition to our low carpet prices, free measuring and free fitting we also include free underlay, free grippers and free plates. Find out more in the latest video from Carpet Clearance Centre owner, Dave Bellis.
Check out a sample of our flooring ranges, try our handy DIY carpet measuring guide or see how you can find your way to our carpet showroom on Bumpers Lane in Chester.


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This Date in UCSF History: Campaign for Affordability
[Originally published in Synapse - The UCSF student newspaper, Feb. 28, 2008] The storm of the state's budget crisis is looming over students' heads. Earlier this year in January, Governor Schwarzenegger released a devastating budget proposal that balanced the state's $14 billion budget deficit on the backs of students. The governor proposed increasing undergraduate fees by at least 7.4 percent and graduate fees up to 19 percent.
In addition to continuing the fee hikes, he proposed cutting $331.9 million from UC System budget, which could lead to halting enrollment for UC. Both the fee increases and halting enrollment are bad choices for California's future.
Students cannot continue to stomach more fee increases. Since 2001, undergraduate fees have skyrocketed by over 94 percent, graduate fees by 106 percent and some professional student fees by 160 percent.
When considering the total cost of attendance (including housing, books, etc.), UCs are the most expensive when compared to peer universities. Each year more students refrain from applying to UC because it costs too much, while current students pile on more hours at work and more loan debt to continue to finance their education.
In addition to the fee hikes, the Governor's budget could force the UC to halt enrollment growth for next year's students. This year's graduating class is the largest California has ever seen.
If UC doesn't increase the size of its freshman class, thousands of students who were eligible to attend UC would be turned away. The California Master Plan promises to allow all eligible students the opportunity to attend a UC and California needs to keep that promise.
This week the ASUCSF and students state wide with the UC Student Association (UCSA) will be collecting postcards to send to budget subcommittee chairs Assembly member Brownley and Senator Scott during budget hearings. On March 3, we'll take our protest to the state capital for the UCSA Student Lobby Day.
The state of California needs an accessible and affordable UC system to thrive. Students need the state to freeze fees and fund enrollment growth for the 2008-2009 school year.


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Research for Form 6 Students and Teachers have become a new trend in the latest learning system. Starting from STPM 2012 the academic year of 2012, Form 6 students are compulsory to carry out a project (similar to research) in School-Based Assessment of practical (Kerja Kursus / Kerja Projek) while Form 6 Teachers are advised to carry out an educational research every year. Berry Berry Easy would like to present a short summary of types of research for STPM 2012 Form 6 students and teachers in this latest series.
Research for Teacher and Form 6 Students (Part 1)
Types of Research
Correlation Research
It is a research to determine relationships among two or more variables, and to explore their implications for cause and effect. This type of research searches for one or more relationships of some type exist. There is no manipulation of intervention on the part of the researcher other than that required to administer the instrument.
Experimental Research
There are two contrasting methods to be compared and an attempt is made to control for all other variables (teacher characteristics, time, student ability level and examination grade).
Causal-Comparative Research
It is a type of research to determine the cause for of the consequences of differences between groups of people.
Survey Research
This is a type of research to determine specific characteristics of a group. The difficulties in this type of research are:
- Questions need to be clear and not misleading
- Respondents answer question thoughtfully and honestly
- Sufficient number of the questionnaires completed
Content Analysis Research
It is a method to study human behavior unobtrusively (without being directly involved with people or situation)
Qualitative Research
It is a research method to gather an in-depth study in human behavior and reason of the particular behavior. This research can be carried out by using the techniques of an ethnographic study, case study or shadowing.
Historical Research
It is a type of research that involve finding of some aspect of the past. The method of finding is through perusing documents of the period or interviewing individuals who lived during the time.
We will discuss this further in the next part of this series.


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Sheep May Safely Graze (212.01w/ 2 flutes)
Includes the score and parts for the standard brass sextet instrumentation: I & II - B-flat Trumpet; III - Horn in F; IV & V - Trombone; VI - Tuba. Alternate parts included as follows: III - B-flat Trumpet, Trombone; IV - Horn in F; V - T.C. Euphonium.


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Middle School: Valencia
High School: Cholla High School
Isaias, or "EZ," Chacon came to Cholla from Valencia, where he developed an alternate world with his closest peers. They continue to develop their world, which gives EZ an outlet to compose original music, create maps, and sharpen his skills in civics. EZ has expressed interest in politics after he graduates from Cholla. His favorite classes are chemistry and history. EZ likes the diverse classes offered at Cholla, where he is also learning Arabic.
Meet EZ:
EZ's First Semester, Sophomore Year:
EZ's Fictional World:
EZ's Junior Year:
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|October 2010
Luteolin Stars in Study of Healthful Plant Compounds
Precise details of how six natural compounds in plants—luteolin, quercetin, chrysin, eriodicytol, hesperetin, and naringenin—apparently act as anti-inflammatory agents in the human body are being teased out in studies led by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Luteolin is found in celery, thyme, green peppers and chamomile tea. Foods rich in quercetin include capers, apples, and onions. Chrysin is from the fruit of blue passionflower, a tropical vine. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and other citrus fruits are good sources of eriodicytol, hesperetin and naringenin. The ARS scientists showed, for the first time, that all six plant compounds target an enzyme known as TBK1. Each compound inhibits, to a greater or lesser extent, TBK1's ability to activate a specific biochemical signal. If unimpeded, the signal would lead to formation of gene products known to trigger inflammation in the body.
For details, contact: Daniel Hwang, (530) 754-4838, Immunity and Disease Prevention Research Unit, ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, Calif.
Nutrition's Potential to Save Sight
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists are finding that healthy eating not only can reduce health care costs, but also can mitigate vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other sight-robbing diseases. One study indicated that regularly consuming a combination of protective nutrients and a low-glycemic-index, or "slow carb," diet provided an AMD-protective effect. The nutrients that were found to be most protective in combination with the low-glycemic-index diet were vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids known as DHA and EPA.
For details, contact: Allen Taylor, (617) 556-3156, Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, Mass.
Genetic Screening Technique Can Detect More Than 700 Antimicrobial-Resistance Genes
Using an advanced genetic screening technique, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators have detected, for the first time, more than 700 genes that give microbes like Salmonella and E. coli the ability to resist antibiotics and other antimicrobial compounds. The researchers used what is called DNA microarray technology to find the resistance genes in a wide variety of bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Enterococcus, among others. These organisms can cause food poisoning and are thus a major public health concern. Researchers are concerned that some of these organisms have acquired genetic resistance to the antibiotics used to kill them. Finding the genes that confer resistance is an important step for scientists looking for new ways to control these organisms. The ARS scientists selected about 1,000 unique genes from among 5,000 genes found in GenBank that included the words "antimicrobial resistance" in their description. Then they designed a microarray of more than 700 DNA probes to detect the resistance genes.
For details, contact: Jonathan Frye, (706) 546-3677, Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, ARS Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, Athens, Ga.
New Methods Developed to Detect and Measure Potato Phytonutrients
New analytical procedures for rapidly detecting and measuring phytonutrient concentrations in potatoes have recently been devised by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers and their colleagues. Using the new analytic methods, the researchers profiled the phytonutrient contents of several hundred lines of wild and cultivated potato. For example, their analysis of phytonutrients known as phenolics showed concentrations that ranged from 100 to more than 1,500 milligrams per 100 grams dry weight in the potatoes.
For details, contact: Roy Navarre, (509) 786-9261, ARS Vegetable and Forage Crop Research Unit, Prosser, Wash.
Model Predicts Individual's Vitamin D Needs
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues have developed a preliminary model that predicts an individual's vitamin D requirements. To develop the preliminary model, the scientists worked with 72 young adult volunteers who provided intermittent records of what they ate and, for 7- to 8-week stints, wore photosensitive badges from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. so the scientists could determine their level of sun exposure. Data from the volunteers—either African-American or of European ancestry—who had relatively low amounts of sun exposure suggest that they may need additional vitamin D to reach a target blood level of 75 nanomoles of vitamin D per liter of plasma. However, the scientists cautioned that some vitamin D levels indicated by the model exceed the level currently considered safe. More research, with a larger number of volunteers, may refine the predictive power of the model.
For details, contact: Charles B. Stephensen, (530) 754-9266, Immunity and Disease Prevention Research Unit, ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, Calif.
Vitamin D and Mental Agility in Elders
Scientists funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have now contributed to the limited but growing body of evidence of a link between vitamin D and cognitive function. This study involved more than 1,000 participants receiving home care. The researchers evaluated associations between measured vitamin D blood concentrations and neuropsychological test results. Elders requiring home care have a higher risk of not getting enough vitamin D because of limited sunlight exposure and other factors. The participants, ages 65 to 99 years, were grouped by their vitamin D status, which was categorized as deficient, insufficient, or sufficient. Only 35 percent had sufficient vitamin D blood levels. Those participants had better cognitive performance on the tests than the participants in the vitamin D-deficient and insufficient categories, particularly on measures of "executive performance," such as cognitive flexibility, perceptual complexity, and reasoning. The associations persisted after taking into consideration other variables that could also affect cognitive performance.
For details, contact: Katherine L. Tucker, (617) 556-3351, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, Mass.
Molecular Biology Provides Clues to Health Benefits of Olive Oil
A team of researchers, including one with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has found that phenolic components in olive oil actually modify genes that are involved in the inflammatory response. Volunteers were fed breakfasts containing virgin olive oil with either high-content phenolic compounds (398 parts per million) or low-content phenolic compounds (70 parts per million). The researchers tracked the expression of more than 15,000 human genes in blood cells during the after-meal period. The results indicated that 79 genes are turned down and 19 are turned up by the high-phenolic-content olive oil. Many of those genes have been linked to obesity, high blood-fat levels, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Importantly, several of the turned-down genes are known promoters of inflammation, so those genes may be involved in "cooling off" inflammation that often accompanies metabolic syndrome. The researchers concluded that the results shed light on a molecular basis for reduced heart disease risk among people living in Mediterranean countries where virgin olive oil is the main source of dietary fats.
For details, contact: Laurence D. Parnell, (617) 556-3089, Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, Mass.
Researchers Study Benefits of White Button Mushrooms
Scientists funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have conducted an animal-model and cell-culture study showing that white button mushrooms enhanced the activity of critical cells in the body's immune system. In the United States, white button mushrooms represent 90 percent of the total mushrooms consumed. The study's cell-culture phase showed that white button mushrooms enhanced the maturity of immune system cells called "dendritic cells," from bone marrow. Dendritic cells can make T cells, which are important white blood cells that can recognize and eventually deactivate or destroy antigens on invading microbes. When immune system cells are exposed to disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria, the body begins to increase the number and function of immune system cells
For details, contact: Simin N. Meydani, (617) 556-3129, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, Mass.
ARS Scientists and Their Cooperators Find Genes Involved in Yellow Perch Growth
For details, contact: Brian Shepherd, (414) 382-1767, ARS Dairy Forage and Aquaculture Research Unit, Madison, Wis.
Bright New Dry Bean for Salads and Other Foods
"Crimson," a new cranberry dry bean cultivar, is now available for production in the form of foundation seed that could give rise to a new bumper crop of the colorful legume for 2010. "Crimson" was developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists from a cross between the commercial cultivar "Cardinal" and the dry bean breeding line PS98-302-5-5. The combination of the two "parents" has endowed "Crimson" with viral disease resistance and a high yield of shapely, maroon-speckled seed. The seeds of "Crimson" are also beautiful on the inside: The new variety lacks a common but commercially unacceptable blemish called "black heart."
For details, contact: Phillip N. Miklas, (509) 786-9258, ARS Vegetable and Forage Crop Research Unit, Prosser, Wash.


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The bold graphics and carefree vibes of the Southwest were the perfect embodiment of our Spring 2014 collection, so we packed up and headed to Arizona! The hot, sunny days in the desert were punctuated by glistening lakes (yes, believe it or not!), whimsical plants (more than a few of us experienced the attack of the "leaping cactus"), enticing legends of lost gold and mountains that seemed to pop up out of nowhere.
Whether you're the adventurous dive-right-in type or the relaxed observer, the Lost Dutchman's State Park should not be overlooked. You'll feel like you're in a Dr. Seuss tale as you wind through trails overlooking whispy, cartoonish cacti and shrubbery. And then out of nowhere—bam! The Superstition Mountains jet up from the desert terrain, looming closer than anything to the blazing sun. Maybe you'll even stumble upon the infamous Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine…or at least hear one of the many tales surrounding the lost gold.
Just around the corner from the Park, you'll discover a theatric ghost town—complete with real cowboys and all. Have a gander at the 175 year old Saguaro cactus that stands in the center of the town, or wet your whistle at one of the old-timey saloons. If you're lucky, you might even catch sight of the train winding its way across the vast terrain.
If you need a break from the constant dryness, you can drive a couple hours outside Phoenix to Lake Watson—a sparkling oasis of water right in the middle of the desert!
Temperatures were magically lower near the lake (a welcome relief after a few days of roasting in the sun). We battled fierce winds—and even lost one of our hats in the bottom of the lake—but that's not typical. The gorgeous glacial-looking rock formations and glistening water were well worth the journey!
By night, we explored the historic, art-lined streets of Scottsdale, soaking up the culture with a burrito in one hand and a margarita in the other! Our entire crew was wowed by The Herb Box, founded by a local chef-duo. We couldn't keep away! They didn't miss a beat—amazingly creative FRESH food (with fabulous vegetarian options!), inviting yet posh décor, breezy open-air patios and delicious, unique drinks developed by a local mixologist. What else could you ask for? …How about a live band playing on the patio? Yes please!


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Its that time of the month again!!! I love getting things in the mail especially when its from Topbox.
This is what it looks like inside, this months topbox was filled to the top with only one little piece of purple wrapping paper.
Shampoo and condition
Mini bottle of Chloe body lotion. Been wanting to get this for a while now.
Moisturizing Gel by Kellett. Goes on super light and smooth.
Marc Jacobs newest perfume, DOT. I love mini perfume bottles.
Expressions blending brush.
Pink Wipes. I dont know if you can see but on the bottom-right of the backside is a little bunny and underneath that, it says "cruelty free and vegan".