title: By Amma Darko

text:
By Amma Darko
1962. Jofri, a young man from Ghana is on scholarship to study at the (then) renowned Textiles Institute in the small (West) German town of Lauterbach. He and a fellow student, the pretty, young German woman Ursula, meet and fall in love. They marry after their studies, settle in Ghana and have twin girls. The marriage falls apart. Ursula flees back to Germany. Their twin girls live their first eleven years with their father in Ghana and thereafter join their mother in (West) Germany.
After the Prologue, the story moves to 1999. An old, retired, sick and dying Jofri seeks to reconnect with his estranged ex-wife and twin daughters. The younger of the twins, Ania, is travelling to Ghana to grant Jofri this wish. Ursula, (Mutti), and the older twin Nadia, refused to. All three are in Aniaâ€™s apartment in Hamburg. Ania is packing for the trip. The atmosphere is tenseâ€¦
(from Chapter 27)
â€œBeats me,â€ one genuinely shocked female student remarked to another.
â€œAnd look at them!â€ said her friend, â€œThey look almost the same.â€
â€œExcept for that one,â€ the first observed. â€œTake a good look at his face,â€ she quietly urged her friend. â€œBe careful; donâ€™t let them see you staring.â€
The friend did. Her eyes widened. She scowled. â€œWhat is that?â€ she hushed bewildered. â€œWhere did all the scars on his face come from? Someone scratched him badly. Did he get into a fight?â€
Ursula spotted the three black students immediately. Everyone did. They could not be missed because they kept to themselves and apart from the rest.
At this point, as if on cue, the auditorium door opened and in he walked â€” tall, dark and with a face full of enigmas â€” and he was wearing the biggest and brightest of smiles as if he owned the sun. He strode to the front, ran his eyes through the gathering and, spotting the three fellow Africans, started towards them. It wasnâ€™t only Ursulaâ€™s attention he gained. Others were also staring and whispering; but, for Ursula, instant panic gripped her. The sight of him caused great agitation inside her chest. Her heart stopped a fraction of a second and resumed beating again; he walked in a certain manner; somewhat roundish. Her eyes were glued to his back like a magnet as, predictably, he made his way towards the other three to join them. Ursulaâ€™s eyes remained transfixed on the tall and good-looking African student number four. Her stare was intense. She didnâ€™t bother to be discreet. It was so focused that her thoughts communicated clear and direct to his mind because of all the faces turned in their direction and the many eyes fixed on them; he instinctively turned his head slightly and, in the midst of the large and amorphous gathering, sought her face. The brief eye contact was deep and fierce. Each left the other affected. It was intense. It was confusing. Still huddled together with the other three African students, Jofri turned his head to where he earlier met the eye of the young and pretty blond student. She didnâ€™t look back in his direction even though in a strange way, Jofri felt convinced she had sensed his eyes on herâ€¦â€¦.
The four Africans were all in the weaving class, three Ghanaians â€” Jofri included â€” and the one Nigerian with the finely incised facial tribal marks misconstrued as scars. Going by their names, one would have thought that the other two Ghanaians besides Jofri were English: William and David. The name of the Nigerian however was long and complexâ€¦â€¦
The School Director unceremoniously shortened it to Obu; and it was Obu who broached the issue several weeks into the semester, having made a lengthy observation.
â€œAh, ah, you Jofri, my brother, why, is it that you are refusing to see or that you cannot see? Are you blind or are you a coward who is afraid of white women? Why are you wasting everybodyâ€™s time eh, ah, ah?â€
William and David giggled helplessly. Jofri pretended not to have the slightest idea about what Obu was hinting at. That irritated Obu gravely. â€œJofri,â€ he charged, â€œDo you mean to say you havenâ€™t noticed, eh, ah, ah?â€
â€œNoticed what?â€ Jofri feigned.
Obu placed a hand on his hips; wiggled his upper body; struck an exaggerated feminine pose and imitating a poorly managed high pitched female voice, gushed with a flick of his eyelids, â€œJofri, can I borrow yourâ€¦..ehâ€¦..head? Jofri, can I borrow yourâ€¦..ehâ€¦..nose? Jofri, can you show me this and that? Always creating opportunities to be near you and you are telling me you havenâ€™t noticed eh, ah, ah?â€


tier: cub

shelf: home-craft

title: Clematis

text:
Clematis plants are among the most popular and attractive flowering vines grown in the home landscape. These plants include woody, deciduous vines as well as herbaceous and evergreen varieties. They also vary greatly among species, with different flowering forms, colors, and blooming seasons, though most bloom sometime between early spring and fall.
Regardless of species or cultivar, clematis belong to one of three pruning groups based on when they bloom. Each group requires a slightly different approach to the pruning, which is needed to remove dead, diseased or damaged stems, promote branch strength, good air and light penetration and an abundance of new bud-laden stems. Pruning is also needed to check the growth of fast, aggressive growing varieties before they become overgrown in the garden.
Most clematis will take three growing seasons to establish after planting. During this stage little pruning will be needed and only the removal of dead, damaged or diseased stems. By the fourth season heavier pruning usually begins.
Group 1: Spring Blooming Cultivars –These plants bloom on old wood – the previous season’s growth.
Prune young plants lightly after blooming to encourage well-branched stems. This is best done as flowers fade to allow time for the new wood to ripen (develop dormant buds for next spring.)
Prune older plants more heavily, again after blooming ends. Remove enough wood to prevent vines from overgrowing their support and thin congested areas to allow for sunlight and air to penetrate.
How hard to prune will depend on the vigor of the cultivar. Fast growing plants need harder pruning than slower growing selections. Older vines, and those that have been neglected and are producing fewer flowers need rejuvenation by hard pruning back to some of the oldest stems available. This is always best in early May to take full advantage of the spring flush.
Group 2: Spring and Summer Blooming Cultivars –These plants bloom on both old and new wood.
Sometimes referred to as Repeat Blooming, and can depending on cultivar: a) Bloom on old stems first then bloom a second time on new growth in late summer. b) Bloom on both old wood and new growth at the same time creating continuous flowering.
Prune Group 2 types lightly in spring, to encourage the formation of new stems and buds for later blooming, promote more branching and to open plants up to air and light. Keep enough old wood to provide strong spring flowering, while the new growth matures.
An easier approach for Group 2 types is to hard prune vines in early spring every two years. This will sacrifice the spring display of flowers. Most clematis varieties grown in Canada belong to this group.
Group 3: Summer and Fall Blooming Cultivars –These plants flower late on new growth only.
Prune Group 3 vines back hard to two or three nodes, up to 12-inches from the ground. Plants will recover and begin blooming in mid-summer through fall.
These are among the easiest vines to grow.
Species type clematis belong to Group 3 and are often used on large supports like arbors and pergolas or allowed to scramble through larger shrubs and trees.


shelf: history-culture

title: Horror movie review deep blue sea 3 2020

text:
Almost 20 years later, for no reason beyond the fact that shark horror is in vogue at the moment, we got a sequel to the fan-favourite Deep Blue Sea. The original was released in 1999 and is surprisingly popular even though it really isn’t very good. So along comes 2018 and the release of Deep Blue Sea 2, an overtly serious and un-fun sequel that no one was asking for.
Which brings us to 2020, the year we’d all like to forget. Although where Deep Blue Sea 3 is concerned, forgetting shouldn’t be much of a problem. A shallow and boring effort, those hoping for a silly romp in the vein of the original will be very disappointed to find it has more in common with the second film.
Tania Raymonde stars as Dr. Emma Collins who is on the near abandoned island of Little Happy. Where she and her team are studying climate change in relation to a nearby nursery. It’s there that every year, great sharks come to give birth, but this year things are seriously going to change.
Dr. Richard Lowell (Nathanial Buzolic) and his team arrive, chasing three bull sharks. The two sides are initially cold to each other, in particular as Richard and Tania dated in the past, but their shared interests see them team up. Richard and his team need to stop the bull sharks as they’ve killed humans and Tania and her team need to protect the nursery.
A united pairing with a clear goal. It all seems simple enough, that is until it becomes clear that these sharks aren’t ordinary sharks. No, these are the last surviving sharks of Akhelios, the facility from the second film.
Such a basic story stretched out to nearly 100 minutes. It’s no surprise that the film fails to hold your attention and other than a handful of moments, is utterly forgettable.
We’ve seen all this before and in much better settings. From the ‘exes’ who reconnect to the hard-nosed scientists who inevitably clash with the ‘mercenary team’ and the ‘whose the real monster’ angle. Heck, we’ve seen all these tropes in shark movies before!
Which is all Deep Blue Sea 3 is. Just another shark movie where if it didn’t have that title, you could believe was mostly unconnected to the original film. The links are tenuous at best and are never used to expand or develop the lore. Sharks attack, things start to sink and people die. Normally in a blur of poor CGI effects.
The acting isn’t bad, it’s just the characters are walking cliches. The location is quite interesting but isn’t used to really ramp up the events as it should. Visuals? We get some attractive underwater imagery but it’s often ruined by a looming CGI beast.
It’s not the worst film you’ll ever watch but it will feel like a waste of time.
Deep Blue Sea 3
The Final Score - 4/10


tier: kodiak

shelf: civic-law

text:
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Beirut (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 6—4:39 p.m.]
100. Reference my 94, March 3, 8 p.m.12 Gwynn13 who lunched with President Naccache yesterday and who called on him at his request today for a confidential talk brings me the following interesting report:
“Naccache wrote Catroux very recently protesting against his pursuing consultations in view of forthcoming elections quite independently of the Lebanese Government which is thus discredited in public opinion and against the agitation caused by these consultations.
Catroux replied that in spite of the proclamation of Lebanese independence the mandate remained in force and must continue to do so until France could account for her tutorship to those who had granted the mandate and be relieved of her responsibility. This he said was the point of view not only of the French National Committee but of all the powers that had agreed to the mandate. Catroux added that he personally had been given the authority and the responsibility of reorganizing constitutional life of Syria and Lebanon and he meant to do it.
Naccache has been consulting his Ministry as to the next step to take. He has in mind two things: (1) a letter of protest to Catroux against this dictatorial attitude, (2) his resignation together with that of his Ministry. He is inclined to protest and resign. His Ministers are opposed to resigning arguing that this would simply facilitate things for Catroux.
Naccache added he had good reason to believe that Fighting French and British came to an extensive understanding recently: the French to have exclusive control politically in Madagascar, North Africa and Levant; the British to retain a preponderant voice in military question. He thinks the British now have much less interest in elections here than formerly.”


shelf: science-engineering

title: Product Spotlight | Toyota Prius

text:
Product Spotlight | Toyota Prius
GREEN BEAN GUIDE
Product Spotlight | Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery
If you own a Toyota Prius, you’ve thought about the eventual replacement of its hybrid battery. Why? Because batteries don’t last forever. Toyota Prius Hybrid batteries start to become a risk when they’re 10 to 15 years old and have driven 120,000 to 150,000 miles. Sooner or later you’ll see the red warning triangle or the check hybrid lights on your dash and think now what??
If you do get that red warning triangle, you have a few options. Buy a new battery from Toyota, fix it yourself, or get a fully reconditioned one. And after a $3000 to $5000 quote for a new battery from Toyota, you start thinking there has to be a better option!
Thankfully, Green Bean Battery offers premium reconditioned hybrid batteries for a variety of Toyota Prius models.
And Green Bean’s Prius batteries are a great alternative to Toyota, because they’re nearly half the cost. Our premium reconditioned Prius batteries range from $1449-$1949. Installation is included in the battery price, and it’s all backed by our Green Bean Warranty!
Still not convinced? Here’s a little info on why our reconditioning process is better than everyone else…
Creating a reliable, reconditioned hybrid battery, is what sets Green Bean Battery apart from everyone else. When Green Bean takes the old hybrid battery out of your vehicle, we take it back to one of our two reconditioning facilities, and put it through our proprietary reconditioning process. The process begins with load testing the battery and identifying its current overall state of health. The battery is then disassembled, and the battery modules or cells are exercised on Green Bean’s equipment, which restores their ability to store electrical energy. The modules are then tested, where their capacities are determined, and they’re grouped with other modules of a similar power and capacity. After a final charge and testing of the modules, the battery is built around the good cells. The remaining electrical and wiring components are checked, reconditioned, and tested to ensure proper operation. The battery connections or “Bus Bars” are upgraded with a nickel plating to prevent corrosion, and to ensure top performance and long battery life. And finally, the entire battery pack is then reassembled and load tested in its entirety. Simulating the same demands on the pack as real world driving. Every Green Bean battery must meet stringent performance standards before it can be installed in your vehicle!
And on top of all that, installation is easy and included in the price! We come to you, replace your battery with a reconditioned one, and back it all up with our Green Bean Warranty! So if you’re a Prius owner that’s looking to extend the life of your car, give us a call at 888-473-7265 or just click or tap here to make your appointment!


shelf: software-docs

title: Learning Street Worksheet Library

text:
Learning Street Worksheet Library
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I access the Learning Street worksheet library?
You can subscribe to the library at the bottom of this page. Simply click the subscribe button and then complete the payment process and access to the whole library will be in your account.
What ages/ school years does the worksheet library cover?
The worksheet library covers school years 3 to 6 with a separate section for 11 Plus. As a subscriber you would have access to all the materials for all years while you remain subscribed.
Are answers included?
Yes, all worksheets that need answers have them. In some cases, an answer sheet is not relevant EG with a spelling list that needs to be learnt or a handwriting exercise.
Can I access free worksheets to see the quality of the product?
Yes, you can. We have provided over 100 free worksheets covering each topic and year group. You can access these by following this free worksheet link and going to your area of interest.
How can I see what is in the library?
You can browse the whole library by following this worksheet library link. Click on the year and subject you are interested, and you will see how the library is organised and the depth of work within it.
How long is a subscription for?
We provide a 6-month subscription which automatically lapses at the end of the six-month period. You won’t need to cancel it. If you want to subscribe for a second six-month period, then you would need to re-purchase. The price is for the whole six-month period, it’s a one-off payment.
Why do you not automatically renew the subscription at the end of six months?
We are concerned that people forget to cancel and so thought the best way to manage this was to not have an auto-renewal.
Is there a limit to how many worksheets a subscriber can download?
There are no limits on download quantity currently.
How are worksheets delivered?
When you choose to download a worksheet, it will be emailed to you. Your spam filters will need to be set to accept emails from us or you will not be able to access the product.
Can worksheets be used within a school/tutor environment?
Yes, they can be, but keep in mind that you may only use the worksheets while you remain subscribed. Should your worksheet subscription lapse then you may not continue to use any worksheets you have downloaded or access new ones until you have re-subscribed. We use DRM software attached to each worksheet to track use. If you wish to use worksheets in a work setting, then you will need to continually maintain a subscription. This will cost roughly £100 per year which is not a great deal to be able to use this library in a work setting. Keep in mind penalties will apply if the DRM software notices worksheets are being used that have been previously downloaded and the subscription has lapsed.
Are all the elements of work in your courses in the library?
The majority of our worksheets are in the library but there are still some we are working to include and others which we cannot include (EG our mock papers). We estimate about 85% of the work we have is included.
Do you add new worksheets/update the worksheets?
Yes the worksheet library is continually being developed with new work being added and other worksheets being updated as necessary.


shelf: health

title: Could your child have sleep apnea

text:
Do you have a child who snores or has trouble breathing during their sleep? While it’s normal to have brief pauses in breathing during sleep, kids who go through longer periods of not breathing might have children’s sleep apnea, or pediatric sleep apnea.
The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that 1 to 4 percent of children suffer from sleep apnea, and many of these kids are between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. Possible signs of sleep apnea in kids are tossing and turning more in bed, mouth breathing when asleep, waking up frequently during the night or night sweats because of the effort it takes to breathe.
There are two kinds of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is less common, and happens when a person stops breathing because the brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles in the body that control breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is a more common, serious condition, and is caused by something blocking the upper airway.
With obstructive sleep apnea, blockage of the airway can lead to snoring and prolonged pauses in breathing. It also causes drops in blood oxygen levels and disrupted sleep, because the breathing is slower and shallower.
Kids with sleep apnea might also sleep walk or sleep talk, be difficult to awaken, be excessively sleepy during the day, or be hyperactive and have behavior issues. Studies show that as many as 25 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD may actually have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. The learning difficulties and behavioral problems that these children experience may be a result of the fragmented sleep they get every night.
The most common reasons for children’s sleep apnea are enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Children with nasal issues like chronic allergies, a deviated septum or narrowing of the nose from birth might also experience airway obstruction. And children with decreased muscle tone, such as children with Down syndrome, or those who are overweight are also more likely to have sleep apnea.
The good news is that children’s sleep apnea is treatable. If your child has any of these symptoms, a careful examination of the nose, mouth and throat can reveal the source(s) of potential blockage. Your pediatrician might also recommend additional testing during the office visit or in a specialist setting, to determine how much blockage there is and if surgery would help improve your child’s sleep apnea.


shelf: finance

text:
Real-life experience & real estate information all tossed together with an easy, fun-loving flair!
ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
This may be a touchy subject but here goes... Most of the country is experiencing a housing shortage and finds itself in a competitive seller's market. Competition to gain new listings is fierce and the end result is a lot of stress and sadly, the demise of many professional relationships.As the ...
This might appear to be a strange topic on connecting to self. But truly, we really do put our own needs behind the needs of those around us. Those of us as parents can truly relate to this.Caring for yourself is paramount! Just like in an airplane they tell you to put on your oxygen mask first a...
Right now everyone wants to get into the game of real estate. It's easy money right??? Anyone can do this gig!Back in 2008, the market was filled with a ton of real estate agents. When the big bust occurred, many jumped ship and went back to what many called, "their real jobs". I am seeing some s...
Ah, the topic of balance! I'm sure none of you are in need of seeking balance in this extremely busy and frenetic real estate market that we are experiencing. R I G H T !!!!This Tuesday, we are going to dive into the subject of seeking balance in all areas of our lives. As we use our own bodies a...
Here is another tidbit many may have yet to discover here in the Rain. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Membership Roster, you can then click on any year and check out who joined that year. As you can see from my year in 2010, I am among some heavy hitters here in the Rai...


shelf: education

text:
Ceramics students begin face casting project: Photo of the Day 5/30/19
On May 23, Mr. Christian Madenspacher’s Ceramic 2 students began their face casting projects. The purpose of the project is to create an intricate piece using clay and a plaster cast.
The first step in constructing this piece is creating the cast. To begin the process, the student cuts plaster coated gauze into many pieces that will later be used for the nose, mouth, eyes, chin, etc. Then the student uses Vaseline to coat the volunteer’s eyelashes and eyebrows to ensure easy removal. The gauze strips are then dipped in water and laid over the volunteer’s face in a specific order and placement, covering the entire face except the nostrils. During this time the volunteer has to have their mouth and eyes completely shut and not move to ensure a good cast. The casting process usually requires two students–one to place the gauze the other to smooth them out. Once all the gauze are placed students wait 10-15 minutes to let the plaster dry before removing the cast.
When the project was introduced, some students were eager to be cast, while others weren’t as interested. Among those to quickly volunteer was Class of 2021 member Hannah Bowie.
“I was super excited to be cast. I think it’s a fun, good experience I might not get to experience again,” she said.
Others such as Tabitha Knedeisen were excited for the project but expressed no interest in having their own face cast.
“I think even if your face isn’t being cast, you can still create a really neat mask. I just chose not to get my face cast because I was afraid the mask wouldn’t come off and I would be panicking,” said Knedeisen.
According to volunteer Adam Liston, “It was not scary at all, and it was very easy. I was expecting it to be very uncomfortable, but it wasn’t and it went by fast.”
Once the cast is completely dried out, students use it as a clay mold to incorporate a face into anything they’d like. Students in the past have incorporated the face into vases, tea pots and containers.
“I have my students do this project because I like the duality of it. It allows kids to work with one another and it also is a creative process. I like seeing the masks transformed into unique projects,” said Madenspacher.
Your donation will support the student journalists of Linganore High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase camera/recording equipment and software. We hope to raise enough money to re-start a monthly printed issue of our paper.


title: Automne aux gites de ruffie

text:
autumn is here! For several nights now, the stag's bellow has been piercing the night sky...a bewitching and slightly mournful cry...They're close by, there are several of them...Who will get the herd of hinds?
The call of the owl accompanies them in the early morning...and sometimes that of a small unidentified animal"... nature is truly alive around our estate and this is strangely soothing.
We also had a visit from wild boar (which we could have done without!), no doubt on the run from the hunters. They generously ploughed our beautiful park!
Yesterday morning, I was surprised to see a pair of roe deer visiting our Zen garden. I watched them for a long moment, totally motionless... Then they ran off, leaping across the neighbouring meadow.
We're gradually adopting an eco-responsible approach: for a long time now, we've been practising rigorous selective sorting, and we have compost for all the inhabitants of our house: it helps us to fertilize the soil for our flower beds and vegetable garden. After all, we haven't used fertilizers or pesticides for a long time now (the nettles love it!). The cows and horses in the neighboring meadow provide us with valuable additional natural fertilizer.
This year we're trying our hand at permaculture, on a small scale for the time being.
We've prepared a first mound and will plant in the spring. We will go to "kokopelli" to look for seeds (in Ariège) The mound is mulched during the cold season (see the two photos).


title: Wetzel

text:
This media philosophy is purely conceptual and produces tools that can be used by others in (historical) monographs. As the title indicates, the book is about the supposed downfall of the book as the technical media rise, and the subsequent return of the written word in photography, film and tv.
It contains no lamentations about the collapse of culture and emerging barbarism as the book loses its monopoly position of exclusive medium for the transmission of knowledge. Wetzel claims that the complaint of the book's loss of power is as old as the medium itself. What remains is The Written Word as defined by Derrida. Wetzel lifts the written word from the Gutenberg galaxy as a general denomination and promotes it to a universal category applicable to all media, in all times and circumstances. The book's totalitarian and authoritarian claims and the original sin associated with them (when one does not act according to the letter of the law of the Book), disappear like snow in the sun. Grammatology builds no monuments in stone or paper, preferring to grub through remains. The written word is no more or less than ash, ruins that indicate loss and guilt and never will ripen into a uniform sign. They are not recorded, but erased. Like Derrida, Wetzel sees the written word as traces that are traces of traces in turn, with no origin or ultimate destination, situated amidst a mysterious absence. The multiplicity and ambiguity of these traces is what characterizes the written word and what can be subsequently decoded by deconstruction. But Wetzel does not say what the return of the written word has to offer to media art/theory. The conclusion that all media are equal (no more than traces) is something that film and tv have discovered in practice already. A design for a media theory should have more to offer than this comforting thought.


title: lasewerchargesettlement.com

text:
Residual distribution payments were sent to eligible Authorized Claimants on June 11, 2025. Questions regarding your payment or the Settlement should be directed to the Claims Administrator.
• As part of the Settlement, the City has agreed to create a $57.5 million Settlement Fund, to change the way it determines the Dry Winter Compensation Factor, and to abide by specific timelines for returning related costs overpayments to the Sewer Construction and Maintenance Fund.
• You are a “Settlement Class Member” if you were an Account Holder that paid Sewer Service Charges to the City calculated subject to the Dry Winter Compensation Factor (i.e., Residential Property (four or fewer units, non-“Multiple Dwelling”) customers of L.A. Sanitation who lack separate indoor (tributary) and outdoor (non-tributary) water meters), at any time from May 4, 2016, through June 30, 2022, inclusive (“Settlement Class Period”).
• Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Read the Notice carefully.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT | |
IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT FOR SEWER SERVICES YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO RECEIVE A PAYMENT. | If you are a Settlement Class Member who has an active account for sewer services with the City, you do not have to do anything to qualify for a payment. If you remain in the Settlement Class, you will receive a payment, but you will also be bound by the Settlement as approved by the Court and you will give up any Released Plaintiffs’ Claims that you have against Defendant’s Releasees. Paragraph 13 of the Notice explains what claims you are releasing. |
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM BY OCTOBER 31, 2023, IF YOU NO LONGER HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT FOR SEWER SERVICES. |
If you are a Settlement Class Member who no longer has an active account for sewer services with the City, you must submit a Claim Form to receive a cash payment from this Settlement. The deadline to submit a Claim Form has passed. The settlement administrator is no longer accepting new claim submissions. |
EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SO THAT IT IS RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 29, 2023. |
This is the only option that allows you to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against the City related to the legal claims this
Settlement resolves. However, you will give up the right to get a cash payment from this Settlement. Go to paragraph 16 of the
details and instructions on how to request exclusion from the Settlement Class. The deadline to request exclusion from the Settlement has passed. |
OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT
BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN OBJECTION SO THAT IT IS RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 29, 2023. |
If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement, you may object to the proposed Settlement, the request for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of
Litigation Expenses, and/or the request for Service Awards to the Plaintiffs, by writing to the Court and explaining what is it that you don’t like.
Objecting does not disqualify you from receiving a payment from the Settlement. Go to paragraph 19 of the
for further details and instructions
on how to object. The deadline to request exclusion from the Settlement has passed. |
GO TO A HEARING
ON DECEMBER 20, 2023. |
On December 20, 2023 the Court granted Final Approval of the Settlement. The relevant Court orders can be found in the “Court Documents” section of this website. |


title: Ion propulsion the stuhlinger factor

text:
How helpful can electric propulsion become as we plan missions into the local interstellar medium? We can think about this in terms of the Voyager probes, which remain our only operational craft beyond the heliosphere. Voyager 1 moved beyond the heliopause in 2012, which means 35 years between launch and heliosphere exit. But as Nadim Maraqten (Universität Stuttgart) noted in a presentation at the recent International Astronautical Congress, reaching truly unperturbed interstellar space involves getting to 200 AU. We’d like to move faster than Voyager, but how?
Working with Angelo Genovese (Initiative for Interstellar Studies), Maraqten offers up a useful analysis of electric propulsion, calling it one of the most promising existing propulsion technologies, along with various sail concepts. In fact, the two modes have been coupled in some recent studies, about which more as we proceed. The authors believe that the specific impulse of an EP spacecraft must exceed 5000 seconds to make interstellar precursor missions viable in a timeframe of 25-30 years, acknowledging that this ramps up the power needed to reach the desired delta-v.
Electric propulsion is a method of ionizing a propellant and subsequently accelerating it via electric or magnetic fields or a combination of the two. The promise of these technologies is great, for we can achieve higher exhaust velocities by far with electric methods than through any form of conventional chemical propulsion. We’ve seen that promise fulfilled in missions like DAWN, which in 2015 became the first spacecraft to orbit two destinations beyond Earth, having reached Ceres after previously exploring Vesta. We can use electric methods to reduce propellant mass or achieve, over time, higher velocities. [Addendum: Thanks to several readers who noticed that I had reversed the order of Vesta and Ceres in the DAWN mission above. I’ve fixed the mistake.]
Image: 6 kW Hall thruster in operation at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Unlike chemical propulsion, electric concepts have a relatively recent history, having appeared in Robert Goddard’s famous notebooks as early as 1906. In fact, Goddard’s 1917 patent shows us the first example of an electrostatic ion accelerator useful for propulsion, even if he worked at a time when our understanding of ions was incomplete, so that he considered the problem as one of moving electrons instead. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky had also conceived the idea and wrote about it in 1911, this from the man who produced the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation in 1903 (although Robert Goddard would independently derive it in 1912, and so would Hermann Oberth about a decade later).
As Maraqten and Genovese point out, Hermann Oberth wound up devoting an entire chapter (and indeed, the final one) of his 1929 book Wege zur Raumschiffahrt (Ways to Spaceflight) to what he describes as an ‘electric spaceship.’ That caught the attention of Wernher von Braun, and via him Ernst Stuhlinger, who conceived of using these methods rather than chemical propulsion to make von Braun’s idea of an expedition to Mars a reality. It had been von Braun’s idea to use chemical propulsion with a nitric acid/hydrazine propellant, as depicted in a famous series on space exploration that ran in Collier’s from 1952-1954.
But Stuhlinger thought he could bring the mass of the spacecraft down by two-thirds while expelling ions and electrons to achieve far higher exhaust velocity. It was he who introduced the idea of nuclear-electric propulsion, by replacing a power system based on solar energy with a nuclear reactor, thus moving us from SEP (Solar Electric Propulsion) to NEP (Nuclear Electric Propulsion). Let me quote Maraqten and Genovese on this:
Stuhlinger immersed himself in electric propulsion theory, and in 1954 he presented a paper at the 5th International Astronautical Congress in Vienna entitled, “Possibilities of Electrical Space Ship Propulsion”, where he conceived the first Mars expedition using solar-electric propulsion . The spacecraft design he proposed, which he nicknamed the “Sun Ship”, had a cluster of 2000 ion thrusters using caesium or rubidium as propellant. He calculated that the total mass of the “Sun Ship” would be just 280 tons instead of the 820 tons necessary for a chemical-propulsion spaceship for the same Mars mission. In 1955 he published: “Electrical Propulsion System for Space Ships with Nuclear Source” in the Journal of Astronautics, where he replaced the solar-electric power system with a nuclear reactor (Nuclear Electric Propulsion – NEP). In 1964 Stuhlinger published the first systematic analysis of electric propulsion systems: “Ion Propulsion for Space Flight” , while the physics of electric propulsion thrusters was first described comprehensively in a book by Robert Jahn in 1968 .
In 1957, the Walt Disney television program ‘Mars and Beyond’ (shown in the series ‘Tomorrowland’) featured the fleet of ten nuclear-electric powered spacecraft that Stuhlinger envisioned for the journey. As you can see in the image below, this is an unusual design, a vehicle that became known as an ‘umbrella ship.’ I’ve quoted him before on this, but let me run the passage again. It’s from Stuhlinger’s 1955 paper “Electrical Propulsion System for Space Ships with Nuclear Power Source”:
A propulsion system for space ships is described which produces thrust by expelling ions and electrons instead of combustion gases. Equations are derived from the optimum mass ratio, power, and driving voltage of a ship with given payload, travel time, and initial acceleration. A nuclear reactor provides the primary power for a turbo-electric generator; the electric power then accelerates the ions. Cesium is the best propellant available because of its high atomic mass and its low ionization energy. A space ship with 150 tons payload and an initial acceleration of 0.67 x 10-4 G, traveling to Mars and back in a total travel time of about 2 years, would have a takeoff mass of 730 tons.
Image: Ernst Stuhlinger’s Umbrella Ship, built around ion propulsion. Notice the size of the radiator, which disperses heat from the reactor at the end of the boom. The source for this concept was a Stuhlinger paper called “Electrical Propulsion System for Space Ships with Nuclear Power Source,” which ran in the Journal of the Astronautical Sciences 2, no. Pt. 1 in 1955, pp. 149-152. Credit: Winchell Chung.
While I’ve only talked about Stuhlinger’s work on electric propulsion here, his contribution to space sciences was extensive, ranging from a staging system crucial to Explorer 1 (this involved his pushing a button at the precise time required, hence his nickname as ‘the man with the golden finger’), to his work as director of the Marshall Space Flight Center Science Laboratory, which involved an active role in plans for lunar exploration.
For his contributions to electric propulsion, the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society renamed its award for outstanding achievement as the Stuhlinger Medal after his death. In terms of his visibility to the public, those interested in space advocacy will know about his letter to Sister Mary Jucunda, a nun based in Zambia, which laid out to a profound skeptic the rationale for pursuing missions to far destinations at a time of global crisis.
Image: In the above photo, taken at the Walt Disney Studios in California, Wernher von Braun (right) and Ernst Stuhlinger are shown discussing the technology behind nuclear-electric spaceships designed to undertake the mission to the planet Mars. As a part of the Disney ‘Tomorrowland’ series on the exploration of space, the nuclear-electric vehicles were shown in the program “Mars and Beyond,” which first aired in December 1957. Credit: NASA MSFC.
In the next post, I want to look at the deep space applications that Maraqten and Genovese considered in their IAC presentation.
For more details on Stuhlinger’s Mars ship, see Adam Crowl’s Stuhlinger Mars Ship Paper, and the followup I wrote in these pages back in 2015, Ernst Stuhlinger: Ion Propulsion to Mars. The Maraqten & Genovese paper is “Advanced Electric Propulsion Concepts for Fast Missions to the Outer Solar System and Beyond,” 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Paris, France, 18-22 September 2022 (available here). Ernst Stuhlinger’s paper on nuclear-electric propulsion is “Electrical Propulsion System for Space Ships with Nuclear Source,” appearing in the Journal of Astronautics Vol. 2, June 1955, p. 149, and available in manuscript form here. For more background on electric propulsion, see Choueiri, E., Y., “A Critical History of Electric Propulsion: The First 50 Years (1906-1956),” Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 20, pp. 193-203, 2004.


tier: polar

title: Guidelines on how to select a reliable web hosting firm

text:
Finding the best web hosting provider like JaguarPC is daunting. This is because there are many web hosting firms available. There is a wide range of prices in the web hosting services. There are those that are cheap while others are expensive. To help you select the best web hosting company, consider the following essential tips.
Read more here.
The number one essential factor you need to consider is the server reliability. This is the most critical aspect of a website owner you need to contemplate. The best firm ought to operate on a powerful server while the hosted website up 24 hours in a day, seven days a week. You need to look for a web host that has an uptime score of 99.5% when determining the reliability of the server. If you find a web host that has an uptime score of 99% and below, consider not hooking up with it.
The next crucial factor to deliberate is server software. This has a high impact on the kind or the level of service; you will receive from the web hosting company. The Control panel is considered the industry standard when it comes to web hosting. Apart from the control panels, a reliable web hosting also requires to provide you with content management, website builder, and e-commerce applications as server software. Click here to
The type of server is another critical thing you cannot look at when selecting the best web hosting company. If your budget allows, consider getting a server that will not be affected by other website performance. A dedicated server is the best because you do not need to worry because of other available websites taking up resources and altering your site uptime. Even though it is a bit expensive than the others, it offers numerous benefits. The server you choose depends on your site. A dedicated server hosting, however, will not be good for you if you are only putting up a few pages.
Last but not least, you need to have the level of support in mind. A web host should be in a position to provide you with round-the-clock customer care. It is supposed to have basic customer service channels like email or phone support. You should shortlist the companies that can offer 24-hour phone support. When looking for a web hosting company, there are four significant factors you need to take into account. Other things like sign up and renewals costs as well as web hosting options are some of the other things you need to consider when looking for a web hosting company.
Read more about web hosting services at this website:


text:
•Emergency Medical Technicians used the right CPR technique to revive a 62-year-old man whose heart had stopped beating
•Their dedication to duty was praised by the doctors in attendance
June 10 2016, 10.07 AM IST || Pocket News Alert
Gurgaon, 3 June 2016: A 62-year- old man, Suresh Yadav (name changed), was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the dedicated and efficient team of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) at Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon. The team showed its proficiency by giving continuous CPR to the patient, despite him having a negligible pulse rate.
The EMTs reached the patient at a local clinic where Yadav was admitted. While the local clinic handed the patient over to the EMT team, it didn’t provide them with any medical history and diagnosis Mr Babban, the emergency medical technician, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon, immediately connected him to the cardiac monitor and pumped him with oxygen. CPR was started immediately, after taking charge of the patient.
The team of two, continued to give CPR throughout the stretch of 25 minutes with the hope of resurrecting the almost-lost heartbeat. Giving CPR in a moving vehicle is a complex task as it requires considerable and concerted effort. In entails putting adequate pressure on the patient’s chest, with the hands. Insufficient pressure, too much, or an incorrect technique, can result in various medical problems, including brain damage, even death. However, the EMT team performed the task in a way that helped the patient gain back a faint heartbeat.
“When we reached the clinic in Old Gurgaon, we found Yadav in a not-so-promising condition. His pulse was negligible, and he was not on any kind of life support, nor were there any medical attendants to support him. We immediately shifted the patient to the ambulance and started giving him CPR. Although, his condition was deteriorating, we did not lose hope, and took turns at pumping his chest, so that one of us would not get tired and lose momentum. It was a tough task, as CPR in a moving vehicle is very difficult and requires a lot of physical strength and conviction. The stretch from the local clinic to the hospital was very bumpy which further raised the difficulty level of the task. However, we were determined to revive him and therefore continued with CPR until he was shifted under the doctor’s guidance,” said Babban, Emergency Medical Technician, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon.
The efforts of the EMTs were appreciated by the family and the doctors at Safdarjung Hospital, where Yadav was shifted later. The doctors were surprised to see the patient doing much better than they had anticipated. They also appreciated the fact that EMTs did not give up on the patient and continued giving CPR, saving the patient’s life
The family was also were thankful to the dedicated and efficient pre-hospital management of the hospital,” Said Dr Sunil Singh, Chief of medical services, Columbia Asia
The efforts of the EMTs were greatly appreciated by the hospital management team. “We are proud of our team and they will be awarded the “Star of the month “ Award says the delighted Chief Of Medical Services, Dr. Sunil Singh.


title: Show me money

text:
After looking at historical equity and bond data (going back to 1871) for my equity valuation analysis posts, I was reminded of the following Peter Bernstein piece regarding an event that occurred in 1958 (and was to last 50 years):
In the second quarter of 1958, the dividend yield on stocks was 3.9% and the yield on 10-year Treasuries was 2.9%. Three months later, dividend yields were down to 3.5% while Treasuries had climbed to match them at 3.5%. The next three months made history, as stock prices kept rising and pushed the dividend yield down to 3.3% while bond prices kept falling and drove the bond yield up to 3.8%. As the graph on page 2 demonstrates, this, too, was unprecedented. The two yields had come close in the past but had always backed away at the critical moment. In 1958, they reversed their historical positions and have never looked back.This "anomaly" corrected briefly during the crisis, but Treasury yields are once again higher than dividend payouts.
When this inversion occurred, my two older partners assured me it was an anomaly. The markets would soon be set to rights, with dividends once again yielding more than bonds. That was the relationship ordained by Heaven, after all, because stocks were riskier than bonds and should have the higher yield. Well, as I always tell this story, I am still waiting for the anomaly to be corrected.
But is this about to change?
Rather than paying out dividends (or using cash to make acquisitions), corporations have been hoarding cash at an unprecedented level. Marketwatch provides the money quotes:
"Keeping cash on hand for a rainy day is a good idea. The currency stores at some tech firms, however, leave them prepared for a stormy 40 days and 40 nights," said Patrick McGurn, special counsel for RiskMetrics, a shareholder advisory firm.And the details:
Which makes me wonder... if companies continue to prefer to act like cash cows (rather than make capital expenditures) and cash continues to yield close to zero, what is the chance corporations begin to give some of this cash back to shareholders and reverse this long term trend?
Source: Irrational Exuberance


title: Generative ai

text:
GenAI tools analyse large training datasets to generate new, original content in response to instructions ('prompts') from users. This content can include text, images, video and code. GenAI chatbots including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot provide human-like, conversational responses to written prompts. It is important to understand that these tools recognise patterns but do not understand the content - this can lead to biases and inaccuracies in the content they generate.
GenAI can be a useful tool to help you understand concepts but must be used in addition to your own critical thinking and analysis. You must ensure that your academic work is respectful, responsible, ethical fair, honest and correctly referenced to give confidence in your academic responsibility and conduct.
You are allowed to use GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot to develop your learning and support your studies. You should never submit work that has been created or part-created by GenAI for assessments that you claim as your own work.
Watch our three short videos featuring Chloe, a Psychology student, as she guides you through the strengths and weaknesses of using GenAI tools to find reliable, credible sources for your academic work.
GenAI tools in general have many positive uses, but make sure you are aware of the negatives and limitations.
Many widely available GenAI tools, such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot are not a reliable source of information. They may generate inaccurate, biased or misleading responses, including fabricating references. Read the guidance from the University of Southampton on using generative artificial intelligence during your studies.
GenAI is being incorporated into resources and services supported by the University, including the writing tool Grammarly and literature databases such as Web of Science. Always critically evaluate any information generated by any GenAI tools, considering potential biases, factual inaccuracies, and ethical considerations.
You can find explanations for words related to GenAI in these A-Z lists:
What did you think of our website? Click here to fill out our short feedback form and help us improve our service!


text:
3 medium- sized red or Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 3/4 inch wedges
2 medium sized kohlrabi (turnips or rutabaga), peeled and cut into 3/4 inch wedges
4 medium sized carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium sized zucchini, cut into 1 inch thick half moons
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
1 lemon quartered
1/4 cup olive oil
Preheat oven to 475°F.
Pour out any liquid that may be pooled inside the chicken, then dry the chicken with paper towels.
Season the cavity of the chicken with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Add 3 cloves of garlic and 5 sprigs of thyme to the cavity. Then tie the chicken legs together with kitchen string.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Chop veggies.
Combing all the chopped veggies with remaining garlic, thyme, lemon wedges in a large bowl. Add 4 Tbsp of olive oil and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Toss to coat and transfer the veggies to a 14" cast iron skillet, roasting pan or baking sheet.
Nestle chicken on top of the veggies. Place skillet or baking sheet in the oven and roast for 25 minutes at 475°F. Reduce heat to 400 and roast for an additional 35-60 minutes depending on the size of you chicken, or until the thickest part of the chicken thigh is 160 °F.
Transfer chicken to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil and rest for 20 minutes before carving. Keep the veggies warm by keeping them in the cooling oven.
Before serving squeeze lemon wedges over the veggies (discard the rinds) and toss the veggies to coat in the lemon juice and chicken drippings.
About the (awesome) tiny icons used in the menu bars:


title: Young galaxy down time

text:
The big news in the Young Galaxy camp is that Down Time is their first fully independent album. The more important news is that this is called by the band a reinvention. Stemming from a punk spirit, they have incorporated a sense of cultural fierceness into this album that pushes forth and fully embraces our current social methodology wrapped around the dreaminess in electro-pop culture.
Don’t expect Down Time to be full of futuristic folly, there are voids and weirdness that pull the listener down a rabbit hole of deep meditative thought. Somewhere between Rabbit in the Moon and Mongolian Jetset lies “The River.” An after-hours diversion that sits just outside the rave, blurring reality and contemplation. The song is fascinating in the fact that it culminates little bits of futurism and urban culture all into one. This song defines 21st Century ethos more than Saint Etienne defined pop music in the ‘90s.
Young Galaxy – Frontier Official Video
Yet “The River” is a fleeting moment like every song on this album. “Frontier” makes it evident it is prospecting technology and adding human emotion to create a natural environment into this shadow-covered timescape. What these songs find in common, vocalist Catherine McCandless claims is love, art, subversion, risk and vulnerability.
Their standout single, “Under My Wing,” is an intelligent piece that shines a little brighter in electronic hues and layering. The song puts us outside of the circle. It’s what the Reagan years left us and this song is us standing in the midst of a current social and political crossroads.
Down Time shows Young Galaxy is taking their own risks with great reward. McCandless puts on her best Sade and entices us with the sensual closure “Elusive Dream.” She sings, “Every view, every sense, every word we try to defend, puts us further out in the deep end.” It twists non-reality from our reality and if you walk away with an uncertain feeling inside then they have accomplished perspective. While we look into our future, Young Galaxy is beginning to define theirs.


title: Us food drug administration fda issues proposed rule reclassifying medical devices

text:
The FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), enacted in July 2012, amended the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDC Act) to allow FDA to reclassify medical devices by administrative order instead of the cumbersome rulemaking process.
The FDC Act establishes the following three classes of devices, reflecting the regulatory controls needed to provide reasonable assurance of their safety and effectiveness: class I (general controls), class II (special controls), and class III (premarket approval). Under the FDC Act, devices that were in commercial distribution before the enactment of the 1976 amendments are classified after FDA has: (1) received a recommendation from a device classification panel (an FDA advisory committee); (2) published the panel’s recommendation for comment, along with a proposed regulation classifying the device; and (3) published a final regulation classifying the device.
The FDC Act provides that FDA may, by administrative order published in the Federal Register, reclassify a device based upon “new information.” FDA can initiate a reclassification, or an interested person may petition FDA to reclassify a device. The term “new information,” as used in the FDC Act, includes information developed as a result of a reevaluation of the data before the Agency when the device was originally classified, as well as information not presented, not available, or not developed at that time.
FDASIA changes the procedure to reclassify a device under the FDC Act. Under the new procedures, when FDA reclassifies devices, it must do so through administrative order. Prior to the publication of a final order, FDA must also publish a proposed order in the Federal Register and consider any comments submitted on the proposed order. FDA must, in addition, hold a device classification panel meeting. The panel meeting must occur before the final order is published, and may occur either before or after the proposed order is published. The proposed order must include the following: (1) A substantive summary of valid scientific evidence, including the public health benefits and risks of the device; (2) when reclassifying from class II to class III, an explanation that general and special controls are insufficient to reasonably assure safety and effectiveness; and, (3) when reclassifying from class III to class II, an explanation that general and special controls are sufficient to reasonably assure safety and effectiveness.
Further, the proposed regulation would identify five categories of devices for classification into class III based on the risks, benefits and available controls for the three device classes:
Devices that present known risks that cannot be controlled
Devices for which the risk-benefit profile is unknown or unfavorable
Devices for which a full review of manufacturing information is necessary
Devices for which premarket review of any change affecting safety or effectiveness is necessary
Combination products (where the primary mode of action for combination includes a drug for which a finding is required that the drug is safe and effective or a biological product for which a finding is required that it is safe, pure, and potent
The lengthy proposed regulation addresses other aspects of device classification as well, and a copy may be found here.


title: 20121213 4781

text:
•New Ford battery life validation protocol draws on two decades of electrified vehicle field experience to predict how lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are likely to perform as far as 150,000 miles down the road
•Battery reliability has been identified as the top purchase consideration for potential customers, beating out other factors including fuel efficiency
•Ford is investing $135 million in the design, engineering and production of key components – including doubling its battery testing capabilities – for the five electrified vehicles it will offer by the end of the year
•Ford battery technology plays a key role in delivering class-leading fuel economy and range throughout its hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicle lineup
Ford is putting the equivalent of 10 years and 150,000 miles of wear and tear on hybrid vehicle batteries using a new lab test that takes less than a year to complete.
Ford designed a new test – the Key Life Test – specifically for its new lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries, drawing on more than 20 years of extensive data and experience to deliver reliable hybrid vehicles today.
The test allows engineers to simulate in a lab setting many factors, including location of a battery within a vehicle, the temperatures they might have to endure, and various kinds of acceleration and stopping that different drivers would apply. The scope of the testing also includes the ability to put 150,000 miles (the equivalent of about 10 years of average use) on the test batteries in about 10 months.
The Key Life Test aims at delivering higher-quality and even more reliable batteries, said Kevin Layden, director of Ford Electrification Programs.
In fact, battery reliability ranks as the single-most important purchase consideration by potential hybrid customers – topping 17 other factors such as fuel economy and number of safety features, according to a recent Ford-commissioned survey.
“Recent studies show consumers are keeping their vehicles longer, and regulations in some regions now require batteries to carry warranties for greater distances,” said Layden. “Fortunately, our tests take into account distances and conditions that go way beyond those normal requirements.”
Ford will offer five electrified vehicles by 2013 – all equipped with advanced li-ion batteries. Previous-generation vehicles from Ford’s lineup featured nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries. Li-ion batteries offer numerous benefits – including a size 25 to 30 percent smaller, and the ability to provide about three times the amount of power per cell than the previous state-of-the-art NiMH battery technology.
Other battery tests include simulating hot and sunny Phoenix weather by subjecting batteries to greater than 140-degree Fahrenheit temperatures, extreme cold conditions in Manitoba, Canada with frigid -40-degree Fahrenheit tests, and by driving vehicles equipped with the batteries through ditches filled with water to ensure there are no issues.
Ford’s experience with hybrid vehicle technology dates back to the late 1980s. The technology evolved quickly, resulting in limited release of the Ranger EV in 1998, the Escape Hybrid in 2004 and the Fusion Hybrid in 2009. Ford draws on these vast amounts of data it collected from previous-generation hybrids.
For example, 50 million battery cells have been produced since 2004 in previous-generation production Ford hybrid vehicles such as the Escape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid.
Some of these have been put to use in taxi fleets in such cities as San Francisco and New York, with some taxi vehicles attaining more than 250,000 miles individually and taxi fleets in California alone attaining a total of nearly 100 million miles.
The success rate is stellar: Of all Ford production hybrid vehicles produced to date, only six battery cells have failed of the 50 million that were put into use.
“We can’t do an apples-to-apples comparison between the nickel-metal-hydride and lithium-ion batteries,” says Mazen Hammoud, chief engineer, Electrified Powertrain Systems. “But we can evaluate much of the data collected to see how hybrid vehicles are driven, the kinds of conditions they face and the demands that are placed on them. Knowing all of that helps us benchmark our tests and ensure the lithium-ion batteries are meeting or exceeding expectations.”
The Key Life Test represents just one aspect of Ford’s commitment to deliver leading fuel economy across its lineup and triple electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013.
Ford is investing $135 million in the design, engineering and production of key components – including doubling its battery testing capabilities – for the five electrified vehicles the company will have in its portfolio by the end of the year: Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Focus Electric.
Ford also now has more than 1,000 engineers working on vehicle electrification, which is headquartered at its 285,000-square-foot Advanced Electrification Center in Dearborn.
The investment in people and infrastructure is already paying off: Ford has reduced the cost of its current hybrid system by 30 percent compared with previous-generation technology and vehicles are coming to market 25 percent faster.


title: FEATURES AND BENEFITS

text:
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
CA PROP 65 STATEMENT
The TOTO T40 Aquia IV WASHLET+ Two-Piece Elongated Dual Flush 1.28 and 0.9 GPF Toilet is the epitome of modern form and function. The Skirted Design conceals the trapway, which enhances the elegant look of the toilet and adds an additional level of sophistication. Skirted Design toilets also minimize the need to reach behind the bowl to clean the nooks and crannies of the exterior trapway.
The Aquia IV features TOTO’s DYNAMAX™ TORNADO FLUSH® , utilizing a 360 degree cleaning power to reach every part of the bowl. The enhanced design of the Aquia IV inner bowl reduces water flow resistance and turbulence, resulting in a quieter flush. The chrome center-mounted push button that sits atop the tank allows you to proactively conserve water by choosing between a 0.9 GPF rinse or 1.28 GPF for tougher jobs.
This version of the Aquia IV offers TOTO T40 WASHLET+ compatibility for when you are ready to upgrade. WASHLET+ toilets feature a channel on the bowl surface to help conceal your WASHLET+ supply line and power cord for seamless integration. The Aquia IV meets the standards for EPA WaterSense®, and California’s CEC and CALGreen requirements.
The Aquia IV comes ready for install into a 12" rough-in, but may be adapted for a 10" or 14" rough-in with the purchase of a separately sold adapter. The Aquia IV bowl and tank set includes a SoftClose® seat, tank to bowl hardware, a tank to bowl gasket, outlet socket, and toilet bolt caps. Additional items needed for installation and use must be purchased separately: wax ring, toilet mounting bolts, and water supply lines. Compatible with T40 WASHLET+ electronic bidet seat only


title: Pathology professionals serving miraculously

text:
Speaking is a blessing as this can be understood by people who cannot speak properly due to different types of disabilities. People who are facing trouble speaking normally at any age should contact professionals for therapy. Melbourne’s top-notch clinic is MSC as this is a clinic where amazing pathologists are working amazingly in the field. They have specialists in speech therapy in Essendon is the place where they have their clinic located. People who are facing problems while speaking should not waste their time and if they have a kid who is facing trouble should contact the specialists that will teach them to speak properly. Children are active and energetic while on the other hand the ones who are shy and do not speak many face difficulty in talking with fluency. MSC is a name that has an incredible team of a pathologist who works zealously in the field as they are capable of giving people a gift of language along with enhancing their skills. People who face speaking disorders should contact MSC as with time they would surely speak with effortlessness. This is a name that is recognised because of its talented pathologists who are working with brilliance in the relevant field. People who have people in their homes who face trouble as they speak should get in contact with MSC by booking an appointment now as they have top-class experts in speech pathology Melbourne is a city where the clinic is situated.
Complete speaking therapy experts of the city
When it comes to managing different things on our any person cannot succeed as professionals are capable of handling different things by themselves. People who are facing trouble with speaking fluently should get in contact with MSC as this is a clinic where remarkable pathologists are working with eminence. This clinic is renowned in society due to the incredible team of pathologists who are helping people overcome their weaknesses with astonishing therapies. They have a preeminent team that is known for pathologists who specialise in superlative speech therapy Essendon is the place where they also have their clinic situated.
Having a wide chain of clinics in the city
MSC is a paramount name of the city as they are serving the residents with their extraordinary service. They excel in different types of therapies that enable people to enhance their speaking skills properly. The people who are facing shame and have low confidence because of the way they speak should book an appointment now at their nearest MSC clinic. They have more than eight branches situated across the city which makes them a highly esteemed clinic. People who have a loved one that cannot speak properly should contact MSC and give them a gift of communicative speaking skills that will embellish their personality. This clinic has different branches that are opened in different towns as they excel in speech pathology in Melbourne is a city that is blessed to have names like MSC that are serving people exceedingly.


title: Gold fires price action signal daily chart resistance level 17th june 14

text:
Gold has fired off a Bearish Engulfing Bar (BEEB) at a key daily resistance level that we discussed in our previous Forex Daily Market Commentary. In that previous market commentary we discussed how price was working it’s way higher and towards the key daily level and how price had formed a Bullish Engulfing Bar (BUEB) down at the low that was rejecting the daily support level. Whilst the Gold market had been in a steady move lower on the daily chart, price was over-extended and looking to make a retracement, which price has now carried out.
After confirming and breaking the high of the Bullish Engulfing Bar price has moved higher and into what is a key daily resistance level. At this stage this daily resistance level is looking to hold as a new price flip level with the level being an old support level and now looking to hold as a new resistance.
Should this Bearish Engulfing Bar confirm and price break lower, there are some minor support levels below with the first minor level coming in around 1264.00 area. If price can gain momentum and move back in-line with the move lower that was in place before this retracement back higher, it would not surprise to see price fall into the recent swing lows. If price cannot break lower and it moves back higher, this daily resistance level will prove to be an important level for where price moves in the short term. Should price move above and most importantly close above the daily resistance level, a new short term momentum/trend higher could be on the cards.
GOLD Daily Chart


title: Speaking

text:
I’m a former children’s librarian who loves talking about books and writing. With middle grades, we talk about the biographies I’ve written. My picture books are appropriate for all ages as I emphasize what makes a story: characters, setting, plot, and, of course, conflict (Now where’s that Eli gone to?).
I’ve spoken to kids and adults at schools, libraries, and conferences in Ohio, Wisconsin, Oregon, Florida, California and Minnesota. When speaking at schools, I generally do three presentations in a day.
I’ve spent a lot of time on Zoom in the past year or more. If you’d like to book a Zoom visit, here are a couple of topics I can speak about with your students:
What makes a tall tale tall? Examples of exaggeration. Show/talk about other tall tales, such as some of Phyllis Root’s books. Ask students to write a line or two in the chat, showing exaggeration. Read and talk about Mama Loved to Worry. Ask students: Do you know anyone who worries? Do you ever worry and what do you do when you worry? Is there anyone you can talk to about your worries? What did Mama do when she worried?
Biographies: Examples of biographies, mine and others. How did I gather information about a person, both primary and secondary sources? If you were writing a biography, who would you write about? Why? How do I choose a person to write about?
Please contact me for my speaking rates, availability, and any other questions you may have.


title: Skin superfood cleanse moisturise kit

text: Enhance complexion daily with moisturizer – Improve skin elasticity and smoothness – Reduce and protect against fine lines and wrinkles Our moisturizer is designed to improve skin elasticity and smoothness, helping to reduce and protect against fine lines and wrinkles. It should be lightweight but effective, offering a high level of hydration while incorporating ingredients that can help form a protective barrier to keep daily aggressors at bay. Hyaluronic acid, a globally celebrated power ingredient, aids in combating dehydration by locking in moisture, de-puffing, and plumping on multiple levels while intensifying your natural glow. It draws moisture from its surroundings and works simultaneously with the collagen and elastin in the skin tissue, maximizing structure, shape, and firmness. This Hyaluronic Acid Day Moisturizer is made with active ingredients intended to target signs of aging and revitalize the skin. – Active, calming foam cleanser – Thoroughly eliminates dirt, oil, impurities, and makeup – Contains Aloe Vera, Lavender, and Licorice Root for various skin benefits Our active, calming foam cleanser is 97.92% natural and embodies a liquid cleanser that becomes a generous, sumptuous foam designed to thoroughly eliminate dirt, oil, impurities, environmental contaminants, and makeup. Key ingredients Aloe Vera and Lavender contain intense anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties; Aloe works to retain moisture in the skin barrier to prevent dehydration, and Lavender helps to balance the skin’s natural pH levels as well as kickstarting the growth of new, healthy cells. A touch of Licorice Root is also added here to make use of its skin brightening powers. Incorporating this into your regimen can tackle pigmentation and scarring, supporting a more even tone with a supple appearance!


title: Shes excited journey of self discovery with moments of sonder

text:
Anne Wichmann, the powerhouse musician behind the moniker She’s Excited!, isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Her album, Moments of Sonder, isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s an invitation to explore the uncharted territories of your soul.
A Blend of Genre and Experience
Wichmann, an award-winning artist with a background in Indie Pop, brings her diverse musical influences. Moments of Sonder is a tapestry woven with threads of darkwave, gothwave, and experimental flourishes. Each track showcases her ability to seamlessly blend genres, resulting in a rich and captivating soundscape.
Imagine pulsating rhythms like those in “Celebrity Parade,” giving way to the ethereal ambiance of “Weltschmerz.” It’s a sonic rollercoaster ride, meticulously crafted with synths, guitars, and vocals that linger long after the last note fades.
More Than Just Music, It’s a Concept
“Moments of Sonder” isn’t just about the music but the concept. The album’s title references the realization that everyone around us has a rich inner life, a complex story playing out behind their eyes. Each track takes you through bustling cityscapes and reflective moments, reminding you of humanity’s interconnectedness.
As you listen, you’ll reflect on your place in the world and ponder the lives of those you pass by daily. It’s a powerful reminder that we’re all part of something bigger, a tapestry woven with countless threads.
A Deeply Personal Exploration
Creating Moments of Sonder was a profoundly personal experience for Wichmann. As an immigrant, artist, and woman navigating the complexities of life, she poured her raw emotions and insights into every track. It’s an invitation to do the same—to delve into your introspective journey.
Haunting melodies like those in “AloneTogether” and introspective lyrics in “Before” lay bare Wichmann’s soul, inviting you to join her on a path of self-discovery. It’s a chance to confront your vulnerabilities and explore the hidden corners of your mind.
A Kaleidoscope of Creativity
Moments of Sonder is a testament to Wichmann’s boundless creativity. It’s a kaleidoscope of sounds and emotions, each track a vivid portrait of the human experience. From the ethereal beauty of “Perforated” to the pulsating energy of “FOREAL,” she defies categorization.
This isn’t just electronic music; it’s a blend of genres that transcends boundaries. It’s an immersive listening experience that will stay long after the album finishes.
The Final Note
With Moments of Sonder, Anne Wichmann invites listeners on an unforgettable journey of introspection and discovery. Through her evocative music and deeply personal reflections, she transcends boundaries and connects us to the shared complexities of the human experience.
Stay Connected With She’s Excited!
Follow She’s Excited! on social media to stay updated on the latest releases and upcoming projects:
Official Website: She’s Excited!
Facebook: So Excited About Music
Twitter: She’s Excited!
Instagram: She’s Excited!
Spotify: She’s Excited!
Bandcamp: She’s Excited!
Soundcloud: She’s Excited!
YouTube Channel: She’s Excited!


title: Hunt sabs acquitted after earning praise from judge

text:
It’s uncommon for hunt saboteurs to receive justice in a court of law. They often find themselves in the dock on trumped up charges, with police and hunt witnesses prepared to lie to get convictions. And they seldom get an impartial hearing from the magistrate or judge who belongs to the same social class as the hunt.
Nice then to see four sabs found not-guilty of committing aggravated trespass after a two day trial at Redhill magistrates court earlier this week. A deer was chased and injured by the Surrey Union Hunt in October 2014 and instead of allowing the sabs – who had years of animal sanctuary experience – to help the animal, Surrey Police arrested them for failing to leave private land. They then left the deer with the hunt terrier men who shot it.
A leading vet who testified for the defence criticised the way terrier men dragged the poor animal around by a broken leg and said its injuries had been caused by a pack of hounds. From video footage the police clearly lied about what happened and in his summing up the district judge said the hunt and police had caused unnecessary suffering to the deer and if the sabs had been allowed to help, they would have reduced its suffering. He also praised the saboteurs saying:
“All of you contribute immensely to society not only in your working lives but in your free time. [on the day] You deserve high praise for managing yourselves and your behaviour.“
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated:
“Surrey police have a history of acting as private security for the Surrey Union Hunt…their bias led to the unnecessary suffering of an animal. Despite saboteurs informing the police that a crime had occurred, they allowed the hunt to take the deer’s body and dispose of it and arrested the saboteurs who were trying to minimise the animals suffering. We hope that the Surrey Union hunt will now be investigated for illegal hunting and that there will be an independent investigation into the actions of Surrey Police. Whilst we are pleased at the not-guilty verdict it is disgusting that this case ever came to trial.”
Disgusting but not surprising as the police invariably take the side of the hunt. In this case their lies were exposed and with the help of a good expert witness and an even-handed judge, the sabs won. But it’s a pyrrhic victory because a deer went through a great deal of suffering and possibly died unnecessarily at the hands of sadists who love tormenting and killing wild animals.
Neither the Surrey Union or Surrey Police will be investigated. The best that can be hoped for is the sabs take legal action but even that is unlikely given the difficulty of accessing legal aid following Tory cuts. Even with the so-called “ban on hunting” crimes like this are being committed against wildlife, and the brave people who try to stop them find themselves persecuted by those ruling class lackeys, the police. At least this time, though, the hunt scum and the filth lost!
A more detailed examination of the case: http://morethanjustbadgers.net/2015/03/26/justice-is-done/


title: Index

text:
The global functional polymers market is expected to reach an estimated US$ 7.1 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 5.6 percent and this rise indicates promising opportunities in medical, industrial, electrical and electronics industries.
To discuss emerging advances and present current state of research in polymer science and technology, OLC International is organizing International Conference and Exhibition on Polymer Science and Technology which is scheduled to be held during May 18-19, 2020 in Athens, Greece. The conference offers a thoroughly update coverage of latest polymer applications and principles in polymer processing.
The conference invites all experts and scientists in related disciplines across the globe to come together on a global platform to share and discuss their research findings and discover new opportunities to network and grow together. This event provides unprecedented opportunities for polymer scientists, polymer chemists, heads of departments and students in interdisciplinary fields to share their research findings with peers and to discuss and debate on latest technologies and advances in the polymer science.
The conference highlights both industrial and academic developments in polymer science and technology for better human health. With a broad diversion of sessions including panel discussions from highly cited researchers, plenary talks, keynote presentations, workshops, exhibitions and video and poster presentations, this event is a perfect venue not to share your expertise but also to expand the scope of your knowledge.
The event is highly suitable for all entrepreneurs and professionals involved in research and development as well as for those in the production of polymers. It offers a friendly environment for the attendees to encourage open discussions, to exchange ideas and to initiate collaboration with other members from scientific institutions and industry. We hope to see a wonderful excellent meeting with great scientists, researchers, policy makers and industry leaders from different countries across the globe to share new and exciting results in polymer science and technology.
We look forward to welcome you to Polymer-Science-2020 in Athens, Greece.
Polymer Material Science and Engineering
Macromolecular Polymeric Structure
Recent Advances in Polymer Chemistry
Polymer Synthesis and Polymerization
Polymers in Biochemistry
Bio-related Medical Polymers
Polymer Therapeutics: Concepts and Application
Bio catalysis in Polymer Chemistry
Solid Waste Management of Polymers
Polymeric Material Chemistry and Physics
Energy, Optics, and Optoelectronic
Poly lactic acid
Composite Polymeric Material
Future and Scope for Bio polymers
Green Chemicals: Bio-polymers
Recent advances in Polymer chemistry
Conjugated micro porous polymer
ACCESS TO ALL CONFERENCE SESSIONS
TEA / COFFEE BREAKS, LUNCH
DURING THE CONFERENCE DAYS


text:
DNS Belgium, DENIC, nic.at, SIDN and SWITCH establish audit model for the domain industry
Together with the registries in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, DENIC was honoured at the CENTR Awards in the category "Innovation".
On 8 October, the award ceremony for the "CENTR Member Security Maturity Model (CM-SMM)" took place in Brussels. The initiative by DNS Belgium, DENIC, nic.at, SIDN and SWITCH works with defined benchmarks that provide information on the implementation status of the security measures. Using a so-called self-assessment scorecard, each registry receives an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses and can thus initiate measures for further optimization. The model was successfully introduced in 2018.
Based on industry standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and supplemented by industry-specific aspects from the domain industry, the maturity model supports internal security organisations in evaluating security processes.
"The model aims at gaining a better understanding of the capabilities of coping with potential security incidents in the field of information security. Above all, it helps to identify gaps and develop improvement plans as well as to continuously measure the progress of the maturity level of security measures. If necessary, the level of maturity can be compared with the industry average," says DENIC's CISO Boban Krsic, co-author of the framework.
"Security is a key issue in the domain industry, and with the Security Maturity Model, we have implemented a cooperative approach that not only establishes security standards at a high level, but also ensures continuous future-oriented optimization. The award underlines the importance of cooperation between the registries and the establishment of best practices in the industry," adds DENIC CEO Dr. Jörg Schweiger.
This was the fourth time the CENTR Awards took place to honour initiatives, projects, teams and individuals that have a positive, sustainable impact on the domain industry.


title: Nursemaids elbow

text:
Emily, three years old, was carried into Austin Regional Clinic‘s After Hours Clinic on a Friday evening by her mother. Hours earlier, when Emily’s grandfather had attempted to lift Emily up using only her arms, she began to scream out in pain.
Emily was worked in to see me. I am an ARC physician and was working in After Hours that evening. Seeing that Emily was emotionally breaking down, I asked her how old she was to distract her and taught her how to breathe deeply, thinking about each and every breath. Emily began to calm down.
I explained to Emily’s mother that Emily suffered from “radial head subluxation,” or nursemaid’s elbow. Her radial head had gotten separated from the socket, which caused a great deal of pain for Emily. It can be caused when a caregiver lifts a child by the forearm and is fixable with some simple maneuvers. I showed Emily’s mother how to relieve the child’s pain and rotated the wrist medially until the radial head went back into the socket. Within minutes, Emily was pain free.
That night, Emily’s mother decided to have Emily help write a thank-you note to ARC for their help in what could have been a stressful night at the Emergency Room. That note from Emily is one of the most treasured notes I’ve received from a patient.
This is a common situation that occurs at ARC’s After Hours Clinic. Patients come into our clinic wanting fast, efficient, and trustworthy solutions to their medical needs. They can be quickly worked in, seen by a competent team of medical professionals, and feel valued both as people and patients. That’s the kind of care ARC provides, both in the daytime outpatient setting as well as our After Hours locations across the city. “After Hours services is one of the reasons that makes our clinic unique,” said Norman Chenven, CEO and Founder. “The same excellent staff that we have working in our outpatient offices are the doctors who treat patients in the evening, which provides a constant level of quality for patients.”
Accountable medical groups want to make sure that patients have easy access to care, day or night. I am proud to be an ARC doctor.


text:
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title: Edgy conversations from dan waldschmidt powerful helpful different much needed

text:
I get asked to read and review a lot of books. I’m not always able to, but love to sharpen my sword, learn new info, and help out an author when I can. If anyone appreciates the power and influence of book reviews, it’s me!
Months ago I received a box in the mail from Dan Waldschmidt. It came unannounced, and it was different than anything I’d received in a long time. First lesson for salespeople: be different to get a prospect’s attention. Along with Dan’s not-yet-released book were some slick handouts, a workbook, handwritten note personalized to me, and an expensive set of vintage style boxing gloves. Are you intrigued yet? You think the packaging made an impact? Was there any way I wasn’t going to review this book when that much energy, creativity and love were put into the request? Second sales lesson: passion and creativity count – a lot.
EDGY Conversations delivers on its promise and packaging. It’s so good, so different, so powerful, so helpful that I’ve decided not even to attempt to offer a summary here. There are dozens and dozens of reviews posted for this incredible book (for good reason). Do a quick search online and you can spend an afternoon reading perspectives on Waldschmidt’s four years of work creating this masterpiece.
I will, however, offer WHY I think this is must read:
The book delivers on its promise. The subtitle “How Ordinary People Can Achieve Outrageous Success” is spot on. No false promise or under-delivery here from the author.
Instead of offering some cool new idea promising the reader an easy path to success, riches and world domination, Waldschmidt tells the truth and backs it up with evidence from more than 100 examples of real people. This quote of Dan excerpted from a review on Yahoo Finance spoke to my heart and aligns well with my observations of many struggling salespeople today: “It seems like my generation has traded the hard-work mentality of our forefathers and tried to philosophize a solution around ‘7-step business programs’ and inbound social-media sales initiatives that ultimately do not work…” Amen, Brother Waldschmidt. Preach it!
The opening story that begins on page four will take your breath away, pin you back in your seat, likely cause you to engage with an author in a way you haven’t in a long time. I won’t say anymore about that story because I can’t do it justice. After reading it, you tell me if that’s the case.
You need this book because it’s great. Everything about it is great: The look. The graphics. The layout. The writing style. The length. Even the paper it’s printed on. And it’s not just great; it’s different. And you know what all of us could use, particularly those of us who sell for a living? A lesson in being great and different. There is so much “sameness” today — Everyone running around sounding the same, using the same hackneyed expressions (I just wanted to reach out and…), same sales voice, webinars, presentation style, CRM, and on, and on, and on.
I highly recommend this book. Go here to learn more, watch a quick video clip or buy the book.
Dan Waldschmidt is an international business strategist, speaker, author and extreme athlete. His consulting firm, Waldschmidt Partners International, solves complex marketing and business strategy problems for savvy companies all over the world. Dow Jones calls his Edgy Conversations blog one of the top sales sites on the internet. He’s been profiled in Business Week, INC Magazine, BBC, Fox News, The Today Show, and Business Insider, has been the featured guest on dozens of radio programs, has published hundreds of articles on progressive business strategy, and has spoken at Fortune 50 companies, universities and conferences.


text:
What Is A Starbucks Puppuccino? Is It Free?
Time to read 2 min
Time to read 2 min
Next time you pull up to the drive-through window at Starbucks, make sure to order your dog a treat, too! Starbucks absolutely serves our furry friends in the form of its most popular secret menu item, the Puppuccino.
The Puppachino, beloved by baristas everywhere is a very simple thing. It's just a small Starbucks cup of whipped cream, made especially for your dog. There's no coffee, tea, or caffeine of any kind in the cup, just straight-up whipped cream.
Plus, you can spice it up with this dog-friendly "Pumpkin, Spice, and Everything Nice" topper! It only contains six ingredients: pumpkin, honey, cinnamon, coconut flakes, vanilla, and ginger—just sprinkle on your pup's cup for an instant PSL.
This is one menu item you can't order through your Starbucks app—just tell your barista you have your dog along for the ride and they would very much like a Starbucks Puppuccino (or a pup cup, or just a small cup of whipped cream). They'll know exactly what you're talking about.
While your dog should usually stick dog food and treats, there's nothing wrong with the Puppuccino as a special treat. Unless your dog has digestive issues, in which case it's probably best to skip the dairy. Too much dairy for any dog can lead to tummy troubles, so stick to one cup per pup!
If you're worried about whether you can give your dog a li'l whipped cream, consider running it past your vet first.
Puppuccinos are a freebie! Starbucks loves dogs just as much as you do, but it wouldn't hurt to throw in a little tip on top of your drink for their kindness. We think your dog would agree. (Also, head scritches through the window are never a bad thing, as long as both parties are willing.)
If your dog runs on Dunkin', ask your local spot for a "cup for pup," though it may run you $1. You can also ask about our BARK x Dunkin' toys in stores and online at BarkShop—100% of proceeds go to Dunkin's Joy in Childhood Foundation! Grab a plush Iconic Iced Coffee for a $12 donation, or donate $15 and receive Donuts on a Rope, Munchkin® Donut Hole Treats, or a Chocolate Glazed Donut.
Featured image c/o @a.vizsla.called.leo


title: The call of the wretched sea a review

text:
To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell’s heart, I stab at thee; For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!
I am truly not sure where to begin with this review. After being mentally mangled from a weekend of perpetual listening to this amazing album I have a sudden urge to take to the high seas and throw harpoons at sperm whales, even if it means my annihilation. Never has music so effectively and convincingly illustrated not only a story but also a feeling of elemental terror and the mysterious wrath of nature.
The Call of the Wretched Sea might as well be the official soundtrack of Melville’s Moby Dick, a story that I was convinced to read after and while listening to this album. Illustrated with surreal precision is the dread of Ahab’s suicide mission to destroy God, his insanity and hatred fueling pagan rituals to damn the souls of his crew with him, the whaling ships deployed into violently churning black seas that so effortlessly crush the breath out of men, the blinding sea salt and the gaping jaws of the white whale.
The story is weaved together by deep, thunderous soundscapes, slow melodic guitars on top of discordant, crushing, depressive rhythms and harsh, incomprehensible, bellowing, deep vocals which are implemented in such a way as to represent the inner thoughts of the mad Ahab and at times the dark, elemental side of nature, namely the guttural spoutings of Moby Dick. The vocals are used as an instrument rather than as narration, underlying every dreary moment of panic to intensify the mood of abyssal hopelessness that Ishmael must have felt on the madness hijacked Pequod. Perhaps the most ingenious use of vocals I have yet to encounter!
At some points during the album the oppressive Doom metal melodies are relieved by beautiful interludes interlaced with wind drowned out samples from Moby Dick (1965), Gregorian chanting, and experimental keyboard and guitar work. These little bits of reprieve contrast magically with the fatal sounding, crushing, mystifying rhythms which permeate the album.


text:
K. Surjit Singh, Former Chief Town Planner - Haryana
Late Kanwar Surjit Singh, Fellow and Founder Secretary General of ISPER (now KSS-ISPER), was the expert of combination of Geography and Spatial Planning. He worked in various capacities in the State Government, Haryana and its para spatial agencies and retired as the Chief Town Planner.
His unparalleled expertise in (Preparation of GIS Based Regional Plans, Master Plans, Development Plans, Zonal Plans), Planning and Development of Industrial Growth Centers, Industrial Model Townships (IMT), Theme Industrial Parks (Food Parks, Technology Parks, Footwear Parks, Cluster of Agricultural Implements, Gem and Jewelry Park), Technology City has catapulted the State as a front runner in industrial infrastructure in the country. Planning of Industrial Model Township at Manesarand Bawal, Saha and Barwala, Kundli- Manesar-PalwalExpressway, Ambala-Rohtak-Bawal (ARB) Expressway, Development Schemes, Framing the Zoning Regulations for the use of the land and of the buildings, Laying of space norms for the social infrastructure and standards of development brought him to the professional of high stature. Valuing his extraordinary contributions during the service, he was honored thrice by Governor of Haryana on independence days (1989, 1990 and 1991).
He sustained his dynamism even after his completion of government service. In the journey of building ISPER, he led flagship projects in Spatial Planning, Research and Watershed Development. Activities and Charitable causes such as skill development programmes for women empowerment, Awareness Campaigns on Environment, Health and Social Issues, organizing national and international conferences/seminars, capacity building programmes and publications. His life was a saga of a successful enterprise.
To perpetuate his legacy, the name of Kanwar Surjit Singh has been pre-fixed with the name of the ISPER, which is now Kanwar Surjit Singh Institute for Spatial Planning and Environment Research, India (KSS-ISPER).