title: Elizabeth warren on social security 6 things you s

text:
In less than 17 months, Americans will head to the polls to determine who'll lead our great country for the next four years. Regardless of who that person is, he or she will have quite the task in tackling America's pressing problems. Perhaps none of those problems is more pressing than Social Security's imminent cash shortfall.
According to the newest report from the Social Security Board of Trustees, the program is set for big changes beginning in 2020. Next year, the Trustees estimate that the program will expend more than it collects for the first time since 1982. With each passing year after 2020, this projected net-cash outflow is expected to increase, leading to the eventual depletion of the $2.9 trillion in asset reserves that've been built up since inception by 2035. Although there's essentially no chance of Social Security going bankrupt, a pretty substantial benefit cut of up to 23% could await future retirees if nothing is done by lawmakers.
Here's how Elizabeth Warren would handle Social Security's cash crisis
Because Social Security is such an important topic for our retired workforce -- 62% of today's retired workers lean on their monthly payout for at least half of their income -- it only makes sense to understand how the leading candidates for the presidency of the United States intend to deal with the program. Having already examined what Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), former Vice President Joe Biden, and current President Trump have to say, let's now turn our attention to how Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would handle the task if given the job.
1. Warren opposes any measure that reduces Social Security benefits
To begin with, understand that Sen. Warren would vehemently oppose any measure that would result in Social Security benefit reductions. This means Warren has spoken out against President Trump's federal proposals to modestly trim Social Security Disability outlays, and is against the core Republican fix for Social Security.
For those unaware, Democrats traditionally favor resolving Social Security's cash crunch by raising additional revenue, whereas the GOP prefers long-term benefit reductions. The core Republican proposal involves gradually raising the full retirement age to as high as age 70, up from an expected peak of age 67 in 2022 for those folks born in 1960 or later. Raising the full retirement age -- i.e., the age at which you become eligible to receive your full monthly payout -- would require future retirees to either wait longer to receive their full payout, or to accept a steeper monthly reduction if claiming early. Either way, it means a reduced lifetime payout from the program, and Warren strongly opposes such an idea.
2. She is markedly against the idea of privatization
In addition to opposing Social Security cuts, Warren is also unequivocally against the idea of a partial privatization of the program.
Privatization involves setting aside a portion of a worker's earnings into a separate account that they would manage (i.e., invest). Presumably, this account would protect workers from making excessively risky investment decisions, with the federal government sort of vetting the investment options available to the public. The idea of privatization is that would place some of the onus of retirement on workers, while removing some of that responsibility from the federal government.
While privatization was made popular by former President George W. Bush in the mid-2000's, it never gained much traction in Congress. The biggest issues being that 1) the American public, as a whole, doesn't know very much about investing, which would make handing over the keys particularly precarious for lower-income workers, and 2) it didn't resolve the cash crunch. In fact, moving earnings that would have gone to the payroll tax into a separate account could have actually made the near-term outlook for Social Security even worse.
3. Warren wants program benefits expanded
Sen. Warren isn't satisfied with simply fixing Social Security such that no benefit cuts are necessary. Instead, she believes that benefits for the program need to be further expanded to support lifetime low-income and disabled workers.
In September, Warren, along with Bernie Sanders, announced the creation of the Expand Social Security Caucus, which featured the support of more than a dozen senators and in excess of 130 members of the House at its creation. Said Warren in the press release announcing the Caucus's creation:
"Social Security is a lifeline for seniors and Americans with disabilities. We won't let it be cut by one cent -- and instead we will fight to expand it. The rich and powerful have rigged our economy to make themselves richer, while working families face a massive retirement crisis. If this government really works for the people, it should protect and expand Social Security."
4. The Massachusetts senator favors the CPI-E as the program's inflationary tether
One of the ways Warren would expand Social Security benefits is by replacing the program's inflationary tether, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The CPI-W, which has been the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) measure since 1975, is inherently flawed since it tracks the spending habits of urban and clerical workers who, in many instances, aren't even receiving a Social Security benefit, and spend their money very differently than seniors. This results in COLAs that don't match up well with the inflation that seniors are actually contending with.
The solution, according to Warren, is to switch the program's inflationary measure to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). As the name implies, the CPI-E would track the spending habits of households with persons aged 62 and over. This should give a more accurate representation of the medical care and housing inflation that retired workers are facing, thereby resulting in a more accurate COLA. Over significant amounts of time, these modestly higher COLAs would result in a higher monthly payout for senior citizens.
5. She wants the payroll tax cap raised
Arguably the quickest and most efficient Social Security fix in Warren's eyes is to raise the payroll tax earnings cap.
In 2019, all earned income (wages and salary, but not investment income) between $0.01 and $132,900 is subject to a 12.4% payroll tax. Since more than nine out of 10 workers won't make more than $132,900 this year, it means that a majority of working Americans are paying into Social Security on every dollar they earn. Meanwhile, earned income above and beyond $132,900 is exempted from the payroll tax, thereby allowing the wealthy to hang onto more of their income. In 2016, $1.2 trillion in earned income was exempted from the payroll tax.
According to Warren, this cap should be increased such that well-to-do workers are paying more into the program. Creating a doughnut hole between $132,900 and $250,000, where earned income would remain exempt, and then reinstituting the payroll tax on all earned income above $250,000, would raise a substantial amount of added revenue that could push out the program's asset reserve depletion date by decades.
6. Warren supports increasing the minimum wage
Last, but not least, Warren has argued in favor of increasing the federal minimum wage from its current figure of $7.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage has remained static for 10 years, all while the prices of most goods and services have continued to rise.
In 2013, following then-President Barack Obama's call to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour, Warren backed such a move. "Raising the minimum wage means we have workers paying more in to support the Social Security system," said Warren, courtesy of Mother Jones. Warren is correct in that if earned income were to increase, either through a federal minimum wage increase, or simple economic growth, the program would be generating more in payroll tax revenue.
And that, folks, is everything you need to know about Elizabeth Warren and her approach to fixing Social Security.


tier: polar

shelf: education

title: Halo patterns around coral reefs may signal resilience

text:
In coral reefs throughout the world, visually striking bands of bare sand surrounding reefs are often visible in satellite imagery, but their cause remains a mystery.
One theory is fear. Parrotfish and other herbivores will leave a reef’s shelter to eat algae or the surrounding seagrass, but their fear of being gobbled up by predators may keep them from roving too far or eating too much, creating, what’s known as “grazing halos”—bands encircling reefs where vegetation once existed.
Prior studies have proposed that these and other halos may reflect what is known in ecology as the “landscape of fear” theory: fear of predation causes prey to alter their foraging behavior, which may result in the creation of halos marking where prey feel safe to eat.
But if fear creates halos, the researchers wanted to know why some reefs with sharks and other predators have halos while others don’t and why halos aren’t bigger where overfishing has removed many top predators.
A new study published in The American Naturalist links grazing halo patterns in coral reefs, as well as those in other patchy habitats, to the spatial patterns of the shelter habitat itself. Given that halos only exist surrounding shelter habitat patches, the team wanted to examine how halos would look where coral are clustered versus dispersed across the seascape. As part of the analysis, the team also set out to determine if the halo patterns could be used to assess how healthy or stressed different reefs are.
They created two mathematical models to study the effect of shelter habitat clustering on halo patterns. Then, they used Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, as a case study, applying satellite-imagery data from the coral reef system to test their model.
They selected Heron Island as it has been studied extensively. Plus, climate change is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef due to coral bleaching events, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, and habitat changes.
In the first model, the team demonstrated how simple geometric rules describing how circles overlap determine the amount of vegetation cover expected when habitat patches are clustered or dispersed.
“If the shelter habitat is tightly packed in one space, then there’s not much room for nervous prey to explore and less vegetation to eat,” says lead author Theresa Ong, an assistant professor of environmental studies. “But if shelter is more evenly distributed, the halos carve out more empty space in the landscape and their distinctive patterns disappear into one another as they overlap.”
In other words, it’s harder to see an individual halo if there are many overlapping halos and no vegetation surrounding it.
The researchers designed their model to be general, so that it could be applied to any ecosystem where organisms graze near their habitat, such as a herd of cattle that grazes near trees in a pasture.
But that model is static and assumes that grazing remains constant over time, so the researchers developed a second model to examine how the dynamics between herbivores and vegetation may impact the presence and size of the halos.
The results revealed two scenarios. When the coral patches are dispersed, shelter from predators is also dispersed, which can lead to overgrazing. This, in turn, creates a cyclical system that oscillates between the presence and absence of vegetation. In other words, the halos in a reef may emerge and then disappear but reemerge again in due time.
When coral patches are densely clustered, resulting in limited shelter, the halos are more likely to remain stable.
In healthy reefs, predator populations tend to constrain herbivores from grazing but both stable and cyclic halo patterns are possible in these systems.
The authors say that tracking halo patterns over time may be more important than tracking sizes.
The team hypothesized that persistent halos should only really exist where herbivores are highly limited and shelter is clustered.
“However, the presence of halos, and phenomenon of halos appearing and disappearing over time is actually consistent with the landscape of fear theory,” says Ong. “And that could explain why the link between halo widths and reef community health is weak.”
According to the co-authors the herbivores have to be limited from consuming all of the vegetation by something for static halos to occur; otherwise, fluctuations are likely. They say that this is pretty typical predator-prey dynamics: when herbivores consume everything, there is no food left and their population will crash, but then the vegetation and herbivores eventually recover, resulting in halos that grow, shrink, and disappear over time.
“Oscillating halos are not necessarily a sign of overfishing or poor reef health,” says Ong. “What’s more concerning is if static halos suddenly start cycling or if cyclic halos suddenly become static, which could indicate a major shift in system health and resilience.”
Conducting field research, including in the ocean and at coral reefs, is quite difficult, especially across a large area. Use of the satellite imagery provides researchers with the ability to examine potential research sites at a glance and obtain a rough idea of what’s happening to the health of a reef, which could be really valuable for conservation purposes.
“There are a lot of endemic species on reefs, especially on the Great Barrier Reef, which we could easily lose due to the compounding effects of climate change and overfishing, so gaining a better understanding of how halo patterns reflect reef community dynamics may be useful in reef conservation efforts,” says Ong. “Tracking halos over time may help us keep track of whether predator populations are intact and the reef is healthy.”
Lisa C. McManus at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and Vitor V. Vasconcelos at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands served as co-lead authors and Luojun Yang at Princeton University and Chenyang Su, a graduate student in Ong’s Lab at Dartmouth, also contributed to the study.


tier: cub

shelf: home-craft

title: How to make hydrangeas blue

text:
Every time I buy blue hydrangeas, they produce pink flowers the following year.
I hear people say that you can change the hydrangea color by altering the soil.
Is this really so?
Yes, fortunately, changing the color of hydrangeas is possible, and fairly straighforward, by adding things to the soil.
Unlike most plants, the color of the commonly grown hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), as well as the intensity of the shade, is influenced by the pH level of the soil.
What Makes Hydrangeas Blue?
Hydrangeas planted in acid soils with a pH of approximately 4.5-5.5 will have produce light blue, through brilliant blue…to deep blue blooms and every shade in between.
What Makes Hydrangeas Pink?
Hydrangeas planted in alkaline soils with a pH of 7.0 and higher, will mostly produce flowers in various shades of pink.
Is Changing the Hydrangea Color Easy To Do?
Yes, you can turn your hydrangea from pink to blue and likewise make a blue hydrangea turn pink
But a lot depends on which hydrangea variety it is and from which of the hydrangea cultivars it derives.
Can I Change the Acid or Alkaline Levels of My Soil?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to change a very alkaline soil to an acid soil — and vice versa.
However, when your soil pH levels are more neutral, or only mildly acid or alkaline, then they can be altered, and the plants will produce the required flower color from deep blue hydrangea blooms to deep pink hydrangea blooms.
How to Make Hydrangeas Blue
It’s actually incredible that one can turn Hydrangeas blue. However, by applying various types of chemical acidifiers — such as aluminum sulfate or Espoma GSUL6 (amazon link) — at a strength of 1 — 4tbsp per gallon of water — regularly to the soil will change the pH of the soil, making the soil more acidic to encourage blue flowers, as will adding compost materials like; coffee grounds, egg shells, peat moss and pine needles which act as a natural soil acidifier and thereby produce acidic soil for beautiful blue blooms
It should be noted that sulfate sulfurs such as; ammonium sulphate or gypsum should be used rather than untreated elemental sulfur, which is more difficult for plants to take up and won’t actually make the soil acidic as it is not water-soluble.
How to Make Hydrangeas Pink
The regular use of small quantities of agricultural lime/garden lime in neutral soil will make it more alkaline to encourage pink blooms. This can be added in granular form on the surface of the soil at a strength of between 2.5 — 5lbs per 100 square feet depending on your soil type. The addition of some mushroom compost can also help to make the blooms pink.
These chemicals must be added regularly to the soil from late autumn to early spring, February is an ideal month to start.
Once the flower heads have formed, it is usually too late to influence the color of most hydrangeas.
The soil pH is quite easy to check using an electronic soil tester.
It should also be noted that the soil’s ph needs to be maintained throughout the growing season so that you are not disappointed by any hydrangea color change. Nothing would be more disappointing than your beautiful blue color turning pink.
Where to Grow Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas need a very rich growing medium and should therefore be planted into well-prepared beds with plenty of compost, old cow manure, and good garden soil.
You can use your hydrangea flowers for cut flower displays, which, with the correct cut hydrangea care, should last for a couple of weeks.
You can also grow hydrangeas in pots, using some good quality bagged potting compost, where you will have an easier job of controlling the soil pH levels. You should be sure to transplant your hydrangeas into new, larger pots as they grow bigger.
If you want to have your hydrangeas producing flowers in both blue and pink shades — and your soil is relatively neutral — it is better to plant your hydrangeas in separate areas so that you can apply the right hydrangea fertilizers.
Varieties of Hydrangeas
Traditional Varieties of Hydrangeas
You will find that the older varieties of hydrangeas — which, on the whole, have fairly small flower bracts — do not have such vibrant shades as the newer hybrids.
New Hydrangea Varieties
However, there are now certain red and white varieties that are completely colorfast so with those varieties, no change in soil conditions will make your hydrangea change color.
A great deal of work is being done on hybridizing to expand the range of hydrangea colors, hence the reason why florist hydrangeas look so amazing.
Color in hydrangeas is no longer just a matter of; blue hydrangea flowers, purple hydrangeas or suddenly pink hydrangeas that start appearing when soil conditions turn your blue hydrangea pink.
Although it has to be said that it’s quite exciting when see your hydrangea bloom color is changing due to what you fertilize it with!
Hydrangea Bloom Colors
White hydrangeas include; Oakleaf hydrangeas, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Great Star’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘white lace’, some of which change to pinkish tones as the flowers age.
Blue Hydrangeas include; Endless Summer Hydrangea, Blue Mophead Hydrangea, Tiny Tuff Stuff Hydrangea.
Pink Hydrangeas include; Invincibelle Spirit, Hydrangea serrata ‘Golden Sunlight’, Endless Summer Bella Anna.
Tips And Hints
If you are having problems with your hydrangeas not blooming, then check out our possible solutions, but first of all, start by being sure to remove any dead hydrangea blooms.
Plus, they are greedy, so ensure you use fertilizer on hydrangeas.
Many of the modern hydrangea hybrids do not seem to change as easily as the older types.
Therefore, if you want to have really good colors, it is advisable to buy named hybrids whenever possible.
If you are aiming for a blue colour then be sure to avoid your hydrangeas growing in places with concrete close by as this often has lime in it which can leach into the soil and foil your efforts!
Astoundingly, it is well within most people’s capabilities to actually change the color of their hydrangeas whether by using products from gardener’s supply stores or by simply using household organic materials!


shelf: history-culture

text:
Pride 2025: “Croíthe Radacacha” – Radical Hearts
To mark ‘Pride 2025’, The Irish Cultural Centre is delighted to present “Croíthe Radacacha” (Radical Hearts) a feature documentary about ‘the love that dares not speak its name’ – found at the very heart of the Irish Revolution.
Director Ciara Hyland explores the hidden stories of eight female couples who were at the core of the Irish Revolution that freed Ireland from the British Empire. These women’s relationships have largely remained unexamined, denied and hidden from history – until now.
These women were extraordinary in the lives they lived – they were radical in their politics, in their feminism, their socialism and their devotion to freedom and equality. Together they reimagined a new Ireland that would hold a brighter future for all regardless of gender, background or wealth. In this they have much in common with today’s activist generation who make similar demands for equality and an end to discrimination.
In the end, many of them picked up a gun and went and fought for that freedom and equality. They suffered huge losses but ultimately lived life on their own terms – where the personal was political and their private lives were as radical as their public.
Based on ground breaking research by historian Mary McAuliffe, this is also the story of ‘doing gay history’ – the difficulties of finding evidence of love that by necessity had to fly under the radar, the glimpses we get of how people lived in the past and the burden of proof placed on examining gay relationships. In doing so, Radical Hearts rewrites the contribution of LGBTQ+ people back into the history of the creation of the modern Irish state.
Croíthe Radacacha features tracks by the Pillow Queens and Elaine Mai who kindly supported the film because they believed in the message of inclusivity that is at the core of it. Croíthe also features original music by composer Darren Sheehan.
Croíthe Radacacha was commissioned by TG4 and supported by Coimisiún na Méan with funding from the irish Television Licence Fee.
Doors 7.00pm, Starts 7.30pm


shelf: civic-law

title: Court orders release of documents in money laundering trial of usman fani kayode

text:
A Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the release of processes and documents in the money laundering trial of former Minister of State for Finance Nenadi Esther Usman and others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, made an application before Justice Daniel Osiagor, to release all documentary evidence or processes in the suit, following the decision of an appellate court.
Usman is charged alongside former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and Yusuf Danjuma, a former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.
EFCC had proffered a 17-count charge bordering on N4.6 billion money laundering against them before a former judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa.
The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.
The trial had begun before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, until Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.
The charge was consequently, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, and they were consequently, re-arraigned on Jan. 24, 2022.
Again, the trial commenced in the case and witnesses were still giving evidence before the court.
However, following an appeal filed by Usman, seeking a transfer of the case on jurisdictional grounds, the court of appeal gave a ruling in favour of the defendant.
When the case was called on Tuesday, Oyedepo announced an appearance for the prosecution, and informed the court of the appellate court’s decision, directing that the case be transferred to the Abuja division of the court.
He also informed the court that it is still the case of the prosecution adding that the prosecution is still leading evidence as PW 1 was still testifying.
He, consequently, sought an application for the release of all documentary evidence and exhibits in the case to the prosecution, to save time and avoid delay.
In a short ruling, Justice Osiagor held that in line with the decision of the appellate court, all documentary evidence as well as exhibits tendered, should be released to the prosecution.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.
They were alleged to have at various times unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption.
Meanwhile, in counts 15 to 17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.
The said payments were alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.


shelf: science-engineering

title: Mg windsor ev 2

text:
JSW MG Motor India has expanded the long-range Windsor EV Pro line-up with the launch of a mid-spec Exclusive Pro trim. The new variant, priced at Rs 17.25 lakh (ex-showroom), costs about Rs 85,000 less than the Essence Pro trim, but misses out on features such as the panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The new variant joins the line-up barely two weeks after the launch of the Windsor EV Essence Pro in the Indian marke
The new variant looks to be aimed at making the range advantage of the Windsor EV Pro available to a wider buyer set owing to the lower price tag. The Windsor EV Pro gets a notably larger 52.9 kWh battery compared to the standard Windsor’s 38 kWh unit, boosting claimed range from 332 km to 449 km. This by our estimates puts the real-world range in the region of 400 km for the Windsor Pro compared to between 275 and 290 km for its smaller battery sibling.
Aside from the larger battery, the Exclusive Pro also carries over the dual-tone Ivory and Black upholstery colours scheme and dual-tone alloy from the more expensive Windsor Essence Pro. On the feature front, the Exclusive Pro carries over all the features from the standard Exclusive trim levels including the 15.6-inch touchscreen, 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, 135 degree reclining rear seats, auto climate control, cruise control, a powered driver seat and more. Interestingly, the Exclusive Pro gets the upgraded 9-speaker audio system over the Exclusive’s six speaker set
As with the rest of the Windsor EV range, the Windsor Exclusive Pro is offered with a battery subscription plan that reduces the ex-showroom price to Rs 12.24 lakh but the battery costing an additional Rs 4.5 per km. Buyers are offered a 3 year buy-back plan with first owners also getting lifetime warranty for the battery.


shelf: software-docs

title: Openvpn for google android vs openvpn connect

text:
There are two main Google android VPN client apps offered. These are OpenVPN for Google android and OpenVPN Connect.
OpenVPN for Google android is a totally free and free OpenVPN client manufactured by Arne Schwabe. It can be used for connecting to any VPN server that helps OpenVPN. It is targeted at users who want to become more advanced http://openvpnandroid.com/improved-analytics-for-data-structuring-as-a-new-feature-of-vdr-providers/ with their VPN settings, and it allows you to configure the own dating profiles inside the application.
It uses the VPNService API and does not require a rooted Android os device. It is user interface is very user-friendly, and it works very well on most products.
To install this kind of app, visit the Google Play Store on your own Android device and look for “openvpn”. You will find it generally there.
Once you have the app set up, it should display on your home display screen. From then on, you can launch this whenever you ought to set up a VPN interconnection.
You can also download a configuration file for your selected VPN position. For this, click on the Download option next on your desired storage space on the list in OpenVPN Connect.
This will save a configuration file on your phone’s Sdcard. You can then importance this data file into the application using the DOCUMENT tab.
As opposed to other VPN clients, the config document must be in PKCS12 file format. This avoids sensitive info, like individual keys, coming from being shifted and kept in the record.
To carry out the set up, add the OpenVPN Hook up application in Knox Take care of (KM). Upload a PKCS12 certificate and configure this to be used with this software.


shelf: health

title: Tyler christopher reveals he wants to return to general hospital

text:
“General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives” alumn Tyler Christopher recently celebrated his 50th birthday, but that’s not what has fans talking. Instead, fans of “General Hospital” viewers were intrigued by the idea of the actor returning to Port Charles after he made a very clear statement about wanting to return to reprise the role of Nikolas Cassadine, a role that he originated in 1996, yet again when fans noticed that Adam Huss had stepped in to fill the role, which is currently held by Marcus Coloma. “I’m available if Marcus Coloma needs a day off… just saying,'” Christopher wrote via his Instagram story this week.
Over the years, Nikolas Cassadine has been played by a variety of actors. The character was taken over by Colton Scott in 1999. In 2003, Christopher returned to the part, and he continued to play Nicholas until 2016, before Nick Stabile briefly filled in. Meanwhile, when Christopher was having surgery in 2005, Chris Beetem also briefly acted as Nikolas during that time,” per Soaps in Depth.
Tyler Christopher also held the role of Stefan DiMera on ‘Days of Our Lives’
Tyler Christopher later moved on to “Days of Our Lives,” where he portrayed the role of Stefan DiMera, and found himself causing drama in Salem when he got a bit too close to his brother Chad DiMera’s wife, Abigail Deveraux DiMera, and even fell in love with her while she was suffering from a split personality disorder. After Christopher left “DOOL,” another “General Hospital” alum, Brandon Barash, took over the role.
The role was recast with Marcus Coloma, who still plays him today, after stepping into Nikolas’ shoes in 2019. Christopher has approximately 20 years of experience in the role, with his most recent appearance on “General Hospital” coming in June 2016. Recently, the drama surrounding Esme has kept Nikolas busier than ever, but the fan-favorite character is no stranger to chaos, as Christopher proved while he held the role.
Should Tyler Christopher return to ‘General Hospital’ as Nikolas Cassadine?
Meanwhile, Huss is also a familiar face to soap opera fans as he has also appeared on sudsers such as “Days of Our Lives,” “Passions,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” before landing the role of Nikolas on “General Hospital.” He’s also been seen on popular shows such as “The Bar,” “NCIS: Los Angeles, and Ironside (via Soaps).
While fans love Marcus Coloma’s version of Nikolas Cassadine, if he’s going to step away from the role from time to time, it seems that fans would like to see Tyler Christopher return to his former home for a bit of nostalgia.
Image Credits: YouTube.


shelf: finance

title: Asia Pulse - Q2 2024

text:
Asia Pulse - Q2 2024
Welcome to the Q2 2024 edition of Asia Pulse.
As we progress through 2024, Asia’s FMCG sector is maintaining its resilience with a stable value growth rate of 3.5%, consistent with the first quarter of the year.
The beverages sector continues to lead this growth, while food and homecare have sustained the momentum they built last year.
This report spans 11 markets, capturing the key trends and dynamic shifts that are shaping the region's FMCG landscape.
In the first half of 2024, the general trend of FMCG in e-commerce remained relatively stable compared to the same period last year. Interest-based e-commerce continued to expand its consumer base, with 37.2% of Chinese households purchasing groceries on Douyin, surpassing Pinduoduo in market penetration.?
The food category, which was impacted by the recovery of the food and beverage industry after the pandemic, has overcome the stagnation of the past two quarters to show growth of 3.4% in Q2. ?Meanwhile, the non-food categories continued their growth trend with a 5.8% value increase.
FMCG grew by 7% in value and 5.5% in volume over the year. Volume growth has revived, while value grows at a slower pace compared to last year. In the previous year, there was a significant gap between value and volume growth (with value growing faster), which now has diminished, as inflationary pressures subside. FMCG volume increases are seen across sectors, with beverages leading the growth.
In Q2, South Korea's Foodservice Industry Index recorded a figure of 75.6, signalling a reduction in dining out. Concurrently, value in the in-home food sector has maintained consistent growth, particularly within the sauce/paste/seasoning and frozen food categories. This trend is primarily driven by consumers seeking more budget-friendly options in response to prolonged inflation.
United Arab Emirates
Compared to the previous year’s post-Ramadan period, the UAE’s spend index decreased in Q2, while volume remained steady. This shift is driven by lower prices. Shoppers restocked products from several categories in May, one month after Ramadan.
Although prices decreased slightly in Q2, this reduction has not translated into higher volume growth, either recently or in a year-on-year comparison. With inflation stabilised, higher purchase levels remain shoppers’ primary strategy for managing their overall spending, while they also continue to switch to cheaper products.
In-home expenditure remains stable, with growth in packaged groceries, beverages, and toiletries, although the dairy sector has not yet recovered. Increased spending in Q2 is attributed to festivities such as Chinese New Year and Raya. However, shoppers continue to seek promotions, downsize, and trade down due to cost pressures.
As Thai consumers spend more time out-of-home, the demand for in-home cooking products and beverages continues to slow, while personal care categories are growing.? Due to their limited budgets, consumers have started to shift towards more affordable choices in some categories. They are also seeking more convenient packaged snacks to eat at home.
With inflation easing, Filipino shoppers sustained spend on FMCG in Q2, with broad-based growth across most regions and socio-economic classes. However, consumer confidence is weaker due to rising commodity prices, lower incomes, fewer jobs, and issues with traffic and public transport, leading them to adjust and rationalise their product choices.?
Despite general optimism, reflected by 80% of urban Vietnamese households anticipating economic growth in the next 12 months, consumer spending on in-home FMCG has not increased. In fact, the total value of urban FMCG purchases has declined, primarily due to stagnant food and beverage spending.
Stay updated with the latest insights and trends in the Asia-Pacific FMCG sector by accessing the Q2 2024 edition of Asia Pulse. Click the download button at the top of this page to explore key developments across 11 markets, and discover emerging opportunities in the region.
Note: The Asia Pulse Q2 2024 edition excludes Saudi Arabia due to local panel enhancement.


text:
Hospitality Leadership Student Ambassadors
Hospitality Leadership Student Ambassadors is an exciting student organization of highly selected sophomore, juniors, and seniors motivated to represent Missouri State University Department of Hospitality Leadership. As an Ambassador, students represent the department at on- and off-campus events, which highlight the Hospitality Leadership major.
Hometown: Imperial, MO
Hospitality Track: Lodging and Tourism - Sustainability Minor
Why I love Hospitality: I love hospitality because of the ability to travel with the industry. I love meeting new people and seeing new places which makes this the perfect industry for me.
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Hospitality Track: Food and Beverage, Lodging, Club Management, and General Ops
Why I love Hospitality: Hospitality to me means, working in unison as a team with a common goal, pushing ourselves, our team, and our organizations to provide the best experience possible. Hospitality is more of a way of life. It is is about being a person that fosters a positive attitude towards people reflecting in selfless service and the ability to take part in making an outstanding experience and memory that lasts a lifetime.
Hometown: Lees Summit, MO
Hospitality Track: Tourism
Why I love Hospitality: I am passionate about meeting new people and giving them a positive experience, working within the hospitality industry allows me to do what I love every day.
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Hospitality Track: Lodging, Tourism, and Food and Bev certificate
Why I love Hospitality: The opportunity to create memories for our guest's that will last a lifetime.
Hometown: Washington, MO
Hospitality Track: Food and Beverage
Why I love Hospitality: I entered Missouri State undecided, but within a couple semesters I discovered Hospitality. After learning about the program’s graduate employment rate, hands-on coursework, and experienced faculty, I confidently declared my major. Hospitality classes allow me to learn by doing, equipping me with the real-world experience I need to find success in the industry.
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Hospitality Track: Club Management
Why I love Hospitality: I love Hospitality because it is a people focused industry. Building relationships with people and making personal connections is so important to me. I love that the hospitality program here has given me so many opportunities to thrive in this industry.


title: How to grow oyster mushrooms |

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How to grow oyster mushrooms |
If the challenge of growing regular mushrooms is not enough for you then you can always 'ramp it up' by testing your skills on the highly popular (and expensive) Oyster mushrooms.
oyster mushrooms |
Although you can usually find Oyster mushrooms in supermarkets, most of these will be mass produced indoors and taste bland compared to those grown naturally outdoors.
Perhaps the easiest way to purchase Oyster mushroom spawn is as wooden dowels impregnated with Oyster mushroom mycelium (mushroom spawn) ready to 'plant' into a hardwood log. In fact, if you want an even more convenient way of producing Oyster mushroom you can even purchase logs that have already been ‘inoculated’ with the oyster mushroom mycelium.
Oyster mushroom mycelium |
Hardwood logs are preferable for mushroom growing, however sycamore, apple and ash are not recommended. The log should have a diameter of about 4-6 inches. A section of log 2ft long will support 10-15 dowels. It is recommended that the dowels are planted in the log no longer than 6 weeks after the log has been cut to prevent contamination from unwanted fungi. It is important that your cut log does not dry out otherwise it will be unable to support the Oyster mushroom as it grows. With that in mind, keep the log out of direct sunlight and store in a cool, dark ventilated place.
If you have already purchased the dowels but do not yet have the wood for them, then they will need to be stored in the fridge or a cool, dark, well ventilated place until you are ready to proceed.
How to set the plant dowels
Oyster mushroom dowels |
Take your piece of mother wood and drill holes about 6 inches apart in rows down its length. Each rows only needs to be spaced 3 inches apart around the diameter of the log. Push in the dowels and then gently tap them with the hammer so they are flush with the log surface. Seal the holes, any damaged bark and any cut branch-ends with a layer of wax but do not wax the ends of the log as some moisture must be allowed in.
Growing Oyster mushrooms
The completed log can be placed either in an area of shady wooded area or have them wrapped up in black polythene and buried under ground. If there is no suitable wooded area available to you but you do have a garden then you can always place them under evergreen shrubs.
Oyster mushrooms |
Once the log is fully colonised it can be moved to a warm, sheltered, moist area in dappled shade where the Oyster mushroom will begin to fruit. As you would expect, growing mushrooms in woodland makes for the perfect growing environment.
One more thing, you will find that you will get a better harvest if place you log on a brick, rock or another log. Do not place logs flat on the ground!
In time, small, white growths will appear at the dowel points on the log and these will develop into mushrooms within a week. Do not move the log.
When it comes to harvesting your Oyster mushrooms, grasp them at the base of the stem and twist them away from the log. You can expect the logs to continue producing mushrooms for up to 4 weeks. When growing Oyster mushrooms, allow several months recuperation time for the mycelium to regenerate before producing another crop. You can expect your logs to remain productive for a further four to six years.
For related article click onto the following link:
HOW TO GROW MUSHROOMS
HOW TO GROW MUSHROOMS AT HOME
HOW TO GROW OYSTER MUSHROOMS
THE BLEEDING TOOTH FUNGUS
WHAT ARE MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI?


title: Parallel Society Festival 2026

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Parallel Society Festival 2026
Parallel Society Festival: The flagship event of the network state movement
Parallel Society Festival (PSF) is a grassroots, community co-created gathering of forward-thinking network states, free cities, parallel societies, pop-up villages, intentional communities, and those advancing human governance beyond nation states.
The multi-day interactive happening features workshops, panels, debates, and keynotes, paired with performances, theatre, concerts, music, and art exhibits that build a uniquely human experience atop a culture-first base layer.
Our primary goal is to bring the right people together to create the stories, culture, and technologies that will shape the post-nation-state future. PSF is more than a conference: it’s an assembly rooted in the human experience towards a new type of crypto event.
Day 1: (UN)CONFERENCE
The core of the event. We come together freely to talk, ideate, imagine, plan, and connect openly.
Each member of our organising coalition has their own zone to curate their own experiences and interactions: from fixed, high-level keynotes to loosely organised workshops.
Day 2: MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
A music and arts festival organised with and for our partners, featuring international and local talent. An organic mix of live bands, DJs, immersive multimedia installations, performance art, theatre, and film celebrates creativity from within the local community and beyond.
Peak experiences, core memories. This is not a regular crypto conference. Day 2 ticket details to be announced.
Road to PSF
With support from our coalition partners and allied communities, we’ll be hosting intimate cultural events and activations throughout the year as we warm up for PSF. Expect music across the world.
PSF is a unique, bottom-up event – a celebration of collaboration and co-curation to expand and strengthen our coalition.
Have ideas for the main event or the warm-up initiatives? Share them with us! Want to help us make PSF the ultimate cultural gathering? Contact us to pitch in.
🔗 Click here to co-organise
🔗 Click here to volunteer
Parallel Society Congress 2024 - psc.logos.co


title: Stride

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Stride Bank is an Oklahoma-based financial institution that holds over $3.3 billion in assets.
Stride not only provides a full suite of traditional financial services (including consumer and commercial banking, mortgages, wealth management, and treasury management), but also is committed to developing new and highly-specialized payment solutions. This balance is part of why it has maintained a community banking feel while also being a go-to processor for several national fintech companies.
Operating in many different spaces means that Stride needs a comprehensive compliance solution that is both automated and adaptable, whether documents are created by an internal team or by fintech partners. With dozens of assets created each month, spending multiple days in review for each one was inefficient and untenable. In addition, manually monitoring web content meant that it would take longer for Stride to uncover issues, let alone remediate them.
reduction in document review time
web assets constantly reviewed
of documents automatically scored and reviewed
Stride has to remain compliant across a wide range of financial services, all of which present their own challenges. PerformLine allows us be proactive about compliance with our fintech partners, without the heavy lift of analyzing each piece of marketing individually.”
Before PerformLine, reviewing marketing documents was a manual, tedious process. Now, the same document that used to take multiple days of review and conversation can be reviewed, scored, and sent back to the partner as approved or with noted issues almost immediately, thanks to Stride’s implementation of PerformLine’s Document Review.
Whether it’s communication from Stride itself or one of its fintech partners, the organization can feel confident that they're finding unknown compliance risk. Using PerformLine allows Stride to automatically and constantly monitor nearly 800 different web pages, and get notifications where they need to remediate potential issues.
Stride has gone to great lengths to establish itself as a pillar of the Oklahoma financial community. Ensuring that all of its marketing materials are accurate, compliant, and non-deceptive is just one of the ways the organization rewards the high level of trust its community has placed in it. PerformLine helps guarantee that reputation-harming compliance issues don’t pop up.


title: Scott solace gravel eride 30

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Quiet, efficient and with an almost zero drag crank mounted motor, the Solace features a 360Wh internal battery with optional 160Wh externally mounted range extender (sold separately) to push the horizon that little bit further.
3 levels of assistance allow for battery optimisation or full boost.
Electronic shifting from SRAM and internal cable routing results in a clean cockpit, perfect for mounting handlebar and frame bags for when adventure truly calls.
The Solace Gravel eRIDE has a confidence-inspiring geometry with an endurance-focused riding position.
From all day epics to Saturday morning time-crunched escapes the Solace is one of the most versatile bikes Scott has ever made
Frame Solace Gravel eRIDE Disc HMXeEndurance geometry / Replaceable Derailleur HangerFully Internal cable routingRange Extender Ready
Fork Solace Gravel eRIDE HMX Flatmount Disc1 1/4"-1 1/2" Excentric Carbon steerer
Drive Unit TQ HPR50 Mid Motor drive 50Nm max Torque / EU: 25kmh / US: 28mph
Battery TQ Internal 360Wh
Display TQ HPRBluetooth ANT+/ Dedicated Smartphone app
Charger TQ 100-240V-4A
Rear Derailleur SRAM APEX XPLR eTap AXS12 Speed Electronic Shift System
Shifters SRAM APEX eTap AXS HRD Shift-Brake System
Crankset FSA eBike Alloy CK-746
Chainring SRAM X-SYNC42T 107 BCD
Chain SRAM APEX
Cassette SRAM XPLR PG123111-44
Brakes SRAM APEX eTap AXS HRD Shift-Brake SystemFlatmount
Rotor SRAM Paceline rotor 160/F and 160/R
Handlebar Syncros Creston 2.0 XAlloy 31.8mm
H'stem Syncros RR2.0 1 1/4" / four Bolt 31.8mm
Seatpost Syncros Duncan SL D-shape il
Seat Syncros Tofino Regular 2.0 Cutout
Headset Acros AIF-1135
Wheelset Syncros Capital 2.0 Disc24 Front 12x100mmTA /24 Rear 12x142mmTA
Front Tyre Schwalbe G-One Overland EVO700x50C
Rear Tyre Schwalbe G-One Overland EVO700x50C
Lights Syncros iL rear
Approx weight in KG 14.1
Thank you for your enquiry!
We'll back to you as soon as we can.
All the best,
from the team at Cycleinn.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form :(


title: App store review replies and prompting api

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iOS 10.3 introduces a new way to ask customers to provide App Store ratings and reviews for your app. Using the SKStoreReviewController API, you can ask users to rate or review your app while they’re using it, without sending them to the App Store. You determine the points in the user experience at which it makes sense to call the API and the system takes care of the rest.
When iOS 10.3 ships to customers, you will be able to respond to customer reviews on the App Store in a way that is available for all customers to see. (This feature will also be available on the Mac App Store.)
There is no doubt that developers want feedback on their apps. Positive feedback could lead to more downloads and purchases of the app. However, the process for leaving a review was a bit clunky. Often times you would get a pop-up notice in the app asking for a rating or review—if you decided to do it, you were taken out of the app and into the App Store.
That’s been fixed now.
When you are prompted to leave a review, customers will stay inside the app, where the rating or review can be left for the developer. It’s easier for customers and the developers still get their reviews.
The replies that developers will be able to leave on App Store reviews will be attached to the user review to which they’re replying. It’s not a thread, per se, because users can only leave one review, and developers can only leave one response to each review, but they will be connected visually. Users can then edit their review, and developers can then edit their reply.
An individual app can prompt three times for a review per year, period.
The new APIs will be eventually be the only sanctioned way for an iOS app to prompt for an App Store review, but Apple has no timeline for when they’ll start enforcing it.
There is a high probability that the reviews section in the App Store becomes the de-facto customer support channel because that’s what users will see first. However, this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Apple creates problem, Apple puts a bandaid on without addressing the underlying incentives.
Exactly right. The entire “review reset” system discourages bug fix releases. Hostile to developers and users.
There are definitely issues with both of these new features, but overall I think they will improve things.


title: Post surgery update

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On Thursday, Cam had his 9-hour surgery and the surgery went very well. After his surgery we had the chance to talk with his amazing surgeon, Dr. Randle, and we were informed that his titanium-cobalt femur is stronger than any normal femur. With the long duration of the surgery, Dr. Randle said he was grateful for extra helpers because they had to move a lot of "real estate" around. Cam has big thighs! Haha. They performed a nerve block in his leg to help him with the pain and so far it is doing an exceptional job.
Cam was in recovery for a few hours when they noticed his right arm was swelling and there was limited feeling from his shoulder down. He could not move it without help from his other arm. Considering the long duration of the surgery and Cam's big size (Dr. Randle calls him a strapping young man), the muscles on his right side were damaged causing rhabdomyolosis. His kidneys were struggling filtering out the byproduct from his damaged muscles from his blood stream and he had a lot of blood in his urine. He stayed in the ICU his first night so the nurses could keep a close eye on both his kidneys and his arm.
They later said that Cameron has Saturday's Palsy in his arm and it is expected his heal slowly on its own. Cam has blistering bed sores on his shoulder and slightly on his leg from laying on those areas for such an extended amount of time and his surgeon said they will heal slowly along with his arm.
The next few days in the hospital have consisted of slow progress, blood transfusions, and small movements, but slow progress is always better than none. Because Cam is a cancer patient he was expected to have a slow recovery, but the palsy in his arm is very uncommon. Luckily he is in the best care possible and the doctors are taking good care of him! On Sunday afternoon, with the help of 3 nurses, Cameron was able to stand up to help with blood circulation. Cam has a new girlfriend and her name is Oxycodone ;)
Cam appreciates all the kind visits he has had this week. Thank you all for your prayers, your love, and your concern for Cameron! We love you all so much and feel so blessed to have such a strong village behind us.
the Forte Sisters


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Looking to join a high-growth advisory private client team?
Your new company
Looking to join a high growth advisory private client team, a supportive team, variety of clients and a career plan and progression route to excel.Our client is a leading firm of Accountants and Business Advisers operating across the UK. We have a wide network of employees and numerous opportunities to join our offices. We are a top ten accountancy firm in the UK and the largest SME practice.Your new role
Provide a range of tax services to private clients, focusing on advisory workSupport Partners and Directors in delivering quality serviceLiaise with clients to resolve queriesHelp build and develop the private client businessAssist in managing the Private Client Tax team, conduct appraisals, provide coaching, and improve work quality and deliveryMonitor your own utilisation, productivity, and WIPProvide guidance and feedback to team membersWhat you'll need to succeed CTA/ACA/ACCA/CA (or equivalent) qualifiedExposure to multiple sectors is advantageousPrevious personal/private client tax or mixed tax experience in a similar role within a practice environmentStrong technical knowledge and ability to research complex tax legislationExperience with trusts and incorporations is usefulWhat you'll get in return What's in It for You? Benefits include hybrid & flexible working, birthday leave, and ongoing professional support.
What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.


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Engaged Research Global Webinar: Educational Intervention in Vulnerable Contexts – Case Studies in Palestine, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Myanmar
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
9:00 am – 10:30 am EST/GMT-5 Online Event
9 AM New York l 3 PM Vienna
Amplifying the Voices of Engaged Researchers Around the World, an initiative created by OSUN and the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, supports the development of long-term, sustainable community partnerships as a central component of research. This community of practice (COP) meets regularly to share ideas and strategies for engaged scholarship across geo-political boundaries, while creating new knowledge and lasting ties among engaged researchers. Now the COP is presenting a series of global webinars spolighting issues that arise during presenters' experiences with community engagement.
This webinar, led by Sameh Hallaq, Al-Quds Bard College, Al-Quds University, focuses on the well-being of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and refugees and explores the impact of formal and informal educational intervention programs in mitigating the adverse effects of challenging living conditions on these groups. The webinar will be organized as an academic presentation followed by an open discussion with the participants.
The webinar will cover topics related to individual well-being in different parts of the world, including how exposure to conflict-related events affects children's behavior in Palestine, the impact of non-physical disciplinary methods on primary school dropout rates in Afghanistan, a community-based model of collective filmmaking pedagogy that familiarizes local youth with accessible animation techniques in South Africa, and bridging gaps in fragile contexts through online courses to further education opportunities in Myanmar.
Sameh Hallaq, Al-Quds Bard College, Al-Quds University
Belal Fallah, Associate Professor of Economics, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine
Yousuf Daas, Graduate Student, Kobe University, Japan
Mocke Jansen Van Veuren, University of the Witwatersrand
Mia Sasaki, Parami University


title: Try my new budgeting app Cheddar 🧀

text:
Try my new budgeting app Cheddar 🧀
Better than YNAB, Mint (RIP), or EveryDollar.
Export 8 ingredients for grocery delivery
Combine the milk, melted butter, and honey in a microwave safe glass.
Heat the liquid in the microwave** to 110 to 115 degrees F, then stir in the yeast. Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes, until foamy.
Pour the yeast liquid into the bowl of a stand mixer, and add the flour, salt, eggs, and raisins.
Stir it around with a wooden spoon or the dough hook of the mixer until roughly combined.
Fit the stand mixer with the dough hook, and knead for 10 minutes on medium low speed.
Cover the dough bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for one to two hours, until doubled in size.
Lightly flour your countertop and spread the dough into a rectangle that is the length of your loaf pan (about 9 inches). It doesn't have to be perfect.
Make the cinnamon filling by stirring together the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and salt.
Spread this mixture all over the top of the dough rectangle, then roll the dough up like a cinnamon roll, and pinch the seam shut.
Grease a loaf pan with butter, and place the bread roll seam side down into the pan.
Cover the loaf with plastic wrap and let it rise for 60 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and place a sheet pan on the lowest shelf of the oven. Add enough boiling water to cover the bottom of the sheet pan, then bake the bread on the shelf above the water for 40-50 minutes until the inside registers 190 to 200 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing it. Enjoy!
Storing: since there are no preservatives, the bread will only keep for a few days at room temperature. I recommend freezing any unused bread.


title: Survey asks if woodhall spa 1940s festival is appropriate given ukraine conflict

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Plans to potentially cancel the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival have resulted in “unacceptable” abuse to organisers on social media, who have set up a survey asking people if it’s appropriate for the event to go ahead given the conflicts in Ukraine.
The event usually takes place every year, but it has not gone ahead since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic halting proceedings in both 2020 and 2021, and now the 2022 event is up in the air as well.
This is a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with organisers feeling it could be too insensitive to host a celebration of wartime events in this current climate.
It is something organisers of multiple events similar to the Woodhall Spa one have had to contend with, as the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway cancelled its 1940s wartime event last month due to the invasion in Eastern Europe.
Now, the Woodhall Spa festival planners are holding a survey asking the public if they deem it appropriate for the event to go ahead, via a survey which you can take part in by clicking here.
It has been a highly divisive topic, and a spokesperson for Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival issued a statement on Monday after “an unacceptable level of abuse and aggressive messages across social media”.
It reads: “Thank you to all who have taken part in our survey so far. It will remain open until 5pm tomorrow (Tuesday, April 26).
“Sadly, over the weekend, our organising committee members have been subject to an unacceptable level of abuse and aggressive messages across social media.
“While we appreciate that thoughts and feelings about our event run high because it is so widely enjoyed and looked forward to, please remember that there are real people – all of whom are volunteers who give up hundreds of hours of their time every year – at the receiving end of all messages.”
Facebook comments have been limited on the survey, which is just one question, asking if the event should go ahead in light of the invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts with Russia.


title: Seize food impound carts street vendors long beach crackdown

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Long Beach has seized food or equipment from unpermitted street vendors more than a dozen times since late March, marking a shift in its strategy that, until early this year, focused on helping vendors comply with the city’s new licensing process.
Seizures began in January and have continued at an increasing pace. In total, enforcement staff have discarded vendors’ food and impounded equipment 21 times this year, according to a 50-page report Deputy City Manager Grace Yoon presented at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The city did not provide data on where the seizures took place.
Enforcement is prioritized based on complaints about unlicensed street vending, hundreds of which have been submitted via email, phone call or the Go Long Beach app, according to Yoon.
The crackdown comes nearly 16 months after Long Beach created a process for local street vendors to receive business licenses and health permits to operate legally. Until recently, city staff has focused on educating vendors about the new rules. They’ve also offered to waive fees and even given out a limited number of free carts to qualified applicants.
Sidewalk vendors, however, told the City Council Tuesday that they’ve tried to navigate the path to legitimacy and found it to be anything but easy, with complicated regulations and unexpected costs that upend their business model.
“None of us want to be out of compliance if we could be in compliance,” said a food vendor who identified herself only as Zainab.
From late February 2024 through early May, 261 prospective food or merchandise vendors applied for a city-approved business license to sell on the sidewalk.
Less than 13% have been approved: eight to sell food and 25 to sell nonperishable merchandise.
Nearly half of the approved food vendors needed outside help navigating the process, according to Itzel Perez of Centro CHA, who told the City Council that her nonprofit helped three of them.
Financial barriers have also been a hurdle.
Over 100 vendors who previously got health permits to serve at temporary events have had trouble getting approved for a food cart because of the more burdensome costs involved, according to a member of the advocacy group Vendor Justice Committee, who identified herself only as Angelica.
“When you really look at the numbers” to operate a food cart, the city’s current offer to cover business license and health permit fees for the first year of business is “simply not enough,” she told the City Council.
One vendor who regularly receives a permit to sell food at events would need $20,000 to convert his operation to serve from a cart rather than a pop-up grill, Angelica said. Another vendor got approved for a free cart from the city but can’t afford the cost to store it at a city-approved commissary, she said.
Soon, the city plans to offer grants of up to $3,000 for vendors nearing approval for a free cart and up to $8,000 for vendors getting approval for a health permit, according to Yoon.
Those grants are meant to bridge a funding gap that’s held up some applicants, she said, like one who had completed all the steps for a free cart but couldn’t afford to purchase a trailer to haul the cart around the city.
Since the giveaway program launched in late August, five vendors have received a free cart from the city. That group includes one selling baked goods and one serving hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches.
As of May 2, 73 applicants had applied for a free cart, Yoon said.
District 8 Councilmember Tunua Trash-Ntuk said more education is needed to iron out gaps in the program.
Residents have contacted her office, confused about which free cart to apply for to sell corn, more commonly known as “elote,” Trash-Ntuk said.
According to Long Beach’s Environmental Health Bureau Director Judeth Luong, that type of cart isn’t one of the four currently offered by the city, but grants could cover part of the cost for those vendors who need a custom-designed cart.
Other City Council members called for more enforcement.
There have been seven enforcement operations since January, but those “aren’t enough to hold people accountable,” said District 3 Councilmember Kristina Duggan.
She said one problem vendor has spilled grease multiple times at the same location on Second Street near Nieto Avenue in Belmont Shore, resulting in an unsightly sidewalk even after city crews attempted to power wash it.
Managing expectations from restaurant owners, residents and sidewalk vendors has been a delicate balancing act for the city.
Enforcement issues include some unauthorized vendors restocking and returning the same day that their food was seized, Yoon said. There’s also been pushback from customers trying to buy from the vendor who has had their equipment impounded.
“Some stakeholders feel the city is doing too much, while others believe we’re not doing enough,” Yoon said.


title: Understanding the cost of charging your electric scooter

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Use code SCNEWCUST15 for 15% off ALL scooters through month-end. Redeem here.
Understanding the Cost of Charging Your Electric Scooter
It’s important to note that to maintain optimal battery health and efficiency, always use the charger provided by the manufacturer or one specifically designed to be compatible with your scooter model .he cost to charge an electric scooter is a common question for both potential buyers and current owners alike. The overarching answer is: it's surprisingly inexpensive, particularly when compared to other modes of transportation like a gas-powered vehicle.
To calculate the exact cost of charging an electric scooter, several factors must be considered. These include the scooter's battery capacity (measured in Watt-hours or Wh), the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your area, and the efficiency of the scooter's charger.
For instance, if you have a scooter with a 250Wh battery and electricity costs around $0.13 per kWh (depending on your region), the calculation would look like this:
[ Cost = (Battery Capacity in Wh / 1000) x Cost per kWh ]
[ Cost = (250 / 1000) x 0.13 ]
[ Cost = $0.0325 ]
Thus, fully charging your scooter would cost just over 3 cents.
Given that most electric scooters have a battery capacity ranging from 250Wh to 500Wh, a full charge typically costs between $0.03 and $0.07. Even with daily charging, the monthly cost should remain well under $5 for most users. These costs are minimal, especially when contrasting them with fueling a car or using public transportation.
It’s important to note that to maintain optimal battery health and efficiency, always use the charger provided by the manufacturer or one specifically designed to be compatible with your scooter model. Third-party chargers may result in longer charging times and higher costs due to inefficiency.
In summary, charging an electric scooter is highly cost-effective, adds negligible expenses to your electricity bill, and is a financially savvy choice for short commutes and quick trips around town. With the rise of electric scooters as a sustainable mode of personal transportation, the minimal cost of charging only adds to their allure and practicality.


title: 07

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We are pleased to announce the availability of the new PyPy for AArch64. This port brings PyPy's high-performance just-in-time compiler to the AArch64 platform, also known as 64-bit ARM. With the addition of AArch64, PyPy now supports a total of 6 architectures: x86 (32 & 64bit), ARM (32 & 64bit), PPC64, and s390x. The AArch64 work was funded by ARM Holdings Ltd. and Crossbar.io.
PyPy has a good record of boosting the performance of Python programs on the existing platforms. To show how well the new PyPy port performs, we compare the performance of PyPy against CPython on a set of benchmarks. As a point of comparison, we include the results of PyPy on x86_64.
Note, however, that the results presented here were measured on a Graviton A1 machine from AWS, which comes with a very serious word of warning: Graviton A1's are virtual machines, and, as such, they are not suitable for benchmarking. If someone has access to a beefy enough (16G) ARM64 server and is willing to give us access to it, we are happy to redo the benchmarks on a real machine. One major concern is that while a virtual CPU is 1-to-1 with a real CPU, it is not clear to us how CPU caches are shared across virtual CPUs. Also, note that by no means is this benchmark suite representative enough to average the results. Read the numbers individually per benchmark.
The following graph shows the speedups on AArch64 of PyPy (hg id 2417f925ce94) compared to CPython (2.7.15), as well as the speedups on a x86_64 Linux laptop comparing the most recent release, PyPy 7.1.1, to CPython 2.7.16.
In the majority of benchmarks, the speedups achieved on AArch64 match those achieved on the x86_64 laptop. Over CPython, PyPy on AArch64 achieves speedups between 0.6x to 44.9x. These speedups are comparable to x86_64, where the numbers are between 0.6x and 58.9x.
The next graph compares between the speedups achieved on AArch64 to the speedups achieved on x86_64, i.e., how great the speedup is on AArch64 vs. the same benchmark on x86_64. This comparison should give a rough idea about the quality of the generated code for the new platform.
Note that we see a large variance: There are generally three groups of benchmarks - those that run at more or less the same speed, those that run at 2x the speed, and those that run at 0.5x the speed of x86_64.
The variance and disparity are likely related to a variety of issues, mostly due to differences in architecture. What is however interesting is that, compared to measurements performed on older ARM boards, the branch predictor on the Graviton A1 machine appears to have improved. As a result, the speedups achieved by PyPy over CPython are smaller than on older ARM boards: sufficiently branchy code, like CPython itself, simply runs a lot faster. Hence, the advantage of the non-branchy code generated by PyPy's just-in-time compiler is smaller.
One takeaway here is that many possible improvements for PyPy have yet to be implemented. This is true for both of the above platforms, but probably more so for AArch64, which comes with a large number of CPU registers. The PyPy backend was written with x86 (the 32-bit variant) in mind, which has a really low number of registers. We think that we can improve in the area of emitting more modern machine code, which may have a higher impact on AArch64 than on x86_64. There is also a number of missing features in the AArch64 backend. These features are currently implemented as expensive function calls instead of inlined native instructions, something we intend to improve.
Maciej Fijalkowski, Armin Rigo and the PyPy team


title: Julian lennon undergoes emergency surgery following skin cancer diagnosis

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Julian Lennon has offered the public a timely reminder to undergo regular doctor visits following emergency surgery after a second skin cancer diagnosis.
Lennon took to social media this week to reveal his recent health scare, explaining that he had been on the way to New York for a Good Morning America appearance and press junket in support of his latest book, Life’s Fragile Moments, when he received word from Dr. Tess Mauricio that melanoma had been discovered on his skin.
“So instead of going home to put my Christmas tree up and happily finish the year off, relaxing at home, I flew directly back to Los Angeles, after all my work in New York was done, and went directly from LAX airport, to surgery, with a surgeon recommended by Dr Tess, [Dr. Tim Neavin] – who spent several hours cleaning up and operating on me, with large margins, in the hope that we have, at the end of the day – clear margins, which would mean being free from cancer,” Lennon wrote.
“The operation was a success, but we have yet to have the results of the biopsy, which we may not receive before Christmas.”
As he continued his post, he shared his gratitude for his medical team for their fast work at coordinating such rapid surgery and for “hopefully saving my life”.
“One can never be too confident in circumstances like this, but we all believe that Dr Tim has saved the day. So fingers crossed for now,” he wrote.
“Obviously good news, would be the best Christmas present ever… Which I’m hopeful for… But I just want to say, this is also a timely reminder to all, to please get yourself checked out by your doctor,” he added. “It only takes a short while to do so, and you may just be saving your own life, at the end of the day… so please, for the sake of yourself, your family and friends just go to your Dr and do what must be done… I love life and I want to live for a very long time and this is one way, and a choice, that could determine your future.”
Lennon’s fittingly-titled latest book, Life’s Fragile Moments, was released in September as is his first photography collection, and features stills taken over two decades, including landscapes, urban scenes, and intimate portraits.


title: Search for articles…

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Security and trust
How do I increase my credit limit?
How to increase your FastForward credit limit
Nov 4, 2024
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Brief overview of the FastForward feature
Sep 18, 2024
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Locations FastForward is currently available in
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Sep 16, 2024
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How to repay the outstanding balance before the due date.
Sep 17, 2024
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What to do when an error occurs to link your bank account.
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Minimum amount when making a withdraw
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FastForward line of credit repayment
What happens when I borrow more than I need? Can I pay it back?
Find out what to do if you've accidentally borrowed more money than you need.
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How to successfully verify your eligible income using your linked bank account.
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Find out how MoneyUp registers your income.
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How your credit limit is calculated.
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Temporary paused status for withdraw and early pay
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How wage access works with FastForward
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Borrowing and repaying with FastForward
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title: How an associate degree in early childhood education can jumpstart your career

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An associate degree in early childhood education is a valuable starting point for individuals passionate about shaping the future of young learners. This qualification equips you with essential knowledge and skills, paving the way for a rewarding and impactful career. Whether you aim to work in classrooms, childcare settings, or administrative roles, this degree can set you apart in a competitive field. Below, we will explore how an associate degree in early childhood education can provide a strong foundation, open up diverse career opportunities, and develop practical skills.
Building a Strong Foundation for Career Success
Earning an associate degree in early childhood education lays the groundwork for understanding the developmental needs of young children. This foundation enables you to foster environments where children can thrive socially, emotionally, and intellectually. The coursework combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice, ensuring you are well-prepared to address the challenges and joys of working with young learners.
One advantage of this degree is its focus on child psychology and development. You will gain insights into how children think, learn, and behave at different stages of growth. This understanding allows you to create effective teaching strategies tailored to their needs. Additionally, it builds your capacity to support children with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Flexibility is another key benefit of pursuing this qualification. Many programs offer an online course option, allowing you to balance education with other commitments. This adaptability ensures that even those with demanding schedules can achieve their academic and career goals. Moreover, these programs are designed to make education accessible without compromising quality. To explore your options, simply Google “associates degree in early childhood education online” to find where to start.
Lastly, an associate degree serves as a stepping stone for further education. If you wish to advance to a bachelor’s degree or specialize in a particular area, the foundational knowledge you acquire will prove invaluable. It provides a clear pathway for lifelong learning and career growth in the field of early childhood education.
Exploring Career Opportunities with an Associate Degree
An associate degree in early childhood education opens doors to various career paths in the educational sector. One of the most common roles is that of a preschool teacher, where you can guide children through their earliest learning experiences. This role emphasizes fostering creativity, curiosity, and foundational skills in a classroom setting.
Childcare center positions are another viable option for graduates. These roles involve overseeing daily activities, ensuring children’s safety, and nurturing their development. Working in a childcare setting allows you to impact young lives while collaborating with families to support holistic growth.
Opportunities for those interested in non-classroom roles also exist in administrative and support functions. You might work as an assistant director of a daycare or manage community programs focused on early education. These positions allow you to contribute to organizational development while indirectly supporting children’s learning experiences.
This degree qualifies you for paraprofessional roles in public or private schools. As a teacher’s aide, you would assist lead teachers in delivering lessons, managing the classroom, and addressing individual student needs. This hands-on role is both fulfilling and an excellent starting point for further career progression.
Practical Skills Gained in Early Childhood Education Programs
An associate degree in early childhood education equips you with practical skills essential for success in the field. One of the most critical skills is classroom management, which involves creating a positive and structured learning environment. Effective classroom management ensures that children feel secure and engaged, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Communication is another skill honed during the program. You will learn to communicate effectively with children, parents, and colleagues, building trust and fostering collaboration. This ability is vital for maintaining positive relationships and creating an inclusive educational experience for all stakeholders.
Additionally, the program emphasizes the importance of observation and assessment. You will learn to observe children’s behavior and progress to identify their strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement. These assessment skills enable you to provide targeted support and measure the effectiveness of teaching strategies.
Finally, creativity is nurtured throughout your coursework. Designing interactive and stimulating activities is a key part of early childhood education, and the program helps you develop this ability. By integrating creative teaching methods, you can make learning enjoyable and impactful for young learners.
Overall, an associate degree in early childhood education offers a solid foundation for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young learners. With diverse career opportunities and valuable skills, this degree provides the tools needed to thrive in the rewarding field of early childhood education.


title: Baigan ka bharta eggplant mash pressure

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Did you notice the white and blue bowl? It’s a new purchase for just 25 pence each-great buy isn’t it? I can’t stop myself when I see blue, white and flowers. What did you do on the long weekend?
Today’s post is Baigan Ka Bharta, a very popular Punjabi
north Indian dish. Baingan in English is known as aubergine, eggplant or
brinjal and bharta means mash. There are many ways to make begun ka bharta but
the most common is to smoke or roast begun on open charcoal fire, peel the
burnt skin and mash it with fork. If you have less time in hand do take a look
at my Microwave Baigan Ka Bharta.
Looking for baigan (Eggplant) recipes? Check these out:
Even though I love and prefer the burnt method but Mr.
Husband doesn’t like that smoked taste and if that was not enough recently his
sister told him the incident when she saw a huge worm inside the eggplant. Imagine
you roast the brinjal and there is a worm inside, which you will mash and use
in your bharta-eww, yuck! So these days
I prepare bharta using pressure cooker or as some call it the boiled method.
Let me tell you, this is a super easy and a quick method.
You don’t have to clean the mess on the hob that aubergine leaves when you
roast it and the taste is just awesome. Trust me you have to try this
method-period! So you need to peel the aubergine, chop it into rings, put in
pressure cooker and cook it on high heat till you hear one whistle. Don’t worry
if you don’t have pressure cooker, just boil the chopped brinjal in the pan
full of water, cook till it gets soft, discard the water and yeah that’s it.
Like authentic baigan ka bharta I too like to use ghee (Indian clarified butter) and lots of garlic, but feel free to use oil and less garlic. I use some whole spices as well and garam massala is a must ingredient in this recipe. Bharta or bhurta is served as side with makke ki roti but this can be served as a dip or spread as well.
We like to spread thick layer of baingan ka bharta on any Indian
paratha, roll it like a cigar and bite into. If like London you are having
sunny yet cool days then this spicy and garlicy baigan ka bharta is always a
good idea. So, on weekend I made the complete meal methi moong daal, simple
steamed rice, jowar ki roti and this bharta.
Author: Shweta Agrawal
Recipe type: Side, Dip, Spread
Cuisine: Punjabi, North-Indian
2 large eggplants/baigun
1 medium size onion chopped finely
2 medium size tomato chopped finely
8 cloves garlic chopped roughly
1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds/dhaniya
1 dry red red chilli
1 bay leaf/tej patta
2 tablespoons ghee/oil
1/4 teaspoon cumin/jeera
2 pinch asafoetida/hing
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder/haldi
1 teaspoon red chilli powder/lal mirch
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder/dhaniya
1/2 teaspoon garam massala (recipe here)
2 green chillies slitted
2 green chillies slitted
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped finely
Wash and peal eggplants. Chop into rings and pressure cook
with 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt on high heat for one whistle.
Release the pressure and strain the water.
In mortar and pestle coarsely grind bay leaf, red chilli and whole coriander seeds.
In a kadai/pan heat 1 and 1/2
tablespoons of ghee. When hot, add asafoetida, cumin seeds. Let cumin seeds
Add the coarsely grinded spices.
Turn the flame to low. Cook for 2 miniutes.
Add chopped garlic and onion. Add pinch of salt. Cook till raw smell of garlic fades away and
onions turn soft.
Throw in chopped tomatoes, red
chilli powder, garam massala, coriander powder and salt. Mix and cook it
covered for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes you will see that tomatoes have become
soft and mushy.
Add boiled eggplants. With a help
of fork mash eggplants till you get spread like consistency.
Add in lemon juice, green chillies and leftover
1/2 teaspoon of ghee. Cover and cook again for 8 minutes.
Serve with chopped coriander
While buying the baingan for bhartha, go for the ones which
are light. A heavy brinjal indicates that there are ripe seeds in it and this
may spoil the taste of the bhartha.
Always cook bharta on low heat.
You can use small eggplants or even Chinese (Asian)
eggplants for this recipe.
This is a spicy dish; I used three kinds of chilli in this
recipe. Please adjust the spice level as per you taste.
Serve as side with parthas, puris, roti –basically any
This is a great dip as well. Serve with chips, nachos or
Spread a thick layer on to your sandwich bread or pita
pockets. Enjoy with patties and or salad.


title: Mudcrutch, ‘Mudcrutch 2′: Album Review

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Mudcrutch, ‘Mudcrutch 2′: Album Review
If Mudcrutch's surprise 2008 debut seemed like the joyous first moments that surround a homecoming, Mudcrutch 2 is the sound of perspective setting in. The second album from this forerunner band to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers actually rocks a bit more than its predecessor, which arrived decades after their failed attempt at stardom. It's the subject matter, which takes a hard-eyed view of nostalgia, that sets Mudcrutch 2 apart.
Perhaps that's to be expected, considering the missed opportunities that doomed Mudcrutch. Petty and a group that included future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench left Florida behind to take a shot in L.A. in the early '70s, only to see their debut single roundly ignored. Petty proceeded to build a new band that eventually hurtled him to fame, while Mudcrutch – which also featured Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon, brother of Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon – became nothing more than a footnote.
That is until Petty called everyone together for a pleasingly laid-back hootenanny of a reunion project, one dotted with country flavors and covers like "Shady Grove" and "Six Days on the Road." Mudcrutch rounded things out on their self-titled debut with amiable songs that recalled low-key turn-of-the-'70s Byrds, even including a take on Roger McGuinn's "Lover of the Bayou," without ever really lighting a match under their lost ambitions.
Mudcrutch 2 fixes that small complaint, turning more definitively toward the tough roots rock that has come to define the Heartbreakers on cuts like "Trailer" and "Dreams of Flying" as they stir in a welcome outburst of psychedelia ("Hope"), rockabilly asides ("Welcome to Hell"), Bob Dylan-inspired folk rock ("Victim of Circumstance") and extended set pieces ("Beautiful Blue," "Hungry No More"). At the same time, their subject matter delves ever more deeply into roads not taken, coming to terms with life's passages and the sweet reverie of memory. Mudcrutch 2 is a very grown-up record, with keen insights into how the choices we make turn into the lives we ultimately lead.
Beyond that, a sturdy sense of camaraderie remains for this second turn, with everybody again sharing songwriting and singing duties. Mudcrutch seem to have arrived together at this place, one where the band is stretching its musical muscles as it takes similar chances with the kind of mature subject matter that likely escaped the members as rough-housing youngsters. Waiting, Petty once famously sang, is the hardest part. This time, however, it was well worth it.
Tom Petty Albums Ranked Worst to Best


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Canada's Preparedness for the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life
- Tuesday, 09 July 2024 17:07
Exploring Canada's Contingency Plans and Scientific Readiness
Recent discussions surrounding Canada's readiness for the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life have sparked interest and speculation within scientific and governmental circles alike. With advances in astrobiology and the ongoing search for life beyond Earth, Canada has taken proactive steps to address the implications and opportunities presented by such a discovery.
Governmental and Scientific Initiatives
Canada's approach to potential extraterrestrial discoveries is multi-faceted. Governmental bodies, including the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and various scientific institutions, have been involved in developing frameworks to respond to such groundbreaking events. These frameworks encompass ethical considerations, scientific protocols, and international cooperation agreements aimed at ensuring responsible engagement with any potential discovery.
Astrobiology Research and Technological Advancements
In recent years, Canadian researchers have made significant strides in astrobiology, the interdisciplinary field focused on the study of life's existence beyond Earth. Investments in cutting-edge technologies, such as remote sensing and robotic exploration capabilities, have bolstered Canada's ability to contribute to global efforts in detecting and analyzing potential biosignatures on other celestial bodies.
Public Perception and Policy Implications
The discovery of extraterrestrial life would undoubtedly have profound implications for Canadian society and global policy. Public perception, cultural impacts, and policy responses are areas that Canadian authorities have begun to consider in anticipation of such a paradigm-shifting event. Ethical frameworks and public engagement strategies are being developed to address societal questions and concerns that may arise.
International Collaboration and Preparedness
Canada's approach to extraterrestrial life discovery is inherently collaborative. As a member of international space exploration initiatives and scientific collaborations, Canada plays a crucial role in shaping global policies and protocols related to astrobiology and planetary protection. Collaborative efforts ensure that the global community is prepared to handle and respond to any discovery with sensitivity and scientific rigor.
Canada stands at the forefront of astrobiological research and preparedness, poised to contribute meaningfully to humanity's understanding of its place in the universe. The country's proactive stance on the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life reflects its commitment to scientific inquiry, ethical responsibility, and international cooperation. As the search for life beyond Earth continues, Canada remains prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that such a discovery may bring to light.
Canada's proactive stance and comprehensive approach to preparing for the discovery of extraterrestrial life underscore its leadership in astrobiological research and global scientific cooperation. With robust governmental frameworks, advancements in astrobiology research, and a commitment to ethical engagement and public awareness, Canada is well-positioned to navigate the complexities and implications of such a monumental discovery. As international efforts intensify in the search for life beyond Earth, Canada's readiness ensures that it will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the scientific, ethical, and societal responses to this profound possibility.


title: Managing the heat produced by x ray tubes

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The most frequent mode of failure of X-ray tubes is the failure to adequately dissipate the heat generated during normal operation.
Greater than 99% of the kinetic energy imparted on the electron beam is lost in the form of heat at the anode target. Thus, a 50W X-ray tube will produce roughly 49.8W of energy in the form of heat just through the conversion process. Add to this the thermal energy produced by the helical tungsten filament and one can readily see that heat dissipation is a major factor.
Inadequate cooling of an X-ray tube can cause it to fail in two ways.
The first is sublimation of the anode target material. In converting the anode target material directly from a solid to a gas (sublimation), the resulting vapor rapidly degrades the internal high vacuum necessary for proper operation on the X-ray tube. The loss of high vacuum results in a failure of the X-ray tube to withstand the high voltage gap between the cathode electron source (helical tungsten filament) and the target anode. The X-ray tube begins to short circuit, or arc, which in turn liberates more gas that further degrades the internal vacuum, resulting in an X-ray tube that no longer functions.
The second failure mode caused by improper heat dissipation is the liberation of damaging ions. If the X-ray tube anode is allowed to surpass the vapor pressure point of the target material, ions will be liberated. These ions are attracted back toward the helical tungsten filament and begin to erode the filament through an ion scrubbing process. This can cause the filament to break, creating an open circuit.
Prevention of both of these failure modes is made possible by ensuring that the X-ray tube is not allowed to overheat. This means careful monitoring of the cooling system with fault protection in the event of a cooling system failure.
Many of our packaged X-ray tubes offer an integrated thermal switch that helps prevent permanent damage to the X-ray tube.
Please confirm that your cooling system can maintain the temperature range that is recommended on our products.


title: How to modify sccm application run time

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In this post, I will show you how to change or modify SCCM application run time (maximum allowed run time). By default, the maximum allowed run time (minutes) for an application is set to 120 minutes (2 hours), and this can be increased.
The maximum allowed run time option appears in the user experience settings window when you create a new application in SCCM. If you have packaged applications in Configuration Manager, I’m confident you are aware of the maximum permitted runtime. If not, I will explain what it is.
What is the Maximum Allowed Run time in SCCM?
Let’s understand what exactly is SCCM application run time setting. With the maximum allowed run time setting, you can specify the maximum run time and estimated installation time of the deployment program for the application.
When there are multiple application installations initiated on a client computer with a configured maintenance window (timeframe), the application with the lowest maximum run time installs first. Then the application with the next lowest maximum run time installs next, and so on.
Before each application is installed, the client verifies that the available maintenance window will provide enough time to install the application.
The SCCM application run time setting is also used to determine if there is enough available time to install the application before the end of a SCCM maintenance window.
When you create an application in SCCM, in the user experience window you see two options:
- Maximum allowed run time (minutes): With this option, you specify the maximum run time for application installation.
- Estimated installation time (minutes): The estimated installation time is displayed to the user when the application installs.
By default, when you create a new application in Configuration Manager, the maximum allowed run time (minutes) is set to 120 minutes. However, you can change the default maximum allowed run time based on your requirements.
Not only for applications, you can also increase the application run time for Packages and Software updates in Configuration Manager.
Be sure to set the maximum run time value smaller than the configured maintenance window time or increase the maintenance window time to a value greater than the maximum run time. Otherwise, the Application installation will never initiate.
Note: A conflict might occur if the Maximum allowed run time is longer than the scheduled maintenance window. If the user sets the maximum run time to a period greater than the length of any available maintenance window, that deployment type doesn’t run.
How to Change or Modify SCCM Application Run Time
Perform the below steps to modify the SCCM application run time.
- Launch the SCCM console.
- Go to Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Applications.
- Select the application and then click Deployment Types.
- Right-click the application deployment type and click Properties.
- Select the User Experience tab, and modify the maximum allowed run time in minutes.
The recommended value for SCCM application run time is 120 minutes. When the maximum allowed runtime of a deployment type is exceeded, it will be terminated. It will assume that the installation has failed and report that back to the Management Point.
If the application takes longer than the maximum run-time value, Configuration Manager creates a status message and stops the application installation.
To check whether a deployment type is installed, you define a maintenance window on client devices. When a maintenance window is in place, a deployment type only starts if enough time is available in the maintenance window to accommodate the Maximum Allowed Run Time setting.
I hope you now have a clear idea about the maximum allowed run time configuration in SCCM. If you need further assistance, kindly let me know in the comments section.
Still Need Help?
If you need further assistance on the above article or want to discuss other technical issues, check out some of these options.