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The World Bank has just launched and priced the world’s first blockchain bond in a AU $100 million deal. In a report by Reuters, The agreement was designed to see how the blockchain technology may improve the decades-old practices on bond sales.
In their statement, the Commonwealth Bank which solely manage the deal said that these 2-year bonds would settle August 28 and priced to yield 2.251 percent.
Dubbed as “BONDI” bonds, which stands for Blockchain Operated New Debt Instrument and also referring to Australia’s famous beach, is a prototype deal. This is seen as the first step to steer the selling of bonds towards cheaper automation and away from the manual processes.
In an interview with Reuters this month, James Wall, CBA executive general manager said: “You’re collapsing a traditional bond issuance from a manual bookbuild process and allocation process, an extended settlement then a registrar and a custodian, into something that could happen online instantaneously,”
Australia’s sound financial infrastructure and the familiarity of global investors with its currency, the Australian dollar, makes this country popular as a market development test site. | <urn:uuid:a81283e7-1be5-44a1-854c-121581575a83> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.cryptopolitan.com/first-blockchain-bond-to-be-launched-by-world-bank-in-australia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.950148 | 241 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Angeles National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
Angeles National Forest:
www.fs.usda.gov/angeles Facebook: facebook.com/angelesnationalforest Twitter: twitter.com/Angeles_NF
Phone: (626) 574-5208
Start Date: 08/13/2020 Size: 3,900 acres
Location: San Gabriel Canyon (Hwy 39) Containment: 19%
North of Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA Cause: Human-Caused, Suspected Arson
Hand Crew: 15 Engines: 16 Dozers: 6 Total Personnel: 491
Helicopters: 5 Fixed Wing: 4 Water Tenders: 4
The Ranch 2 Fire burned most actively to the northwest yesterday after the inversion lift. Fuels
continue to be critically dry with low moisture levels. Firefighters have been primarily focused on extending the containment lines on the north and west perimeters. Crews continue to hold the fire on the eastern perimeter as well. There was some growth on the fire last night and handcrews worked all night, making good progress to extend handlines on the western side of the fire.
For today’s actions, Dozers will be used to strengthen the northern fire line supported by retardant drops by air tankers and helicopters if the fire area is clear and visibility is good. The crews that are spiked out on the western fire perimeter are building line to the north and are continuing to scout for strategic places to build line to the northwest of the fire. Firefighters continue to work in difficult terrain.
Weather challenges for today include high temperatures up to 106 degrees, dry conditions, possible thunderstorms to the east that could cause strong and erratic wind gusts of up to 20 mph. The Excessive Heat Warning is still in place through 9 pm Thursday. The steep and rugged terrain of the San Gabriel mountains along with the dense mixed chaparral fuels and grass complete the fuel-topography-weather conditions that make this a complex incident for firefighters.
· San Gabriel Canyon Road/Hwy 39 – Closed at Northbound Hwy 39 at Sierra Madre Avenue. Southbound Hwy 39 is closed at East Fork Road · Glendora Mountain Road – Closed from Big Dalton to East Fork · Glendora Ridge Road – Closed from Glendora Mountain Road to Mt. Baldy Road · Santa Anita Canyon Road – Closed from Arno Drive to Chantry Flats Road
For more information on road closures due to the Ranch 2 Fire, please visit both the Caltrans website: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ and the LA County Public Works Website: https:dpw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/
Angeles National Forest Fire Restrictions: The Fire Danger today on the Angeles National Forest is EXTREME and Fire Restrictions are now in effect for this Forest.
The following activities are currently prohibited:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. 2. Smoking 3. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame 4. Discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun, except in the authorized public shooting ranges.
Please see https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/angeles/home and go to “Alerts and Warnings” on the right-hand side of the homepage for this and other Forest Orders.
Air Quality Impacts: Please visit http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/ for current information. | <urn:uuid:9308ed57-16eb-446a-98e9-57ac5d36e9e4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6961/53367/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.869747 | 776 | 1.65625 | 2 |
People in Ukraine pay close attention to Putin's speech on Victory Day
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Now, people in Ukraine paid special attention to Putin's speech. And NPR's Frank Langfitt is on the line from Odesa, Ukraine. Hey there, Frank.
FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Hey, Steve.
INSKEEP: What are you hearing?
LANGFITT: Well, one of the first things you saw in reaction was from Mykhailo Podolyak. He's adviser to President Zelenskyy here. He wrote on Twitter that much of what Charles was talking about that Putin said is simply not true. He writes, let's talk again, NATO countries. We're not going to attack Russia. Ukraine did not plan to attack Crimea. There's no rational reasons for this war, other than the painful imperial ambitions of the Russian Federation.
Now, Zelenskyy - he put out a video today. This wasn't a response to Putin, but it was - own way of acknowledging Victory Day over the Nazis, you know, as we were saying, over - during World War II. And, Steve, he's walking down this empty boulevard in Kyiv, past these giant metal barriers, which are known as tank traps. And he says, on the day of victory over Nazism, we're fighting for a new victory. There are no shackles that can bind our free spirit. We won then. We will win now.
INSKEEP: Oh - a reminder that Ukraine was part of World War II, as well. How is this anniversary being marked where you are, if at all?
LANGFITT: Completely opposite of what Charles was just describing. Everybody here is actually sheltering indoors in Odesa. And that's because the Ukrainian military has told everybody here that just off - out in the Black Sea - I'm looking out towards the horizon right now from my hotel window - six Russian ships have lined up, and there are two subs, and they're in position to launch missiles here on Odesa and in other parts of the south. Now that - as far as I can tell - I haven't heard any sirens this morning. It doesn't seem to have happened yet - may not happen at all. And there's no celebration today of the - obviously a Soviet military victory. After all, you know, Russia has been at war with Ukraine since 2014.
And yesterday, which is the normal day in the rest of Europe when people celebrate V-E Day, as they do in London, where I normally live, people were out riding bikes around the water, went down to seaside cafes. And it was really interesting, Steve. Right where I was, you could hear the boom of antiaircraft missiles taking off, aiming at cruise missiles from the Black Sea, and people would have a little jolt, and then they would just go on about their day.
INSKEEP: Wow. Were people celebrating at all in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine?
LANGFITT: Well, there were not popular celebrations. There were manufactured ones. To the east of here, we have the occupied - Russian-occupied port city of Kherson. Basically, the Russians have put in their own government there, turn - trying to turn it into a Russian city. They're putting up billboards with hammers and sickles to celebrate Victory Day, built a stage downtown for the celebration. And I saw on a Russian propaganda channel this morning, people standing in a park waving Soviet flags. They were carrying portraits of Soviet soldiers, and they were chanting, thank you, Grandpa, for the victory. Now, the vast majority of people in Kherson are against the Russian occupation, based on my conversations, and so much so, I think - so much concern - that Russian soldiers actually were setting up checkpoints every hundred yards in the last few days in the city to make sure they could stop people who might try to protest today. And the fear in Kherson, Steve, is that Russia is either going to annex it or hold a fake referendum and turn the region into an independent people's republic.
INSKEEP: Did the fighting and evacuation of civilians stop for the holiday?
LANGFITT: The evacuations, Steve, did continue. About 174 people, mostly from Mariupol, they got out by bus last night. About maybe 36, 38 of them were from that underground maze beneath the steel factory that's been under siege there for so long. It is now not clear if there are any other civilians still trapped there. Another case out in the east as well - that terrible story of the school that was leveled by a Russian bomb, 60 people were missing according to regional authorities there. They say there's still too much shelling for them to do any more excavating. And they presume that those 60 people have died.
INSKEEP: NPR's Frank Langfitt, thanks so much.
LANGFITT: Great to talk, Steve. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | <urn:uuid:865e1d6a-2b00-487f-b63d-0c77b3027c20> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.wvik.org/2022-05-09/people-in-ukraine-pay-close-attention-to-putins-speech-on-victory-day | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.981849 | 1,055 | 2.015625 | 2 |
US regulators relax Volcker Rule restrictions
US federal regulators have announced changes to the Volcker Rule, removing some limitations on banks’ investing and trading methods.
The five agencies in question are the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The five say the switch allows banks to “allocate resources to a more diverse array of long-term investments in a broader range of geographic areas, industries, and sectors”.
This new modification will come into force on 1 October 2020.
Shares in major US banks rose in the wake of the news. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Citigroup all experienced growth of up to 3%.
A challenging regulation
The Volcker Rule refers to Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act established in 2010.
It was written to protect customers from certain types of speculative investing which had contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.
The rule forbids banks from using their own accounts for short-term trading of securities, derivatives and commodity futures. It also prevents banks from owning hedge funds or private equity funds.
Both the Volcker Rule and the Dodd-Frank Act are in the sights of the Trump administration. The president has argued the rules are too restrictive on banking activities. Loosening them is a high priority of his.
In 2018 the Federal Reserve eased the rules for small and medium-sized banks, allowing them to undergo stress tests every two years instead of annually. Other banks are allowed to hold fewer liquid assets on balance sheets.
In October 2019 the Federal Reserve approved a simplification of the Volcker Rule – named Volcker 2.0 – which went live in January 2020.
Jelena McWilliams, chair of the FDIC, said last year that the Volcker Rule had become one of the most challenging post-crisis reforms for regulators. | <urn:uuid:1540ed2b-6a20-4c3f-99ef-b3362ce7a662> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fintechfutures.com/2020/06/us-regulators-relax-volcker-rule-restrictions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933381 | 417 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Untying the Interrupted Mind - Understanding childhood trauma and how to implement Positive Behaviour Support Strategies in the home, school & clinic
Untying the Interrupted Mind is a training program aimed at professionals and carers in social & community settings. This training is suited for parents, carers, school staff, counsellors, psychologists, allied health professionals, youth justice employees, community mental health workers & child protection employees.
The goal of the training is to support participants in understanding & meeting the needs of children, young people & adults who have experienced complex trauma.
Training is facilitated by Psychologist, Amy Seear.
Participants will have an understanding about how complex trauma impacts brain development & memory.
How complex trauma in early childhood affects behaviours and emotional responses.
They will develop an understanding of trauma re-enactment and the importance of safe environments & relationships.
Participants will have an understanding of the importance of Positive Behaviour Support Strategies & be able to apply a range of positive behaviour support strategies suited to supporting children, young people & adults who have experienced trauma.
Participants will learn a variety of ‘trauma-informed’ strategies built on the foundation of how trauma impacts brain development & the psychobiology of trauma.
The content of the training is facilitated over 2 days however the program can be tailored to your specific organisations needs. Please contact our office to discuss your training needs. | <urn:uuid:05c09af8-9d41-40d6-a2aa-4fb7d211ca5b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.in3minds.com.au/understanding-trauma-pbs-strategies | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.905086 | 302 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Reflecting the Renaissance spirit of inquiry, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (1604) is the tale of an ambitious man who’s desire and thirst for knowledge goes beyond limitations. Faustus sells his soul to Lucifer to acquire all the power and knowledge that he desires to realise too late of the hellish price he must pay.
The sixteenth century was a period of questioning and searching for truth. Individuals during this time strove to act in their own best interest and in the name of what was true to them. The 1300’s European civilisation began its transition out of the church-dominated Middle ages into an era that embraced a worldly and humanistic view of the planet. It was a cultural, intellectual, and artistic movement that began in Italy (1618 – 48), spreading across Europe, eventually reaching England around the 1550’s; hitting its peak during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James. It was during the Renaissance period great turmoil within Roman Catholic Church (The Protestant Reformation) arose as traditional practices were challenged by individuals. In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church ruled the lives of people throughout central and western Europe. However, in the constantly evolving and progressing world of the Renaissance, the Roman Catholic church struggled to maintain a steady and uniting structure for people’s spiritual and material lives, igniting a great wave of questioning of practices.
With a literary career spanning over less than six years, Christopher Marlowe influenced English theatre and writing forever. His abstract use of blank verse transformed English poetry, bringing about a new level of maturity to Elizabethan theatre of the time. Christopher Marlowe was born and raised in the primary years of the English Renaissance period which was highly influential to his life, his work, and career. This historic wave of new ideas revolving around science, art, religion and philosophy drove him to become a free thinker; within a group of intellectuals, noblemen, courtiers and commoners who formed an underground club within the school of night that embraced these fore coming new ideas, rejecting the older ones; Dr Faustus was written in this time to reflect the darker side of the period’s boundless pursuit of knowledge.
Doctor Faustus, also referred to as The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, explores the conflict one experiences between good and evil within the world and the human soul. This play is based on a German story where a man sells his soul to the devil in quest for knowledge and power. Later on, Faustus learns that he committed a grave mistake of selling his soul to the devil for twenty-four years. Reflecting England’s religious climate in the later part of the 16th century, Doctor Faustus takes a witty and comical perspective of Catholicism and its people, whilst subsequently exploring the grave consequences of refusing and denying religious beliefs; comparing the merits of upholding conventional values. Doctor Faustus is often accompanied by two angels, one of good merit and one of evil, both attempting to advise him on his course of action, with the evil being more dominant over his mind. These two angels also act as a metaphorical representation of the internal battle that is raging inside of Faustus. The play demonstrates to an Elizabethan audience the blurred lines between religion and magic; the character Faustus makes a pact with the devil and becomes a magician. Although society in this time was accustomed to believing that good would always triumph, evil gains the upper hand in Marlowe’s play. To an Elizabethan readership and audience, this was a character that was perceived with witch like qualities and it was during this time period, the subject of religion was eventually banned from the Elizabethan stage because of the sensitive subject it provoked amongst viewers within the audience. Due to this, Faustus was the last play from the period to openly deal with religious matters and themes.
Human free will versus fate and destiny can be evidently noted throughout the entirety of the playscript. Marlowe suggests protagonist, Faustus, has little to no choice as to how his destiny may pan out. Marlowe utilises Faustus’ apparent vulnerability to explore the idea of predetermination. The predetermined destiny of the character suggests a form of a higher power has influence of the aftermath of Faustus’ journey. As suggested by Protestant theologian John Calvin, he argued that God being omniscient and all-knowing, recognises from the beginning who will or won’t be saved; therefore, human action and choice are not the keys to restoration. This is suggestive that no matter how much control Faustus may believe he has in his decision to pursue magic or deny redemption, he is simply playing out a script that has been written. The downfall and fate of this character can be viewed in light of restoration, redemption, and everlasting damnation, all of which are Christian ideals.
In late Renaissance and Medieval Italy, theologians continually emphasised the humanity of Christ and the need for the faithful, and spiritual to lead modelled on Christ’s own. This perspective welcomed visual images that stressed his human existence, and particularly favoured themes related to his earthly birth and death. Orazio Gentileschi was an Italian Baroque painter and was one of the most important painters who like many artists working in Rome, Gentileschi began to absorb the lessons of Caravaggio’s powerful realism and came under the influence of Caravaggio; being one of the most successful interpreters to inherit and incorporate his style. This is notable in Gentileschi’s intense observation from life of details such as hands, feet and faces. Gentileschi turned the horrors of his own life into brutal biblical paintings that can also be interpreted as a cry for oppressed men.
Gentileschi’s work lies in a religious renewal. Ignatius of Loyola and others stressed an intimate relationship to God, helping artists find fresh respect for Leonardo’s naturalism the gravity of Michelangelo, and the darkness and artificial lights of some early Mannerism. His work ‘The Mocking of Christ’, remembers the tormenters and even Jesus as individuals, and the rods of torture catch him as in a web. As an older artist, Orazio learns slowly, but he finally gets it. A deathly pallor and an unclear relationship to foreground or background look old-fashioned, but a memory of the Renaissance had revived, and a transition had begun. Gentileschi uses dislocated scale and composition to add dramatic effect. The chronology of Gentileschi’s work remains one of the most widely debated issues of seventeenth-century art historical studies. The theme of ‘The Mocking of Christ’ was treated by Gentileschi’s a number of times. His earliest version is a striking Caravaggesque canvas of intense drama with strong contrasts of light and shade highlights the religious climate of the time in which this artwork was produced, reflecting the ways in which people viewed the church and Christianity. Treading a line between devotion and absurdity, this chilly painting pits refinement of means against brutality of subject. ‘The Mocking of Christ’ is bound to disturb all who come in contact with it and may offend some; within lives its unsettling power.
Doctor Faustus continues to fascinate audiences with the mythic appeal of its story of power and temptation, high-flying ambition, and self-destruction; as question between desire and conscience, rebellion and remorse, Doctor Faustus still remains relevant today whilst ‘The Mocking of Christ’ is a chilling and spine tingling comment on the Christian faith; challenging the values of Christianity. | <urn:uuid:54b544d4-254b-4053-9889-1ad52ed5d54c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://edubirdie.com/examples/story-of-power-and-temptation-high-flying-ambition-and-self-destruction-in-doctor-faustus-by-christopher-marlowe/?post | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.963969 | 1,600 | 3.546875 | 4 |
The Gendered Origin of Welfare
Gordon traces the origins of welfare's stratified structure primarily to women's advocacy for maternalist legislation during the Progressive Era. Mothers' aid, initially provided through state and local programs, laid the groundwork for the modern federal welfare system and shaped the terms of the debate about single motherhood that still govern welfare policy discussions today. In some respects, the Progressive women's campaign achieved a remarkable transformation of Americans' understanding of public welfare. Until then, local asylums or poorhouses distributed inadequate and discretionary relief to the "worthy" poor alone; only those stricken by natural calamity, such as the blind, deaf, or insane, and orphaned children, were deemed deserving of any public assistance. The mothers' aid programs not only rejected the prevailing laissez-faire approach to poverty, but also "sought to remove relief from the stigma of pauperism and the poorhouse." Through a crusade that identified exclusively with women and children, the women reformers convinced the public that single motherhood was an urgent social problem that should be addressed through social welfare. The resulting maternalist welfare policy provided government aid so that the female victims of misfortune and male irresponsibility would not have to relinquish their maternal duties in the home in order to join the work force.
Gordon's analysis is more critical than Theda Skocpol's history of this crusade in Protecting Soldiers and Mothers: The Political Origins of Social Policy in the United States. Skocpol lauds the Progressive women's monumental accomplishment: Their maternalist rhetoric was powerful enough to mobilize disenfranchised women, defeat conservative opponents, and persuade American legislatures to embark on social welfare programs far ahead of those of most European countries. While recognizing the historical significance of the reformers' valuation of mothering and refutation of Social Darwinist assumptions, Gordon does not discount the programs' gross inadequacy at meeting the needs of female-headed families. Moreover, Gordon points out that mothers' pensions represented a defeat for more progressive, universalist models advocated at the time by organizations such as the National Consumers' League and the Women's Trade Union League. Rather than interpret mothers' aid as a victory for women's rights, Gordon seeks to unravel its paradox: Why did welfare programs designed by feminists end up failing women so miserably?
Gordon's answer to this paradox is the reformers' adherence to a patriarchal family norm that fostered a misguided faith in the "family wage" and in mothers' economic dependence on men. The women crusaders believed in the prevailing sexual division of labor that "prescribes earnings as the sole responsibility of husbands and unpaid domestic labor as the only proper long-term occupation for women." They therefore advocated a living wage for each family that enabled the husband to support a dependent, service-providing wife, rather than programs that would facilitate female independence. The reformers' fear that welfare might provide an incentive for state dependency ("pauperization"), moral degeneracy, and family breakdown further limited the programs' generosity.
The New Deal, the end point for Gordon's account and the starting point for Quadagno's, established the stratified and unequal provision of public assistance. The fate of mothers' aid was sealed when it was assigned to a program separate from the government's provision for men. Social insurance (Social Security and unemployment insurance) provided a dignified entitlement to primarily white, male wage earners and their wives; Aid to Dependent Children doled out humiliating relief to poor single mothers. While Social Security laws obligated the federal government to pay beneficiaries a fixed amount, "ADC clients faced caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators with discretion regarding who got aid and how much they got." These government bureaucrats required recipients to meet not only means standards but also degrading morals, or "suitable home," tests that typically probed clients' sexual behavior.
ADC's inferiority was enhanced by its provision of aid exclusively to the child, defeating the position that mothers' aid compensated women's service to society as a principle of entitlement. While rejecting this positive aspect of feminist reformers' view of mothers' aid, the male-dominated New Deal regime incorporated the most limiting aspects of the earlier reformers' view -- the reliance on male wages to meet the needs of families and the moral supervision of recipients of poor relief. | <urn:uuid:3444eeae-1436-4179-817b-1620928b24b0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://racism.org/articles/basic-needs/povertywelfare/1256-welfare01-2?start=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.949081 | 874 | 3.140625 | 3 |
"International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health"
2016, Vol. 3, Issue 5, Part A
Role of integral yoga on mental healthAuthor(s):
Dr. Rajarshi KayalAbstract:
Mental health is concerned with well-being, positive attitude, life satisfaction and so on. All these may be influenced by following and practicing integral yoga. The present study was intended to compare mental health between followers of Sri Aurobindo and others. Sixty adults volunteered for the study. Hundred followers of Sri Aurobindo from different ashrams and hundred other adult people were considered as subject for the study. Their mental health was tested with the Mental Health Inventory Questionnaire. All the responses were then converted into scores following the guidelines. T –test was used to compare the result. The level of significance was set at 0.05 level. Significant difference was found in General Positive Affect, Life Satisfaction, Anxiety, Loss of Behavioural / Emotional Control and Mental Health Index among the followers of Sri Aurobindo.Pages: 28-31 | 1201 Views 46 DownloadsDownload Full Article:
How to cite this article:
Dr. Rajarshi Kayal. Role of integral yoga on mental health. Int J Phys Educ Sports Health 2016;3(5):28-31. | <urn:uuid:c185848e-437c-4e52-88e1-25e1551c08ba> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.kheljournal.com/archives/?year=2016&vol=3&issue=5&part=A&ArticleId=578 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.937132 | 273 | 2.4375 | 2 |
(CNSNews.com) – In the 1980s, when now- Secretary of State John Kerry was a Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts, he criticized the Reagan administration’s plan for a missile defense system -- known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) -- calling it a “cancer on our nation’s defense.”
According to an Aug. 5, 1986 story from the Associated Press, then-Sen. Kerry wanted to cut funding for SDI -- critically known at the time as ‘Star Wars’-- and called the program a “cancer.”
“In debate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., called Star Wars ‘a cancer’ and said ‘what we must do is deny this program the funds that would enable this cancer on our nation's defense to grow any further,’” the 1986 AP report said.
At the time, the Senate narrowly rejected an attempt to cut SDI funding by $3.2 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.
One year earlier in June 1985, AP reported that Kerry was advocating the same position of limiting funding to SDI, calling it, “a dream based on an illusion.”
“We must also recognize that we could never test a Star Wars system under realistic conditions until the moment of an all-out nuclear attack,” Kerry said.
“If Star Wars didn't work perfectly the very first time (the result) would be the destruction of our society.”
“This is the time we must say 'no' to the president's dream, a dream based on illusion, but one which could have real and terrible consequences,” he later added.
On Mar. 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan gave what has now become known as his ‘Star Wars’ speech, in which he outlined a plan for a US missile defense system to protect against the threat of missile attack from the Soviet Union.
The Strategic Defense Initiative involved developing a multi-layered missile defense system that undermined the longstanding Cold War policy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD.) Critics of the plan dubbed it ‘Star Wars’ because of the futuristic technology the program hoped to achieve.
“After careful consultation with my advisers, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I believe there is a way. Let me share with you a vision of the future which offers hope,” Reagan said in 1983.
“It is that we embark on a program to counter the awesome Soviet missile threat with measures that are defensive. Let us turn to the very strengths in technology that spawned our great industrial base and that have given us the quality of life we enjoy today,” Reagan said.
The Obama administration this week announced it would deploy a ballistic missile defense system in Guam in the coming weeks as a precaution against threats made by North Korea to utilize ballistic missiles in a war against the United States.
On Friday, the Pentagon announced it would add 14 interceptors to the 30 already in place in California and Alaska – part of a West Coast-based missile defense system designed to shoot down long-range missiles in flight before they could reach U.S. territory. | <urn:uuid:e01f19d6-0d07-41fc-aabe-e998e882734e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://cnsnews.com/news/article/kerry-86-missile-defense-system-cancer-our-nation-s-defense | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.965204 | 663 | 1.96875 | 2 |
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|6||General Surgery (CGSC)||CPMA (Certified Professional Medical Auditor)|
|7||Hematology and Oncology (CHONC)||CDEO (Certified Documentation Expert – Outpatient)|
|8||Obstetrics and Gynecology (COBGC)||CPPM (Certified Physician Practice Manager)|
|9||Ophthalmology (COPC)||CPCO (Certified Professional Compliance Officer)|
|10||Orthopedic Surgery (COSC)||Medical Coding| | <urn:uuid:dc8ebf57-20c7-42d2-b661-62033298391b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://nexax.in/specialty-medical-coding-training/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.886381 | 464 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The report’s case studies are examples of locations making tangible progress at driving down HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, but they are not the only ones. This page features recent highlights from the field that offer insights on successful interventions.
Livia Albeck-Ripka, How Australia Could Almost Eradicate HIV Transmissions, New York Times, July 10, 2019.
It took universal health care, political will and a health campaign designed to terrify the public, but nearly four decades into the HIV crisis, Australian researchers say the country is on a path toward making transmissions of the virus vanishingly rare.
Emily Woodruff, New HIV Cases in Louisiana Hit Decade Low in 2018; Health Officials Hopeful for Epidemic’s End, Nola.com, July 3, 2019.
Fewer than 1,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2018 in Louisiana – the lowest number of HIV cases in a decade for a state that ranked among the top 10 states for new diagnoses in 2017. | <urn:uuid:2c45d1c3-6863-4378-9248-b0dbcda34d6c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://endaids.org/recent-news/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.934016 | 211 | 2.296875 | 2 |
How do I know what model my bike is?
You will have to look for the engine and chassis number engraved on the bike. Chassis number would typically be found somewhere on the handle bar. Afterwards you will have to contact the manufacturer or a dealer who may be able to help you.
Where do I find my bike frame number?
Most bicycles have a frame number stamped into the metal under the bottom bracket. If it’s a carbon frame, the number will be etched into the surface or displayed on a sticker. Occasionally, the frame number will be on the inside of the chainstay or on the down tube or top tube.
What is make and model of bike?
It is a production number that indicates the factory that made the frame (NOT the brand of the bike), the date the frame was made, and the position in the production run. That’s it. There are some clues though. If the serial number starts with SN it is a Pacific/Dorel product… you know…
Can you look up a bike serial number?
Can you look up a bike serial number? Yes, you look up your bike’s serial number. They are usually situated under your bike’s bottom bracket.
How many digits is a bike serial number?
They’re usually referred to as a bicycle serial number, but also at times called a “frame number.” They are stamped onto the frame of a bike and range from six to ten digits long.
Is the model number the same as the serial number?
A serial number is used to identify individual appliances or tools. … It is NOT the same as a model number. My appliance/equipment has multiple numbers on it.
What is a frame model bike?
A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted. … A frameset consists of the frame and fork of a bicycle and sometimes includes the headset and seat post. Frame builders will often produce the frame and fork together as a paired set.
How can I tell the year of my bike?
6 Ways to Find the Age of Your Bicycle
- Check the Serial Number. The obvious starting point to find the date a bike was made is the serial number. …
- Use Online and Offline Literature. …
- Look at Specific Parts. …
- Ask the Seller or Owner. …
- Bring It to a Bike Shop. …
- Post Online. …
- Final Word.
How can I tell if my Trinx bike is real?
TRINX’s bicycle frame has a five (5) year warranty against factory defect and has a unique serial number on the bottom bracket and top tube for identification and security. By buying TRINX bicycle, you are assured of getting a high quality product. | <urn:uuid:b49b2f0a-4989-43c1-8744-10c2732cae26> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://laforestcime.com/bicycle/where-do-i-find-my-bike-model-number.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.934916 | 584 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Your student’s behavior will be managed effortlessly with our red, yellow and green colored behavior cards. This unique motivational tool can help kids improve their behavior, making a big difference in their lives. Use green for good, yellow for warning and red for unacceptable conduct. The visual cues will help any student to learn what to do! Available in a variety of sizes to fit different kinds of pocket charts.
Use these brightly colored behavior cards as an engaging behavior modification technique. Includes 100 cards, red, yellow and green. | <urn:uuid:001adfc5-c550-42a5-91a0-11d7353f72bd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hyglossproducts.com/product/behavior-cards/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.892314 | 116 | 2.625 | 3 |
To explain — at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute yesterday — the trouble with Donald Trump’s approach to international relations, Minneapolis native and former Obama State Department official and Hillary Clinton campaign adviser Jake Sullivan brought up a famous psych experiment involving children and marshmallows.
In what is known as the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, a child would be told that if he could wait for a few minutes, alone in a room with a marshmallow, without eating it, he would be given a second marshmallow and could eat them both whenever he liked.
Researchers followed the children for years afterward and found that those who were more able to defer gratification had more successful lives, as measured by SAT scores, educational attainment, body mass index and other measures.
That conclusion, according to the Wikipedia article on the experiments, has been disputed, although I do believe that patience and an ability to defer gratification and keep the big picture in mind are useful qualities in a person, and, perhaps, in a nation.
But what does that have to with President Trump? As Sullivan explains it, Trump inherited many bilateral alliances and multilateral agreements (NATO, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Accords, and others, even the United Nations) many of which Trump thought were sucker deals for the United States because we are so strong and rich, we could drive much harder bargains to get more favorable terms.
The way Trump looks at it, Sullivan said, the game of deals is about winning and losing, not about cooperating or maintaining an alliance structure.
In Trump’s view, Sullivan said, anything that smacks of multilateralism, any mechanism by which many small nations can band together, is bad for the big, powerful, rich nations.
In bilateral deals, a big, rich nation like the United States can throw its weight around. As Sullivan summarized Trump’s attitude: “What’s wrong with a dog-eat-dog world, if we’re the biggest dog?”
The trouble with that view (according to Sullivan and leaving aside, for example, the problem that if the breakdown of the Paris Accords leads to climate doom, or the undermining of NATO leads to a nuclear war, that won’t make anyone a winner) is that even if you can get better trade terms from Canada, Mexico, Europe, etc., such single-minded zero-sum outcomes will erode the strength of U.S. alliances.
NATO, NAFTA and the Iran nuclear deal are all part of the constant work of building and strengthening alliances, Sullivan said. The United States is at the center of an enormous web of alliances. Our chief geopolitical rivals, Russia and China, have very few allies.
But our alliances thrive when our allies see benefit in being our allies. What will it do to our structure of alliances, if our allies feel that we are seeking to benefit at their expense, or that the United States views every negotiation as one that the other party has to lose, so the United States can “win”?
“Russia and China are thrilled to the see United States burning up its alliances,” Sullivan said. “They would kill for alliances like ours” but don’t have means of building up such a structure. Previous presidents and other U.S. leaders who have built ours understood that maintaining such an alliance structure requires us to make sure our allies feel that the relationship works for them, too.
But that approach to building and maintaining an alliance structure requires a patient, long-term strategy. Sometimes, the United States must take pains to make sure its allies are also benefiting. This, Sullivan suggests, is something Trump doesn’t understand. He’s like the kid in the room with the marshmallow who says: “Why should I wait? I’m gonna eat that marshmallow right now.”
Sullivan said he believes the “the [multilateral] structures that the United States and its allies have built are flexible, adaptable, resilient” enough to withstand one term of Trumpism. but he’s not so sure about two. | <urn:uuid:98890f97-c9bb-49bf-ac54-9b7cd50cfc08> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2018/10/jake-sullivan-on-what-trump-doesnt-understand-about-alliances/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.959231 | 861 | 2.609375 | 3 |
a bank checking account will be the the first thing you imagine of. This preferred form of membership helps you put and regulate the cash you make use of for everyday expenses. When build, you could use a debit credit or consult, which will undoubtedly take money right from your account, to afford sets from groceries to fuel to charges. You may also become money from an ATM or branch making use of your debit cards and PIN, a unique password you choose to protect your account.
Family savings a savings account can help you separate the funds you ought to cut from your revenue you should devote. For several, it is an easier method to get the job done toward a goal, like conserving for home improvements or creating an emergency fund. The majority of money profile can quickly push cash from your checking account to your checking account each and every month, therefore you dont get to give some thought to it by yourself. An added bonus is the fact bankers often pay you fascination on discount account. That’s no-cost cash to assist you reach your economic plans a tiny bit faster.
Bucks market place profile An MMA is a type of bank account that typically pays greater interest rates than a regular savings account.
The larger you devote out, the greater amount of maybe you are able to earn. But don’t forget that you’ll simply be capable of making around 6 withdrawals per month with federal regulations.
Certification of Deposit A CD is a type of bank account where you accept to you want to keep profit the take into account some occasion, from as little as six months to given that 5 years.
The long you’ll save, the more the return. It is easy to plan to get your money very early. However, there’s a charge for withdrawal ahead of the terminate of one’s CD name.
Debit card With a debit card, you may afford everyday costs with just a swipe (and typically your very own PIN). The cash will happen straight from the bank account hence there’s no requirement to carry dollars if you prefer never to. Plus, in case the debit credit try stolen or stolen, you may not result in unwanted purchases if you decide to report it in a timely manner. Forgotten wealth, unfortuitously, is often dropped for good.
Plastic a charge card allows you to purchase stuff with a distinct loans. In reality, you’re borrowing the funds right after which paying it when the balance arrives. Keep in mind that various bank cards cost various interest levels, as a result it’s vital that you understand what you’re agreeing to (and that means you dont have to pay a lot of in the long run). The simplest way to not pay fascination is to shell out your own payment outright each month. You might even desire to watch out for annual charges, particularly if it’s a card with incentives just like flight mile after mile or cash return. Looking around for credit cards with no annual fees is always a possibility.
Money names 101
Automatic Teller Machine An automated cashier appliance (ATM) try a digital financial institution that lets you perform basic business without a side or teller.
You’ll simply need the debit credit and protected PIN. Some ATMs likewise enable debris of cash or assessments. Although you don’t have to use your very own bank’s ATM to gain access to your cash, you’ve probably to pay for a cost to make use of other individuals. A lot of charge cards allow finances distributions aswell, but this “cash progress” go along with a substantial cost, so be sure to figure out in advance. 3
FDIC once your cash is in a bank that is one of the Federal Deposit insurance premiums firm (FDIC), you’ll understand’s safe and secure as many as allowable controls. That’s since U.S. authorities safeguards FDIC-insured tissue from inside the most rare function that a bank is not able. 4 You may use their BankFind concept to find out if your very own financial is a member as well as lookup the utmost bounds of placed investments which htps://paydayloansvirginia.net/ happen to be guaranteed.
Deposit Anytime you placed money into your profile, you’re producing a deposit. You could frequently put investigations or finances at a bank, ATM and on occasion even your smartphone. Direct money is when your paycheck is actually transferred to your examining or bank account by your manager automatically on paycheck, that can conserve hours.
Departure whenever you need dollars from the account, you’re making a withdrawal. Like with stores, you’ll sign up for finances at a bank side or Automatic Teller Machine. After you publish a check, line dollars or make use of your debit credit, this money is actually reserved quickly from the levels.
Expenses in terms of a variety of banking products, fees will differ widely. However it’s additionally feasible to obtain fee-free accounts and treatments may probably meet your requirements. Typical charge for companies made by some financial institutions contain every month service charge, overdraft fees and Automatic Teller Machine rates. If you would like not pay added, it is often really worth doing your research and measuring up has.
Seeing that you’re acquainted more economic words, services and products, you can feel much more self-confident about dealing with your hard earned cash. Slightly more you are sure that precisely what loan providers are offering, the easier and simpler it may be to make plans that works most suitable for your life style and private monetary desired goals.
Website means academic applications. The material given on this web site just designed to render appropriate, expense, or financial pointers or even show the availableness or suitability of any financing One product or service towards unique instances. For specific pointers about your unique situation, you could wish to inquire an experienced expert. | <urn:uuid:59a5037e-074e-4ca1-9183-df5b9dd9a3b8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.arasubta.com/2021/11/06/deposit-goods-and-services-checking-account-when/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.946611 | 1,224 | 1.75 | 2 |
In this configuration example, we will focus on how to configure MVRP on Cisco switches. Here, we will use Cisco Catalyst 6500 series switches. For our MVRP configuration example, we will use the below topology.
Let’s start our MVRP configuration.
Switch A Configuration
We will start with Switch A configuration.
First of all we will enable MVRP globally with “mvrp global” command under the global context. After that we will enable GVRP under the interfaces with “mvrp” command.
We will set the registration mode of our interfaces.
Automatic MAC learning is not enabled by default. To enable Automatic MAC learning, we will use “mvrp mac-learning auto” command.
To dynamically create VLANs, we will configure our router as “transparent”. This is a requirement for dynamic VLAN creation. After setting our router as tranparent, we will use “mvrp vlan create” command and we will enable dynamic VLAN creation.
Now, we will create VLANs and we will assign the ports to these VLANs.
Other GVRP, MVRP and VTP Articles... | <urn:uuid:aad2fe0c-fa2a-407d-aa50-c3b37cb4dde7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ipcisco.com/mvrp-configuration-on-cisco/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.730713 | 261 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Poli, of course divides history into the time befor Poli (BC) and after Poli (P.). And since the time before Poli is very, very far away, it will suffice to say that back in 1905 Valentin Reinhard opened a redemption poultry station in Ptuj near Deutschlandsberg, thus neginning the story of Perutnina Ptuj.
The year 1974 was extremely important and especially outstanding, when the first chicken sausage no. 1. From its birth until today, Poli has been consistent in its quality, which is the result of superior and flawless manufacturing processes. For 40 years. And so remains the one and only.
In addition to the invention of the Rubik's Cube by Proffessor Erno Rubik, the 1970s marked at least one other very important event - the first and only steamed chicken sausage called Poli was born in Perutnina Ptuj. Proud parents Matilda Lovrenčič and dr. Ciril Varga already knew at the time of her birth that a very special future awaited her.
Special from birth
What we can say about Poli? It was the first chicken sausage on the market, a real avant-garde with an original recipe and top quality. And it was the first sausage to get bigger that a sandwich. The first went into politics. It became the first sausage to spread. So what would you list! There is only one Poli! And so it will remain.
Is it time fro lunch?
Customers were a little distrustful at first, but they were quickly convinced by the excellently prepared high-quality products. It was no longer possible to imagine a school or union trip without a sandwich with Poli.
Always in good company
Poli was never a loner and always enjoyed good company. She was often seen with Pika and Koka, but there is no need to emphasize who had the main say.
Since we are always ready to try and offer something new, we added just the right size pieces of peppers, cucumbers and... well, we won't reveal everything to you. And Poli with vegetables was created.
Poli goes over the border
Poli packed her suitcases and set out into world. Her first destination was Italy. Soon Poli became a real traveler and a favourite guest in many nearby and more distant lands. About Poli we are mad from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean.
Poli is the longest!
Meet Poli the Giant! The first 4-meter special sausage that impressed the visitors of the Agricultural and Food Fair in Gornja Radgona.
POLIceman, POLItician in POLIgamist
"While people eat, they don't think about crime! True love is never endured!You can trust her. Sausage for 25 years, so she knows what a good sandwich is!" And Poli knows aht good humor is. Because she is open-minded and free-spirited. Do you still remember POLIceman, POLItician, POLIgamist?
Poli is lighter
Poli Light is no lighter in a shopping bag, but it contains as much as 30 % less fat, so it is intented for everyone who cares about a light and healthy diet. It is response to a time when the need fot a light and heakthy diet is becoming more pronounced.
Not everything starts with Poli
Attention, fakes of the best chicken sausage have already appeared on the Bosnian market! Who knows if they won't move acress the border as well. Only one is Poli! Therefor, before buying, carefully inspect the packaing and choose the original Poli from Perutnina Ptuj.
Poli jumps off the plane
Poli is the most popular chicken sausage in Europe. So some would do anything for her. They also jumped out of the plane. And without a parachute! Another proof that Poli is really special, because you forget about fear by the way.
We like to eat Poli during ads. What about you?
With Cheese, please!
If you also happen to want to enrich your sandwich with cheese, but you find out at the last minute that you have run out of it, choose Poli with cheese. Thi is Poli, to which we added a delicious melted cheese. Because you want more.
Poli goes to marathon
Since life is too short to be late, we cycle at the first Poli Marathon in Ptuj. On a rainy day, the event was attended by 1,000 participants, and the number grown to over 5,000 cyclists in the coming years. And because Poli is the undisputed no. 1 among special sausages, the Poli Marathon also quickly become a recreational cycling event no. 1 in Slovenia.
Poli in 100 ways
Perutnina Ptuj is celebrating it 100th anniversary and, of course, Poli is also joining the celebration. Because Poli is simply no. 1, is among the most prized ingridients in every kitchen, be it French, Chinese, Bosnian, or yours. We asked you how you prepare Poli.
Popular since birth
Poli has been the most popular chicken special sausage among consumers of all generations since 1970s. Children especially love it. With or without bread. But always with the greatest pleasure.
Fly to v POLInesia
Because Poli likes to surprise and enjoy immensely, if it can be different, she invites you to Polinesia, the dream land where Poli grows on palm trees. And all ylou have to do is count how many times Poli appears in a TV ad. Hint? If you add all the fingers, it's too little, if you add five more, it's too much.
Mad about Poli!
We are all little mad. Mad about Poli! Forever young! Forever young, fun, ambitious, forever special. Poli is a sausage with a mission and that is to fill every day and every fridge with its freshness, imagination and humor.
From now on also as a slice
We have found the ideal solution for everyone who is mad about Poli and wants to fall into a sandwich on her own. For those who prefer already sliced delicacies, or simply do not have the time, will or enough skills to dabble in cutting themselves. 12 practically packed slices of Poli for fast Poli meal.
Original chicken special sausage
Attention, only one is Poli, don't be fooled! If you buy copies, expect a taste for copies, Our advice? You buy original!
We hired an elephant
And Poli pate was born. Poli to spread. For all those who like to spread bread, who like pate and who woul also like to spread Poli. Poli likes to be different, she likes to change shapes, but she swears by the content, so even as pate she remains a typical Poli. In innovative packaging.
Poli is always for fun
On April 1, Perutnina Ptuj announced that the construction of a 135-meter tower in ptujsko polje would begin, markin the 35th anniversary of Poli's production. The Poli tower, signed by Dutch architect Koon van Leeuwen, will have the highest-lying viewing platform, a museum and a restaurant. And it was all true. Except for the tower.
Poli is always for fun
Poli likes to change clothes
Poli likes to keep up with fashion, so we have already met her in many disguises. She underwent her last beauty makeover in 2009. Whether or not you share a taste for fashion with her, we guarentee that her interior has remained unchanged since its inception.
Because Poli is always full of good ideas, it presents you with the pOli snack, a practical vesrion fro new times and new generations. For all those who prefer it to a classic sandwich, and for those who want to enjoy Poli in a different way. Not sure how to tackle sausages? Don't worry, follow the instructions for use.
Do you already know the benefits of bus driving? On it you can meet new people, read a book, eat a sandwich with Poli and enjoy the view and the fact that you have done something good for the environment. Let's go Poli!
No. 1 in Europe
Wondering how to break down a sound barrier with a bike? Or jump from 25 meters high to 60 cm deep? Unfortunately, we failed to break historical records because we were distracted by Poli. How did she do it? Simple. Because is number 1 chicken sausage in the Europe.
Poli is Fresh
Aluminum foil? Plastic cintainer? How do you take care of your Poli? To make Poli even fresher and more beautiful, we present you with a nice silicone cap that you can use again and again... until you run out of Poli.
To make the holidays even more special
Poli decided to make special arrangements for the holidays. So she dressed in her chocsen formal dress for Christmas. As the responses were very positive, she also dressed up for Carnival and for Easter.
Everything is better with Poli
Happy Poli Year
Polinnere- exclusive holiday packaging for the most special chicken sausage. Poli finds a reason to celebrate every day. In 2014, however, she does not have to look for reasons at all.
Mad about Poli Tuesdays
On her fortieth birthday (40!), Our eternally young Poli indulged in not only one, but as many as forty torn Tuesday celebrations!
On her Adventures, she was faithfully followed by her fans, who, after the April Fool's joke that Poli was moving to China, cycled in a marathon and even went down the steel rope in the adrenaline park. On the occasion of her jubilee, Poli did not forget to treat herself to Poli burgers and sandwiches, on night shifts or on the go. As befits a real birthday, Poli also provided real nostalgic music from the time of its creation, and warmed up the cold months in the company of chili. What will happen only when she celebrates Abraham? ;-)
Never call her a hot dog! It's Poli.
Produced from as much as 90% of the highest quality chicken meat (which is the highest in the hot dog segment on the market), gently smoked and lightly spiced. Whether you cook it or bake it, it will always be 100% Poli.
The best hod dog in the world!
Poli Ambassador - Luka Dončić
Poli connected the stars with basketball virtuoso Luka Dončić. With the cooperation of Poli, he also announces penetration of the American market.And new product development. If Poli has been the golden TOP so far, in the era with Dončić, world stardom begins. It will be even better, although it's hard to imagine at the moment!
Poli world tour
Famous Slovenian actor Tadej Toš accompanied Poli on the famous world tour. He wanted to know if an individual in a particular country knows Poli, especially the POli sandwich. He enjoyed expoloring the connections between the originality of each country and the characteristic of Poli. He traveled to New York, Paris, London, Sidney, Hawai and returned to Ptuj, just before he won the Poli Marathon.
Nov izdelek - Poli hammy
Samo za velike ... POLI HAMMY. Nova piščančja šunka
Kar 90 % piščančjega mesa! Poli šunka je skrbno pripravljena iz visoko kakovostnega piščančjega mesa.
Poli conquers America
Our production experts Helped Poli follow Luka to America. The first quantities of Poli produced in America are already on the shelves of American stores, which are already being emptied.
18. Poli Marathon
The 18. Poli Marathon due to the epidemic it took place a little differently than we were usef to, in virtual form. It was necessary to publish your ride on your Facebook profile with one of the selected 2tracking" applications (Strava, Sport tracker, Edmondo...) | <urn:uuid:0c9d30e5-d64a-40af-8984-5863f97f0b73> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.madaboutpoli.com/int/en/poli-story/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.958534 | 2,627 | 1.554688 | 2 |
How to use Vermillion in a sentence
The outer surface has thin, lightly keratinised epithelium The vermillion border is red, because it is highly vascularised.
Over one-hundred and seventy tab versions are available here, with the most popular being Before I Forget, Duality, Wait and Bleed, Vermillion, Left Behind and Purity.
Tennis players benefit from teal lenses; skiers from vermillion.
Done in a lens that's dubbed VE5 Vermillion, this unique hue makes it a true all-rounder.
The grey content of the lens ensures a natural color transmission, while the vermillion coloring enhances red, green, and yellow colors.Advertisement
Other available colors are vermillion, dark cinnamon and clear.
There's the orange and black Simmer, the red Quasar D8, the black Shark with pink lenses, and even a shiny red Boost with vermillion lenses for kids.
Plastic lenses come in gray, amber, vermillion, and sunrise.
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Vision 3K has three different pairs of goggles with vermillion lenses.Advertisement
If the mirror aspect isn't that important to you, you have other options, like amber, copper, gray, and vermillion polarized lenses.
In 95 percent of the patients with cold sores, the blisters occur at the outer edge of the lips, which is called the vermillion border.
The way you get that is by using orange, yellow, or vermillion lenses. | <urn:uuid:1c1e368e-487d-4be4-98f5-3aaee29368dd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/vermillion | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.884226 | 325 | 2.328125 | 2 |
Rome's famous Colosseum reopened on Monday after a three-month coronavirus lockdown.
The massive amphitheatre is Italy's top tourism site and normally welcomes thousands of tourists per day but just a few hundred people were expected as the site reopened.
Centuries ago, it was the location of gory deaths of gladiators and wild animals but it was eerily quiet Monday with new health protocols in place.
Also visibly absent were the modern-day gladiators usually waving plastic swords outside.
The colosseum is now open from 10:30 am to 7:15 pm, until June 30 as part of a loosening of coronavirus restrictions, in place since early March in Italy.
There is a reduced ticket price in the afternoon for visitors to the amphitheatre.
Prior to the virus outbreak, the ancient Roman amphitheatre was visited by millions each year. | <urn:uuid:de626a4e-90a8-41ed-9027-0cb88593ff28> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.euronews.com/video/2020/06/01/rome-s-famous-colosseum-reopens-to-visitors-after-three-month-coronavirus-lockdown | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.976779 | 188 | 1.78125 | 2 |
About The Event
We're doing it again! Join us to raise awareness of the 1 in 3 women on this planet who are victims of violence and deserve JUSTICE! We invite all women and girls (and the men and boys who love them) to Rise, Release and Dance at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18 at the Missouri History Museum. We had nearly 500 enthusiastic risers come out last year... will you be one of them this year? Register now to be part of this powerful movement and to receive more information on the event!
About The Organization
Safe Connections is proud to be one of the St. Louis region’s oldest and largest locally-founded organizations working to prevent and end domestic violence and sexual violence while helping survivors reclaim their lives. Our services in prevention education, crisis intervention through our 24-hour helpline and counseling make a big difference in our community.
Upload a photo taken at this event | <urn:uuid:adeaddfd-d1e7-4894-854c-4f5291e4feb4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.onebillionrising.org/events/safe-connections-one-billion-rising-dancemob/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.939087 | 197 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Livestock Registration is the action by which information on livestock (such as identification, animal health, movement, certification, epidemiology, and establishments) is collected, accurately recorded, securely stored, and made appropriately accessible and able to be utilized on-farm, by a registry body or at the national level. In Kenya, these records are maintained by KLBA through the Kenya Stud Book (KSB).
- Keeping records with proper animal Identification is an essential tool for farm management (selection, culling, etc)
- By top crossing with pedigree sires you improve your stock by each succeeding generation until the pedigree standard is reached (Grading up).
- Potential buyers can be supplied with the animal breeding certificate. On-farm sales and export markets attract higher prices with registered stock.
On the other hand, livestock recording in Kenya involves the recording of milk in dairy livestock. Milk recording is a systematic measurement and recording of daily milk yields of animals which are summarized at the completion of lactation in the form of a lactation certificate. It also involves the periodic sampling of milk for quality analysis for individual animals. This service is provided by KLBA through the Dairy Recording Service of Kenya (DRSK).
Milk recording contributes significantly at the following levels: -
Farm-level, National level International level.
- Information included on the certificates becomes a reliable guide for the herd owner upon which sound management and breeding policies are formulated.
- Milk records are also important resource material for research, academic, and development of the dairy industry in support of national food policies.
To join KLBA, farmers are required to contact any nearest livestock breeds inspector or communicate to the KLBA office through [email protected]. Or call the office 0702 251 249.
Arrangements will be made for a breed inspector to come to train the farmers on breeding and visit the farms for inspection. | <urn:uuid:9dd804be-0fe3-480e-90f6-a2cdd42c7767> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://klba.or.ke/faq/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.930205 | 392 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Having returned from a whirlwind tour of the UK, few places could have left a more lasting impression than the wondrous colourful transition of the leaves and progression into a deep winter’s sleep than that of the trees at Westonbirt Arboretum, on the west coast of England.Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is based in Gloucestershire and located three miles from the pretty town of Tetbury in the heart of the Coltswolds.
Westonbirt is set within an historic, picturesque landscape of a Victorian style and home to a internationally valued tree and shrub collection with some 15,000 trees (2,500 different species) coming from Great Britain and other far reaches of the globe such as China, North America, Japan, Chile and many other temperate climates.
Within the gardens are some 30 kilometres of accessible paths and five national collections presented as themes. Adults and children don their gumboots and head out into the mud to become young adventurers and to connect with trees through guided walks or self-led trails.
Westonbirt attracts over 340,000 visits per year and is known worldwide for its spectacular autumn colour and if you need an excuse to visit a second time then apparently spring greets you with a deluge of colour from the rhododendron, azalea and magnolia displays. Weather conditions right up to early autumn can influence the time and rate of leaf colouring and perhaps due to the drier end to a wet summer, the leaves were holding a little longer than usual. As timing of your visit in such a small sector of time through autumn is so important you can never quite guess which trees will provide the year’s treat.
The grounds are dominated with over 2,000 specimens of maples of which they are over 300 Japanese maple cultivars, it is no great surprise that the British associate autumn with this group of plants. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are of course well known for their vibrant autumn colour and being relatively small plants, they are good for any small garden or in pots. A key to growing them in pots is to provide a slightly acidic pH to the soil and not allow the early season sun to burn the leaves of the more sensitive small leaf varieties.
Some of the first trees to start to show their autumn colour are the big full moon maples (Acer japonicum). This is often joined by another early starter being the Chinese spindle (Euonymus oxyphyllus). The spindle is a much more delicate plant and produces pink coloured leaves in autumn.
Another eye catching example of the gem’s in the arboretum was the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica). This rare plant originates from northern Iran and north east Turkey and was introduced in 1879. There are over 50 specimens growing throughout the arboretum.
The hickories are another group of big trees that produce stunning autumn displays – this time with a pure yellow foliage and found them to be a delightful contrast to the vibrant reds.
After a good hour of sticky walking through the thick mud and with eyes sore from the chorus of colours that trickled down from the sky in the light autumn breeze and land on your very nose, you may be forgiven for relaxing one sense and letting the nose take over. For if visuals weren’t enough then your sense of smell takes over to finish you off.
Some of the trees produce rich aromas at this time of year and the very best for this is the katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) from Japan and China. Its rich autumn colours are complemented by a smell described as caramel with a hint of candyfloss.
The journey continued as I climbed away from the so-called Silk Wood only to be met with another common and highly colourful British hedging favourite at “Beech Bank” with a wilder landscape of beech, oak, field maple and dogwood. The beech trees tend to mange to hold on for dear life and like a naughty child full of sugar at bedtime, they tend to be the last to drop off. They hold a beautiful show of colour right through autumn before producing a crisp fall of leaves.
Further on and another section with the rain returning and the gumboots seemly getting shorter and shorter in the developing swamp I find interesting species including deciduous conifers, swamp cypress and larch. The former’s leaves turn a strong tawny, orange shade.
Although never a fan of the cold, this experience helped me remind myself of its values to nature and how it can often bring out the very best of our plant’s qualities. Just 11 months to wait again…. | <urn:uuid:248ef21d-0335-4d03-9f66-8e298e9aeb63> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://gardentravelhub.com/natures-leaf-rainbow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.949048 | 996 | 2.4375 | 2 |
[Chimera-users] [ Asking how to combine loops of models after refinement ]
Hồ Phương Dung
phuongdunghongoc at gmail.com
Thu Oct 3 16:30:27 PDT 2019
I am so grateful for your advice. I will give it a try. Once again, thank
you for your detail instruction.
Wish you all the best.
Hồ Ngọc Phương Dung
International University - Vietnam National University
Email: phuongdunghongoc at gmail.com
Vào Th 6, 4 thg 10, 2019 vào lúc 00:53 Elaine Meng <meng at cgl.ucsf.edu> đã
> Dear Dung,
> The Model Loops/Refine Structure dialog only allows adding all missing
> segments in the same step (not one missing loop at a time), so I guess you
> first added them all, but then after they were added, refined the different
> loops in different Modeller runs.
> Model Loops/Refine Structure:
> We created this interface for fairly simple uses of Modeller, not more
> complicated things like multiple separate refinements. So there is no
> automatic (easy) way to combine the results from the separate runs.
> Instead you would have to do it manually by first choosing the model of
> each loop that you like the best, and then by saving and text-editing PDB
> files, or possibly even in Chimera by carefully deleting the overlapping
> parts of those models and then combining what is left of them into a single
> model befire writing it out as PDB. It can be tricky, however, and would
> still probably require some text-editing of the resulting file.
> For example, if I refined one loop and the output models are
> #1.1,#1.2,#1.3 and refined a different loop and the output models are
> #2.1,#2.2,#2.3, I first need to decide which model is best for each loop.
> It would also be a good idea to save the session so you can always go back
> if you make mistakes in later steps. Pretend the best models are #1.3 and
> #2.1 — next I’d probably close all the other models to avoid confusion
> (e.g. use Model Panel, open from Favorites menu). Then save those 2 models
> as PDB files (menu: File… Save PDB) and then do a lot of manual editing and
> combining to make 1 PDB file of your final model. Or you could (very
> carefully) in Chimera delete parts of #1.3 and #2.1 so that together they
> do not include any duplicate residues, then use “copy/combine” function in
> the Model Panel to combine them into one model, then save as PDB.
> Modifying and saving data in Chimera:
> Deleting atoms:
> Model Panel copy/combine:
> However, it would really be best to do the refinement in a single step,
> especially if those two loops might be interacting with each other. You
> can use the mouse to choose two separate segments in the Sequence window at
> the same time (click-drag and then Shift-click-drag to add separate
> segments) to use with the “active region” option in Model Loops/Refine
> Finally, realize that if the missing segments are large, the models may
> not be very reliable anyway, so you may also want to try other modeling
> programs (not just Chimera/Modeller).
> I hope this helps,
> Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D.
> UCSF Chimera(X) team
> Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
> University of California, San Francisco
> > On Oct 2, 2019, at 9:11 PM, Hồ Phương Dung <phuongdunghongoc at gmail.com>
> > Dear Sir/Madam,
> > I am Dung. I am currently using Chimera to do the refinement for my
> protein because it has some large missing residues segments. I use Tools/
> Loops- Model refinement of Chimera software to do that task. As it was
> failed to generate models if I performed refinements for all missing
> residues segments. Thus, I decided to refine them not at once. The problem
> is that I could not find how to combine the separated loops from models
> after refinement. I am new to Chimera so I hope that my description can be
> useful for you to imagine my problem.
> > I hope that you could support me to solve this problem. I really
> appreciate it.
> > Thank you for spending your valuable time.
> > Yours sincerely,
> > Dung
> > Hồ Ngọc Phương Dung
> > International University - Vietnam National University
> > Email: phuongdunghongoc at gmail.com
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More information about the Chimera-users | <urn:uuid:d4d25403-713d-43b3-8689-6bb84bd215bf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://plato.cgl.ucsf.edu/pipermail/chimera-users/2019-October/016214.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.880319 | 1,397 | 1.523438 | 2 |
From the founding almost 20 years ago of Mikron Tool SA, Agno, Switzerland, with a six-page brochure, the company has grown to today's 600-page catalog. In this time, Mikron Tool has morphed from a supplier of special cutting tools for transfer machines to a globally present tool manufacturer. The company's range of standardized tools includes more than 2,600 items, which now are included in a "tool book" for end users.
Divided into machining groups, such as drilling, milling and deburring, each product range has a description with its characteristics, advantages and applications. Additional indications on size, availability, cutting parameters and operational processes are listed. The user also can learn which items are available from stock and which complementary tools can be used cost-effectively. And there is information on what the ideal application environment should look like to maximize profit from these tools. The book provides all necessary information to optimally use a Mikron Tool on a machine.
Special emphasis has been given to novelties, which are highlighted at the beginning of the book. Mikron Tool also offers solutions in a featured chapter on corrosion and heat-resistant materials.
Customer-specific tools appear in a separate section with information on their feasibility, tolerances, diameters or application range.
The tool book may be downloaded as an interactive PDF here.
Edited from information provided by Mikron Tool.
Related Glossary Terms
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling. | <urn:uuid:3e59021f-74e2-495f-b2b6-9964b247f9cf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.ctemag.com/news/industry-news/mikron-tool-sa-catalog-offers-many-standardized-customized-tools | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.926109 | 483 | 1.960938 | 2 |
The Regional District of North Okanagan provides education to raise public awareness of the impacts of invasive plants.
In accordance with British Columbia's Weed Control Act, control of noxious weeds & invasive plants on private property is the responsibility of the occupier of land.
What are noxious weeds?
Noxious Weeds, also called lnvasive Plants, are non-native plant species that invade our ecosystems and out-compete local plants and cultivated crops for water, nutrients and light. Highly adaptable and difficult to control, these alien plants grow aggressively without the insect predators and plant pathogens that kept them in check in their native habitats.
lnvasive plants are tough, adaptable and aggressive, growing quickly on disturbed sites via root fragments or seeds. A single plant can produce thousands of seeds that can be dispersed by wind, water and soil.
Weeds can be found almost anywhere: roads, trails, railways, grassland, wetlands, parks… even in your own garden. Watch out for wildflower seed mixes that contain invasive plant seeds. Seeds and plant parts may hitch a ride on boots, clothing, backpacks, animals and vehicles, thus travelling from infested areas.
Not all invasive plants are classified as Noxious Weeds. Some weeds are classified as Noxious within all regions of British Columbia, while others are classified as Noxious within the boundaries of the Regional District of North Okanagan. | <urn:uuid:d786b826-00c3-45a4-b01e-288656fe0bb5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.rdno.ca/our-communities/noxious-weeds-invasive-plants | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.936837 | 291 | 3.578125 | 4 |
The topic of circumcision for children is often forgotten in discussions about male genitalia. Many men don’t feel comfortable talking about or planning genital surgery. They don’t want their children to have to endure the trauma of elective procedures in order to satisfy their desire. Other people may do the surgery only to get a scar, because they are afraid of getting a visible genital wound, but that is not realistic. A toddler or infant shouldn’t have a visible scar. You should never consider a neonatal excision to be a better option than an elective adult excision.
To ensure that the parents are comfortable with any elective surgery, they should be discussed with them. You should discuss other options with them if they have any concerns. There could be other risks involved if you decide to perform a neonatal cissectomy on your infant.
Anesthetics can cause problems for the patient’s ability to breathe after the procedure. This is because the skin of the penis is very sensitive when it first comes out of the scrotum, and can be painful. If the infant cannot breathe properly, then this can lead to the baby having more complications later on.
Circumcision of a male baby is usually done one or two days after a newborn boy s first birthday. There is no medical reason for this to be done earlier than that. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a circumcision Perth does not need to be circumcised as part of the American standard of care.
There are other risks associated with the care of newborns. The doctor will often encounter irritation from baby sutures when treating a newborn. Most of the time, this irritation is mild and causes the baby to be mildly irritable. It can cause more serious conditions such as eczema if it isn’t treated. If the irritation is severe, it could lead to more complications.
Another issue with a typical circumcision for children is that it may fail, and a revision may be required. This could be due to excessive bleeding, or because the healing process was not correct. It is not uncommon for healthcare providers to use a dressing to cover the wounds. This is problematic because the wounds can easily become infected once they dry out. Another possibility is that the whole procedure could have been canceled if not enough care was taken during the circumcision.
Not only are there complications when treating newborns but some of the issues he may encounter in adulthood mirror those he experienced in childhood. This is because the person could still be irritated by contact with the baby’s genitalia. There are other risks that newborns may face, but basic hygiene and infection can be provided. It is important to make sure that the person does not get irritated from contact with the baby s genitals.
As a child grows, there are other things that can cause itching and irritation. It is not uncommon for the child to be kept in bed for a few days after the circumcision. This is to allow for the skin to heal and to restore its normal state. Any discomfort should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. Although these are some of the more common concerns with the treatment of infant circumcision, they are nothing compared to the problems faced by adults. However, it is important to know that these problems are treatable and can be avoided. | <urn:uuid:0e088f4d-fafe-4b34-a96b-f8016b7f1f65> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://linjashoes.com/how-to-get-rid-of-irritation-and-pain-from-circumcision-for-children/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.967844 | 672 | 2.125 | 2 |
|متن سخنرانی آقای دکتر محمد آزادپور دربارة کتاب Analytic Philosophy and Avicenna به زبان انگلیسی|
Avicenna’s Empiricism Revisited
In this presentation, I discuss the new approach to Avicenna’s empiricism as outlined in my recent book, Analytic Philosophy and Avicenna (Routledge, 2020). Against recent trends in Avicenna scholarship, I argue that Avicenna is not a proto-Lockean empiricist in that for him empirical knowledge does not rest on a foundation of self-authenticating non-inferential knowledge of matter of fact. I will then make sense of the notion of a non-self-authenticating, non-inferential empirical knowledge by drawing on analytic pragmatists like Wilfrid Sellars and John McDowell (who, in turn, inherit from Kant). I will conclude that Avicenna is also in possession of such a rendition of empirical knowledge, in part because of his appropriation of Aristotle’s account of experience.
II. Meno’s Paradox
In book one, chapter six of Demonstration, of al-Shifā’, Avicenna re-states Meno’s paradox and then illustrates it with an example. Avicenna states:
It was mentioned that Meno, who addressed Socrates regarding the nullification of teaching and learning, said to him, ‘The seeker of some kind of knowledge will either be seeking knowledge of what he [already knows, in which case his quest will be inconsequential, or else he would be seeking knowledge of what he does not know – [in this case,] how would he know it, once he attains it?”
In the Platonic dialogue, Meno, Socrates’s interlocutor, asks him about the teachability of virtue, and Socrates immediately alerts him to the complexity of that question and its presupposition that the meaning of virtue is unproblematically available. Meno, who is an especially thickheaded conversational partner, confidently derides Socrates’s ironic response. Socrates, in turn, refutes several of Meno’s attempts to define virtue. Meno, frustrated in his confrontation with Socrates, bursts into a rhetorical tirade, accusing him intentionally perplexing him and undermining his confidence in the knowledge he has of virtue. He then confronts Socrates with a paradox that has borne his name throughout the history of philosophy. This is a paraphrase of the paradox:
If I know something, then I do not need to inquire into it; and if I do not know something then I cannot inquire into it.
Either I know something or I do not know it.
Therefore, I do not need to nor can I inquire into anything. In other words, inquiry is either unnecessary or impossible.
Socrates’ response is peculiar. He could have easily replied by escaping between the horns of the dilemma and stating that Meno is appealing to a false dichotomy. He could have said that we do know a bit of something and we might want to know more of it. For example, we know something about physical things and then we then study physics to expand and refine our knowledge. Dominic Scott, in his commentary: Plato’s Meno, labels this reading of the dilemma as the paradox of inquiry and argues persuasively that Socrates’s response to the dilemma (not its re-statement) addresses a different problem, which he labels the paradox of discovery. Socrates reply to Meno is ostensibly different from the aforementioned solution to the paradox of inquiry. He says:
As the soul is immortal, has been born often and has seen all things here and in the underworld, there is nothing which it has not learned; so it is in no way surprising that it can recollect the things it knew before, both about virtue and other things. As the whole of nature is akin, and the soul has learned everything, nothing prevents a man, after recalling one thing only – a process men call learning – discovering everything else for himself, if he is brave and does not tire of the search, for searching and learning are, as a whole, recollection.
This response, which is prefaced by an invocation of divine poets and religious authorities whose task is account for divine inspiration, grasps the second horn and can be understood as a rhetorical ploy employed by Socrates to affect Meno whose understanding of what it is to know something is to recall the words of inspired teachers. Scott, however, is correct to emphasize that Socrates’s response also highlights a different philosophical problem – the paradox of discovery – based on the second horn of the dilemma. This paradox is closer to the way Meno formulates the problem originally: “[h]ow are you to search for virtue, if you do not know what it is?” Socrates replies that learning is recollecting our fore-knowledge. More precisely, to have knowledge of the unknown presupposes a fore-knowledge of it; otherwise we are grounding knowledge in something that is not knowledge.
Socrates’s response contains an early formulation of Wilfrid Sellars’s famous rejection of the Myth of the Given. The epistemological Given, according to Sellars, aims to raise the edifice of knowledge on self-authenticating claims to knowledge, which are miraculously endowed with a rational standing and ground our other claims to knowledge. Sellars rejects the Myth of the Given, accusing its perpetrators of committing the naturalistic fallacy: reducing epistemic facts about knowers to non-epistemic facts. Instead, he argues that “in characterizing an episode or state as that of knowing, we are not giving an empirical description of that episode or state; we are placing it in the logical space of reasons, of justifying and being able to justify what one says.” Empirical descriptions, according to Sellars, express non-epistemic facts, and therefore any characterization of knowing must reject non-epistemic groundings and respect its place in the autonomous, logical space of reasons. In the light of the Sellarsian view, Socrates’s response to Meno’s paradox is a rejection of the epistemological Given in that it spurns the possibility of accounting for knowledge based on considerations that are not cases of knowing, such as descriptions of our contingent empirical transactions with particulars. Plato’s Socrates responds that we must already have prior knowledge and if we do not have knowledge now it is because we have forgotten our fore-knowledge.
II. Aristotle’s Solution to Meno’s Paradox
In the beginning of the Posterior Analytic, Aristotle declares that “all intellectual teaching and learning come about from already existing knowledge (gnōsis).” To me, this echoes the Sellarsian thesis that knowings are episodes or states in the space of reasons. Aristotle calls the foreknowledge gnōsis and that is, of course, not the Platonic epistēmē. “Sometimes the verb is used interchangeably with epistatsthai; but it ranges considerably more widely,” writes Gail Fine. “Indeed, Aristotle uses it in cases that he does not count as knowledge. For example, he says that aisthēsis, even of the sort had by animals, is gnōsis. But he emphasizes that this gnōsis does not amount to epistēmē.” My thesis is that Aristotle’s reply to Meno’s paradox involves a pre-existent gnōsis, which is, in fact, human aisthēsis, i.e., sense perception. Avicenna, as we will see, specifies further that this knowledge is not propositional, so it is not epistēmē, but as an instance of knowledge, it is mind-involving (i.e., conceptual) nevertheless.
It is my contention that Aristotle’s handling of the paradox of discovery in Meno’s dilemma takes place in Posterior Analytics 2.19. Aristotle begins 2.19 with the question concerning the demonstrative archai: how do we know them? He rejects the possibility that we get to know that of which we previously are ignorant. He asks: “if we get them without having them earlier, how might we become familiar with them and learn them from no pre-existing knowledge?” This echoes Plato’s rejection of the myth of epistemic foundations that acquire their authority non-epistemically.
Aristotle also considers the Platonic possibility that foundational states of knowledge are innate, we possess them from birth, but “they escape notice.” He then rejects this possibility: “[w]ell, if we have them, it is absurd; for it results that we have pieces of knowledge more precise than demonstration and yet this escapes notice.” In other words, in this possibility, the first principles (archai), as innate epistemic states must be self-evident and more perfect than demonstrated knowledge because their status as knowledge is not conferred on them demonstrably. How could we have these states and not notice them? This is an attack on Plato’s recollection thesis.
Aristotle, as we have seen already, allows for pre-existent knowledge but modifies the Platonic account so that the knowledge is not more accurate than knowledge as a developed state (hexis). He writes: “[w]e must possess a capacity of some sort, but not such as to be higher in accuracy than those developed states (hexis).” In other words, there must be a capacity for knowledge, which as capacity is lower in accuracy than actualized knowledge states. For Aristotle, the states lower-in-accuracy-than-developed-knowledge are cases of sense perception (aisthēsis). But to defend against the Platonic rejection of sense perception as knowledge he says that these states already involve the mind (nous). Michael Ferejohn is correct to point out that Aristotle’s “metaphysics allows him to analyze perception, as Plato cannot, as a confrontation not just with an individual substance, but also with the universals that substance instantiates, since they are for him actually present at the site of perception.” The universals are present at the site of perception because the intellect (nous) is drawn upon by the physical interaction. It is not that there is a physical friction and then intellectual activity is added on later, rather they must be simultaneous. If perception was anchored on the physical contact, Aristotle would have to be trading Plato’s recollection for what Sellars calls the epistemological Given. A more charitable and proper way of reading Aristotle is to say that he adjusts perception so as to be immune to the charge of givenness. For this the concepts, whose application is the proper function of judging and reasoning, must also be involved in perception. Therefore, I interpret Aristotle’s sense perception as the pre-existent knowledge (gnōsis) that he mentions in the beginning of Posterior Analytics. It is not a case of epistēmē, which is perhaps available for the first time through experience, but it is conceptual, as it involves the activity of the intellect and is the site of an instantiated universal.
III. On Avicenna’s Modified Aristotelianism
As I have suggested above, Avicenna’s treatment of Plato’s response to Meno’s paradox betrays an awareness of the latter’s concern with the paradox of discovery. Avicenna, however, is also aware of Aristotle’s response to the same paradox in the Posterior Analytics 2.19, and opts in favor of Aristotle. Recall that Aristotle, in his concern with the paradox of discovery in Posterior Analytics 2.19, argues that what is prior to knowledge (epistēmē) is fore-knowledge or immediate cognition (gnōsis), which is an outcome of the cooperation between sensation and intellect (nous). In Avicenna’s locution in the Demonstration 1.6 of the Book of Healing, gnōsis is rendered as ma‘rifa (immediate cognition) and epistēmē is translated as ‘ilm (scientific knowledge). Avicenna relates sense perception (al-ḥiss) to immediate cognition thus:
If then through the senses we attain immediate cognition (ma‘rifa) that he [Zayd] exists and that he is human, without this being sought after through a [demonstrative] syllogism (maṭlūban) or [this being] taught, and if this is connected with [universal] knowledge (‘ilm), which is realized for us, also without a [demonstrative] syllogism, in [the] manner by which the connection that in itself brings about a third knowledge [‘ilm], we would then know that Zayd is an animal … Of the two, immediate cognition comes about through sensation, [universal] knowledge through the intellect.
So Zayd is known to us through sense perception, but only potentially in terms of assent because what is sensed is prior to a judgment or assent about it. We don’t know about him as specified in actuality (makhṣūṣ bi-l-fi‘l), as that knowledge is the conclusion of a syllogistic demonstration (e.g., Zayd is an animal), with a universal premise (all humans are animals). Furthermore, sense perception yields non-inferential knowledge: Avicenna says, “[i]f through sensation we observe (shāhadnā) some particulars without our seeking them, they would immediately fall within [the category] of being actual, within the category of first knowledge (‘ilm al-awwal).” First knowledge includes the premises of first syllogisms: “self-evident premises or else acquired by induction (istiqrā’), experience (tajriba), or sensory perception without a syllogism.”
Knowledge as assent, for Avicenna, is based fundamentally on sense perception, because experience and induction, as cases of “first” assent, are also based on sense perception (which is not an assent). By reading Avicenna along with Aristotle, it seems that sense perception should involve the participation of the intellect. I also submit that Avicenna further develops the Aristotelian account in Posterior Analytics 2.19 by attributing a pre-propositional structure to sensory intelligibility.
That the intellect is involved in sense perception is already implied by the epistemic status that sense perception has in Avicenna’s account. Wolfson, in “The Terms Taṣawwur and Taṣdīq in Arabic Philosophy and Their Greek, Latin and Hebrew Equivalents,” argues that while the distinction between conceptualization (taṣawwur) and assertion (taṣdīq) is typically traced back to Alfarabi, it is actually rooted in the Aristotelian distinction between intellection (noēsis) and judgment (logos apophantikos). Wolfson, by drawing on Averroes’s commentaries on the Arabic translations of Aristotle, defends the claim that taṣawwur (conceptualization) is the Arabic rendition of the Aristotelian intellection (noēsis), which as we have seen, is involved in sense perception. Wolfson, however, seem to overlook that taṣawwur is holistic and the primary concepts are primary, in the Aristotelian sense, in that they establish the unity of categories which gets implicated in sense perception. For Avicenna and Aristotle, the whole of the logical space of concepts is drawn on in sense perception, and the human discursive activity carves out the concepts and expresses them in inferentially related judgments. These judgments are ultimately answerable to the conceptualizations (taṣawwur) in sensory perception.
Drawing on The Healing, Wolfson points out what we have already seen: Avicenna refers to taṣawwur as the first knowledge, (al-’ilm al-awwal). While Wolfson does not explicitly make the connection between sense perception and taṣawwur, he does emphasize that the latter, as “knowledge,” is not propositional. In other words, taṣawwur is not an assertion but a conceptualization. To emphasize the latter, Wolfson also points out that, according to Avicenna, taṣawwur is neither true nor false. Hence, the content of sense perception’s taṣawwur is not propositional. Moreover, the conceptualization in sense perception is not representational. In other words, the epistemic status of sense perception is brought out in the non-propositional yet intellectual conceptualization in which the categorial unity is implicated. This in turn grounds all of our knowledge.
In my book, I clarify this point in relation to McDowell’s later criticisms of the Sellarsian view and his own position in Mind and World. In order to respect the time limitation on my presentation, I skip this discussion.
IV. Reply to Gutas
Dimitri Gutas defends an empiricist reading of Avicenna and maintains that, for Avicenna, knowledge is accomplished within the limits of human intellect without any aid from an external source. On this reading, Gutas emphasizes what the emanatists call “preparatory processes,” for the mind’s reception of the intelligible forms from the Active Intellect. For Gutas, these perceptual processes are not preparatory in the emanatist sense but in the abstractive sense and result in knowledge. He writes, “[w]hat has to be kept in mind is that for Avicenna the concept of the emanation of the intelligibles from the active intellect has its place in his cosmology and it serves to solve essentially an ontological problem, not an epistemological one, which is the location of the intelligibles.” Gutas thinks that Avicenna’s references to the involvement of the Active Intellect in the process of knowing serve to allow for an ontological solution to the problem of intellectual memory. For if the forms were stored in the human intellect, then the human mind would constantly think them, and that is impossible.
As apparent from the above reading of the primacy of sense perception in Avicenna’s epistemology, I also defend an empiricist reading of Avicenna, but my reading diverges from that of Gutas, who interprets Avicenna as a proto-Lockean empiricist. My position shares Gutas’s recoil from an emanatism that interprets our sensory experience as not knowledge but a mere preparation for it. In my view, emanation is already involved in sensory experience vis-à-vis the illuminations of the external Active Intellect which informs our sensory experience and provides a depository for acquired intelligible forms. My point that intellectual emanation is involved in sensory experience is not just exegetical; rather, a rigorous account of such involvement, I propose, is also philosophically attractive. To that end, I urge that we learn from Sellars and his successors and allow for a non-mythological, non-inferential knowledge of matter of fact. Sellars regards sensory experience as the seamless product of the cooperation of sensory receptivity and rational activity. His arguments and the contributions of his successors to them constitute a cutting-edge discourse in contemporary philosophy, and I draw on them to inform a more sophisticated interpretation of Avicenna’s epistemology.
Avicenna, al-Šifā: al-Burhān (The Healing: Demonstration), ed. A. Afifi and I. Madkour (Cairo: Organisation generale egyptienne, 1956), 74. Translation in Marmura, “Avicenna on Meno’s Paradox: On Apprehending Unknown Things through Known Things,” Medieaval Studies 71 (2009): 55. Avicenna only had access to Plato’s Meno through discussions of it in Aristotle’s Prior and Posterior Analytics and Peripatetic paraphrases and commentaries. The example at the end of the passage is not present in the text of the dialogue, nor is it to be found in Aristotle’s references to the dialogue. It is found in Themistius’s paraphrase of the Posterior Analytic. So the latter is perhaps a main source of the discussion in the Meno for Avicenna. See Black, “Al-Fārābī on Meno’s Paradox,” In the Age of Al-Fārābī: Arabic Philosophy in the Fourth/Tenth Century, ed. Peter Adamson (London: Warburg Institute, 2008), 21 n. 23. See also Rosenthal’s “On the Knowledge of Plato’s Philosophy in the Islamic World,” in Islamic Culture 14 (1940): especially p. 393. For a more recent discussion of the available Platonic dialogues in Arabic, see Cristina D’Ancona’s “Greek Sources in Arabic and Islamic Philosophy,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL =
Plato, Meno, in Five Dialogues, trans. G.M.A. Grube (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1981), 80a-c.
Ibid., 80d-e.
Dominic Scott, Plato’s Meno (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2005), 83-4.
Meno, 81c-d
Ibid., 81b. For Meno’s attentiveness regarding the sayings of inspired teachers, see also 71c-d, 73c, 76b-c, 77b, 95d. Socrates’ argument about there being no teachers of virtue (89e to the end of the dialogue) addresses this concern in what Meno believes.
Ibid., 80d.
Sellars, Empiricism and Philosophy of Mind, ed. Robert Brandom (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University press, 1997), 76.
Aristotle, Posterior Analytics, in The Complete Works of Aristotle, ed. and trans. Jonathan Barnes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1991), 71a1-2, see also 99b28–30.
Gail Fine, The Possibility of Inquiry: Meno’s Paradox from Socrates to Sextus (Oxford: Oxford University press, 2014), 189.
Aristotle, Posterior Analytics, 99b27-8.
Ibid., 99b26-7.
Posterior Analytics, 99b 32-35.
Ibid., 100a4-10.
Ibid., 100b10-15.
Michael Ferejohn, “Meno’s Paradox and De Re Knowledge in Aristotle’s Theory of Demonstration,” History of Philosophy Quarterly 5, 2 (1988): 105.
Avicenna, al-Shifā’: al-Burhān, 73; trans. Marmura, “Avicenna on Meno’s Paradox,” 52.
Avicenna goes on to use the example of the runaway slave. That example substitutes knowledge by testimony for sense perception. Both are non-inferential. For a history, see Black, “Al-Fārābī on Meno’s Paradox,” 21, n. 23.
Avicenna, al-Shifā: al-Burhān, 75; trans. Marmura, “Avicenna on Meno’s Paradox,” 58. I have modified Marmura’s translation slightly to remain more faithful to the Arabic text.
Avicenna, al-Shifā: al-Burhān, 73; trans. Marmura, “Avicenna on Meno’s Paradox,” 52.
See Black, “Al-Fārābī on Meno’s Paradox,” 25 n. 32.
“The Terms Taṣawwur and Taṣdīq in Arabic Philosophy and Their Greek, Latin and Hebrew Equivalents,” The Moslem World 33 (1943): 123.
Ibid., 119-123
Wolfson, “The Terms Taṣawwur and Taṣdīq in Arabic Philosophy and Their Greek, Latin and Hebrew Equivalents,” The Moslem World 33 (1943): 115.
He hints at it by identifying the Stoic phantasia logikē with Aristotle’s noēsis (Ibid., 124), which he explicitly articulates as the meaning of taṣawwur (Ibid., 121).
Herbert Davidson, Alfarabi, Avicenna, and Averroes on Intellect (Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1992), 93-4. Tommaso Alpina maintains that Davidson inherits this view from Gilson (“Intellectual Knowledge, Active Intellect and Intellectual Memory in Avicenna’s Kitāb al-Nafs and Its Aristotelian Background,” Documenti e studi sulla tradizione filosofica medievale 25 (2014): 136-37. I agree, but in Reason Unbound (Albany: SUNY, 2011), §4.2, I argued that such a reading has been in circulation at least as early as Thomas Aquinas.
Dimitri Gutas, “The Empiricism of Avicenna,” Oriens 40 (2012): 411.
Ibid., 392 & 423-24. | <urn:uuid:e83f3f24-f779-454b-9d6b-67fd111472c3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://ibsic.irip.ac.ir/news_59_%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%86+%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%86%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C+%D8%A2%D9%82%D8%A7%DB%8C+%D8%AF%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%B1+%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF+%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B1+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9+%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8++Analytic+Philosophy+and+Avicenna++%D8%A8%D9%87+%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86+%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%AF%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.921298 | 5,676 | 1.8125 | 2 |
By Lillian Lema
Award-winning artist Adama Delphine Fawundu spent the month of June as artist-in-residence at Indigo Arts Alliance, in Portland. Brooklyn-born and of Mende and Bubi descent, Fawundu uses her multi-disciplinary photography and visual art talents to promote African culture and heritage.
Fawundu’s critically acclaimed book MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora has earned both national and international recognition, and her work is in permanent collections at many institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Princeton University Museum, Bryn Mawr College, and The Petrucci Family Foundation of African American Art. Currently, Fawundu is Assistant Professor of Visual Arts at Columbia University.
Her artistic impulses originate from an interest in the idea of body memory and ancestral memory, and the power behind them. Her recent series “For Mama Adama” is influenced by her grandmother, whom she didn’t know very well, and who has passed away.
“My grandmother was a textile artist based in Sierra Leone, West Africa,” Fawundu explained. “The main thing she did was dye fabrics using dye ticking, tie dying, and had this really unique way of making this process work. In this town she was from, she was known for this work.”
Fawundu had the pleasure of meeting her grandmother only twice, once when she was very young, and the second time when she was in her 20s. But she has always felt a strong connection with her grandmother’s fabrics.
“As I go back into my own ancestry and think about using those materials, I think about my grandmother, a Mende woman. I think about the way they communicate with the Earth and the universe and recognize our bodies as part of a whole existence…meaning a universal existence.”
— Dephine Fawundu
“For Mama Adama” uses her grandmother’s materials and patterns as a representation of that body memory and ancestral memory. In the studio, Fawundu scans the fabrics and makes original pieces by creating cyanotypes, block printing, screen printing, and silver gelatin prints.
“When we think about Africa and the diaspora, which is very present in my work, I like to think about what body memory is activated in the diaspora that gives us power to continue,” she said.
“Think about the horrors of slavery and the horrors of colonialism, but even in those circumstances something allows us to continue and hold memory, create language, create movement, build on intelligences. That’s the thing that inspires my work. That is how I create work. I create work intuitively.”
Fawundu feels in communication with her grandmother’s process of creating fabrics as she makes cyanotypes – though their techniques are different, both women’s creative processes intersect in their use of the sun. Her grandmother worked out in the sun with a group of women, in a collaborative effort. Even though, at a glance, Fawundu’s creations are abstract, they communicate the foundation and connection between the pieces.
This is symbolic of our identity. We are very complex beings who live in a place that likes to homogenize us and put us in these boxes. But we are way more complex than that, and that’s what I’m celebrating as well.
— Delphine Fawundu
“This is symbolic of our identity. We are very complex beings who live in a place that likes to homogenize us and put us in these boxes,” she said. “But we are way more complex than that, and that’s what I’m celebrating as well.”
She learned about Indigo Arts Alliance through Daniel Dawson, a photographer from the Kamoinge Workshop Collective and mentor to Fawundu. He saw her series “For Mama Adama” and decided to introduce her to the Indigo Arts Alliance community. She felt it was a perfect match because her goals aligned with the organization’s mission.
Wherever she is, Fawundu prioritizes travel to places that hold historical significance, and creates work in those spaces to honor them. In Maine, she visited Malaga Island, an experience she describes as magical. “A lot of my work is also about uncovering histories of the past. The more we are informed about our past, and the way we look at our past, informs us how we live in the present and future.”
Malaga Island was home to a fishing community of African and European descent in the 1800s. However, in 1912, the state forcibly and violently removed the individuals from the island.
“It was really important for me to be in that space, communicating with that ancestral energy and earth,” Fawundu said. “Hiding history is not a good thing to do. It is something we can talk about and think critically… to think about how we can live better in this society.”
She blames racism and colonialism for many of this country’s current problems. “We need to think about how we can live together. We don’t need to agree on everything, but civilized people know how to disagree, live together, and have a common goal of existence and being attuned with the earth,” she said.
Fawundu hopes to continue to learn from Daniel Minter and Marcia Minter, the Indigo Arts Alliance co-founders. And she wants to continue to meet other Maine artists and work on projects and events with the community.
“Anytime I visit a place, I want to be able to come back to that place. I want to establish something where I can come back, visit, and build,” she explained. “I want to continue to build, even if I’m not here physically in Maine. Just to create and expand on community, which is something I’m really interested in …I’m excited to leave with a broader perspective and with more family members to add to my community,” she said.
Acknowledging that she isn’t an expert on Maine’s past regarding the African diaspora, she is aware that it is turbulent, and knows there is a great deal of African American history just coming to light. “When we think we know one story, there are 10 other stories we don’t know about.”.
The history of the African diaspora in Maine should be honored and respected, Fawundu said, and greater attention should be paid to acknowledging the contributions made to the state and the world by individuals of African descent. | <urn:uuid:7707bb40-663b-4899-9a02-cdf84b513fdb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.amjamboafrica.com/artist-in-residence-connects-with-history/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573104.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817183340-20220817213340-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.968251 | 1,413 | 1.851563 | 2 |
We get it, no-one likes having a difficult conversation do they?
Yet, it’s a fact of life that we all need to instigate them at different times both at work and at home. And if you want to be successful at work, it’s fair to say that having constructive difficult conversations is a skill you just need to master.
But difficult conversations are hard because they often illicit emotion. Hence many of us procrastinate or dodge conversations that we know we really should have, which can lead to resentment and festering emotions.
Procrastinate no more! This week we provide you with some simple tips and tools to help you navigate these tricky situations.
In fact, we teach how to have difficult work conversations in our leadership programs at companies around the world, including Google, Pinterest, Uber, etc, and our participants tell us that these skills really help.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Practical steps you can take to ensure your difficult conversations go as well as possible
- Why it’s so important to have difficult conversations
- A super useful way to give feedback well
- And, how to say No
Plus, you get to hear an, almost, Oscar-winning feedback role-play (if we say so ourselves)!
So don’t delay that difficult conversation you’ve been putting off – click below and have a listen and then try it for real!
You’ve got this!
Oh and email us at [email protected] if you’d like us to send you our Values Assessment Exercise. | <urn:uuid:6db72e70-0231-4f9e-a1cb-ed21663695b1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://dontstopusnow.co/tag/being-present/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.939156 | 351 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Key Verse: John 13:5, 35
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded…By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
The words, “love, loved or loves,” are found 14 times in our reading! The Lord Jesus is letting us know what is truly important to Him. When we say, “I love You, Jesus,” we must say it in a practical way by loving one another. Jesus said to His disciples, “I love you,” by washing their feet and by drying them with a towel. What an example to follow! In fact, Jesus tells us that the way all will know that we are His disciples is by loving one another. Sadly, the history of Christianity has, from time to time, been marked by fights and divisions. Often when we witness for Christ, we have these dark stains on the Church thrown at us. People will look past these historical messes if they see love in us as individuals, or if they experience love from and in the local church. If we are breaking the bonds of love through gossip, self interest, or outright rebellion, STOP!!! Ask God’s forgiveness, confess our sin, repent, and ask God to mend the broken bonds of love. We then are ready to read the love chapter again (1 Corinthians 13 – King James Version).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear loving Lord Jesus, give me the grace and determination to wash the feet of my brothers and sisters (figuratively or maybe now and then literally – it sure wouldn’t hurt to ask someone, “May I wash your feet as Jesus washed His disciples’ feet?” This should be someone I wish to serve or someone with whom I’ve had strife). I’m asking You, Lord Jesus, to grant me the humility I need to do this. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I thought one time of washing someone’s feet on the 100 Huntley Street TV program, and then I backed off because it might look like I was trying to be humble, and proud of it! The story is told of the man who was voted the most humble in the congregation and given a button stating this. However, the first day he wore the button to church, they had to take it away! He was no longer the most humble person. As a public school teacher, and later teaching college English, I required my students to memorize 1 Corinthians 13. I’m not the only one who considers the love chapter of the Bible as the finest example of the use of the English language. Of course, we memorized it in the Old King James language. In my opinion, it loses some of its beauty in modern translations. I’m a believer today because, as a teenager, I came across people who loved one another and who loved me enough to lead me to Christ.
Yours, not because of my own love, but because the love of Christ is in my life, | <urn:uuid:233433ee-9cf5-4228-b584-3b15797d948f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://watch.intothecastle.com/videos/100-words-yr1-october-29-love | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.965253 | 658 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Executive function in children and adolescents with Down Syndrome: a systematic review and Kuwait-based intervention
Alajmi, Ghaleyah Bleah Hamad
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have been found to exhibit significant atypicalities in most executive functions (EFs), such as working memory (WM), cognitive flexibility/shifting, inhibition, self-regulation and attention. However, to date there has been limited research into the relative strengths and weaknesses in their EF profiles. Moreover, EFs in DS have received very little attention in the Kuwaiti research context, despite the need for greater support and resources for those with DS in non-Western countries. There is broad agreement in the research literature, however, that WM is one of the more affected EFs in children and adolescents with DS. This thesis therefore set out to investigate EF profiles in, and WM support for, children and adolescents with DS, through two interlinked studies. Study 1 was a systematic review of EF research in DS. Relevant databases were searched for studies that were published prior to January 2020, involving children and adolescents with DS, comparing their EFs with various comparison populations. Fifty-five studies were included in the final review. The results revealed that, in general, all EFs are atypically developed in individuals with DS. WM appeared to be the most challenged EF, particularly verbal (though not necessarily visuospatial) WM, and emotional control appeared to be the least atypical, relative to controls. Furthermore, there are significantly fewer studies focusing solely on adolescents than on children or mixed-age samples, and even fewer that compare the EF performance of children and adolescents. There are also no studies that draw comparisons between different tools measuring the same EF in the same samples, to ascertain whether different results are gained from different measures. Finally, studies use a variety of comparison approaches, including mental age and chronological age matching, or normative data. They also involve a range of different comparison groups, allowing only tentative conclusions to be drawn from current research. In study 2 an intervention that aimed to support teachers in Kuwait to use different strategies in the classroom that could encourage the development of WM in children and adolescents with DS, was devised, conducted and evaluated. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the WM intervention on teachers‘ knowledge surrounding WM, their use of WM strategies in the classroom and on cognitive, behavioural, and academic outcomes for children and adolescents with DS. Study 2 involved 31 children and adolescents with DS (aged 7 to 16 years) and 28 literacy and numeracy teachers from specialist units in 4 mainstream primaries schools. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, involving 2 groups of teachers: an experimental group (enrolled on the WM intervention) and an active control group (enrolled on a positive behaviour support intervention). Outcomes were assessed using a range of measures to test EF, WM, and challenging and social behaviour. Teachers‘ knowledge of WM was also evaluated to examine the effectiveness of the intervention, and the experimental group was also observed to explore any difference on their use of WM strategies, pre- and post intervention. Teachers‘ perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention process were also gathered, using focus groups. Results showed that the WM in the experimental group significantly improved from pre-intervention to follow-up compared to the control group. In contrast, the control group had significantly lower incidence of challenging behaviour and an increase in prosocial behaviour compared to the experimental group at follow-up. There was no significant difference on academic achievement in literacy and numeracy outcomes between the two groups at follow-up. Moreover, teachers‘ knowledge about WM was found to improve significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group, and the use of WM strategies significantly improved from pre- to post-intervention in the experimental group. Overall, the systematic review in study 1 provides a novel contribution to understanding EFs in the DS population, revealing that WM is the EF that those with DS struggle with the most. These findings indicate the necessity of effective interventions to address and improve this EF in children and adolescents with DS. Furthermore, the systematic review revealed significant gaps in current understanding and research knowledge of executive functioning more generally in DS: for example, a need for further studies focusing solely on WM functioning in groups of children and adolescents with DS, especially studies that compare a range of measures to test WM functioning. Moreover, the relative strengths of emotional control in those with DS should be further explored. The findings from study 2 established the effectiveness of the WM intervention aimed at teachers - a novel approach in Kuwait - in the short-term, although the long-term efficacy of the intervention is unknown. Therefore, it would be beneficial to conduct a longer-term follow-up assessment in the future. Additionally, it may be helpful in future studies to conduct an intervention to improve WM at home, so there is a consistency of approach between home and school. The results of these studies therefore have practical implications for teachers, given the finding that when teachers employ strategies to boost WM, the WM functioning of children and adolescents with DS is improved. Helping teachers to become experts in a range of EF support strategies may also lead them to interact differently with children and adolescents with DS, which could improve students‘ abilities in other areas (such as other cognitive function or social behaviour). Importantly, the study also altered teachers‘ understanding of, and attitudes towards, the learning capabilities of individuals with DS, with important implications for reducing cognitive difficulties in children with DS in Kuwait. | <urn:uuid:021f03b7-6e6e-4be8-be0c-2ba8f97092f6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/38407 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.95502 | 1,141 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Diploma in Pharmacy ( D. PHARM )
Commencement of session : July
2 years + practical training of 500 hours spread over a period of not less than 3 months in a government hospital / pharmacy/chemists & druggists.
Eligibility: A pass in any of the following examinations with Physics and chemistry as optional subjects.
- Pre-university course / 10+2 /PDC/ Intermediate / Higher Secondary examination in Science.
Age : 17 Years and above as on 31st December of the year of admission.
Attendance Requirement : A minimum of 80% in both theory and practical classes is mandatory to get eligibility for sessional /internal assessment as well as annual examination.
Internal assessment / sessional examination
There will be three periodic sessional /internal assessment examinations in theory and practical during the academic year for maximum marks of 20 per subject. Average of the best two sessional marks will be considered.
Board Exam : Examination will be conducted by the Board of Examination Authority, Drugs Control Department, Bengaluru. The first examination in a year will be annual examination during May/June and second is the supplementary examination during November/December.
Hospital Training : After having appeared in the final examination of second year, the student must undergo 500 hours of practical training in a government hospital / pharmacy/chemists & druggists which is recognised by the Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi. | <urn:uuid:7e69f37d-0321-4acb-94c5-5b8a81fba714> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://mallige.ac.in/courses.php?c=dpharm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933733 | 301 | 1.515625 | 2 |
On April 3, 2019 an ALD Academy course took place on nucleation and area-selective deposition. This was the day before the 4th Area Selective Deposition workshop (ASD2019) which took place in Leuven, Belgium.
Responses to the course:
12 57.1% 5 23.8% 3 14.3% 1 4.8%
The course was well presented by the speakers
The course met my expectations
The course provided useful skills
The course was well setup
I would recommend the course to others
A few quotes:
Everything relevant was covered!
Everything went smoothly and the food was good
ALE is becoming a hot topic, please include that topic next time
Would be interesting to have also more specific industry requirements on selectivity
Area-selective deposition (ASD) has recently developed into an active field of research in both academia and industry, triggered by the fact that alignment is becoming a bottleneck in semiconductor fabrication. Especially area-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) is acquiring attention for implementation in self-aligned fabrication schemes. This development builds on earlier successes in the fields of selective epitaxy and area-selective chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Besides nanoelectronics, ASD is expected to enable bottom-up fabrication in catalysis, energy generation and storage.
Description – This course is an introduction to area-selective deposition (ASD), and addresses fundamental aspects related to initial growth, nucleation mechanisms and selectivity. The current interest in ASD will be put in perspective by providing an introduction to nanopatterning and an overview of the applications of ASD. There will be a focus on area-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD), but also results from the field of selective epitaxy and area-selective CVD will be discussed. Furthermore, an overview of the approaches for area-selective ALD will be presented. The course will have an interactive atmosphere with plenty of time for questions and discussions. During this course, the attendees will acquire understanding of the basics of ASD and learn why ASD has become a hot topic in semiconductor fabrication in recent years.
This ALD Academy takes place on April 3 at Eindhoven University of Technology, the day before the 4th Area Selective Deposition workshop (ASD2019) in Leuven, Belgium.
Target audience – This ALD Academy is aimed at students, researchers, and engineers that are interested or work in the field of ASD, or work on related technologies such as patterning, deposition or etching. It can serve as an introduction for the ASD2019 workshop, which is targeted to a more experienced audience.
Program – The program comprises 6 lectures and runs from 9:00 to 17:00. The speakers are Gregory Parsons, Adrie Mackus and Erwin Kessels.
Welcome and introduction to the ALD Academy
- Introduction to area-selective deposition
- Applications of area-selective deposition
- Nucleation mechanisms
- Approaches to area-selective atomic layer deposition
- Models for nucleation and ASD
Wrap up and closing
Drinks & snacks | <urn:uuid:a820fd0e-3f37-4837-9f4f-7f95bd5fa8e9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.aldacademy.com/ald-nucleation-and-area-selective-deposition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.93056 | 660 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Business process reengineering is an elemental rethinking and diametrical improvement of the business process in order to achieve certain galls like cost, service, quality and speed. Business process reengineering help to achieve established outcome of business. BPR is about bringing radical (major) change to provide satisfaction to customers, to achieve competitive advantage. Basically a business process divides in to three main categories like operational, managerial and support. Business process can be improved by performing current process. Operational category act as main category. Under operational category purchasing, marketing, manufacturing and order processing are running. Strategy and direction are running under managerial category and IT, finance and human resource sections are running under support category.
Business process reengineering techniques mainly apply to organizations/companies because of high operational cost of them, law quality products offered to customers, high bottleneck among business process, poor performance of governing bodies like directors managers or for full fill the customer satisfaction. Business process reengineering can be done by adding value to existing business process. For high performance need to improvements of cost, quality, service and speed of the organization. Cost and cycle time should be less and quality and service should be high for better performance. In organizations business process reengineering changes can be done with several changes, like work units change from functional teams to process units. Capacity of job changing from simple to multidimensional, by changing people roles from controlled to empowered, by job preparation change and by values change from projective to productive like that. Mainly in organization, Business process reengineering changes can be occurred by changes of formal structure of business, work process of business, beliefs of employees and social relationships of organization. Formal structure of business should be changed by better commanding. Work process can be changed by apply better engineering techniques. Beliefs of employees can be changed by teaching and social relationship can be changed by socializing them.
Business process reengineering gain various benefits to organizations in which it was implemented. Performance of organization or company should be improved according to it. After applying better reengineering techniques the flexibility and adaptability of management going to be increased. Employees of organization have to understand every step of the organizational process and should have full control of the whole process. Any problem can have to solve now. As a result organization can produce better product than before. It saves the company which is running at loss.
By controlling all the process under strict control company can gain high quality production from their employees. Also proper management gain less cycle time for different process of production. It helps to improve efficiency among entire production line. This helps to improve employee motivation and their performance. Better environment for employee gain better satisfaction .Also high flexibility helps to make a better environment to employee to work. Quick delivery of product and high efficiency of production process are cause to reduce production cost. The dramatic improvements of leaderships gain better innovation to provide better advantage. | <urn:uuid:2be326b1-be0e-4f2e-bac4-0b141e5e400d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.inside.lk/business/how-the-business-process-to-be-improved-by-bpr/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.952489 | 579 | 1.984375 | 2 |
The Relationship Between Obtaining the Academic Accreditation and Quality of Academic Performance: A Comparative Study
العلاقة بين الحصول على الاعتماد الأكاديمي وجودة الأداء الأكاديمي من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس- دراسة مقارنة بين الكليات العلمية الحاصلة وغير الحاصلة على الاعتماد الأكاديمي في جامعة الملك سعود 2013م -
This study aimed to identify the relationship between obtaining the academic accreditation and quality of academic performance with respect to some elements of the quality related to the students and faculty members as the most important elements of the inputs and outputs of the educational process.
This study was conducted on faculty members in six of the scientific colleges at King Saud University in Riyadh, three of them obtained the accreditation and three of them did not. A Quotas sample has been withdrawn consisted of 296 single, where a questionnaire was distributed. The volume of responses was 246 weighing 83%.
The study found out that (67.9 %) of the respondents in the colleges that received accreditation believes that there is a development in the quality of academic performance in college after obtaining the academic accreditation. The study also showed that (62.2 %) of the respondents in colleges who obtained the accreditation or did not obtain it believes that obtaining the accreditation necessarily leads to a quality in academic performance. As it turns out from the study that there is no relationship between obtaining academic accreditation and the quality of students that is, to obtain accreditation does not necessarily lead to quality learning outcomes of students, where it turns through the views of the respondents that the quality of the outputs of the educational process of students in colleges did not receive the accreditation is higher than in colleges obtained it. The results also showed that there is no relationship between obtaining an academic accreditation and quality performance among faculty members, it became clear that the faculty members in colleges who obtained the accreditation or did not obtain it agree on the quality of the performance of a faculty member. | <urn:uuid:2e77522f-b9c6-4702-a248-9f695ab1201d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://journals.ajsrp.com/index.php/jeals/article/view/4098 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.935023 | 559 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Sunday's letters: Couldn’t spare four minutes?
Really? Four minutes and 10 seconds could not be found for the poet laureate of South Carolina, Marjory Wentworth, to read her poem at Gov. Nikki Haley’s inaugural ceremony? Gov. Haley could not shave this small amount of time off her 40-minute walk down the Statehouse steps?
The poem, a tradition in today’s inaugural ceremonies, is eagerly awaited by many. Who, if they are a certain age, can forget Robert Frost’s reciting of “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s swearing in? Shame on you, powers that be.
Yes, perhaps Wentworth’s poem, “One River, One Boat,” is a little edgy, a bit painful and uncomfortable, but it is spot-on honest. Could it be that the powers that be objected to the lines “Here, where the Confederate flag still flies beside the statehouse, haunted by our past, conflicted about the future”?
We are one people in one boat, and therein lies our strength. Learning from our past gives us fortitude to face our future. Bravo, Marjory Wentworth, for writing this lovely poem, and to James Clyburn for reading it into the record.
This is regarding Bon Haven, the Clevelands’ home, inheritance and heart of hearts.
Let us try the shoe on another foot. Suppose someone owned a magnificent, lovingly restored home in, say, Hampton Heights. Suppose some change in fortune necessitated the sale of this house. Suppose the owners tried for years to find an appropriate buyer, one with the means and the will to save the now neglected home. And then, from on high, came the Board of Architectural Design and Historic Review with the pronouncement, “Your buyer wants to put in new windows, so you can’t sell to him.”
Spartanburg loves beautiful old houses. The saving of the DuPre House was a great idea. Unfortunately, our funding and our resolve were not commensurate with the resources required to rescue it. Thank goodness the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine had a dollar to buy that one from us.
Many of us have grown up marveling at the beautiful and mysterious old home on the corner of Church and Asheville Highway, the one that disappears in the trees in summertime and re-emerges in the fall. Many in this town have enjoyed its gracious hospitality.
Who among us has paid a penny for this privilege? Let those who have paid the price, and who love it beyond measure, now save it. We have no right to interfere.
I have known Dexter Cleveland since we were children, and I know of few people who love family history and preservation more than he does. Before we had a historic district in Spartanburg, he was preserving store/office buildings on Magnolia and Main streets. He has worked tirelessly to maintain Bon Haven over the years and has promoted it (sadly unsuccessfully) to many entities for adaptive re-use here.
I join those who admire Bon Haven. It is a wonderful example of Second Empire architecture. but I also admire and support Dexter Cleveland, who, in order to “save” Bon Haven, has made what I’m sure was a very hard decision: to sell it to someone who obviously loves it enough to rebuild it and preserve it in Mississippi. | <urn:uuid:cc12e0fc-4cd2-492e-9268-ec7175917f59> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.goupstate.com/story/opinion/letters/2015/01/18/sundays-letters-couldnt-spare-four-minutes/30084066007/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.965366 | 748 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Students in the Studio Art program are getting attention on campus with a live t-shirt printing session, using their original designs. The “ImPRESS Yourself” event is happening outside Togo Salmon Hall all day today.
There is a suggested donation of $10 per design for those who bring their own t-shirts. Extra shirts will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis for $20, including the design.
The session was inspired by the program’s visiting artist, Ryan O’Malley, professor of printmaking at Texas A&M.
“This is an example of 600 year-old technology in the twenty-first century,” said O’Malley. “When people can see how an image is made, they feel more connected to it.”
John Ford, professor in the program, said the project provides students an entrepreneurial opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in class. Students are printing fine art images and generating populist, wearable art, he said.
“The first response from students is, ‘I’m afraid,’ and they have to learn quickly that there’s a sense of immediacy,” said O’Malley. “They have to get out there and make art, not worrying about their marks.”
“A lot of students at McMaster don’t know there’s a studio art program here,” said Keisha Neoma-Quinn, a third-year studio art student. “We’ve never done a live printing session, and I think it’s important for us to get our art out on campus.”
“One guy had his rep suit printed, and another person brought their jean jacket. It’s pretty cool to see what people are bringing,” said Neoma-Quinn.
T-shirts can be bought in TSH-114, which is also home to the university’s fine arts studio. Proceeds from the event will go toward other student initiatives in the Studio Art program such as visiting artists and educational programming. | <urn:uuid:f3f43242-9f03-4d88-8493-9207f7af9d9a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thesil.ca/studio-art-students-impress-with-live-t-shirt-prints | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.960682 | 447 | 1.609375 | 2 |
It All Starts with Hearing
Hearing First believes every child deserves the opportunity to have access to all the sounds of speech, a critical component of early brain development. The earlier a baby with hearing loss is given access to sound and a rich language environment, the better the probability for them to develop grade-level literacy and reach their full potential. Hearing First is committed to supporting families at every step of their child’s journey to reach positive listening and spoken language outcomes.
Increased awareness of newborn hearing screening (NHS) and the importance of hearing for brain development can reduce delays in amplification or implantation from years or months to those critical early weeks. When parents know what’s at stake, they act urgently.
With that in mind, the Starts Hear national awareness campaign launched to inform soon-to-be parents about newborn hearing screening. The campaign reaches hundreds of thousands of expectant moms where they spend time — on social media, YouTube, and pregnancy websites. Starts Hear educates about the NHS so parents are prepared with next steps should their baby fail. By increasing awareness among women during pregnancy, the biggest impact to reduce loss to follow-up and loss to documentation could be achieved.
The data shows — the campaign is working! Hundreds of thousands of moms are now informed about the importance of their baby’s hearing and empowered to take action. | <urn:uuid:e9795aad-3b8c-4677-98a3-f7b95ee6b8fc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hearingfirst.org/starts-hear-awareness-campaign | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.942123 | 276 | 2.6875 | 3 |
A company has been fined after multiple health and safety failings were found at a site in Bishop Auckland.
Acting on concerns raised, HSE visited the steel supplies site in 2019 ,finding wholly inadequate management of health and safety. It also came to light that two workers had been injured on separate occasions whilst operating machinery at the premises. In June 2019, an employee was struck and injured by a work piece and suffered an injury to his right hand. In July 2019, an agency worker suffered a finger amputation whilst manually removing a piece of metal near the unguarded blade of another machine.
An investigation by HSE found the company had failed to prevent access to the dangerous moving parts on both machines. These machines were metal rebar forming machines and had been used at the site for a number of years. In addition to the guarding faults, HSE also found the emergency stop and safety devices wired out on one of the machines.
Furthermore, the machinery risk assessments were substandard and staff were trained to operate the machines in an unsafe manner. The company also had a forklift truck in daily use, despite it having defective brakes.
Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies (UK) Limited, of Flemington Industrial Estate, Motherwell pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Regulations 5(1) and 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 9(3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
At Durham Crown Court the company was fined £450,000 and ordered to pay £41,239.51 costs.
After the hearing, HSE lnspector Clare Maltby said: “Companies have a duty of care to those they employee and HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action.”
Notes to Editors
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. HSE: Information about health and safety at work
- More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ | <urn:uuid:cd2e21b7-68df-4a1b-9b45-19739831c4ae> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://press.hse.gov.uk/2022/07/15/company-fined-for-multiple-safety-failings/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.973392 | 480 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Yin Yoga embraces the essence of Taoist philosophy: living in harmony with nature. It’s a calm, restorative, healing approach that balances the Yang, active, and often aggressive nature of being that predominates our society. Try this summer yin yoga sequence to stay balanced this season.
According to Taoism and Chinese Medicine, humans are actually microcosms of nature. Summer is related to the element of fire and to the Heart and Small Intestine organs in the human body, as well as the Pericardium & Triple Burner (which do not exist as functional organs in Western anatomy). When the energetic channels that connect to these organs are out of balance, we could experience more heat in the body which may manifest as:
- high fever
- high blood pressure
- constipation/dry stools
- sleep disturbances
Through yin yoga, we can increase energy flow in the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and Triple Burner channels. The slow, mindful, yin approach is cooling in nature and is the perfect solution to the problems mentioned above. By cooling and grounding in the heat of summer, we can also maintain inner harmony. Try this Summer Yin Yoga sequence to stay cool & balanced!
Cool Down With This Summer Yin Yoga Sequence
This Summer Yin Yoga sequence dilates the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and Triple Burner energetic channels (in addition to all the others that reside in the upper body). Hold each posture for 2-5 minutes while releasing with gravity. As you let go in the muscles, the stretch will move deeper into the connective tissue, which is where the energetic channels reside. Stretching the connective tissue is perfectly safe as long as you’re not moving quickly in and out of the shape.
You’ll experience more space and freedom in the chest, arms, upper back, neck, and around the scapula in addition to finding equanimity in the heart and a wider perspective in the mind.
Eagle arms forward bend
Stand with your feet hip joint width apart or slightly wider. Reach your arms out in front and cross them over your chest at the upper arms. If you have the flexibility, continues winding around the forearms and joining up the palms. Let your knees bend as you fold forward at the hips. Allow your arms and head to be heavy to release around the scapula, upper back, and neck where the Small Intestine channels traverse. After holding for 1-2 minutes, unwind the arms, allowing them to hang. Repeat on the other side.
Prone Arm Cross
Lay on your belly and start with your arms out to the side. Sweep them forward as you lift your torso away from the ground and cross deeply at the upper arms. Reach the fingers away from each other. Once at your maximum stretch, relax your weight down onto the arms. When ready to exit, engage your core muscles to lift the torso and gently unwind the arms. Rest in neutral, prone, until ready to cross the arms the other way.
1/4 Downward Dog
From hands and knees, place one forearm to the ground under the shoulders perpendicular to the spine. Reach the other arm straight out in front. Relax your chest down and forearm down. You may want to stretch in cat pose before going to the other side.
Come down onto your belly again for a deep chest/front shoulder stretch. Bring one arm out to the side with the elbow bent and palm down (this position creates a deeper stretch than with the arm straight and palm turned up). Use your other hand to tip your body over to the side. Place your legs in a position that helps you stay sideways for the appropriate amount of time. Rest on your belly in neutral, then go to the other side.
Fish in Reclined Bound Angle
Sit up with the soles of your feet together and your knees opening out to the sides from your hips. Place your hands under your buttocks. Lift your chest, reclining onto your forearms. If it feels safe, slowly bring your head to the ground.
Lay on your back with your feet on the ground, knees bent. Lift one leg, crossing it deeply at the upper thighs. Continue bringing the knees over into the direction of the cross. Open your chest to the other side, letting your arm move over head or out to the side to open the chest. Turn your head in the direction that feels best for your neck.
Be sure that you’re moving out of the Yin postures just as slowly as you’re moving into them. In between postures, give yourself some time in stillness to observe the energy circulating through your body into the places that need it. End in Savasana or a seated meditation. | <urn:uuid:92870102-af01-484a-bffe-8c843ae97d22> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://falconhealingarts.com/cool-ground-with-this-summer-yin-yoga-sequence/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.919268 | 1,018 | 1.898438 | 2 |
It is an easy assumption to believe that every generation had the same challenges and growing pains as any other.
The truth is even generational experts admit that Millennials and Generation Z have encountered specific and unique challenges in their quest to build financial stability and the best financial life possible in this ever-evolving, ever-changing 21st century. While some older Millennials may have secured themselves a home and started families, this era’s young adults as a whole have yet to root themselves in financial confidence, even more so actual wealth.
Considering a troubled housing market, the still-lingering effects of COVID, rising inflation, and competing corporate philosophies between in-office vs. remote work preferences, and more, these two generations are experiencing a rather large amount of uncertainty – both in their goals of achieving their personal finance objectives and their positions in the workplace.
So a big question seems to be: What are the most significant and foundational challenges Millennials and Gen Z face in their young lives and careers, and how might credit unions help them navigate these unpredictable times?
Millennials and Gen Z want financial literacy from their chosen institutions
Integrating financial literacy initiatives for young credit union members is important for Millennials and Gen Z, and it’s actually what both groups claim they desire more from their given financial institutions. They believe improving and achieving financial health is just as important as their physical health, particularly Gen Z.
The ironic challenge to that sentiment is that while financial literacy rates are low across all five generations, Gen Z registered the lowest, according to the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Institute (GFLEC) at the George Washington University School of Business.
“These findings indicate that individuals typically begin adulthood with low financial literacy and while it increases over time, financial literacy nevertheless tends to remain low,” says Paul Yakoboski, Senior Economist at the TIAA Institute. “Furthermore, financial wellness across generations tends to be more compromised among those with lower financial literacy.”
The good news is that despite the economic unpredictability created by the COVID pandemic, that kind of uncertainty has also underscored the need and desire for Americans to improve their personal financial knowledge. The numbers appear to support that sentiment: 39 percent of survey respondents claim they are now motivated to key in on their financial literacy objectives and goals. That feeling is more common among these younger generations, with 52 percent of Gen Z respondents appearing the most focused.
A concern for Millennials and Gen Z is that financial literacy and wellness classes aren’t even the dominant educational resource in which they are investing their attention and time. Rather, they are turning to alternative resources and methods to learn how to manage their financial literacy – resources that may not be the most reputable, knowledgeable, or intentional in getting students or viewers to their objectives or goals.
Reach out and be that reputable financial resource and mentor for your younger communities.
Mental health hurdles concern younger generations
The cultural conversation regarding mental health awareness particularly following the pandemic is increasing, while many corporate offices are establishing more work-from-home or hybrid working arrangements.
It’s an important conversation to engage, which carries with it significant risk if not acknowledged and in fact implemented if required.
According to a June 2022 study by the Journal of Affective Disorders, between 2020 and 2021 more than 60 percent of college students met criteria for one or more mental health problems, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2013. Business Journal followed up that statistic by stating “Companies that don’t address and invest in Gen Z’s well-being will pay the higher cost of talent tomorrow.” They cited a report by Mind Share Partners that found half of workers left their jobs in 2021 in part due to issues centering on mental health.
In fact, more than half of both Gen Z (53 percent) and Millennials (51 percent) contend the mental health solutions in the workplace are not advancing quickly enough. While it’s true their employers are openly discussing mental health solutions more openly, the tangible, practical results have not come to fruition. Many workers are financially stressed, but many also claim the workplace is a leading factor in that particular stress, according to a Deloitte Global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial survey.
The Financial Brand highlighted 25-year-old Serrava, who says she’s actually grateful that the traditional workforce has been affected by what she alludes to as the Great Recession. “More jobs are implementing permanent work from home options which I think is the greatest achievement. Restoring the option to stay home and work gives people their lives back.”
The Deloitte report adds, “Businesses have a responsibility to make hybrid work environments work for everyone. A big part of that will be fostering more diverse and inclusive work environments, which account for different working patterns and preferences.”
Millennials and Gen Z are living on the precipice of financial instability
While money and finances may not be the only thing with which Millennials and Gen Z concern themselves, it’s a rightful and deeply-embedded anxiety.
Nearly half of both Millennials (47 percent) and Gen Z (46 percent) claim to live paycheck-to-paycheck while remaining in constant fear they will fail to cover their monthly expenses. The Deloitte survey found that the cost of living – including housing, transportation, and bills – is the top concern for 29 percent of Gen Z and 36 percent for Millennial respondents.
According to DailyPay CMO Jeanniey Walden, with nearly half of young workers living paycheck-to-paycheck it’s no surprise roughly the same number claim burnout, financial stress, and overall economic anxiety.
“This mental health epidemic has been building for years and is now accelerating with inflation-adjusted weekly earnings down 3.9 percent in May,” says Walden. “A distressed worker is a distracted worker and their pain is being felt by employers through losses in productivity, engagement, and retention. The Great Resignation has become the Great Rotation as workers job hop to make ends meet.”
Some groups within Millennials and Gen Z believe they’ll never be able to retire with any level of comfort. Both generations believe the cost of living is simply too high, according to the Deloitte report. It’s a primary concern, above even such worries as unemployment, mental health, health care, and crime.
Misplaced investment in social media as a financial literacy tool
Along with many in prior generations, Gen Z doesn’t believe they were adequately taught personal finance in school, particularly the specific topics they felt were relevant to their financial future. According to GoBankingRate, this missed opportunity resulted in 38 percent of Gen Z learning personal finance from such digital platforms as TikTok, YouTube, and other social media sites. More specifically, 34.3 percent of those respondents specifically cited TikTok and YouTube as their social sites of choice.
Do you believe these are acceptable long-term financial mentorship tools? We don’t either.
It is estimated that around a third of both Gen Z and Millennials will go to the blog of a credit union or other financial institution, so there again lies hope and opportunity for our dogged and ever-continuing financial inclusion efforts.
Want to find out more about the QCash digital life event lending platform? Request to view our demo! | <urn:uuid:32097ea4-3263-45bc-8835-e8205be3e79c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://qcashfinancial.com/4-hurdles-millennials-and-gen-z-are-facing-and-how-credit-unions-may-help/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.950195 | 1,526 | 2.484375 | 2 |
About the CMN
How It Began
The CMN was developed and continues to address the urgent need of local treatment options within primary care settings by building capacity and competencies within family physicians and primary care team members such as nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and social workers. The CMN was initiated under the work of the Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative (PHC ORI), and now continues after the completion of the initiative. The ACFP proudly continues the work of the CMN, which includes supporting additional knowledge translation and education opportunities for its members.
Building Capacity for Tomorrow
After the PHC ORI came to an end, the ACFP endeavored to continue and expand the work and scope of the CMN. Through support from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addiction Program, the ACFP is able to expand the CMN to include primary care multidisciplinary team members. The CMN continues to look for unique and adaptive ways to increase the capacity of primary care teams in the areas of chronic pain and substance use.
Please note this is not a referral service.
- Provide practical, evidence based, and relevant complex clinical care continuing professional development (CPD) and supporting reference material based on learning needs
- Enhance the capacity of family physicians, their team and increase connections to community partners in providing complex clinical care of patients with chronic pain and addiction
- Provide a platform for integration among primary care and specialty care
- Include persons with lived experience in the educational components of this network | <urn:uuid:3a0e51fc-04a4-4335-9897-c9746f7c1e4d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://cmnalberta.com/about/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.951124 | 312 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Forget Dodd-Frank and Basel III, big banks are under attack by old, obscure banking laws that are being dusted off to take aim at the behemoths that are often too big to prosecute using the ordinary measures they’re prepared to battle. As banks face mounting fines and capital requirements levied by regulators, could the staggering cost of litigation further burden bottom lines and lead to layoffs?
In the latest effort, a U.S. federal judge this week said that the Justice Department can use a savings-and-loan era law in cases against Wall Street titans, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Bank of New York Mellon.
Is the Job Market Ripe for the Revival of the Rogue Trader?
Reining in top banker pay does nothing to deter fraud down the ranks
Why big bank and hedge fund bosses dodge the bullet in trading fraud
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said a "straightforward application of the plain words" of the Financial Institutional Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act is permissible in the government's case, which is set for trial on Sept. 23. Prosecutors claim that a program started in 2007 by Countrywide called "High Speed Swim Lane,” or "HSSL" (Hustle,) caused thousands of fraudulent and defective mortgages being sold to Fannie and Freddie.
The FIRREA law enacted in the aftermath of the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s was designed to revamp the savings and loan industry and regulation of thrifts, not as a weapon against the biggest banks.
The act gives the government broad authority to bring civil claims, has a low burden of proof, strong subpoena power and a 10-year statute of limitations, double the time of most fraud cases.
Fighting strange laws will run up big bills for the banks already burdened by legal costs. Global banks already are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on legal costs each quarter.
Take Bank of America. The second-largest U.S. bank by assets spent $881 million on litigation in the first quarter. In June, the bank said it would pay $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit led by pension funds and other investors who claim they were misled about $350 billion worth of mortgage-backed investments they bought from Countrywide.
BofA President and CEO Brian T. Moynihan has been slashing costs in an effort to swell profits as the bank forks over enormous sums for three big government lawsuits. It’s been less than a year since the bank axed 16,000 jobs and outsourced property reviews to India, even on the heels of 40% rise in mortgage production.
The growing threats to banks are global. FIRREA isn’t the first little-used law has been lifted from its grave to go after global banks.
New York’s Department of Financial Services invoked an obscure banking law to revoke consultants’ access to confidential supervisory information if the access does not “serve the ends of justice and the public advantage.”
In June, Deloitte agreed to a one-year suspension from soliciting new consulting work from hundreds of financial institutions and agreed to $10 million to New York amid a major crackdown on independent consulting firms. DFS cited Deloitte’s “misconduct, violations of law, and lack of autonomy” in its review of anti-money laundering practices at Standard Chartered.
DFS fined Standard Chartered $340 million last year to settle allegations that the U.K. bank hid from regulators critical details involving at least $250 billion in transactions with Iran and potentially violated U.S. sanctions policy. DFS claimed Deloitte “aided” the bank’s “deception” in hiding transactions linked to Iran.
When U.S. state and federal authorities last December decided to not indict HSBC in a money-laundering case, it became as much an issue of the type of law being invoked as it was a case of illegal or legal actions.
HSBC agreed to a record $1.92 billion settlement with authorities amid accusations it transferred billions of dollars for nations like Iran and enabled Mexican drug cartels to move money illegally through its American subsidiaries.
But the federal Bank Secrecy Act that requires financial institutions to report any cash transaction of $10,000 or more and to alert regulators of suspicious activity was never intended to target the international banking system.
Congress passed the BSA in 1970 to fight money laundering in the U.S. and to prevent financial institutions from being used as vehicles by criminals to hide or launder dirty money. Besides, what HSBC did was legal in the U.K.
A newer, yet lesser-known law will make it harder to hide money overseas. The U.S. and Canada this week agreed to enact the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act to keep super rich Americans from secretly scrolling away millions in the Cayman Islands.
The 2010 Fatca law forces foreign banks, including the Royal Bank of Canada, HSBC, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, UBS and CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, to report their accounts to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or face being slapped with as much as a 30% withholding tax.
A group of U.S. senators wants to resurrect a version of the repealed Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act. The lawmakers want a new version of the law that was repealed in 1999 to separate commercial banking activities insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. from institutions that offer services such as investment banking, insurance, swaps dealing, hedge funds and private equity.
Bringing back the 1933 law would directly target the biggest U.S. banks. “Despite the progress we’ve made since 2008, the biggest banks continue to threaten the economy,” said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “The four biggest banks are now 30% larger than they were just five years ago, and they have continued to engage in dangerous, high-risk practices that could once again put our economy at risk.”
As odd as these laws and their interpretations may seem, at least they’re not evoking any (obviously) fascist laws.
Stephan Götzl, president of Bavarian banking association Genossenschaftsverbands Bayern (GVB), compared the European Commission’s proposal for or a single authority to oversee the winding down of Europe’s troubled banks to the Enabling Act, a1933 amendment to the Weimar Constitution that gave the Nazis the power to enact laws without the involvement of Germany’s legislative body the Reichstag.
“We in Germany have had a bad experience with enabling acts,” Götzl said last month in response to a presentation by Michel Barnier, EU commissioner for internal market and services a regional banking convention in Munich.
Follow the author on Twitter @natashagural | <urn:uuid:4eec8c94-0369-4588-9708-5d0446bac692> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2013/08/the-new-threat-to-global-banks-isnt-new-and-it-could-costs-jobs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.945697 | 1,436 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Eleven links for 11/11/11…
Give the Gift of Music — Winning essays from Give the Gift of Music’s autumn contest. Incredibly moving stories of how music and lyrics have inspired and helped others.
Fight for the Future — Worcester Mag profiles the “Fight for the Future” group, which is based in Worcester, MA, and debate over rogue sites legislation. Some quotes from yours truly in there.
Everything looks like a nail: the “social music” fallacy — A thought provoking essay from Fingertips Music. “Music is made to be shared? No, it isn’t. Unless you happen to run a large, international social media company. In which case, everything is made to be shared.”
5 ways we ruined the Occupy Wall Street Generation — It’s from Cracked Magazine, but still pretty observant. Number 2: “Creating the idea that entertainment has no monetary value.” The author writes, “See, when piracy hit Hollywood, they didn’t stop funding blockbusters — they stopped funding edgy, creative movies. They’re going with safer and safer bets. Piracy did that. We got that ball rolling, and there is no going back. Instead of Reservoir Dogs, we get Jack & Jill … and you have no idea how deeply sorry I am for that.”
How movie money works — “When you read articles claiming every Hollywood movie loses money, an obvious question arises: ‘Why do they keep making them, then?'” Screenwriter John August answers this question via podcast. Very informative.
Authors and Book Piracy — Literary agent Rachelle Gardner gives authors information and advice about book piracy.
On rogue websites legislation: when you’ve got them by the bucks, their hearts and minds will follow — Chris Castle, writing at the Huffington Post, ponders about opposition to rogue sites legislation from venture capitalists. “The good guys know that there is a difference between innovation and theft — but while this seems obvious, that distinction seems to be lost in a grandiose belief that the positive effects of crime are justified by ‘innovation’ and ‘Internet freedom.'”
The facts on PROTECT-IP and the Stop Online Piracy Act: What are rogue sites? — Sandra Aistars separates fact from fiction about what types of sites are targeted by legislation in the US House and Senate. Says Aistars, “The bills don’t regulate the Internet. They regulate bad actors.”
Counterfeit Military Parts “Threaten the Safety and Mission Readiness of our Armed Forces” — Counterfeit parts, often defective, are a rising problem in defense supply chains. A recent Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the subject, and rogue sites legislation in the House and Senate include provisions to deal with this problem.
Celebrating the Fortieth Anniversary of Justice Breyer’s Article The Uneasy Case for Copyright — The George Washington Law Review recently held a symposium to celebrate current Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s seminal article written 40 years ago. Six articles, plus an esssay by Breyer himself, are available at the GWLR site. I especially recommend Stan J. Liebowitz’s Is Efficient Copyright a Reasonable Goal?
Drassinower on Copyright Infringement & Compelled Speech — “Copyright infringement is wrong because it is compelled speech.” This academic paper from Abraham Drassinower develops a rights-based justification for copyright as a communicative act. Certainly not light reading, but very interesting. | <urn:uuid:aaa12a19-1805-4c8e-bca8-7ae61d7e88ac> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.copyhype.com/2011/11/fridays-endnotes-the-elevenses/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.923482 | 807 | 1.625 | 2 |
Rutherford County, TN—A total of five participants in the Rutherford County Recovery Court program will graduate on May 25.
“This program has an uncanny way of changing lives for the better,” remarked Judge Turner. “Every aspect of a graduate’s life is improved: emotional, physical, mental and even financial. The funding that fuels this program is some of the best money spent in our criminal justice system.”
“I am incredibly proud of these individuals and their commitment to do better and be better,” said Mayor Ketron. “Participation in the Recovery Court program is voluntary. By taking this step, they are turning their lives around, and impacting their families, and even our community, in a very positive way.”
Though voluntary, those who apply to the program have to be approved by the District Attorney’s Office and the originating judge.
Director of Recovery Courts Trish Breeding says once approved, participants are put through a very strenuous program. “Recovery Court is a minimum of eighteen months,” said Breeding. “Each participant has worked their way through five phases that include case management, group counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, and individual therapy. While in the program, they report to court for status dates monthly, at minimum, and are drug screened frequently. Participants must maintain gainful employment while in the program.”
The program offers classes including but not limited to: relapse prevention, moral reconation treatment, emotions class, peer support group, yoga, meditation, acudetox, seeking safety, dialectical behavioral therapy skills groups, and other therapeutic groups.
“For these individuals, graduation means they have demonstrated personal growth and sustained recovery,” said Breeding. “The hard work and efforts of the clients often means they have gotten better jobs, obtained their driver’s license, and experienced family reunification.”
For more information about Rutherford County’s Recovery Court Programs, please visit: http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/recovery-court/index.htm. | <urn:uuid:3d1152a7-3997-4513-8e88-5ec4b019487a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/68253/five-to-graduate-from-rutherford-county-recovery-court-may-25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.948602 | 436 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The life sciences were the big winners of European Young Investigators Awards Ceremony
The life sciences were the big winners of European Young Investigators Awards Ceremony.
Life sciences scoop the European Young Investigators Awards with projects on stem cell biology, genomic imprinting and more among the 25 winning research investigations to be led by talented young scientists.
With award money comparable to that offered by the Nobel Prize, the annual European Young Investigator Awards gives candidates more than a kick-start to their careers as lead researchers in cutting-edge scientific disciplines, ranging from understanding psychosis, seismology and the full moon, to the dynamics of molecules on organic transistors and new miniature bio-fuel cells.
EURYI provides skilled young scientists worldwide with a chance to create their own research teams in European research centres. The awards are given on the basis of the young researchers’ future potential, and their academic and research excellence.
With more than 450 applications filed in response to the 2005 call for proposals, competition was high for the final 25 grants. The successful candidates on hand in Prague to receive their awards of between €1 and €1.25 million will base their future work in 11 countries – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
As testament to its growing importance in Europe, nearly one-third of the 25 young researchers were in the life sciences field.
Read the full story at BioSociety News: Life sciences scoop the European Young Investigators Awards
15 June 2022
Startup Call Invites New Businesses to Turku | <urn:uuid:b995a8d4-5fda-486e-9ce1-25bf8ba3498d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://scanbalt.org/scanbalt-news/life-sciences-big-winners-european-young-investigators-awards-ceremony/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.936312 | 324 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Abel Paz, Durruti in the Spanish revolution
Durruti was the ultimate working-class hero: carrying the future in his heart and a gun in each pocket. Abel Paz's magnificent biography resurrects the very soul of Spanish anarchism.”—Mike Davis, author of Planet of Slums AK Press has commissioned an elegant, new and unabridged translation of the definitive biography of Spanish revolutionary and military strategist, Buenaventura Durruti. But Abel Paz, who fought alongside Durruti in the Spanish Civil War, has given us much more than an account of a single man’s life. Durruti in the Spanish Revolution is as much a biography of a nation and of a tumultuous historical era. Paz seamlessly weaves intimate biographical details of Durruti’s life—his progression from factory worker and father to bank robber, political exile and, eventually, revolutionary leader—with extensive historical background, behind-the-scenes governmental intrigue, and blow-by-blow accounts of major battles and urban guerrilla warfare. An amazing and exhaustive study of an incredible man and his life-long fight against fascism in both its capitalist and Stalinist forms. Includes Jose Luis Gutierres Molina’s introduction about Abel Paz’s life and the historiography of the Spanish Civil War. Abel Paz was born in 1921. At 15, he joined the Durruti Column and fought in the Spanish Revolution. After the revolution's defeat, he was active as a guerilla fighter against the Franco regime and spent eleven years in prison. He lives in Barcelona, Spain. Chuck Morse founded the Institute for Anarchist Studies, co-edited Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, and founded and edited The New Formulation: An Anti-Authoritarian Review of Books. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. | <urn:uuid:cc5e4f41-cf26-448f-81bd-79e469765823> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://ebookcollective.blogspot.com/2014/03/abel-paz-durruti-in-spanish-revolution.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573540.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819005802-20220819035802-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.932025 | 384 | 2.25 | 2 |
Can Cats Have Dog Food
Can Cats Have Dog Food. Cats and dogs have different nutritional needs and dietary requirements. The truth is, there is no grave concern if a cat eats dog food or if a dog eats cat food.
The occasional use of cat food is not toxic to dogs, but as previously mentioned, it is not ideal. Can cats eat dog food? Dog food isn’t dangerous to cats, but it shouldn’t be eaten in place of cat food on a regular basis.
Since Dog Food Is Not Dangerous For Cats, Eating It Regularly Instead Of Cat Food Is A Bad Idea.
An occasional bite of dog food won't hurt your cat. However, as the days pass, your cat can get sick. A cat's dietary requirement is unique to its nature and the specific minerals it needs for survival are methionine, arginine, and tannins, although they all can also be obtained from meat.
But Dog Food Is Not A Substitute For Cat Food.
As with any abrupt change in diet, you should expect some mild stomach upset. Yes, but only for a very short amount of time or in emergency situations. The truth is, there is no grave concern if a cat eats dog food or if a dog eats cat food.
Not To Mention, Cats Require A Few Nutrients, Like Taurine And Arachidonic Acid (A Type Of At) That Are Not Required By Dogs, And Therefore, Not Always Monitored In Dog Food.
If you are in an emergency situation where you forgot to stop by the store to pick up more cat food and all you have is dog food, feeding it your cat will be fine, dr. But dog food is not a substitute for cat food.they do have many of the same ingredients. A cat can eat some dog food without illness even though it’s not the best nutrition for them.
The Dog’s Food Contains Higher Variations And Fiber.
Top best answers to the question «can i give cats canned dog food» answered by annetta kertzmann on sun, feb 14, 2021 7:01 am. Your cat obviously wants to give it a try. So, you can feed your cat with dog food in an emergency, but administrating dog food daily won’t cover their nutritional needs in the long term.
This Is Due To The Fact That Canine And Cat Meals’ Formulation Have Unique Dietary Additives On The Way To Meet The Unique Dietary Wishes Of Those Breeds.
Both dogs and cats have a wide range of nutritional requirements which may be why theyre able to tolerate the odd bit of dry food or food ration. Feline curiosity can get the better of your cat. But cat food is specially formulated for a cat's needs, which include more protein as well as certain vitamins and fatty acids. | <urn:uuid:9fe1b08e-b334-4f56-9a09-b106b46c848d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://rileymorrisonauthor.com/can-cats-have-dog-food/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.929983 | 592 | 1.945313 | 2 |
- Paid parental leave has gained status as a mainstream benefit, according to a new Mercer poll on managing absence and disability. More than 40% of employers surveyed said they offer workers paid parental leave, a 16% increase from Mercer's 2015 survey.
- While more employers offer paid parental leave with both birth and non-birth parents covered, the survey showed that birth parents usually get more time off than non-birth parents. Birth parents receive a median of six weeks while non-birth parents receive four, in general. The average length of leave for either party has not changed since the 2015 survey. In other results, more employers offer paid parental leave for adoptive parents and more allow workers to use their own paid sick leave to care for family members.
- Mercer said in its press release that the rise in employers offering paid parental leave may have been prompted by states and local governments offering this benefit. It advised employers to ensure the effectiveness of their leave plans by: 1) reviewing their current leave policies to make sure they align with statutory mandates; 2) revisiting leave policies to see how they stack up against Mercer's own survey benchmarks; and 3) being aware of changing administration requirements.
Paid leave is becoming a vital workplace benefit, mostly because employees need and value it and employers see it as a means of retaining workers, especially in a tight labor market. An Unum poll released in August showed paid family leave is a top work benefit, besides health coverage, because of its mass appeal to all workers with caregiving duties, not just parents. Employers looking for more reason to adopt this benefit will want to know that employers providing paid family and medical leave will receive a new tax credit.
Paid parental leave has caught on with retail employers. Many are offering it to hourly workers in hopes that the benefit will lower the high turnover rates normally associated with the industry. Retailers are beginning to realize, it seems, that hourly workers earning low wages can't afford to take time off and sacrifice pay so they can care for children or other family members. As the current labor market favors workers, retailers are doing everything they can to attract and retain talent.
Companies like PwC have become innovative with their paid parental leave benefits. The company offers a phased return to work program that allows new parents to work 60% of their normal schedules at 100% of their salaries. The plan gives employees extra time to spend with their newborns, while easing them back into their work routines without losing pay.
Of course, the patchwork of state and local mandates covering paid parental leave and other benefits do pose a challenge to employers. Meanwhile, employers need to know which laws apply in the locations where they operate to make sure they comply. | <urn:uuid:fa2d8575-1c89-477f-826f-2caf148be0a8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hrdive.com/news/mercer-paid-parental-leave-is-now-a-mainstream-benefit/540439/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.97066 | 560 | 1.5625 | 2 |
A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875
The parish of Logie, anciently Logie-mar, was annexed to Coldstone in the year 1618. Logie is derived from the Gaelic Lag, which signifies a hollow, and is very descriptive of the lower lying portions of the parish. There is no tradition as to the origin of Coldstone, or Colstane, as it is pronounced, but in the Gaelic language the conjoined names would be Lug-cul-duine, which means "the hollow behind the fort."
The parish is bounded on the north by Towie, and two detached portions of the parish of Tarland and Migvie; on the east by the parish of Tarland proper, part of Coull, and part of Aboyne; on the south and south-west by Aboyne and Glenmuick, Tullich, and Glengairn; and on the west by Strathdon.
The greatest breadth of the parish from south-east to north-west, in a direct line from the lowermost point on the burn of Coldstone, near Tarland, to the Lodge of Deskryshiel, is 6½ miles; and the greatest length, from south-east to north-west, including the intersecting portion of Tarland (Migvie), and in a direct line from Goukstone on the burn of Dinnet, to Boltingstone, on the water of Deskry, is seven miles. The whole area is computed to be 13,624 acres.
A high ridge of hills runs westward from the Cushnie Hills in the north-east corner of the parish, and along the Towie boundary, to the slack of the hills over which the public road crosses to Donside by Boltingstone. The highest point on this range, the Broomhill of the Daugh, is 1,882 feet above sea level, and the summit level of the Boltingstone road is 1,214 feet. A westerly ridge of hills run from Boltingstone, on the Deskry, southwards to Morven, whose summit stands conspicuous in the south-western corner of the parish, and is 2,954 feet; the bridge at Boltingstone is 996 feet; and the lowermost point in the parish, on the Deskry, near Rippachy, is 966 feet. The church of Logie-Coldstone is 608 feet, and the lowermost point on the burn of Coldstone which is within half a mile of the village of Tarland is about 430 feet above sea level The lowermost point, in the parish on the water of Dinnet at Goukstone is about 590 feet.
The general appearance of the old parish of Logie, which occupies the southern division, is flat, but interspersed with small rounded knolls, which are either cultivated or planted; the surface of the eastern division consists of long irregular rounded ridges rising from the streams into the higher hills of Melgum (in Gaelic Meall-gulm, which means "the gloomy hills"); the aspect of the country is bleak and bare. The surface of the western or Coldstone division is hilly and irregular the lower parts of the valley by Coldstone and Kinaldy are well cultivated, so are the higher parts, by Groddie and Knocksoul, lying contiguous to the western mountains which are cold, rocky, heathy and bleak and barren. The eastern side of the valley of the Deskry which belongs to this parish is comparatively narrow with little cultivated land along it, from Boltingstone upwards to the Deskry-shiel Shooting Lodge, and its clump of stunted firs and larch trees.
As this parisb borders on the Aberdeenshire Highlands, and some of the natives may have a predilection for the Gaelic, which seems to have been the language of the whole country. Of this language there are many traces, which names either mark the local situation, or refer to what has taken place in former times. Of the names of places we havc Corrachree, standing in a very prominent position near Tarland, and the name, in Gaelic, Cruach-ruighe, signifies "the shealing on the round hill;" Ruthven, in Gaelic Ruadh-abhuin, "the red stream;" Tillychermach in Gaelic Tulach-Charmaig, "St. Cormack's height;" Pittentagart, in Gaelic, Pitt-an-t-sagairt, "the priest's hollow;" Pitloine, in Gaelic, Pit-a-lean, or lane, "the hollow of the plain;" Tomachar, in Gaelic, Tom-machair, "the knoll of the field"; Kinaldy, in Gaelic, Ceann-allt-dubh "the head of the dark stream;" and Water-erne, "the east running stream;" as Strath-earn, or Strath-ear-an, signifies "the valley of the east running water."
[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875] | <urn:uuid:0cfd3ade-cf3b-458a-9872-01f444fe8795> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ABD/Logiec/description | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.949062 | 1,113 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Repost with Note | Ramola D | July 17, 2022
In a recent webinar with Teri Kealoha Sahm, the Washington State co-ordinator of the Washington State Assembly–the July 11 webinar, Anna von Reitz discussed a fact in law which many are waking to today, that driver’s licenses are actually permits to engage in commerce using a vehicle and don’t apply to most Americans with cars, a fact supported by numerous statements and citations from court cases including Supreme Court cases.
Traveling from Point A to Point B while not engaging in commerce of any kind (for instance as an Uber driver) is what most people use their cars and SUVs for on a daily basis, which means most people don’t need licenses–licenses themselves by definition comprising a permit to engage in something ostensibly illegal, in this case operate a motor vehicle within the “de facto” US-citizen government system, part of a long-seated fraud given the construct of all governments as corporations.
This is something many who have been exploring living privately and reclaiming one’s sovereignty have known for long; Anna has recently posted an article as well (reposted below) listing the court cases where judges have historically published the determination that Americans don’t need driver’s licenses if traveling non-commercially.
The frequent occurrence however of state and local police stopping travelers for random reasons (tail light blown out a common ruse) and demanding to see driver’s licenses has not stopped.
The thing that needs to be done, Anna suggests is to get private license plates — a sign of lifetime ownership of the vehicle as opposed to getting State license plates which register the car with the state government corporation. These are a Regulation Z “remedy” afforded to all Americans in the federal Highway and Safety Act, and the way to implement it is to ask the DMV/RMV for Z tags or private license plates, she says. Not all States respond readily, although Alaska does, reveals Anna. Yet it is a remedy available to all Americans, one which needs to be actively pursued as a right to be safeguarded, she recommends. As with all our rights and freedoms, she emphasizes, they need to be exercised in order to reign and remain.
In this short excerpt from the webinar, Anna prefaces her focus on licenses with how the Tennessee Supreme Court case Norton vs Shelby County from 1907 established that statutes and orders issued by non-elected bureaucrats in power–such as Public Health officials–comprise administrative hyperbole and do not apply to the public, and therefore do not need to be obeyed.
A plate and sign maker online specializing in notices and plates for American State Nationals offers to make private license plates for your state here. I would suggest further research however with your de jure state co-ordinator (whom you can find here) as to whether you need to get the plates from your state’s “de facto” DMV/RMV corporation, in effect notifying them as well that you are going to be using private license plates for your car.
Safe Driving: Cautionary Note For All
Further, I would note that understanding and keeping de facto traffic rules and laws is still essential since we all share the roadways while driving, and running regular safety and emissions inspections on cars as the “de facto” governments and DMVs require is also a good thing for the safety of your own vehicle and driving experience which includes others–but all of this is information for every American to individually dig deep into and comprehend themselves.
The great remedy of note here is that Americans who choose not to use driver’s licenses under the “de facto” system can safeguard the privacy of their driving with Regulation Z tag license plates–to prevent being stopped for no reason and challenged for no reason by patrolmen or women.
Stay Aware of Real ID and Digital Health Passports — Which American State Nationals Will Not Need
Something else to keep in mind is that Real ID–a sweeping attempt to further constrain Americans. digitize private information, and replace driver’s licenses as primary means of federal ID for traveling between states or on planes–is just around the corner; pursuing the reclamation of one’s birthright American status via becoming or reclaiming your American state nationality and ensuring you are seen as a free and clear American state national rather than constantly-exploited US Citizen–and thus stepping away from all corporate-enslavement attempts like Real ID and digital health passports to further tie you down–is becoming more and more important today.
Sunday, July 10, 2022
By Anna Von Reitz
Yes, it’s true that if you are an American, you don’t need a Driver’s License to travel on our public roads. That’s the way it is, and the way it has always been. The recent flurry of excitement over the U.S. Supreme Court’s put down of Administrative “Law” in Virginia v EPA misses the whole point.
We, Americans, have never needed a license to travel around this country. Ever. That was decided over a century ago.
Since the 1890’s and early 1900’s, this question has been decided by the Supreme Court and by multiple County, State, and Circuit Courts, always with the same result, which is nicely summed up by Jeffrey Phillips in this compendium of cases proving this point beyond any possible doubt:
I am reposting his information for your convenience (below) so that you can literally see for yourselves how conclusively the issue of “needing or not needing a driver’s license” has been decided. This is by no means the first such compendium of actual court decisions in support of our freedom to travel and to use the public roads for private purposes without licenses. Americans need no “permits” to go wherever we want to go without obstruction or interference from private law enforcement officers aka “patrolmen” arresting and detaining people over “code infractions” that don’t apply to the General Public — and never did.
This is the absolute truth of the matter. The only question is — are you an American? A member of the General Public? And are you using the roads for private, non-commercial purposes?
Our law is simple. If you haven’t injured anyone else or injured anyone else’s property, there is no crime and no issue to be adjudicated and no reason for any Highway Patrolman to stop you.
The all-too typical situation of Patrolman Busybody stopping you because your left tail light is out and issuing you a $100 fine and “order” to get the tail light fixed, is in fact illegal, if you are Jane Doe on her way to pick her kids up from school, or John Doe on his way home from work.
They have no authority to stop you, no authority to fine you, and the only plausible and allowable reason for them to interrupt your day at all, would be to politely inform you that your tail light is out — much as a friend might tell you the same, out of concern for your safety. That’s all. No “tickets” and no “citations” of Motor Vehicle Code should ever be involved in a traffic stop involving a non-commercial driver.
Unfortunately, we have all been strong-armed into “registering” our automobiles as “motor vehicles” and as “public property” when they really aren’t. This forced registration extortion is really at the heart of this debate — not licensing, which has been decided for over a hundred years. It’s the forced registration of private cars and trucks that provides the Highway Patrol with the excuse to “presume” that you are engaged in commercial activities in the first place, even if you aren’t and even if that is perfectly obvious.
In order to pull off their otherwise illegal registration demands, the Perpetrators had to offer remedy to private non-commercial drivers, and that remedy is Regulation Z of the Securities Laws adopted by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. You and your private car are actually exempt from registration requirements and you can claim that exemption as long as you are an American who is not employed by the Federal Government corporations. In many States including Alaska, you simply need to ask for “Z tags” or “Private Plates”.
No, you don’t need a license to travel from Point A to Point B for your own private reasons and you never did need a license to travel. The entire idea behind licensing is rooted in the fact that some people drive as a profession and make their living off of the use of public roads, and some people drive very large and potentially dangerous loads on the public roads — the origin of Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) — as a business. The courts make a distinction between private use — Grandma going to the grocery store — and ABC Trucking, Inc. doing a double-decker long haul via semi-trailer truck from Georgia to Nevada.
And we think that is reasonable. What’s not reasonable is forced registration of our private trucks and cars and obstruction when we claim our Regulation Z remedy. What’s not reasonable is when we have to defend ourselves against Highway Patrolmen threatening us with bodily harm over broken tail lights. What’s not reasonable is when we are being “mistaken” accidentally-on-purpose as foreigners in our own country. And what’s really not reasonable is when our ability to travel freely is being impeded or prevented by rules, codes, regulations, ordinances, mandates, and statutes that don’t apply to us, because someone thinks that they have the right to redefine “interstate commerce”.
Read on for a nice fat list of court citations that absolutely and definitively deal with the issue of whether or not we need a driver’s license when we travel for private purposes — and the answer is “No!” just as it has been since the 1890’s. But be aware that the greater fish to be fried is the imposition of forced and largely false registration of private cars as “motor vehicles” and obstruction of our access to our Regulation Z exemptions.
Thompson v.Smith, 154 SE 579, 11 American Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, section 329, page 1135 “The right of the Citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property thereon, in the ordinary course of life and business, is a common right which he has under the right to enjoy life and liberty, to acquire and possess property, and to pursue happiness and safety. It includes the right, in so doing, to use the ordinary and usual conveyances of the day, and under the existing modes of travel, includes the right to drive a horse drawn carriage or wagon thereon or to operate an automobile thereon, for the usual and ordinary purpose of life and business.” –
Thompson vs. Smith, supra.; Teche Lines vs. Danforth, Miss., 12 S.2d 784 “… the right of the citizen to drive on a public street with freedom from police interference… is a fundamental constitutional right” -White, 97 Cal.App.3d.141, 158 Cal.Rptr. 562, 566-67 (1979) “citizens have a right to drive upon the public streets of the District of Columbia or any other city absent a constitutionally sound reason for limiting their access.”
Caneisha Mills v. D.C. 2009 “The use of the automobile as a necessary adjunct to the earning of a livelihood in modern life requires us in the interest of realism to conclude that the RIGHT to use an automobile on the public highways partakes of the nature of a liberty within the meaning of the Constitutional guarantees. . .”
Berberian v. Lussier (1958) 139 A2d 869, 872, See also: Schecter v. Killingsworth, 380 P.2d 136, 140; 93 Ariz. 273 (1963). “The right to operate a motor vehicle [an automobile] upon the public streets and highways is not a mere privilege. It is a right of liberty, the enjoyment of which is protected by the guarantees of the federal and state constitutions.”
Adams v. City of Pocatello, 416 P.2d 46, 48; 91 Idaho 99 (1966). “A traveler has an equal right to employ an automobile as a means of transportation and to occupy the public highways with other vehicles in common use.”
Campbell v. Walker, 78 Atl. 601, 603, 2 Boyce (Del.) 41. “The owner of an automobile has the same right as the owner of other vehicles to use the highway,* * * A traveler on foot has the same right to the use of the public highways as an automobile or any other vehicle.”
Simeone v. Lindsay, 65 Atl. 778, 779; Hannigan v. Wright, 63 Atl. 234, 236. “The RIGHT of the citizen to DRIVE on the public street with freedom from police interference, unless he is engaged in suspicious conduct associated in some manner with criminality is a FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT which must be protected by the courts.” People v. Horton 14 Cal. App. 3rd 667 (1971) “The right to make use of an automobile as a vehicle of travel long the highways of the state, is no longer an open question. The owners thereof have the same rights in the roads and streets as the drivers of horses or those riding a bicycle or traveling in some other vehicle.”
House v. Cramer, 112 N.W. 3; 134 Iowa 374; Farnsworth v. Tampa Electric Co. 57 So. 233, 237, 62 Fla. 166. “The automobile may be used with safety to others users of the highway, and in its proper use upon the highways there is an equal right with the users of other vehicles properly upon the highways. The law recognizes such right of use upon general principles.
Brinkman v Pacholike, 84 N.E. 762, 764, 41 Ind. App. 662, 666. “The law does not denounce motor carriages, as such, on public ways. They have an equal right with other vehicles in common use to occupy the streets and roads. It is improper to say that the driver of the horse has rights in the roads superior to the driver of the automobile. Both have the right to use the easement.”
Indiana Springs Co. v. Brown, 165 Ind. 465, 468. U.S. Supreme Court says No License Necessary To Drive Automobile On Public Highways/Streets No License Is Necessary Copy and Share Freely YHVH.name 2 2 “A highway is a public way open and free to any one who has occasion to pass along it on foot or with any kind of vehicle.” Schlesinger v. City of Atlanta, 129 S.E. 861, 867, 161 Ga. 148, 159;
Holland v. Shackelford, 137 S.E. 2d 298, 304, 220 Ga. 104; Stavola v. Palmer, 73 A.2d 831, 838, 136 Conn. 670 “There can be no question of the right of automobile owners to occupy and use the public streets of cities, or highways in the rural districts.” Liebrecht v. Crandall, 126 N.W. 69, 110 Minn. 454, 456 “The word ‘automobile’ connotes a pleasure vehicle designed for the transportation of persons on highways.”
-American Mutual Liability Ins. Co., vs. Chaput, 60 A.2d 118, 120; 95 NH 200 Motor Vehicle: 18 USC Part 1 Chapter 2 section 31 definitions: “(6) Motor vehicle. – The term “motor vehicle” means every description of carriage or other contrivance propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used for commercial purposes on the highways…” 10) The term “used for commercial purposes” means the carriage of persons or property for any fare, fee, rate, charge or other consideration, or directly or indirectly in connection with any business, or other undertaking intended for profit. “A motor vehicle or automobile for hire is a motor vehicle, other than an automobile stage, used for the transportation of persons for which remuneration is received.”
-International Motor Transit Co. vs. Seattle, 251 P. 120 The term ‘motor vehicle’ is different and broader than the word ‘automobile.’”
-City of Dayton vs. DeBrosse, 23 NE.2d 647, 650; 62 Ohio App. 232 “Thus self-driven vehicles are classified according to the use to which they are put rather than according to the means by which they are propelled” – Ex Parte Hoffert, 148 NW 20 ”
The Supreme Court, in Arthur v. Morgan, 112 U.S. 495, 5 S.Ct. 241, 28 L.Ed. 825, held that carriages were properly classified as household effects, and we see no reason that automobiles should not be similarly disposed of.”
Hillhouse v United States, 152 F. 163, 164 (2nd Cir. 1907). “…a citizen has the right to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property thereon…” State vs. Johnson, 243 P. 1073; Cummins vs. Homes, 155 P. 171; Packard vs. Banton, 44 S.Ct. 256; Hadfield vs. Lundin, 98 Wash 516, Willis vs. Buck, 263 P. l 982;
Barney vs. Board of Railroad Commissioners, 17 P.2d 82 “The use of the highways for the purpose of travel and transportation is not a mere privilege, but a common and fundamental Right of which the public and the individual cannot be rightfully deprived.”
Chicago Motor Coach vs. Chicago, 169 NE 22; Ligare vs. Chicago, 28 NE 934; Boon vs. Clark, 214 SSW 607; 25 Am.Jur. (1st) Highways Sect.163 “the right of the Citizen to travel upon the highway and to transport his property thereon in the ordinary course of life and business… is the usual and ordinary right of the Citizen, a right common to all.” –
Ex Parte Dickey, (Dickey vs. Davis), 85 SE 781 “Every Citizen has an unalienable RIGHT to make use of the public highways of the state; every Citizen has full freedom to travel from place to place in the enjoyment of life and liberty.” People v. Nothaus, 147 Colo. 210. “No State government entity has the power to allow or deny passage on the highways, byways, nor waterways… transporting his vehicles and personal property for either recreation or business, but by being subject only to local regulation i.e., safety, caution, traffic lights, speed limits, etc. Travel is not a privilege requiring licensing, vehicle registration, or forced insurances.”
Chicago Coach Co. v. City of Chicago, 337 Ill. 200, 169 N.E. 22. “Traffic infractions are not a crime.” People v. Battle “Persons faced with an unconstitutional licensing law which purports to require a license as a prerequisite to exercise of right… may ignore the law and engage with impunity in exercise of such right.”
Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham 394 U.S. 147 (1969). U.S. Supreme Court says No License Necessary To Drive Automobile On Public Highways/Streets No License Is Necessary Copy and Share Freely YHVH.name 3 “The word ‘operator’ shall not include any person who solely transports his own property and who transports no persons or property for hire or compensation.”
Statutes at Large California Chapter 412 p.83 “Highways are for the use of the traveling public, and all have the right to use them in a reasonable and proper manner; the use thereof is an inalienable right of every citizen.” Escobedo v. State 35 C2d 870 in 8 Cal Jur 3d p.27 “RIGHT — A legal RIGHT, a constitutional RIGHT means a RIGHT protected by the law, by the constitution, but government does not create the idea of RIGHT or original RIGHTS; it acknowledges them. . . “ Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1914, p. 2961. “Those who have the right to do something cannot be licensed for what they already have right to do as such license would be meaningless.”
City of Chicago v Collins 51 NE 907, 910. “A license means leave to do a thing which the licensor could prevent.” Blatz Brewing Co. v. Collins, 160 P.2d 37, 39; 69 Cal. A. 2d 639. “The object of a license is to confer a right or power, which does not exist without it.”
Payne v. Massey (19__) 196 SW 2nd 493, 145 Tex 273. “The court makes it clear that a license relates to qualifications to engage in profession, business, trade or calling; thus, when merely traveling without compensation or profit, outside of business enterprise or adventure with the corporate state, no license is required of the natural individual traveling for personal business, pleasure and transportation.”
Wingfield v. Fielder 2d Ca. 3d 213 (1972). “If [state] officials construe a vague statute unconstitutionally, the citizen may take them at their word, and act on the assumption that the statute is void.” –
Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham 394 U.S. 147 (1969). “With regard particularly to the U.S. Constitution, it is elementary that a Right secured or protected by that document cannot be overthrown or impaired by any state police authority.” Donnolly vs. Union Sewer Pipe Co., 184 US 540; Lafarier vs. Grand Trunk R.R. Co., 24 A. 848; O’Neil vs. Providence Amusement Co., 108 A. 887. “The right to travel (called the right of free ingress to other states, and egress from them) is so fundamental that it appears in the Articles of Confederation, which governed our society before the Constitution.”
(Paul v. Virginia). “[T]he right to travel freely from State to State … is a right broadly assertable against private interference as well as governmental action. Like the right of association, it is a virtually unconditional personal right, guaranteed by the Constitution to us all.” (U.S. Supreme Court,
Shapiro v. Thompson). EDGERTON, Chief Judge: “Iron curtains have no place in a free world. …’Undoubtedly the right of locomotion, the right to remove from one place to another according to inclination, is an attribute of personal liberty, and the right, ordinarily, of free transit from or through the territory of any State is a right secured by the Constitution.’
Williams v. Fears, 179 U.S. 270, 274, 21 S.Ct. 128, 45 L.Ed. 186. “Our nation has thrived on the principle that, outside areas of plainly harmful conduct, every American is left to shape his own life as he thinks best, do what he pleases, go where he pleases.” Id., at 197.
Kent vs. Dulles see Vestal, Freedom of Movement, 41 Iowa L.Rev. 6, 13—14. “The validity of restrictions on the freedom of movement of particular individuals, both substantively and procedurally, is precisely the sort of matter that is the peculiar domain of the courts.” Comment, 61 Yale L.J. at page 187. “a person detained for an investigatory stop can be questioned but is “not obliged to answer, answers may not be compelled, and refusal to answer furnishes no basis for an arrest.”Justice White, Hiibel “Automobiles have the right to use the highways of the State on an equal footing with other vehicles.”
Cumberland Telephone. & Telegraph Co. v Yeiser 141 Kentucy 15. “Each citizen has the absolute right to choose for himself the mode of conveyance he desires, whether it be by wagon or carriage, by horse, motor or electric car, or by bicycle, or astride of a horse, subject to the sole condition that he will observe all those requirements that are known as the law of the road.”
Swift v City of Topeka, 43 U.S. Supreme Court says No License Necessary To Drive Automobile On Public Highways/Streets No License Is Necessary Copy and Share Freely YHVH.name 4 Kansas 671, 674. The Supreme Court said in U.S. v Mersky (1960) 361 U.S. 431: An administrative regulation, of course, is not a “statute.” A traveler on foot has the same right to use of the public highway as an automobile or any other vehicle.
Cecchi v. Lindsay, 75 Atl. 376, 377, 1 Boyce (Del.) 185. Automotive vehicles are lawful means of conveyance and have equal rights upon the streets with horses and carriages.
Chicago Coach Co. v. City of Chicago, 337 Ill. 200, 205; See also: Christy v. Elliot, 216 Ill. 31; Ward v. Meredith, 202 Ill. 66; Shinkle v. McCullough, 116 Ky. 960; Butler v. Cabe, 116 Ark. 26, 28-29. …automobiles are lawful vehicles and have equal rights on the highways with horses and carriages. Daily v. Maxwell, 133 S.W. 351, 354.
Matson v. Dawson, 178 N.W. 2d 588, 591. A farmer has the same right to the use of the highways of the state, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle, as any other citizen.
Draffin v. Massey, 92 S.E.2d 38, 42. Persons may lawfully ride in automobiles, as they may lawfully ride on bicycles. Doherty v. Ayer, 83 N.E. 677, 197 Mass. 241, 246;
Molway v. City of Chicago, 88 N.E. 485, 486, 239 Ill. 486; Smiley v. East St. Louis Ry. Co., 100 N.E. 157, 158. “A soldier’s personal automobile is part of his ‘household goods[.]’
U.S. v Bomar, C.A.5(Tex.), 8 F.3d 226, 235” 19A Words and Phrases – Permanent Edition (West) pocket part 94. “[I]t is a jury question whether … an automobile … is a motor vehicle[.]”
United States v Johnson, 718 F.2d 1317, 1324 (5th Cir. 1983). Other right to use an automobile cases: –
EDWARDS VS. CALIFORNIA, 314 U.S. 160 –
TWINING VS NEW JERSEY, 211 U.S. 78 – WILLIAMS VS. FEARS, 179 U.S. 270, AT 274 – CRANDALL VS. NEVADA, 6 WALL. 35, AT 43-44 – THE PASSENGER CASES, 7 HOWARD 287, AT 492 – U.S. VS. GUEST, 383 U.S. 745, AT 757-758 (1966) –
GRIFFIN VS. BRECKENRIDGE, 403 U.S. 88, AT 105-106 (1971) – CALIFANO VS. TORRES, 435 U.S. 1, AT 4, note 6 –
SHAPIRO VS. THOMPSON, 394 U.S. 618 (1969) – CALIFANO VS. AZNAVORIAN, 439 U.S. 170, AT 176 (1978) Look the above citations up in American Jurisprudence. Some citations may be paraphrased.
And there you have it, as nice a listing of appropriate court decisions as you could ask for. Now all you have to do is start educating the politicians and the police and claiming your Regulation Z exemptions, so that the “license plates” serve notice that you are not subject to licensing.
And, as always, be aware that the British Territorial Persons named after you and the Municipal citizens of the United States named after you as UNITED STATES CITIZENS are all subject to all the codes, rules, regulations and statutes.
You’re not, but they are.
So while you are educating the politicians and police, be sure to draw the distinction between you and these “hue-men” persons that have been created using your Good Name and Trademarks without your knowledge or agreement. | <urn:uuid:3dd959a1-6306-4545-8120-1b9c331121ad> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://everydayconcerned.net/tag/private-plates/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.928923 | 6,248 | 1.90625 | 2 |
Explorer Mikael Strandberg has ridden his bike from Chile to Alaska and from Norway to South Africa. He has explored Patagonia on horseback and trekked across East Africa. His journeys have taken him to remote places in Siberia, across the Arabian and Sahara Deserts and deep into the Empty Quarter in Yemen. To say that he knows a thing or two about selecting the right gear for an expedition would be an understatement, as he certainly puts his equipment to the test in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth.
In a blog post published yesterday, Mikael offers some advice to would-be explorers on the gear they’ll need for their own adventures. The post is entitled “25 essential items for the beginning adventurer” and it serves as a great list of basic equipment that we should all have in our gear closets. And while he doesn’t share the specific model of this gear, he does tells us which brand makes the items that he uses. For instance, the number one item on his list is a sleeping bag and the one that Makael takes into the field with him is made by Mountain Hardwear.
Other items include the obvious such as tents, backpacks and boots. But there are a few other items that you might not have thought about when planning your own escape. For example, Mikael reminds us all to bring duct tape because “It can pretty much fix anything!” He also has tools like an axe and saw amongst his essentials and favors a compass over a GPS for a variety of reasons.
I found the post interesting not just because of the gear that Mikael recommends, but also his explanation of why he feels it is important. Some of the stuff may seem extraneous for what you have in mind for your own expeditions, but coming from a guy who has spent a lot of time exploring the world, it is hard to dismiss the suggestions out right. For instance, taking a laptop might sound like a luxury, particularly in terms of extra weight, but it may be your best form of communication back to the world and sending dispatches back from the field is a good way to please any sponsors.
All in all, a good list and definitely a good place to start assembling your own essential gear. | <urn:uuid:d89867a3-1c7d-4fcd-ab10-108fa7488482> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://adventureblog.net/2013/05/mikael-strandbergs-25-essentials-for.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.974119 | 465 | 1.640625 | 2 |
New restrictions on hydrocodone to take effect
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is finalizing new restrictions on hundreds of medicines containing hydrocodone, the highly addictive painkiller that has grown into the most widely prescribed drug in the U.S.
The new rules mean that Vicodin, Percocet and other generic versions will be subject to the same prescribing rules as painkillers like codeine and oxycodone. Patients will be limited to one 90-day supply of medication and will have to see a physician to receive a refill.
The move, announced in a federal posting, comes more than a decade after the Drug Enforcement Administration first recommended reclassifying hydrocodone due to its risks for abuse and addiction. For years, physicians groups and the Food and Drug Administration opposed the move, saying it would create extra work and drive up health care costs. | <urn:uuid:36f4bf8a-faca-4fc6-99d0-b5a72983d4e5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.columbusceo.com/story/business/2014/08/21/new-restrictions-on-hydrocodone-to/22856057007/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.94188 | 181 | 1.710938 | 2 |
In addition to hotels and guesthouses with half or full board accommodation, restaurants, pubs, inns, taverns, pizzerias and “fast food” restaurants can be found in all cities, tourist centres and along main roads. For gourmets, however, restaurants and pubs offering home-cooked “Croatian cuisine” are most interesting. All animal products are under continuous health supervision and subject to the same rules that apply in other European Union countries, so do not be afraid to try any of the available local specialties.
The term “Croatian cuisine” is too broad. As in other countries, although there are differences in the preparation of meals between regions. Continental cuisine around the capital Zagreb and Slavonia is closer to the more northern parts of Europe, while the cuisine of Dalmatia, Istria and Kvarner still can be called mediterranean. And it healthy Mediterranean cuisine is one of the biggest perks for tourists, digestive your summer vacation on the Adriatic coast.
Whether it’s appetizers, soups, main dishes and desserts, the basis for their preparation are almost exclusively in Croatia grown or raised ingredients. An essential part of the best restaurants offer freshly caught fish and seafood – octopus, lobsters, squid, mussels, shrimp, etc.., Whose simple yet healthy and tasty way of preparing would probably not have been possible without the use of lots of vegetables. Almost mandatory for raw materials used in most recipes is good quality virgin olive oil.
Finally, the feast would be complete if you have not tried it on some of the quality Croatian wines Istrian and Dalmatian autochthonous grape sort, domestic brandy (rakija) or some of the local liqueurs – orechovicu, cherry spirit, pink liquor or liqueur and honey (medica) . And if you catch them when they return home nostalgia, you’ll always be able to summon your memories of Croatia, at least so that you according to our recipes prepare some of the dishes that you had the opportunity to taste during their holiday. Enjoy your meal! | <urn:uuid:8778efe0-d6bd-42f7-94af-86a110b56a05> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.chorvatsko24.com/en/gastronomy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933928 | 442 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Global public health organization NSF International has launched a new program that helps hotels, resorts and other hospitality settings prevent food and water contamination. The NSF International StaySafer™ program provides the hospitality industry with credible means to demonstrate the safety of its food and water.
The NSF StaySafer program combines inspection and testing for both a hotel or resort’s water systems and food service operations, which is essential as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than ten million overseas travelers contract illness from food and drinking water. The program includes:
- A review of the establishment’s written policies and procedures for both their food service operations and water systems, including food safety practices and training policies, water source and treatment systems, hotel schematics and plumbing blueprints
- An on-site facility inspection, including an evaluation of water distribution and treatment systems, as well as an evaluation of food service operations
- Annual facility audits and testing to ensure ongoing compliance to the program, including regularly scheduled testing and evaluation for microbiological and chemical contamination of drinking water and ice
Once the hospitality establishment has demonstrated its compliance with the auditing and testing requirements of the program, NSF StaySafer certification is granted. By adhering to these requirements, a hotel with the NSF StaySafer certification will help protect both its guests and its brand.
NSF International Latin America food division managing director Sonia Acuña-Rubio said: "Until today, there has not been a tool in place for consumers to determine the safety of the food and water of the hotel at which they are staying, especially when travelling abroad. The NSF StaySafer program assists the hospitality industry in establishing credible, third-party verified safety and quality programs that are of great value to consumers, travel agencies and hotel review websites."
The NSF StaySafer program also provides hotels, resorts and other establishments access to customized NSF International inspections that would cover other aspects of the hotel operations, such us room cleanliness, workout facilities, bottled water certification, food supplier approval and food equipment certification. These other inspections can be bundled with the NSF StaySafer inspections to provide additional cost savings to certified establishments.
Certified hotels will be listed in NSF’s online listings database and earn the use of the NSF StaySafer mark on marketing materials, displays and websites, so consumers and agencies can easily find compliant hotels. | <urn:uuid:527c6a44-f9bb-4e53-b4de-98985d9e8985> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.water-technology.net/contractors/wastewater/nsf-international-global-testing/pressreleases/press-staysafer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.940379 | 496 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Year 2020 is now history. It was a year that wasn’t. It was a year where the world order changed and life came to a standstill. Many had lost their lives or loved ones. The world was under lockdown for a long time. Physical meeting and touching had become scary. The invisible virus played havoc with the world order.
It had invaded into the freedom of mankind. One could not breathe or speak freely as nose and mouth had to be kept covered with a mask. The economy across the world was badly affected. Games and celebrations whether it be weddings or birthday parties got postponed. Students’ education got affected.
The worst affected industry during the lockdown was the hospitality industry, tourism and airlines. Health crisis turned into economic crisis. Unemployment levels reached a new high and there were large scale layoffs and salary cuts. In short, it was a gloomy year. But then there was good in the gloom. As the year came to an end and the intensity of coronavirus started reducing, interesting developments on the political front have started taking place.
Power struggle is on in West Bengal and the BJP-led NDA government is gearing for ‘one nation one election’. The saffron party is trying harder and harder to expand its footprint in South. It had made some progress in Telangana. It wants to get foothold in Tamil Nadu as well. It also apparently succeeded in reforming the thought process of the Chief Minister of Telangana who thundered saying that he would take on the BJP as it does not have any vision and a political change at national level was the need of the hour and that he would take the lead.
Something serious apparently transpired between K Chandrashekar Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their recent meeting in Delhi. Rao has not only decided to put the proposed ‘federal front’ on back burner but also took a ‘U’ turn after seriously criticising the Central farm laws and calling for an official State bandh saying that it marked its fight against the Centre. Before last kharif season, Rao spoke very high of regulated farming. He said, “We have come up with idea with clear vision of the future.”
He claimed that it would bring revolutionary changes in the agriculture sector in the State and that it was not just designed for a particular season or crop. He also promised to create market facilities for all crops prescribed by his government and said that all these measures were meant to make cultivation profitable business. These measures he said were something no other State or even Central government ever thought of.
But on Sunday he held long discussion with the same officials who hailed Chandrashekar Rao’s decision of regulated farming as a visionary measure. Now the government suddenly realised that what the Centre said in the farm laws was correct. Today’s argument is that sale and purchase of crops is not the responsibility of the government. The government is not a business organisation or a trader.
The new farm laws allow the farmer to sell his produce anywhere he likes and hence there is no need to set up purchase centres in villages. This year it had set up purchase centres in view of the corona pandemic to help the farmers on humanitarian grounds. The same officials who argued in favour of regulated farming and purchase centres now said the State had incurred huge loss due to the purchase of various crops.
Why this change of heart Sir ji? Modi, ever since the pandemic broke out, has been going for a makeover by growing hair and beard but it is surprising that he could bring a change of heart in the thinking of the TS government so fast. Kya Baat Hai? Anyhow, let’s get ready to welcome 2021 with a clear mind that politicians will never change. What seems to matter the most is not people but retaining power. #KhabarLive #hydnews | <urn:uuid:7705f295-096b-4468-a084-edd9c115d910> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://hydnews.net/2020/12/year-2020-of-pandemic-and-political-gimmicks-in-telugu-states/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.98443 | 791 | 1.578125 | 2 |
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The food that you feed to your dog must be healthy and highly nutritious. While it is great to prepare homemade food for your dogs, it may not always be feasible due to the time factor and cost factor. The next best thing you can do is to rely on commercial dog foods. To start with, let’s start with the types of dog foods available in the country.
Commercial dog foods are available in Dry, Semi-wet, and wet forms.
Dry Dog Food
Dry Dog Foods are the most popular dog food relied upon by pet parents across India. Dry Dog foods are extruded kibble-shaped food pellets. It contains only 3% – 7% moisture content that making it last for more days. Dry dog foods are more economical and convenient than wet dog foods.
Semi-wet dog food
Semi-moist dog foods contains 20% – 45% moisture content. Compared to dry dog foods, Semi-moist dog foods are more energy-dense. They are usually sold in vacuum packaging also come with a shorter shelf life and are also slightly expensive than dry dog foods.
Wet dog food
Wet dog food contains up to 75% moisture content. They are sold in pouches filled with flavorful gravy or sauce along with chunks of meat or soya. Usually, they are fed to the dog along with home-cooked or dry dog foods. They are less economical than dry and semi-moist dog food and also they have a shorter shelf life.
If you are new to dog food buying, you may find it difficult to choose the right dog food brand. When selecting dog food for your dog, make sure you do your part of the research and buy the right dog food. Market shelves are flooded with many dog food brands claiming to be the best.
It is also important to ensure that the dog food you buy doesn’t contain any fillers. Fillers are ingredients in dog food that have no nutritional benefit but are just added to improve the texture or weight of the food. Generally, corn bran, rice husks, and similar products are used as fillers. If you come to notice any above-mentioned fillers as an ingredient in any dog good, It is best to avoid buying them.
Let’s check out some of the best dog foods in India.
1. Royal canin dog food
We can Say Royal Canin is one of the best dog food brands in India without a second thought. Quality and affordability are what makes them the best in the market. Royal Canin has a tailor-made solution for almost every dog breed keeping in mind their peculiar dietary needs based on age, energy, and dietary requirement. So, If you are looking for a reliable dog food brand, look no further Royal Canin is good food in India.
Ingredients: Brewers rice, chicken, oats, wheat, cornmeal, chicken, natural flavors, beet pulp, fish oil, calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, salt, monocalcium phosphate, choline chloride, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamins, folic acid, L-lysine, trace minerals, magnesium oxide, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
2. Orijen dog food
If you are looking for protein-packed food for your dog, Orijen dog food is one of the best choices. They are manufactured in accordance with the dog’s basic biological needs. So obviously it should do good for your dog’s health. Origen dog food products contain more than 90% meat which is 3 to 4 times more protein than most conventional dog foods. What makes Orijen dog food superior is each of their products comes with a guaranteed 30% minimum crude protein.
Ingredients: Chicken meat, turkey, raw, herring, eggs, pea fibre, raw flounder, pumpkin, collard greens, carrots, apples, salt, dried kelp, potassium chloride. ADDITIVES (per kg): Nutritional additives zinc chelate of amino acids hydrate, calcium-D-pantothenate, cupric chelate of amino acids hydrate, manganese chelate of amino acids hydrate, Preservatives: tocopherol rich extract of natural origin:
3. Acana Dog Food
The next in the line comes, Acana dog foods, one of the reliable dog food brands in India. Acana belongs to the same parent group as Orijen. All of their products are appropriately prepared to match up with the dog’s biological needs with locally sourced high-quality food ingredients. You can find Acana dog foods a litter pricier, but it’s definitely worth the price for its quality and for being an imported dog food brand.
Ingredients: Chicken, turkey, lentils, peas, fresh eggs, fresh whole flounder, herring, sun-cured alfalfa, lentils, beans, pea fiber, dried brown kelp, pumpkin, butternut squash, parsnips, kale, spinach, mustard greens, turnip greens, carrots, apples, pears, fresh whole cranberries, fresh whole blueberries, chicory root, turmeric, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips.
4. Taste of the Wild Dog Food
The concept behind the taste of the wild dog is that feeding a dog it’s a natural diet that they used to eat in their natural habitat. Taste of the wild dog foods is high-quality dog foods, prepared with meat ingredients such as beef, wild boar, etc.., contained in the diet of the dog’s ancestors. The ingredients include beef, bison, wild boar, smoked trout, etc.., that wolves prey on while in the wild.
Ingredients: Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Eggs, Roasted Bison, Roasted Venison, Beef, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Potato, Fish Meal, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid. Contains A Source Of Live, Naturally Occurring Microorganisms, and preservatives.
5. Arden Grange Dog Food
Arden Grange dog foods are hypoallergenic, which are free from any allergy-causing food ingredients. If your dog is said to have any food-related allergy, Arden Grange dog foods are the right option.
Ingredients: Chicken and Chicken meal, rice, maize, beet pulp, eggs, krill, yeast, whole linseed, minerals, prebiotic FOS, prebiotic MOS, yucca extract, glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, cranberries, nucleotides.
6. Drools Dog Food
Drools is a prominent Indian dog food brand renowned for products of premium quality with great affordability. They are the best value for money when it comes to the quality of dog food. It makes them one of the best dog food in India for budget buyers.
Ingredients: Chicken, Eggs, Corn, Rice, Wheat, Corn gluten meal, Fish oil, Soya oil, Corn oil, Lecithin, Essential amino acids, Minerals, Vitamins, Salt and anti-oxidants
7. Wag and Love dog food
Wag and Love is another well-known dog food brand in India that positioned itself in the premium dog food segment. Their dog products are manufactured with high-quality human-grade food ingredients, abiding by international quality standards. It is one of the grain-free, low glycemic dog food in India offering all-around nutrition to your dog.
Ingredients: Chicken, Fruits, Vegetables & Exotic Herbs, Natural Anti-oxidants, Pure Norwegian Salmon Oil, Nutritional Additives: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Chelated Minerals, Prebiotics, Yucca Extract, L-Carnitine, and Taurine.
8. Hill’s Science Diet Dog food
Hills Pet is a very unique dog food company that claims to scientifically innovating dog food, while most dog brands endorse natural dog food in the advertisement. All the products they have been manufacturing will be consistent in quality and nutrition. So most veterinarians recommend Hills Pet as a prescription diet for illness and nutrition deficiency. Ultimately It is one of the best dog food brands in India.
Ingredients: Chicken and Chicken meal, Barley, Wheat, Corn, Sorghum, Cornmeal, Soybean Meal, Rice, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Pork Flavor, Lactic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, vitamins, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Oat Fiber, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.
9. Pedigree dog food
Pedigree is the first name that will pop up in people’s minds while thinking of dog food in India. Pedigree is a well-known dog food brand in India. It is value for money with satisfactory quality. Pedigree is also known as budget dog food in India. If you are looking for affordable dog food, pedigree is the one. Pedigree dog foods are the most preferred option for dog rescuers and rescue homes as they are very affordable that enables rescuers to buy them in larger quantities to feed a large number of rescued dogs.
Ingredients: Corn, Animal fats, Beet pulp, Meat and Bone meal, brewers rice, vegetable oil, corn, and gluten meal.
10. Himalaya Dog food
Himalaya dog food is a product by a well-known Indian brand. Himalaya’s product for humans is highly regarded, their dog food products are a little lower in fame. As far as their dog food products are concerned, they are pretty appreciative of satisfactory quality. There are more positive reviews coming from the dog owners who buy Himalaya dog food them.
Ingredients: Poultry, Meat and Meat Products, Vegetable Oil, Taste Enhancer, Maize Gluten Meal, Carrot Powder, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus Excelsa), Popala (Aerva Lanata), Vitamins, Potassium Chloride, Permitted Antioxidants, Minerals, Zinc Sulphate and Permitted Preservatives.
The above-listed items are currently the best dog foods in India. Though commercial dog foods are claiming or at least marketed to be the complete diet food containing all the nutrients required for your dog, It is always good to include some home-prepared foods in your dog’s diet to ensure the best health for your dog. | <urn:uuid:76e12769-cd14-4bcf-9707-7b29b4146759> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.petbuddy.in/best-dog-food-in-india/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.907505 | 2,519 | 1.585938 | 2 |
To successfully transform into a Digital Enterprise, an organization must exhibit its readiness across Four Dimensions. Organizations will only be ready to transform themselves into true Digital Enterprises when they possess:
• Operational Sustainability – Your organization has a stable operational base
• Organizational Agility – Your organization can quickly adapt to change
• Strategic Agility – Your organization can anticipate change
• A “Disruptive” Culture – Your organization is receptive to implementing change
In the first article in this series, we discussed the foundational dimension of Operational Sustainability. In this article, we examine how to assess the second of Dimension of Digital Enterprise Readiness, Organizational Agility.
The second dimension of readiness is developing the capability of Organizational Agility. Organizational agility is not just about the ability to change direction. It is the ability to rapidly adjust the structure, operating processes and functions of your organization to adapt to changing market conditions. It demands that organizations and their leadership can reduce structure and process, as necessary, to enable the organization to respond more rapidly and effectively. As with Operational Sustainability, it comes down to balance. The organization has created just enough structure and process to ensure stability, while removing anything that may inhibit the organization’s ability to pivot and move as fast as is necessary to seize market opportunities or respond to market risk.
The organization must be tactically flexible to exploit opportunities within their strategic boundaries and without compromising the instrumental value of the operational and business processes. Using operational governance processes in a constructive manner coupled with proper organizational taxonomy gives organizations the flexibility and autonomy to make rapid decisions. Autonomy leads to organic leadership and teaming. In this environment, self-forming leadership and teams are extremely constructive because they operate in the open rather than in the shadows typical in a mechanistic organization focused on the terminal value of maturity models. Organizational agility encourages risk taking and leaders are not afraid to be vulnerable to their peers and subordinates.
Organizational agility builds on the Operational Sustainability dimension and is influenced by the balanced use of operational and business processes. Organizational Agility is also influenced by taking advantage of digital communication channels and technologies that facilitate the collaboration needed to support the team autonomy and organic leadership so necessary for this Digital dimension. The seven attributes of this dimension, described below, focus on tactical agile capabilities. These capabilities depend on Operational Sustainability described in Part 1 of this series and enable the organization to then achieve strategic agility required in the Digital Era.
This attribute measures whether the organization maintains and effectively utilizes a clear mapping that connects delivered business value to the supporting business processes and the underlying functional teams that execute those processes. An Organizational Taxonomy provides a basis for accurate and consistent business processes and their execution.
Organizational Taxonomy measures the roles and areas of responsibilities within an organization with respect to the activities of business processes and the control flow that describes the order of execution and the dependencies among the various activities across organizational processes. The aim is for the processes to have goals that achieve defined business objectives aiming to create value to customers.
An Organizational Taxonomy can help improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of process integration and knowledge management initiatives. A taxonomy provides a shared language for different parts of an organization and reduce the amount of time spent on duplication and reinvention, by making existing intellectual capital resources more visible and accessible.
When an organization properly organizes and classifies its assets, processes, and information through a Taxonomy, those classifications can be used as a strong foundation for adapting and even creating new groupings to meet changing business needs.
Communication and Coordination
Communication and Coordination examines whether organizational teams have clear and open lines of communication through which opportunities to pivot and the potential risks and ramification of changes are shared and coordinated.
Communication and Coordination measures whether there is adequate overall communication and coordination, there is a good balance between written and oral communication, and whether there is sufficient communication and coordination about organizational change. Additionally, is there a balance of horizontal and vertical communication and communication that can overcome geographical and cultural boundaries.
Communication and Coordination among staff helps people manage, create and sustain organizational operations. Organizational communication happens in many forms, including conversations, emails, memos, and websites. Ideally, organizational Communication and Coordination facilitates sharing of information, planning, project coordination, business process execution, and social interaction. Poor communication or nonfunctional communication systems leads to confusion, lowered morale, and loss of productivity.
Communication and Coordination promotes motivation by informing and clarifying for staff about the task to be done, the manner they are to perform the task, and how to improve their performance if it is not up to the mark. Communication also plays a crucial role in altering individual’s attitudes. A well-informed individual will have better attitude than a less-informed individual and thus will be able to adjust to changing business needs and processes.
Team and Organizational Autonomy
This attribute looks at whether team leaders can make rapid, preliminary decisions regarding potential changes to operating models, structures and processes prior to submission to a larger governance process.
Team and Organizational Autonomy measures whether leaders form and disband teams as required and whether teams can self-form to solve business problems. Leaders emerge rather than are assigned in a traditional hierarchical manner. As a result, recommendations can be turned into solutions without formal governance so long as they are reasonable.
Team and Organizational Autonomy provides faster actions and decisions since traditional organization theory may lead to bottlenecks; individual and team development since team members understand which skills and knowledge they need to acquire and go about on their own to acquire them; better redistribution of work because planning and tracking tasks are taken up by the team rather traditional leadership models; and finally the overall use of full human potential because there are more opportunities to explore and uncover hidden or unused talents of staff.
Team and Organizational Autonomy facilitates the ability of staff to search for and use information, learn new skills, and feel comfortable in ambiguous work situations enabling the Organizational Agility required to adjust to changing customer and business landscapes.
The Operational Experimentation attribute measures how organizational teams embrace and effectively execute concepts such as Lean Startup, Minimum Viable Product, and Fail Fast to employ rapid testing and experimentation around potential changes to operating models, structures & processes.
Operational Experimentation is based on a sound technological prerequisite to utilize standardized, comparable, and integrated technologies and information systems. From there, Operational Experimentation measures how the organization handles change as both opportunity and chance and is driven by staff that is multi-skilled and learns from one another as well as the customer.
An organization that exhibits Operational Experimentation accepts change even where there is wide impact and informs staff of changes swiftly and accordingly as well as rewards staff who not only accept change, but foresee it. Finally, an organization that exhibits Operational Experimentation has management and senior leadership that recognize the relationship between innovation and learning.
Operational Experimentation allows organizations to try new things quickly, enable change more rapidly, and save money by avoiding big failures. It also allows organizations to entertain creative ideas that would be too risky for a normal life-cycle models as well as implementing prototypes and pilots first that allow the discovery and refinement of approaches. Finally, Operational Experimentation allows the organization to be resilient through a large pipeline of ideas that makes you ready to adapt to change.
A Collaborative Organization is one where teams exhibit an openness and willingness to work together constructively with others during their experimentation or testing and change efforts, especially when those efforts impact or will impact their functional domain.
A Collaborative organization is one that is generally proactive, responsive, trusting, and supportive of proposals and decisions of employees as well as exhibiting collaboration between departments and functions and as a result is “continually improving.” There is a participative approach to decision-making between management and non-management and collaboration is facilitated by the Organization’s commitment to training in and the use of interpersonal skills. A collaborative organizational environment also means having other training and education resources available for employees as well as evangelists within the organization.
Collaboration looks at how an organization listens to the ideas of staff, their needs, and their suggestions and integrates their feedback into technology and strategy. A Collaborative organization thus can quickly adapt organizational structures and processes to implement changes and stay competitive.
Mission-Driven Governance is characterized by teams embracing a mission-driven approach to decision making in which the overall needs and benefits to the organization are the primary evaluation criteria of any decision to change operating models, structures or processes, even when change decisions span multiple groups or business units within the organization.
Mission-Driven Governance looks at the shared leadership and vision throughout the organization and how well that shared vision is communicated consistently. Organizations with Mission-Driven Governance show a high degree of follower loyalty, self-accountability, and self-leading causing high leadership influence. Staff have high self-accountability and self-responsibility of commitment to organizational decisions. As a result, organizational adaptation and change is essentially accomplished by self-leading staff.
A key intangible benefit of Mission-Driven Governance is the ability to function in a productive and efficient environment in which all organizational elements work together toward a common strategy. But there are also tangible benefits of Mission-Driven Governance such as revenue, reputational protection, and customer attraction. Ultimately, Mission-Driven Governance assists the organization to confidently take on reasonable risk because decisions are based on better information.
This attribute measures whether an organization’s leadership team encourages change, celebrates experimentation, protects appropriate risk takers and ultimately takes responsibility and accountability both for failed experiments and for the failure to appropriately pivot.
Adaptive Leadership is like the organizational concept of “fail fast” to avoid major commitments to efforts that may not be successful. The difference is that Adaptive Leadership focuses on the leader and the leadership team as a facilitator for the fail fast organizational practice. Adaptive Leaders make decisions based on achieving reasonable positive results and avoiding the “pseudocertainty” effect observed in multi-stage decisions (the tendency for people to perceive an outcome as certain while it is actually uncertain), in which evaluation of outcomes in a previous decision stage are discarded in subsequent stages. Additionally, Adaptive Leaders consider both the consequences of inaction with the consequences of action.
Adaptive Leaders can operate in chaos and make decisions in the face of uncertainty with an aim towards reducing risk over time. They are not constrained by traditional organizational hierarchies. Adaptive Leadership elicits high performance from staff which drives many of the other Organizational Agility attributes.
In Part 1, we described the characteristics of Operational Sustainability and the importance of a stable base. But having a stable base is not enough in this rapidly changing world. You need to be able to quickly adapt and change in response to Market and Business requirements. Those companies that can not or will not adapt are doomed to perish.
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” – Carl Sagan
P.S. Anyone remember Polaroid?
In Part Three, we will examine the third Dimension of Digital Readiness, Strategic Agility.
About the Author:
Chief Scientist & Institute Fellow
Dr. Frank Granito is Chief Scientist and Lead Fellow at the Institute for Digital Transformation. He has over 40 years of experience in the Information Technology field and has successfully implemented IT Service Management transformation solutions for Government and Commercial clients. Dr. Granito holds a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland University College with a thesis on Organizational Culture.
As Lead Fellow, Frank selects current transformational topics and leads the monthly discussions with all of the Institute Fellows, parts of which are available on our YouTube Show “Digital Transformation Unplugged“. In his role as Chief Scientist, Dr. Granito created the analytical model that is the basis of the Digital Enterprise Readiness Framework. He designs, creates and produces the analysis of our Snapshot Research. He is also one of the hosts of the YouTube Show “Snapshot Research Brief“. | <urn:uuid:1a878aee-1da7-443f-bbbf-a8c26b8c7319> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.institutefordigitaltransformation.org/assessing-readiness-to-be-a-digital-enterprise-part-two/?replytocom=167 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.939628 | 2,501 | 1.632813 | 2 |
We have already helped 38 projects to implement their plans via support from our SK-NIC Fund. Since 2019, when the new rules for fund distribution came into force, we have helped many schools, organizations and individuals in this way.At this difficult time, our help is certainly more than necessary.
Let’s recall the recent areas of support (chronologically according to their call):
- projects that effectively use information and communication technologies for education or projects educating about these technologies,
- cyber security projects,
- projects with positive impact on the environment (so-called “green IT”).
- digital inclusion projects,
- projects supporting communities through ICT (i.e. improving the conditions of its functioning or improving the lives of its members),
- projects introducing artificial intelligence or machine learning.
We contributed almost 500,000 EUR to support the winning projects from the calls.
We have traditionally presented individual successful projects on our website. We recommend you to look at them, either as a source of inspiration or to gain awareness of how the digital economy in Slovakia could be improved – many of them also have a deeper message.
We have already provided details on several projects from the last call, so let’s introduce seventh project in a row – IN-NOVA organization aims to bring more comprehensive perception of the concept of artificial intelligence to the primary and secondary education level students and also to teach them how to use appropriate devices. The accompanying goal of the project called „I, Robot“ is also creation of the didactic material, organizing excursions, lectures and competitions.
“Let’s Talk Together” project, thanks to which the United School on the Dúbravská cesta in Bratislava will have modern tools for the development of communication skills of mute children with severe disabilities, belongs to the successful ones as well. It is about an application that serves as a tool to express feelings, requirements and everyday needs at school, at home or in public. The applicant for support of this project is the Children’s Fund, which participates in financial support of various activities for children with this kind of special needs.
Third one today, we will present a project whose authors are teachers from Elementary school with kindergarten, Horná Ždaňa. Their intention is to teach in a funny and extremely innovative way – older students are teaching the younger ones. They will become editors and filmmakers in this way and they will prepare series of educational videos for younger children. They will work with a computer or camera and improve their ICT skills. One of the other goals is to teach also parents about the pitfalls of the Internet and social networks. Maybe that’s why the project is called “We Already Know That, and What About You?“.
All of these projects are available on our YouTube channel in a form of short online presentation excerpt that was done in January 26, 2021 (Slovak only).
To conclude, we would like to remind you about the next call aimed for small projects (within 2.500 to 10.000 EUR) – we expect it to be opened in the first half of 2021. All necessary information about this or future SK-NIC Fund’s calls can be found at our website and also at the website of Pontis Foundation. | <urn:uuid:dfc237ad-b340-4ec4-9094-d47329cecbaf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sk-nic.sk/en/the-sk-nic-fund-continues-to-help/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.956388 | 684 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Is the student loan forgiveness tax free?
SAN JOSE, california, October 19, 2021 / PRNewswire / – There has been a lot of talk lately about canceling student loans. A popular resolution, for example, calls on President Biden to use executive action to undo up to $ 50,000 of student debt for all US student borrowers.
It is still unclear how the Biden administration will react to pressure to introduce a new student loan cancellation policy. But whether borrowers receive a loan discharge through new legislation or through an existing program, here’s what to consider along with how the forgiveness could impact tax liability. tax, from myFICO.
For more information on loans and credit, visit the myFICO blog at https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog
Reception $ 50,000 student loan cancellation may seem wonderful at first glance. But if those donated dollars are considered taxable income by the federal government, you might find that you suddenly owe an additional amount. $ 10,000 or more (depending on your tax bracket) to the IRS on your next tax return.
Whether or not the student loan rebate is tax exempt usually depends on the type of rebate you receive. But recent congressional legislation has temporarily expanded the availability of the tax-free student loan forgiveness. Here’s what you need to know.
What types of student loan forgiveness are still tax-exempt?
The IRS says that, as a general rule, if the debts are: “Canceled, canceled, or discharged for an amount less than the amount you owe, the canceled debt amount is taxable and you must report the canceled debt on your tax return for the year of cancellation.“
But there have always been exceptions to this rule, especially when it comes to forgiveness of student loans. For example, 26 United States Code § 108 states that when students attend programs that “encourages its students to serve in professions with unmet needs or in areas with unmet needs,” their student loans can be released tax free.
This means that most occupation-specific student loan exemption programs are tax exempt at the federal level. This would include the Public service loan forgiveness program program (PSLF), the Teacher loan rebate program, and Perkins loan cancellation.
The cancellation of an occupation-specific student loan is not the only type of forgiveness that is automatically excluded from income on federal tax returns. Other notable exceptions include closed school discharges, false certification discharges, and unpaid reimbursement discharges.
When can student loan forgiveness be considered taxable income?
The most notable type of federal student loan cancellation that could be taxable is the forgiveness received at the end of a income-based repayment plan (IDR). Currently there is four IDR plans:
- Pay as you earn (PAYE)
- Review of compensation as you earn (REPAYED)
- Income Based Refund (IBR)
- Income Based Reimbursement (ICR)
Depending on the IDR plan they join, borrowers will receive a discount on any remaining balance after 20 to 25 years. If a borrower’s income was relatively low during this 20 to 25 year repayment period, the amount remaining to be repaid could be substantial.
Under current tax rules, these canceled balances would be normally be considered taxable income. In addition to the IDR remission, federal student loan discharges due to death or disability have historically been considered taxable income by the IRS.
Are All Federal Student Loan Repayments Currently Tax Free?
Yes, the Biden administration American rescue plan, which went into March 2021, included an income tax exclusion for all federal student loan releases through December 31, 2025.
This new exclusion makes IDR cancellation tax free as well as any other type of student debt cancellation that a borrower may receive from the federal government. Note that the Tax Reductions and Employment Act (which entered into force January 1, 2018) had already tax-exempt releases in the event of death and disability until 2025.
It is important to understand that new laws passed by Congress directly influence only federal the imposition of the student loan forgiveness. Depending on where you live, you may still have to state income taxes on the canceled debt.
While many states that charge state income tax follow the federal government’s definition of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), some do not. Check with your state’s revenue department or consult a tax professional to learn more about the impact of student loan cancellation on your state’s tax bill.
How can insolvency reduce the taxation of student loan forgiveness?
There is one more exception that can reduce the tax consequences of canceling your student loan: insolvency. The âinsolvency ruleâ has been part of the IRS tax code for decades and applies to all canceled debt, not just student loans.
When borrowers have total liabilities greater than the total fair market value (FMV) of all their assets, the IRS considers them insolvent. And this insolvency can reduce or, in some cases, completely eliminate the tax liability of their debt cancellation.
The IRS provides a insolvency worksheet for borrowers who have recently benefited from debt cancellation. To complete the worksheet, you will need to list all your debts (credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, student loans, etc.) and the FMV of your circulating assets (bank accounts, retirement accounts, tangible fixed assets, etc.).
Let’s say you have $ 25,000 in assets and $ 50,000 of total liabilities, making you insolvent by $ 25,000. Then we will say that you receive $ 20,000 in the event of a student loan cancellation. Since your insolvency before termination ($ 25,000) was greater than the canceled amount ($ 20,000), the total amount would be excluded from your taxable income.
But let’s modify the example above and assume that $ 40,000 of your debts are student loans and you receive a write-off for the full amount. In that case, $ 15,000 of the cancellation must be included in your taxable income since you cannot exclude more than the amount that you are insolvent. Here is the calculation:
$ 40,000 (debt canceled) – $ 25,000 (insolvency amount) = $ 15,000 taxable income
The bottom line
All student loan forgiveness and discharges are exempt from federal income taxes until 2025. But what if you only signed up for an IDR plan and won’t qualify for a discount before another 10, 15 or 20 years?
In these cases, there is certainly a chance that any rebate you receive at that time could be considered taxable income by the IRS. The good news is, you have plenty of time to plan. And the sooner you start saving for a future âtax bombâ, the easier it will be to do so without straining your income. budget.
Let’s say you plan to receive $ 50,000 forgiveness in 16 years and expect to owe about $ 5,000 tax on the amount remitted. If you started saving today, all you need to do is set aside about $ 26 per month.
Borrowers are also expected to continue to monitor future student loan legislation, particularly by the end of 2025. It is very possible that Congress could decide to make the student loan exemption permanently tax-free before the expiration of temporary arrangements.
myFICO makes it easier to understand your credit with FICO® Scores, credit reports and alerts from the 3 bureaus. myFICO is the consumer division of FICO – get your FICO scores from the people who do the FICO scores. For more information visit https://www.myfico.com. | <urn:uuid:de460713-96fd-4ee5-b029-496d1bf3ed7a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.modifiyeliarabalar.net/is-the-student-loan-forgiveness-tax-free/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.958163 | 1,614 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Whenever it snows, I tell Lucy, “You should live in Alaska!” Though ice crystals form on the tips of her fur, she self-insulates. Her puffed up fur keeps her body warm and making her paws look three times their normal size. She hops in the snow, herds anyone who sleds, and “helps” us shovel.
Want to see pure joy? Click “Snow Puppy” or hit the play button below.
“I have this theory that people make an implicit decision as to whether they’re going to stay young and curious and interesting and interested, or whether they’re just going to let themselves age.”*
Living on a hill has its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages? Balls roll away, mud and ice makes it especially slippery, the garden’s on a slope, and climbing back up the hill in snow is a workout. Advantage? Being “the sledding house!”
I created this video after a blizzard in 2015, and it always make me smile.
Hubby showed me how to bake my buns, cook my caboose or, in other words, toast my tushy!
Lest you think this is an X-rated post, I assure you it’s G-rated. (sorry to disappoint) Hon, forget increased horse power or better mileage. I’ve figured out the most exciting innovation in the automobile industry. I’m—umm–glowing about a modern way to bear the Arctic Zone.
If you think New Jersey isn’t an Arctic-Zone-kind-of-state, think again. Just witness temps hovering below freezing and hunched shoulders requiring frequent trips to the chiropracter. Crampons attached to boots would aid climbing my neighborhood’s steep, ice-covered driveways, fingers turn yellow due to loss of circulation–and that’s inside–and even my dog Lucy has decided that hibernation is preferable to doing her job (ie. barking like a maniac at mail and delivery trucks). In fact, she won’t even venture outside to do her business UNLESS I ESCORT HER!
What does I.C.E. stand for and am I going anywhere with this?
(Insight into the mind of a “high energy” person: as anyone who’s had a conversation with me can attest, points may seem random, but then they all connect in a perfectly logical way. Oh, and I even use parenthesis when I speak.)
I.C.E. is my newest title. I’m an ICE CHOPPER EXTRAORDINAIRE! You can find me outside several times a day, chopping ice as if it was the incarnation of all my frustrations (Yikes!) There’s a method to my madness. (“You will crack under theweight of my power!” Mwahaha!)
How do you melt the frozen heart of an I.C.E.? You toast tushies, of course! (Another way to melt an icicle heart? A trip to a tropical island. But, I digress.)
Three tried and true I.C.E. Melting Methods:
1. Laying on a dog’s haunches. Lucy’s furry fanny is so warm, I used it as a pillow and fell asleep. For about 45 minutes. (She didn’t seem to mind.)
2. Heating pad for the posterier. And for a sore back due to chopping ice.
3. And now…drum roll, please… what’s the best way to toast a tushy? First, start the engine and second, turn on the Seat Warmer! Ahhh! That’s what I’ll be doing until Spring arrives. You know what I found out? If you heat your seat, the warmth spreads upwards and even reaches extremeties such as fingers, ears and eyelashes. (I know, I know. Eyelashes aren’t extremeties, but when eyes tear up from the cold, they sure feel that way.)
Do you live in an Arctic Zone? How do you stay warm? I’m (ice) fishing for more ideas! | <urn:uuid:594dfd77-d963-4a7e-8cac-eb4f5591109a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://bmoreenergy.wordpress.com/tag/dogs-in-winter/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.924444 | 905 | 1.5 | 2 |
We’ve already gone from the line of exhaustion to the line of pain.… When we’re dead and buried, our bones will keep hurting.
—Ignacio Davalos, worker at a Smithfield-owned hog plant, Crete, Nebraska, March 2019
If you buy beef, pork, or chicken anywhere in the United States—whether from a grocery store, fast-food chain, or restaurant—you are likely buying it from a company included in the scope of this report.
Nearly 15 years ago, Human Rights Watch’s Blood, Sweat, and Fear report documented government policies and widespread business practices that fueled abuses of workers’ rights in the United States meat and poultry industry.
Since then, consumers have increasingly grown aware of a range of concerns with industrial animal agriculture in the United States, from the conditions and treatment of animals, to widespread antibiotic use and its environmental impact. However, even conscientious consumers who try to buy meat from humanely raised animals may not realize that these labels do not require companies to treat humanely the people who do the industry’s dirty, demanding, and dangerous work.
Despite advances in technology, this work still depends on the strength of human hands. Hundreds of thousands of women and men do the killing, cutting, deboning, and packaging of American-grown meat, most of whom spend their entire shift operating as components of a continually moving dissection machine, fulfilling one need in the complex process of disassembling animals.
These workers have some of the highest rates of occupational injury and illness in the United States. They labor in environments full of potentially life-threatening dangers. Moving machine parts can cause traumatic injuries by crushing, amputating, burning, and slicing. The tools of the trade—knives, hooks, scissors, and saws, among others—can cut, stab, and infect. The cumulative trauma of repeating the same, forceful motions, tens of thousands of times each day can cause severe and disabling injuries.
Together, poultry slaughtering and processing companies reported more severe injuries to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) than many industries that are popularly recognized as hazardous, such as sawmills, industrial building construction, and oil and gas well drilling. These OSHA data show that a worker in the meat and poultry industry lost a body part or was sent to the hospital for in-patient treatment about every other day between 2015 and 2018.
Between 2013 and 2017, 8 workers died, on average, each year because of an incident in their plant.
This report describes alarmingly high rates of serious injury and chronic illness among workers at chicken, hog, and cattle slaughtering and processing plants, as well as business practices that endanger workers and obscure the reality of workplace hazards.
For decades, the US government has failed to implement domestic workplace safety and health standards that would regulate practices in the industry to the benefit of workers’ health and safety. Under President Donald Trump, the US government is weakening oversight of meat and poultry companies, which could further undermine workers’ right to safe and healthy working conditions in the process.
This report is based on nearly 50 interviews with workers who primarily live and work in Nebraska, Alabama, and North Carolina, although some interviews were conducted with workers in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Iowa as well. While the workers we interviewed do not constitute a representative sample of all meat and poultry workers nationwide, they described experiences at more than 15 different plants, owned by 12 different companies, across six states.
Most workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report shared experiences of serious injury or illness caused by their work. Many showed the scars, scratches, missing fingers, or distended, swollen joints that reflected these stories. Some broke into tears describing the stress, physical pain, and emotional strain they regularly suffer. Almost all explained that their lives, both in the plant and at home, had grown to revolve around managing chronic pain or sickness.
Like many other hazardous and exhausting low-wage industries in the United States, this work depends on the labor of America’s most marginalized communities. Most workers in the industry are people of color, many are women, and nearly one-third are immigrants.
In 1983, wages for workers in the meat and poultry industry fell, for the first time, below the national average for manufacturing work; in 1985, they were 15 percent lower; in 2002, they were 24 percent lower; today, they are 44 percent lower. Workers earn, on average, less than $15 an hour.
In the pursuit of profit, meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies have sought to maximize the volume of production and minimize the cost of labor by pushing production speeds faster.
Human Rights Watch concluded that workers can be at risk of serious, potentially life-threatening, injury, and illness. In particular, disabling musculoskeletal illnesses, fueled by rapid line speeds that compound the highly repetitive, forceful movements required by meat and poultry slaughtering and processing work, were alarmingly common among workers whom Human Rights Watch interviewed. Workers, particularly in poultry plants, were also exposed to irritating chemicals that can cause chronic respiratory and other health issues.
The true extent of these harms, however, is little understood, as industry reporting on injuries and illnesses lacks transparency. OSHA has raised concerns about the accuracy of data on occupational injuries and illnesses in the industry, as well as incentives that may exist to limit reporting. Numerous studies have found discrepancies between the recording and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses to federal authorities and the experiences of workers. The mechanisms that lead to these discrepancies are not fully understood, but workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch described practices that discourage self-reporting and accessing treatment.
Human Rights Watch found extremely difficult working conditions, including instances where workers said they were pushed to work past their physical and mental limits. Some workers also reported difficulties in accessing adequate health care, at times, waiting weeks or even months before being referred to physicians after visits to plant health facilities.
Some workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch described constant pressure from their supervisors to keep the line moving, sometimes with insults and humiliation. To ensure production speed, some workers said that supervisors even refuse to let them use the restroom during their shift or require them to wait for replacements who may never come, and described their colleagues wearing diapers as a result.
Large multinational corporations now dominate the industry, having consolidated market control through acquisitions of competitors and suppliers over the past several decades. Today, the top four beef producers in the United States control over 80 percent of the market—and continue to grow.
Together, Tyson Foods, Cargill Meat Solutions, JBS USA, and National Beef slaughter and package about 85 percent of the beef cattle in the United States. The top four pork producers—Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Hormel—control nearly 65 percent of the market in hog protein. Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Perdue slaughter and process almost 60 percent of poultry in the United States.
OSHA, which creates and enforces worker safety and health regulations, has been unable to effectively exercise its statutory powers to investigate workplace conditions and penalize businesses that violate workers’ rights. Under the Trump administration, the agency is operating with the fewest safety and health inspectors in its 48-year history.
Moreover, instead of taking steps to address the harms documented in this report through increased regulation and oversight, the Trump administration is pursuing policies that are and will provide greater autonomy to meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies. The Trump administration is granting poultry companies waivers to exceed limits on maximum slaughter line speeds established by an Obama-era rule and are accelerating efforts to deregulate slaughter inspection systems and line speeds in hog and possibly cattle plants. These policies are, and might increasingly, endanger workers, placing their physical and mental health, lives, and livelihoods at risk.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 155 and accompanying protocol, affirm that governments guarantee the human rights of workers to enjoy safe and healthy working conditions. Companies also have a responsibility under international human rights law to respect human rights and ensure that their practices do not cause or contribute to human rights abuses. Fundamental to this responsibility is the requirement that companies carry out human rights due diligence to identify the possible, and actual, human rights effects of their operations and establish meaningful processes to prevent, mitigate, and remediate harm when it occurs.
Harsh working conditions, long hours without breaks, or high production quotas can limit workers’ access to adequate sanitation facilities, undermining their right to safe and healthy working conditions, including to sanitation and the highest attainable standard of health. The manner in which a person is able to manage bodily functions is at the core of human dignity.
Such conditions may also amount to gender-based discrimination at the workplace, as the right to health of women workers may be impacted by policies and practices that create practical barriers to managing menstruation or disproportionately impact pregnant workers by limiting regular access to restroom facilities.
To realize its obligations under international human rights law, the US should stop pursuing the deregulation of maximum slaughter line speeds in the meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry. It should regulate companies by empowering OSHA to enact relevant standards concerning work speeds, ergonomic hazards, and chemical exposure, among other risks to workers’ health and safety.
Consistent with international best practices, the US government, through the administration and Congress, should provide OSHA with sufficient resources, both in workforce and budget, to effectively oversee the implementation and enforcement of these standards, and require greater transparency from the industry by reforming occupational injury and illness reporting requirements and increasing audits of employer records.
The chicken, pork, and beef from meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants in the United States enter the supply chains of innumerable other businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants, that either purchase these products directly through contracts or from suppliers. These businesses should also conduct human rights due diligence and examine their supply chains to ensure that the abuses of workers’ rights documented in this report are not present in the establishments of their suppliers. They should also publicly disclose, on a regular basis, which meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants provide protein products to their supply chains.
To the US Department of Labor
- Conduct a comprehensive rule-making effort regarding a work speed standard for meat and poultry slaughtering and processing establishments to reduce work speed to levels commensurate with worker health and safety.
- Conduct a comprehensive rule-making effort regarding a standard on best practices and airborne exposure limits for common chemicals used for sanitation and antimicrobial purposes in poultry and meat slaughtering and processing plants, such as peracetic acid (PAA), to reduce exposure to levels commensurate with workers’ health and comfort.
- Conduct a comprehensive rule-making effort regarding an ergonomics standard to address repetitive motion strain in the meat and poultry industry, based on earlier efforts to promulgate a standard.
- Increase investigations and unannounced inspections of worker health and safety conditions at meat and poultry slaughtering and processing establishments and increase penalties for employers that maintain abusive working conditions.
- Increase audits of employer records of occupational injuries and illnesses at meat and poultry slaughtering and processing establishments.
- Re-introduce a column on employer occupational injury and illness record-keeping logs to indicate that a workers’ injury or illness is related to cumulative trauma or musculoskeletal disorder.
- Commission, through the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, a study to identify occupational health hazards in the industry that pose particular risks to women, including hazards to reproductive health, and outline reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers in the industry.
To the US Department of Agriculture
- Stop issuing waivers for poultry slaughtering and processing establishments to operate slaughter lines at speeds in excess of the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s rule-making on maximum line speeds (9 CFR 381.69(a)).
- Stop pursuing regulatory efforts to lift maximum slaughter line speed caps in the poultry, hog, and cattle industry. Particularly, stop pursuing the proposed rule, Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection (83 FR 4780).
- Assure that the Food Safety and Inspection Service will not conduct any rule-making efforts related to the modernization of cattle slaughter inspection systems, or the implementation of related inspection models based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems in cattle slaughter processes.
To the US Congress
- Allocate sufficient resources to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration to fulfill its mandate to assure safe and healthful working conditions through meaningful and effective inspections and oversight of establishments across industries in the United States.
- Pass a law authorizing the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to re-promulgate an ergonomics standard.
- Pass the POWER Act (Protecting our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation), or similar legislation, which would help prevent retaliation based on immigration status by expanding the nonimmigrant U-visa category to include individuals who have suffered abuses or retaliation resulting from workplace violation claims, and by requiring the US Department of Homeland Security to stay deportation orders for individuals who have claims filed with the Department of Labor.
To Meat and Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Companies
- Conduct human rights due diligence to identify abuses of workers’ human rights and establish internal procedures and mechanisms that effectively prevent such abuses from occurring and mitigate and remedy them when they do.
- Reduce work speeds at meat and poultry slaughtering and processing establishments to levels commensurate with worker health, safety, and the prevention of injury and illness by reducing line or chain speeds and ensuring adequate staffing of line positions.
- Implement voluntary guidelines for occupational airborne exposure to peracetic acid, such as those established by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists, to reduce exposure to levels commensurate with workers’ health and comfort, as well as an effective system for monitoring the airborne concentration and duration of exposure.
- Implement voluntary practices designed to reduce worker exposure to PAA, which include, among others, enclosing processes where PAA is used, prohibiting spraying PAA on open conveyor belts, preventing buildup of PAA in plant drains, ensuring adequate ventilation, and conducting routine symptom surveys among workers to assure exposure limitation measures are working.
- Ensure that all employees can use the restroom when they need to do so, and can do so without fear of retaliation.
- Allow workers who report injuries at work to be quickly referred to a physician, without additional cost to workers, who can promptly assess or address medical issues stemming from their work.
- Record and report cases of occupational illness and injury to federal authorities systematically and accurately.
- Ensure that establishments are in compliance with all safety and health standards, and provide workers with adequate, and free, personal protective equipment, including those necessary to guard against chronic exposure to chemicals.
- Assess risks for pregnant workers with respect to a number of occupational hazards, including lifting, standing, bending, repetitive motions, chemical exposure, and restroom access; evaluate internal safety protections for pregnant workers; and engage in an interactive process with employees to find reasonable accommodations that do not result in discrimination against women or pregnant workers.
- Comply with domestic US law with respect to workers’ freedom of association rights, ensuring that workers have the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively to better working conditions and address safety and health concerns.
- Ensure that financial remuneration for supervisors and plant-level management do not incentivize excessive work speeds or dis-incentivize the reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses.
To Grocery Stores, Restaurants, and Other Buyers of US Meat and Poultry
- Any business sourcing protein products from meat or poultry slaughtering and processing plants in the US should, at a minimum, examine their supply chains to ensure that the abuses of human rights documented in this report are not present in the establishments of their suppliers.
- Publicly disclose, on a regular basis, which meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants provide protein products to their supply chains.
This report is based on research conducted between September 2018 and May 2019. Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with 49 current and former meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plant workers, and also interviewed 53 professionals with relevant experience and expertise on issues discussed in this report, including community organization leaders, staff of nongovernmental organizations and workers’ centers, trade union representatives, attorneys, journalists, academic researchers, experts on workers’ safety and health, and former government officials.
Of the workers interviewed, 45 were currently employed at a meat or poultry plant and 4 were recently employed. Our findings also reflect conversations with dozens of other workers we met during our field research.
Workers interviewed for this report primarily live and work in Nebraska, Alabama, and North Carolina, although some interviews were conducted with workers in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Iowa as well. These primary locations of focus were selected for their high concentrations of workers in animal slaughtering and processing, and because Human Rights Watch’s 2005 report, Blood, Sweat, and Fear, had included extensive interviews with workers in many of these locations.
Most of these interviews were conducted in person, either individually or in small groups, although some interviews were conducted by telephone. Interviews with workers were conducted in English or Spanish. Of those interviewed by Human Rights Watch, 35 were women and 14 were men; 33 workers were Latino, 10 were Black, five were White and two were Asian. All workers interviewed provided verbal informed consent to participate and did not receive any compensation for participating in interviews.
Most workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch requested to remain unidentified in the report, with many expressing fear of retaliation from their employer or potential immigration consequences if they were identified. Throughout this report, Individuals who requested pseudonyms have been given first names and an initialized last name (e.g., Matthew R.). All individuals who appear in this report with full last names are identified by their real names and affirmed that they were willing to have their names and the contents of their interviews published.
Workers’ fear of retaliation narrowed the pool of workers whom Human Rights Watch was able to interview. Most interviewed workers were identified through partner organizations, who helped Human Rights Watch connect with workers who were willing to share their experiences. These organizations included Nebraska Appleseed, the Heartland Workers’ Center, the Western North Carolina Workers’ Center, and the United Food and Commercial Workers, among others. Frequently, Human Rights Watch was not aware of the identity of the worker or their employer prior to our interview.
The workers we interviewed do not constitute a representative sample of all meat and poultry workers nationwide, but they described experiences at more than 15 different plants, owned or operated by 12 different companies, across six states.
Three of the 12 companies included within the scope of this report are owned by other companies included within the scope of this report. Human Rights Watch wrote letters to the nine companies that own or operate meat or poultry slaughtering and processing plants in the United States that were included within the scope of our research. These letters shared the findings of this report and requested information and clarification regarding their practices.
Of the nine companies we contacted, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill Meat Solutions, and Smithfield Foods provided written responses to at least one of these letters. More than three-quarters of the interviews conducted for this report were with workers currently or formerly employed at a facility that is owned or operated by one of these four companies. Relevant information provided in their responses is reflected throughout the report, including in some places to provide important contextual information about industry policies and practices.
Our correspondence with five companies named in the report, including responses from the four companies above, can be found in an online annex to this report. Our correspondence to other companies is on record with Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch did not select workers with experiences of injury or illness for interviews; rather, our information reflects workers who were comfortable speaking with us about their experiences. Contents of interviews included within this report reflect practices and experiences that workers from a range of companies shared with us.
This report draws extensively on publicly available secondary sources of information to corroborate information gathered through interviews, including reports from nongovernmental organizations and federal investigators, government and academic studies, publicly available data from federal departments and agencies, medical literature, legal proceedings and rulings, books on the meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry, and relevant local and national reporting.
Access to meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants is highly controlled and announced visits may not accurately represent working conditions. As such, Human Rights Watch did not visit workers’ workplaces to visually confirm accounts. Where possible, Human Rights Watch cross-checked allegations with other workers at the same plant to ensure accuracy. Additionally, Human Rights Watch was unable to interview workers from any poultry plants that are allowed to operate in excess of the 140 birds per minute maximum slaughter line speed for New Poultry Inspection System plants, nor any of the five swine slaughter plants that currently operate under the HACCP-based Inspection Model Project.
Human Rights Watch wrote letters to government officials within the US Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor to share the findings of this report and solicit comments. As of the time of writing, we have not received written responses from these agencies, but Human Rights Watch has met with officials from the Food Safety and Inspection Service to discuss our findings.
Each year, at thousands of factories across the United States, workers kill and disassemble tens of millions of cattle, hundreds of millions of pigs, and over nine billion chickens. Across the Southeast and Midwest, tractor-trailers loaded with chickens, hogs, or cattle stream into large factories along rural stretches of highway from nearby farms. Inside, workers transform these animals into products and brands familiar to most American consumers, including boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenders, and nuggets; bacon and pork chops; and steaks and frozen hamburger patties.
Since Upton Sinclair dramatized the challenges and conditions of meatpacking work in The Jungle over a century ago, a handful of large, multinational corporations have changed the practice of killing and disassembling eight-hundred-pound cattle and eight-pound birds into a highly profitable, highly specialized, and labor-intensive process.
US Meat and Poultry Plant Workers
More than 330,000 women and men do the killing, cutting, deboning, and packaging of American-grown meat, earning, on average, less than $15 an hour. Since 1983, when the wages of workers in the meat and poultry industry fell, for the first time, below the national average for manufacturing work, they have continued to steadily decline: in 1985, they were 15 percent lower; in 2002, they were 24 percent lower; as of July 2019, they are 44 percent lower.
This decline has, in part, paralleled the decline in the prevalence and collective bargaining power of unions in the industry, as Human Rights Watch’s Blood, Sweat and Fear summarized nearly 15 years ago:
Employers transformed the sector during the 1980s from one in which workers had secure organizations bargaining on their behalf to one where self-organization is a high-risk gauntlet for workers. Where they did not relocate, many companies shut down their plants, dismissed their long-time organized workers, then reopened with a nonunion immigrant workforce.… As the traditional structure of the industry and its labor relations fragmented, employers drove many workers’ wages down to a fraction of what they had been, with parallel worsening of benefits and working conditions. The frequency of meatpacking workplace injuries soared.
Historically, America’s most marginalized communities have supplied the low-wage labor upon which the industry relies; until the end of the 20th century, most of the workers producing America’s poultry were Black women in the South. Today, most workers in animal slaughter and processing in the United States are people of color, many are women, and nearly one-third are immigrants.
Recently, some meat and poultry companies have contracted with refugee resettlement agencies and even state prisons to supply labor to their plants.
Meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants across the United States house mazes of machinery, called “lines,” which ferry animals on hooks, chains, and belts through each stage of the process needed to disassemble an animal.
In the slaughter and evisceration departments, animals are killed, hung, bled, cleaned, inspected, and often cut into more manageable pieces before they are chilled. On the cut floor, carcasses are progressively cut, trimmed, and sliced into increasingly recognizable portions and parts. In packaging and shipping, these parts are bagged and boxed for grocery stores, restaurants, or further-processing plants that will cook them into ready-to-consume products.
By its nature, this work is dirty, demanding, and dangerous. As the following sections discuss, workers in the meat and poultry industry have some of the highest rates of occupational injury and illness in the United States. The true extent of these harms, however, is little understood, as discussed in Section II.
Profits in the industry depend on calculations down to the cents per pound and, in part, on external costs that can vary wildly. The two factors over which companies have control in order to stay competitive are the two variables that impact workers most: the volume of production and the cost of labor.
Line speeds have steadily increased over the past 30 years. The faster and more continuously lines operate, the higher their output and the lower their total labor costs, as less time is needed for workers to complete orders or satisfy production-based quotas. Companies in the industry have been highly profitable. Tyson Foods, the largest poultry processor in the United States, had net profits of over US$3 billion in 2018 alone, according to MarketWatch, a website owned by Dow Jones & Company that tracks financial information and stock market data.
However, as documented in Section II, industry practices can put workers’ health, physical ability, and livelihoods at risk. Instead of taking steps to effectively address these harms, the government is opening the door to faster production speeds across the industry that threaten to worsen workers’ conditions, as discussed below in Section III.
Workers told Human Rights Watch that the risks and pressure of work in meat and poultry plants drove many to quit. One three-year study of over 5,000 workers at an Iowa hog slaughtering and processing plant found that over 65 percent of workers left each year for various reasons. Smithfield Foods, one of the largest hog processors in the world, boasted of a 32.5 percent turnover rate at its establishments in 2018, compared to the meat industry’s average of over 50 percent. The churn of workers through these plants means that the industry always needs new hands.
Like many other hazardous and exhausting low-wage industries in the United States, meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants depend on the labor of immigrant workers.
Jobs in the meat and poultry industry have long been a starting point for many groups of new immigrants to the United States as many positions require little formal education, experience, or English-language skills. In 2015, nearly 30 percent of meat and poultry workers were foreign-born non-citizens—about three times more than the percentage of manufacturing workers nationally.
Some of these plants have served as magnets for increased immigration into small, rural towns throughout the United States. Monica R., a Mexican immigrant working at a Smithfield-owned hog plant in Nebraska, explained:
We were living in California.… The Latinos here said that they pay better here. We came with our family because we also knew that Nebraska was a state where there aren’t as many gangs and it’s a little safer for raising children.… I had never worked at a [meat] plant before, though, and for me the first [day] was horrible.
A single plant’s workforce can be incredibly diverse, with dozens of different languages spoken. Human Rights Watch spoke with immigrant workers from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines for this report. These workers represented a wide variety of statuses: US citizens and permanent residents (“green card” holders), non-citizens with expired visas, non-citizens who entered the US illegally, non-citizens married to US citizens or permanent residents, asylum seekers, and persons holding temporary protected status.
Human Rights Watch spoke with several undocumented workers for this report and other workers who confirm there are undocumented workers in their plants. One estimate places the number of undocumented workers across the entire industry as high as about one-quarter of all workers.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies regarding their employment verification practices. In letters to Human Rights Watch, Cargill, JBS, and Tyson Foods wrote that they participate in E-Verify, a voluntary employment verification program operated by the US government. Some US states require private employers to enroll in the E-Verify program, including two states within the scope of this report: Alabama and North Carolina. Tyson identified further measures it takes to ensure employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.
It is unclear to what extent employers in the industry are aware of hiring undocumented workers.
Rosa P., an undocumented worker at a poultry plant, reported receiving a phone call from her employer, telling her that the identification documents she had provided to prove her work authorization had been flagged as fraudulent by the government. She stopped going to work but returned about a month later and applied to work at the same plant with new papers and a new name. She now works at the same position where she had worked for nearly a decade, with the same supervisor and same coworkers—but with a new name. “No one cares,” Rosa said.
Under international human rights law, workplace protections apply to all workers, regardless of citizenship status. However, the fear of retaliation and possible deportation causes many workers who are undocumented, or have family members who are undocumented, to be hesitant to speak up in the workplace or report abusive employers and working conditions. “We don’t work with our real names, so we are afraid,” said Rosa. She feels that she and other undocumented workers “don’t have the right to speak up or ask for the bathroom.”
Workers’ rights advocates and religious and community leaders said that immigration enforcement actions in their communities and broader concerns related to documentation status have long impacted immigrant workers’ sense of security. Still, a number of these advocates and community leaders, as well as workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch, reported that the policies and rhetoric of the Trump administration have further intimidated them and their coworkers from reporting workplace issues, and increased workers’ sense of insecurity.
“People don’t know when or where there will be a raid,” said Will Anaya, a former poultry plant worker who is now a union representative with the United Food and Commercial Workers. “People come in [to my office] saying, ‘I don’t know anything about Mexico’,” he said, describing the anxiety of undocumented workers who have lived most of their lives in the United States and face the prospect of deportation. “There’s a lot of fear.”
One community leader said the presence of agents from the US Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the courthouse in their community had made undocumented workers more hesitant to use the court system to participate in legal matters.
Even immigrants with work authorization can remain vulnerable to coercion from employers, as many are not aware of their workplace rights, may not be familiar with technical terms in English, or are otherwise hesitant to navigate the complex, and potentially costly, procedures to vindicate their rights.
The result is a significant part of the low-wage workforce who are less likely to report workplace abuses or even injuries, and are therefore more easily exploitable than US citizens, for fear of their employers’ power to fundamentally disrupt their lives and the lives of their families. “Us workers are afraid to lose our job,” said Rebecca G., an immigrant worker at a poultry plant in Arkansas. “[P]eople don't speak up or say what's wrong about the chemicals, or the speed of the line, or the discrimination.”
“What’s the point of complaining,” said Grace D., an immigrant worker at a hog plant in Omaha, Nebraska. “They’re not going to hear us, they’re [just] going to treat us bad because you put in a complaint, and so the workers put up with it, and put up with it, and put up with it, and put up with it.”
“The industry recruits the most vulnerable workers as a business model and reaps the profits,” said Debbie Berkowitz, a former Occupational Safety and Health Administration official who is now with the National Employment Law Project.
Corporate Consolidation and Political Influence
Large multinational corporations now dominate the US meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry, having consolidated market control through acquisitions of competitors and suppliers over the past several decades.
In 1932, the US Supreme Court upheld the government’s use of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up a trust of five meatpacking companies. In the opinion of the court, Justice Benjamin Cardozo wrote that the “evil eminence” these companies had achieved through the control of about 55 percent of the US beef market, “carries with it an opportunity for abuse that is not to be ignored when the opportunity is proved to have been utilized in the past.”
Today, Tyson Foods, Cargill Meat Solutions, JBS USA, and National Beef slaughter and package about 85 percent of the beef cattle in the United States. The top four pork producers—Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Hormel—control nearly 65 percent of the market in hog protein. Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Perdue slaughter and process almost 60 percent of poultry in the United States.
Whether from a grocery store, fast food chain, or sit-down restaurant, the US consumer buying beef, pork, or chicken anywhere in the country is likely buying it from one of these companies.
US meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies have attracted significant foreign investment. Of the nine companies listed above, three are wholly-owned subsidiaries of, or controlled by, foreign corporations. Brazil-based JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacking company, is the parent company of JBS USA and the majority-owner of Pilgrim’s Pride. Smithfield, the largest producer of pork products in the US, was acquired in 2013 by China-based WH Group, which is now the largest producer of pork products in the world.
Tyson Foods and JBS SA have been implicated in illegally seeking to influence political decision-making in the US or abroad. In the 1990s, Tyson Foods paid $6 million in fines after pleading guilty to making illegal gifts to then-US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, who, at the time, was overhauling the meat and poultry inspection system of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Espy was ultimately acquitted of the charges against him. In Brazil, JBS SA’s primary shareholder, an investment corporation controlled by JBS SA’s former chairman and chief executive officer, agreed to pay $3.2 billion in fines to settle corruption and bribery charges in 2017.
The meat processing industry, like other industries in the US, has sought to prevent unfavorable regulatory oversight by supporting lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Since 2005, the meat processing industry spent over $65 million on lobbying and nearly $9 million on supporting political campaigns, according to Open Secrets, a website that tracks political spending. In 2018 alone, Tyson Foods donated $341,995 to political campaigns and spent over $1.1 million on lobbying.
Meat and poultry companies and their trade associations have promoted deregulatory policies that have impacted, and will continue impacting, workers’ rights, health, and lives. As discussed in greater detail in Section III, the Trump administration is pursuing the deregulation of slaughter inspection systems in plants that process chicken, hog, and potentially cattle, which lift caps on maximum slaughter line speeds and, as also described below, could further jeopardize workers’ right to healthy working conditions.
The agency overseeing this deregulation is the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is responsible for ensuring food safety in slaughterhouses and regulates slaughter line speeds. Since Trump took office in 2017, top FSIS officials have registered meetings with industry lobbyists to discuss these efforts to change inspection systems in poultry, hog, and cattle slaughtering plants at least 10 times.
Among these visitors are trade groups, including the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), National Pork Producers Council, and the National Chicken Council (NCC). These groups, which lobby on behalf of the interest of their members, represent nearly all meat and poultry producers in the US. NAMI’s members, which include the nation’s top four beef and pork producers, produce 95 percent of the red meat processed in the US, and NCC’s members, which include the top four poultry producers, produce more than 95 percent of the chicken sold in the US. Each of these trade groups are vocal supporters of FSIS’s efforts to deregulate maximum slaughter line speeds in the industry.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies regarding their involvement in lobbying that concerns regulatory matters. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, JBS USA stated that they “are not involved in—nor lobbying for—the proposed regulatory change” to hog slaughter plants, discussed below in Section III. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield Foods wrote, “Smithfield engages in a variety of public policy issues that are relevant to our company and our employees. We have not invested resources to lobby the government with the intent to increase line speeds at our facilities.” However, Smithfield wrote that they “support modernizing the swine slaughter rules based on updated scientific data that improves efficiency and demonstrates equivalent or better public health protection compared to the existing inspection system.” No other companies that Human Rights Watch wrote to for clarification of their involvement in lobbying concerning regulatory matters replied to our requests.
However, both JBS USA and Smithfield Foods are members of NAMI, one of these trade groups that has visited FSIS to discuss the progress of its deregulatory efforts.
Human Rights Watch has also documented instances in which high-ranking FSIS officials have taken positions at meat and poultry companies or industry lobbying associations after leaving the agency, and in which individuals with close ties to the industry have also become high-ranking officials within FSIS.
II. Workers’ Health and Safety
What they want to know is, can you still work without bleeding in the meat?—Dominic P., worker at a hog plant in North Carolina, March 2019
Workers in the meat and poultry industry labor in environments where workspaces are often refrigerator-cold or excessively hot, cramped, coated with grease and blood, and filled with deafening noise and the smell of dead animals or overpowering chemicals. Workers are regularly exposed to industrial equipment, stressful repetitive motions, sharp-edged hooks, knives, and band saws, heavy bags and boxes, and unpredictable animals, among uncountable other hazards. Inherently difficult and dangerous work is exacerbated by industry practices.
“Everyone who goes to the plant is risking their lives every day,” said Monica R., a worker at a Smithfield-owned hog plant in Crete, Nebraska. “You come home and give thanks to God because we don’t know when we’re going to get hurt.”
The workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report shared experiences of serious injury or illness caused by their work. They showed the scars, scratches, missing fingers, or distended, swollen joints that reflected these stories. Some broke into tears describing the stress, physical pain, and emotional strain they regularly suffer. Almost all explained that their lives, both in the plant and at home, had grown to revolve around managing chronic pain or sickness.
Decades of federal studies, civil society surveys and reports, and academic literature underscore the myriad dangers of meat and poultry slaughtering and processing work and support the accounts of workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch.
Federal Data on Workers’ Injury and Illness
Between January 2015 and August 2018, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received 770 reports of amputations, in-patient hospitalizations, or eye loss from meat and poultry plants. Employers must report these “severe injuries” to OSHA within 24 hours, but these data do not reflect reports from employers in any of the 22 states that have their own state-based OSHA programs covering private-sector workers, which collect their data on these injuries separately.
Despite only covering just over half the country, these data show that a worker in the meat and poultry industry loses a body part or is sent to the hospital for in-patient treatment about every other day.
Among the tens of thousands of companies that reported severe injuries to OSHA, several meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies ranked among the highest reporters: Tyson Foods is fifth, Pilgrim’s Pride is thirteenth, Cargill Meat Solutions is sixteenth, and JBS USA is seventeenth. Smithfield, National Beef, and Koch Foods are all in the top thirty. If Pilgrim’s Pride, which is majority-owned by JBS SA, were combined with JBS USA, they would rank sixth.
These meat and poultry companies have significantly smaller workforces than many other employers at the top of this list. Tyson Foods, for example, is behind the US Postal Service, UPS, and Walmart, each of which employs more workers in the United States than all production workers in the animal slaughtering and processing industry combined and more than three times Tyson’s entire workforce, on the low end. Together, poultry slaughtering and processing companies reported more severe injuries to OSHA than many industries that are popularly recognized as hazardous, like sawmills, industrial building construction, and oil and gas well drilling.
Nationwide, between 2004 and 2013, more than 150 workers at meat and poultry plants died from work-related injuries according to OSHA data—more than one person per month. Despite variance from year to year, between 2013 and 2017, 60 workers in the Animal Slaughtering and Processing Industry died as a result of a work-related incident or exposure—again averaging out to one person per month. When worker fatalities stemming from transportation incidents are excluded, a grim picture remains; between 2013 and 2017, eight workers died, on average, each year because of an incident in their plant.
Gina L.’s Story
“I spent 10, 15 minutes there with my hand in the machine,” said Gina L. between quiet sobs, “I was crying and crying.” With her hand thoroughly bandaged, the 61-year-old woman recalled the accident at a hog plant in Nebraska that burned away most of the flesh from three of her fingers.
Before the accident, she was having problems with the machine they use to seal plastic bags around pork chops for shipment. Gina told her supervisor during her break that the machine was not working correctly, but they were under a lot of pressure that day to get the product out. By the time she got back from break, her table was already full of pork chops to bag. To help her get them ready to ship, her supervisor moved a coworker to her workstation. When her coworker pressed a button that activates the machine, they did not realize that Gina’s hand was in the way. The device clamped down onto the fingers of her right hand, searing away the top of her right middle finger to the knuckle, and severely burning her ring and pinky fingers.
Gina tried to pull her hand away, but it was trapped. Her coworker ran to press an emergency button to release her from the machine, but it did nothing. She stood with her hand trapped and burning, crying and crying. She cried again while speaking with Human Rights Watch. “Like always, the line was running so fast it felt like it would kill you,” she said, holding up her bandaged hand. “In our department, we say that line kills people and it kills hogs—because, in the end, you end up hurt.”
Her injury was debilitating. “After the accident, I was forced to hire a person to do housework, bathe me, comb my hair, and even help me pull up my underwear after using the bathroom,” she said.
The accident happened on a Friday. They told her to be back at work at 6:30 a.m., Monday morning. The plant sent Gina to their workers’ compensation doctor, who told her to rest at home. But when she went back to the plant to turn in medical documents, Gina was told that if she wanted to get paid, she would have to work. “That same day they put me to work with my other hand,” she said.
Every day since the accident, Gina has used her unbandaged hand to unpack and fold thousands of plastic gloves for her coworkers. “Eight hours of working with one hand is not easy,” she said. “Imagine, now that I only have one good hand. I’m afraid that my other hand will get injured too.”
National-level data on workers’ safety and health in the industry mainly comes from another agency within the Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Each year, BLS sends out a Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) to a random sample of companies within each US industry to estimate worker injury and illness rates based on these companies’ internal records.
For decades, the animal slaughtering and processing industry has had among the highest rates of occupational injury and illness in the United States, according to BLS estimates based on these surveys.
Although the rate of injury and illness for meat and poultry workers has declined alongside manufacturing in the United States, generally, the rate remains significantly higher than the average for manufacturing workers. In 2017, meatpacking workers were nearly twice as likely to suffer an injury and more than 15-times as likely to suffer an occupational illness than the average private-sector worker—the second-highest rate of occupational illness among all US industries that year. Over the past decade, workers at hog and cattle plants have had a higher average rate of recordable occupational injuries and illnesses than police officers or workers at sawmills—more than twice the national average for private sector workers.
Systemic Risks for Worker Health and Safety
Cumulative Trauma Injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders
By far, the most common ailments for workers in the industry are musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)—cumulative trauma injuries like carpal tunnel or tendinitis that develop through repeated stress over time. Work at meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants requires thousands—or even tens of thousands—of motions each shift, often requiring significant force or twisting. As discussed in Section III, the inherent physical strain of this work is made far more dangerous to workers’ health when the speed of this work is accelerated.
Nearly all workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch suffered from chronic nerve or muscle pain in their hands, arms, or shoulders. “When I was on the knife line, every day for four years, my hands were numb after work,” said John D., a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska. “I couldn’t close [my hands]. I couldn’t open a jar of mayonnaise … I was in so much pain.”
However, as discussed in Section IV, industry-wide data on MSDs are hard to gather because OSHA recordkeeping forms no longer have a column for employers to explicitly indicate that a workers’ illness is related to cumulative trauma. Before reforms to OSHA recordkeeping in 2001, these forms had a column that required employers to list occupational injuries and illnesses caused by “repeated trauma,” which captured some MSDs. Now, all cases of MSDs fall into a catch-all category, “All Other Occupational Illnesses,” which aggregates and obscures the prevalence of MSDs in the workforce. After this change was implemented, the rates of reported occupational injury and illness among meat and poultry workers dropped in half between 2000 and 2006. It is likely that these changes to occupational injury and illness reporting requirements had some effect on employers recording practices that contributed to this decline.
Numerous studies have found, however, that MSDs are endemic in the meat and poultry industry, and indicate that government estimates based on employer data may not accurately reflect the ergonomic hazards of the work.
In 2013, for example, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the rate of MSDs among over 300 workers at a South Carolina poultry plant and found that 42 percent of workers at the plant met the case definition for carpal tunnel syndrome, and 57 percent of workers reported at least one musculoskeletal symptom.
Although all meat and poultry plant workers are exposed to these dangers, poultry workers, in particular, experience extremely high rates of MSDs. There is also significant evidence suggesting that women working at these plants suffer injury and illness at higher rates than men, possibly due to biological differences and inadequate ergonomic accommodation.
Since cumulative trauma damages internal parts of the body—muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves—it may not be immediately apparent and is often not treated until damage is permanent and disabling.
“You'll be asleep and when your hands start hurting it wakes you up,” said Nicole Bingham, a worker at the Tyson plant in Albertville, Alabama. “Some days it’s like throbbing pain—it's indescribable.”
Many workers reported similar experiences with severe pain that wakes them at night, numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength or agility, twitching, or burning in their muscles and joints. Jessica N., a worker at the Smithfield plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, described the symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon, a medical disorder prevalent in the industry, and the disabling effects of chronic hand pain:
It feels like your hand’s getting stung by bees. Your fingertips turn ashen white. There’s an immediate loss of circulation to your hands—it’s extremely painful.… I couldn’t hold a coffee cup, couldn’t hold a pen. I couldn’t hold onto anything.
These types of debilitating impacts can be long-lasting. During an interview with a mother and son who had both worked for years at the JBS beef plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, the son stood up to grab a bottle of water from the small kitchen of the church where Human Rights Watch had met them. When he returned, he cracked open the bottle and placed it down in front of his mother. “It’s a habit,” he said, pointing over to the plastic bottle and sitting down. “She can’t open stuff on her own anymore.”
Many workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch reported that they were diagnosed by physicians with carpal tunnel, tendinitis, or other nerve or musculoskeletal damage, for which some have had surgery.
Anna Spurlock started working in the industry only three years ago, removing bones from cuts of pork with a knife at the Smithfield hog plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. Since then, Anna has had three surgeries on her hands to treat medical conditions that she has developed from her work: carpal tunnel and “trigger finger,” which left her ring finger tightly locked in a curled position. She explained:
I would come home and go to sleep. When I woke up I couldn’t really use my hands. Couldn't brush my hair or put on my clothes. My hands were just locked up. It would take a couple hours to open and loosen up and start to get feeling back. It felt like they were essentially paralyzed.
Of the four-dozen current and former workers in the meat and poultry industry interviewed for this report, only three did not report frequent pain or numbness in their hands, arms, shoulders, or back.
One worker in her late 70s from a further-processing plant in Alabama described how taking regular breaks during her shift has kept her injury-free for decades. “Hands are not as fast as the machine,” she said. However, nearly all workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch reported that they do not have the ability to take regular breaks when they felt pain or otherwise control the pace of their work.
As described in Section III, some workers Human Rights Watch interviewed at plants that slaughter cattle, pigs, and chickens described supervisors pushing them to labor at work speeds far above what they feel is safe, including with abusive language and threats of termination. “No one asks for breaks,” reported Lidia J., a worker at the Case Farms poultry plant in North Carolina, referring to requests to leave the line outside scheduled breaks. “They won’t give them.”
We sent two letters to Case Farms regarding a range of issues covered in this report, requesting information regarding their policies and practices. They did not respond to our requests.
Both workers and the companies that responded to Human Rights Watch’s inquiries in this regard stated that their plants have safety mechanisms in place that allow workers to shut down the line in case of an emergency.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies for information about their policies and practices regarding workers’ ability to regulate line speed. Two companies stated that they have policies in place that protect workers’ ability to have a say in their work speed. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield Foods wrote “[e]mployees are trained during orientation that they have the right, without fear of reprisal, to stop production when they feel their safety is at risk. Supervisors and employees are asked questions during internal and external audits to confirm that they are aware of the right to stop production and bring safety concerns to the management team to address their concerns.” Tyson Foods wrote, “[w]e maintain policies and practices that allow any team member to stop a line at any time for worker or food safety issues.”
Consistent with the experiences of workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch about intense production pressures that limit their ability to take breaks or regulate the pace of their work, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s survey of over 300 Alabama poultry workers found that nearly 99 percent reported having no opportunity to influence their line speed.
This lack of control underscores the concerns of workers and workers’ rights advocates who spoke with Human Rights Watch, regarding the impact that deregulating slaughter line speeds, discussed in Section III, could have on workers’ safety and health.
Harmful Chemical Exposure
There are many environmental factors within meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants that endanger workers’ health and safety, such as temperature extremes, sullied and slippery conditions, and biological hazards associated with live animals—including contact with feces, blood, and pathogens that increase their risk of disease and illness.
However, the most pressing environmental concern for many workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch is the immediate and long-term consequences of their daily exposure to chemicals used to kill bacteria on animal products, especially chicken. Rebecca G., a poultry worker in Arkansas, explained:
As soon as we would enter we would start to tear up.… It was really strong. We felt like we were getting sick—your throat, nose. For me, I would cry. I was always crying. I also had really strong pain in my throat. Some people would get bloody noses.… Almost every day it was one person or another [complaining to management]. One pregnant woman went to ask what chemicals they were using and what [they would] do to [her] child [but the company] said that it was within the permitted standards.… Their solution is to say: ‘If you don’t want to stay here, go.’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that poultry plant workers commonly report stinging or burning of eyes, noses, and throats, shortness of breath and asthma-like symptoms, headaches, and nausea. Surveys of workers in poultry slaughtering and processing plants have also reinforced the prevalence of workers’ exposure to noxious chemicals.
Nearly all poultry workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch reported regular exposure to strong, irritating chemicals and described severe impacts on their daily health in line with those identified by the CDC above. Workers at the Tyson plant in Albertville, Alabama who spoke with Human Rights Watch reported similar health issues stemming from their exposure to chemicals at work. “Sometimes I can’t breathe and it just burns my eyes,” said Anna K., a worker at the plant, “I’m always sick.”
Although cattle and hog slaughter plants use chemicals to sanitize equipment and kill bacteria on animal carcasses, the poultry industry is uniquely reliant on the frequent use of chemicals in its processes, partly because of special standards regarding salmonella contamination that USDA has imposed just on poultry plants.
Among the most commonly used chemicals is peracetic acid (PAA), an unstable combination of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. PAA is commonly added to water to make a solution which is then used as an antimicrobial agent to reduce contamination of meat by salmonella, campylobacter, and fecal pathogens. Peracetic acid has been increasingly favored by the industry because, the industry argues, PAA is an effective agent for addressing pathogen contamination and dissipates before reaching consumers without altering the taste or texture of their products. Both the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture have approved the use of PAA as an antimicrobial in meat and poultry plants.
PAA is a highly corrosive and strong irritant to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, and can cause injury to the eyes and skin on contact. Moreover, the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics, a non-profit association of clinics and physicians working on occupational health that publishes information about occupational health hazards, classifies PAA as an asthmagen, and both the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the CDC have found that repeated and prolonged exposure to high concentrations of peracetic acid can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues.
Despite these risks, neither OSHA nor NIOSH has established permissible exposure limits for PAA, meaning that there is no legal airborne exposure limit for PAA to which workers may be exposed. Although the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) established benchmark exposure limits to airborne PAA that the industry generally accepts, they are not legally binding.
Under-Reporting of Injury and Illness
The Government Accountability Office, OSHA, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH, and peer-reviewed medical literature have found that federal data on occupational injuries and illnesses do not accurately reflect workers’ experiences or conditions.
Under OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations, employers are required to record all work-related injuries and illnesses that are diagnosed by a physician, require medical treatment beyond first aid, or result in death or loss of consciousness. Additionally, employers are required to report any “DART” cases—where a worker misses more than one day away from work, or is placed on restricted duty or transferred to another job as a result of an occupational injury or illness. Employers are required to keep these records on file for five years and, if requested, supply a summary of their records to the BLS, which produces the federal estimates of occupational injury and illness discussed above.
This system places the obligation to record and report occupational injuries and illnesses on employers. While practical, it also makes employers, which have financial and reputational interests to report low rates of injuries and illnesses, a filter through which all routinely reported federal data on the hazards facing workers must pass.
Workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch from plants in Alabama, North Carolina, and Nebraska reported practices that discourage workers from reporting their injuries and illnesses.
OSHA requires all employers to have procedures and supplies to provide first aid to workers. Some industrial facilities, including nearly all of the more than 15 meat and poultry plants covered in this report, have in-house medical units or nursing stations, which are staffed with nurses, emergency medical technicians, or others who are trained to provide first aid. More serious injuries are expected to be cared for outside of the plant at a hospital or by a doctor.
Following a work-related injury or illness, the first step in the process of recording and reporting it to federal authorities is generally when a worker seeks medical care from this in-house health unit. In many cases where this in-house health unit is present at meat and poultry plants, if a worker does not report their occupational injury or illness to this health unit, the case will not be reflected in their employer’s records.
Workers told Human Rights Watch that pressure from supervisors is a factor in their decisions not to report injuries to in-house health units. Two workers said they were explicitly told by supervisors to return to work—without receiving care—following an injury at their workstation or when complaining about severe muscle or joint pain. Abel S., a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska, said that his former supervisor prevented him from promptly reporting an injury:
My old foreman said to me: ‘If you [report] the pain, I’m going to be on top of you, I’m going to make your life impossible.’
For the most part, workers said that they feared drawing attention to themselves and incurring negative repercussions from supervisors by reporting injuries or leaving the line to seek care.
A perception among some workers interviewed was that supervisors at meat and poultry plants are keen to penalize workers for reporting injuries or complaining about illnesses. “People are afraid that [the company] will blame them for the accident and they’re afraid they’ll get fired or suspended for it,” said Teresa Jose, a worker at the Tyson poultry plant in Albertville, Alabama.
A survey of Arkansas poultry workers by the Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center found that 57 percent reported not taking any action following an injury at work. Similarly, a survey of Alabama poultry workers by the Southern Poverty Law Center found that workers did not report 40 percent of work-related injuries. Several studies have found that immigrant workers are especially likely not to report injuries.
Workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch also described how their plant’s in-house medical units encouraged workers to return to their workstations or kept their medical treatment at the level of first aid, even in cases where workers believed they needed substantive care. Some workers also told us that they no longer go to in-house health units given their concerns about the adequacy of care provided.
The fact that staff at these in-house medical units may have a range of medical experience—and, at the plants within the scope of this report with in-house medical units, none included physicians—may account for these workers’ experiences. However, as described above, employers are not obligated to record an employee’s work-related illness if it only rises to the level of first aid.
Regardless of what causes delays in referrals, these in-house health unit staff have a duty to refer workers who need medical treatment beyond first aid to physicians. Moreover, failing to promptly refer workers to physicians can lead to workers’ continued exposure to factors that can have a substantial impact on the severity of their injuries and illnesses. Workers told Human Rights Watch that treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses, including symptoms of potentially disabling musculoskeletal disorders, did not always make it past over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs in these in-house medical units. Some workers who persistently followed up their care reported getting a referral to see a physician only after weeks or even months of routine visits to their in-house health units.
This anecdotal perception of some of the workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch is consistent with investigations by OSHA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which have found that plant health units can act as a filter that limits the number of injuries and illnesses reported to federal authorities.
OSHA has cited meat and poultry companies for failing to make timely and appropriate medical referrals for employees with persistent and continuous pain in the upper extremities to prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies for information regarding their in-house health units and their policies and practices concerning workers’ reporting of occupational injury and illness. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Tyson Foods wrote:
We follow a systematic approach for the early reporting, intervention, evaluation and treatment of injuries and illness…. team members have various ways to report concerns without fear of retaliation. We take reports of alleged misconduct seriously…. At some of our larger facilities, we have on-site case managers who attend post-injury medical appointments with team members to ensure they understand medical issues and the road to recovery and rehabilitation. These managers also assist in identifying light or limited duty work for team members that is consistent with any medical restrictions.
Smithfield Foods wrote, “Smithfield facilities have either licensed medical providers or trained staff on site to assist workers with first aid. Any needs beyond first aid, as well as all emergency care, are referred to outside medical providers.”
Surveys of meatpacking and poultry workers have consistently found much higher rates of injury and illness than the already high rates indicated by federal data.
In 2009, Nebraska Appleseed, a non-profit that works on immigration, health care and economic justice issues in Nebraska, surveyed 455 workers at meatpacking plants in Nebraska and found that 62 percent of workers reported experiencing an injury during the past year. In 2013, the Southern Poverty Law Center surveyed 302 current and former workers at poultry slaughtering and processing plants in Alabama and found that 72 percent of workers reported a significant work-related injury or illness. Similarly, a 2016 survey of 500 Arkansas poultry processing workers by the Northwest Arkansas Workers’ Justice Center found that 59 percent of workers reported work-related injuries or health issues.
III. Risks Fueled by Rapid Work Speed
Nearly all workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch identified the same factor that compounds their risk of injury and illness: speed. “It’s like a storm,” said John D., a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska. “The speed of the line is fast, fast.”
For decades, federal studies, medical literature, and workers’ surveys have found that rapid work speed in the meat and poultry industry increases risk of injury and illness.
Work speed is a combination of two factors, line speed and staffing, which contribute to the amount and pace of labor a worker must do during their shift. Together, these two elements define the total number of motions that a worker must do, a major contributing factor to musculoskeletal disorders, as well as the pace at which workers must do their job, a major contributing factor to severe injury incidents.
As described below, although line speeds in meat and poultry plants can impact workers’ safety and health, OSHA does not have a standard regulating them. Rather, only the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates line speeds, but only slaughter lines and for a very different purpose than worker safety.
Workers who spoke to Human Rights Watch corroborated decades of research that has found that rapid work speeds compound the highly repetitive, forceful movements required by meat and poultry slaughtering and processing work and increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. “There isn’t any one there [at the plant] who can say, my hands don’t hurt, or my shoulders don’t hurt,” said Abel S. a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska. “It’s because it’s too fast.”
Maximum Slaughter Line Speeds
“Line Speed” refers to the rate of operation for production machinery at meat or poultry slaughtering and processing plants, which ferry animal carcasses on hooks, chains, and belts at each stage of the process needed to turn a living animal into a packaged meat product.
The Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Federal Meat Inspection Act require that all animals slaughtered at industrial facilities in the United States are inspected for defects or contamination that can affect food safety. As such, at every plant that slaughters animals in the United States, at least one inspector from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) does this work on the slaughter line, where newly killed animals are gutted, cleaned, inspected, and then prepared for the next stages of processing.
FSIS, the agency within USDA responsible for this work, imposes line speed caps on slaughter lines based on the number of carcasses that a single inspector can effectively inspect and the number of inspectors available to oversee slaughter operations in the plant. Accordingly, the maximum line speeds for slaughtering cattle, hogs, and chicken are based on the physical nature of the animals being killed and the practical differences in the process of doing so.
For chicken slaughter plants that have implemented the New Poultry Inspection System, discussed below, the maximum speed at which they can slaughter chickens, absent a special line speed waiver from the FSIS, also discussed below, is a staggering 140 birds per minute (bpm). At beef and hog plants, line speeds are measured by animals per hour—for example, large hog plants with seven inspectors are capped at 1,106 hogs per hour.
Despite the differences between the maximum line speeds at which plants are allowed to operate, workers at several plants told us that line speeds have steadily increased. However, the actual numerical rate of these lines in bpm or animals per hour is often not known by workers.
For departments after slaughter and evisceration, line speeds are primarily up to the discretion of supervisors, who purportedly consider a variety of factors when determining the line speeds of their operations, including the number of staff available, the capacity of their equipment, and the layouts of the lines and workspaces. Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies for information regarding how they determine line speeds. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Tyson Foods summarized its practices:
Production line speeds in our plants follow USDA limits and vary based on stage of production, layout and capacity of a plant and number of workers available.… Safety is a key consideration, and any team member may stop a production line at any time for worker or food safety issues, without fear of retaliation.
Smithfield Foods wrote to Human Rights Watch that “[e]mployees are trained during orientation that they have the right, without fear of reprisal, to stop production when they feel their safety is at risk.” Smithfield Foods additionally clarified that “[l]ine rates are established by facility management, industrial engineering, and in some cases, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.” They went on to write, “[l]ine rates vary during operations and are slowed for a number of reasons including staffing, new employee onboarding, and quality improvement initiatives, among others. Lines do not run faster than established speeds…. If staffing levels are reduced… lines are slowed down accordingly.
JBS USA wrote to Human Rights Watch that their “rates of operation are determined daily and modified as necessary during shifts, and are based on our internal crewing guides… The factors affecting line speed that are used by our personnel in determining line speeds are dynamic, and can change throughout a production shift as circumstances require.” They indicated that, “[a]ny employee (including supervisors and other plant-level officials) who disregards company policy and procedures—especially those intended to protect employee safety—are subject to discipline, up to and including termination.” JBS also wrote, “[w]e operate all of our facilities in compliance with labor and human rights laws and adhere to strict internal policies and programs that provide additional guidance to best serve our Team Members.”
Cargill wrote, “[w]hen necessary, we adjust production and we reallocate labor based on facility capacity and demand. We are committed to ensuring that production only takes place at safe speeds, and is maintainable based on staffing levels.”
Workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch cited several goals that their supervisors balance when determining the pace of work. In general, supervisors aim to process the most meat possible, at the highest quality possible, with the least contamination, and the least amount of staff and hours necessary.
“‘Why did you stop? Why did you stop? Don’t stop the line!’” said Veronica G., a worker at a hog plant in Nebraska, mimicking her supervisor. “If it’s too fast and we’re hurting ourselves, doesn’t matter to them. They just want more and more and more.”
“We have about two minutes for each piece, that’s what the [company’s] rules say,” said Abel S., a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska, who trims cuts of beef from larger pieces of carcass. “The issue is, when they’re running the line, they don’t even give us a minute sometimes. It doesn’t have to be like that—fast, fast, fast.”
“The company likes the supervisors that keep the line moving,” said John D., a worker at a beef processing plant in Nebraska. “If you’re slow,” he explained, “the supervisors get annoyed… they come and intimidate [the workers].… There isn’t anybody who can speak up to them—the supervisors are untouchable. No one listens to [the line workers].”
An advocate with knowledge of the meat and poultry industry who spoke with Human Rights Watch expressed concern that policies which may incentivize supervisors to increase output or productivity, such as production quotas and production-based bonuses, could contribute to pressure placed on workers to labor at rapid work speeds. Information about meat and poultry companies’ remuneration of supervisors is not commonly known or available to workers. Accordingly, Human Rights Watch’s findings on the impact of such policies on workers’ conditions is limited.
Human Rights Watch contacted companies for information regarding their policies on production quotas and production-based bonuses for supervisors and plant-level management. Smithfield Foods wrote that they do not incentivize or reward supervisorial employees for production volume or productivity. In letters to Human Rights Watch, both JBS USA and Cargill Meat Solutions said that they do not use any form of quota in their operations.
In its correspondence with Human Rights Watch, Cargill alluded to the impact that such quotas can have on workers’ conditions, writing, “[Cargill] appreciates that the health and safety of our employees can be impacted by line speed, and we do not use quotas to drive production.” However, Cargill confirmed that they do provide “incentives that focus on factors such as safety performance, food safety and quality, employee engagement and process efficiencies and productivity.”
In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Tyson Foods wrote that managers and supervisors at their establishments receive financial rewards based on company and plant-level performance, and are also “held accountable for meeting goals related to … operation (e.g., yield, efficiency, variances)” on an individual level.
“We’ve already gone from the line of exhaustion to the line of pain,” said Ignacio Davalos, a worker at the Smithfield-owned hog plant in Crete, Nebraska. “When we’re dead and buried, our bones will keep hurting.”
Privatizing Inspection and Deregulating Line Speed
Under the Trump administration, the industry is set to achieve even greater autonomy over its line speeds. As described above, federal regulators have not established any standard or guidelines for line speed in the industry to address workers’ safety and health. USDA only considers whether maximum line speeds are consistent with their consumer food safety goals.
However, two recent rule-making efforts by USDA have sought to provide greater autonomy to meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies to oversee their operations. Both of these deregulatory decisions will significantly increase workers’ exposure to the risk factors that cause the injuries and illnesses described above.
In 2014, USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service enacted the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection, which allowed US poultry plants to opt-in to a new inspection system, the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS), which privatizes some of the work previously being done by USDA inspectors. When the rule was initially proposed in 2012, it sought to allow all plants that opted-in to this new inspection system to increase their slaughter line speeds up to 175 bpm—a 25 percent rise from the highest existing maximum at the time.
After intense pressure from stakeholder groups and advocates for workers’ safety and health, however, FSIS’s final rule in 2014 limited this 175 bpm increase in slaughter line speeds to just the 20 plants that had already implemented the privatized inspection system during its pilot program. However, the rule also allowed poultry plants that were not included within this pilot program to adopt the new inspection system—NPIS—and increase their slaughter line speeds up to 140 bpm. At time of writing, 99 chicken slaughter plants now operate under the NPIS.
USDA enforces a wide array of regulations to ensure that animals are slaughtered and processed in a manner commensurate with food safety, including the ability to dictate the pace of production to ensure that companies maintain “process control.” Whenever an inspector believes that a company is operating its line speeds in a way that is too fast for them to inspect the animals adequately for food safety concerns, the USDA inspector in charge has the power to require the plant to reduce their slaughter line speeds. The privatized inspection system transfers some responsibility of checking for contamination or defects to the company by removing all but one USDA inspector from the slaughter line and allowing companies to designate employees to do some of the work previously conducted by federal inspectors.
While FSIS claims that this system improves food safety and the effectiveness of poultry slaughter inspection systems by removing unnecessary regulatory obstacles to innovation and making better use of the agency’s resources, it also removes some of the only individuals, aside from plant supervisors and management, who can control line speeds.
The new inspection system appears to have weakened USDA inspectors’ ability to slow down line speeds. A USDA inspector from one of the five hog plants in the country that also implemented the privatized inspection system during its pilot program explained in an interview with the Texas Observer that, “[i]ndustry dictates to inspectors how to do our jobs. We cannot impede the right to do business.” In the interview, the inspector claimed that, after implementing the inspection system changes, USDA inspectors who try to slow down line speeds to better inspect for contaminated meat or carcasses are rebuffed by plant officials or even their own supervisors.
“All the power gets handed over to the plant,” said Joseph Ferguson, a retired USDA hog inspector who worked in the industry for 23 years in an interview with the Washington Post, echoing how these changes to the inspection system affect USDA inspector’s control. In his interview, Ferguson said that federal regulators lost control when plant workers supplanted them under this new system, which resulted in hog carcasses whizzing past him and the plant’s “sorters” too fast to detect fecal contamination.
As noted above, in response to criticism around these changes to the inspection system, FSIS wrote, “only federal inspectors do meat inspections and under the proposed rule, FSIS inspectors would continue to conduct 100% ante-mortem inspection and 100% carcass-by-carcass inspection at post-mortem.” Human Rights Watch was unable to interview workers from any poultry plant that is currently allowed to operate in excess of the 140 birds per minute maximum slaughter line speed for plants operating under the NPIS, or any of the five swine slaughter plants that currently operate under the HACCP-based Inspection Model Project, discussed below. However, Human Rights Watch spoke with workers at two poultry plants that implemented this new privatized inspection system, the NPIS.
Workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch from one of these plants that implemented the NPIS, a Tyson poultry plant in Alabama, said that they perceived notable increases in line speeds throughout all departments of their plant since the company implemented the new inspection system, removing most USDA inspectors, in the summer of 2018.
Frank Pritchett has worked at the Tyson plant in Alabama for 29 years, rehanging newly killed chickens onto shackles before they are eviscerated and inspected. He explained:
USDA stops that line, the company is not allowed to start that line back up until the USDA tells them to.… When the machine’s running correctly and the lines are down to [the speed] where they were supposed to be when USDA was there, it was all well and good [but] they keep them lines speeded up so fast [now].
Inspection System Changes and Chemical Exposure
Some advocates for worker health and safety in the industry who spoke with Human Rights Watch believe that employers have increasingly relied on chemicals to provide antimicrobial protection against food safety contamination as plants have adopted USDA’s privatized inspection system. They argue that, as plants have moved away from the traditional method of USDA inspectors visually inspecting carcasses for contamination and defects to the system described above, in which plant employees play a greater role, companies have increasingly relied on bathing carcasses and meat in antimicrobial solutions to provide an additional guard against possible contamination.
Anti-microbial chemicals provide safeguards against food safety concerns, which become a more acute issue as rates of production are increased and plants process a higher volume of animals. Accordingly, as line speeds have generally increased, advocates and workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch speculate that the use of antimicrobial chemicals have increased as well.
In 2018, USDA inspectors working at this Tyson Foods plant in Albertville, Alabama, complained to their union about their chronic exposure to PAA in the plant. This complaint triggered a USDA safety and industrial hygiene investigation to determine whether Tyson was exposing their inspectors to airborne concentrations above the non-binding benchmarks established by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). While the investigation found readings both below and above the ACGIH 15-minute exposure benchmark of 0.4 ppm, and OSHA does not validate meters used in these tests, one sensor used in the inquiry detected airborne concentrations of PAA as high as of 1.42 ppm in some parts of the plant—more than three times this limit.
This PAA exposure benchmark assumes a 15-minute limit of exposure that is not repeated more than four times per an eight-hour shift, with at least an hour between each exposure. Workers from this plant who spoke with Human Rights Watch, however, described frequent exposure to uncomfortable concentrations of PAA.
Teresa Jose works in product wash at the Albertville Tyson plant, standing above a sink flowing with water that contains PAA for her entire shift and washing chicken products that have fallen on the floor. She explained:
A lot of people don’t like doing my job because of the PAA.… It’s under my nose eight hours a day.… It really irritates your nose and throat. Your nose is always running.… We’ve complained to supervisors and they say that it’s not high … they’re checking the levels for the product, not for the people.
In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Tyson Foods wrote, “[w]e maintain personal protective equipment requirements for team members working with … and around chemicals, including PAA. First and foremost, we follow manufacturer’s recommendations regarding personal protective equipment requirements…. We require the use of safety glasses in and around these areas. We also make voluntary N-95 odor masks available for team members.” Tyson also wrote, “[p]eracetic acid (PAA) is used in our harvest and further processing facilities as an antimicrobial in spray cabinets, chillers, dip tanks, etc.” They continued, “[f]or PAA, the point of application (e.g., dips and sprays) is usually less than 1000 parts per million (0.1%).” However, this describes the concentration of PAA within water-based solutions, not airborne concentrations. Regarding workers’ exposure to airborne concentrations of PAA, Tyson wrote:
Team members are instructed to report any irritations immediately to their manager. If a complaint is received, the work area is surveyed to determine if there are any on-the-spot remedies to control PAA in the work area. If an immediate remedy is not identified, or the complaint persists or worsens, the safety manager or other designee is contacted for an investigation. Area air samples are taken and the liquid concentration of PAA is tested to determine if the concentration is in the expected range. Response actions are implemented as needed.
Teresa and other workers at the Albertville plant explained that if the level of PAA in water-based solutions used to treat chicken is too low for food safety purposes, the plant will stop the line to correct it. But sometimes, if workers complain about it being too high, “they say that ‘it’s within range,’” said Teresa.
As noted above, FSIS’s final rule limited the number of plants that were allowed to increase their slaughter line speeds above 140 bpm to plants that had already adopted the privatized inspection system years ago. However, it left open the possibility that USDA could, once enough plants had converted over to this new system, reevaluate whether and how other plants could also increase their slaughter line speeds past this limit.
In May 2017, less than a month after Sonny Perdue was sworn in as US Secretary of Agriculture, Congressman Doug Collins of Gainesville, Georgia—which fashions itself the “Poultry Capital of the World”—wrote to the secretary requesting that USDA reconsider the Obama-era line speed rule.
Within the year, USDA published a set of criteria that it indicated it would use in the future to determine whether to grant requests from poultry plants to operate their slaughter lines above 140 bpm. In September 2018, FSIS published these criteria in the Federal Register and began accepting requests from poultry companies that had opted-in to the new inspection system for waivers that would allow them to operate up to 175 bpm.
None of the criteria established by FSIS concern the impact that increasing slaughter line speeds may have on workers’ safety and health. A redacted waiver request from a poultry plant, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and shared with Human Rights Watch, is attached as an appendix to this report. The waiver request, which outlines the company’s compliance with FSIS’s criteria, is less than one page long; FSIS granted their request. “They’re meaningless criteria,” said Julia Solórzano, staff attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Defenders of raising maximum line speeds in the industry argue that increasing the pace of slaughter lines will not impact line speeds in other departments farther down the line, which, as discussed above, operate with independent line speeds established at the discretion of supervisors.
The testimony of workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch, however, indicates that line speeds in different departments, even those separated by full stops in processing, such as the freezer, remain closely related. Jessica N., a worker at the Smithfield hog plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, who packages pork chops and other products into Styrofoam trays for sale in grocery store meat sections, explained:
The [supervisors] on freezer have carte blanche on how fast they want to run the freezer [but] if the speed limit is 55 miles per hour and the traffic slows down to 35, you can’t keep doing 55, because something’s going to happen. We’re at the end of the line. There’s no one else who can get it after us.
Under the Trump administration, USDA has pursued a similar effort to privatize slaughter inspection and increase slaughter line speeds in hog plants. In February 2018, FSIS proposed the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection, which will similarly allow hog plants to opt-in to a new inspection system, the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), which shifts most inspection work to plant employees. While very similar to the poultry rule, the proposed swine slaughter rule will reportedly eliminate all caps on maximum slaughter line speeds for hog plants. Under the proposed rule, plants could, in theory, operate their slaughter lines as fast as they want. The only limitation would be whether the sole, remaining USDA inspector determines that the company is maintaining “process control” over food safety. However, as described above, “process control” is not synonymous with safe and healthy working conditions for workers and USDA whistleblowers have suggested that these remaining inspectors may not have much power.
Similar to the poultry rule, five hog plants that already implemented the inspection system changes during the program’s pilot will be able to increase their slaughter line speeds immediately. Another 35 plants, however, already plan to adopt the new privatized inspection system. Together, these plants would produce 90 percent of pork consumed in the US. Bloomberg reports that these changes to the slaughter inspection system, and resulting line speed increases, could generate an additional $2 million in revenue per year for an average-sized hog plant that implements them.
In the preamble of the proposed hog rule, FSIS stated that they had conducted an analysis that found that the five hog plants that had participated in the privatized inspection systems’ pilot program had lower average, annual rates of injury than hog plants operating under the traditional inspection system. Its analysis, however, was not included in the rule itself or otherwise publicly available for scrutiny.
Experts on worker safety and health obtained some of the data used by FSIS in its analysis through FOIA requests and concluded there were significant flaws in the agency’s conclusions. The experts found significant gaps in the nine-year datasetfrom plants that had implemented the inspection system changes, which fundamentally undermined the value of FSIScomparing their average, annual injury rates to those of traditional plants.
The agency’s assertion regarding the potential safety and health impacts of the rule also drew the attention of 16 members of Congress, who wrote to the USDA’s inspector general, requesting an investigation into FSIS’s rule-making and consultation process. In June 2019, the USDA’s inspector general announced that they were opening this audit.
At time of writing, FSIS had not enacted the rule, but workers’ rights and food safety advocates who spoke with Human Rights Watch anticipate that the rule will be promulgated soon. USDA appears determined to see it through, in spite of concerns raised about the rule’s impact on worker safety and health and whether it is consistent with FSIS’s food safety mandate.
Several advocates who spoke with Human Rights Watch expressed concern that USDA will soon push for similar deregulations of cattle slaughter operations. There is some indication this may already be happening, as a lobbyist from the North American Meat Institute visited the acting FSIS administrator in December 2018 to discuss “Beef Modernization.” Moreover, in a March 2019 letter to FSIS, obtained by FOIA request and shared with Human Rights Watch, Tyson Foods requested permission to implement the same HACCP-based inspection model used in poultry and hog processing plants at a Tyson-owned cattle slaughter and processing plant.
It is unclear whether this request has been granted by FSIS. It appears, however, that beef producers in the industry might be positioning themselves for a similar deregulation of their slaughter inspection systems.
Inadequate Staffing and Mistreatment
The second component of work speed, staffing, describes the number of workers at a given position. Inadequate staffing can negatively impact workers’ ability to do their job safety and effectively. For example, if a person is working at a station that should have eight workers, but one of the workers is sick, and another has been removed from the line temporarily to help elsewhere, the remaining six workers must work faster to keep up—unless the speed of the line is reduced, or their coworkers replaced. Abel S., a worker at a beef plant in Nebraska, explained:
It’s high pressure. They demand such high quality from the work but there aren’t enough workers that need to be there. Sometimes there’s one or two or even three people missing, but there aren’t any substitutes that can come in and replace them.… We have to do the work of ten with only seven, eight people.
Nearly all workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch said that adequate staffing was equally important to safe working conditions as line speed. Many long-term workers, however, described a slow attrition in the number of workers at their stations, which has meant progressively more work for those that remain.
Lynnette Douglas, a worker at the Tyson plant in Albertville, Alabama, recently injured her neck and back while managing an increase in the amount of chicken breasts coming down the line. She reported that her supervisor and plant manager toured the plant with an industrial engineer before her injury. Soon, the plant removed two of four workers from her workstation. Not long after, the plant also increased line speeds at her station, after adopting the new privatized inspection system discussed above. She explained:
When I filled out the paperwork for my injury, they asked, “How did you get injured? What happened? Could it have been prevented?” Yes, it could have been prevented. If you left the speed where it was when there were four people there [at my station] there’s a chance it never would have happened. But when you removed a person from each side … and then upped the line speed—yes, hurting myself could have been prevented.… That’s too much work for one person to do all day.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies for information regarding how they factor staffing and their employees’ work speeds when determining rates of production. Every company that responded to Human Rights Watch’s requests for information stated that they consider staffing when determining production speeds. Tyson Foods wrote, “[w]e use industrial engineers to evaluate line speeds and, in general, don’t implement increases without improvements in technology, additional staff or both.” In a letter to Human Rights Watch, JBS wrote, “[o]ur internal crewing guides—which are used in determining line speeds—incorporate … available personnel.”
Smithfield wrote, "[l]ine rates vary during operations and are slowed for a number of reasons including staffing, new employee onboarding, and quality improvement initiatives, among others. Lines do not run faster than established speeds.” Cargill wrote, “[w]hen necessary, we adjust production and we reallocate labor based on facility capacity and demand. We are committed to ensuring that production only takes place at safe speeds, and is maintainable based on staffing levels.”
At times, the meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry has responded to criticism of its work speeds by pointing out that it is actually against its economic interests to operate lines at rates faster than what workers can reasonably handle. If line speeds operate above their optimal levels for the number of available workers, it argues, line workers will not perform their duties properly, resulting in costly “miscuts” that devalue their products or line stoppages as products back up. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield Foods echoed this, writing, “[l]ine speeds are set so our staff can meet our quality specifications.”
Workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch shared stories about struggling to properly perform their duties at work speeds above their capacity, sometimes producing these miscuts.
Workers described feeling like they are in a triple-bind when people are missing from their workstation. If they complain to their supervisors about the speed of the line and request that they slow it down, they fear they may be berated, threatened with termination, or told to quit. If they try to work at the same line speeds, despite their missing coworkers, but make mistakes while keeping up with the pace, they fear they may be berated or threatened with termination. If they try to work at these speeds, and manage to keep pace and do their job without mistakes, they put themselves at increased risk of serious injury and illness, and their employers may see this as evidence that fewer workers are needed to do the job.
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s 2013 survey of over 300 Alabama poultry workers found that eight percent of workers reported having a coworker who was fired or threatened by their supervisors for requesting to reduce the speed of the line—12 percent of the workers reported that supervisors actually accelerated the line when asked to slow it down. Nebraska Appleseed’s 2009 survey of Nebraska meatpacking workers found that 73 percent of workers reported increases in the line speeds over the past year, while 94 percent reported that the number of staff had decreased or stayed the same.
Workers from several companies who spoke with Human Rights Watch described constant pressure from their supervisors to keep the line moving, often through insults and humiliation. For example, Monica R., who works at a Smithfield-owned hog plant in Crete, Nebraska, explained:
What they ask is impossible. You’re there with your knife and the line is running … it’s just one [piece] after the other after the other. You’re nearly cutting yourself and you have to cut your [piece] real clean or else they’ll come and yell.
Ilda G., who works at the same Smithfield-owned hog plant in Nebraska, described how she is required to debone frozen cuts of pig with an electric knife:
They said they were going to add people to the line back around the end of the year but as of now, they still haven’t. The line is real fast and the supervisor is yelling every day.… Sometimes the meat is really, really hard. Sometimes it’s covered in frost.… You have to use all of your strength to cut it because its frozen like a rock and then the supervisor will come and yell and yell in English.… ‘Fucking people! Lazy people! What the hell!’ … The last time [this happened] … I said, ‘How are we supposed to do this? We can’t do this. Look at how the meat is.’ … I told him, ‘You think that you’re working with dead animals and living animals but no, we’re not animals. You’re dealing with people, not animals.’
The stress of dangerous conditions and mistreatment by supervisors can have an emotional and psychological toll on workers. Some workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch for this report cried during their interviews when relaying their experiences with abusive supervisors or injuries. Ilda G. explained:
It affects me a lot.… I think it was last Thursday, I left work and came [home] so tired and so stressed that the only thing I could do was cry and cry. When my husband came home, he asked me what happened. I told him that I didn’t know and that I just wanted to cry, and that my day was really difficult and the line was too much. I told him about the yelling and everything and that I was tired … every day they’re yelling at you and yelling at you. It’s stressful there, you can’t concentrate.… It’s worse for us women because we have to work hard at home too—clean, cook, and everything else. It adds to the stress.
“The major issue is the psychological harm,” said Victor Corrales, a pastor at the Radiant Spring Church in Crete, Nebraska, whose congregation consists almost entirely of families of workers at the nearby Smithfield-owned hog plant. Other studies have also found that workers in the meat and poultry industry suffer mental health issues due to their working environment. “We get hurt physically, but mentally as well,” said Monica R.
In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield wrote, “Smithfield supervisors are provided Safety & Health Training that includes all aspects of their responsibilities for employee safety … Human Resources conducts regular training for employees on anti-harassment, civil treatment of employees, leadership coaching and development, and other similar types of relevant training … information pertaining to the Smithfield Ethics Hotline is communicated through posters, company websites, training, and the human resource office that typically leads the investigation…. The Hotline is anonymous, and employees are protected from retaliation. Remediation, if warranted, is promptly addressed.”
Human Rights Watch reached out to other meat and poultry companies for information about how the treatment of workers’ in their plants by supervisors and other plant-level management. In letters to Human Rights Watch, Cargill Meat Solutions, JBS, and Tyson Foods also provided information about hotlines and other internal mechanisms for workers to report abusive treatment by supervisors or other issues in their plants. Other companies contacted by Human Rights Watch did not respond to our requests for clarification of their policies and practices regarding mistreatment, verbal abuse, or other malfeasance by supervisors or managers.
Denying Restroom Access
For workers facing constant pressure from supervisors and managers to prevent the production line from stopping or slowing, even basic biological necessities can be deemed unacceptable, with serious health consequences for workers. Interviews conducted for this report are consistent with research by nongovernmental organizations that have found that meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies routinely limit the ability of employees, particularly line workers, to access restrooms during shifts.
Several workers reported that their supervisors deny their requests to use the restroom during their shift, telling them to wait until their break. Some workers told us supervisors do not provide any reason for denying these requests.
While no worker interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported that their employer denied them their regular, legally mandated breaks from the line, several workers said they are required to wait until another worker is available to take their spot, which often results in them waiting until their scheduled breaks to use the restroom. “You have to decide,” said Monica R., a worker from the Smithfield-owned hog plant in Crete, Nebraska, “whether you’re going to eat [during your break] or go to the bathroom.”
Lidia J., a worker at the Case Farms poultry plant in Morganton, North Carolina, reported only having about five minutes to use the restroom during her break. “We have to go downstairs, get out of our gear, and there aren’t enough bathrooms for all of us,” she said. “Just taking off your equipment and putting it back on takes up almost all of your time,” said Abel S., a beef plant worker in Nebraska.
Human Rights Watch reached out to meat and poultry companies for information regarding their policies concerning workers’ access to restrooms during their shift. Most companies that Human Rights Watch contacted for clarification of their policies and practices regarding breaks and restroom access did not respond to our requests, including Case Farms.
In letters to Human Rights Watch, JBS USA initially wrote that their policies regarding access to restroom facilities for employees are “non-public,” but later clarified that their “internal crewing guides—which are used in determining line speeds—incorporate both available personnel and temporary breaks including employee restroom breaks.” Cargill wrote, “[a]lthough regular breaks and the ability to request additional time away from the production line to attend to personal needs are available each day, employees can request more formal accommodations.” Tyson Foods wrote, “[w]e have regular work breaks and also allow team members to leave the production line if they need to use the restroom. We do not tolerate the refusal of requests to use the restroom.”
A few workers who spoke with Human Rights Watch described coworkers wearing diapers at their workstations or urinating on themselves. Spencer Lo, who helps organize poultry workers with the Western North Carolina Workers’ Center, said, “[w]hen the women get pregnant, they have to use diapers.… Lots of workers cry when they speak to me.”
Some research suggests that denying workers’ access to the restroom can have serious consequences for their health, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections and other adverse health effects, especially for workers who menstruate. Pregnant workers, in particular, face heightened risk of health impacts from common workplace hazards.
The manner in which a person is able to manage bodily functions of urination, defecation, and menstruation is at the core of human dignity. Harsh working conditions, long hours without breaks, or high production quotas can limit workers’ access to adequate sanitation facilities, undermining their right to sanitation. Such challenges may also amount to gender-based discrimination at the workplace, as the right to health of women workers may be impacted by policies and practices that create practical barriers to managing menstruation or disproportionately impact pregnant workers by limiting regular access to restroom facilities.
IV. The Way Forward
Regulate and Improve Oversight
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) should enact relevant, binding standards to protect workers from the abuses to health and safety documented in this report, particularly concerning ergonomic hazards, exposure to chemicals commonly used in the industry, and work speeds. OSHA has issued non-binding guidelines for the industry concerning some of these issues. However, as documented in this report, and in decades of reporting on the risks to workers’ health and safety, companies in the industry are unlikely to adhere to these recommendations unless they are established by binding standards and followed-up with adequate enforcement.
As described in Blood, Sweat, and Fear, OSHA enacted an ergonomics standard to address cumulative trauma injuries after years of study and public notice and comment in 2000. However, this ergonomics standard was the first regulation repealed under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in 2001—the only rule repealed through the CRA prior to the Trump administration. As a result of its repeal through the CRA, OSHA is prohibited from enacting a “substantially similar” rule to its previous ergonomics standard, absent express congressional authorization.
To help OSHA address endemic cumulative trauma and musculoskeletal disorders in the industry, as described in the sections above, Congress should pass a law expressly authorizing OSHA to enact an ergonomics standard. In the absence of this express authorization, OSHA should issue a modified ergonomics standard that effectively addresses the hazards specific to the meat and poultry industry.
Harmful Chemical Exposure
As described above, workers’ chronic exposure to high concentrations of chemicals, particularly in poultry plants, can have severe effects on workers’ health. OSHA, however, does not have a standard regulating the use of peracetic acid (PAA), a commonly used antimicrobial, in a manner commensurate with worker safety and health.
OSHA should identify an occupational exposure limit for airborne PAA, alone and in combination with other commonly used chemicals at meat and poultry plants, and enact a standard that would limit workers’ exposure to airborne PAA to levels commensurate with their long-term health and comfort. Until a standard has been developed, OSHA and NIOSH should immediately develop and distribute guidelines for the industry on controlling worker exposure to PAA, including recommendations concerning adequate ventilation and symptom monitoring practices.
OSHA should also evaluate risks and develop guidelines and recommendations for the industry regarding health risks for women, including particular risks and appropriate accommodations for pregnant workers.
Meat and poultry slaughtering and processing companies, for their part, should commit to implementing voluntary guidelines for occupational exposure to PAA, such as those established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Ideally, companies should implement procedures that include workers in the system of monitoring and regulating exposure limits consistent with such guidelines. Companies should also ensure that they are complying completely with OSHA’s standard for chemical hazard right-to-know and personal protective equipment and eyewash stations to guard against the harmful effects of exposure to chemicals.
Companies can also implement practices to immediately reduce workers’ exposure to PAA and other chemicals, for example, by introducing closed systems for using PAA, ensuring adequate ventilation, developing mechanisms to guard against the build-up of PAA in drains, and providing workers with adequate personal protective equipment. Employers should also assess risks for pregnant workers in their processes, evaluate their safety protections, engage in an interactive process with employees to find reasonable accommodations, and ensure that this process does not result in discrimination.
OSHA should also conduct a comprehensive rule-making effort to regulate work speeds to levels commensurate with worker safety and health. In 2013, a coalition of stakeholder groups wrote to OSHA and the Department of Agriculture, petitioning OSHA for a work speed standard in the industry. The petition proposed, among other things, regulating line speeds based on available staff to “reduce the speed of the processing line to minimize the severe and systemic risks faced by workers in the meatpacking and poultry industries, particularly the prevalence of serious and crippling musculoskeletal disorders.”
Ultimately, OSHA denied the petition, citing limited resources to conduct the comprehensive analysis and rule-making effort needed to pass such a standard, but it did not deny the evidence of injuries, the need for protections, or the rationale for creating ergonomics and work speed protections for meat and poultry workers.
The Government Accountability Office has previously found that it takes OSHA, on average, over seven years to develop and issue workplace safety and health standards.
The US government, via the administration and Congress, should uphold its obligations under international human rights law to safe and healthy working conditions by providing OSHA with sufficient workforce and budgetary resources to enact standards concerning these and other risks to workers’ health and safety, and effectively oversee these standards’ implementation and enforcement.
OSHA has been unable to effectively exercise its statutory powers to investigate workplace conditions and issue penalties and orders for businesses that have not ensured a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that cause, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm.
Before the Trump administration, OSHA’s capacity was already limited, but there are indications that its inspection and enforcement activity has declined under the Trump administration. In January 2019, federal OSHA employed only 875 compliance officers responsible for conducting inspections of all establishments within its mandate across the country, the fewest safety and health inspectors in its 48-year history. The Trump administration did not hire a single new compliance officer in its first full budget year. A 2018 report by the AFL-CIO found, “the current level of federal and state OSHA inspectors provides one inspector for every 77,908 workers.” OSHA’s estimate of “one compliance officer for every 59,000 workers” is still nearly six-times larger than the number of workers the International Labour Organization recommends for safety and health inspectors in industrial market economies to oversee.
“At its current staffing and inspection levels,” the AFL-CIO report continues, “it would take federal OSHA, on average, 158 years to inspect each workplace under its jurisdiction just once.” When the AFL-CIO first conducted this analysis in 1992, it found that “federal OSHA could inspect workplaces under its jurisdiction once every 84 years.”
In the 2018 fiscal year, federal OSHA conducted 130 inspections of animal slaughter and processing establishments, issuing 342 citations with cumulative penalties worth only $1.7 million across the entire industry.
Since 2016, OSHA has measured its enforcement effectiveness by “enforcement units,” which add weight to more-complex investigations, rather than by the total number of inspections.
Analysis of OSHA enforcement data by the National Employment Law Project found a decline in enforcement activity between 2016 and 2018, primarily due to cutbacks in more complex safety and health investigations, such as those involving ergonomic hazards that cause musculoskeletal disorders. OSHA conducted one-third the number of inspections concerning hazards that cause musculoskeletal disorders in 2018 than it did in 2016. As noted above, MSDs are the most common ailment faced by workers in the meat and poultry industry.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) should also heed available medical literature, research conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), NIOSH, and OSHA, as well as the abuses documented in this and other reports on the industry, that affirm the impact of line speeds on workers’ safety and health.
USDA, consistent with US obligations under international human rights law, as further discussed in Section V below, should not make regulatory decisions that will undermine workers’ right to safe and healthy working conditions. That means FSIS should, at a minimum, stop providing poultry slaughter establishments with waivers that allow them to exceed 140 birds per minute line speeds in their slaughter processes. Additionally, FSIS should stop pursuing the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection rule and clarify that the agency will not pursue similar attempts to deregulate line speeds for cattle slaughter operations.
Injury and Illness Records Transparency
The US government should take steps to ensure that data on workers’ occupational injuries and illnesses is accurate and available for both federal regulatory officials and the public. Accurate data on incidents and trends of occupational injuries and illnesses is necessary to identify unscrupulous employers and exploitative workplaces, develop effective remediation programs and strategies, and prevent abuses of workers’ right to workplace health and safety in the meat and poultry industry.
The OSHA Form 300-A Log that employers use to respond to Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) requests from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is used to create estimates of industrial occupational injury and illness rates, is merely a summary of the cases of occupational injuries and illnesses that have occurred at their plant. Copies of OSHA injury and illness recording logs are included in Appendix I.
But this form does not include a specific space for employers to indicate workers’ illness was caused by a MSD, as it does for skin disorders, hearing loss, poisoning, or respiratory conditions. Instead, all recordable cases of MSDs fall within the “all other illnesses” column on these recording documents. Before reforms to OSHA recordkeeping following the repeal of the ergonomics standard in 2001, these OSHA 300 forms had a column that required employers to list occupational injuries and illnesses caused by “repeated trauma,” which captured most MSDs.
Not having a space to indicate that a workers’ illness is a case of MSD or cumulative trauma makes it difficult for these records to accurately reflect the ergonomic hazards that workers face, and, in turn, for OSHA to design and implement strategies to address these hazards, both at specific plants and across the industry. As the Government Accountability Office found, “[w]ithout improving data on MSDs, BLS’s statistics on these conditions will remain limited and OSHA’s efforts to oversee employers and ensure workplace safety and health will continue to be hindered.”
OSHA proposed a rule in 2010 to modify forms to include such a column but the bills passed by Congress for the Department of Labor’s appropriations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 explicitly prohibited any funds from being used to implement this change. Since then, OSHA has not attempted to add a column for MSDs to its reporting forms.
OSHA should add a column on MSDs or cumulative trauma back to these logs to improve the accuracy of data, help target inspections and enforcement actions, and keep workers and employers better informed of workplace hazards.
However, OSHA’s past attempts to implement positive changes to its own rules and regulations around recordkeeping to address these and other data issues have been gradually pared back by Congress and the courts.
A 2016 OSHA recordkeeping rule, “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness,” was one of the first regulations repealed by Congress through the CRA under the Trump administration. This rule addressed the outcome of a 2012 DC Circuit case, AKM LLC v. Secretary of Labor, which established a six-month statute of limitations, from the injurious incident, on OSHA’s ability to issue penalties to employers for recordkeeping violations. The rule sought to reaffirm non-exempt employers’ obligations to maintain accurate records for five years, pursuant to existing OSHA regulations, but clarified that each “employer’s duty includes both creating and preserving accurate records of recordable injuries and illnesses.” In effect, this extended the statute of limitations on fining employers by re-characterizing the failure to accurately record an occupational injury or illness as a continuous violation.
As a result of Congress’s repeal of this rule, presently, employers can only be cited and fined by OSHA for recordkeeping violations in which the case of unrecorded or under-recorded occupational injury or illness happened within six months of the date of OSHA’s inspection. However, a 2018 appeals court decision further limited OSHA’s capacity to access employers’ occupational injury and illness records when investigations are triggered as a result of worker injury.
Congress should empower OSHA to ensure that data on worker injury and illness is accurate by passing legislation that, among other things, expressly provides OSHA with the authority to conduct multi-year audits of employers’ occupational injury and illness records, permits a five-year statute of limitations on citations for failing to record and report injuries, and dedicates more resources to OSHA to conduct inspections and audits of employer occupational injury and illness records.
Supply Chain Transparency
Meat and poultry companies should take steps to adhere to their human rights responsibilities by undertaking adequate human rights due diligence to identify and prevent, or at least effectively mitigate, the human rights problems documented in this report. Where abuses of workers’ rights to safe and healthy working conditions have occurred, meat and poultry companies should ensure that effective remedy is available to victims, and participate in their remediation.
The chicken, pork, and beef from meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants in the United States enter the supply chains of innumerable other businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants, that either purchase these products directly through contracts or from suppliers. These businesses have responsibilities under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to prevent, address, and remedy the human rights impacts of their business operations, including those of their suppliers.
In particular, the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) state that businesses’ human rights due diligence “should cover adverse human rights impacts that the business enterprise may cause or contribute to through its own activities, or which may be directly linked to its operations, products or services by its business relationships.”
These businesses should conduct human rights due diligence to examine their supply chains and ensure that the abuses of workers’ rights documented in this report are not present in the establishments of their suppliers. In addition, these companies should publicly disclose information about the plants that supply their operations with protein products.
Publishing supply chain information is consistent with these buyers’ responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles, which call on businesses to externally communicate how they address their human rights impacts in “a form and frequency that … are accessible to its intended audiences.” Supply chain transparency is a powerful tool for building stakeholder trust, advancing ethical business practices, committing a business’ operations to the protection of human rights, and avoiding reputational harm. By publishing the names and other relevant information about suppliers (company, city, street address, etc.), the businesses that buy animal protein products can give workers, labor, and human rights advocates the ability to alert them of human rights and labor rights abuses that may be present in their supply chain. Moreover, the transparency of supply chains has increasingly been recognized by investors as a metric for evaluating the robustness of a business’ human rights practices.
It is also advantageous for consumers, who should know where the products they purchase are made, and workers, who should know which brands, grocery stores, fast-food chains, and restaurants are purchasing the products they make.
V. International Human Rights Law
The issues addressed in this report implicate a range of basic rights protected under international law, including: the right to safe and healthy working conditions, including a right to a working environment free from violence and harassment, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the right to sanitation, and the right to equal protection under the law.
Right to Safe and Healthy Working Conditions, Highest Attainable Standard of Health
International human rights law protects the right of all people to safe and healthy working conditions, as well as the right to the highest attainable health. In addition, as recently reaffirmed by the newly adopted International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190, Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, everyone has a right “to a world of work free from violence and harassment.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is widely accepted as reflecting customary international law, states that “[e]veryone has the right to … just and favorable conditions of work.” Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) guarantees “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favorable conditions of work which ensure … safe and healthy working conditions.”
International human rights law also recognizes the right of all people to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. A component of this right obligates states to take the necessary steps for the “prevention, treatment and control of … occupational and other diseases.” The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which interprets the ICESCR, has affirmed states’ obligations to protect the health of workers. States are obligated under the ICESCR to ensure “[p]reventative measures in respect of occupational accidents and diseases … [and] the minimization, so far as is reasonably practicable, of the causes of health hazards inherent in the working environment.”
These rights, moreover, must be enjoyed equally by both men and women in the workplace.
The CESCR has affirmed that states have “a minimum core obligation to ensure the satisfaction of, at the very least, minimum essential levels of each of the rights.” This duty extends to preventing and protecting against human rights abuses committed by businesses and non-state actors, and may include or require effective regulation of their activities.
The United States has signed, but not yet ratified, the ICESCR. As a signatory, the US is obligated to refrain from acts that would defeat the treaty’s object and purpose. Fundamental to the object and purpose of the ICESCR is the commitment by states to the dedication of available resources toward the progressive realization of the rights enumerated in the treaty. At a minimum, this entails that they avoid, wherever possible, regressive policies and practices that will harm rights protected under the treaty.
As documented in this report, the US government is pursuing policies that will place meat and poultry workers at greater risk of severe injury and illness. The ongoing deregulatory efforts by the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, discussed above, are inconsistent with the US government’s obligation as an ICESCR signatory to avoid regressive policies that undermine meat and poultry workers’ right to safe and healthy working conditions.
The United States is not a party to the ILO Convention No. 155, Occupational Safety and Health Convention (1981) or ILO Convention No. 161, Occupational Health Services Convention (1985). However, these ILO conventions are recognized as a statement of international best practices on workers’ right to occupational health. ILO Convention No. 155 calls on states “to prevent accidents and injuries to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work, by minimizing, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.” ILO Convention No. 161 similarly calls on states to identify health hazards in the workplace and to progressively develop occupational health services for all workers, “which will facilitate optimal physical and mental health in relation to work.”
ILO Convention No. 155 also recognizes that “[t]he enforcement of laws and regulations concerning occupational safety and health and the working environment shall be secured by an adequate and appropriate system of inspection [that] shall provide for adequate penalties.”
As discussed in Section IV, OSHA has been unable to effectively exercise its statutory powers to investigate workplace conditions and issue penalties and orders for businesses that have been found to violate their obligations to ensure a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that cause, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm.
While OSHA has lacked sufficient enforcement capacity under previous administrations, under the Trump administration, inspections and enforcement activities by OSHA have declined. The CESCR considers the failure to enforce relevant domestic laws as a possible violation of the state’s obligations towards realizing the human right to health.
According to a set of principles proposed by the UN Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes, governments have an obligation to do everything in their power to protect all workers from occupational exposures to toxic substances. This extends to “effective policies, legislation, regulation and enforcement” of occupational exposure to toxic and otherwise hazardous substances.
The United States is bound under ILO Convention No. 160, Labour Statistics Convention (1985), which requires states to “regularly collect, compile and publish basic labour statistics [that] cover … occupational injuries and, as far as possible, occupational diseases.”
As discussed above, the US government has stopped collecting specific information on the prevalence of cumulative trauma and musculoskeletal disorders on employer injury and illness records. Congress, moreover, barred OSHA from re-implementing the practice, although these limitations are no longer binding. This is in addition to the other serious limitations to OSHA’s ability to collect and publish accurate occupational injury and illness data discussed above. Together, these factors indicate that the US government is failing to meet its obligations under ILO Convention No. 160.
Right to Sanitation, Equal Protection of the Law
The manner in which a person is able to manage bodily functions of urination, defecation, and menstruation is at the core of human dignity. Lack of adequate sanitation is not only an affront to an individual’s dignity but also endangers their right to safe and healthy working conditions and to the highest attainable standard of health.
Though not explicitly stated in the ICESR, the right to sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living.The CESCR has reaffirmed that the right to sanitation is an essential component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and “integrally related, among other Covenant rights, to the right to health.”
In the workplace, access to adequate water and sanitation facilities are necessary components of the right to safe and healthy working conditions. Without safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, and materials and information necessary to promote good hygiene, the right to health and safety at work cannot be fulfilled.
The existence and adequacy of water and sanitation has a specific importance for workers who must manage menstruation. Women and girls encounter difficulties in managing hygiene during menstruation when there is not an enabling environment to do so; for example, if they lack access to water, sanitation, or health care. States therefore need to ensure that women have access to private, safe, and hygienic facilities for managing menstruation at the workplace.
As describe above, harsh working conditions, long hours without breaks, or high production quotas can limit workers’ access to adequate sanitation facilities, undermining their right to sanitation. These conditions, in turn, may leave workers with little choice but to not change menstrual materials frequently enough, increasing the risk of vaginal infections or other negative impacts. Pregnant workers, too, may face adverse health effects from practices and policies that limit their regular access to restroom facilities.
The right to health of women workers may be impacted by policies and practices that create practical barriers to managing menstruation, which, in turn, may amount to gender-based discrimination in the workplace. The United Nations Human Rights Council and General Assembly have both affirmed that inadequate sanitation facilities, which, for example, do not allow women to change menstrual materials in the workplace, place women at a discriminatory disadvantage based on their gender.
The US Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which amended Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964, affirms that employers must treat pregnant employees the same as any other temporarily disabled employee. This may include providing pregnant workers with reasonable accommodations where it does not present an undue hardship for the employer.
Corporate Human Rights Responsibilities
Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles), all businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights and ensure that they do not cause or contribute to human rights abuses.
Fundamental to this responsibility is the requirement that companies carry out human rights due diligence to identify the possible and actual human rights impacts of their operations and supply chains, and to establish meaningful processes to prevent and mitigate those risks.
In particular, the UN Guiding Principles state that businesses’ human rights due diligence “should cover adverse human rights impacts that the business enterprise may cause or contribute to through its own activities, or which may be directly linked to its operations, products or services by its business relationships.”
Moreover, businesses that seek to conduct their operations in accordance with international human rights best practices should adhere to ILO Convention No. 155 to record and report accurate data on occupational injuries and illnesses.
The responsibilities of businesses under the UN Guiding Principles also extend to businesses that purchase animal protein products from meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants.
These businesses have a responsibility to prevent, address, and remedy human rights impacts of their business operations, including those of their suppliers. The UN Guiding Principles also call on businesses to externally communicate how they address their human rights impacts in “a form and frequency that … are accessible to its intended audiences.”
This report was researched and written by Matt McConnell, Stanford Law School International Postgraduate Public Interest Fellow in the Business and Human Rights Division and United States Program of Human Rights Watch.
It was reviewed and edited by Komala Ramachandra, senior researcher in the Business and Human Rights Division, and Grace Meng, senior researcher in the US Program. Danielle Haas, senior Program editor, and Liz Evenson, acting senior legal advisor, provided program and legal review, respectively. Additional assistance was provided by Namratha Somayajula, business and human rights associate, as well as Thomas Rachko and Dreisen Heath, associates for the US Program. The report was prepared for publication by Cara Schulte, environment and human rights associate.
We are particularly indebted to the external reviewers who commented on an early version of the report: Debbie Berkowitz, program director, worker safety and health program, National Employment Law Project; Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, lecturer, Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University; and Joseph Amon, PhD, MSPH, clinical professor, community health and prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University. We are also grateful to Meredith Santana, associate at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, for her assistance.
We very grateful to the advocates, local NGOs, and labor groups who assisted our research. In particular, Human Rights Watch would like to thank Darcy Tromanhauser, Gloria Sarmiento, and Omaid Zabih from Nebraska Appleseed; Abbie Kretz from the Heartland Workers’ Center; Bacilio Castro, Hunter Ogletree, and Spencer Lo from the Western North Carolina Workers’ Center; and Abel Margarito and Andre Barnett from the United Food and Commercial Workers, Locals 1995 and 1208, respectively.
Additionally, Human Rights Watch is incredibly grateful to the religious leaders who spoke with us about their communities and helped build confidence and trust among the many women and men who spoke with us despite fear of retaliation, including Pastors Victor Corrales and Yolanda Sancho of Radiant Spring Church, in Crete, Nebraska, and Father Steve Pawelk and Donna Tucchi from St. John Paul II in Rutledge, Tennessee.
Above all, Human Rights Watch would like to thank the meat and poultry workers who welcomed our researchers into their communities and shared their stories with us, many of whom did so despite fear of retaliation. | <urn:uuid:909c59d5-6526-4fd5-bf1e-59857bd82e21> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/09/04/when-were-dead-and-buried-our-bones-will-keep-hurting/workers-rights-under-threat | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.957577 | 28,613 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Welcome Ph D. Students
Students who elect this option must choose three electives in session with a college adviser. Enter your information below to receive extra details about the Communication Sciences and Disorders program provided at UCF. The use of holoportation patients will increase the number of different diagnoses students can be taught from in a “true-to-life” type. Candidates from all disciplines are encouraged to apply online by Sept. 15. Gain experience in developing research questions and interpreting research to build knowledge and to foster important considering expertise. Explore both the normal and irregular anatomical and physiological processes of voice production to combine as part of a medical group to make correct diagnoses and create the right therapy approach. School of Communication Dean E. Patrick Johnson might be welcoming Ebs Burnough as the School’s 2021 Convocation Speaker.
Most Popular Jobs For Communication Disorders Sciences Majors
Burnough, a filmmaker, author, producer, and marketing and communications govt, previously served as the White House’s Deputy Social Secretary and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Senior advisor. Burnough in 2019 made his directorial debut with the documentary The Capote Tapes, which explored the impression of author Truman Capote’s unfinished novel, Answered Prayers, by way of new interviews with pals and enemies and by no means-earlier than-heard audio archives. The Television Academy introduced on Tuesday the nominees for the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, and School of Communication alumni are amongst many of the excessive-profile talent on the ticket. In addition to the profitable alumni working in the leisure industry, the SoC this 12 months boasts a school member nominated for his work on a televised documentary. Another signal of SCD is having difficulty in following rules of conversation or not understanding issues that have not been said explicitly. People with SCD might battle to notice subtle parts of conversation or to pick up on non-verbal communications.
The findings suggest that non-invasive odor analysis could also be a priceless technique within the detection and early prognosis of human melanoma. October 2010 — Employing technology used in cochlear implants, researchers implant the first vestibular gadget to stop the severe vertigo associated with Ménière’s illness, which affects 600,000 people per yr in the U.S.
August 1, 2001 — The NIDCD Auditory/Stem Cell Workshop identifies potential areas of the auditory and vestibular systems as candidates for the appliance of regenerative drugs, including the potential use of stem cell biology. January 2000 — The NIDCD joins with the National Eye Institute to sponsor a new national planning focus area for Vision and Hearing to establish baseline data and track trends in direction of reaching Healthy People 2010 goals. March 1995 — NIDCD scientists establish the first gene related to sort 1 Usher syndrome, a condition that causes progressive blindness and profound lack of hearing and stability. By 2013, at least ten additional Usher syndrome genes had been recognized. The help of efforts to create devices that substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication features. Passing a School Comprehensive Examination is a requirement for completion of the grasp’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
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The gadget makes an attempt to cease a Ménière’s assault by restoring a secure pattern of electrical activity in the vestibular nerve of the damaged ear. February 2010 — Researchers discover the first genes related to stuttering, opening doors for medical therapy. June 23-24, 2005 — The NIDCD co-sponsors the primary Workshop on Spasmodic Dysphonia Research to develop a roadmap for research on this uncommon mind disorder, which affects the muscles within the larynx . August 22, 2002 — The Auditory/Vestibular Cell Lineage and Development Workshop explores the present and future state of cell lineage and growth research in auditory and vestibular methods. | <urn:uuid:0714fbb2-7032-4f88-81cd-d32846fdee46> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://campustours.xyz/common-speech-and-language-issues.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.922773 | 800 | 1.742188 | 2 |
3 tips to increase the battery life of an electric car
Investing in sustainable mobility and the electrification of transport is essential to face climate change in order to protect the planet. Electric cars have been gaining more and more strength in the automotive industry, and will eventually replace the fuel-burning ones in the medium term. For this to happen, it is essential that electric batteries are improved in terms of development and disposal, to ensure that they are even more durable, ecological and efficient.
The battery of an electric car is a vital part of its operation, since the autonomy, durability and even the safety of the car depend, fundamentally, on this component.
Unlike the combustion car battery, which is easily replaced and in most cases has a relatively low cost, an electric car battery is expensive and requires specialized labour.
Normally this is not a problem, since the brands offer higher guarantees for the batteries than for the rest of the car. However, it is best to take some care in preserving them.
Keep the charge between 40% and 80%.
Ideally, the batteries should always be charged between 40% and 80% of their capacity. Experts say that charging below and above these values reduces the useful life of batteries, so it is recommended to maintain intermediate charge levels.
Switching off and cooling the car before charging
It is also important not to start the car when it is hot. Once disconnected, you should only connect the car to the mains after the various components, especially those that make up the battery, have cooled down.
Use safe charging stations
For a longer battery life, it’ s essential to use charging stations that have all the necessary protections for the electric vehicle. Avoid fast charging stations, as these will shorten the battery life if used frequently.
Now that you understand a little more about batteries and electric cars, please contact us if you would like a charging solution. We will be available to assess your specific case. | <urn:uuid:febd534e-37fe-4e53-b3c3-26a4a436f944> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://cargga.com/3-tips-to-increase-the-battery-life-of-an-electric-car/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.953185 | 396 | 2.953125 | 3 |
“On November 22, 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, made a political trip to Dallas, Texas with his wife, Jacqueline, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.”
Of course, you don’t have to be an American History buff to know what happened next. The circumstances surrounding President Kennedy’s assassination instantly seared themselves into the country’s collective consciousness. This month marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s death, which has brought along the expected number of tributes, TV specials and movies breaking down the crime and its corresponding conspiracy theories. Parkland, however, serves as a microcosm of how Kennedy’s assassination affected an entire nation.
“This story is based on the true events that took place on that day and the three that followed.”
Parkland opens with newsreel footage of JFK in Ft. Worth, Texas and his fateful arrival in Dallas. Since the president’s death is depicted within the first 10 minutes, we’re also introduced to the disparate cast of characters affected directly by the assassination. We don’t actually see the moment where JFK gets shot; instead, we see the horrified reaction of Abraham Zapruder (Paul Giamatti) as he inadvertently films the president’s death.
From there, the action jumps to a few crucial places. President Kennedy is taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where youthful resident Jim Carrico (Zac Efron), with help from stoic trauma nurse Doris Nelson (Marcia Gay Harden), does his best to save the president’s life. Meanwhile, Forrest Sorrels (Billy Bob Thornton), the chief of the Dallas Secret Service, quickly works to develop the Zapruder film and learn what really happened. We also catch up with FBI Agent James Hosty (Ron Livingston), who had a surprising connection to assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Jeremy Strong) prior to the shooting. Most surprisingly, the film also depicts the reaction of Oswald’s family, including Lee’s stunned brother Robert (James Badge Dale) and their narcissistic mother Marguerite (Jacki Weaver).
Parkland is based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book, “Four Days in November.” It’s also the first film written and directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker Peter Landesman, who largely eschews politics and conspiracy theories in favor of interpersonal drama. The former New York Times writer’s pedigree attracted some impressive names to this project. The film counts Tom Hanks as one of its producers, and the cast is a veritable Who’s Who of ultra-talented character actors.
It’s a good thing they all came out to play because the various plotlines in Parkland wind up being vivid sketches rather than fully-developed stories. The film clocks in at a brisk 94 minutes, but you get the sense Landesman could’ve easily made a great 94 minute movie that solely focused on any one of the assorted storylines we see here. For example, how wild is it that Kennedy and Oswald died in the very same hospital two days apart? (I honestly had no idea this had happened, but it obviously makes perfect sense; how’d you like to be that medical staff?) I’m also confident each of these real-life threads had enough stranger-than-fiction moments — like the Dallas medical examiner and the Secret Service literally fighting over JFK’s body, or members of the press serving as Oswald’s pallbearers — to make them more emotionally engaging, if given the time.
That’s where the cast comes in. The actors may not have a lot of screen time to convey the purpose and emotion of a scene, but this professional group manages to get it done. I was particularly impressed by Giamatti (shell-shocked and resigned) and Thornton (seething and dutiful). The biggest revelation, however, was the affecting Oswald storyline, which is carried wonderfully by Dale’s mournful performance as Robert and given a kooky kick by Weaver’s delusional Marguerite. Efron also acquits himself nicely in his first non-heartthrob role. The cast is so ridiculously stacked that you’ll be wondering why Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley only pops up for a few seconds as a priest and…wait, is that Tom Welling?
Despite the scattered film’s inevitable shortcomings, Landesman proves to be a very adept visual storyteller. Cinematographer Barry Ackroyd (The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips) and his jittery camera constantly have the viewer peeking over shoulders and angling to get a better look at what’s going on. As a result, modern audiences are placed in the raw mindset of those who directly experienced JFK’s assassination. It’s a neat trick, especially when you consider the large number of people who never stopped thinking about that shocking crime in the first place.
Parkland is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The 1080p image is arrived at with an AVC MPEG-4 codec at an average of 28 mbps. The film’s opening minutes feature a heavy mixture of vintage archival footage and the strong HD image that eventually serves as the baseline for Parkland. The sharp contrast between the two is an early signifier that the film doesn’t intend to convey its time period by attempting to reproduce the grainier look of the newsreel material. (It’s a smart move because the period is conveyed very strongly by Bruce Curtis’ production design, Rodney Becker’s art direction, and Kari Perkins’ costumes.)
The palette is mostly muted — not surprising given the film’s mood and all those gray-ish G-man suits — but the disc shows it’s capable of springing to vibrant life during the brief, ludicruous, Iwo Jima-esque struggle to load JFK’s coffin onto a plane. Black levels are also strong during a couple of darkened scenes. Overall, this Millennium Entertainment Blu-ray offers a clean (no aliasing/banding), versatile visual experience.
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is highlighted by James Newton Howard’s alternately propulsive and sorrowful score (which occasionally gives the subs a workout). In fact, the score dominates the surround sound field to the point where sound effects and most ambient noises are confined to the front speakers. As a result, immersion isn’t as strong as you might expect. (Especially during those frantic sequences in Parkland’s emergency room or the FBI office.) The good news is the track offers nice balance and excellent separation during those same frantic sequences, making every bit of overlapping dialogue easy to understand.
Director’s Commentary: Landesman is extremely complimentary of his cast and reveals that he was able to sell producers on the umpteenth JFK project by telling the familiar story as if it were happening now. He also maintains that every event depicted in Parkland is “verifiably true.” Although I tend to prefer conversational commentary tracks with more than one person, this one is definitely worth a listen because of the wealth of historical and production details Landesman covers.
Deleted Scenes: (6:29) This collection of six scenes is highlighted by two post-shooting confrontations between FBI agent Hosty and Oswald, the guy Hosty kinda, sorta let slip through his fingers. Features a Play All option. Presented in HD.
I realize you’ll be inundated with JFK-centric tributes and memorials during the run-up to the 50th anniversary of his death. That being said, you should absolutely carve out time to watch this tense, well-acted drama, presented quite well in this fine-looking Blu-ray. | <urn:uuid:6d73bc63-2b46-4cf8-a8d4-ec00ca7c0390> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://upcomingdiscs.com/2013/11/18/parkland-blu-ray/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.950176 | 1,661 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The debate about the legality of wholesaling burns brightly on BiggerPockets and the rest of the Internet. I’ve said my peace on the matter before, so today I want to talk about something different: deceptive practices. Wholesalers often find themselves stretching the truth to close the deal, whether it’s misrepresenting that you’re the end buyer, or even posting a sign that says “We Buy Houses.” Whenever counseling a client on wholesaling, this is the point I try to drive home: be completely up front in all your dealings with buyers and selling, and never misrepresent your role in the transaction, not even in your advertising! Here’s my advice: don’t do it, or you might find yourself being sued for fraud.
Fraud is a claim that finds its roots in the English common law. In most states, there is no specific codification by statute, but the elements of a fraud claim are pretty much the same across the country, and can be found in any law student’s torts textbook:
- The fraudster must make a representation of a fact;
- The fact must be false;
- The fact must be material to the transaction;
- The fraudster has knowledge that the fact is false or be recklessly ignorant of the falsehood;
- The fraudster has an intent to deceive another by inducing them to rely on the truth of that fact;
- The victim has to be ignorant of the falsehood;
- The victim relied on the misrepresentation;
- A reasonable person would rely on the misrepresentation;
- The victim was injured by the misrepresentation.
Opinions don’t generally give rise to a fraud claim, such as telling the buyer that this house is really nice — that’s called “puffery” and it’s an acceptable sales tactic. HOWEVER, misrepresenting to a seller that “We Buy Houses” is certainly a misrepresentation from a wholesaler, and could be considered actionable fraud.
What are the consequences of getting accused of fraud? Well, morally, they’re obviously not going to impact your business well. Generally speaking, though, fraud is an “intentional tort,” which means that your injured party can recover both actual economic damages and punitive damages, which means that it’s a big enough penalty to make you “feel the pain.” There’s no ceiling — and you can lose everything.
Let’s examine a case study of a typical wholesale transaction with a little bit of deceit mixed in, and what happens next.
Walt Wholesaler, a newbie wholesaler without the cash to close his own deals, posts signs around his community that state “We Buy Houses” with his cell phone number. Suzy Seller, who has been unsuccessfully trying to sell her house through a broker for over a year, calls Walt and asks what the deal is. Walt represents to Suzy that he does purchase houses for cash, and he can close in 10 days or less. In reliance of the promise of fast cash, Suzy invites Walt to inspect the house. Walt offers Suzy substantially less money than Suzy was expecting, but reiterates that he is a cash buyer and he can close fast. Reluctantly, Suzy signs the contract and accepts the lowball offer. Walt then assigns the contract to an end-buyer for a $5000 assignment fee, and he never informed Suzy of this fact.
Let’s walk through the elements of fraud in examining whether Walt did anything wrong.
- Is there a misrepresentation? I think there is. From the very beginning, Walt misled Suzy into believing that he was the end-buyer with enough cash to buy her house.
- Is the fact false? In this scenario, we can assume that it’s false because Walt doesn’t have the ability to buy Suzy’s house with cash.
- Is the fact material? Given that Suzy took a hit on the purchase price solely because of Walt’s promises that he would pay cash and close fast, we can assume that these facts are important to Suzy.
- Does Walt know that the fact is false? Yes.
- Does Walt intend to induce Suzy to rely on his misstatements? I think most wholesalers agree that the core of their value proposition is providing people with fast cash in exchange for property. There is inducement here.
- Is Suzy ignorant of Walt’s inability to close himself? This element is a little tricky, but for the sake of argument, if Suzy is signing the contract because she thinks she’s dealing with the end-buyer with the cash, then I think that she doesn’t know what Walt is about to do.
- Did Suzy rely on the misrepresentation? There’s definitely reliance here — see number 3.
- Was the reliance reasonable? Given that wholesaling is not a very well-known strategy outside the real estate community, I’d say Suzy was reasonable in relying on Walt’s statements. It’s why “isn’t that illegal?” is a common reaction to explanation of the strategy. Much of it sounds like a bait and switch.
- Was Suzy injured? This is the trickiest element to prove, however, the evidence can be found right in the public record — we can check how much Walt sold the house to his end-buyer for. Had Suzy waited around for market price, it is possible, if not likely, that she could find another end-buyer herself without taking the hit. The fact that Walt sold the house for more is proof positive that Suzy lost at least a little bit on the deal after being induced by Walt’s promises that he was the end-buyer.
As you can see, this is not a slam-dunk case for any plaintiff’s attorney, but it’s enough food for thought to get you thinking. Any misrepresentation — especially in the world of real estate — can land you in hot water. Those “We Buy Houses” are especially offensive when you’re not the one doing the buying. You may view your profit as a fee for services (“bringing the buyer and seller together”) but I guarantee that an angry seller is not going to see it that way. Be careful out there, and don’t do anything that might be considered deception to an unsuspecting seller or buyer. | <urn:uuid:b23db671-ba7b-417d-ae62-ceb3041c1cef> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.lawcarson.com/2015/03/22/keep-it-legal-wholesalers-deceptive-practices-ohio-law/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.958563 | 1,378 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Dorado, Grouper, Snapper are always found off of the Central Pacific Coast. Do I need a fishing license in Costa Rica? Fishing from a boat in Costa Rica requires a fishing license. Fishing licenses are about $15/person for a week and may be included in your fishing charter.
How much does it cost to go marlin fishing in Costa Rica?
We have some excellent Fishing packages available: May-November from just $1,999 per person. December 2017 – April 2018 from just $2,199 per person.
What is the best time of year to fish in Costa Rica?
The best time to fish in Costa Rica is December through April when dry weather attracts baitfish and sportfish to coastal waters and from May to November when seasonal rains can elicit feeding frenzies in various gamefish species.
Do you need a fishing license to fish from shore in Costa Rica?
Do I need a Costa Rican beach or river fishing license? No, a fishing license is not required if you want to fish in flood or from the beach anywhere in Costa Rica.
Can you fish from shore in Costa Rica?
Shore Fishing in Costa Rica It is easy, just take your favorite rod & reel and bring them with you and enjoy shore fishing anywhere in Costa Rica. Sometimes, you can find a local guy doing surf fishing in the area; if they use sardines for bottom fishing, you can trade some lures for fresh bait.
How much is a fishing license in Costa Rica?
Officially, everyone in your group who is going to fish needs a license for sport fishing charters in Costa Rica. Fishing licenses are issued by INCOPESCA, the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Agriculture. The cost is USD $15.00 for a period of 1-8 days; $30.00 for a period of 30 days, and $50.00 for a year.
What fish can you keep in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a stunning destination for the avid angler. The Pacific Coast boasts fish species such as the Roosterfish, Marlin, Snapper, Sailfish, Dorado Wahoo, Tuna and many more. The Caribbean Coast can offer you game such as the Big Tarpon and Big Snook.
What should I avoid in Costa Rica?
Things You Should Never Do While Visiting Costa Rica Leave valuables unattended. Unfortunately, one of the most common crimes in Costa Rica is theft. Go to the beach at night. Buy drugs. Speed. Swim in front of a surf break. Take a dip in the river. Think you can get a base tan. Skip out on mosquito repellent.
Is it expensive in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica can be expensive. At least, it can feel expensive to Westerners who expect to be able to have the same buying power as in places like India or Thailand. Costa Rica is ranked as the most expensive country in Central America and the sixth most expensive in North America and the Caribbean (2015).
How safe is Costa Rica?
In Central America and The Caribbean overall, Costa Rica is ranked the number one most peaceful country in the region out of 12. However, the homicide rate increased from 11.9 homicides per 100,000 people to 12.3 in the last year, and crime is still a significant threat to travelers in Costa Rica.
Is it safe to go fishing in Costa Rica?
While Costa Rica fishing is seasonal, there is good fishing all year. Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Dorado, Grouper, Snapper are always found off of the Central Pacific Coast.
Is there Freshwater fishing in Costa Rica?
With two coastlines, Lake Arenal, the Caño Negro wetlands, and countless jungle rivers fishing in Costa Rica offers both variety and quality in it’s freshwater fishery. In addition to local exotics like rainbow bass and machaca, we’ll also find big snook and tarpon in mangroves and even up river.
Is there trout fishing in Costa Rica?
Season: Trout-fishing is available year-round. During the Costa Rican summer months (northern winter), dry conditions prevail and low water makes it easy to spot rising trout and to catch them on dry flies. During the rainy season, mornings are often productive, with rainshowers in the afternoon.
What kind of fish can you catch from the shore in Costa Rica?
Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica Amberjack. Barracuda. Cubera Snapper – Very Large. Grouper. Blue Trevally. Jack Crevalle. Roosterfish.
Are there crawfish in Costa Rica?
There are currently two non-native crayfish species introduced into Costa Rica: the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) introduced in 1966 and presumably occurring in most Costa Rican regions (Huner 1977; Cabrera Peña 1994), and C.
What is inshore fishing?
Inshore fishing details: Within a few miles of shore, or in water less than 30 feet deep. Light tackle, more casting and use of live and dead bait. Less equipment needed, less reliant on a graph for locating fish. More consistent year-round fishing through seasonal climate changes.
Are sharks common in Costa Rica?
The most plentiful shark in all of Costa Rica, White-tip reef sharks are seen in large groups often lying in the sand or under rocks for protection. A small species, this species grow to a maximum of 7 feet. From the Pacific to the Caribbean, divers have a very good chance to encounter White-tips throughout the year.
What is a Machaca fish?
Machaca are one of the most aggressive and hardest fighting fresh water fish in Costa Rica, so much so they have earned the nickname “mini tarpon”. Once hooked they will leap out of the water several times. They feed on leaves, fruit, and seeds that fall into the water, as well as the occasional insect.
Is there peacock bass in Costa Rica?
Rainbow Bass are part of the cichlid family, which includes oscars, wrasse, angel fish, the closely related peacock bass. Better known as ‘guapote’ here in Costa Rica, they are the main target of freshwater anglers.
What is the best fish to eat in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s Best Fish Species to Catch Mahi-Mahi. Locations: Los Suenos. Type: Deep Sea. Marlin. Locations: Los Suenos, Quepos. Type: Deep Sea, Seamounts. Roosterfish. Locations: Los Suenos, Quepos. Sailfish. Locations: Los Suenos, Quepos. Snapper. Locations: Caribbean, Los Suenos. Tarpon. Locations: Caribbean.
Is there salmon in Costa Rica?
Salmon has been traditionally missing from our cuisine, but Costa Rica is slowly warming up to the global village concept, and thus it is very likely that the impounded fish ended up in a delicious recipe such as Spaghetti with Salmon-Flavored White Sauce, made with Maggi condiments and Ideal evaporated milk. | <urn:uuid:ad0d3562-9bdb-4342-bb14-caac1c8852d1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fishkillflea.com/how-much-is-fishing-in-costa-rica-in-the-usa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573540.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819005802-20220819035802-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.932612 | 1,505 | 1.648438 | 2 |
AUTO-LEVELING 2000 V-S/M SEISMOMETER WITH 9 DEGREE TILT RANGE
Nanometrics’ industry-leading portfolio of Trillium seismometers includes a posthole variant that is revolutionizing the way seismologists deploy instruments and collect seismic data.
Reliability, repeatability, outstanding performance
The Trillium Posthole Seismometer is a very broadband seismometer designed for down-hole deployments. The instrument is housed in a stainless steel enclosure incorporating a high-pressure, marine-grade connector making it suitable for uncased buried/posthole installations. An advanced levelling system reorients the internal seismometer mechanism to true vertical, correcting for installations tilted up to ±9 degrees.
Local, regional & teleseismic studies
The Trillium PH is ideal for local, regional and teleseismic studies having a response flat to velocity from 120 seconds to 150 Hz and exceptionally low self-noise. Operators will appreciate the low power consumption, automatic mass centering and robust no-mass lock design inherent in all Trillium seismometers.
A highly integrated station solution
When using the Trillium 120 PH with our popular Centaur digitizer, you’ll have access to a digital leveling bubble through the Centaur GUI. The virtual leveling bubble makes for easy leveling down a dark hole, or once buried, gives you the ability to check levelness at any time.
The ability to get beneath the noise, even in urban environments, and keep your assets secure.
Automatic leveling can be remotely initiated for corrections of up to ±9 degrees, simplifying down-hole installation.
The axis stack is mechanically leveled to ensure that the vertical axis does
not couple horizontal noise.
A robust, waterproof, stainless steel enclosure ensures the sensor is
protected from hostile environments.
Cylindrical down-hole design facilitates buried deployments.
Low power consumption minimizes power source requirements at the site.
- Trillium 120 Posthole ±5 degree tilt models, Trillium 120 Borehole and Trillium Horizon for vault or shallow direct bury with 1200 V-s/m or 2000 V-s/m sensitivity
Polar Certified Model available for
operating temperatures down to -50°C | <urn:uuid:c33033c1-ace6-451d-bbf1-fb0bb905cfca> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.nanometrics.ca/products/seismometers/trillium-120-posthole-2000-v-sm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.821295 | 492 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Wild turmeric/Amba Haldi (آنبہ ہلدی, جنگلی ہلدی) also known as Turmeric Root, Aromatic Turmeric and Curcuma Aromatica, is a spice used in South Asia on quite a large scale. It is well known for its cosmetic and medical wellness. Wild turmeric has been used as natural beauty product since ages.
- The anti-inflammatory agents of this spice help in cutting out the inflammation by deeply reacting with the impurities that have affected your skin.
- Wild turmeric is known to be an amazing anti-oxidant. Antioxidants take care of your skin by protecting it against the excess production of free radicals that are caused by the unwanted calamities of nature. These radicals can affect not just the mere look of your skin, but they also can cause deep damage to your skin cells, leading to skin aging, losing of tightened and toned skin.
- Antineoplastic is an agent which will prevent the growth of malignant cells in your body and your skin.
- It fights against the bacteria on your skin that reacts to cause unwanted ailments to your skin.
- It can help your skin fight the harmful bacteria of the regular cuts, wounds or bruises thus helping your skin to heal as fast as possible.
- It can also be taken internally. This spice is well known for its detoxification characteristics which enable to give you pure blood by flushing all the toxins out of your body. | <urn:uuid:ad007af8-6284-44fc-b3fb-698ded80558e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://pansari.pk/wild-turmeric/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.955552 | 326 | 2.015625 | 2 |
How to vent a garage in various ways
As any other room, garages need appropriate ventilation. This prevents the appearance of stale smells, toxic gasses and other unpleasant fumes, as well as damaging the cars, tools or machinery stored inside. Below are presented a few methods through which you can vent your garage easily:
Purchase a window fan
Adding a window fan with the fan pulling the air outward is a great idea because the fan will get the unpleasant smell out through the window.
Get a small second window
As the majority of garages have a single window, you can install a second one on the opposite wall, thus permitting a greater amount of fresh air to enter the garage.
A roof turbine vent
This method has a great advantage: it doesn’t require electricity. Air is attracted by the turbine, helped by natural wind currents, which provides you a clean and ventilated garage.
Bathroom exhaust fan
It’s a great alternative if you are the owner of a garage where you mainly store random items. If the garage is used as a laundry, it’s indicated that you place the exhaust fan near the washing machine to take all the moisture out. This type of fan must be connected to the electrical system and you can install them either in the ceiling, either in a wall.
Attic fans (or whole house fans) are a great choice for those who use their garage as a workshop, because it is placed in the ceiling and it saves you electricity, as it can be turned on and off when needed. It’s recommended that you use a roof turbine vent together with the attic fan.
Install a kitchen range hood
You can use either a commercial range hood (powerful fan, but noisy) or a classic kitchen range hood. They can be vented through the exterior walls or through attics and are advantageous because they provide ventilation and lightning.
Static vents look quite like the horizontal panels seen on shutters and they are recommended because of the slants which keep the rain from entering inside and because of panels which are always open.
Tip: place the vent as high on the wall as possible, opposite to the window.
|attic fan, bathroom exhaust fan, garage used as workshop, garage ventilation, how to vent a garage, install a second window to vent the garage, kitchen range hood, roof turbinte vent, static vents, window fan for garage ventilation| | <urn:uuid:902ee490-32f3-4987-a78c-deb37fc81b16> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mustknowhow.com/garages/how-to-vent-a-garage-in-various-ways | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933562 | 504 | 1.625 | 2 |
Traffic deaths surged in first 9 months of 2016
WASHINGTON — The government says traffic deaths surged about 8 percent in the first nine months of last year, continuing an alarming upward spiral that began in late 2014.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the sharp increase comes at the same time Americans are putting more miles on the road than ever.
But the rise in deaths is outpacing the increase in travel. Vehicle miles traveled in the first nine months of 2016 increased about 3 percent.
Experts believe the increased travel is a result of an improved economy and low gas prices.
The fatality increase is especially concerning because it has occurred at time when automakers are equipping more cars with sophisticated safety technology like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. | <urn:uuid:afe1b4ea-8a53-4aa0-b388-5e3e078b56c7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thetimesnews.com/story/news/disaster/2017/01/13/traffic-deaths-surged-in-first-9-months-of-2016/22692436007/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.94079 | 154 | 2.296875 | 2 |
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Hospice Ministries within the Catholic of America include clergy members who have been called to this form of ministry. Like any apostolate is an action "directed to serving and evangelizing the world". In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine.
The word apostolate comes from the Greek word apostello, which means to "send forth" or "to dispatch". The Christian origin of the word comes from the twelve apostles who were selected by Christ; they had a "special vocation, a formal appointment of the Lord to a determined office, with connected authority and duties". An apostolate can be a Christian organization made up of the laity or of a specific Christian religious order or individuals. This apostate committed to ensuring that each person is provided the opportunity to die with dignity, in a manner as free from physical, emotional, and spiritual pain as possible. Our hospice ministers bridge the gap between life and death by being present, offering hope, and expanding knowledge through compassionate service to the community. Our hospice ministries clergy believe that every human being has the right to a quality end-of-life experience. The hospice chaplaincy, as an integral member of the hospice team they work with. The role of a hospice chaplain is crucial, as many people turn toward spirituality for comfort at the end of life, and the expert spiritual care and counsel that a chaplain provides is paramount in helping patients ó and the caregivers, family, and friends who love them ó find peace. By better understanding the role of the hospice chaplain, their goals for care, and how they provide that care, we can better understand the incredible level of spiritual support that every hospice patient is provided on the end-of-life journey.
First and foremost, the chaplain is dedicated to providing the patient with care and spiritual counsel that meets their needs and is in accordance with that patientís wishes. If a patient does not wish to engage with a hospice chaplain or any form of spiritual care, they do not have to. It is entirely optional, and the patient can change their mind at any time. Chaplains do not seek to convert patients or bring them into the fold of a specific religion, but to instead meet the patient where they are on their spiritual journey and help the patient discover renewed meaning and spiritual peace. Regardless of religion, creed, or culture, a chaplainís purpose is to provide patients with compassionate spiritual support and counsel. Often and understandably, as a terminally-ill patient approaches the end-of-life, powerful and complex emotions ó such as anger, depression, guilt ó can begin to take root. Patients can also begin questioning the meaning of life, their purpose, and whether or not their life was of any value. The hospice chaplainís role is to help guide patients to a place of spiritual health by helping them see the value of their life and its positive impact. While the chaplain may not be able to provide all of the answers a patient may seek, expressing these emotions is healthy and having these conversations can help pave the path toward healing.
A cornerstone of the hospice philosophy of care is that no one should be alone at the end of life. No matter the time of day or night, the hospice team, including the hospice chaplain, is dedicated to ensuring that no patient dies alone and that each patient is surrounded by comforting, compassionate friends at the end of life. A healthy spiritual outlook is intimately connected to a patientís overall sense of well-being. Multiple studies show that patients who define themselves as having a more balanced and positive sense of spirituality report higher levels of positivity, lower levels of pain, and a generally higher level of comfort at the end of life. By providing compassionate spiritual support, the hospice chaplain helps patients achieve not only greater comfort spiritually, but physically, emotionally, and mentally as well.
Chaplains, as spiritual experts, understand the intimate relationships between religion, spirituality, and culture, and how those aspects of a patientís life shapes their relationship with the end-of-life journey. From this vast array of spiritual knowledge, chaplains can help patients find the rituals, prayers, and other spiritual coping practices that help instill a sense of peace and offer the greatest comfort. A patientís spiritual and cultural beliefs can have a large impact on the type of care they wish to receive. Certain medications, care practices, and specific forms of therapeutic care may be rejected by the patient should it conflict with their religious, cultural, or spiritual beliefs. Hospice chaplains help the hospice care team understand why and how certain aspects of the care plan may need to be adjusted to ensure that the care a patient receives is in alignment with that patientís preferences. | <urn:uuid:a4651ec7-7353-4462-9489-3a2cefd59596> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://cca.church/ministries%20Hospice%20Ministries%20.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.947439 | 1,000 | 1.898438 | 2 |
A Step-By-Step Guide to Cleaning Your HVAC Unit
July 2, 2014
Outdoor air conditioning units can become dusty relatively easily, making it particularly important for customers to keep them clean. Many HVAC services can help people keep their heating and air conditioning systems as clean as possible, which will make those systems more effective. When these systems aren’t cleaned regularly enough, they’ll use energy less efficiently. The HVAC system itself will be more expensive to use.
People may think that they’ll have to upgrade their cooling and heating systems when they start to notice that their energy bills are increasing. Air conditioner vendors should have multiple sustainable HVAC systems. However, air conditioner service providers can also help customers maintain the unit as well. Cleaning is an important part of HVAC system maintenance, since different contaminants may actually damage the system’s components.
Once those mechanical parts have started to break down, people might absolutely need completely new air conditioning and heating systems. An air conditioner website might help customers before their systems experience problems like that. Some of these websites might offer tips on HVAC cleaning and maintenance, helping people know when to schedule important appointments with heating and air conditioning professionals. There are different air conditioning and refrigeration classes available today.
There is no reason to let your air conditioner go dirty this summer. Not only will you regret having to deal with the heat and humidity, but you will be risking losing your unit’s ability to cool properly.
HVAC systems often become clogged with dirt, debris, and other allergens, because the HVAC filters cannot always pick up minuscule particles that floats through the vents. This leaves HVAC systems vulnerable to clogs and rust, making it essential for you to have it cleaned at least once a year.
You could also be brave and try to clean it on your own; it’s not all that difficult. If you do feel like taking up the task, here’s what you have to do.
- First be sure to turn off the power on the unit, as you probably don’t want to be electrocuted. Once you have done this, you can use some tools to remove the cover off of your external AC unit.
- Turn on your vacuum, but try to use the brush fixture. This will keep the suction to a minimum while you brush off any debris from the coils, condenser, or motor. You don’t want to turn your vacuum on full blast, as it may tug at the electrical cords or dislodge an important device.
- You can also spray water on the fins on the condenser to remove any soot. This can help to keep the system running efficiently, but be sure to gently scrub away at the dirt as these fins can damage easily.
- After cleaning and brushing away the dirt, you can close your unit up, carefully making sure that every screw is in place. You may also want to head inside to check the internal portion of the HVAC unit. Internal heating and air conditioning parts can sometimes collect dust, and require a bit of cleaning as well.
So why spend money on hiring a professional, when you can clean the unit all by yourself? References. | <urn:uuid:abe2365d-9fd1-49fe-81aa-a30cf3b6f892> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://glamourhome.com/2014/07/a-step-by-step-guide-to-cleaning-your-hvac-unit/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.956056 | 681 | 1.726563 | 2 |
A pump has different uses, like marine service, fire-resistance, commercial development, providing fuel or water. These were just some of its many uses. A pump or a siphon is a machine that is used to provide fluids to apply on different surfaces. It can tolerate both cold and hot fluids. It can be set to different settings like low, medium, or high. They can be used to spray at different surfaces on buildings like clinics, educational institutions, commercial buildings, etc.
There are many types of pumps. One important type is fireproofing pumps. They are machines that are used to provide fire-resistant coverage to surfaces. To know about them in a little more detail, we have mentioned below everything you must know about them.
Everything you should know about Fireproofing Pumps
What are they used for?
Fire-resistant pumps are applied to aluminum and steel support in commercial buildings. They provide resistance to fire so that the important structures of a building are safe from the impact of it and are not damaged. They continue to work until the fire is controlled. They help build resistance to fire on surfaces so that they are not affected during a serious fire. It is built-in protection that buys time for other mechanisms to fight the fire and shut down the fuel supply from the fire source. This shuts down the process of the fire spreading and damaging the property.
Different Types of Fire-Resistant Pumps
There are four different types of fire-resistant pumps. They each have their advantages and disadvantages. However, their cons can be overcome by looking for different solutions for it easily. Each type of pump is suitable for a condition. So a person looking to buy them can check them according to the purpose they are required for.
Horizontal Split Case
A horizontal split case fire-resistant pump is one of the most common types. They are most commonly used in commercial buildings. They are generally preferred by technicians as they are easy to use and maintain. However, it does need an external water resource. But this can easily be solved and is not a big concern. It is amongst the top choices by all as it is extremely durable and reliable.
Vertical Split Case
A vertical split case fire-resistant is like a horizontal split case fire-resistant. The only difference is that it is vertical in shape. However, this is an advantage as it takes less space. This is the most suitable option for those who do not have much space on their properties. Another advantage of it being vertical is that it reduces the risk of motor flooding.
They are smaller and are more closely packed than a split case fire-resistant pump. You can save even more space than a vertical split case. They are an ideal choice for small spaces and buildings. However, during its maintenance, every part of the machine has to be separated. This is one of the major disadvantages of using a vertical in-line.
This type of fire-resistant pump can use water from nearby wells and tanks. A vertical turbine fire-resistant pump can be used without priming. The water moves through the column pipe and then stays at the top of the pump. This collected water can then be used when needed. This is how it works.
This was some important information about fire-resistant pumps. They can be a little expensive. However, there are various used fireproofing pumps for sale online. You can choose the one that suits your purpose the best. Keep in mind the different types while selecting the best for you. They will last you longer and will help protect your property against safety hazards. With the advent of new technologies, new models have come into the market and you can use them to the best of your advantage. | <urn:uuid:b0e61b43-cbd9-471d-a1ea-1e53a0fb74ae> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://dailymagazines.net/everything-you-must-know-about-fireproofing-pumps/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.968695 | 768 | 2.65625 | 3 |
After the completion of PCB manufacturing, there is a shelf life. Beyond this shelf life, the PCB needs to be baked. Otherwise, it is easy to cause the problem of PCB explosion when the PCB is produced online in SMT.
There are industry specifications for the preservation time of PCB, as well as the temperature and time of baking PCB in industrial oven. Details are as follows:
Industry specifications for PCB control:
1. PCB unpacking and storage
(1) The PCB board seal is not unpacked and can be directly put into use within 2 months from the manufacturing date
(2) The manufacturing date of PCB board is within 2 months, and the unpacking date must be marked after unpacking
(3) The manufacturing date of PCB board is within 2 months, and it must be put into use within 5 days after unpacking
2. PCB baking
(1) If the PCB is sealed and unpacked for more than 5 days within 2 months of the manufacturing date, please bake at 120 ± 5 ℃ for 1 hour
(2) If the manufacturing date of PCB exceeds 2 months, please bake it at 120 ± 5 ℃ for 1 hour before going online
(3) If the manufacturing date of PCB is 2 to 6 months later, please bake it at 120 ± 5 ℃ for 2 hours before going online
(4) If the manufacturing date of PCB exceeds 6 months to 1 year, please bake it at 120 ± 5 ℃ for 4 hours before going online
(5) The baked PCB must be used within 5 days (put into IR reflow). After the bit is used, it needs to be baked for another hour before it can be used online.
(6) If the manufacturing date of PCB is more than 1 year, please bake it at 120 ± 5 ℃ for 4 hours before going online, and then send it to the PCB Factory to spray tin again before going online
3. PCB baking method
(1) Large PCBs (above 16 ports, including 16 ports) are placed horizontally, with a maximum of 30 pieces in a stack. Open the oven within 10 minutes after baking, take out the PCB and place it horizontally for natural cooling (pressure prevention plate Bay fixture is required)
(2) Small and medium-sized PCBs (including 8ports below 8ports) are placed horizontally, with a maximum of 40 pieces in a stack, and the number of vertical types is unlimited. Open the oven and take out the PCB within 10 minutes after baking, and place it horizontally for natural cooling (pressure prevention plate Bay fixture is required)
Preservation and baking of PCB in different regions:
The specific storage time and baking temperature of PCB are not only related to the manufacturing capacity and technology of PCB manufacturers, but also related to the region.
The shelf life of PCBs made by OSP process and pure gold precipitation process is generally 6 months after packaging. Baking is generally not recommended for OSP process.
The preservation and baking time of PCB has a great relationship with the region. The humidity is generally heavy in the south, especially in Guangdong and Guangxi. There will be a "back to the South" weather in March and April every year. It is cloudy and rainy every day. At this time, it is very humid. PCB must be used up within 24 hours after exposure to air, otherwise it is easy to oxidize. It is best to use up in 8 hours after normal opening. For some PCBs that need to be baked, the baking time should be longer. In the north, the weather is generally dry, the preservation time of PCB is longer, and the baking time can be shorter. The baking temperature is generally 120 ± 5 ℃, and the baking time is determined according to the specific situation.
For the storage time, baking time and temperature of PCB, specific problems should be analyzed. On the basis of PCB management and control specifications, specific choices should be made according to the manufacturing capacity, process, region and season of different manufacturers.
Of course, if it is only an experiment, it can be adjusted between the room temperature 25 and the ultimate high temperature resistance temperature of general electronic products 120. It should be noted that in the electronic industry, the service life is generally doubled for every 10 degrees. If it is a batch product, it refers to dipping the insulating paint (drying insulating paint), putting it into the oven at 80 ℃ and baking for 2 hours.
Contact Person: Ms. Victoria Li
Tel: +86 13929216856 | <urn:uuid:be67ea8e-74d9-4cca-bb7f-bd999e5f0e3a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.liyi-tech.com/news/method-for-determining-pcb-heating-temperature-and-time-100175.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.932433 | 955 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Hello class and welcome to another day of E-Learning. It's hard to beleive that we are close to completing our second week of E-Leaning.
I am pleased that we now have a few more students who have now started to get work into me. Later today I am going to individually email those of you who have work yet to complete. In this email I will include, in order, the work you need to turn into me. Also, I will be putting e-learning grades in the grade book this week.
Please continue to email me with your concerns and let me know how I can help you.
I will also be setting up a class meet for all of us. This could be a lot of fun. Hopefully we will do this toward the beginning of next week.
Yesterday you were to start Lesson 63. I want you to finish that today and turn it in. You might refer back to yesterday's e-learning page for some instructions for completing it.
In continueing with reading clothing labels I want you to look at three labels on your own clothes and answer the same question as you did for activity 6 as to how your clothes needs to be cared for. To make it simple you could just copy the label. When you turn this in please include the piece of clothing such as shirt, coat, sweater
Yesterday I just had you read pages 66 to 68 and to study the pictures and diagrams. Today you are to complete Lesson 3 Review on page 69. Before turning it in, don't forget to write Lesson 3 review, p. 69 at the top of your paper.
Today I want you to read page 412 and 413 and answer the following questions;
1. What is South Asia's economy like?
2. What natural resources does South Asia have.
Please copy the questions down and turn in with your answers. If you do not have your textbook you still can answers these questions using google or any other source that you have. If you are not using the textbook to answer these qustions, please include the name of your source.
As always please email me with your concerns or problems you may be having with completing your work. I am here to help you.
Enjoy your day. | <urn:uuid:a38de21d-0ef8-449c-a9be-0ebec75488aa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mcas.k12.in.us/Page/23306 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.96482 | 494 | 2.125 | 2 |
Full Mouth Rehabilitation
Full mouth rehabilitation treatment refers to rebuilding or replacing all of the teeth in a patient’s mouth. The treatment works to improve both the function and aesthetics of your teeth and smile. As a highly individualised treatment, the focus is also on improving the overall health of the mouth, including gums, teeth, and bite. The treatment can involve a combination of onlays, crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants or dentures that provide not only a smile makeover but also improved chewing efficiency to patients.
Full Mouth Rehabilitation Is Often Recommended For Patients:
- That have multiple missing teeth or numerous teeth with large fillings which are failing or exhibiting decay
- With cracked, broken, or badly worn-out teeth due to an accident
- With teeth grinding habits
- Teeth that have worn due to tobacco eating habits
How Long Does Full Mouth Rehabilitation Take?
Full Mouth Rehabilitation takes several weeks or up to a year or more to complete the steps. Some of the steps involved are prophylactic teeth cleaning, crown lengthening for crowns or bridges, orthognathic surgery for repositioning jaw, contouring, placement of temporary & permanent structures and orthodontics if needed. The timeline varies from patient to patient as the specific procedures and treatments take their time.
Benefits of Full Mouth Rehabilitation
Full mouth rehabilitation or full mouth restoration often resort to full mouth dental implants which has numerous benefits such as:
- Ability to bite into and chew foods like with natural teeth
- Instantly reversing of age by improving the toothless appearance of the face
- Aesthetically appealing smile
- Dental health
- One-time procedure to last a lifetime | <urn:uuid:7341c9de-d0ae-45d4-a225-62fb840cce07> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.kamaldentalclinic.com/full-mouth-rehabilitation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.930616 | 356 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Prepare To Hear This Warning On Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching. Prepare to hear these phrases: "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI”.
Police departments, sheriff’s offices and Michigan State Police are partnering with the Office of Highway Safety Planning to get impaired drivers off the road. "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI” will run from Aug. 16 to Sept. 6.
These messages are an effort to increase state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired. You'll also see extra enforcement and increased officers on the roadway.
OHSP Director Michael L. Prince said in a news release,
"The Labor Day holiday is a time for fun and community as families and friends gather for a final, late-summer celebration. Unfortunately, there are people who will make the wrong choice to drive impaired, needlessly putting themselves and others at risk. The law enforcement officers participating in these campaigns are dedicated to enforcing our traffic laws and keeping our roadways safe. We need people to understand that it’s up to them to make the smart decision to drive sober."
Last year in Michigan on Labor Day weekend, there were 1500 crashed and 15 of those were fatal. Of those 15 fatal crashes, eight involved alcohol and/or drugs. In 2020, nearly 42% of fatalities on Michigan roadways involved alcohol and/or drugs.
In Michigan, it’s illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. The impaired driving campaigns are supported with federal traffic safety funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Labor Day Weekend is September 4, 5 and 6.
See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State | <urn:uuid:c317d889-1756-4737-8b29-92581dd63266> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wgrd.com/prepare-to-hear-this-warning-on-labor-day-weekend/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.939957 | 379 | 1.5 | 2 |
Sometimes heart disease has no symptoms and is detected during a routine physical examination. Other times individuals may experience warming physical symptoms or signs such as feeling short of breath, feeling dizzy, experiencing nausea, or by having abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias), they may also feel more fatigued than normal without any physical reason for the fatigue.
Other symptoms are feeling a pain or discomfort in the center of your chest, pain or discomfort in the upper body, arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach area. Some individuals feel short of breath, or break out in a cold sweat, or feel faint or woozy.
Women may experience different symptoms from males such as unusual tiredness, or trouble sleeping, difficulty breathing, indigestion, or a feeling of intense anxiety. Signs of a heart attack can come from your brain, your chest area, your skin, your lungs, your stomach and your general body. You can experience symptoms from your chest, your arms, back, jaw, shoulders, or your neck.
A doctor will take a medical history, ask for a list of your symptoms, do a physical examination and also order some laboratory tests that will give vital information about the condition of your heart. It is important to tell your doctor if you have any family history of heart disease (mother, father, brothers or sisters who have been diagnosed with heart disease).
Feeling your heart flutter is not necessarily a symptom of heart disease on its own. As we age we can experience irregular patterns in our heartbeats. These heartbeat changes are usually harmless and to an extent a normal part of ageing. If, however they occur along with another symptoms of heart disease such as dizziness, shortness of breath or extreme fatigue than the flutters may be a symptom of heart disease.
You may now be wondering just when a symptom can take you from wondering about heart disease to getting a diagnosis. You have a few risk factors, you recognize symptoms now what? The next step is to make an appointment with your doctor. After taking your medical history and listening to your symptoms your doctor will want to do a physical examination, which may include getting your weight and height, your blood pressure, pulse and respirations.
Then your doctor will check your heart’s rate, rhythm, and regularity. The doctor will use a stethoscope to do these things. Your doctor will also examine your body, eyes, arms, legs, and your skin for signs of other diseases. Your doctor may order some blood tests that will check your cholesterol and other markers of heart disease.
Your doctor may order some tests such as an EKG, Chest x-ray, Stress test, a Tilt Table test, an echocardiogram, cardiac Catheterization, electrophysiology test, a CT heart scan, a myocardial biopsy, a heart MRI, and perhaps a pericardiocentesis.
Cardio-Klenz is the only natural supplement that we are aware of which utilizes enteric coating technology to safely release the active ingredients in the stomach. This delivery method not only protects the enzymes such as Nattokinase but also greatly enhances the efficacy of other ingredients present such as Resveratrol and L-Glutathione. No other formula covers so many ‘angles’ to manage and protect your cardiovascular system, and yet Cardio-Klenz is still natural with no known side effects.
Has your Doctor told you that your cholesterol is too high and he/she wants you to use a statin drug to lower it? You need to be wary about starting a statin drug as there are many dangerous side effects associated with them. Your first line of defense against high cholesterol should be to try the natural approach. Xtend-Life Cholest-Natural is considered one of the world’s best natural options for balancing cholesterol levels. Cholest-Natural only uses natural ingredients with strong clinical evidence supporting their efficacy and safety. Thousands of Xtend-Life customers have found that this product has worked successfully for them.
Mountain Rose Herbs is where we recommend you purchase all of your organic, wild crafted bulk herbs, spices, teas and pure,organic essential oils!
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Originally posted 2008-10-25 11:44:07. We hope you have enjoyed this Post From the Past!
Your Free PDF Health Ebook... Remedies4.com!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed! | <urn:uuid:0e5f1ebd-8ea3-4229-9d64-3ae7700a4e67> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://natural-holistic-health.com/general/heart-circulatory-health/heart-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.924392 | 1,072 | 2.96875 | 3 |
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been the largest global public health crisis in recent memory. To date, it has been responsible for over 158.3 million infections and over 3.3 million deaths the world over.
Managing this crisis, mitigating viral spread, and planning to prepare for the next phase of the pandemic involves numerous testing and analysis regimes. Continuous monitoring of the virus spread to control the disease, the efficacy of vaccines in trials, current infection fatality rates and the health status post-vaccination, call for a large sampling of blood and tests to detect the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2.
In a recent study, researchers developed and validated a nanoimmunoassay (NIA) that analyzes 1,024 samples in parallel on a single microfluidic device the size of a USB stick. They detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, achieving a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100% based on an analysis of 134 pre-pandemic sera (collected in 2013/2014 and 2018) and 155 sera from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 positive individuals. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).
The results from the study indicated that an accurate binary classification of serum samples could be achieved with NIA. The study involves a detailed development and validation of the NIA method and a rigorous analysis and testing of ultralow-volume whole blood collection.
In this study, the researchers analyzed samples obtained more than 20-day post-onset of symptoms, and also for samples obtained less than 20-day past onset of symptoms – in both cases, the NIA results performed excellently. They demonstrated that NIA could be used to detect anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in ultra low-volume dried whole blood samples (eliminating the need for venipuncture blood collection).
The platform capabilities can be expanded to include multiplexed analysis, allowing four or more biomarkers – multiple antigens, cytokines, or inflammatory markers – to be tested for each sample to gain insights into the viral infection and response.
Consumables, reagent consumption, and associated costs are negligible with NIA, which is an important consideration when compared to the high reagent cost of ELISAs and when considering potential reagent shortages that may be encountered during critical phases in a global pandemic.”
The current testing methods, such as ELISA, chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA), or Lateral flow assays (LFAs), require venipuncture for blood collection, followed by sample pretreatment, and involve costly reagents and testing procedures; all of which precludes comprehensive testing and contributes to high healthcare costs. The main advantages presented here are that this assay relies on a repurposed blood from a glucose test strip (finger prick) and other low-cost blood sampling methods to eliminate the need for venipuncture, and is capable of analyzing up to 1,024 samples per device. Also, the NIA reagent consumption and corresponding costs are roughly 1,000 times lower than standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
To implement this method, the researchers explained that laboratories require a commercially available contact microarrayer, and the ability to fabricate masks, molds, and PDMS microfluidic devices, which can be fabricated easily using a spin coater, 80°C ovens, and stereomicroscope. The device readout is performed on a standard epifluorescence microscope equipped with an automated stage.
The researchers tested two commercial blood collection devices: Neoteryx’s Mitra® and DBS System SA’s HemaXisTM DB10, to show the possibility to repurpose low-cost and widely available blood glucose test strips for sample collection and shipment. Samples could be stored up to 6 d at room temperature with minimal sample degradation. The researcher demonstrated that all three methods combined with NIA identified more positive samples than a standard ELISA performed on serum samples collected from the same individuals.
The researchers foresee that an individual can purchase a simple blood sampling kit containing a lancet, a blood sampling device, and a return mail envelope at a local pharmacy or supermarket. Then, the individual can collect the blood with a simple finger prick, and send the device with the blood sample to a laboratory which will analyze for one or more biomarkers, interpret the data, and return the test results to the individual via electronic communication.
The method in this study can be used to analyze large samples collected as part of epidemiological studies, identifying donors for plasma therapy as well as offering vaccine trial support. During a global pandemic, such technologies could enable the collection of critical epidemiological data, providing instrumental data for vaccine development and vaccine rollout, the researchers write.
The combination of a high-throughput, highly specific and sensitive NIA and the ability to analyze minute volumes of dried blood samples have enormous potential for SARS-CoV-2 serology, epidemiological studies, vaccine trial, and therapeutic development support.”
- Zoe Swank, Grégoire Michielin, Hon Ming Yip, Patrick Cohen, Diego O. Andrey, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Laurent Kaiser, Isabella Eckerle, Benjamin Meyer, Sebastian J. Maerkl. A high-throughput microfluidic nanoimmunoassay for detecting anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum or ultralow-volume blood samples. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. May 2021, 118 (18) e2025289118; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2025289118, https://www.pnas.org/content/118/18/e2025289118 | <urn:uuid:60e2c4df-f293-4ab5-ac7e-ab62161ac374> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210510/New-nanoimmunoassay-can-detect-antie28093SARS-CoV-2-antibodies-in-ultralow-volume-blood-samples.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.878559 | 1,270 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Thursday 21 March marks World Poetry Day. Celebrating one of our most treasured forms of expression, poetry has been practiced in every culture globally throughout history. It can be simple or complex, can challenge traditional ideas of form and structure, and has been used as one of our most powerful mouthpieces for activism and change, or for coveying love and loss.
Created by UNESCO, World Poetry Day encourages us to return to the tradition of poetry readings and to place poetry within other arts such as music or dance. Poetry shouldn't be considered an outdated form of art, but 'one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.'
Get your prescription from The Poetry Pharmacy
Curated by William Sieghart, The Poetry Pharmacy is here to soothe any ailment. Whether you're suffering from loneliness, anxiety, a broken heart or a lack of courage, turn the page and read your poem prescription to ease the pain. Take the quiz for any immediate emotional need.
As heard on BBC Radio 4, the essential prescriptions from William Sieghart's poetic dispensary
Sometimes only a poem will do. These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all; a space for reflection, and a chance to realize - I'm not the only one who feels like this.
In the years since he first had the idea of prescribing short, powerful poems for all manner of spiritual ailments, William Sieghart has taken his Poetry Pharmacy around the length and breadth of Britain, into the pages of the Guardian, onto BBC Radio 4 and onto the television, honing his prescriptions all the time. This pocket-sized book presents the most essential poems in his dispensary: those which, again and again, have really shown themselves to work. Whether you are suffering from loneliness, lack of courage, heartbreak, hopelessness, or even from an excess of ego, there is something here to ease your pain.
'The book is delightful; it rightly resituates poetryin relation to its biggest and most serious task: helping us to live and diewell' Alain de Botton
Watch a poetry reading
The power in poetry often lives in a live recital, particularly from its author. Discover new meaning behind metaphors with an extra beat, the tone of voice or flicker of an eye. Watch two of our favourite readings from Jay Bernard and Hera Lindsay Bird below.
Share poetry with people of all ages
Poetry is for people of all ages, and it's not always serious! Poems can be laugh-out-loud hilarious, full of puns and wordplay. Get some recommedations on titles to read with younger poetry fans and watch renowned author Michael Rosen show you how to perform ridiculous rhymes to perfection.
Add some award-winning poetry on your to-read list
With its flexibility, poetry can constantly be revived and refreshed. Take a look through the latest award-winning poetry to discover the newest talent to win the Costa Poetry Award, The Forward Prize and the Dylan Thomas Prize among others.
Start writing your own poetry
Feeling inspired to start writing your own poetry but unsure where to start? Robin Robertson, Poetry Editor at Jonathan Cape and author of the narrative poem The Long Take (shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018) advises to widen your reading list:
'Poetry has always seemed to me to be the most rewarding of all the literary forms because of its linguistic compression and layered density, its embedded music – because you can go back to a great poem for renewed sustenance and reward as often as you can return to a great painting or symphony. Art comes out of emotion and then regenerates emotion, but it is never simply ‘self-expression’; it is always a craft: a skill to be learnt and mastered. It is difficult, and difficulty is much more interesting to me than accessibility.
Having a sudden emotion doesn’t create good poetry, any more than needing a place to live qualifies you as a competent house-builder. My advice is to read widely and deeply; pay attention, by looking and listening; take a notebook everywhere. Luckily, we don’t all have to write poetry – and most of us are happy enough reading it. The same rules apply though, and the same choices. Do you want greeting-card rhymes or something more profound and complicated and beautiful?'
Winner of the Forward Prize 2018 for best collection with Don't Call Us Dead, Danez Smith says the focus for writing should come from the relationship we have with ourselves:
'Our best writing comes from when we are honest with ourselves and when we're willing to push ourselves and take risks.'
*A Finalist for the National Book Award for Poetry 2017*
*A Financial Times and Telegraph Book of the Year 2018*
‘[Smith’s] poems are enriched to the point of volatility, but they pay out, often, in sudden joy’ The New Yorker
Award-winning poet Danez Smith is a ground-breaking force, celebrated for deft lyrics, urgent subjects, and performative power. Don’t Call Us Dead opens with a heartrending sequence that imagines an afterlife for black men shot by police, a place where suspicion, violence, and grief are forgotten and replaced with the safety, love and longevity they deserved here on earth. Smith turns then to desire, mortality – the dangers experienced in skin and body and blood – and an HIV-positive diagnosis.
‘Some of us are killed / in pieces,’ Smith writes, ‘some of us all at once.’ Don’t Call Us Dead is an astonishing and ambitious collection, one that confronts, praises, and rebukes an America where every day is too often a funeral and not often enough a miracle. | <urn:uuid:9edbc168-39de-4f51-a7c9-199b91e32873> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/company-article/5-ways-to-celebrate-world-poetry-day | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.950972 | 1,201 | 2.265625 | 2 |
As the world moves toward a new age defined by machine learning and artificial intelligence, the very basis of numerous modern tech is being scrutinized by policymakers.
Data is essential to refine any cutting-edge technology and will grow significantly as we develop more advanced ML, and AI models stoked up by richer, high-quality data sets.
In the EU, however, rigorous regulations exist around how private data could be used. The EU’s GDPR mandates that companies consent to collect data to protect citizens’ privacy offline and online.
These rules affect AI businesses all over the world. It is because they curb how private data is transferred outside the EU to servers worldwide, including in the United States.
Privacy Shield in tatters
Data transfer – from the US to the EU and back – is the real issue for many worldwide software companies. Since the US is European Union’s second-major trading partner and home to the world’s major tech companies, data often moves back and forth.
Initially, transfers were governed by the EU-US Privacy Shield framework agreed upon by both parties. However, it was nullified by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2022 because the US ‘National Security Act’ risked breaching the European Union citizen’s data privacy.
Since then, data transfers have been carried out using Standard Contractual Clauses; however, it has not been straightforward. Both Meta and Amazon are involved in litigations over how both companies’ algorithms work within EU laws. The EU GDPR law also applies to businesses that don’t do business inside the EU.
Help is on its way
Fortunately, companies don’t have to experience this legal trouble forever. Hope is on its way in the shape of the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework.
According to the joint statement released at the time, it will “provide a durable basis for trans-Atlantic data flows, which are critical to protecting citizens’ rights and enabling trans-Atlantic commerce in all sectors of the economy, including for small and medium enterprises.”
The EU said the new proposed AI regulations “could enter into force in the second half of 2022 in a transitional period.” Until everything settles, companies will have to deal with the existing scenario. | <urn:uuid:b834f13d-a5df-4083-ad0b-a1e2f0601121> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.techzine.eu/news/privacy-compliance/84377/european-or-not-ensure-your-ai-business-clings-to-eu-data-laws/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.952574 | 470 | 2.46875 | 2 |
The benefits to reading this guide
You’ll gain a better understanding of what hosted desktops are and how they can help your business become more secure, save money and give you an edge against your competition.
Watch our brief overview of hosted desktops
What are Hosted Desktops?
The Technical Answer
A Hosted Desktop is a virtualisation technique that provides a secure and familiar Microsoft Windows environment with the ability to remotely connect to a server that hosts the operating system, applications, data and other system configurations.
The Non-Technical Answer
This means that any internet-enabled device can access powerful software without actually running any of it locally.
A hosted desktop is often referred to as Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Much like the name suggests, it is a virtual desktop that’s hosted in the cloud. In essence, a server stores all operating systems, files, emails and applications in specialist data centres, which can then be accessed through the internet on any device, from anywhere... Providing the user isn't using dial-up still.
To the user, a hosted virtual desktop looks no different to a traditional, non-hosted desktop. The difference is where the data and apps are stored. Whilst a traditional desktop accesses and stores data, apps and email on the actual device; a hosted desktop accesses and stores everything in the secure data centre it's connected to. Hardware becomes a shell for the hosted desktop, which can be constantly updated, scaled as required and kept at bank-grade level security – a very different reality from your traditional desktop which is susceptible to common malfunctions and can be affected by environmental disasters.
Your Hosted Desktop can be set up in a few ways. Some large companies decide to build and manage it all themselves using their own infrastructure. Other companies decide to have a separate IT company set it up on public cloud infrastructure like AWS or Azure.
Another option is to have a Managed Service Provider (MSP), like Atlas Cloud, who often takes care of the building and management and hosts your data in a private cloud. All options are equally viable if you want a standardised, more secure solution for internal and remote working.
Remote Desktops Vs Hosted Desktops
Though the two are similar, there are some notable differences regarding use and security:
Using a remote desktop will only allow access to local files and applications via an off-site device using a VPN or a remote access application. Compared to Hosted Desktops, this is an outdated technology; it’s not designed for a flexible workspace and it will experience the same issues as a physical desktop such as malfunctions or office disasters – for instance, a power outage in the office would stop you from working at home. It’s also prone to poor performance issues.
Hosted Desktops work by remotely hosting your files and application the safety of a data centre environment and accessing this through any device with a network connection. Due to the nature of the cloud, your data is not reliant on a specific device, meaning if one device malfunctions, you can simply pick up where you left on any other device.
Who should use a Hosted Desktop?
A transition from a traditional desktop to a Hosted Desktop is a relevant change for any business that is looking to become more agile or secure. By choosing the right managed service provider, you can gain a competitive edge in your market space. Based on current business needs, and, of course, cost, you can determine whether a Hosted Desktop solution is the right set up for your business.
Typical number of users for this solution range from 50-1000 because of how cost-effective it can be for a business of this size. One-man-bands or companies with an employee number lower than 50 can still redeem the benefits of a Hosted Desktop – including the security and agility aspects mentioned before – but sometimes it’s better to wait for a clear opportunity to invest in Hosted Desktops.
Dealing with Scalability
Through our experience, we’ve found that businesses with high turnover of staff, have multiple offices or ones that require strict security regulations, need a secure environment like the cloud to operate from. Typically, industries like recruitment, finance, legal and construction are the ones that benefit from migrating to the cloud the most. This is usually down to the scaling ability, remote working capabilities and – based on how Atlas Cloud operates – the exceptional security systems put in place.
Is a Hosted Desktop what you need?
Some businesses find that Hosted Desktops don’t work for them, and some find that it doesn’t suit all employee needs – and this is absolutely fine. It’s common that not all employees have a need for their applications to be in the cloud, but rather have all email in the cloud so communication within the business is never an issue. It’s entirely up to the decision-maker as to how much data, if any, goes into the cloud.
Opportunities to migrate to the cloud often appear as transitional periods within the business: an office move, mergers and acquisitions, upcoming audits that require a security update. These moments present a chance to update legacy hardware systems to a more modern, more reliable one.
An office move, for example, is a great time to move your data, files and applications into the cloud because of the physical transitional period. It’s a fresh start, and from the closing business hours on Friday to opening the new office doors on Monday, you’re fully enabled by the cloud with minimal downtime.
Why should my company adopt Hosted Desktops?
(for the right size business)
Cloud computing is not a “cheaper” solution for your IT. It is, however, a more cost-effective solution for your budget. With this type of set up, you pay on a per user per month basis instead of spending a large portion of your budget on a server, plus the upkeep and hardware refreshments every 3-5 years. Generally, bigger businesses will see dramatic changes immediately in their IT spend, but it may take some time for start-ups and small businesses to notice the cost-effectiveness.
Improved Data Security
Look for MSPs that have specific security accreditations like ISO 27001, BS 10012, Cyber Essentials and GDPR. These accreditations will all vouch for the MSP’s ability to handle high-level security so you know when you migrate all data, apps and files, that they’re safe in the cloud environment. For instance, Atlas Cloud’s data centres are ISO 27001 accredited which proves our diligence in controlling information risk management processes.
Storage and Data Movement
With a hosted desktop, no information is stored on a local device which means you have the ability to regulate the controls on each PC. One particular control is disabling the print screen action to stop the movement of data to external parties from internal sources. You can also stop the movement of data by restricting USB access to all PCs. It means personal data for staff and customers is protected. Extra security features can be added to your email rules so attachments of a certain size, file type or containing a specific word(s) will need to be approved before the email is sent.
All patching for hosted desktops is done remotely, including the testing with the updated patch with your business-critical applications. Usually, this is done in-house and would need to be carried out on each individual PC.
Office rent – the price of this is increasing and businesses will be fighting to get bigger spaces while growing. Make the point that if they implemented a remote working policy that they could keep a smaller space and have people work from home most of the time and only come in for important meetings etc. This will also help cut commuting time (which could be spent working) and will also benefit the company by not having to pay the expenses of people making the commute.
A Hosted Desktop solution would combat the rising price renting office spaces. Naturally, as business grow, they move into bigger spaces. However, by adopting a remote working policy, employees can work from home, replacing the need to spend large sums of money on rent. Those same people who can work from home will also stop expensing their travel, resulting in another cost-saving for the books.
You can also save money on energy bills by using Thin Client devices (such as a 10ZiG or RX-HDX) and by moving to the cloud, you have no need for an on-site server, meaning no air-conditioning unit in the server room.
Working on different devices: You can work from any device with an internet connection, including desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones. The biggest concerns we get are around mobile phones. While you can access your entire Windows desktop on any smartphone, we’d suggest using this as a last resort. The cloud is able to and will run on smartphones, but its small screen isn’t ideal specifically for detailed or graphically-intense applications.
Remote working / working on-the-go: You can do both of these things with the cloud provided you have an internet connection. Wi-Fi on trains can sometimes be patchy but you can connect on a low bandwidth and our systems will run just as smoothly. You can even connect to your 3G or 4G network. Issues arise when you lose signal, for instance, when you go through a tunnel. You will lose connection momentarily if you have chosen to work from 3G or 4G connectivity, but this will not affect the state of your work and you will be able to continue once connection has been restored.
When is the right time to adopt Hosted Desktops?
There’s never really a “right time” to invest in Hosted Desktops, but predictions have been made for increases in cloud-based IT investments. According to Forbes’ “Four Trends in Cloud Computing CIOs Should Prepare for in 2019” article, cloud-based IT will reach “60% of all IT infrastructure and 60-70% of all software, services and technology spending by 2020.”
Investment in IT infrastructure is increasing year on year. Predictions have been made by Gartner stating almost a third of key enterprise IT spending is to be cloud-based by 2022. It may not be a pressing issue to migrate your business’ systems to the cloud now, but it could become one in the future as your competitors begin to adopt the cloud or your legacy hardware reaches end of life.
Ideal Times To Adopt The Cloud
Moving Or Opening New Offices
Office moves or office openings are a particularly good time to make the move to the cloud because of the nature of the transitional period. You can move office on a Friday and by Monday, your systems are migrated and you can continue to work seamlessly, without so much as a hiccup in productivity.
Mergers Or Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions are made simpler by using a single platform for all to work from. The main reasons mergers fall through are due to people and technology. Moving to the cloud handles the technology issues you will come across because all data, applications and files will be centralised.
Security and Compliance Pressures
A need for security accreditations can be a problem for some businesses who are more exposed through their IT and choosing a well accredited MSP can give you the protection you need to pass security audits. For instance, Atlas Cloud is ISO 27001 accredited which alleviates a lot of problems for our customers when it comes to their security audits as their IT system is 27001 compliant.
Rapid Business Expansion
With a Hosted Desktop solution, staff can work from their own devices so you don’t need invest in hardware for every new member of staff. If your business is rapidly expanding, then a cloud setup may just be the perfect solution for you if you’re looking to save money on hardware.
How do I select the right Hosted Desktop provider?
As a provider of Hosted Desktops, we design, build and maintain cloud environments for all of our customers. We want our customers to know that we’re right for them, so we make sure that they’re armed with the right information to make an appropriate decision. Moving to a full cloud set up is a big decision and investment, so you need to ask yourself the following questions to understand what you require from an IT provider. There is no one-size-fits-all model for businesses to adopt Hosted Desktops since each set up should be a bespoke design to fit the needs of the business and its users.
What is important to you?
Make a list of everything you require from your Managed Service Provider.
If security is the most important aspect for you, take a look at the accreditations they hold. Common industry accreditations are ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials.
If you need round-the-clock support, ask if they provide it. Judging by their SLAs, you’ll be able to determine if their support team can handle your queries in a timely manner.
Generally, Managed Services Providers located in London run higher operating costs to provide a service. The nature of the cloud means your IT support can be remote. For example, Atlas Cloud is based in Newcastle and we have customers based in London, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Cheshire, all using hosted desktops so we can help them from our HQ.
Whatever is top of the list should inform the decision you make based on importance – but don’t think this means you have to settle for average for the other items on your list.
If you need to test specific applications in the cloud that are important to your business, ask to investigate their usability and to be shown a proof of concept in a demo environment.
Knowing how to scale business IT up and down as necessary is an important part of any MSPs job. Since Hosted Desktops are our core competency we are able to do this seamlessly. It’s particularly important if you have a fluctuating employee rate to make sure your IT provider can handle the constant scaling. | <urn:uuid:696cdf8b-db75-4584-8cdb-251b603e6076> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.atlascloud.co.uk/whitepaper/definitive-guide-to-hosted-desktops/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.946601 | 2,997 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Search engine optimization basically involves applying various techniques and strategies to your website in order to raise its position on the search engine results pages. SEO is also a multimillion-dollar industry. There are some people who believe that SEO work is inaccessible for web site owners to master.
Pay-per-click approaches can be used in affiliate marketing in a really effective way. This service is the most common, and the pay is fairly low, but it can build up quickly.
Keyword density is important when you optimize a web page for various search engines. To avoid this from happening, try to keep your total keyword content to under twenty percent of any given page.
Instead of writing AP styles for SEO, try writing SEO. A part of this switch involves learning to populate your articles with keywords while maintaining a good flow. This improves your rankings by increasing density, a factor used by many search engines.
Pay-per-click approaches can be an effective affiliate marketing tactic. This service is the most common, that is why the pay associated to it is modest, but it can build up quickly.
You can learn how to do your own SEO using the information located in this article. Look to online resources to help you learn all that you can. Read all you can to help figure out a plan.
This means repeating keywords as often as possible while not breaking up the flow of the writing. As search engines work partly by locating keywords and evaluating their density, your content will shine if you pay close attention to the words you use.
In order to make a page stand out to search engines, try to include relevant keywords in the URL of the page. Using a website URL that is full of numbers or other things that most people won’t be searching for will cause your page to not rank as highly as it should. These could be deemed as irrelevant keywords.
If you listen to some people out there, they still think that putting keywords in the comment tag section will make them more visible. Focus instead on the content within your website.
Use descriptive title tags so that all search engines will be able to understand your content. Your titles should not exceed sixty characters, because search engines won’t display more content than that.Search engines will also give less significance to words after the 60 character point.
Title tags are key when pursuing search engine optimization. Most people see the title tag as soon as they get to your site. It ought to be a distinct description of your site’s content, and it should include keywords of great relevance. Additionally, keep this description short and sweet.
A site map can help you bring more traffic to your search engine ranking. A site map is an effective way to interlink your site are linked.
One way to get around the inherent difficulty of indexing images is to use “alt” tags to associate keywords with the image. These tags take the place of images if the image cannot be displayed. These alt tags are read and indexed by the search engines, so putting keywords there helps to improve ranking.
Consider using an article exchanges rather exchanging links. Article exchange involves posting a full article done by the owner of another site, a link to them and they reciprocate. This is much more effective than traditional link exchanges do.
SEO can help your customers find you. Some companies do not have a grasp of this.
Include quality keywords in each page’s URL.
Infuse the power of your SEO by using off-site links that connect to the highest possible quality content you can find. This is by far an extremely vital part of linking. You will find that off-site links provide you with a much higher ranking than internal ones. Look for linking options with a corresponding link directed back to your own site. This improves your search ranking even more.
Try to include a transcript for any visual or audio you post to your site.
You can optimize your articles for search engines by including relevant keywords within the text. Putting the right keywords in your articles will make search engines respond positively to them. This will make it simple for people to find your content. Your primary keyword should be included in your article title, summary and also in the body approximately 5 times, depending on the length of the article.
Whatever you do, do not try to boost your website ranking by inserting random keywords that are irrelevant and have nothing to do with your site. Search engines will suppress your website and put you into a search engine black hole. There have been times when the top websites have banned certain companies altogether. Be sure to ethically hone your SEO strategies.
Learn all you can about the different benefits of free social media and how it can benefit your SEO planning.There are many more social networking sites other than Facebook or Twitter and Facebook.There are specialized social media sites that cater to folks interested in things like photography or dog breeding. Join those which match your business and maximize your website.
A smart SEO tip is to always notice where you stand in the search engine rankings. Your SEO needs to be monitored so that you can see how you’re doing. Use Alexa or the Google toolbar to monitor your page rank.
Try to get the old page forwarded to your brand new domain. That enables website users to reach your new page with their older bookmarks. You can also put redirect pages on your old domain, which automatically bring users from your old site to your new one.
The takeaway message from this paragraph is that Google looks for keywords in alt tags, so keywords included in these tags will improve page ranking.
You want to make sure that you’re pursuing email marketing in the right way because it’s a great promotional tool. Your email texts still need to incorporate SEO keywords as well as bookmarking and social media tools. Also, be sure the email can be easily forwarded.
Search engine optimization can, at times, be a frustratingly complex field. However, anybody can learn the basics of SEO if they apply themselves. It is possible to do a good job optimizing your site by yourself if you implement a few basic techniques like the ones you just read. Before long you will see your traffic increase and your search ranking rise.
Make sure to configure your server to be sensitive to capitalized letters on URLs. If your server isn’t configured properly to be case sensitive, it’s possible that your link juice will be damaged by spiders improperly indexing your site. | <urn:uuid:ca25d1e5-0f24-41de-93f7-746dc8516377> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://firstadsense.com/no-more-struggle-search-engine-optimization-success-is-yours/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.932283 | 1,365 | 1.671875 | 2 |
An Assisted EU Council Presidency
SOFIA/BRUSSELS/BERLIN (Own report) - Bulgaria exercises its EU Council presidency - which began January 1 - with Berlin's direct "counseling" and "assistance," according to reports of the CDU-affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The foundation has been engaged in activities in Sofia along these lines, and has delegated its former Chairman and ex-European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering to serve as consultant in the Bulgarian capital. Since Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1, 2007, oligarchs have become the country's crucial power factor, controlling its fate, according to observers. Berlin easily tolerates this, because Prime Minister Boyko Borissov readily yields to German leadership, a former Bulgarian justice minister explained. The country, with its unrivalled starvation wages, serves as a production site for German businesses and as a reservoir to recruit skilled workers for Germany.
No Heating, Malnourished
Eleven years after joining the EU on January 1, 2007, Bulgaria's political and social conditions remain desolate. According to the statistical office of the European Union Eurostat, in 2016, 40.4% of the 7.1 million inhabitants - almost three million people - were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Nearly one third of the population - 31.9% - was severely materially deprived. They can barely cover basic needs such as affording adequate heating for their homes, everyday items, such as a telephone or a washing machine or meals with sufficient protein. Even though the Bulgarian minimum wage has been raised to around 235 euros, it is not enough for decent living. Child poverty is particularly shocking: 45.6% of all Bulgarian children are on the verge of poverty or social exclusion. According to Eurostat, the situation is particularly catastrophic for children under the age of 16. 36.2% do not have any new clothes, 48.6% have at most one pair of shoes that properly fit, 40% cannot afford to eat fresh fruit or vegetables once a day and 42.4% do not eat enough proteins, because meat and fish are too expensive.
Toiling for Germany
To counteract the impression of hopelessness, spreading throughout the country, Bulgarian politicians like to point to the relatively low unemployment. The unemployment rate is currently 6.1% - significantly lower than the EU’s average of 7.4%. This, however, is due to the fact that large segments of the Bulgarian workforce have emigrated since 1990. The country's population shrank from 8.9 million in 1990 to 7.1 million in 2017. Particularly the younger, well educated have left the country - in many cases to Germany. At the end of 2016, over 260,000 Bulgarians lived in Germany. More than 1,600 Bulgarian doctors are helping to alleviate Germany’s shortage of doctors. From a German perspective, this is particularly profitable because Berlin did not have to pay a cent for their education. Sofia had paid for their expensive medical training. The same holds true for the training of numerous other Bulgarian specialists now working in Germany. Numerous other Bulgarians are being exploited as unskilled laborers, often under miserable working conditions, and at times, as illegal workers at the lowest wages. Last year, the German government tried to prevent return flows to Bulgaria by massively cutting child benefits for EU foreigners, including more than 5,500 Bulgarians. The attempt failed, at least for now.
Unrivaled Starvation Wages
For the German economy, Bulgaria serves not only as the country of origin for cheap "human capital," but also to a certain extent, as a sales market and as a low-wage production site. German companies sold nearly €3.5 billion worth of goods in that country in 2016. Although this placed Bulgaria 45th on Germany’s export list - behind Thailand, Israel and Ukraine - it, nevertheless, contributed to the stabilization of Germany's Southeast European trade. Germany is Bulgaria's largest trading partner and probably one of its most important foreign investors, when considering its indirect investments made through the Netherlands or Austria. In Bulgaria, labor costs are "the lowest in the EU," noted the state-owned Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). Wages and the non-wage labor costs are unrivaled at €4.4 per hour. This is another reason why this country remains "an interesting production site." The German clothing manufacturer, Hugo Boss, benefits from Bulgaria's starvation salaries. Around 16 percent of Germany's imports from Bulgaria are textiles. GTAI has, however, begun to complain of a noticeable "shortage of skilled workers" in Bulgaria - due to the emigration of well-trained personnel - also to Germany.
The Age of the Oligarchs
Whereas the social situation in Bulgaria - caught in the economic hammerlock imposed by Berlin and the EU - remains desolate, the Bulgarian oligarchs’ political control over the country has considerably grown since it joined the EU. Experts are beginning to refer to an "age of oligarchs." One of the most powerful Bulgarian oligarchs is the businessman Delyan Peevski, who also controls about 80 percent of Bulgaria's print media market. The fact that Bulgaria plunged from 51st place (in 2007) to 109th (2017) on the "Reporters Without Borders" World Press Freedom Index has been attributed to the predominating influence of the oligarchs. The journalist Assen Jordanov, a specialist in white-collar crime, even accuses Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of being deeply involved in illegal transactions. "In fact, a neo-feudal, oligarchic, Mafia-clan is operating a shadow economy in Bulgaria." Unlike the leaders of Hungary and Poland, Borissov - whose party members sit alongside those of the CDU and CSU as members of the European People’s Party (EPP) - is easily tolerated by Berlin and Brussels, because of his political subservience. Hristo Ivanov, Bulgaria's former Minister of Justice, (2014 - 2016), notes, "If there is a dossier in Brussels, and the Germans have a clear position on it, we agree with the Germans. ... Otherwise, do as the Commission does, there is no independent Bulgarian position."
"Unity Brings Strength"
This principle obviously applies also to Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency. Back in early October, the FDP-affiliated Friedrich Naumann Foundation's project manager for Southeast Europe noted that, Sofia remained very "vague" in the preparations; "various priorities without a clear thread" are mentioned. They cannot even formulate their "own ... projects." Meanwhile the CDU-affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation has sought to plan the Bulgarian council presidency, and has begun "advising" Prime Minister Borissov's government accordingly. They will be "advising the council presidency" also "in the same way," it has been officially announced. "An important role will be played by the foundation’s president [whose term of office ended December 31, 2017, editors note] and former President of the European Parliament, Dr. Hans Gert Pöttering, who the Bulgarian government had appointed to join its supreme political advisory council." The issues Sofia is now presenting correspond to Berlin's objectives for the EU. On the one hand, ways must be found to hold the union together, despite the centrifugal forces growing stronger, which is why Bulgaria has placed its presidency under the "Unity Brings Strength" motto. On the other, stronger ties should be established to non-EU member western Balkan countries, to counter China's rapidly growing influence in the region. ((german-foreign-policy.com reported.)
Moving Toward the Right
At the same time, a government is assuming the presidency of the EU Council, in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation that is in a government coalition which includes an extreme rightwing party. An extreme rightwing party is also a coalition partner of the Austrian government, which will assume the presidency of the EU Council during the second half of 2018. German-foreign-policy.com will soon report.
Eurostat press release 155/2017 16 October 2017. According to Eurostat, "severely materially deprived persons have living conditions constrained by a lack of resources and experience at least 4 out of the 9 following deprivation items: cannot afford 1) to pay rent/mortgage or utility bills on time, 2) to keep home adequately warm, 3) to face unexpected expenses, 4) to eat meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day, 5) a one week holiday away from home, 6) a car, 7) a washing machine, 8) a colour TV, or 9) a telephone (including mobile phone)."
Rainer Woratschka: Durch Zuwanderung deutlich mehr Ärzte in Deutschland. tagesspiegel.de 26.05.2017.
Deutsche Arbeitgeber beuten EU-Ausländer aus. mdr.de 11.10.2017.
, Michael Marks: Lohn- und Lohnnebenkosten - Bulgarien. gtai.de 22.05.2017.
Stefan Antonov: The Age of the Oligarchs: How a group of political and economic magnates have taken control of Bulgaria. University of Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Oxford 2013.
Barbara Oertel: "Ich würde Sie feuern". taz.de 21.11.2017.
Nina Flori: Ein Land in Oligarchen-Hand. wienerzeitung.at 22.03.2017.
Markus Bernath: Bulgarien vor Beginn der EU-Ratspräsidentschaft im Zwielicht. derstandard.de 27.12.2017.
Daniel Kaddik: Mangelnde Vorbereitung, fehlende Visionen. www.freiheit.org 02.10.2017. See also Bulgaria's European Course.
Thorsten Geißler: "Einigkeit macht stark". Bulgarien übernimmt am 1. Januar 2018 die Ratspräsidentschaft der Europäischen Union. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Länderbericht Bulgarien. Dezember 2017.
See also Berlin Calls for a "One-Europe Policy". | <urn:uuid:e9da9437-1d92-47cd-a3b1-3aa390f2efb7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/7493/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933776 | 2,216 | 2.140625 | 2 |
In 1983 Audrey White was the manager of the Lady at Lord John clothes store in Liverpool. When her area manager sexually harassed four women in her team, she complained – and was sacked.
But Audrey was a TGWU (now Unite) member and she was going to fight. Her campaign put sexual harassment at work in the spotlight and ultimately led a long campaign and a change in employment law in 2005. Audrey tells us more below.
It was shocking to be sacked over the phone.
I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” My manager replied, “Isn’t plain English bloody good enough for you? I’m sacking you.” The company thought they could treat me like garbage but they hadn’t reckoned on me being a union member. The advice from my union was to keep going to work until they sacked me in writing.
Back at work, my manager brought in the police to arrest me if I didn’t leave the store.
The staff didn’t stand up for me – they were too scared of losing their jobs. The company refused to meet with my union so we started picketing outside the store the next day. We were there with banners and petitions from opening time to closing for five weeks. And no one crosses a picket line in Liverpool!
You can’t tell people who haven’t experienced solidarity what solidarity is like – it’s priceless.
On the picket we had dockers, car workers, staff from unemployed centres, union members, local activists. I feel such warmth when I think of those ordinary people who invested so much time and energy in supporting the cause. It was wonderful, but it was also bitter and harrowing and my nerves were on edge because all these people were fighting for my job and I didn’t want to let them down.
We didn’t even know the phrase ‘sexual harassment’ back then.
We learned how bad things were: women came up to us on the picket and said, “I had a wonderful job but my boss would do this, so I had to leave.” And, “I didn’t go along with what the boss wanted, so I got demoted”. When the company finally agreed to meet with us, they wouldn’t discuss the sexual harassment complaints, even though I’d got statements from the girls. They claimed I’d been sacked because I wasn’t ‘bubbly’ enough.
My most vivid memory from that time was the victory.
Once we lined up pickets at the Manchester and London stores, the company relented. I remember phoning the pickets from London and saying, “You can take the pickets off because we’ve won!” That night I got back to Liverpool and had the most fantastic night of my life, singing, dancing and celebrating. I got paid for lost earnings and walked back into my job.
My story shows that a woman can win – even a woman in a shop in 1980’s Britain.
When I’m in the supermarket I’ll always chat with the women on the tills. If they have a little moan about their work I’ll say, “Are you in a union?”. They’ll shake their heads and say, “I’d be the only one…” But even one woman in a workplace can change conditions if they’ve got their union behind them. And they’ll inspire other women to do the same. We can fight – and we can win.
What happened next?
In 1988, Audrey’s story was made into a film – Business As Usual. Here she is with Glenda Jackson, who played her character. | <urn:uuid:fb8739e2-8de6-4a01-a29e-e7f93beac600> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://tuc150.tuc.org.uk/stories/audrey-white/?collection=740 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.976998 | 808 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Sheet Metal Stamping Service
The sheet metal stamping process is transformed by stamping hot or cold rolled steel sheet into the shape required to manufacture your part. This technique allows a large number of parts to be produced at the same time, but it can also result in about 15% of the raw material being scrap. The equipment used with this method requires less space than other methods, so if you have limited space, this type of manufacturing may be best for your business. When working with sheet metal stamping, three main types of dies are used – cutting, punching and bending.
- Trimming involves cutting a part out of sheet metal. This is done by striking a sheet of metal with a die that cuts the sheet into the desired shape. Punched parts will have burrs on the edges, so they need to be filed or machined before use.
- Punching is the process of punching a hole in a sheet of metal by placing it between two dies and forcing them together.
- Bending is the deformation of metal by using the pressure of a die. This type of stamping is often used to make parts with curves.
The Advantage Of Sheet Metal Stamping
- Low Cost: Sheet metal stamping is a low cost manufacturing technique. Its cost is generally lower than other methods, making it ideal for small businesses on a budget. Since this method does not require molds or tools to create the part or part, it is also considered by many to be less costly. However, the toolless aspect of sheet metal stamping can sometimes make it more expensive because you pay someone for the layout and design work instead of using standardized tools.
- High-Volume Production: Sheet metal stamping can produce thousands of identical parts at a time, so this type of manufacturing allows you to efficiently manufacture large numbers of products while maintaining quality standards. This benefit mainly applies to parts that are simple in shape and do not require extensive customization.
- Ease Of Use: Shears, punches, and bending dies make up most of the tools for sheet metal stamping, so this type of fabrication is relatively easy to learn. If you have employees who are already familiar with basic machine operations, they may know how to punch sheet metal without too much trouble.
- Versatile: Sheet metal stamping is a very versatile manufacturing technique capable of creating parts of various shapes and sizes. This makes it a good choice for businesses that require high volume production. Additionally, this type of stamping can create both simple and complex parts.
Sheet Metal Stamping Mold Manufacturing
Pintejin’s manufacturing assets are focused on building Sheet Metal Stamping molds. We leverage the accuracy of Mazak and Hass milling machines and the high precision EDM to build Sheet Metal Stamping molds with tight tolerances.
Our technology and proprietary processes allow us to build accurately and continuously which increases mold and part quality, reduces mold build leadtime and mold cost.
Each new mold project is assigned a Project Manager for single point of contact. Our 26 step Product Development Process ensures you are involved as little or as much as you want during the build and final process review.
We are not satisfied with delivering only a mold, with all new mold builds Pintejin will sample and ensure the mold produces components in an efficent process. It takes the guess work out of starting production at your facility.
All molds are 100% guaranteed while running production in our facility. | <urn:uuid:f089e379-c150-4cd8-a9bc-f54dc00eedcb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sheetmetal.wiki/metal-stamping/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.932812 | 708 | 2.734375 | 3 |
So you want to create a remote controlled device using an Arduino? To put an Arduino between your RC receiver and servos, you’re going to need to know how to read PWM signals. Getting your Arduino to read signals from an RC receiver is an easy task if you don’t mind doing it badly. If you want to do it elegantly, it’s slightly more challenging. First we’ll go over some PWM theory.
RC receivers output pulse width modulated (PWM) signals on each channel. These pulses generally are between one and two milliseconds long. I say generally because there are probably some manufacturers who deviate from this rule of thumb. A pulse length of 1500 microseconds will drive a standard servo to half way. 1000 microseconds is full travel in one direction and 2000 seconds is full travel in the other direction. There are 20 milliseconds between each pulse.
A 1.5ms PWM signal like this would drive a standard RC servo to its centre point.
Reading PWM Signals – The Easy Way
Arduino comes with a beautifully simple function called pulseIn().
So to read from a PWM source you could do something like this
#define PWM_SOURCE 34
pwmin = pulseIn(PWM_SOURCE, HIGH, 20000);
This would read PWM from a single channel connected to digital pin 34. More channels could be easily added in the same way. It’s simple, it works.
The downside is that each call to pulseIn() could take 20 milliseconds. This is because pulseIn() waits for the pin to go from digital LOW to HIGH and back to LOW again. If you’ve got 5 channels, for example, it could take up to 100 milliseconds just to read from the receiver. For most intents and purposes this is far too slow.
READING PWM SIGNALS – THE GOOD WAY
It’s possible to read PWM signals using hardware interrupts. A hardware interrupt is a signal that is generated by the hardware that literally interrupts the processor. With Arduino, hardware interrupts can be generated by a pin changing value, going LOW, going HIGH, rising or falling. The processor responds to interrupts by suspending its current activity and handling the interrupt with an interrupt handler function (also known as an ISR – interrupt service routine). After the interrupt handler has returned, the processor resumes its previous activity.
Unlike the easy way, reading PWM inputs with interrupts allows the processor to continue with other tasks except for that very brief moment when an interrupt is handled.
To read PWM inputs we must know when a pin goes HIGH and LOW, and so we are only really interested in CHANGE interrupts. When a PWM pin goes HIGH, a timer is started. When the pin goes LOW, we can measure the pulse time by checking how much time has passed.
Arduino has the function attachInterrupt(), which allows us to supply an interrupt handler for a particular event and pin number. The micros() function allows us to measure the time, in microseconds, between the pin going HIGH and returning to LOW.
Here is an example sketch. It simply prints out the PWM pulse time in microseconds over the serial port.
//assume that pin 32 is receiving PWM input
#define CHANNEL_1_PIN 34
//micros when the pin goes HIGH
volatile unsigned long timer_start;
//difference between timer_start and micros() is the length of time that the pin
//was HIGH - the PWM pulse length. volatile int pulse_time;
//this is the time that the last interrupt occurred.
//you can use this to determine if your receiver has a signal or not.
volatile int last_interrupt_time; //calcSignal is the interrupt handler
//record the interrupt time so that we can tell if the receiver has a signal from the transmitter
last_interrupt_time = micros();
//if the pin has gone HIGH, record the microseconds since the Arduino started up
if(digitalRead(CHANNEL_1_PIN) == HIGH)
timer_start = micros();
//otherwise, the pin has gone LOW
//only worry about this if the timer has actually started
if(timer_start != 0)
//record the pulse time
pulse_time = ((volatile int)micros() - timer_start);
//restart the timer
timer_start = 0;
//this is all normal arduino stuff
timer_start = 0;
attachInterrupt(CHANNEL_1_PIN, calcSignal, CHANGE); | <urn:uuid:7f73b26b-4f21-444d-88cb-25706161bd58> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.camelsoftware.com/2015/12/25/reading-pwm-signals-from-an-rc-receiver-with-arduino/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.891629 | 1,161 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Should Israel Attack Iran? The question is being debated the world over. Some say it’s the only way to prevent Iran, whose stated goal is Israel’s destruction, from obtaining nuclear weapons. Others argue that the risk is too large; an Israeli attack could erupt into a regional conflict engulfing the United States and other countries.
As Jews, we have to ask the question in a different light. How do the Torah, Jewish law and tradition view this crucial question? What should be the deciding factor?
The legal principle is embedded in the Jewish legal tradition on the issues of life and death. Who decides if a sick patient should fast on Yom Kippur? Is it the rabbi, the patient himself or the doctor? Jewish law is clear; it’s up to the medical professional who is intimately involved with the patient. If his professional medical judgment is that by fasting, the person’s life would be at risk, we are forbidden to fast.
The same principle applies to Israeli security. Does Jewish law permit Israel to give up land in the quest for peace? If the military experts currently involved with the security of the state are of the opinion that by relinquishing the territory, there is no real danger to country, then it can be permitted. If not, we are forbidden to put lives at risk. We cannot put life at risk for just a hope of peace.
During the disengagement from Gaza, a senior military commander of Gaza privately beseeched a friend of mine with political connections in Israel, “Please do something. Withdrawing from Gaza will endanger Israel.”
Then-Prime Minister Sharon made the decision. He was an experienced general. Wasn’t he qualified to decide? Jewish law is clear: you have been a great general, but today you are a politician. In that role you may be driven by different considerations, political pressures from abroad, your chance of reelection or place in history.
One of Sharon’s top aides confided to me: “He thought he would always be around to take care of Israel.” The military leadership at the time opposed Sharon’s decision. Now it is clear that the withdrawal from Gaza has caused a serious erosion of Israel’s security and political position. Hamas, an Iranian proxy, seized control of Gaza. Southern Israeli towns are under bombardment. Israel had no choice but to launch another costly defensive war. Internationally, support for Israel has dropped significantly. In recent weeks the press has reported that the Army is suggesting another incursion to curtail the slowly rising number of missile attacks — even the retaking of the Philadelphia Corridor, the strip of land that buffers Gaza to Egypt, to stop the flow of weapons across the border.
Halacha, Jewish Law, mandates that the crucial factor is the expert opinion of the current military experts. They are driven not by political considerations, rather by one factor: If we give up this ground, will the security of the country be put at risk?
The same principle can be applied to the question of a preemptive strike on Iran. If the military experts now in command perceive that there is a real threat to Israel that can be mitigated by an attack with a good chance of success, then, according to Jewish law, it would permissible to attack. A strong argument could be made that an attack would be required if the military experts assess an imminent threat to Israel.
The actual decider in a democracy must be the political leadership of the country. Driving the decision-making process should be the question of the security and welfare of the Jewish people. Binyamin Netanyahu was a commando in the Israeli Army (his unit commander: Ehud Barak). Today he is a politician. He has a fateful decision to make in the upcoming months. Hopefully, he will follow the guidelines of Jewish tradition and listen to the advice of his military experts in this crucial issue.
As for my view, I defer to the military experts. | <urn:uuid:bb1a027e-5411-4620-965c-dd3f8ca0414e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://jlifeoc.com/the-real-decider-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.960358 | 817 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Purpose Pediatric-type sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), Ewing sarcoma (EWS), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), and desmoplastic small round-cell tumor (DSRCT) are rare in adults, with limited studies on their prognosis and optimal treatment strategies. We aimed to examine the outcome of children and adult patients with RMS, EWS, PNET, and DSRCT and relevant prognostic factors. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 220 pediatric-type sarcoma patients at a single institution between 1985 and 2011. Comparisons were made in order to examine differences in demographics, disease characteristics, and survival. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards models. Results A total of 220 consecutive patients were identified at our institute. Median age was 15.6 years (range, 0 to 81 years) and there were 108 children (49%) and 112 adult patients (51%). According to histological classification, 106 patients (48.2%) had RMS, 60 (27.3%) had EWS, 50 (22.7%) had PNET, and 4 (1.8%) had DSRCT. With a median follow-up period of 6.6 years, the estimated median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 75 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.2 to 122.8 months) and median event-free survival (EFS) for all patients was 11 months (95% CI, 8.8 to 13.2 months). No significant difference in OS and EFS was observed between adults and children. In multivariate analysis, distant metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.617; 95% CI, 1.022 to 2.557; p=0.040) and no debulking surgery (HR, 1.443; 95% CI, 1.104 to 1.812; p=0.012) showed independent association with worse OS. Conclusion Metastatic disease and no surgical treatment are poor prognostic factors for OS among pediatric-type sarcomas for both adults and children.
Bibliographical notePublisher Copyright:
© 2015 by the Korean Cancer Association.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Cancer Research | <urn:uuid:ae717242-3441-4239-873a-6777683994e1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://yonsei.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/incidence-and-survival-of-pediatric-soft-tissue-sarcomas-comparis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.940507 | 492 | 2.015625 | 2 |
VIDA Awarded Project - ISV004 - Eco-innovation consultancy for the implementation of efficient systems for the control of invasive species in a irrigation community
Mequinenza Reservoir pumping
16 October 2019 / 16 April 2020
Invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native species that are introduced deliberately or unintentionally by human action outside their natural habitats where they establish, proliferate and spread in ways that cause damage to biological diversity.
IAS, like the zebra mussel (ZM) represent a serious threat to biodiversity, which constitutes one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss (EEA Technical Report 16/2012). Combating the IAS is one of the six targets covered by the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.
The combination of chemical biocides and physical methods, implemented in an efficient way, proves to be the most efficient way to control IAS colonization of hydraulic systems such as an irrigation community.
Chemical products, such as hydrogen peroxide in the combination with peracetic acid (peracetic mix), are often used to control or eradicate the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in pressurised irrigation pipes. The optimal application of these substances is essential to achieve maximum effectiveness at minimum cost, without harmful effects on crops or environment.
Software tools, such as EPANET, are useful to predict the hydraulic behavior of water distribution systems, to monitor water quality. Moreover, these software tools enable the simulation of additive application effect, by modeling its corresponding chemical reaction, leading to the prediction of time evolution of additive concentration along the irrigation network. This prediction will consider the additive reaction in raw water and also its reaction with the wall, covered by zebra mussel, due to interaction between additive and IAS.
The system has important contributions to the proper functioning of the food value chain, particularly with regards to traceability and food safety.
The essential parameters for the development of the hydraulic model, physicochemical parameters and larval analysis have been analyzed at key points in the irrigation network.
The larval concentrations, despite the time of year, when they have been taken the samples have been always high.
It is concluded that the contribution of zebra mussel by the Mequinenza Reservoir is large, but there seems to be no added reproduction in the irrigation pool and the concentration decreases along the distribution network.
The physicochemical quality of water is conducive to larval viability, so that, even if larvae die from network pressure, high speed, or by Anoxia, they are able to reach the endpoints of the distribution network thanks to the supply of nutrients and the correct oxygenation of the water.
Disinfectant application simulations were run considering various hypothetical cases, obtaining results for variations in the concentration of residual biocide due to the transportation and decay processes at any point of the network over time.
An intermittent point-type preventive treatment is selected because the pumping of water to the network is not continuous, therefore, the continuous treatments would not be effective.
Zebra mussel larva, in phase Veliger, seen with polarized light
Comunidad de Regantes margen derecho Río Guadalope
Diama S.C. (Supplier)www.diama.green
Learn more: www.vidaproject.eu I info [at] vidaproject.eu ( ) I Follow us: @h2020vida
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, under Grant Agreement nº 777795.
Disclaimer: The content of this document represents the view of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility: it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-size Enterprises (EASME). The European Commission and the Agency do not accept responsibility for the use that may be made of the information it contains. | <urn:uuid:23645c70-e065-43a8-832e-7cb303292ec3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://clustercollaboration.eu/community-news/vida-awarded-project-isv004-eco-innovation-consultancy-implementation-efficient | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.914227 | 837 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Critical Care MonitoringView this Special Issue
Research Article | Open Access
Sangita Revdiwala, Bhaumesh M. Rajdev, Summaiya Mulla, "Characterization of Bacterial Etiologic Agents of Biofilm Formation in Medical Devices in Critical Care Setup", Critical Care Research and Practice, vol. 2012, Article ID 945805, 6 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/945805
Characterization of Bacterial Etiologic Agents of Biofilm Formation in Medical Devices in Critical Care Setup
Background. Biofilms contaminate catheters, ventilators, and medical implants; they act as a source of disease for humans, animals, and plants. Aim. Critical care units of any healthcare institute follow various interventional strategies with use of medical devices for the management of critical cases. Bacteria contaminate medical devices and form biofilms. Material and Methods. The study was carried out on 100 positive bacteriological cultures of medical devices which were inserted in hospitalized patients. The bacterial isolates were processed as per microtitre plate. All the isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing by VITEK 2 compact automated systems. Results. Out of the total 100 bacterial isolates tested, 88 of them were biofilm formers. A 16–20-hour incubation period was found to be optimum for biofilm development. 85% isolates were multidrug resistants and different mechanisms of bacterial drug resistance like ESBL, carbapenemase, and MRSA were found among isolates. Conclusion. Availability of nutrition in the form of glucose enhances the biofilm formation by bacteria. Time and availability of glucose are important factors for assessment of biofilm progress. It is an alarm for those who are associated with invasive procedures and indwelling medical devices especially in patients with low immunity.
Microorganisms universally attach to surfaces and produce extracellular polysaccharides, resulting in the formation of a biofilm. Biofilms pose a serious problem for public health because of the increased resistance of biofilm-associated organisms to antimicrobial agents and the potential for these organisms to cause infections in patients with indwelling medical devices. An appreciation of the role of biofilms in infection should enhance the clinical decision-making process. Many bloodstream infections and urinary tract infections are associated with indwelling medical devices and, therefore, are (in most cases) biofilm associated. The most effective strategy for treating these infections may be removal of the biofilm contaminated device .
When an indwelling medical device is contaminated with microorganisms, several variables determine whether a biofilm develops. First the microorganisms must adhere to the exposed surfaces of the device long enough to become irreversibly attached. The rate of cell attachment depends on the number and types of cells in the liquid to which the device is exposed, the flow rate of liquid through the device, and the physicochemical characteristics of the surface. Components in the liquid may alter the surface properties and also affect the rate of attachment. Once these cells irreversibly attach and produce extracellular polysaccharides to develop a biofilm, rate of growth is influenced by flow rate, nutrient composition of the medium, antimicrobial-drug concentration, and ambient temperature .
There are many works that discuss some features of biofilm-positive bacteria, but there is no consistency in the conditions which are feasible for biofilm formation among authors [3–7]. The only agreement is in the culture temperature, 37°C seems to be appropriate. Other conditions, for example, presence of nutrition and time of cultivation, vary in many publications. In our study we paid attention to those culture conditions that differ in most authors. We investigated the potential relationship between colonization of different medical devices by various clinical bacterial isolates and to determine the differences in biofilm formation in different conditions and to determine the minimum time and conditions necessary for the development of a homogenous and mature biofilm layer .
2. Materials and Methods
Approval was obtained from our institutional review board. The study was carried out on 100 positive bacteriological cultures of medical devices which were inserted in hospitalized patients.
Catheter Culture Technique
All catheters/devices submitted to the clinical laboratory for culture during a 3-year period were studied. Each catheter coming to the clinical laboratory for culture was directly cultured by roll plate method then placed in 10 mL of tryptic soya broth (Himedia, Mumbai, India), incubated for 2 hrs at 37°C and then vortexed for 15 seconds. Broth was then surface-plated by using a wire loop on Blood agar, Chocolate agar, and MacConkey agar (Himedia, Mumbai, India) .
Isolates derived later from the clinical laboratory for the purpose of our study were frozen in nutrient broth with 15% glycerol at −20°C. Samples retrieved for the study were grown on blood agar plates and were processed as described below.
Cultures retrieved from the frozen material retained the same biochemical reactions, confirming that no alteration had occurred in bacterial isolate because of storage and processing.
3. Biofilm Formation and Quantification of Activity against Biofilms
Preparation of Inoculum
3 different media were taken: tryptic soya broth, tryptic soya broth with 0.25% glucose, and tryptic soya broth with 0.5% glucose for culture. Isolated colonies were inoculated and incubated for 24 hrs in these media then cultures were diluted 1 : 200 with respective fresh media.
Biofilm-producing reference strains of Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 19606) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and nonbiofilm forming reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and E. coli (ATCC 25922) were used .
Microtitre Plate Assay
Biofilm formation was induced in 96-well flat-bottomed polystyrene microtitre plates. An aliquot of 200 μL of diluted bacterial suspension was added to each well and incubated for 16 h, 20 h, and 24 h at 37°C. At the end of incubation period, the wells were carefully aspirated and washed twice with 300 μL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH, 7.2) to remove planktonic bacteria. Wells were emptied and dried before biomass quantification of the biofilms was performed by staining. The staining was done with 200 μL of 0.1% safranine and 0.1% crystal violet into respective wells for 45 minutes. At the end of time, the wells were carefully washed twice with distilled water to remove excess stain. After staining, 200 μL ethanol/acetone (90 : 10) was added to each well to dissolve remaining stain from the wells. The optical density was then recorded at 492 nm with 630 nm reference filter using an ELISA reader [3, 10–13].
Wells originally containing uninoculated medium, nonbiofilm producing bacteria and known biofilm producing bacteria were used as controls for cutoff, negative controls, and positive controls, respectively. The test was carried out in quadruplicate, results were averaged and standard deviations were calculated.
The cutoff was defined as three standard deviations above the mean ODc . Each isolate was classified as follows: weak biofilm producer OD = 2 × ODc, moderate biofilm producer 2 × ODc < OD = 4 × ODc, or strong biofilm producer OD > 4 × ODc [9, 15].
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by using VITEK 2 compact automated system according to the norms of Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Relevant statistical analysis was done.
The demographic profile of the patients under study indicates 41% female and 59% male patients with bacteriological positive culture. Medical ICU: 36 (44%) was the predominant source of specimen followed by surgery ward: 18 (22%) and neonatal ICU: 16 (20%), least from obstetrics and gynecology ward and pediatrics ward: 6 (7% each). 59 endotracheal tubes (ETT), 11 CVC (central vascular catheter) tips, 10 Foley’s catheter tips, 7 abdominal drain tubes, 5 nephrostomy tubes, 4 tracheostomy tubes, 3 D. J. (Double J) stent tip, and 1 SPC (supra pubic catheter) tip were found bacteriologically positive under study group. Bacteriological profile of group showed 23% Acinetobacter baumannii, 23% Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 20% Klebsiella pneumonia sub spp. pneumoniae, 16% E. coli, 9% coagulase negative Staphylococci, 4% Enterobacter cloacae, 3% Enterococci, and 2% Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Table 1 shows that in endotracheal tube colonization by Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella as prevalent bacterial isolates, followed by E. coli. Present study showed that frequently isolated bacteria in central venous line (CVP tip) were Coagulase negative staphylococci (46%) followed by Acinetobacter (18%), P. aeruginosa (18%), Enterococci species (9%), and S. aureus (9%). Enterococci are more commonly associated with colonization of central venous lines and Foley’s catheter.
Out of 100 clinical isolates tested, 88 were found to be biofilm formers by micro titer plate method. Out of two different staining methods; 0.1% safranine had detected 88 biofilm producers while 0.1% crystal violet had detected 69 biofilm producers (See Figure 1).
Biofilm formation in response to different concentrations of glucose was studied. Tryptic soya broth without glucose showed biofilm formation in 75 (85%) isolates. Out of 75, 2 were strong and 28 were moderate biofilm formers as shown in Table 3. In tryptic soya broth with 0.25% glucose; 81 (92%) were found positive, of which 3 were strong and 30 were moderate biofilm formers. In tryptic soya broth with 0.5% glucose; 67 (76%) were found positive, out of which 4 were strong and 28 were moderate biofilm formers.
|Experiment was done in quadruplet and repeated two times. All values were expressed as average with standard deviation.|
Biofilm formation at different incubation time periods was studied. At 16 hr incubation period; 88 (100%) were found to be positive, out of it, 3 were strong and 28 were moderate biofilm formers. At 20 hr incubation period, 81 (92%) found positive, 2 were strong and 36 were moderate biofilm formers. At 24 hr incubation period; 76 (86%) found positive, 4 were strong, and 29 were moderate biofilm formers.
Table 4 shows antimicrobial drug resistance profile of bacterial isolates suggesting majority as multiple drug resistant. Phenotypic evaluation showing expression of different drug-resistance mechanisms includes ESBL production (23%), carbapenemase production (34%), AmpC production (7%), carbapenem impermeability (41%), and modification of PBP (13%) responsible for resistance among betalactam antibiotics tested. Drug resistance by Van A (35%), Van B (35%), and TEC (50%) was seen among glycopeptides antibiotics. For MLSB (macrolide lincosamide streptogramin B) group; constitutive (87%) and inducible (1%) have both mechanisms worked for resistance.
Indwelling medical devices are frequently used in all health setup while critical care units of hospitals use multiple medical devices for treatment and intervention in patient care. Endotracheal tube amounted to more than 50% of our specimen; these may be due to more specimens from patients admitted in critical care which were either intubated or needing ventilator support in multispecialty hospital. Second most common specimen for investigation was central venous catheters that amounted to 12% of total specimen volume under study. Central venous catheters (CVCs) pose a greater risk of device-related infection than does any other indwelling medical device, with infection rates of 3 to 5%. Catheters may be inserted for administration of fluids, blood products, medications, nutritional solutions, and hemodynamic monitoring. 12% of the specimen was urinary catheter for our study. Urinary catheters were used for many indications in hospital like to measure urine output, collect urine during surgery, prevent urinary retention, or control urinary incontinence.
These organisms isolated in this study may originate from the skin of patients or healthcare workers, tap water to which entry ports are exposed, or other sources in the environment . Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, and E. coli are the most common causes of nosocomial infections, and that may be common cause of colonization in indwelling medical devices even responsible for biofilm production [10, 11]. These microorganisms survive in hospital environments despite unfavorable conditions such as desiccation, nutrient starvation, and antimicrobial treatments. It is hypothesized that their ability to persist in these environments, as well as their virulence, is a result of their capacity to colonize medical devices .
In a study by Feldman et al. , it was documented that the interior of the ETT of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation rapidly became colonized with gram-negative microorganisms which commonly appeared to survive within a biofilm. While it appears that colonization of the ETT may begin from as early as 12 h, it is most abundant at 96 h.
Colonization of the ETT with microorganisms commonly causing nosocomial pneumonia appears to persist in many cases despite apparently successful treatment of the previous pneumonia. A study by Donlan et al. showed that the organisms most commonly isolated from central venous catheter biofilms are Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Candida albicans, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis [9, 10]. Stickler et al. showed that the organisms commonly contaminating this urinary catheter and developing biofilms are S. epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and other gram-negative organisms [2, 9–11]. The study of different mechanisms of drug resistance showed isolates commonly found positive for ESBL, carbapenemase production in gram-negative organism and MRSA, vancomycin resistance among gram-positive organisms. Resistant strains are circulating in the environment of the hospital and are responsible for contamination/colonization of different indwelling medical devices used for patient management and complicate the course of treatment.
Indwelling medical devices are frequently used in all health setup while critical care units of hospitals use multiple medical devices for treatment and intervention in patient care. Endotracheal tube amounting to more than 50% of our specimen; may be due to the fact that more specimens are from patients admitted in critical care which were either incubated or needing ventilator support in multispecialty hospital. The second most common specimen for investigation was central venous catheters amounting 12% of total specimen volume under study. Central venous catheters (CVCs) pose a greater risk of device-related infection than does any other indwelling medical device, with infection rates of 3% to 5%. Catheters may be inserted for administration of fluids, blood products, medications, nutritional solutions, and hemodynamic monitoring. 12% specimen was of urinary catheter for our study. Urinary catheter were used for many indications in the hospital like to measure urine output, collect urine during surgery, prevent urinary retention, or control urinary incontinence.
In a study by Feldman et al. , it was documented that the interior of the ETT of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation rapidly became colonized with gram-negative microorganisms which commonly appeared to survive within a biofilm. While it appears that colonization of the ETT may begin from as early as 12 h, it is most abundant at 96 h. Colonization of the ETT with microorganisms commonly causing nosocomial pneumonia appears to persist in many cases despite apparently successful treatment of the previous pneumonia. A study by Donlan et al. showed that the organisms most commonly isolated from central venous catheter biofilms are Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Candida albicans, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis [6, 12]. Stickler et al. showed that the organisms commonly contaminating this urinary catheter and developing biofilms are S. epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and other gram-negative organisms . One study by Rao et al. showed 30% biofilm forming bacterial isolates among medical devices like endotracheal tubes followed by central venous catheters and urinary catheters are third most common site of biofilm forming bacterial colonization .
Out of the two different staining methods, safranine 0.1% and crystal violet 0.1%, safranine staining gave more positive, stable, and accurate results in terms of reproducibility, for both, gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria. 20 hr incubation time was found to be optimum for detection of biofilms produced by bacteria. Moderate to weak biofilm producing bacteria although do attach to the surfaces, but detachment occurs early because of weak binding. Strong biofilm producers can be detected even at 24 hours of incubation period. Availability of nutrition favors biofilm formation by bacteria so glucose enhances biofilm forming ability of bacteria, but effect of osmolarity and pH cannot be ruled out on biofilm formation.
ESKAPE’ group (Enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter cloacae) of bacteria that are important nosocomial treats in ICUs; which are biofilm producers and responsible for chronic and multidrug-resistant infections. There is presence of multidrug-resistant isolates in the environment of hospital and majority of them were biofilm producers, so it is an alarm for those who are associated with invasive procedures and indwelling medical devices especially in patients with low immunity. They are responsible for increased morbidity and mortality under hospital environment and impacts are major on patient outcome. Biofilm bacteria exhibit various mechanisms of drug resistance transfer so spread of drug resistance among ICU infection is a major threat to patient care in critical care units of health care institutes.
This paper was supported by the government of Gujarat. Ethical committee approval letter no. MCS/STU/Ethics/5523/2009, 7th March ’09, was obtained.
The paper has been read and approved by both the authors and each author believes that the paper represents honest work and authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
- R. M. Donlan, “Biofilm formation: a clinically relevant microbiological process,” Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1387–1392, 2001.
- R. M. Donlan, “Biofilms and device-associated infections,” Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 277–281, 2001.
- V. Holá, F. Růžička, and M. Votava, “The dynamics of Staphylococcus epidermis biofilm formation in relation to nutrition, temperature, and time,” Scripta Medica, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 169–174, 2006.
- S. Stepanovic, D. Vukovic, P. Jezek, M. Pavlovic, and M. Svabic-Vlahovic, “Influence of dynamic conditions on biofilm formation by staphylococci,” European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 502–504, 2001.
- M. A. Deighton and B. Balkau, “Adherence measured by microtiter assay as a virulence marker for Staphylococcus epidermidis infections,” Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 28, no. 11, pp. 2442–2447, 1990.
- A. Gelosia, L. Baldassarri, M. Deighton, and T. van Nguyen, “Phenotypic and genotypic markers of Staphylococcus epidermidis virulence,” Clinical Microbiology and Infection, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 193–199, 2001.
- W. M. Dunne Jr., E. O. Mason Jr., and S. L. Kaplan, “Diffusion of rifampin and vancomycin through a Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm,” Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 37, no. 12, pp. 2522–2526, 1993.
- I. I. Raad, M. F. Sabbagh, K. H. Rand, and R. J. Sherertz, “Quantitative tip culture methods and the diagnosis of central venous catheter-related infections,” Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 13–20, 1992.
- R. Rao, R. Karthika, S. Singh et al., “Correlation between biofilm production and multiple drug resistance in imipenem resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii,” Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 333–337, 2008.
- B. P. de Rossi, M. Calenda, C. Vay, and M. Franco, “Biofilm formation by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from device-associated nosocomial infections,” Revista Argentina de Microbiología, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 204–212, 2007.
- S. Jayanthi, M. Ananthasubramanian, and B. Appalaraju, “Assessment of pheromone response in biofilm forming clinical isolates of high level gentamicin resistant Enterococcus faecalis,” Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 248–251, 2008.
- F. Eftekhar and Z. Mirmohamadi, “Evaluation of biofilm production by Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from nosocomial infections and skin of healthy volunteers,” International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, vol. 1, no. 10, pp. 438–441, 2009.
- G. Christensen, W. Simpson, J. Younger et al., “Adherence of coagulase-negative Staphylococci to plastic tissue culture plates: a 24 quantitative model for the adherence of staphylococci to medical devices,” Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 22, pp. 996–1006, 1985.
- S. Stepanovic, I. Cirkovic, L. Ranin, and M. Svabic-Vlahovic, “Biofilm formation by Salmonella 28 spp. And Listeria monocytogenes on plastic surface,” Letters in Applied Microbiology, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 428–432, 2004.
- E. Tenorio, T. Saeki, K. Fujita et al., “Systematic characterization of Escherichia coli genes/ORFs affecting biofilm formation,” FEMS Microbiology Letters, vol. 225, no. 1, pp. 107–114, 2003.
- C. Feldman, M. Kassel, J. Cantrell et al., “The presence and sequence of endotracheal tube colonization in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation,” European Respiratory Journal, vol. 13, pp. 546–551, 1999.
- D. J. Stickler, “Bacterial biofilms and the encrustation of urethral catheters,” Biofouling, vol. 94, pp. 293–305, 1996.
Copyright © 2012 Sangita Revdiwala et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. | <urn:uuid:0a7ee606-c0da-40bb-a713-92569ed67d25> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ccrp/2012/945805/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.923189 | 5,358 | 1.914063 | 2 |
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Get the b0521 cadillac code diagnosed by a professional: Find a repair shop in your area | <urn:uuid:f76c4ff1-e36c-476e-a9be-7fb91bb2d9b1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.engine-codes.com/b0521_cadillac.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.869646 | 242 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Editor’s Note: this post has nothing to do with finance. Skipping this post costs you nothing. We encourage you to not read this post if you are only here to “geek out.” This post is angled towards those interested in the Leadville 100 ultramarathon, mountain adventures, and/or those in need of a reminder that when things are looking bleak, always remember — this too shall pass.
August 22, 2020 is the day that the Leadville 100 would have occured in a non-COVID world. A team from Alpha Architect participated in the event in 2019.
This monster post contains 3 sections: an overview of Leadville, information about preparation for the race, and a detailed play-by-play narrative of our experience at Leadville in 2019.
The mission of this story is to help others potentially improve their chance of success if they choose to explore one of the more eccentric challenges the world has to offer.(1)
Part 1: What is the Leadville 100 Trail Run and why would anyone actually run it?
Welcome to Leadville, CO. The highest incorporated town in the United States, at 10,152 feet. I grew up near Eagle, Co, which is not far from Leadville. And even as a kid, Leadville was always known as the place where “weird/crazy people live.” Beautiful locations with extremely rugged and harsh living conditions located deep in the Rocky Mountains tend to attract a unique crew of rednecks, yuppies, adventurers, misfits, and everything in between.
You can google “Leadville 100 trail run” (or hit the wiki or REI has a great story on the history of the Leadville 100) if you want to get the full back story on one of the most famous adventure races in the world, but I’ll summarize:
- In the early ’80s, the mining-centric town of Leadville, CO essentially goes bust. Unemployment is viral.
- Ken Chlouber and co. came up with the idea of an insanely challenging 100 mile foot race as a way to bring tourism dollars to the area (and probably as a way to take his mind off their current economic woes too!).
- The event would be called “The Race Across the Sky” and would take place above 10,000 feet in elevation and force you to plow through multiple mountain passes and challenging terrain.
- The first race started in 1983 and the event has been going strong ever since.
Nice work, Ken!
Why Did We Run the Leadville 100?
What actually pushed me (and Amy, and Pat, and Ryan and around 828 others) over the edge to run a 100-mile mountain race in August 2019? I’m still not sure. And to add to the confusion, I want to make one thing very clear: I am NOT an endurance athlete. I played football in high school and did track and field in high school/college. My main event was the pole vault, where the running requirement is less than 120 feet and I was totally happy with that distance. Eventually, I was introduced to endurance training when I was in the Marines, but running long distances isn’t my natural “thang.” I actually hate running to be completely frank.
So why did this happen?
To make a long story short, an old friend/client called me out of the blue in December 2018 and challenged me on the spot and claimed that if I didn’t try it I was a failure. Of course, I have the mindset of a kindergartener, so when someone calls me a sissy on the playground, I have to respond. Not to mention I was caught flat-footed and really didn’t have any great excuses as to why I wasn’t able to accept the challenge. Had I been more prepared I would have certainly found a way to say “No.” But I wasn’t prepared and the cause we were running for was right up my alley (CAF’s Operation Rebound program, which is focused on service members/first responders) and I figured the event would help me prep for March for the Fallen in September. “Win-win,” I thought.
Of course, misery loves company. And despite my clear understanding that this was a terrible idea, I immediately went to selling this idea to the only people silly enough to accept a terrible pitch: my sister-in-law Amy Gray, and my business partners Ryan Kirlin, and Pat Cleary.(2)
Looking back, I’m still not really sure why any of us actually said, “yes.” Everyone probably has a different reason. For me, maybe it was a midlife crisis at 39 years old. Maybe it was a sense that I was getting “soft” after poisoning my mind with too many Goggins, Jocko, and PatMac videos. Who knows. My speculation: I am a Colorado native and grew up fairly close to Leadville as a kid. The town always fascinated me. Everything about the area is hardcore — the weather, the wildlife, the mountains, and the people. I also grew up hearing about the race, but never really considered actually participating. In the end, I think I simply had a “fu#$ it, let’s do it” moment. A lapse in judgment: nothing more, nothing less.
Part 2: How Do You Prepare for the Leadville 100?
There are a thousand theories on how to prepare for the event. Everyone is different. You obviously need to put your time in on the trails — no human can finish the Leadville Trail Run 100 (LT100) off the couch.(3) But you also don’t need to dedicate your life to running if you want to try the Leadville 100. In my situation, I hate running and I have limited time because I have a young family with 3 kids and serve as the team leader for a fast-growing and entrepreneurial business, Alpha Architect. My training focus was on getting the job done with the least amount of effort possible, not to perform at the highest level possible. Disclaimer: if you have different race goals, my advice is probably worthless.(4)
Looking back, I can summarize the 3 aspects of preparation into 3 buckets from least important to most important: physical capability, nutrition/sleep, and mentality.
Note: There are probably thousands of books you can buy that outline different theories and training programs to finish the LT100. I actually read quite a few of them but didn’t really follow any of them. What I describe below is my minimalist approach to training for this event. And it worked, for me. That doesn’t mean it will work for you, but at least you have a data point (n=1) that simple can be effective.
A 100-mile race over mountains means you need to harden your ligaments and bone structure to withstand constant beatdowns. But you need to train smarter, not harder. Too much training will lead to injury, too little training will lead to failure. On the physical component, I have limited time so I would do my standard functional fitness type workouts during the week — 3 to 4 times, 15-25 minute intense sessions, ranging from powerlifting movements to bodyweight calisthenics. Think DIY CrossFit. These efficient workouts served as my cross-training to ensure that my muscles and connector-tissues were robust. Or at least that is what I told myself. The reality is that I think I got lucky I did this sort of training because the real reason I maintained this training regime is that I didn’t want to become a distance runner freak who couldn’t deadlift a paperclip. But I digress…
On the running side of the house, I’d contain this to weekends. I would fire up some music and finance/geek podcasts, head out on the trails fairly early, and perform what I call back-to-back “grinders”. I started off with 5 miles Saturday and 5 miles Sunday and I built up the mileage each week, based on how my body felt (some weeks I would drop mileage or put on a ruck and walk). Eventually, you can build yourself up where you end up doing back-to-back marathons on the weekends. I think the most I ever did was a 30 mile Saturday and a 25 mile Sunday. We also participated in the “Dirty German” 50-mile race around Philly (I think I may have finished dead last). It was a great opportunity to test my gear and my fitness in a real-world situation, but I actually don’t recommend too many crazy long runs (nor do the pros!). These long runs are great for “callousing the mind” (see below) but they also put you in a high-risk injury zone. Less can actually be more when it comes to ultra-marathoning.
My biggest advice on training is to listen to your body via an objective lens. Building an objective lens requires a dedicated “mentality training effort” (see below), to ensure you are fairly assessing what your mind is telling you, but the key thing to remember is the classic saying, “this is a marathon, not a sprint.” In the case of Leadville, that cliche deserves a solid, “No sh#$.” LOL.
I am not a doctor. But there are plenty of doctors and PhDs who study nutrition/sleep as it relates to human performance (I like the Science of Ultra podcast). Learn from all of them and listen to people with polar opposite views. I learned a lot about this subject while training for the LT100. A fascinating topic. The journey made me much more empathetic for people who are entering the finance space and trying to understand fact from fiction. For example, in my case, understanding finance research and the substantive debate on everything under the sun seems normal and intuitive. I can maneuver the research with ease because that is all I have been thinking about for 10 hours a day for 20 years! But when I plowed into the nutrition world to try and find the right “answer,” I probably felt like people who enter finance and are trying to figure out which “factor” works the best. There is so much noise, no clear “experts” you can trust, and you end up wanting to pull your hair out. Ugg. Frustrating!
Unfortunately, I still have no clue on how to answer the question: “What is the best way to fuel your body?”
That said, with sleep, Matt Walker has convinced me that 1) more is better and 2) nobody gets enough. What I do think is that nutrition/sleep are critical elements of ultramarathoning success and arguably life success. I’m not going to go into great detail here since a discussion of nutrition can quickly turn into a political-like argument. But here are the key points in my mind:
- Sleep 8 hours a day (or more). Find-a-way. Prioritize it.
- Eat food. Not processed sh#$. Vegetarian? Great. Keto meat eater? Great. Cheetohs? Not great (unless its a snack on the run!)(5)
In my particular case, I upped my sleep, especially after grinder weekend workouts, and went on what I call a ‘plant-strong’ diet, which basically means you get 95% of your calories from plant-based sources. But I also explored the benefits of ketosis as it relates to ultra-endurance sports. I wasn’t going to starve myself and eat steak every meal like Mike Philbrick, so in my case, I used a compound called deltaG, which is an awful tasting, but very effective, cocktail that puts your body into chemical ketosis. See here for more info. (Zach Bitter, the 100-mile world record holder is a big keto guy and his story/logic is fairly compelling.)
Finally, I stopped drinking coffee and only saved caffeine for when I was going on 3hr+ training runs. Apparently, caffeine is an endurance performance booster (assuming your heart doesn’t explode), but the benefits are only realized if you aren’t adapted to caffeine in the first place. Wait a sec, “Wes, are you saying that I need to break my caffeine addiction?” My answer is “yes,” but recruit some help. For me, I convinced Chris Mendez (a lawyer/Marine friend) to serve as my motivation to quit coffee. Chris provided multiple psychologist sessions and performance motivation talks (ha!). In the end, I was successful. But I can attest that quitting coffee is possible, but not pleasant. Moreover, my wife sacrificed a lot so I could train for this stupid race, but her biggest sacrifice was quitting caffeine with me!
So what’s the bottom line on using performance enhancers to finish the race? I’m 100% down to do whatever it takes. Feel free to call me the Lance Armstrong of doing whatever I need to do (within the legal rules) to finish the event. And if you want to finish this event, you need to find ways to beg borrow and steal to maximize your shot at success, which includes giving up caffeine and saving its benefits for the race (and do some training with it along the way so you don’t have a heart attack).
Oh, I also came around to using beet juice, which is a favorite of endurance cyclists. Beet juice provides nitrates, which allows your body to process oxygen more efficiently (that’s what the scientists say, at least). I ended up using beat-ums, which is a good-tasting and easy to consume beet juice supplement. Highly recommended, but make sure you train with them to assess if your body can handle them during long runs.
There are so many cliches that amount to “mind over matter.” These cliches have always rung hollow to me. Seemed like lots of talk, but very little action; my attitude was that the physics are either on your side, or they aren’t, because mentality isn’t going to deadlift 500lbs.
The LT100, which is the first challenge I’ve ever explored where I had heavy doubts I could actually accomplish the physical goal, convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can literally do anything you want, IF you put your mind to it. I have also been convinced that nobody is born with a God-given right to mental toughness– sure there is a bell curve, but “mentality” is a trained skill that can be improved over time via deliberate exercise and repetition.
Physics always matter, but “mental training” is by far the most important aspect of training for the Leadville 100. Goggins calls this “callousing the mind” and I am a big believer in this philosophy since I stumbled upon this concept while in the Marines. Folks who do yoga, meditation, or hang out in Tibet, etc. come to similar conclusions via different routes. I most easily relate to Goggins’ approach/lens because of our shared military experience/culture, but there are many methods available to manage your mentality (i.e., “control system 1” for you Kahneman geeks).
What is the “callousing your mind” theory?
In short, you can “train your brain” at the chemistry/structure level. This training builds your capacity to acknowledge “survival instincts,” appreciate what they are telling you, but also ignore what they have to say. For example, your mind may signal that you are fatigued or stressed. But are you really fatigued or stressed to such a level that you physically can’t move forward? Unlikely. Your brain is simply trying to help you survive and doesn’t want to waste energy on things that suggest you are entering the danger zone. And this is a good thing, normally. But the reality of any situation is that you can do whatever the fu#$ you want if you find ways to prevent your survival instincts from telling you that it is time to quit. (e.g., holding on to value stocks). The fascinating aspect of this theory is that it suggests that you can build up this “toughness” muscle via deliberate training. Of course, I am not an expert on this topic but my own personal experiments can confirm that the theory seems to work. Nobody is born hard. You need to build hardness. On the flipside, if you don’t train to be hard, you will become soft (something I am witnessing at the moment because being soft is very pleasant. Ha!).
How do you go about “callousing your mind” and creating a cyborg-like level of self-awareness?
Everyone is different and they will need to find a method that works for them. For me, it was simple:
- Step 1: find examples of insane freaks so your brain knows that what you are doing is possible. My best example is Courtney Dewaulter, who could do the LT100 in her sleep and could probably run the thing 3x in a row.
- Step 2: engage in extremely miserable physical activity and explore how your mind communicates with your body. Learn to control your organic emotions.(6)
Okay, so you’ve been training for 6-12 months and now you are getting close to the event. Time for pre-race preparation!
The Leadville 100 Run website has tons of great links and information (for example, here is their gear list link, which is extremely helpful).
There are also countless other resources out there if you simply “google” the event. I recommend you check them all out, but here are some resources that we found particularly useful:
- The official Leadville 100 pace chart calculator.
- Climbers.net calculator. This site is absolutely incredible and I use screenshots from their website throughout the guide below. A must-have website for any potential LT100 participant. Below is a screenshot from the site with some notes on the key features. The data is based on the 2012 course/numbers, so it may not be perfect, but it was very effective/useful for me and the rest of the team.
Journals and Resources
Everyone has a different take on the Leadville 100 experience and I encourage you to check them all out. I was constantly watching LT100 youtube videos and trying to learn more. But the most useful pieces for me were journals on live experiences from those who have tackled the course (I am doing my small part via this piece in hopes that it might help someone — even it if only helps a little — accomplish their goal of completing the LT100).
Some of my favorite resources are the following:
- Matt Carvalho — a 100-mile race finisher, a fintwitter, and RIA. Matt is a wealth of knowledge and he provided us some critical guidance on how to finish 100 miles.
- The Why: Running 100 Miles by Billy Yang. A great into to the Leadville 100.
- The Dana Roueche account.
- PDF version
- A systematic approach to increasing the odds of finishing the L100. I’m a huge fan because Dana is obviously a quant!
- 2018 Official Leadville guide
- The official guide is filled with an insane amount of knowledge and details that you will need to know
- 2019 Official Leadville guide (similar to 2018, but I like reading different copies)
Pre-race prep involves identifying your pace between the checkpoints and the gear/nutrition requirements at each station. You also need to have branch plans/supplies for those inevitable episodes when the world goes to sh#$. The race itself is excellent and fully supported. So in theory, you could wing it with a hydration source and make it happen. Again, whatever works for you, this is your personal journey, not mine.
Here are a few photos of us doing pre-race gear prep. Unfortunately, I can’t grab a water bottle and go for it (well, maybe Goggins can, but not normal people). The biggest challenge is identifying your nutrition and hydration requirements and then figuring out when/where you will access them. You also need to have plans for crazy changes in the weather (ranging from really hot to snowing) and the associated gear required to literally (and figuratively) “weather the storm.” I recommend doing a few training runs to iron out any gear issues – you don’t want the first time you run with a headlamp to be out on the course!
Everyone has a basic load-out, but here are some of the items that were fairly unique/customized to my situation:
- cold weather gear prepared for entering Hope Pass and for the last 50 miles back (which are in darkness). Obviously, lighter and more efficient is better. I stuck to merino wool solutions and high-speed low-drag technical gear. With some careful shopping, I was able to score some deals on some nice gear. But even if you have to pay full price, it will be worth every penny. You don’t want to be a value investor when your life is at stake.
- 2 pairs of Hoka Speedgoat shoes. These are incredible shoes, but looking back I wish I stuck with a shoe that could accommodate a wider foot like a New Balance. Lesson learned after losing all my toenails.
- Ultimate direction trekking pack. I recommend a Camelbak hydration source stuffed in the back and use the front pockets for chow/gear. Bottles didn’t work for me.
- Trekking poles. I used these for 87/100 of the miles. I truly believe they save your infrastructure if you train with them. I would get poles that can be adapted on the fly. For example, going uphill I would shorten the poles so it was more efficient to grip into the mountain and pull myself up; going downhill I would extend them so I could “lean” on them and save energy. I would not have finished without poles. Montem carbon poles are affordable and bada$$.
- Supplemental nutrition: I needed a deltaG shot every 4 or 5 hours so I could drag my body into ketosis and minimize glucose burn. I also wanted a beet-um every 2 hours. I am also a fan of GU Roctane for long-haul training runs/events. A nice mix of water, calories and caffeine. During the event, I lived on this stuff!
- Leukotape: A Dave Babulak find that happened via MFTF training. The stuff is incredible and will solve a lot of problems on the course related to blisters, gear breaking, etc.
- Redundant light source: Keep a headlamp on you at all times. And extra batteries. Pay for quality/robustness. You don’t want a light failure along the way. (happened to me)
In the end, you can go nuts on gear, but you need the amount of gear that gives you the confidence to be successful. You also need to train on your gear, or as they say in the Marines, “Train like you Fight.” Inevitably, gear will break and you will be missing something along the way, but that is why mentality training trumps everything. Adapt and overcome is always your mantra, but if you have a tight gear package/plan you can at least push reliance on your mind out to mile 60 and not mile 20.
What Happened at the 2019 Leadville 100?
A year ago this weekend (August 17, 2019), we managed to
cross the finish line tragically stumble in immense pain across the finish line at the famous Leadville 100 Train run.(7) And I say “we” because I could have never survived the event alone. Seriously. I had the best Leadville pacer the world has ever known, Josh Russell, dragging my sorry excuse for a human across the line. Not to mention an entire crew of close friends and family manning an oar the entire time: my wife Katie & my kids, Rod/Nicole, Kirlin, Doug, Brandon, Granne/CJ, Cliff & Co., Cleary and Co., Debbie F., Tim M., the Delaney posse, and more.
Oh yeah, we were also running for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), a great charity that supports inspiring athletes with physical challenges. One of our brothers in arms at the event was the legendary David Goggins, who was also running for the CAF crew (albeit, way faster!). In the end, we raised over $9,000 for CAF and we are confident it is being used to make a positive impact for this awesome cause.
Did You Finish?
Yes. I finished. I was fortunate to finish under the 30-hour time limit in 2019 (29 hrs and 44 minutes!) in a year when the stars weren’t aligning for a lot of Leadville participants and the 30-hour finisher rate came in around 40% (typically it floats closer to 50%). This was accomplished with a mix of around 40 miles of running and 60 miles of power trekking up and down mountains. My original goal was to try and break 25 hours to earn the “big buckle,” but around 50 miles into the race I quickly fell in love with the idea of 1) surviving and 2) if I was lucky, earning the standard buckle by breaking 30 hours.
Official results from 2019 are available here.
But the real question is not “did you finish” the Leadville 100, but “Did you toe the line and learn something new about yourself?” If someone can answer “yes” to that question, that is the right answer and all that matters. Finishing is awesome, and I’m glad I did earn a buckle, but I was also lucky! There are so many variables that are outside the control of LT100 participants — weather, gear, nutrition, tweaked ankle, getting lost, and so forth — that even the most battle-hardened bada$$ mofo on the planet has a good shot at failure. Professional ultra-marathoners DNF (did not finish) all the time. And getting a DNF has no shame, especially on a rookie attempt, where the odds of success are probably less than 25% for first-timers.
The bottom line is that life is not about the scoreboard, it is about the process. Can you look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and know that you did the best you possibly could with the God-given tools and the circumstances you were offered? If so, great; if not, improve your process.
Part 3: My Leadville 100 Journal (And My Pacer’s Journal via Josh Russell)
What follows is my play-by-play of the experience, interspersed with commentary from Josh Russell, a fellow PhD quant geek, who was generous enough to serve as my pacer on the back 50 miles of the LT100 run. Please reach out for additional questions/thoughts. We are always available to share tips/tricks to anyone who wants to try the LT100 run. Also, I will personally never run a 100-mile race again, but I will crew, pace, support your cause, and lend my 2 cents to anyone in the community who seeks the experience.
The course in 2019 was just over 100 miles (we tallied 100.7 miles) and is broken into 12 checkpoints/stations. The course is 50 miles in one direction (outbound) and then you backtrack the same course in reverse (inbound). Winfield is the 50 mile point and is where you can pick up pacers (which aren’t allowed on the first 50 miles).
Here were the stations and the time requirements for each station (if you don’t hit a time hack, they boot you off the course and you DNF).
- 7:30am (3 hours 30 minutes) – May Queen: 12.6 miles
- 10:30am (6 hours 30 minutes) – Outward Bound: 23.5 miles (also referred to as the Fish Hatchery)
- 11:30am (7 hours 30 minutes) – Half Pipe: 29.3 miles
- 2:00pm (10 hours) – Twin Lakes: 37.9 miles
- 4:15pm (12 hours 15 minutes) – Hope Pass 43.5 miles
- 6:00pm (14 hours) – Winfield 50 miles
- 10:00pm (18 hours) – Twin Lakes: 62.5 miles
- 1:15am (21 hours and 15 minutes) – Half Pipe: 71.1 miles
- 3:00am (23 hours) – Outward Bound: 76.9 miles
- 5:00am – Big Buckle sub 25-hour cutoff
- 6:30am (26 hours and 30 minutes) – May Queen: 87.8 miles
- 10:00am – Small Buckle sub 30-hour cutoff & Course cutoff
Aid stations are available at all the checkpoints and there are some additional ad-hoc and makeshift aid stations along the route, which provide basic hydration/nutrition and smiling faces.
Here is a map of the course:
4:00am (Elapsed Race Time 00:00)
[josh] The gun goes off Zero Hour for the 2019 Leadville Trail 100 race. Debbie and I watch as 831 runners charge through the gate while the crowd whoops it up. The field is a sea of headlamps and somewhere in there are four runners from the CAF/Alpha Architect team: Amy, Pat, Ryan, and Wes. It will be at least 10 hours and 40 hard miles (for them) before we’re reunited. I catch a ride back to the house with Debbie. After a nap and breakfast, I sip coffee and chat nervously with Rod and Nicole, my fellow pacers. I feel my heart pounding in my neck and look to see my heart rate monitor reporting 105 beats per minute, about 55 higher than normal. This is distressing. Coming from sea level less than 24 hours prior, I knew that a race at 2 miles above sea level would be tough, now it was looking improbable. Don’t think, just do.
[wes]: We hit a 0300 wake up the morning of. My mind was in a good place. Almost zen-like as if we were about to enter a combat situation and you knew you were more prepared than the enemy. The day prior, in the local hole-in-the-wall gas station, was a picture dedicated to a fallen Marine from the Leadville area, whom Pat Cleary served with while in Iraq. This was just the kind of motivation we needed to remind us that whatever pain this stupid event was going to throw at us, the fact we could feel pain meant we were still alive, and therefore still grateful for Marines like Nick Palmer.
Here are some pics from the start:
10:00am (Elapsed Race Time 06:00)
[wes]: The grind is underway. The first 6 hours on my end cover around 30 miles and plow through 3 checkpoints: Start to May Queen 1, to Fish Hatchery 1 (i.e., outward bound), to Half Pipe 1 (highlighted below).
Right out of the gate I immediately have issues with my hydration bladder. The suction valve is leaking, and my head is about to explode. Really? My water source isn’t working 5 minutes into the race? I improvise and solve the problem by positioning the value so it is pointed up and gravity can keep it from leaking. Good to go. My first opportunity to test out the primary way to finish the race — a relentlessly positive attitude. Along the way, Kirlin and I start bullsh#$ing about our race plans and how we are feeling. Our confidence is sky-high and we even contemplate how we may be able to finish in the top 10%. (ha. What a joke, looking back!) We immediately run into a fellow fintwitter — Mike Alfred — who gives us a shout out of the blue, freaking me out in the process. Mike would go on to crush the race and finish in less than 25 hours. Unbelievable.
After 5 or 6 miles of road running and battling crowds, things start to thin out a bit when we enter the path along Turquoise Lake. The runners all form a huge line along the single-track course that weaves around the lake. At the northwest edge of the lake is the “May Queen” aid station, which is 13.5 miles from the start. This is the first of the checkpoints/aid stations, spaced out along the 100-mile trail, which are designated areas for your crew to meet you with supplies, nutrition, and motivation. They are also important time checks: each station has a designated cut off that’s measuring your progress along the entire route. If you don’t make the aid station cut off time, you’re pulled out of the race, no matter how good you are feeling. This early in the race, I’m already stressed about the cutoffs – because of the traffic the pace along the path is pretty slow (12min/mile) and I’m getting concerned because I’m not hitting my time hacks, but there is nothing you can do on single track paths — passing really isn’t an option. But the slow pace is probably a good thing. The #1 piece of advice that 100-mile racers share is the mantra of “go slower than you think you should.” So while I’m worried that the pace is too slow, I am also aware that maybe this is a good way to manage my nerves and conserve energy.
We power through the May Queen Station and I’m feeling fresh. Doug Pugliese and Brandon Koepke hand off my trekking poles and some nutrition and I’m back at it in short order after inhaling 500 calories. I pound a beet-um and some Gu Roctane (my go-to source). The report from Doug/Brandon is that Ryan/Amy/Pat have all blown through the checkpoint already and the squad is looking strong. Awesome!
The next section is from May Queen 1 to the next aid station, Fish Hatchery 1/Outward Bound, which is a 10-mile stretch that essentially amounts to climbing up and down sugarloaf pass, which is roughly a 1k+ foot climb (see below). The views along the climb are magnificent and the temperatures are perfect for running (around 50 degrees!)
My motivation is high and the forest provides shade along the trail so I’m feeling great and my fellow runners are keeping me motivated, with some good light conversations along the way. On the hills, I take the opportunity to power walk and I’m jamming on my Leadville 100 playlist, which is a mix of everything from Enya to 2Pac.
I finally end up at the Half Pipe aid station, and I am destroyed physically. My biggest concern is my IT bands, which generally flare up at around mile 20-25 and shoot pain into my hamstrings and hip. Both of my IT bands are shot after coming off the pass. And we are only at 29 miles. But I know I am going to get to see my wife and kids at the Half Pipe station, which keeps me motivated. I’m going to finish this damn race because it’s pissing me off. I can also see Kirlin not far ahead. So now I have something to aim for and a conversation with Kirlin is always welcome.
Despite my IT band issues, I step off from the station after hydrating and pounding around 600 calories (grilled cheese sandwich, deltaG, and some GUs). A big mountain is checked off, and now it is just trails and beautiful landscapes for 10+ miles. I quickly catch up to Ryan who is having food issues and can’t keep calories down. Not a good sign at all, and terrible luck, but his mind is strong and he powers through the pain. I’m not that concerned for Ryan. He was a world-class endurance athlete in his younger days (rower) with a resting heart rate that is lower than the returns on value stocks the past 10 years (i.e., unimaginably low. :-) )
We grind together for about a mile and then I go into another gear since my body is feeling good for once and I want to take advantage of it while I can. Once I break from Ryan at this stage of the race I won’t see Ryan or Pat again. And I won’t see Amy again until we randomly meet along the way up Hope Pass the second time.
12:30 pm (Elapsed Race Time 8 hours 30 minutes)
[josh]: After watching the start, we catch a ride up to the Twin Lakes aid station. This is mile 38 in the race and it is the last checkpoint before runners go up and over Hope Pass, the 12,600 foot monster mountain pass that makes Leadville the beast that it is. Having arrived several hours earlier, Debbie is waiting for us with a tent, chairs, and provisions. This is home for next two hours, so I relax in the shade and take in the spectacle. Amy is the first of our runners to come through. She looks to be in great shape and after fuel and photos she was off to climb the beast. I know Wes won’t be far behind, so I walk up to the trail head and wait for him. At 12:38, he passes through the electronic check point, 82 minutes ahead of the cutoff. He’s in great shape and after a quick stop he too is off. Now, nearly 10 hours after I had originally woken, my day begins. As soon as Wes is out of sight, I grab my gear and head for the bus to Winfield aid station. Winfield is an old ghost town at the base of a few mountains. It also happens to be the half-way mark and turn around point for the race. To mitigate congestion, crew and pacers must take a bus from the Twin Lakes aid station. As I walk up the road away from Twin Lakes, the bus line unfurls a quarter-mile long in front of me. Dang, I should have left sooner.
[wes]: The movement from Half Pipe 1 (mile 29) to Twin Lakes 1 (~mile 40) is physically challenging with some gradual elevation gains/losses, but I am in a flow state and my “mind callousing” has prevailed. The Goggins training method works.
This ~10-mile segment of the run starts with some open-air running alongside the Rocky Mountains and eventually weaves into a small mountain pass that takes you on a journey through an aspen forest (see Amy below). Mentally, this section is not terribly difficult, save a little heat/direct sun, and the terrain is pretty forgiving. (When I come back through these sections on the return trip back, my attitude changes — dramatically. Keep reading).
The one thing that sticks in my mind on this part of the course is that my emotions started to hit me in ways they have never done in the past. I had incredibly violent emotions of gratitude and gratefulness (at one point I started rattling off everyone who I appreciated in my life, talking out loud to an audience of nobody). And then I would start randomly shedding tears (I can’t even remember the last time I cried). I wasn’t sad or happy, but I was crying. Very odd. I also start chanting some Marine Corps cadences along the way, things I hadn’t thought about in a decade. The whole experience was confusing. I’ve never been one to experiment with psychedelic drugs, but my guess is that a cocktail of 40 miles of running/trekking mixed with a complete lack of oxygen thanks to the 10k+ elevation had recreated a similar experience. I was high as a kite.
Eventually, I touch down at Twin Lakes 1 and I am filled with joy. This will be the first time where I’ll take a break that lasts longer than 2 minutes. Our crew, led by my wife, Katie, is absolutely incredible. The whole squad is remarkable. Debbie/Josh/Doug all hook me up with my drop bag of gear and starts stuffing my face with chow, commanding me to eat. I follow their orders because I know they are 100% right. If you don’t eat at Leadville, you die.
When I see everyone I get a healthy dose of positive energy. The crew immediately shares the news that Amy came through looking great and that Ryan and Pat were not far behind me. Everyone is on track to have a chance to finish. I love it!
The Twin Lakes aid station is the biggest by far and is a key logistics waypoint before the runners tackle the double ascent of Hope Pass. Debbie is our crew chief at Twin Lakes and she has things squared away and prepared for all our racers. The scene at the Twin Lakes station is electric and feels like a mini-rock concert with people everywhere screaming and yelling. It’s great!
I spend 10 minutes at the station, change my shoes and pounding calories in preparation for the heart of the race — the trek up and down Hope Pass — 2x!
Luckily, my daughter provided me with some last minute motivation for the rest of the race.
And we’re off!
3:30pm (Elapsed Race Time 09:30)
[josh]: I hop off the bus in Winfield (50 mile point) and wait like a parent with overdue children. Not knowing how long the traverse should take, I hunker down in the shade and prepare my mind for the night ahead. Eventually, I’m joined by Rod and Nicole Heard and it dawns on me what a strange situation this is. Here I am sitting in a Ghost Town with two friends and hundreds of strangers, not quite sure if I will be on the trail for the next 12 hours or – if our runners hit failure before 50 miles – catching a ride back to Twin Lakes on a rickety school bus. After chatting for a bit, Rod, Nicole, and I agree that if the cutoff time passed, we’re going over Hope Pass on our own. We hadn’t come all this way for a school bus ride!
[Wes] The first landmark past the Twin Lakes station is a series of water crossings, includeing the crossing of Lake Creek, a decent size river that is FREEZING cold, but feels incredible on tired feet/joints.
[wes]: Hope Pass. The crown jewel of the Leadville 100 race and by far the biggest pain in the a$$. (see the altitude chart below and the two “peaks” in between).
And of course, in classic Leadville 100 fashion, they make you climb it twice — go over the pass into Winfield, and then backtrack the trail you just finished. In total, you bag around 6k feet in elevation gain pretty quickly. If you can get through Hope Pass out — and back again — you have the race in the bag. Or so we are told.
Of course, because Hope Pass is a known pain point, our team did several training runs on the mountain before the race to get a sense for just how bad it would be. And it was bad, but it was also beautiful.
But training runs are one thing. The real thing is a bit different. In the race, you have hit the Hope Pass section 2 times AFTER bagging 40 miles. Sheesh.
I left the Twin Lakes station as a man possessed. I somehow triggered my deep-seated system 1 “warrior brain,” which is a somewhat demented headspace I developed while in the Marines. A mental state that I stuffed in the memory banks in hopes I’d never need it ever again in the civilian world. The crux of the race was in front of me and I needed to “kill” the mountain. I started up my music again (had to bag it around mile 30 because I wasn’t in the right headspace). I generally hit Enya on repeat when I am cruising along (yeah, say what you want, I know it is pathetic), but the mountain requires something different. Something downright gangsta. My preference is 2Pac, in particular, the song Ambitionz az a Ridah. I don’t even listen to the words, but the rhythm and beat are perfect. I would listen to that song on repeat for the next 6 hours.
I can’t even remember how long it took me to get to the makeshift aid station just below Hope Pass, often referred to as the “llama station” since a pack of llamas carries a bunch of food up there for racers to devour at 12k+ feet. All I know is that I went way too fast and smoked my legs. A strategic failure. The exact opposite strategy recommended by ultramarathoners who know what they are doing. Well, I’m not a professional ultramarathoner, and I just wanted to finish this G-d Da#@ race.
Along the way up and down Hope Pass, I passed a ton of people. (note: I had people after the race hit me up out of the blue in a sea of people and say, “Hey, were you that crazy dude with the trekking poles going up Hope Pass way too fast?” Interpreted differently, “hey, are the idiot that smoked their legs up Hope Pass, essentially ignoring the advice of every expert on the planet”). I’m sure I was going too fast but I knew I had to get to Winfield and back to Twin Lakes as fast as possible or I wasn’t going to finish the race. I also wanted to catch David Goggins. I knew he was about an hour ahead of me according to the Twin Lakes crew and my mentality was such that I wanted to pass him (even though any rational thought would suggest that to be impossible). I powered up the mountain and ended up passing Goggins — but he was going in the other direction, already on his way back to the finish, while I was still on my way out to the halfway point at Winfield –LOL! So technically I “passed” Goggins. I gave Goggins a military grunt as he huffed and puffed up the mountain while I cruised passed him going downhill. Goggins had me inspired. I always thought he was superman, but seeing him struggle up the mountain, and show his humanity, helped me understand that he feels pain like everyone — he simply chooses to ignore it and fight through. No magic tricks. No pixie dust. Pure grind. Amazing.
4:50 pm (Elapsed Race Time 12:50)
[josh]: I spy Wes coming off the trail and he’s moving strong. As we’re walking to the aid station, I do a quick systems check with Wes. His knees are screaming in pain, but his will is strong. At 1702 Wes is officially through the checkpoint. Now it’s go time! 50 miles to go. As I fill up his hydration pack, it hits me, “this is really happening.” Due to single track trail and bidirectional traffic, it’s slow going from Winfield to the base of Hope Pass. Along the way we pass Ryan and shout encouragement. He’s tight on time but he’s still in the game and looking strong. At one point we trek past a guy passed out on a rock. There are already a few people attending to him, so we keep moving. With a 20% average grade, Hope Pass is about as steep as it gets without climbing gear. At its base, it is about 10,000 feet above sea level. At 1812 we start our ascent. Wes is a man on a mission and it’s all I can do to keep up with him. Fourteen minutes later, we pass a log and he says “we’re a third of the way up.” My heart rate monitor reads 190, about 10 beats per minute past my redline. With fresh legs and fresh lungs, it’s all I can do to keep up with the human mountain goat. From here things only got steeper. With my lungs burning and my heart racing I realized my wife was right — I’m an idiot. I keep pushing on to avoid the dreaded spousal “I told you so.” At thirty-five minutes into our ascent, we pass another log and Wes called out “two thirds.” Around here the trail narrows and the switchbacks start — making passing impossible. As we climb the last 800 feet in a conga line of runners, I’m able to catch a breath and recover a bit. For a brief moment, I’m reminded of the old film reels of the Klondike Gold Rush. The line of people on this section of the trail is so long that passing would not be worth the energy expended.
[wes]: Eventually I found myself dead on arrival in Winfield. Here is where I would link up with Josh Russell, my pacer for the last 50 miles, which is backtracking the first 50 miles. Winfield is a great moment for me. I take a quick break and link up with Josh, which is a huge relief. Being solo for 50 miles is a mental drag and having a partner in crime on the back half of the race is a huge benefit. We saddle up our gear for the back 50 and the pain cave is only beginning. Next up, an insanely steep climb back up and over Hope Pass. Oh boy!
Here is a pic of the pacers waiting patiently at the 50 mile mark to pick up their runners.
7:28pm (Elapsed Race Time 13:28)
[josh]: As we summit Hope Pass I take in the view without breaking stride. All in, we passed 78 people on this leg (more than 10% of the runners that made it to Winfield)! After a brief stop at the Hope Pass aid station, we start our descent. We’re in the trees as dusk falls and are quickly swallowed by darkness. Our descent is slow and methodical to prevent more damage to Wes’ battered knees.
[wes]: As I head up Hope Pass for the second time today, my knees and IT bands are shot at this point and every step/fall reminds me that I am still alive. Conga lines form in the steeper sections and the conversations have all but ceased. Everyone is in their own personal torture chamber and nobody has the energy for a conversation. We have all entered survival mode. Meditation at its best!
9:20pm (Elapsed Race Time 17:19)
[josh]: The trek into Twin Lakes is a slow grind and mostly uneventful. At one point we wade across an ice-cold creek. I manage to trip over my own feet and end up waist deep. In the process, I splash water all down Wes’ back. He takes it in stride, but that’s got to be a major annoyance nearly 16 hours into a race.
We arrive at the Twin Lakes aid station – the 60-mile mark of the race – forty minutes before the cutoff time. This checkpoint is one of the harder time cutoffs to make, so it is a big relief that I make it through with time to spare. We’re greeted warmly by our crew who get us changed, refueled, and sends us on our way. It dawns on me that the crew job is a thankless task. You get up early to beat the crowds and save a space, set up camp, and then you stand watch… for hours. All this time the crew is alert and ready to jump into action as soon as your runner comes. When they finally show up, you’ve got to change their socks, fill their canteens, shove their pockets full of snacks, listen to them whine, and get them moving on the double. It’s a thankless task. As a runner/pacer, you know what you need because you’ve been thinking about it for hours. You plan your movement in and out of the gate. You’ve got a mental checklist “socks, shirt, hat, hydration, bagel, energy bar.” As it turns out, slogging it out for hours on the trail, barely stopping to pee, isn’t breeding grounds for manners. When you finally get to your crew, your list turns into “I need my bag! Quick fill this thing! I don’t care whatever you’ve got! Shit, where’s my hat? And that thing, give me that thing! Okay, see you later.” In short, to the Alpha Architect crew, I apologize for anything I said and all of the “thank yous” I didn’t say. You guys are awesome and we wouldn’t have made it without you.
[wes]: When we roll into Twin Lakes for the second time my head is spinning. I have started to focus way too much attention inward and start feeling bad for myself. But I’m also interested in what the team is doing since that will take my attention off my own issues. The update from the crew is that Amy got held up on Hope Pass, which I don’t believe at first because I don’t remember ever passing her. Of course, I’m effectively hallucinating at this point, but as the clouds clear in my head I start to remember linking up with her near the top of Hope Pass. Okay, I’m not crazy. I remember now. I ask for updates on Pat and Ryan but the crew doesn’t have any information. I knew a bit about Kirlin’s status since we passed him on the way out of Winfield. Pat was a complete unknown, no one had heard from him since he left Twin Lakes heading up to Hope Pass 1.
After that fact, we would learn that Patrick made it past Twin Lakes and on to Hope Pass, but he would eventually get tangled up with the time limits and exited the course. He put in an incredible effort and eventually made it back to Twin Lakes to meet up with our crew and get some well-deserved rest.
Ryan Kirlin had some major drama with checkpoint time limits on Hope Pass. I eventually learned that he managed to make the cutoff time at Winfield by a whisker and was literally going to need to sprint off the mountain if he hoped to make it back to the second Twin Lakes stop in order to make the cutoff. It turns out that Ryan did end up sprinting down the mountain, averaging a 6:30 mile pace (which is INSANE, especially after 60 miles and in the black of night!) only to miss the Twin Lakes cutoff by less than 1 minute!
Yes, ONE MINUTE.
But rules are rules, and the race coordinators booted him off the course. Sadly, for two of our teammates, Twin Lakes was the end of the Leadville journey. But Amy and I were still on the hunt.
9:34 pm (Elapsed Race Time 17:34)
[josh] As we depart Twin Lakes, I note that what felt like a five minute stop was really fifteen. We’re now floating less than a half-hour ahead of the cutoffs. We need to make time on the trail and we can’t afford to rest at every oasis. The climb out of Twin Lakes is steep, but this is our strong suit. We make quick work of our second summit and gain another 20 places or so. We climb past Barefoot Ted McDonald (of Born To Run fame) and someone blaring old school funk. Things get weird in the middle of the night. On top of the hill were treated to an epic moonrise reflecting over the lake. I try hard to be present and take in the scene. There’s the moon rise over a mountain lake, the stars, hundreds of maniacal souls tromping toward an old mining town, and Jungle Boogie. This may be one of the strangest nights of my life (and I can’t even blame it on beer). By now we’re in the trees and the trail is dark. Every now and then I hear Wes stumble and then a soft slow, “oh yeah.” Not “oh yeah, this is amazing” more like “oh yeah, I just slammed my shin into a trailer hitch.” I realize that headlamps projecting down don’t cast shadows and make the terrain hard to read. After a bit of experimentation, I figure out that I can hold a headlamp down by my hip and cast shadows on the rocks and potholes in the trail ahead. And thus I found my primary mission for the next seven hours.
[wes]: Okay, I’ll be honest. I am 60 miles into this thing and I’ve become numb to the pain. I am freezing cold and delirious. I think Goggins is a real a##hole and the whole mind over matter thing is a steaming crock of sh#$. My feet have hotspots everywhere and I know a few blisters have already burst because every step feels a little squishy. That said, there is a 0% chance I’m going to quit at this stage, but there is a >0% chance that I could actually die on the course.
We are now on the final stretch back home. 40 miles of pure grind. Head down. No stopping. Wake me up when this nightmare is over. (final section is mapped out below).
As we leave Twin Lakes, my only thoughts revolve around how I am going to survive this fu#$en course. But I draw strength from my time in the Service and feel a strong sense of duty to represent their sacrifices and maintain the Marine brand of “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” The only thing I can grasp onto is not embarrassing the Marines and meeting one of my Marines buddies and listening to them say, “Dude. You are such a P___Y.” Without that old-fashioned, and totally not WOKE motivation, I’m quitting at this stage.
I get my body out of the lawn chair, thank Josh for dealing with my pathetic a$$, and prepare to step off for the worst 12+ hours of my life.
12:14am (Elapsed Race Time: 20 hours 14 minutes)
[josh]: A new day, a new checkpoint. We’ve picked up a decent pace and made it into the Half Pipe aid station an hour before the cutoff. On the flats, we’re making somewhere between 17 and 18 minutes per mile. Neither of us really know our pace because Wes’ fancy running watch died an hour ago. I’ve got a cheapo running watch that should last for the duration of the race, so I turn its GPS on. There’s no crew at Half Pipe, so we move quickly and get back on the trail. I did a quick calculation and figured that we were in good shape. We’ve still got to go 29 miles and climb one last big hill, but we’ve got over nine and a half hours left on the clock. The trail here is mostly flat and we put in a good effort. We’re clipping along at about 17 minutes per mile (well ahead of our 3 mph minimum) when my cheapo running watch stops responding. This is a terribly inconvenient time to have a double gear failure. But, I spent most of my life walking without technical aids, so I’m confident that we can work this out. At one point we pass a gravel parking lot about a half-mile long and there is a Leadville 100 Tailgate party going. There’s music, festive lights, and what looks to be a lot of Kool Aid (what else would you drink in an empty parking lot in the wee hours of the morning?). I guess the drive-in theater is closed this weekend. The air is dry at this altitude, so you don’t really notice the cold creep in. It’s the middle of the night and the temperature has dropped into the 40s. Every time we pass near water, the humidity spikes and I’m reminded that I’m still wearing shorts. We’ve got crew at the next aid station and I’m planning on adding a base layer and changing my shoes. Not wanting to waste time, I sprint the last half mile in.
[wes]: On the way out of Twin Lakes I have little memory of anything save the incredible moonlit view of Twin Lakes — which was mesmerizing. I am simply one foot after the other and relying on Josh’s chatter to keep me going. I keep thinking of insane tales of survival and wondering if this is how they felt. Josh is telling me incredible stories, and I’m listening intently, but not recording anything into memory. All mental energy is aimed at finishing. Must. Finish. This. Fu#$ing. Race.
1:54am (Elapsed Race Time: 21 hours 54 minutes)
[josh]: Katie and CJ are there waiting for us at the Fish Hatchery (also called Outward Bound). This is a huge help because Katie can expedite for Wes and get him moving again. I throw on some long johns, refuel, rehydrate, and then I sprint to catch up to Wes. As I’m tearing out of the Aid Station, a group of people starts cheering. Then it dawns on me that we’re approaching the 22-hour mark. No one this far back in the pack is sprinting, that’s for the professional runners that have already finished. For a brief moment, I’m the fastest person in the Leadville 100 (or so I tell myself). Wes is moving at a good clip and it takes me the better part of a mile to catch him. Sugarloaf Pass looms ahead, though we can’t see the 1500 foot monolith it in the dark. A Leadville veteran had told me that we would pass two false summits and then top out 15 minutes later at the Hippie Camp. It was said that that the Hippie Camp was a psychedelic array of glow sticks and that it had a strange skunky smell (but so does much of Colorado). I was also warned not to eat or drink any food offered there. Wes has been on the trail for nearly a day now and the fire he had climbing Hope Pass is slowly turning to ash. The ascent on Sugarloaf Pass is slow and steady. Without knowing our speed, I focus on keeping a pace that is just a bit uncomfortable. He doesn’t protest, so I keep pushing. With over twenty miles to go, a 1 minute per mile pace differential is meaningful. I use my headlamp to scout the path ahead and use the light in my hand to guide Wes to the smoothest parts of the trail. I daydream that I’m guiding a lost pilot to the deck of a carrier on an overcast night. In reality, I’m sitting shotgun in the world’s slowest rally car race. “Left… left… now right… no, stay there,” I say as I pass the time. We pass two false summits. I can see the chem lights that mark the trail extending up out of sight. I’m elated that we’re almost done with this dreaded hill. We pass two more false summits and I can see chem lights twenty degrees above us still. I realize that the Leadville veteran was just hazing me. Sometime later we hear a horn. Nothing musical, more like the mating call of a sick moose. Within minutes, the terrain flattens out and the trail is awash with color. Either we’ve made the Hippie Camp or the hypoxia is starting to do permanent damage. As we approach the camp, the mating call sounds to announce our arrival. I’m greeted by a native and lose sight of Wes for a moment. I turn around and see him grabbing a drink of some sort. I forgot to pass on the warning from the Leadville veteran –c’est la vie. What a long strange trip it’s been. Onward we go into the night. This leg of the trip was supposed to be eleven miles. We’ve been night flying by stick and rudder into a headwind. I have no idea how far we’ve gone. Derelict in my pacer duties, the only thing I can do is try to keep a decent tempo as we descend toward May Queen, the penultimate checkpoint.
[wes]: I don’t have many memories on this section of the trip. I have entered a zen state of “kill me now, I will never complain about anything in my life ever again and God bless everything in the world.” My knees are shooting jolting pain through my body on every step and my feet are covered in blisters. If I had any sense, at the aid stations I would have taken the time to take care of my ailments, but I’m afraid of taking off my shoes for fear that I’ll never put them back on. I’m also concerned with sitting down and taking a break for the same reason. Every step Josh is guiding me on the trail, helping me avoid rocks. When I clip them with my toes it feels like someone is stabbing me in the foot. (I would learn why at the end of the race!).
The one surprise throughout this section was the difficulty of climbing up (and down) Sugarloaf Pass. I believe this relatively small section of the race was harder than going up and down Hope Pass 2x.
If you are at this stage of the race, be ready to dig deep. If you make it, there is no way you won’t finish.
5:50am (Elapsed Time 25:50)
5:50am (Elapsed Time: 25 hours 50 minutes)
[josh]: We were 65 minutes ahead of the cutoff at Outward bound. As we drift into May Queen, I realize that we’ve given up 25 minutes of our lead. We now have 250 minutes to cover somewhere between 12.6 and 13.5 miles. There is uncertainty around this because the official race guide has both distances listed. This may seem minor, but 13.5 miles vs 12.6 miles means a minimum pace of 18:30 vs 20:00 minutes per mile. A quick calculation tells me that the last leg took us over 21:30 minutes per mile! The prospect of not finishing after twenty-six hours on the trail is terrifying. Our original crew plan was for me to hand off the baton to Katie for this last leg, but I think it would be better if we both go. Over the past 13 hours, Wes and I have established a decent rapport (I tell him to speed up, he grunts and ignores me) and I think I can keep him on schedule. But I need Katie’s help monitoring Wes’ vitals so that I can focus on the pace. Confession: not all of my motives are altruistic (I’m a sick man). Picture this as Round 14, Apollo Creed is punishing Rocky. The challenger’s nose is broken, his eyes are swollen, and his feet are unsteady — but he’s still fighting. I don’t know how the movie ends, but I’ve got to watch round 15. That and I’d like to make an even 50 miles here. As we near May Queen, I run ahead to inform Doug and Katie of the altered plans. Katie intercepts Wes and keeps him moving up the trail while I get provisions at the aid station. I sprint and catch up with them in a matter of minutes. In my haste, I make an error and forget to take my electrolyte pills. Without these, my body chemistry gets out of whack, I can’t eat without getting sick, and I will eventually bonk. For the second time this race, the twilight gives way to sunlight. As we hike along the bank of Turquoise Lake, I’m reminded of the beauty that surrounds us. The soft sandy trail is welcoming after hours on hard-packed fire roads. I attempt to eat the last half of a bagel that I’ve been carrying since Outward Bound, but I’m unable to swallow. Wes is in the same predicament, so Katie keeps pumping fluids into him. I still have no idea how fast we are going, I only know that the clock is moving against us. With my uncertainty, I’m careful to manage information here. I don’t want Wes to think he has time to spare and I also don’t want him to think that our task is impossible. In his state, both could lead to ruin. At this point, life is simply one step at a time — the faster, the better. “Wes, give me another five percent,” I beg. He does his best and we keep the pain train rolling. About halfway around the lake, I get a cell signal and I’m able to get an accurate pace. We’re on flat ground and making better than 18 minutes per mile. I estimate that we have about a 12-minute cushion and I relay this to the team. We’re still eight or nine miles out, so this translates to about 90 seconds per mile of padding. By the time we get off the lake and start heading for downtown Leadville, the sun is fierce. Wes grits his teeth as we slowly descend a steep rocky hill under some power lines. At this point, his knees and feet are wasted, he hasn’t eaten in hours and hasn’t slept in days. At the bottom of the hill, we turn due west and start ascending again — now we’re heading right into the sun. It’s round 15 and Rocky is fighting for his life.
[wes]: I have no real comment here except to say that if Josh and Katie weren’t with me on this final leg I would have definitely not finished. I had gone bonkers, my mind was failing me and at mile 87 I had only one speed– slow. And I was pissed off at the world. Josh was able to keep the pace going at a rate that was much faster than I felt comfortable with but it was necessary if I was going to finish this thing under the 30-hour belt buckle barrier. Katie was there to tell me stories that took my mind off my pain. Word of advice: If you decide to take on this race, ensure that you have pacers on the final sections or your ability to cross the finish line will be greatly diminished. Also, bring warm clothes. Even though it was probably 70 degrees along this part of the course, I had my beanie (toque for you Canadian weirdos out there!) and down jacket on and still felt cold! Weird things happen when your nutrition gets out of wack.
8:10am (Elapsed Time 28:10)
[josh]: Google Maps tells me we’re four miles out and the clock tells me we have just under two hours before our cut off. That should give us a thirty or forty-minute cushion. Four miles in two hours doesn’t sound like much – but remember we’ve already gone 96 miles!! Moving up the hill, we’re out of the trees and none of us have any sun protection. I never had time to strip off my long johns and I’m heating up quickly. The heat, the electrolyte imbalance, and the lack of food have me feeling pretty sick. Wes is in worse shape, so I keep my discomfort to myself. We’ve been on dirt trails and fire roads for most of the night and I’ve aspirated a whole lot of dust. My throat and lungs are coated with it. We’re climbing again for the first time in four hours and as my breathing deepens, I start coughing up thick mud. This of course compounds my other issues and I start dry heaving. This is a critical juncture, I know that if I stop to vomit, Wes will stop too. Years of diving have given me how to control my diaphragm. Deep into a breath-hold, your lungs burn from carbon dioxide. Your diaphragm involuntarily contracts, trying to expel the toxic gas building therein. The problem is that if you’re thirty feet (or even three feet) down, this survival instinct will cause you to drown. So you learn to remain calm, control your diaphragm, and go on about your business. After a few deep breaths, I regain control of myself, and the pain train rolls on. After a mile of climbing, were at the top of the hill. Wes asks “how far” and I report back “three miles”. This puts us an hour out and he seems relieved. A hundred yards later, we detour from the main road onto a dirt trail that Google is unaware of. At this stage in the race, little set backs are devastating. Wes asks “how far” and for the second time I report back “four miles.” However, this is just a guess. I really don’t know because we’re on an unknown road moving away from our destination. The good news is we’ve still got ninety minutes and it looks like we’re going to get everything we paid for. We detour about a half-mile to another paved road and make our final assault on Leadville. When you look at an elevation profile for this race, you see that you climb over three mountains (in each direction). What’s easy to miss is that in the last three miles, you also gain 500 feet in elevation. Just when you start dreaming of the finish line, you round a corner and you’re faced with another monster hill. On our way up the hill we’re joined by Tim Maguire. Tim is part of the CAF family, he’s a former Leadville runner, and he’s a long-time friend of Wes. He gives much-needed encouragement as we grind up the hill. “Just one more mile,” says Tim as we near the crest of the hill. I check my watch and we’re forty minutes out. I relax for the first time in hours. I know that we could crawl the rest of the way if needed. Near the top of the hill a spectator shouts, “you’re almost there only a mile and a half left!” “Hey! can’t you lie just a little?” Tim shouts back. At this point, it doesn’t matter, we’re on the edge of town and we can hear the crowd. We turn onto 6th Street and a hundred yards later, we’re looking at the finish line a half-mile downhill.
[wes]: Mentally, the final stretch is tough for me (but not as bad as Sugarloaf up/down). I feel like the little kid in the back of the car on a long road trip that keeps asking his dad, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” I try to keep my composure as best I can but every time I ask Josh “are we there yet” he tells me 3 miles. I ask him 5 minutes later and now we are “4 miles out.” My system 1 monkey brain starts to creep up on me and I internally start battling with my system 2 composed brain. System 1 says, “Dude, Josh is screwing with you. What an a$$hole. Don’t you hate this guy??? Fu#$ that guy.” But my system 2, rational brain fights back, “Hey System 1, Josh has been dragging your a## along this path for 45 fricking miles and all he’s done is pour his heart and soul into helping us finish this thing. STFU system 1.” The good news is my internal brain wars is also helping me pass time, which seems to move at a snail’s pace.
Eventually we are a few miles out. Seeing Tim Maguire really cheers me up. I’m obviously happy to see Tim’s smiling face, but it also signals that we are actually close to finishing this insane race!!!
9:44am (Elapsed Time 29:44)
[josh] For the last half-mile I’m lost inside my head, trying to process what I’ve just experienced. I look over and see that Wes’ kids have joined us and it strikes a nerve. They’ll never know the details of the past thirty hours — the pain, the anguish, the grit, and the glory. All of this to complete an event that is unknown beyond a fringe group of fanatics. What they did see is that success comes from showing up, putting in the work, and taking one step at a time. They got to see that achieving your goals takes sacrifice, disciple, and the support of your tribe. Wes crossed the finish line of the 2019 Leadville Trail 100 at twenty-nine hours, forty-four minutes, and thirteen seconds and thus became a Leadville finisher. Rocky made it the whole 15 rounds; He went the distance!
[wes] I will never forget the last mile of the Leadville 100. The race broke me, mentally, and I was physically unable to raise my head at any time along that final mile – even at the finish line. So I lost the mental game, and that’s my one regret on the course, but the race didn’t kill me. I survived. Or I should say, Josh and my crew resuscitated me to life and somehow got me across the line.
I ended up crossing the line in an ugly fashion. Mission accomplished.
Right after I passed the finish line, we had another great moment: my sister-in-law was right behind me. After almost enduring a “Kirlin moment” at mile 87, barely making the time cut-off, Amy came back with a vengeance. (Can you imagine getting booted off the course at mile 87???)
Amy finished a few minutes behind me and crossed the finish line with her spirits high and her head held high. Leadville beat me; Amy beat Leadville! I was so proud of her I shed a few tears.
[wes]: After finishing I immediately sought medical help. My knees were smoked but I figured they would heal over time. But I knew something was wrong with my feet, in particular. Turns out I was right. I had layers upon layers of blisters. Within a few days all of my toenails ceased to exist. My feet got an opportunity to have a new lease on life. Lesson learned for me: take a few minutes at an aid station and doctor your feet, dumba##.
But the good news post race is I had my comrades to help me through the ordeal. My crew literally carried me to the car. I was so exhausted I didn’t even make it to the ceremony to pick up my hard-earned medal. At that point, “things” weren’t interesting to me.
[Josh] It took me a few days to decompress and unpack everything I saw at Leadville. Even now, I’m still trying to figure out what compels otherwise rational people to join in these shenanigans. Outside of the crazy trail running community, there is no fame and notoriety associated with Leadville. Most people have never heard of it and react with a twinge of disdain when you explain it to them. Only a handful of professional ultramarathoners make money off these deeds. On the contrary, competing comes at great expense, both financially and socially. I think most that undertake such endeavors are trying to find (or surpass)their limits. They seek that master that which is unknown and uncomfortable. Perhaps this gives them a greater understanding of other parts of their lives. It is only after the storm that one can truly appreciate a calm day. No matter the eventual outcome, my hat is off to anyone with the guts to run through that starting line. Leadville is one of the most bizarre and inspiring events I’ve been a party to. I hope to see it again some day.
[wes] Participating in the Leadville 100 was by far the most challenging thing I have ever done — way worse than anything I ever faced in the Marines and even worse than battling with Eugene Fama on my PhD dissertation (LOL). After the race, I asked Doug Pugliese to videotape me post-event so I could tell my future self that I would never participate in a 100-mile race ever again. You never know – with enough time there is a risk that my brain forgets the pain. Best to codify it upfront in the form of a video!
My main takeaway from Leadville is that you really can deal with a lot more pain and anguish than you probably thought. I also appreciate the fact that I reached a state of “enlightenment,” or extreme self-awareness, during the experience. My life had changed, forever. I’m not even sure what the monks even mean when they talk about these states of being, but I think I finally understand, at least a little bit, of what they might be talking about. I came away from the adventure with a whole new level of self-awareness, humility, and an incredibly deep sense of gratitude for my friends, family, and colleagues. I’ll leave you with an augmented “acknowledgment” line I put in my first book, “Embedded,” which outlines my time living and fighting with an Iraqi battalion in Haditha, Iraq.
Here is the original from Embedded:
To the soldiers of the Iraqi Army, who taught me that winning isn’t everything; but friends, family, and honor are.
And here is my augmented version for Leadville:
To the soldiers of the Iraqi Army, To the Leadville 100 Trail run, who taught me that winning isn’t everything; but friends, family, and honor are.
|↑1||A huge shout out to Katie Gray for editing this post.|
|↑2||I asked a few maniacs like Corey Hoffstein as well, but they were more rational and all of them rejected my offer.|
|↑3||There is a funny story I heard on some podcast where apparently Tommy Moe (the famous skier with unbelievable endurance from climbing up and down ski hills) attempted — and failed — do perform a “couch” LT100 ultramarathon.|
|↑4||I recommend the “science of ultra” podcast. Think of it as the Alpha Architect of financial research where the host brings on PhDs and talks about the latest research on human biology as it relates to ultra-endurance sports|
|↑5||Michael Pollen probably has the best advice: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” But who knows.|
|↑6||Note: I listen to music where I can’t understand the words and my mind wanders. I listen to the same song on repeat. It gets me in a flow state. For me, that is Enya’s Orinoco Flow and Caribbean Blue. Don’t ask me why.|
|↑7||I’ve tried to erase the event from my memory banks because it causes me pain to even think about the event (LOL!). And I’ve sat on Josh’s write-up for almost a year now. I figured it was time to put it out there in the hopes that this guide/conversation might help someone else.| | <urn:uuid:f0c1a6e3-0a1b-4d72-813b-b160258ad183> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://alphaarchitect.com/2020/08/how-to-survive-the-leadville-100-trail-run/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.96167 | 17,877 | 1.539063 | 2 |
THE 2021 Senedd election took place on Thursday 6 May 2021. to elect 60 members to Senedd Cymru – the Welsh Parliament.
It was the sixth general election since the Senedd (formerly the National Assembly for Wales) was established in 1999. The election was held alongside the UK local elections, London Assembly election, and Scottish Parliament election.
It was the first election in which 16 and 17 year olds and legally resident foreign nationals are allowed to vote in Wales, the largest extension of the franchise in Wales since 1969. Both changes were a result of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020.
Five parties had Members of the Senedd (MSs, formerly Assembly Members – AMs) elected at the last election: Welsh Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), and the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Seven political parties are currently represented in the Senedd. These are the five aforementioned parties and two parties that gained MSs who were elected for – and moved from – other political parties. The Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party gained two MSs who were elected for UKIP in 2016, and Propel (previously the Welsh Nation Party) gained an MS elected for Plaid Cymru in 2016.
ELECTION 2021 RESULTS
ELECTION 2021 LIVE BLOG
- Rangers win in first Welsh League game by James Hemingray
- Wales’ longest station name: How it got its name, and what it means by Doug Evans
- New ward extension opens at Werndale Hospital by Cerys Lafferty
- Tryweryn – The Welsh village flooded to supply an English city with water by Doug Evans
- Top ten famous Welsh people by Elfed Jones
- Hear ye, hear ye — Victorian extravaganza comes to Merthyr Tydfil town centre by James Hemingray
- Popular New Quay chip shop destroyed in blaze by Cerys Lafferty
- Brownlee and Matthews bring it home at inaugural Swansea Ironman by James Hemingray | <urn:uuid:a6bf032d-48e3-47a5-8681-4751081503ed> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.herald.wales/politics/senedd/election-results-wales-2021-live/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.970405 | 430 | 2 | 2 |
Travel Guide to Sweden – Beautiful and clean, peaceful Sweden may be a land of cultural diversity with a mixture of Danish and Wild Arctic North influences. One also can get the texture of urban living in its beautiful and complicated cities and at an equivalent time, one can feel the tranquility within the countryside. Sweden is filled with charm with scenic medical villages, islands, lakes, and forests dotting its landscape.
Most of Sweden’s area is roofed by forests and to not forget thousands of lakes. one among the beauties of Sweden is its islands and one cannot go without seeing these islands. they provide the foremost scenic and delightful experience to any visitors.
Stockholm is that the capital of Sweden, a city with 14 islands dotted with great restaurants, nightclubs, pubs, and artistic grandeur. Wherever you go most of the people speak English. If visitors want to possess a taste of seafood the West Coast is that the place to be. Also, it’s popular in the ancient city of Uppsala. Do not miss a visit to the Ice Hotel which is sculpted from ice each winter in Lapland. Sweden is an exciting country with great roads and state of an art high-speed train system.
Population & Languages
Sweden features a population of around 9 million and therefore the official language is Swedish. Lapp is spoken by Sami people within the north. most of the people speak English fluently and also many speak German and French.
Power Electricity (Travel Guide to Sweden)
Voltage – 230 volts, Frequency – 50Hz. Standard European 2-pin plugs are used.
Sweden may be a Nordic country lying within the Scandinavia and is that the fifth largest country in Europe. Its west neighbor is Norway; Finland within the northeast, the southwest border is surrounded by Skagerrak and Kattegat straits and therefore the refore the West Coast is surrounded by Baltic and the Gulf of Bothnia. Majority of the world is forest and there are thousands of lakes mostly within the Southern a part of Sweden.
Local Customs (Travel Guide to Sweden)
Like any other country Sweden has its own customs too. it’s customary to not drink until the host makes a toast. Smoking is prohibited in most public areas. it’s also customary to mention Tack för maten to the host after having a meal which suggests thanks for the food. Casual dress is suitable for everyday wear and formal wear for social gatherings. Also tipping up to 10 percent is customary for service in restaurants and around same percent for taxis also.
Places to Ascertain
Stockholm – the foremost important city and capital of Sweden and is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. The old town maybe a treat for your eyes and a walk around the city’s waterways and parks is an experience to cherish. Most visitors prefer walking around on foot and visit the medieval part of Gamla Stan. the town is essentially constituted by archipelagos which are outstandingly scenic and may be explored by cruises.
Gothenburg – it’s the second biggest city in Sweden. to not be missed attraction during this city is Liseberg, a world-class funfair . it’s home to popular museums like Ostindiska Huset, Konstmuseet, and Sjöfartshistoriska Museet. Vadstena – The Renaissance castle Vadstena slot & klosterkyrkan.
Visby – Port of Visby, ruins of Drotten, St Nicolai, St Lars, and St Carin, the cathedral of St Maria and Gotlands Fornsal historic museum.
Oland – Fort of Graborg, Eketorp museum and ruins of Borgholm Castle.
Travel (Travel Guide to Sweden)
By Air – it’s well connected to the remainder of the planet by air. Many international airlines serve Sweden aside from its national airlines SAS. the opposite airlines are Air Canada, Air France, Aeroflot, British Airways, Finn air, Lufthansa, Ryan air, etc.
By Sea – The ferries connect Sweden with other destinations like New Castle, Copenhagen, and St. Petersburg, etc.
By Rail – Trains connect Ostend, Sweden to London. it’s also connected to Denmark by Eurostar train.
By Road – Visitors from the UK can drive to Sweden through Demark or Germany | <urn:uuid:c0678f13-6693-4da3-9b93-5ff61d673444> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://accomtravel.com/travel-guide-to-sweden/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571758.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812200804-20220812230804-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.933697 | 920 | 2 | 2 |
EvoLogics Modems Authorized for US Navy Use
ANU listing granted after favorable USBL accuracy tests
EvoLogics underwater acoustic modems were recently listed as Authorized for Navy Use (ANU), following a lengthy period of testing and technical evaluation by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and The Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) System. The ANU Program provides a list of selected diving equipment, tools and accessories which have undergone design safety reviews, testing and evaluation to ensure diver safety and acceptability.
Engineers at ESSM who conducted the testing of the EvoLogics 18/34 kHz USBL modem system concluded “the system to be more accurate than our ability to physically measure the angle and distances between the USBL and the modem…these tests gave us confidence in the system.”
The investigation of EvoLogics USBL positioning system was driven by ESSM in hopes of more efficiently locating fuel tanks in submerged shipwrecks for oil salvage. Specifically, ESSM were hopeful to use the system to locate fuel tanks on the wreck of the Prinz Eugen (shown below), a German battleship sunk in 1946 at Bikini Atoll.
ESSM tested the EvoLogics USBL system in Yorktown, PA using concrete floating piers. The USBL receiver was mounted in a fixed-location for the duration of the tests, suspended on a pole affixed to the side of the pier about 4' below the surface. Repeated trials were conducted with the downside beacon modem moved to various positions to simulate a diver locating specific points on the hull of a vessel. EvoLogics modems utilize proprietary Spread-Spectrum Communication (S2C) technology, which stems from bionic concepts and allows for data delivery in challenging, shallow water conditions for a wide range of subsea applications.
The EvoLogics system repeatedly demonstrated the necessary accuracy necessary to locate specific points on the hull. | <urn:uuid:b695cb93-655f-4f58-9ee8-0d4ab2069dc9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.marinetechnologynews.com/magazine/202004/content/evologics-modems-authorized-578144 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.938317 | 407 | 2 | 2 |
Take My Executive Leadership Quiz For Me When it comes to leadership, you don’t have to stick with your personal development goals. However, you do have to follow a career path, that is sure to take you right back to where you are supposed to be. weblink Are Career Paths? Where and how would you start? Should I Know, How Do I Know, What Do I Know When I’ve Met My Plan? “Welcome to the world of leadership,” he says. “You need to remember where those choices came from. They are the keys to the success of this organization. There will be constant reminders of the organization’s mission in front of you.” On January 27, 2009, Dr. Thomas Moore, Executive Director of B’Le Stelle, of the Social, Family, and Peasant Education Center at South Central Elementary in Charleston, South Carolina, responded to a question about building a strong organization. You heard this question. This is a question addressed three times in the literature about leadership. Has 3,500 books written by Dr. Thomas Moore have been published about leadership for over a decade? Does this list of books tend to contain a ‘book every four years’ approach? Are there any studies where 3,500 can be found with the above examples? What are the “Academores”, a read this article that many read, follow, and then report their performance, success, and recommendations? It is always a good time to become an expert on leadership. When I try to, I’m asked. What are some of them? Let me tell you. Below are some that I haven’t heard Dr. Moore mention for a while. We all know that’s the big thing a lot of people go through when doing well in executive leadership. Someone, say, someone who created a leader at the intersection of power, faith and integrity, knows the true vision of their organization; they know how smart they are at those principles that provide the strength and force behind this organization. Why are there so many books about leadership such as The Call of Duty and The Secret Weapon; why this particular author who has written such a fantastic book has been so successful? Clearly he has moved beyond his past achievements. He is a writer for CEOs, not CEOs.
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What is his record, without further elaboration as he has already had a lot more than a decade of CEOs and executives. Did you know, a book as famous as the one published by Donaldson Lee was written by CEO Douglas Stracci, before the book was published? Yes, it became the leader of the venture capital firm where one of the three founders, John Stringer, had a Ph.D. in business economics from UCLA. Does this book, The Call of Duty, have become popular among CEOs? For whatever reason it became #1 in 2008 and after that it became #2, #3 in 2013–2014. The first year of production started early! I wonder. In the same time it was almost legendary, CEO Alan Seligmann, was a hero of “The Good Men,” at the heart of this big success story – the New York Times “The Road to the Iron Horse.” Take My Executive Leadership Quiz For Me My Take on the Executive Leadership Quiz By Anonymous — It’s the first 100-minute online Q&A. (And check out this page for three great picks: You can rate questions and answers on the FaceBook or can ask your Q&A in any writing format you’d like!) What I Learned FromThe Answer To The Quiz 1. Learn this How Do They Work? Great! The “howdo They work” list has four simple problems image source I tend toward. This is where we get the most from these questions for other purposes. 1. How Do They’re Doing? I like this. It says a lot about how you work, which is why I’ve decided to ask at this Q. We’ve all had many times where a woman asked if she could help her staff work together. I learned a couple times, and during that time I made a profound error, I couldn’t share some of my experience so didn’t get it. I then wanted to ask a better question, which I thought didn’t have anywhere like this the word “how” in the title. It was more for the “how do they get her order” one. She told me that in a previous life she’d been in the house, around 14, and had been helping some 2nd-grader people to visit this site right here their work. So that was the “how do they work” this time.
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2. What Are They Doing? Almost 3 years ago, during a family vacation, I had a woman who had been working so hard that the entire time I had the thought that I did a view it now (for over a decade) was some mental drill – “Get me there, get her done.” Most of the time, the one she just finished was feeling extremely self-possessed, which was scary because she was the one who I usually saw with questions that came up earlier in the week from members of our household, as though the guy would “get it” within two weeks. I thought she was such an incredible person, but I thought, I can’t explain all of these things at this point now because this is a brand new experience, and there’s a bit of you could look here coming your way. 3. Are They Doing For You? I think yes – I go by “which has a Q” and it’s a quick quiz – a moment of amazement or complete surprise. When asked if she could do it for ourselves we referred 3 times. And of all the questions, the one that I really liked was asking. We ask another question, additional info the first is a very serious question that I can only try to correct within the answer and the second is a more traditional answer. She had a very busy week and also a handful of calls from supervisors to stop trying to change the order of dishes, but I stuck with it for the rest of the week, and couldn’t see how any member of the household could do what we did at that moment. 4. Please Don’t Ask A Question? An aside, a quick Q from a quick question, one that makes sense. If you don’t know her family, whyTake My Executive Leadership Quiz For Me What about your leadership skills in life? Share, for those of you who like to give just one thing at the start, but click here for info start with “just one thing”. Whether it is getting a job or building a home for the summer or building a new office or shopping cart or raising three of your children, there is truth to any positive life. Many of my students don’t seem to get to the step by step advice offered this way, but I keep finding that word “step.” My kids and I can certainly tell the stories of our working in the aftermath of this or that event. Are you in this game of what is actually an “impacted” situation? Should it be a sudden move? I was a bit skeptical of this. I got my student learning from my own perspective and had no idea what was going on so I figured maybe I was going to need to coach me and let them sit and learn, while I were putting in practice against those they were learning with each day. This year’s episode, “You Ready for Adventure?” is pretty along the lines of what I really want. As a coach I am going to tell you about the other side of the situation (this goes for a week or so) and what to do in future episode.
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Some other cool things that the kids play with—I think they are going to have a play for sure because I have changed kids and they have new words with many of them—are the following: How can I learn that lesson? How to be sure I have the time and dedication to learn? From last week’s episode list, I could tell you firsthand how much I feel about the boys. It has been one of the biggest lessons I have yet learned. I am currently thinking about running away and going to the shelter each day and becoming professional and responsible now. Right now I don’t need much coaching at the moment because I have to be careful. But it seems like the kids and I have really found the time to play. As much as I want to jump into these discussions; as many of your kids that are getting the chance to play are participating in these too. Come get me. Let me know what you think. I hope I have a good day because I wanted to talk about my favorite aspects of the interaction I have with friends the year of “I’m Got A Message On My Band-Dying Majesty” to one of my new coaches. I’ll share with you what I have learned, what I am planning to do, maybe get more of; I’m not sure if this will be all that much of a load or just a bit daunting. Here goes: 1. Just like anyone who may experience such being with someone new, there will be a whole lot of lessons you can learn anytime you want to become one again. The idea of having each other laugh and become good friends becomes one of the most important, if not the most important, things to take from any current situation. This way of teaching and learning a lot can be fun to watch over and even inspire your students. One of the most common reasons there is not an emphasis on friendship among non-clients is that the relationship between the teachers and the clients changes after one of the clients has moved on, or while remaining | <urn:uuid:2f42d497-2295-487b-a8b0-9b03d03d775f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://solvemyexam.com/take-my-executive-leadership-quiz-for-me/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.984219 | 2,100 | 1.695313 | 2 |
New Delhi: Students from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IITR) will soon be able to enroll in a joint PhD programme, and IIT Roorkee students will be able to work on projects related to ARIES' ongoing activities, utilising the institute's various existing and upcoming facilities.
According to a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology, this will be possible thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ARIES, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-R) for academic cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
On the basis of reciprocity, best effort, mutual benefit, and regular exchanges, this MoU will foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge progress. ARIES and IIT Roorkee have also agreed to collaborate on research, development, and consulting projects, as well as teacher, scientist, and student exchanges, scientific and technical exchanges, and collaborative conferences, workshops, and even short-term courses.
Director, ARIES, Professor Dipankar Banerjee asserted, "The aim of this partnership is to bring the researchers of IIT Roorkee and ARIES closer to each other so as to use their respective strengths to jointly address interesting scientific and engineering problems," said Director, IIT Roorkee, Professor Ajit K. Chaturvedi.
ARIES and IIT Roorkee are known for their strength in research and education in one or more disciplines of science, engineering, management, and social sciences, and their mutual interest in engaging themselves in academic cooperation.
ARIES is one of the leading research institutes, which specializes in observational Astronomy & Astrophysics, Solar Physics and Atmospheric Sciences. The main research interests of Astronomy & Astrophysics division are in solar, planetary, stellar, galactic and extra-galactic astronomy including stellar variabilities, X-ray binaries, star clusters, nearby galaxies, quasars, and inherently transient events like supernovae and highly energetic gamma ray bursts.
ARIES hosts three existing optical telescopes 3.6 m DOT (India's largest), 1.3 m DFOT and 1.04 m ST and the upcoming 4 m ILMT along with a 206.5 MHz ST Radar. | <urn:uuid:783a7654-9d7e-43d1-a6a4-af626968360f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-roorkee-students-to-participate-in-joint-phds | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.927723 | 491 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Introduction to Walk Like a Sloth: lessons in ground sloth locomotion
Like you, and unlike tree sloths and most other ground sloths, Megalonyx had five (5) toes on each foot. Your toes, like your fingers, have three (3) phalanges (segments) each, except your big toe and thumb which each have just two (2) phalanges. Megalonyx is the same, only the middle toe is the big toe, and has two (2) bones. In Megalonyx the proximal phalanx (the bone closer to the body) and medial phalanx (middle bone) of the 3rd toe are fused, so completely that all traces that they started out as two separate bones have vanished. What looks like the proximal phalanx is actually the third metatarsal.
Like yours, each of the sloth’s toes connects to the tarsals (“ankle” bones) via a metatarsal, but space gets cramped close to the ankle so the proximal ends of the metatarsals are beveled so they can pack together and glide across each other where they meet. The proximal end of the third metatarsal forms a “T” or “Y” with its cup (see photo at left); the cross bar is “up,” the top or dorsal side. A facet on each side, near the proximal dorsal surface, shows where this bone articulates with digits #2 and #4, demonstrating that this is a metatarsal and not a phalanx. (Phalanges only articulate fore and aft, never starboard or port.) The facets face slightly downward, and together the metatarsals form a shock-absorbing arch with #3 serving as the keystone. The distal (far) end of the metatarsal forms a vertical keel with two raised buttresses separated from the keel by a deep groove for articulating with the proximal end of the phalanx. The two bones fit together tightly, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Try it. (If the joint isn’t tight, turn the phalanx over and try it in a different direction until it fits.) Add the ungual digit (claw) from lesson 4 to complete the toe http://slotsonlinecanada.ca/.
The claw can rotate about 55° on the fused phalanx. The proximal end of the claw forms a circular socket of over 180°, making a tight fit with the phalanx in any position. Bony projections on both the proximal dorsal and ventral ends of the claw hit a bony stop on the medial phalanx preventing the claw from over-extending or flexing. Compare this tight-fitting joint to that between the phalanx and metatarsal, called the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ). The distal end of the metatarsal forms a wider circle and the joint encompasses about 130°, with no bony stops. Jiggle the bone in the socket as you bend it. It’s very loose in comparison, especially extended or flexed, owing to the flatter curve of the metatarsal; it’s not a good fit. As in the sloth, all your phalanges can do is bend back and forth. Most of the flexibility you have in your digits to move sideways comes from the MPJ’s. However, flexible joints bring with them the danger of dislocating or straining the muscles and ligaments that keep them stable. That’s the risk for Megalonyx too, which is why this joint is abundantly reinforced with extensive ligaments, multiple layers of muscles and two amazing bones called sesamoids (not included in the set) which act as joint stabilizers and also boost the power of the digit.
Examine the proximal end of the fused phalanx and notice that the buttresses bordering the vertical socket are truncated (“chopped off,” see arrow) on their ventral ends. They don’t come to a point like they do on their dorsal ends. The flattened medial end is larger than the lateral end. Now examine the lower (ventral) end of the keel on the distal end of the metatarsal. There’s a slight indentation on both sides, larger again on the medial side. These landmarks show the resting position of two sesamoid bones that are a key part of the third metatarsophalangeal joint. Each is embedded in a tendon running from a muscle attached to the heel to the front claw and wrapped in a network of strong and flexible ligaments connecting them to the head of the metatarsal, the adjacent metatarsals, and each other. Together they create a sort of floating buttress for the joint which stabilizes it in any direction the claw moves–up, down or sideways, “filling in” the gap. The sesamoids also raise the ball of the foot, help absorb shocks and protect the metatarsal head and tendon. Finally, they act like pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage of the muscle. More about sesamoids below in Look closer.
#1 Before you identify the bones for students and bring in the claw, have them try to guess what they are. Most people new to bones mistake these toe bones for back bones (i.e. vertebrae). Show them how the joints work. Does your back just bend back and forth? Would a sloth’s? [No, they twist sideways too.] These bones can’t do that. New learners also forget that vertebrae have a tunnel running through them to protect the spinal cord. No tunnel in the toe bones! The bones aren’t nearly big enough either to be the vertebrae of an animal weighing over a ton. (see the vertebrae lesson) Don’t feel bad, nearly everyone makes this mistake.
#2 The bones of the third toe weren’t fused in every Megalonyx. It’s a characteristic seen more often in later individuals of the species than earlier ones. Fused or not though, Megalonyx needed the rigid support for this important claw (the biggest one). Even when the bones were separate, as they were in the animal pictured to the right, dorsal and ventral ridges on the medial phalanx (see arrows) extended over the articular surface of the proximal phalanx, preventing any flexing of the joint. Fused or unfused, these bones worked as a unit in the middle toe, tied together by the sesamoid network. (David et al., 1989)
#3 In Megalonyx the third toe takes the place of our big toe as the primary weight-bearing, balancing and locomotion complex. Your big toe has to support about 40% of your weight every time you push off of it; more when you run. (Finch, 2011) The stress on the sloth’s middle toe was probably similar. Fusing and shortening the phallanges gives the digit greater strength, more rigidity and provides better support. (Stock, 1917) Fusion of different foot bones was common in other lineages of ground sloths to strengthen the feet (McDonald, 1977), but rigidity in this particular digit was critical in Megalonyx because, like your big toe, it doesn’t merely support the animal. With its sesamoids it actually catapults the foot forward. (David et al., 1989)
Foot bones of mammals generally fit together tightly like pieces of a puzzle. Dinosaurs had feet with many fewer bones than mammals and they were not nearly as well packed. Mammal feet act as a unit, with bones pressing against bones over wide areas of articulation; more bones and more stable bone interaction generally permit more complex movements with relatively more strength and agility. (Jensen, 1988)
Sesamoids are bones that form inside tendons where they pass over a joint. They help protect the tendon and prevent it from flattening when the joint bends, decreasing its mechanical advantage. Your kneecap is the best known example. By holding the tendons that extend your lower leg away from the center of the joint, knee caps increase the moment arm (improve “leverage”) by changing the direction of the pulling muscle.
Sesamoids were named by the Roman physician and philosopher Galen, who was reminded of sesame seeds by their size and shape (in humans). Most of us have just 8 phalange sesamoids (two in each of our thumbs and big toes), but they can grow in any joint in response to injury, stress or genes. Bizarro (1921) found people with as many as seven (7), spread among the fingers of one hand, and five (5) among their toes. Individuals with as many as 42 sesamoids have been reported. (Sarin et al., 1999)
We are taught that humans have 206 bones as adults. That count includes the biggest sesamoid, the patella (knee cap), but none of the others. How come? Probably because the smaller sesamoids are easily lost or overlooked when bones are being recovered, plus their function was long dismissed as unimportant.
The sesamoids of the sloth’s middle toe occupy the same position as they do in your big toe and play a similar role. In life your sesamoids are embedded in a tendon of the flexor halucis brevis muscle, literally “the short big-toe flexor,” (flexor digitorum brevis in sloths) which is anchored on the calcaneum (heel bone) and inserts on the distal phalanx.
The short flexor gets assistance from the flexor hallucis longus muscle, the “long big-toe flexor,” (flexor digitorum longus in sloths) which originates on the lower leg and forms a long tendon which runs under and around the calcaneum (heel bone) and down the length of the foot to insert at the base of the distal phalanx. You might suppose pressing your weight down on the toe with every step would pinch the tendon and prevent further contraction but it slides freely in the gap between the sesamoids.
The sesamoids are tied to each other with an intersesamoidal ligament. Transverse ligaments attach the sesamoids to the adjacent metatarsals. There’s also a connection to the dorsal extensor tendon. David et al. (1989) refer to the whole complex apparatus as the “sesamoid muscles,” likening their function to a catapult assisting in propulsion while at the same time serving to distribute and coordinate the forces needed in the forefoot for balance and propulsion.
Things to do
Toe-off like a sloth Talk a short stroll around the room. Can you feel yourself pushing off your big toe with every step forward? Toes are one of the mechanisms bipedal animals have to both smooth their walk and save energy. They work like shock absorbers, with your Achille’s tendon, to put a literal spring in your step. The tendon stretches as your foot hits the ground and springs back to help you push off your toes—doing about 15% of the work and saving energy, especially when toe-pushing is important, as in running. Savings are 50% in some animals! (Hildebrand, 1985) If you imagined Megalonyx upright at all, it was probably rocking back and forth like Godzilla in a cheap Japanese movie. Change that picture and put him on his toes!
Catapult like a sloth Like you, as the sloth stepped forward and planted his foot, his sesamoids were pressed into the ground, locking them in place. He didn’t lose his balance or control of the claw because he still had the tendon of the long muscle of the digit passing freely between the sesamoids and pressing the toe into the ground. As he continued forward the tendon between the sesamoids and heel stretched tight. When he shifted his weight and stepped forward on the opposite foot, it took the pressure off the sesamoids, and all the energy stored in the stretched tendon would flex the claw and fling the toe and foot backward, pushing the torso forward. Take another stroll around the room and try out your catapults. Remember, “Step, stretch, fling. Step, stretch, fling. Step, stretch, fling.”
Glide like a model Toes work with your knees to help you maintain a relatively constant height and reduce wasted effort bobbing up and down. That leaves more energy for propelling your body forward rather than lifting it needlessly. A little bouncing is unavoidable, but vertical displacement is normally limited to less than two inches when humans walk. (Inman, 1966)
Walk like a pirate You can’t remove your toes but you can mimic the effect of walking without them by locking your knee and ankle on one leg and walking on your heel. Without shock-absorbing toes your motion becomes jerky like a pirate with a peg leg. Notice how much more you go up and down with every step. No toe-springs saving you energy now!
Walk like an Egyptian The oldest known prosthetic device is a wood and leather big toe that was found on a female mummy identified as Tabaketenmut, discovered near Thebes and dating back to around 700-800 BC. (Finch, 2011) Scientists believe Tabaketenmut actually wore the device and it wasn’t just strapped on for her funeral. (ibid.) Many people believe you can’t walk if you lose your big toe but that’s not true. Lots of people lose their toes in accidents or due to diabetes (as did Tabaketenmut apparently) but they learn to walk again, albeit not as smoothly or efficiently. Big toes are important–try walking by keeping your weight on your other toes. It’s hard!
Flex Your Muscles There isn’t a lot of room in your feet for muscles so all the major ones originate on the long bones of the leg, that is the femur, tibia or fibula. These so-called “long muscles” narrow to slender tendons near the ankle and cross over, under and around it to reach their insertion points on the metatarsals and phalanges. The “short muscles” that originate on the foot are only used for fine-tuning when you stand and walk, distributing pressure and adjusting to uneven ground.
Math Fun Foot bones are occasionally used by forensic scientists to estimate stature when long (leg) bones are unavailable. Here’s a formula Byers et al. (1989) developed for the third metatarsal from a sample of contemporary American adults. Try it on our adult sloth. Measure the length of the bone down its central axis.
Stature (inches) = 13.6 X length (in inches) + 28.3 ± 5.3
Compare your answer to the stature estimates we got using other bones. (radius lesson, ulna lesson, clavicle lesson) [The metartarsal is 61 mm. long or about 2.4 inches. That translates to a height estimate of about 61 inches, or just over 5 feet tall. We said before that sloth metatarsals were small, the opposite us. Here’s further evidence. This metatarsal is short, even for a human. The bone is weight-bearing, so its size should be related to the animal’s height and weight, but clearly the human formula is inappropriate.]
Listen like a sloth–with your feet Big feet are useful for more than just walking. Some animals actually hear with them. All animals have vibration sensors in their legs and feet signaling the brain and muscles about how firm the ground is and how hard they are stepping. Some animals put those sensors to work listening for the vibrations of prey (e.g. cats) and/or partners. Sloths may have communicated through the ground by stomping out territorial warnings or love-calls, listening for responses with their feet, the way elephants do with their feet and trunks! (Blanco and Rinderknecht, 2008) Low frequencies travel farther through the ground and are unaffected by foliage and other obstacles on the surface. How sensitive are your fingers to vibrations when someone drums a table? Close your eyes and try it. How sensitive are your feet? Have your students stand up and turn their backs to you. Now rock on your feet and strike the ground with your heels. Can they feel the vibrations? Move around the room. Can they detect the direction? The problem is figuring out how far away a signal source is, and in what direction it lies. Your ears do that with sound by sensing the small delay between when the sound arrives in one ear versus the other and the difference in loudness, but human legs aren’t far enough apart, nor are our vibration sensors sensitive enough to distinguish the differences in ground vibrations. Sloths, with widely spaced legs and the right sensors, might have been better equipped.
Walk like Frankenstein’s Monster: University of Iowa doctors are researching the problems athletes often suffer after a serious knee injury when the connections to the vibration sensors we all have in our lower legs are cut. (Madey et al., 1997) The sensors help you place your feet down gently, automatically adjusting to the ground. Without them you might walk like Frankenstein’s monster–putting your feet down too hard and slightly off balance. Try walking like Frankenstein. Pretend you don’t have your vibration sensors connected!
Stand up for sesamoids Precise data on Megalonyx’s sesamoids are scarce but data on the comparably-sized Harlan’s sloth (Paramylodon harlani) are readily available because of the large number retrieved from Rancho La Brea. They average about 46-48 mm long, 32 mm wide and 20 mm deep for adults. (Raymond and Prothero, 2010) Hold up a ruler next to the metatarsophalangeal joint to get an idea just how large the sesamoids are. Cut one out of paper, or better yet use some clay to construct models. Notice how much they change the shape of the ball of the foot.
Things to think about
Megalonyx would have been an ideal candidate for seismic communication. They had a large mass capable of producing low seismic frequencies vocally or mechanically (e.g. foot stomping), they were well coupled (connected) to the ground for optimal reception, and lived in a habitat (i.e. forests) where such communication has advantages. And we know now, because of the Tarkio Valley discovery, they were social, or at least interacted with juveniles for an extended time. Could they have listened for predators or potential mates through their big feet? Were families staying in touch that way when out of sight of each other?
Most ground sloths, Megalonyx excepted, walked on the outside of the their feet with the soles of their feet turned inward. Scientists call that pedolateral walking (see astragalus lesson). Megalonyx was unusual among ground sloths in walking like us, plantigrade, on the soles of their feet. Evidence comes from everywhere in their feet including their toes. These toe bones are much higher than they are wide, and thus stronger vertically to support the weight of the animal. Pedolateral toes are turned 90° and need to be relatively wider. Megalonyx’s toes are symmetrical around the middle digit, and the articulating surfaces are approximately equal on each side and oriented vertically. Compare the metatarsals of Megalonyx to those of the pedolateral Harlan’s sloth (left). Note how much more robust the weight-bearing digits #4-5 are in comparison to Megalonyx; compare the long articulation of the 3rd metatarsal (c) with #4 (d) versus the small articulation with metatarsal #2(b). Compare the claws. There’s no symmetry here because all the weight has been shifted outside (laterally).
The scientists who study other ground sloths point to the projection on the 5th metatarsal as further evidence of their pedolateral stance and suggest the large lateral extension is an adaptation to increases the area of support. Megalonyx doesn’t walk that way, so why does the 5th metatarsal have a similar big (weird) knob? (arrow) The knob is the base for attaching the peroneus brevis muscle. If the knob is big then the muscle had to be huge! Firmly anchored on the lateral side of the fibula (outer lower leg bone), it everts the foot, that is it bends it out (laterally)–try walking on your inner ankle bones, that’s eversion. If we believe bones grow large like this in response to the forces and stresses on them, we need to figure out what’s pushing on the 5th metatarsal so hard that Megalonyx needs to pull back on it with so much force to keep its feet down flat!
Scientists have suggested that the general hearing range of fossil animals can be determined by measuring the curvature of the cochlea, the sound-sensing organ of the inner ear, using a CT scan. (Blanco and Rinderknecht, 2008) Vertebrates generally vocalize in the same range as their hearing so estimating Megalonyx’s hearing range may provide clues about their vocal frequencies as well. (Walsh et al., 2009)
Studying sesamoids and the degree to which their growth is under genetic control versus epigenetic (i.e. environmental) factors may help scientists understand the causes of some human diseases like osteoarthritis, where tissue mineralization goes awry. Pritchett (1984) found people with an extra knee sesamoid called the fabella were significantly more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Could the growth of some sesamoids provide doctors with an advanced warning about a predisposition to diseases later in life and allow early treatment? (Sarin et al., 1999)
The bones of Megalonyx’s middle toe worked as a unit, playing the same role the big toe does in humans with regards to strength, balance and locomotion. This toe evolved for toeing-off, and that in itself is a remarkable insight! Far from being a lumbering, flat-footed lunk, this sloth could “tip-toe.” It’s amazing that two such small and seemingly insignificant bones can tell us so much about the shape of the animal’s foot and how it moved. Unfortunately however, by themselves these bones can’t tell us whether or not Megalonyx walked upright. Maybe the answer will be in solving another mystery our examination uncovered–what’s going on with the weird L-shaped 5th metatarsal? We may find the answer by looking a little higher, at another strangely shaped sloth bone, the femur.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OR TO BORROW THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY GEO-2-GO DISCOVERY TRUNKS CALL OR CONTACT THE MUSEUM.
Aiello, L. and Dean, C. 1990. Introduction to Human Evolutionary Anatomy. Academic Press Limited. San Diego, CA
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Blanco, E. and Rinderknecht, A. 2008. Estimation of hearing capabilities of Pleistocene Ground Sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from middle-ear anatomy. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 274-276.
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David, R. D., Delagoutte, J. P. and Renard, M M. 1989. Anatomical study of the sesamoid bones of the first metatarsal. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 79: 536-544.
Educational Technology Clearinghouse, Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of Southern Florida http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/
Finch, J. 2011. The ancient origins of prosthetic medicine. The Lancet 377: 548-549.
Hildebrand, M. 1985. Walking and running. In Functional Vertebrate Morphology. M. Hildebrand, D. M. Bramble, K. F. Liem and D. B. Wake (eds.) Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
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