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What's the LGBTQIA+ connection to Ybor City?
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The LGBTQIA+ community's heavy influence turned it from a mostly abandoned and forgotten part of Tampa into the "place to be" at night. TAMPA, Fla. For decades, the LGBTQIA+ community has been behind the revitalization of many neighborhoods. One of the most famous is Miami Beach. After a period of economic decline, in the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, a lot of gay men and women moved in, bought and restored the dilapidated Art Deco hotels and started numerous nightclubs and businesses. It helped make Miami Beach the tourist destination it is today. Closer to home, the LGBTQIA+ community's heavy influence in Ybor City turned it from a mostly abandoned and forgotten part of Tampa, into the "place to be" at night. We recently sat down with Andy Huse, the special collections librarian at USF Libraries, to learn more about the significance of this community in Tampa's history. Photos show the LGBTQIA+ community in Tampa in the 50s and 60's 1/28 2/28 3/28 4/28 5/28 6/28 7/28 8/28 9/28 10/28 11/28 12/28 13/28 14/28 15/28 16/28 17/28 18/28 19/28 20/28 21/28 22/28 23/28 24/28 25/28 26/28 27/28 28/28 1 / 28 "Gay culture really had percolated in Tampa under the surface. Through the 1950s and into the '60s." Huse said that changed when the culture really started to emerge in the 70s. That's when it became more public. One of the big reasons behind it was that gay clubs started to open up across the state. "One of those was the El Goya Lounge here in Tampa. It was one of the biggest gay clubs in the state at the time. There were others here in town as well but the El Goya was probably the biggest. It became 'Tracks' later on," Huse said. "That really helped to spear-heard redevelopment in Ybor City." Huse explained Ybor City had previously been a neighborhood with a commercial district in it. "Really it was the birth of Ybor City at nighttime. In the late 80s and early 90s, when there were hardly any other businesses in Ybor City, 'Tracks' had long lines that often went around the block. It was definitely sought-after and has a lot to do with why Ybor City looks the way it does today."
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https://www.wtsp.com/article/entertainment/television/brightside/tampa-lgbtqia-history/67-ba052b38-5ce6-4bfc-8005-444aeb73e868
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When is the next episode of Our Yorkshire Farm?
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When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Our Yorkshire Farm usually airs on Tuesday night at 9pm. However tonight (June 1) it is not airing due to a reshuffle of Channel Five s slate. Our Yorkshire Farms usual 9pm Tuesday slot has been taken by Channel Fives new historical drama Anne Boleyn. Fans were baffled to discover the shows usual spot taken up by the new series, especially as Our Yorkshire Farms latest season is still not complete. Channel Five are yet to confirm the release date of the next episode, which will still air at a later date. This has caused some confusion for fans on the state of the new episode, with many questioning if it will be a stand-alone special or if it means season five is closer than expected. READ MORE: 'Reeks of middle class snobbery!' GMB guest rages at Nick Hewer -VIDEO [INSIGHT]
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https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1443863/When-is-next-episode-of-Our-Yorkshire-Farm-Amanda-Owen-Channel-5
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What Effect Will Printing Money Have on Nigerias Economy?
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A war of words has erupted over the management of the Nigerian economy in recent weeks, with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki launching the first salvo, accusing the federal government of disastrous economic management, and alleging that the government is printing money to finance federal allocations. The economic conditions in the country are very bad and there is a lot of different thoughts and ideas. The finance minister, Zainab Ahmed responded to this case that the question presented by the Edo State governor is very unfortunate because it is not true. The information distributed at FAAC is induced income, and the dissemination of revenue is, in effect, public information. They distribute at FAAC and publish revenue provided by FIRS, Customs, and the NNPC. As a result, the claim that they printed money to distribute at FAAC is false. This is not the case. Governor Obaseki retaliated, saying that he stood by his comments as an investment banker. He put it this way in his rebuttal to the finance ministers statement: Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, should mobilize Nigerians to stop the countrys apparent fiscal decline. Rather than playing the ostrich, they advise the government to take immediate action to end the ongoing fiscal shambles and keep the current economic crisis from worsening. Despite their diametrically opposite viewpoints, it became obvious that one of Governor Obaseki and the finance minister was not telling the facts. As the crossfire erupted, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria remained quiet until he was caught on camera threatening Governor Obaseki and other governors who were bailed out in 2015/16 with urgent recovery action if they dont quit accusing the government of printing currency. The governments printing of money was neither refuted nor accepted. Backstory According to TheCable, an online publication, data showing the details of the February 2021 revenues exchanged by the three levels of government in March has been seen. According to the survey, the three levels of government (federal, state, and local) exchanged a total of N605.589 billion in March 2021. If the data stated by TheCable is right, it backs up the finance ministers claim that only revenue remitted to the federation account from revenue-generating agencies of account was exchanged during the March 2021 federal allocation, and that no printed money was distributed. In many responses from the government, the deficit is justified because of the increased popularity of the financial industries that is difficult for the government to track, or even impossible. The covid pandemic made either the crypto-industry or forex even more popular as it was giving people the opportunity to generate their profits. As a result, demand for Forex brokers in Nigeria was massively increased. The government often states that other than the advantages of those industries for people to raise their income, the main flaw is considered to be the absence of the possibility to track where the money from the country flows to. It should be remembered, though, that there are two sales pots. The federation account, into which all raised revenues are deposited, is the first pot, while the federal government (FG) budget is the second. The FGs share of income from the federation account is transferred to the FG budget pot. The finance minister reported that no printed money was deposited in the federation account pot, which is supported by data obtained by TheCable. The FG expected to deplete the FG spending pot by N7 trillion in 2021, but it also planned to invest N13 trillion from it. As a result, there is an N6 trillion deficit in this pot. So far, we know that Nigeria is printing money and that it is not being used to finance the federation account; but, we do not have evidence that the printed money is not being used to fund the FG budget deficit or for what other reasons it is being used. Possible Solutions The term constructive criticism refers to criticism that has viable alternatives. When people or organizations are having financial difficulties, they have two options for getting out of the bind. The first goal is to cut costs, and the second is to boost sales. This is a two-dose vaccine to give the government a fighting shot against financial covid infection. There are also many other important steps that should be taken in order to make positive changes. * Reduced governance costs The Nigerian government must move quickly to will the cost of governance. The Oronsaye Committee, which submitted an 800-page report with far-reaching suggestions about how the government should cut governance costs, must be granted full compliance right away. * Rich peoples taxes Nigeria is a world where billionaires do not pay taxes. Market women, okada riders, fishermen, artisans, and others are all required to pay taxes on a regular basis. Employees who are subject to PAYE must pay taxes on a regular basis. * Stop the $1.5 billion Port Harcourt refinery repairs The government must urgently halt the $1.5 billion refinery reconstruction project in Port Harcourt. Given the fact that government programs are never completed on time, this reconstruction could cost Nigeria $3-5 billion. * Power Its a shame that Nigeria, as a country with one of the worlds richest gas reserves, goes to certain lengths to produce the gas before igniting it rather than using it to generate energy. * Rail No industry can thrive with the present state of Nigerias transportation system. Nigeria has no motorable roads and, most particularly, no rail transportation. For starters, there is no reason why all 36 capitals can not be linked by rail today. Summing It Up Finally, to sum up, if the Federal Government implements the suggested remedies, the Nigerian economy will experience astronomical acceleration, which will be genuine rather than steroid-induced, as QE is. However, if the government continues to print money (QE) without rising output, they will undoubtedly find themselves on the path to Robert Mugabes Zimbabwe and a disastrous end to their economy. At all times, specialists and the general public agree on one mutual idea, this must be stopped.
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https://nairobiwire.com/2021/05/what-effect-will-printing-money-have-on-nigerias-economy.html
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What Can We Expect in a Post-Virus World?
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Countries such as Canada, the US, Israel and several European countries, including the UK, have achieved relatively high vaccination rates among adults and are seeing significant declines in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections. Their populations are now testing what a post-pandemic world might look like, though some mitigation measures are still in place and some risks remain. Pandemics of the past often led to significant political, economic, social, religious and demographic changes. Some experts have suggested that there might be a new Roaring 20s. The 1920s, which followed the First World War and the Spanish flu pandemic, ushered in an era of urbanization in the US, along with increased freedoms for women and significant economic changes. It is unclear whether the current pandemic, which fortunately has not coincided with a world war, will lead to similar changes. However, the countries that appear to be emerging from the pandemic suggest that there will be demographic, economic, social and psychological impacts. Initial data suggests that the pandemic has accelerated important demographic trends. In some countries that experienced declines in birth rates before the pandemic such as France, Italy and the US those rates have declined further. While there is the possibility of a post-pandemic baby boom, COVID-19 has likely deepened the trend of declining birth rates. The pandemic is also likely to shift migration patterns. It has had a major impact on global migration, with many border closures and travel restrictions still in place, as well as some indications of growing anti-immigrant sentiment. It is also likely to have impacts on internal migration within countries. In the US, a pre-existing trend of people leaving core urban areas for the suburbs or smaller metropolitan areas has accelerated. While that shift might slow after the pandemic, it could also increase if the experience leads to a significant increase in telework. A major unknown is the long-term impact on women. The pandemic worsened gender inequalities all around the world. Multiple factors put greater burdens on women, including a disproportionate impact on sectors that tend to employ women, and school and childcare closures. In the US, millions of women have not yet returned to the workforce. In-person school remains unreliable in many parts of the country and the pandemic exacerbated a lack of affordable childcare for younger children. Europe faces a similar problem. While more women are likely to return to work once school and childcare is more readily available, many will remain out of the workforce or look for part-time or more flexible jobs. Those who want to return to a career might struggle even more than before the pandemic, as they lost time out of their careers and as employers might assume that women will leave work whenever there is a crisis. Indeed, the pandemic made it clear that society relies on women when a crisis happens, but fails to value their contributions. The pandemic is also likely to lead to changes in the workforce. Many businesses are considering more permanent forms of telework, with major potential implications for the economy, transportation and internal migration. In the US, some businesses are struggling to hire workers, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. While there are several reasons for this, some initial evidence suggests that many workers have used the pandemic to re-evaluate their careers and lifestyles. Some are choosing to retrain for new jobs or look for jobs with more stable or flexible schedules. In particular, many people especially mothers who worked in restaurants and other jobs that tend to have low pay, erratic schedules and frequent interaction with disrespectful customers felt unsafe and undervalued during the pandemic and are looking for jobs in other sectors. These COVID-19 care clinics aim to offer care for the broad range of problems a person with long COVID might experience. https://t.co/23LvvYFhB1 U.S. News & World Report (@usnews) May 31, 2021 Many people are coping with smaller changes in life near the end (hopefully) of the pandemic. Trends in travel suggest that some people want to take on big adventures, driven by an increased sense of mortality and limited time. On the other hand, some Europeans and Americans are traveling closer to home limiting long flights and avoiding the potential complications of crossing borders while there are still COVID-19 restrictions. In countries that still have COVID-19 but are seeing significant decreases due to vaccinations, people are responding in different ways. Some are ready to make up for lost time: Traveling, making big life decisions and socializing extensively. Others feel exhausted and anxious about returning to a pre-pandemic lifestyle. Vaccines are not yet approved for young children, so vaccinated parents must assess their familys overall risk adding to a sense that families have borne the brunt of the pandemic. Psychologists have noted that it is natural to feel tired or stressed as people re-engage with the world. We are out of practice and there are still risks. Many people are grieving lost loved ones, lost jobs and lost opportunities. Many are tired of constantly assessing ever-changing risks. A post-pandemic transition will involve many challenges. NZ Fashion Week opening up to public for post-COVID-19 comeback https://t.co/JexxNHVLJX Newshub (@NewshubNZ) May 25, 2021 Furthermore, while some countries can start experiencing some normality, the pandemic is far from over globally. Countries such as India, Brazil and Argentina are still experiencing severe outbreaks. No country will have a fully recovered economy while key global trade partners are struggling. As long as COVID-19 continues to burn through populations, there will be a risk of variants that could defeat existing vaccines. Even as some countries gradually recover, they will need to provide assistance to others that are far behind in access to effective vaccines. Kerry Boyd Anderson is a writer and political risk consultant with more than 16 years experience as a professional analyst of international security issues and Middle East political and business risk. Her previous positions include deputy director for advisory with Oxford Analytica and managing editor of Arms Control Today. Twitter: @KBAresearch
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https://www.albawaba.com/opinion/what-can-we-expect-post-virus-world-1430833
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When will lockdown end? Will restrictions be lifted in June?
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Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Ever since the roadmap out of lockdown was announced earlier this year, we've had a rough idea of when life will start to look a bit more normal. Stages one and two of the roadmap went ahead as planned, with pub gardens and non-essential retail reopening on April 12 and indoor restaurants accepting customers from May 17. Since May 17, we've been able to enjoy drinking in our favourite pubs, going to cinema, and meeting up in groups of 30 or less outdoors. It has enabled us to enjoy the May bank holiday weekend's good weather, and gifted us human contact and social interactions which we have been missing for months. The final lockdown restrictions are set to be lifted later this month. Sign up to the EssexLive newsletter If you're looking for a way to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from around Essex, the EssexLive newsletter is a good place to start. The twice-daily update will deliver the top news and features to your inbox every morning and evening. We choose the most important stories of the day to include in the newsletter, including crime, court news, long reads, traffic and travel, food and drink articles and more. Signing up to the newsletter is simple. All you have to do is to click here and type in your email address. It's one of the many ways that you can read the news that matters to you from EssexLive. But experts and scientists have been carefully tracking the spread of the new Indian Variant of coronavirus, now known as the Delta variant, which has spread rapidly across the UK in recent weeks. Infection rates are beginning to rise, as hospitalisations and deaths are slowly starting to creep up again, albeit not at the same speed as they were in the winter before the deadly second wave reached its peak in December and January. The vaccination rollout is continuing at speed, with everyone aged 30 and over able to book and appointment to get their first dose of the jab. The final social distancing measures are set to be lifted on Monday, June 21 - known as Step 4 of the roadmap. For the latest coronavirus statistics in your area, type your postcode below. That would see limits on indoor gathering lifted, and enable businesses like nightclubs and music venues to welcome back customers for the first time in more than 12 months. The government has said: "By Step 4 which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact. "We hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3. "This will be subject to the results of a scientific Events Research Programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring and summer, where we will trial the use of testing and other techniques to cut the risk of infection. "The same Events Research Programme will guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events." However, it's not yet certain if that date will be stuck to. Like with every stage of this roadmap out of lockdown, the government will make a final decision seven days before the planned ease. June 21 is listed as the earliest possible date lockdown restrictions can be lifted. The government will make a decision on June 14 to see whether it is safe to go ahead with planned restriction eases. They'll look at the scientific data regarding cases, hospitalisations, variants, deaths and vaccinations to see whether it's realistic to go ahead with planned eases. Whilst Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the roadmap as a one-way route out of lockdown, the guidelines drawn up by the government have always allowed for delays to key dates. If they deem it necessary, it's entirely possible that the final date will be extended. To find out all of the restriction eases planned for June 21, click here.
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https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/lockdown-end-restrictions-lifted-june-5477604
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What Happened to Home-Court Advantage?
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Damian Lillard had reason to believe that Portlands fans would make a difference in his first-round series against the Nuggets. The Trail Blazers were the last NBA team to start allowing fans into their home arena this seasonmuch to Lillards chagrin. But once they did, the Trail Blazers went 4-0 in home games with fans, including crucial wins over the Lakers and Nuggets that helped Portland avoid the play-in tournament. The Ringers NBA Odds Machine So good, it should come with a spoiler alert Moreover, Portland has seemingly benefited from an extreme home-court advantage in recent playoff history. From 2013-14, Lillards first postseason, through 2018-19, the last postseason before the home-court-free bubble, the Trail Blazers were a miserable 6-21 on the road in playoff gamesbut against those same teams at home, they were a much better 13-11. That gap represented one of the largest home-court advantages in the league. So in advance of Game 3 in the Blazers first-round series, with the Moda Center allowing four times the capacity as it did during the regular season, Lillard conveyed confidence in his home crowd. We know that our crowd is loud, our crowd has pride, they really care and they gonna come ready, Lillard said. I know thats going to play in our favor. And then the Trail Blazers lost Game 3 in front of those loud, prideful, caring fans, before winning Game 4 to salvage a split at homejust as theyd split the two games in Denver to open the series. It turns out neither teams home-court advantage mattered at all. But its not just Lillard, and its not just Portland vs. Denver. Across the league, home-court advantage has disappeared in this postseasoneven as fans flock to arenas in their greatest numbers since the start of the pandemic, and even as players, coaches, and owners express excitement to play in front of the cheering masses once again. Itll be pretty special for our fans, just to have our fans in the building and make us proud, LeBron James said before the first Lakers home playoff games in eight years, and his first in Los Angeles. Thats what I came here for, is to play a playoff game in front of the Lakers faithful. Except like Lillards Trail Blazers, LeBrons Lakers split their two home gamesjust as theyd split their two road games in Phoenix. Home-court advantage didnt matter one bit. Through 32 playoff games thus far, two home and two road for each club, home teams are 16-16. In the 16-team playoff era, home teams winning percentage has never been close to this lowexcept last year, in the bubble, when home-court advantage by definition didnt exist. The same is true for point differential, rather than pure win-loss record. Historically, home teams have won their playoff games by an average of four to five points per gamebut this postseason, that average is down to 0.9 through 32 games, in line with the bubble playoffs (1.0) for the lowest by far. Typically, the NBAs home-court advantage is one of the strongest across the major North American sports, and it tends to increase in the postseason. From the expansion of the postseason bracket to 16 teams in 1983-84 through the 2018-19 season, home teams won 61 percent of their games in the regular season and 65 percent of their games in the playoffs. (That pattern holds even accounting for the fact that better teams play more home games in the playoffs. FiveThirtyEights Neil Paine calculated the same playoff boost of 4 percentage points even with this adjustment.) But this postseason has been different. Since the introduction of the shot clock, 88 best-of-seven series before this season had started with the home teams winning four games in a row. For comparison, only six had started with the road teams winning four games in a row, meaning a home sweep of games 1 through 4 was 15 times more likely than a road sweep. Yet this year, no series started with four home wins in a row, while Clippers-Mavericks saw four consecutive road wins. Thats just one data point, but it sure fits the larger pattern. 2017 First Celtics Bulls Celtics 4-2 2005 First Mavericks Rockets Mavericks 4-3 1995 Conference Finals Spurs Rockets Rockets 4-2 1994 Second Rockets Suns Rockets 4-3 1969 First Lakers Warriors Lakers 4-2 1963 Conference Finals* Celtics Royals Celtics 4-3 The sudden diminishment of home-court advantage could wreak unexpected effects on this postseason. Game 7s might not favor the home team as much as usual, for instance, and the presumed powerhouse clash between the Nets and Bucks in the second round might not hinge on the Nets home-court advantage. The Lakers could win the title without hosting Game 1 in any round. Its still early in the playoffs, so the advantage could still tilt back toward the home teams in a Game 7, or in later rounds. And all this analysis comes with the caveat that injuries to stars have seemingly affected teams more at home thus far: Donovan Mitchell missed a home game for Utah; Anthony Davis missed half a home game for the Lakers; Kemba Walker and Robert Williams missed the same home game for Boston. (Injuries do go both ways, though: The 76ers Joel Embiid missed most of Game 4, helping Washington to a home win.) Yet this phenomenon fits with a recent trend in the regular season, too. From 1984 through 2013, home teams winning percentage in the regular season never dipped below 60 percent leaguewide for more than one season in a row. But its been below 60 for eight regular seasons in a row nowreaching an all-time low, of course, this season, when most games had no crowds at all. ESPNs Kevin Pelton found that home-court advantage was stronger in games with fans this regular season, but in the postseason, teams with more fans arent benefiting from the extra crowd size. In fact, the correlation between attendance and home point differential is negative-0.22 so far, meaning more fans are associated with a worse performance from the home team. Dont read into that figure too far. The quality of the teams allowing larger crowds somewhat scrambles this analysisfor instance, Miami could bring in 17,000 fans per home game, while Milwaukee was allotted just 9,107 in its first-round sweep. But as this graph shows, theres also no evidence that larger crowds have helped the home team this postseason. Crowds have helped the overall product, as players clearly enjoy competing in front of fans and the television viewing experience improves immensely with thousands of chanting, cheering mouths working in unison. (Theyve also exposed a considerably uglier side, throwing popcorn and water bottles, and hurling spit and offensive invectives toward players and their families.) But improving the general NBA experience is distinct from improving a specific teams chances. Consider the Clippers and Mavericks once more: After much discourse around Mark Cubans desire to pack Dallass home arena, the Mavericks found enough legislative leeway to get to more than 17,700 fans for both home gamesthe highest attendance for any team in the postseason. Dallas proceeded to lose both home games anyway. As Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said before those losses, Just because youre home doesnt mean youre going to walk out there and win a game. Youve still got to keep doing the things that youve been doing well in previous games.
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https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/1/22462636/what-happened-to-home-court-advantage
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How Many Ounces Are in a Quarter Pound of Weed?
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Strain featured: Aster Farms "Shishkaberry;" Image by Tolula Few weight units possess the OG status of the quarter pound, better known on the streets as the QP. Although you may hear about QPs, most folks will never see a QP of weed, simply because its too much smoke for most tokers. During the heyday of pot prohibition, stoners only ever dealt with QPs if they were dealing weed. Today, licensed cannabis companies also deal in QPs, but usually only to other licensed cannabis businesses. In fact, a QP contains so much weed that its illegal for the Average Joe to possess that much throughout most of the US even in some states where weed is legal . As a rule, tokers generally buy or carry single ounces or fractions of ounces (e.g. an eighth ), so lets visualize a QP according to whats familiar. Another common weight the pound will help here, too. If youve already done your homework here at MERRY JANE, then you know that 16 oz are in one pound . So, figuring out how many ounces makes up a quarter pound is a cakewalk from there: Since a quarter pound is one-fourth of a pound, you just take one-fourth of 16 oz to get the total ounces in a QP. In other words: there are 4 ounces in a quarter pound of weed. Those peanut-butter-jar-sized bottles you see on dispensary shelves (or piling up in your sesh den) typically hold about an ounce. So, a QP is about four of those bottle-jar things. Yet the casual smoker can take weeks, if not months, to burn through a single ounce of herb, much less a QP. And, in many legal states, sitting on more than an ounce of bud can get you busted by the cops. Thats because, for decades, cops and courts considered anyone in possession of a QP (or even just a few ounces) to be drug dealers, whether those suspects were actually slangin green or not. But... some enlightened US states cap their max legal weed weights at precisely one QP. And even better, a small handful of states will allow some people (as in, qualifying medical cannabis patients) to legally possess more than a QP. Keep reading. States Where You Can Legally Possess a Quarter Pound of Weed Before you pack up and move to one of these, ahem, high possession states, know that these up to a QP maximum weight limits may only apply to medical patients, depending on the state. Recreational customers, generally, are capped at 1 oz of flower, but again, that varies by state, as well. Every state has different rules for weed, and we wont be going over all that fine print here. So, treat these listings as road signs pointing in general directions, not as detailed topographical maps guiding you through the entirety of the legal terrain (as always, check the states laws for details). The states where you can possess up to a QP of weed are Alaska , Florida , Hawaii , and Missouri . And, make sure to double check the fine print. For instance, its important to know that you can only possess a QP of weed in Alaska so long as that dank stays in your home. No ghost riding the whip with your quarter pound bag of weed sitting in the passenger seat (or anywhere), unfortunately. States Where You Can Possess More Than a QP and Still Avoid Johnny Law Yes, there are some states where qualifying medical patients can possess over a QP of weed. These states are California , Delaware , Massachusetts , Michigan , Oregon , New Mexico , and Oklahoma . But we also want to shout out Washington State for its lax limits on concentrates. In Minnesota and Ohio , there are no possession limits for medical patients. But there is a catch: Patients can only possess non-smokable forms of cannabis, so that means tried-and-true blazable buds are out of the equation. That leaves California as the only state where there are no patient possession limits for fire weed. Stack those quarter pounders like McDonalds patties, son!
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https://merryjane.com/news/how-many-ounces-are-in-a-quarter-pound-of-weed
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How Much Does BMW X7 Dark Shadow Cost in India?
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The BMW X7 M50d Dark Shadow' variant is priced at Rs 2.02 crore. The basic X7 range starts at Rs 95.90 lakh, while the M50d, the usual top-of-the-line variation, costs Rs 1.65 crore. This latest edition of BMW's largest SUV promises exclusivity for the Rs 37 lakh premium since it will be restricted to just 500 units worldwide and can only be acquired through BMW Online. BMW X7 Specifications Frozen Arctic Grey metallic is a BMW Individual special paint finish available on the limited edition X7. This is the first time BMW has used the color scheme on a model in the X' series. The B and C pillars, as well as the base of the ORVMs, are completed in black by the German automaker. Black chrome is also used on the kidney grille. The alloy wheels are 22 inches tall, with a V-sport design and a jet-black matte finish, against 21 inches on the basic M50d. The Dark Shadow' model also comes with BMW's Laserlight headlamp technology, which can illuminate a distance of up to 650 meters. Finally, over the standard M50d, BMW has included an M Sport Exhaust. The 3.0-liter diesel engine that produces 400PS/760Nm in the ordinary M50d continues to power the X7 M50d Dark Shadow' variant, which sends power to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The air suspension is standard, as are nine airbags, traction control, hill start aid, hill descent control, and active park assist, among other BMW safety features.
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https://english.sakshi.com/news/technology/how-much-does-bmw-x7-dark-shadow-cost-india-136326
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Is Walmart having a Prime Day sale?
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While nothing is confirmed just yet, it seems highly likely that Walmart will run its own sale around the same time as Prime Day so weve taken the time to look at what to expect from the Walmart Prime Day Sale. We dont know yet. Typically, Walmart runs a sale at the same time as Prime Day to compete for business. After all, it doesnt want Amazon to have a monopoly on discount shoppers. Its safe to assume this will be the case this year as it has been for previous years but we cant guarantee what date it will be. However, its very likely that Prime Day starts June 21 and runs until the end of June 22 so if thats the case, expect Walmart to have its sale at the same time. Typically, Walmart and Amazon focus on different areas during their sales. While they both have a certain amount of overlap with both retailers typically focusing on sales for a ton of different technology, there are some distinctions. For instance, Amazon is likely to have better discounts on its own products such as the Amazon Echo range and the Amazon Kindle e-readers. Alongside that though, were expecting to see a lot more discounts on home essentials and furniture at Walmart than well see at Amazon. Thats simply because of what Walmart tends to focus on housewares and other home essentials. If youre looking for bedding, new furniture for your home, or those little delights that spruce up your living space, its very likely that Walmart will have such items more heavily discounted and attractively priced than Amazon, which tends to focus on gadgets and technology. No matter what the sales season, Walmart always has fantastic offers on TVs and were expecting this forthcoming sale to be the same. Keep an eye out for big-name brands as well as lesser-known TV brands at cheap prices during the Walmart sale, and dont be afraid to get in fast. Stock is often limited. Read up on the best TV brands and the best TVs beforehand so you know exactly what to expect. As well as that, dont be surprised if you see the likes of the best Instant Pots or best air fryers also on offer as part of the Walmart sales. The retailer loves to keep you up to date with the latest kitchen appliances. We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase. Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Editors' Recommendations
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https://www.digitaltrends.com/dtdeals/is-walmart-having-a-prime-day-sale/
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How Can We Make Future Megacities Become Smart as Well?
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Save this picture! The Bentway / Public Work. Image Nic Lehoux Cities are so deeply rooted in the history of mankind that we hardly ask ourselves why we live in them or what the reason is for us to group together in urban settlements. Ciro Pirondi, Brazilian architect, points out that we live in cities because we like to have someone to talk to, while Paulo Mendes da Rocha classifies the city as the supreme work of architecture. The city is the world that man builds for himself. These are immense collective constructions, palimpsests, and collages of stories, achievements, and losses. Earth has been mostly urban since 2007. By 2050, the percentage of people living in cities should reach 70%. In the coming years, megacities with more than 10 million inhabitants are expected to multiply, mainly in Asia and Africa, and often in still-developing countries. Such a projection raises questions about sustainability and climate change that cities inevitably catalyze. It also raises questions about how cities can provide an adequate quality of life for its inhabitants, and how they can prosper and develop in contexts that are often not ideal. While old centers will require transformations and updates, city peripheries will require new homes and public facilities, in addition to adequate infrastructure. Save this picture! Shanghai Minsheng Wharf Waterfront Landscape and Reconnection / Atelier Liu Yuyang Architects. Image FangFang Tian The global urban population is expected to grow 63% between 2014 and 2050 against the total population growth of 32% in the same period, the fastest increase occurring among megacities with more than 20 million inhabitants and located mainly in developing countries. The trend creates unprecedented sustainability challenges. [1] Because new technologies, new demands, and new ways of living emerge over time, adapting how we will live, consume, move, and how we will build and rebuild our cities encompasses a large part of the challenges that humanity must face. In a world increasingly concerned with climate change, each of these tasks plays a key role. According to the report Smart Sustainable Cities: Reconnaissance Study, cities are responsible for 67% of global energy demand and consume 40% of all energy. Urban centers are responsible for 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing heavily to climate change, and are increasingly suffering from natural disasters. Cities are the scene of most of the social tension caused by increasing inequality and unemployment, air and water pollution, congestion, violence and crime. At the same time, they offer opportunities for economic development: it is in urban centers that 80% of the world's gross domestic product is generated, and its citizens tend to earn more. Save this picture! Metr de Fortaleza - Ramal Parangaba-Mucuripe / Fernandes Arquitetos Associados. Image Pedro Mascaro Cities also show enormous inequalities. Worldwide, more than 1 billion residents today live in so-called slums (informal urban settlements, usually in highly populated urban residential areas, made up of small and precarious housing units, served by deteriorated or deficient infrastructure, and inhabited mainly by poor people. Unsafe and/or unhealthy housing (for example, lack of windows or leaky roofs), residences with limited access to basic services (water, toilets, electricity, transport), overcrowded living spaces, unstable houses and fragile structures or homes without secure land tenure (i.e. the right to live on that land) are the reality for about 1/6 of the world population, 80% in three regions: East Asia and Southeast Asia(370 million), Sub-Saharan Africa (238 million), and Central and South Asia (227 million). In addition, it is estimated that 3 billion people will need adequate and affordable housing by 2030. Especially in developing countries, housing is a critical issue for a large part of the population. Christophe Lalande, an expert on the topic at UN Habitat, points out that housing is a great challenge, because it is the gateway to economic, social and cultural inclusion. It must be intrinsically sustainable, which means that it must be built in such a way as to provide stability and reliable living conditions for the long term. This is a crucial issue, especially for migrants, because access to adequate housing is a precondition for their effective integration. It is important that the housing issue is not only dealt with quantitatively, as many governments tend to do. Housing must be integrated with the city and kept close to jobs, transport, and other attractions that the city offers. Isolated housing estates in the city have repeatedly proven not to be the best solution. In addition, providing healthier and more comfortable buildings for an increasingly urban global population, which spends 80% of their time indoors, is essential, especially if we consider that, with the COVID-19 pandemic, housing had to incoporate many new functions, such as a study space for children and work spaces for some adults. Save this picture! NeighborhoodSongyang Three-Temple Cultural Communication Center / Jiakun Architects. Image Arch-Exist Constructing or renovating buildings to cultivate positive effects on the well-being of its occupants and a reduced impact on the environment throughout its life cycle is a major challenge. This means developing solutions that contribute to the thermal, acoustic and visual comfort of the occupants and improve indoor air quality, while reducing the energy consumption of buildings. These solutions must also conserve natural resources and decrease carbon footprints, mainly as a result of their reduced weight, recycled material content and recycling capacity at the end of their useful life. Finally, they should not pose any risk to the health and safety of work teams. To that end, we rely on innovation, which must - of course - address all of these issues, but also bring significant improvements in the development of our purchasing and manufacturing processes. [2] Save this picture! Urban Rehabilitation of Alto de Bomba / OUTROS BAIRROS. Image Cortesia de ngelo Lopes In addition, looking for materials suitable for the particular use and location, as well as cleaner and waste-free construction methods, such as modular buildings, should be the rule and not the exception. Densifying where possiblethat is, in places where there are adequate infrastructures for this,deploying multifunctional buildings, and mixing residences, shops, leisure, work spaces, and, whenever possible, income ranges, can make cities more compact, with less demand for transportation. Also, it is time to rethink many pre-established concepts, and everyone must agree that the COVID-19 pandemic helped serve this purpose. Save this picture! CH House / ODDO architects. Image Hoang Le photography It is well known that civil construction consumes huge amounts of resources, plays a crucial role in the release of carbon (with effects already felt in cities through the greenhouse effect), and generates tons of solid waste daily. If we think about reducing carbon emissions and reducing waste, it is impossible to ignore the construction industry. Our current economy continues to follow a linear 'extract-transform-discard' logic. A circular economy can offer opportunities to rethink the way we produce and use the things we need, and allows us to explore new ways to ensure long-term prosperity. But the circular philosophy must go far beyond construction. Returning to cities, we can go on and talk about a multitude of issues: food production and distribution, water management, electricity consumption and generation, mobility, and the list goes on. Cities are voracious organisms, which demand huge amounts of resources, food, and energy, but which produce wealth and knowledge while generating waste and pollution. This equation is cruel to the earth's ecosystems and we are already beginning to feel the effects of climate change. Save this picture! Superblock of Sant Antoni / Leku Studio. Image Del Rio Bani In recent years, much has been said about smart cities that optimize infrastructure and governance to better involve citizens in the management of services. This means sensors, systems, and applications that collect various data, which can be analyzed and influence decision-making in matters such as mobility, health, water and energy management, housing, solid waste, and sewage, among many others. Cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) applications receive, analyze, and manage data to help local governments, businesses, and citizens make better decisions that will improve their quality of life. They invoke the idea of a networked urbanism, where the combination of ubiquitous monitoring and feedback would enable more sustainable and productive cities. Smart cities that make extensive use of digital technologies have been identified as possible solutions to the population pressures faced by many cities in developing countries and can help to meet the growing demand for services and infrastructure. However, the high financial cost involved in maintaining infrastructure, the substantial size of informal economies and various governance challenges are reducing the government's idealism towards smart cities." Save this picture! Shanghai Minsheng Wharf Waterfront Landscape and Reconnection / Atelier Liu Yuyang Architects. Image FangFang Tian Some researchers point out that Smart City initiatives could contribute to overcome the limitations of traditional urban development, which tends to manage urban infrastructure systems separately and without real integration between the responsible actors. Taking advantage of the diffuse character of data and services offered by digital technologies, such as cloud computing, Internet of Things or open data, allows different stakeholders in the city to be connected, improve citizen involvement, offer new and improve existing services and provide context. The development of Smart City is, however, highly complex, challenging and context specific. The challenges include different discourses used by technologists and policy makers, a lack of capacity to connect urban sustainability challenges to viable approaches and pressures on social and territorial cohesion that require unique governance solutions. [4] Researchers on the topic agree that such technologies are, in fact, efficient when the population as a whole gets involved and understands their importance. This is an even greater challenge in poorer places. Save this picture! House 49 / Atelier Waterside. Of course, never alone. As researchers Si Ying Tan and Araz Taeihag [3] point out, the high financial cost involved in maintaining infrastructure and the substantial size of informal economies in developing countries represent unique challenges to the ideals of smart cities that need to be resolved. In addition, privileging technology as the core of smart city development without aligning it with public values or understanding the extent of basic citizens' needs would transform smart cities into mere 'white elephants'. The study concludes that smart cities in developing countries can only be carried out when simultaneous socioeconomic, human, legal and regulatory reforms are incorporated into long-term development trajectories. Contextual conditionsincluding the state's social development, economic policy and financial endowment; technological literacy and the willingness of citizens to participate in the development of smart cities; and unique cultural factorsare important for the development of smart cities in developing countries. Global warming, an increasing tax on the earth's resources, and the accumulation of waste have brought to the fore the realization that it is essential to change the way we design, produce, and distribute products and services. They have also revealed how our cities work, many of them inefficiently. Urban centers can be seen as part of the problem or part of the solution for climate change. Perhaps this is an issue around which the whole world is starting to come together. History shows us that urban centers can reinvent themselves, redo themselves, improve or worsen, and even collapse. Taking the use of energy and resources more seriously and, above all, providing a good quality of life and opportunities for access to the city is vital. Technology can play a crucial role, as long as it is used for the common good. Notes [1] Estevez, Elsa, Lopes, Nuno and Janowski, Tomasz (2016). Smart Sustainable Cities: Reconnaissance Study. United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance. Available at this link. [2] Saint-Gobain Explore 2050. Home: In housing designed to last. Available at this link. [3] Si Ying Tan, Araz Taeihagh. Smart City Governance in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. Available at this link. [4] Francesco Appio, Marcos Lima e Sotirios Paroutis. Understanding Smart Cities: Innovation Ecosystems, Technological Advancements, and Societal Challenges. Available at this link.
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https://www.archdaily.com/960608/how-can-we-make-future-megacities-become-smart-as-well
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What does the future hold for Cryptocurrency in the UAE?
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Image Credit: Cryptocurrency has become a global phenomenon in recent years, although much is still to be learned about this evolving technology. Many concerns and worries are swirling around the technology and its capacity to disrupt traditional financial systems. Dubai's largest and most trusted business consultancy, Creative Zone, recently held a webinar discussing the emerging world of Crypto and Blockchain and how this could be the beginning of the future of the financial world. Crypto Attorney Dr Irina Heaver, Arshad Khan, CEO, Arabian Bourse and Sharjil Ahmed, CEO, Co-Founder of Cykube UK, shared their expert opinion on the future of Cryptocurrency. There are two parallel crypto worlds in the UAE, and there's one that is not formal, operates independently and does not come under any regulatory framework. To such entities, banks are not receptive because the crash risk is too high. On the other hand, several well-regulated entities offer their clients transparency and operate under a recognised regulatory authority. However, Cryptocurrency is still a relatively new concept, and it will be some time before banks ease to the idea. Jurisdictions like ADGM and DIFC have come out with crypto regulations, and last year central bank of the UAE rolled out a virtual asset scheme and with the international organisations stepping in, it is a matter of time that virtual currency and blockchain technology will enter mainstream transactions. No, it will not represent a threat of any kind. On the contrary it could prove to be supportive of the industry as assets will back it. There is an ongoing discussion about crypto being backed by assets such as gold or real estate, and very soon, we will start seeing non-fungible tokens where one can digitise and tokenise any asset, and that would be highly beneficial to the industry, but a lot needs to be done to first stop independent players and companies from launching their currencies without any backing. Institutionalising the system, i.e., to create more structures for investors to protect their investment, is the way forward for industry. It's still at a nascent stage not only in the region but globally. Yet, there's rapidly growing interest and awareness of the virtual currency world, especially amongst the younger generation who have acquired deep knowledge of the technology and have gained in millions. Except trading The opportunities are endless. The younger generation doesn't want to go to banks to open their accounts when they can just grab their phones and open a wallet and start banking all in under one minute. Currently, less than 1.3% population of the world hold Cryptocurrency, making it a very exciting time for entrepreneurs to start leveraging blockchain and crypto technology. "They need to start somewhere, and to start, they need to educate themselves, play with it, learn about various other coins, what a smart contract, decentralised finance is and what an NFT is", said Dr Irina Heaver. The first step for conventional companies selling goods and services should be to start accepting bitcoins as a mode of payment; this way, you can open an account with an exchange or a crypto wallet, start receiving in crypto and learn how to manage and protect it. Once people realise how easy it is, they can start building on it and leverage it to their business needs. Over the last ten years, Bitcoin has been the best performing asset, and this year alone, the return has been 300%, which means if a business that received payment early this year has 300 times the original fee. This is a very interesting concept for entrepreneurs. It is difficult for entrepreneurs first to find investors and then convince them to fund their startup, and if you manage to do that, you end up losing a significant equity portion of the venture. With Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) one can launch themselves, and it makes for an excellent platform for entrepreneurs trying to get funding. One of the critical aspects of blockchain in disintermediation is that it minimises the intermediaries. From the fund-raising perspective, one can pitch the business directly to investors. ICOs sit between IPOs and crowdfunding. It is a wonderful opportunity for startup owners to back their venture using blockchain and ICO. Let's talk NFTs NFTs are non-fungible tokens. Non-fungible more or less means that it is unique and can't be replaced with something else. For example, a bitcoin is fungible trade one for another bitcoin, and you'll have exactly the same thing. A one-of-a-kind trading card, however, is non-fungible. If you traded it for a different card, you would have something completely different. NFTs solve a big problem in IPs, trademark counterfeiting etc. It depends; Crypto has been the best performing asset, and other coins contributing to the success. The investor should always do their homework on their investment profile. Its nature is as it is a volatile asset and has been performing very well and will continue this bright future. However, putting all your eggs in a basket is something that should not be encouraged. Place a substantial portion of your investment in crypto as they have been performing well and decide what way or form you will be placed in, whether taking newer coins or established ones. It depends on your risk profile and the investment size you are looking at, something reasonable, discusses Arshad Khan, Co-Founder CEO of Arabian Bourse. The bottom line Like most investments, crypto assets come with a host of risks and vast potential of rewards. Cryptocurrency is indeed a revolution to the digital transaction sector and poised to join the ranks of conventional payment methods. It is accurate to state that the future belongs to Cryptocurrency, and it is undoubtedly here to stay. But like every new technology, it needs to be underpinned by regulatory clarity and robust systems in place for ensuring safety and security. It can be a reliable form of investment only if we are aware of the best methods to prevent our cryptocurrencies from frauds and risks. To learn more on how to become a Cryptopreneur, visit: https://lp.creativezone.ae/cryptopreneur/
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https://gulfnews.com/business/what-does-the-future-hold-for-cryptocurrency-in-the-uae-1.1622547606316
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What Time Is The 'Friends Reunion' On May 27 Coming On HBO Max And HBO Go?
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It's been almost 17 years since fans of the hit sitcom Friends saw their favourite characters sitting in the Central Perk Cafe. Recently, the trailer for Friends reunion was released and sent the netizens into a frenzy. The original cast of the show - Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer - will be returning for the unscripted special, in which the group will look back at the series' best moments and why it was such a universal hit in the late 1990s and early 2000s. For all those wondering know what time is the Friends reunion on May 27, read ahead. Ever since the Friends Reunion was announced, fans have been anticipating to the see their favourite characters back on screen for one last time. Friends Reunion will exclusively stream on HBO Max in the US at 12am PT, which translates to 12:30 pm IST. In Asia on HBO Go, the Friends reunion special arrives at 3:01 pm SGT, which translates to 12:31 pm IST. Friends Reunion will exclusively stream on HBO Max, but unfortunately, the OTT platform is not yet available in India. But Indian fans of the show can rejoice as the show will be coming to India at the same time as the global premiere on Zee5. Recently, Zee5 India's chief business officer Manish Kalra announced that the Friends Reunion will be exclusively streaming on India on Zee5. All about the Friends Reunion The series first went on air in 1994 and was live till 2004, lasting for 10 seasons. The show is often credited to have propelled the career of its main cast - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. The rumours about the reunion emerged first back in 2019 and were later confirmed in 2020. Along with its original cast returning for the reunion special, the makers also released a list of all the celebrities that will be appearing as guests. Some of the celebs include singer Justin Bieber, Korean boyband BTS, singer Lady Gaga, actress Mindy Kaling, Resse Witherspoon and many more, check out the list below. IMAGE: FRIENDS OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
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https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/web-series/what-time-is-the-friends-reunion-on-may-27-coming-on-hbo-max-and-hbo-go.html
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Is the Cannabis Industry Seeing Its First Market Crash?
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Some of the largest cannabis stocks plummeted nearly 40 percent this week, due to the North American scare surrounding the vaping associated pulmonary illness (VAPI), lower-than-expected quarterly performances, and chronic uncertainty regarding future investments, returns, and regulatory changes. Canadas federal cannabis program, which is largely operated by five companies, saw a total market loss of $23 billion since September 2018, according to the Wall Street Journal . In the US, two companies canceled a merger last week that wouldve been worth $700 million. VAPI Aftermath News regarding an increasing number of VAPI cases in the US, and one new case in Canada , is partly to blame for the dip. Health authorities have not determined whats causing VAPI, and the illness has already hospitalized over 1,300 people and caused at least 23 deaths since the summer. As reported by Forbes , Canadas top four cannabis companies producers Tilray, Canopy Growth, and Aurora Cannabis, and the investment firm the Cronos Group lost $10 billion in market value since August 1st, when the CDC began investigating VAPI in the US. Vape products make up anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of marijuana sales in US states where its legal. In Canada, marijuana vapes are not yet legally available, but new vape regulations are supposed to be finalized by October 17th, with sales beginning December 16th . Canadian regulators may delay the roll-out of cannabis vapes , which would put a huge financial dent in an industry thats currently investing millions of dollars in time, capital, cultivation, and human resources into launching a product that may be banned before it even hits the Canadian market. VAPI begins with shortness of breath, fevers, stomach pains, and vomiting. If untreated, it progresses to severe lung malfunction, with death resulting from complete respiratory failure. The illness has been linked to unlicensed, black market marijuana vapes produced with cheaply made Chinese materials , though authorities have not yet ruled out nicotine-containing e-cigs or regulated, licensed marijuana vapes. Regardless, many consumers arent taking any chances, and all vape sales nicotine and marijuana have significantly declined in the past few weeks. Massachusetts , Washington State , Oregon, and Rhode Island have implemented temporary bans on some or all vape sales. Poor Quarterly Performances The VAPI scare isnt the only thing bringing down marijuana stocks. Corporate mismanagement, market hype, and overblown profit forecasts are also to blame. People are less than pleased with the results out of Canada recently, Glenn Mattson, a financial analyst at Ladenburg Thalmann, told the Wall Street Journal . They are unhappy with the lack of retail infrastructure, and the ability to build up that infrastructure. For instance, Health Canada accused producer CannTrust of operating at least two unapproved grow facilities in July, which resulted in thousands of kilograms of product being put on hold and the companys CEO, Peter Aceto, getting fired . The investigation not only triggered a stock price drop for CannTrust, it also affected Canadas entire cannabis supply line, exacerbating a weed shortage problem thats been going on for nearly a year. The market hype and then near-instant implosion of the marijuana-infused drinkables market contributed to severe stock declines, too. Hexo Corp., which partnered with Molson Coors Brewing Co. to produce cannabis beverages in Canada, saw its stock plunge 38 percent this week. The company reported that it overestimated its projected 2020 earnings of $300 million and corrected its expected annual sales at only $35 million to $37 million USD. Also in July, Canopy Growth, Canadas largest cannabis producer, ousted CEO Bruce Linton after poor sales performances. Linton told MarketWatch that Canopys stock hit was mainly due to a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands, the company that makes Corona beer and Svedka vodka, which anticipated blockbuster sales from weed-infused drinks. So far, marijuana drinkables make up the smallest sector of legal weed sales in the US, and may not be popular in the Canadian market, either. At least, not for some time until after drinkables debut in the Great White North in December. Meanwhile, in the US, what could have been one of the biggest cannabis mergers in American history fell apart last minute. California-based MedMen was set to acquire PharmaCann, a dispensary chain that operates on the Northeastern half of the US, in a $685 million merger. The termination of the merger, as well as the firing of MedMens CFO, Michael Kramer, caused MedMens stock price to fall nearly 10 percent last Tuesday. MedMen and PharmaCann explained that the deal fell through because cannabis stocks have been underperforming across the board, and such a large, practically nationwide expansion would be too risky a venture. MedMen cited the drop in Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Indexs price, which fell 50 percent over the last year. Horizons is a Canadian exchange-traded fund (ETF) for North American medical marijuana companies; instead of a stock that has only one company tied to its price, an ETFs portfolio contains many securities across multiple companies and investors. The underperformance has made it increasingly more critical to allocate capital industry headwinds, MedMen said in a press release . The company said it would instead primarily focus on its current operations in California. Chronic, Unending Uncertainty If theres one thing that investors hate, its uncertainty. Risk is an inherent part of playing stocks, but rampant, widespread uncertainty indicates a market could be teetering on the brink of a crash. Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index price drop indicates the entire medical marijuana industry in Canada could be in danger of going bust. And since many US cannabis companies recently opened offices in Canada so they could access the stock exchanges there, their performance could also be affected by the Great White Norths market troubles. Last year, Canadian cannabis investor and consultant Paul Rosen said that he expected a cannabis market crash similar to the dot com crash of 1999 and 2000. In the case of the dot com crash, mispriced stocks, irrational levels of investor enthusiasm, and the inability of companies to live up to their hype led to a major market correction. Back then, thousands of tech companies tanked, leaving only the top dogs to dominate the sector for years afterward. It wasnt that the industry was a result of the underlying emerging internet economy not being credible or sustainable. The market was just right, Rosen told MERRY JANE last October regarding the dot com crash nearly two decades ago. But during the rush toward this pioneering new economy, that excitement and that emotion resulted in some less-than-rational routes on a company-by-company basis. That happens all the time, but its more likely to happen when you have this much cultural fascination in a nascent marijuana industry, he continued. Its not that its a bubble, but some companies are going to crash spectacularly. If the market slumps continue, then the cannabis industry in Canada could be facing dark times ahead. However, short-sellers may slow the stock plummets temporarily, at least long enough for the markets to recover. If this truly is a crash, its still too soon to tell.
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https://merryjane.com/news/is-the-cannabis-industry-seeing-its-first-market-crash-october-2019
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Is the Price of Legal Weed Going to Be Way Too Expensive in 2020?
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Sure, potheads may have different preferences as to what products they like. But theres definitely one thing customers of licensed dispensaries have in common: We all want lower prices. With high regulatory fees and exorbitant taxes tacked onto the cost of legal cannabis products, consumers across the United States are looking for relief at the cash register. And, according to a 2019 report recently released by LeafLink , a cannabis wholesale e-commerce platform, maturing markets and increased competition may soon begin to edge prices lower. According to industry insiders, however, its still too early to say if thats going to be a continuing trend. Using data compiled from wholesale cannabis transactions from 10 different states, which totaled more than $860 million, LeafLink compared 2019s prices across five product categories to the previous years figures. And while average pricing dropped overall in all product categories except one edibles and ingestibles Suzannah Rubinstein, LeafLinks director of marketing, told MERRY JANE in a telephone interview that its premature to identify any specific trends, noting that "the pricing fluctuation was driven by sharp changes in one or two specific markets." To create its Cannabis Wholesale Pricing Guide 2019 , LeafLink tracked sales for 19,000 unique cannabis product SKUs being sold in 10 states that offer legal cannabis sales: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington. The study focused on five product categories including cartridges, concentrates, edibles and ingestibles, flower, and prerolls. Each SKU was converted to a standard unit of measure to ensure the comparability of different products in different product types. The guide provides an overview of how wholesale pricing in specific markets compares to the national average, and also includes analysis of the impact that price points have on product sales. And, while the guide provides an informative snapshot of prices in each state, Rubinstein said the national averages dont paint a clear picture of the US market as a whole, citing wholesale prices of flower as an example. We found that the price of flower decreased by 7.97 percent nationwide, but in reality when we dug into the data, the change was largely driven by significant drops in flower prices in California and Oregon, explained Rubinstein. California had a drop in flower pricing of 21 percent, and Oregon had a drop of 24 percent, although data from Marijuana Business Daily suggests that wholesale prices in Oregon may be rebounding this year. Most Product Categories Showing Lower Average Prices Most other product categories also showed a drop in average prices, although there were some regional exceptions. Cannabis concentrates saw the largest drop in prices, with a reduction of more than 16 percent over last year. California was the only state that saw an increase in the category, with a rise in prices of nearly 8 percent. Vape cartridges, down 3.78 percent, saw the smallest decrease among categories that showed a price drop. The only product category that showed an increase in pricing overall was cannabis-infused foods and drinks, which posted an increase of nearly 27 percent nationwide. However, Rubinstein noted that the jump was driven primarily by increases in just two states. "We saw the average price of edibles and ingestibles go up an average of 27.84 percent nationwide, she said. But then when we dug into the individual markets, we saw that the price of edibles and ingestibles in Oregon went up by 108 percent, and in Washington, it went up 112 percent. The average price of edibles jumping in those states doesnt mean that consumers are necessarily stuck with paying more. Upon further analysis, LeafLink discovered that the increase was fueled by new high-end edibles. Those were big numbers, so we wanted to dig into that a little bit more, Rubinstein explained. And we think that it's really just something that's reflected in the average price due to the addition of some really expensive brands to the marketplace. When we look at the median price of edibles in Oregon and Washington, there's virtually no change year over year." Jamie Pearson, the CEO of multi-state edibles company Bhang, said that despite the increase in the average price of infused foods and beverages in Oregon and Washington, she believes that prices in the product category are headed down overall. With many retailers making buying decisions strictly based on price, Pearson said that many manufacturers are cutting prices, as well. "With edibles, we've seen our competitors race to the bottom," she said in a phone interview. Instead, Bhang has decided to differentiate itself from the competition by providing a superior product. The companys dark chocolate bars, Pearson explained, are 73 percent cacao, adding that they are absolutely delicious without tasting like cannabis. "The people who like our chocolate are going to pay for it, she said. So, rather than racing to the bottom, we've actually decided to hold firm, or, in some cases, increase our prices with the increase in material cost. Pearson said Bhang hasnt seen a dip in sales while keeping higher prices. She believes edibles companies that are putting out high-quality goods will be able to command a higher price than competitors providing inferior products. "There's always a market for that premium product, and that's where we see ourselves, she said. We're definitely one of the more premium products in the market because we don't skimp on anything." Quality, of course, isnt the only factor influencing the price of cannabis products. Ben Kovler, the founder and CEO of Green Thumb Industries , an Illinois-based vertically-integrated cannabis company with operations in 12 states, said that different market forces from state-to-state are responsible for varying prices. In the eastern half of the country, where legalization is relatively new, higher costs for raw materials translate into higher prices, while more mature markets out west have more production capacity in place. Some states, including Oregon and Nevada , have even seen gluts of pot bring prices down. "Broadly east of the Mississippi, there's a shortage of flower, which is not the case in most markets west of the Mississippi, Kovler said in a phone interview. So that guides a lot of what's happening in these markets, from pricing to consumer trends and traffic." Currently, its difficult to say if cannabis prices are really trending up or down overall in any meaningful way. For that to happen on a grand scale, well have to wait for federal legalization that leads to interstate commerce and commoditization in the industry. "We'll eventually get to uniformity, but the unique supply and demand conditions and the fact that different products are available in different markets make it so there's some pricing anomalies state to state," said Kovler. Rubinstein of LeafLink agrees, saying that the inevitable federal legalization of cannabis will lead to lower prices for consumers. She also noted that, in general, the states that have had legal weed the longest have the lowest prices. As legal cannabis markets mature, economies of scale and increased competition tend to put downward pressure on prices. Even so, with the ongoing volatility of the cannabis industry, Rubinstein is hesitant to say that this years report on wholesale pricing is indicative of a trend of falling prices. "The inclination for me is to be very careful about making sweeping predictions because the cannabis industry is so segmented by market, she said. Some of these markets are still so new that it's really hard to make year over year predictions." Follow AJ Herrington on Instagram
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https://merryjane.com/news/is-the-price-of-legal-weed-going-to-be-way-too-expensive-in-2020
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Is Vitamin E Causing the Mysterious Vaping Illness Thats Killing Americans?
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Scientists may have gotten closer to figuring out whats causing the mysterious vaping illness that has hospitalized over 200 people and killed at least two . Chemical analyses have now revealed a potential culprit: vitamin E acetate, also known as tocopheryl acetate , a form of vitamin E used to make lotions and other skin products. Investigators recently realized the vaping illness was likely caused by vaping marijuana products. Specifically, black market vapes . But we already know that weed doesnt cause this illness, otherwise we would see it in people who smoke but dont vape their weed, too. So, after running dozens upon dozens of chemicals tests, investigators found one principle compound thats present in some weed vapes but not in nicotine vapes, and that compound was vitamin E acetate, the Washington Post reported. Additionally, the compound was found in almost all vape samples collected from lung illness patients in the New York area. Gallery Here's What Fake Vape Cartridges Actually Look Like: Vitamin E acetate is considered fairly harmless, so long as its only applied to the skin or ingested orally as a nutritional supplement. In fact, as noted by David Downs at Leafly , you can buy entire jugs of the stuff online, hella-cheap, free of any regulatory restrictions. But scientists dont know what the compound does if its inhaled, because its not a common vape additive outside of the illicit vape cartridge markets. "The cases of pulmonary illnesses associated with vaping are continuing to rise across New York State and the country," New York Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker wrote in a public statement on Thursday. "We urge the public to be vigilant about any vaping products that they or any family members may be using and to immediately contact their healthcare provider if they develop any unusual symptoms. In general, vaping of unknown substances is dangerous, and we continue to explore all options to combat this public health issue. Most states, including New York, ban vitamin E acetate in legal vaping products. The chemical is only found in black market vapes, including candy-flavored vapes that arent infused with weed. Illicit vape producers work under the radar, and their products dont undergo any testing until people start dying from them. Stick to the legal products, since those undergo mandatory testing, and licensed producers are subject to heavy fines or criminal prosecution if they cheat the system.
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https://merryjane.com/news/is-vitamin-e-causing-the-mysterious-vaping-illness-thats-killing-americans
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Is my car exempt from Birmingham's Clean Air Zone?
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Latest news email updates straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Birmingham's Clean Air Zone is now in effect - and drivers will soon be forced to pay a fee to drive their cars in the city. For many people who regularly travel to Birmingham, it will effect them the most but for those who travel for shopping or another one-off trip, it will be a big change to take note of. But with so many people having different makes and models of cars, you might be wondering whether or not your car is exempt from the charge or not. Well, if you're unsure, we've listed some of the rules and charges you need to know about travelling to Birmingham in a car. If your vehicle meets the following emission standards you will NOT need to pay the daily charge: Euro 6 (VI) or better for diesel engine Euro 4 or better for petrol engines For diesel/petrol electric hybrids the vehicle should meet the relevant emission standards Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles will not need to pay the charge However if that's a bit confusing, you can check the registration of your car right here on the Government's website. For non-compliant vehicles, the charge is set to be 8 per day for cars, taxis (hackney carriages and private hire), LGVs and minibuses (up to and including 3.5 tonnes). It will cost 50 per day for heavier vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses/coaches. If you fail to pay the charge, there is a fine of 120, which is reduced to 60 if you pay it within a fortnight.
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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/car-exempt-birminghams-clean-air-20716830
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Is Walmart Having a Prime Day Sale?
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While nothing is confirmed just yet, it seems highly likely that Walmart will run its own sale around the same time as Prime Day so weve taken the time to look at what to expect from the Walmart Prime Day Sale. We dont know yet. Typically, Walmart runs a sale at the same time as Prime Day to compete for business. After all, it doesnt want Amazon to have the monopoly on discount shoppers. Its safe to assume this will be the case this year as it has been for previous years but we cant guarantee what date it will be. However, its very likely that Prime Day starts June 21 and runs until the end of June 22 so if thats the case, expect Walmart to have its sale at the same time. Typically, Walmart and Amazon focus on different areas during their sales. While they both have a certain amount of overlap with both retailers typically focusing on sales for a ton of different technology, there are some distinctions. For instance, Amazon is likely to have better discounts on its own products such as the Amazon Echo range and the Amazon Kindle e-readers. Alongside that though, were expecting to see a lot more discounts on home essentials and furniture at Walmart than well see at Amazon. Thats simply because of what Walmart tends to focus on home ware and other essentials like that. If youre looking for bedding, new furniture for your home, or those little delights that spruce up your living space, its very likely that Walmart will have such items more heavily discounted and attractively priced than Amazon, which tends to focus on gadgets and technology. No matter what the sales season, Walmart always has fantastic offers on TVs and were expecting this forthcoming sale to be the same. Keep an eye out for big name brands as well as lesser known TV brands at cheap prices during the Walmart sale, and dont be afraid to get in fast. Stock is often limited. Read up on the best TV brands and the best TVs beforehand so you know exactly what to expect. As well as that, dont be surprised if you see the likes of the best Instant Pots or best air fryers also on offer as part of the Walmart sales. The retailer loves to keep you up to date with the latest kitchen appliances. We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase. Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Editors Recommendations
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https://shepherdgazette.com/is-walmart-having-a-prime-day-sale/
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Are we ignoring the hard truths about the most likely cause of COVID-19?
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Loading Journalism fell into a trap with the climate crisis. By balancing the arguments of scientists and deniers early on, the media gave the public a distorted view of the expert consensus. We now live with the outcome of that coverage: less than half of Americans surveyed in 2016 believed the climate crisis was caused by human action, compared to 97 per cent of climate scientists. I worry much of the media is doing the same with the lab leak hypothesis. I worry the very scientists in Wuhan who tried to warn us, for years, about the threat posed by bat coronavirus pandemics are now being blamed. We have explored the issue in this in-depth feature and in this story, but I worry elsewhere the arguments are being presented as competing when one of them the lab leak is viewed as far less likely than the other by most experts. It does not help that the lab leak is such a compelling theory. Human brains intrinsically are designed to join dots between events, says Mathew Marques, who lectures in social psychology at La Trobe University. We struggle with uncertainty. And we like to blame people for things. Many of the zoonotic viruses that can cause pandemics are able to jump to humans via so-called wet markets. Credit:Getty The natural origin theory of COVID-19 says that the pandemic was both random chance, but also our fault: the climate crisis, deforestation, animal trafficking, mega-cities, air travel and intensive agriculture have all been dramatically increasing our risks of a pandemic. Fixing that will be hard and necessitates uncomfortable conversations about how we live now. Loading Set against that, the lab leak theory is positively compelling. Scientists doing scary and dangerous experiments! A conspiracy among foreigners to cover up a lab accident! Something bad that happened to us that wasnt our fault! And China is the perfect foil: the nation we trust the least and increasingly view as a security threat. Were drawn to understanding, I think, chaotic events that leave us in turmoil. Pointing the finger at people, usually powerful or not part of the in-group and at the moment China does seem to be a political target for some in the West, says Dr Marques. Allowing this theory to run and gain mainstream prominence may have serious real-world consequences because it distracts from a focus on reducing the human-caused risk factors that drive pandemics. The discourse detracts from the fact that epidemiologists and veterinary pathologists and other scientists in this area have been warning governments and the community for years that a zoonotic spillover with pandemic potential was increasingly likely to occur, says Dr Katie Woolaston, a Queensland University of Technology international wildlife law researcher. It takes focus away from the fact that the drivers of zoonotic spillover are human-induced environmental changes, and that needs to be addressed. I am concerned that an increased belief that the virus originated in a lab further detracts from the real and urgent need to enact preventative laws and policies. The case for a natural origin There has been plenty of ink spent in the last month on laying out the case for the lab leak hypothesis. I thought it might be valuable to spell out the other theory. As I noted earlier, we dont have definitive, 100 per cent proof. So it is helpful to think of this argument in probabilities. Consider first a shortlist of viruses that have come from animals: the coronaviruses MERS and SARS, the plague, rabies, West Nile virus, HIV, Ebola, Influenza, Nipah, Zika and Yellow Fever. Burial workers in protective gear carry the remains of someone that died of Ebola in Beni, Congo in 2019. Credit:AP The best example we can point to of a lab leak pandemic: swirling speculation about a 1977 Russian influenza outbreak. Consider the maths: there are something like 1.67 million viruses circulating among complex life, but just 219 affect humans.
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https://www.smh.com.au/national/are-we-ignoring-the-hard-truths-about-the-most-likely-cause-of-covid-19-20210601-p57x4r.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Where do Spain and the UK rank in top places to holiday for LGBTQ+ travellers?
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HOLIDAY destinations around the world vary immensely regarding attitudes to LGBTQ+ issues. Over the last few years, there have been major changes in laws and general tolerance surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights around the world. However public opinion is still extremely divided on the acceptance of homosexuality, depending geographic location, region and economic development. WORLDS APART: How tolerance levels vary around the world Dating website, MyDatingAdviser.com, researched 34 countries and concluded that Sweden is the best country for LGBTQ+ travel, as attitudes and laws are gay-friendly, compared to others in Europe and around the world. Their study ranked the most gay-friendly destinations and listed the best countries for LGBTQ+ travel. Factors taken into account were issues like society acceptance towards homosexuality, sexual activity rights, civil union rights, marriage rights, adoption rights, military service rights, anti-discimination and gender identity laws. Briefly, the Top 10 Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2021: Sweden Netherlands Spain France United Kingdom Germany Canada Australia Brazil Argentina And the bottom five are: 30. Lebanon 31. Indonesia 32. Kenya 33. Tunisia 34. Nigeria Full details and findings are listed here Spain and UK in more detail Spain LGBTQ+ Travel Index Score: 96.7 Society Acceptance: 89% Sexual Activity Rights: Legal since 1979. + UN decl. sign. Civil Union Rights: De facto unions introduced nationwide between 1998 and 2018. Marriage Rights: Legal since 2005. Adoption Rights: Legal since 2005. Military Service Rights: Includes transgender people. Anti-Discrimination Laws: Bans all anti-gay discrimination, pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal in Andalusia, Madrid, Murcia and Valencia. Gender Identity Laws: Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender. United Kingdom LGBTQ+ Travel Index Score: 95.7 Society Acceptance: 86% Sexual Activity Rights: Female always legal. Male legal in England and Wales since 1967, in Scotland since 1981, and in Northern Ireland since 1982.+ UN decl. sign. Civil Union Rights: Civil partnerships since 2005. Marriage Rights: Legal in England and Wales, and Scotland since 2014, and Northern Ireland since 2020. Adoption Rights: Legal in England and Wales since 2005, in Scotland since 2009 and Northern Ireland since 2013. Military Service Rights: Since 2000; Includes transgender people. Anti-Discrimination Laws: Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Gender Identity Laws: Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004. TRAVELLING TIPS FOR LGBTQ+ TRAVELLERS 1. Research Find information on laws and social attitudes towards homosexuality and gender identity in the country and area youre visiting. 2. Avoid Public Displays Of Affection Where There Are Low Levels Of Tolerance. In some countries homosexuality and/or homosexual relations are illegal and subject to penalties. Where relations are legal, the levels of tolerance and acceptance within society may vary hugely. For this reason, it may be best to avoid overly public displays of affection so as to not attract unwanted attention. 3. Take The Same Precautions You Would At Home. Even when you are traveling in an LGBT friendly country, its a good idea to follow the same precautions you would at home. 4. Take Sensible Precautions If You Meet Other LGBT People. Find out about the local situation. In countries where attitudes towards LGBT people are hostile, there have been right-wing groups and police known to carry out entrapment campaigns. 5. Ignore Unwelcome Remarks Or Attention And Move To A Safe Place. You may receive unwelcome attention or unwelcome remarks. This depends on the area youre in and you may want to report it to the authorities. 6. Exercise More Discretion In Rural Areas. In some countries, you are more likely to experience difficulties while in rural areas, so its best to exercise more discretion. 7. Check That Your Hotel Will Make Bookings From Same Sex Couples Before You Go. Some hotels, especially in rural areas, may refuse bookings from same sex couples. 8. Research Local LGBT-Inclusive Charities, Organisations And Travel Agents. If you need advice or care while under duress overseas, these groups can help. OTHER LGBTQ+ NEWS: Spanish Government to create law protecting transgender people in Spain
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https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2021/06/01/where-do-spain-and-the-uk-rank-in-top-places-to-holiday-for-lgbtq-travellers/
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Why was Sergio Ramos left out of Spains Euro 2020 squad?
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FOOTBALL fans were left stunned after the veteran defender Sergio Ramos was left out Luis Enriques Euro 2020 Spain squad. Many were surprised by the omission, with the 35-year-old being present in all of Spains international campaigns since 2004. However an injury plagued season has left the defender able to take part in a handful of domestic games this year. Ramoss season derailed back in January, when he underwent surgery of a torn meniscus on his left knee. Returning to the pitch against Elche just over a month later, much sooner than doctors advised, before playing a handful of La Liga fixtures and a Champions League qualifier against Atalanta. After missing the second leg of Real Madrids Champions League quarter-finals against Liverpool due to a positive COVID-19 test before taking on Chelsea at the semi-final. It was during his teams 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Blues that he picked up his latest injury which has left him sidelined ever since. Spain boss Enrique explained his decision on axing the veteran, claiming, Ramos has not been able to compete this season, he has not been able to train with the group. I clearly see that its a complicated decision. I recommended that he be selfish and that he regains his level to play in his club and in the national team. Ramos took to his social media to express his disappointment at the managers decision. After a tough few months and a strange season unlike anything I have experienced in my career comes the Euros, he wrote on his Twitter feed. It pains me not to have been able to help my team more and not to play for Spain but, in this case, the best thing to do is rest, fully recover and come back next year like weve always done. It hurts not to represent your country, but I have to be honest and sincere, he added. Ramos latest injury, tendonitis in his hamstring, comes as a huge blow for his La Liga team mates at Real Madrid as they enter the last four games of the season placed third behind Atletico Madrid. Spain will take on Poland on June 19 in the first of the group stage matches with a young and refreshed 24-man squad, including Manchester Citys Aymeric Laporte alongside Premier League duo Thiago Alcantara and Rodrigo. SPAIN TEAM IN FULL: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David de Gea (Manchester United), Robert Sanchez (Brighton) Defenders: Pau Torres (Villarreal), Eric Garcia (Manchester City), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Diego Llorente (Leeds), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodrigo (Manchester City), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool), Pedri (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Fabian Ruiz (Napoli) Forwards: Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Manchester City), Adam Traore (Wolverhampton), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Pablo Sarabia (Paris St Germain) READ ALSO:
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https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2021/06/01/why-was-sergio-ramos-left-out-of-spains-euro-2020-squad/
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What Happened To J. Cole? Why Did J. Cole Leave Basketball Africa League?
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Rapper J. Coles basketball career has come to an end for now. On Wednesday, it was revealed that J. Cole met his contractual obligations with the Rwanda Patriots BBC in the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) and left Rwanda with immediate effect. However, fans on social media were curious to know about the what happened to J. Cole and why did J. Cole leave Basketball Africa League as he was initially eager to pursue his career in professional basketball. Basketball Africa League 2021 preview Earlier this month, J. Cole signed a deal to play in the inaugural Basketball Africa League with Rwanda's Patriots BBC. The rapper was expected to play between three to six games for the African side during the course of the season. However, upon completing the J. Cole Rwanda Patriots BBC contract on Wednesday, he immediately left the African continent to return home ahead of the team's quarter-finals on Thursday. The BAL is a partnership between FIBA and the NBA, marking the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. The inaugural season will feature a total of 26 games, beginning first with an 18-game group phase for each of the league's 12 teams. The top eight teams from the group phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be single elimination in all three rounds. The first BAL finals will be held on Sunday, May 30. J. Cole has retired from the African Basketball League after 3 games. Hes leaving due to family obligations. Cole scored 5 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds in his first season. Earlier on Thursday, reports from ESPN revealed that rapper J. Cole was departing Rwanda due to a family obligation, but did not elaborate on the circumstances. Representatives for the Rwanda Patriots did not immediately respond for comment on the rappers departure. Although J. Coles presence on the inaugural roster garnered mass media attention for the league, not all players were happy about his short-term residence. AS Sale guard Terrell Stoglin spoke to the media on Wednesday and said, For a guy who has so much money and has another career to just come here and average, like, one point a game and still get glorified is very disrespectful to the game. He added, Its disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their whole lives for this. J. Cole stats in Basketball Africa League 2021 J. Cole scored five points and provided three assists and five rebounds during his 45 minutes of playing time across three games. It now remains to be seen whether he will opt to continue playing professional basketball. Image Credits - J. Cole YouTube
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https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/basketball-news/what-happened-to-j-cole-why-did-j-cole-leave-basketball-africa-league.html
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Do Languages Get Simpler When They Get More Complicated?
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Barkley Rosser | June 1, 2021 6:27 am Oh, a minor diversion from the usual political economy stuff that goes up here. This is triggered by an article in last weeks The Economist on the nearly dead San language, Nluu. It has only two living fully fluent speakers alive, both in their 80s. The San languages are among the worlds most ancient, although arguably reflecting a simpler world than the one we live in, although certainly with many complications we know nothing of. But the point that caught my attention was that it has 45 distinct click sounds, along with 114 basic sound units. It is one of only three languages in the world (all of them San) that have something called the double lip-full kiss click, whatever that is. I only know that if one sees an exclamation point that means some sort of click. So probably the most numerous living San group are the !Kung, yeah, some sort of click on the front end of that name. I have known about this matter of clicks in southern African languages for some time but had no idea there were so many different ones. Not only the San languages but also the Khoechan (or Khoi khoi) languages have lots of them. Some clicks can also be found in the much more widespread Xhosa languages, one of which was the mother tongue of Nelson Mandela, who almost certainly had some Khoi or San ancestry. But beyond these languages, I am not aware of any others that have any clicks. They have disappeared in later languages, and I am unaware of any other language having anywhere near the number of basic sound units that apparently this nearly extinct Nluu language has. I have not heard anybody theorize about simplifying sounds over time in languages, but I know there is an academic argument about grammar becoming more simplified, especially when two languages are combined as with creole or pidgin languages, something is written about by John McWhorter in hi The Creole Debate. Pidgin languages, artificially created to allow communication between groups and drawing on each others languages, tend to be especially simplistic in grammatical terms. It occurs to me that this might apply to English, which is itself a sort of creole out of Germanic Old English and Latinic Norman French, with some other elements. In a way it may be the worlds most complicated language in some forms, notably in probably having more words than just about any other language, drawing on so many inputs from so many parts of the world and fields. But in grammatical terms, it is rather simple, with only a few cases and having eliminated gender from most words. In contrast, Lithuanian, thought to be the closest to the original proto-Indo-European has seven cases, more than any other, although Russian is not too far off. However, despite this relative grammatical simplicity, English is hard to learn, not only because it has so many words but because it violates its own supposed rules so often, in contrast with Spanish, for example, reputedly one of the easiest languages to learn. So, there is no big profound point here, but just that I find this curious: that it seems that as languages evolve and interact with each other and encounter more and more influences, they seem to drop elements they previously had, whether these are sound units or grammatical forms and cases. Barkley Rosser
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https://angrybearblog.com/2021/06/do-languages-get-simpler-when-they-get-more-complicated
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Will Smith gim m bng bng cch no?
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Nam din vin kt hp nhiu bi tp nh nng t, yoga, chy b... ly li vc dng sn chc. i dch khin nhiu ngi tng cn do khng kim sot c ch n v tp luyn. Trong bc nh c Will Smith ng ti u thng 5, nam din vin gy bt ng khi cho thy phn bng ngn m khi nh ma dch. Tuy nhin, Will Smith thch thc bn thn loi b nhng thi quen c hi v thit lp ch n ung khoa hc. truyn cm hng cho mi ngi, nam din vin thng xuyn cp nht hnh nh v cc bi tp trn trang c nhn. Will Smith quyt tm tp th dc ly li vc dng sn chc. nh: Will Smith. Cc bi tp gim cn ca Will Smith bao gm i b trn my chy nghing, chy ngoi tri, yoga, y t. Anh kt hp nhiu b mn khc nhau vi mong mun nhanh chng gim c ton b m tha trn c th. Ngoi ra, nam din vin cng t b s thch n bnh muffin vo na m. Thay vo , anh chn cc mn n t cht bo, giu cht x y nhanh qu trnh gim cn. Theo Men's Health, nam gii (c bit nhng ngi trn 50 tui) s gp kh khn khi quay tr li phng tp sau thi gian di ngh ngi. "Bn nn bt u t nhng ng tc n gin nht khi ng c th nh chng y, squat, tung bng", hun luyn vin c nhn Ebenezer Samuel cho bit. Hun luyn vin c nhn Aaron Ferguson ca Will Smith chia s: "Ti thch xy dng thi quen tp luyn theo phong cch truyn thng. Vic s dng cc chuyn ng c kim sot vi trng lng va phi gip mi ngi khng b thng trong qu trnh luyn tp". Cc bi tp t gip kch thch ton b c. Tuy nhin, nam gii cn la chn trng lng t ph hp trnh b thng. nh: The Fitworld Blog. Trong tnh hnh dch bnh din ra cng thng, hu ht sinh hot ca mi ngi u din ra ti nh. V vy, bn nn p dng ch n ung v tp luyn c Healthline khuyn khch: Ct gim lng carb tinh ch l cch u tin gim cn nhanh chng. Bn phi ngng n ng v tinh bt hoc carbohydrate khi ch n ung hng ngy. iu ny hn ch s thm n, gim mc insulin v gip bn gim cn. n cht m, cht bo v rau qu l iu cn thit duy tr sc khe v khi lng c bp ca bn trong qu trnh gim cn. C th bn vn cn cht bo lnh mnh d bn chn k hoch n ung no. Du olive v du b l nhng la chn tt kt hp vi cc loi rau l xanh gip b sung nhiu cht dinh dng cho c th. Tp th dc gim cn nhanh chng hn. Bng cch nng t, bn s t chy nhiu calo v ngn qu trnh trao i cht. y l tc dng ph ph bin ca vic gim cn. Nu nng t khng phi la chn ca bn, thc hin mt s bi tp nh i b, chy b, p xe hoc bi li rt c li cho vic gim cn v sc khe.
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https://zingnews.vn/will-smith-da-giam-mo-bung-bang-cach-nao-post1222105.html
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Is Taliban Supremo Haibatullah Akhundzada alive?
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Afghanistans National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said that Taliban leaders had not been in contact with their supreme leader for one year, reports Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha The Talibans top leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has been absent from important meetings and has not been seen in public for the last one year, triggering speculation about his physical status. Citing the intelligence reports, Afghanistans National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said during a press conference on Saturday that Taliban leaders had not been in contact with their supreme leader for one year. Taliban have had no contact with Mullah Haibatullah for the last 12 months. No one had heard his voice and no one had met him. Intelligence information proves it, the Pajhwok news quoted him saying. According to senior Afghan intelligence, army and NATO officials, most decisions of the Taliban regarding peace and security are being taken by the groups deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the infamous Haqqani network, known for working hand-in-glove with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). But the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid told Pajhwok Afghan News that Mullah Haibatullah was alive and was doing his job. Mujahid said that all their leaders and officials are in contact with the supreme leader. They take his advice on all important issues and share their reports with him. Taliban He added that Akhundzada is in a safe and secure place, and his absence in public was driven by security reasons. There have been several reports that senior leaders of the Taliban are in a safe hideout near Quetta under the protection of the Pakistani army. Few weeks ago, members of the Taliban negotiating team had travelled to some undisclosed locations near Quetta for further consultations with their senior leaders, but the absence of the top leaders name stood out. Three months ago, there were media reports that Akhundzada had been killed in a bomb blast in a mosque in Quetta. His brother and a number of people of his seminary had apparently also suffered casualties in the incident, which is said to have taken place in April 2020. The Taliban had rejected the report. Taliban leader Ahmadullah Wasiq said on Twitter: This is false news and baseless rumours have no truth. Spreading such rumours and false news is a failed propaganda attempt by the enemys intelligence services. The enemy wants to hide its defeats in such rumours and distract the peoples minds. However, it is not unknown for the Taliban to hide the death of its leaders. Mullah Omars death in Pakistan in 2013 was kept hidden from the public by the Taliban for about two years. The group confirmed the death in July 2015 only after Afghanistans spy agency went public with the development. Mullah Omars successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan, in May 2016. Akhundzada was named the new head of the Taliban days later. He was previously the Talibans chief justice and most of the decisions and fatwas were made by him. It is no secret that scores of top Afghan Taliban leaders are based in Pakistan. The top leadership council is called the Quetta Shura because most of its members are based in Quetta. This year, Salaam Times raised the issue about the whereabouts of the Taliban supremo. It said that no voice clip of the Talibans leader had been released since a year and his Eid messages were all in written form. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) ALSO READ: Taliban is taking over rural areas from Afghan military Advertisements
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https://asianlite.ae/2021/top-news/is-taliban-supremo-haibatullah-akhundzada-alive?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-taliban-supremo-haibatullah-akhundzada-alive
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Does Jeff Bezos Now Control The Apprentice Outtakes?
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No, Jeff Bezos should not just get billions of dollars from NASA because he thinks he deserves it, Bernie Sanders says. After Blue Origin made a stink over losing out to SpaceX on an exclusive $2.9 billion NASA contract for a moon landing mission (due, NASA said, to limited funding), Democratic Senator Maria Cantwellfrom Amazons home state of Washingtontacked on $10 billion for NASA into the Endless Frontier Act, a bill that allocates funding to conduct research in technological innovation and space exploration. Presumably, Blue Origin will get a chunk of this, since Cantwells amendment specifically states that NASA will subsidize design, development, testing, and evaluation for not fewer than 2 entities for the Human Landing System Program. (Both Blue Origin and Dynetics had competed for the contract.)
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2264007532106/does-jeff-bezos-now-control-the-apprentice-outtakes
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Are Crypto Casinos the new Hype?
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In the last years many new ideas have entered the market and some of them were pretty innovative if not to say revolutionary. These new inventions have also changed the market and pushed new hypes. Not only have new ideas like cryptocurrencies changed the world, of course also the worldwide pandemic did its part in it. Due to the restrictions many people have started to find ways to entertain themselves at home as they cannot go outside and go to bars or casinos like they used to do before the corona pandemic. One thing that has been already existing before the pandemic but has grown immensely within the last two years are online casinos. The appearance of the cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum has sparked a huge change in the gaming and gambling industry. Online casinos have started to offer cryptos as payment methods and many online casinos which are entirely focused on cryptocurrencies have popped up in the last few years. To find the best online crypto casinos there are many guides and reviews like Bitstarz Review on Casino.Guide that one can check to learn more about the best online crypto casinos. First things first! For those who are not familiar with the term crypto casino, we have to explain first what it means. Crypto casinos are basically online casino platforms that accept cryptocurrencies as payment methods. These casinos offer all kinds of different games and services for gamblers who are looking for a way to transact in cryptocurrency instead of fiat currency. Often these casinos als provide traditional casino games like roulette. Furthermore these casinos also offer other great gambling opportunities like sport bets and online lottery. So one can actually say that crypto casinos are not much different from normal casinos. One big difference is that these online crypto casinos offer their own crypto wallet for their users in which they can store their Bitcoins and other crypto coins. So before one can place a bet, it is necessary to fill up your wallet with coins. Subsequently one can place bets from their own wallet, and just like at any other online casino, you will win or lose, depending on if you hit the right combo or not. In case of a win your gains will be sent to your wallet so you can keep on gambling. If you want to get a payout, you have the option to transfer your wins from your own wallet on the casino platform to your private bank or crypto account. It must be said though that many online crypto have strict limits on withdrawing the coins from the platforms wallet to their own private account in order to keep you gambling. So now we have figured out what crypto casinos are and how they work. There are lots of reasons why crypto casinos are so popular these days. One of the most important reasons is that crypot casinos are very private and secure. The crypto casinos feature a great deal of anonymity, security and private transactions which are impossible to track and extremely fast. Furthermore the cryptos enable gamblers to bypass third parties like big banks or other intermediaries which also improves the speed and safety of the whole process. Once one is familiar with cryptocurrencies like Litecoin, the transferring is as easy as any other online transaction that users may have been used to before. As there is no need to give any sensitive information such as private address, ID documents or banking information, which adds to the safety as well. This in particular is very important as gamblers have suffered from fraud and stolen identities at online casinos for a while. At crypto casinos gamblers are safer than ever before. All you need is basically a functional VPN, a burner email and a safe password and you can start to explore crypto casinos with maximum privacy and no fear of data theft. More control and oversight Another reason that speaks for crypto casinos is that they offer a greater deal of control about the process. The crypto casinos mostly give more control to the player over their own funds. If you play at an online crypto casino that is specialized on one specific coin like Bitcoin for instance, all payments will be done with that coin which saves time and protects the player from the delays of conventional monetary systems. The blockchain technology which the cryptocurrencies are based on enables an extremely quick and transparent process without players having to pay extra fees for transactions or other hidden features. Better Bonuses and no local restrictions Furthermore the crypto casinos mosty offer great and exciting bonuses one can win while playing. Every provider has different offers but mostly the bonuses one can win are multi-deposits bonuses, matching deposit bonuses or free spins at the slot machine. Additionally the entire idea of cryptocurrencies is a decentralized system. That means that also crypto casinos do not have to follow local restrictions. This enables the casinos to give greater bonuses and develop further without borders and gives them a major advantage compared to conventional casinos which mostly suffer under governmental restrictions and gambling regulations, while still ensuring security and privacy. Conclusion All in all it can be said that online crypto casinos are definitely not as bad as many may think. Of course there are many different providers with different policies. Some of the crypto casino platforms may not be the yellow of the egg and may not welcome players with great bonuses or even attach a bunch of annoying restrictions and limitations to the chances of winning or the amount one can withdraw. Generally though crypto casinos offer major advantages to the players compared to conventional casinos and may be the perfect solution many online gamblers have waited for so long. This is a contributed post. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Cryptopolitan.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
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https://www.cryptopolitan.com/are-crypto-casinos-the-new-hype/
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Are Pirates stalling again on Lorch transfer?
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Mgosi Squad Lorch has been linked with moves to Belgium, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch is still waiting to hear from club boss Irvin Khoza about the transfer request he filed a few months ago. ALSO READ: Nange to join Chiefs despite Hunt exit Phakaaathi broke the news of Lorchs request to be allowed to venture elsewhere with a move to a Belgian team in the offing. It is believed that Khoza didnt seem to mind allowing Lorch moving but has since had his doubts. This is after rumours that Lorch wants to join Mamelodi Sundowns, and that the Belgian move might just be a ruse. Nothing has happened yet, Khoza has not told him whether he can start negotiating with other teams who are interested or not. I think he wants whoever wants his player to come to him, and not the other way around, said a source. He further added that the Belgian side have had to stall their interest to see how long Lorch takes before recovering from his injury. It wouldnt make sense for them to make an offer when the player was injured, and they didnt have full medical details on the condition. But now that he has recovered, they might come knocking soon, added the source. Lorch, who has also been linked with Kaizer Chiefs, has had a difficult season at Pirates scoring just four times in all competitions. The attacker was left disappointed at the end of the 2018/19 season, when a proposed move to Europe fell through, and would not doubt feel aggrieved again if his latest request does not lead to a move.
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https://citizen.co.za/phakaaathi/local-soccer/mgosi/2510123/are-pirates-stalling-again-on-lorch-transfer/
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Can Metro Vancouver Prevent Thousands of Deaths from Air Pollution?
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While Metro Vancouvers air quality is considered pretty good, about 800 people in the area still die prematurely every year due to air pollution. Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners Tyee Builders Zoom Past Member Drive Goal In just 11 days, over 500 readers signed up to give monthly. Thank you! Now were upping the ante. Those numbers are crunched by Health Canada and cover deaths caused by cancer, heart attacks, bronchitis and more, says Roger Quan, Metro Vancouvers director of air quality and climate change. Metro Vancouver is home to about half B.C.s population, and the province sees about 1,600 related deaths each year, leading Quan to offer 800 as a reasonable estimate. The good news is the regional authority has a plan to clean up air pollution and reduce preventable deaths. If successful, the plan will have the added benefit of saving around $1 billion in avoided health-care costs that would have otherwise been used to treat patients suffering from air pollution-associated illnesses over the next decade. Enter Metro Vancouvers new proposed Clean Air Plan, a roadmap the regional authority publishes once per decade to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The current Clean Air Plan was published as a draft in late March. Metro Vancouver is asking everyone to read the Clean Air Plan or its summary and fill out the feedback form before June 15. The plans goal is to cut regional greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, and to improve overall air quality and visibility for the region. If the plan is fully implemented, over the next decade the the region could cut total emissions of fine particulate matter by 200 tonnes, nitrogen oxides by 3,800 tonnes and volatile organic compounds by 3,000 tonnes. Those three pollutants have no known safe exposure levels for humans. Cutting these pollutants will benefit all aspects of regional health, according to the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Improving air quality benefits health in more ways than you might think beyond cardiovascular and lung disease, it even improves our mental health, CAPE president Dr. Melissa Lem said in an email, adding that creating the infrastructure needed for increased active transportation cleans the air and provides the health co-benefits of increased exercise. The Clean Air Plan also aims to slash around seven million tonnes of regional greenhouse gas emissions, Quan says. That will put the region on track to hit net zero emissions by 2050 and follow the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes call to keep global warming from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Missing that goal would lead to catastrophic impacts caused by climate change, including more wildfires. Wildfires are a big part of B.C.s air quality hazards. Quan points to four of the last six summers where wildfire smoke from fires outside of the region drifted into the area and stuck around, making up the lions share of local air quality advisories. Metro Vancouver cant prevent global warming-related wildfires from breaking out around the world, but it can do its part to improve local air quality outside of smoke season and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which will slow down climate change, Quan says. The regional authority is mandated by the province under the Environmental Management Act to regulate air quality and has a significant reach across the Lower Mainland to monitor and enforce air pollution and greenhouse gas emission, Quan says. The Clean Air Plan tackles what it identifies as the regions largest emitters: transportation, buildings, industry and agriculture, with 90 per cent of the plans 132 actions aimed at the first three industries. Cars contribute 35 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the region, totalling over five million tonnes of CO2 emissions produced by 1.5 million passenger vehicles in 2019 alone, according to Metro Vancouver. Within the decade, greenhouse gas emissions could be slashed by up to 1.4 million tonnes and harmful air pollutants could be reduced by up to 4,000 tonnes by improving regional transit, advocating for B.C. to hit its goal of selling only zero-emissions vehicles by 2030 instead of the current goal of 2040, and supporting innovation around zero emissions technology for medium-to-heavy-duty trucks, ships and trains. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the subject of many Clean Air Plan actions to reduce marine and shipping emissions. The port authority declined to comment specifically on the plan but said that as a signatory to the 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy it is already aiming to cut its carbon emissions and hit a net-zero emissions goal by 2050. In an email, the port says a lot of emissions related to shipping, such as the diesel engines that power most freighters, are outside of its control. It offers incentives to ships to reduce emissions by allowing them to plug into B.C.s hydropower electrical grid and offers reduced harbour fees to ships powered by lower-emission fuel. Offering shore power connections at cruise and container terminals helped prevent 4,403 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and 101 tonnes of criteria air contaminants in 2019 alone, the port said. Metro Vancouvers 500,000-odd buildings ring in as the second largest emissions source, pumping out 26 per cent of the regions greenhouse gases. This largely comes from burning natural gas for heat and hot water and could be dramatically reduced by actions like swapping out gas-burning boilers for heat pumps, retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient, and banning wood burning to reduce fine particulate matter, the plan says. By following the plans proposals, over the next decade Metro Vancouvers buildings could collectively reduce their emissions by a total of 850,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas and 600 tonnes of health-harming pollutants. The regions 1,000 industrial facilities make products like cement and refine things like petroleum, which makes it a difficult sector to decarbonize, the plan notes. But Quan says steps such as shifting industrial power sources from coal to renewables and phasing out global-warming-causing refrigerants could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 800,000 tonnes and airborne contaminants by 2,400 tonnes. Thats the good news. The bad news is that even if the Clean Air Plans 132 actions are successfully implemented, the region will only be able to reduce its emissions by 15 per cent, or a total of two million tonnes of greenhouse gasses by 2030, Quan says. This frames the nature of the challenge, he says. Theres a lot of work to be done between now and 2030 to start bending the emissions curve downwards, and itll take a lot of collaboration between a lot of different groups, organizations and stakeholders to get there. The Clean Air Plan has a lot of great elements, but overall it could use more accelerated timelines and ambition, says Tom Green, David Suzuki Foundation senior climate policy advisor. Green says the plan should have tackled Metro Vancouvers unhealthy habit of driving instead of bussing or biking, and pushed for mobility pricing, which could introduce fees for driving in certain regions or during certain times to reduce congestion and emissions. When more people get out of cars and onto buses, bikes, and sidewalks, everyones mental, physical and environmental health improves, he says. Its important to remember, especially during a climate emergency, that its not just 1,600 people who die prematurely in B.C. annually due to air pollution, but also the countless others whose health is impacted and who have to live with that, he says. CAPEs Lem also thinks the plan could have gone further. Let Them Haul More, Says BC read more Its an excellent start, she says, but CAPE would have preferred to see ambitious reductions more in line with the pollution Canada produces as a wealthy, high-emitting country. But thats not to say the plan wont make a difference. Metro Vancouvers first air pollution plan started in the 1970s and adopted in 1994 cut air pollutants by 38 per cent within a decade, with a per capita drop of 58 per cent, Quan says. The next two plans in 2005 and 2011 didnt track emissions, instead relying on public reporting of ambient air quality, Quan says. But, he adds, Metro Vancouvers ambient air quality has gone up and regional emissions have gone down, except during the summer months due to smoke from wildfires. Public feedback will help shape the final edition of the plan, which Metro Vancouver hopes to complete sometime before the end of the year.
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https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/06/01/Can-Metro-Vancouver-Prevent-Thousands-Air-Pollution-Deaths/
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Is value investing about to stage a major comeback?
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The economic recovery is well underway and global sharemarkets are looking for the next big trend. The fundamentals are in place for Australian shares to shine, with forecasts that the broader market could gain another 5 per cent from its current high over the next year. Current conditions have historically been a time for cheap stocks to have their day in the sun. Credit:Dorothy Woodgate Relatively cheap stocks have struggled over the past decade and were hammered during the COVID-19 induced recession last year. However, current conditions have historically been a time for their day in the sun and they are rarely as cheap as they are right now.
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https://www.watoday.com.au/money/investing/is-value-investing-about-to-stage-a-major-comeback-20210531-p57wtv.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Was wissen Heilige vom Leben?
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Marlene, die Protagonistin in Carina Schmidts gleichnamigen Roman, muss sich dieser Frage stellen. Aufgewachsen in einer tristen Kleinstadt in der Eifel, mit einem Atomreaktor in der Nachbarschaft und einer auseinanderbrechenden Familie, gibt ihr als Kind der Glaube an Gott einen gewissen Halt. Spter verfhrt sie Frauen, nur als Besttigung. Aber mit der Liebe tut sie sich schwer. Foto: Verlag edition federleicht Was wissen Heilige Carina Schmidts Roman knnte autobiografische Zge enthalten zumindest wuchs auch sie in der Eifel zwischen Vulkanseen und einem Atomkraftwerk auf. Die studierende Literaturwissenschaftlerin und Kulturanthropologin arbeitet als Redakteurin in Mainz bei der Allgemeinen Zeitung VRM und hat bereits im Alter von sieben Jahren mit dem Schreiben begonnen. Zum Beispiel eine Kurzgeschichte ber eine sprechende Wurst. Heute ist Schmidt Vegetarierin. Der Titel ihres ersten Romans Was wissen Heilige vom Leben? wurde inspiriert von einem Gemlde des mit ihr befreundeten Knstlers Thilo Weckmller; er steuerte auch das Buchcover bei. Im Anschluss an die Lesung fhrt die Mainzer Journalistin und Moderatorin Judith Seitz ein Interview mit Carina Schmidt. Lesung und Interview knnen per Zoom verfolgt werden. 6.6., Bar jeder Sicht digital via Zoom, 20 Uhr, Infos ber www.barjedersicht.de Was wissen Heilige vom Leben? von Carina Schmidt ist im Verlag edition federleicht erschienen.
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https://www.maenner.media/regional/gab/was-wissen-heilige-vom-leben/
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Was tun mit kolonialer Beutekunst?
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Berlin - Seit mein Buch Das Prachtboot. Wie Deutsche die Kunstschtze der Sdsee raubten erschienen ist, werde ich hufig gefragt, was man nun tun solle. Schlielich seien die kolonialgeschichtlichen Tatsachen, wie sie auch von Bndicte Savoy beschrieben werden, sehr beunruhigend. Die deutsch-franzsische Historikerin Savoy dokumentiert in ihrem gleichfalls neuen Buch Afrikas Kampf um seine Kunst, wie sich afrikanische Staaten seit 50 Jahren vergeblich um die Rckgabe geraubter Kulturgter bemhen. Ich erzhle, wie die Kolonie Deutsch-Neuguinea von Kaufleuten, Ethnologen und Soldaten leergeplndert und kulturell ruiniert wurde. Restitutionsfragen behandle ich nicht. Denn anders als im Fall Afrika geht es im Fall Sdsee zunchst darum, die grundlegenden Fakten der deutschen Ausbeutungs- und Gewaltherrschaft ins Gedchtnis zu rufen. Auerdem hat der 1975 gegrndete Staat Papua-Neuguinea bislang keine Forderung nach Rckgabe gestellt. Das wird sich ndern, ob in fnf, 20 oder 30 Jahren bleibt offen. Bis dahin sollten sich die Verantwortlichen deutscher ethnologischer Museen und privater, kirchlicher oder auch universitrer Sammlungen als Treuhnder verstehen. Das bedeutet dreierlei: Erstens verzichten sie damit offiziell auf angemate Eigentumstitel, und zweitens erkennen sie die Pflicht an, koloniale Beuteobjekte zu pflegen und gegebenenfalls zu restaurieren. Besonders wichtig erscheint mir der dritte Gesichtspunkt: Alle deutschen ethnologischen Museen sollten verpflichtet werden, ihre originalen Inventare im Laufe des nchsten Jahres online fr jedermann zugnglich zu machen. Da die deutsche Kurrentschrift (und ihre Stterlin genannte Variante) selbst von den allermeisten Deutschen kaum noch gelesen werden kann, sind die Inventare in Worddateien zu transkribieren. Dazu stehen softwaregesttzte und vielfach erprobte Verfahren bereit. Des Weiteren sollten die Inventare dann vollstndig ins Englische bersetzt und auch die bersetzungen online gestellt werden. Noch verweigert Kulturstaatsministerin Monika Grtters (CDU) einen solchen Schritt. Zwar spendierte sie im Februar 2019 knapp zwei Millionen Euro zur Provenienz- und Grundlagenforschung von Sammlungsgut aus kolonialen Kontexten, aber das blieb reine Symbolpolitik. Grtters Verhalten legt nahe, den Posten der Kulturstaatsministerin im Herbst neu zu besetzen. Zudem wre von der nchsten Regierung zu beschlieen, die Inventare des staatlichen Ethnologischen Museums in Berlin schleunigst auf Deutsch und Englisch zu verffentlichen beispielgebend fr die vielen Sammlungen, die nicht der Bundesregierung unterstehen. Auf diese Weise wrden alle Beteiligten eine gemeinsame Informationsgrundlage erhalten: die Museumsleute und staatlichen Stellen in den einstigen Kolonien, ebenso die dortigen und die hiesigen politischen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Akteure. Damit wre der gewiss nicht kurze Weg zu einem fairen Prozess des fachlichen Austauschs, des Verhandelns und Zurckgebens geebnet. Weitere Kolumnen von Gtz Aly
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https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/was-tun-mit-kolonialer-beutekunst-li.162180
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Are LGBTQ+ people under siege in the UK?
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Pride Month is important to LGBTQ+ people for many different reasons. It allows us to commemorate those who went before and fought so bravely for the rights we enjoy. It is a time to celebrate what we have achieved, but also gives us an important platform to protest and highlight areas where LGBTQ+ people face discrimination. In previous years I have focused on all of these elements, but the UK government is increasingly moving towards an agenda which, in my view, is profoundly lesbophobic, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic. This government is not just preventing further progress on LGBTQ+ rights, but actively eroding our freedoms. Whereas five years ago it was possible to say that in the UK there was cross-party consensus on LGBTQ+ rights, seeking full equality for LGBTQ+ people, I now believe the government is trying to dismantle a framework of LGBTQ+ rights which has been built up since 1997. With the publication of the governments LGBT Action Plan in July 2018 there was still cause for optimism. The scale of the governments research, capturing the opinions of over 100,000 LGBTQ+ people seemed impressive and the goals set out in the Plan were comprehensive, although no mention was made of LGBTQ+ asylum claimants. On almost all the goals set out in the Plan, the government has failed to deliver, or only partially done so often under huge pressure from campaigners and in some circumstances, we have seen rights perceived as inalienable rolled back. Two key examples of this are: firstly, the way the government handled reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004; and, secondly, the governments mishandling of the commitment to end so-called conversion therapy. Reform of the Gender Recognition Act was dragged out, with government ministers moved to other portfolios. After a lengthy consultation with a majority in favour of the suggested reforms the government left LGBTQ+ people shocked and appalled with their meagre proposals. Much of the bureaucracy remains, self-determination of gender was not included and there is no legal recognition for non-binary people. On conversion therapy campaigners were privately worried by the governments language early on the Plan set out that the government wished to end this disgusting practice, rather than using the word ban. It has been a struggle over the past four years to get the government to commit to the ban, mentioned in the Queens Speech on 11 May, although once again subject to consultation. Each step has been a battle not yet won in forcing the government to implement a ban which extends to adults (not just the under 18s), protects trans people and also encompasses religious practices. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime has been on the rise in the UK under the Conservative Party for a while, last years statistics showing a 19 per cent rise in hate crimes based on sexual orientation and a 16 per cent rise in transphobic hate crime. While there are a range of factors underpinning this, the governments enthusiasm for engaging in culture wars, whether on trans rights, Black Lives Matter, freedom of speech and now legislation curtailing the right to protest, is a significant contributing factor. The government shows little restraint in stoking the fires of hatred at the expense of minorities, including LGBTQ+ people. I spoke independently to four of the UKs leading LGBTQ+ activists, to ask their view on how the government is performing on LGBTQ+ rights.
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https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/are-lgbtq-people-under-siege-in-the-uk/
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Whats Delta Variant Covid Strain?
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TNI Bureau: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that the COVID-19 variation initially discovered in India would now be known as the Delta variant. India has protested on May 12 to it being dubbed the Indian variant, despite the fact that it was previously recognized as B.1.617. Viruses or variations should not be recognized by the names of the countries where they were discovered, according to the World Health Organization. According to Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical lead COVID-19 at WHO, The labels dont replace existing scientific names, which convey important scientific information and will continue to be used in research. No country should be stigmatized for detecting and reporting Covid variants. Scientists and scientific research will continue to use the current nomenclature methods for designating and monitoring SARS-CoV-2 genetic lineages, according to the WHO. The use of Greek alphabet letters, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and so on, has been proposed by a WHO-convened panel. The variant earlier found in India will be known as Kappa, the WHO has said. Lineages of the B.1.617 variety have been officially documented in 53 countries and informally in seven more. It has been demonstrated to be more transmissible, albeit the severity of the ailment and the risk of infection are still being investigated. Because of two alterations in the viruss genome, named E484Q and L452R, this strain is known as a double mutant. Three others have previously been classed as of concern after being discovered in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa.
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https://enewsinsight.com/whats-delta-variant-covid-strain/
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What's our Daventry columnist got a Bee in Her Bonnet about this week?
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Kirsty Beeson. Two weeks ago I decided to go into town to meet a friend inside a coffee shop; I was very excited because yes, we can now go inside. We sat and caught up with recent events, sipping our coffees and really enjoying the freedom, like a tiny holiday. This abruptly ended when I remembered that I had parked in Bowen Square and it was just over two hours previous, I had read the new sign and had even downloaded the app. You get two glorious hours for free before you have to start paying and of course I had forgotten. I hurriedly said goodbye and raced outside muttering some quite unprintable words, got into my car and went home. Low and behold this week I received a parking fine for 60, as I had overstayed the two hours free period by 16 minutes and I hadnt paid for any extra. Myself! Thats who. The rules were quite plainly laid out; there are several signs with instructions and costs. I have known about the charges for a couple of weeks now. So yes, absolutely gutted at myself for spending 63.45 on a blooming latte! Since my fine I have heard many moans about the parking and I get the sense that many others are incensed, but are aiming their anger towards the owners. There seems to be a general understanding that, due to this new parking regulation at Bowen Square, people are being turned out of the car-park immediately at two hours or a fine ensues. No. That is not the case. You can stay as long as you like as long as you pay. Your shopping time has not been limited. Dont get me wrong, it is frustrating that we may be fined if we forget, but it is down to us. Some people have expressed the concern that not everyone has access to the app. Please read the sign, other ways to pay are on there. If we travelled to other towns and came across car-parks with their own rules we would not blink an eye, we would drive about until something suitable was found. This app payment for parking has been cropping up all over the country in recent years; I often come across it when we visit the beach or tourist attractions, so it isnt a new thing, just new to Daventry. Change is different, sometimes not what you want, but you always have the choice to embrace it. Parking so close to our shops is really quite a privilege. I must, however, end with a thank you to one lady on social media this week. You changed my view on how the current car-parking rule can be seen as discriminatory. By not having any concession for blue badge holders it will possibly make life more difficult for those who need that extra time to prepare their day. This I do agree with and can absolutely stand by those affected.
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https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/whats-our-daventry-columnist-got-a-bee-in-her-bonnet-about-this-week-3257106
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Is it better for startups to stay focused or diversify early?
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Theres no shortage of advice on whether to focus or diversify as a company, along with examples of which companies have done what correctly. However, the bulk of the discussion centers on massive global conglomerates (the Disneys or 3Ms of the world) as opposed to discussing how to tackle this dilemma at the earlier stage of a companys growth. This is largely because conventional wisdom says the key to early success involves laser-like focus on a specific market, product and client base, cracking that, and then expanding. But the benefits of diversification dont have to be limited to later-stage or larger companies. While its not a risk-free strategy, diversifying early isnt just a path for faster growth. Its also a mindset informing the future trajectory of the company. The options for diversification are varied, from vertical or horizontal diversification, concentric or heterogeneous. It might include offering something similar in the supply chain, creating new sales channels, expanding to new customer segments, or even just opening up an international office. Below are some of the decisions early or growth stage companies should look at when evaluating if and when to diversify, and some tips for how to get it done. Attractive acquisition target versus a strong standalone The first question is really about whether to diversify at all, which largely connects to the long-term goals of the company, and specifically about whether or not you want to be acquired. If youre focused on one product or service, then youre (in most cases) aiming to be strategic for one particular market and therefore one category of buyer, which will make your company a more likely, natural target for getting acquired by someone in that buyer group. Think Cisco buying BabbleLabs and Amazon buying Zoox. Both of the startups were successful, one-service companies whose focus made them ripe for an acquisition. Selling at the right time (i.e. not waiting too long) is crucial here though, since if youre large enough to be meaningful, then your tech may eventually get replicated by the potential acquirer or another company, leaving your service obsolete. If, however, the companys goal is not M&A, then diversification is key to ensuring your risk is low and your unique selling point is strong. And the earlier on its done, the higher the chance of success. Tactics versus strategy This may seem like a bizarre piece of advice, but when your company is young, I would recommend focusing on tactics rather than strategy. Contrary to popular opinion, it can be risky in the early days to spend the majority of your time planning for the next 10 years, versus ensuring that youre making it month to month in the most efficient way. Having a general vision of where youre heading is important, but focus too much on the strategy and you may get blindsided along the way. Focusing on tactics makes you agile, and agility can help you succeed in the most precarious stages of a companys lifecycle. Take a company pivot for examplelong a common milestone along the journey to success as founders re-evaluate product-market fit. By focusing on tactics and not on a future strategy or dream, youre more open to and aware of new ideas or directions that might be more lucrative or promising, spurring you to adapt your business accordingly. Take Avon for example. The founder was a book salesman who created a rose-scented perfume as a free gift to encourage people to buy his books. The perfume was much more popular than his books, so he abandoned selling books and started producing perfume instead. Wrigley has a similar story but instead of books it was soap and baking powder, and instead of perfume it was gum. In some ways, the focus vs. diversification dilemma can be a mirror of the strategy vs. tactics dynamic. Of course, at a certain point it becomes equally important to build a long-term strategy, but having the openness to hear new ideas, and the flexibility to act on tactical diversification opportunities, can ultimately serve you better than sticking strictly to your original strategy. How to diversify Theres a wealth of information and formulas on how to diversify. Here are four that I think are natural and easy concepts for growth companies to consider. 1. Extending your existing capabilities/products/services Once you have expertise in a certain area, dig into how you could adapt it for a different audience, need, or situation. For example, Kelloggs moved from cereals into cereal bars (though they also had some unrelated diversification as a company) and Honda, which was originally a motorcycle business, took its knowledge of small, reliable engines and diversified into producing cars, and later lawn mowers and boat engines. 2. Buying another company After going through multiple mergers and acquisitionsthe first one being a year after founding ironSourceIm a big believer in inorganic growth. When you want to expand your capabilities and/or expertise, theres no quicker way than to acquire them. This could be something that will support your current offering (e.g Salesforce and Slack) or something that is closely analogous to your offering (e.g. Facebook buying WhatsApp and Instagram). 3. Cultivating internal innovation When youre passionate about something, creativity flourishes. Many companies establish innovation labs where employees are tasked with developing with an open mind and no limitationsincluding not having to create products that relate to the companys core business. At other times, its simply a drive to improve an existing system or process in your company that results in the next big thing. AWS came from a vision inside of Amazon to rely on their own web services; monday.com (originally daPulse) came from an initiative inside of Wix as a tool to improve the communication between teams; Suzuki was created by a silk weavers passion for inventing. Often, giving the freedom to innovate to people who are most familiar with your company DNA and capabilities can birth new products or services that can provide a path to diversification. 4. New physical location Opening up a new international office may not seem like diversification, but depending on the market, it can function in the same way, with the extent of the diversification depending on the gap between the two markets. A given geographical market might be dominated by a subset of customers you are less used to serving, or represent an opportunity to grow a feature which has been less popular in other markets. There may be distribution differences, regulatory changes, and payment option adaptations, and in many cases, the product or service itself will also change. In some ways, opening up a new office is the most difficult form of diversification, as it often feels like business as usual only in a different location, only this could not be further from the truth. This form of diversification can be as challenging yet also as rewarding as adding a new product line. Diversification has many paths Diversification can mean something different to every single business. It takes effort and its own kind of focus, so its important to first assess whether its something that your company is striving for, and if so then examining and perhaps also trialling different avenues that may suit your business and your company culture. But remember, for diversification to be an option in the first place, openness and willingness to change is the most important criteria.
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https://qz.com/work/2014719/is-it-better-for-startups-to-stay-focused-or-diversify-early/
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Will We Ever Understand Black Holes?
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We investigate the static and spherically black hole solutions in the quadratic-order extended vector-tensor theories without suffering from the Ostrogradsky instabilities, which include the quartic-order (beyond-)generalized Proca theories as the subclass. We start from the most general action of the vector-tensor theories constructed with up to the quadratic-order terms of the first-order covariant derivatives of the vector field, and derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for the metric and vector field variables in the static and spherically symmetric backgrounds. We then substitute the spacetime metric functions of the Schwarzschild, Schwarzschild-de Sitter/ anti-de Sitter, Reissner-Nordstrm-type, and Reissner-Nordstrm-de Sitter/ anti-de Sitter-type solutions and the vector field with the constant spacetime norm into the Euler-Lagrange equations, and obtain the conditions for the existence of these black hole solutions. These solutions are classified into the two cases 1) the solutions with the vanishing vector field strength; the stealth Schwarzschild and the Schwarzschild de Sitter/ anti- de Sitter solutions, and 2) those with the nonvanishing vector field strength; the charged stealth Schwarzschild and the charged Schwarzschild de Sitter/ anti- de Sitter solutions, in the case that the tuning relation among the coupling functions is satisfied. In the latter case, if this tuning relation is violated, the solution becomes the Reissner-Nordstrm-type solution. We show that the conditions for the existence of these solutions are compatible with the degeneracy conditions for the Class-A theories, and recover the black hole solutions in the generalized Proca theories as the particular cases.
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2263018066109/will-we-ever-understand-black-holes
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Can the three-child policy solve China's demographic crisis?
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China has been trying to come up with effective measures to deal with its looming demographic crisis over the past few years. The government's latest measure is allowing married couples to have three children. The move further loosens Beijing's tight control over Chinese citizens' reproductive rights over the last few decades. Some experts think the policy alone will have limited impact on the trend of China's fertility rate. Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor of social science and public policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), said that some of his survey data suggests that only a small number of people in China really want to have a third child. He said factors like the costs of bringing up children and opportunity costs for working women's careers might discourage many Chinese women from thinking about having more children. "We wouldn't expect the policy change to make a major difference to the overall pattern of fertility in China," he told DW. Prior to introducing the three-child policy, China strictly carried out the one-child policy for decades before relaxing its policy in late 2015 by implementing the two-child policy. However, the measure didn't help to boost the fertility rate in the country significantly. Recent data shows that China's fertility rate in 2020 was 1.3 children per woman, making it on par with other aging societies like Japan and Italy. 'I just want to lie down' Some women in China view the three-child policy as a remedy that's going in a different direction as their own family planning blueprint. Brenda Liao, a 25-year-old student, told DW that many Chinese women around her age are now practicing a new lifestyle called "lie down" in China. It refers to a philosophy that encourages women and men in China to exert the bare minimum effort to fulfill duties or things in life. "It doesn't matter what the government's family planning policy is, because I'm already committed to fulfilling the spirit of 'lying down' by not imposing any expectation regarding having children on myself," said Liao. "Many of my friends also share the same philosophy in life." Other women highlighted the high cost of raising children in major cities in China as another reason why they won't consider complying with the government's three-child policy. "I live in a tier-one city in China, so the costs to raise children make me very anxious," said Lily Bi, a university professor. "I don't think I have the ability to cope with the anxiety that comes with raising a child properly while handling other pressures from society." There are also some that think the Chinese government is now tasting its own medicine after enforcing strict family planning policies for decades. "The government fined women for having more than one child for three decades and now they are urgently revising the policies due to the looming demographic crisis," said Amber Chen, a housewife in China. "They are paying the price for their own arbitrary policies. They should have known that women's reproductive rights are a basic human right and they shouldn't have taken it away from us." In fact, a poll run by China's state-run Xinhua news agency on the microblogging platform Weibo also supports the thoughts shared by many Chinese women. The poll asked respondents whether they were ready for the three-child policy and more than 28,000 out of 31,000 respondents said they would never consider it. The poll was later removed from Weibo. A 'civil war' between Beijing and Chinese people To other experts, while Beijing has further relaxed its tight control over family planning policies through the three-child policy, they think the essence of the law remains somewhat intrusive to Chinese citizens' basic rights. "The three-child policy is still a kind of family planning, population control and taking population as a burden," said Yi Fuxian, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States. "Family planning is a half-century-long civil war between the Chinese government and the Chinese people. To end this civil war, a change of direction in population policy needs to be completed by a decision of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the National People's Congress," he told DW. "Perhaps this time it was too late, so the Chinese authorities first announced the three-child policy as an expedient policy at a Politburo meeting," he added. Supportive measures to boost fertility needed Gietel-Basten from HKUST is of the view that apart from the three-child policy, the Chinese government also needs to roll out concrete measures that can "fix the problem from the supply end." "China's demographic challenges won't be fixed by increasing the number of babies women can have. If the Chinese government wants to increase the fertility rate, they need to do that by supporting people to reach their reproductive aspirations." Recent data shows that China's fertility rate in 2020 was 1.3 children per woman In addition to the three-child policy, the Chinese government is also planning to introduce a series of supportive measures in the hope that they would fundamentally improve China's population structure. The government plans to lower educational costs for families, increase financial and housing support, as well as safeguard the legal rights of working women. Despite the criticism over the three-child policy, Gietel-Basten thinks it could still generate some positive changes to improve certain situations that Chinese women have to face. "The policy removes a clear inconsistency in the narrative surrounding the concerns over low fertility," he said. "The change will make a major difference for the people who do wish to have a third child. It will also be an important step in further stamping out illegal actions on women's bodies, including sterilization and abortion sanctioned by some local officials." Additional reporting by Jose Qian from German public broadcaster ARD's Shanghai bureau.
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https://www.dw.com/en/china-three-child-family-planning-policy/a-57740847
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Why do Xbox fans need to pay attention on June 13th?
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Xbox fans should pay close attention on June 13th. This date will be big news for fans of Microsofts gaming ecosystem. Starting at 10am Pacific Standard Time, this showcase promises 90 minutes of all news and announcements about Xbox. This is a healthy time for any gaming company, but given that the Xbox is currently focusing on the number of studios under its belt and the Game Passs third-party partnership, fans are on the Xbox update. You should expect a lot of shows in the fall lineup and beyond. The E3 2021 is just around the corner, with dozens of updates and announcements about upcoming games. Of all the participating companies, the Xbox is most likely to surprise the audience during the E32021 showcase. With a full roster of studios, including Bethesda, Xbox fans will want to pay special attention to the June 13th Xbox event. Halo Infinite News And Trailers There are also some other bits of Halo Infinite News that fans should expect to get up to date with. The release date of Halo Infinites seems obvious given that the game will land in November, a few months after the show. Fans can also see the Halo Infinites multiplayer mode, which received some impressive screenshots, but it has no effect on the gameplay footage. If its likely to be the centerpiece of the game during a meeting, its Halo Infinite. The next entry on the Xbox Crown Jewel franchise was originally intended to be released with the Xbox Series X, but was delayed by a year to give 343 Industries more time to polish it. .. The last big Halo Infinite showcase was criticized for its visual representation, so the Xbox could spend time advertising how beautiful the game was with the extra time in the oven. In addition to the standard multiplayer gameplay fees, fans are definitely looking for news about the Halo Infinites multiplayer armor option. The Halo 5 has been criticized for its overly futuristic look, compared to older entries that had some sort of grainy tactical look. Of all the things that may not give a presentation, multiplayer customization seems most likely to be cut, but its how much of the 90-minute presentation is dedicated to everything in Halo. depends on. Starfield release date and gameplay Gamers havent heard much about Starfield, Bethesdas next big RPG since it was announced at E3 2018. But this year everything seems to change. At Microsofts Xbox conference, the Bethesda portion of the showcase is heavily promoted, and Starfields release updates are basically guaranteed to take place at the show. Its impossible to say exactly what it will look like, but not showing anything is a waste of Xbox time. According to a recent leak, fans should expect at least the Starfield release window, and perhaps the exact Starfield release date. The information comes from Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, who recently commented on Bethesda to unveil Starfields release date on Twitter at E32021, and the plan is for a specific Starfield release date for fans. He said it was to be announced. However, that date could be a 2022 date instead of the 2021 date that fans wanted. When the release date is announced, its not surprising that Bethesda and Xbox will display Starfields gameplay chunks on stage. Strange details given the time the game was announced, in addition to some leaked screenshots that even Starfield fans may not have seen the game running.Official gameplay updates and other obsidian projects The Bethesdas part of the Xbox E3 2021 showcase may be more focused, but there are many reasons why obsidian fans are also excited. Obsidian is currently working on projects of various sizes, from the small survival game Grounded to the large RPG Avowed. Grounded has released updates on a regular basis since early access, and Xbox may spend some time showing progress to unfollowed users. However, Avowed can steal the spotlight if it appears. Avowed is set in the same world as the Pillars of Eternity, an RPG series that prevented obsidian from shutting down after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Another case where fans expect it on the same scale as Skyrim, but know almost nothing about it. Theres no guarantee that Avowed will be on stage, but Microsoft seems ready to start announcing it after this years announcement, ensuring that all Avowed gameplay, trailers, or release windows are on the gamers wishlist. It is. Theres no guarantee that Avowed will show up, but 90 minutes is a healthy time for the showcase, and the Xbox should take home why its worth buying the Xbox Series X right now. The best way to do that is with a barrage of updates, and Obsidian will probably be an important part of that.Partnership with the new Xbox Game Pass game One of the most exciting things about the Xbox Showcase is the new addition to Game Pass. Since Xbox first-party games will be available on the first day of service, almost anything Xbox fans will see on the Xbox-Bethesda E3 showcase will be included in the Game Pass subscription. This means Starfield, Aboud, and everything else Microsofts studios have shown in the last few years. In addition, there may be third-party additions that will excite fans. Rumors are widespread that Ubisoft Plus will be added to the Game Pass, which hasnt been confirmed, but it doesnt seem impossible given that EA Play is included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Individual games may be released to the service from day one, especially after titles such as Outriders, Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance, etc. have been added to the Game Pass. Check out all the news and articles from the latest game news and updates. Disclaimer: If you need to update / edit / delete this news or article, please contact our support team. What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos
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https://exbulletin.com/tech/956732/
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What Drove One Of America's Richest Oil Executives To Commit Suicide By Driving Into A Concrete Bridge At 88MPH?
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On March 2, 2016, energy tycoon Aubrey McClendon drove his Chevy Tahoe straight into a concrete bridge at 88mph. He was not wearing a seat belt and the SUV exploded into flames. McClendon was killed instantly. The news was shocking. Not just locally around Oklahoma City, but nationally. The 56-year-old was a one-time high-flying corporate executive. In 2008, McClendon was the highest paid CEO of all the S&P 500 companies, with a compensation package totaling $112 million. At the peak of his career Aubrey was worth right around $1 billion. He was one of the largest landowners in the United States, owning 100,000 acres. He even owned 20% of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. Aubrey McClendon had it all. A day before Aubrey's death, March 1, McClendon was indicted by a federal grand jury. He was accused of violating antitrust laws from 2007 to 2012, while he was the CEO of Chesapeake Energy. People who knew McClendon said he was a happy, optimistic, and outgoing person. In the end, though, his life went down in flames. McClendon co-founded Chesapeake Energy and built it into the second-largest gas producer. Only Exxon-Mobile was bigger. He had a larger-than-life personality. He was smart and ambitious and not a rule follower. He was a pioneer in the controversial fracking industry. Early Life McClendon grew up in Oklahoma. He was president of his senior class in high school and co-valedictorian. He attended Duke, where he met his future wife Kathleen Upton Byrns. He graduated with a B.A. in history and a minor in accounting. After college, he first worked as an accountant. Then, one day, he read an article in the Wall Street Journal about two men selling their state in an energy company for $100 million. He got a job at his uncle Aubrey Kerr's company Jaytex Oil and Gas. He left that job in 1982 to found his own company. Chesapeake Energy In 1989, McClendon and his friend Tom Ward founded Chesapeake Energy with $50,000. He was 29. They leased land that larger oil and gas companies had abandoned. They chose the name for their company because if the company failed, they could distance themselves from it more than if it was named McClendon Ward. McClendon was one of the first people to use the now controversial fracking method of freeing natural gas reservoirs from dense layers of rock. Chesapeake drilled sideways into the formations, blew them apart with explosives, and then pumped in water and sand to keep the cracks open so that the gas could be mined. Fracking is currently blamed for poisoning drinking water, polluting the air, and triggering earthquakes. However, it is also credited with reducing the U.S.'s dependence on foreign oil. Chesapeake Energy went public in 1993. At the time the company's market cap was $25 million. Chesapeake thrived for the next few years. In 1997 they hit a roadblock when one of Chesapeake's key oil fields didn't produce as much as expected. McClendon attempted to sell the company in 1998 but there were no buyers. That worked out well because, in the early 2000s, natural gas prices increased. America's Most Reckless Billionaire By 2008, a decade after Chesapeake's low point, McClendon was the highest-paid CEO of all the S&P 500 companies with a $112 million compensation package. That same year, he was told his shares weren't valuable enough to secure a margin loan. He was forced to sell most of his 31.5 million shares, which was a 94% stake in Chesapeake. In 2009, the company gave McClendon a five-year retention contract and a $75 million bonus. In a 2011 cover story, Forbes called McClendon "America's most reckless billionaire," and noted his high-risk tolerance and the recklessness of the sale of his shares in 2008. Chesapeake had reduced the U.S.'s dependence on foreign oil, which in turn, drove down the price of oil. McClendon had also taken on a lot of debt to grow the company. He had more than $1 billion in personal loans to finance drilling costs. He ran into trouble because he took the loans out from lenders that did business with Chesapeake, which was a conflict of interest. He was fired in 2012. McClendon retained the option to continue investing in Chesapeake's wells after he was fired. In April 2013, McClendon founded American Energy Partners, LP (AELP), an oil and natural gas company. Over the next two years, he hired more than 600 people and took on equity and debt in the amount of $15 billion. In February 2015, Chesapeake filed a lawsuit against McClendon, accusing him of misappropriating company data on available land after he was fired. Downfall On March 1, 2016, McClendon was indicted by a federal grand jury for violating anti-trust laws. McClendon was accused of suppressing the price of oil and natural gas site leases by rigging the bidding process. Aubrey McClendon denied all charges and said that he worked to create jobs and help Oklahoma's economy for 35 years while providing energy for the entire country. He released a statement which read: "The charge that has been filed against me today is wrong and unprecedented, I have been singled out as the only person in the oil and gas industry in over 110 years since the Sherman Act became law to have been accused of this crime in relation to joint bidding on leasehold." The Assistant Attorney General of the time said, in part: "Executives who abuse their positions as leaders of major corporations to organize criminal activity must be held accountable for their actions." The next day, Aubrey McClendon got into his Chevy Tahoe and drove it into a concrete embankment at 88 miles per hour. According to a police report: "He pretty much drove straight into the wall. The information out there at the scene is that he went left of center, went through a grassy area right before colliding into the embankment. There was plenty of opportunity for him to correct and get back on the roadway and that didn't occur." On March 3, 2016, the Justice Department filed motions and dismissed McClendon's indictment. A truly tragic ending.
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https://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/billionaire-news/what-drove-one-of-americas-richest-oil-executives-to-commit-suicide-by-driving-into-a-concrete-bridge-at-88mph/
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What Happened To Sandeep Bhaiya In 'Aspirants' Towards The End Of The TVF Show?
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TVFs Aspirants is a show celebrated by its audience for being one of the best web series released on YouTube. From the amazing storyline to dialogues, songs, the characters, and actors, all have stolen the audiences hearts. One character who became everyones favourite was that of Sandeep Bhaiya. Sunny Hinduja who is Sandeep Bhaiya in Aspirants received immense love for his character because, on the show, he is in preparation for UPSC for 4 years and is a senior everyone looks up to and takes inspiration from. However, after he does not clear his last attempt, the audience was left wondering What happened to Sandeep Bhaiya in Aspirants. Here's What happened to Sandeep Bhaiya in Aspirants Abhilash always looks up to Sandeep Bhaiya as an inspiration like several others. And on getting a chance to attempt for the competitive exam again, he appears and clears the exam, becoming an IAS officer. Six years later, Sandeep Bhaiya comes to meet Abhilash in his office and they have a great conversation about life. Sandeep Bhaiya says he cleared the PSC exam and became a Civil Servant. Abhilash and Sandeep Bhaiya, both get the opportunity to attempt for UPSC, but Sandeep Bhaiya chooses to appear for PCS. Moreover, Sandeep Bhaiya also reveals that he never married Kusum, because he felt guilty and his ego ate him up. Sunny Hinduja who plays Sandeep Bhaiya in Aspirants serves as a mentor to Abhilash and tells him to take up coaching, attend seminars and also study hard, to stay away from distractions. Later, after six years when Abhilash meets Sandeep Bhaiya, the latter shares how he feels empty because he lost Kusum, on his journey to becoming a Civil Servant. He teaches Abhilash to let bygones be bygones and forgive those who hurt him. Sandeep Bhaiya also tells him that although a career is an important aspect of one's life, they must not forget those who helped them in becoming something, including friends, family members and the ones who love you dearly. IMAGE: STILL FROM ASPIRANTS Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
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https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/web-series/what-happened-to-sandeep-bhaiya-in-aspirants-towards-the-end-of-the-tvf-show.html
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When Is 'Lucifer' Season 5 Part 2 Releasing In India? What Are The Timings For The Same?
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Lucifer is all set to greet fans once again on May 28, 2021. Part 2 of Season 5 comes after a year-long wait. The fans of the show are definitely excited for the show's premiere and can't wait to see how the story unfolds next. The show will release on Netflix. Netflix picked up Lucifer after Fox cancelled the show. Lucifer season 5 Part 2 will release in the US on May 28, 2021. Fans in India too can enjoy the show on Netflix without waiting for it. The Lucifer season 5 part 2 release date in India is set on the same day as its US release. The show will release in India on May 28, 2021, at 12:30 pm. Here to share some exciting news that you definitely did not already know: Season 5B of Lucifer premieres May 28! pic.twitter.com/JFWx9ecH9X Netflix (@netflix) March 29, 2021 The show is hugely anticipated after the teaser trailer was released earlier in April. The teaser trailer is just under two minutes, but it gives a good glimpse into the show. The teaser shows the arrival of Lucifer's father God as he tries to break the fight between Lucifer and his twin Michael. The story will be picked up where Part 1 of the show ended on a huge cliffhanger. A look at Lucifer season 5 cast Lucifer season 5 saw the return of the main cast consisting of Tom Ellis who plays the titular character, and his twin Michael. Lauren German appears as Chloe Decker, an LAPD Detective and Lucifer's love interest. D.B. Woodside plays the role of Amenadiel, Lucifer's elder brother and Dr Linda Martin's partner. Rachel Harris plays the role of Dr Linda Martin, a psychiatrist who is first visited by Lucifer, and slowly Chloe and Amenadiel visit too. She gets a little more involved in their lives after she ends up getting intimate with Amenadiel and gives birth to their child Charlie, who is considered as the first half-human and half-angel baby in the whole universe. Kevin Alejandro is Daniel Espinoza, Chloe Decker's ex-husband and also an LAPD Detective. Lesley Ann-Brandt is Mazikeen aka Maze, a demon who followed Lucifer's from Hell to Los Angeles, and also Lucifer's confidante. Aimee Garcia is Ella Lopez, a forensic scientist who works with the LAPD. She is the quirkiest of the lot and is like a comic relief on screen. Inbar Lavi aka Eve is also going to return in part 2 of the show. Dennis Haysbert will be seen as God. (Image: D.B. Woodside's Twitter) Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
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https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/web-series/when-is-lucifer-season-5-part-2-releasing-in-india-what-are-the-timings-for-the-same.html
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What is the Veiled Prophet Ball?
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THE Veiled Prophet Ball is an annual event that has taken place in St Louis for more than 100 years. Originally formed as an exclusive event for the citys upper class, it is now celebrated by thousands. The Veiled Prophet Ball is an annual ball held every December in St Louis, Missouri. According to a 2014 article in The Atlantic, the event was formed in 1878 by Confederate Colonel Alonzo Slayback and his brother Charles Slayback. They held an elaborate festivals and rituals for an exclusive group of people invited. It featured one unknown member each year who was secretly dressed as the 'veiled prophet', which was meant to generate interest in the event and St Louis as a city. The now renamed event is still held on the Friday before Christmas each year and is attended by thousands. The event has given the platform for protest groups such as Black Lives Matter Members, and the St. Louis based group Missourians Organized for Reform and Empowerment in more recent years. Traditionally the anonymous person playing the role of the Veiled Prophet at each ball was chosen by local elites. It is not officially known how they come to such a decision although there have been suggestions that the Veiled Prophet is the richest man in St. Louis of a given year, or the man that donates the most money to the organization that year. Once selected, the veiled prophet would then be able to choose the Queen of Love and Beauty. Queens include the daughters of the most influential members of the organization. In 1999, actress Ellie Kemper was awarded the title and there is no suggestion of any connection between her and any controversial comments made about the event. According to The Atlantic, the debutante ball was founded by wealthy White elites back in 1878 and emphasized the existing power structure. It continued like this for many years with historians citing how the event was put on as a spectacle to reassure the citys elite of the exclusive status and therefore excluded other people. This included racial segregation, with reports suggesting that Black members were also not allowed into the organization until 1979. The event was therefore considered white only for more than 100 years. As a result, some people have even made comparisons to the KKK, emphasized by the prophets early clothing in the late 1800s which strikes a resemblance to the attire of the white supremacy group. However, it has been pointed out that KKK members did not begin wearing white hoods and robes until 1915, with no affiliation known. The event significantly changed in 1992 when the VP Fair was renamed to Fair St. Louis, removing all reference to the Veiled Prophet in the Fair's name. The Ku Klux Klan (or the KKK) is an extremist hate group that believes all non-Caucasian people are inferior to them. The group believes that America should be a nation that is free from drugs, homosexuality and immigration. Most read in News MANSLAUGHTER RAP Lord Ashcrofts daughter-in-law CHARGED over Belize cop's shooting Live Blog 'RECOVERY MISSION' Christian diet guru, husband & 6 others presumed dead after plane crash RAPPER DEATH Rapper Lil Loaded dead at 20 after arrest for 18-year-old friends shooting HIDDEN PAST Office star was Queen of 'racist' ball where members wore KKK-style hoods 'LOVE YOU BRUDDA' Rapper Lil Loaded took his own life 'after problems with girlfriend' Warning BRUTAL SLUG Man smacks Asian woman, 55, in NYC's Chinatown amid hate crime epidemic Claiming to have extreme pride in their nation, they say that they are building a better society for everyone - arguing on their website that they are a group not of hate but of love. Historically, black Americans have been the KKK's main target - but more recently it has targeted Jews, immigrants, LGBT people and even Catholics.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/2993529/what-is-the-veiled-prophet-ball/
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What are Joe Bidens plans for legal immigration?
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PRESIDENT Joe Biden's agenda includes a plan to tackle immigration issues in the United States. According to The New York Times, Biden wants to make moving to the US easier and cheaper. The Biden administration plans to rebuild and expand the US' legal immigration system, according to a document obtained by The Times. The draft document, titled "D.H.S. Plan to Restore Trust in Our Legal Immigration System," outlined plans to undo former President Donald Trump's efforts to make immigration more difficult, expensive and slower. Policies described in the document would help more people move to the US, including refugees, asylum-seekers, trafficking victims, skilled workers, families of Americans living aboard and Native Americans born in Canada, The Times reported. Biden's agenda would revamp various programs in the immigration system, including the H-1B visa program for highly skilled workers. 4 The Biden administration plans to rebuild and expand the US' legal immigration system Credit: AFP The U-visa program, which offers citizenship to immigrants if they cooperate with law enforcement would also be included, The Times reported citing the document. The proposals would aim to give people a better chance of securing work visas or joining families who live in the US, The Times reported. People could also pay less or get waivers in order to lower barriers to immigration, the report said. More security checks for immigrants under the Trump administration and travel restrictions during the pandemic have meant fewer foreigners coming into the US. As a result, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, financed by immigrants' fees, has received less money, The Times reported. 4 President Biden's plans to undo former President Donald Trump's efforts to make immigration more difficult Credit: Reuters According to the outlet, the document said that restoring the agency would be central to Biden's efforts. On May 14, President Biden met with six participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program as he continued his push to provide undocumented immigrants with legal status. The six so-called "Dreamers" work in health care, education, and agriculture and discussed their experiences on the frontlines of the pandemic, the White House told NBC. The White House said Biden reiterated his support for two bills before the Senate that would create a pathway to citizenship for DACA participants and give legal status to farmworkers. 4 Policies described in the document would help more people move to the US, including refugees, asylum-seekers and many others Credit: AFP Most read in News RAPPER DEATH Rapper Lil Loaded dead at 20 after arrest for 18-year-old friends shooting MANSLAUGHTER RAP Lord Ashcrofts daughter-in-law CHARGED over Belize cop's shooting Live Blog 'RECOVERY MISSION' Christian diet guru, husband & 6 others presumed dead after plane crash HIDDEN PAST Office star was Queen of 'racist' ball where members wore KKK-style hoods 'LOVE YOU BRUDDA' Rapper Lil Loaded took his own life 'after problems with girlfriend' Warning BRUTAL SLUG Man smacks Asian woman, 55, in NYC's Chinatown amid hate crime epidemic However, the bills lack enough support from Republicans to pass the Senate. His May 14 meeting was Bidens second gathering with a DACA group; the first took place on a recent trip to Georgia. First lady Jill Biden also included a DACA participant as one of her virtual guests at the president's first address to Congress in April.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/2993616/president-joe-bidens-plans-for-legal-immigration/
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Who is referee Carlos del Cerro Grande and what games is he taking charge of at Euro 2020?
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SPAIN'S man in the middle at the Euro 2020 this summer Carlos del Cerro Grande. The Euros is his first major international tournament as a ref. 1 Carlos del Cerro Grande has no problem taking charge of big matches Credit: AFP or licensors But Grande is no stranger to big competitions, Grande was the fourth official for the 2021 Champions League final and has officiated some high-profile games in the past. The Spaniard took charge of Manchester Uniteds 6-2 thrashing of Roma in this seasons Europa League semi-final and Manchester Citys 2-1 Champions League victory at Borussia Dortmund in April. Grande began refereeing in Spains third tier in 2006 and as his stock rose at lower level, he was promoted to the Spanish second division six years later. A Police agent by profession, Grande continued to impress and made his La Liga bow in 2011 where he is now one of Spains top referees. The 45-year-old oversaw his first Champions League qualifying game in 2013 and two years later, the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Sevilla where he sent off both Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega. The Madrid native is unable to officiate El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona but has been given the task of overseeing international and even had a short stint in Saudi Arabias professional league. In 2016, Grande was the recipient of the prestigious Vicente Acebedo Trophy, an annual award by the Spanish Football Federation to the best referees in Spain. He is no stranger to Wembley Stadium as he took charge of Englands 3-0 friendly win over Republic of Ireland in November 2020. Grande is known for a common-sense style of refereeing when making decisions, opting to allow games to flow. WIN 50,000! Dream Team Euros FREE fantasy football game Euro squads: All of the players picked so far Euro 2020 betting special: England 35/1 to beat Croatia Fixtures: When to watch all your Euro 2020 matches Betting special: Get England at 20/1 to wear home kit vs Croatia Build-up LIVE: Latest news and updates from around the teams Most read in Euro 2020 THE FACE OF WOMEN'S TENNIS Tennis star Naomi Osaka's net worth revealed OSAKA OUT Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open after threat to boot her out of tournament FIGHT TALK Floyd Mayweather says Jake Paul will 'be in neck brace' if he pulls second stunt TROUBLED LOVE Meet MLB star Marcell Ozuna's wife TIM VICKERY Blackburn star Ben Brereton can help Chile's golden generation bridge the gap Pictured POWER MOVE The Rock shows off huge vein-popping biceps and legs for new Black Adam movie His experience and know-how of when to intervene has elevated him to the top of the Spanish game. This has not yet been confirmed but he is expected to officiate in both the group stages and the latter rounds of the tournament.
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https://www.the-sun.com/sport/2993541/who-is-referee-carlos-del-cerro-grande-euro-2020/
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What Technology Cant SF Writers Live Without?
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Authors from the upcoming Life Beyond Us anthology answer this question. When I started editing an anthology of SF stories centered around alien life, each accompanied by a short essay on the science of the story, naturally I was curious about what sciences or technologies inspire the contributing authors, how their process works and how they rely on technology. Conducting a mini-interview with each author, I asked, among other things, whether theres any technology they cant imagine to live without. Think for a moment what it would be for you. Many writers (including myself, after all) cant imagine working without computers. Rich Larson says: Over half my day is spent on my netbook. He uses it for around ten hours of writing and other work, and then for recreation and socialization. At night, its USB port powers the small fan that lets him sleep. Its basically a vital organ! My Bose QC 35 wireless headphones, says Tobias S. Buckell. They help him create a focusing space around himself. The ritual of turning on noise canceling and hearing the world around me drop into background; its this trigger for focus that really helps me, he adds. Eugen Bacon admits her terrible reliance on her smartphone. Its my alarm, my torch, my calculator, my notepad, my calendar, my thesaurus, my GPS, my book, my news, my connection with the world. Sometimes its my comfortthe one thing I hold close to my chest when Im contemplating. But not all of it applies directly to writingwriters need to live as people, after all! Weaving, was Mary Robinette Kowals answer. I am completely uninterested in wearing felt and leather full time. Agreed! That might get a tad uncomfortable, especially in the long hours at the computer. Remembering to feed yourself is also vitaland Eric Choi mentioned his rice cooker not just for food preparation, but also mask sterilization, an essential thing to do in the current pandemic. Modern medical technology was mentioned both by Tessa Fisher and Julie E. Czerneda, who also added in line with what Lucie Lukaoviov said: Cant would include modern medicine, food and energy production, shipping and more. Wont is more within my grasp. We definitely shopped for our latest home based on where we could get high speed internet. To be connected these days is vital. Juggling the occasional Zoom meeting while helping my daughter assemble a toy railroad or create a sandcastle, I cannot but agree. Internet connection, especially in times of social distancing, is crucial, just as a smartphone is when I need to send a quick email or tweet about the kickstarter for Life Beyond Us during the day. Evenings, sometimes blending into nights, are the quiet work time at my laptop. Swiping on a smartphone screen, dictating and having the recording transcribed, hitting the keyboard of your laptop on a quiet park bench on a sunny afternoon, closing yourself in your room with ambient light and no noise, or writing into a paper notebook with a fountain penall of those are viable writing strategies. Some require more solitude, time, or resources; some are easier to combine with a busy job or raising children. But you need to find out which ones work best for you, whether you can make compromises or not. Maybe you can write anywhere, anytime, on basically anything; maybe you need more specific conditions. Both ways are valid, of course. There is no single universally best way to write, whether youre thinking of the writing environment, plotting or anything else in the craft, and each of us depends on slightly different technologies. However, I think we can all agree on the answer D.A. Xiaolin Spires gave me when asked what technology she cant live without: Writing! Julie Novkov is a scientist, educator and award-winning Czech author of science fiction and detective stories. Her work has appeared in Asimovs, Analog, Clarkesworld and elsewhere. Shes a member of the XPRIZE Sci-fi Advisory Council and is active in science outreach, education and nonfiction writing. Shes currently co-editing Life Beyond Us (Laksa Media & European Astrobiology Institute), an anthology of 22 SF stories by award-winning authors and 22 essays by scientists, revolving around astrobiologyfrom extreme life on Earth all the way to detecting alien civilizations. Her aim is to publish brilliant, innovative SF and at the same time increase science understanding and interest in STEM.
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https://www.sfwa.org/2021/06/01/what-technology-cant-sf-writers-live-without/
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What is CFO Insights?
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Martin Macmillan: We created CFO Insights as an online resource for game developers to better understand their finances and improve their overall financial literacy. Its a collection of calculators and content that is aimed at growing studios to help them with some of the financial aspects of planning and growing their business. As a company, we believe firmly in transparency and providing tools and education to help them make informed financial decisions as they seek to fund and grow the gaming companies. Having been a trusted financing partner to mobile game developers since 2014, we came to recognise that all too often, the finances in mobile game companies are overlooked until a much later stage in their lifecycle when a finance lead or CFO is hired. Our intention was to create a set of tools and resources that were accessible to everyone that would help them in two key areas - user acquisition modelling and comparing different financing methods. We want to help identify if developers are leaving money on the table by not properly understanding their UA metrics. Also, when it comes to comparing different financial products, to ensure that they can make a like with like comparison. The way pricing is quoted by some lenders is designed to hide the true cost of funding. We help developers arrive at the right conclusion by ensuring they are armed with all the facts first. Whether small or large, developers rely on the tools on CFO Resources. For early-stage companies who do not have BI/data science teams, we provide the modelling environment to help them make sense of early metrics, for example in soft launch. Right now we have four main calculators and one downloadable template 1) User acquisition planning - calculating ROAS, LTV and modelling out cashflow based on high-level metrics that can be input by the founders or UA team. - calculating ROAS, LTV and modelling out cashflow based on high-level metrics that can be input by the founders or UA team. 2) Hypercasual velocity calculator - showing the financial impact of ad network payment terms for hypercasual developers based on variable ROAS scenarios. - showing the financial impact of ad network payment terms for hypercasual developers based on variable ROAS scenarios. 3) AR comparison calculator - breaks down a fixed fee factoring model back to a simple interest rate and shows the variation across the app stores and ad networks. - breaks down a fixed fee factoring model back to a simple interest rate and shows the variation across the app stores and ad networks. Our team is working on a whole host of new content including additional calculators, templates and also instructional video content helping bring some of the concepts to life. We are always receptive to hearing from developers if there are particular problems they are grappling to resolve, we may be able to use our teams financial expertise to create new tools that address some of these questions. To check out Pollen VC's CFO Resources, visit our website. The tools are free to use for everyone, and we dont ask you to connect up any of your data sources in order to get value from them. Feedback from the developer community is always helpful as we strive to make this a trusted and valued resource for the mobile gaming ecosystem. This was part of the Knowledge Base topic Knowledge Base: CFO Insights. For more articles in this topic click here.
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https://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/76628/cfo-insights/
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What will happen on June 21?
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Adam Fleming discusses June 21st plans top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. June 21 was dubbed the end of lockdown when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his roadmap out of restrictions back in February. But since then, much has changed in the UK and around the world, prompting one senior Government to insist its too early to speculate about what will happen. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi refused to deny that some restrictions may stay in place past the intended date. The Government continues to grapple with a rise in cases amid the spread of the variant first detected in India, with fears the new surge could throw off Mr Johnsons roadmap. An announcement about the June 21 reopening is expected on June 14, but Mr Zahawi refused twice to rule out the possibility that the unlocking could be changed at any time. Speaking on BBCs Andrew Marr Show, the vaccines minister said: We have to look at the data and we will share that with the country. It would be completely wrong for me not to speculate. There are many people watching your programme, in jobs and businesses, who want to basically follow the exact direction the Government is giving them whilst taking personal responsibility. At the moment, we dont have enough data, so there are some parts of the country where theres literally no B.1.617.2 (India variant) and everything is pretty stable, in other parts of the country it is beginning to overtake the B117 variant the Kent variant. Nadhim Zahawi refused to say if all restrictions will be eased READ MORE 'So confusing!' Kent coronavirus variant RENAMED 'Alpha' by WHO We have to look in the next couple of weeks and then we will share that with the country. In terms of what will change, June 21 is expected to be the biggest easing of restrictions with hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact. This means there will no longer be restrictions on how many people you can meet, either indoors or outdoors. However, some social distancing rules will likely remain in place while the wearing of face coverings may still be mandatory in certain enclosed public spaces. June 21, if it goes ahead, means an end to all social restrictions Nightclubs and music venues will be allowed to reopen and larger events, like sports matches, will be allowed to take place without limited crowds. Government guidance reads: This will be subject to the results of a scientific events research programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring a summer, where we will trial the use of testing and other techniques to cut the risk of infection. Mr Johnson had initially said there was nothing to suggest the roadmap will be delayed, fears are on the rise about the situation in the UK. The Government has, once again, come out with mixed messaging as Health Secretary Matt Hancock issued a different sentiment to Mr Zahawi. DON'T MISS June 21 on brink: Covid stats spark 3rd wave panic - update THIS WEEK [INSIGHT] 'Reeks of middle class snobbery!' GMB guest rages at Nick Hewer -VIDEO [VIDEO] Britons furious at France and Germany's new Brexit deals plea [REPORT] Matt Hancock said he was "increasingly confident" June 21 will go ahead READ MORE BBC's Adam Fleming highlights measures Boris could keep on June 21 Mr Hancock recently said he is increasingly confident that the roadmap is back on track, while his Cabinet colleague Home Secretary Priti Patel said the data looked positive. The Health Secretary said: Im increasingly confident were on track for the road map because this data shows the vaccine after two doses works just as effectively, and we all know that the vaccine is our way out of this. Some have urged the Government to be especially cautious in the run-up to June 21. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said staff were going full pelt to deal with a backlog of care requirements on waiting lists and so really dont have the capacity for a surge in Covid patients. Trending
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https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1443915/What-will-happen-on-June-21-EVG?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-uk-news+%28Express+%3A%3A+UK+Feed%29
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What happens after Ontario's stay-at-home order ends on Wednesday?
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TORONTO -- After two months, Ontarios stay-at-home order will officially expire on Wednesday. However, the province isnt set to begin Step 1 of its reopening plan until June 14 at the earliest. According to the government, the measures first introduced under the provincewide emergency brake will remain in effect during that time. Heres a look at what you can and cant do under those measures: Leaving home On June 2, it will no longer be illegal to leave your home for non-essential reasons. It will be the first time this is the case since the stay-at-home order was implemented in April. Social gatherings Much like the stay-at-home order, residents can see their friends and family outdoors to a limit of five people. Gatherings larger than five people are allowed if all members are from the same household. Those who live alone are free to gather with one other household. Indoor gatherings remain illegal. In-person shopping Capacity limits of 25 per cent at supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores remain in place under the emergency brake measures. Non-essential retail remains off limits. Personal care services Those longing for a haircut or manicure will have to keep waiting. Personal care services remain off limits until Step 2 of the provinces reopening plan. Face coverings and capacity limits will be in place at locations offering personal care services at that time. Indoor and outdoor dining Restaurants and bars across the province will have to remain closed until at least June 14. In the meantime, those establishments are forced to continue offering take-out, drive-through and delivery orders only. Sports and recreational facilities With the exception of high-performance athletes, child care, mental health and addiction support services, social services, and physical therapy, indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities remain closed. Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training of up to 10 people can resume in Step 1. Weddings and funerals A maximum of 10 people, indoors or outdoors, can continue to attend weddings, funerals, and other religious services. Physical distancing must be maintained and guests must wear a mask or face covering when they are within two metres of each other. In other words, and as explained by the provincial government, "Nothing changes on June 3 other than the stay-at-home order lapses." On Saturday, the province announced the extension of some orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This extension includes the prohibition of recreational camping on public lands, a ban on recreational interprovincial border crossings, the continuation of redeployment of staff and patients between Ontario hospitals as necessary, and the enforcement of COVID-19 measures until at least June 16, 2021. With files from CTV News Toronto's Abby Neufeld.
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https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/what-happens-after-ontario-s-stay-at-home-order-ends-on-wednesday-1.5449779
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What is SSID?
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We look at what SSID is and how it is used to connect devices to the internet Print Print Life When you join a wireless network from a smartphone, laptop or even tablet, youll be presented with a list of options to connect to. These connections are known as service set identifiers (SSIDs) and they can either be the default labels given to a network by its manufacturer or a customised moniker created by its owners. The default SSIDs typically follow a distinct pattern that is unique to their manufacturer. Virgin Media, for instance, uses the prefix VM at the start of its SSIDs, followed by a set of numbers VM-12345, for example. Sky and BT have similar SSIDs and a number of providers, such as Netgear, also do the same with devices they sell to consumers. To customise your own SSID from a random set of numbers and letters into something youll easily remember, you need to access your routers Web-based admin settings. If you have more than one network in a building, such as a guest Wi-Fi and employee Wi-Fi, you will likely want to keep them separate so they will require different names to ensure it is clear which is which. advertisement Key features of an SSID Whether its the ISP or router manufacturers default name or one youve changed, a common theme with SSIDs is that they feature up to 32 case-sensitive letters and numbers. Theres no minimum number of characters, and you certainly dont have to come up with 32, but it is best practice to not make too short so its not confusing. SSIDs are normally provided as part of the set-up materials and printed on a sticker attached to the outside of the router, which also includes the password. Alongside the SSID and password should also be the username and password for the routers administrator console, which grants access to network data and options for configuring settings, including the SSID. How devices use SSID to connect to the Internet Whenever you set up a connected device for the first time, or when attempting to connect to a new network, you will be asked to configure your access to the Internet. You will typically be prompted to scan for available networks in your area and choose the most appropriate for your needs, often a home or business Wi-Fi. These will show as either open and free of any immediate authentication checks (although these can come later through a browser), or locked, symbolised by a padlock symbol. If you wish to connect to a locked network, you will be asked to input a password before your computer attempts to contact the host. However, this list of available networks will only show those that have been configured to publicly display their SSID or personalised name. To access any hidden networks you will need to input their SSID or name manually, alongside the password if necessary. To prevent a network from displaying on the list of available connections, you will need to choose hidden or disable SSID in the routers settings. Once your device is connected to a network, you can save its details and connect automatically each time you enable Wi-Fi. SSID security SSID is commonly used by most wireless networks globally. However, that doesnt mean that its safe. In fact, its considered to be one of the least secure ways of connecting to a network. One common problem with SSID is that even if you select the option to have it hidden from other Wi-Fi users, modern software and apps make it possible for their users to discover any networks available including yours. Unfortunately, SSID can also contribute to falling victim to a cyber attack. In 2016, TalkTalk customers had their Wi-Fi passwords stolen by hackers in a Mirai malware attack that took down TalkTalk and the Post Offices broadband networks. Hackers managed to reveal the routers SSID code, which in turn provided them with the information on where they were being used. Cyber criminals can also take advantage of data packets which have travelled through your device. If intercepted, they can use traces of the SSID to obtain personal information, including the name of the network you use. Apart from being a potential security issue, an SSID can also be the source of aggravation and even neighbourly disputes, especially if multiple other people in your apartment building or street use the same ISP which is quite common, as sometimes one specific ISP is recommended in a given area. This could mean that multiple networks in close proximity will have similar default SSIDs, especially if the network names are left unchanged. If unprotected, this could lead to devices connecting to networks belonging to someone else. Whether accidental or on purpose, the owner of the network could be left with having to cover the costs of someone else exceeding the download limits. Dennis Publishing
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https://www.techcentral.ie/what-is-ssid/
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Who Is Lakshadweep's Administrator Praful Khoda Patel And Why Is He In A Controversy?
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Over the past week, trouble has mounted for Lakshadweep's Administrator over his decisions including the altering of the COVID SOPs leading to a surge in the number of cases, ban on the beef industry, lifting of the ban on alcohol consumption and so on. From the Left & Congress to even the BJP unit of the archipelago, political leaders have come out in support of the people of Lakshadweep against the 'authoritarian measures' imposed by Administrator Praful Khoda Patel since he assumed office on December 2, 2020. The #SaveLakshadweep campaign on social media has gathered huge momentum over the past few days, with politicians and netizens criticising the administrator and many going on to point out that Praful Khoda Patel was not a civil servant - the first such to be appointed in the Lakshadweep Administrator's post. Praful Khoda Patel is the current Administrator of Lakshadweep. A Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader, Praful Khoda Patel kickstarted his career in electoral politics by becoming an MLA from the Himatnagar constituency in Gujarat in 2007. In 2010, Praful Patel was roped by then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to be in the cabinet and was made the Minister of State (MoS) Home of Gujarat in 2010. However, Praful Koda Patel suffered a loss in the 2012 Gujarat Assembly elections. It is pertinent to point out that Praful Khoda Patel's father, Khodabhai Ranchhodbhai Patel, was an RSS functionary and enjoyed close ties with erstwhile Gujarat CM Modi. In 2016, Praful Khoda Patel was appointed as the Administrator of the Union Territory of Daman & Diu. After the merger of Dadra & Haveli with the UT of Daman & Diu, Praful Khoda Patel became its first Administrator in January 2020. It is important to point out that the position of the administrator was previously held by civil services officers (generally IAS) and that Praful Khoda Patel was the first politician appointed to the Administrator position. Praful Khoda Patel took charge as Lakshadweep's Administrator in December 2020. Since 2019, Praful Koda Patel has been encumbered with a few controversies - beginning from the Election Commission of India (ECI) notice to the BJP leader for making a 'coercive request' to the collector for Dadra and Nagar Haveli Kannan Gopinathan.
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https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/politics/who-is-lakshadweeps-administrator-praful-khoda-patel-and-why-is-he-in-a-controversy.html
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What are the opportunities in the nucleic acid isolation and purification market?
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Pune , India , 2021-Jun-01 /EPR Network/ The growth of this market can mainly be attributed to the increasing R&D activities as well as technological advancements and increasing automation. On the other hand, the high cost of automated instruments is expected to hinder the growth of the market. The Nucleic Acid Isolation and Purification Market is projected to reach USD 4.8 billion by 2025 from USD 3.2 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period. Ask for PDF Brochure:- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=229978287 Objectives of the Study To define, describe, and forecast the global nucleic acid isolation and purification market by product, method, type, application, end user, and region To provide detailed information about the major factors influencing the market growth (such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities) To analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall nucleic acid isolation and purification market To analyze market opportunities for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for key players To forecast the size of the nucleic acid isolation and purification market in four major regions along with their respective key countries (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World) To profile the key players in the global nucleic acid isolation and purification market and comprehensively analyze their core competencies and market shares To track and analyze competitive developments such as product launches, expansions, and R&D activities of the leading players in the nucleic acid isolation and purification market Market Segmentation: On the basis of product, the DNA isolation and purification market has been segmented into kits, reagents, and instruments. The kits segment accounted for the largest share of the global nucleic acid isolation and purification market in 2019. On the basis of application, the global nucleic acid isolation market is segmented into diagnostics, drug discovery & development, personalized medicine, agriculture & animal research, and other applications. On the basis of type, the global DNA isolation and purification market is segmented into plasmid DNA isolation and purification, total RNA isolation and purification, circulating nucleic acid isolation and purification, genomic DNA isolation and purification, messenger RNA isolation and purification, microRNA isolation and purification, PCR cleanup, and other nucleic acid isolation and purification types. Regional Analysis: In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the nucleic acid isolation and purification market, followed by Europe. The large share of this region can be attributed to factors such as significant R&D spending in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, the large size of the biotechnology industry, technological advancements, and government support in the region. Request for Sample Pages : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=229978287 Key Players: QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland) are the key players operating in the nucleic acid isolation market.
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https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/01/939769
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What are the top trends in the ophthalmic equipment market?
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Pune , India , 2021-Jun-01 /EPR Network/ The rapid growth in the geriatric population, rising prevalence of eye diseases, and technological advancements in ophthalmic devices are the major factors driving the growth of this market. The Ophthalmic Equipment Market size is projected to reach USD 63.3 billion by 2025 from USD 52.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=155637364 Market Segmentation: Based on product, the ophthalmic equipment market is categorized mainly into diagnostic & monitoring devices, surgical devices, and vision care products. In 2019, the vision care products segment was expected to account for the largest share of the ophthalmic equipment market. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to the high prevalence of eye disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. In addition to this, technological advancements in lens materials, growing awareness about eyesight correction, and rising trends in eyewear, such as styled sunglasses and advanced contact lenses boasting extra comfort, have further stimulated the adoption of vision care products. Recent Developments In May 2020, Bausch + Lomb Launched its first EDOF IOL LuxSmart and a monofocal IOL LuxGood with preloaded delivery system and pure refractive optics (PRO) technology. In April 2020, Haag-Streit Group (Switzerland) acquired VRmagic Holding AG (Germany) to strengthen Haag-Streits leading position in the ophthalmology market In February 2020, Bausch + Lomb (Canada)collaborated with Prevent Blindness (US) o raise awareness about AMD through social media pages to share information about AMD with the public. In September 2019, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (US) launched ACUVUE VITA contact lenses for astigmatism in the US In February 2019, Carl Zeiss Meditec (Germany)collaborated with Christoffel Mission for the Blind (CBM) (Germany)to open a training center in Pune, India in collaboration with the Poona Blind Men Association End User: Based on end-user, the ophthalmic equipment market is segmented into consumers, hospitals, specialty clinics & ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and other end users. specialty clinics & ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Regional Analysis: North America is expected to account for the largest share of the ophthalmic equipment market in 2019, followed by Europe. In addition, factor such as the growing awareness and uptake of ophthalmic treatments and surgeries and the availability of advanced ophthalmic devices in this region are also driving the growth of the ophthalmic equipment market in North America. Request for Sample Pages :- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=155637364 Top Key Players:- The prominent players in this market are EssilorLuxottica (France), Alcon (US), Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (US), HOYA Corporation (Japan), Bausch + Lomb (US), Carl Zeiss Meditec (Germany), Topcon (Japan), Glaukos Corporation (US), Haag-Streit (Switzerland), NIDEK (Japan), STAAR Surgical (US), Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems (Switzerland), CooperVision, Inc. (US), Oculentis (Germany), Heidelberg Engineering (Germany), Canon (Japan), Optovue (US), Neo Vision (Korea), Lumenis (Israel), Reichert Technologies (US), OPHTEC BV (Netherlands), Heine Optotechnik (Germany), and Luneau Technology (France).
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https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/01/939783
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Did Former Trump Advisor Michael Flynn Really Call For a 'Myanmar-Like' Coup in America?
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There are many ways the media can misinterpret what you say. They can deliberately misinterpret you. They can accidentally misinterpret you. And then theres Michael Flynn. Donald Trumps former National Security Advisor was speaking at the For God & Country Patriot Roundup a three-day conference heavy on the conspiracy theories and light on other stuff like reason and sanity. Flynn was asked a simple question by a man who described himself as a simple Marine and immediately sent media tongues wagging from sea to sea. The Marine asked why what happened in Myanmar cant happen here. No reason. I mean, it should happen here, replied the simple-minded Flynn. Myanmar (Burma) is experiencing a convulsion of violence because on February 1, the army staged a coup detat against the democratically elected government. Hundreds have been killed in demonstrations that included the army and police deliberately firing live rounds into crowds of protesters. Flynn, a retired lieutenant-general of the United States Army, never was one who handled the media very adroitly, even during his time as NSA. Flynn says of course not. For all the fake news journalists: Let me be VERY CLEAR There is NO reason whatsoever for any coup in America, and I do not and have not at any time called for any action of that sort. Any reporting of any other belief by me is a boldface fabrication based on twisted reporting at a lively panel at a conference of Patriotic Americans who love this country, just as I do. I am no stranger to media manipulating my words and therefore let me repeat my response to a question asked at the conference: There is no reason it (a coup) should happen here (in America), Flynn said on Parler Sunday. Washington Examiner: Sidney Powell, an attorney who has represented Flynn, also said Flynn did not endorse any act of violence or any military insurrection and claimed the media had grossly distorted his comments, according to CNN. You decide. Here is the video of former national security advisor Michael Flynn saying that he thinks a coup like the coup in Myanmar should happen in the US. pic.twitter.com/7mGYjfXg18 Mamie (@MC_Hyperbole) May 30, 2021 This is not the first time Flynn has suggested military action against the government of the United States. In December, after the election had been certified, he claimed Trump could use military capabilities to rerun elections in swing states. During an interview with Newsmax host Greg Kelly on Thursday, the recently pardoned former White House national security adviser said the commander in chief could use the power of the U.S. military and dispelled arguments that invoking martial law to do so wouldnt be unprecedented. He could immediately, on his order, seize every single one of these machines around the country, Flynn began, referring to machines built by Dominion Voting Systems, which demanded on Thursday that his longtime attorney, Sidney Powell, retract her baseless election claims about the company. He could also order, within the swing states, if he wanted to, he could take military capabilities, and he could place them in those states and basically rerun an election in each of those states. Its not unprecedented, Flynn said. We should feel uneasy when military men cant keep a lid on their passions and allow their imagination to run away with them. Flynn may be a fool but hes only giving voice to what too many Trump supporters already believe is necessary.
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https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2021/06/01/did-former-trump-advisor-michael-flynn-really-call-for-a-myanmar-like-coup-in-america-n1451161
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Who were the top boys lacrosse stat leaders at the end of the regular season?
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The regular season has come to a close. Check out the lists below to see the Top 100 season-long stat leaders in six statistical categories: points, goals, assists, saves, ground balls and faceoffs won. *These numbers are based off stats reported by coaches to njschoolsports.com as of Monday, May 31. NOTE: Some mobile apps, including the Twitter app, may not show the tables below. To open in your mobile device click this link, or copy it and paste into your mobile web browser. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter arrives May 31. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. POINTS GOALS ASSISTS SAVES GROUND BALLS FACEOFFS WON The NJ High School Sports newsletter arrives May 31. Be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Mike Kinney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MikeKinneyHS. Brandon Gould can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS.
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https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2021/06/who-were-the-top-boys-lacrosse-stat-leaders-at-the-end-of-the-regular-season.html
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What difference will the Birmingham Clean Air Zone make to my life and work?
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The Clean Air Zone in Birmingham means that daily charges are now in force for older, more polluting vehicles driving the city centre. The scheme had been delayed twice, the first time was due to a government delay in delivering digital systems required to make the zones operational and enforceable. It was setback again, this time due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the city council writing to the Government asking for a postponement. Map of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone. The councillor For many, the biggest advantage is the promise of fresher air and a nicer environment in which to live, work and enjoy free time. The councillor responsible for transport at Birmingham City Council, Waseem Zaffar, says the Zone will save 50 lives a year and that people will choose to come to Birmingham rather than elsewhere because of the prospect of a nicer environment. 50 Lives a year will be saved by the Clean Air Zone The electric car driver Those who have green vehicles will avoid the charge. Anthony Hibbs from Newcastle-under-Lyme used to spend 100 a month on fuel, but now he says he pays just 3 a week to charge his electric car. 100 A month on fuel 3 A week to charge an electric car He was initially against purchasing an electric vehicle due to the high upfront cost, but after some research realised that it was possible to own a 'normal' e-car that wasn't necessarily top-of-the-range. The health expert Dr Alice Turner is a Respiratory medicine consultant who believes the Zone will have a positive impact on anyone who works or lives nearby. She believes we could see up to a 20% reduction in certain pollutants. The climate activist Climate change activists like Sanjive Mahandru say we've left it late enough and the Clean Air Zone is urgently needed to encourage people to take public transport, walk or cycle. The people near the city centre The Clean Air Zone doesn't just impact those in the city. Residents in nearby Kings Heath say they feel forgotten. Andy Gudge says residents there already face delays every day driving into town in their Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme, and he's worried pollution will only migrate from the city centre to his neighbourhood. Another group feeling frustrated by the Zone are a group of musicians from Kings Heath who regularly travel into Birmingham City Centre to perform. The self-employed The Musicians Union was one of four unions to sign an open letter to the leader of Birmingham City Council asking for a one year delay to the introduction to the Zone and for support scheme for the cultural sector. The taxi driver Taxi drivers within the city have also expressed concerns after being told they will have to change their vehicles to avoid paying daily charges. Sajid Mahmood told ITV News Central that even though they agree with cleaner air measures, it's going to make life difficult for his drivers. The city council has 35 million of grants available to help drivers. This includes a 'scrappage' scheme, where people working in the Zone more than 18 hours per week, earning less than 30,000, can get their vehicle scrapped and in return receive 2,000 towards bus travel or the same amount off a compliant vehicle. Birmingham City Council say everyone should check whether or not they will need to pay the daily fee, and around three out of four people won't need to. They acknowledged some individuals and organisations will require additional time to prepare and so there's a range of exemptions and financial incentives for extra support. Read more:
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https://www.itv.com/news/central/2021-05-31/what-difference-will-the-birmingham-clean-air-zone-make-to-my-life-and-work
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Is Putin trying to monopolise the victory over Nazi Germany?
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In Russia, Victory Day celebrations have grown in recent years while the Allies contributions appear to have been minimised. To Berlin! We can do it again! Grandpa, thanks for the victory! These are the most ubiquitous windshield stickers in Russia, where Victory Day, or the May 9 celebration of Nazi Germanys surrender, has become a near-religious public event. President Vladimir Putin promotes the celebrations of Russias victory over fascism as a show of Moscows military might and moral superiority. In Russia, May 9 is Victory Day, celebrating Nazi Germanys surrender in 1945 [File: Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters] He also appears to be seeking to monopolise the victory over Nazi Germany by silencing the role other nations played in defeating Adolf Hitler. Millions celebrate Victory Day by marching with portraits of their forefathers who fought in the war that cost the USSR 27 million lives. Schoolchildren and toddlers sport WWII uniforms, perform in amateur concerts, lay flowers on the nearest monument to fallen heroes, and eat a battlefield lunch of buckwheat and canned meat. Moscow Patriarch Kirill, Russias top Orthodox hierarch, has compared the holiday to Easter as both celebrate victory over death and destruction. Victory Days focal point is a nationally televised military parade through Moscows Red Square, where jets whizz over synced soldiers, tanks, air defence systems and nuclear missiles. Victory Days focal point is a televised military parade through Red Square [File: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] This year, the Kremlin spent 100 million rubles ($1.36m) on planes that spray the sky with silver iodide to prevent rain. Putin observes the parade from a podium surrounded by Moscow-friendly leaders and delivers a speech that litmus-tests the Kremlins ties with the West, including WWII Allied powers the United States and the United Kingdom. During the 2005 parade, Putin stood next to some 50 helmsmen from the US, Germany, France, Italy, China, India and Japan and many other nations. Among those attending were then-US President George Bush, Chinas former President Hu Jintao, Frances Jacques Chirac, former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Putins speech reflected Moscows pro-Western stance at the time. We never divide the victory into ours and theirs, and well always remember the help of the Allies the United States, Great Britain, France, and other countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, he said. Putin promotes celebrations of WWII past as shows of Moscows military might and moral superiority [File: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters] This year, after a decade of spiralling tensions with the West and international ostracism over Crimeas annexation, Russia symbolically was on its own. Our people were alone, alone on the toilsome, heroic and sacrificial way to the victory, he said standing against a vermilion Kremlin wall, addressing dozens of frail veterans and the only visiting foreign leader, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. In recent years, the Kremlin tacitly tabooed public discussions of the Allies contribution to the victory along with the Lend-Lease programme, Washingtons massive war-time aid to the Soviets. Another taboo is Moscows 1939 non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany that helped Hitler start the war while Soviet leader Josef Stalin annexed eastern Poland. Banning comparisons between Stalin, Hitler Within days, these taboos will be enshrined in law, and blockbuster films like Saving Private Ryan could be seen as a denial of the Soviet peoples decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany or the USSRs humanitarian mission in liberating the nations of Europe. That is the wording of the bill the State Duma, Russias lower house of parliament, adopted in a first reading on May 25. The bill bans comparisons between Stalins and Hitlers policies, even though generations of historians see both as atrocious tyrants. More than 12,000 military personnel took part in this years Victory Day march [File: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters] They are the twin demons of the 20th century, responsible for different reasons and in different ways for more violent deaths than any other men in history, British WWII historian Richard Overy wrote in 2004. Even though the bill does not lay out criminal punishment, it may result in the banning of countless works of art and volumes on history. It also speaks volumes about the landscape Putin wants Russians to live in. The Kremlin depicts modern-day Russia as a besieged bastion of traditional values surrounded by scheming Western foes, critics say. This is a perfect image of a fortress under siege with brilliant ideals that need to be defended, for which one can suffer, and rejecting which will be shameful, Sergei Biziukin, an opposition activist from the western city of Ryazan, told Al Jazeera. While 54 percent of Russians think such propaganda destroys their spiritual beliefs, 60 percent believe that a group of people want to rewrite Russian history and diminish Russias greatness, according to a July 2020 poll by the VTsIOM pollster. Stalin raises salutes while reviewing a May Day Parade, in Moscow, May 1, 1946 [File: AP] Stalin is part of the Victory Day celebrations. Ideologically and religiously, it justifies Putins dictatorship and all the crimes [he] committed, said Biziukin, whose great-grandfather Ivan Kharitonov was executed in 1937 for anti-Soviet propaganda at the height of Stalins Great Terror. Kharitonov crafted horse harnesses, and five of his sons were killed in the war; Biziukins father survived because he was too young to be conscripted. In 2019, Biziukin fled Russia fearing persecution over his attempt to run for president, a publicity stunt he designed to show that each citizen has the right to elect and be elected, he said. Had we been ruled by civilians, they wouldve come up with something else. But we are ruled by siloviki (law enforcement officers), rights advocate and ex-lawmaker Lev Ponomaryov told Al Jazeera. Putin spent his formative years as a KGB spy in East Germany, and many of his former colleagues became top officials, heads of state-run corporations or powerful oligarchs. Putin cultivates ties with Berlin, where centrist politicians prioritise ties with Moscow in part because of everything Soviet Russia went through during the war. Soviet troops march past the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, May 20, 1945, carrying a victory banner that was raised over the defeated German capital at the end of World War II [File: AP] This prioritisation means turning a blind eye to Moscows rights violations and other transgressions, according to Nikolay Mitrokhin, a Bremen University researcher. However, Berlin has stood up to Moscows support for Europes ultra-nationalists, Eurosceptics and separatists some of whom idolise Hitler. While admitting Germanys responsibility for the Second World War and the crimes committed against the peoples of the USSR, Germany rejects Russias attempts to create on this basis a nationalist, anti-European ideology, Mitrokhin told Al Jazeera.
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/1/why-putin-wants-to-monopolise-victory-over-nazi-germany
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Is It Time to Do Away With the Agent Title?
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Here are a few truths to consider about the role of a call center agent: Its a thankless, often entry-level, and micro-managed position, characterized by high turnover and burnout. Rather than being seen as an extension of marketing or sales, call center agents are viewed as a cost center, which is odd considering agents are often the public face of an organization. Agents get no credit when things go right and are blamed when things go wrong. Therefore, the term agent must go; its too tarnished. The question is what to do with all those pesky customer questions, issues, and concerns. Its not just the title thats the problem. The bigger issue is the idea that we can delegate the responsibility of customer care to a department or an individual. Every employee role at a company exists in some way to serve a customer. I will use the term employee moving forward, but the legal arrangement of employment and payment is not the point. When employees are treated well and given proper guidance and tools, they can help reduce costs, boost revenue, influence customers, and build a brands image. In the most recent Gartner Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, the analysts wrote : Organizations that put the customer (not products or services) at the center of their CX strategy require deeper employee collaboration across their organization (and with partners) to effectively deliver on a collaborative customer service initiative...But in order to achieve a greater level of employee collaboration in fulfilling customer needs, there will need to be a deeper level of integration with organizations core workstream collaboration platforms. In other words, Gartner says agents themselves, and the customer service role, have become siloed. Many organizations fail to provide basic tools for collaboration to their customer service employees and this became apparent when agents started working from their homes. We need to rethink and promote the agents role as peers. Last year, they had to adjust to working from home like many others. Everything changed for them, including their tools, equipment, work-life balance, comradery, etc., and they had to relearn how to contribute, stay engaged, and perform their duties from home. We need to reevaluate the customer service role with common tools for alignment, collaboration, and analytics. We also need to make sure all employees are chartered to improve customer satisfaction. We have two choices, either fire the agents or promote everyone to be an agent expect a mass rebellion on that second option. Eliminating agent as a moniker is just the beginning. Fortunately, the industry is trending toward better tools that broaden and expand the agent's role and tie them more closely to the rest of the business. Here are a few examples: 8x8 : Like many other providers, 8x8 has partially attributed its growth in recent years to providing a single offer that includes both UCaaS and CCaaS. Last week, 8x8 launched its experience as a service (XCaaS) offering, which blurs rather than bundles these services. The features of each can be used to compose experiences purposely designed for any given role. For example, corporate receptionists are often underpowered in a UC seat or equipped with a CC seat, which can be overly complex for their needs. XCaaS enables a standard UC user to obtain the advanced call handling and routing features that a receptionist needs in a single app on a single display. : Like many other providers, 8x8 has partially attributed its growth in recent years to providing a single offer that includes both UCaaS and CCaaS. Last week, 8x8 launched its experience as a service (XCaaS) offering, which blurs rather than bundles these services. The features of each can be used to compose experiences purposely designed for any given role. For example, corporate receptionists are often underpowered in a UC seat or equipped with a CC seat, which can be overly complex for their needs. XCaaS enables a standard UC user to obtain the advanced call handling and routing features that a receptionist needs in a single app on a single display. Cisco : One of the highlights of Ciscos recent acquisition of IMImobile was how it expands its ability to foster customer engagement beyond the traditional contact center. IMImobiles digital engagement suite is used by agents but also facilitates automation of marketing campaigns, service and operational notifications, and video assistance for teams and customers. This beyond-the-contact-center characteristic is similar to Ciscos acquisition of CloudCherry, which initially allowed businesses to better collect customer feedback. Webex XM (formerly CloudCherry) along with components of IMImobile form what Cisco calls Customer Experience as a Service, which maps all the customers touchpoints across an entire organization. : One of the highlights of Ciscos recent acquisition of IMImobile was how it expands its ability to foster customer engagement beyond the traditional contact center. IMImobiles digital engagement suite is used by agents but also facilitates automation of marketing campaigns, service and operational notifications, and video assistance for teams and customers. This beyond-the-contact-center characteristic is similar to Ciscos acquisition of CloudCherry, which initially allowed businesses to better collect customer feedback. Webex XM (formerly CloudCherry) along with components of IMImobile form what Cisco calls Customer Experience as a Service, which maps all the customers touchpoints across an entire organization. Edify : Edify is on a mission to eliminate the delineation between agents and the rest of the employees. The startup believes that customer-facing employee is an obsolete term when it comes to the customer experience because all employees exist to serve the customer. It offers a unified (UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS) solution that is optimized for all employees regardless of title, function, location, or device that they use. Edify also believes that good software design drives adoption, compliance, and ultimately happy customers, so it puts a major emphasis on an intuitive, one-screen design for all channels. : Edify is on a mission to eliminate the delineation between agents and the rest of the employees. The startup believes that customer-facing employee is an obsolete term when it comes to the customer experience because all employees exist to serve the customer. It offers a unified (UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS) solution that is optimized for all employees regardless of title, function, location, or device that they use. Edify also believes that good software design drives adoption, compliance, and ultimately happy customers, so it puts a major emphasis on an intuitive, one-screen design for all channels. Vonage: Vonage has built or acquired leading solutions for UCaaS, CCaaS, CPaaS, video, and AI. The result is a powerful collection of extensible applications. It offers its own solution for workstream collaboration and also integrates with both Slack and Microsoft Teams. For example, Vonage offers UCaaS customers a Smart Numbers feature, which allows any enterprise number (not just the agents) to be programmed for customized workflows that might leverage bots, translation, advanced routing, or other services. I can list more examples, but the point is simple: The notion that a small team of workers, known as agents, are responsible for customer service is obsolete. No one wants to be an agent, so lets make the role better. A far broader set of employees is what really drives customer experience. We need to put humanity back into the human agents. And, if the customer calls dont need an empowered agent, more efficient ways to resolve their requests exist.
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https://www.nojitter.com/contact-center-customer-experience/it-time-do-away-agent-title
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When will stamp duty holiday end?
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When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow for hacks, market analysis, inspiration and more Stamp duty payments have cost a little less over the last year or so amid uncertainty in the property market. The Covid pandemic led Chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a cut on the tax to entice new buyers. But like all good things, the stamp duty holiday will also end. The Government introduced stamp duty "temporary reduced rates" in July 2020. Prospective property buyers have a nil rate cap of 500,000, which has so far encouraged sales. Initially, ministers intended for it to end in early spring on March 31 this year. READ MORE: Stamp duty: Britons turn to auctions to beat deadline
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https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/1443901/When-will-stamp-duty-holiday-end-evg
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Is Society Moving In The Right Direction With Technology Rapidly Taking Over The World?
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Over the last centuries, society witnessed technological advancements gradually making everyday lives easier, more convenient, and well, more interesting. In the 21st century, however, technology made a true quantum leap, with augmented reality, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing being just a few examples of the most recent inventions. Some Areas in Which Technology Has Changed Our Lives Advancements in technology have already tapped into every area of life, with its impact particularly notable in these segments: Lifestyle. From working remotely to ordering food delivery or booking a hotel room online, most people now rely on the Internet as an irreplaceable part of their lives. Advancements in technology have completely re-shaped the everyday routine of a Modern Human. From working remotely to ordering food delivery or booking a hotel room online, most people now rely on the Internet as an irreplaceable part of their lives. Advancements in technology have completely re-shaped the everyday routine of a Modern Human. Health. Telehealth, EHR, 3D medical imaging, smart wearable devices that track heart rate and blood oxygen level are just a few examples of technological advancements introduced in health care over the last few decades. Telehealth, EHR, 3D medical imaging, smart wearable devices that track heart rate and blood oxygen level are just a few examples of technological advancements introduced in health care over the last few decades. Privacy. In the digital world, privacy is more important than ever. While the rates of cybercrimes increase, which by the way is also a recent tech innovation, such advancements as cryptography and antivirus software strike a blow, saving users privacy online. In the digital world, privacy is more important than ever. While the rates of cybercrimes increase, which by the way is also a recent tech innovation, such advancements as cryptography and antivirus software strike a blow, saving users privacy online. The attitude of the youth. A huge part of the modern generation literally can not imagine their lives without technology: they use smart devices at home and school, google anything they want to know, wear smartwatches, have video calls, and own robots and self-driving cars. A huge part of the modern generation literally can not imagine their lives without technology: they use smart devices at home and school, google anything they want to know, wear smartwatches, have video calls, and own robots and self-driving cars. Business. Such innovations as cloud computing, Big Data, Data Science, AI/ML completely reshaped the modern business landscape. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformations, prompting most businesses to switch to remote mode. Such innovations as cloud computing, Big Data, Data Science, AI/ML completely reshaped the modern business landscape. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformations, prompting most businesses to switch to remote mode. Human behavior. With the mass adoption of mobile smart devices, people virtualized most of their day-to-day tasks. There is a dedicated mobile app for everything: booking a ride, tracking eating and sleeping habits, or even checking how one would look when he/she gets old. It is indisputable that thanks to technology, we get a chance to live a life our predecessors could not even dream about. Or, maybe, the impact of tech innovations is quite ambiguous. Positive Impact Of Technology When all areas of human activity get rapidly digitized, its easy to become desensitized to the importance of innovations and advancements for the overall progress of society. But technology helps us immensely, for instance: Now that the agricultural processes are mechanized and automated, farmers may grow and harvest more crops. With advancements in transportation, people can travel long distances with speed and comfort by air, land, or water. Communication, enriched with online channels, video calling, and 5G technologies, has reached new heights, connecting people from all corners of the globe. Radio, television, electronic media are indispensable means of news and information for people in any country worldwide. Education has recently become more accessible to all people, irrespective of their geographical location, thanks to modern technological advancements, such as online classrooms, electronic curricula, digital learning management systems among others. How to Get the Most out of Technologyo remain empowered, not distressed, by the modern technological advancements, everyone should use them where and when needed. For instance, you can make use of productivity and time-tracking apps available for smartphones or PCs when feeling a lack of concentration or self-discipline. Similarly, if you are concerned with your health and lifestyle, you can choose from a wide range of wearable devices and fitness apps. Most of the digital tools can be downloaded free of charge, which makes it even easier to use them. Negative Impact Of Technology On the downside, some technological developments prove to be a curse rather than a blessing. Here are a few examples: Excessive use of gadgets, lack of offline communication, and social media abuse were proven to cause negative effects on mental health. In online communication, people are often hog-tied to express non-verbal cues, which results in misunderstandings and offenses. Relationships of those people who spend more time communicating online, compared to offline, may become tense and more fragile over time. Younger people, more prone to digital world addictions, sometimes lose the skills and desire to communicate with their peers face-to-face, in the real world. Video-gaming addicts often do not leave their homes for weeks and lead sedentary lifestyles, which eventually ruin their health. Teenagers spend too much time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok feeds bringing severe mental health problems to them as they tend to compare themselves to the dummy perfect images of others they see online. How to Reduce Negative Effects of Technology Excessive use of technology can do more harm than good, and we should bear this in mind before we rush into digitizing our lives. It is important to monitor the use of tech in every aspect of daily routine and, while it is not too late, limit the time spent in front of the smartphone screen. Also, it's a good idea to use all-in-one apps to manage a complex of tasks (e.g., having all your email accounts and messengers integrated in one place) rather than switching between a dozen of smaller apps for each activity. As an alternative to playing a video game or scrolling through social media, find a paper book that would interest you and spend time outdoors regularly. Instead of watching another Netflix episode in front of a TV set, talk to your family or take up gardening. Spending more time outdoors, without electronic devices, promotes life-work balance and is generally good for a healthy lifestyle. Technological Advancements Of The Modern Day Though it may be tough to predict which advancements technology would bring next, some innovations are already changing our beliefs about the world around us. For instance, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Something that people would have considered magic just a few decades ago is now gaining popularity in business, gaming, and team building. Wearable screens and gesture-based computing, other recent innovations, are predicted to soon substitute the usual PC and phone screens. Robots, another buzzword in todays business world, have already replaced humans in some workplaces robotic arms work at assembly or packing lines. Flying cars will soon address the issue of limited ground space and long traffic jams. Well, people of Earth are even projected to use technological innovations to colonize other planets in the foreseeable future. The sky is no longer the limit! Conclusion Technology improves all aspects of human lives, making them easier and diverse. Though technological advancements are generally seen as a positive change, some people perceive them in a negative light. Overindulgence in the use of digital apps and smart devices, overreliance on online tools may sometimes lead to tragic effects. Yet, if technological developments are used wisely, they bring nothing but good to society. Clearly, technology by itself is neither good nor bad. It is only the way and extent to which we use it that matters.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrealoubier/2021/06/01/is-society-moving-in-the-right-direction-with-technology-rapidly-taking-over-the-world/
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Who Can Visit Scandinavia In June 2021?
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Travel restrictions are being relaxed across Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but non-EU residents will ... [+] still be largely unable to visit Scandinavia during June 2021. getty The Scandinavian countries are slowly lifting their entry restrictions to allow European travelers into the country, although the exact rules vary between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. However, in most cases, U.S.-based travelers must wait until later in the summer. Until the EU-wide vaccine passport system is implemented most likely by July or August, fully vaccinated people are not exempt from the entry bans. The latest Scandinavia travel restrictions That being said, the EU does maintain a co-called white list of countries whose citizens are able to enter the EU for non-essential purposes, including tourism. At the time of writing, just a handful of countries are on the list including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The list is expected to be updated soon and the U.S. may be included. It's also worth bearing in mind that the implementation of the white list exemption is up to individual countries. While Denmark and Sweden do allow white list travelers into the country, Norwayas a non-EU memberdoes not. Here's the present situation in the three Scandinavian countries. Denmark Latest coronavirus situation: As of May 31, a total of 280,383 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 2,515 people have died. Vaccination progress: As of May 31, 21.45% of Denmark's population is fully vaccinated, with 36.5% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: Introduced in mid-May, Denmark's latest rules allow residents of EU/EEA/Schengen countries with yellow or orange status to enter the country. At the time of writing, all EU/EEA/Schengen countries fall into these categories. Outside Europe, only travelers from 'yellow' countries can enter Denmark without urgent reasons. At present, this includes Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Many people entering the country are required to show a negative Covid-19 test results, with the full list of requirements available here. Norway Latest coronavirus situation: As of May 31, a total of 125,116 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 783 people have died. Vaccination progress: As of May 31, 18.66% of Norway's population is fully vaccinated, with 30.38% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: Norway has begun to relax its strict entry ban, but only for residents of EU/EEA/Schengen countries that have low infection levels. Non-urgent travel from all other countries remains banned. Quarantine hotels remain in use for many groups, including those exempted from the entry ban. Norway plans to implement digital Covid-19 certificates or "vaccine passports" to exempt people from infection control measures within the country and make travel to and from Norway easier. However, the system is yet to be implemented, and will likely follow on from the EU's announcement of its own system. Sweden Latest coronavirus situation: As of May 28, a total of 1,068,473 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 14,451 people have died. Vaccination progress: As of May 31, 18.2% of Sweden's population is fully vaccinated, with 45.6% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: Sweden's entry ban on non-EU/EEA/Schengen residents has been extended to August 31. Previous exemptions apply, so travelers from white-listed countries can enter as can people with urgent family needs. Residents of EU/EEA/Schengen countries are also permitted to enter Sweden, but most travelers must present a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival. New for June, travelers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway can now enter Sweden without presenting a negative Covid-19 test.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2021/06/01/who-can-visit-scandinavia-in-june-2021/
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Why is Philippe Park in Safety Harbor closed?
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Bear sightings during this time of the year are not uncommon, according to the FWC. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. If you were thinking about spending your Tuesday at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor, you're going to need to change plans. Pinellas County leaders say a black bear sighting will have the park closed for the rest of the day. County leaders say they are working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to secure the park and are encouraging everyone to avoid the area. Bear sightings during this time of the year are not uncommon, according to the FWC. It adds that young bears are leaving their family unit to look to establish an area of their own. The transient bears involved are usually around 18 months old and weigh around 150 pounds, the FWC says. June also marks the start of the bear breeding season, which means a search for a mate might lead to more widespread travel for bears, according to the FWC. "If potential attractants such as garbage, pet food and birdseed are secured, bears should not linger," the FWC wrote. If you do encounter a bear at close range, the FWC says you should not run. Instead, you will need to stay upright, speak to the bear in a calm and assertive voice and slowly back away while leaving the bear with an escape route. To report a "human-bear" conflict you can contact the FWC's Southwest Regional Office at 863-648-3200. More information about the Florida black bear can be found here. This bear was captured on home video near Curlew and Countryside early Saturday, then made its way south to near the Countryside Recreation Center and Misty Springs condos. It was gone, or hiding, when our officers arrived. This morning, the bear was spotted in Philippe Park. pic.twitter.com/Wn2kjqjxTq Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) June 1, 2021
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https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/black-bear-sighting-pinellas-county-park/67-ba357d12-5e79-4d38-9cb8-c0c8028ec718
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Was hilft gegen die Gespinstmotte?
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von Ralf Walter In einigen Grten sind im Frhsommer seltsame Gespinste in Bumen und an Bschen zu sehen. Es sieht fast so aus, als htten ganz viele Spinnen dort enge Netze in die Bume gewebt. Es sind aber keine Spinnen, die sich in den Bumen ausbreiten, sondern die Raupen der Gespinstmotte. Die Falter legen ihre Eier in Bumen ab, die dort unter einer Schutzschicht berwintern. Im Frhjahr schlpfen die Larven, sobald sich die Bltter entwickelt haben. Daraus entwickeln sich gefrige Raupen, die die Bltter aufs Gerippe kahl fressen. Aus den Gerippen bauen die Raupen eine Behausung, um sich zu verpuppen. Daraus schlpfen neue Falter. Kleine Raupen - groer Hunger Die Raupen sind gelb-grau mit schwarzen Flecken und haben einen schwarzen Kopf. Sie sitzen in Massen in den sie schtzenden Gespinsten und fressen die befallenen Bume und Bsche teils komplett kahl. Das Ganze sieht zwar nicht schn aus, bedeutet aber nicht das Ende der Gehlze. Die Bume erholen sich meist wieder. Raupen der Gespinstmotte von Pflanzen absammeln Wer die Raupen frhzeitig entdeckt, sollte sie absammeln und so versuchen, das Schlimmste zu verhindern. Wenn es dafr bereits zu spt ist, die Gespinste oder gleich die ganzen betroffenen Endtriebe der Zweige abschneiden und in der Mlltonne entsorgen. Mit zugelassenen chemischen Mitteln ist zu diesem Zeitpunkt nichts mehr auszurichten, denn die Gespinste sind so fein, dass sie kaum zu durchdringen sind. Obstbume rechtzeitig schtzen Gespinstmotten in Apfelbumen knnen kurz vor Austrieb der Bltter mit einem sogenannten Austriebspritzmittel bekmpft werden. Dafr den Baum mit Paraffinl, das im Fachhandel erhltlich ist, besprhen. Dabei kommt es auf den richtigen Zeitpunkt an: Wird zu frh gespritzt, befinden sich die Eier noch in der Ruhephase. Wird zu spt gespritzt, kann das l die noch jungen Bltter schdigen. Achtung: Auch Ntzlinge wie Marienkfer oder Ohrenkneifer werden durch diese Behandlung des Baums gettet. Gespinstmotten verschwinden von selbst Das "groe Fressen" endet mit der Verpuppung der Raupen. Wer so gut es geht verhindern mchte, dass es in seinem Garten im nchsten Jahr erneut zu einem Befall kommt, sollte die natrlichen Feinde der Gespinstmotten frdern und das sind vor allem die Gartenvgel. Ein Meisenpaar verfttert zum Beispiel whrend der Aufzucht des Nachwuchses knapp 10.000 Raupen an seine Jungen und da sind dann bestimmt auch Raupen der Gespinstmotte dabei. Weitere Informationen So sieht der vogelfreundliche Garten aus Wer Singvgeln Nahrung und Unterschlupf bieten mchte, sollte seinen Garten naturnah gestalten. Und berlegen, die Tiere auch im Sommer zu fttern, raten manche Vogelkundler. mehr Dieses Thema im Programm: NDR 1 Niedersachsen | Gartentipps | 05.06.2021 | 06:50 Uhr
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https://www.ndr.de/ratgeber/garten/Was-hilft-gegen-die-Gespinstmotte,gespinstmotte105.html
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Can depression increase the likelihood of rapid kidney function decline?
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In a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the presence of depressive symptoms in normally healthy individuals was found to correlate with rapid kidney function decline. Research Results. It is estimated that more than 264 million people are affected by depression worldwide. As compared to temporary feelings of sadness, depression often causes deep and persistent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often that can affect their ability to perform daily tasks. Depression is considered to be a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. In addition to being a leading cause of suicides throughout the world, depression can also lead to active inflammation and an impaired immune response that can contribute to poor clinical outcomes. Several previous studies have identified a link between the presence of depressive symptoms and rapid kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In these studies, depressive symptoms were found to correlate with a more rapid decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). With this data in mind, a group of researchers from the State Key Laboratory for Organ Failure Research in Guangdong, China investigated whether high depressive symptoms could also cause a rapid decline in kidney function in normally healthy individuals. To look for a potential link, the researchers examined the health information of 4,763 individuals with healthy kidneys who had enrolled in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). At the start of the study, 39% of the participants had high baseline depressive symptoms, which were measured using a ten-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. During a median follow-up of 4 years, about 6% of the participants were found to develop a rapid decline in their kidney function. This decline was identified by assessing kidney outcomes based on eGFRcr-cys, which combines serum creatinine and cystatin C levels and is considered to be a much more accurate representation of GFR levels as compared to when eGFR is estimated on the basis of creatinine or cystatin C alone. In fact, eGFRcr-cys was found to be particularly superior when used to assess kidney function in older populations, as creatinine levels can vary with muscle mass, diet, and physical activity, all of which can alter the accuracy of an assessment on creatinine-based eGFR levels alone. Measuring eGFR based on cystatin C levels is also limited, as serum cystatin C levels can fluctuate when insulin resistance or inflammation is present. Proposed mechanisms for kidney decline The exact mechanisms that are responsible for why depressive symptoms may increase an individuals risk of rapid kidney function decline were not fully analyzed in the current study. However, several potential mechanisms were proposed to be responsible for this phenomenon. First, several previous studies have reported that individuals with high depressive symptoms often exhibit higher circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-). Taken together, an increased presence of these inflammatory markers in circulation can contribute to endothelial dysfunction and kidney fibrosis; both of which are associated with rapid kidney function decline. Second, depressive symptoms have the potential to reduce the sensitivity of the immune system to glucocorticoid hormones. As a result, an autonomic imbalance arises, which can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and, subsequently, impair the function of the immune system. The third mechanism that might have a role in accelerating kidney function decline in individuals with depressive symptoms may be due to the health behaviors or health literacy of those with depression. Many patients with depression often have unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as poor nutrition, limited social interaction with others, physical inactivity, and delayed healthcare-seeking behaviors. All of these factors may therefore contribute to a more rapid decline in kidney function. Conclusion Depression is a significant health concern throughout much of the world. This is particularly important in China, which is where the current study was conducted, as about 38% of the general population in this nation experiences depressive symptoms. Furthermore, up to 53% of rural elderly populations in central China have also reported depressive symptoms, which can further worsen health outcomes for this patient population that is already at a greater risk of kidney dysfunction. The findings of the current study confirmed the association between the presence of high depressive symptoms and a more rapid decline in kidney function in normal individuals. Although more studies must be performed to fully understand the progression of kidney decline in healthy patients with depressive symptoms, the data discussed here supports the incorporation of depressive symptom screening and effective psychosocial intervention in the clinical setting. These efforts will likely counteract the development of chronic kidney disease in these at-risk patient populations.
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https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210601/Can-depression-increase-the-likelihood-of-rapid-kidney-function-decline.aspx
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What Is Traceability? Why Did WhatsApp Sue Indian Govt Over Traceability & What's The Row?
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After the three-month deadline given by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITy) to accept the new IT guidelines concluded on May 25, messaging app WhatsApp moved the Delhi High Court expressing its inability to comply with the clause of 'traceability' under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. In fact, WhatsApp in its statement also expressed that the clause of traceability added by the government of India will be undermining people's fundamental right to privacy. However, the government of India in its statement stood firm on the traceability clause and clarified its stance on people's privacy saying the requirement of tracing origin of flagged messages under the new IT rules is for prevention and for investigation of 'very serious offences' related to the sovereignty of India or public order. Amid all this, the question everyone is asking is 'What is traceability?' WhatsApp on Wednesday knocked on the doors of the Delhi High Court against the Centre's recently imposed IT Rules that would require the messaging services to 'trace' the origin of particular messages sent on the service. WhatsApp through its spokesperson said, "Requiring messaging apps to trace chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on WhatsApp, which would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermines people's right to privacy." "We have consistently joined civil society and experts around the world in opposing requirements that would violate the privacy of our users. In the meantime, we will also continue to engage with the Government of India on practical solutions aimed at keeping people safe, including responding to valid legal requests for the information available to us," added the WhatsApp spokesperson. End-to-end encryption is a system of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages. In principle, it prevents telecom providers, Internet providers, and even the provider of the communication service, i.e. WhatsApp from being able to access the cryptographic keys needed to decrypt the conversation. As per experts, implementation of Traceability would force private companies to collect and store who-said-what and who-shared-what for billions of messages sent each day. This will require platforms to collect more data than they need, solely for the purpose of turning it over to law enforcement agencies. When the concept of 'traceability' was first proposed in early 2019, a number of organizations wrote to the Indian government about how such a provision would violate the privacy of Indian users. The IT rules published by the government India earlier this year, in addition to calling for traceability risk criminal penalties for non-compliance. Globally, WhatsApp has consistently opposed legal action that would break end-to-end encryption - for example, it is currently before the Supreme Court of Brazil on a similar matter. Furthermore, as per sources, Traceability as WhatsApp understands it at the moment would not be effective in finding the originator of a particular message because people commonly see content on websites or social media platforms and then copy and paste them into chats, and it would also be impossible to understand the context of how it was originally shared. This, however, is subjective. Government's clarification on WhatsApp's 'traceability' problem The government on Wednesday clarified that it respects the right to privacy and that the requirement of tracing the origin of flagged messages under the new IT rules is for prevention and investigation of "very serious offences" related to the sovereignty of India or public order. In a statement, the IT Ministry termed WhatsApp's last moment challenge to the intermediary guidelines as an unfortunate attempt to prevent norms from coming into effect. The UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada require social media firms to allow for the legal interception, it said, adding, "What India is asking for is significantly much less than what some of the other countries have demanded. Therefore, WhatsApp's attempt to portray the Intermediary Guidelines of India as contrary to the right to privacy is misguided," the official statement said. The statement further added that IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has stated that the government "is committed to ensure the Right of Privacy to all its citizens but at the same time it is also the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and ensure national security." "Such requirements are only in case when the message is required for prevention, investigation or punishment of very serious offences related to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order, or of incitement to an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material," the statement added. As for the specific doubts that have been expressed over how this may entail a violation to the Right to Privacy, the government has upheld that this right comes with reasonable restrictions, and that in such circumstance that it requires to trace the origin of a message, the relevant legal warrant would be produced. Furthermore, it has questioned WhatsApp about its own recent and controversial privacy policy update wherein businesses must agree to WhatsApp's right to data-sharing with Facebook. Centre's new guidelines for social media & traceability The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were framed by the Centre on February 25 in exercise of powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011. The rules came into effect from May 26. Under the new rules, social media platforms will have to have a grievance redressal mechanism, they will also have to name a grievance officer who shall register the grievance within 24 hours and disposal in 15 days. The government had said that if there are complaints against the dignity of users, particularly women - about exposed private parts of individuals or nudity or sexual act or impersonation, etc - social media platforms will be required to remove that within 24 hours after a complaint is made. As per the guidelines, first, the social media platforms will have to have a chief compliance officer residing in India responsible for ensuring compliance with the act and the rules. With the new social media rules, platforms will be required to disclose 'trace' the first originator of a mischievous tweet or message which could be in relation to the sovereignty of India, the security of the state, relations with foreign states, rape, etc. Second is a nodal contact person who should reside in India for 24X7 coordination with law enforcement agencies. Also, social media platforms have to appoint a resident grievance officer who shall perform the grievance redressal mechanism as indicated. They also will have to publish a monthly report about the number of complaints received and the status of redressal. Meanwhile, Facebook and Google have assured the Government of India it would comply with the new set of rules. (Image Credits: PTI / Pixabay)
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https://www.republicworld.com/technology-news/social-media-news/what-is-traceability-why-did-whatsapp-sue-indian-govt-over-traceability-and-whats-the-row.html
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What Industries Are Reinventing The Innovation Cycle?
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Adam Goodyer is the founder and CEO of Realife Tech, providing data-based personalized digital experiences for the worlds biggest venues getty Many industries have been impacted by increasing consumer demand for digital activations and offerings, and there are a few areas we can look at that have adopted innovative tech solutions to build better processes that are more in tune with what their audiences want and need in this new environment. The New Office Environment Real estate development, interior design and architecture have no doubt evolved and will continue to evolve long after the pandemic has subsided, as developers and designers have had to consider how differently were now engaging with the world around us. This can take form in many ways, including building dedicated working/office spaces into new residential developments to allow for more seamless remote work experiences. Many offices are innovating in ways beyond safety protocols that remove extra desks and seats to create space in office settings for social distancing, utilizing new technologies that help transform offices into nearly touchless environments. Some larger offices and corporate campuses are employing mobile apps to stagger lunch ordering and pickup from onsite cafeterias, conference rooms and parking lots, and others are going completely touchless: Palo Alto Networks in Santa Clara, CA reported that its offices are going contactless, from appliances like espresso machines that scan QR codes instead of operating with touch buttons, to motion-activated faucets and sanitizing stations. This signals a shift in the innovation cycle, as companies are considering how their employees are interacting with the world around them differently now than they were last year and putting new digital technologies in place to adapt to those changes. Changes Seen By Retail And Restaurants Another industry thats quickly evolving for the new digital landscape is in-person retail, specifically shopping malls and centers. Research points to the incredible opportunity for customer experience improvement and innovation here, as many consumers already prefer online shopping a Deloitte study showed that of 58% consumers expect enclosed-mall shopping to become less popular post-Covid. Its clear that the answer here is increased digital adoption, with the research also showing that global spending on retail technology was growing even before the pandemic, jumping 3.6% from 2018 to 2019. Shopping malls and other enclosed retail spaces have the potential to drive foot traffic through creating dynamic customer experiences, focusing on convenience and incorporating digital elements (like mobile apps) that integrate technology customers already know and love. Other industries like food and beverage have turned to ghost kitchens, driving up the market for commercial kitchen space. As restaurants remain closed across the country and high rents continue to drive business owners out of city centers, ghost kitchens may be combined with virtual food and beverage ordering systems like GrubHub and DoorDash to continue reaching more customer bases. Events And Entertainment Shifts Event venues and sports stadiums have also had to consider how customers interact with their spaces and put more solutions in place to match the new relationship visitors have with large-scale venues. Even as confidence in attending in-person events returns, these venues will likely maintain their solutions that minimize close personal contact, including on-demand food and beverage ordering and crowd congestion alerts that allow guests to avoid lines, box offices and crowded spaces. The industry is also seeing a shift to completely digital mobile operations when it comes to ticketing, removing the need for paper. As consumers are used to doing everything on their mobile phones already, shifting ticketing to a completely digital and touchless process will ultimately create a better and more frictionless experience. Our evolving digital-first society has undoubtedly impacted how we interact with our physical environment and prompted companies to develop a deeper understanding of how the customers journey with their offerings has changed as a result. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/06/01/what-industries-are-reinventing-the-innovation-cycle/
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Are we risking a debt pandemic?
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Oct. 12, 2020, will go down in German financial history. For the first time, new public debt increased at a rate of more than 10,000 ($11,900) per second, faster than during the 2007-09 global financial crisis, when a huge volume of net borrowing was needed. This headlong acceleration of debt, in Germany and in countries around the world, is the price being paid to stave off the economic consequences of COVID-19. In the German Bundestag, the fiscal consequences of the pandemic have become a central concern, with Germanys massive 1.3 trillion rescue/stimulus package fueling an already long-standing debate about the countrys debt sustainability. The key question is whether, and for how long, government and society can continue to shoulder the growing burden. Detailed assessments offer reason to hope that Germany is well prepared. We have followed the path of sustainability, adhering to the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact of the Maastricht Treaty and reducing our debt to less than 60% of GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. These consolidation measures over the past 12 years have given Germany some financial leeway that can now be used in the crisis. The Harvard University economist Kenneth Rogoff, a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, has long argued that Germanys strong balance sheet gives it the capacity to react forcefully in a deep crisis. In other countries this is not true, at least not to the same extent. In countries where insufficient progress had been made in lowering the governments debt ratio, the additional pandemic-related debts have imposed a particularly heavy burden. In more and more countries, debt has now outstripped annual GDP, which has considerably reduced the chances of the governments outgrowing their debts. Debt overboard There can be no disputing that an exogenous shock like the COVID-19 pandemic justifies a rise in public spending, as well as reinforced financial solidarity across borders the raison deter of the 750 billion European recovery fund, called Next Generation EU, established in 2020. Deficit spending is the order of the day, and none of it can happen without additional debt. But ifs and buts persist, as well they should. After all, even in a crisis as grave as the COVID-19 pandemic, money is not a panacea, and borrowing makes sense only if it is carried out prudently and reasonably. Otherwise, states will lose their financial flexibility in the longer term. But the issue goes beyond preserving fiscal space. States with spiraling debt run the risk of massive ruptures in their social fabric. Most creditors are affluent individuals and entities whose wealth is increased by public borrowing. The rich grow richer and the poor lose opportunities to share in prosperity. Widening the gulf between the haves and the have-nots in this way poses a huge threat to social cohesion and risks creating a political powder keg. Against this backdrop, central banks role should not be immune from criticism. Central banks increasing purchases of sovereign bonds on the secondary market are swelling the money supply and increasing the risk of inflation. Traditional advocates of budgetary austerity are not the only ones who recognize the dangers. Even Larry Summers and Olivier Blanchard, staunch champions of credit-financed stimulus spending in the past, are also warning against the potential consequences of growing public debt. It all comes down to the dose. And in the eyes of Summers, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton, and Blanchard, a former chief economist of the IMF, the dose has now been increased to the point that it could harm the patient. Summers and Blanchard deserve a hearing for their warnings particularly in Europe, where, even more than in the United States, debt-financed fiscal policies have received monetary backing. With the European Central Bank running the printing press overtime, the monetary base in the eurozone rose from almost 1 trillion in 2009 to nearly 5 trillion at the end of 2020. It will be 6 trillion in June 2021, and further increases have already been agreed. When the money supply multiplies like that without corresponding adequate growth in the volume of goods and services, an increase in the inflation expectations of businesses and households is inevitable. This does not necessarily mean that inflation will actually occur, but, if it does, currency devaluation becomes virtually impossible to stop. Tighten with care Knowing about inflationary dangers, however, will not suffice. The threat of a loss of purchasing power through monetization of government debt requires concrete action. For this reason, several months ago, I initiated a cross-party discussion group to examine monetary policy and its risks and explore the scope that exists for a return to normalcy. All stakeholders are aware of the dilemma facing the ECB. Applying the monetary brake too vigorously would send interest rates soaring and threaten the stability of the countries with the highest debt ratios. That cannot be anyones aim. If the interest-rate turnaround takes too long, however, the risk of inflation is liable to be accompanied by a zombification of the economy: the money glut fuels moral hazard, which prevents essential structural adjustments in enterprises and leads to a loss of competitiveness. In the first instance, the fight against the pandemic will continue to govern our actions. That is the purpose of Next Generation EU. And it is gratifying that initial signs of improvement are already visible. The prospect of recovery makes it all the more urgent to have a firm vision of how the burden of public debt can be reduced once the coronavirus has been vanquished. Otherwise, COVID-19 could be followed by a debt pandemic, with dire economic consequences for Europe. Countries like the U.S. and China are already ahead of the demographically aging Europe in terms of productivity and workload. This competitive disadvantage would widen if EU countries were to jeopardize their financial flexibility through excessive debt. For this reason, every country must work on itself and strive to maintain budgetary discipline. Financial solidarity is, and will remain, a key condition for sustainable investments in education, research and innovation, without which our prosperity cannot be safeguarded. But one thing is clear: Left to their own devices, members of a confederation of states like the eurozone are too easily tempted to incur debts at the expense of the community. Balanced budgets are almost unattainable in high-debt countries without external pressure. The full Hamilton A promising approach that the EU could adopt to take political control of the debt problem stems from the German Council of Economic Experts: the European Redemption Pact, an initiative that is already ten years old. Back then, the Council proposed a debt redemption pact for the eurozone modeled on Alexander Hamiltons historic sinking fund, established in 1792 for the then-infant U.S. The sinking fund enabled Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, to reduce the former colonies huge public debts after the War of Independence, thereby eliminating the threat of state bankruptcy. All 13 U.S. states were required to deposit good collateral, practice budgetary discipline and reduce their debts. Persistent deficit sinners were put into structured insolvency to prevent moral hazard at the expense of the more frugal states. That external constraint on fiscal policy and not the mutualization of individual states debts, which is occasionally recommended for the EU was the crux of the often-cited Hamiltonian moment. Hamiltons plan worked. It is a good example of how crises can also present opportunities. The secret is to recognize them and grasp them boldly. I am confident that Europe is now ready to do that. Wolfgang Schauble, a former German finance minister (2009-17) and minister of the interior (1989-91 and 2005-09), is president of the German Bundestag. Project Syndicate, 2021
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https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/06/01/commentary/world-commentary/risking-debt-pandemic/
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Which Cambridge employees made the most in 2020?
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To view the full list of all 805 Cambridge employees who earned more than $100,000 in 2020, scroll to the bottom of the article or click here. Like a tsunami, the pandemic washed away any progress struggling individuals and families may have made toward a sense of security. Unemployment and food insecurity were at an all-time high in 2020, as nearly everyone was touched by some sense of loss. More:Unprecedented need overwhelms Cambridge's food pantries, anti-hunger groups Yet Cambridge persevered, keeping its COVID-19 infection rates in check, setting up relief funds and hanging on to its AAA bond rating (one of just 27 cities in the country to do so). And if you were a city employee, chances are you fared better than others when it came to job security in 2020. A look at the gross earnings of Cambridge employees shows 805 made $100,000 or more, compared to 721 in 2019. Sixty-five employees (38 in 2019) made over $200,000 in 2020, including 44 members of the Cambridge Police Department. Out of the 805 who made over 100,000, approximately 256 are members of CPD and 268 are members of Cambridge Fire Department. Lieutenant investigated for racist tweets made $172K Former CPD Lt. Shawn Lynch who was investigated in September by the department in connection to a Twitter account promoting racism, violence and transphobia earned $172,027 in 2020. More:Cambridge Police investigating lieutenant's connection to racist tweets In May 2020, just four months into the year, Lynch was on leave, but for reasons having nothing to do with misconduct, according to CPD. In September 2020, the investigation into his Twitter account began and by February 2021 CPD confirmed Lynch was no longer with the department. Despite being on leave for most of the year and despite being investigated, Lynch was still one of the top 150 earners in Cambridge in 2020. The details of his departure were not made public and are the topic of a FOIA request submitted April 6 by the Chronicle that is yet to be returned. The city asked for a formal extension to the request, which was granted. More: 2018 top earners in Cambridge City officials earnings Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui earned $127,791, which is $26,400 more than former mayor Henrietta Davis made in 2012. City Manager Louis DePasquale earned $350,566 in 2020, up from $336,068 in 2019. Deputy City Manager, Lisa Peterson, who has since retired, earned $298,331 in 2020 compared to $271,416 in 2019. Police Commissioner Branville Bard Jr. made $326,044 in 2020, which was less than his $351,463 in 2019. The increase in 2019 included a one-time retroactive educational incentive (for the degrees Bard holds), according to the city's personnel department. The 25 city employees who made the most in Cambridge are as follows: Louis DePasquale, City Manager, $350,565.60 Branville G. Bard, Police Commissioner, $326,044.16 David M. Schofield, Police Lieutenant, $299,355.47 Lisa Peterson, Deputy City Manager, $298,331.24 Oral J. Bynoe, Police Officer, $294,197.86 John J. Lang, Police Lieutenant, $284,464.68 Reynaldo Benzan, Police Officer, $276,362.10 Timothy P. Lawton, Police Sergeant, $275,230.33 David M. Brown, Police Sergeant, $275,037.43 Paul W. Timmins, Police Lieutenant, $267,767.62 Buckowe Yam, Police Sergeant, $263,616.51 Paul J. Gallagher, Police Sergeant, $262,577.67 Michael J. Morrissey, Fire Deputy Chief, $252,848.27 Thomas J. Flynn, Police Lieutenant, $252,329.73 Gerard E. Mahoney, Fire Chief, $246,371.14 Stephen G. Sennott, Police Sergeant, $238,134.62 John J. Cotter, Fire Deputy Chief, $237,560.42 John W. Boyle, Police Lieutenant, $236,519.01 Brian Gover, Fire Deputy Chief, $235,736.86 Mark K. Cunningham, Fire Deputy Chief, $231,470.79 Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager/CDD, $228,521.19 Ellen M. Semonoff, Assistant City Manager/Human Services, $228,120.91 David Kale, Assistant City Manager/Fiscal, $228,111.69 Christine A. Elow, Superintendent/Police, $227,844.33 Hercot L. Miller, Police Officer, $227,356.00 Here is the full list:
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https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cambridge-chronicle-tab/2021/06/01/which-cambridge-employees-made-most-2020/7432428002/
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Why did the council allow City in Bloom to fold?
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Its the start of summer and tourist towns across our country are putting their best foot forward with public flower displays and City in Bloom competitions in a bid to attract tourists, help local businesses and foster civic pride. This, however, is sadly not the case in Brighton and Hove where many of the councils purpose-built flowerbeds such as those at Patcham Roundabout and along Viaduct Road currently lie neglected, bare and overrun with weeds and the council has allowed the annual City in Bloom competition to fold. The contrast with other tourist towns in our county is striking a look at the presentation of Eastbourne and Worthing right now puts Brighton and Hove to shame. The councils loss of interest in City in Bloom started in 2011 when the Greens first came to power in Brighton and Hove. In November 2011 the Green council, with the support of Labour, voted to fold the City in Bloom event and told the City in Bloom committee that it would not be granting them any further funding. City in Bloom had previously been a joint council and community initiative with an annual budget of just 30,000. The competition had been divided into different categories, including residents gardens, geographical areas, best streets, best shops and public houses, with an award ceremony at a seafront hotel each year. The Conservative administration in the city from 2007 to 2011, immediately before the Greens, gave strong support to the event and considered that it held an important place in the civic calendar. On being told the Green councils decision, many members who had sat on the working group for City in Bloom as volunteers for years were disappointed by this change in direction from the council. They started a targeted campaign to challenge its decision. City in Bloom petitioned the council, saying that the initiative was a cost-effective way of bolstering and improving civic pride, as is recorded in the minutes of the AGM held in 2012. The City in Bloom committee itself overrode the councils decision to end the event and, by working with the council in partnership, it was agreed that a budget of 25,000 would be signed over to the committee as a volunteer group as a one-off payment. For eight years until 2019, utilising that one-off sum, the volunteer group ran the annual competitions throughout the city, arranging extra sponsorship and collating entrants, organising dates and times for three judges for each category and culminating in an annual prize-giving event. These volunteers deserve great credit for making this work including the chair Denise Taylor. It showed what could be done with a small amount of money (3,125 a year) and the support of sponsors even against the headwind of disinterest and lack of support from our council. But last year, when the committee decided to cease operation, the final Facebook post noted the challenges of having to leap the hurdles of council directions. They had to exclude less sustainable categories and embrace more ecologically sound practices for the competition. Their post said: As volunteers, we have found the running of City in Bloom to be complex and unsustainable. While we are saddened that we cant continue, we are very pleased with our achievements over the seven years that we have been running as a voluntary organisation. Our sponsors have supported us and allowed us to award many community groups for their outstanding work and achievements. It was the decision of the committee (five members in total) to cease operation due to the extreme amount of time and energy that was needed and, having worked to update the process in which the competitions were run to exclude less sustainable categories and embrace more ecologically sound practices, the operation was deemed to have become unsustainable for the volunteers involved. This was noted in the Special General Meeting of Dissolution Minutes of Monday 24 February 2020. Again, the councils lack of support is a key factor. While sustainability is important, a more proactive council would have worked with City in Bloom to find a way to bring in sustainable displays alongside traditional colourful flowers for a time in the summer. The Conservatives are calling for a return to City and Bloom as a way to restore civic pride and provide a boost post pandemic. You can sign the petition at www.tinyurl.com/cityinbloom. The old Welcome to Brighton floral display sponsored by DonatelloWe think that the event is worthwhile as it boosts civic pride and helps our small business community which is an important part of the citys economy. We also think the absence of an event puts us at competitive disadvantage compared to other seaside towns in Sussex which embrace summer displays. The volunteers of City in Bloom demonstrated how, with a small budget, it can be done. They have shown the way for the council, including how, with just a small amount of co-ordination and leadership from Brighton and Hove City Council, this event could return. We know the council has the time and the money to make this happen. When you consider the millions of pounds the council has wastes on failed policies such as insourcing housing repairs, home to school transport and an interim housing director costing 1,200 a day, surely we can find the small amount of money needed to run a good City in Bloom competition. The council clearly has time on its hands to discuss this Labour and the Greens are currently spending 76 per cent of their debating time at council meetings discussing national and international issues. How about spending this time instead discussing how to bring back City in Bloom. Come on Brighton and Hove City Council, lets bring back City in Bloom and restore some civic pride to the city. Councillor Carol Theobald represents Patcham on Brighton and Hove City Council and is the president of the Patcham Horticultural Society.
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https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2021/06/01/why-did-the-council-allow-city-in-bloom-to-fold/
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What do employees really want?
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Flexible work timings, remote work permission and shorter work weeks. These are no longer ideal situations but work demands of Indian employees. The EY 2021 Work Reimagined Employee Survey said up to 69 percent employee respondents in India would choose flexibility as a vital factor when they work. Further, 76 percent of the respondents said they want flexibility in where they work. This is not all. On an average, employees would want to work between two and three days remotely after the pandemic. And the lessons from work from home during the pandemic have already shown that this is not a far-fetched dream.
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https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/mcminis/economy/what-do-employees-really-want-6973681.html
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What is the release date of Yareli in Warframe?
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A new Warframe is on the way, and Yareli will be arriving in the game as part of the Sisters of Parvos update. The Sisters of Parvos update will introduce the Waverider mini-quest for Yareli, a new digital comic, new Parazon mods, Corpus Railjack Survival and Spy, new weapons, and Ephemera, and the new Harrow Alternate Helmet. Unfortunately, there is no confirmed release date for the Sisters of Parvos update yet. As for the Sisters of Parvos themselves, that is the new name given to Corpus Liches, so there is going to be a lot to unpack in this update. Yareli seems like an interesting Warframe, it has to be said. Her passive means that, while moving, your secondary weapon does more critical. She also has an ability called Sea Snares that sends out globules of water that trap enemies. Her Murlina ability spawns a health-based k-drive that Yareli can drive around on in-mission and it is possible to redirect some of the damage you take to Merulina while on board. Aquablades casts a swirl of blades around Yareli that damage foes, and finally Cyclone Strike gathers enemies in a fast-casting AOE and launches them into the air. So, she sounds like an interesting mix of Hydroid and Zephyr as far as her abilities go. We will update this guide as soon as we have more information on her release day.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/what-is-the-release-date-of-yareli-in-warframe
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Did each of these 20 players ever score a goal whilst on loan at Coventry City?
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Coventry City are facing a hugely important summer transfer period now where Mark Robins will be hoping to get the backing of the clubs hierarchy to strengthen the squad further. The Sky Blues managed to do really well to ensure their safety in the Championship in what was their first campaign back in the second tier this season. They now need to make the right sort of additions in the transfer market to continue that progression and try and maybe aim for a top-half finish next term. Robins has shown that he can be shrewd with both the loan market and the money he has available to bring in permanent additions to the club over the last few years. The Sky Blues will hope that he can continue to do that with the budget they hand him this summer. Yes No
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https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/did-each-of-these-20-players-ever-score-a-goal-whilst-on-loan-at-coventry-city/
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How Do I Get A Used Car Inspected When They Sell So Fast?
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Photo : Carmax As Jalopniks resident car-buying expert and a professional car shopper, I get emails. Lots of emails. Ive picked a few of your questions and will try to help out. I am shopping for a used crossover, something like a RAV4 or CRV but I am looking at things under $20,000. This means that almost everything is out of warranty and while I know those cars are reliable I dont want to buy something junky that is going to have problems. Ive read that its important to get a pre-purchase inspection, but either the dealers dont want to cooperate or the car sells before I can even set it up. What should I do? One of the more frustrating aspects of this current market is how fast inventory is selling . While I almost always recommend a pre-purchase inspection for a used car, that advice isnt helpful if you can execute the inspection. Dealers know how quickly inventory turns over, so they arent likely to be cooperative in taking their car to a local shop for you or even holding it with a deposit. You can use a remote service like Lemon Squad or YourMechanic.com to send someone to the dealership, but that will often take a few days and the car could be gone before the inspector gets there. You have a few choices: You can keep plugging away and just hope that a unit doesnt get snatched up before you get a chance to inspect it. You can try to buy something local with a good history and some warranty balance, and hope for the best. Or you can purchase from outfits like Carvana, Vroom, and Carmax since they do have a return policy if you find out that the condition of the car isnt up to your standard post-purchase. Carmax recently offered 24-hour test drives and extended their return policy to 30-days. If you go with the last choice those cars are likely to cost a premium, but that could be worth it since they are reducing your risk. Im in the market for a 2018 BMW 3-Series wagon to replace my 06 version of the same car. Theres a lot of them coming off lease, and as BMW has discontinued importing this model, its a volatile market. Ive been watching online for suitable cars since late last year, had a few misfires for various reasons. Found a suitable vehicle in Brooklyn NY this week, put a $500 deposit on it to hold the car. The dealer has emailed me a Purchase Order to sign, but has been dragging their feet with a finance offer. Purchase price is about $39K with taxes and fees, they dont want to talk trade-in. I can put as much as $15 to $20 down. Anyway, I dont want to sign anything without a finance quote. BMW USA is currently advertising 1.9% on CPO cars, the dealers website is offering 4.9%. Hence my caution. Its a nicely optioned example, but Ive seen other low mileage examples in the same color combination, so I can walk. Im in Maine, so, I dont want to get down to the city and find myself backed into a corner. Does a purchase order carry the same obligation as a sales contract? Advertisement A purchase order is quite the same as a binding document like a contract. I f a dealer is providing a detailed and itemized purchase order it is very likely your sales contract will replicate these numbers. However, it seems that your concern is less with the total price of the car and more with the interest rate that you will get. Here is what you do: submit a credit application through the dealership. Have them inform you what you have been approved for before you drive all the way to the dealership. I would also recommend shopping some rates elsewhere so that you have a backup plan for your loan in case the dealer doesnt come through with a good APR. Email me at [email protected]!
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https://jalopnik.com/how-do-i-get-a-used-car-inspected-when-they-sell-so-fas-1847006543
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Who will be Birmingham's 2021 Company of the Year?
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Sign up to FREE email alerts from BusinessLive - West Midlands Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Our business community will be reunited later this month at this year's virtual Birmingham Post Business Awards. Through restrictions and adaptations, a strong sense of entrepreneurial spirit and ambition has remained throughout Birmingham. Not only have the businesses demonstrating that inspiring resilience kept our local economy afloat, they have supported all of us every single day. Like most aspects of our current lives, this exciting event is taking place online via a special streaming service. Not only does this mean that everyone can stay safe while enjoying the event from the comfort of their own homes but the prestigious ceremony is free for all to attend. The online awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday June 15 - visit the event website here to register for your free ticket. Please email [email protected] for more information and to learn about sponsorship opportunities. The ceremony will be hosted on our new virtual events platform The Awards Room which gives nominees and sponsors the chance to experience real-time networking, with guests grouped together on their own tables. Follow the hashtag #BPBAwards for updates on social media. Birmingham Post business editor Tamlyn Jones said: "It is just a fortnight to go until our 2021 Birmingham Post Business Awards ceremony which we are delighted to host after being forced to cancel last year's event due to the pandemic. "We were so pleased to receive such a strong line-up of entries this year and it was heartening to see our nominees thriving despite everything covid-19 had to throw at them. "I would urge everyone who hasn't yet signed up to attend to do so. The ceremony is free to watch online and will be a great evening to mark the city region's thriving business community." Popular weather presenter Emma Jesson will be hosting the event and sharing the remarkable work of our finalists and winners as well as crowning our overall Company of the Year. The full list of 2021 categories and sponsors is:
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https://www.business-live.co.uk/partners/who-birminghams-2021-company-year-20640828
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What Would It Take for the Kansas City Chiefs to Go 20-0?
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Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press Patrick Mahomes told Bleacher Report this weekend that he's got his sights set on making the Kansas City Chiefs the first team ever to post a 20-0 record in a single season (including the playoffs). That was technically possible even before the season expanded to 17 games because a team could have theoretically gone 16-0 and failed to secure a bye if other teams did the same thing and had the tiebreaker edge (just as 21-0 is now technically doable). But realistically, 20-0 is the new 19-0a mark nobody ever hit in the 16-game regular-season era thanks to the New York Giants' upset victory over the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Obviously, history is not on their side. But DraftKings gives them by far the best odds in the league to go 17-0they aren't an underdog in any of their games right nowand they're unsurprisingly the Super Bowl favorite as well. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press Then there's the fact that the 2020 season didn't even feel all that crisp at times for the Chiefs, who were hit hard by injuries along the offensive line but still managed to post a 14-1 record with Mahomes under center before coasting in a meaningless Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Video Play Button Videos you might like Mahomes' only loss before Super Bowl LV came by one score against the Las Vegas Raiders in October. And at this moment, he's won 25 of his past 27 regular-season and playoff starts. Now, with additions of two-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr. at right tackle and veteran stalwart Joe Thuney at left guard and the return of 2020 COVID-19 opt-outs Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang, the line looks stronger and deeper than ever. Plus, they added talented, relatively young defenders Jarran Reed and Mike Hughes on the other side of the ball. Mark Zaleski/Associated Press If an apparently hungry Mahomes can remain healthy, the Chiefs have a real shot at this. Now, the AFC is pretty stacked with the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns all likely to push the Chiefs for the conference's No. 1 seed. But the strength that exists in the other AFC divisions could actually help Kansas City hit that 17-0 mark. It's easier to imagine the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulling away from the pack in the NFC than it is to envision the Chiefs doing the same in the AFC, especially if the Green Bay Packers trade Aaron Rodgers out of the conference. Remember, the Los Angeles Rams have lacked capital several offseasons in a row and the New Orleans Saints are without Drew Brees now. But the Ravens, Bills and Browns continue to build themselves up. If one can make a run at 14 or 15 wins, the Chiefs won't be able to start comfortably sitting starters until we're well into the holiday season, if at all. Charlie Riedel/Associated Press Kansas City's top challenges will also come well before any potential coasting period. Facing the Browns in Week 1, the Ravens in Week 2, the Chargers in Week 3, the Bills in Week 5 and the Titans in Week 7 will make it very difficult for the Chiefs to start 7-0, especially because their other two games during that stretch (on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Football Team) are potential traps. But if they can get over that hump, there's a decent chance they'll be 11-0 at their bye, and their last stretch of games is not nearly as challenging as their initial batch. They do, however, face division rivals in four of those last six games and anything can happen under those circumstances. The Raiders and Chargers often play them tough, and the Bolts look stronger after a fruitful offseason. Meanwhile, the Broncos remain the favorite to land Rodgers if the Packers do trade him, and that could impact those dynamics. Biggest obstacles to perfection for the Chiefs Week 1 vs. Browns: Cleveland put up a good fight in last year's playoff meeting and, on paper, is even better now. Week 2 at Ravens: Lamar Jackson has never defeated the Chiefs, but he'll likely be fired up to bust out of that slump in Baltimore's prime-time home opener. Kansas City is a mere two-point favorite right now. Week 5 vs. Bills: In terms of the odds, Buffalo is expected to be the top challenger to the Chiefs in the AFC. Week 6 at Washington: If the Chiefs' new-look offensive line hasn't completely gotten it together by now, it could spell trouble on the road against a jacked defensive front. Week 7 at Titans: Derrick Henry can hijack any game, especially against a somewhat vulnerable run defense at home. Tennessee also beat the Chiefs in 2019. Week 9 vs. Packers: If Aaron Rodgers is quarterbacking the Packers, this won't be easy. Week 10 at Raiders: The Chiefs lost to Derek Carr and Co. at home last year. Week 15 at Chargers: Three days' rest, on the road against Justin Herbert and an improved L.A. team could be a problem. Week 18 vs. Broncos: If Aaron Rodgers is quarterbacking the Broncos, this won't be easy. Mike Roemer/Associated Press Again, on one hand, better competition means you're less likely to bail on the pursuit of a potential perfect season in order to rest key players late. But on the other hand, it means it's quite simply tougher to win every game before even reaching that point. It remains too easy to have an off day, even if you're Mahomes (who posted a mere 83.5 passer rating in that loss to the Raiders), and you've gotta stay pretty damn healthy to win 17 (or 20) games in a row. The Chiefs were 9-1 in one-score games last year, but that might not be sustainable moving forward. Plus, the added game doesn't help. That's why a perfect regular season for the Chiefs still pays +3300 at DraftKings (bet $100 to win $3,300). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN). 21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN/MI only. Odds and lines subject to change. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com/Sportsbook for full terms and conditions. Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.
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https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2943999-what-would-it-take-for-the-kansas-city-chiefs-to-go-20-0
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What is THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol? And Why Is It So Special?
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In the weed scene, we see the term THC all the time. Its values are reported on all licensed weed products, dozens if not hundreds of cannabis companies have turned their names into anagrams spelling out T-H-C, and its the primary compound in cannabis that gets regulators, prohibitionists, and FoxNews all flustered. First, a Quick Science Lesson THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, which is fun to say out loud, especially in the middle of a smoking sesh. THC is a molecule composed of three closed ring units , and its only found naturally in cannabis. No other plant, animal, or lifeform naturally makes this marvelous compound, though scientists have figured out ways to get bacteria and yeast to produce it through biotech approaches. Scientists believe that cannabis, which first appeared on Earth sometime 28 million years ago , evolved to produce THC as a survival mechanism. THC protects the plant from the suns UV radiation , which is supported by the fact that the plant produces more THC as it undergoes greater UV exposure. THC could also dissuade some herbivores from eating the plant, though THCs psychoactive effects on animals could also encourage them to eat the plants seeds and spread them around after defecating, a common evolutionary strategy employed by many seed-bearing plants. That THC would later benefit humans, who appeared on the evolutionary scene about 100,000 years ago, serves as an additional evolutionary strategy. Our species has cultivated, bred, and protected this plants genetics for centuries. Although cannabis gives us textiles, food, fuel, and shelter, its ability to intoxicate us in a relatively safe manner gives it an additional survival advantage. Photo Credit: Royal Queen Seeds What Makes THC Special THC is classified as a cannabinoid, which is any molecule that can interact with our CB receptors (CB is short for cannabinoid). CB receptors are proteins found on every cell type in our body, and through our bodys natural endocannabinoid systems , these CB receptors ensure that every cell, tissue, and organ is working properly. The endocannabinoid system regulates everything, including our hunger responses, social behaviors, and abilities to learn and heal. Animal endocannabinoid systems, like ours, first evolved in sponges over 500 million years ago , setting terrestrial life on a path that jived excellently with cannabis. THC mimics a chemical made by our brains called anandamide. Anandamide, chemically speaking, is basically an unwound version of THC. Imagine if the three-ringed THC molecule was broken at specific points, turning into a long, continuous chain of atoms . That long chain is essentially anandamide, and anandamide did evolve to work with our endocannabinoid systems. Anandamide and THC also share similar effects on our minds and bodies, such as protecting our brain and nerve cells from injury . Anandamide, like THC, may work as a painkiller , too. But whether anandamide can get us high the same way that THC does has not been experimentally verified, since no government agency anywhere in the world has permitted a study where human subjects can take pure anandamide. CBD is often touted as the non-intoxicating component of cannabis. It possesses medical properties, which were confirmed last year by the FDA. In fact, CBD and THC are almost chemically identical, except at one spot: CBD is basically THC with one break in the three-ring structure. But CBD is "twistier" than THC, since it's basically two flailing rings attached to one another. The ring break in CBD makes it incapable of giving us the THC high, though there are some suspicions that CBD can induce or enhance intoxication by indirect routes.
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https://merryjane.com/news/what-is-thc-or-tetrahydrocannabinol-and-why-is-it-so-special
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Which State Smokes the Least Weed in 2019?
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Depending on the study, its either California, Colorado, Washington, or Oregon. Of course, getting solid, reliable data on pot use isnt simple nor is it clear-cut, especially in states where weed is still completely outlawed. According to the Oxford Treatment Center , an Oxford House styled drug rehab clinic, federal data reveals which states recently saw the greatest increase in cannabis use and which ones saw the smallest increases, too. The data, which came from the US Department of Health and Human Services National Survey on Drug Use and Health assessed survey responses from American adults between 2014 and 2017, so this data isnt up-to-date. But it did detect trends in states that legalized medical or recreational marijuana (which is always followed by increased weed usage rates). The survey also assessed states that have not yet legalized or have only allowed extremely limited forms of medical cannabis, which do show upticks in usage rates, but not nearly as much as weed-legal states. There are two ways to look at cannabis use in states that have no legal weed sales data. The first way is to assess respondents answers regarding usage rates, i.e. what percentage of the adult population said they smoked weed. The other way to look at it is how that usage rate changed over time, which is presented as a percentage change. Georgia. In 2017, Georgias rate of weed use hovered around 11.8 percent. In terms of usage rates, that wasnt the lowest: Alabama (10.6 percent), Iowa (11.5 percent), Nebraska (11.5 percent), North Dakota (11.0 percent), and South Carolina (11.1 percent) have Georgia beat in that category, but theyre all pretty darn close. Where Georgia stood out is its percentage change between 2014 to 2017. In that four-year period, Georgias residents increased their pot smoking by a mere 1.9 percent. Alabama, which was a full percentage point lower than Georgia in usage rates, saw a 2.6 percent increase in weed use in that same period. Even Texas and Utah , which have both been real sticklers about medical marijuana restrictions, increased their rates of use by almost double of Georgias: by 3.2 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively. Georgia has some of the strictest anti-weed laws on the books, compared to other US states. In 2015, under the leadership of Rep. Allen Peake (R-141st District), the state finally legalized cannabis oils containing less than 5 percent THC (hemp is defined as cannabis with less than 0.3 percent THC), but only for severely ill patients, such as those with cancer or intractable seizure disorders. Several major cities and counties in Georgia have also decriminalized marijuana possession, but cultivation and sales remain illegal across the board. Galllery Stoned Signs From Cannabis Legalization Rallies: As for which states experienced the greatest weed usage rates, those would be Oregon (27.4 percent), Colorado (25.7 percent) , Washington (23.2 percent), and Alaska (23.4) which were all some of the first states to legalize adult-use cannabis. But lets not forget our homies in New England, whose weed usage rates rival their neighbors west of the Mississippi: Tokers in Washington DC (27 percent), Vermont (24.3 percent), Maine (22.5 percent), Rhode Island (21.2 percent), and Massachusetts (20.3 percent) could probably outsmoke some of the OGs in California (which only clocked in at 17.8 percent, surprise surprise). Of course, these numbers should be taken with a few grains of salt. People are likely more naturally apt to admit that they smoke weed in states where its legal or tolerated. So seeing lower usage rate values in prohibition states may just be an artifact of prohibition itself, where people fear their cannabis use could land them in prison or worse .
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https://merryjane.com/news/which-state-smokes-the-least-weed-in-2019
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Why Are Mexican Drug Cartels Fighting to Control the Avocado Industry?
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As smuggling weed into the US becomes less and less profitable , drug cartels in Mexico are refocusing their efforts on another green product: avocados. In Michoacn, four different drug cartels are currently vying to take control of the region's avocado industry. Around 80 percent of all of Mexico's avocado exports, valued at around $2.4 billion annually, are grown in this region. The avocado export industry is booming right now, and Mexico's exports to the US alone have grown by 16 percent since last year. Four different criminal cartels the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacin (CJNG), the Nueva Familia Michoacana, the Tepalcatepec Cartel, and the Zicuirn Cartel are all currently aiming to take control of this thriving industry, according to Michoacn Attorney General Adrin Lpez Sols. These cartels charge monthly protection payments from avocado farmers, threatening to kidnap or kill those who fail to pay up. Cartels have also been known to simply steal shipments of avocados outright, to resell for profit. As many as four entire truckloads of avocados are stolen every single day in Michoacn, and avocado wholesalers have been forced to pay farmers for stolen avocados to help keep them in business. This summer, the situation escalated into extreme violence. Nineteen people were massacred in Uruapan, the center of the state's avocado industry, and their bodies were displayed across the town. "This kind of public, theatrical violence, where you don't just kill, but you brag about killing, is meant to intimidate rivals and send a message to the authorities," said security analyst Alejandro Hope to the Associated Press . "This kind of cynical impunity has been increasing in Michoacn." The avocado business has attracted cartels' interest now that the profitability of exporting heroin and cannabis to the US has been declining. Michoacn used to be the center of Mexico's heroin production , but now that synthetic opioids have become easily available in the US , the market price of opium poppies has dropped by two-thirds in the past two years. Exports of cannabis to the US have also been declining as legal pot has become more widely available.
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https://merryjane.com/news/why-are-mexican-drug-cartels-fighting-to-control-the-avocado-industry
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How Does Natural Immunity Compare To COVID-19 Vaccines?
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The more scientists learn about natural immunity to COVID-19, the stronger it appears to be. A pair of recent papers in Nature established that immune response to COVID-19 persists for up to a year after infection, and the bodys mechanisms for fighting the virus evolve during that time and may even grow stronger. Earlier research has indicated that the natural immune response granted by surviving a bout with the virus may offer comparable protection to a vaccine, although the science isnt entirely clear. The continued evolution of memory cells outlined in a pre-review Nature paper shows signs that the body may be able to adapt to fend off new variants over time. That may be key in determining whether the masses will require booster shots to supplement an initial round of vaccination. More studies are affirming the power of natural immunity, despite the old guard establishment dismissing it and its contribution to population immunity. This study out yest in Nature Medicine looked at bone marrow samples of previously infected people: https://t.co/t4UxuqrqfT Marty Makary MD, MPH (@MartyMakary) May 26, 2021 Typically, booster shots are needed for pathogens that can evolve and present varying threats over time, such as annual flu strains that differ from season to season. The reason we get infected with common coronaviruses repetitively throughout life might have much more to do with variation of these viruses rather than immunity, Dr. Scott Hensley of the University of Pennsylvania told The New York Times. An early 2021 study from Denmark found that natural immunity granted at least 80% protection from reinfection, although the protection was much weaker in elderly patients, who were only protected about 47% of the time. Notably, the study was unable to determine how long natural immunity may last, or what degree of protection was granted to those who were still re-infected. (RELATED: Should You Get A Vaccine If Youve Already Had Coronavirus?) That missing information is critical. The severity of cases in re-infected individuals with natural immunity is unknown, while the three approved vaccines in the U.S. are shown to protect against serious infection and death in almost all cases. A January publication from the National Institutes of Health stated that more than 95% of recovered COVID-19 patients retain durable memories of the virus in their immune systems for up to eight months post-infection. Still, many experts say previously infected individuals should still get vaccinated, because natural immunity may wane. Nobody knows exactly how protected they are. Immunity varies from person to person, and wanes somewhat over time, Dr. William Hanage of Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health told the Daily Caller News Foundation. He added that there is evidence of a decrease in immunity after eight months. It is also still the case that COVID-19 presents a greater health risk, on average, than getting vaccinated. (RELATED: Wheres The CDC Guidance For People Who Recovered From COVID-19?) When you get vaccinated, all you get exposed to is the spike protein of the virus. It doesnt replicate within you. You get immunity to that spike protein, and thats what prevents infection, Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis Childrens Hospital said to ABC10 Sacramento. If you get infected, you get the whole virus invading your body. It can go anywhere. It can go to the heart. It can go to the brain. Its very dangerous. Evidence continues to mount in support of strong natural immunity. One study from Qatar found that previously infected people may have up to 95% protection for some period of time, and other SARS and MERS viruses have seen natural immunity last from two to three years in some instances.
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/06/01/covid-19-coronavirus-natural-immunity-vaccine-resarch-nature/
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Did a ban on flavored tobacco push teens to cigarettes?
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Share this Article Facebook Twitter Email You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license. University Yale University Following a 2018 ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in San Francisco, high school students odds of smoking conventional cigarettes doubled, a new study shows. When voters in the city overwhelmingly approved the ballot measure, which included menthol cigarettes and flavored vape liquids, public health advocates celebrated. After all, tobacco use poses a significant threat to public health and health equity, and flavors are particularly attractive to youth. But the new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, suggests that law may have had the opposite effect. The findings, which compared teen cigarette use in San Franciscos school district to trends in districts without the ban, held true even when adjusting for individual demographics and other tobacco policies. Researchers believe the study is the first to assess how complete flavor bans affect youth smoking habits. These findings suggest a need for caution, says study author Abigail Friedman, an assistant professor of health policy at the Yale School of Pubic Health. While neither smoking cigarettes nor vaping nicotine are safe per se, the bulk of current evidence indicates substantially greater harms from smoking, which is responsible for nearly one in five adult deaths annually. Even if it is well-intentioned, a law that increases youth smoking could pose a threat to public health. Friedman used data on high school students under 18 years of age from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Systems 2011-2019 school district surveys. Prior to the bans implementation, past-30-day smoking rates in San Francisco and the comparison school districts were similar and declining. Yet once the flavor ban was fully implemented in 2019, San Franciscos smoking rates diverged from trends observed elsewhere, increasing as the comparison districts rates continued to fall. To explain these results, Friedman notes that electronic nicotine delivery systems have been the most popular tobacco product among US youth since at least 2014, with flavored options largely preferred. Think about youth preferences: some kids who vape choose e-cigarettes over combustible tobacco products because of the flavors, she says. For these individuals as well as would-be vapers with similar preferences, banning flavors may remove their primary motivation for choosing vaping over smoking, pushing some of them back toward conventional cigarettes. The findings have implications for Connecticut, where the state legislature is currently considering two flavor bills. As the US Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it will ban flavors in all combustible tobacco products within the next year, both bills could result in a Connecticut policy similar to the complete ban enacted in San Francisco. The San Francisco study does have limitations. Because there has been only a short time since the ban was implemented, the trend may differ in coming years. San Francisco is also just one of several localities and states that have implemented restrictions on flavored tobacco sales, with extensive differences between these laws. Thus, effects may differ in other places, Friedman writes. Still, as similar restrictions continue to appear across the country, the findings suggest that policymakers should be careful not to indirectly push minors toward cigarettes in their quest to reduce vaping, Friedman says. If Connecticut is determined to make a change before the FDAs flavor ban for combustible products goes into effect, a good candidate might be restricting all tobacco product sales to adult-onlythat is 21-plusretailers, she says. This would substantively reduce childrens incidental exposure to tobacco products at convenience stores and gas stations, and adolescents access to them, without increasing incentives to choose more lethal combustible products over non-combustible options like e-cigarettes. The National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health and FDA Center for Tobacco Products supported the work. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Food and Drug Administration. Source: Yale University
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https://www.futurity.org/tobacco-cigarettes-vaping-teenagers-laws-2574192-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tobacco-cigarettes-vaping-teenagers-laws-2574192-2
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How many episodes of 'Bad Batch' are there left? Will we get Season 2?
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The world of Star Wars keeps getting bigger. The Bad Batch puts the spotlight entirely on the clones and, crucially, fills in that shadowy period in the Empires infancy, just after the execution of Order 66 and the subsequent execution of countless Jedi. The current season of The Bad Batch is slated for a grand total of 16 episodes. Thats slightly fewer than each of the first five seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but more than that series last two seasons, which laid the groundwork for The Bad Batch. The first episode of The Bad Batch ran a whopping 70 minutes, with the following episodes running about half an hour each. The Bad Batch before one of their own turns against them. As of now, there are five episodes of The Bad Batch available to stream on Disney+. Their titles are Aftermath (Episode 1), Cut and Run (Episode 2), Replacements (Episode 3), Cornered (Episode 4), and Rampage (Episode 5). 11 episodes of The Bad Batch are still coming, which means you can find a new episode on Disney+ every Friday morning from now until August 13, 2021. The first two episodes of The Bad Batch were released in the same week due to a special release on May the 4th (Star Wars Day, for the uninitiated). But from now until the release of the finale, The Bad Batch will release one episode every Friday. In fact, in order to make room for The Bad Batchs Friday release, the upcoming Marvel series Loki was moved to Wednesdays instead of its previously announced Friday release slot. Thats the million-dollar question. Theres no word yet as to a possible second season of The Bad Batch. But if the series garners the same kind of acclaim as its predecessors, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels or previous live-action Disney+ series The Mandalorian theres a very good chance well see more of these clones and their newfound family. The Bad Batch is now streaming on Disney+.
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https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/how-many-episodes-of-bad-batch-are-there-left-season-2
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What are the four tests to ease restrictions and have we met them?
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Doubts have been cast over whether the final stage of the Governments road map out of lockdown can proceed on June 21. Some scientists have said that the final easing of social restrictions in England should be delayed, others have said that the cost to society will be too great if it is. Here are the four tests that ministers will consider as they make their decisions. 1. Undoubtedly. The UK has been hailed as having one of the most successful vaccination programmes in the world. Targets to vaccinate certain groups have been met with ease, and often ahead of time. In England and Scotland, all over-30s are being asked to come forward for their vaccine. In Northern Ireland, people over the age of 25 can get their jab. In Wales, all adults can book in for their jab. Almost three-quarters of all British adults (74.8%) have had their first jab and almost half have had their second (48.5%). And vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said that ministers hope to have all over-50s and clinically vulnerable people fully vaccinated with both doses before June 21. HEALTH Coronavirus (PA Graphics) 2. So far the evidence is very positive. Even against the new variant of concern which was first identified in India. When experts use the term vaccinated, they mean the people who have had the full protection from both doses of vaccine not those who have only had one jab and are awaiting their second. NHS leaders have said among people admitted to hospital only a handful have had two doses. Public Health England has estimated that the vaccine programme has prevented 13,200 deaths in England alone among adults aged 60 and over. And among those aged 65 and over, 39,700 hospital admissions have been prevented, according to PHE estimates. 3. Probably not. Hospital admissions have been rising in some hotspot areas. But NHS leaders have said that hospital admissions now look very different to the admissions which were seen in January and February. The majority of people who are being admitted to hospital are younger and easier to treat. Patients are generally being looked after on acute and general wards, instead of in critical care. Some will spend three to four days in hospital and be treated with oxygen and dexamethasone before being discharged. It must be said that over the last seven days there have been 870 hospital admissions across the UK. 4. The final test is a bit more tricky. Cases of the variant first identified in India almost doubled in a week and scientists have warned that the variant appears to be more transmissible than the variant first identified in Kent. Data from PHE suggests that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs offer high levels of protection against symptomatic disease from the variant first identified in India among those who have had two doses of the jab, which in turn is likely to lead to even higher levels of effectiveness against hospital admissions and deaths. As with any virus, variants can emerge all the time. And one only has to look at other countries whose health systems have faced near collapse under the strain of new variants. Without a crystal ball, we would be unable to tell. But the evidence so far is extremely positive. The Governments road map out of lockdown states: Only when the Government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. Ministers have two weeks to deliberate the decision. And the Governments former chief scientific adviser said ministers need more data before ministers can make a final decision so unfortunately the nation will remain in limbo for another fortnight while the data rolls in. Those advising the Government will pay particular mind to data concerning the new variant first identified in India, information on hospital admissions, and what has happened since the relaxation of other measures on May 17.
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https://www.newschainonline.com/news/what-are-the-four-tests-to-ease-restrictions-and-have-we-met-them-184836
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Are Cereal Carts Legit? What Do Fakes Look Like?
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Black market vape cartridges have flooded the cannabis market, as weve written about time and time again. Some of these vapes are unlicensed products made by companies that are operating illegally. Some of these vapes are knock-offs of well-known and fully-compliant cannabis brands. When it comes to anything dubbed a Cereal Cart, however, youre basically dealing with both scenarios at the same time. All Cereal Carts are unlicensed and unregulated; any cannabis brand operating under the name is distinctly part of the black market underground. As such, the original provenance or creator of Cereal Carts is impossible to confirm. Currently, there are many different manufacturers, hustlers, or companies if you can even describe them like that that create vape cartridges with the breakfast food slapped on the label, meaning there are now knock-offs of this black market brand. A knock-off of a knock-off, in a way. Online chatter seems to indicate that DankWoods known for their luscious (and also illegal) pre-rolled blunts originally popularized Cereal Carts, but again, that cannot be confirmed. DankWoods is the same company responsible for the unlicensed Dank Vapes flooding the black market . It should go without saying, DankWoods is not a legit (meaning licensed) business, so there is no guarantee of quality or safety from anything theyre pushing. Theres a reason neither DankWoods nor Cereal Carts are carried at legal dispensaries. Related Gallery Here's What Fake Vape Cartridges Look Like: Still, some people (including your dealer, probably) claim that the original Cereal Carts are reputable and worth smoking. And, we have to admit, they look fun. The packaging rips off actual childrens cereal boxes, including images of the Honey Nut Cheerios bee and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch chef looking high as hell. But since no Cereal Cart is licensed or lab tested, we highly recommend avoiding anything labeled as such, especially since people are now making lower quality versions of the original unlicensed vape line. How to Spot a Fake Cereal Cart If you want to tell the difference between an original Cereal Cart, and a fake Cereal Cart (meaning a knock-off of the unlicensed product), heres a quick guide: Packaging While spotting a fake version of an already-fake company just based on packaging can be difficult, it isnt impossible. Fake Cereal Cart packaging looks cheaply made. Original Cereal Cart packaging is printed with a glossy finish, often with a slightly protruding or thicker logo. Fake packaging is more rudimentary, with 2D logos, printed on basic matte paper. Image via Along with packaging, it is much easier to spot a fake Cereal Cart when you are familiar with what THC oil is supposed to look like. When it comes to legit oil cartridges, typically its better if the oil is clear. OG Cereal Carts will be filled with a light-yellow oil, and should be close to translucent. There are Cereal Carts made with darker oil, but this is usually just a sign of lower-quality wax. The oil inside fake Cereal Cartridges, however, can resemble an unnatural yellow color with a thinner consistency. Unfortunately, even the most experienced vapers can struggle with distinguishing the difference between solid and bunk oil (at least via sight and smell), as these fraudulent manufacturers are getting more and more clever. Image via Taste Since the packaging on these fake carts is almost indistinguishable from the original black market Cereal Carts, most buyers wont realize their mistake until they actually try smoking it. But there is no confusing the taste of an original Cereal Cart versus a knock-off. Knock-off Cereal Carts taste awful and lack the noticeable flavonoids and terpene profiles that OG Cereal Carts have. Almost always, you will realize your mistake after the first hit. CCELL Labeling If youve examined the packaging, the color, and the consistency of your Cereal Cart, and are still unsure of its legitimacy, you can check for CCELL marking. We realize this might be confusing, as CCELL typically makes vape batteries, and the company is legal. Still, the original black market Cereal Carts ripped their branding, and ripped it well. On the bottom of every original Cereal Cart, youll find the markings of the vaporizer company CCELL, the serial number of the cart, and a bold K, all stamped in small white letters. Fake Cereal Carts will sometimes attempt to recreate these marks, but the font will not match the original ones. Manufacturers will use whatever products they deem necessary to create a substance with a similar color and consistency that match real oil cartridges. This means that what you may think is THC oil may just be plain ol vegetable glycerin. The fake carts could also be made with terpenes that provide a lot of flavor but end up diluting the THC content. In the worst case scenario, fake carts could be riddled with pesticides or other unwanted and dangerous substances. To be clear, even the original Cereal Carts arent sold at licensed dispensaries and they are not guaranteed to be safe, tested, or accurately labeled. Simply put, if you do not want to find yourself accidentally smoking vegetable glycerin or dangerous pesticides, avoid any and all Cereal Carts, original ones or knock-offs. Its crucial to purchase your carts from legal producers and dispensaries. Otherwise, who knows what you might be inhaling. Brass Knuckles Fake Vape Cartridges
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https://merryjane.com/culture/are-cereal-carts-legit-what-do-knock-offs-and-fakes-look-like
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Are Dank Vapes Legit? And What Do Fake Carts Look Like?
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If youre into vaping, youve likely figured out that there are many fake vape carts out there . Its becoming an increasingly prevalent problem with scammers on Instagram and elsewhere hawking counterfeit, unlicensed products at a dime a dozen. But things are extra-complicated when it comes to vape cartridges because there are multiple kinds of black market companies and products: some illegitimate and unlicensed companies may be making carts of a certain, potentially high (but not guaranteed) quality, while other black market companies are making lower quality knock-offs of those illegal and popular carts. This is the case when it comes to anything labeled Dank Vapes." Most believe that the original Dank Vapes carts were sold by a company DankWoods known for their luscious (and also illegal) pre-rolled blunts. You can check out their website to see their logo , their email address, and a link to their disconnected Instagram . Thats it. It should go without saying, DankWoods is not a legit (meaning licensed) business, so there is no guarantee of quality or safety from anything theyre pushing. Their products are not tested, and could contain nasty ingredients including pesticides. In other words, theres a reason DankWoods and Dank Vapes are not carried at legal dispensaries. As a result, we highly recommend not buying any Dank Vapes carts. Still, some people (including your dealer, probably) claim that the original Dank Vape carts are reputable and worth smoking. But again, now there are a number of other black market dealers selling copycats of the original Dank Vape carts. So if you want to know the difference between original Dank Vape carts (which are illegal) and their imitators (which are also illegal) heres the deal. For the sake of this article, well describe the OG Dank Vapes carts as the original and the knock-offs as fakes but lets be clear: they are all unlicensed and fake products that are sold illegally. Why You Should Care If Your Vapes Are Fake The issue with unlicensed vape companies is that they arent adhering to the same standards for purity, quality, and (most importantly) safety. The people selling these products can fill them with whatever they want. This means you could encounter pesticides and heavy-metal contamination, in addition to unknown THC percentages. Best case scenario, you dont get as buzzed as you should. Worst case scenario, you suffer some pretty nasty and potentially dangerous side-effects from ingesting those contaminates. Recently, a Wisconsin man was hospitalized with lung damage after using a Dank Vapes cart. So we highly recommend avoiding any and all black market products. That said, some people still want to know the difference between the original Dank Vapes and the increasingly widespread knock-offs. How to Tell If Your Dank Vapes Are Original or Knock-Offs The Packaging The first sign that you might have a knock-off Dank Vapes cart can be found on the box. If it looks like an older design, its pretty safe to assume its fake at this point. Dank Vapes' newer design features a black background for all flavors (previous boxes featured an array of different colors.) Theres also a holographic logo and raised features that give texture to the box. New Dank Vapes packaging, image via Old Dank Vapes packaging, image via Old, knock-off Dank Vapes packaging, image via Instagram Handle on the Box Since Dank Vapes relied heavily on their Instagram account to make sales, the pushers decided to put their handle on their packaging. Even though its currently disconnected, the original Dank Vapes should have @DANKVAPESOFFICIALACCOUNT on the box. Some knock-offs may have a variation, like @DANKSVAPESOFFICIAL, while others might not have one at all. It may come as a no-brainer, but if part of the hardware is counterfeit, its safe to assume youve got a fake Dank Vape cart on your hands. Check the bottom of your cartridge for the CCELL stamp, along with a logo and serial number. If the print isnt precise (or if its tilted) or it isnt small print (and instead looks elongated), youve got a bootleg of a bootleg on your hands. Additionally, the ring in the center should be clear if its an original Dank Vape cart. The knock-offs usually have white rings. Image via Test the Mouthpiece Screw-on tops are not original Dank Vape carts. Neither are ceramic mouthpieces. The original Dank Vape carts only have one, standard mouthpiece a clear, round, press-on mouthpiece, like this: Image via Core Width In the center of the cartridge, theres a core used for airflow. Although it may appear subtle, fake Dank Vapes have a wider core. When compared to an original one, you can see the phony core looks wider than it should. Image via The Oils Appearance If the oil looks like a light yellow or seems too thin, its a knock-off of the original Dank Vape cart. The original has darker yellow oil that's thick, such as the below: TL/DR When youre going to get your vape on , be smart about it. At the end of the day, even the original Dank Vapes carts could be low-quality or pose a health risk. The only way to guarantee your safety, and confirm whats actually in the cart, is to buy brands whether Kandy Pens or Select or 710 that are regulated and sold at legal dispensaries. Be safe out there! Brass Knuckles Fake Vape Cartridges
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https://merryjane.com/culture/are-dank-vapes-legit-and-what-do-knock-off-carts-look-like
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Whats on the horizon for the 2021 hurricane season?
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Today marks the official start of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season and across Cayman, people are bracing for what forecasters anticipate will be another above-average season. 2021 predictions Forecasters at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have increased the number of named storms they expect to form in the Atlantic basin this season. The revised forecast was released on Thursday 20 May. It calls for up to 20 named storms, three more than its initial forecast last month. In total, NOAA anticipates 13 to 20 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes with winds of at least 74 miles per hour. The prediction also includes three to five major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has said there is a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. Early start for the 2021 season However, the season began ahead of the official start, with Subtropical storm Ana forming east of Bermuda on 22 May. Ana eventually dissipated out at sea. This marks the seventh consecutive year that at least one named storm has appeared before the official start of hurricane season. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami released their Atlantic outlook two weeks early, on 15 May, prompted by the rapid development of storms over the past six years. This is the first time that the NHC has moved up the launch of its tropical storm projection. Over past years, the first storms and in some cases the first hurricanes for the Atlantic basin have developed ahead of the official 1 June start of the season. Last years hurricane season also started early, when Tropical Storm Arthur formed on 16 May east of Florida. The season ended with Iota on 18 Nov. 2020 hurricane season in review Last years record-breaking season saw 30 named storms and 14 hurricanes. Particularly notable, for the destruction felt in Central America, was Hurricane Eta, which killed over 200 people in November last year. The storm also impacted Cayman as Tropical Storm Eta. Flooding and sustained winds of over 60mph caused power outages and downed trees across all three islands. The 2020 season was so active that the list of hurricane names quickly ran out, leading to the use of the Greek alphabet. This year, authorities have decided not to use Greek letters and have created a supplemental list of names instead. The Atlantic hurricane season extends until 30 Nov., although storms have been recorded beyond that date. Learn more Tune in to Crosstalk this morning to hear from Hazard Management Cayman Islands and Premier Wayne Panton from 7am. For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit Storm Centre. Additional reporting from Andrel Harris and Norma Connolly.
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https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/06/01/whats-on-the-horizon-for-the-2021-hurricane-season/
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Can Children's Books About Cannabis Change the Future of Weed?
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Lead image from "It's Just a Plant" by Ricardo Corts From the start, the campaign to demonize and criminalize marijuana destroyed every opportunity for cannabis education. The War on Drugs colored public education and discourse about drugs with prohibitionist rhetoric, ranging from naive misinformation to blatant propaganda. And while its easy to laugh now at ludicrous cautionary tales like 1936s Reefer Madness, many people of that time blindly accepted danger and death from pot as scientific fact. As recently as the 1990s, 75 percent of U.S. schools were participating in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, which allegedly aimed to prepare students for the dangers of a substance abuse-plagued society with role-playing and exaggerated warnings of the risks associated with cannabis and other street drugs. State, local, and federal agencies spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the program over the years, despite numerous studies showing zero evidence of DARE achieving its goal of preventing drug use by kids. As the truth (the actual truth) about cannabis began to spread, the need for educational materials focusing on the plant's many benefits became increasingly apparent. Books and magazines dedicated to the power of pot were published. And then came the Internet, which became a vast depository for cannabis information. But nearly all of this media was intended for adults, leaving kids out of the marijuana education curriculum. Illustration from "It's Just a Plant" by Ricardo Corts To fill this need, a handful of authors have created childrens books that attempt to explain aspects of the cannabis experience. Ricardo Corts, an author and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York, is a pioneer in the genre, penning Its Just a Plant in 2004. He was active in drug policy reform advocacy and wanted a tool to help people look at pot from a new perspective. "I thought the book was a way of reaching an audience on a topic that I think a lot of people had already made their own decisions about, whether or not they thought marijuana should be legalized at the time, Corts told MERRY JANE in a phone interview. So I thought this could be a Trojan horse way of getting into a provocative conversation, knowing that people would get upset about the idea of talking to children about marijuana. Its Just a Plant follows a young girl named Jackie who becomes curious about marijuana after walking in her parents room one evening to find them smoking a joint. A journey of discovery ensues, leading to a farmer who grows cannabis (although he doesnt use it) and a doctor who discusses potential benefits of the herb while clearly stating that its not for kids. Excited by her new knowledge and confident that marijuana is a good thing, she is suddenly faced with the harsh realities of prohibition as she witnesses a group of young men being arrested for smoking weed. Illustration from "It's Just a Plant" by Ricardo Corts Corts says Its Just a Plant is an honest look at societys relationship with cannabis and in no way promotes use by children. But the cultural and legal landscape 15 years ago was much more delicate, and he was unable to find support for the book. "I sent it out to a bunch of different publishers and nobody wanted to touch it," he said. Undaunted, Corts published the book himself in 2005. Its Just a Plant found its market, selling out its original run and prompting two more printings. He also just finished a new cover and art for a 15th-anniversary edition of the book which will be available online in April 2020. Although Its Just a Plant takes the format of a childrens book, Corts explained that for parents its intended to be "a tool to help get the conversation going and also a little bit of affirmation that you're not alone in this." Callie Cannabis illustration by Corbin Hillam Providing resources for parents was also the motive behind Kris Morwoods Callie and Friends book series. Working in the cannabis industry and with the non-profit Foundation of Unified Cannabis Standards, the dearth of educational materials about the plant was brazen to Morwood. So she and friend Juliette Benz, who worked for a school district in Colorado, created Callie Cannabis with the help of illustrator Corbin Hillam in 2014. Morwood made it clear that Callie should be interpreted as an older character and not a young girl because she is not advocating cannabis use by kids. Instead, Callie is a guide that shares knowledge about the plant in a manner that kids find engaging. In the first book, Callie Chats About Cannabis, the history of herb and current attitudes including different state laws are explored. Like Corts, Morwood says that the messages in her work have deep implications. "It's not just for children, she said. You can give it to your grandmother who has glaucoma or you could give it to your aunt who thinks it's the devil's lettuce or you could give it to your nosy neighbor who's wondering what plants you're growing in your greenhouse." Morwood stresses that responsible cannabis use and storage is imperative for parents. But kids can also be empowered to stay safe without encouraging use. Hana Hemp illustration by Blair Barbour "We can teach children not to touch a hot stove, we can teach them not to cross the street, said Morwood. We can teach them not to talk to strangers. And we can also teach them not to touch mom's cannabis, or put it safely away. So safety is our number one concern." In 2017, Hana Hemp joined the Callie and Friends series for A Healing History of Hemp, which discusses the history and uses of hemp. It was even updated this year to include language from the 2018 Farm Bill that federally legalized the crop. Callies next adventure is already in the works, with a multi-generational tale about the geriatric uses of the plant coming soon. As cannabis policy continues to spread and evolve, there needs to be an alternative to propaganda and inflammatory rhetoric. "It's a societal issue now that we really have to look at and we have to normalize the conversation, Morwood says. We have to get over the fact that we have had misinformation. We have to move forward." Illustrated by Gustav Davies Normalizing the conversation around cannabis is also the goal of Susan Soares, a cannabis activist and founder of the non-profit Cannabis Advocacy, Rallies, and Events ( C.A.R.E. ). The advocacy groups logo and slogan, Just Say Know, are purposefully reminiscent of those plastered on DARE ephemera for years. Soares became an activist after cannabis ended the migraine headaches she suffered as a result of a head injury. She was inspired to write her own children's book, Whats Growing in Grandmas Garden, when a radio show host asked her how she had talked about cannabis with her children, who are now grown up. "He asked me how I talked to my children about cannabis, and I didn't because it was right before [Proposition] 215 had passed. It was very illegal, Soares explained. I was still a Mormon and it was something that I definitely hid from my children." In Soaress book, a young boy enjoys spending time with his grandmother in her garden. He loves learning about all of the plants and creatures that live there. When he becomes curious about the cannabis plants growing in her greenhouse, Grandma explains that these special plants should never be touched because they are for adults only. The story, Soares explained, can serve as a conversation starter for parents who may not know where to begin. Illustrated by Gustav Davies Although she never intended to be an author, Soares believed a childrens book could be an opportunity to teach kids about cannabiss new place in society. She published the book this year, and it is currently available online . Soares says that Whats Growing in Grandmas Garden also has a message for parents and the other adults in kids lives. "I want grown ups to realize that the children are smarter than you think they are, she said. If you think you're hiding your cannabis use from kids, you're not. They know. And what are you teaching them if you hide it from them?" And in jurisdictions that have legalized marijuana, like her home state of California, Soares wonders why parents are still trying to conceal their consumption in the first place. We don't hide our alcohol use from our children. Why are we hiding our cannabis use from our children? she asked. As long as you're not right next to them and in a room with no circulation, they're not going to get a second-hand high. In the book, during the family barbecue, Grandma is over by her greenhouse, downwind smoking a joint. Because it's acceptable now. Let's own it!" Illustrations by Rob Benavides While the books by Corts, Morwood, and Soares attempt to explain cannabis to children, Eves Return by Allison Ray Benavides and her husband Rob Benavides tackles the often still taboo subject of cannabis use by children. The book is based on the Benavides personal experience with pediatric cannabis and relates the story of a mother whose young son is facing a serious illness. Unsure where to turn for help, the young mom relies on her instincts and experience with a special albeit forbidden plant to heal her son. Allison says that she had found herself in the same situation. When their son Robby was diagnosed with a seizure disorder known as Doose syndrome and traditional pharmaceuticals werent effective, they turned to a Charlottes Web tincture for help. Five years later, Robby is essentially seizure-free. Allison told MERRY JANE that her son is part of a special group of kids that caused the modern medical community to finally accept the notion of cannabis as medicine. She sees these kids as heroes and wants them to understand the important contribution that theyve made. My hope is that the children will take away how special and brave they are, that they are worth any risk, she said. Illustrations by Rob Benavides She also wants to show the kids how brave their parents are by following their intuition and trying cannabis, despite the pressures against doing so. And perhaps most importantly, she wants others to join the conversation. "The more we've talked about this, the more it's gotten better for our kids, Benavides says. So let's keep talking about it." Follow AJ Herrington on Instagram
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https://merryjane.com/culture/can-childrens-books-about-cannabis-change-the-future-of-weed
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What Are The Must-See TV Shows For June?
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Thank goodness for the TV gods, and I dont say that lightly. Not only do we have a fictional god coming out way this month on the small screen, but quality shows have kept us as sane as possible during the past fifteen-or-so months. The schedules starting to roar toward full capacity again, which (fortunately) means that theres more than enough shows out there to browse. The problem there, of course, is that its difficult to know where to begin, so we sifted through new June TV shows for the must-sees for you to fire up in your home theater. Theres a trickster, a gentleman thief, skater ladies, zombies, a hybrid deer-boy and more. In other words, Disney+ will launch their third Marvel Cinematic Universe show, Netflix will unleash Omar Sys heisting ways again, HBOs Betty ladies will give us more authentic summer vibes, and the perfect housewives will either kill their husbands or aerobicize the world. Also, Robert Downey Jr.s adapting a DC Comic, and so far, Ive only mentioned about half of the offerings on the below list. HBO Max, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Netflix, AMC, and Adult Swim all represent here. Here are the biggest shows worth noticing in June: We Are Lady Parts: Season 1 (Peacock series streaming on 6/3) A Muslim female post-punk band called Lady Parts looks for a lead guitarist in this subversive series, which follows the ups and downs of the group as they seek a real gig. A geeky, hard-sciences Ph.D. recruit named Amina Hussain ends up being the unlikely lucky lady to pick up the ax, and shes soon swept up into the groups anarchic energy. Naturally, Aminas caught between two worlds, that of her conservative friends and the irresistible lure of the bands joyful spirit. Together, theyre fearless, rowdy, and sexual and every ultra-religious familys nightmare. As a show, its silly and irreverent and inspiring; for sure, youve never seen women like quite this on your TV screen. Sweet Tooth: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming on 6/4) Team Downey (Robert Jr. and Susan) brings us this awe-inspiring story based upon a comic-book (that ran under DCs Vertigo imprint) by creator Jeff Lemire, who whipped up a post-apocalyptic fairytale about what happens when a great sickness (which is poorly dealt with by humans) ends with a miracle. In this case, this would be the appearance of hybrids, babies who are born half-human and half-animal, and well meet a young deer-boy, Gus, (Christian Convery), who teams up with a reluctant protector, Tommy Jepperd (Nonso Anozie), for a cross-country quest. The comic has been described as Mad Max Meets Bambi, and Will Forte also plays a pivotal role. Youre in for a real (sweet) treat if you surrender to this adventure. Dom: Season 1 (Amazon Prime series streaming on 6/4) This crime drama hails from Brazil with subtitles, but theres a lot of Ozark and Sons of Anarchy vibes on display to make a non-dubbed effort worth the watch. Dom revolves around a middle-class Rio de Janeiro boy, Pedro, who falls into the lucrative realm of cocaine and eventually rises toward the top (or sinks toward the bottom, depending on ones perspective) of the criminal underworld. Its all based on a true story of the gang-related exploits that dominated the countrys aughts tabloids, given the juicy reality of Pedros father working for police intelligence, and yes, one should expect the lines of morality to go grey here. Doms also a high-adrenaline adventure, so dont watch this one while hoping to relax. Loki: Season 1 (Disney+ series streaming on 6/9) Tom Hiddleston has an absolute blast playing the mercurial trickster of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we shall reap the benefits while he helps (or hinders) the Time Variance Authority during the process of cleaning up the timeline. Yep, Lokis gotta atone after snatching the Tesseract in Avengers Endgame, and we can expect plenty of theatrics (including a possible D.B. Cooper-type incarnation) from the God of Mischief. Finding out will be part of the fun. Fresh, Fried & Crispy: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming on 6/9) You might gain 10 pounds while watching this show, which would fit right in with Guy Fieris adventures. The so-called Grandfather of Food Reviews on YouTube, Daym Drops, takes a cross-country trip across the United States to find the most decadent fried foods possible. Theres deep-fried Oreos (in San Diego), extra-crispy pork chops (in Birmingham), and more on the menu, and not only does he pop into actual restaurants, but home kitchens and food trucks are also part of the hunt. Get your appetites ready. Lupin: Part 2 (Netflix series streaming 6/11) This (the fancy French heist show starring Omar Sy) turned out to be a smash hit for Netflix in January. Give it to us. Of course, after that train station switcheroo in last seasons finale, we can expect police to redouble their efforts. So, Assane reenters as the most wanted man in France, and of course, hell tempt fate while executing a new plan that puts himself at risk. Along the way, black tie events, high-speed car chases, speeding motorboats, thrown punches, and a trip to the catacombs are in the cards. Everyone will eventually learn that they should never underestimate our protagonist because, my god, he never runs out of energy or ingenuity. Nothing but magic, as we hear Omar Sy say at the end of the trailer. Betty: Season 2 (HBO series streaming on 6/11) Like a breath of the most refreshing, free-wheeling air possible, HBOs Betty will soon glide back into our lives. Its what we really need to heal our pandemic-addled minds, and somehow, director Crystal Moselle managed to gather the Skate Kitchen crew back up for a second season and film on the streets of New York City. The main players are all back Rachelle Vinberg as Camille, Ajani Russell as Indigo, Dede Lovelace as Janay, Moonbear as Honeybear, and Nina Moran as Kirt and theyre still making the act of soaring through the streets look like the coolest thing on Earth. In their defense, Betty really is the coolest show on TV these days, and we could all stand to live vicariously right about now. Yes, they are very much gathering in these highlighted scenes, yet theyre even making masks look effortlessly hope. Theyll probably still even mop up the blood when you fall of your own skateboard. Flack: Season 2 (Amazon Prime series streaming on 6/11) This series began on Pop TV, and Amazon picked it up for a second season for good reason. This is some damn fine guilty-pleasure escapism, even if it feels like an amalgamation of many shows and movies (includingThe Devil Wears Prada, Scandal, Sex and the City) that youve seen before. Anna Paquin, who portrays Robyn, whos part of a PR agency thats ridiculously good at hiding the most outrageous celebrity scandals imaginable. The shows dark but breezy, and this season will see more collisions between work and home life, and as always, there will be love affairs and shady dealings and drug-induced benders and, yes, almost much everyone on this show is a terrible person, but oh, the comeuppance is a blast to watch. DAVE: Season 2 (FX series streaming on 6/16) One of the most absurd shows on TV is back, and rapper and comedian Dave Burd, a.k.a. Lil Dicky (based upon his own life), has got an anteater in tow. Lets hope the taco truck is just fine, but of course, expect Dave to keep shooting for rap superstardom while recording his debut album. He might have to give up everything thats truly important to him (love, friendship, his sense of self) up in the process. Obviously, nothing is ever simple for Dave, so expect plenty of mayhem and dancing and general bizarreness to take over the most mundane-seeming tasks of his life. Last season brought Justin Bieber in as a guest star, so lets see if the show can up the ante. Black Summer: Season 2 (Netflix series streaming 6/17) This zombie series sophomore season may as well be titled Black Winter, but thats alright. The first season was a sleeper and ended up being the show that Fear The Walking Dead fans would have preferred before the AMC spinoff series improved dramatically this year. With that said, this is a quick-and-dirty crowd-pleaser of a series, which includes the obligatory guy who tries to hide his flesh wound moment while attempting to flee to safety within a crowd of survivors. How thats handled is necessarily brutal, as is the rest of the series, and expect a new batch of episodes full of cold-blooded fresh challenges while violent militias get down with their bad selves. Physical: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series streaming on 6/18) Pull out the leg warmers, the Jane Fonda exercise videos, and the Rave hairspray, or maybe just turn on some Olivia Newton-John songs to get into the proper mood for this dramedy, which stars the always side-splittingly funny Rose Byrne. She portrays a 1980s California housewife, Shiela, whos pushing toward empowerment and success while excising personal demons in the process. Her transformations inspired by aerobics, and soon, Shielas building an exercise empire. The pilots directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and the rest of the seasons helmed by Liza Johnson (Dead To Me) and Stephanie Laing (Love Life), so expect the comedy to be of the biting variety. Kevin Can Go F**k Himself: Season 1 (AMC+ series debuting on 6/20) The title alone will reel people into sampling this series, at the very least, and also the fact that it rips apart a certain sitcom starring Kevin James and Leah Remini. Really, though, this show parodies all of those comedies with schlubby, burp-happy husbands and their often stunningly gorgeous wives who put up too many shenanigans. Annie Murphy (Schitts Creek) stars as a woman who realizes that she wasted a decade on being the perfect housewife in an awful marriage, and, well, she decides to get out of it by attempting to murder her husband. You definitely wont be bored by this one, and heres a heads up: this series will start the AMC+ early-streaming process on June 13 Rick and Morty: Season 5 (Adult Swim series streaming on 6/20) The Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland-led project returns at long last (although the wait between seasons is growing shorter) with the shows customary (and excessive) sci-fi strangeness as the title characters continue their intergalactic escapades. This season will bring some mech-parody elements and a Voltron-esque theme, and some horny ocean man appears to be involved while the genres will bend everywhere again. Dont worry, the shows habit of plentiful puns hasnt dissipated one bit, and the episode titles indicate that theres gonna be some dragging of the self-serious mulitiverse concept thats so damn popular in comic-book worlds these days. Oh boy.
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https://uproxx.com/tv/must-see-june-2021-loki-lupin-betty-sweet-tooth-black-summer/
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Could the Future of Canadian Cannabis Be Indigenous?
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A new consortium of cannabis businesses is hoping to bring the countrys Indigenous ganjapreneurs together, with the goal of building the brand of Indigenous cannabis as a major player in the Canadian and global markets. The National Indigenous Cannabis Consortium was launched at the recent National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Conference in Ottawa, where Indigenous cannabis companies and workers met to discuss how Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs can compete in the burgeoning Canadian market. We need to consolidate in a consistent fashion thats going to allow for everyone to be able to be part of the whole supply chain, Roland Bellerose, director of the consortium, told MERRY JANE at the conference. The Indigenous community across the country is huge, and each ones going to set their own desires and aspirations about what they want to do. The finer details of the consortiums plans have not been decided yet, as it builds its membership. Whether it means selling products under a formalized brand roughly similar to Californias True Humboldt brand , a collective comprised of 200 farmers or something more loosely-organized remains to be seen. While Bellerose said its impossible to answer what the consortium will look like when it matures, he offered a thought experiment: Imagine youve got a poster, and youve got 100 different brands on it, and theyre all Indigenous, he said. Were not here to say theres only going to be one brand. Rather, Bellerose envisions something more like an umbrella association. He said it might hypothetically work as a branding that identifies that its an Indigenous brand, and heres all of the standards and certifications of the brands within the brand. Bellerose said that this kind of organization is entirely new in Canada, and there are none that he is aware of in the United States that focus specifically on Indigenous communities. Maybe were trendsetters, maybe were going to set up a new model, he said. Its still very, very much in its infancy. If its successful attracting participants and it already has the support of some of the bigger names in the Indigeous community such as former Ontario regional chief Isadore Day, who is now the CEO of Bimaadzwin, an Indigenous economic development organization, as well as Seven Leaf, the countrys first Indigenous-owned licensed cannabis producer the consortium could establish itself as a major player in the Canadian cannabis in both industry and political terms. Its still the early stages of Canadas legalized cannabis industry, and the countrys Indigenous people are looking at the nascent market both skeptically and as an opportunity to prosper. So often in Canada, conversations about resources and agriculture have been fraught for Indigenous populations made so by government policy that has historically been designed to separate the land needed for such agricultural pursuits and the Indigenous peoples living on it. This lingering historical memory looms over the issue of how Indigenous communities should respond to cannabis legalization. There have long been complaints among Indigenous communities that the governments legalization roll-out has inadequately consulted Indigenous communities. "When youre dealing with individual nations and treaty rights, theres been so much in the Cannabis Act that hasnt taken that into consideration, said Jordan Brant, a resident of Tyendinaga who works with dispensaries on the so-called Green Mile, where dispensaries have flourished on Indigenous land. While I was reading those regulations, that indicated to me that the federal governments only position on cannabis with regard to Indigenous communities is that wed prefer they say no. Early in 2018, while the Cannabis Act was working its way through the Senate, the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples pushed to have legalization delayed for up to a year, citing the lack of meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples. There was an alarming lack of consultation, particularly given this governments stated intentions of developing a new relationship with Indigenous people, reads the committees final report . In addition to asking the government to delay legalization for another year, they also asked that the government set aside 20 percent of cannabis production licenses for Indigenous operators. The government ultimately chose not to follow either of those two recommendations. Those disagreements are not just between Indigenous peoples and the federal government, but also within Indigenous communities themselves. At the end of February, a protest turned violent outside a Mohawk police station in Akwesasne, Ontario, after tribal police raided a cannabis dispensary. The band council (an elected council that was granted authority by the federal government as part of the Indian Act in 1867, and which some Indigenous communities view as a colonial body) had not issued a license to the Wild Flower Cannabis Dispensary. But the Onkwehonweh Neha Kanonhseshne, also known as the Indian Way Longhouse, which represents the traditional form of governance that existed prior to colonization, had issued a license. Conveniently, they also owned that particular dispensary. After tribal police raided the dispensary, protests over jurisdiction and who authorized the raids turned violent (some protestors reportedly accused the band council of political motivations), and a police SUV was set on fire, according to local news reports. There are many who want to see an Indigenous cannabis industry set up outside the reach of the Canadian government, and instead organized around traditional Indigenous production methods and self-governance. Some communities have flouted the governments laws entirely, betting that the government will leave them alone. Last year, Jamie Kunkel, who owns a dispensary in Tyendinaga, a Mohawk territory east of Toronto, told me ( in a story for NOW Magazine ) that he wasnt concerned with conforming with federal legalization, because in his interpretation, federal laws dont apply on reserves. That sentiment was on display at the conference, when one woman who spoke, identifying herself in the Dene language as a clan mother, stepped up to the microphone and launched into a criticism of a panel comprised of government cannabis policy staff. Our plants cannot be controlled. Our plants grow out on the land I hear a lot of talk about making money. in my language we were taught that we cannot profit from our medicines, she told the panelists. Im here to remind the people that the plant you are talking about and want to legislate is our medicine, it is healing people. Its almost like our plants are being put on the stock market. As she left the microphone, the room launched into a loud and sustained applause. But at the same time, Indigenous communities and their leadership see cannabis as a massive opportunity. They see a chance to get in on the ground floor of an industry which could be a financial golden ticket for communities that want revenues and a measure of independence from government support. For some, legalized cannabis offers a chance to support their communities with sustainable economies based around a plant that has long been used as medicine. Others see a chance to set up a parallel cannabis industry, distinct from the federal governments system. And others still see cannabis as a new front on which to exert Indigenous sovereignty. Within that jurisdictional issue exists a space where Indigenous economic interests can be advanced alongside the interests of the Canadian state. I think the more important question that Canada faces, which weve heard everywhere in this country, is the jurisdictional issue, said Bellerose. But as an entrepreneur and on economic development, jurisdiction isnt going to stop us from being able to move forward on many, many fronts. That conversation does not exist within a vacuum: the backdrop to the issue of jurisdiction over cannabis is the wider issue of sovereignty and nation-to-nation relations. Its been a big talking point for the same Liberal government that brought about legalization, although they have regularly come under fire for not living up to those talking points. Debates over cannabis regulation in Indigenous communities are in some ways microcosms of larger debates about the governments ability, or inability, to consult Indigenous communities on a range of issues. This is a topic that has dogged the Trudeau government of late: last summer the government spent $4.5 billion to purchase a pipeline project that had been blocked by the courts principally because of a failure to consult with Indigenous communities. Later, in January, the government forcibly removed an Indigenous blockade set up to stop another pipeline project, and arrested over a dozen people. So when Indigenous communities talk about a lack of meaningful consultation on cannabis, they are also talking about what many in the Indigenous community perceive as a more generalized lack of consideration. Some Indigenous leaders see cannabis as yet another front in a battle for sovereignty and rights in Canada. When I think about cannabis, and economic development, and all the opportunities that it can bring to our communities, it makes me think of our chance to dream, said Cherie Brant, a Mohawk and Ojibway lawyer, moderating a panel. Its going to start with a process. It has to begin with a process. We are at a crossroads in terms of our historical existence here on Turtle Island, more specifically in Canada, said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton, of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. We have to take back our lives and we have to fight to continue to know our culture, our languages. Im saying this because its a backdrop to what we need to do now and into the future Its all part of our resurgence, if you will, to continue to be who we are very distinct, very knowledgeable. Cannabis fits into that discussion largely as a path to economic prosperity that would support reserve communities. We have to be our providers, said Norton. We have to really take advantage of whatever comes along, and if one of those areas is hemp and cannabis, then thats what we do.
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https://merryjane.com/culture/could-the-future-of-canadian-cannabis-be-indigenous
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What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms in Vietnam?
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Visit Vietnam Insiders homepage for more stories The Ministry of Health has a list of instructions that people should follow when they have symptoms of COVID-19 such as a fever, coughing, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. If residents have these symptoms, they should first put on a face mask and isolate themselves inside a room or one specific location at their home, as well as keeping a minimum distance of two meters from others. They are recommended to contact local health agencies or the Ministry of Health via the hotlines 1900 3228 or 1900 9095 for advice and immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment. They must keep their face masks on all the time, and cover their noses and mouths with their elbows, a piece of cloth, handkerchief, or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Face masks must be thrown into trash cans with proper covers after use. Washing hands regularly with soap is necessary, especially after coughing, sneezing, and disposing of used face masks and tissues. People with COVID-19 symptoms should not share cups, bowls, or utensils with others, and should avoid using public transport or going to crowded places, workplaces, and schools. They should also inform their employers and other people who come into close contact with them about their condition. According to Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the hotlines of the health ministry and local health agencies may be jammed up given the current situation. Therefore, the best option is coming to the nearest medical facility and filling out health declaration forms in an honest manner. An accurate health declaration can help health workers determine whether a patient is at risk of having COVID-19, so that such measures as quarantine and contact tracing can be conducted, Thuong elaborated. Since mid-May, the southern metropolis has detected a number of infection clusters after several patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus during their health checks at local hospitals, the official continued. These infirmaries were temporarily locked down following the detection to prevent the spread of the virus. Hospitals and the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City have learned many lessons from these incidents and established stricter protocols, Thuong stated. All patients are required to fill out health declaration forms and go to temporary quarantine areas to get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19. If the result comes back positive, they will be brought to treatment facilities and the citys Center for Disease Control will be promptly informed to take further measures. Vietnam has documented 7,482 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday afternoon, with 3,043 recoveries and 47 deaths. The country has recorded 4,407 local infections in 36 provinces and cities since the fourth wave of transmissions began on April 27. This article was originally published in tuoitrenews Share this: Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Twitter Email
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https://vietnaminsider.vn/what-should-i-do-if-i-have-covid-19-symptoms-in-vietnam/
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Do We Really Need an Apple Store of Weed?
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Lead image of Spirit Leaf Inc's dispensary design concept art Superette, one of three dispensaries to open in Ottawa , Canada, doesnt really want to look like every other dispensary. You know the look: sleekish furnishings; angular, minimalist wall accents; an abundance of negative space everywhere. Its a common design language. Fire & Flower, a chain of dispensaries in Ontario and Western Canada, describes their shop aesthetic as modern, bright best-in-class store design that will aim to elevate the retail experience. Another chain, Spiritleaf, says they wanted to create something with positive energy that embraces a natural feeling with unique character. MedMen wants to be the Apple Store of weed. These descriptions mean both a lot and nothing at all: theyre an indication that the cannabis industry has shed its outlaw roots and adopted the ambitions and methods of contemporary interior design. But as functional words meant to distinguish one dispensary from another, they serve little value. Everyone wants to be modern. Everyone wants cutting-edge design. Everyone wants the best vibes for their dispensary. Superette wants those things, too. But their store does look different not just from other dispensaries, but from every other store. The whole place is modeled like an ahistorical anachronism: part 50s candy shop, part 80s diner, part streetwear pop-up. Its aggressively Instagram-friendly by design. We looked at the other cannabis retail concepts out there a lot of high-end, Apple-Store-of-cannabis [concepts]. We wanted something a little bit more fun, Superettes CEO Mimi Lam told MERRY JANE while milling around the dispensary about 20 minutes after it opened its doors on April 1. Unlike other dispensaries, there are no screens to tap in orders. Beyond the cash terminals, there are no screens, period, unless you account for the large, standalone Pong machine in the back that customers can play while they wait. Everyone orders off of paper menus that riff on the classic diner menu style. Were intentionally analog, said Lam. We want people to interact, not only with the product, but with the staff. Above, Superette merchandise at the Ontario store Rather than pristinely laid out, Superettes packaged pre-rolls are tossed in candy jars or piled in baskets. Along the back wall, theres a host of branded merch that, in an ironic regulatory twist, the store isnt allowed to sell because it doesnt count as cannabis paraphernalia , according one of the stores employees. Once you order your weed, it takes a minute or two for the order to be retrieved from the back of the store. In the meantime, customers are encouraged to explore the premises. Regardless if Superette's approach to retail is novel or at least more nuanced than its competitors its very existence speaks to how the reefer retail experience has dramatically evolved in a short time. Thanks to legalization, there is now a growing design industry dedicated to remaking the image of cannabis dispensaries. For years, they have been janky, less-than-glamorous operations, often by legal necessity. Attempting to fly under the radar, many black-market dispensaries adopted the signature look of frosted windows, security doors, and nothing more than a green cross to identify itself as a dispensary. For a long time, those utilitarian design decisions worked just fine. But in legal environments, these features are no longer sufficient or appealing, particularly to retailers who are after a new demographic of affluent, brand-conscious consumers looking as much for a retail experience as a retail outcome. As the dispensary market continues to expand, the interior design industry has increasingly become involved in creating that retail experience which means that dispensaries become, almost accidentally, artifacts upon which the larger trends in retail design are projected. Above, Fire & Flower's dispensary design concept art There is an entire science behind the field of retail design, where erudite theories about small modifications, expressed in sentences like : fast music such as pop is used during peak shopping hours to encourage high expenditure and impulse purchases while at the same time unconsciously promoting quick exits in order to accommodate more shoppers, impact the way designers think about their work. When it comes to dispensaries, designers obsess over meticulous details to craft the perfect store. But really, the designers doing the work are chasing an intangible: to design a store that is as influential as surprise the Apple Store. In dispensaries and cannabis spaces, this ambition presents itself in similar ways. It means clean, spartan fixtures and cabinets. Above all, the stores look impressively manicured. Far more in the store is concealed, hidden away in cabinets and back rooms, than laid out on the sales floor, in order to give the products an uncluttered presentation. Info about strains and products might also be put on tablet screens. At the time that Steve Jobs and the Apple team introduced the Apple Store, it was a pioneer, explained designer Mardi Najafi, part of the team at figure3 , a Toronto-based design firm that has worked on medical cannabis dispensaries in the United States. The thing that Apple and Steve Jobs did, he said, was bring the experience of the product fiddling with it, holding it in your hands, seeing yourself possessing it into the open. An Apple Store is honestly a marketplace, for cool gadgets, he says. Its a bunch of harvest tables, just like a market. You walk around it, you touch and feel [the product]. Above, Gnome Grown's dispensary design concept art The Apple Store quickly became a new, replicable model in the retail landscape, and everyone quickly followed at a time when brick-and-mortar stores were beginning to lose-out to online shopping. Microsoft, you go into their store and its identical to an Apple Store. Identical. Identical, said Najafi. To say youre the Apple-Store-of-something is less a physical comparison than an impressionist one. Being an Apple-Store isnt about looking like something, it's about offering the consumer an aesthetic experience around the art of consuming stimuli. And it works: Apple Stores still generate the highest revenues per square foot more than twice the amount made by Tiffanys. There is no shortage of dispensaries claiming to be the Apple Store of cannabis MedMen made it a key part of its branding and Najafi is no different in claiming that title for one of figure3s designs. One dispensary the company worked on, Surterra Wellness in Tampa, Fla., is modeled to be inviting, with a simple color palette, flat finished wood surfaces, and a faux kitchen that makes patients feel as if they are in someones home. The design is considered a success, and Najafi added that other businesses in the state of Florida are adapting parts of the design. Najafi also claimed that the designs for Surterra Wellness , which opened in 2017, were able to warm lawmakers and landlords in Florida to the idea of opening other medical marijuana shops. When the design is as smart as it was for Surterra, it changes peoples ideas of what it could be and should be, one hundred percent, he said. Part of the enthusiasm for design is economic, as retailers eye the market that MedMen co-founder Adam Bierman dubbed the Chardonnay mom, shorthand for well-off consumers who, at the moment, spend little-to-nothing on cannabis. Retailers are tripping over one another in pursuit of this demographic; the flood of media stories heralding that the weed mom could be the new wine mom are evidence enough that the industry is heavily invested in seeing this market capitalized upon. Megan Stone is the founder of High Road Design , a dispensary-focused design firm that won the 2017 Visual Merchandising and Store Display at the International Visual Competition Award s for their design of Level Up, a dispensary in Scottsdale, Arizona. She said the appeal of being the Apple Store of cannabis is strong. I would say 80 percent of people who contact us say something about wanting to look like an Apple Store. I joke with clients who tell me that. I say show me their twelve-million-dollar retail budget. Stone doesnt buy the hype around the Apple Store look for dispensaries. Thats a complete buzzword, she explained. Theres just more creativity to be explored. Much of the quasi-scientific approach to retail design in the cannabis industry is about making retail decisions that are supremely palatable to affluent customers, to quell their fears of participating in the green economy. In designing Surterra Wellness, Najafi said the companys team held extensive focus-grouping sessions and gathered all sorts of evidence about what clicked with their target consumers. They saw their design mission in terms of creating a community around the product. We study who the targets are, what makes them tick, what makes them comfortable, what makes them come back over and over into this space, said Najafi. Thats the goal of retail sales. What makes you come into a store is if you belong to that brand experience and you connect with that. Above, Surterra Wellness' dispensary design concept art What remains unproven, though, is whether that demographic the brand conscious, people concerned with wellness as a lifestyle, and the wealthy will ever come to fruition, or if it even exists at all. According to one study released last year , even in legal markets, this demographic sometimes called modern lifestylers constitutes around 10 percent of the cannabis market, and yet they are constantly being heralded as the ideal vision of the future. Dispensaries have to balance the desire to bring in new customers with the necessity of serving traditional users when theyre starting a dispensary. Particularly, Stone is keenly aware that design cant paper-over poor product. At even the nicest dispensary, customers may walk out of that thinking its no longer gross and seedy and nasty, she said, but if the product doesnt measure up, they might also not be excited to buy another joint again. The strength of this theory that high design can win over new consumers has been questioned by the recent financial woes of MedMen . Reports peg the companys worth at $1.6 billion, down from $3 billion last year. It was also reported that the corporation lost $131 million in the back half of 2018. Poor results are being interpreted by some as a knock not only against the company, but also the very mission they set out for themselves. MedMen has spent buku bucks [sic] trying to convince America that people who smoke marijuana are not the same long-haired, tie-dye-shirt-wearing, hippie class it has been for the past several decades, wrote Mike Adams in an article for The Fresh Toast . MedMen is still struggling to attract enough customers to cover its bottom line. All of those new cannabis consumers with the high-paying jobs and $50 haircuts that the company has been working so hard to charm seems to be more wishful thinking than reality. Above, Level Up's dispensary design concept art There are shops that are trying to break with the design trends. Superette is one of them. Another is Lowell Farms , which is on its way to opening one of the first consumption lounges in West Hollywood this year. Their founder, Sean Black, told MERRY JANE that in doing so, they attempted to find, and create, a space that was unique and cut against the current trends in cannabis design. We went out of our way to lease a space that was already like what we wanted, so that there was a minimal impact on the world to bring what we want to fruition, he explained. They approach the decor like a large-scale repurposing project. Theres a lot of reclaimed and reused materials, Black said, nodding to the fact Lowell Farms looked for restaurants across the country that were closing and selling off all their furniture. We kind of looked at what kind of other stuff was out there, that would otherwise sit in a landfill or would be a waste. Anything we can recycle or upcycle, we do. The result, based on renderings at least , is a cafe modeled as a sort of jungle-y, upscale restaurant. Its a model that was born out of Lowell Farms placing design at the center of business development. The company has its own in-house designers, rather than working with outside design firms, and Black said the companys designers are therefore able to spend more time working on Lowell-specific ideas. The designers are consciously trying to do something a bit different, he added. I see a lot of people with a lot of respect and admiration for the Apple Store, trying to present cannabis in a clean, modern, light-filled space. I think thats a really positive experience, he said. The Apple Stores are the number one retailers in the world, if you look at how much money they make per square foot. Its a good model. But its not Lowell Farms model, Black continued. Were not about maximizing efficiencies or creating the most amount of money per square foot. Above, Royal Highness' dispensary design concept art, created by the High Road Different or not, Black actually buys into the idea that the cannabis industry can win over the Chardonnay moms. Its important to have that really high-end stuff, he said. A high-end look and feel gets the right people on their side the kind of people who donate to political campaigns. Our number one goal is the widespread acceptance of cannabis use, he said. If you look on Instagram, and you see people posting [their product], and theyre saying, Ooh, look at my fancy weed! Look at my bougie weed! Well take it, whatever! We want it to feel fancy to you. Follow Kieran Delamont on Twitter
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https://merryjane.com/culture/do-we-really-need-an-apple-store-of-weed
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Does CBD Show Up On Drug Tests?
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Within the last few years, CBD has become a go-to wellness product for anyone who wants to live a healthier, more relaxed life. In 2017, a report from the Hemp Business Journal showed that the CBD industry was worth a reported $190 million. You can buy CBD infused gummies, oils, dog treats, vape pens, bath bombs; you name it. If it exists, someone has probably put CBD in it. People use the trendy cannabinoid for anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, chronic pain, and a myriad of other symptoms. This summer, the FDA approved the usage of CBD for the treatment of severe and rare forms of epilepsy. However, despite the mainstream embrace of CBD and its proven ability to treat a range of debilitating symptoms, the stigma surrounding anything marijuana-derived still remains. If you live in one of the states where weed is not legal, (or if you just find yourself in a position where youre going to have to pass a drug test for weed), its important to understand that CBD likely will not show up on a drug test. The way drug tests work is by detecting THC or THC metabolites in your system. CBD is neither of those, so youre likely safe. The average drug test is not yet advanced enough to pick up CBD. However, there are some CBD products that include THC. Often, this is intentional, (combining CBD with THC can amplify the therapeutic properties of both,) but not always. CBD products arent regulated as closely as most other cannabis products, so its important to be aware that it is possible for trace amounts of THC to unintentionally enter the equation when you use CBD. A good way to avoid consuming any THC would be to stick with hemp-derived CBD products. You can extract CBD from hemp or cannabis, but the hemp plant is bred to have almost no THC in it, despite being rich in CBD. Whereas the cannabis plant is bred specifically to have high concentrations of THC. Quest Diagnostics is one of the biggest drug testing companies in the United States. Ironically, in a 2018 report from Vice , Barry Sample, the director of science and technology for employer solutions at the company revealed that even people who drug test for the DEA are not tested for CBD. So unless you work somewhere more anti-weed than the DEA, youre most likely safe to use CBD to your hearts content. Visit our ultimate guide on the topic here
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https://merryjane.com/culture/does-cbd-show-up-on-drug-tests
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Does Smoking Weed Kill Brain Cells?
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Ill pretend Im Jamaican, man, said Jim Breuer, the fairly Caucasian and very-not-Jamaican character in the iconic weed comedy Half Baked. You have smoked yourself retarded, replied his buddy, Thurgood Jenkins (played by Dave Chappelle), with a grimace. Ableist slurs aside, Chapelles line illustrates a persistent and much-too-prevalent myth in our society: that smoking weed makes us stupid. Or, as some folks spin it, weed kills brain cells. No. If that was the case, most of you reading this would probably be drooling vegetables by now. The human-vegetable example may not work on relatives, supervisors, or college professors who view your intellect with gross disdain simply because you puff on occasion (or all day, every day). Thankfully, we got some real, solid science you can cite next time your marriage to mary jane is called into question by some strait-laced square. History Time: The Bogus Rhesus Monkey Experiment Back in the day, haters didnt think tokers were necessarily unintelligent. But from the late 1800s to the 1930s, weed smokers were instead considered insane or psychotic by the Western (read: imperialist) medical community. The brain-damage thing gained traction in the '70s after President Richard Nixon determined to crush the herb-loving, anti-war Black Power Movement and its white hippie allies rigged federal research to show, with scientific evidence, that smoking weed kills brain cells. To do this, the Nixon administration convinced psychiatrist Robert G. Heath to conduct the infamous rhesus monkey experiment. In the so-called study, Heath took a bunch of monkeys, strapped gas masks to their faces, then pumped so much marijuana smoke into the masks that asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning caused the monkeys brain cells to die. At the time, only the studys results were released to the public. How Heath manipulated the experiment to please President Tricky Dick was kept secret until 1980, when Playboy and NORML got a hold of the full rhesus monkey study report. (By the way, no self-respecting scientist ever keeps their experimental methods a secret.) Nixons shiny new National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) spent years using Heaths fabricated study to promote the idea that smoking weed killed brain cells, a myth that hit its zenith in the 1980s during Nancy Reagans ridiculous Just Say No anti-drug campaign. Today, we should just say no to the silly notion that weed kills brain cells. For starters, there are way too many hyper-intelligent people whove admitted to regularly smoking cannabis. Exactly. What the Science Really Says In 2016, Duke University conducted one of the many studies showing that cannabis use doesnt harm the brain . The researchers followed identical twins who are essentially genetic clones of each other for 10 years. Among each twin pairing, one smoked weed and the other never touched the stuff. No differences were found between their neurocognitive functioning, even after one twin spent a decade blazin. But the Duke study only looked at outward, observable behaviors between the twins. In 2015, scientists at the University of Colorado-Boulder used high resolution MRI scans to compare the brain volumes, shapes, and structures of weed smokers and non-smokers. No differences between the brains . Zilch. Nada. Pot-laden brains looked just like the straight-edge ones. Weed doesnt appear to kill brain cells, but it also doesnt make anyone smarter , either. The prohibitionists favorite 'stupid-pothead' argument is that cannabis use lowers IQ scores . But first, a word on IQ, otherwise known as the intelligence quotient. IQ only measures a specific kind of intelligence, namely, ones ability to detect and exploit patterns within the narrow scope of word games and 3D mind puzzles. IQ can reasonably predict an individuals success in certain fields, like science, business, or computers, but thats pretty much it. Over the years, psychologists and neuroscientists have determined there are several types of intelligence : star athletes demonstrate kinesthetic intelligence, artists exhibit aesthetic intelligence, musicians play off their own kind of smarts, and so on and so forth. Todays IQ tests are useless for predicting anything in these other important disciplines. Furthermore, the inventor of the IQ test, French psychologist Alfred Binet, never intended his test to serve as a measuring stick for someones higher intellectual capacities. He used it as a tool to help him diagnose mental dysfunction in his child patients. Heres what Binet had to say about his own test : The scale, properly speaking, does not permit the measure of the intelligence, because intellectual qualities are not superposable, and therefore cannot be measured as linear surfaces are measured. In other words, human intelligence cant be reduced to a single number because its too complex. Anyway, you came here for scientific ammo. In 2018, researchers at the University of Arizona looked at 1,989 twins in England and Wales. Like the Duke University study above, they found no IQ differences between the twins when one smoked weed and the other didnt. Commenting on the Arizona study, drug researcher Ian Hamilton at York University told the Daily Mail that low-IQ teens are more likely to smoke weed because it stimulates their minds, which may explain why some psychologists notice lower IQ scores with tokers. Regardless, the science certainly says smoking weed will screw with our short-term memories, as anyone who's hit a bowl and then spent an hour looking for their car keys (which was in their hand the entire time) can attest to. But thats about it. No, it doesnt, especially when weed can help any culdesac baller become a better player . Just remember to consume responsibly, and your body and your brain will thank you for it later.
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https://merryjane.com/culture/does-smoking-weed-kill-brain-cells
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Does Weed Go Bad?
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But alas, all good things must come to an end, and cannabis is no exception. However, when we talk about weed going bad, it can mean a couple things. When food goes bad or rots, it means that the microorganisms have arrived and they are flourishing. Theres bacteria and mold spores everywhere around you, all the time, landing on everything you eat. Sometimes that means you get Penicillin or sourdough bread. But usually it means your food has been overrun by harmful little colonizers. The gasses released by the foods decomposition is what causes that smell. You know, the one in your fridge every time you swear youre gonna use those ingredients to start cooking at home before you accidentally hit the drive-thru for the millionth time. Luckily, unlike food, dried marijuana isnt extremely attractive to most microorganisms ( growing bud can be a different story , though...). Weed thats exposed to air, however, will quickly dry out over time, leading to harsher tokes and poor taste. But, it wont make you sick. Weed thats over-exposed to moisture, on the other hand, can begin to grow mold, as that shit favors any sort of wet environment. And inhaling mold is, how would you say, not recommended. To keep your weed at optimal barometry, theres still nothing trustier than a good old Mason jar or one of these other great preservation tools . And in some wow imagine if we knew this 40 years ago news, it turns out cannabis may even have antiseptic properties . So if you havent gotten around to that nug yet, its probably fine. But if it smells or tastes off, use your best judgement and toss it if need be. Theres no shame in letting go of what you love. Follow Shelby Fero on Twitter
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https://merryjane.com/culture/does-weed-go-bad-and-can-you-smoke-old-marijuana
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What are the four tests to ease restrictions on June 21 and have we met them?
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Some scientists have said that the final easing of social restrictions in England should be delayed, others have said that the cost to society will be too great if it is. Here are the four tests that ministers will consider as they make their decisions. Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... People shop and go about their daily life in Bolton town centre as surge testing and rapid coronavirus vaccinations continue. 1. Undoubtedly. The UK has been hailed as having one of the most successful vaccination programmes in the world. Targets to vaccinate certain groups have been met with ease, and often ahead of time. In England and Scotland, all over-30s are being asked to come forward for their vaccine. In Northern Ireland, people over the age of 25 can get their jab. In Wales, all adults can book in for their jab. Almost three-quarters of all British adults (74.8%) have had their first jab and almost half have had their second (48.5%). And vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said that ministers hope to have all over-50s and clinically vulnerable people fully vaccinated with both doses before June 21. 2. So far the evidence is very positive. Even against the new variant of concern which was first identified in India. When experts use the term vaccinated, they mean the people who have had the full protection from both doses of vaccine not those who have only had one jab and are awaiting their second. NHS leaders have said among people admitted to hospital only a handful have had two doses. Public Health England has estimated that the vaccine programme has prevented 13,200 deaths in England alone among adults aged 60 and over. And among those aged 65 and over, 39,700 hospital admissions have been prevented, according to PHE estimates. 3. Probably not. Hospital admissions have been rising in some hotspot areas. But NHS leaders have said that hospital admissions now look very different to the admissions which were seen in January and February. The majority of people who are being admitted to hospital are younger and easier to treat. Patients are generally being looked after on acute and general wards, instead of in critical care. Some will spend three to four days in hospital and be treated with oxygen and dexamethasone before being discharged. It must be said that over the last seven days there have been 870 hospital admissions across the UK. 4. The final test is a bit more tricky. Cases of the variant first identified in India almost doubled in a week and scientists have warned that the variant appears to be more transmissible than the variant first identified in Kent. Data from PHE suggests that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs offer high levels of protection against symptomatic disease from the variant first identified in India among those who have had two doses of the jab, which in turn is likely to lead to even higher levels of effectiveness against hospital admissions and deaths. As with any virus, variants can emerge all the time. And one only has to look at other countries whose health systems have faced near collapse under the strain of new variants. Without a crystal ball, we would be unable to tell. But the evidence so far is extremely positive. The Governments road map out of lockdown states: Only when the Government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. Ministers have two weeks to deliberate the decision. And the Governments former chief scientific adviser said ministers need more data before ministers can make a final decision so unfortunately the nation will remain in limbo for another fortnight while the data rolls in.
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https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/politics/what-are-the-four-tests-to-ease-restrictions-on-june-21-and-have-we-met-them-3257171
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When is the Season 9 Collection event in Apex Legends?
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Collection events in Apex Legends come around every season, but the wait for Season 9s event is going on a bit longer. Heres what we know about the next collection event so far. In the past, Collection events have typically started around halfway through each three-month season. Season 9 started on May 4, which would typically mean that we would see the collection event in the second week of June. However, Respawn has pretty much confirmed that wont be the case this time around. This is potentially because of the ALGS Championship, which runs until June 13. Advertisement Season 9 Collection event date Respawns director of comms, Ryan Rigney, revealed that the 9.1 update which should be the collection event will be at the end of June. From this, we can deduce that the update will almost certainly be on June 29 this is because they typically start on Tuesdays, and the 29th is the last Tuesday of June. As with previous events, we can expect some staple content to drop. One of the highlights is a new heirloom. Theres no way to know for sure what Legend will get their heirloom next, but leaks have revealed work-in-progress models for both Revenant and Rampart. Advertisement There will also be new cosmetics usually a collection of Legendary skins for characters and weapons, and a prize track to work through. This season, its expected that there will be a Japanese theme, after game files revealed what the collection packs will look like. Data miner Garret also revealed that the name for the event in the files is Japan Legacy (although this may not be the final name). This ties in with Valkyries heritage, as she has a Japanese mother. Apex Legends is also very popular in Japan, so players from the country should have a lot to look forward to in this collection event. Advertisement Thats all we know about the event so far, but we only have to wait a few weeks to know more.
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https://www.dexerto.com/apex-legends/apex-legends-season-9-collection-event-1586311/
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Where does Donaire rank among the Philippines' legendary fighters?
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Watch more in iWantTFC Nonito Donaire Jr.'s sensational knockout victory over Nordine Oubaali over the weekend has proven that the "Filipino Flash" remains a potent fighter even at age 38. With the victory, Donaire made history by becoming the oldest three-time bantamweight champion. This is aside from joining a rare few by winning world titles in four weight classes. "Definitely top 5 or top 4 na siya ng aking listahan," said long time fight commentator Atty. Ed Tolentino. "Maaaring tumaas pa lalo na kung magiging maganda ang ending ng kanyang career. At hindi pa naman closed ang book ni Donaire." Tolentino said Donaire by now is in the company of eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, and Luisito "Lindol" Espinosa. Other Pinoy greats included in Tolentino's list are Pancho Villa, Ceferino Garcia, and Donnie Nietes. The analyst praised the revival of Donaire's career especially after it took a dip following a string of defeats against elite fighters. "Nung siya ay ma-knockout ni 'Axeman' Nicholas Walters, when he was outclassed by Guillermo Rigondeaux, nung matalo siya kay Jessie Magdaleno, akala natin tapos na ang career ni Nonito Donaire Jr.," said Tolentino. "Pero when he want the distance against Naoya Inoue, even though he lost that fight, I thought that his performance in that fight convinced Donaire, 'mayroon pa akong ibubuga.' He gave Inoue his toughest fight." Donaire did prove he can still dish out a hard beating against a champion younger than him. He did that with Oubaali whom he destroyed in four rounds. "Ipinakita ni Donaire age is just a number... it's a really important victory para sa kaniya," said Tolentino.
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https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/01/21/where-does-donaire-rank-among-the-philippines-legendary-fighters
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Will Guardiola Follow Aguero To Barcelona?
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Sergio Aguero signed on the dotted line at Barcelona but refused to discuss the possibility of Pep Guardiola following him from Manchester City to Camp Nou. Barcelona are in a state of upheaval amid doubts over Ronald Koeman's future, with club president Joan Laporta describing the Dutchman as "a coach that we did not ask for" on Monday. Laporta has not excluded the possibility of Koeman staying in charge for the second year of his contract, but it appears the club are also looking at alternative options to come in and take charge. Aguero is also thought of as a potential upgrade on the talent Barcelona have as striking options, besides Lionel Messi, having become Manchester City's record goalscorer during a highly successful decade in England. The new recruit also said he thought Messi would be staying at Barcelona, continuing their partnership from the Argentina national team. However, asked about the possibility of Barcelona re-hiring Guardiola, who coached the Blaugrana from 2008 to 2012, Aguero stayed well clear. He said: "I don't have the right to talk about that. He has a contract with City and I'm not the one who has to talk about the coach." The 'one' would be Laporta, the president who was elected in March. His predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu, appointed Koeman. Asked about the latest situation with Koeman, during what was Aguero's presentation news conference, Laporta said: "I already said that we have started a period of reflection, for the reasons I said. "As he was a coach that we did not ask for, we needed that period. There are contacts, I have already said that he is a coach with a current contract and our will is to respect it as long as this period of reflection occurs." Koeman almost led Barcelona to a domestic double in 2020-21, but a dip in league form over the closing weeks of the season meant their charge since the turn of the year was only good enough for third place in LaLiga. They won the Copa del Rey, but that may not be enough to save him. Laporta was also questioned about whether Aguero had been brought in to please captain Messi, who has yet to sign a new contract with his current deal to expire at the end of June. The president replied, according to Mundo Deportivo: "The signing of Aguero is because he is a desired player and an exceptional player. It is the first of a series of signings that you will get to know. Naturally, we want Messi to continue." The news conference was perhaps a sign of what Aguero can expect at Barcelona, at least in the short term. Messi signing a new deal would bring a sense of calm to proceedings, as would clarity on the coaching situation. Aguero is looking forward to playing with his compatriot on a week-by-week basis. He said the prime motivation to join his new club was: "To be at Barca, where the best player in the world is. "If he [Messi] continues here, which I think he will, we will try to do our best, as we have always done, in the national team." Laporta could announce a new signing every day of this week and he might yet, with Eric Garcia, Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum heavily linked but the coaching situation also needs to be a priority. Aguero steered away from recommending Guardiola's appointment, but spoke of his admiration for the City coach. "We all know that Pep, since he arrived at City, has proposed a different football," Aguero said. "He proposes to keep the ball all the time and to keep that is important. It made me and the whole team better." Injuries and a COVID-19 absence caused Aguero to miss chunks of the 2020-21 season, but he came through a medical on Monday and said his left knee, which was operated on last June, was "perfectly fine". Messi has benefited from some outstanding forwards lining up alongside him during his Barcelona career, notably David Villa, Neymar and Luis Suarez. Barcelona averaged 2.7 goals per game when Villa and Messi played together, and it was the same when Neymar played with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, dipping to 2.6 when Messi and Suarez featured in the same side. There are overlaps to bear in mind when looking at those figures, but not in the case of Villa who left Barca in July 2013, with Neymar arriving effectively as his replacement. Suarez then came in a year later from Liverpool. Neymar departed for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2017, while Suarez was sold to Atletico Madrid last year. Barcelona's win percentage stood at 74.1 per cent when Neymar and Messi played in the same team, 73.6 per cent with Villa and 73.2 per cent with Suarez. Yet Barca's points per game were curiously slightly lower at 2.3 when Messi played with Neymar compared to when Suarez and Villa were in the team alongside the little maestro (2.4). It was a sign of the times that Barcelona, led by Guardiola for two of Villa's three seasons, averaged 71.8 per cent possession while the Spain striker was at Camp Nou. When Messi and Neymar played together that figure was 67.2 per cent and when Messi and Suarez teamed up it was 65.3 per cent. Messi, Suarez and Neymar frequently played in the same side, forming the feared 'MSN' forward line. When Aguero played for City, they averaged 2.2 goals per game, a 64.3 per cent win rate, an average of 2.1 points and a 61.5 per cent of possession. He said that "by no means do I consider that I should be a permanent starter" and said he would need to earn that status. Barcelona's squad includes Antoine Griezmann, Ansu Fati, Martin Braithwaite and Ousmane Dembele as forward options, while Messi, LaLiga's all-time record scorer, is an automatic pick. "I talk to Messi every day. I can't tell you what we talked about. The last message [was one of] congratulations," Aguero said.
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https://www.beinsports.com/us/laliga/video/will-guardiola-follow-aguero-to-barcelona/1696575
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How Can I Tell If the Vape I'm Buying Is Real?
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The blackmarket for vape cartridges is booming. Blackmarket buyers snatch up pallets of empty, branded cartridges from manufacturers, then pretty much fill them with whatever they want. Sometimes, that means weed; sometimes, it means harmful additives and random chemicals. Or, counterfeiters produce labels of known brands like Kingpen, then sell them to be used by anyone who buys them. Brass Knuckles tried to circumvent this confusion, by telling consumers: Starting July 1st, all authentic Brass Knuckles cartridges have exclusive, serial numbered moving hologram stickers on the side of their acrylic casing, the recurring caption reads. All authentic product also has either CA or NV compliance test result labels on our packing depending on the state it is manufactured in. We do not ship product and we do not service non licensed locations in CA or NV. If you see Brass without numbered holograms or compliance labels its fake! Unfortunately, bootleggers quickly learned to fake these latest fail safes, updating their own knockoffs before the legal versions could even really hit the streets. Put simply: you cant. Which is kind of the problem. Without transparent and progressive government regulation, the black market vape industry will continue to thrive. The obfuscation of facts works to bootleggers advantage: by keeping even legal weed industries mostly in the dark, black markets are given plenty of shadows to operate in. Some dealers have tried to inspire confidence in their customers by creating their own brand labels. As one dealer told MERRY JANE reporter Zach Harris: Our goal was to make a product that wasnt tainted or overpriced. We had seen a lot of the King Pen and Brass Knuckles going around that were fakes, and we were tired of people smoking pesticides and overpaying for garbage. But as Harris notes in his recent feature on the subject without regulators in place to test these cartridges, there is no way to tell how safe they actually are. So, for now: if youre suspicious of the seller, theres probably a good reason for it. And if you cant get your vape pens straight from the source, maybe learn to make your own infused oils from bud. Because even if its harder to get, clean weed whose source is known will always be your safest smoke.
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https://merryjane.com/culture/how-can-i-tell-if-the-vape-cartridge-im-buying-is-real-or-not
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How Long Does It Take for CBD to Wear Off?
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Cannabidiol is one of the main ingredients in hemp-based CBD oils and a popular alternative medicine . CBD oils can be used for a variety of different illnesses and disorders, with some of its most popular uses being for anxiety, depression, as an anti-inflammatory, for pain relief and as an acne treatment. Research into CBD oils is still ongoing, but from the current studies, we do have a strong basis to say that CBD certainly has the potential to be an effective medicine. This will actually depend on a number of different factors, and the type of CBD oil you use will play a big part in it . CBD oils are available in numerous different forms including tinctures, creams, capsules, and vapes, for starters. Lets examine each type of CBD oil in more detail, and look at how each is different when it comes to how long it takes to kick in, and how long you will feel the effects for. Some CBD oils can last for as long as 6 hours while others wont last anywhere near as long. CBD Oil Vapes Some people are put off by the vaping process, but CBD oil vapes do have the advantage of being very fast acting. They will often get to work in just a few minutes, and can last for a couple of hours. However, the downside to CBD oil vapes is that you wont intake as much CBD as with other methods, so you might not feel the full effects. CBD Oil Tinctures and Sprays Tinctures and sprays are two of the most popular ways to consume CBD oil, because theyre quick to use and can be easily carried with you. Simple and straightforward, these two methods are also very fasting acting, and the effects are relatively long-lasting. The average dosage will often last about four hours, although it can last as long as six! CBD Oil Capsules Capsules are another popular way to take CBD oil, but there is a lot more variation to how long they can last and how long they take to actually start working. Capsules will work better and your body will absorb it quicker on an empty stomach. CBD oil capsules will usually get to work within 30 minutes, though sometimes it can take up to an hour or more. The effects last for about 6 hours on average. CBD oil topicals absorb slower through the pores of your skin, which makes them last longer than other CBD consumption methods. They can take longer to work than other methods, although that depends on the type of topical. Sometimes they can take as little as 5 minutes, other times it will take as long as 30 minutes. Topicals can last a long time, though again, it depends on the type.
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https://merryjane.com/culture/how-long-does-it-take-for-cbd-to-wear-off
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How Long Does It Take For Edibles to Kick In?
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Everybody has a story about the time they ate too many edibles, especially if youre a longtime cannabis consumer. Circa 2012, everyone was left to their own devices (and kitchen appliances) to concoct edibles. The concept of microdosing hadnt infiltrated the zeitgeist yet, and most edibles hit a triple-digit milligram number. Then, it was normal to be stoned for three days after consuming a brownie or cookie and then subsequently feel like youre dying. The lack of education and regulation around medicating with weed-laced treats was rough: no one knew how much to eat, how long it took for edibles to kick in, or why people had such different experiences with infused snacks. At a very basic level, everyones body is different. Thats why its difficult to state definitively how THC is going to impact a given consumer. While five milligrams of THC might be enough to glue one person to a couch, 100 milligrams might be the dose of rocket fuel needed to get another person out of bed. And while one person might feel the effects of an edible 30 minutes after eating it, someone else might start feeling high two hours after consuming. Related: Edibles That Look Like Real Food Products The legalization movement has helped create space for education, which has led to an improved understanding of how cannabis interacts with the body. Its also lead to an overwhelming influx of products available to consumers especially in the realm of edibles. From tinctures to laced cookies to medicated lemonades to magic mints to THC popcorn and power bars, theres an edible for everyone these days. But there are things to consider to help you make informed choices about your edible intake. Your metabolism impacts the edible experience One of the most common mistakes novice cannabis consumers make when dabbling with edibles is not giving your body enough time to metabolize the laced treat before assessing whether you should eat more. Its hard to know sometimes because it can take anywhere between five minutes to two hours for an edible to kick in. The onset depends on a few factors: what type of edible youre consuming, your metabolism, how much youve eaten that day, and your surroundings. The best advice is to err on the conservative side: start small and wait two hours. Or start low and go slow, to use a canna-cliche. Depending on how much youve eaten that day and how soon after eating you consume an edible will determine how quickly you feel high. So if youve eaten a big lunch with lots of carbs, it might take closer to two hours to feel the effects of an edible, regardless of how many milligrams it contains. If you decide to pop an edible first thing in the morning, its likely youll feel it closer to the 30-minute mark. If you eat an edible after eating a solid salad, youll likely feel the magic around the 45 to 60-minute mark. Some edibles will hit you quicker Legalization has also lead to the advancement of absorption technology. So, unlike the solid-food edibles (think: brownies, cookies, pastries, and candy) that go through your digestive system before entering the bloodstream, there are other canna-laced products with fast-acting technology. For example, Mondo Meds makes a cannabis powder that dissolves in whatever you put it in. Because its already broken down, the cannabinoids in the product quickly bind to cannabinoid receptors. When you put it in your mouth, [the cannabinoids] are absorbing immediately through your carbohydrate uptake pathways. Your body recognizes it as a carbohydrate, Skyler Bissell, COO of Oleo Inc , told MERRY JANE in 2017. Getting absorbed through this specific pathway increases early onset. So its possible to feel the effects within 10 to 20 minutes. Then there are edibles with sublingual technology. These infused meds usually come in the form of breath strips, sprays, or tinctures, and require being put under the tongue to trigger the technology and allow the product to work accurately. This application is rooted in science and among the most effective ways to consume cannabis. Its also utilized by an array of over-the-counter medications. Since cannabis is absorbed through saliva glands, one should expect to feel the THC-onset between five and 15 minutes. Medicated beverages Then there are medicated beverages, like cannabis tea, coffee, Kombucha, water, lemonades, etc. These drinks are closer in onset with solid-food edibles in that they can take a moment to hit, so its recommended to take it slow and dont drink the whole bottle. Start with a cocktail-on-the-rocks amount of the beverage, or make the liquid into ice cubes and put the tasty ice cubes into another drink for a conservative dose. If youre having a medicated drink on an empty stomach, expect to feel THC creeping into your consciousness around the 30-minute mark. If youre drinking it with food or youve eaten a full meal, expect to feel the magical herb after about an hour. Keep in mind that everyone reacts to cannabis differently again, its better to start slow. Unless, of course, you want to be lit like a birthday cake for three days. And sometimes, thats just what we need. Follow Mary Carreon on Twitter
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https://merryjane.com/culture/how-long-does-it-take-for-edibles-to-kick-in
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How Much Weed Is in an Eighth Exactly?
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When purchasing weed, either in a legal dispensary or from that sketchy dude behind Safeway, there are three common measurements: a gram , an eighth, and a quarter. In America, we live in this weird limbo state where we try to juggle the international (and incredibly sensible) metric system with the outdated English nobility measurement system. Sometimes well measure stuff according to the metric system (e.g. centimeters, grams), while other times we use the English system (e.g. inches, feet, ounces, pounds). This causes a lot of confusion when it comes to measuring goods where every gram and every cent counts. Because switching back-and-forth between the English system and the metric system requires conversion calculations, and those conversions are never perfect. Value, and money, gets lost in that calculation process. A quarter of weed refers to a quarter of an ounce. Just as an eighth refers to an eighth of an ounce, or a slice (because theres eight slices of pizza in a full pie). Thats an English measurement thing. If you want it in metric, an eighth of an ounce is roughly 3.5 grams. Well, its actually closer to 3.5436 grams, but since most drug dealers dont use fancy analytical scales, theyll go with 3.5 grams. Those differences in values mean that every toker has gotten stiffed albeit slightly whenever they bought weed. Heres why. Generally, when you buy weed in greater amounts lets say a full ounce thats usually designated 28 grams. Which is sound, if we treat an eighth as if it were exactly 3.5 grams. But its not. An eighth of an ounce is actually 3.5436 grams, and an ounce is officially defined as 28.3495 grams. That means every time you buy a 28-gram ounce, you got shorted 0.3495 grams of weed. While a third of a gram may not sound like a lot, consider how much weed some cannabis consumers purchase in a year. Lets assume one ounce a month for the average everyday toker. After a year, that means said customer was shorted a total of 4.194 grams of weed over a 12-month period, which is more than gasp! a full eighth of weed! Probably, sort of, kind of, but not exactly. Prepackaged food producers dont measure their goods to the exact amount reported on the labels, but they try to get those measurements as close as possible. Most cannabis consumers and sellers generally agree on the 3.5 grams per eighth rule because most commercially available scales, whether pocket scales or digital, can only reliably report measurements to the tenths digit, i.e. the digit that comes immediately after the decimal point. Thats assuming its a decent scale; most pocket scales can only reliably report values to the nearest whole number (in the eighth example, that would be the 3 before the decimal point, with any values after the decimal point being mere guesses). While that 3.5 rule may have worked well in the prohibition era, operators in weed-legal states dont have this same But My Scale Sucks excuse. If theyre selling weed by the eighth of an ounce, then to do so honestly, they should measure it out to 3.5436 grams as possible. Rounding errors below 3.5436 grams benefit only the business, not the customer. You can always peep the scales at the dispensary, assuming your budtender actually weighs your purchase in front of you. But as dispensaries get slammed with higher customer traffic, more pot shops are pre-weighing and pre-packaging their weed, meaning youll have to wait until you get it home to weigh it out. And by then, you already opened the package, so good luck convincing your seller that they shorted you some good weed.
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https://merryjane.com/culture/how-much-weed-is-in-an-eighth-exactly
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