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Is It A Wrap? Did Toni Braxton & Birdman Call Off Their Cash Money Matrimony?
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It looks like things are a wrap between two artists who struggled to set a wedding date. Toni Braxton and Birdman are both seemingly single after scrubbing their social media of each other. The songstress whos been dating the Cash Money mogul since 2016 also posted a picture captioned, Starting a new chapter isnt always an easy choice but always choose to be chosen. Cheers to a new year. Birdmans since posted Its over in his Instagram stories. Prior to their possible breakup, Toni told Wendy Williams that Birdman gave her a deadline for their Cash Money matrimony and implored that she set a wedding date before the end of 2018. She blamed Braxton Family Values filming for continuously interrupting their plans. We almost had a date, well we had two dates, but we were doing Braxton Family Values and we were going through a little drama, and I was like, Okay the wedding is a good thing to get all of us sisters together, but I couldnt get us all together, said Toni. In November, Toni lost her Birdman engagement ring in checked luggage on a Delta Airlines flight.
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https://bossip.com/1688963/toni-braxton-and-birdman-breakup/
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Where Is Canadas AOC?
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American politics often sets the tone for Canada as well. Stephen Harper followed in the footsteps of George W. Bush, right into a pointless war in Afghanistan. Barack Obama primed us for Justin Trudeau a good-looking family man, if a little ineffective. Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners We Asked for 2019 Builders by 2019. You Blew Us Away Tyee supporters blast past the goal we sought. Way past. We already have a couple of Canadian wannabe Trumps in Peoples Party leader Maxime Bernier and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The new congresswoman from the Bronx is playing out a variation on the theme of Horatio Algers novels: young, female, of Puerto Rican descent, smart and hardworking. But she also says shocking things (70-per-cent marginal tax rate! ), violates political norms (a sit-in in Nancy Pelosis office! ), and scandalizes the American media (when I googled her name I got 21.3 million hits; two hours later it was 21.6 million). That sounds like a variation on the populist theme of Donald Trump. But Trumps egomania and dishonesty give him away every time he opens his mouth especially when hes answering his critics. Ocasio-Cortez keeps her own ego tightly controlled, and argues from facts. That makes her far more credible. It also makes her tougher to fight, because her adversaries are completely out of the habit of relying on evidence in any argument. All they have in any debate are ideological assertions and personal attacks. Her critics reveal themselves as stuffed shirts, fretting about how well-dressed she is for a struggling young worker, and saying its downright scary that she wants medicare for all, clean campaign financing and womens rights. A rediscovered video of Ocasio-Cortez dancing as an undergraduate was posted to discredit her; it blew up in the critics faces, making her look even cooler. Almost singlehandedly she has dominated social media, especially Twitter. When I started following her last summer, I was one of 89,000. Now, as @AOC, shes got 2.6 million. You would think 288 characters is nowhere near enough to articulate policy, but you would be wrong. So when @AOC calls for a 70-per-cent marginal tax rate (starting on incomes over US$10 million), she overturns 40 years of Reagan-Thatcher cant about lower taxes increasing prosperity. And again her critics build her up: at the World Economic Forum in Davos, billionaires like Michael Dell and Bill Gates laughed at the idea of such a tax. When billionaires (whom she rightly calls policy failures) make you a gift like that, you take it. This kind of impact is what any politician dreams of, and we can safely assume that they are all trying to decode @AOCs ways to learn the secret of her success. No one in Canadian politics, however, seems to be paying attention least of all on the left. Granted, Canadian politics has never really come to terms with social media. We seem to like barnburner speeches like Tommy Douglass, or video clips like Pierre Trudeaus just watch me. But our politicians lurched onto the web very awkwardly in the early 2000s, and they have acquired only superficial skills since then. And they are terrified of the online world. They know how quickly the internet can destroy a political career, like Tony Clements. So former PM Stephen Harper confines himself to bland tweets with heavy use of great, excited, and energizing in describing his post-political career dealing with other affluent suits. Justin Trudeau (or his staff) issues feel-good tweets about how Canada is the best place in the world. Tory leader Andrew Scheer is cranking out halfhearted attacks on Trudeau and the crushing brutality of socialist rule in Venezuela. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is equally predictable, tweeting platitudes: Lets end corporate giveaways. Lets close tax loopholes for the rich. And invest in programs that lift everyone. Even Green Party leader Elizabeth May is entering an election year with tweets about B.C.s current fuss about the Plecas report, which seems unlikely to improve federal Greens prospects next fall. Social media thrive on surprises and shocks, and the only Canadian politicians who seem to undstand this are Maxime Bernier and Doug Ford. But Bernier runs out of surprises after immigrants bad! and Ford wants only to keep money in your pocket as explained by his personal news service. Well know weve got a Canadian @AOC when his or her tweets make the media scream like a teacher sitting on a tack and political authorities clutch their proverbial pearls until the string breaks. Itll be a young politician who thrives on five-buck donations, and takes over the local constituents association so decisively that the federal party doesnt dare refuse to sign the papers. Young Woman from the Bronx Just Transformed Our Politics read more The Canadian @AOC will likely come from a taken-for-granted group young women, Indigenous people, LGBTQ, any of dozens of immigrant minorities. Like her, the upstart will start by beating the establishment at its own game knocking on doors, hitting nerves, taking over social media and ambushing the mainstream media with a story they hadnt expected. The upstarts own party will take it very badly, at least until other upstarts appear and start polling well. The other parties will try to shrug off the new threat as just another pretty face, rather as Justin Trudeau was treated in the 2015 campaign. Most likely the upstart will be in the New Democrats or the Greens. The Liberal and Conservative bases alike are too invested in the status quo to endorse some crazy kid who seriously intends to stop climate breakdown and start pharmacare for all. But the NDP and Greens are strategically conservative, solemnly reasonable, and reluctant to call bullshit on their adversaries. An upstart in their ranks would scare the daylights out of them. Until the upstart is polling well, and everyone adjusts to a Horatio Alger meets David and Goliath story. At that point, the upstarts party will remember that there are way more Davids than Goliaths in the electorate, and start training all its candidates in how to use a slingshot. The upstart may not appear in next falls election. But given the current state of North American politics, the next Canadian election could well coincide with the Americans in 2020. In both countries, expect the Goliaths to fall, and the upstarts to dance.
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https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/01/25/Canada-AOC/
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Why is everyone talking about antibiotics?
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Getty Images You might have heard of a type of medicine called antibiotics. Maybe you've even been given them by a doctor. Antibiotics are in the news today. Here's everything you need to know. Antibiotics are a special group of medicines that can kill bacteria or prevent it from spreading. The first antibiotic was penicillin which was discovered 90 years ago by a chemist called Alexander Fleming. Since then, more than 100 new antibiotics have been developed. The drugs are responsible for killing the bacteria that causes many serious infections such as tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. They're also used to prevent infections when people have surgery. An antibiotic is a substance that destroys or limits the growth of micro-organisms, like bacteria. Natural antibiotics are produced by living organisms (like penicillin, which is produced naturally by mould), but they can also be man-made in a laboratory, in which case they are called synthetic antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work on viral infections like colds and flu. The name antibiotic comes from Greek, where 'anti' () means 'against' and 'bios' () means 'life', as they kill the life of bacteria. Bacteria can learn to change so that the antibiotics no longer work to kill them off . This is called antibiotic resistance. At the moment, if one type of antibiotic drug doesn't work, trying different types can make a difference. But as bacteria learn to block the different types of medication, the options for treatment go down. Experts say doctors could be prescribing antibiotics too often, and sometimes giving them to patients who don't really need them. They warn that the more that antibiotics are used, the quicker the bacteria can learn to resist them. For several years the NHS and other health organisations around the world have been trying to use antibiotics less often. The issue of antibiotic resistance will be discussed at a big meeting called the World Economic Forum today. The UK's Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, will appeal to other leaders from around the world to take action on the over-use of antibiotics. In his speech he will call antibiotic resistance as important as climate change as he reveals a plan to tackle the problem.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46984427
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Who was Anne Frank?
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AFP/Getty Images The diary of Anne Frank - a young teenager who documented her life in hiding during the Holocaust - has become one of the most famous books in the world Anne Frank was a young teenager in the Netherlands during the Holocaust. She lived in Amsterdam with her family, but - in 1942 - the Franks were forced to go into hiding from the Nazis who wanted to get rid of Europe's Jewish population. During this time in hiding, Anne kept a diary, which would go on to become one of the most famous books in the whole world. But she would never live to see her dream of becoming a writer a reality, as she was tragically killed in the Holocaust. It was her father who published her writing, as he survived World War Two and her diary was passed on to him. Watch Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding - A Newsround Special Find out more about the amazing teenager who told the world her story of one of the most terrible events in modern history. Annelies Marie Frank - better known as Anne Frank - was born in the German city of Frankfurt in 1929 to a Jewish family. She had a sister called Margot who was three years older than her, and her parents were called Edith and Otto. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Anne Frank's friend Eva: 'Anne was a big chatterbox!' (Taken from Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding - A Newsround special) In the aftermath of World War One, Germany was very poor and life was tough for many people. The Nazi party (led by Adolf Hitler) was growing in popularity and it blamed Jewish people for a lot of the country's problems. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 after elections, they began to persecute Jewish people and made life incredibly difficult for them. The Franks decided they needed to get out of Germany, so they moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands where they thought they would be safe. Anne went to school, made new friends, learnt to speak Dutch and settled into her new life here. She was just 10 years old when - on 1 September 1939 - Germany invaded Poland and World War Two was declared. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. How Jewish people were treated during the Holocaust Less than a year later, on 10 May 1940, the German army invaded the Netherlands and the Nazis set out to persecute Jewish people there too. On her 13th birthday, Anne was given a diary, which she called Kitty. Her first entry is dated 12 June 1942. At the time, the Nazis had increased their persecution of Jews in the Netherlands. In the summer of 1942, Anne's sister Margot was ordered by the Nazis to go to work in a camp. But fearing what would really happen to her and the rest of the family, the Franks went into hiding in a secret annex behind Otto's business, which Otto had been preparing for a few weeks. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. (Taken from Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding - A Newsround special) Four other people hid with them - the Van Pels family (Hermann, Auguste and their son Peter) and Fritz Pfeffer. The hidden group were helped by loyal friends of Otto, who would bring them food and news of the outside world. Reuters The secret annex where Anne and her family hid during the Holocaust was hidden behind a special bookcase Anne enjoyed writing throughout her time in hiding, both entries in her diary and other poems and stories. Writing provided her with a form of escape and a great source of comfort. One day, she heard a feature on the radio by the Minister of Education of the Dutch government in England asking people to hold on to war diaries and documents. It inspired her to rework her diaries into a book. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Anne Frank's diary: Life in the annex (Taken from Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding - A Newsround special) She set to work on her novel Het Achterhuis ('The Secret Annex'). But before she could finish, the family's worst fears were realised. After two years of hiding, the Nazis discovered the secret annex. To this day, nobody knows how they did this. On 4 August 1944, they arrested everyone who had been hiding in the apartment and sent them to the concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The final entry in Anne's diary was just three days earlier, on 1 August 1944. When they arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Franks were deemed to be in relatively good health so they were all put to work. Otto was separated from his wife and two daughters. Later, Anne and Margot would be separated from their mother too. Getty Images A famous gate at the Auschwitz camp reads 'Arbeit macht frei', which means 'work sets you free' in German Back in Amsterdam, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl - two of Otto's friends who had helped the family while they were in hiding - had found Anne's writing and held on to it, in case she ever came back. But tragically this was not to be. Anne and Margot were sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in early November 1944, but their health deteriorated. In February 1945, they both died of typhus - movingly, just a few days apart from each other. Their mother Edith was also killed. Her father, Otto, was the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust. Miep and Bep passed Anne's writing on to him. When he read it - and saw just how much writing meant to her, and how she wanted "to go on living even after [her] death" - he organised her writing into a book and had her diary published. On 25 June 1947, just over 3,000 copies of Het Achterhuis ('The Secret Annex') were printed. It wasn't long before the book was translated into many different languages, turned into a play and a film, and millions of people around the world heard Anne's story. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. How Otto Frank made his daughter Anne's dream come true (Taken from Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding - A Newsround special) Her dream of becoming a writer and publishing a novel about her life in hiding had been made a reality. Getty Images Anne's diary has been read by millions of people all over the world In 1960, the site of the secret annex in Amsterdam became an official museum called the Anne Frank House, where the original diary is kept on display. You can still visit it today. Let us know in the comments below.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46972704
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When does the January transfer window close and what are the rules if clubs want to sign new players?
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Were entering the final stages of the January transfer window as clubs across the country try to add that extra special player that could make or break the second half of the season. Last summer the transfer window was brought forward, meaning most permanent deals had to be wrapped up in the early stages of the new season. Picture: Harry Marshall/Sportimage A new loan window remained open until the end of August, to allow players arriving and departing clubs on a temporary basis to secure their moves once all the permanent business had been wrapped up. For the first time we also saw a high volume of loan to buy deals, which saw players loaned out to their new clubs at the start of the season in deals that would become permanent in January for a transfer fee. The January transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday, January 31 2019. It has been open since midnight on New Years Day. Despite the changes to transfer window rules this season, free agents can still be signed at any time in the season. It definitely could for clubs competing in Europe as UEFA confirmed that players will no longer be cup-tied for their competitions. This means that players can move between teams playing in the Champions League and Europa League and play for their new teams in the same competition, even if they represented their old team in the same tournament earlier in the campaign. Emergency loans are no longer available for outfield players, but clubs are able to bring in goalkeepers on a temporary, emergency basis if all of their professional goalkeepers are either injured or suspended.
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https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/when-does-the-january-transfer-window-close-and-what-are-the-rules-if-clubs-want-to-sign-new-players-1-9556887
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Are Needle Exchange Programs Working in Milwaukee?
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Expand The Sixteenth Street Clinic, which has a location at 2906 S. 20th St., is one of the three operating Syringe Service Programs in the City of Milwaukee today. Six months. Thats the amount of time city and non-profit leaders have to come up with a solution to fix the high number of needles littered across Milwaukees streets. The number of dirty or used needles is rising according to policeespecially on the citys south-side. Alex Ramirez, captain of Milwaukee Police Department District 2, said the issue is only getting worse. Its not every other dayits every other hour, said Ramirez about the number of calls his district gets regarding drug-related issues. This led Alderman Bob Donovan, whose district covers much of the south-side, to seek answers as to how the city can do a better job of dealing with this issue. This is a middle class to lower class working class neighborhood, full of good people, said Ald. Donovan, chairman of the Public Safety and Health Committee. But its been subjected to a lot of drug activity. Im hoping to get to the bottom of some of these things. In 2017, there were 722 new cases of Hepatitis C (HCV) reported in Milwaukee Countythe majority of which occur from injection drug use. Milwaukee County accounted for more than 24% of new HCV infections across the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. There were also 118 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Milwaukee8% of which were attributed to injection drug use. Syringe Service Programs (SSP) are public health programs for people who either inject drugs themselves or know someone who injects drugs. Generally, they offer safe and clean needles to users while offering them ways to dispose of used needles, while offering HIV, STI and HCV testing. United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), the Sixteenth Street Clinic and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) are currently the only SSPs or needle exchange programs in the city. Needle exchange programs also swap out used needles for new ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control, SSPs reduce opioid overdose deaths while reducing needle stick injuries among the public. And according to the ARC, which started the first syringe exchange program in Milwaukee in 1994, syringe exchange programs in Wisconsin helped support a 65% reduction in transmission of HIV attributed to the injection of drug use over a 23-year-period. However, used needles not being properly disposed is still an issue the city is interested in dealing with. In the last two years alone, ARC has distributed 2,860,112 syringes, while collecting 1,713,003 syringes. In August 2018, UMOS began a new needle exchange program. They distributed 2,901 syringes and collected 1,810 syringes. Both the police department and fire department have said they are getting an increased number of calls for discarded syringes on the streets. The MPD said they do not have the resources or time to pick up the syringes. Thats where the non-profit groups and the health department come in. The Public Safety and Health Committee gave these groups six months to tackle this issue during a meeting Thursday. Bill Keeton, the vice president and chief advocacy officer for ARC, said the opioid epidemic is a large issue to tackle. We want to make sure that any solutions that we come up with are things that are going to make it easier for people to discard needles, and in this case its not just people who are using illicit drugs, said Keeton. One idea that was mentioned was re-purposing mailboxes across the city to drop syringes intoan idea that has worked well for the city of La Crosse, Wis. The group will meet together to discuss this idea, and others, soon. They also plan to work in close coordination with the Health Department, Department of Neighborhood Services and MPD. Its not just syringes that are indicative of the scope of the problem, Keeton said of the opioid epidemic in the area. Until we figure out a way to deal with the bigger issue of addiction, were going to continue to struggle with issues like inappropriately discarded syringes.
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https://shepherdexpress.com/news/daily-dose/are-needle-exchange-programs-working-in-milwaukee/
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Can Iran Survive US Sanctions on Trade?
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Trading for Iran has been unsettled recently due to the alterations in the deals made with the US, which in turn has meant that commodity trading for Iran, including their top export crude oil, has suffered. In fact, just recently the country has struggled to find any buyers for their oil in their attempt to sell to private companies. Iran began to sell to these private buyers in order to work around US sanctions, but with threats from the US that any country trading with Iran would be unable to trade with the US, this isnt working out as planned. The US sanctions have most definitely taken a toll on the country; beforehand, they were selling 700,000 barrels of oil from the National Iranian Oil Company at $64 apiece. However, since November 2018 when Iran was shut out of the financial system as the US sanctions were reimposed, and sanctions on Irans crude oil exports we re-introduced by Washington, Irans president is still saying they can find buyers, even though this isnt currently happening. The US pulled out of a multilateral agreement with Iran that was made in 2015, as Donald Trump described the deal as terrible. This deal included strict controls in regards to Irans nuclear programme, in return for a lift of sanctions. Agreed between the US, UK, France, Russia, Germany and China, it was created due to Irans alleged efforts in developing a nuclear weapon. The outcome of the agreement left Iran agreeing to limit its allegedly sensitive nuclear activities, as long as their economic sanctions were lifted. However, as the US pulled out of the agreement, the sanctions that were lifted by the country back in 2016 are now being re-imposed once more. Fortunately for the survival of Iran, other countries in the European Union that were included in the agreement dont appear to be leaving the deal, with strong beliefs that Iran is sticking to their part of the deal. As the US is such a superior country, however, many companies have followed suitby pulling out of investments with Iran, which has resulted in the fall for its crude oil exports. Any business with Iran comes at too high stakes for most countries and even though Irans economy isnt completely reliant on the US financial system, many of the countrys trading partners are taking a step back and affecting the overall process. This year for Iran should witness some big changes, including celebrations for the 40th anniversary of its revolution. In addition, they wait to hear decisions made by the EU (European Union) regarding the options of continued trading with the country, regardless of the US sanctions. As of recent, the EU has been working on options, so the country will need to wait to hear the decisions that have been made. As Iran wait to hear the outcome, they will continue to try to sell their crude oil to private buyers. Whether this is successful is another question, but only time will tell.
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https://ifpnews.com/coverage/can-iran-survive-us-sanctions-on-trade/
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Is Luton and Dunstable University Hospital coping with winter pressures?
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NHS England publishes weekly reports which reveal whether hospital trusts are struggling to manage during the colder months, based on key indicators. This is how Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Trust coped from January 14 to 20. Bed Occupancy: General and acute wards at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital were 94.2% full on average, well above the safe limit of 85% recommended by health experts. The occupancy rate has remained mostly unchanged since the previous week. British Medical Association guidelines state "to ensure safe patient care, occupancy should ideally not exceed 85%". According to NHS Improvement, occupancy rates of 92% and above lead to significantly worse A&E performance. The BMA also raised concerns about the number of available beds needed to cope with winter demands. On average, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital had 648 available beds each day, of which 611 were in use. Of those, 11 were escalation beds - temporary beds set up in periods of intense pressure, often in corridors or day care centres. According to NHS Improvement, a higher proportion of long-stay patients can impact the ability of hospitals to accommodate urgent admissions and manage bed capacity. At Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, 278 patients had been in hospital for a week or more , taking up more than 40% of the occupied beds. Of these, 91 patients had been in hospital for at least three weeks, making up 15% of all occupied beds. Ambulances: A total of 645 patients were taken by ambulance to A&E during the week. That's a drop in emergency arrivals compared to the previous week, when 664 patients were brought by ambulance. Delays left 66 patients waiting 30 minutes or more before they could be transferred - 10% of all ambulance arrivals. Of those, six unlucky individuals waited longer than an hour. NHS Improvement guidance states that ambulance crews should hand patients over to A&E staff within 15 minutes of arrival. Any delay in transferring patients leaves ambulances unable to respond to other emergencies, as well as risking their patients' safety. The previous week, 64 patients waited more than 30 minutes to be transferred. Norovirus: Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious. Outbreaks spread rapidly through hospitals, causing staff to close beds to prevent infection spreading. This week, hospital staff at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Trust were forced to close 25 beds when the norovirus problem was at its most severe. The previous week, no beds were closed due to outbreaks of the virus.
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https://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/health/is-luton-and-dunstable-university-hospital-coping-with-winter-pressures-1-8782746
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When Should I Take an Antibiotic?
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A. With the caveat that medical expertise is required to differentiate bacterial illnesses from viral ones, many common infections have features that can help you decide when an antibiotic might be appropriate. In patients with bronchitis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that an antibiotic could be needed in patients who have a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute or a fever greater than 100.4 degrees, or who are breathing more rapidly than 24 times per minute. In patients with sinusitis, the American College of Physicians states that an antibiotic might be indicated when symptoms persist for more than 10 days; are severe; or are associated with three days of fever greater than 102.2 degrees, colored nasal discharge and facial pain. Antibiotics may also be needed in cases of double sickening, that is, worsening after several days of initial improvement. In patients with sore throat, the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends that antibiotics be used only in patients who have a positive strep test. Symptoms that suggest a viral sore throat and hence do not require an antibiotic include cough, runny nose and hoarse voice.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/well/live/when-should-i-take-an-antibiotic.html
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How Long Is a Day on Saturn?
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Earth pirouettes around its axis once every 24 hours or so, while Jupiter spins comparatively briskly, once in roughly 9.8 Earth-hours. And then there is Venus, a perplexingly sluggish spinner that takes 243 Earth-days to complete a full rotation. With Saturn, it turns out the answer rippled in plain view, in the planets lustrous rings. After reading small, spiraling waves in those bands, sculpted by oscillations from Saturns gravity, scientists reported this month in the Astrophysical Journal that one Saturnian day is a mere 10 hours, 33 minutes and 38 seconds long, measured in Earth time. The rings are not only beautiful, theyre very diagnostic of whats going on inside the planet, said Linda Spilker, project scientist for NASAs Cassini mission, which studied Saturn for more than a decade. [Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.] Saturn has been stubbornly secretive about its days. Its buttery c louds dont bear helpful markings that scientists might use to track the planets rotation, and they can't easily use its nearly vertical magnetic axis as they have for Jupiter's more off-kilter alignment to gather clues about the planet's interior.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/science/saturn-day-length.html
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What Is a Book Critics Responsibility When a Work Is Rediscovered?
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Rainer Maria Rilke has a good line about fame being the sum of misunderstandings that gather around a name. This wave of books and reconsiderations feels so vital because it chases away so many misconceptions. Take Plath: In the popular imagination, she has long been the victim, the wronged wife, the suicide. But her newly published works, which include her massive collected letters, allow us to see her again, at full sail, her ruthlessness and hunger for experience. She has been unseated as a symbol or cause and restored to us as a writer. As a critic, these revivals invariably spark much gratitude, some healthy anxiety (what geniuses am I overlooking?) and a few knotty questions. Its tempting, and dangerous, to believe that the cream rises to the top that great writing will eventually find readers. If anything, these rediscoveries argue the opposite point: Without champions and concerted support, even the most breathtakingly original writer will sail into oblivion, her legacy erased or distorted. Its not enough to give thanks that these writers have been restored to us; we need to ask why they vanished in the first place. The work often contains clues, which is why Im especially thankful that this era of rediscoveries includes so many journals and letters, from Berlin, Collins, Jackson, Susan Sontag and even Flannery OConnor, in whose spellbinding Prayer Journal we see the 20-year-old writer trying to square her spiritual life with her artistic ambitions. We see their struggles and rivalries, the sexism and racism they face, the child care arrangements that fall through, the jobs that dont pan out, the husband who goes missing, the alcoholism. But we see their triumphs, too.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/reader-center/sylvia-plath-story-discovered.html
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Do we need a sermon with our shave?
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Theres something intrinsically masculine about shaving. I used to stand in the bathroom and watch my father shave back when I was, as the ancients used to say, a beardless boy. Arabic custom expects facial hair and extremists are convinced God requires it - uncut and bountiful. Ancient Hebrews thought so, too. So maybe shaving is ungodly. After men die, our beards will continue to grow just long enough that our last shaves will be administered by our undertakers. Such is vanity. According to polls, contemporary American women think the five-day stubble is sexy. Bearded faces are next; clean-shaven is last. My beard and mustache stick out like Einsteins did, so the women in my life laid down the law pretty early. Shave or be gone. I buy the cheap plastic razors you get in a pack: Gillette. I havent needed anyone to convince me to shave with Gillette, but obviously the company thinks some of us do, so they ran an ad on TV. Funny thing. They must have decided their customers needed more than a good razor to be good men so they decided to talk to us about toxic masculinity, something Ive sometimes referred to as testosterone poisoning. We get a series of images flashing across our screens depicting men behaving badly - bullying, cat-calling women passing by, patronizing, pummeling a kid on the ground. But then, were enjoined to raise our standards. Were offered another set of rapid-fire scenarios where men stand up, step in, respond to the better angels of their natures - model their best potential. The earliest responses were positive, but soon the ad became another Rorschach test for political alignment. Piers Morgan tweeted, this absurd virtue-signalling PC guff may drive me away to a company less eager to fuel the current pathetic global assault on masculinity. Let boys be damn boys. Let men be damn men. FOX TV worried that the ad was shaving away mens masculinity. Soon the big numbers were rolling in: hundreds of thousands of men denouncing Gillettes ad twice as many as were for it. This gets tricky. On average, nearly 18 women per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 9 million incidents of abuse. One in five women in the United States has been raped. One in seven women and one in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner. Somebody is doing these things. A lot of men get up every morning a lot earlier than theyd like and go to work day after day, year after year to support their families. Maybe they had had dreams of adventure when they were young. Now they get two weeks off a year. Theyve never raped a woman, never hit one and never will. It ticks them off when they hear about toxic masculinity as if all men were either potential abusers or real ones. They love their families and for that love, they can expect to work until they drop. Theyre still waiting for Democrats and media elites to notice. We should never let politics interfere with our humanity. We know some victims of sexual assault are men and it wounds them too. But it has been the overwhelming experience of women through the ages to be the last commodity impoverished families had to sell to be silenced, abused, forced and humiliated with impunity. Legal rights and protections for women have been shamefully late in coming. Too many men still see dignity and civil rights as a zero-sum game, as if rights newly extended to others are being taken from their account. And for some, the unspoken promise has always been that whatever humiliations life has to offer, they can at least be masters in their own house. I'm not naive enough to think that the simple act of setting down ringing language in a razor ad will address all this. I'm just pointing out that violence against women and their degradation introduces a mean-spiritedness at the heart of family life from which it has radiated continually into our societies at large. All peace, including world peace, is simply the collected gentleness of people. Any public reminder to be our best selves is a step in the right direction. Lawrence Brown of Centerville teaches humanities and is a columnist for the Cape Cod Times. Email him at [email protected].
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https://www.capecodtimes.com/opinion/20190125/do-we-need-sermon-with-our-shave
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Can Romeo and Juliet save their frog species?
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For 10 years, the world's last known Sehuencas water frog, named Romeo, lived alone in captivity in a Bolivian museum. Repeated expeditions by biologists into the nation's cloud forests, the only place the amphibians exist, had turned up no new specimens. The once-plentiful frogs had been all but wiped out by a killer fungus, widespread habitat loss and an invasive trout that dines on frog eggs. Even Romeo seemed to have given up on ever finding a Juliet. Researchers last heard the frog perform his mating call at the end of 2017. But this month, scientists with the Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny and Global Wildlife Conservation announced a discovery that seemed to end this Shakespearean ecological tragedy. Five Sehuencas water frogs three males and two females were found at the foot of a small waterfall, offering the possibility that Romeo and his new crew would breed in captivity, and that one day Sehuencas water frogs might be released back into the wild. And so the species has been saved, for now. In some ways, this story played out recently with a Hawaiian tree snail species called Achatinella apexfulva. The snails have not been seen in the wild in decades, and on Jan. 2, the last one living in captivity slimed its way across the Rainbow Bridge. His name was George, in honor of the last known Pinta Island tortoise, "Lonesome George," who died in 2012. But George's death does not necessarily mean the snails are extinct, said David Sischo, a wildlife biologist and coordinator of Hawaii's Snail Extinction Prevention Program. Scientists have been looking for them for more than 30 years and are still actively searching, he said. The snails can live only about 20 years, however. "Most known populations of closely related tree snails on the island are rapidly disappearing," Sischo said. "So if there happen to be some out there somewhere hiding, we suspect they will also be gone very soon before anyone is able to find them." Even so, when it comes to something as small as a snail, Sischo said, it's nearly impossible to declare it gone for good. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world authority on species at the brink, an animal can be described as extinct only when "there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died." What's more, exhaustive surveys must have been carried out everywhere the species was known to exist, as well as places where it historically existed and might have survived unnoticed until the present day. Official extinction happens with some regularity. Scientists declared a bat known as the Christmas Island pipistrelle extinct in 2017. In 2013, it was the Formosan clouded leopard. The Japanese river otter, the western black rhino and a bird called an Alaotra grebe have also been crossed off the list of the living over the last two decades. But meeting the standard is a tall order and one that is not physically or fiscally possible for every species suspected of being extinct. That is why the IUCN tweaked its categorizations in 2008 to include a "critically endangered (possibly extinct)" designation. A species is given this label when "there is a small chance that they may be [still living] and thus should not be listed as Extinct until adequate surveys have failed to find the species and local or unconfirmed reports have been discounted." Such classifications may seem like semantics, but they have real-world consequences. Not listing a species as extinct could mean wasting resources on a lost cause resources that could be used to save something else. Likewise, listing a species as extinct before it truly is could discourage last-ditch attempts that might pull it back from the edge. Scientists call this the Romeo Error (a reference to Shakespeare's young lovers and their avoidable demises, not the Bolivian frog). Some conservationists argue that politics are also at play. When organizations present evidence to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that a species is possibly extinct, "it should be like a five-alarm fire," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). "Their job is to prevent extinction, and they should go out and survey for it, and protect it, and figure out if it's there and what it needs." Instead, Curry said, the agency sometimes uses evidence of extinction as "an excuse to delay even looking" for certain species. Take the Florida fairy shrimp. The small crustacean was discovered in a single pond south of Gainesville in 1939 - a pond that has since been obliterated by development. Other nearby bodies of water might serve as habitat for the species, but no one has seen a Florida fairy shrimp in a very long time. In 2010, the CBD and other groups submitted a petition to Fish and Wildlife arguing that the shrimp was very close to extinction, if not already extinct, and deserving of protections under the Endangered Species Act. When the government denied the petition in 2011, it cited the fact that the species might already be gone. "Because the information presented by petitioners and in our files suggests the species is already extinct, it does not meet the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species under the Act," the denial read. A Fish and Wildlife spokesman did not respond to a request for comment, citing the partial government shutdown. However, it's worth noting that the agency has also drawn scrutiny in the past for doing the opposite investing resources in a species without enough evidence it still exists. In 2005, video emerged purporting to show an ivory-billed woodpecker, a species last seen in 1944, in Arkansas. This was not the first reported sighting, but it was convincing enough to spur Fish and Wildlife to create a recovery plan for the species. In the end, $14 million went into habitat preservation and searches, but no conclusive sign of the bird materialized. H. Resit Akakaya, chairman of the Red List Standards and Petitions Committee for the IUCN, and his colleagues have been studying the question of when to use the word "extinct" for more than a decade. Recently, they published three studies, called the Extinction Trilogy, in an attempt to standardize how such decisions are made. By assigning scores to certain factors, such as how easy an animal is to observe and identify, how long it's been since it was last seen, threats it faces, and how intensively it has been sought, Akakaya said he can "calculate the probability that the species is already extinct." The method is still being tested, he said. Even after many fruitless searches, the scientists looking for Sehuencas water frogs were not ready to give up on the species. But in this animal's case, it took a tragicomic stunt to prove they were right to persist. Last Valentine's Day, they created a Match.com dating profile for Romeo. It helped generate $25,000 in donations - money that was used to fund more expeditions to find the elusive critters. "We actually have to get into the water in these streams in the cloud forest and feel around the riverbed, lifting up rocks and looking beneath," said Teresa Camacho Badani, chief of herpetology at the museum and one of the scientists who found the new stash of amphibians. "It's actually sometimes more difficult to see them than it is to feel them with your hands." Now some of the focus will shift toward making baby frogs. "The first option is to test love-at-first-sight," said Camacho Badani. If that doesn't work, she said, the team is prepared to step in with various assisted reproductive technologies. "It's an incredible feeling to know that Romeo has been in our care for over 10 years," says Camacho Badani. "And now he very much has a future, as a species."
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https://www.capecodtimes.com/entertainmentlife/20190125/can-romeo-and-juliet-save-their-frog-species
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Will 85C Bakery Caf destroy ID bakeries?
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By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Seattles International District (ID) has long been known as a haven for Asian snacks, desserts, and drinks. But for old-school eateries that have been in the neighborhood for a long time, the presence of the new 85C Bakery Caf could be detrimental to their livelihood. 85C Bakery Caf is a popular Taiwanese bakery franchise with more than 1,000 retail shops internationally. Named after the belief that 85 degrees Celsius (185F) is the optimal temperature to brew espresso coffee, the company has three local locations in Tukwila, Lynnwood, and Federal Way. Its fourth location in the greater Seattle area, situated on 5th and Jackson in the ID, is the companys first store in Seattle. The store held its grand opening on Jan. 18. 85C describes itself as a one-stop shop for coffee, tea, and bread, made from top quality ingredients with drinks made-to-order. Trendy baked goods and drinks, such as the brioche, cheese dog, and iced sea salt coffee, make it a popular go-to spot, especially for the younger crowd. Christopher Jocson, marketing and public relations senior specialist for 85C Bakery Caf, sees potential in the ID location. We foresee an opportunity to grow within the community not only by offering our products, but also job opportunities for locals. When asked about why 85C wanted to open a location in Seattle, Jocson noted the citys reputation as a coffee capital, which presented an opportunity to offer premium yet affordable espresso drinks to the community. The stores general manager, Michael Daniels, also sees an advantage with the location in the ID. Were right next to all the major transit hubs, so people will be passing by quite a bit, he said. Looking back at the neighborhoods roots With the Chinatown-International District Light Rail Station across the street, and the historic Union Station nearby, the intersection of 5th and Jackson is a well-traveled area. The southeast corner was once especially notorious for panhandlers, alcoholics, drug addicts, and dealers. The Union Station Market, a mom-and-pop convenience store that used to occupy the current 85C location, was a known hotbed that drew transients in the area. A case study conducted by the Seattle Police Department in 1999 described the situation around 5th and Jackson as an atmosphere of crime and disorder. However, since the mid 1990s, the ID has undergone a huge transformation, with the last few years ushering in gentrification. New restaurants, retail shops, and cafs have dramatically changed the neighborhood at the expense of older businesses that have been around for decades. Yummy House Bakery is one such business. Kavin Poon is the son of the owners. He bakes and manages production in the kitchen, as well as helping customers up front. Specializing in Hong Kong-style sweets, including sponge cake, mixed fruit cakes, coconut buns, and BBQ pork buns, Yummy House has been open since 1998 and credits itself as being one of the first bakeries in the ID. 85Cs opening presents new obstacles for smaller bakeries like it. For most of us in Chinatown, this is a challenge. Were a family-owned business, so theyre huge compared to us. They have new pastries in all the time, more advertising, more opportunities in general. But for us, its all local we just have this one shop here. While 85C offers food and drink options that change often, Poon says Yummy Houses strength comes from producing old-fashioned, traditional pastries and offering them at lower prices. The key, Poon said, was focusing on the classic flavors and ingredients used in their preparation compared to the modern approach and presentation of companies like 85C. Lam Tai Cheung, 70, owner of Cake House, said, It doesnt have any impact on my business. 85C is more expensive. My customers are all my old customers. We have different clientele and different styles of pastries. I should have retired a long time ago since all my kids are grown. But I enjoy working so I can talk to people. Just earning money to pay rent and a cup of coffee is good enough for me. A rippling effect Despite being open for a couple weeks, the IDs 85C has been swamped with long lines. Daniels is originally from California, where he managed other 85C stores. He said that the volume of customers in this new store has been overwhelming. Ive noticed that this location is much busier [than California stores]. Theres a higher demand here, and it seems to be a continuing trend among our stores in Washington, said Daniels. Reception to the stores opening has been so high that the team has had to limit the number of guests entering the shop at any given time. Daniels attributed this high demand to the brand being less established in the region, compared to its presence in California. Meanwhile, Poon has already noticed a decline in business from the short time that 85C has been open. Whether its a big or small business, an opening or closure in the ID can have a rippling effect on the neighborhood. When another local bakery, A Piece of Cake, closed last year, Poon noticed an uptick in guests coming to Yummy House shortly after. The competition remains fierce among local bakeries even without 85C. But Poon has faith in Yummy Houses loyal clientele past customers, repeat customers, and those who buy cakes from them regularly to help keep the small business afloat. Still, he recognizes that itd be difficult to compete with a global franchise like 85C. We came here first to serve the district and the people, and weve been here long enough to survive all the changes, said Poon. But one day, if we cant survive, well sell the business, too. This [85C store] affects all of us bakeries, drink shops, dim sum restaurants. 85C is eating us alive. But were the ones who created this neighborhood. They need to do something to protect us. Its not a healthy business practice. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at [email protected].
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http://nwasianweekly.com/2019/01/will-85c-bakery-cafe-destroy-id-bakeries/
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Who is whistleblower Arvind Gupta? How did he chase down Chanda Kochhar?
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Whistleblower Arvind Gupta, who exposed ICICI Bank's dirty loan to Videocon, is a triumphant man today as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochchar. Calling the whole saga a "deep-rooted malaise" Gupta has said he hoped the case would now have the logical conclusion. Two big names have already emerged and it is clear that she alone could not have executed such a big thing. There are several people involved and it is a deep-rooted malaise "I am happy that there is action and also optimistic that there is action and also optimistic that this will reach its logical conclusion. Two big names have already emerged and it is clear that she alone could not have executed such a big thing. There are several people involved and it is a deep-rooted malaise," he told the Mirror. Apart from the Kochhars, the CBI has also framed charges against Videocon Group head Venugopal Dhoot for criminal conspiracy and fraud. Gupta calls himself a 'stakeholder-activist. He unearthed the multi-crore scam at ICICI Bank by carefully analysing publicly available records over the years. He started following the transactions at NuPower Renewables in 2010. Gupta calls himself a 'stakeholder-activist'. He believes that if the guilty are punished in the ICICI loan fraud, that will go a long way in cleaning up the dirty corporate stables in India. Gupta has said he diligently peruses financial documents corporate submit to regulatory bodies for whiffs of fraudulent activities. The alleged loan fraud at ICICI Bank tumbled in the open after Gupta revealed in 2016 that the Rs 3,250 crore loan to Videocon was a clear case of conflict of interest. He had said that the funding of a company called NuPower jointly by Dhoot and Deepak Kochhar pointed to the possibility of there being a quid pro quo behind the sanction of loans. Tip of the iceberg The CBI, which launched an investigation into the complaint in March last year, has found that the firm controlled by Kchchar's husband was paid Rs 64 crore by Videocon's Dhoot. Kochchar had fought tooth and nail against the allegations but her efforts to shrug off the taint and stay at the helm of India's largest private sector lender failed last year. She resigned as CEO and MD eventually in October. Gupta now says that the Chanda Kochhar expose is only a tip of the iceberg. "The situation is the same in all the banks. I feel all the corrupt bankers will now think 10 times before doing something wrong," he said, according to the Hindustan Times. The 56-year-old former CEO now stands accused of criminal conspiracy, cheating and abuse of official position for dishonestly sanctioning loans to the Videocon Group. A clutch of other current and former senior executives of ICICI bank including MD Sandeep Bakhshi and high profile former chairman KV Kamath are being probed by CBI. "The bad condition of banking today is because of favouritism and corruption. Not only Chanda Kochhar, but there are also many people in the organisation who should be looked into. I cannot give a clean chit to independent directors, the board of director and even the chairman. The entire ICICI team from top to bottom needs to be investigated," Gupta told HT. Suspicions harden Gupta has said he had made a habit of keenly studying documents submitted by financial companies to the Registrar of Companies. He unearthed the multi-crore scam at ICICI Bank by carefully analysing publicly available records over the years,. He says he did this in his capacity as a shareholder and stakeholder. Gupta blew the whistle on the Videocon dirty loan in 2016 but his examinations went back to 2010 when he started following the transactions at NuPower Renewables, the company promoted by Deepak Kochhar. Since he was also an investor in Videocon, he couldn't but notice a series of transactions that raised suspicion, he told BloombergQuint. His suspicions hardened when he noticed a Rs 64 crore unsecured loan that NuPower Renewables got from an entity related to Dhoot in 2009-10.
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https://www.ibtimes.co.in/who-whistleblower-arvind-gupta-how-did-he-chase-down-chanda-kochhar-790722
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Was Jayalalithaa's house in Chennai under Income Tax attachment since 2007?
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Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's house in Chennai was attached by the Income Tax (IT) department for nearly ten years. The IT department had attached the property due to the late CMs tax dues amounting to Rs 16.74 crore. It was revealed to the Madras High court by P Srinivas, a counsel for the IT department, during the hearing on a petition filed to stop the conversion of Jayalalithaa's residence into a memorial. Jayalalithaa's house 'Veda Nilayam' in Poes Garden, a posh housing colony in Chennai, was under attachment by the department since 2007, along with two other properties in Chennai and one in Hyderabad. The details were issued after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by an activist, KR Ramaswamy, and another individual before the division bench of justices Vineet Kothari and Anita Sumanth over acquiring the residence and converting it into a memorial using the taxpayer's money. On January 3, the HC had directed the IT department to give its response as to whether it had any objection towards the acquisition of the property by the state government. On this, the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, G Shoba, filed the counter-affidavit which contained information about the demands raised under the Income Tax Act against the former CM and a list of four immovable properties under attachment, including her house. According to the counter-affidavit, Jayalaithaa's wealth tax dues as on December 2018, including interest for the assessment years 1990-91 to 2011-12, was around Rs 10.12 crore. She also had an income tax due of Rs 6.62 crore for the assessment years 2005-06 and 2011-12. Advocate General Vijay Narayan, who appeared for the state government, said that he would find out if the attached property can be acquired by the government legally. And if the law permits such an acquisition then the government can deposit the compensation amount to the IT department and proceed with the memorial plans. Based on the demands of the IT department indicated in the affidavit, Narayan said that the state might be permitted to file a memo to place on record as to who should be prosecuted on behalf of Jayalalithaa's residence. The HC bench has postponed the matter for further hearing to February 7 for the IT department to give a clear stand over the issue.
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https://www.ibtimes.co.in/was-jayalalithaas-house-chennai-under-income-tax-attachment-since-2007-790726
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What's next for Green Mountain College students?
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Students at Green Mountain College are still in disbelief after learning their school is closing at the end of the semester. Green Mountain College was founded in 1834. It focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Enrollment declined steadily in recent years, dropping from 775 students to about 430. On Wednesday, Castleton University announced it is honoring their neighbor by matching tuition and waiving application fees to allow Green Mountain students to finish their degrees. Castleton is a 15-minute drive from Green Mountain College. "We are trying to be a hand up for those students and give them a measure of hope and show them a pathway to earn their degree," said Jeff Weld, Dean of Advancement at Castleton. "In Rutland County, staying in Vermont keeping them in a place where they choose to be." Weld says small private schools like GMC that don't have a large endowment are struggling with the changing demographics. "It's a disruption of the higher education industry and it's something that we need to be nimble with and prepared to deal with," Weld said. Castleton isn't the only local school showing flexibility. Sterling College in Craftsbury and Marlboro College in Marlboro will also participate in teach-out arrangements for students at GMC. With programs that match up to GMC's curriculum, students left without a school in May can find a new home, without that far to go.
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https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Whats-next-for-Green-Mountain-College-students-504822951.html?ref=951
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Should Vermont beef up its fair and impartial policing policy?
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There's a war of words brewing between Vermont's Attorney General and advocates for farmworkers in Vermont, who say there hasn't been meaningful action yet to protect migrant communities. Member from the group Migrant Justice and the ACLU of Vermont testified before Vermont lawmakers Thursday morning. "We want to be able to leave this fear behind, so we can truly become part of the state and community of Vermont, and live here without fear," said Jose Ignacio through a translator. The dairy worker is among those calling for stronger protections for migrant farmworker communities, saying the state's fair and impartial policing policy is falling short. They claim police in Vermont are still providing information to federal immigration authorities and supporters say Vermont's Attorney General -- could do more. "I think it's important to stand up and say that lip service is not enough. Symbolic resistance is not enough. We have real work to do here," said Rep. Selene Colburn, P-Burlington. "They raise very valid points, and at the end of the day we all want the same thing," Donovan said. He maintains his office is working to protect immigrant communities. In a statement Thursday morning he listed the lawsuits and amicus briefs the state joined that pushed back against federal immigration practices, and he pointed to the immigration task force his office convened to advise towns on federal immigration law. At a Wednesday night forum on race in Rutland, Donovan told concerned citizens they are working on protections. He said local law enforcement should be doing community policing, not working for ICE. "We have to do more to protect the immigrant community in this state and we have to be unequivocal that local law enforcement is local," he said. "We don't need to ask what people's status is." Donovan says the fair and impartial policing challenge from the federal government is still under negotiations And that his office is recommending legislation and designing trainings for police to support Vermont's immigrant communities.
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https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Should-Vermont-beef-up-its-fair-and-impartial-policing-policy-504823612.html?ref=612
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What do folk in Kirkcudbright class as their favourite pie?
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Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email You probably werent aware of it, but Wednesday was National Pie Day. Admittedly, its more of an American thing, being held to celebrate and promote all that is great about pies. But with so many fantastic bakers and butchers in the Stewartry, it would be a shame if we didnt mark the milestone in some way. So we headed out to find out what peoples favourite pies are. (Image: Jim McEwan) The shops Val Nichol said: The Scotch pies since we got the award have been flying out the door but the steak pies are absolutely delicious and its my favourite, definitely. Scotch pies are lovely too, you cant beat one with chips and beans. (Image: Jim McEwan) Kirkcudbrights Shirley Robertson had popped into the shop see if the pies were worthy of their status as best in the world. She said: I saw on the television that they had won the award. I thought I would just pop in and see if they are as good. Ive never tried them before. If theyre good Ill be back. In the interests of editorial balance, it should be stressed that other pies are available. (Image: Jim McEwan) Grierson Bros butchers in Castle Douglas offers a roast dinner pie and Kirkcudbrights Greg McLaughlin hailed the delights of an equally intriguing creation. He said: My favourite is an all day breakfast pie from the Paul Jones Bakery. It has fried egg, sausages and some beans, its great. (Image: Jim McEwan) Stewartry Rugby Club stalwart John Low, who lives in Springholm, said: A good Scotch pie cant be beat. A few places do a haggis pie and things like that but they can be a bit hit or miss. The Scotch pies in Castle Douglas are very good. For the rugby club we get them turn about from Griersons, Ballards and Hendersons as its important the club is involved in the local community.
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https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/what-folk-kirkcudbright-class-favourite-13897275
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Will the United States Push Colombia to War With Venezuela?
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On this episode of "By Any Means Necessary" host Eugene Puryear and Sean Blackmon are joined by journalist Antony Lowenstein to talk about Israel's vast surveillance technology used to maintain their occupation of the Palestinian people, the exportation of those surveillance tools to curry favour with nations around the world, and the nefarious ways individuals such as Harvey Weinstein have used the Israeli spy technology. In the second segment of "By Any Means Necessary" is joined by Lucas Koerner, writer at Venezulanalysis.com to talk about the ongoing attempts at a US-backed coup in Venezuela, the illegitimacy of Juan Guaid's claim to the presidency and the role of right-wing Latin American governments supporting the efforts to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. In a special third segment "By Any Means Necessary" is joined by Zach Weinstein, DC Organizer with Jews United for Justice, to talk about Washington D.C.'s new public financing model for campaigns, how the bill will curb pay-to-play politics and give everyday citizens more voice in electoral politics, and why someone Democrats are not on board with the new contribution rules. Later in the show, Eugene Puryear and Sean Blackmon are joined by Sputnik News Analyst Bob Schlehuber to talk about the ongoing coup attempts in Venezuela, the ongoing government shutdown, the role US imperialism has played in driving global migration, Airbnb's slick new PR campaign, and Mike Ertel resignation as Florida secretary of state after blackface photos surface. We'd love to get your feedback at [email protected]
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https://sputniknews.com/radio_by_any_means/201901251071797078-will-us-push-colombia-to-war-with-venezuela/
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Did Robbie Williams encourage young fans to take cocaine?
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has been filmed encouraging fans to take and telling them how to mix alcohol with ecstasy. The hosted a brief live session on Wednesday night where he could be seen chatting with two boys from Speaking from the passenger seat of a moving car, Williams probed the two fans about their drug of choice, before making the suggestions, reports dailystar.co.uk. I know it is a gag, but are you talking like steroids, or speed or weed?" Laughing, the boys replied: "No it was .. that is what we call it." Stroking his nose, the continued: "Oh I see... not for a long, long time. It has been a... look, I am 44 and when you get to 44, the heart can't keep up with that s***. I have got kids." Smiling, he asked the boys their age. After they explained they were 20, the "Rock DJ" hitmaker went on to encourage them to continue taking the illegal substance. Well you're good. Carry on. "Carry on, have a great time and write it all down so you can have it in your memoirs." His drink and drug revelations didn't end there either. He then went on to tell the boys the best way to take party drug ecstasy. The controversial singer, who has previously spoken openly about his wild ways in the 90s, laughed: "Rum is great. Whisky is just f***ing weird. Rum is a lot of fun. "I mean not that you would ever take ecstasy, but it goes very well with ecstasy... not that you ever would." --IANS nn/nv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/did-robbie-williams-encourage-young-fans-to-take-cocaine-119012500701_1.html
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Why is there no EastEnders on tonight?
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EastEnders will not be showing an episode on Friday 25 January due to live coverage of Arsenals match against Manchester United at Londons Emirates Stadium. FA Cup Match of the Day Live starts at 7.30pm on BBC1, but soaps fans need not despair as there was a double helping of Walford drama on Thursday 24 January at 7.30pm and 8.30pm to make up for Fridays change in the schedule. Advertisement Thursdays dramatic double bill confirmed the fate of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) who has gone on the run and faked his death, leaving wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) a secret stash of cash he borrowed from Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) so as to provide for his family in his absence. Fans will now have to wait to see if Kat reveals the truth of her debt-ridden husbands whereabouts or keep quiet and pocket Phils cash. Were back to the normal transmission pattern on Monday 28 January at 8pm on BBC1, when some familiar faces return to Albert Square. Mel Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite) and son Hunter (Charlie Winter) are back to cover their tracks following Hunters brutal murder of sinister stepdad Ray Kelly, and Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) gets home from visiting BFF Michelle Fowler in Australia to find toy boy Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) locking lips with her stepdaughter Louise (Tilly Keeper). Also on Monday, Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) encourages Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) to ask Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) out on a date, while Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) is looking forward to some alone time with wife Linda (Kellie Bright), only for a broken beer pump and some ill-timed back pain to ruin the moment Advertisement Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.
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https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-25/why-is-there-no-eastenders-on-tonight-2/
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Could a two-per-cent sales tax solve Torontos budget woes?
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Torontos shrunken city council faces ballooning financial headaches Monday when deliberations start on 2019 spending plans totalling almost $40 billion. Residents demands on homeless shelters, the overtaxed and malfunctioning TTC services, anti-violence youth programs, policing, affordable housing and more are surging in a city that is booming for some and getting more difficult and expensive for others. City manager Chris Murrays expected answer to Torontos budget woes is to shift next years expected revenue shortfall from the citys operating budget, which funds current services and operations, to its capital budget. ( Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo ) Meanwhile, the annual gush of land transfer tax revenues that has, in recent years, kept the budget afloat, as Mayor John Tory expanded some services, while keeping a tight lid on property taxes, is slowing along with Torontos real estate market. City manager Chris Murrays expected answer to surging demand and shrinking resources is essentially accounting shifting over time the shortfall in expected revenues from the $11-billion-plus operating budget, which funds immediate, continuing services and operations, to the $26-billion-plus capital budget for roads, equipment and projects that are more easily delayed. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a left-leaning think tank, will release a report Friday that suggests another solution, lucrative, long-term, politically risky and unlikely to find support from the right-leaning Tory. Article Continued Below The best answer, say the economists who wrote the report, is a new sales tax, either just in Toronto or across the Toronto-Hamilton area, piggybacking one or two percentage points on top of the 13-per-cent harmonized sales tax, with revenues flowing directly into the coffers of cash-starved cities. A two-per-cent sales tax in the city of Toronto would raise a billion dollars (a year) and a one-per-cent sales tax would raise half a billion dollars, said study co-author Sheila Block. A two-per-cent sales tax in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area would raise $2.5 billion (shared by municipalities annually) and a one-per-cent sales tax across the GTHA would raise more than $1.3 billon. Sales tax revenues increase with economic activity and population growth, Block added, while the impact on low-income earners pocketbooks could be offset through the existing Ontario sales tax credit. The city of Toronto is reaching a breaking point in terms of a low-tax strategy, Block said. If Mayor Tory has dug in so deep in his position on property taxes, maybe another approach will see a political opening. Ontario municipalities around Toronto, including Mississauga, have lobbied the province for the right to impose a sales tax. When Councillor Josh Matlow suggested Toronto follow suit during 2018 budget deliberations, Tory supported the idea of asking senior governments for a slice of the existing HST, but voted against asking the province for new sales tax powers specifically to fund transit and housing. Article Continued Below Asked Thursday about the idea of Toronto imposing a sales tax, Torys budget chief, Councillor Gary Crawford, said, I try to keep any tax increases that impact residents to a minimum. Im generally not in favour of those overall tax increases. Crawford described 2019 as a tough budget year thanks to land transfer revenues, and said the administrations focus will be protecting past investments in anti-poverty initiatives, TTC improvements such as the two-hour transfer, and more, without big new spending plans. The budget chief said the expected shortfall in revenue from the municipal land transfer tax, which, in previous years, has been a significant help in balancing the budget, would be $80 million to $85 million. There will be no service cuts, Crawford said, and the proposed property tax hike will likely be just over two per cent, depending on the inflation rate. He noted much of the budget will be crafted by city staff, because 2018 was an election year, so his budget committee wasnt sitting for months. The city managers expected suggestion for gradually weaning the operating budget off land transfer revenues makes sense, Crawford said, because operating is sometimes month to month or year to year, but (with) capital, theres a lot of flexibility in when we can do projects, so we can absorb changes in the land transfer tax. Councillor Gord Perks, a frequent critic of Torys administration, said slowing down spending on infrastructure, rather than raising more revenue through property taxes or other taxes, is reckless. The mayor has widened and deepened a hole caused by eight years of austerity (under Tory and predecessor Rob Ford) by refusing to look at a property-tax increase, Perks said. Slowing down capital spending means less money to repair Toronto Community Housing units, less money to keep the transit system operating in its current rickety state, less money for libraries and all the services Torontonians depend on while the population of Toronto continues to explode. David Rider is the Star's City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering Toronto politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Read more about:
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https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/25/could-a-2-sales-tax-solve-torontos-budget-woes.html
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Could the Tesco share price be the FTSE 100s best Brexit buy?
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No matter what happens at the end of March, we can be sure that the British public will still need to eat and drink. So, Tesco shouldnt see any immediate drop off in And with this being the case, I the Tesco (LSE: TSCO) share price could be one of the best investments to own for the next 12 months. Today, Im going to explain why. Brexit is the biggest threat to your wealth right now because we dont know (at this point) what will happen when the UK leaves the EU at the end of March. I would like to receive emails from you about product information and offers from The Fool and its business partners. Each of these emails will provide a link to unsubscribe from future emails. More information about how The Fool collects, stores, and handles personal data is available in its Privacy Statement. Register by giving us your email below to continue reading all of the content on the site. Soon you will also begin to receive our FREE email newsletter, The Motley Fool Collective. It features straightforward advice on whats really happening with the stock market, direct to your inbox. Its designed to help you protect and grow your portfolio. (You may unsubscribe any time.) Brexit is the biggest threat to your wealth right now because we dont know (at this point) what will happen when the UK leaves the EU at the end of March. And with this being the case, I the Tesco (LSE: TSCO) share price could be one of the best investments to own for the next 12 months. Today, Im going to explain why. Certainty in uncertainty No matter what happens at the end of March, we can be sure that the British public will still need to eat and drink. So, Tesco shouldnt see any immediate drop off in demand. Although if the economy starts to deteriorate, consumer spending habits will likely shift away from higher-priced branded items towards value. Tesco is already well prepared on this front. The group has been investing heavily in promoting its own-brand products and has rebranded three-quarters of the range. Also, last year, the company launched its Exclusively at Tesco range (95% complete), which is designed to take on the discounters by offering quality products at low prices. In my opinion, these efforts should mean that consumers will continue to look to Tesco to meet their food and drink needs, no matter what happens after Brexit day. Guaranteed supply So, thats demand sorted. Disruption to companies supply networks is commonly cited as being the most significant risk the UK faces after Brexit day, as additional checks are imposed at ports and airports around the world. Indeed, some analysts have even speculated that there could be food shortages in the event of a no-deal. Tesco is doing everything it can to prevent disruption. Management has already admitted that the company is stockpiling some packet and tinned foods to cope with any short-term disruption. It has also been revealed that the business is renting extra freezers to increase storage of frozen foods. These efforts wont make the company immune to any disruption, but they will limit its impact on the group. Whats more, Tescos new line of Jacks retailers, designed to attack Aldi and Lidl head-on, source over 80% of products from UK suppliers. Risk/reward All of the above leads me to conclude that Tesco is well-prepared for any Brexit outcome. Whatever happens, customers will continue to shop at the store, and as long as management has planned effectively (it looks as if theyre doing just that), there should be food on the shelves for them to buy. There could be a slight disruption to the groups operations, but I think it will be manageable overall. Thats the worst case scenario. In the best case, where a deal is agreed and everything continues as usual, I think shares in Tesco could pop as the firm continues on its recovery trajectory. The City is expecting the retailer to report earnings per share growth of 27% in 2019, followed by an increase of 21% in 2020, giving an undemanding forward P/E of 13.2. That undervalues Britains biggest retailer, in my opinion. Analysts have also pencilled in a prospective dividend yield of 3.4% for next year. Thats why I believe the Tesco share price could be the FTSE 100s best Brexit buy.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/01/25/could-the-tesco-share-price-be-the-ftse-100s-best-brexit-buy/
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Did the Queen Just Interfere in Brexit Deal Negotiations?
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Twenty-eight per cent of Brits said it would be appropriate for the Queen to become involved if there was no progress in resolving Brexit, while 54% think the opposite, according to a new poll. In her speech at an event to mark the 100 years of Sandringham Women's Institute in Norfolk, Queen Elizabeth II made remarks that were largely perceived as references to the approach needed to resolve the Brexit talks stalemate. "The continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community focus, and considering the needs of others, are as important today as they were when the group was founded all those years ago. Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities," the Queen said. "As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture," the head of state added. While some believe it is appropriate for the monarch to meddle in the political processes, according to a new YouGov poll, the majority believe the Queen should keep out of it. Almost three in ten Brits (28%) say it would be appropriate for the Queen to become involved if there was no progress in resolving Brexit 54% think this would be inappropriate https://t.co/J87LU4uMlZ pic.twitter.com/6ow4eHkTgj YouGov (@YouGov) January 24, 2019 Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, built on the Queen's appeal and stressed that compromise was needed for a smooth Brexit. "What the Queen said is what most of us feel that we have to come together and find common ground. Most of all we have to compromise to ensure a smooth exit from the European Union and a way of doing that which protects Britain's future prosperity. There are still at the moment too many people advocating their preferred solutions, rather than looking for compromises to an acceptable outcome for all of us," Hammond said. "We have to find common ground and we have to compromise" @EdConwaySky says this is the "firmest" Philip Hammond has been about the risks to the economy because of Brexit. Read more about the Queen's speech here: https://t.co/7tp0odZE4W pic.twitter.com/HNR1bMzgXr Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) January 25, 2019 The Queen's statement touched on similar issues she noted in her Christmas message, in which she appealed to Brits to treat others with respect "even with the most deeply held differences". READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Speech Draws Brits' Ire, Stirs Monarchy Debate
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https://sputniknews.com/europe/201901251071811414-queen-speech-brexit-compromise/
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Do US Consumers Want GDPR-Like Data Protection Rights?
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Most consumers in the United States would welcome personal data protection rights similar to those established last year by the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to recent research from SAS. The report was based on data from a survey of 525 adults in the United States. Some 73% of respondents say their concern over the privacy of their personal data has increased over the past few years, and 67% agree that the US government should do more to protect data privacy. The majority of US consumers surveyed would like the data protection rights granted by the GDPR. Fully 83% would like the right to tell an organization not to share or sell their personal information, 80% want the right to know where and to whom their data is being sold, 73% would like the right to ask an organization how their data is being used, and 64% would like the right to have their data deleted or erased. About the research: The report was based on data from a survey of 525 adults in the United States.
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https://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2019/40415/do-us-consumers-want-gdpr-like-data-protection-rights
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What is AR And Why is it Everywhere?
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For much of the 90s, virtual reality seemed on the verge of breaking through to the mainstream consumer market, with gaming accessories and Hollywood blockbusters all hailing it as the next big thing. Consumers were never convinced by what was offered though, and the bright future of headset-based entertainment and productivity technologies hasnt quite yet materialized. More recently, wearable technologies and mobile computing seemed to offer a second chance for widespread adoption of VR, but for a variety of reasons, from hardware problems to social concerns, the second virtual revolution is still happening more slowly than we anticipated. Part of the reason could be that, surrounded as we now are by screens, having an extra pair to wear seems excessive. AR, or augmented reality, is an attempt to take that issue, and reverse it. At the most basic level, augmented reality is an attempt to overlay location-specific information onto the screens that we tend to use to look at the world through think things like phone cameras. By removing the need for additional hardware, and utilizing functionality that is already in place, augmented reality offers a way to provide the benefits of VR without the costs of buying into a new system. On top of that, because looking at a phone screen too, for example, take a photograph is already socially acceptable, using that same hardware for a different purpose bypasses any social issues people have had about other wearable technologies. One of the first major iterations of augmented reality was, unsurprisingly, a gaming technology. Pokmon Go took the world by storm within days of its launch, allowing players to walk around and capture monsters via their phones. While it may not have had much of a lasting cultural or practical effect on the way AR technology is used, it certainly made many more people aware of the potential for AR in a day to day life. With the development of widespread use of the software, hardware manufacturers followed suit (also by employing companies like TSH at the startup stage), and now almost every smartphone release incorporates some method of more and more precise measurement of the hardwares physical location in the world, specifically with AR possibilities in mind. Hardware development is perhaps the area that AR will struggle the most; as a technology, it relies almost completely on accurate spatial measurements, which in turn rely on very carefully calibrated and constructed arrays of cameras and sensors, packed into ever-smaller packages. Manufacturers have taken the challenge head-on, however, and a devices ability to accurately measure size and distance now make up as an integral part of most marketing drives as heart-rate monitors and network speed. With hardware manufacturers pushing for its use, and the public willing to adopt it when the benefits are made clear, the likelihood is that before long, augmented reality will be as commonplace as any other mobile technology available.
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https://thefutureofthings.com/12822-what-is-ar-and-why-is-it-everywhere/
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Is Apple planning to make televisions?
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A job posting on Apple's website suggests the company may be looking to bring its brilliant display tech to full-blown television sets. Cupertino is currently advertising for someone to work on "Apple's next-generation Macintosh platforms spanning from notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, standalone displays, and TV." The posting which is specific to "new power management designs and technologies" has many speculating the Apple might be preparing to enter the television game. The hype obviously arises from Apple's use of the word "TV" in the job description but, while it's fun to speculate, it would be difficult to see Apple entering an already-congested gogglebox market. We'd hope for continued upgrades to the affordable, yet feature-shy, Apple TV set-top box.
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https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/television/is-apple-planning-to-make-televisions-929747
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Is the rising trade war a challenge or an opportunity for India?
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The trade war between the US and China, the two biggest economies of the world, hovered over global growth all of 2018, and it continues to rise. Both the countries, neck-deep in protectionism, raised tariffs on import of certain products of the other or imposed fresh ones to create trade barriers. This affected trade globally; some benefitted from it while some will face adverse effects. Both the economies have seen consequences of the tariff war. The US had accused China of unfair trade practices, which the latter has denied. In the last quarter of 2018, China recorded a GDP growth of 6.6 percent, lowest in 28 years. Experts feel that India stands to benefit from this situation if it applies appropriate measures with it, as per a report in The Financial Express. If the trade war continues, prices will go up and growth will go down in both the US and China, which contribute $19.4 trillion and $11.9 trillion respectively of the global GDP. This will affect Indian exports, as per a CARE Rating report. It went on to say that a currency battle could ensue between the two superpowers. Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Care Ratings, told the paper that the flow of goods between the two countries has been disrupted by this trade war. "This could affect currencies, with the dollar getting stronger and thus may add to price volatility," he said, adding that it might give exports in India a push but it may not be that significant compared to China's high-end electronics exports. But, textiles could be the lucky sector for India. Sabnavis further suggested that we must focus on ramping up exports by linking it with small and medium enterprises. "We are to be watchful of what China does in other markets as it may become aggressive and dump goods to make up for loss in the US market," he is quoted as saying in the report. In an interview, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu had said that India's share in the global exports pie is just 1.7 percent as compared to China's 12.8 percent. He had said that during the trade war, India will, therefore, boost its exports to the US and other global markets, because Chinese shipments would become unattractive in this scenario. "New Delhi is focusing on a handful of items including automotive parts, chemicals, electrical equipment, among others after the US and China slapped reciprocal duties on each other's goods," he had said.
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https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/is-the-rising-trade-war-a-challenge-or-an-opportunity-for-india-3436621.html
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Why does Apple have no respect for the English language?
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Apple gets criticised for all kinds of things - warm iPads, Apple TV's horrible new user interface, being Apple - but when it comes to its most heinous behaviour, Apple gets off scot-free. You can sum it up in just five words: 'What's my day look like?' If the phrase looks familiar, that's because it's the headline for the UK's current crop of iPhone ads. I can only assume that the idea is to make everyone who sees the ads think "Hey! Siri is so amazing, it can even understand simpletons who don't use words properly!" Well, Gary, your day is look like this! Apple's becoming quite adept at abusing the English language. I'm not talking about wordplay here. When Apple makes up words such as 'resolutionary' to describe the new iPad or 'thinnovation' to sell the MacBook Air it's guilty of just the kind of bad puns the NME was famous for and I've spent years trying to emulate; 'Think Different' wouldn't have worked with 'ly' on the end; and I'm not going to point out that when Apple says the iPod touch "has fun written all over it" the photos show that actually, that isn't true. No, what I'm talking about is actual language abuse. One of my pet hates is Apple's disregard for the definite article. "With an updated interface, more fitness features and new clock faces, iPod nano is Multi-Touch," Apple says, making me want to scream, "It's THE iPod! And capitalise 'nano' while you're at it! You've been doing this wrong for a decade!" Local matters That's not the only way Apple plays fast and loose with The Queen's English. There's localisation too, or rather the lack of it. Every time I see Game Center on my iPhone or my iPad, or when I see the word Store in the navigation bar of the Apple UK website, I get a little bit annoyed because of course store is American for shop and center is American for centre. I'm not being a fundamentalist here - I know Apple's an American company, and I've almost stopped flinching when Apple execs pronounce iTunes as iToons during presentations - but it'd be nice if Apple could use British spellings for the products it offers in Britain. Apple manages to do the dollar/pound currency conversions without any problems. No fun The worst, though, the absolute worst, was the phrase Apple decided to use in late 2008 to promote the iPod Touch - sorry, to promote iPod touch. "The funnest iPod ever", the ads said, making grammar geeks wince: if the 2008 iPod touch was the funnest ever, that surely meant it was funner than any other iPod. And today's model also has Game Center when you buy it from the Store! Complaining's pointless, I know. My iMac just told me so: while my copy of Pages drew little red lines under "resolutionary" and "center", funner and funnest didn't raise an electronic eyebrow.
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https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/computing/apple/why-does-apple-have-no-respect-for-the-english-language-1082708
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Why mostly engineers crack CAT?
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The result of the Common Admission Test (CAT) was released this month and this year too, engineers have grabbed the top position. Out of 11 candidates who scored 100 percentile, all are BE/ B Tech students. Keeping the past years data in mind, the result does not come as a surprise. Advertising A total of 55 per cent of candidates having engineering background within the complete set of candidates applied for CAT 2018, out of which 82 per cent candidates scored 90 percentile and above, said CAT convener Sumanta Basu. In 2017, about 20 candidates scored an overall 100 percentiles with only three non-engineers. In 2016, all top scorers were male engineers while in 2015, 1.79 lakh candidates appeared in CAT of which 1.12 lakh were BE/ BTech students. Most non-engineers complain that the exam pattern is engineer-friendly. Snehalata Mitra, a B Com student, appeared for CAT and could not crack it. I found quantitative aptitude and DILR sections tough. English was, however, easier. But engineers have an upper hand over us as they are acquainted with these subjects, said Mitra who feels that the exam authority should tone down the difficulty level for non-engineering candidates. IIM-Calcutta alumnus Sumanta Basu said questions demand more fundamental knowledge and hence difficult to crack using commonly known techniques. CAT focuses on evaluating the competency level needed for managerial decision-making and questions are designed accordingly. It does not favour any stream. Though Basu believes IIMs are not biased, a data shows in the last year, 87 per cent students of the 2018-20 PGP batch of IIM Calcutta are from the engineering background. The percentage of engineers was 87 per cent in 2018-20 PGP batch of IIM-Calcutta and this may be because engineer applicants are higher than any other stream, he said. India has 20 IIMs that admits as many as 4,000 students into their flagship two-year management programmes. While from past a decade, IIMs are trying to break this myth by enrolling candidates from a diverse background, engineers still dominate the seats. Arks Srinivasan, national head, Career Launcher cited engineering students are in an advantage as they are good in mathematics and solving problems. Besides, they are quite adept with handling the competitive examinations. CAT 2018 topper Rickshesh Manchanda, an IIT-Delhi student, said right from class 11, they are put into a habit of appearing for mock tests. This boosts their confidence level. Moreover, the projects given to them while they are pursuing B Tech demand research and self-preparation. We have to finish projects on our own and therefore, we get autonomy. This makes us independent and helps in self-studies, he said. Basu explains the students have to crack tough examinations like JEE on the national level and other state entrance examinations and therefore have the ability to face any competition, Not only in CAT, the success rate of engineers cracking other competitive examinations are higher than students from another background, said the IIM-Calcutta professor. Advertising Though the last year, paper conducted by IIM-Lucknow was simpler (as per the candidates), however, the percentage of students from the engineering background who cracked the CAT was higher than that of 2017. Last year, 87.5 per cent students were from the engineering background in the MBA classes, which was 85 per cent in 2017, and 89 per cent in 2016, said an official from IIM-Lucknow.
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https://indianexpress.com/article/education/why-mostly-engineers-crack-cat-5541898/
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Why are so many women dying from drug overdoses?
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No community is immune from Americas drug crisis. And new statistics show that its severely affected a group you might not expect: middle-aged women. In the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Jan. 11, researchers found that the drug overdose death rate among women between 30- and 64-years old climbed a staggering 260 percent from 1999 to 2017. Women aged 55 to 64 were hit the hardest, with drug overdose death rates increasing by nearly 500 percent during the 18-year period. HOW FLESH-EATING BACTERIA FEAST ON FLESH The average age of overdose death for women was 46.3 years old in 2017, up 2.8 years from 1999. The average age of death increased in all drug categories except synthetic opioids, which stayed the same. In an effort to address the drug epidemic, the CDC analyzed womens mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. There was an increase in fatal overdoses related to different categories of drugs, including antidepressants, benzodiazepine, cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids. The latest report highlights the increased vulnerability of women dying from an overdose as they get older. Comparatively, a November 2018 report from the CDC that looked at overdose deaths of both men and women found that the rates climbed the highest for people of all genders aged 24 to 54. But when you look at the data for just women, those 55- to 64-years old fared worse. Everyone wants a simple answer about why this is happening, but it just doesnt exist, said Dr. Michael Genovese, a clinical psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Acadia Healthcare, a multinational provider of substance use disorder services. He added that the trend may be related to womens changing roles in society. DRUG-RESISTANT INFECTIONS FOUND IN US WEIGHT-LOSS PATIENTS AFTER SURGERY IN MEXICO There is much more expected of women in the workplace and at home, Genovese said. They feel like they need to be all things to all people. Its not surprising that mental health issues like addiction are on the rise among women given the additional stressors they face and the current societal norms. Drug overdose deaths tend to happen in more men than women and to younger individuals. As such, the medical community may have missed warning signs in women aged 55 to 64, leaving them more vulnerable to overdoses over the last 18 years, said Dr. Katherine Michael, a psychiatrist and medical director of community health at Western Connecticut Health Network. This is a group that might be overlooked because its not the usual demographic doctors would expect to have a problem with substances, said Michael, who is on a team that recently received a $4.7 million federal grant to expand substance abuse screenings and interventions for families in Connecticut. Other doctors blame the skyrocketing overdose deaths on the over-prescribing of drugs, especially opioids, and the possibility that women are mixing medications theyve been prescribed over the years. Someone who dies from a drug overdose didnt necessarily suffer from an addiction, said Dr. Kevin Zacharoff, a chronic pain and opioid abuse expert and clinical professor at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Zacharoff pointed out that people may end up accidentally overdosing on prescription medications. Its the human condition to try to take control of a painful situation if they feel like theyre not being treated, and perhaps they end up taking a melting pot of medications that lead to a drug interaction with negative consequences, he said. Additionally, suicide rates also increased for women in an overlapping age group (45 to 64)from 1999 to 2017, climbing from 6 to 9.7 per 100,000 people. Theres a link between this trend and the increase in rates of death from drug overdose among women, said Dr. Jonathan Avery, director of addiction psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, who also runs NewYork-Presbyterians community naloxone trainings. When youre suffering from a substance use disorder, it exacerbates everything else in your life, including your physical health and social issues, Avery said. Its one of the biggest risk factors for suicide. How to stop fatal overdoses While experts may have different theories about the cause of the rising rates of drug overdose deaths in middle-aged women, they agree that prevention and treatment programs need to start targeting this particular demographic. Curbing the increase in fatal overdoses starts by asking all patients not just those in certain demographics about their substance-use habits when they go to the doctor, Michael said. We cant make assumptions that someones not going to have an issue with substances just because of age or gender, she said. The authors of the CDC report also emphasize the importance of providing access to substance use disorder treatment services that focus on the particular needs of women. We need evidence-based treatment to be available in settings that feel comfortable to women, Avery said. It can be hard to find treatment centers that are focused on womens mental and physical health issues. He added that increasing the availability of medications that can reverse a narcotics overdose is essential to saving lives. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Naloxone kits are being given across the country to people who are at risk, but at times we might have overlooked giving them to other groups, like middle-aged women, he said. Taking another look at their prescriptions The report recommends that providers consider following the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Michael said that in an effort to curb drug-related health problems, her healthcare network already follows opioid prescription guidelines based on those from the CDC, and its working on implementing similar measures for prescribing benzodiazepine. Were having doctors look at the dosages theyre prescribing, the duration the drugs are prescribed for, and the potency of the drugs, and to spell out all of the risks to their patients, she said. But despite some of the preventive measures now in place to help rein in the drug crisis, some experts say we may still be years away from seeing major improvements in overdose death rates. Theres been an ocean liner of devastation over the last 20 years, and it will take a while to turn the ship, Michael said. It will require a lot of different modalities, from prevention and screening to treatment programs, and it will take time. For now, Avery hopes the findings from the latest report will bring increased awareness and understanding of the drug epidemic and who it impacts. We often feel like its happening to other people, not to me. The real message is that its happening to all of us, he said. We need to rally around people who are suffering and help them get better. This article first appeared on HealthLine.com
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https://www.foxnews.com/health/why-are-so-many-women-dying-from-drug-overdoses
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Did Taylor Halls trade to Devils lead to Peter Chiarellis downfall with Oilers?
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When the Edmonton Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli on Wednesday in the midst of his fourth season, the laundry list of poor moves became of focal point of his downfall. At the top of that list: trading Taylor Hall to the Devils for Adam Larsson. That June 2016 trade didnt turn out all bad for the Oilers, who still have Larsson as one of their top defensemen a glaring need at the time of the deal and the Devils fourth overall pick from the 2011 NHL Draft can still be part of the solution in Edmonton. But when looking at what Hall has done in New Jersey, its tough for Oilers fans to think what could have been. Hall won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP in 2017-18, leading the Devils back to the postseason, and he remains as one of the games top offensive players. With Connor McDavid still in Edmonton, its easy to imagine what those two could have done together beyond one season in McDavids rookie campaign in 2015-16. But the Hall deal was far from the only lapse in Chiarellis tenure. After trading Hall, he signed winger Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million deal. That contract for a player who has 12 points in 50 games this season now looks like an albatross. Chiarelli also traded winger Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for forward Dylan Strome. This season, Strome was traded to the Rangers for forward Ryan Spooner. Spooner was placed on waivers earlier this week. Before any of that happened, one of Chiarellis first moves as Oilers GM involved acquiring forward Griffin Reinhart from the Islanders in exchange for a first and second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Where you can buy a Devils Heritage jersey That first-round pick turned into Mathew Barzal, the 2017-18 Calder Trophy winner as the NHLs top rookie. Reinhart is no longer in the organization and hasnt played an NHL game since 2015-16. So while the Hall trade wasnt the only significant move to blow up in the Oilers collective faces, it will still likely be he most infamous one of Chiarellis run in Edmonton. Chris Ryan may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.
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https://www.nj.com/devils/2019/01/did-taylor-halls-trade-to-devils-lead-to-peter-chiarellis-downfall-with-oilers.html
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Will Wigan be a host venue for the 2021 rugby league World Cup?
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Wigan is set to hear whether it is being chosen as a host for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The Rugby Football League (RFL) made the announcement this morning that the final host cities and towns for the prestigious tournament will be announced next Tuesday. Nearby Preston, Leigh and St Helens have also made bids. Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, said: "We have undertaken a thorough bid process, lasting 12 months and involving some very tough decisions. "The quality of bids has been impressive across all three tournaments and we are now ready to share the venue details as we continue to build awareness and excitement. "I look forward to congratulating those that have been successful and working with those local communities over the next 1,000 days to stage an incredibly inclusive and welcoming tournament. "We appreciate some people will be disappointed that their town or city hasnt made the final list, but the tournament will be very accessible with marquee moments to look forward to." The RLWC2021 host announcement will be broadcast at 9am and will be available to watch and follow via BBC Sport online and the RLWC2021 social media channels. Host Helen Skelton will be joined by RLWC2021 Ambassadors; Kevin Sinfield; St. Helens and England Womens star, Jodie Cunningham; and Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair captain, James Simpson, to reveal the successful towns and cities
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https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/will-wigan-be-a-host-venue-for-the-2021-rugby-league-world-cup-1-9557098
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Could a Mass Sick Out End the U.S. Government Shutdown?
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Some labor advocates are urging the U.S. federal workforce to call in sick en masse to force an end to the ongoing government shutdown. It would be about getting public attention, and even more important, causing the government to focus on this problem. And hopefully, to delink the payment of wages to federal workers from the dispute that exists over the border, said Professor Joseph McCartin, director of the Kalmanovitz Institute for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University in Washington. Border dispute Since December, about 25 percent of the federal government has been shut down because of a seemingly intractable budget dispute over President Donald Trumps demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the Mexico border. Congressional Democrats oppose the wall and have refused to negotiate this issue until the government is reopened. It is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. About half of the 800,000 federal workers affected by the shutdown have been designated essential and are required to perform vital government operations without pay. Included are thousands of federal law enforcement agents, prison guards, tax collection officials, Customs and Border security agents, firefighters, and the Coast Guard. The other half has been furloughed, forced to stay home until a government funding bill is passed. Trump has signed legislation promising back pay to all federal workers affected by the shutdown, but the ongoing delay is creating increasing financial hardship for many. Labor strategy Federal law prohibits government workers from participating in a mass work stoppage or labor strikes. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan fired thousands of air traffic controllers who walked off the job demanding better pay and working conditions. Unable to strike, labor unions that represent many of the U.S. governments 2.1 million employees, are organizing rallies across the country to generate public support and pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown or face retribution in the 2020 election. Voting really does matter, because in the upcoming election, we are going to remember who voted in our favor, said Francis Nichols, vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1456 chapter in Washington. Public sector unions are traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party, and it is unclear what influence these demonstrations will have on Republicans in Congress. Also, some union leaders representing the Border Patrol recently voiced support for Trumps border wall demand to end the shutdown. The unions have also sued the government on the grounds that unpaid work violates labor laws and the Constitution. So far, the courts have declined to insert themselves in what the Justice Department argues is a political dispute between Congress and the president. Sickout Unions have not endorsed a massive sickout strategy that might cripple government functions and put employees at risk of being fired. However, at the Transportation Security Administration, the absentee rate among essential personnel, which include 50,000 airport security screeners, has risen to 10 percent. The increased absenteeism is seen as driven mostly by financial needs, with many workers seeking alternative jobs to pay for their families basic needs. The reduced staffing has caused longer-than-usual delays at some airports and forced the closure of some security checkpoints. Sooner or later, you are not going to have to have a mass sickout. Sooner or later, people arent going to have money to put gas in their cars to literally drive to work, said Matthew Biggs, secretary-treasurer of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents thousands of federal workers. Some labor supporters like McCartin argue that as this shutdown continues, unions need to develop more disruptive strategies, such as a sudden mass sickout to force congressional action. They need to have mobilization plans of their members, short of a strike, which actually can bring some pressure to bear. Not just hoping that public opinion changes by showing workers suffering or having to visit food banks, but having some other mechanism to bring some pressure to bear to protect these workers, McCartin said. Barbara Ehrenreich, founder of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, and Gary Stevenson, a former labor organizer, have gone even further and have called upon federal workers to go on strike, even if it puts their jobs at risk. The federal government has broken its contract with its employees, locking some of them out of their workplaces and expecting others to work for the mere promise of eventual pay, they wrote recently in The New York Times.
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https://www.voanews.com/a/could-a-mass-sick-out-end-the-u-s-government-shutdown/4758404.html
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Has Russia Outdone the U.S. With Its New Stealth Attack Drone?
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Russia is developing a stealthy, jet-powered robot warplane. And it's possible, though not certain, that the United States has nothing to match it. The first blurry images of the Okhotnik-B drone appeared on Jan. 23, 2019 on a Russian aviation website. The photos depict a tractor towing the apparently roughly 50-foot-wide unmanned aerial vehicle along a snow-ringed runway at an airfield in Novosibirsk in south central Russia. A flying wing similar to, but much smaller than, the U.S. Air Force's B-2 stealth bomber, the Okhotnik-Bwhich means "hunter" in Russianin theory could penetrate enemy defenses to fire missiles or drop bombs. If and when the Kremlin finishes developing the UAV and acquires it for front-line useand to be clear, neither of those things is sure to happenRussia could become one of the first countries to deploy stealthy, jet-propelled attack drones. In that case, the Russian military might possess a whole class of warplane that the U.S. military lacks. Over the past two decades the Pentagon officially has passed up several opportunities to acquire stealthy attack drones. If the U.S. military does possess a radar-evading killer drone, it remains a secret. The Air Force canceled earlier, public drone-development efforts in 2006 and 2012, instead preferring to devote the bulk of its resources to manned stealth fighters such as the F-22 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Russia's closest competitor in the visible killer-drone race might be China. The Tian Ying UAV, which is also a jet-powered flying wing, made its first appearance in early January 2019, taking off and landing during a test. The Chinese navy reportedly plans to deploy the Tian Ying on a large aircraft carrier that's under construction in Shanghai. The United States pioneered modern armed drones. The propeller-driven Predator entered service in 1995. The U.S. Air Force added weapons to the type starting in 2001. The much larger and more powerful Reaper UAV arrived in 2007 while the Predator retired in 2018. Today the prop-powered Reaper is America's only large, armed drone and a mainstay in the country's counterterror campaigns. Compared to the killer drones China and Russia are developing, the Reaper is slow and lacks stealth features. In that sense, it's possible the Kremlin and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, with their new killer drones, could be poised to leapfrog the Pentagon. But appearances are deceiving. The complicated history of U.S. drone development hints at unseen American advantages and even "black" UAV programs. It's possible that the U.S. Air Force already possesses, in secret, the kinds of sophisticated killer drones the Russians and Chinese are developing out in the open. It's also apparent that the U.S. Navy's newest, unarmed jet drone possesses subtle stealth qualities that could help it to evolve into a powerful strike aircraft. In any event, the U.S. military possesses a depth of experience and expertise in robotic air power that the Chinese and Russian armed forces can't match any time soon. The U.S. Defense Department got a 15-year head start on jet-powered, armed drones. In the early 2000s the Air Force and Navy teamed up with warplane makers Boeing and Northrop Grumman to develop highly sophisticated robot fighters. Boeing's X-45 and Northrop's X-47 surprised their developers in early tests. Guided by a combination of human controllers using Boeing-developed software plus their own internal sensors and algorithms, the drones proved they could swiftly penetrate simulated enemy defenses. Small in size, they were hard for the enemy to detect at first. And flying in swarms of multiple drones, once detected, they could absorb enemy fire, sacrificing a few individual machines as they fought their way to the target. Effectiveness, efficiencythose were the killer drones selling points. But the robot warplanes apparently threatened the pilot-centric cultures of the Air Force and the Navys aviation arms. In 2006 the Air Force dropped out of the program. "The reason that was given was that we were expected to be too good in key areas and that we would have caused disruption to the efforts to keep F-22 but moreover [the F-35] JSF sold," one Boeing engineer told The Daily Beast on condition of anonymity. "If we had flown and things like survivability had been assessed and Congress had gotten a hold of the data, JSF would have been in trouble." In similar fashion, in 2012 the Air Force terminated the short-lived MQ-X killer-drone program. Left to its own devices, the Navy continued developing Northrop's X-47 test drone and, in 2013, successfully landed and launched the UAV on an aircraft carrier. In 2018 the Navy tapped Boeing to build, as part of a $5-billion effort, a carrier-compatible, jet-propelled drone called the MQ-25, whose main mission is to refuel other aircraft in mid-air. The MQ-25 has stealth features, including a top-mounted engine inlet and a carefully-shaped engine exhaust nozzle, both of which help to reduce its visibility on radar. Boeing and the Navy have implied that the MQ-25 might one day carry weapons, transforming from a tanker plane to a robotic stealth bomber with minimal modification. The Air Force's relationship with killer drones is murkier still. While working on the X-45 and X-47 with the Navy, the Air Force also paid Lockheed Martin to build a flying-wing stealth reconnaissance drone. That UAV, the RQ-170, entered service around the time of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The Air Force copped to its existence years later, in 2009. The RQ-170 flew overhead during the Pentagon's 2011 operation to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. There have been rumors that the Air Force developed a more powerful variant of the RQ-170. In mid-2011 a freelance photographerI agreed to withhold his namewas visiting the Air Forces Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. While walking along the tarmac with an officer guide, the photographer spotted, some 150 yards away, what appeared at first to be an RQ-170 parked in an open hangar. But upon closer inspection, the photographer noticed details inconsistent with the recently revealed RQ-170. The engine air intake was different. And the craft appeared to be much bigger than the baseline RQ-170 is. It was clear the Air Force had not intended the photographer to see the UAV, whatever it was. The colonel leading the tour grew uncomfortable. "I was specifically asked not to photograph it and I complied," the photographer said of the mystery drone. In 2013, aerospace trade magazine Aviation Week revealed that the Air Force had acquired a new stealth spy drone called the RQ-180. The Air Force never really gave up on drones in favor of manned aircraft. Instead, it began developing drones mostly in secret. As of 2019, there's no hard evidence that the Air Force possesses a stealthy, jet-powered, armed drone. But there's ample evidence that the flying branch has been hard at work developing other kinds of drones of at least equal sophistication. Equally, there are indications that Russia's new UAV isn't as sophisticated as it might seem to be. That might have something to do with its possible origin... as a copy of an older American drone. An RQ-170 crashed on the Afghanistan-Iran border in December 2011, possibly while surveilling Iran's nuclear program. Iran seized the wreckage and reverse-engineered the UAV's airframe, if not its sensors and control systems. Russia and China both asked to inspect the wreckage. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Okhotnik-B and the Tian Ying both are roughly similar in shape to the RQ-170. Although to be fair, the physics of stealthy flight are the same in any language. If Russia copied the RQ-170 to produce the Okhotnik-B, it might have done so badly. The photos of the Okhotnik clearly show an unshielded engine exhaust nozzle and a straight engine inlet, both of which undermine the radar-evading qualities of its overall shape. But Russia's biggest potential liability as a drone power, as well as the greatest advantage America possesses, is invisible to the naked eye. It's not hard to build an airframe. Twentysomething cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado have managed all on their own to build their own stealthy drone airframe. What's hard, when it comes to deploying killer drones to meaningful military effect, are the communications, control systems and computer algorithmsand the techniques and tactics for operating UAVs over long distances in crowded airspace alongside manned aircraft and other forces. "The U.S. has literally decades of experience operating unmanned systems, from battlefield use in places like Iraq and Afghanistan to successful tests taking off and landing on aircraft carriers," Peter W. Singer, the author of several books on high-tech warfare, told The Daily Beast. "Neither Russia or China has that." But Russia and China's progress openly developing new UAV types should inspire the Pentagon to maintain, or even expand, its own drone-development efforts. "We have to envision using this technology in roles other than countering terrorists or as air tankers," Singer said. "The future battles will see more and more robots in more and more roles."
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https://www.thedailybeast.com/has-russia-outdone-the-us-with-its-new-stealth-attack-drone?source=articles&via=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Farticles+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Latest+Articles%29
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Is Ivanka Trump Planning a Big Fashion Comeback in China?
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Ivanka Trump shut down her eponymous clothing line last July. Six months later, before the last of her heavily reduced stock has been sold, the first daughter is already planning her comeback. As the AP reported, Chinese officials have approved five trademarks Trump first filed in 2016 and 2017. Given Trumps self-branding as a lifestyle guru, those trademarks covering wedding dresses, sunglasses, brokerage, charitable fundraising, and art valuation make sense. The fifth trademark covers childcare centers, which is somewhat eerie considering her fathers family separation policy. (Ivanka called the policy a low point for the administration.) Of course, the timing of this approval is certainly suspect, considering President Trumps ongoing trade negotiations with China. As the AP noted, Chinese officials could leverage Ivankas new trademarks against the US in future deals. Representatives for Trump did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment but have previously stated the trademarks were filed preemptively to deter copycats from using Trumps name. Amy Hsiao, an expert on Chinese trademark law and partner at the law firm Adsero IP, told The Daily Beast that Trumps trademarks took two years to get approved because Chinese officials deal with a high volume of applications. Right now, China is No 1 in the world for trademark applications, Hsiao said. Theyre dealing with around 10 times more applications than the United States is. According to Hsiao, if Trump is indeed planning a revamp of her clothing line, this trademark ensures her two options. She can either produce and sell her goods in China, or only manufacture clothing there for U.S. export. Though Trump wrote that it was an honor to build this incredible community of Women Who Work after closing her line in July, the fashion community bid her mid-priced collection more of a good riddance. Before the closure, hashtags like #GrabYourWallet and #BoycottIvanka were trending. Nordstrom dropped the line in February of 2017, claiming low sales. Even before Ivanka Trump, the brand, took a hit through association with Donald Trump, the president, the former model never attained true fashion clout. In 2011, designer Derek Lam sent Ivanka a cease and desist letter, accusing her team of ripping off a pair of black wedge heels. As Derek Lam CEO Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann put it, We have seen very similar copies before but we have never seen a shoe that perfectly copied [ours]. Four years later, a post on the Instagram account of Italian shoe label Aquazzura suggested that Trump was selling a pair of strappy fringe sandals that were almost identical to a $785 version they released first. [Ivanka's] brand was never what anyone stylish would call fashion Charles Beckwith Even without these copying controversies, the Trump brand felt fairly uninspired. Her line was less of a collection and more of a parade of sterile sheath dresses in varying pastel shades. Her brand was never what anyone stylish would call fashion, Charles Beckwith, producer and host of American Fashion Podcast, bluntly put it. That wasnt her thing. She traded on her name and sold something that people could already find somewhere else. Though Trump tried obsessively to relate to, as she put them, Women Who Work, her father's sexist comments and harassment allegations turned the demographic against her. But overseas, Ivanka Trump has a different reputation. Shes quite popular in China, Hsiao said. Shes seen as an independent woman. In 2017, an NBC report revealed that there are numerous fan pages for Goddess Ivanka, who is viewed as chic, elegant, and diplomatic. Trump has scored points among citizens for embracing Chinese culture through teaching her children Mandarin, or celebrating the traditional New Year at the country's embassy in D.C. In 2017, Trump posted several videos on Instagram showing her 7-year-old daughter Arabella reciting Chinese poetry and singing a traditional song to President Xi Jinping during a state visit. Whether or not Trump can leverage her image into another brand is yet to be seen. Until then, we'll always have these discounted Macy's dressesnearly half a year after Trump shuttered, they show no signs of selling out.
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https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-ivanka-trump-planning-a-big-fashion-comeback-in-china?source=articles&via=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Farticles+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Latest+Articles%29
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Why do top footballers face tax frauds accusations in Spain?
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Events leading up to a footballer being accused of tax evasion are usually quite complex. It may stem from who these players chose as their agents and managers, ranging from childhood friends, family members, to a re-noun agent who engages other professionals like a tax and finance manager. Usually most footballers get incompetent persons who may tend to act in their own interest by setting up small and secretly run structures to hide extra money that these players make from image rights and other non-club payments. From the Cameroonian Samuel Etoo, while at Barcelona fc, Brazilian Neymar, Spaniard Xabi Alonso, Leo Messi and now Christiano Ronaldo, these top rated footballers all came under accusations of tax evasion by the Spanish Law. A situation which is rarely recorded in other top 5 European leagues. We hook up with a tax expert, Alex Cobham Chief Executive at the Tax Justice Network Based in England, United Kingdom. Ronaldo now with Juventus had to cut a deal with a court in Madrid over tax evasion charges accepting to pay an 18.8 million Euro fine. The football superstar was accused of avoiding paying tax in Spain between 2010 and 2014, when he was playing for Real Madrid and based in the Spanish capital.
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http://www.africanews.com/2019/01/25/why-do-top-footballers-face-tax-frauds-accusations-in-spain/
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Was sind die hufigsten Internetaktivitten der Deutschen?
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Hier kostenlos registrieren Zugang erwerben Einzel-Pass Zugriff auf diesen Artikel Zahlart whlen einmalig 0,49 Per Handy bezahlen Tages-Pass 24 Stunden Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de Zahlart whlen einmalig 1,00 Per Handy bezahlen Per PayPal bezahlen Monats-Pass 30 Tage Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de Zahlart whlen einmalig 11,90 Per Handy bezahlen Per PayPal bezahlen Jahres-Pass 12 Monate Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de und RZmobil-App Zahlart whlen monatlich 10,90 Per Lastschrift bezahlen Digital-Abo 4 Wochen Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de, RZmobil-App, E-Paper und E-Paper-App Zahlart whlen 29,00 monatlich zum Testen 0 29,00 Per Lastschrift bezahlen Um einen Zugang zu erwerben muss JavaScript aktiviert sein. Alle Angebote im berblick. Wir helfen gerne weiter: Telefonisch unter 0261/9836-2000 oder per E-Mail an: [email protected]
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https://www.rhein-zeitung.de/startseite_artikel,-was-sind-die-haeufigsten-internetaktivitaeten-der-deutschen-_arid,1926824.html
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Are doubts over Lanark BID groundless?
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With the voting underway to decide if Lanark becomes a Business Improvement District (BID), attempts have been made to allay doubts over how useful it will be in boosting the towns fortunes. In the week that the Lanimer Commitee formally threw its support behind BID, Lanark Community Development Trust chair Sylvia Russell stated: I have heard some people comment that a BID isnt necessary in Lanark as the Development Trust is already doing a great deal to improve the town. This concerns me greatly. As chairman of the Trust I am proud of what we have achieved so far. However, our funds are very limited, just think how much more could be done with 1 million pounds which will be available should the BID go ahead. The chair of the Lanimer Committee, John Dickman, stated: The prosperity of Lanark depends on the interface and interaction between its business and the community. Businesses, in return, can exploit opportunities through community activities, to help make trade in the town a more attractive prospect. Few towns have an atmosphere such as Lanark enjoys when everything and everyone come together. The town knows well what community spirit feels like. It just needs a little push from all sides to feel that all year round. A BID scheme involves all businesses in a town paying into a central pot to pay for steps to improve the town centre and to run events and campaigns to promote the area and attract visitors and tourists to it.
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https://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/news/business/are-doubts-over-lanark-bid-groundless-1-4862356
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What is a reasonable speed for long distances on a bike Publisher?
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Bike accidents are generally more common as compared to car accidents. This is because bikes dont contain any protective covering in its surroundings. There are many causes of bike accidents such as use of cell phones during driving, harshly driving, ignoring traffic signs, bad weather etc. The major cause is speeding. Most of the people do not care about speed limits and as a result face catastrophic results. There are certain speed limits for every street and road which should be obeyed by every biker. Controlling bike accidents: Following are some tips that can prove helpful in controlling bike accidents: Attentive driving: One should never lose his concentration during riding a bike. This can cause severe accidents. Driver age ranging from 15-30 has highest percentage of distracted drivers. One should concentrate on his driving so that he can prevent himself from severe damage. Careful driving on rough streets: It is important not to over speed especially on rough streets. Always keep the speed slow within a reasonable limit. Tis will help you to cross the road more easily and will help you to balance yourself on your bike. Speeding: This is the major reason behind bike accidents. Although both cars and bikes do not have same speed but also doesnt mean that bikes should ride as fast as possible. There are certain speed limits for every street in every country. The speed limit on most of the GT road is 60-70 kmph. Different countries have different speed limits in New Zealand motorbikes are limited to 40 kmph. In some areas you can see the white sign with the black strip it. This sign is generally used in rural areas where there is amalgam of straights and curves and where there could be hazards around the corner such as cattle on the road. No use of cell phones: Cell phones divert the concentration of the driver. About 60% of the accidents occur due to use of phones. You should never use your mobile if you really want to drive safely. 5 rated bikes and bike accessories: Use of best bikes can also help in reducing bike accidents. One should do a complete survey before buying a bike. If you have a Honda bike you should thoroughly search best honda motorcycle accessories so that you can make your bike more advanced and comfortable. A best quality motorcycle consists of comfortable and valuable wheels. Honda 4 wheeler parts are considered to be the best wheeler parts. When you have a bike you should also know some best websites or stores where you can get parts of your bike in reasonable price. Everyone looks for discount atv parts so that he can buy parts of motorcycles in best price range. The bottom line: When you are going on a long distance, always keep speed limits of bike within reasonable range. You can also watch seed limits in every street. This will help you to make your journey safe and comfortable. VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
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https://www.motorward.com/2019/01/what-is-a-reasonable-speed-for-long-distances-on-a-bike-publisher/
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What Would be the Benefits of an Interstellar Probe?
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On July 14th, 2015, the New Horizons mission made history when it became the first robotic spacecraft to conduct a flyby of Pluto. On December 31st, 2018, it made history again by being the first spacecraft to rendezvous with a Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) Ultima Thule (2014 MU69). In addition, the Voyager 2 probe recently joined its sister probe (Voyager 1) in interstellar space. Given these accomplishments, it is understandable that proposals for interstellar missions are once again being considered. Kevin F. Long, the co-founder of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4iS) and a major proponent of interstellar flight, recently published a paper that supports the idea of sending robotic missions to nearby star systems to conduct in-situ reconnaissance. The paper, titled Interstellar Probes: The Benefits to Astronomy and Astrophysics, recently appeared online. The paper summarizes material that Long will be presenting at the 47th IAA Symposium on Future Space Astronomy and Solar-System Science Missions which is part of the 70th International Astronautical Congress on Oct. 10th, 2019; specifically, the session dealing with Space Agency Strategies and Plans. To begin, Long outlines how astronomy/astrophysics (particularly where space telescopes have been involved) and space exploration using robotic probes have had a profound impact on our species. As he explained to Universe Today via email: The astronomical endeavor has opened up our horizons of knowledge on the origin and evolution of the Solar System, galaxy and the wider Universe. It is an activity that humans have conducted for arguably tens of thousands of years as we looked towards the stars, and they encouraged our curiosity. We could never touch the stars, but we could look at them, and instrumentation gave us the potential to look at them even closer. Then, the discovery of the electromagnetic spectrum helped us to understand the Universe in a way we had never done before. At present, humanitys efforts to study planets and celestial bodies directly have been confined entirely to the Solar System. The farthest robotic missions have traveled (the Voyager 1 and 2 space probes) have been to the outer edge of the heliopause, the boundary between our Solar System and the interstellar medium. All of these missions have taught us a great deal about planetary formation, the history and evolution of our Solar System, and about planet Earth itself. And in recent decades, the deployment of missions like Hubble, Spitzer, Chandra, Kepler, and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have revealed thousands of planets beyond our Solar System. Illustration showing the position of NASAs Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, outside of the heliosphere, a protective bubble created by the Sun that extends well past the orbit of Pluto. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Naturally, this has led to renewed interest in mounting missions that would be able to explore extrasolar planets directly. In the same way that missions like MESSENGER, Juno, Dawn, and New Horizons have explored Mercury, Jupiter, Ceres and Vesta, and Pluto, respectively, these missions would be responsible for bridging the interstellar divide and beaming back images and data of distant planets. [S]o the question is are we content to merely look at them from afar or would we like to go there? said Long. Space probes offer a clear advantage over long-range remote sensing, which is the potential for direct in-situ scientific investigations from orbit or even on the surface. In a universe where the Earth and even our solar system is reduced to a mere pale blue dot among the void, we would be crazy not to one day try. But of course, the prospect of exploring other solar systems presents some major difficulties, not the least of which is cost. To put it in perspective, the Apollo program cost an estimated $25.4 billion USD, which works out to $143.7 billion when adjusted for inflation. Sending a ship to another star is therefore like to run into the trillions. But as Long explained, all of these challenges can be summarized into two categories. The first addresses the fact that we lack the necessary technological maturity: Like all spacecraft, an interstellar space probe would need power, propulsion and other systems to achieve its mission and successfully reach its target and acquire its data. Building spacecraft that can go fast enough to accomplish the journey to the nearest stars in a reasonable human life time and also powering those propulsion systems, is not easy, and exceeds the performance of any technology we have ever launched into space to date by several orders of magnitude. Yet, the basic principles upon which how those machines would operate, from a physics and engineering perspective, are well understood. Credit: Shigemi Numazawa/ Project Daedalus As we addressed in a previous post, it would take an incredibly long time to venture to even the nearest star. Using existing technology, it would take a spacecraft anywhere from 19,000 to 81,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri. Even using nuclear propulsion (a feasible but not yet tested technology), it would still take 1000 years to get there. The second major issue, according to Long, is the lack of political will. At present, planet Earth is facing multiple problems, the largest of which are overpopulation, poverty, and climate change. These problems, combined, essentially mean that humanity will have to see to the needs of billions more people while at the same dealing with diminishing resources. Given competing problems on Earth, it is felt that there is no justification today to approve the expenditure of such missions, said Long. Obviously, the discovery of an exoplanet with potentially interesting biology may change this. There is the potential for the private sector to attempt such missions, but these are likely in the future, since most private efforts are focused on the Moon and Mars. The one exception to this, Long explains, is Breakthrough Initiatives Project Starshot, which aims to send a gram-scale probe to Proxima Centauri in just 20 years. This would be possible by using a light sail, which would be accelerated by lasers to relativistic speeds of up to 60,000 km/s (37,282 mps), or 20% the speed of light. Project Starshot, an initiative sponsored by the Breakthrough Foundation, is intended to be humanitys first interstellar voyage. Credit: breakthroughinitiatives.org A similar mission concept is known as Project Dragonfly, a concept being developed by an international team of scientists by Tobias Hfner. Interestingly enough, this proposal was born of the same conceptual design study that inspired Starshot which was hosted by Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4iS) in 2013. Like Starshot, the Dragonfly concept call for a laser-driven light sail that would tow a spacecraft up to relativistic speeds. However, Dragonfly spacecraft would be significantly heavier than a gram-scale probe, which would allow for more scientific instruments to be included. The spacecraft would also be slowed by a magnetic sail upon arrival. While missions like these are likely to cost in the vicinity of $100 billion to develop, Long certainly feels that this in the realm of affordability given the potential payoffs. Speaking of payoffs, an interstellar mission would have plenty, all of which would be enlightening and exciting. As Long said: The opportunity to conduct close up observations of other stellar systems would give us a much better understanding about how our own Solar System formed and also the nature of stars, galaxies and exotic phenomena like black holes, dark matter and dark energy. It could also give us better predictions for the potential for life evolving systems. Theres also the possibility that space probes conducting interstellar voyages at relativistic speeds will discover new physics. At present, scientists understand the Universe in terms of quantum mechanics (the behavior of matter at the subatomic level) and General Relativity (matter at the largest of scales stars systems, galaxies, superclusters, etc.). To date, all attempts at finding a Grand Unified Theory (GUT) aka. a Theory of Everything (TOE) that would merge these two schools of thought have failed. Long asserts that scientific missions to other star systems could very well provide a new synthesis, which would help us learn a great deal more about how the Universe functions as a whole. But of course, no talk of payoffs would be complete without mentioning the biggest one of all: finding life! Even if it was just a colony of microbes, the scientific implications would be immense. As for the implications of finding an intelligent species, the implications would be immeasurable. It would also resolve the timeless question of whether or not humanity is alone in the Universe. Finding intelligent life would be a game changer, since if we were to make contact with such a species and share our knowledge with each other, this will have a profound effect on our sciences but also our personal philosophies, said Long. This is important when considering the age old question of human origins. But of course, a lot needs to happen before any such missions could be contemplated. For starters, the technological requirements, even for a technically-feasible concept like Starshot, need to be addressed well in advance. As will all the potential risks associated with interstellar flight at relativistic speeds. But above all, we will need to know ahead of time where to send these missions in order to maximize the scientific return on our investment. This is where traditional astronomy and astrophysics will play a big role. As Long explained: Before any missions are launched at other stars systems, it will be necessary to first characterize the scientific value of visiting those systems before hand, which will require the long-range astronomical observing platforms. Then, once the probes have been launched, they will also help to calibrate our measurements of the cosmic distance scale, which will also help to improve our astronomical instruments. It is clear therefore that any species that aspires to be enlightened about the Universe and its place in it, should embrace both forms of inquire since they enhance each other. It may be many decades before humanity is prepared to commit the time, energy and resources to an interstellar mission. Or it may simply be a matter of years before existing proposals have all the technical and logistical issues worked out. Either way, when an interstellar mission is mounted, it will be a momentous and extremely historic event. And when it begins to send back data from the nearest star systems, it will be an event unparalleled in history. Aside from the necessary advances in technology, all that is needed is the will to make the crucial investments happen. Further Reading: arXiv
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https://www.universetoday.com/141295/what-would-be-the-benefits-of-an-interstellar-probe/
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How will Michigan football's TEs fit in Josh Gattis' offense?
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CLOSE Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh recaps Peach Bowl after the 41-15 loss to Florida on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Atlanta. Nick Baumgardner, Freep Michigan's Nick Eubanks, right, celebrates a first-half touchdown with Tarik Black against Indiana at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 17, 2018 in Ann Arbor. (Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) (Note: This is Part 4 of a series reviewing Michigans 2018 position groups and looking ahead to 2019). We don't know what Michigan football's offense is going to look like in 2019. But we do know, based on everything Jim Harbaugh and Josh Gattis have said since they joined forces two weeks ago, that things are changing. Michigan fans want a new offense, they want a fast offense, they want a modern offense. Just ask them via social media. More: Michigan football's wide receivers hold key to 2019 season Every offense Gattis has worked in during his eight-year coaching career has been fast and modern and has pushed the football into all areas of the field. The offense he's about to inherit has, traditionally, not, instead relying on a bevy of personnel groups with a high reliance on multiple backs and multiple tight ends. Yes. Whether that means being in 11 personnel, 10 personnel, 12 personnel, you name it. Multiple by formation," Gattis said earlier this month. "It'll be personnel-driven, we'll get our playmakers the ball, we'll get our speed out in space and let (them) be active. ... This isn't about Josh Gattis or a new Michigan offense, this will be player-driven." More: Michigan football loses RB production but welcomes talented youth For those scoring at home: The first number in a personnel grouping refers to the number of running backs on the field. The second is the number of tight ends. If Michigan had a home personnel set last season, it was probably 12 one back, two tight ends. Michigan disguised a lot of 11 personnel plays with two tight ends on the field and would, at times, run offense with three receivers on the field. Not really, no. The bulk of Harbaugh's tenure has featured a constant stockpiling of tight end talent. Michigan still has plenty on the roster right now. Tight ends Whos eligible to return: Nick Eubanks (6-5, 252), r-junior. ; Sean McKeon (6-5, 251), senior; Mustapha Muhammad (6-4, 245), r-freshman; Luke Schoonmaker (6-6, 231), r-freshman. Who's gone: Zach Gentry (NFL draft). Who's coming in: Erick All (Fairfield, Ohio; 6-4, 216). 2018 recap Michigan's offense threw the ball to the tight end less last season than it ever has during the Harbaugh era. Gentry, McKeon and Eubanks combined for 54 receptions in 2018, tied with 2017 for the fewest number of Harbaugh's four years. Michigan tight end Sean McKeon runs by Michigan State defensive lineman Raequan Williams during the first half in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press) Keep in mind, though, that the 2017 season was one of the worst passing campaigns by a Michigan football team in modern history. In 2017, tight ends caught roughly 30 percent of Michigan's completions. In 2018, that dipped to 24 percent. Gentry turned into Michigan's go-to flex tight end, spending plenty of time split off the line of scrimmage. McKeon, meanwhile, continued his role as more of a blocker(or "Y" tight end) in the run game. He drew plenty of criticism for missed blocks at times, but for everything Michigan asked him to do in its zone-read game and at the line of scrimmage, McKeon was more than capable. Eubanks was a bit of a wild card; his usage wasn't very high (just eight catches), but his athleticism allowed for the big play far more often as he averaged better than 19 yards per catch. The extra tight end has always been a critical piece of Michigan's run game disguise. It was that way during the Harbaugh-Tim Drevno years when Michigan lived off powers and counters. It was that way again last season when Ed Warinner brought more of a zone approach. Moving forward, Eubanks appears ready to step into Gentry's role as a flex tight end. He's athletic enough to run against linebackers and safeties and be a legit downfield threat. That'll be interesting. 2019 outlook The last two offenses Gattis worked in featured no-doubt NFL tight ends. Alabama had Irv Smith Jr. last season, who is one of this year's top-ranked NFL prospects at his position. At Penn State in 2017, it was Mike Gesicki, a star in college and an eventual second-round pick. Michigan's Nick Eubanks makes a catch during the first half against Wisconsin, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press) Still, in terms of catch rate, Alabama went to tight ends 16 percent of the time last season. Penn State, even with Gesicki, went to the tight end 21 percent of the time. The whole "speed in space" thing works with tight ends if you've got tight ends like Smith and Gesicki who can split out and create matchup problems with their athleticism on the outside. And based on the assumption that this offense will actually start featuring more than two wide receivers on the field at the same time, it would stand to reason that tight end usage is going to dip further. If it doesn't, this offense really won't be any different than it's been. Michigan has a load of talent at wide receiver right now, beyond the big three of Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black. If all these proclamations become reality, then Michigan's home personnel group won't be 12 any longer. There will be even less 13. And, perhaps, more 10 or 11 situations. Bottom line Michigan has what it needs here to be flexible. Eubanks is ready to be a player on the outside if Michigan wants him to be. McKeon's skill set is still valuable, even if his reps are lost to wide receivers. The most interesting part here might show up in future recruiting. Harbaugh has tried to pile up as many tight ends as he could. Tight ends are still valuable in every offense. But, perhaps, they're not as necessary these days in a modern offense. Michigan might be entering that territory now. Contact Nick Baumgardner: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!
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https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2019/01/25/michigan-football-how-tes-fit-josh-gattis-offense/2670443002/
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What does Trujillo's background in Las Cruces mean for the state of New Mexico?
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"She's going to be able to lead the public education department in a way that I don't think anybody has in a long, long time," said Ray Jaramillo, the school board member from district one. On Thursday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Karen Trujillo, a Doa Ana County Commissioner, as the next secretary of the Public Education Department. "Accountability is important," Trujillo said, adding "We've come together to create this super team. We will not let you down." However, Trujillo's district five county comission seat has seen three faces in less than a year. Commissioner John Vasquez resigned in February 2018, following accusations of misconduct. Then-governor Susana Martinez appointed Kim Hakes to the position in March. Haakes then lost to Trujillo in November. "I think that this came up and it's one of those places where you really have to make a decision," said Isabella Solis, commissioner for district four. "I think she made a really wise decision. We need someone from our community to represent us well." "(She will go) from servicing the people in Doa Ana County to servicing the entire state," said County Manager Fernando Macias in Santa Fe on Thursday. "I think Karen understands what really hinders some of public education's issues," Jaramillo said. "That's poverty, low income and her living here in southern New Mexico, she understands that firsthand. "
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https://www.kvia.com/news/new-mexico/what-does-trujillo-s-background-in-las-cruces-mean-for-the-state-of-new-mexico-/988104302
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Will Amy Adams finally win an Oscar?
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Among those honoured in the Oscars nominations was Amy Adams, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Lynne Cheney in the political biopic Vice. Its the actress sixth nod in 13 years, however the previous five nominations have all been unsuccessful. Amy Adams won rave reviews for her performance in Vice opposite Christian Bale (Image: Matt Kennedy/LILO/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock) Even in an industry that still struggles to offer a wide range of roles for women, Adams has managed to have a fascinating and varied career. Catching The Academys attention for the first time in 2005s Junebug, she has mixed intense dramatic performances in films such as Doubt, The Master and The Fighter with big, entertaining studio films like Enchanted, The Muppets and playing Lois Lane in the DC Universe blockbusters. Advertisement Advertisement Adams career has been hugely successful, yet she is continually overlooked by award voters. Many saw it as a snub when Adams performance in Arrival was not nominated for Best Actress in 2017, with many comparing her lack of Oscar success to that of Leonardo DiCaprio, whom Adams acted with in 2002s Catch Me If You Can. The Titanic star was considered one of Oscars most snubbed actors, consistently churning out classic performances that never seemed to win voters over. That all changed in 2016 when he won for The Revenant, his sixth nomination (incidentally, Vice is also Adams sixth time nominated). The comparison is a worthy one, and indicative of The Academys tendency to ignore some of Hollywoods most successful stars. Names like Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and Glenn Close (nominated this year for Best Actress) have all been overlooked. While Adams trophy-less run may be frustrating for her fans, she is at least in prestigious company. Adams faces stiff competition in the form of favourite Regina King, who blew audiences away in If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as the dual threat of The Favourite stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. The momentum seems to be with King, particularly given that her nomination is the films only nomination in the major categories. However, Adams success may come from the fact that voters often award actors who they feel have earned an award over time, rather than for the individual performance. DiCaprio has arguably given better performances than The Revenant, but his Best Actor Oscar felt like an award for his career as much as that one film. Ditto Martin Scorsese, who ended a long winless streak in 2005 for The Departed. I dont know because I havent won one, so Ill let you know if that ever happens. So far, not winning hasnt defined me Im always grateful for (award recognition), but it doesnt define me. MORE: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper to present at SAG Awards after A Star Is Born success
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https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/25/will-amy-adams-finally-win-an-oscar-8380772/
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Do we all see the same moon phase?
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EarthSky lunar calendars moon show phases for all year. They make great gifts. Order now. Going fast! We all see the same moon phase, more or less, on the same day. Yet many people report perplexities related to the moons phase. Rowena in Australia wrote, for example: I was mainly wondering about the locations of the seas and craters appearing differently. For example, when I take a photo of the moon, the Sea of Serenity appears in one place, but from other countries it seems to be located somewhere else. Stumped down under, Rowena So heres a big part of the answer. The Northern and Southern Hemispheres see the moon oriented differently with respect to the horizon. The change in orientation leads to differences that can be hard to comprehend! For one thing, observers in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres see the moon apparently upside-down with respect to each other. You can see that if you scrutinize the moons features in the images below. Notice that for example from the Northern Hemisphere, a waxing moon (from new moon to full moon) increases its phase from right to left. From the Southern Hemisphere, meanwhile, a waxing moon (from new moon to full moon) increases its phase from left to right. Think of the moons path across your sky. Just picture yourself standing there, looking at it. From the Northern Hemisphere, we look generally southward to see the moon (or sun) crossing our sky. From the Southern Hemisphere, people look generally northward to see the moon (or sun) crossing the sky. But there are other differences. Look back at Bridget Borcherts image at the top of this post. No matter where you are on Earth, the moon itself shifts its orientation with respect to your horizon as it moves across your sky. I hope the photo at top showing the moons changing face throughout a single evening is self-explanatory. If you do have questions, though, please ask them in the comments below, and Ill try to answer, if I can. Just remember, your time zone also makes a small difference in how you view the moons phase. Thats because as Earth turns under the sky, and the moon rises for successive time zones the moon is continually waxing or waning. A final thought. What we on Earth call moon phases are really about sunrise and sunset on the moon. Astronomers call the line between light and dark on the moon the terminator line. Thats the line of sunrise or sunset on the moon, and it shifts, just as the line of sunrise and sunset on Earth is constantly shifting. Earth spins relatively fast, approximately once every 24 hours. The moon spins on its axis only once each earthly month, and its line of sunrise/set moves slowly. Its wonderful fun to beg or borrow a telescope for a night when the moon is up and watch for yourself over several hours as the shadows slowly shift on the moon, as the lunar sunrise or sunset slowly creeps across the moons face. A great way to clear the mind! Bottom line: The whole Earth sees the same moon phase on the same day, but the Northern and Southern Hemispheres see the moon oriented differently with respect to the horizon. The moon itself shifts its orientation with respect to your horizon as it moves across your sky. Finally, your time zone makes a small difference in how you view the moons phase. Visit this page at primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
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https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/do-we-all-see-the-same-moon-phase
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Who will feature in Hull City's starting XI to play Blackburn Rovers?
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Get Hull City updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Hull City will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 Championship games when they travel to Blackburn Rovers this weekend. The Tigers had won their previous six before travelling to Aston Villa last weekend, where despite taking a two-goal lead City clung on for a draw. However, with the play-offs in sight Nigel Adkins' side will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways this weekend. City will be without Jon Toral after the midfielder picked up a groin injury in training last week, while doubts exist over the fitness of Jordy de Wijs and Jarrod Bowen. De Wijs hobbled off at Villa Park just before the interval with a calf strain, and while the head coach refused to rule him out during Thursdays press conference, Adkins feared last week that he could miss two weeks of action. Bowen picked up a dead leg late in the game against the Villans. Blackburn are not expected to be pushovers this weekend and after a run of three consecutive wins the club sit level on points with the Tigers with their own eye on a spot in the play-offs. Using the widget below, simply drag and drop players into a desired formation and share your side with us when youre done.
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https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-feature-hull-citys-starting-2468853
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How do I download WhatsApp?
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WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps around and whatever device you have, chances are youll be able to download it. In fact, you may well be able to download it to multiple devices, so you can get your messages anywhere. Doing so is a simple process, but it varies based on whether youre using an iPhone, Android, Windows or a Mac, which is where this guide comes in. Below youll find step-by-step instructions for downloading WhatsApp on all of the above devices, as well as a guide to using WhatsApp Web. To download WhatsApp on an iPhone, simply open the App Store, type 'WhatsApp' into the search and it should appear. The full title of the app is 'WhatsApp Messenger' and it's made by 'WhatsApp Inc', so make sure thats the one youre downloading. Once youve found it, hit 'Get' as you would to download any other app, and the download will commence. Alternatively, if you go to whatsapp.com/dl in a browser on your phone it will take you straight to the App Store listing. Once its downloaded, launch it and follow the simple setup instructions, which include accepting the terms and conditions and verifying your phone number (which simply involves entering it and waiting for a text message). If youve previously used WhatsApp and have a back-up of your data then youll also be asked if you want to restore this. Then youll be ready to start messaging. Note that you need iOS 8 or later for WhatsApp to work. The process on Android is very similar to on iOS and as with iOS there are two ways to download WhatsApp. One is to open Google Play, type 'WhatsApp' into the search bar and look for 'WhatsApp Messenger' by 'WhatsApp Inc'. Tap that, hit 'install' and wait for it to appear on your phone. The other way to do it is to go to whatsapp.com/dl on your phones browser. This will redirect you straight to the Google Play listing, where you can just tap 'install'. Once its installed, launch it, accept the terms and conditions, enter your phone number so the app can verify it, and follow any other steps, which may include restoring from a back-up if youve used WhatsApp before. Note that you need an Android version above 2.3.7 to create a new WhatsApp account (i.e. if youve never used WhatsApp before), and Android 2.3.3 or later to download WhatsApp. You also need to be using a phone, rather than a tablet. To get WhatsApp for Windows, head to whatsapp.com/download and hit the download for Windows button. Once its downloaded, open the WhatsApp.exe file to install it, then follow the instructions, which involve launching WhatsApp on your phone and scanning a QR code (with the scanner found under Menu > WhatsApp web in the WhatsApp phone app). This will then link your phones WhatsApp up to the computer. Note that this therefore requires WhatsApp to also be installed on your phone and for the two to stay connected. If for example you turn your phone off, then the Windows version wont be able to function until you turn it back on. You also need Windows 8.1 or above to use WhatsApp. There are two ways to download WhatsApp on a Mac. One is to head to whatsapp.com/download and click the download for Mac OS X 10.9 and higher button. As youll gather from that, you need to be using Mac OS X 10.9 or higher. This will download a .zip file, which you should then open to run WhatsApp.app. This will install WhatsApp, during which time youll be asked whether you want to add it to your Applications folder and your desktop dock. So make a decision, then once installation is complete launch WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can head to the WhatsApp Desktop listing on the Mac App Store and download it from there. Either way, once it's installed youll then have to scan a QR code using the phone app (which also needs to be installed). On iOS 8.1 or above youll find this QR scanner in Settings > WhatsApp web. The WhatsApp service on Mac will only function while WhatsApp is running on your phone, so if you turn your phone off or delete the phone app it will stop. You dont actually need to download WhatsApp to use it on your PC or Mac. Instead, you can head to web.whatsapp.com and run it from a web browser. When you arrive on that page youll need to scan a QR code by launching WhatsApp on your phone and heading to Menu or Settings, then WhatsApp Web, to access the code reader. Once youve scanned the code, WhatsApp Web will launch, complete with all your WhatsApp conversations, so you can chat from your browser.
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https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-do-i-download-whatsapp
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How long before PS3 & Xbox 360 cost $199?
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The PS3 has not sold as well as Sony had hoped. But sales are currently picking up The head honcho of a major games publisher says that the prices of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 must fall to $199 (96.50) before the consoles will have mass market appeal. Recent sales figures might disagree slightly with that, but there's no denying that cheaper hardware would increase sales even more dramatically. "The Wii at its price point is now setting a standard and an expectation and people say, well, the Wii is less complex technically. I don't think that really matters as much to the consumer," Activision executive Bobby Kotick told the Reuters Media Summit. "In the next 24 months they will all need to be at that $199 price point, and you can imagine Nintendo will be down to the $129 [62.50] price point over the next few years," he said. Well one thing's for sure, Microsoft is a lot closer to hitting that price point than Sony is right now. The cheapest Xbox 360 model, the Arcade, can be bought for around 189 in the UK, while the 40GB PS3 costs 279. There are some fundamental reasons why this is, the main one being that the PS3 is certainly a far more complete console than the Xbox 360 Arcade. For a start, it's got an internal hard disc and a Blu-ray optical drive, neither of which can be found in the Xbox but both of which combine to keep PS3 production prices high. When the PS3 first launched last year, those two components alone made up over 20 per cent of the 420 it cost Sony to produce each console. PS3 component prices It paid Seagate $54 (27) for each 60GB hard drive and Sony manufactured its own Blu-ray drives at a cost of $125 (63) a pop. At that time, the manufacturing costs for the 60GB PS3 model amounted to $840 (420) while the retail price in the US was $600 (300), meaning Sony took a $240 (120) hit for every console sold. In comparison, iSuppli said that before marketing and advertising, Microsoft pretty much broke even on its hardware sales, leaving it free to make a big profit on software and the Xbox Live service. Since then, Sony has reduced the cost of the hard drives used by reducing capacity in most cases to 40GB. And as the market advances, Blu-ray drives are also coming down in price quickly. When the PS3 launched, the cheapest standalone BD player cost around 1,000. Today, the Sony BDP-S300 costs 279 on Amazon UK. 45nm Cell processor Another major component inside the PS3 is the Cell processor, manufactured by IBM. The current PS3s use 90nm Cell processing cores, just like the Xbox. These are expensive to manufacture and inefficient to run. So it's an absolute given that 65nm and 45nm Cell processors are on Sony's PS3 roadmap. This new hardware would bring Sony's costs down substantially, which in turn would lead to cheaper retail prices. The same is true of the Xbox 360. At some point in 2008, certainly by this time next year, Microsoft will ship all its consoles with 65nm cores which will make its own production costs cheaper because you can get more cores from a single layer of silicon. At launch, the total cost of motherboard components for the PS3 was $500 (250) and that included the graphics chip as well as the Bluetooth module and USB support. This will inevitably reduce over time. And as production costs get cheaper, so will retail prices. More consoles sold means more games sold. That means more profit for Sony and Microsoft which means they can subsidise hardware even more. Sales go up again and the cycle continues. Whatever happens in the next 12 months, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Christmas 2008 saw PS3 consoles on sale for $199/199.
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https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/gaming/consoles/video/blu-ray/home-cinema/high-definition/digital-home/home-networking/computing-components/upgrades/how-long-before-ps3-xbox-360-cost-199-160918
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Was steckt hinter den chinesischen Goldkufen?
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In einem Interview mit Kitco News am Rande der Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, erklrte Jeffrey Christian, geschftsfhrender Partner der CPM Group, was es mit den Goldkufen der Zentralbanken, insbesondere der Chinesischen Volksbank (PBoC), auf sich hat.Im Dezember 2018 kaufte China nach langer Pause zum ersten Mal wieder Gold fr ihre Whrungsreserven. Viele Leute sind der Ansicht, dass China heimlich grere Mengen Gold akkumuliert, als offiziell gemeldet wird. Darauf hat Jeffrey Christian eine klare Erwiderung: "Jeder, der die Handlungen der PBoC infrage stellt oder nicht versteht und nicht wei, ob die PBoC wahrheitsgetreue Angaben macht, hat keine Ahnung von der chinesischen Goldpolitik." Die PBoC sei momentan sehr transparent, was ihre Whrungsreserven angehe.Viele Zentralbanken weltweit erweiterten ihre Reserven mit Gold, einige teilweise zum ersten Mal. Dies hat verschiedene Grnde. Laut Christian kaufen die Zentralbanken von Russland und Kasachstan in erster Linie Gold, um sich vom Dollar zu distanzieren, vor allem auch wegen den auf Russland lastenden Sanktionen der USA und EU.Die meisten anderen Zentralbanken kaufen Gold, um ihre Reserven zu diversifizieren und sich nicht nur auf den US-Dollar verlassen zu mssen. Da der Goldpreis niedrig ist und der Dollarkurs hoch, kaufen sie das unterbewertete Asset mit dem berbewerteten Asset.Christian ist der Meinung, dass diese Ausgangslage etwas weniger bullish ist, als sie aussieht. Einerseits ist es ein gutes Zeichen fr den Goldpreis, dass Zentralbanken Gold kaufen (sie sehen es als ein Asset zur Diversifizierung ihrer Bestnde, neben anderen Whrungen), andererseits haben die Zentralbanken den niedrigen Goldpreis - aufgrund von schwacher Investment-Nachfrage - ausgenutzt, um ihre Goldbestnde zu akkumulieren.CPM prognostiziert einen Goldpreis von 1.300 Dollar bis 1.400 Dollar. Besonders die schwache Investment-Nachfrage im Jahr 2018 knnte dem Goldpreis einen Dmpfer verpassen. Damit die Preise einen strkeren Aufschwung erleben, sollte die Investment-Nachfrage auch strker zurckkommen. Redaktion GoldSeiten.de
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https://www.goldseiten.de/artikel/402402--Was-steckt-hinter-den-chinesischen-Goldkaeufen.html
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What will the weather be like in Derbyshire this weekend?
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According to the Met Office, it will be cloudy and breezy for most tonight with with some hill fog persisting across the Peak District. A few clear spells will be possible in the east and it will be milder than recent nights. The minimum temperature will be 6C. There will be patchy cloud and bright spells on Saturday before some light rain develops in the south during the afternoon. Gusty winds and a band of heavy rain will then spread east later. It will be mild with a maximum temperature of 10C. It will be windy and colder on Sunday with outbreaks of rain, falling as snow across hills.
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https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/what-will-the-weather-be-like-in-derbyshire-this-weekend-1-9557502
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What are the economic and security implications of Trump's Venezuela policy?
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Ccuta, Colombia The U.S. State Department is ordering all non-essential U.S. personnel out of Venezuela amid the country's growing political crisis. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro severed ties with the U.S. after President Trump endorsed an opposition leader as interim president. Maduro claims the U.S. wants to install its own unconstitutional government to Venezuela. The military has pledged its allegiance to Maduro, who also has the support of Russia and China. To put on pressure, the U.S. is now considering sanctions on Venezuela's oil exports. Venezuela is the fourth largest supplier of crude oil to the U.S., and sanctions could lead to a rise in gas prices for Americans. Venezuela is in the midst of an economic and humanitarian crisis. More than two million Venezuelans have fled since 2015, some crossing into Colombia. Now, opposition leader Juan Guaid is promising to change that, but he wants Maduro out, reports CBS News' Manuel Bojorquez. One day after swearing in himself as president, Guaid said he would consider granting amnesty to Maduro if the president helps return the country to democracy, but he also called him a dictator, responsible for the recent deaths of protesters. This week, an estimated 14 people have died in mostly anti-Maduro protests. Oil accounts for 98 percent of Venezuela's exports, and it once made it Latin America's richest nation. When the price of oil plummeted the economy took a nosedive, sending the country into crisis. Under Maduro's policies, inflation has skyrocketed to nearly 10 million percent. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the U.S. supports the opposition and pledged $20 million in humanitarian aid. "The time for debate is done. The regime of former President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate," Pompeo said. But at the Venezuelan supreme court, Maduro accused President Trump of staging a coup. "Let there be no doubt that Donald Trump in all his madness believes himself to be the world's police," Maduro told the court. When asked by a reporter if he was considering a military option for Venezuela, President Trump said, "We're not considering anything, but all options are on the table." Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda is a UCLA professor of Latin American studies who observed the elections in Venezuela that gave Maduro a second term last year. The U.S. and most democratic nations across the globe deemed that vote illegitimate as Maduro barred all major opposition candidates from running. Hinojosa-Ojeda tells CBS News that any U.S. military intervention could escalate the violence. "I think it's a huge mistake," he said. "When the United States gets involved in these types of conflicts within countries it really polarizes the situation making the risk of bloodshed even stronger." There are an estimated 70 to 80 Americans working for the U.S. in Venezuela. Senator Marco Rubio has warned that if any harm comes to them, the consequences will be swift and decisive. Maduro said Venezuela will close its embassy and all consulates in the U.S., but Guaid is encouraging Venezuelan embassy workers to stay put.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-the-economic-implications-of-trumps-venezuela-policy/
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Why are strikes so rare in Sweden?
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This article is available to Members of The Local. Read more Membership Exclusives here. "Sweden has many fewer working days lost due to strikes, lockouts and labour disputes than other Nordic countries, even though we have by far the biggest labour market," says Per Ewaldsson from the National Mediation Institute, which mediates in labour disputes when they occur. "Looking further afield, at international statistics, it seems that generally Sweden is among the countries which loses the fewest working days," Ewaldsson tells The Local. The Mediation Institute's own statistics show that on average 21,000 working days have been lost per year due to industrial action over the past decade, with a major strike by a healthcare workers' union, among others, in 2008 contributing to 106,801 lost workdays that year alone. The figure for 2017 was only 2,570 lost days. The figure for the past decade is significantly less than the 84,000 days a year not worked in Finland over the past decade, which rose to 128,000 in Norway and was almost 300,000 in Denmark. In Sweden, only 0.6 days per 1000 workers were not worked in 2017 due to industrial action, according to statistics from the International Labour Organization, which compared to 8.9 in Norway and 45.2 in Spain. And there were six strikes or lockouts in Sweden in 2017, the ILO data shows, compared to 79 in the UK and 426 in Denmark. If a trade union, employers' organization or individual employer is considering industrial action, they are required to inform not only their counterpart but also the Mediation Institute. This is in contrast to countries like France and Italy, where strikes tend to precede negotiations or occur alongside them, rather than be called as a last resort. Ewaldsson does not have exact figures for how many of these mediations are unable to resolve the conflict, but according to him "in most cases" a solution is reached before any industrial action takes place. MY SWEDISH CAREER: The Local interviews international workers in Sweden A miners' strike in Kiruna in 1969. Photo: Pressens bild/TT Sweden has a long history of strikes, with the first major one occurring at the Sala silver mine in 1552 when miners refused to work though these workers were accused of mutiny and imprisoned by the king at the time. Throughout the 20th century, there were multiple strikes including those organized by unions (the Swedish Trade Union Confederation or LO was founded in 1898) and others organized by employees alone. One milestone came in the form of the 1997 Industrial Agreement (Industriavtalet) between unions and employers' organizations, which was replaced by a new version in 2011. These agreements regulate collective agreements (kollektivavtal); the agreements between employers and unions on issues such as pay levels, working conditions and benefits. One of the main effects this has is to regulate wage increases, to ensure that employees continue to get real wage increases but also that Sweden can be competitive in a globalized economy, because wage increases in other sectors won't push up pay so much that companies are forced to cut jobs or even relocate abroad. And the fact is that wages have increased steadily in real terms since the turn of the century, meaning employees may be more likely to be satisfied with their working conditions so that strikes aren't necessary. "If you look at labour disputes historically, they were much more common in earlier decades than they are now. Back then, it was a very different country with many more social tensions and where income levels were much lower, also in relation to other countries it was a much poorer country," explains Ewaldsson. "One part of the explanation is that the labour market model functions relatively well, not least in the way competitiveness is secured in collective agreements at the same time as real wage increases are secured. There's a basic consensus that this is good for a small exporting country like Sweden. A guideline for our mediators is that they should not propose solutions to conflicts which would exceed the wage increases agreed in industry. That's really the top priority." ALSO FOR MEMBERS: Everything you need to know if you lose your job in Sweden A rail strike in France brought trains to a standstill last year. Photo: AP Photo/Michel Spingler The biggest exceptions to the rule are independent trade unions; those which are not part of the LO. This includes the Dockworkers' Union which called this week's strike, as well as the alternative left-wing Central Organization of the Workers of Sweden (Syndikalisterna or SAC). Other unions, particularly the builders' union and the municipal workers' union, have also held strikes and threatened industrial action on several occasions. There have also been so-called wildcat strikes, organized by workers without the authorization of their union. One recent example is the Stockholm waste collectors' strike in summer 2017, when dozens of workers walked out over a pay dispute. But that was later ruled as unlawful by Sweden's Labour Court, because it took place during the term of a collective agreement. This highlights another reason strikes are comparatively rare in Sweden: the strength of the unions. Unions represent around three quarters of workers in Sweden, and strong unions are likely to be able to negotiate reasonable terms with employers' organizations. Again, this stands in contrast to France, which has Europe's highest number of trade unions but the lowest rate of union membership, creating competition between them which may encourage strikes to win the support of frustrated workers. ALSO FOR MEMBERS: What to do if you need a sick day in Sweden While it might be tempting to draw a link between the stereotypes associated with a country and its attitudes to strike: the hot-heated French versus the 'lagom', conflict-averse Swedes, the frequency of strikes comes down to a combination of factors relating to how the labour market is set up, and how the economy of each country works. This in turn affects how strikes are viewed by fellow workers. In southern Europe, there is often a higher level of sympathy for striking workers seen as standing up for their rights, especially in countries which were hard hit by the recession. In Sweden, many workers accept that their rights are already protected by kollektivavtal and the strong union movement, and some argue that strikes can be damaging to Sweden's export-reliant economy. This is particularly evident in a dockworkers' strike last year, which risked impacting the movement of goods in and out of the country and even led to the Liberal Party proposing that the right to strike be restricted.
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https://www.thelocal.se/20190125/why-are-strikes-so-rare-in-sweden
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Why do ballpark names keep coming out of left field?
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Fenway Park was probably named after a real estate company. No, really. You can look it up. Sure, the swamp that marked the area where the great venue now stands was called "the Fens" and the neighborhood was, and is, called Fenway. But in 1911, Boston's soon-to-be-former owner, John I. Taylor, was the driving force behind the construction of the ballpark and also happened to own a real estate company called the Fenway Realty Company. At the very least, the name choice served a dual purpose. Best I can tell, Taylor's real estate company is long gone, and Taylor died in 1938. But the park remains, as does the neighborhood, and if you utter the word "Fenway" to anyone familiar with baseball, they know you're talking about the city of Boston, and the image of a huge, green wall immediately leaps to mind. If you've been there, you might also think of that great botanical park nearby, or Bukowski's in nearby Back Bay or Cambridge, just across the river. But no matter what you think of, Fenway Park is a bona fide place, fixed in a geographic location, and it requires no effort to make these associations. Now consider these two words: guaranteed and rate. I can all but guarantee that those words rate nary a hint of an intuitive relationship to the grand old game. You probably know that the big league park on the South Side of Chicago is currently called Guaranteed Rate Field. Or you may not know that, if you're not a close observer of the ever-swift game of corporate stadium naming rights, or if you just don't pay any attention to the White Sox. It's confusing. That's true even for me, a self-proclaimed ballpark aficionado who is working on a history of baseball venues through the prism of urbanism and population shifts. A few times each season, I find myself double-checking the mention of a ballpark, just to make sure that I am not only matching the right corporate name with the right team, but that I am using the most current corporate sponsor.
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/25844385/why-do-ballpark-names-keep-coming-left-field
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Is Aurora Cannabis the Best Pot Stock to Buy?
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Cannabis stocks are an extremely entertaining industry in the stock market at the moment. As names like Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB ) swing in and out of favor, we get an incredibly real, incredibly raw trading environment. Its truly a sentiment game that allows investors to play the ups and downs in names like ACB stock as they come. But that doesnt mean that these companies dont run viable businesses. They certainly do. Otherwise we wouldnt have companies like Altria (NYSE: MO ), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ ) and others making multi-billion investments in them. As these products continue to gain regulatory approval, theres a lot of top-line growth to go around. Valuing Aurora Cannabis Stock On January 8th, Aurora announced preliminary results saying it expects fiscal second-quarter revenue of $50 million to $55 million, up about five-fold from the same period a year ago. Thats the type of growth thats got investors excited. On the same day, a top cannabis analyst said she expects the U.S. cannabis market to be an $80 billion industry by 2030. The analyst, Vivien Azer of Cowen, was most optimistic on Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC ) and Tilray (NASDAQ: TLRY ) this year based on demand from Canada, but that didnt stop investors from snapping up the entire industry. The fact that it came on the same day as ACBs preliminary results was like adding fuel to the fire. Shares went from $5 that morning to $7.50 within a week. The fact that its cooled down a bit shouldnt surprise anyone and its definitely got bulls wondering if this is a buyable pullback. With a $6.2 billion market cap, ACB isnt small but its smaller than some of its peers. That does make it ripe for potential investment partners, but it also makes it expensive as well. In fiscal 2018, ACB had $55 million in sales. Lets be super optimistic and say it achieves five-fold growth for the whole year, meaning it generates $275 million in sales. At that price, it still trades at 23.5 times 2019 sales. That said, ACB isnt a bad play on the cannabis market, but its hard for me to not like one of the industrys most well-known players at this time, Canopy Growth. With a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands, it has the backing of a high-quality alcohol company with proven leadership and distribution channels. Shares have retraced just over 50% of that move, now trading near $6.20 a share. ACB stock peaked around $12 in January before going on an extended decline. Shares finally bottomed out just above $4 in mid-August before reversing higher. ACB again ran to $12.50 before reversing lower, this time finding support on prior downtrend resistance (blue line). Shares are now putting in a series of higher lows, creating both long-term and short-term uptrend support lines (black line). Obviously ACB is a speculative trading vehicle, so investors should expect big moves in both directions. With that said, with ACB over the 21-day and 50-day moving averages as well as both levels of uptrend support, bulls can justify holding their long position here. Conservative ACB bulls may want to wait for a further pullback, though. Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
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https://investorplace.com/2019/01/is-aurora-cannabis-the-best-pot-stock-to-buy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29
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Are Albemarle Corporations Returns On Capital Worth Investigating?
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Today we are going to look at Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) to see whether it might be an attractive investment prospect. In particular, well consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), as that can give us insight into how profitably the company is able to employ capital in its business. Firstly, well go over how we calculate ROCE. Then well compare its ROCE to similar companies. Finally, well look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar. The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets Current Liabilities) Or for Albemarle: 0.12 = US$678m (US$7.5b US$1.1b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) So, Albemarle has an ROCE of 12%. One way to assess ROCE is to compare similar companies. We can see Albemarles ROCE is around the 12% average reported by the Chemicals industry. Separate from Albemarles performance relative to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms looks satisfactory, and it may be worth researching in more depth. In our analysis, Albemarles ROCE appears to be 12%, compared to 3 years ago, when its ROCE was 4.3%. This makes us wonder if the company is improving. NYSE:ALB Last Perf January 25th 19 More It is important to remember that ROCE shows past performance, and is not necessarily predictive. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. How Albemarles Current Liabilities Impact Its ROCE Liabilities, such as supplier bills and bank overdrafts, are referred to as current liabilities if they need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. Albemarle has total assets of US$7.5b and current liabilities of US$1.1b. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 15% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE. The Bottom Line On Albemarles ROCE With that in mind, Albemarles ROCE appears pretty good. But note: Albemarle may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at [email protected].
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https://news.yahoo.com/albemarle-corporation-returns-capital-worth-113525189.html
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Will St Helens be a host venue for the 2021 rugby league World Cup?
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St Helens is set to hear whether it is being chosen as a host for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The Rugby Football League (RFL) have announced that the final host cities and towns for the prestigious tournament will be announced next Tuesday. Nearby Wigan, Warrington and Leigh have also made bids. Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, said: "We have undertaken a thorough bid process, lasting 12 months and involving some very tough decisions. "The quality of bids has been impressive across all three tournaments and we are now ready to share the venue details as we continue to build awareness and excitement. "I look forward to congratulating those that have been successful and working with those local communities over the next 1,000 days to stage an incredibly inclusive and welcoming tournament. "We appreciate some people will be disappointed that their town or city hasnt made the final list, but the tournament will be very accessible with marquee moments to look forward to." The RLWC2021 host announcement will be broadcast at 9am and will be available to watch and follow via BBC Sport online and the RLWC2021 social media channels. Host Helen Skelton will be joined by RLWC2021 Ambassadors; Kevin Sinfield; St. Helens and England Womens star, Jodie Cunningham; and Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair captain, James Simpson, to reveal the successful towns and cities
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https://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/sport/will-st-helens-be-a-host-venue-for-the-2021-rugby-league-world-cup-1-9557156
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Was ist Plastik? Und wer hat es erfunden?
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Plastik wird umgangssprachlich oft als Synonym fr Kunststoffe (Plaste) aller Art verwendet. Beide Begriffe bezeichnen ein faszinierendes Material, das sich durch auergewhnliche Eigenschaften von anderen Werkstoffen unterscheidet. Welche unterschiedlichen Formen entstehen, hngt vom Ausgangsmaterial und vom Herstellungsverfahren ab. Die Englnder nennen Plastik man-made material. Die Griechen sehen in jeder Plastik ein Kunstwerk. Der Mnchner Chemiker Ernst Richard Escales prgt 1911 den Namen Kunststoff. Je nach Beigabe von Zustzen wird eine breite Produktpalette von Kunststoffprodukten angeboten. Es gibt viele Grnde, weshalb Plastik die Materialien Holz, Leder und Metall ersetzt. Denn der Werkstoff ist robust, lang haltbar und hat ein geringes Eigengewicht. Auerdem ist er geschmeidig und vielseitig einsetzbar. Plastik vermodert nicht und verrottet nur sehr langsam. Diese Vorteile sind gleichzeitig auch das Problem. Plastikmll verschmutzt Flsse und Ozeane oder wchst zu einem Mllberg an Land. Nur ein Teil des Kunststoffabfalls wird recycelt oder landet in Mllverbrennungsanlagen, wo er wertvolle Energie liefert. Positive Eigenschaften Fast alle Kunststoffe sind Nichtleiter, isolieren gut und werden daher im Wohnungsbau eingesetzt. Weitere Vorzge sind die glatte Oberflche, die sich leicht reinigen lsst, die Bestndigkeit gegenber Wasser, Suren und Laugen. Die Dichte ist nur halb so gro wie bei Glas, Porzellan oder Leichtmetall. Die Materie ist somit leicht, formbar und modellierbar. Negative Eigenschaften Kunststoffe haben meist eine geringe Temperaturbestndigkeit und sind nicht besonders kratzfest. Als Nichtleiter laden sie sich bei Reibung elektrisch auf und ziehen Staubteilchen an. Die nicht fachgerechte Beseitigung von Kunststoffabfllen wird mit dem steigenden Verbrauch dieses Materials zu einem Problem, denn Kunststoff hat eine lange Haltbarkeit. Die Verrottungsdauer hngt von den ueren Umstnden ab. Das Prozedere der einzelnen Schritte vom Rohstoff zum fertigen Kunststoff fasst Johannes Steindl, Projektassistent an der Technischen Universitt Wien, so zusammen: Kunststoffe entstehen entweder durch chemische Umwandlung von Naturprodukten wie Kautschuk, Zellulose und Milch oder werden synthetisch aus Erdl, Kohle und Erdgas erzeugt. Meist ist das Ausgangsmaterial Rohbenzin. In einem thermischen Spaltprozess (Cracken) werden diese Verbindungen auseinandergebrochen. Das so entstandene Produkt wird in Ethylen, Propylen, Butylen und andere Kohlenwasserstoffe aufgetrennt. Je nachdem, welche Eigenschaften fr den jeweiligen Verwendungszweck passend sind, kommen Weichmacher (Phthalate), oft auch Farb- und Flammschutzmittel dazu. Steindl ist auf Makromolekulare Chemie spezialisiert und forscht am Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry der Technischen Universitt Wien. Die Kunststoffe werden entsprechend ihren Charakteristika in drei Kategorien unterteilt: Thermoplaste, Duroplaste und Elastomere. Sie unterscheiden sich durch ihre Reaktion auf Hitze und Druck. Eine eindeutige Antwort auf diese Frage lsst sich nicht geben. Bereits in der Steinzeit gewannen die Neandertaler durch Erhitzen von Birkenrinde Pech. Es diente Sammlern und Jgern als Fixierung ihrer Steinwerkzeuge. Die erste schriftliche Erwhnung eines Kunststoffs stammt aus dem 16. Jahrhundert. Es ist eine Rezeptur zur Herstellung von Kunsthorn (Galalith). Der bayrische Benediktinermnch und Hobbyalchimist Wolfgang Seidel experimentierte mit Ziegenmilch und entdeckte 1530 Kunsthorn, welches aus Milcheiwei (Kasein) gewonnen wird. Er beschreibt sein Resultat mit knochenhart und wunderbar durchscheinend. Aus Kunsthorn, auch Milchstein genannt, werden Knpfe, Kmme oder Isoliermaterialien gefertigt. Bis 1950 wurden Kaseinkunststoffe fr die Herstellung von Modeschmuck verwendet. In Frankreich stellten 1774 die Brder Charles und Robert Montgolfier wasserstoffgefllte Ballons aus gummierter Seide her. Im Jahr 1839 erfand Charles Goodyear die Vulkanisation des Kautschuks. Er ist einer der Pioniere und Erfinder des Autoreifens. Der Autoreifen Erfinder: Der US-Amerikaner Charles Goodyear erfand 1839 den Hartgummi. Der britische Tierarzt John Boyd Dunlop erfand 1887 den ersten Luftreifen. Die Franzosen Andr und Edouard Michelin erfanden 1891 den ersten demontierbaren Reifen. Entstehung: Bereits im 17. Jahrhundert brachten Naturforscher eine aus milchigen Baumsften gewonnene Masse (Kautschuk) aus Malaysia und Brasilien mit. Der Erfinder Charles Goodyear stellte 1839 fest, dass sich Kautschuk bei Hitzeeinwirkung durch Zusatz von Schwefel in Gummi verwandelt. Durch Vulkanisierung des Kautschuks erfand er den Hartgummi. 1844 (US-Patent Nr. 3633). Dunlop entwickelte 1887 den ersten Luftreifen, der aus einem Tuch aus gewebter Baumwolle als Schlauch, auf eine Holzfelge genagelt und geklebt wurde. Die Brder Andr und Edouard Michelin erfanden 1891 den ersten demontierbaren Reifen und 1955 den ersten schlauchlosen Autoreifen (Tubeless). Der Englnder Alexander Parkes stellte 1856 Parkesin her, einen noch nicht ausreichend bestndigen Vorlufer des Celluloids, wofr er 1862 auf der Weltausstellung in London einen Preis erhielt. Die Brder John Wesley und Isaiah Hyatt, USA, fhrten 1868 die Versuche von Parkes fort. John Wesley Hyatt, der in Amerika als father of the plastic industry gilt, entwickelt aus Nitrocellulose und Kampfer Celluloid als ersten thermoplastischen Kunststoff. Mit der Industrialisierung stieg auch der Bedarf nach dem leicht zu verarbeitenden Material. Kunststoffe erffneten vllig neue Mglichkeiten fr Designer. Innovative Produkte fr die Autoindustrie, die Sportartikelindustrie und die Medizin werden weltweit erzeugt. Vom Nylonstrumpf ber Kontaktlinsen oder Verpackungen bis hin zum viel diskutierten Plastiksackerl reicht die Produktpalette. Das Plastiksackerl Erfinder: Per Zufall entdeckte der deutsche Chemiker Hans von Pechmann im Jahr 1898 ein Material, welches seine Kollegen Polymethylen nannten. 1935 erfand der Englnder Michael Perrin Polyethylen. Die US-amerikanischen Chemiker John Paul Hogan und Robert Louis Banks stellten 1950 Polypropylen fr die Phillips Petroleum Company her. Entstehung und Verwendung: Ein Plastiksackerl besteht aus Polyethylen (PE) oder Polypropylen (PP). Fr die Erzeugung von einem ca 20g schweren Plastiksackerl werden ca 40 g Erdl bentigt Es wird vor allem zum Transport von Einkufen und zur Aufbewahrung sowie zum Transport von Mll verwendet. Bedruckte Plastiksackerl dienen dem Handel und der Konsumgterindustrie auch als Werbetrger. Eine Antwort lautet: Recycling. Dabei werden die gesammelten Kunststoffverpackungen nach Kunststoffarten getrennt, anschlieend zerkleinert, gewaschen, geschmolzen und zu Granulat verarbeitet. Der so entstandene Rohstoff wird fr die Herstellung neuer Produkte verwendet. Das spart Kosten und Ressourcen. Ein Groteil der PET-Flaschen wird im sogenannten Bottle-to-Bottle-Verfahren zu rePET-Flaschen. Die PET-Flasche Erfinder: Die Englnder John Rex Whinfield und James Tennant Dickson erfanden 1941 Polyester. Aus Ethylenglycol und Terephthalsure gelang es ihnen, in den Labors des Textilunternehmens Calico Printers Association in Accrington, Polyester herzustellen. (GB- Patentnummer 578079) Entstehung: PET ist die Kurzform von Polyethylenterephtalat, ein thermoplastischer Kunststoff aus der Familie der Polyester. Knapp zwei Liter Erdl ergeben ein Kilo PET. Soviel bentigt man fr 15 Flaschen mit einem Fassungsvermgen von einem Liter. Durch mehrere chemische Reaktionen entsteht aus dem Erdl eine zhflssige PET-Schmelze, die in dnne Stangen gepresst und zu Granulat geschnitten wird. Die matten weien Kgelchen sind die Grundlage fr die PET-flasche. Ihre weltweite Karriere startete die zwei Liter PET-flasche 1978 in den USA Durch ein Pfandsystem fr PET-Flaschen knnen diese sortenrein gesammelt, effizient recycelt und zu rePET-Flaschen verarbeitet werden. Um die Unterschiede bezglich Unbedenklichkeit der verschiedenen Kunststoffprodukte zu kennzeichnen, befindet sich auf jedem Plastikprodukt ein Recyclingcode. Die Zahlen von 01 bis 07 sind Abkrzungen fr einen bestimmten Kunststoff. 01 bezeichnet beispielsweise PET, 03 PVC. Die Recyclingcodes geben ber die jeweiligen Kunststoffe und deren Zusammensetzung Auskunft. Bei der Herstellung von Kunststoff werden Zusatzstoffe (Additive) beigemengt, die nicht fest gebunden sind und entweichen knnen. Beispielsweise Weichmacher (Phthalate), Bisphenol A (BPA), bromierte Flammschutzmittel und Organozinnverbindungen. Diese Stoffe sind giftig und schaden der Gesundheit. Produkte mit folgenden Kennzeichnungen sollten daher vermieden werden: 03 PVC, 06 PS, 07 O und PC. Der Recyclingcode dient auch dazu, die Verpackung vor dem Recyclingprozess richtig einzuordnen. Plastikgeschichte - Fortsetzung folgt Die Einsatzgebiete von Kunststoffen sind heute kaum abzhlbar. Da viele von ihnen aus Erdlprodukten entstehen, sind sie wertvolle Energietrger und ersetzen Kohle, Erdl und Erdgas. In sterreich werden Kunststoffverpackungen gemeinsam mit dem Restmll gesammelt und in Mllverbrennungsanlagen verbrannt. Die so erzeugte Energie versorgt kommunale Einrichtungen und Fernwrmenetze. Kunststoffe prgen aber auch die materielle Kultur des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts. Die Generation Plastik verbindet viele Annehmlichkeiten des modernen Lebensstils damit. Industriezweige wie die Musik- und Filmindustrie oder die Fotografie sind dadurch entstanden. Lange Zeit hatte Plastik den Ruf, gnstiger Ersatz fr hochwertige Naturstoffe zu sein. Designern schenkt die Vielseitigkeit des Materials eine neue Freiheit. Fr die Wirtschaft spielen mittlerweile Umweltschutz und Schonung der Ressourcen bei der Entwicklung neuer Produkte eine wichtige Rolle. Doch Plastik hat auch seine Schattenseiten - Stichwort: Plastikteppiche in den Weltmeeren, Mikroplastik in Tiermgen, Kunststoffmllberge in einst unberhrten Landstrichen. Wissenschaftler arbeiten deshalb intensiv daran, die Kunststoffe vertrglicher zu machen - oder Ersatz zu finden. Ob die Vorhaben von Erfolg gekrnt sein werden, wird sich erst zeigen. Fest stehen drfte aber: Das letzte Kapitel der Plastikgeschichte wurde noch nicht geschrieben.
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https://diepresse.com/home/dossier/5561586/Geschichte_Was-ist-Plastik-Und-wer-hat-es-erfunden
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Can getting a new passport be that hard?
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Columnist Di Wade writes about the troubles she encountered renewing her passport. Its shocking the mental as well as physical ravages of time. I astonished myself recently by hearing of a colleagues scenic drive to Sheffield and thinking, well thats something Ill never do. Besides, why'd I want to go to Sheffield, which is no doubt lousy with Yorkshire types. Di Wade As for New Year, (likely as new as my disintegrating socks), I just couldnt get motivated at all. Nor was Christmas at all bad, as I realised on describing it to someone on January 2: By the Blackpool monopoly, by which point no one could remember who was what, who owned what or who on earth had gone last, (while anyone landing on Coronation Street cued a rousing rendition of the theme to a soap none of us watches), his bewilderment suggested that not all families did this sort of thing. It is true that New Year doesn't make everyday life any saner. My Christmas presents had included a possible aid to my hearing in noisy situations: Only, improbably called a Roger Pen, (and its accompaniment, Roger My Link, entertained my sister no end), it soon became clear that it could be nothing to write home about as the actual pen was missing. So, minus the replacement, apparently to have been sent hurtling up the M1 by the suppliers the day after Boxing Day, January 2 saw me shelling out for the original to be returned to them on January 3 which was eventually the 6th. On January 14, I was back at the Post Office not getting a passport renewal application completed: Discovering on going to get the forms, that they could fill these in, take the photos, dispatch the lot and everything, I was happy to go away, retrieve my passport from the attic and come back again: Initially. Standing in the photo booth, lips tightly closed as instructed, I thought on my inability to breathe through my nose only after such a silent time had passed that my lungs felt ready to burst. Finally, the assistant spoke again, and feared my head was in the wrong place. ), I took a deep breath and tried again. But it was no good. Apparently, the very precise technology might now be struggling with one of my eyes being higher up than the other, which was impossible. Torn between exclaiming at my dashed supermodel hopes, and nonchalantly enquiring what one was supposed to do in such a case, I took myself, in fits, to a photographers, the forms to my mums, and the application went off next day. January 15: Decided to write a travel book: This'll likely be published when Blackpool are Premier League champions, but between volcanoes, icebergs, elephants, crocodiles and recalcitrant passport scanners, it could interest, and has in any case lent purpose to the new year.
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https://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news/can-getting-a-new-passport-be-that-hard-1-9555230
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Why are we trying to gain the (moral) approval of the Left?
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Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Ive seen it time and again in the Christian entertainment industry. A new Christian film is coming out, and were excited to announce that so-and-so, a famous secular director, is involved with the project. We seem to have forgotten, though, that only a few months earlier we were boycotting that very directors films because of their immoral, anti-Christ message. Now, we revel in his validation. We do the same thing with the secular news media or with liberal activist groups. We want to show them how moral we are, even though we reject their morality. To some extent, this happened with the Covington Catholic school boys. We who voted for Trump somehow felt we had the moral obligation to say something about their allegedly bad behavior, since, after all, they were wearing MAGA hats. And by extension, if we voted for Trump, we were responsible for the behavior of these teens. Yes, the logic is beyond twisted. But I was told this quite directly on social media, with questions like, So, now, will you reconsider your support for Trump?, as if my pro-life vote for him and against Hillary was directly tied in with the alleged actions of these kids. So, to prove our morality to the watching world (especially since a Native American elder was involved), we must express our moral abhorrence. Yes, the Scriptures call us as believers to have a good reputation with outsiders. Our personal lives and conduct should be above reproach. But thats another thing entirely. I do agree that its healthy for us to express our differences with the president when appropriate. This holds true because much of the Church has moral conflict over his presidency. Thats why Im glad to repeat that hes not our Savior, but that we should continue to support him. And, in the entertainment world, I can understand why we appreciate the endorsement of a talented, yet ungodly movie producer or actor or musician or singer. As skilled professionals, theyre telling us Well done, despite our moral and spiritual differences. And perhaps God will use them to open key doors for exposure. If thats the case, great. In my early years of engaging LGBT activists, the subject of violence of gays often came up, and I made my position quite clear: If someone wanted to attack someone in their community, they would have to get past me first. I stood for the full and equal protection under the law. In that same spirit, when word got out of a fatal shooting at a gay club in Tel Aviv, I was one of the first to condemn the shooting publicly. We still didnt know who was responsible, but I immediately stated that this was inexcusable and ugly, without religious justification. But I would have been deceiving myself if I thought this now made me a good guy in the eyes of these activists. To the contrary, they still perceived me as their enemy, they still felt my words were violent and harmful, and they still took public (and quite caustic) difference with my stands. They simply understood that I did not condone violence against gays, in particular, in the name of religion. So, in their eyes, I was still evil. Just not that evil. The fact is that the left is not seeking our moral approbation. Those who are shouting their abortions are not hoping well understand. The liberal leaders of New York who lit up the spire at One World Trade center in pink to celebrate the passage of the states radical abortion law are not worried about what we think. To the contrary, they are proud of their positions to the point of being brazen. Yet we, somehow, feel we need to apologize, or to explain, or, whenever possible, do our own virtue signaling to prove to them how decent we are.
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https://www.christianpost.com/voice/why-are-we-trying-to-gain-the-moral-approval-of-the-left.html
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Whos at Fault in the Shutdown Fight?
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As the partial government shutdown stretches into its second month, a new Fox News poll finds that 51 percent of respondents blame the president, 34 percent blame the Democrats, 9 percent say everyone involved is to blame. And only 3 percent blame the Republicans. To put this in perspective, the margin of error in the poll is 3 percent. Thats weird. Its understandable why so many blame the president. He said he would own the shutdown if the Democrats refused to pay for it. On Dec. 11, the president proclaimed in an Oval Office meeting with then-incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. . . . I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. Im not going to blame you for it. Since then, the president has changed his tune, blaming the Democrats, in part because theyve rejected several possible compromises as non-starters. Pelosi says that the wall is an immorality, and the most shed agree to spend on it would be one dollar. Given the contours of the fight between the White House and the Democrats, its easy to see why each side gets a good deal of blame from partisans. At the end of 2018, there was a Schumer-backed proposal to fund the government with $1.6 billion for border security, which included fencing or walls. And many Democrats supported walls or fences on the border in the past. In 2006, then-senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Schumer, and 22 other Democrats voted for the Secure Fence Act, which mandated 700 miles of double fencing along parts of the southern border. Later, President Obama boasted about how much of that fencing was built on his watch. To be fair, many Democrats say the real issue is that they dont want to cave to what they call the hostage taking tactic of using a shutdown as leverage. But that doesnt negate the hypocrisy of suddenly claiming that building border barriers something the Obama administration did is immoral. But, again, the remarkable thing is not that Trump and the Democrats are being blamed, its that the Republicans are getting off scot-free. As Commentary magazines Noah Rothman explained for NBCs Think site, the congressional GOP deserves its share of the blame for getting us to this impasse. When the Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, they routinely punted on the issue of wall funding. We have to deal with (Hurricane) Harvey, we have the debt ceiling, we have a continuing resolution, which will be just about a three-month continuing resolution, then-House majority leader Kevin McCarthy said in September 2017. So you will deal with the wall a little later in the year. Then, with the midterm elections looming, Republicans kicked the can again. Republican leaders are more focused on urging Trump to delay a fight for the wall than on fighting for it themselves, the Washington Post reported in September 2018. Congress is working to pass a short-term spending bill that would avert a government shutdown Oct. 1 and punt a showdown over wall funding into December, after the November midterms. And the current shutdown was precipitated in large part because the Republican Freedom Caucus wouldnt accept anything less than Trumps request for $5.7 billion in funding. Theres also the fact that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has opted to back the presidents play (despite opposing a shutdown in the first place) by refusing to consider any bills the president wont sign. Of course, what all of this leaves out is the fact that the reason Republicans punted on the wall is that the wall is not very popular, even among Republicans. As the New York Times Nate Cohn recently noted, voters have steadily opposed it by a 20-point margin in national polls. That makes it even less popular than the president himself. But by constantly paying lip service to the presidents cherished policy goal while doing nothing, Republicans made it inevitable that he would get fed up with the delays and force a confrontation. At the very least, the congressional GOP deserves a larger portion of the blame, and its insistence that this is only a crisis now that it is not in charge should be added to the hypocrisy list alongside the Democrats sudden moral horror of walls. 2019 Tribune Content Agency LLC More from National Review
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https://news.yahoo.com/fault-shutdown-fight-113050587.html
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Who is EastEnders actress Katie Jarvis and who is her character Hayley Slater?
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The video will start in 8 Cancel Get soaps updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email EastEnders newcomer Hayley Slater, played by actress Katie Jarvis, has had a tough time recently, amid her baby drama with Alfie Moon. Since heading to Walford a year ago as Stacey Fowlers secret cousin, the character went on to give birth to a baby daughter named Cherry. But the identity of Cherrys father threatened to tear the family apart after a shock fling, which led to some super explosive scenes over Christmas. Hayley arrived in the Square back in 2018 as a mystery character, vying for Martin Fowler s attention. It was later confirmed Hayley was the cousin of Stacey, Martins then ex, and she had been sent by Kat Moon to target him as revenge for throwing Stacey out of their home. She was revealed to be the new Slater family member joining the show, with Kat, Jean and Big Mo all following suit. (Image: WireImage) Hayley is played by actress Katie Jarvis, who has portrayed the role since the character debuted. Katies other roles include an appearance in Channel 5 series Suspects, and film roles including Fish Tank alongside actor Michael Fassbender. (Image: BBC) Hayley is the first cousin of Stacey Fowler and Sean Slater, and the niece of their mother Jean Slater and father Brian Slater. As for Kat Moon, Hayley is thought to be her second cousin with either her mother, Bev Slater, or her father related to Kats late dad Charlie Slater. Hayley is not related to Big Mo, but they see each other as family. (Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron) It was revealed a few months after Hayley arrived that she and Alfie Moon had a fling while they lived in Spain with Kat and their children. Hayley fell pregnant and decided to keep the baby, eventually giving birth late last year to daughter Cherry. It was in dramatic Christmas scenes that Hayley and Alfies betrayal was exposed to Kat, leading to a shocking showdown between the trio. (Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron) Since the birth of her daughter, and the reveal of her affair with Alfie, Hayley has been on self destruct. Kat decided to forgive Hayley and Alfie, and the family rallied around the struggling young mum in her time of need. Hayley admitted herself to hospital after worrying scenes that saw her neglect baby Cherry, realising that she needed help. Fans questioned whether this was an exit storyline for the character, but Hayley doesnt appear to be going anywhere. Get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us direct 0207 29 33033
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/who-eastenders-actress-katie-jarvis-13905573
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Whats the deal with food waste?
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In the first article of this two-part series, we are discussing food waste. Lets start off with some rather bleak statistics: Americans toss out an average of 150,000 tons of food per day that is equal to about a pound per person (curiously enough, people who consume a diet richer in fruits and vegetables tend to waste more food). Environmentally speaking alone, food waste is a major issue. It is the largest source of material entering landfills, where there is limited oxygen throughout the heaps. When food decomposes without oxygen, it will produce methane a greenhouse gas roughly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. If all the wasted food were grown on one farm, it would occupy 30 million acres of land and use 4.2 trillion gallons of freshwater. Seeing as how land and freshwater are resources high in demand, its safe to say that misusing them shows a huge lack in efficiency. With nearly 50 million American families living with food insecurity, production and sale efficiency must increase if the gap is to be closed. But not all food waste occurs at the individual household level. A lot of the produce grown never even makes it to the supermarket it is left in the fields to rot or fed to cattle. Because people dont like ugly fruit. Workers in the production service (like farmers and packers) realized that produce with even minor blemishes or deformities that dont affect quality consistently get overlooked in the market. Theres no point in wasting time and labor to package and transport those goods, so they are simply counted as a loss. One potato farmer in California estimates that 25 percent or more of his crop could be deemed imperfect and left behind. Americans irrational need for aesthetic perfection is causing a painful amount of unnecessary waste. A study claims that college students throw away an average of 142 pounds of food a year. Sometimes, students take more food than they can actually eat and end up discarding the excess. Meal plans are a convenient way for the university to estimate how much food to prepare, but sometimes a particular plan incorporates more meals than a student is comfortable consuming. This causes there to be an overabundance of food prepared in the dining halls. When these factors are multiplied by the thousands of students attending a university, the impact can be alarming. But we can feel confident that college campuses are coming up with solutions to some of these problems. In the second part of this series, we will learn what steps Towson University is taking to reduce the amount of food waste produced.
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http://thetowerlight.com/whats-the-deal-with-food-waste/
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How does Jeremy Corbyn compare to past Labour leaders?
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In response to the plummeting popularity of the Administration itself, revealed at Newbury and in the shire county elections, we have the Prime Ministers botched reshuffle. If we were to offer that tale of events to the BBC light entertainment department as a script for a programme, I think that the producers of Yes, Minister would have turned it down as hopelessly over the top. It might have even been too much for Some Mothers Do Ave Them. The tragedy for us all is that it is really happeningit is fact, not fiction. The man with the non-Midas touch is in charge. It is no wonder that we live in a country where the grand national does not start and hotels fall into the sea. One of the frustrating things about the current Brexit episode is watching Jeremy Corbyn perform in the Commons. The other day, on the Twitterdome, I compared Mr Corbyn unfavourably with past Labour leader, John Smith. I think it is fair to say that if John Smith were currently Labour leader he would, by now, have delivered a rhetorical blow to Theresa May comparable to that which he dealt to John Major with this passage of one of his Commons speeches It caught the moment. The fact that I am still quoting it 26 years later is testament to its strength. I have just finished reading Ben Pimlotts biography of Harold Wilson. It is a great tragedy that Ben Pimlott did not live long enough to write a retrospective commentary about Wilson some years after he (Wilson) died. However, the 2016 edition of the tome did have a forward by Peter Hennessy which allowed some reflection on the place in history of Britains Prime Minister from 1964-1970 and 1973-1976. In the forward, Peter Hennessy spends some time comparing Harold Wilson to Jeremy Corbyn (albeit in 2016). His analysis can be summed up with these of his words: For all his striking achievement in the course of a single summer in 2015 in capturing the base and the leadership apex of the Labour party (with considerable support from the leaders of the fewer yet larger conglomerate trade unions), Jeremy Corbyn is simply not in the Wilson class. Crucially for Corbyn, his wit, his style, his policies simply do not run in the crucial middle, including th ebulk of the PLP. In terms of jumping and clearing the Labour Partys internal fences, Wilson was a Grand National winner; Corbyn has yet to win a local point-to-point. The gap between them as parliamentary performers in the House of Commons similarly yawns chasm-like. Wilson was born to excel at Prime Ministers Questions. Pimlotts biography narrates the remarkable long and thorough grounding which Wilson had in politics, as a civil servant and then a minister in Atlees post-war government. He resigned from that government in 1951,firmly allying himself with the left of the Labour party. His time as Labour party leader was remarkable in that he managed to work a path through the competing sub-tribes of Labour. Trying to reconcile the leftist Bevanites and rightist Gaitskellites, with fiery characters such as George (If its Tuesday, Im resigning) Brown and Barbara Castle also in the mix, was nigh-on impossible and it is one of Wilsons great achievements that he managed it for many years. But Wilson also had a remarkable skill to martial his party on policy and speech-making so that he often rang rings around his opponent, who was more often than not, Edward Heath. Indeed, it is possible to look at a long list of Labour politicians of the past: Atlee, Wilson, Gaitskell, Castle, Jenkins, Callaghan, Kinnock, Smith, Blair, Harman, Beckett, Brown, David Miliband etc etc and conclude that any one of them would have rhetorically knocked Theresa May into a cocked hat by now, whereas Jeremy Corbyn never seems to manage it. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
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https://www.libdemvoice.org/how-does-jeremy-corbyn-compare-to-past-labour-leaders-59785.html
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Which simple tips deliver the biggest value to developers?
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Our Pocket Gamer Connects events are stuffed with knowledge and specialist advice, from what's going on in the East and how to best monetise your games to any number of industry-related topics. This year's PGC London event was no different. One such useful panel was 'Which Simple Tips Deliver The Biggest Value To Developers?'. So many options, so little time The session delved into some of the more straightforward - but nonetheless important - tips for games developers for anyone from seasoned pioneers to frugal indies. Topics discussed included what you need to start a company with, how to haggle with a publisher and whether you should go with the Unreal engine or Unity. Chairing the panel was Evasyst CEO Dr Mark Ollila (pictured, bottom left) and taking part was Madfinger CEO Marek Rabas (pictured, top right), Gamevil Com2uS Europe GM David Mohr (pictured, top left), Gram Games senior developer Jeremy Glazman and Pixel Federation UX games designer Martin Jurek (pictured, bottom right). Check out what advice our panellists had to give by clicking on the link below.
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https://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/69885/which-simple-tips-deliver-the-biggest-value-to-developers/
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How Artificial Intelligence is reshaping web designing and web development?
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By Ankit Gupta, CEO and VP, WeblinkIndia.net The modern industries follow the consumer-driven approach, where customer experience has become the epicenter of the business world. While the continuous evolution of technology is driving consumer behavior, one important aspect of modern tech has become the transformation champion Artificial Intelligence. From manufacturing to digital services, AI has succeeded in changing the industries. Especially, in this digital era, AI is playing a crucial role in reshaping web designing and web development. The AI technology that showcased in science fiction movies enthralling viewers and depicting the future world is taking the shape of reality. In fact, not just the industry upgradation but the modern lives have been redefined through AI. As per Statista, the global AI market was estimated at nearly USD 7.35 billion in 2018, which is expected to grow ten folds by 2025. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are projected to spread throughout the consumer market in the next few years, and that will directly impact the functioning of web designing and web development. In todays comprehensive and competitive market, companies are deploying AI to reinvent themselves and as the first point of contact between the consumer and the companies, websites also need to be upgraded on priority. Thus, it becomes essential for web and app developers to adapt to the evolving environment and adopt AI for their evolution. AI-enabled machine learning programs are also helping in creating smart websites which serve multipurpose for an organization and help them to gain consumer traction. The AI advancements have also helped in enhancing computer performance and increasing storage capabilities. All this has made it possible for companies to handle large data and leverage big data analytics for their growth. The Role of AI in Evolving Web Design and Development Right from user experience and product/service presentation to quality analysis, security strengthening, coding and much more, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are constantly helping in delivering the better. Apart from opting for advance web platforms based on AI, companies are also hiring web developers particularly to leverage AI-based security solutions. Both implemented and AutoML is proving beneficial in test integration and feature upgradation in websites. In nutshell, the AI advancements are directly impacting the user experience and user retention. Whether it is improving site performance and responsiveness on computers and smartphones by deploying AI-based solutions or integrating chatbots and interactive features to enhance the user experience, it has become quintessential for web developers and programmers to rely on AI and ML. Even in mobile app development segment, AI has changed the way apps worked earlier. The new face of mobile applications encompassing smart shopping and entertainment to gaming and utility, AI is proving as the foundation to the futuristic app experiences. Implementation of AI in Web Design & Development The latest development in HTML based website development has been the integration of AI-based algorithms. In fact, working on AI-enabled platforms has made it easier for web developers to take decisions related to design, layout, brand imaging, and content. The real-time suggestion based on analysis of existing similar websites helps companies to create a better web interface, which can reach target clientele efficiently. The days of building websites from basics are gone, the latest AI-enabled platform comes with automated basic blocks which can be integrated into the website building process. Not just this, AI has also facilitated developers with AutoML or Self-Learning Algorithms that helps to create codes in a smarter way. Whether there is a requirement of a chatbot or a smart app, these ready-made web building blocks make the tasks easier, faster, and effective. Recent research revealed that over 60% of customers return to the websites with the live chat option. This has made chatbots a priority for companies to create impactful websites. These AI-powered chatbots deliver better user experiences and customer engagement by simulating a real conversation. The AutoML system further enables chatbots to adapt to the responses and developed new actions accordingly. With increased consumer engagement, the new featured websites can lend great benefits to companies. Quality testing has become an important pre-requisite for making a website live. Today, a lot of website development companies are using AI algorithms to replace the mundane, tedious, and repetitive tasks of quality assurance check, so that developers can work on enhancing other important features. Security is the next big thing in the website development and AI-based ML greatly help in strengthening the cybersecurity features of websites and upholding the privacy of consumer data. Consumer behavior is also changing constantly with the evolution of tech, therefore, AI is leveraged by developers in analyzing consumer behavior and creating websites that can give optimum results. Image recognition, virtual shopping, AI assistants, etc. are some examples of AI-intervention in the web development domain. The new truth on the online market that Content is King has been perfectly understood by AI-powered web analysis systems. The tiresome task of collecting and collating data from the existing web and comparing the same to create a better website is now done with the help of AI systems. This has resulted in an increased presence of content-rich websites that can create a great impression on consumers. Although AI and ML have created great riffles in the industry of web design and development, yet the developments are only in the nascent stage. The coming decade will bring forth new applications of AI, which will carve a better consumer-centered market across industries. This is yet to be seen, what magic the future webmasters will create leveraging Artificial Intelligence, but the future is surely bright. If you have an interesting article / experience / case study to share, please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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https://www.expresscomputer.in/artificial-intelligence-ai/how-artificial-intelligence-is-reshaping-web-designing-and-web-development/32201/
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What will the weather be like in Nottinghamshire this weekend?
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According to the Met Office, it will be cloudy and breezy for most tonight with with some hill fog. A few clear spells will be possible in the east and it will be milder than recent nights. The minimum temperature will be 6C. There will be patchy cloud and bright spells on Saturday before some light rain develops in the south during the afternoon. Gusty winds and a band of heavy rain will then spread east later. It will be mild with a maximum temperature of 10C. It will be windy and colder on Sunday with outbreaks of rain, falling as snow across hills.
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https://www.chad.co.uk/news/what-will-the-weather-be-like-in-nottinghamshire-this-weekend-1-9557602
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What is the 'Doomsday Clock' and what is Jerry Brown doing with it?
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Its only two minutes until doomsday, so says the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. Heres what you should know. Heres how the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists describes it: The Doomsday Clock is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet. The clock started at seven minutes to midnight back in 1947 and has moved back and forth from two minutes to 12 minutes over the decades for various reasons. For example, in 1949 it was moved to the three minute mark due to an atomic explosion in the Soviet Union. In 1963 it moved back to 12 minutes after the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed by the U.S., Great Britain and the Soviet Union banning nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, outer space and under water. Check out the clocks movements over the years here. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has kept the Doomsday Clock at two minutes to midnight since 2018, suggesting nuclear risk and climate change danger are leading to the new abnormal. These major threats nuclear weapons and climate change were exacerbated this past year by the increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world, amplifying risk from these and other threats and putting the future of civilization in extraordinary danger, a statement from the group said on Thursday. The scientists say conditions are unsustainable and extremely dangerous. The world security situation can be improved, if leaders seek change and citizens demand it, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists say. It is 2 minutes to midnight, but there is no reason the Doomsday Clock cannot move away from catastrophe. It has done so in the past, because wise leaders acted under pressure from informed and engaged citizens around the world. Steps recommended for moving the clock back include improved nuclear negotiations and standards between Russia and the U.S. and that citizens in the U.S. should demand climate change action from the government. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board meets twice a year to discuss world events and decide how the clock should be set. It is made up of nuclear technology and climate science experts. See the makeup of the board here. The Bulletins board of sponsors also contributes to the decision and it includes 14 Nobel laureates. What does former Gov. Former Gov. Jerry Brown is the executive chair of the groups science and security board, which sets the clock. He joined Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 2018. Humanity faces two dire and simultaneous existential threats: nuclear weapons and climate change, Brown said in a statement on Thursday. The longer world leaders and citizens thoughtlessly inhabit this abnormal reality, the more likely it is that we will experience the unthinkable. He also spoke at the clock announcement. I speak as someone who has been in the American political process for almost 50 years and I can say at this moment, the blindness and stupidity of the politicians and their consultants is truly shocking in the face of nuclear catastrophe and danger, he said. Were almost like travelers on the Titanic, not seeing the iceberg up ahead but enjoying the elegant dining and the music. For more information on the Doomsday Clock, go here. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @abbyhamblin
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https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sd-doomsday-clock-2019-nuclear-weapons-climate-change-20190124-htmlstory.html
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How is the chief guest for Republic Day parade selected?
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This year, India will be commemorating 70 years of being a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. Like every year, a grand parade will be taken out and the nation will celebrate Republic Day with pomp and grandeur. The chief guest for this years parade will be South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The visit of the chief guest is actually similar to a State visit, in that, it is the highest honour that can be bestowed on our guest in terms of protocol. He/ she is given the ceremonial guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, attends the evening reception hosted by the President of India and lays a wreath at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhis memorial. The process of selection of the chief guest is rather laborious and tedious, and commences around six months ahead of Republic Day. After the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) carefully scrutinizes Indias relations with the concerned country, the government sends an invite to their Head of State. Among other factors that the MEA considers, including political and economic relations and military cooperation, is the past association with the Non Aligned Movement (NAM). NAM was a movement joined by most newly liberated countries to collectively fight colonialism and apartheid. After due deliberations, the MEA seeks the Prime Ministers approval, after which clearance of the President is sought. After the potential chief guest is shortlisted, Indian ambassadors in the concerned country are asked to discreetly find out if the dignitary is available for the event and is not preoccupied with unavoidable engagement. After all of this, the Indian Chief of Protocol (CoP) and his counterpart in the concerned country work out a detailed plan chalking out the logistics, security, medical requirements if any, etc. The plan, once finalized, is followed minute-by-minute with military precision. The chief guest is also decided on the basis of the other countrys interest and availability of the dignitary. The natural corollary is that the guest should be treated with utmost honour and they should be satisfied with their visit. This years choice South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was also made keeping in mind that 2019 also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who had a major role to play in the countrys initial freedom struggle. Earlier, there were reports of US President Donald Trump being the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, but he had declined the invitation citing a crowded calendar.
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https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/how-is-the-chief-guest-for-republic-day-parade-selected-3435491.html
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Is Mitch McConnell doing a good job amid the government shutdown?
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Amid the longest-running government shutdown in U.S. history, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been largely absent. He abstained from speaking engagements and refused to allow funding bills to reach the floor of the Senate for debate and vote. Many feel the longtime lawmaker is hurting the nation with his intransigence. Others say he is protecting the Republican Party. PERSPECTIVES McConnell has been deferring completely to the president on the shutdown. While bills have passed through the House that would allow the government to re-open, they do not have support from the president -- something McConnell requires of any bill before reaching the floor of the Senate. Per the New York Times Magazine: "He's been very quiet," Dick Durbin, the Democratic minority whip, who was in recent shutdown-negotiation meetings with McConnell and the Democratic Senate leadership, told me that afternoon, "and has said repeatedly that he's not going to call any bill that the president doesn't approve of. And that has basically been the sum and substance of his contribution." As of Jan. 23, the Hill reports McConnell blocked four bills that would fund the government while debates over the wall continued. Democrats have been coming to the floor on a near-daily basis while the Senate is in session to try to bring up the House package, even though the GOP leader has said he will not allow them to come to the Senate floor. Under Senate rules any one senator can try to pass a bill, but any one senator can also object. Not only did the shutdown occur on McConnell's watch, he refused to allow Senators to debate bills in good faith. Some note McConnell routinely makes political calculations he believes will result in the best solution to any crisis. During the shutdown, he refused to bring bills to the floor he knew would fail. McConnell changed his tactic in late January, allowing both Democrats and Republicans to bring bills to the Senate floor for a vote. Jim Manley, who worked for former Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, told Vox he believed McConnell was planning for both bills to fail, giving him more leverage to broker a compromise. "It looks to me like he's taken a playbook out of previous House leaders like Boehner and Ryan, calling for a vote knowing that both are going to fail to show everyone involved that the votes aren't there and we need another plan," says Manley of the Thursday votes. While McConnell's perceived lack of movement on the shutdown frustrated critics, his absence successfully protected Senate Republicans from blame. As Majority Leader, McConnell is responsible for maintaining the power of his party. By staying to the sidelines and allowing Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to battle President Trump, he staved off any criticism. Per NBC News: Because viewed from a purely political perspective, McConnell's approach has been a resounding success -- at least, so far: only 5 percent of registered voters surveyed in a Politico/Morning Consult poll this month blamed congressional Republicans for the shutdown while 47 percent blame Trump and 33 percent blamed Democrats. While shutdowns hurt the government, McConnell's actions could save Republicans from retribution in the polls in 2020. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.
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https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/is_mitch_mcconnell_doing_a_goo.html
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Are float tanks actually effective?
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Aveda Speed of Light Blow Dry Accelerator Spray, $40. Moroccanoil Protect & Prevent Spray, $35 Credit:Jennifer Soo Downtime Some 75 fluid minutes. Pain factor "None. It's a pleasurable out-of-body experience." Results "For the rest of the day, my mind and body are at ease and I have a fresh perspective on my surroundings. For me, this was a great mental and physical timeout and definitely an experience to be enjoyed in the buff." Where to get it Sydney: Flow Revive, flowrevive.com.au. Cost: $65. Melbourne: Elevation Floatation, elevationfloat.com.au. Cost: $65 for 60 minutes. At home For a home-grown salty escape, try Simple As That Exfoliant (ry.com.au, $20). Trend: Hair Helpers There are several benefits to priming your hair before you heat-style. The most important is the protection this provides from the targeted heat of blow-dryers, tongs and straighteners. Second is the way it helps to keep locks frizz-free and smooth-looking. Together, they add up to a good hair day. Add to Cart I just love a summery BB cream and Bali Body BB Cream SPF15 (au.balibodyco.com, $30) is sheer genius. It's designed to be layered up, so you can start with a subtle tint or shift it up a notch for greater coverage. What sets this product apart are the highlighting mica particles that give the skin a shimmery, dewy finish. Get it on! Ask Stephanie I am dying my eyebrows every week. Bali Body BB Cream SPF15. Credit:Jennifer Soo First, I'd recommend a professional brow shape and tint with the legends at Benefit (benefitcosmetics.com.au). For home maintenance, prep around the brows with Vaseline and then apply Just For Men Moustache & Beard gel (woolworths.com.au, $13), as per the instructions. Follow Stephanie Darling on Instagram @mrssdarling. Send questions to [email protected]. This article appears in Sunday Life magazine within the Sun-Herald and the Sunday Age on sale January 27.
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https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/are-float-tanks-actually-effective-20190124-p50tgp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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What will a China slowdown mean for the Australian economy?
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A lot can happen in three years. This week, Chinas Vice-President Wang Qishan addressed Davos attendees to warn of the perils of unilateralism" and "protectionism being pursued by President Trump and to settle global nerves about a marked slowdown in China's rate of domestic growth revealed in official accounts on Monday. The global trade war, which once seemed so ludicrous to Davos attendees, has well and truly arrived. Trumps tariffs on Chinese imports from steel and aluminium to washing machines have been in force for almost a year. Designed to "make America great again" by protecting domestic industries and reducing the United States trade deficit with China, the impact of the tariffs has so far been muted. Loading The Sino-American trade deficit actually increased during the year, fuelled by Trumps other economic policy of large corporate tax cuts, which has strengthened the domestic economy. But as that stimulus wears off, tariffs are beginning to bite. American manufacturing firms have begun to close, unable to afford the cheap imported intermediary goods they need to survive. China, too, is beginning to feel the impact of not only a trade war, but an overhang of domestic debt and waning infrastructure investment. The International Monetary Fund this week shaved its forecasts for global growth this financial year from 3.9 to 3.7 per cent a far cry from the 4 plus per cent rates before the global financial crisis. In a ramping up of tensions, Trump has threatened that if China does not sign up to a free trade agreement by March 1, he will order more tariffs to apply to another $US200 billion ($280 billion) of Chinese imports, meaning almost all China imports will be taxed. The world economy has entered a dangerous new phase of growth, according to Stephen Kirchner, the program director of trade and investment at the University of Sydneys United States Studies Centre. Kirchner says it is unlikely the US will soften its stance, if Trump follows the advice of his hardline US Trade Representative appointment, Robert Lighthizer, and trade adviser Peter Navarro. A recent report by the trade authority called for China to sign up to stringent standards on intellectual property, foreign investment and state subsidies: the whole gamut of US grievances, as Kirchner puts it. The real issue here is whether Trump settles for something which is very superficial and hes happy with that. But that wont be the advice hes getting from Lighthizer and Navarro. They would be pushing for a very tough deal. The problem is what the US is asking for is so far-reaching. I find it very hard to believe that theyre going to reach agreement on all those things. What the US is asking for really goes to the heart of the Chinese governments control of its economy. Kirchner expects an escalation of trade tensions, including further tariffs that will inevitably slow global growth further, with inevitable flow on effects for Australia. The Reserve Bank should cut interest rates, he says. I have long argued that the easing cycle is not over and never has been. I think this is shaping up as a synchronised global downturn and Australia will be on the receiving end of that. I think our get-out-of-jail card is the exchange rate; it will fall dramatically, and that helps. The Reserve Bank will also have to step up and reduce interest rates. Paul Bloxham, the chief economist at HSBC Bank Australia, disagrees, noting that Australia has largely escaped any fallout from the Chinese slowdown to date. The main thing were watching is commodity prices, says Bloxham. Chinas economy has already been slowing down but iron ore and coal have held up quite well so far. Chinese environmental measures, which have forced the shutdown of domestic dirty coal and iron ore mines, has, in fact, boosted demand for Australias relatively high grade ores and deposits. Job figures released this week showing Australias jobless rate falling to 5 per cent also auger well, says Bloxham. As does above average business confidence. Were watching all these things, but at the moment its not clear that the slowdown we have seen in China is transmitting, yet. If it does, Bloxham points out several lines of defence. As celebrations ramp up to mark the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Chinese authorities have shown a consistent appetite to maintain growth by unleashing huge stimulus, such as during the GFC. Chinas central bank is also experimenting with new ways to increase liquidity, reducing reserve requirements for banks in recent months. Speculation is rising the Chinese government could follow the lead of Trump, targeting tax cuts for companies (by reducing the VAT they pay) to stimulate investment and growth. This could add between 0.9 and 1.6 percentage points to Chinas GDP growth, currently 6.4 per cent, according to HSBC estimates. Australian authorities, too, remain well placed to support growth, should things turn sour, says Bloxham. With a budget nearly back in surplus, in part owing to solid commodity prices, and an election soon, that does give the government scope to fund fiscal expansion, through spending or tax cuts. Bloxham does not yet think the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates again. Markets, however, are increasingly jittery, pricing a more than 50 per cent chance rates will head lower by the end of the year.
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https://www.theage.com.au/national/what-will-a-china-slowdown-mean-for-the-australian-economy-20190125-p50tlx.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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How to apply for GUJCET 2019?
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India oi-Vikas SV Ahmedabad, Jan 25: GUJCET 2019 application form is now available at official website gujcet.gseb.org. GUJCET 2019 application form must be filled online on the official website. The last date of filling up the application form is February 8, 2019. GUJCET or Gujarat Common Entrance Test is conducted by GSEB for admission to into the B.Tech/B.E. courses offered by the participating colleges of Gujarat. GUJCET 2019 Exam Date: GUJCET 2019 entrance exam will be conducted in offline mode by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) on April 23. Those candidates who complete their GUJCET registration process will be able to download their admit card tentatively from the third week of March 2019. GUJCET 2019 registration steps: Go to gujcet.gseb.org At the bottom of the window, click on the link for "Click Here for New Candidate Registration". Read all the important instruction. Enter Surname, Students Name, Guardian Name, Gender, Mobile Number, Email Id, Confirm E-Mail Id, Password, Confirm Password. After entering all the details, click on "Registration" button.
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https://www.oneindia.com/india/gujcet-2019-application-form-available-now-how-to-apply-exam-date-2841862.html?utm_source=/rss/news-india-fb.xml&utm_medium=23.50.225.204&utm_campaign=client-rss
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Can Justin Langer save Australian mens cricket?
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Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Justin Langer is standing at the centre of Hobart's Bellerive Oval, chewing gum and gripping a cricket bat. It is November 22, 1999 the day after his 29th birthday and he has arrived at one of the pivotal moments of his life. Leading into this Test match against Pakistan, he was in poor form and on the verge of being dropped from the Australian team. In the second innings, he has put in a gritty performance, holding his ground while other batsmen have come and gone in quick succession. Now, with the match in the balance, he faces a delivery from Pakistan's brilliant fast bowler Wasim Akram. Langer swings. His bat nicks the ball as it whizzes past him into the waiting hands of wicketkeeper Moin Khan. Jubilantly, Khan tosses the ball into the air. Langer, on 76, doesn't walk towards the pavilion. He looks at the umpire, Peter "Porky" Parker, who shakes his head. Not out. The Pakistani players are incredulous. Spectators are puzzled too, because the rule could not be clearer: if a ball hits the bat and is then caught by the opposition, the batsman is dismissed. Few doubt that the edge of Langer's bat made contact with Akram's ball: the sound of the nick carried a long way. "My dad reckons he heard it from the boundary line," says Langer, when we meet for coffee at a Sydney hotel one afternoon this summer. "My teammates thought they heard it from the change-room." Langer smiles. At 48, he is lean and tanned, with bright blue eyes and a warm, engaging manner. He went on to score 127 runs in that Hobart innings, which he rates as the finest he ever played. His 238-run partnership with Adam Gilchrist 127 of which came after Langer nicked the ball took Australia from the brink of defeat to a thrilling victory. Still the highest successful Test run chase on home soil, it also saved Langer's career. He blossomed into one of our most accomplished and longest serving batsmen, finally retiring from Test cricket in 2007 at the age of 36. He still holds the record for the most runs scored by an Australian in first-class matches. Outstanding player. Outstanding bloke. That's how Langer is widely perceived. He is the author of a collection of memoirs with stirring titles like The Power of Passion and Seeing the Sunrise. He is a popular public speaker, much in demand to give motivational talks to corporate audiences. And since last May, when he stepped into the role of national men's coach and selector just weeks after "Sandpapergate" plunged the sport into crisis, he has been the person entrusted to rescue Australian cricket. During a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in March last year, three members of the Australian team including captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner colluded to cheat. The plan was to rough up the surface of the ball in the hope of aiding reverse-swing bowling; it was foiled when junior player Cameron Bancroft was captured on camera hiding a piece of sandpaper down the front of his pants. Subsequent inquiries uncovered a deeply flawed culture in the team and the sport's governing body, Cricket Australia. Essentially, winning had become more important than fair play. Among those to lose their jobs was head coach Darren Lehmann, who quit despite being cleared of involvement in the ball-tampering plot. Langer, who replaced him, has had to try to rebuild a demoralised team missing its two best batsmen, the suspended Smith and Warner. The larger goal has been to salvage cricket's battered reputation. At his first media conference after his appointment, he made clear that he intended to restore honour and integrity to the game. Breaking or even bending the rules would not be tolerated. "Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong," he said. In fact, cricket's moral code can be confusing to outsiders. Of course not, he assures me, sipping his flat white. "I will never apologise for not walking in cricket. That's not cheating." Umpires inevitably make mistakes, he points out, and those errors work both ways: batsmen are sometimes dismissed when they shouldn't be; at other times, they are let off the hook. Accepting a lucky break when it comes your way is only sensible. Advertisement Another question. When people talk about Langer's heroic stand at Bellerive Oval, they tend to overlook the fact that for more than a decade he denied having edged Akram's ball. To reporters, teammates, even his father, he insisted that the noise heard around the ground was made by his bat handle as he swept and missed. Not until 2010, during the telecast of another Hobart Test match between Australia and Pakistan, did he breezily admit that bat and ball connected. Langer tells me he did so on compassionate grounds: he was protecting the umpire responsible for the mistake. "Hand on heart, I didn't want to throw Porky Parker under the bus," he says. Besides, he didn't out-and-out lie: "It wasn't like I was going, 'I swear to god, Dad, I did not nick that.' I would have said" Langer adopts a nudge-nudge-wink-wink expression " 'Clicky bat handle, Dad, I reckon.' " Others remember Langer making the claim with a straight face. Adam Gilchrist has said: "He swore black and blue, even to me out in the middle, that it was a squeaky handle in his bat." In any case, Langer is prepared to concede the high ground. "Look, I might be a liar, and I might be a bad bloke because of it," he says, "but that's how it happened at that moment in my life." I offer that we all make mistakes. "Oh, I don't see that as a mistake," he says. "I don't regret that for one second. I actually now have a good laugh about it." Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist in 1999 after securing victory for Australia on day five of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan. Langer had nicked the ball but was given not out. Credit:Getty Images Langer is not a boastful man but he sees no harm in acknowledging his strengths. "I am a deep thinker, obviously," he says. It occurs to me that he wouldn't need to be Descartes to seem the cerebral type compared with his predecessor, Darren Lehmann. Nicknamed Boof, Lehmann reportedly startled participants in a Cricket Australia high-performance coaching course by topping a list of batting tips with the letters WTBC ("Watch the ball, c"). But even by normal community standards, Langer is a contemplative individual. As a young player tortured by nerves and self-doubt, he took up transcendental meditation to help himself relax. "I've meditated every single day since," he says. "Twenty minutes every morning." A keen reader of self-improvement guides and set-your-soul-free manuals (he recommends Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams), he sprinkles his own books with maxims and homespun philosophy. "The pain of discipline is nothing like the pain of disappointment." And so on. At home in Perth, he has used permanent markers to decorate his den with pearls of wisdom. "It's a 10-metre by five-metre room," he says. "A beautiful room. And it's got quotes and scriptures all over it, like wallpaper." When he noticed the other day that some of the words had faded, he got out the markers and retraced the letters. "It was like therapy." Langer was raised Catholic and remains devout, though he didn't seriously study the Bible until just before his famous Hobart innings. In an interview with The Record, a Catholic weekly, he confessed he was driven by desperation: in the first Test of that series against Pakistan, he had scored just one run. At Bellerive Oval, a verse from Philippians ran through his head: "All I said every ball for six hours was 'God gives me the strength to achieve anything'. It was like a mantra." Advertisement When Langer became national coach, some hoped he would work miracles. "Everyone was telling me I was the messiah," he says. But in his nine months in charge, Australia has had pretty dismal results in all three formats of the sport, winning only one of six Tests, precious few One Day International (ODI) matches and a paltry number of Twenty20 games (in which each side bats for a maximum 20 overs). The way he sees it, turning things around is going to take time. After Cape Town, Australian cricket was riven by so much recrimination and remorse that it reminded him of a spectacularly dysfunctional family. "And to put a dysfunctional family back together is really hard. There's lots of emotion, there are lots of egos, lots of agendas, lots of angst." Still, it is painful for an ultra-competitive character like Langer to have such modest success in the field. In his book Australia You Little* Beauty the cover of which depicts him with an Australian flag draped around his shoulders he admits that in his playing days his fury at being dismissed sometimes resulted in punched lockers and cracked bats. His friend Simon Katich, the former Australian batsman, says many players reacted angrily when their innings ended: "But he, more so than others, would let rip." Langer wishes he could report that he had grown more sanguine with age, but the truth is that his mood still depends on the scoreboard. "I've got the best family in the world," he says, referring to his wife, Sue, and their four daughters. "I've got great mates. I've got a few dollars in the bank. I've got all that. But if you lose, you feel miserable. If you win, you don't." Justin Langer during a training session ahead of the WACA Test in November 2018. Credit:AAP One morning, I watch the Test team train in the practice nets at Adelaide Oval. As batsmen and bowlers go through their paces in the warm sunshine, Langer stands with his hands in the pockets of his tracksuit, a cap pulled low on his head. Once in a while, he ambles up to a player and has a quiet word in his ear. Occasionally he shouts encouragement to someone. Test cricketers are surrounded by support staff these days: specialist batting coaches, bowling coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians and more. Yet the role of head coach has never been assigned greater importance: Langer gets more screen-time in TV sports bulletins than Test captain Tim Paine, and those in the small crowd gathered around the nets seem at least as interested in him as in the players. On television, or even from seats in the grandstand, cricket can seem a slow game. Up close, it is ferociously hard and fast. To defend a wicket while a leather-bound ball is fired at you at up to 150 kilometres an hour takes not just skill but considerable courage. Langer is small 174 centimetres by cricketers' standards. As a player, he was known for his doughtiness but also for his distressingly frequently failure to get out of the ball's way. Advertisement Making his Test debut against the West Indies in Adelaide in 1993, he was felled by just the second ball bowled to him. In his 100th Test, in Johannesburg in 2006, he was concussed by the first delivery he faced. In between, there were too many tumbles to count. Matthew Hayden, with whom he opened the batting for Australia in more than 100 innings, has written of a visit he and Langer paid to Kerry Packer, the media mogul and World Series Cricket founder. Hayden's favourite part of the evening was when Packer said to Langer: "Son, tell me, why do you get hit on the head so much?" A check-up after a delivery struck Langer's head in Johannesburg, 2006. Credit:Getty Images Langer was about six when his father, Colin, built a concrete cricket pitch in the family's backyard in outer suburban Perth. Langer practised incessantly, but unlike many of his future Test teammates, was not a schoolboy star. Adam Gilchrist, who played against him in a carnival in 1988, remembers 17-year-old Langer as a "short in stature, really defensive left-handed batsman who could hardly hit the ball off the pitch. He didn't look like the most talented batsman around, I can tell you." Nevertheless, Langer made it to the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, where his fanatical dedication to training and single-minded determination to play for his country impressed another young player, Kevin Roberts, now Cricket Australia's chief executive. Roberts wasn't at all sure that Langer would make it to the top. "But you had the sense that it was going to be really interesting to follow this guy's path." As it turned out, Langer received the baggy green cap that goes with membership of the Australian Test team when he was only 22. He was so excited that he wore it to bed. But as Roberts says, Langer "didn't do it easy as a Test player". He kept losing his place in the team, even in the years after the triumphant Hobart innings. On each occasion, he clawed his way back, but the process left him a mass of neuroses. By his own account, he shouted and cried when left out of the first four Tests of an Ashes series in England in 2001. Coach John Buchanan, who shared selection duties with captain Steve Waugh, remembers comments like: "You betrayed me!" And: "You ripped my heart out!" Reinstated for the fifth and final Test in the series, Langer opened the batting with Matthew Hayden and scored 102 runs before being hit on the helmet and taken to hospital. That innings forged a partnership with Hayden that held firm until Langer's retirement six years later. The two were great friends, but in Hayden's memoir, Standing My Ground, he says he avoided discussing cricket with Langer. His batting partner was just too intense: "If I'd talked to him about my game, it would have sent me bonkers." Hayden wasn't alone in reacting that way. Malcolm Knox, a columnist with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, has noted that "Langer often found himself the only cricketer in bar conversations with journalists, his teammates having evaporated into the night". Even journalists could find him a bit much. According to The Australian's Will Swanton, "you could ask Langer what the baggy green stood for, and half-an-hour later he'd still be talking about running through a brick wall if that's what Steve Waugh wanted him to do". Advertisement Despite this, Langer was liked and respected so much so that for his final three years in the team he had the honour of leading the victory song (Underneath the Southern Cross I stand/A sprig of wattle in my hand/A native of our native land/Australia, you fing beauty!). Cameron Bancroft was caught on a TV camera during the Cape Town Test hiding something down his pants, ushering in Sandpapergate. Credit:AP It was Saturday night and Langer was home on the couch when the image of Cameron Bancroft shoving something down his pants flashed onto his TV screen. Langer, then head coach of West Australian cricket, could scarcely believe his eyes. He knew Bancroft well: he had been helping him develop his game since he was a teenager. "I was devastated for him," he says. "My players, they become like my sons. I care deeply about them." Langer is on the board of the West Coast Eagles AFL club, and on the Monday morning he was due to visit the construction site of its new headquarters. "I reckon there were 300 Aussie workers there," he says. "They've got their high-vis jackets, their hard hats, their steel-cap boots, and they're all looking at me, going, 'Mate, what has happened?' Then I knew the enormity of it." For a guy with a boxing kangaroo on his left buttock, the invitation to take over as coach of the Australian side in its hour of greatest need was impossible to refuse. It hadn't come as a surprise. Langer had filled in for Darren Lehmann for an ODI and Twenty20 series during 2016 and 2017, and had long been regarded within Cricket Australia as his natural successor. Loading When Lehmann resigned, influential broadcaster Alan Jones lobbied on behalf of Langer, a longtime friend. At his first press conference as coach, Langer conjured up the Anzac spirit, saying Australians were renowned as great fighters: "We look after each other and we look after our mates." A month later, he took his team on a tour of the World War I battlefields of France. "Life-changing experience," he tells me. "We talked about humility and perspective, and understanding how lucky we are." From there, the Australians went to England, where they were beaten in all five games of an ODI series. Advertisement
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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/can-justin-langer-save-australian-men-s-cricket-20190121-p50sm2.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Are skinny genes the secret to staying slim?
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Relaxnews Slim people find it easier to maintain a healthy weight in part due to their genes according to new research. In the largest study of its kind so far, U.K. researchers have found that slim people have an advantage when it comes to staying thin thanks to their genes. Interested in why some people find it easier to stay slim than others, researchers at Cambridge University, along with support from the Wellcome and the European Research Council, set up the Study Into Lean and Thin Subjects (STILTS), recruiting healthy U.K. adults aged 18 to 65 who were thin -- defined as a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18 kg/m2 -- and with no medical conditions or eating disorders. Participants were asked to provide saliva samples for DNA analysis and answer questions about their general health and lifestyles. The team then worked with the Wellcome Sanger Institute to compare the DNA of around 14,000 adults in total, including 1,622 thin volunteers from the STILTS study, 1,985 severely obese people and 10,433 normal weight controls. The findings, published in the journal PLOS Genetics, showed that 74 per cent of those in the STILTS cohort had a family history of being thin and healthy. In addition to finding genetic variants that have already identified as playing a role in obesity, the researchers also found new genetic regions involved in severe obesity and healthy thinness. To see what impact these genes had on body weight, the researchers added up the contribution of the different genetic variants to calculate a genetic risk score. The results showed that thin people had a much lower genetic risk score, meaning they had fewer genetic variants that that are known to increase a person's chances of being overweight. "As anticipated, we found that obese people had a higher genetic risk score than normal weight people, which contributes to their risk of being overweight. The genetic dice are loaded against them," added Dr. Ins Barroso from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. "This research shows for the first time that healthy thin people are generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight and not because they are morally superior, as some people like to suggest," commented lead author Professor Sadaf Farooqi. "It's easy to rush to judgement and criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex. We have far less control over our weight than we might wish to think." "We already know that people can be thin for different reasons. Some people are just not that interested in food whereas others can eat what they like, but never put on weight. If we can find the genes that prevent them from putting on weight, we may be able to target those genes to find new weight loss strategies and help people who do not have this advantage," says Prof Farooqi. Previous studies of twins have also shown that body weight is largely influenced by our genes. Researchers have also discovered hundreds of genes which increase the chance of a person being overweight, and in some people faulty genes can cause severe obesity from a young age.
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https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/are-skinny-genes-the-secret-to-staying-slim-1.4268747
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Whats the truth about the benefits of celery juice?
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An American health-guru has claimed that celery juice has miraculous healing powers for chronic and mental illnesses, bacterial infections and viruses. Anthony William has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, and his claims have started a social media craze called the Celery Juice Challenge with fans downing the green stuff every morning to promote better health. We took a closer look to find out. Williams advice is to drink 16 ounces of celery juice every morning on an empty stomach, and wait for 30 minutes before consuming anything else. He also suggests that if you suffer from chronic illness, increasing your intake to 24-32 ounces every day can have huge healing powers. The spiritual health advisor claims that celery juice has healed and continues to heal millions of people worldwide. But the scientific evidence to back this up is incredibly scant. Advertisement Advertisement What William does say is that it is the sodium in celery that can help to break down the pathogens responsible for chronic illness, and can help neutralise and flush toxins out of the liver. He also claims celery can eradicate bacteria, kill the shingles virus, and strengthen your liver whatever that means. William says its important to juice the celery, rather than just eat it because it has more nutritional value in this form. The reason we juice the celery versus eating it is because juicing and removing the pulp (fiber) is the only way to get the powerful healing benefits for healing chronic illness, it reads on his website. Eating celery itself is helpful and should be part of your diet, but you will not be able to consume enough celery to get the benefits of juicing it. You wouldnt be able to receive the concentrated undiscovered cluster salts. A lot of this smacks heavily of pseudo-science. Couple that with the fact the evidence of healing appears to be mostly anecdotal, and the giant disclaimer at the bottom of the site affirming that, nothing contained in or accessible from this blog should be considered to be medical advice. Basically we have some questions. We spoke to Harley Street Nutritionist and Author Rhiannon Lambert, who isnt convinced that juicing is the way to get the best out of your celery. Advertisement Advertisement Celery is pretty much all water, and you wont be getting any real nutritional benefits after the fibre is removed, which often contains a lot of the nutrition of the plant and helps with our digestion, Rhiannon tells us. Rhiannon is confident that theres little to no truth in that. Juicing celery (and any other vegetable) strips away the beneficial fibre that helps you feel full, improves intestinal health and feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut. The good news is that youve already got a detoxification system. Its called the liver and no tea, juice or diet will do its job any better. If you really enjoy bitter stalks juiced, by all means go ahead and drink it but if suffering unnecessarily isnt your thing, just drink plenty of water instead. Ultimately it is no miracle but if people enjoy it then thats OK. So according to the experts, the claims on Williams website are, at best, wildly overstated. There are certainly benefits to eating leafy, green vegetables of which celery is one and having a glass of celery juice every morning probably isnt going to do you any harm. But the overwhelming conclusion is that celery juice shouldnt be described as a miracle cure for anything. Anthony William isnt a doctor. If you have chronic pain, illness or a mental health condition talk to your doctor and a qualified nutritionist. Celery juice is not the answer. Advertisement We contacted William for comment and, so far, have had no response. Advertisement Advertisement
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https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/25/truth-benefits-celery-juice-8389681/
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Is it safe to share headphones?
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(Picture: Getty/ Myles Goode for Metro.co.uk) There are few things more annoying than arriving at work and realising that youve forgotten your headphones. If youve got an office job youll now get to spend the rest of the day listening to whistling, chewing, sniffing and inane conversation about whats happening this weekend. Lets say some kindly person does offer to save you from the symphony of irritation. According to PushDoctor.co.uks online GP Dr Prudence Knight, it rather depends. This one is a matter of degrees of risk. All skin surfaces are teaming with microbes most of them either friendly or neutral with the odd bad guy mixed in. Our ears are no different-covered in bugs which are transferred to headphones or ear buds. The tight fit of earbuds and the potential to get ear wax on them increases the grossness factor but any headphone or earbud is likely to be covered with microbes. Advertisement Advertisement If we use someone elses headphones these microbes can be transferred to our ears. Most of the time this isnt a problem but if they carry a particularly nasty bug or we are particularly sensitive we might be more likely to develop an infection as a result. The risk is small and most people who share headphones or earbuds dont develop infections. The greater risk is to our hearing from excessive volume especially when using earbuds. So actually, its probably fine, especially if were talking about over ear headphones rather than earbuds. Just dont turn the volume up too loud, because as Dr Knight says, thats actually dangerous. MORE: Dad takes photos of his premature newborn son doing grownup things MORE: Kylie Jenner names her Valentines Day beauty products after Taylor Swift songs as shes a total fangirl Advertisement Advertisement
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https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/25/safe-share-headphones-8389379/
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Can Tyler Thornburg Be Late-Inning Arm Red Sox Bullpen Needs In 2019?
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When the Boston Red Sox acquired Tyler Thornburg prior to the 2017 season, the hope was hed be a reliable late-inning arm for the next three-plus seasons. Through two campaigns, by no fault of Thornburgs, that hasnt been the case. But with a lot to prove in Year 3, theres plenty of reason to have some optimism and think he can be a key contributor in relief. Lets revisit how we got to this point. The Red Sox possessed a quality trade piece in Travis Shaw with Rafael Devers knocking on the door to the big leagues, and they were in need of some bullpen help. As a result, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski sent Shaw and a package of prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers, and in return received Thornburg. But Thornburg began the 2017 season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, and in June he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, the same ailment suffered by Matt Harvey. By the time Thornburg finished rehabbing from surgery and was able to get back into games, it was May 2018. He made 18 rehab appearances between Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A Portland before getting summoned to the big leagues on the Fourth of July. In 25 games with the Red Sox, he posted a 2-0 record with a 5.63 ERA, 21 strikeouts and a 1.583 WHIP. Not exactly a stunning stat line, but beyond the box score, he occasionally showed flashes of his old self. At the time of his trade to Boston, the righty was coming off a season where he was one of the best eighth-inning arms in the game similar to what Josh Hader became this past season for Milwaukee. And its for that reason the Red Sox should have some faith in Thornburg, albeit with reasonable skepticism. Joe Kelly now is with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Drew Pomeranz with the San Francisco Giants and it seems Craig Kimbrel will sign elsewhere unless his asking price comes down substantially. And while Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier will enter spring training as the frontrunners to be next seasons closer, Thornburg very much is in that mix. In 2016 with the Brewers, Thornburgs fastball averaged 94.1 mph, per FanGraphs. His putaway breaking ball, which is devastating when its on, sat at 78.9 mph. While the curveball velocity was similar in 2018, his fastball dipped down to 92.9. Its important to keep in mind this will be the first time Thornburg has entered spring training at full health in a few years. And given he was shut down in September, he got a head start on his offseason. If that extra time results in him finding his old self more and more and his stuff starts getting back to where it can be, the Red Sox could have a real gem at their disposal. Entering the spring, Thornburg has the right mindset. Normally spring training is to get ready for the season, the pitcher said in an interview with MassLive. I just have to come in with a little bit different mindset of just trying to be a little bit more competitive during spring training. A little bit more fully ready. Maybe throw two, three, four more bullpens by the time I get down there. Just so everythings a little bit more sharp. That way I can show em that Im where I need to be at the beginning of spring training and not have them have to worry about, Is he going to be there taking the whole spring training to kind of figure that out? That said, his intent is to be a stable arm for the Red Sox deep into the season. In the situation Im in right now, I technically have to be ready pretty early to show em, Hey, Im back basically. But then I have to be ready to pitch until November, Thornburg said. At this point, theres next to no risk in Thornburg for the Red Sox. Hes on a one-year, $1.75 million non-guaranteed deal, so if he doesnt earn a spot in the bullpen out of spring training, the Red Sox can cut him before Opening Day without significant financial implications. Thornburgs upside, though, is through the roof. The 30-year-old has experience in high-leverage situations, his stuff is remarkable when its working and hes had all offseason to work on hashing things out. Given the wide-open nature of the Red Sox bullpen as it currently stands, prepare for Thornburg to not only make a compelling case to not crack the Opening Day roster but also be a pivotal part of Bostons success in the late innings all season. Thumbnail photo via Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports Images
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https://nesn.com/2019/01/can-tyler-thornburg-be-late-inning-arm-red-sox-bullpen-needs-in-2019/
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Was sind Barrier Creams?
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Hier kostenlos registrieren Zugang erwerben Einzel-Pass Zugriff auf diesen Artikel Zahlart whlen einmalig 0,49 Per Handy bezahlen Tages-Pass 24 Stunden Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de Zahlart whlen einmalig 1,00 Per Handy bezahlen Per PayPal bezahlen Monats-Pass 30 Tage Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de Zahlart whlen einmalig 11,90 Per Handy bezahlen Per PayPal bezahlen Jahres-Pass 12 Monate Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de und RZmobil-App Zahlart whlen monatlich 10,90 Per Lastschrift bezahlen Digital-Abo 4 Wochen Zugriff auf Rhein-Zeitung.de, RZmobil-App, E-Paper und E-Paper-App Zahlart whlen 29,00 monatlich zum Testen 0 29,00 Per Lastschrift bezahlen Um einen Zugang zu erwerben muss JavaScript aktiviert sein. Alle Angebote im berblick. Wir helfen gerne weiter: Telefonisch unter 0261/9836-2000 oder per E-Mail an: [email protected]
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https://www.rhein-zeitung.de/startseite_artikel,-was-sind-barrier-creams-_arid,1926905.html
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Which financial service institutions are helping workers affected by shutdown?
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adamdodd/iStock(NEW YORK) The partial U.S. government shutdown is on its 35th day, and with it, a looming second consecutive missed paycheck for hundreds of thousands of workers. Some financial services institutions are offering relief by advances on direct deposit, no interest loans and waiving some fees for affected government workers. Here are some notables: Navy Federal Credit Union Credit union members can get an advance on direct deposit. This is a tiered program which is essentially a zero-interest loan covering paychecks ranging from $250 to $6,000 in each pay period. For members making up to $500, $250 is deposited. For those making $501 to $6,000, the amount deposited is rounded down to the nearest $500, and maxes out at $6,000. Customers must enroll and need an account that has already enabled direct deposit. This is just a stopgap so members dont feel the full effects of the shutdown and we hope they use this loan to live with their day-to-day finances as intact as possible, a Navy Federal spokesman told ABC News. We encourage everyone who is eligible to enroll. State Department Federal Credit Union Affected workers may be eligible for: an emergency Visa Platinum Credit Card furlough for a zero interest furlough loan for the first two months, delayed loan payments on a case-by-case basis, a refund on late fees on loan payments, a waived penalty for cashing in Share Certificates early and get refunds on cash advance fees for Visa Platinum or Premium Cash Back+ credit cards when using an ATM, according to the credit unions website. The credit union did not immediately respond to a request to clarify whether these programs apply to all impacted government workers or just those who are furloughed. Aflac An Aflac spokesperson told ABC News the company cant legally waive premium payments, but the insurance company is offering a grace period for impacted federal employees. Customers will not have to pay any premiums until the shutdown ends but will receive payouts from their plan as if its business as usual. Aflac is only supplemental insurance, so this only affects federal employees who have opted to sign up for it in addition to the insurance offered through their job. American Express American Express is ready to assist its Card Members who are facing financial difficulties as a result of the U.S. Government shutdown. We will work with consumer, small business and corporate Card Members who request assistance by ensuring we provide them with the best possible service and support, which can include financial relief by waiving late fees, return check fees, and future interest charges, spokeswoman Ashley Tufts wrote ABC News in an email. PayPal The original fintech company is offering an interest-free one-time cash advance, up to your available credit line for a maximum of $500 (with a minimum amount of $250) to existing or new PayPal Credit customers who are U.S. federal government employees impacted by the shutdown, according to its website. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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https://wfin.com/abc-business-news/which-financial-service-institutions-are-helping-workers-affected-by-shutdown/
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Could Closing Stores Be Good For Business?
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I was the CFO of a heating, ventalation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) wholesale distribution company in a large metro area for over seven years. One of my biggest goals was finding ways to grow the business and expand into new territories without investing a lot of additional capital (because we didnt have it). Then one day it occurred to us that the metro had two stores within 15 minutes of each other. We thought, What would happen if we closed one of those stores? The idea of closing a profitable store seemed crazy, but the team and I believed it would save resources that we could invest in a new territory. We also felt that we could retain our existing customers by offering free delivery for one year. So we closed one of the metro stores and opened a store in a new territory. In the first year, the new store made over $2 million in profits, and we didnt lose significant business from the closed location. We bet that our metro customers didnt need, or even want, to go to a physical store if we could deliver the parts and products they needed. And the bet paid off. Our Changing Expectations: Online Ordering & Fast Delivery In the last 10 years, the customer journey was flipped on its head. Before, when we needed groceries or clothes or household essentials, wed drive to the nearest store. Now, with Amazon, BiteSquad, Postmates and other services, we simply grab a smartphone, order our products and wait for them to be delivered. These new technologies forever changed our expectations about the customer experience. The shift happened quickly for large retailers and individual consumers, but business to business (B2B) companies and smaller retailers have lagged behind. They often lack the resources and infrastructure for online ordering and efficient, cost-effective delivery. Now the CEO of a company that offers on-demand courier services, I think a change is coming. As technologies continue to advance, B2B companies and small businesses are gaining access to the ordering and delivery tools they need. Additionally, as labor costs continue rising, it will become increasingly untenable to send specialized employees on deliveries. I predict that in the next few years, more and more B2B companies and small businesses will close physical storefronts to invest in online stores and new order fulfillment processes. And I think, in many cases, this will be good for business. The Benefits of Fewer Stores Amazon forever changed the way we do business by recognizing the costs of physical stores and the value of bringing the products to the customers. They built an intuitive online platform, streamlined the ordering process, built or purchased massive distribution centers and found ways to make their deliveries increasingly efficient. Now, other retailers, B2B companies and small businesses are seeing the benefits of this model: Reduced Overhead The costs of managing and maintaining a physical location can be large and unpredictable, including building costs, taxes, utilities and maintenance, equipment (transport, storage, technology) and staff. All of these costs drain capital that could be used to grow your business, expand into a new sector or territory or develop new products. Streamlined Inventory When you manage multiple locations, and you have no way of knowing which store your customers will visit, each store needs to be stocked with a minimum number of each item. This leads to redundancy and, in most cases, carrying more inventory than you need. Expanded Reach By closing stores that are clustered in an area and rethinking your distribution model, you may find that you have the resources to expand into new territories without investing a large amount of capital. Rethinking Distribution And Delivery The risk of closing physical stores is losing customers and revenue. But this risk shrinks as customers grow increasingly accustomed to online ordering and distribution tools continue to advance. Here are a couple of different options for managing distribution and delivery: Get a delivery fleet. If deliveries are a core part of your business, then building your own fleet may be the most obvious solution. Maintaining a fleet can be costly and time-consuming, though, so its important to weigh the costs of vehicles, fuel, maintenance, insurance, storage, hiring and training drivers first. To get started, purchase or build a dedicated storage facility, carefully plan the type and number of vehicles youll need, and develop comprehensive fleet maintenance and driver training programs. Partner with distribution and delivery services. Partnering with a courier service can be a good way to make deliveries without needing to maintain your own fleet of delivery vehicles. Its important to look for a courier service that provides transparency into delivery schedules, prices and customer experience. Startups are rethinking the old distribution and delivery model. Small businesses and B2B companies often need warehouse space and warehouse management software (WMS) to manage inventory and orders. Both are expensive. Stord is a startup that leases warehouse space and provides access to its WMS. It also connects you to third-party logistics providers to manage order fulfillment and delivery. Companies like ShipBob connect your online store to its order fulfillment centers, then store your products, process orders and manage deliveries. Technology-based on-demand couriers, including my current company, connect you to local drivers to schedule deliveries, track deliveries with GPS and bring transparency to the process. However, keep in mind that working with a technology-based startup will require you to adopt new technologies and adapt your processes. Keeping Pace With A Changing World The world is constantly changing. Were doing everything we can to keep up. For those of us in the B2B or small business sector, this means finding ways to simplify logistics and maximize efficiency. Fortunately, technology startups continue developing innovative solutions to help manage distribution and delivery. Its been amazing to be a part of that journey and Im excited to see what the future holds.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/01/25/could-closing-stores-be-good-for-business/
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Where Will AI Take Us In 2019?
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For several years now, artificial intelligence (AI) has featured prominently in the ubiquitous technological predictions lists that emerge this time of the year. When asked what will take the world by storm in 2019, AI is a regular motif. But AI isnt just one simple innovation or technology its an entire field, and one thats shaping our economic and social landscape in a number of ways. As the CEO of a company driving machine learning and AI innovation to help businesses gain insights from their text-based and unstructured data, I wanted to share my thoughts on what I expect well see from AI in 2019. Welcome to the year of the 'medium.' AI proponents have typically gone in one of two directions: swing big or start small. On one side, a small fortune has been spent on attempting to tackle big-ticket yet ill-defined issues, such as health care, transportation and energy consumption. Big problems like these are simply too big for the current state of AI. On the other side, AI has been used for routine tasks, such as sending automated emails after youve completed a banking transaction. Simple problems like these have already been solved, and given their minimal impact on business, are no longer worth pursuing. In 2019, I expect to see something in the middle. We may not cure cancer, but well be working on something more challenging than just using AI to recognize the word cancer such as predicting how cancers grow and spread. Therell be a focus on the tactical. On a similar note, well also see a shift toward the tactical. Rather than aiming to solve broad systems-level issues, AI in 2019 will look at problems that can be more easily defined and whose outcomes are more measurable. An incremental approach allows for more specific, efficient and productive outcomes as well as more effective resource allocations. Take the challenge of self-driving cars. Rather than leaping into the fray with a fully autonomous vehicle, a number of automakers have started with a small-scale innovation: automatic emergency braking. Its a technology that will eventually be incorporated into self-driving vehicles, but in the meantime, it is solving a more granular problem: front-to-rear crashes. Theres real return on investment (ROI) attached to the technology. Similarly, while it wont solve climate change, AI is increasingly sophisticated when it comes to modeling its impact. Large-scale data gathered from organizations such as NASA or the U.S. Geological Survey can be used for risk identification and reduction purposes, helping us respond better to severe weather events, such as floods or forest fires. Expect more protests over facial recognition technology. Facial recognition technology has been pitched to consumers as both a convenience and a safety feature, but tech workers arent buying it. Staff from Google and Amazon, among others, have taken to the streets to protest their employers roles in government contracts related to law enforcement using facial recognition technology and the military using AI to improve drone strikes. With AI now able to recognize faces even when obscured by glasses, scarves and hats, or to identify people based on their walks, there are very real concerns about what the powers that be will do with the technology in 2019 and beyond. AI will beat us at another game. In recent years, AI has bested us in Go and even Texas Hold-Em. AI has also held its own in games like Pac-Man and Dota 2, suggesting that it will soon be a viable opponent in just about every game genre. With companies like Google and Elon Musks OpenAI along with a number of universities working to ensure AI supremacy in the gaming world, its not a huge reach to bet that 2019 will see humans coming in second to AI in yet another game. It shows how AI has advanced from being able to solve perfect information games, where everything it needs to solve a problem is right before it, to being able to handle those where some information is hidden. The latter requires a more complex, lateral approach, rather than just crunching thousands of possibilities and picking the best one. This kind of problem solving can eventually be applied to much more than just games. Certain verticals will enjoy a boom time. Banking, hospitality and retail have been leveraging the power of AI for years. But the verticals that will make inroads in 2019 are medical and pharma. With the current push to reduce costs and prescription drug prices, the pharmaceutical industry has plenty of incentive to take a more targeted, efficient approach, and AI will make that possible. Pharma marketers will use AI to combine real-time data with personalized responses, bringing tailored pharmaceutical solutions to consumers right when they need them. Medicine, on the other hand, will tap AI to help with triage, image analysis and decision making as well as reducing the burden on physicians. One reason that health care will see major AI advances in 2019 is the rollout of 5G, which will make virtual medicine approaches, such as remote monitoring, viable and cost effective. Second, AI has now reached the point where its diagnostic abilities are sophisticated enough for it to be able to act as a second opinion. AI will have another big year. As I recently shared with insideBIGDATA, were continuing to see significant investment in AI and high expectations about the growth AI will bring about in the near future. It looks like this year will be another big one for the industry. And thats great for all of us.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/25/where-will-ai-take-us-in-2019/
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Is Onboarding The New HR Secret For Company Success?
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A Series of Q&A Interviews with innovators working at the intersection of human behavior and business transformation: Christian Harpelund, Co-founder and Consulting Director, Onboarding Group and author of the book: Onboarding: Getting new hires off to a flying start. Christian Harpelund: Onboarding is the discipline of receiving and integrating new employees into the company, so they feel part of the team. Good onboarding enables them to perform and provide value to the organization. This is what we call structured onboarding. Today the approach to onboarding in many companies is not professionalized. Most organizations use checklist approach to onboarding. But onboarding is much more than a checklist, more than an information package and more than an introduction program. Unstructured Onboarding is bad for business and bad for people and companies who take a proactive approach to Onboarding are seeing great results. Harpelund: Employees expect more from companies today, and if they dont feel connected and onboard they will leave for a new opportunity somewhere else. The following facts says it all: 25% of new hires leave their company within the first 12 month. 48% of new hires in their first job have moved on within the first 18 month. The average onboarding time to performance is 6,2 months for new hires. The cost of losing a new employee within the first 12 month equals 2 years of salary. The average tenure for the new generation is below 2 years so you need to get your new hires up to speed faster than before. Companies with structured and standardized onboarding processes experience 54% higher productivity from their newly employed and twice as high level of engagement. These results underline the business case for Onboarding. Companies who work with a professional approach will get faster time-to-performance, increase retention rates, get higher employee engagement, reduce stress and sick days, and build a better Employer Brand and Reputation. Harpelund: Good onboarding involves 3 tracks and 6 dimensions. First of all, you need a framework for your Onboarding activities which covers the tracks of forming, connection and unfolding the new employees into your organization. This include focus on activities within 6 dimensions of Onboarding: culture, rules, network, collaboration, competencies, and performance. The Onboarding Model is rooted in motivational theory and integrates perfectly with employee and leadership development. To successfully onboard new employees they should be integrated across these six dimensions, combining training, team meetings, one-to-one dialogue and work assignments in a fast, effective, and structured onboarding process all this is based on a data-driven approach. Our global research tells us, that structured Onboarding is by far the most unnoticed discipline in HR Management today and the one with the most potential to solve one of the biggest global challenges for public and private companies: To retain and attract new employees. Harpelund: In 2015 we gathered some of the most talented and experienced people within Recruitment, HR and Business Intelligence and established Onboarding Group with a clear mission to improve onboarding and work life transitions for as many people as possible. Together we have completed the most extensive and we believe comprehensive study around onboarding and put it into the book: Onboarding: Getting New Hires off to a Flying Start. We have written the book for companies and HR professionals who want to improve the integration of new hires into their companies. We believe that every employee deserves the opportunity to become successful in their job - to feel a fuller sense of meaning with their working life. Without a flying start in a new job, chances are that person will not deliver on expectations and will not feel their work is meaningful. This is a vital task for any HR department and manager. It helps create a meaningful working life for people and helps them to succeed. And with the individual success of each employee, you help companies grow and reach their goals. In this way, onboarding of new hires is critical for success. Rogers: Thank you.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2019/01/25/is-onboarding-the-new-hr-secret-for-company-success/
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Should Japan compromise on territorial row?
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The latest summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the fifth in eight months, did not appear to have resulted in any substantive progress toward resolving the long-standing dispute over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido which Tokyo has long said is the prerequisite for concluding a formal World War II peace treaty with Moscow. The two leaders only said they have reconfirmed their intentions to expedite the peace treaty talks on the basis of the 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration, which calls for handover of the two smaller islands to Japan upon the signing of a peace treaty, as they agreed on last November. Abe reportedly hopes to move the issue forward when Putin visits Japan to attend the Group of 20 summit in June even by agreeing to a compromise settlement that deviates from Japans long-held position over the dispute. However, Russia does not appear ready to bend its position to settle the dispute with Japan. The prospect that even a compromise settlement will be reached anytime soon is far from clear. Abe, who is in his final three-year term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party through 2021, has expressed his eagerness to resolve the dispute over the islands of Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai islets which were seized by Soviet forces following Japans surrender in 1945 while he is in office. He has sought to build a personal rapport with Putin holding as many as 25 meetings so far with the Russian leader and has explored fresh approaches to resolving the dispute, including joint economic development of the disputed islands. In the previous summit in November, Abe agreed with Putin to accelerate the peace treaty talks on the basis of the 1956 declaration, which says Moscow will hand over Shikotan and the Habomai islets but makes no mention of the much larger islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, which account for more than 90 percent of the disputed territory. Japan has for decades sought to resolve the dispute over the sovereignty over all of the islands before concluding the peace treaty. Abe, however, is reportedly considering signing the treaty once Russia promises the handover of Shikotan and Habomai, judging it as a realistic option given that there is little chance that Moscow would agree to returning Kunashiri or Etorofu. As Abe himself acknowledges, ending a dispute that has remained unresolved for more than 70 years after the war will not be easy. A practical compromise might be necessary, as the two leaders say, to find a solution that will be mutually acceptable to both countries. The question is whether the compromise will serve Japans national interests. The government needs to carefully examine what Japan will gain by unilaterally compromising on the position it has maintained for decades in the dispute with Russia. The problem is that Japan appears to be pushing for a quick settlement to the dispute with Russia while Moscow seems to be in no hurry to move the talks forward; Russia is even hardening its position. In their talks earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, that to propel the peace treaty discussion forward, Japan must first accept that the islands became Russian territory as a result of World War II a position that cannot be accepted given that Tokyo has long blamed Moscow for illegally occupying the islands. With or without progress on the territorial row, Japan and Russia seem to be moving forward in their economic ties. In their latest meeting in Moscow, Abe and Putin said they would push for cooperation in a variety of fields, from trade and investments to exchanges of people. Putin said he proposed boosting bilateral trade by 1.5 times to $30 billion annually in the near future, while Abe said Japan would try to double the number of mutual visitors to each others country by 2023. They also agreed on expanding the scope of cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the Russian military as a confidence-building measure. On the other hand, Russia seems to be in no rush to expedite the peace treaty talks with Japan, as domestic opposition mounts against any territorial concessions to Japan while Putins popular support falls at home. It may indeed be unrealistic to expect to settle the dispute without a compromise on Japans position. Its natural that in diplomatic talks, the government cannot divulge its negotiating position. Still, the government will need to do some explaining to the Japanese public especially whether and how the possible compromise will be consistent with its long-standing position that the islands are Japans inherent territory to win public endorsement of how it seeks to settle the dispute.
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https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=opinion&p=1720379&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+japantimes+%28The+Japan+Times%3A+All+Stories%29
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Which issues should have been addressed by the Prespes agreement?
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A common criticism of the Prespes agreement between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is that its scope should have been limited to the name of the country without addressing any other issues. For example, a recent article titled Why the Prespes agreement is a mistake by Apostolos Doxiadis states: Nothing else was required as our national agreement with Skopje other than to agree on a composite name erga omnes to consent to FYROMs accession to NATO. Any additional line entered into the agreement was nationally harmful. However, the reality is that the long-standing differences between the two countries go beyond the name issue: Since independence, FYROM has systematically raised irredentist claims against Greece and a right to defend the interests of a so-called Macedonian minority within Greeces borders. These issues were manifested in passages of FYROMs constitution, as well as history books, with children taught that they are descendants of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. The Prespes agreement allowed Greece to intervene on these important issues. Those paragraphs in FYROMs constitution with irredentist content have now been modified appropriately. The same applies to constitutional references to a Macedonian minority in Greece. Textbooks are currently under review by a bilateral committee. To the best of my knowledge, the Greek side has already flagged certain instances of content that should be changed. These successes would be feasible only if the negotiations between the two countries touched upon issues beyond the name. Consequently, the existing scope of the agreement was an overriding duty for Greece. Another criticism of the agreement is based on the view that Greece has wrongly made concessions on identity issues, thus legitimizing a permanent claim on the region of Greek Macedonia by FYROM. For example, in the same article, Doxiadis eloquently claims: No foreign country, let alone one outside the European Union, defines how Greece self-identifies, and Greece does not define how any foreign country, let alone one outside the European Union, self-identifies. It seems like we do not understand this simple thing: It is one thing for another country to do something of its own accord and free will, and yet another thing altogether to do so with our approval and signature. In the first case, they are responsible for their act. In the second, we are their accessory. Indeed, the Prespes agreement essentially recognizes something already granted to FYROM by the global community 28 years ago: that a Macedonian identity is not exclusively claimed only by Greeks but also by Slavic Macedonians. However, in this context, the agreement succeeds in placing boundaries on the identity of Greeces neighbors, at least as far as this has repercussions on Greek history and the Macedonian identity of northern Greek people. Article 7 of the agreement specifies that: (i) in relation to Greece, the terms Macedonia and Macedonian denote not only the area and the people of the northern region of Greece, but also the civilization, culture and heritage of Greek Macedonia from antiquity to the present day; (ii) the history and cultural heritage of the people of North Macedonia are distinctly different from those of Greek Macedonia; and (iii) the official language of North Macedonia is not related to the ancient Greek civilization and cultural heritage of northern Greece. Thus, for the first time in history, Skopje signed an official document detailing that Slavic Macedonians are distinctly different from the ancient Macedonians in terms of identity, language and cultural heritage. This is one of the main reasons why the agreement has been labeled as treacherous by FYROMs President Gjorge Ivanov and the countrys main opposition. If the scope of the Prespes agreement did not touch upon identity issues, Greeces neighbors would have every official right to claim that they are descendants of Alexander the Great, while irredentist content in their books and constitution would remain. This scenario would not solve the problems faced by Greece, but would perpetuate them. In other words, this scenario would be nationally harmful. The fact that the agreement recognizes that Greeces neighbors claim a Macedonian identity (distinctly different from that of Greek Macedonia) does not legitimize FYROMs potential expansive aspirations toward Greece in the future. On the contrary, a more pressing danger is present when the rest of the world forms the impression that the term Macedonia refers exclusively to FYROM, that Alexander was Macedonian but not Greek, and when it notes that all the historical monuments of the ancient Macedonian kingdom are located within Greek territory. The Prespes agreement represents a major improvement compared to the international status quo over the last 28 years, one that has been increasingly unfavorable to Greece. The classic question, familiar to any Greek with friends overseas, asking, Was Alexander the Great a Macedonian or a Greek? will now be replaced by the question Was Alexander the Great from North Macedonia or the Greek region of Macedonia? The simple answer to this question is where the debate ends. Failure by the Greek Parliament to ratify the Prespes agreement on the pretext that a more favorable agreement is feasible in the future would lock in the current unfavorable status quo for Greece: FYROM would continue to be recognized as the Republic of Macedonia by an overwhelming majority of UN countries, its citizens would continue to carry passports stating their nationality simply as Macedonian, while their language would continue to be recognized as Macedonian, without an official statement by FYROM that this language has nothing to do with ancient Greek civilization and the ancient Macedonians. Dr Vasilis Sarafidis is an associate professor of econometrics, and an executive member of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies.
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http://www.ekathimerini.com/236957/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/which-issues-should-have-been-addressed-by-the-prespes-agreement
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Is there such a thing as the perfect diet for humans?
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Nutrition experts have long debated whether there is an optimal diet that humans evolved to eat. January is Health Month in The Irish Times. You can find articles, columns, advice and tips at irishtimes.com/health, as well as in print every Tuesday in the Health & Family Supplement. However, a study published recently found there is most likely no one natural diet that is best for human health. The research, published in the journal Obesity Reviews, viewed the diets, habits and physical activities of modern hunter-gatherer groups and small societies such as a community in northern Tanzania whose lifestyles are similar to those of ancient populations. They found that they all exhibit generally excellent metabolic health while consuming a wide range of diets. Some get up to 80 per cent of their calories from carbohydrates. Others eat mostly meat. But there were some broad strokes: almost all of them eat a mix of meat, fish and plants, consuming foods that are generally packed with nutrients. In general, they eat a lot more fibre than the average person. Most of their carbohydrates come from vegetables and starchy plants with a low glycemic index. But it is also not uncommon for hunter-gatherers to eat sugar, consumed primarily in the form of honey. Physical activity The findings suggest that there is no one true diet for humans, who can be very healthy on a wide range of diets, said the lead author of the study, Herman Pontzer, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. We know that because we see a wide range of diets in these very healthy populations. One thing hunter-gatherer populations have in common is a very high level of physical activity. Many walk between 5 and 10 miles (8 and 16km) a day. Yet, paradoxically they do not have higher energy expenditure levels than the average office worker. That suggests that health authorities should consider recommending exercise primarily as a way to improve metabolic health, but not necessarily as a calorie-burning antidote to obesity, the authors said. From a public health perspective, modern hunter-gatherers may be most remarkable for their relative lack of chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and cancer. Obesity rates are low. They have very high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, even in old age. And type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction are hardly ever seen. But life in hunter-gatherer societies is not easy. Infant mortality rates are high because of infectious disease. Deaths from accidents, gastrointestinal illness and acute infections are common. Those who survive to adulthood often reach old age relatively free from degenerative diseases that are the norm in industrialised nations. They are typically fit and active until the end, suggesting that there is something about their way of life that allows them to age healthfully. Few of us would want to trade places with them. Their lives are still tough, Pontzer said. But the things they get sick from are things we know how to deal with, and the things they dont get sick from are the things we struggle to deal with. It is possible that genetics and other factors unrelated to lifestyle protect them from chronic disease. But studies show that when people born into hunter-gatherer societies move to large cities and adopt western lifestyles, they develop high rates of obesity and metabolic disease just like everyone else. Michael Gurven, an anthropologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has done extensive research on the Tsiman, a Bolivian population that lives a subsistence lifestyle of hunting, gathering, fishing and farming. The Tsiman get most of their calories from complex carbohydrates high in fibre like plantain, corn, cassava, rice and bananas, supplemented with wild game and fish. Gurven has published detailed studies showing that they have exceptional cardiovascular health and almost no diabetes. Yet, Gurven has seen several cases of Tsiman people developing and dying from type 2 diabetes after leaving their villages and moving to the nearby town of San Borja, where they took sedentary office jobs and gave up their traditional diet. Rapid change They changed from their traditional diet to eating in town where everything is fried, he said. They started eating fried chicken and rice and drinking Coca-Cola. Some of these folks can see a pretty rapid change in health. For the new study, Pontzer and his colleagues analysed data on hunter-gatherers and other small-scale societies across the globe, from South America to Africa and Australia. They looked at detailed dietary assessments of fossil and archaeological records to get a sense of what early humans ate. And they included new data collected from the Hadza, a community of people who spend their days hunting and foraging in northern Tanzania, much as their ancestors have for tens of thousands of years. The Hadza consume what some call the oldest diet. Pontzer has spent time with them and long studied their health. In a typical day, the Hadza set out in groups early in the morning to hunt and forage in the savanna. The women traverse hilly terrain to collect wild berries and dig up tubers resembling fibrous sweet potatoes. Getting them is not easy, Pontzer said. The women use sticks to dig up the tubers, in some cases while carrying infants on their backs. The men head out to hunt animals, often killing small ones but, about once a month, something big like a zebra, warthog or gazelle. On days when their hunts come up short, they head over to beehives and collect honey, which is one of their favourite foods, accounting for at least 15 per cent of the calories in their diet. On any given day in a Hadza camp, there is almost always honey, a little meat and tubers, Pontzer said. The number of daily calories the Hadza consume is similar to that of the average westerner. But they rely on a fairly small number of foods. And notably they do not have potato chips, ice cream and other processed foods that combine large amounts of fat and simple carbs foods that are engineered to be irresistible even when we are not hungry. The lack of novelty and variety in hunter-gatherer diets may be part of the reason they do not overeat and become obese. Studies show, for example, that the greater the variety of food choices in front of us, the longer it takes to feel full, a phenomenon known as sensory specific satiety. Its the reason you always have room for dessert at a restaurant even when youre full, Pontzer said. Even though youve had a savoury meal and you cant eat one more bite of steak, youre still interested in the cheesecake because its sweet and that button hasnt been worn out in your brain yet. New York Times
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https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-perfect-diet-for-humans-1.3758923?localLinksEnabled=false
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Could Americans be next after China detains Canadian and Australian citizens?
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The recent high-profile detentions of Canadian and Australian citizens has raised concerns in the West that China is practising a form of hostage diplomacy. But despite the current trade war with the US and a number of strategic tensions, American citizens have so far not been targeted raising questions about whether China is reluctant to antagonise Washington in the same manner. The detention of former Chinese diplomat Yang Hengjun, now an Australian citizen, this week intensified concerns in the West that Beijing will detain foreign nationals to retaliate against their governments. Two Canadians, the former diplomat Michael Kovrig and the businessman Michael Spavor, have also been held on the same national security charges used against Yang. Ottawa fears that these detentions might be linked to the arrest of Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive with the Chinese tech giant Huawei, following an extradition request from the United States, which has accused her of fraud relating to sanctions on Iran. Beijing has denied practising hostage diplomacy, and experts remain divided about whether Yangs case is linked to the detention of the two Canadians. John Hemmings, director of the Asia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, a British think tank, said Beijing would not want to start a tit-for-tat conflict or face increased pressure from Washington by targeting Americans in China. Punishing the ally but not the US has a subtle but unmistakable message to US allies that Washington will not defend their interests as it does its own, Hemmings said. There is a likelihood that Beijing would like to loosen the bonds between Washington and its many allies through this tactic after all, the United States alliances are one of its strengths and allows it to exert power globally. Euan Graham, executive director of La Trobe Asia, said the arrest of Yang and the two Canadians might suggest that China was targeting the Five Eyes intelligence network, which also includes Britain and New Zealand. An obvious assumption is that [Yangs detention] is connected with the fallout from the Meng case in Canada, and Australias public position in support of Canada, he said. Graham said the Five Eyes countries have been closely coordinating on restricting Huaweis access to sensitive areas of their communications infrastructure. But Hemmings also pointed out that Yangs detention also mirrors the way foreign nationals of Chinese descent are treated, citing the ongoing detention of the Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai. Gui, who was born in mainland China, was one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers who disappeared in 2015 only to re-emerge in Chinese detention. Yang was previously detained and questioned when he entered China in 2011, but was released a few days later, claiming that there was a misunderstanding. It has become clear that Beijing views Westerners with Chinese heritage as its own, and is attempting to co-opt them politically, Hemmings said. No matter their heritage, they are Western citizens and deserve the support and help of their governments. Growing concerns about Beijings behaviour have led both Canada and the US to issue updated travel warnings for China in January, both warning of the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. The US State Departments advisory also cautioned that dual US-Chinese citizens (China does not recognise dual nationality) and American citizens of Chinese heritage may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. Ankit Panda, an adjunct senior fellow in the Defence Posture Project at the Federation of American Scientists and a US citizen, said he had cancelled a planned trip to China this week while Kovrig and Spavor remain unjustly detained. Panda, a regular South China Morning Post columnist, was one of over 200 scholars and former diplomats who signed an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping demanding the release of the two Canadians. With Yang Hengjuns detention, we have something of a pattern, where Beijing arbitrarily applies the law to detain foreign nationals to seek diplomatic leverage, Panda said. The odds of retaliatory measures against US nationals would appear high to me, particularly given the reaction of the Foreign Ministry to the open letter circulated in support of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday that signatories of the open letter had interfered in Chinas judicial sovereignty. Liu Weidong, a Sino-US affairs expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, insisted that China had not been trying to provoke Canada, saying ties had only worsened following Mengs arrest. China understands clearly that it is not beneficial to have too many enemies, but perhaps it feels it has no choice but to respond, he said. When China has tense relations with other countries, the US is always in the shadow of this. It is not something that China takes the initiative in doing. Wang Weinan, an associate professor at Jiaotong University in Shanghai, said he believes that the current strained relations between China and Canada, as well as Australia, are closely tied to ongoing tensions with the West in general and the US in particular. Yangs detention also has a deeper meaning, which needs to be understood by what top leaders emphasised a few days earlier about political security, he said, referencing the partys four-day study session that wrapped up in Beijing on Thursday, where cadres were told to fight a tough battle against risk. Sow Keat Tok, a Chinese relations specialist at the University of Melbourne, argued China was ultimately trying to send a message to American allies by using Canada as a proxy. Without subjecting China-US relations to greater stress, China is also sending a message to all US-friendly countries that China will not hesitate to punish any untoward behaviour should they choose to take sides in the US-China stand-off, Tok said. However, Tok said that unless Washington decided to expand the diplomatic front against China, he doubted that the situation would deteriorate further. The ball is now in Washingtons court as to whether or not it wants to escalate their disagreements with Beijing, Tok said.
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2183713/could-americans-be-next-after-china-detains-canadian-and
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Should TVs ever replace the art in our homes?
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Whether youve got yourself a fully-automated Jetsons house or just an Echo Dot and a few Hue bulbs, theres no arguing that smart homes are well and truly mainstream nowadays. As more and more connected tech enters your living room, the way it all looks and fits into your home needs to be taken into consideration more than ever. After all, theres only so much real estate on your coffee table and only so many times you can look at an ugly, bulky device when a rival company is offering up a slick-looking, customisable one at the same price. Although all kinds of smart tech gadgets will increasingly be designed with style in mind as much as substance, one obvious piece of tech thats often aching for a makeover is the TV. Although TV manufacturers have never been afraid to innovate, and names like Loewe and Bang and Olufsen have long been putting plenty of thought into the design and attractiveness of their screens, theres potential for that huge space that takes up most of our living room walls to be turned into something more. Thats why theres been an increase in bigger, more mainstream tech companies over the past year or so revealing TVs and concepts that arent just smart and bursting with features, but are positioned more as a lifestyle statement, a front room centrepiece and, maybe, kinda, a piece of art. (Image: Loewe) Turning your TV into a work of art One of the most obvious art-meets-tech collaborations was between Samsung and designer Yves Behar last year when they created The Frame . The Frame is a TV that spends half of its time as a TV and the other half of its time in Art Mode. That means when youre not using it, it sits flush against your wall and displays photos or art. Instead of using your TV to display art, a few brands have flipped the idea on its head and designed a TV that would look just as at home in a modern art gallery as it does in your, well, home. Take a look at the Bild X by Loewe , a TV thats trying its hardest to look more like a piece of art than a tellybox with a round base, thin metal stand and no cables in sight. Sometimes these nods to art are more subtle. Take LGs OLED W8 which the company unveiled at CES 2018. LG calls the design aesthetic of the new TV picture-on-wall and, put in front of a non-techy, it would definitely give the illusion of a beautiful art display. If it doesn't look incredible, let's make it invisible Maybe were not thinking smart enough about the smart home. If TV tech cant pass of as art, maybe the answer is to make it invisible instead. LG was busy at CES 2018 as it also unveiled a 65-inch TV concept thats rollable , meaning you can roll it away when youre done. That means theres no more worrying about if itll compete with your art or look good in your room, instead youll just be able to get rid of it when youre done. Similarly, Panasonic has revealed details of its Invisible TV at various trade shows over the years, a futuristic TV that turns into a regular old pane of glass when its not in use. (Image: LG) Of course designing a piece of tech that takes pride of place in your home as much as a TV is difficult because we all have different tastes. The same goes for what really constitutes art. For instance, a TV that looks like it belongs in MoMA is unlikely to look at home next to my two Billy bookcases. Yet in some houses space constraints will dictate whether you buy a big TV or purchase one in the not-so-distant future that promises to remain hidden. But these choices are what's important. As more people add tech into their homes and decide how they want it to look, the choice to choose between form, function or big, bold statement is one that should be welcomed.
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https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/will-tvs-ever-replace-the-art-in-our-homes
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Is social media addiction making us even more lonely?
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Social media was designed to bring people closer, but it is becoming a path to loneliness, especially among young adults. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, negative experiences on social media can increase the chances of you feeling lonely whereas, positive experience on these platforms do not make you feel more connected. The author of the study mentioned that loneliness is associated with poor health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, depression and high blood pressure. The connection between social media and loneliness isnt linear. A myriad of factors are at play behind this seemingly confusing association. Alienation from the present and the real The accessibility that social media gives us to a huge pool of people disconnects us from the world around us. A study done at the University of British Columbia found that even little distractions from a buzzing phone can take us away from our present moment. When social media is distracting us from the three crucial things of lifework, interacting with our family and friends, and having meals togetherits an indication that we are crossing the boundary, says Dr. Bhavna Barmi, Delhi-based senior child and clinical psychologist. A simple text or notification can divert your attention from the task at hand and the people around. Also, the constant urge to check your social media platforms is alienating us from the real world. People with poor social skills, social anxiety or low self-esteem hide behind the virtual world of social media which further increases their social isolation in real life, says Dr. Barmi. Low self-worth Every individual has a self-perception and we want to be always better than others. In a bid to stay ahead of others we start comparing us with almost unknown people who project a very happy and successful life on their social media platforms. This comparison hits our self-esteem, which, in turn, makes us lonely and unhappy, says Dr. Barmi. In a study by British Psychological Society, it was found that participants who admitted going out their way to seek validation and appreciation on Twitter and Facebook, were more likely to suffer from low self-esteem. Their focus on creating a so-called perfect social media profile is disconnecting them from their own reality while their altered reality is making others feel envious and low. The FOMO syndrome Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a New-age phenomenon that is seen particularly among teenagers and young adults. They want to avoid the feeling that they are unaware of what is currently happening around them. This is dragging them to the social media all the more. So they feel reluctant to be there in the real-life situations and meet real life people, says Dr. Barmi. 6 HEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH LONELINESS It has been observed through various polls that the feeling of loneliness intensifies during the holidays, occasions and celebrations. It not only affects us psychologically, social alienation has several health consequences as well. Various researches have noted that the areas of the brain which deal with social exclusion are the ones responsible for processing physical pain also. Here are some effective ways to help you drive away loneliness. Indulge in a constructive real-life schedule You must indulge in activities that you enjoy, things that improve your self-esteem. It could be anything like physical exercise, meditation or reading things that interest you. You can start your day by interacting with your family or plan a meal with them daily, says Dr. Barmi. Bank on real-time relationships Getting in touch with people who share same interests or reconnecting with your old friends who were meaningful to you, joining social groups like gardening, book, or sports clubs will go a long way in driving away that feeling of loneliness, marks Dr. Barmi. If you need to share your feelings rely on a friend or family member you trust. In extreme cases, seek professional help. Dont blame yourself for loneliness Sometimes we end up thinking that our own flaws or limitations are responsible for our loneliness. This feeling generally develops from our childhood. Identify these emotions and work on them. Figure out what makes you think that you are flawed and then analyse your perceived (and sometimes imposed also!) limitations. Write down your chain of thoughts for clarity and you will end up realising that its not you who is supposed to be blamed for your loneliness. Also, while doing self introspection, dont ask yourself, Why I am feeling lonely? Instead ask, What should I learn from this? This way, you will be able to spot the areas where you can work on. Divert your attention towards the needs of others This can prove to be a good distraction tactic. While helping others you will not be consumed in the melancholy of your own loneliness. Also, the ability to cater to the needs of others will boost your self-worth while sending a positive vibe to all who come in contact with you. make this winning choice in life and you will see the results soon. Dont look for instant relief When we feel lonely, we impulsively end up indulging in acts (shopping, binge eating, etc.) that only offer short-term relief. Sometimes we even regret these acts. Stop yourself from being impulsive and make conscious efforts to accept your loneliness. Love your loneliness Convert your loneliness into lone-ness that you enjoy. Try to find ways that make you love the time you spend with the self. Also, sometimes the fear of loneliness stems from the situational necessity of letting go and our lack of faith in something new that is waiting for us. Have confidence in yourself, your time and possibilities, believe that this your opportunity to turn things around and muster the courage to let go. You never know, your courage and confidence may attract people who admire these qualities. With inputs from Shriya Sinha
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https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/is-social-media-addiction-making-us-even-more-lonely-depression-alone-ness-facebook-instagram-twitter-heart-disease-fomo-syndrome/
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Will Windows 7 decide browser wars?
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With the browser battle being waged in the EC courtroom, the arrival of Windows 7 on the horizon and Firefox pushing for a quarter of the global market, it's certainly interesting times for the way in which people access the internet. The European Commission has brought an antitrust case against Microsoft, claiming that the company's 'tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice'. It's a stance that Mozilla, the open-source alliance behind Firefox, agrees with, along with the original complainant Opera. "In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt that the statement above is correct. Not the single smallest iota of doubt," blogged Mozilla's Mitchell Baker. "I've been involved in building and shipping web browsers continuously since before Microsoft started developing IE, and the damage Microsoft has done to competition, innovation, and the pace of the web development itself is both glaring and ongoing." Dogged by controversy Regardless of the case, controversy and Internet Explorer have gone hand in hand virtually since its inception. The battle with Netscape Navigator really hit the headlines back in the late 1990s, and yet it still colours many people's opinion of Microsoft and its treatment of rivals; the latest anti-trust case is merely the latest chapter in the ongoing saga. "Microsoft also promoted IE through activities that the US Department of Justice and the US Courts determined to be illegal," adds Baker. "As result, Internet Explorer ended up with well over 90 per cent market share. Once this happened, Microsoft stopped browser development; even disbanding its browser team." If you looked purely at the figures you would be inclined to suggest that Microsoft is already losing its grip on the browser market, with Firefox's steady encroachment clear and the likes of Opera, Apple's Safari and Google's newcomer Chrome all taking a significant share. And yet, the Windows 7 beta has suggested that Microsoft has a big win on the operating system front arriving and the arrival of a popular new OS throws a whole new spanner in the works. Because Windows 7 will almost certainly come with Internet Explorer 8 as its default, and millions of people will face a decision of using a much-improved Microsoft browser in IE8 or going to the trouble of downloading any other internet software they used previously, be it Firefox, Opera or something else. "You're now looking at a much stronger offering in IE8," Forrester's Principal Analyst Paul Jackson told TechRadar, "one that's tied slightly more into the OS. "What the EU thinks of that remains to be seen, but I think that you will be looking at a re-invigorated browser market when Windows 7 comes out." IE8 a stronger proposition The argument is that people will find Internet Explorer 8 palatable enough 'out of the box' to put off downloading the likes of Firefox or Opera thus pushing up IE's market dominance once more, but Gartner Analyst David Mitchell is unconvinced. There is some truth to that. "But I think it could only put a dent in the growth of Firefox. I don't think that, in itself, Windows 7 will have that big an effect. "I think that people who are used to using a different browser will simply go straight off and download the one that they are used to."
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https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/software/will-windows-7-decide-browser-wars-528216
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Should Beijing prop up stock markets to combat its slowest economic growth since 1990?
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Chinas faltering stock markets, compounded by an economy that is growing at its slowest pace since 1990, have incited a heated debate among think tanks and analysts on whether Beijing should step in to help shore up investor confidence. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index the worlds worst performer among major markets last year has extended its decline, sinking to its lowest level in four years at the start of 2019 amid ongoing US-China trade war tensions and dimming prospects of the domestic economy. The Shenzhen Composite Index has also plummeted 28 per cent in the past year. The persistent slide in the nations yuan-denominated A-share market is twice the bad news: a slump not only thwarts fundraising opportunities for the businesses in the capital markets, but also dampens confidence that could have buoyed much-needed domestic consumption. Because the stock markets keep falling, there are concerns that it may affect Chinese consumption and the economy, said Stanley Chan, director of research at Emperor Securities. So much so that researchers from the Renmin University of China Bian Yongzu and Chen Zhiheng have called on the Peoples Bank of China, or central bank, to intervene. The irrational decline in the stock market has a significant negative impact on economic development, the duo said in a commentary published in the official Securities Times newspaper earlier this month. The time is ripe for the government to intervene in the stock market, they said. In theory, there are different ways in which the Chinese authorities can intervene, according to various state media reports in the past two weeks. One way was the PBOC buying stocks in exchange-traded funds. The reports also said the central bank was mulling a stabilisation fund to counter the irrational behaviour of investors. At present, the PBOCs total assets stood at about 36 trillion yuan (US$5.3 trillion), while the total market value of A shares was about 48 trillion yuan, said Zhang Xiangyuan, chief economist at Dongxing Securities. If Chinas central bank holds 1.58-1.78 trillion yuan of A-share assets in a suitable asset type, it will not cause structural problems on the central banks balance sheet, Zhang said. The effects of the trade war and the mainland economy slowing to a 6.6 per cent growth in 2018 have weighed on investment and domestic consumption, despite Chinese Vice-president Wang Qishans assurance this week in Davos that growth remains substantial. China bulls echo Wang Qishans view from Davos: the economy is fine Chinese consumers, concerned about the future, have also spent less retail sales grew 6.6 per cent last year, lagging the 10 per cent target set and was the slowest pace in 28 years. The time is ripe for the government to intervene in the stock market Bian Yongzu and Chen Zhiheng, Renmin University In the past year, Beijing and the China Securities Regulatory Commission have introduced market-boosting measures, including more access for foreign investors to advance the development of the stock markets to play a bigger role in direct financing for businesses that will support the real economy and reduce reliance on bank loans. But in a market slump that wiped off 6.2 trillion yuan of market capitalisation in 2018, funds raised from initial public offerings last year fell to 1.2 trillion yuan from the previous 1.7 trillion yuan. The scale of the governments support though was by no means anywhere close to the extraordinary measures taken in the summer of 2015 to halt a stock market crash that wiped out US$5 trillion in market value and threatened the entire financial system. A national team of state-controlled financial companies was formed to pool together 1.5 trillion yuan, analysts estimated, of government funds to bail out the market. Some, like Professor Chen Zhiwu at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), thought it was a bad idea, as intervention, he said, was the cause of the market decline. It was also constitutionally problematic because it blurred the separation of power between the government and the market, he said. Regulation and the judiciary branch have taken strong biases that favour the sell side at the expense of the buy side, Chen said. Once the government has taken a side, asset prices will diverge away from their fundamentals. Worse still, when local governments use taxpayers money to subsidise major shareholders of listed Chinese companies, income inequality would increase, Chen said at the Investment strategy in a year of uncertainty forum in Hong Kong this week. Chinese finance ministry and central bank on same page on growth after Xi warns of risks to economy Chen, previously a tenured professor of finance at Yale University School of Management for 18 years, is a public intellectual in China, with over 10 million followers on his weibo Chinas Twitter account. Once the government has taken a side, asset prices will diverge away from their fundamentals Professor Chen Zhiwu, HKU Still, for the central government to take a complete hands off approach would mean turning its back on a legacy issue the thousands of state-owned enterprises listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange that account for much of its US$4.1 trillion in market capitalisation. Although Chinas private sector contributes more than 60 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product, government and financing policies have continued to favour the state firms since reforms began 40 years ago. Which, in other words, means valuations of the A shares are more influenced by government policies than these listed companies management and operational capabilities. Chinas financial markets were superfluous if the country cannot move in the direction towards a free society, said Professor Chen of the HKU. As long as the principle is not changed to allow regulators and the PBOC to have sufficient independence and neutrality, you cant achieve more development in the role of capital markets in China, he said. Emperor Securities Chan agreed. Government intervention should only be used as a last resort, especially when China wants to continue opening up its markets.
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2183689/should-beijing-prop-stock-markets-combat-its-slowest-economic
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When is the Lord of the Rings TV series released on Amazon? Whos in the cast? Whats it going to be about?
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Its been over two decades since the first instalment of Peter Jacksons Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings film franchise, and judging from the recent success of The Hobbit trilogy, we still cant get enough of seeing J.R.R. Tolkiens epic fantasy works brought to life whether on the silver or small screen Advertisement Back in November 2017, Amazon Studios won the rights to produce at least five seasons of a Lord of the Rings TV series. And given the sheer volume of material about Middle Earth that Tolkien produced during his lifetime, Amazon could approach the series from a myriad of directions Heres everything you need to know about Amazons Lord of the Rings TV series, including casting rumours, showrunner details and air-date. As part of the reported $250 million deal that Amazon struck, production on the series needs to start within two years and given that they signed on the dotted line back in 2017, that means its likely that wheels will be set in motion in 2019. Amazon have also committed to five seasons as part of their rights deal. Amazon has assured fans that it wont tread on the film franchises toes, focussing instead on other, as-yet unexplored narratives and backstories from Tolkiens work. According to TheOneRing.net, the series first season will show the backstory of a character beloved by fans: Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in the original films), a ranger otherwise known as Strider who forms part of the Fellowship of the Ring, a motley crew who band together to help Frodo Baggins return the One Ring to Mount Doom. [BREAKING] We have confirmed from multiple sources that @AmazonStudios new billion-dollar #LOTR series will open its first season centered on a young Aragorn. Let's discuss whats available and how this opens up Tolkien's Legendarium. A thread. #Tolkien /1 pic.twitter.com/mfbkf4jyX6 TheOneRing.net (@theoneringnet) May 16, 2018 However, given that there are thousands of years of Middle Earth history for show-runners to choose from, all bets are off regarding what they might tackle for the remaining seasons. The Oscar-winning director has confirmed he wont be involved behind-the-scenes on the new series. Speaking with French publication Allocine, he said: Im not involved at all in the Lord of the Rings seriesI understand how my name could come up, but there is nothing happening with me on this project. Instead, the showrunners will be Star Trek 4 writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay. On their appointment, the pair released a joint statement stating that they were absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Amazon to bring it to life anew We feel like Frodo, setting out from the Shire, with a great responsibility in our care, they added. Nothing on casting as of yet well let you know when there is. However, Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in all six of the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit films, has expressed his interest in reprising his role for the TV series sort of. During an interview on Graham Nortons BBC radio show back in December 2017, Norton asked whether McKellen would be annoyed to see another actor playing Gandalf. Advertisement What do you mean, another Gandalf?, McKellen responded, before adding: I havent said yes because I havent been asked. Gandalf is over 7000 years old, so Im not too old.
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https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-25/lord-of-the-rings-amazon/
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Was sind "Barrier Creams"?
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Berlin In den prall gefllten Regalen fr Kosmetika finden sich regelmig neue Produkte - oder neue Begriffe fr bekannte Produkte. "Wie es der Name vermuten lsst, sind Barrier Creams fr die Hautbarriere und deren Wiederherstellung zustndig", erlutert Visagistin Elena Helfenbein, Expertin fr den VKE-Kosmetikverband in Berlin. "Angereichert mit wichtigen Ceramiden, dem Baustoff der natrlichen Hautbarriere, verstrken sie die Haut und bauen ihre Schutzschicht wieder auf." Die enthaltenen Ceramide sind hautidentisch. Das bedeutet, dass sie auch natrlich in der Haut vorkommen und daher vom Immunsystem erkannt und nicht bekmpft werden. Sie knnen problemlos aufgenommen und verarbeitet werden, ergnzt Helfenbein. "Man kann sich die Haut dabei als eine Art Mauerwerk mit einzelnen Ziegelsteinen vorstellen. Die Barrier Cream ist der Mrtel, der alles zusammenhlt und einzelne Hautzellen abdichtet", erklrt die Expertin die Wirkweise der Produkte. "So haben unliebsame Keime und Bakterien keine Chance einzudringen. Auch in die andere Richtung hilft die Creme dabei, den Feuchtigkeitsverlust der Haut mglichst gering zu halten." "Barrier Creams tun jeder Haut gut", sagt Helfenbein. "Ganz besonders eignen sie sich bei irritierter, juckender und schuppiger Haut - denn dies knnen Anzeichen fr eine Barriere-Schdigung sein, die mit der Creme behoben werden kann." Aber auch strapazierte Haut profitiert davon, wenn die Zellen wieder gut abgedichtet und geschtzt sind. dpa
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http://www.dnn.de/Mehr/Lifestyle/Was-sind-Barrier-Creams
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What's in Store for Eastman Chemical (EMN) in Q4 Earnings?
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Eastman Chemical Company EMN is set to release fourth-quarter 2018 results after the closing bell on Jan 31. The chemical maker saw its profits rise in the third quarter of 2018, aided by strong growth in its specialty businesses and cost management actions. The company recorded profit of $412 million or $2.89 per share, up roughly 28% from the year-ago figure of $323 million or $2.22. Adjusted earnings of $2.34 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.29. Revenues rose around 3% year over year to $2,547 million in the quarter, also exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,534.9 million. Notably, Eastman Chemical topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters with an average earnings beat of roughly 15.4%. Eastman Chemicals shares have lost around 23.7% over a year, outperforming the roughly 26.7% decline recorded by the industry. Let's see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors at Play Eastman Chemical, in its third-quarter call, noted that strong volume gains in the specialty businesses, disciplined cost management and a lower effective tax rate helped it achieve adjusted earnings per share growth of 13% year over year during the first nine months of 2018. The company continues to expect adjusted earnings per share growth for full-year 2018 to be 10-14% year over year. Revenues for Eastman Chemical for the fourth quarter is projected to rise roughly 2.6% year over year as the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is currently pegged at $2,423 million. Revenues from Eastman Chemicals Additives and Functional Products division is anticipated to witness a 3% rise year over year as the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter is pegged at $880 million. However, operating earnings (as adjusted) for the unit are expected to fall 5% as the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $152 million. Advanced Materials units revenues are expected to increase 6% year over year as the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter is $673 million. Operating earnings are expected to dip 1.1% as the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $93 million. Revenues for the Chemical Intermediates segment are projected to rise 2% from the year-ago quarter as the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter stands at $672 million. Operating earnings for the unit are expected to be flat as the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $53 million. Moreover, the Fibers segment is expected to witness a 3.5% rise in revenues year over year as the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $207 million for the fourth quarter. Operating earnings are expected to decline 2.4% as the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $49.8 million. Eastman Chemicals high margin products and its aggressive cost management actions are likely to continue to drive its earnings in the fourth quarter. The company should gain from sustained growth of its high margin specialty products. The companys productivity measures and actions to raise selling prices of products should also support margins. Eastman Chemical should also gain from synergies of acquisitions, especially Taminco Corporation. The Taminco acquisition has provided attractive cost and revenue synergy opportunities. However, Eastman Chemical has been seeing a spike in raw materials costs, mostly in its chemical intermediates and additives and functional products units. Raw materials cost headwind is expected to persist in the December quarter. The company also faces headwind from higher energy costs. It is taking actions to raise selling prices of its products amid the inflationary environment. The companys Fibers segment is also exposed to certain challenges. The divisions results were hurt by lower acetate tow sales volume and selling prices due to reduced industry capacity utilization in the third quarter. The same is likely to continue in the to-be-reported quarter. The company expects profits for the segment to be modestly lower on a year over year basis for full-year 2018. What the Zacks Model Says Our proven model does not show that Eastman Chemical is likely to beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below: Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP for Eastman Chemical is -1.33%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate is currently pegged at $1.58 while the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $1.60. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: Eastman Chemical currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or #5 (Strong Sell) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.
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https://news.yahoo.com/whats-store-eastman-chemical-emn-125712080.html
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Which Sky Sports commentator delivered the most appropriate England were all out for 77 face?
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Many things are said when a Test teams bowled out for 77. Lets just look at the faces. Ian Ward Deadly serious. A very good representation of one of the many possible emotional reactions to 77 all out. However, you cant help but feel he took the easy option. Score: 6/10 David Lloyd Blank waiting-for-a-bus face. Bumble actually went for somethings-very-wrong incredulity a little later, but sorry we dont have a screengrab of that. Score: 3/10 for this one, maybe 7/10 for the rather more emotional face-pulling later on. Nasser Hussain Vexed and confused. Twin emotions expressed simultaneously and also delivered with Hussains trademark passion. This was really very fine work. Score: 9/10 Bob Willis Standard Bob Willis face. Score: 10/10
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https://www.kingcricket.co.uk/which-sky-sports-commentator-delivered-the-most-appropriate-england-were-all-out-for-77-face/2019/01/25/
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How common is depression?
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If you've been diagnosed with depression, you're not alone. This mental illness is, in fact, very common. Worldwide, depression affects more than 300 million people. Between 6% and 10% of the population will experience a depressive episode in any given year. Depression is also the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), its likely to become the second most common cause of disability in 2020. According the South African Stress and Health (SASH) study, the prevalence of depression in South Africa is close to 10%, yet of those experiencing depression in the last year, only 8% sought help from a psychiatrist. More women than men are affected by depression, with some researchers estimating that as many as one in every four women (25%) will experience a depressive episode during any given year. But theres a possibility that depression is under-diagnosed in men because of the way in which the diagnostic criteria is structured. What we do know is that at least five times as many men as women commit suicide (although women attempt suicide more often). Depression is common in people of all ages, but nearly 50% of affected individuals first experience depression between the ages of 20 and 50. The average age when a first depressive episode occurs is 26 years. Although depression can begin in childhood or later in life, this is less common. Depression tends to present differently in different age groups: Children more commonly present with pain, anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability and diminished pleasure in play Adolescents more commonly present with irritability, outbursts of anger, loss of energy and sleep difficulties Elderly individuals more commonly present with physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms such as problems with concentration and memory, social isolation and poor self-care Depressive disorders are more likely to occur in people who: Are socially isolated Have no close interpersonal relationships Have uncertain employment Are divorced or separated Have experienced trauma or loss Are abusing substances, especially alcohol The cost of depression in South Africa Twenty-five percent of South African employees have been diagnosed with depression, according to a study conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in partnership with Hexor and Lundbeck. Depression also costs South Africa a massive R232 billion a year due to lost productivity, which equates to 5.7% of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). SADAG and Discovery Health have also published the following stats on depression among South Africans (view the full infographic here): The lifetime prevalence of depression in SA is 9.7%. About 20% of South Africans will experience a depressive disorder at least once in their lifetime. There are 23 known suicides in South Africa every day. For every person who commits a suicide, 10 attempt it. The cost of depression to the country is 42% higher than the value contributed by the tourism industry. In addition, the SASH Study showed that, on average, a person with depression is unable to fulfill their roles at work for 57 days in the year. Reviewed by psychiatrist Dr Matthew Mausling, Life Kingsbury Hospital, Claremont. October 2018.
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https://www.health24.com/Medical/Depression/Overview/how-common-is-depression-20190125
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Was kann die Nobelpreis-Dit?
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So funktionierts: Basis ist intermittierendes Fasten: Essperioden wechseln mit Essenskarenzen. Die Fastenvariante (16:8, 5:2, 10 in 2, ...) kann frei gewhlt werden. Nachts wird pausiert. Durch die lngeren, regelmigen Pausen wird das Selbstreinigungsprogramm der Zellen aktiviert und die Verbrennung angekurbelt. Bei der Nobelpreis-Methode wird Fasten durch die Spermidin-Dit ergnzt. Das heit, in Essphasen wird auf Lebensmittel gesetzt, die Spermidin (ja, auch in Sperma drin) enthalten: Kse, Rotwein, Avocado, Brokkoli, Pinienkerne, Mango, Weizenkeime. Diese regen Fasteneffekte an Esstagen an. Vorteile: Sehr alltagstauglich, da Ess- und Fastenzeiten frei whlbar sind. Es gibt keine strikten Regeln. An Fastentagen frnt man einfach dem sen Nichtstun. Nachteile: Fasten ist gewhnungsbedrftig und sollte schrittweise erlernt werden. Starten Sie mit Esspausen von zwlf Stunden und erweitern Sie diese stetig.
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https://www.gesund24.at/diaet/Was-kann-die-Nobelpreis-Diaet/365311804
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Was brauchen Menschen nach traumatischen Erlebnissen?
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Wenn Familienmitglieder pltzlich sterben, wenn Schwerverletzte nach einem Unfall auf einen Arzt warten mssen oder Augenzeugen nach einem Terroranschlag Hilfe bei der Verarbeitung traumatischer Bilder brauchen - in all diesen Fllen werden Notfallseelsorger gerufen. Situationen zusammen aushalten Justus Mnster versucht zu signalisieren: Ich bin fr dich da und halte die Situation mit dir aus. Manchmal brauche es nicht viel: "Das kann das Reichen eines Glases Wasser sein, oder einfach rausgehen, die Beine vertreten und ins Gesprch kommen." Dabei wollen die Notfallseelsorger nicht zu aufdringlich sein. "Menschen, die von einem Unglcksfall betroffen sind, spren selbst, was sie in der Situation brauchen und das verstrken wir." Notfallseelsorger werden von Rettungsdiensten, der Polizei oder der Feuerwehr alarmiert. Als evangelischer Pfarrer sieht Justus Mnster seine Aufgabe darin, fr seine Nchsten da zu sein. "Das heit nicht, dass ich den Glauben sehr offen vor mir hertrage. Das heit, dass ich auf meine christlichen Kompetenzen ansprechbar bin, dass ich Angehrigen anbieten kann, am Verstorbenen eine Aussegnung zu machen, eine Andacht zu halten, einen Psalm zu beten." Einsatz nach Terroranschlag auf Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt Als Anis Amri am 19. Dezember 2016 mit einem Sattelschlepper in den Weihnachtsmarkt auf dem Berliner Breitscheidplatz raste und dabei 11 Menschen ttete und mehr als 50 weitere verletzte, dauerte es nur eine Stund, bis Justus Mnster und 20 seiner Kollegen vor Ort waren. "Wir versuchen uns in solchen Fllen nahtlos in die Einsatzstruktur von Feuerwehr und Polizei einzufgen, um in das Chaos nicht noch mehr Unruhe hinein zu bringen." ber 60 Menschen haben die Notfallseelsorger an diesem Abend betreut: Angehrige und Augenzeugen. "Es waren auch Ersthelfer dabei, die in den ersten Momenten geholfen haben und sich dann auch nicht von der Stelle entfernen konnten, weil sie da noch zu sehr verhaftet waren. Wir haben mit ihnen darber gesprochen, welche Perspektive sie in den nchsten Stunde oder am nchsten Tag fr sich haben, um loslassen zu knnen." Justus Mnster war am 21. Januar 2019 zu Gast in Theo.Logik auf Bayern 2. Weitere Themen der Redaktion Religion und Orientierung bekommen Sie jeden Freitag mit unserem Newsletter.
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https://www.br.de/nachrichten/kultur/was-brauchen-menschen-nach-traumatischen-erlebnissen,RG3eN39
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Can Fund Managers Escape a Fate Worse than Zero?
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Europes asset managers are trying to avoid the squeeze on fees that has befallen their U.S. peers selling exchange-traded funds. They are hoping to keep revenue streams as high as possible by stressing the attractiveness of more complicated products they can charge more for. Its an effort that looks doomed to fail. The size of the global market for ETFs has more than doubled in the past five years to $5 trillion as investors have snapped up the products. JPMorgan Asset Management is predicting a further explosion over the next decade or so. At the forefront is the U.S., which accounts for $3.5 trillion of ETFs in existence. There, the bulk of the money has headed for the products that charge the lowest fees. My colleagues at Bloomberg Intelligence estimate that 97 percent of the money that flowed into ETFs last year went to products charging 0.2 percent or less, up from 83 percent in the previous year. As a result, the vast majority of U.S. cash is invested in ETFs that charge the lowest fees. So while assets under management have doubled in the past five years, revenue has increased at less than half that rate. ETF issuers earn less than a third of what mutual fund providers can make on the same amount of assets, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. This race to the bottom has already reached its logical conclusion: in August, Fidelity Investments started offering index funds charging zero fees. This competition may go even further: Timo Pfeiffer, whose firm, Solactive AG, constructs tailor-made indexes that $200 billion of investment products rely on, reckons ETF providers may end up paying for the privilege of having their products included in customers portfolios. He told a London conference arranged by consultancy firm ETF Strategy this week that index providers may be willing to pay investment firms for the privilege of providing the benchmark underlying a high-profile ETF program. The money managers could, in turn, pass that income on to the buyers for their products raising the prospect that investors could get paid for buying the ETF. The product would then be a loss-leader, but would allow the firm to sell more lucrative services to the same clients in future, and to generate some income for themselves by lending the stocks the ETFs are invested in. That less-than-zero fate is one that the ETF providers who spoke at the conference are keen to avoid. Speaker after speaker stressed the need to excite clients about factor-based strategies that try to deliver customized solutions, research-enhanced products that try to beat corporate bond indexes, and other actively managed and higher charging flavors of ETFs in fact, anything but the passive, low-cost, market-capitalization based index-tracking funds that the industrys success is built on. European investment firms are, rightly, under increased regulatory scrutiny for how much they charge for their savings products. The days of high fees and opaque pricing are coming to a close, if they havent already ended. While Europes ETF creators may want to maintain higher margins than their U.S. peers, they may be too late a welcome development for anyone trying to build a retirement nest egg, but not so good news for the beleaguered asset management industry. To contact the author of this story: Mark Gilbert at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Edward Evans at [email protected] This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Mark Gilbert is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering asset management. He previously was the London bureau chief for Bloomberg News. He is also the author of Complicit: How Greed and Collusion Made the Credit Crisis Unstoppable. 2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/can-fund-managers-escape-a-fate-worse-than-zero/2019/01/25/75e7757c-20a5-11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html
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How Much More Can California Pay For Power?
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Amid the many known unknowns and unknown unknowns surrounding PG&E Corp., one certainty shines through: Bills will be going up. CALFires determination that PG&Es equipment didnt start the deadly Tubbs Fire in 2017, released Thursday, raised expectations the company could be off the hook for more than $10 billion of potential liabilities (although it is worth remembering nothing is settled so long as victims of the fires are pursuing claims). Even so, the company still faces potentially tens of billions of dollars of liabilities arising from other wildfires (see this). Plus, ratepayers or Californians in general must also grapple with the future costs of reconfiguring or strengthening the states grid to quickly mitigate a chronic risk of wildfires (see this). As it is, Californians pay among the highest rates in the U.S. for their power. Residential customers paid about 18.3 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2017, the seventh highest for any state and more than 40 percent above the national average. Bump those rates by, say, 15 percent and Californians would be among the top three. On the other hand, Californians generally use less power; about two-thirds the national average at the residential level. The moderate climate in some areas helps (like those blanket-friendly San Francisco summers). But decades of energy-efficiency policies have made the biggest difference. Average monthly bills are thus relatively low in California. At about $101 a month for residential ratepayers, the state ranked 38th in 2017; the national average was almost $112. On top of that, Californians earn more on average, so the burden of residential power bills there is much lower than in most of the U.S., at just over 0.8 percent of per capita disposable income in 2017. Altogether, this suggests there is some room to raise rates in California to deal with the crisis but that comes with several important catches. The crisis is, for now, centered on PG&E. Including commercial and industrial customers, the average price paid for power in its service territory was just over 20 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2017, according to the Energy Information Administration. A 15 percent increase across the board would, all else equal, raise an extra $1.9 billion of annual revenue using data for 2017 enough to fund a $20 billion, 15-year amortizing bond at 4.5 percent. That would cover much of the immediate liabilities pertaining to previous wildfires, provided PG&E received permission to do so. However, residential bills would rise to an average of $127 a month, putting PG&Es service territory up there with the most expensive state averages such as Alaska and Arizona. Income differences would still make the burden lower than in those states. Meanwhile, commercial and industrial monthly bills would rise, of course, but wouldnt shift their relative ranking much. Such an increase could still be political dynamite. Telling people they will be paying an extra $17 a month for the same thing they got last month is never popular, especially given the anger directed toward PG&E already. Moreover, averages are useful to mathematicians but less so to many citizens in a state where a short drive from Silicon Valley will tell you everything you need to know about income disparities. Take Butte County, home to the town of Paradise that was all but wiped out by last years Camp Fire. Personal income per capita there was just over $43,000 in 2017, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and per-capita electricity consumption was about 3,400 kilowatt-hours. Adjusting for taxes, Buttes electricity burden was already 2.1 percent of estimated disposable personal income, on a par with the highest state burden in the country, Alabamas. Raise rates by 15 percent, and the burden would surpass that, at 2.4 percent of income. These may sound like marginal amounts. But energys necessity and the visibility of its pricing mean even small changes in the burden can have big effects especially for those living on the margins of prosperity. As it is, 1.4 million of PG&Es customers are already enrolled in assistance programs that discount their energy costs. Beyond this, Californias zero-carbon goals are both ambitious and more important than ever given the tangible impact of climate change there already. Reaching them requires ever greater electrification of the states energy consumption. And few things discourage electrification like big increases in price. Even if average burdens on income dont rise much, marginal rates for electricity are what people and businesses consider when deciding whether to switch away from a competing energy source. The two elements of the states strategy that would benefit from higher prices are further efforts on efficiency or moving to distributed energy resources like solar panels creating more headwinds for investor-owned utilities. The upshot is that while there may be some capacity to raise rates to deal with existing liabilities, this would run into existing problems of inequality quite quickly and raise doubts about state goals on clean energy. Moreover, there is the potentially substantial cost of future fires and their prevention to consider. This analysis suggests such costs may ultimately have to be handled at a state level, rather than by this or that utility. That bills are going up may be certain, but they raise their own known unknowns in the process. To contact the author of this story: Liam Denning at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Gongloff at [email protected] This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journals Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times Lex column. He was also an investment banker. 2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/how-much-more-can-california-pay-for-power/2019/01/25/da5aaca8-20a6-11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html
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