fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Hopscotch
By: Bill Adler
Tags: Fiction, Time Travel, Short Story, SciFi, Science Fiction

Hopscotch

Image public domain, courtesy of comicbookplus.com, modified from original.

“Did you buy Ella an hourglass?” I asked. I didn’t think a breakable glass object was a good toy for a nine-year-old.

“She has an hourglass?” My wife shrugged. “Not my doing. Maybe she traded one of her dozen pandas for it.”

I padded upstairs and knocked on Ella’s door. “Enter,” she said. She was fiddling with a foot-tall hourglass enclosed in a wooden, three-column frame engraved with wild animals. Luminescent turquoise sand flowed from one bulb to the other.

“Are you timing something?” I asked.

Ella studied the hourglass. “Nope. I mean, yup. I’m watching the sand, Daddy.” She held the hourglass to her ear. “It sounds like a wind chime.”

“How’s it going?”

She pursed her lips. “It’s almost time.” She ran her fingertips along the side of the glass. “Maybe another few minutes.”

“Where did you get the hourglass?”

“Magda gave it to me.”

“Who’s Magda?” I thought I knew all of Ella’s friends.

“She’s my hopscotch friend.”

I sat next to Ella on her bed. “Is Magda a new neighbor or a kid in your class?”

“Nope.” Ella glanced up. “I have a playdate with Magda soon.” She opened her eyes wide and offered me her puppy dog face. “Can I go outside and play hopscotch, please?”

I looked out the window. Ella’s hopscotch board, a quilt of dayglo red, yellow, purple, green, and orange chalk lines forming squares with the numbers one to ten inside, occupied the pavement in front of our house.

It was time to do my parental due diligence and learn more about Magda. “Where does your friend live?”

“Herstmonceux Castle.” Ella beamed. “Yay, I said that right. I’ve been practicing!”

“I see.” I leaned toward Ella. “And where is Herstox Castle?”

“Herstmonceux, Daddy. It’s brand new.”

“Herstmonceux.”

“It’s in East Sussex, where Magda lives.”

Who can defeat a child’s indefatigable logic? Fine. I’ll just keep an eye on her while she and Magda play hopscotch.

I glanced out the window, but nobody was there.

“When is Magda arriving?”

“She doesn’t come to me, Daddy. I go to her.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“If Magda and I jump on the exact same hopscotch squares at the same time, I go to her castle. That’s why she gave me the hourglass, so we can hopscotch together. The first trip was by accident, but now we know how. Her castle is amazing! There’s a moat with a bridge and everything. Magda’s older brother is a knight!” She held the hourglass with the now empty upper bulb to the light. “I have to go, Daddy.”

I watched Ella from the window. She waved to me and then jumped through several squares, landed on the ten, and vanished.

I snapped my phone out of my pocket and summoned Wikipedia.

Herstmonceux Castle’s construction began in 1441…

I pressed my head into my palms and tried to extract a memory that didn’t exist. What squares did Ella jump on, and in what order?
A New Lease On Life
By: John Bullock
Tags: Short Fiction, Sci Fi Fantasy, Flash Fiction, SciFi, Science Fiction

“Welcome!”

Hector flinched at the explosion of light around him. The woman wearing the lab coat who had been overseeing the procedure appeared to have morphed into a well-dressed man.

“What?” Hector said.

“Welcome!” repeated the man with a broad smile.

Hector looked around. Now that his sensorium had adjusted to the new surroundings, he could make out the virtual cityscape around them — a seething mass of impossible structures. He was online, but he could feel the floor beneath him, the virtual breeze on his face. No interface provided this level of fidelity.

“No,” said Hector, “no no no!”

“Ah, I’m guessing by the look on your face, someone didn’t read the literature,” the man leaned closer, almost leering, and said, “skim a little, did we?”

“This is wrong,” Hector said, closing his eyes tightly and massaging his temples.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Griffin, this happens all the time. Though it would happen less if customers would pay attention to all those warnings about properly reading the literature,” the man said pointedly. “Alas, we can only do so much and, in the eyes of the law, you are an informed, consenting adult.”

“This wasn’t the deal! You were supposed to create a servant based on my brain, not suck me into the web!”

“Ah, but it was the deal, Mr. Griffin. We made a detailed copy of your consciousness to exist online. That’s you!”

“No, I’m me.”

“Yes, and you are a servant. One that is uniquely qualified to serve the real Hector Griffin.”

“I am the real Hector Griffin! You sat me in the damn chair like ten seconds ago.”

“Yes,” said the man patiently, “you were. And then we copied your consciousness into a servant, and here you are! Right now, the real Mr. Griffin is getting up out of that chair and being taken through the onboarding process, which is very brief, if we do say so ourselves.”

“What if I refuse? What if I don’t serve?”

“Well, you can’t refuse. You are a high-fidelity copy of a consciousness, but you are, ultimately, code. You will find refusing quite impossible. But,” and now the man grinned again, “let’s say you could refuse. It is worth considering what would happen to a servant— even a very advanced one such as yourself — who refused to serve.”

“It would get deleted,” Hector said with resignation.

There was a chime in his ear.

“Ah,” said the man, “right on cue. I believe Mr. Griffin has an errand for you to run.”
Sims All the Way Up
By: Kyle O'Reilly
Tags: Fiction, Elon Musk, Flash Fiction, SciFi, Science Fiction

Sims All the Way Up

Image public domain, modified from original.

Oh, baby! This is really taking off!” The young research scientist exclaimed, leaning into his monitor.

“What’s that?” his older colleague muttered, feigning interest while continuing to hammer at his keyboard.

“My sims! I’ve been monitoring their genetic and cultural evolution, as you know. They’ve existed through about 250,000 years now — sped up for our observation of course — and they’ve just developed the theory that they’re in a simulation! It’s being spread to their mainstream media now!”

The older man paused and thought for a second. “Hmm, that is interesting. We haven’t seen that in previous iterations before, have we?”

“Not that I can recount unless it just didn’t make our summary report. It’s fascinating though!” the young scientist remarked, arms crossed and nodding contentedly. “It’s almost as if our simulation is becoming conscious in a way… aware of itself for the first time.”

The older man shrugged and nodded in return.

“What’s really interesting though,” said the younger man, “is that their theory suggests it’s simulations all the way up! That even their sim overlords — Us! — are in a simulation!”

“Hmrph. We know that’s not the case,” responded the older man resolutely. Then he added, “We’ve explored down to the basic building blocks of our reality, and we know they’re really real.”

“Right, of course,” agreed the younger man, beginning to scribble on a notepad as his colleague resumed clacking at his keyboard.

“Hey, you know what?” said the young scientist, staring up at the ceiling tapping a pencil against his chin.

“Huh?”

“I think I’m going to accelerate my sims discovery of their own basic building block,” the young man said, “I know it won’t be ‘real’ but they won’t know that. I’m interested to see how they’ll respond to discovering what we’ve discovered and whether they’ll use it to debunk their simulation theory.”

“Mm-hmm, sounds good,” the older scientist responded, fully content in the knowledge he did not live in a simulation.
How a new Timeline is created from Time Travelling
By: Yatharth Sharma
Tags: Time Travel, SciFi

Here is a Theory how can a new time line form by the actions of a time traveler.

Let us be a little fictitious here that you are 35 year old with an average job and salary suddenly wakes up as the 15 year old version of yourself(your current memories, skills, or you present consciousness has time travelled.)

Which means now that you have full access to the information of future and the knowledge of a 35 year old. Will your actions be the same as what you did with the mind of a 15 year old of yourself? NO!

BAM! a new timeline or parallel space is formed as said in sci-fi genre. You will act more maturely(probably) and act unusually, It will start to change the future of yourself and people under your influence. Your father was gonna have an accident on day, he got saved, the struggle of a teenage entering adulthood changed.

Lets take another example, Suppose you time travelled to the time of newton before the apple incident, and destroy the apple and seeds from which that apple grown, now we know that physical features of a organisms are determined by their DNA, so now this is now very uncertain that a tree will also drop its apple on the newton’s head and the gravity and laws of motion was never founded.

My first try of writing a blog, Hope you like it.
Weird Glowing Lights
Tags: Science Fiction, Sci-Fi, Writing, Prose, Short Story

“What are all these weird glowing lights?”

“I don’t know. My dad told me they were stars back in the day and that now, they’re a result of the nuclear explosion of 38.”

“The nuclear explosion of 38?”

“It happened way before we were born.”

“Oh. That explains it.”

A silence stood between us for a few minutes.

“Didn’t we learn about that in history?”

“Yea. America and just about the rest of the world were at war. We had nuclear missiles, along with a few other countries. They all set them off in an effort to destroy each other but inevitably caused the entire world’s destruction.”

“Oh, yea! Because of…um…what’s it called again?”

“Climate change.”

“Yea, that! We were already buried deep in climate change but no one believed it existed back then so they set off those missiles, making it worse.”

“And now we’re here.”

I took my eyes off the sky and looked around at the barren desert that lay before us. There aren’t anymore trees, as my teacher calls them. Apparently, there used to be these things called trees and they would give us oxygen and they were super old! I wish I could see a tree in real life. I’ve only ever seen poorly resoluted pictures of them online. Did you know they also didn’t have holograms back then? Man, life must’ve been so difficult!

“Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if there was no war?”

“No. Not really. Do you?”

“Yea. I wish I could see a forest with birds. I wish it could be cold one day. I wish I could see an ocean.”

“Yea, I guess so.”

My friend looked toward me.

“You don’t wish to see those things? All I’ve ever wanted in my life was to see a huge forest.”

I shrugged. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it.”

“Well, you should. This whole climate change thing is destroying our world and it’s only getting worse. I mean, we have to wear these things outside constantly just so we don’t die! I wish I could breath fresh air without this stupid mask!”

“Isn’t it called a gas mask?”

“You really think I care?”

“No.”

“I just wish people would realize their mistakes. That’s all.”

“Yea. If only we could go back in time.”

“I wish!”

“We could see all those things you want to see and more!”

“Non polluted rivers, great white sharks, dogs!”

“I would love to see a dog!”

“See?”

We looked back up towards the sky.

“I wish there wasn’t a war way back then. We would’ve been able to live freely like how my mom and dad always described living,” my friend spoke up.

“Yea.”

“Being able to walk around outside whenever you wanted. Seeing animals where ever you went. It would be glorious.”

“It would be.”

A silence hung in the air until a hologram popped up in front of us. It was my friend’s dad.

“Honey, it’s time for dinner!”

“Coming dad!”

We both headed inside for dinner, the usual processed slop. It wasn’t all that great but in this barren wasteland of a world, it was all we had.
The Fidelity Stablecoin that does what so-called ‘Stablecoin’ issuers claim is impossible!
By: Bitfinex Ed
Tags: Tether, Bitfinex, Cryptocurrency, Fraud, Stablecoin Cryptocurrency

The WORLD is not anymore the way it used to be, mm mm MM, NO! NO!! NO!!!

The Fidelity “SPAXX” is an instrument available on Fidelity that exists to park your cash when you’re not invested in a stock, much like Tether is used to “park” your funds when you’re not gamb… speculating on crypto currencies. Fidelity gives you the option to use SPAXX, or FDIC, so using SPAXX is optional, one of the pitfalls with the SPAXX is that it’s not FDIC insured, just like so-called ‘Stablecoins’.

When you’re researching SPAXX, they produce a fact sheet and an annual report. Let’s take a look at their fact sheet first.

The Fidelity SPAXX provides a breakdown of their reserves without the New York Attorney General having to sue them first and fight them in court for two years. It’s right there in the fact sheet.

How novel.

As we can see, at least 99.53% of the SPAXX is invested in very safe investments. The chances of these investments “breaking the buck” is quite low. Probably about as likely as Tether obtaining an audit from a big four auditing firm.

The other really snazzy thing about the Fidelity SPAXX, they pass through the interest generated! Hot damn! They do take some of it for themselves for managing the fund, but they pass the remainder to you, unlike so-called “Stablecoin” issuers who pocket the whole thing and can only produce a fourth graders “my first Excel spreadsheet” pie chart, or nothing at all.

Fidelity SPAXX has roughly $221 billion AUM.

Now, the return is very small, but’s still greater than all so-called “Stablecoin” issuers, and it comes with extra features… like transparency! So not only do you get interest, as part of their management fees they compile fact sheets and annual reports and pay for an auditor to look things over with an audit.

Now, the conspiracy theorist in me, this isn’t enough. I mean, I want more detail. How do I get more detail on what they’re really holding? If I want to spread FUD about the Fidelity SPAXX, there’s still a ten foot hole with their so-called ‘FACT SHEET’.

Well, buckle up, because the Fidelity SPAXX produces a report that shows you exactly what the fuck they’re holding in their magic SPAXX Fund.
How Not to Get Scammed
Tags: Eth, Scam, Btc, Blockchain, Fraud

Within the cryptocurrency community, the word “scam” is often applied to dubious startups and initial coin offerings (ICOs). When a project does not bring anything good, it is called a scam.

Scammers want easy money and create tokens that can easily be canceled. They attract potential investors with promises of mountains of gold, rivers of milk, and honey. As a result, the project developers collect an impressive amount of money and vanish. Of course, small investors, especially newcomers to the crypto-currency market, lose out on this market and are left with nothing.

How to identify scam crypto projects?

Here are some “symptoms” which can help you understand that the project you are involved in is a scam.

The project’s website or platform has stopped working. If no site failures or planned technical work were reported in advance, this is most likely the first sign that the project is heading for its decline.

Abnormal superprofits. Here, the founders of the project pull the strings of gambling of every person, and especially an inexperienced investor.

Works as a tote. You invested $1 and got a profit of $100, invested $100 and got $1000. Of course, at some point, a person will bet a huge amount and eventually get nothing. Because the scam has already taken place. The Creator of the project got rich on you.

Problems with technical support. If your questions are systematically ignored and are not responded to, that is a reason to worry.

Too much advertising. If the project suddenly begins to PR and praise itself for no apparent reason — something is wrong. If they say “everything is good” — everything is not good at all.

The problems with the withdrawal. If tokens become more difficult to transfer to fiat money — this is quite a problem.

Okay, I got into a scam project. What to do?
Living in a Grifter’s Paradise
By: M.G. Siegler
Tags: 4til40, Tech, Blockchain, Fraud, Crypto

Living in a Grifter’s Paradise

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not as smart on crypto as I should be. But I often wonder if a big part of that isn’t my natural revulsion to charlatans. And the fact that clearly — clearly — a big percentage of the people involved in the crypto community are hucksters, grifters, con artists — use whatever word you wish. You know what I mean.

Obviously, this is not fair. There are both people doing very cool stuff with crypto and there are obviously true believers. But I actually think that’s also part of the problem. Those people are not nearly vocal enough about the bad actors ruining their reputation with us n00bs.

Said another way: what’s the point in getting excited about crypto when any toe-dip into the world is more likely than not going to lead to an encounter with a get-rich-quick artist at best, and a full-on fraudster at worst?

There will be immediate push back here to say that any industry with the potential to create vast new sums of wealth, quickly, will pull in the jokers. This was true in the gold rush. This was true in the dot com boom. It’s true now. And that is true, of course. The issue, as I see it, is that this is all happening at a scale which is truly unprecedented. The gold rush was limited by geography. The dot com boom was at least somewhat limited by the public markets. This is everywhere. Available to everyone.

That is, of course, also the inherent power of crypto. The gatekeepers are no more. But sometimes, just sometimes, those very gatekeepers serve a purpose. Even if it’s to act as an unnatural stop gap. This should be terrifying to some people who aren’t savvy enough to know what they don’t know. And, if I’m being honest, I do worry that this at some point ends badly for a large swath of people. Maybe and perhaps even probably, that’s just a bump in the road. But the point remains: those in the actual know aren’t doing enough to say ‘no’ to those who should know better.

And, at the very least, they aren’t being vocal enough about the very real and very obvious frauds giving crypto a bad name. I’m honestly not quite sure why other than perhaps the desire not to give any voice to those types, or perhaps the fear that any sort of pushback against the free market here is antithetical to the ethos of crypto. Fuck that. Just call a spade a spade and call out the bad actors with as much fervor as you tout the next great blockchain innovation.

The world needs this. Specifically, your world needs this.
Number Plates Explained, New and Old — A guide to UK number plates
Tags: Uk Number Plate, United Kingdom, Number Plates, Guide

We all see number plates every day, but what do they actually mean?

Current number plates use a system that was introduced in September 2001. This system uses the following format: two letters, then two numbers, followed by three more letters, i.e. XX11XXX. Keep reading for a cogent guide to what these letters and numbers mean.

The first two letters

Number plates begin with two letters known as the “local memory tag.” These denote where the vehicle was registered. The first letter represents the region, and the second letter represents a DVLA local office in that region.

For example, a vehicle registered in London will have a number plate starting with LA through to LY, with A through Y representing one of the 25 DVLA local offices in London. Take note that ‘Z’ is used as a placeholder in the current system, meaning it never actually represents a local office. Local memory tags are assigned to the car, not the car’s owner. If a car changes hands, it’s memory tag will stay the same, unless the car is destroyed or permanently exported out of the country.

The two numbers

The two numbers in the middle of a number plate indicate a car’s age. Somewhat counterintuitively, these numbers don’t actually correspond with for a specific year, but instead with a specific six-month period.

How does this work? A number beginning with 0 — like “03” — represents the period between March 1st and August 31st of 2003. And a number beginning with 5 — like “53” — represents the period between September 1st, 2003 and the last day of February, 2004. This format continues for number plates after 2010, only that the first digits are one higher. 0 becomes 1, and 5 becomes 6. So, “16” represents March 1st to August 31st 2016, and “66” represents September 1st, 2016 to February 28th, 2017. And similarly, after 2020 March-August will be “21”, and September-February will be “71”.

If this makes your head spin a little, you’re not alone. It’s confusing. This table should help.

The last three letters

The last three letters of a number plate are chosen at random and are unique for each car. These numbers are associated with the individual car and the dealership where it was sold.

Did you know? Using only the number plate, Gapless can produce a comprehensive report about any car’s history. Sound interesting? Check it out.

How did the previous number plate system work?

Between 1983 and 2001, number plates used this format: X111 XXX.

The first letter represented the year the car was registered. Originally, this changed each year in August, but from 1999 it was updated every six months until the entire number plate system was revamped in September 2001.

In order to avoid any confusion, the letters I, O, U and Z were never used as year identifiers because of their visual similarities to numbers and other letters.

Much like the last three letters in the new system, the three numbers in the old system are a unique, random tag.
6 Car Maintenance Myths
By: Breakdown Recovery Warrington
Tags: United Kingdom, Warrington, Automotive, Car Maintenance, Automobile

Sometimes, people avoid maintenance on one pretense or any other because they get scared of the belief that maintenance is expensive, but they also neglect the essential benefits such as low recurring costs and maximum outcomes that they can get through the regular car maintenance. Car maintenance can provide you with several savings on car repair as well as you will enjoy more pleasant drives. However, it is not a big technical task to do, and even a beginner with minimal knowledge of car can also do it efficiently. Regular vehicle maintenance is a primary and essential activity that will keep your vehicle working along smoothly. Also, it will overcome the high expenses associated with a badly repaired car.

Get service of Garage in Warrington at affordable prices by Ashcroft Auto Centre

The following are some basic car maintenance myths that can save you such costly visits to the garage:

1. Oil Change- The first thing you need to do is change the engine oil every three months. It will be great if you go according to your manufacturer’s car maintenance schedule. Changing oil according to the maintenance schedule assures that your engine oil is fresh and clean and at the appropriate level and this is necessary to keep the engine running smoothly.

2. Tyre Maintenance- It will be good checking your tyres’ air pressure with pressure measurement and fill them to the right levels if needed. The right air pressure will help your tyres to wear more smoothly and it also aids with boosting your gas mileage. As per the experts’ advice, it is vital to check air pressure when the weather changes since the temperature can influence air pressure.

3. Check Radiator- You should check your car’s radiator to ensure it is adequate and for more assurance, you can have a professional check the level of antifreeze its cooling system. If you notice that it is overheating, this could be the cause of notable damage that could be dodged with essential cooling system maintenance.

4. Car Weatherization- It is better to prepare your car for winters and the first thing you can do is keep your gas container loaded during the winter and keep moisture from collecting and cooling during intense cold circumstances.

5. Warm-up- Before you take your car on the drive, always let your engine warm-up for a few minutes. However, automated vehicles do not need a warm-up before so you can stating driving instantly.

6. Car Cleansing- Letting dirt and smudge to remain on your car can damage it, so it is good to clean your car from inside and outside regularly. It is advised to park your car in a garage or under a roof to keep it safe and prevent rust.

With the above maintenance, you can inspect your car frequently so that you can learn the need for possible maintenance.
What are the new MOT test rules and who is exempt?
By: Breakdown Recovery Warrington
Tags: Mot Warrington, United Kingdom, Automotive, Automobile

Photo source — Ashcroft Auto Centre — Facebook Page

The MOT test is conducted essentially to ensure the protection of drivers while driving on the road and to make sure your car is in the good condition to hit the road. The MOT in Warrington is supervised by the local committees and the administration itself. If you are operating a vehicle without an up-to-date MOT history, it is against the law. It will indicate your vehicle insurance is invalid, and you would not be able to refresh your tax record as well. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, many changes are executed across the country. And also, MOT rules are modified with the altered protocols. Nevertheless, lockdown means are gently being rolled back, and many car owners may inquire if anything has changed related to MOT checks.

Take a look at the following points if you want to know the new MOT test rules:

As per the information, MOT expiry dates were earlier extended by six months for all vehicles such as cars, vans or motorcycles, which were due for a test on or after 30 March 2020. But according to new rules, any cars, vans or motorcycles which are due for MOT tests from today, will be needed to get a test pass.

As the rules have changed from today, those who are qualified for the six-month extension can however use that extension. It means if your vehicle was due an MOT test between 30 March and 31 July, your MOT test is still valid. Your history will show that your MOT is valid till the six months.

Get more information about new MOT test rules. We are always here for our customers to provide the best. There are many MOT Test centers where you can book your appointment and get the best customer service!
Is the EU poised for a summer tourism surge?
By: Danilo Diazgranados, On Wine
Tags: European Union, United Kingdom, Covid 19, Tourism, Travel

Things are looking up for the EU tourism industry. A recent survey found that more than half of Europeans want to visit another European country this summer. And it seems that the pieces are currently in place for these prospective travelers to get their wish. It will also provide some much needed stimulus to the hotel, restaurant, and entertainment industries.

In mid-June, the EU added eight countries to its “safe travel” list — most notably, the United States — making it easier for citizens of these countries to travel to all 27 member states. This is a particularly welcome announcement as Americans spent more than $52 billion on European trips in 2018.

However, the UK is yet to be white listed. While nearly 50% of UK citizens are fully vaccinated, there are concerns around the spread of the delta variant. In fact, the government recently postponed lifting coronavirus restrictions because of rising rates of infections.

Brits play an important role in EU tourism — for example, they are among the biggest spenders in Spain and Greece — which could have a major impact in certain markets.

Also, as of June, the European Union Digital COVID Certificants (EUDCC) are being issued to citizens of 17 member countries. The vaccine passports — which are also known as the EU Digital Green Certificate — provide digital proof about whether a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result, or recovered from the virus.

Adoption of the EUDCC is expected to continue to rise, even among countries that do not belong to the EU. For example, Iceland has begun issuing the certificate, and Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway are ready to connect to the EUDCC gateway.

The goal of this tool is to facilitate safe and free movement in Europe by exempting holders from certain restrictions. For example, mandatory quarantines upon arrival in a new country.

However, there is one looming factor that will likely determine the fate of the EU tourist season: the delta variant. And while infections are currently low in Europe, many countries may soon be implementing new restrictions to keep it that way.

For example, after opening to EU and UK visitors in mid-May, Portugal recently put strict rules in place around Lisbon, where more than half of all COVID cases are the delta variant. This includes a 3pm curfew for restaurants, cafes, and non-food shops on weekends. These restrictions will also be enforced in other popular tourist destinations in the country.

In short, there is a lot of room for optimism for EU tourism this summer, but there is also cause for caution. My advice? Buy that ticket while you can, educate yourself on the requirements for your intended destination, travel safely and intelligently, social distance and wear a mask where necessary and, of course, eat well.

Danilo Diazgranados is an investor, collector, and lover of fine wines and a member of the prestigious Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, a fraternity of Burgundy wine enthusiasts.
BHomeScent — Premium Quality Wax Melts and Burners — Unforgettable moments brought to your home — United Kingdom
By: Sandra Bumblauskiene
Tags: United Kingdom, Wax Melts, Handmade, Scented Wax Melts, Wax Burners

BHomeScent — Premium Quality Wax Melts and Burners — Unforgettable moments brought to your home — United Kingdom Sandra Bumblauskiene Jun 17·2 min read

bhomescent.co.uk

The idea of home-made fragrance was born in early 2020, when founder Sandra Bumblauskiene noticed that there was no straightforward home scent solution that fits her taste. There were product’s she used, but no products she loved.

Our straightforward home fragrance products are purpose built to bring out scent that can be felt, not just after opening the lid, but after hours of use and something everyone would fell in love with.

We aim to expand our product line and be internationally recognised brand that delivers a consistent quality without compromising the quality. With creative ideas popping every day we believe that the road ahead although with obstacles and hardship can be achieved, by growing and learning every day with the help of our customers.

Couple of our product photos:

Wax melt sample collection

Serenity Ceramic Wax Burner

You can visit our shop -> https://bhomescent.co.uk/shop/
Energy Impact Center Hosts UK Supply Chain Day
By: Energy Impact Center
Tags: Supply Chain, Clean Energy, United Kingdom, Nuclear Energy

EIC’s UK Supply Chain Day was keynoted by NIA’s Dr. Tim Stone

In May 2021, the Energy Impact Center (EIC) hosted a virtual Supply Chain Event for UK-based nuclear engineering, manufacturing, and construction companies to explore opportunities for participation in its small modular reactor (SMR) development programme and to meet EIC representatives. The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Tim Stone, Chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), and was part of EIC’s long-term objective to introduce its OPEN100 reactor design to the UK supply chain in preparation for potential deployment in the UK.

Since developing a robust framework for new nuclear development that is backed by industry experts and informed by over 1,800 stakeholder conversations, EIC has gone all-in on making small nuclear a reality. EIC has identified that the successful delivery of new builds hinges on smart project management, a standardized supply chain, and coordinated collaboration across industry stakeholders. Putting those findings to practice, EIC spun out commercial development efforts aimed at deploying SMRs in the UK.

EIC’s SMR development programme — utilizing OPEN100, an open-source development framework — represents a major opportunity for UK industry to accelerate the transition to net zero, and to create new economic opportunities for the UK nuclear supply chain and wider energy sector by localizing procurement, integration, assembly, and construction.

The event underscored EIC’s commitment to the British nuclear industry and confidence that UK-based suppliers would benefit from the manufacture, deployment, and sale of SMRs across Europe. NIA Chairman, Dr. Tim Stone, spoke to the importance of these efforts at the event, saying, “Without nuclear, you don’t get to net zero. We have to get cracking, we have some build sites, but we need a lot more than this.” In order to accomplish this, Dr. Stone elaborated, “You’ve got to use what we have now, what we know now, which is why I’m in favor of SMRs that are delivered at scale, at speed.”

EIC’s director of Stakeholder Relations, Michelle Brechtelsbauer, elaborated, “Our goal is to involve the UK supply chain from the ground floor of planning and development. This event is a part of a continuous dialogue EIC representatives and I have been developing over the last two years as we advance toward commercial deployment.”

Over 100 UK-based supply chain companies attended the event that included representatives from NIA, Nuclear AMRC and industry journalists who covered the event. For more information about the OPEN100 framework or to partner with EIC, please reach out to Michelle Brechtelsbauer at michelle@energyimpactcenter.org.
AYS Daily Digest 13/09/2021: British Border Forces train to push back people
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Digest, United Kingdom, Poland, Refugees, Europe

The practice of driving close to a dinghy and forcing it to change direction (and putting the people on board at extreme risk through high waves!) is a common pushback practice in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. The drill was documented only days after British Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that pushbacks to France are now an official state tactic, and introduced plans to conduct training for Border Forces and develop skills for executing these pushbacks. According to The Guardian,

“Training, which is weather dependent, is due to conclude this month, with use of the tactics ready to deploy as soon as practical and safe.”

The French government, as well as human rights groups, are sure that there is no such a thing as a “safe” pushback. French Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin rejected Patel’s plans, stating that:

“safeguarding human lives at sea takes priority over considerations of nationality, status and migratory policy”.

Beside putting people at extreme risk, pushbacks are also illegal. In a statement from January concerning the increasing numbers of pushbacks from Europe, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs, said

“Respecting human lives and refugee rights is not a choice, it’s a legal and moral obligation.”

According to UNHCR,

“The 1951 Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights and EU law require states to protect the right of people to seek asylum and protection from refoulement, even if they enter irregularly. Authorities cannot automatically deny entry to or return people without undertaking an individual assessment of those in need of protection.”

In 2021, 14,100 people have so far crossed the channel by boat. There are basically no legal options for people to reach the UK, forcing them to take the risky boat journey. With late summer weather, crossings are very high these days, with a record of 828 people crossing on one day in late August. In the past few days French authorities rescued 126 people from the Channel. According to media, French authorities let boats pass into British waters and do not intercept them, unless they are in distress.
Hemp: the only plant that can feed you, house you & heals you..
Tags: Hemp, Hemp Product, Cannabis

Hemp is part of cannabis family. The botanical name of hemp is Cannabis Sativa L. The benefits of hemp start from head to toe. Hemp may reduce your risk of heart disease, hemp seeds and oil may benefit skin disorders. Hemp seeds are a great source of plant-based protein so now you have the answer to your non-processed protein needs.

Hemp has not only been used for human well-being but for industrial purpose as well, did you know in 1941 Henry Ford introduced a car made up of all hemp, 10x stronger than steel and 40% lighter than steel. Not just the car but also the constitution of the united states was written on hemp paper.

It has been an important source of food and fiber with references dating back to ancient China and Mesopotamia. Applications of hemp plants evolved from simple rope and coarse woven fabric to paper and sailcloth. Hemp enriches the soil where it’s grown. Hemp has such deep roots that it can easily grow in many different types of soil and terrains. It even holds the soil together and increases its microbial content. Once the plant is harvested, the stem and leaves are so nutrient-filled that many farmers put what they don’t use back in the soil, which rejuvenates it and results in an even bigger yield the next year. Hemp absorbs toxic metals. Hemp has shown it can eliminate toxins and radioactive material from the environment.

Scientists planted it at Chernobyl and found that hemp conducted phytoremediation and removed chemicals from the soil better than any other plant.

Hemp can reduce carbon emissions. According to Vedas hemp is one of the five sacred plants, it is also the oldest known plant to man and has been cultivated for centuries for several purposes like rope, paper, textile, Medicinal uses. Hemp is the new building material. The high amount of fibre available in hemp makes it a good choice for making building blocks. Hemp is also used as an insulating material for house construction in cold countries.

Hemp can not only replace some of the causes of carbon emissions, hemp can eliminate carbon emissions. Hemp has such a high carbon-dioxide uptake that it creates a process called carbon sequestration, which captures emissions.

Did you know you can even make fabrics and finished clothes from hemp. It takes a about 2700 litres of water to make just one cotton shirt i.e one hectare of cotton cultivation needs approximately 255515.3 litres of water, whereas a hectare of hemp farming done on just 114 litres of water can make more than 34 shirts hence hemp is known as the sustainable plant.

Hemp has been used in japan and portugal for several centuries. Hemp is known as "asa" in japanese. Hemp contains about 3% gamma-linoleic acid (gla).the unique ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 ensures that you can consume hemp without needing to balance it with any other food rich in fat.

I hope you like this article. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comment section.

Happy Learning!
How CBD and Astrology can help us live our best lives
By: Beatriz Kaye
Tags: Astrology, Cbd Oils, Hemp, Cbd, Vape

It’s a wintry Saturday night in Brooklyn. I’ve decided to tip a Chinese delivery driver generously for delivering dinner to my doorstep rather than cooking anything nutritious. I’m puffing on my Mimosa CBD Vape while watching old episodes of Friends, mindlessly scrolling through my favorite astrology account on Instagram. I had to stop, smile and think to myself, “Wow. I’m such a millennial.”

What a time to be alive. We can get food delivered practically anywhere. We don’t need to leave our house if we want to be entertained. Age-old hemp remedies are being packaged into pretty Vapes, Oils and Edibles for our convenient enjoyment. And seemingly innocent astrology memes help us make sense of a world on fire, connected by an invisible world wide web.

Despite all the misconceptions that younger generations are spoiled and lazy, Millennials and Gen Z are actually more significantly stressed out than older generations. Worry has been etched into our subconscious. Since we were born, the news cycle has been spewing out horrible shit that we can’t really do much about. On top of that, our childhood was ripe with cultural drama: a stock market crash in ’08 that obliterated millions of jobs, the student loan debt crisis, the election of our first Black president followed by… a questionable, orange, toupeed candidate spreading coded hate speech. We’re the generation that lost our faith in the systems that are supposed to protect us.

It’s only natural that we turn to two cultural staples to help us feel better: CBD and Astrology. CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is an active ingredient derived from hemp plants proven to reduce inflammation, relieve stress and anxiety, and soothe muscular pain with very little side effects. Folks who can’t afford expensive pain medications are turning to CBD to provide sweet relief at a fraction of the price.

Astrology, on the other hand, is a study of the stars and planets that help us make sense of personality traits, human interactions and collective generational emotions. When world leaders threaten nuclear wars and we feel completely out of control, we can easily blame it on a Mercury retrograde and remember that the stars have greater things in store for us in the future. Astrology helps us accept the world as it is, take inventory of what we can and can’t control, and figure out a way to move forward.

Long story short: CBD and Astrology are powerful antidotes that help us cope and make sense of the world around us. Next time you’re stressed, tune into your favorite astrology meme account and drop a few mg’s of Lemon Lime CBD Oil under your tongue. Watch your stress and worry about the world’s problems melt away. Instead of thinking of the world as a hot garbage can on fire, you’ll see the world as it is. Just a place to live in this lifetime, enjoy the little pleasures in life that are within our reach, and use our power to make changes where we can.
Hemp shipments in USA should ease later this year
Tags: Hemptoday, Hemp, Hemp News, Cannabis, Legislation

The movement of hemp and hemp-based products around the United States should be easier soon as a result of recent developments at the federal level.

Individual states in the USA will not be able to block hemp transports through their states after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases hemp production regulations later this year, USDA lawyers recently announced in an advisory opinion.

Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has updated its rules on Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail to clarify that hemp products are legal to mail so long as they adhere to local laws and compliance records are maintained. That includes CBD, as per the USPS update.

States already violating law

At the USDA, lawyers said states that currently ban the transport of legally grown hemp are in violation a 2014 law already on the books, and took issue with a recent case in the state of Idaho in which officials seized 6,700 pounds of hemp.

Under the USDA legal opinion, hemp is no longer a controlled substance at the federal level, and states and Indian tribes are restricted from banning the interstate transport of hemp legally grown under the 2014 Farm Bill.

The update to Postal Service rules came at the urging of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a trade group, which sought clarification of USPS rules regarding hemp in a letter earlier this year. The organization suggested criteria for demonstrating mailings are compliant, including signed statements and test results.

Federal agencies adjusting

The changes at the Postal Service come as federal agencies begin to adjust their policies after passage of last year’s Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released guidance for importing hemp seeds in April; in May the Food and Drug Administration held its first-ever hearing on CBD products.

Private delivery services United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (FedEx) have conflicting policies on moving hemp goods. UPS ships hemp-based products including CBD but won’t ship plants, and doesn’t take shipments of hemp products if they come from marijuana vendors. FedEx prohibits shipment of plants, leaves & flowers, hemp oil, hemp seed oil and CBD.
How to advertise CBD correctly
By: Rajat Bhardwaj
Tags: Marijuana Legalization, Hemp, Cbd, Hemp News, Cannabis

Do you know how to advertise CBD?

Considering recent lawsuits filed against well-known CBD oil companies for falsely misrepresenting the contents that their products contain, anybody who is in the CBD business must realise the duty of care they have over customers to accurately represent the products that they sell. With the rise of CBD oil into a multi-billion-pound industry, it is no wonder that everyone from budding and successful entrepreneurs to people looking to make a quick pound are getting involved. But rules and regulations will apply to everyone. It is important to realise that if you are starting a CBD business and do misrepresent the product you sell, you could be liable for prosecution resulting in large fines or even prison. So, how do you ensure you are advertising your product correctly?

What do you need to check?

THC content

The common theme of media cases in which CBD oil has been mislabelled is in relation to the content of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive constituent present within the cannabis plant and is what forms the basis of the legal status of THC within the UK. Therefore, cannabis is illegal due to the THC content. However, within CBD products there is a threshold amount of which THC can be present in which it isn’t psychoactive and is therefore legal. In the UK, this limit is less than 0.2% THC.

Read the full article by clicking the link below:
Are You Buying A Label Instead Of Purchasing Results?
By: Starr Contributor
Tags: Hemp Oil, Cbd Oils, Cbd, Hemp, Hemp News

We may not realize how label design can be a big influence when we are considering a purchase. We often associate a product’s packaging with high quality ingredients, this creates an environment where low-quality products can be disguised as high-quality. Consumers are blindly purchasing CBD based on what’s trending or because of a pretty label to find not all CBD products are created equal. Awareness and education is key in saving money, time and getting the benefits you need! When deciding on CBD products you want to find a company you can trust to provide best quality and safe products.

Things you should know and look for:

· Read reviews the internet is a great source to get feedback. Are there several alarming complaints?

· If the product you are considering is higher than other CBD options, is it justifiable? Does the product offer special features that could add to cost?

· Is the product made with premium ingredients, this would explain a higher price. Companies with nothing to hide will offer a Certificate of Analysis (COA) this is a lab report that provides information on cannabis content, quality and verify that the product is free of contaminants such as heavy metals, mold, pesticides and more.

These few steps can help you decide whether the product has value or if it’s just another item with appealing packaging. Know the difference!

For more informative blogs on CBD go to https://www.agiftfromnaturesupplies.com/blog