The 19-year-old Mexican driver starred in a race in the first race of the ARCA Series East season, at the New Smyrna Speedway half-mile oval, scheduled for 200 laps and a total distance of 100 miles, finishing third.
On February 14, at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Max, after starting in seventh position on the grid, climbed to the podium on the third step, in a hard-fought night race that had two rain breaks.
Starting on lap two, in fourth place, he attacked fiercely to try to snatch third place on this short, high-banked track, but momentarily lost control of the car; then came two suspensions of activities due to rain and, in the end, after a yellow flag, he closed with everything, being about to overtake Taylor Gray, who had the second position, managing to cross the finish line in the aforementioned third place, in a Similar action to last year, when he won in a movie finale.
Sammy Smith, the 2021 class champion who finished second last year after Max Gutierrez stole the win from him in dramatic last-minute fashion, won Tuesday at New Smyrna, after a fierce battle with Taylor Gray during the most of the test, who was second, in the first commitment of seven of the ARCA East Series.
“We had a good race. The team (Rette Jones Racing, run by Mark Rette) did an excellent job and the car performed very well. We control the conditions of the track. After the rain, and at night, the oval lost temperature, however we managed to be competitive and obtain a valuable third place”, said Max Gutiérrez.
“We are very satisfied with the result, more than fighting to you for you with teams like Busch Motorsports, among others. We dedicate the performance to our sponsors TOUGHBUILT, BOLSADX, TEKNEKK and TELCEL. Let’s go for more. This weekend we have the commitment in Daytona in the national ARCA Series”, said José Sabates, director of the ambitious project to promote young drivers to the top of NASCAR EU, among which the Mexicans Max Gutiérrez, Fico Gutiérrez and the American Chase Williams stand out. .


Alpharetta, Georgia (November 30, 2020) – Leading pallet management services provider, 48forty Solutions (“48forty”), announced today that Audax Private Equity (“Audax”), a leading alternative investment manager for North American middle market companies, has invested in the company alongside the management team. Audax and 48forty intend to work together to further solidify their position as one of the leading pallet management services platforms in North America. The company will continue to be led by existing management, with Norm Plotkin remaining as Chief Executive Officer.
“This is a very exciting time for 48forty,” said Norm Plotkin, CEO of 48forty. “Over the past several years, we have grown our national footprint while maintaining our focus on branch level execution, the quality of our products, and the consistency of our services. By partnering with Audax, we’ll look to further grow our product and service offerings as we continue to expand our reach across North America.”
Young Lee, Managing Director, Audax Private Equity, said, “We are thrilled to invest in 48forty and to partner with Norm and the rest of the team. We foresee exciting opportunities for 48forty to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions in the near-term.”
Jay Mitchell, Managing Director, Audax Private Equity, said, “The 48forty team has built a differentiated business that is well positioned for future growth. We look forward to working together with management to continue to expand the platform.”
About 48forty Solutions
48forty Solutions is one of the largest pallet management services companies in North America, with a national network of over 225 facilities, including 44 company-owned and operated plants and more than 180 affiliates. 48forty provides end-to-end pallet solutions, from supply to retrieval, on-site services, reverse logistics, and retail services. 48forty goes to market as Paramount Pallet in Canada. To learn more, visit www.48forty.com.
About Audax Group
Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $26 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $6 billion in more than 130 platforms and over 900 add-on companies, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value. With more than 250 employees and over 100 investment professionals, the firm is a leading capital partner for North American middle market companies. For more information, visit the Audax Group website www.audaxgroup.com.


12 Apr AUDIENCE SPORTS – SUPER BOWL 52
Raise awareness amongst sports fans for DIRECTV’s exclusive AUDIENCE Network and AUDIENCE Sports, and the original sports programming it offers, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Rich Eisen Show and Undeniable with Joe Buck, along with increase the channels social media following across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
In order to drive a significant influx of fans and followers to the channels, we leveraged the attention around Super Bowl in Minnesota and hired an NFL influencer, All-Pro Cornerback Patrick Peterson to take over the AUDIENCE Sports channels throughout the week. Peterson played the role of field reporter for the AUDIENCE Sports social channels, interviewing the wide array of NFL players and celebrities in Minneapolis, and as a media spokesperson delivering an overt call-to-action messaging to millions of sports fans during a multi-day media tour that featured interviews with top national sports TV, print and radio media.
The combined PR and social media campaign with Patrick Peterson was highly successful. A wide array of media coverage was highlighted by ESPN First Take, USA Today, The Herd w/ Colin Cowherd, Arizona Republic and Bleacher Report, among others. The combination of a social media takeover, paid social media buys and the significant media coverage, the campaign generated more than 6.7 million impressions, 312K engagements and over 9,700 mentions, while growing AUDIENCE Sports social media channels more than 10K total fans across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.


Critics decry 'nanny state' helmet bill: MPP's proposed law would affect all cyclists, skateboarders and scooter users
National Post Friday, November 5, 2004
Page: A8 Section: Canada Byline: April Lindgren and Scott Stinson Dateline: TORONTO
Source: CanWest News Service and National Post TORONTO -
MPPs from all parties are pushing through a private member's bill that will require adults to wear helmets when they take to public roads on bicycles, scooters, skateboards and inline skates, a move that critics decry as "nanny-state" meddling that will do little to reduce serious head injuries."
This bill will fight that unfortunate human weakness that makes us act irresponsibly," Liberal MPP John Milloy said yesterday of his proposal, which unanimously passed second reading in the legislature and was referred to a committee for further study."There are those who say that this bill will interfere with basic human rights and freedoms, and I guess there are a number of arguments to address that," the Kitchener MPP said. "The most obvious one is that we have a public health care system, and the cost of treating someone in that system who's had a preventable accident is something that we should not bear; it's something that we should ask people to prevent."Only children under 18 years of age are now required to wear helmets while riding bicycles on public roads in Ontario, and a similar law exists in Alberta. In British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, mandatory-helmet laws apply to all ages.
Avery Burdett, who led a campaign against a sweeping helmet law that was proposed for Ontario in the early 1990s, said yesterday such legislation is "completely stupid" since "there is no evidence that bike helmets make any difference to the number of serious head injuries or fatalities."Mr. Burdett said Dalton McGuinty, the Premier, opposed the mandatory-helmet law that was introduced in the province in 1995. The former Conservative government exempted adults from that legislation." I met with Dalton McGuinty a few times -- he used to ride his bike to work when he was an Ottawa MPP -- and he agreed that the way to promote safety was by educating cyclists, not by introducing helmet laws. I'm shocked that he would allow this to happen. It's staggering. I'm surprised this government hasn't got better things to do." A spokesman for the Premier's Office said yesterday Mr. McGuinty would not comment on the proposed bill because it is not government legislation.
In supporting the proposed changes to the Highway Traffic Act, Mr. Milloy and Jim Watson, Minister of Consumer and Business Services, both recalled the May, 1996, death of their friend Carl Gillis. The 26-year-old former student leader was not wearing a helmet when he fell while inline skating in Ottawa, hit his head and subsequently died." I had the sad task of identifying Carl, and it was a moment that I will never forget," recalled Mr. Watson, who said he has kept a file of cycling and inline skating accidents ever since.
MPPs cited research showing that there has been a 26% drop in head injuries among children since Ontario's helmet rule came into effect, but Mr. Burdett said helmet laws curb only "bumps and bruises," not serious head injuries. "A helmet is not going to help you much if you are hit by a car or a truck," he said, noting that part of the drop in reported injuries should be attributed to an overall decrease in bicycle use after helmet laws are enacted.
Mr. Burdett has studied Transport Canada data going back to 1975, and he noted it shows cycling fatalities have dropped over that time at a rate similar to pedestrian fatalities, even after bicycle-helmet laws came into effect and even though people travelling on foot are not subject to such laws. He said the drop in fatalities is therefore due to changes in motorist behaviour -- things such as a reduction in impaired driving and better education programs for drivers.Studies in Australia, New Zealand and the United States have also reached similar findings.
While Tory MPP Garfield Dunlop voted enthusiastically for Mr. Milloy's initiative yesterday, Conservative Joe Tascona qualified his support, noting that he would like to examine the issue in more detail to determine "how far does the government, especially this government, that likes to intervene in people's lives, go to deal with what people should be doing out of common sense.
"Citizens for Safe Cycling, an Ottawa advocacy group, said yesterday that while it encourages all cyclists to wear helmets, it would rather see the government promote safety education." [The law] promotes the misconception that wearing a helmet is the only way to prevent injury," said spokesman Patrick Wray, who added wearing protective gear gives some cyclists "a false sense of security.
"Mr. Burdett was more blunt. "It's the nanny state all over again," he said. "It's an issue raised by people not involved in cycling who want to be seen as doing something.
"Mr. Milloy said it will be up to the government to decide how soon his bill is dealt with by the committee. It must then go before the legislature for final reading.


022 26371217, 26371218
102, JAI AMBA SOCIETY, JUHU VERSOVA LINK ROAD, ANDHERI (W) MUMBAI- 400 053
Actor Sunny Deol announced he is set to collaborate with his son, actor Karan Deol for the sequel of “Apne”, which will also feature his father, veteran star Dharmendra and actor-brother Bobby Deol.
The film, which was officially announced by Dharmendra on Sunday, will have a Diwali 2021 theatrical release.
Sunny shared the update on Twitter and said he is looking forward to working on the film.
“With the blessings of Babaji and your love, all of us will be seen together, again. Feeling blessed to get a chance to work with my father, brother again this time with my son. #Apne2, in cinemas Diwali 2021,” the actor said.
“Apne 2” will be directed by Anil Sharma, who also helmed the 2007 hit drama, and will be produced by Deepak Mukut.


Honda Produces 400 Millionth Unit
How was your 2019? If it was anything like Honda Motor Company’s, well then you totally smashed it out of the park. In addition to introducing several fresh, drool-worthy models like the all-new Fireblade and the retooled Africa Twin, the company also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the landmark Honda CB750 Four. But capping even all those enviable achievements was Honda’s announcement earlier this month that it had built its 400 millionth motorcycle—and on its 70th anniversary of making motorcycles. Happy New Year, right?
“For 70 years, Honda has provided to customers worldwide motorcycles that make life easier and enjoyable,” says Honda Motor Company’s CEO, Takahiro Hachigo. “As a result, we have achieved our 400 million-unit milestone. I am grateful to all of our customers, and everyone involved in development, manufacturing, sales, and service of our products.”
The Dream D-Type was the bike that kicked off bike production for Big Red back in 1949, but while it was the company’s first true mass-produced motorcycle, it certainly wasn’t Honda’s most successful; that honor goes to the Super Cub, which has been in continuous production—in some form—since 1958. The Super Cub hit 100 million units in 2017, and with an expansion into new segments, Honda has also managed to boost its overall production in recent years. It sold its 10 millionth motorcycle in 1968, and hit the 50 million mark in 1984; 300 million bikes were churned out by 2014. Since then, Honda says it’s continued to expand production in accordance with its fundamental principle of producing locally where there is demand.
Fast-forward to today and Honda cranks out a vast catalog of two-wheelers, from the 50cc Ruckus to the 1,800cc Gold Wing, at 35 facilities in 21 countries across the globe. The company exceeded an annual production of 20 million units for the first time in its history in 2018 (with most going to the Asian market). By way of comparison, Harley-Davidson built some 228,000 motorcycles worldwide during 2018, while Yamaha assembled 5,390,000 in 2017.
At this rate, it’s not at all unreasonable to believe we might see the 500 millionth Honda two-wheeler roll off a line somewhere in the world before 2025. Stay tuned.


During moments of crisis, a grateful perspective is critical to sustaining a positive attitude—to energize, to heal, and to bring hope.
As a means of continuing gratitude practices during the COVID-19 era, BCA’s Wellness Committee encouraged staff members to participate in a 30-day gratitude challenge during the month of August.
Self-selected participants received a “cultivating gratitude” packet which included practical daily prompts to foster gratitude and mindfulness. The prompts ranged from reflecting on positive experiences to tracking efforts to do something kind for others to dedicating time to be present in the moment. The challenge was designed so staff members would take a few minutes of every day for 30 days to help reframe and create a more positive experience during the pandemic.
“It was our hope that staff members participating in this gratitude challenge would experience an improved outlook and an increased feeling of resilience during times of uncertainty,” said Jessica Kirchner, Communications Manager and Wellness Committee Chair. “Our goal is to encourage staff members to continue gratitude practices in their everyday lives even after the challenge has concluded.”


Nanoscale copper has been successfully integrated into a silicon-based anode via a cost-effective, one-step process. The additive was found to improve the overall electrical conductivity and charge/discharge cycling performance of the anode. Analysis of the new material shows that copper particles are homogeneously interspersed into the silicon active layer. The formation of Cu3Si during the annealing step of the fabrication process was also confirmed using X-ray diffraction and is thought to contribute to the structural stability of the anode during cycling. Despite the inclusion of only small quantities of the additive (approximately 3%), anodes with the added copper show significantly higher initial discharge capacity values (957 mAg−1) compared to anodes without copper (309 mAg−1), and they continue to outperform the latter after 100 charge/discharge cycles. Results also show a significant decrease in the resistance of anodes with the additive, a contributing factor in the improvement of the electrochemical performance.


We've been nominated for AWS APJ User Group of the Year!
The AWS APJ Community Leaders Summit 2023 was held online 18th of October, bringing together AWS user group leaders, AWS community builders and AWS heroes from across the Asia-Pacific and Japan region. Despite being a remote event this year, the positive, energetic spirit of community leaders was evident during the sessions and across various social media platforms.
We were surprised to find ourselves nominated for User Group of the Year alongside an esteemed list of other regional user groups from Japan, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines and Singapore. Knowing the effort and dynamism these groups bring to their respective local communities, it was an honour to be named amongst them. User Group of the Year was rightly awarded to Security JAWS (Japanese AWS User Group). Congratulations to them!
Thank you to our organisers, sponsors and, of course, members. The nomination is validation of our past and ongoing commitment to nurturing the AWS user community in Western Australia.


International Sandwich and Food to Go News Magazine has been the window on the sandwich industry since its launch in 1990. Editor Simon Ambrose has been at the helm for 20 years and knows the industry inside out. The magazine reports on industry developments, new products, supplier news and flags up latest research as well as profiling major chains and independent sandwich bars. British Sandwich and Food to Go Association members receive each issue direct to their door as well as access to all online editions of the magazine. The magazine is published bi-monthly, alternating with our sister publication, Café Life Magazine – both are delivered to members.


By Molly Black for The Fresh Story, published by FACE and reprinted here with with permission.
A new study shows that drinking before age 21 has lasting, harmful effects, especially in women. The study examined data for people who turned 18 before the nationwide 21-law went into effect in 1984. The study provides fresh evidence to support the much-debated 21-law and further demonstrates that the law saves lives.
The research was conducted by Richard Grucza, an epidemiologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and results will be published in the February 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Grucza and his team analyzed data from the 1990-2004 U.S. Multiple Cause of Death Files and the U.S. Census and American Community Survey, comparing rates of drug and alcohol problems, drunk driving accidents, homicides and suicides. They found significantly higher rates of alcohol and drug problems in adults who turned 18 between the years of 1967 and 1989, when the legal drinking age was lowered in many states.
In a press release about the research, Grucza explained, “After prohibition, most states had a drinking age of 21. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as voting rights were extended to people as young as 18, and people of that age were being drafted to serve in Vietnam, a lot of states lowered their drinking ages. But by the late 1970s, we saw spikes in DUI-related deaths among young people and states began to revert to a drinking age of 21. The 1984 federal act was really just a completion of change that was already underway.”
Grucza said the study showed that elevated risks for suicide and homicide in adulthood were especially prevalent in women, but that alcohol contributes to these harms in different ways. “Suicide and homicide are very different,” he said. Grucza went on to explain that higher homicide rates among these women may be attributed to the link between drinking and domestic violence. For suicide, alcohol problems may tip the balance for women by contributing to a higher number of attempts than men.
In conclusion, Grucza said that his research supports the argument for keeping the 21-law in place. “The 21 minimum legal drinking age was initially adopted to reduce the number of DUI-related accidents and other social consequences of drinking involving young people,” he said. “The finding that it may also save lives and reduce problems during adulthood shows the importance of maintaining these laws, and developing other interventions aimed toward reducing drinking among young people.”
Visit our website for more information on the 21-law issue.
“Higher minimum legal drinking ages linked to lower rates of suicides and homicides later in life,” eurekalert.org, November 8, 2011.
“Study: Under-21 drinking has lasting harms for women,” abcnews.com, November 15, 2011.
“Study: Another reason to keep the drinking age at 21,” healthland.time.com, November 16, 2011.


Due to the recent statement published by British Showjumping and the restrictions imposed on England and Scotland at this time, it is with deep regret that we announce the Winter Classic Show which was due to run on the 18th-22nd November 2020 has now been officially cancelled.
We are devastated to be unable to run our annual Winter Classic which has been a great success in previous years. We will issue full refunds today for those who have pre-paid their entries.
We are hopeful that we will be able to reschedule later in the year, however we will confirm at a later date.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support during this time – you have all been fantastic in helping us run our shows as safely as possible.
Team Morris hopes that you all remain safe & healthy through the pandemic.


Marimekko and the Finnish fiber technology company Spinnova’s collaboration on groundbreaking, sustainable fabrics was recognized as a finalist in the Sustainability category in Fast Company’s 2020 Innovation by Design Awards. The collaboration also received an honorable mention in the Experimental category.
One of the most sought-after design awards in the industry, Innovation by Design is the only competition to honor creative work at the intersection of design, business, and innovation. The awards recognize people, teams, and companies solving problems through design.
Marimekko and Spinnova have been collaborating on developing and commercializing new, wood-based textiles since 2017. Spinnova’s innovation addresses the environmental impacts of the fashion and textile industries, as the manufacture of textile fiber spun with Spinnova’s method consumes nearly 100% less water than cotton production. Furthermore, the fiber contains no harmful chemicals and is completely recyclable.
The Marimekko prototype outfits produced as part of the collaboration – including the first ever printed clothes made of Spinnova’s fiber – were introduced in February 2020. The outfits featuring Marimekko’s iconic Unikko (poppy) print and the company’s signature stripes demonstrate the great potential of the fiber innovation for a more sustainable future of the textile industry.
“We are very honored by Fast Company’s accolade. At Marimekko, we believe that timeless and long-lasting design that brings joy to our customers for many years is also a sustainable choice. Material choices play an important role in the work to maximize a product’s life cycle and make it as sustainable as possible. Together with Spinnova, we have been able to take major steps in developing new sustainable materials from wood-based fibers,” says Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Design and Product Development Director of Prints and Home Products at Marimekko.
“This truly is innovation by design, as Marimekko’s designers have been involved in the collaboration since very early on. Making a market entry for a novel material speeds up when fearless, experimental minds come together, and also make their collaboration transparent to consumers. We are thrilled that Fast Company acknowledged it,” comments Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.
In just two years, the partnership between Marimekko and Spinnova has brought great progress in creating end products made with Spinnova’s technology that fulfill the fashion and textile industry’s quality and sustainability requirements.
The winners, finalists and honorable mentions of the 2020 Innovation by Design Awards are featured online as well as in the October/November 2020 issue of Fast Company magazine. Over 567 projects, products, and services from Spotify, Google, Disney+, and others were submitted for the awards in 2020.


Indo Asian News Service
Date Of Publication:
July 26, 2013
Chennai, July 26 (IANS) Legislative support, not regulation is needed for chit fund business that provides necessary funds for nearly 60 percent of the people who contribute to the country’s GDP without any institutional fund support was the near majority view of speakers at a conference here Friday.
Governmental regulations are not for enforcement but for “encashment” by officials as the regulations cannot be enforced, they said.
“Nearly 60 percent of the people do not have access to institutional credit. But they contribute around 60 percent to the GDP. The weakness in the current system is that vast majority of the people do not have access to institutional funds,” said R.Thyagarajan, co-founder, chairman of the Shriram group.
He was speaking at the conference Financial Sector Conclave-Chennai: Emerging Paradigms in South India, organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
According to Thyagarajan, the chit fund industry is too small and difficult to regulate and it is better for the government to leave it.
“The number of registered chit fund companies failing is very small. Those finance companies that have failed are not chit fund companies,” he added.
According to Thyagarajan, the size of registered chit fund industry in the country will be around Rs.10,000 crore which does not merit governmental oversight at a huge cost.
“The government regulations are not for enforcement but for encashment,” he said making the audience have a good laugh.
Stressing that the chit fund business in the country is over-regulated, T.S.Sivaramakrishnan, general secretary, All India Association of Chit Funds said the companies have capital adequacy norms and do not accept public deposits.
“Chit fund business has survived for several decades and it needs legislative support and not legislative control,” he contended.
According to Sailaja Kiron, managing director, Margadarsi Chit Funds Pvt Ltd, the industry also caters to upper class people like the software professionals and others in addition to the lower class.
She said it is the only industry that services several lakh of subscribers month-on-month unlike any other industry in the financial services segment.
In Tamil Nadu, there are 2,226 chit fund companies running 51,145 chit groups. The state government earns around Rs.8 crore as revenue from this sector, said K.V.Srinivasan, additional registrar of chits.
According to him the government has received several complaints about chit fund companies forcing their clients to park their funds with group insurance companies or do that themselves without the subscribers consent.
“We are investigating the complaints and action will be taken,” Srinivasan told IANS on the sidelines of the meet.


The society has awarded the following persons the prize for Lars Ehrenbergs minne:
Mats Harms-Ringdahl receives the award from the Society's chair Lovisa Lundholm in a ceremony held at Stockholm University on June 16, 2022.
The obituary of Lars Ehrenberg (1921–2005), Mutagenesis vol. 21 no. 1 pp. 1–2, 2006.


BLP advises Barclays on £25m sponsorship deal for London’s cycle hire scheme and cycle superhighways
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP (BLP) has advised Barclays on its sponsorship deal for London’s cycle hire scheme and cycle superhighways.
Set to launch on 30 July, and supported by keen cyclist Boris Johnson, the cycle hire scheme is a public bicycle sharing scheme for short journeys in and around central London, and will be known as Barclays Cycle Hire. The deal, worth up to £25m over five-years, also includes the Barclays Cycle Superhighways – twelve planned cycle routes into central London from outer London.
The sponsorship will give Barclays naming rights for the two flagship cycling initiatives and branding on all bicycles, maintenance support vehicles, uniforms and marketing materials.
The BLP team was led by partner Vanessa Barnett who worked with associate Ceri Owen-Bradley. Barclays in-house legal was led by Fiona Butler and Helen Burt.
Vanessa commented “This was an exciting deal for us to be involved in. We have helped Barclays to take its brand across London and also worked on an important project that offers Londoners a new, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of public transport.”
Fiona commented “Barclays is excited to be part of the cycling revolution happening in London. We are confident the schemes will become part of everyday London life like the tube or buses. BLP played an important role in helping Barclays to conclude the sponsorship by providing expert advice and going that step further to ensure the demanding timeline was achieved.”
If you require any further information, please contact our press office at firstname.lastname@example.org.


By Nick Greenhalgh - Reporter/Colorado Inno editor
October 20, 2020, 02:56pm MDT
As virtual medical care became a crucial resource during the Covid-19 pandemic, Denver-based telemedicine company CirrusMD stepped up to meet the demand.
The company, which offers chat-based medical conversations with physicians, was seeing a boom in interest on its platform, hovering around a 400% increase in its typical action. The company’s ability to scale its doctors up and down allowed it to never get above 60 seconds waiting time to see a doctor.


One way to live with incurable pain is to focus on a distraction. That is why virtual reality has slowly been integrating itself into the medical world.
The first time VR technology was used for a pain management study was in 2000. Two separate burn victims undergoing burn wound care were handed virtual reality goggles to help distract them from their treatments. The study demonstrated a decrease in anxiety, pain levels and the amount of time the patients spent thinking about pain. This form of distraction has also been tested on patients suffering from various cases of chronic pain. The study also showed that using VR technology during treatments helped maintain the patients’ pulse rate and pain ratings at normal levels.
In the last few years, VR distraction has been implemented in some hospitals. VR technology is being used to help keep patients- particularly children- still during long MRI or CAT scans. It has yet been truly implemented into pain management plans because of cost and a limited amount of research completed.
Samsung recently announced their collaboration with Travelers Insurance, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Bayer and Applied VR in funding a 16-month study on VR distraction.
Who knows, maybe after this study, VR distraction could become part of your new pain management plan.


The Southern Illinois Miners got a team-wide effort on offense, compiling 12 hits and eight runs on Friday night against the Lake Erie Crushers while starter Kurt Heyer tossed an eight-inning gem with a career-best nine strikeouts in an 8-2 victory at Sprenger Stadium, breaking a four-game losing streak.
After the first three innings went by without a run on the board, Joe Dudek changed that with one swing leading off the fourth against Lake Erie starter Oriel Caicedo (0-1), blasting his eighth homer of the season, a solo shot, to put the Miners in the lead 1-0. Later in the inning, with two outs, Joe Duncan knocked an RBI single into center field to double the advantage to 2-0.
The score remained 2-0 until the seventh, when Southern Illinois batted around to score four runs and pull away. Romeo Cortina led off with a walk and Nolan Earley doubled (one of three he would have on the night to tie a single-game team record) to put runners at second and third base with no one out. Two batters later, a wild pitch plated a run to make it 3-0, and after a walk by Kyle Davis, Dudek came up big again with a two-run double off the center field wall to push the advantage out to 5-0. Later in the frame, Jake Willsey singled into center field to score Dudek, picking up his first professional hit in his debut as well as his first RBI to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
Heyer (5-5) took it from there, as the right-hander dominated on the mound in holding the Crushers to just one run on six hits and two walks, fanning nine to set a new career-best. The lone run the Crushers got against him came in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Dalton Wheat after a leadoff triple by Brian De La Rosa, and the Miners responded with two of their own in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Willsey and a balk by reliever Kent Hasler to make the score 8-1. Lake Erie also got a run on a solo homer by Doug Trimble in the bottom of the ninth, but got no closer as the Miners took the series opener.
Earley finished 4-for-5 with three doubles, tying a career-high in hits, while Duncan went 3-for-6 with a double in the leadoff spot. Dudek also went 2-for-5 with a double, homer and three RBIs to tie a season-high, while Willsey ended up 1-for-3 with a walk, run scored and two RBIs in his professional debut.
The Miners will look to make it back-to-back wins and take the series on Saturday night at Sprenger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's winningest franchise since debuting in 2007, winning the 2012 Frontier League Championship as well as division titles in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.siminers.com.


Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) today released the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Susan Brnovich to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona:
“I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed Judge Susan Brnovich to be district court judge for the District of Arizona. Judge Brnovich is eminently qualified for the federal bench with nine years of experience as a judge on the Maricopa County Superior Court. She is well respected across Arizona for her commitment to public service and impressive record as a judge and prosecutor.
“Judge Brnovich’s confirmation is a key step in filling judicial vacancies in Arizona federal courts. The judicial vacancy Judge Brnovich will fill was considered a judicial emergency because of the heavy caseloads of Arizona’s district judges. There are still two vacancies on the Arizona district court, both of which are considered judicial emergencies, and I look forward to working with the White House and my Senate colleagues to nominate and confirm qualified judges to those positions.”


We returned to Bangkok yesterday. Fortunately, our trip home was uneventful. The expressways are open, and the authorities are starting to tow vehicles parked illegally and fine the owners 500 Thai baht (about $16.50), so traffic moved at a reasonable pace. We didn’t see a lot of standing water in central Bangkok on our way home.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport was open and as busy as ever. It could get even busier with the city’s other major airport, Don Mueang, closed for at least a week after water inundated the runway. The flooding situation in Nonthaburi Province north of Bangkok has stabilized, but reports have started to roll in of isolated flooding in some parts of Bangkok. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flooding on Khao San Road, one of the main arterials downtown near the Chao Phraya River. The Bangkok Post posted photos of flooding near the Grand Palace, one of the city’s main attractions. The general assumption is that the closer you are to the river, the more likely you are to see flooding.
Below are aerial photos taken October 25 during our return flight to Bangkok. The flooding situation has not changed much in the provinces north of the city. It’s going to take weeks for things to dry out.
One thought on “Bangkok Flooding: Aerial Views of the Flood (part three)”


Based on data reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment, this is where trash burned at the Wheelabrator Baltimore incinerator came from in 2019.
188,785 tons of ash was generated and disposed of in 2019, which means that for every 100 tons burned, 28 tons of ash remain to be landfilled. The rest becomes air pollution. Of the ash, 69% was buried in the city’s Quarantine Road Landfill, and the rest in Baltimore County’s Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh.
90% of the waste comes from the city and county. In November 2020, the city and county settled lawsuits with Wheelabrator by awarding them new long-term waste contracts. The Baltimore County contract is for six years with a put-or-pay guarantee of at least 215,000 tons/year. The Baltimore City contract is for ten years with no put-or-pay clause, and comes with an ash disposal agreement for use of the city’s landfill and an emissions control agreement for partial compliance with the Baltimore Clean Air Act.


Every Woman has the right to live safely whether at home, in public transport or at office.
Now –a-days, all women live in an environment of uncertainty and risk of violent crime. Govt., state & company laws will take their own course to tackle the menace of violence against women crimes. Although laws should be made stringent to handover the quick justice to the crime survivors and appropriate punishment to the guilty. But the actual need of the hour is a revolutionary change in the mind-sets of men who commit these horrendous crimes. Needless to say, women should take charge for their own safety. Time has come for women to adopt proactive approach and utilize the available gadgets, mobile applications and learn self -defence techniques for their own safety. Alertness and the spirit of fight back can go a long way to reduce the number of crimes against women. Stringent laws, awareness and decisive actions pertaining to women safety will make our neighbourhoods, communities, and society at large a safer place.


Toyota has announced a new investment in a startup called Cartivator, which is working on developing a flying minitruck drone. The drone, which is being called “SkyDrive,” is expected to be able to transport people and goods in urban areas, and Toyota hopes that it will help to solve some of the transportation challenges that are faced by densely populated cities.
Developing a flying car By Toyota
Cartivator was founded in 2012 by a group of engineers who were interested in developing a flying car. The company has since shifted its focus to developing the SkyDrive drone, which is designed to be a small, lightweight vehicle that can take off and land vertically. The drone is expected to be able to transport one person at a time, along with a small amount of cargo.
Toyota’s investment in Cartivator is part of a larger effort by the company to explore new transportation technologies. In addition to the SkyDrive drone, Toyota is also investing in other areas, such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology.
The SkyDrive drone is still in the early stages of development, and there are many challenges that need to be overcome before it can become a reality. One of the biggest challenges is the regulatory environment, as flying drones are subject to strict rules and regulations in most countries. Another challenge is the technology itself, as the drone will need to be able to fly safely and reliably in a variety of conditions.
Despite these challenges, there is a lot of excitement around the potential of the SkyDrive drone. Some experts believe that flying drones could revolutionize transportation in urban areas, making it easier and more efficient to transport people and goods. By taking to the skies, drones could avoid traffic congestion on the ground, allowing them to travel faster and more efficiently.
Toyota Flying drones
There are also some potential downsides to the widespread use of flying drones. For example, there are concerns about noise pollution, as the drones will likely be quite loud when taking off and landing. There are also concerns about safety, as flying drones could pose a risk to other aircraft and to people on the ground.
Despite these concerns, Toyota and Cartivator remain optimistic about the potential of the SkyDrive drone. They believe that it could help to solve some of the transportation challenges that are faced by densely populated cities, and they are working hard to overcome the technical and regulatory hurdles that stand in their way.
Toyota’s investment in Cartivator and the development of the SkyDrive drone represent an exciting new frontier in transportation technology. While there are many challenges that need to be overcome, the potential benefits of flying drones in urban areas are significant. If successful, the SkyDrive drone could revolutionize the way that people and goods are transported, making it easier and more efficient to get around in densely populated cities. Only time will tell whether this new technology will become a reality, but for now, the future looks bright for flying minitruck drones.


Well, maybe not. According to an article from WebMD, more than 11,000 people go to the hospital every year due to snow shoveling injuries. Most of these injuries were strained muscles and pulled backs, but more than a few were very serious - sometimes deadly - heart-related issues. ALWAYS consult a physician before performing any strenuous activity, such as snow removal.
With that in mind, it’s extremely important to take the proper steps to ensure that you’re shoveling safely. Read on to learn how to clear your driveway and sidewalk safely.


Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Gerald Kuchling Receives the 4th Annual 2009 Behler Turtle Conservation Award
The IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and Turtle Survival Alliance established the Behler Turtle Conservation Award in 2006, a major annual award presented jointly by these groups to honor leadership and excellence in the field of tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation. The award honors the memory of John L. Behler, previous Chair of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and Curator of Herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society.
The 4th annual Behler Award was presented to Gerald Kuchling in St. Louis, Missouri, in August 2009 at the 7th Annual Symposium on Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Presenting the award were Anders Rhodin, Chair of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, and Rick Hudson, President of Turtle Survival Alliance. The Award includes an honorarium of $3000, and co-sponsors this year were Chelonian Research Foundation, Conservation International, Chelonian Research Institute, Behler Chelonian Center, World Chelonian Trust, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Deborah Behler and Brett and Nancy Stearns.
This year’s honoree, Gerald Kuchling, is a life-long turtle researcher and conservationist, whose work in the field has been inspirational for many, as he has almost single-handedly brought at least one turtle species back from the brink of extinction—the western swamp turtle, Pseudemydura umbrina, of Australia.
Kuchling has been significantly and instrumentally involved with the conservation and recovery of four of the world’s 25 most endangered turtles (Pseudemydura umbrina in Australia, Erymnochelys madagascariensis in Madagascar, Batagur trivittata in Myanmar, and Rafetus swinhoei in China) and positively associated with conservation efforts for another eight of them (Batagur affinis, Batagur borneoensis, Chelodina mccordi, Chitra chitra, Elusor macrurus, Astrochelys yniphora, Psammobates geometricus, and Pyxis planicauda). One turtle is named after him—a snake-necked turtle from the Kimberley region in Western Australia. A hallmark of Kuchling's approach to turtle conservation has been his focus on reproductive biological research and applied methodologies. His book “The Reproductive Biology of the Chelonia” was published in 1999.
Kuchling was born in Austria in 1952 and studied zoology and physiology at the University of Vienna, where he worked as a research assistant in the herpetological collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna from 1972 to 1975 and received his Ph.D. at the University of Vienna in 1979 with a thesis on the control of reproduction in the tortoise Testudo hermanni. After a post doc at the University of Göttingen he started tortoise and turtle surveys and conservation projects in Madagascar in 1984. In the 1990s he developed a conservation strategy and set up a conservation program for Erymnochelys madagascariensis with support of Conservation International and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Today a Malagasy DWCT team continues this conservation and recovery program.
In 1987 Kuchling and his wife Guundie moved to Western Australia to bring the critically endangered Western Swamp Turtle, Pseudemydura umbrina, back from the brink of extinction. In the mid-1980s this species had a world population of less than 50 individuals and did not breed in captivity. With support of WWF and the Australian and Western Australian Governments he set up a successful breeding operation at Perth Zoo and started to reintroduce captive bred turtles back into the wild in 1994. As Principal Investigator of the Western Swamp Turtle Recovery Team he has guided the recovery planning and its implementation since. While the species still qualifies as Critically Endangered, its numbers in the wild have increased to over 200. Kuchling continues this recovery work as Senior Research Scientist of the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation and as Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the School of Animal Biology of The University of Western Australia.
In 2002 the collaboration of Kuchling’s business Chelonia Enterprises with the Myanmar Forestry Department lead to the rediscovery of Batagur trivittata, a large river turtle that had not been recorded alive since 1935. He immediately established a captive colony at Mandalay Zoo and developed a conservation strategy for the species. His surveys in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2004 detected two remnant populations in upper Myanmar, one of which is now monitored and protected by a WCS team with the help of local people. The captive breeding and headstarting program of B. trivittata at Mandalay Zoo continues today under the guidance of the Turtle Survival Alliance.
Over the last few years Kuchling, working for the Turtle Survival Alliance, assessed and improved breeding projects for critically endangered Asian turtles, including Chitra chitra in Thailand and Batagur affinis in Malaysia. Since 2007 Kuchling has led for the Turtle Survival Alliance the Rafetus swinhoei captive breeding project between the world’s only known female which he discovered in Changsha Zoo in China and the only surviving old male in China in Suzhou Zoo. After Kuchling led the effort to bring these last two turtles together, eggs were laid in 2008 and 2009, many of them fertile, but successful hatchlings have not yet been produced by the old couple.
Previous Behler Award honorees have been Ed Moll, Whit Gibbons, and Peter Pritchard. In addition to honoring the life-time achievements of senior turtle and tortoise conservationists, the Award also honors conservation efforts by younger individuals who make major contributions to the field. Recognizing and valuing the often tireless and dedicated efforts made by all these these individuals is important, and the Behler Award hopes to provide some inspiration and reward for those who have demonstrated excellence and leadership on the front lines of global turtle conservation efforts.


Aptihealth, a leading player in the behavioral healthcare industry, has successfully raised an impressive $50 million in Series B funding, marking a significant milestone in its mission to expand and enhance higher acuity behavioral healthcare services. This achievement reflects the growing recognition of the importance of mental health and the pivotal role that technology-driven solutions can play in addressing this critical issue.
The funding round was a resounding success, thanks to strong support from investors who recognize the potential of Aptihealth’s innovative approach. With the infusion of these funds, Aptihealth aims to further scale its services and provide accessible, evidence-based mental health support to more individuals across the United States.
Aptihealth’s unique offering combines technology and clinical expertise to deliver personalized mental healthcare solutions. By leveraging a data-driven approach, they can tailor treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each patient. This personalized care results in improved outcomes and a higher quality of life for those seeking help.
In addition to expanding their services, Aptihealth also plans to invest in research and development to continuously improve their platform. This commitment to innovation ensures that they remain at the forefront of the behavioral healthcare field, offering state-of-the-art solutions to individuals in need.
The $50 million Series B funding round not only highlights the growing interest in behavioral healthcare but also underscores the confidence that investors have in Aptihealth’s ability to make a meaningful impact in this space. As Aptihealth continues to grow and evolve, it is poised to play a pivotal role in improving mental health outcomes for countless individuals.
In summary, Aptihealth’s recent successful funding round is a testament to the increasing importance of accessible and personalized mental healthcare solutions. With a significant influx of capital, they are well-positioned to expand their services and make a lasting impact on the field of behavioral healthcare.


|Photo courtesy of Discovery Place|
To enter, students need to submit a drawing and written description of their own superhero who has STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and math) powers to solve real-world problems. Submissions are due March 8, and all participants will receive a free comic book.
There will be a category for grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Winners will be invited to a ceremony at Discovery Place on April 6, where their work will be displayed.
For more information, visit Discovery Place's website here.


The 2020 Budget in Malta was announced on 22 October 2019.
Despite the small size, during the first six months of 2019, the Maltese economy has grown by 4.7%, more than three times the EU average rate of 1.4%.
Here are some of the highlights from the budget, and the most notable developments for potential investors interested in Malta:
- Malta continues to promote and adopt various policies in the Blockchain and Fintech sectors. A number of new laws regulating DLT, mainly the Virtual Financial Asset Act, Malta Digital Innovation Authority and the Innovative Technology Arrangements and Services Act have been introduced during the past year, making Malta on of the first jurisdictions in the world to regulate this innovative technology sector.
- Malta has renewed its commitment to adopt the recommendations done by MONEYVAL to increase its compliance with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws.
- Plans for a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence have been announced and the government has shown commitment in continuing its investment in this sector, including the implementation of AI in the public sector.
- New measures are being introduced to assist companies in the Digital Arts, games programming, media production and e-sport sectors. This is in-line with previous investment done in 2019, most notably the expansion of the Institute for Digital Games at the University of Malta.
- The investment in the aviation industry has also been bolstered, with the government announcing new measures and retention of existing measures including investment aid and the accessibility to industrial space and finance for qualifying companies looking to tap into this sector.
- Renewed support to companies looking to establish themselves in the medical cannabis sectors has been announced. Existing grants and new measures consist of the grant of land to companies compliant with the Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Research Act, which want to establish research and production facilities in Malta.
- Malta has registered an increase in tourists visiting the island of around 4.7% from the previous year, which brings up the number of tourists which have spent their holidays in Malta to 2.7 million.
- A general effort to reduce bureaucracy in government departments has been announced, with the aim to facilitate new business looking to set-up in Malta.
Should you have interest in the above, or wish to discuss this in more detail, you are very welcome to write to us at MT@SheltonsGroup.com. Our Malta office would be more than happy to hear from you.


Happy 50th Birthday Lego
From Time Magazine:
It was at 1.58pm on January 28, 1958 that then-Lego head Godtfred Kirk Christiansen filed a patent for the iconic plastic brick with its stud and hole design. Since then, the company has made a staggering 400 billion Lego elements, or 62 bricks for every person on the planet. And if stacked on top of one another, the pieces would form 10 towers reaching all the way from the Earth to the Moon.
I've also found out from the various press materials released by Lego today that there are 4 billion LEGO minifigs in the world, which makes them the largest population group on earth. Let's give them the vote.


The alumni association of the Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) Faculty of Theology held an open lecture at the Shibuya campus on September 22, 2016. Dr. Hae Bong Shin, born and raised in Japan as South Korean permanent resident, graduate of Aoyama Gakuin High School and University (because her parents told her “mission schools may have a minimum amount of discrimination”), faculty member in AGU’s Department of Public Law, and an expert in international human rights law, spoke on “Human rights and international society today: the realities and the problems.”
During her lecture, Shin shared, “After the United Nations was founded in 1945, it defined the standards of human rights and established various conventions.” She explained that the 1979 adoption of the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) had a significant impact on Japan. Nationality law changes adopted in 1985 following CEDAW’s adoption provided that Japan’s application of jus sanguinis [a legal principle in which the nationality of a child is determined by a parent’s nationality rather than by place of birth] would allow children born to female Japanese nationals to possess Japanese nationality, even if the husbands did not.
Since CEDAW also affected the Government Guidelines for Education, home economics began to be taught to both male and female students in junior and senior high schools. In the realm of employment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Law was established.
Shin also explained that the Law on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities which was implemented in April 2016 stems from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): “This Act orders society to make reasonable accommodation for the disabled and to give them more opportunities to get out of the house.”
Concerning the hate speech problem, Shin said, “In Japan, despite counsel from the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, municipal laws remained without prohibitions against hate speech for 20 years. However, the Act on the Promotion of Efforts to Eliminate Unfair Discriminatory Speech and Behavior against Persons Originating from Outside Japan was adopted in May 2016. This is not enough but we moved one step forward. . . . Education is fundamental to protecting human rights, but even university students have never learned about this area.”
“The right to knowledge is also vital. Although the United Nations counseled the Japanese government in 2001 (10 years before the Fukushima accident) to provide open information regarding both safety and the potential dangers of nuclear power generation to local residents, the advice was ignored and the disaster occurred. This was a serious human rights problem.”
Summarized and translated by Tomoko Katō
From Japan Update #72 (Winter 2017), the English newsletter of the Japan Evangelical Association (JEA)


February 22, 2007
Hino Motors to Release Large-Sized Route Bus Hino Blue Ribbon Ⅱ-in Compliance with New Long-Term Emission Regulations and Fuel Economy Standards of 2015-
Hino Motors, Ltd. (“Hino”) launches sales today of major models of the large-sized route bus Hino Blue Ribbon II in compliance with the New Long-Term Emission Regulations (2005). In addition, some of the new models being released have also achieved compliance with the Fuel Economy Standards of 2015.
The new models of the Hino Blue Ribbon II feature a reduction in PM emissions of more than 10% over the New Long-Term Emission Regulations made possible by the utilization of new model engines and PM removal device as well as outstanding low-emission performance through the acquisition of low-emission heavy-duty vehicle certification. Some of the models have furthermore achieved early compliance with the Fuel Economy Standards of 2015 for heavy-duty vehicles.
Hino will continue to provide customers with trucks and buses that satisfy their needs.
These models are available only in Japanese domestic market.


FATHER MCGIVNEY TO BE BEATIFIED!
Priest launched international lay movement, died in 19th century pandemic
ROME – The Vatican today (May 27) announced that Pope Francis approved the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, a Connecticut priest who served his flock during the pandemic of 1890, before himself becoming ill and dying of pneumonia.
The pope’s action means that Father McGivney can be declared “Blessed,” the step just prior to sainthood. An additional miracle attributed to Father McGivney’s intercession will be required for his canonization as a saint.


We are excited to announce that St. Clair College has been awarded a $500,000 grant by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to launch the Regional Future Workforce Program, a program designed to get more children and youth engaged in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), specifically in the automotive and mobility sector. The grant ends on December 15, 2023. This program will be administered by St. Clair College’s Research and Innovation department in collaboration with local industry and community partners, Centerline (Windsor) Limited, FIRST Robotics Canada, Invest Windsor-Essex, WEtech Alliance, and Women Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) of Windsor to form the Engage the Future Automobility Generation team.
The program will involve St. Clair College engineering and skilled trade students collaborating with University of Windsor Faculty of Education students to enter the Greater Essex County District School Board, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Lambton Kent District School Board, and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board to administer hands-on lessons using an educational robot. As part of the program, funds will be used to purchase over 500 robots, with an aim to impact 1000 students in the region. The program will make Ontario science curriculum connections by engaging students in topics such as coding, programming, automation, and electric vehicle powertrain. The program will use a combination of experts from St. Clair College’s School of Engineering Technology faculty as well as experienced education experts to develop lesson plans and STEM curriculum connections. To prepare for a September start, the STEM program will be piloted as a summer camp, hosted at St. Clair College. Several community groups will be welcomed on campus to engage in the program and provide input on program design and curriculum. The college is excited about the launch and implementation of the program and looks forward to increasing local student interest in pursuing education and a career in the automobility sector.


Clams have been in a heavy downtrend during past month, but it has finally found the lowest point. CLAM/BTC stopped at 38k satoshi support where it formed a double bottom. The following wave up resulted in a break above the 200 Moving Average, suggesting that Clams could continue going higher.
Nevertheless, it has rejected the 76.2% Fibonacci retracement level and a break above is required in order for Clams to start showing further strength against the Bitcoin. If/when it manages to break above the next upside resistance is seen at 141.4% Fibonacci retracement level, that is very close to 100k satoshi, a psychological round number. This resistance could play a key role in the further CLAM/BTC trend development, and the reaction of the market at that price is yet to be seen.


The Washington Post
Democracy Dies in Darkness
Portugal has nearly run out of people to vaccinate. What comes next?
By Chico Harlan and Mia Alberti
September 30, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
LISBON — Portugal’s vaccination campaign is almost over now, and it has exceeded even the wildest goals. Nearly an entire nation trusted in the science, officials say. At mass immunization centers, just the last trickle of teenagers is passing through. Some 85 percent of Portugal’s population is fully vaccinated — aside from tiny Gibraltar, the highest rate in the world.
“We have actually run out of adults to give shots to,” said Lurdes Costa e Silva, the chief nurse at a Lisbon vaccine center that is already half-shuttered.
Portugal’s feat has turned the country into a cutting-edge pandemic laboratory — a place where otherwise-hypothetical questions about the coronavirus endgame can begin to play out. Chief among them is how fully a nation can bring the virus under control when vaccination rates are about as high as they can go.
The emerging answer is promising — mostly. In Portugal, every indicator of pandemic severity is quickly trending downward. The death rate is half the European Union average and nine times below that of the United States.
Lisbon is triumphant: a city of live music and partying, where early-risers might find sidewalks still sticky with beer. Traffic is back to normal as people settle into the rhythms of commuting to work. And the celebrity of the moment — on glossy magazine covers — is the former submarine commander who led the country’s vaccination drive.
“We have achieved a good result, but it’s not the solution or miracle one would think,” Portugal’s health minister, Marta Temido, said in an interview. Some precautions will remain. Mask-wearing indoors will still be mandatory in some indoor situations. Digital health certificates will continue to be necessary for travel and events with crowds.
Perhaps the most telling sign of Portugal’s lingering unease is this: Many health officials are still worried about the vulnerability of the elderly to the ravages of the virus. In Portugal, seniors are vaccinated at a level verging on the statistically impossible: Official data puts the rate at 100 percent.
Across Lisbon, in a windy hilltop military facility, Portugal’s much-admired vaccine czar was worried about something else entirely. To Henrique Gouveia e Melo, most of the information arriving about the elderly was overwhelmingly reassuring. Even six months in, they weren’t filling hospital beds. Case levels among seniors were falling still.
The naval vice admiral had spent much of his career measuring risks, and he felt the biggest risk for Portugal required a bigger-picture view.
On one of the three computer screens at his desk, he pulled up a chart showing vaccination levels, country by country. The rates in many Western countries were decent to good, still rising slowly. But then he stopped on two former Portuguese colonies, Angola and Mozambique. In both places, like in many African nations, vaccination rates remain in the single digits — potentially giving breathing room to rampant infections and new variants capable of evading vaccines and racing around the world.
He thought Portugal’s best next move would be to focus on helping others — not just for “moral” reasons, but for its own safety. To him, the domestic mission was over — and his task force, was no longer needed. Portugal had earned an opportunity to help elsewhere.
“You cannot win just by vaccinating everyone in your own country,” he said. “The war ends after we give shots to everyone in the world.”


Many NGOs are participating in the May 4-15 Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at the UN. The NPT is a cornerstone treaty underlying global non-proliferation efforts.
A number of organizations that work on nuclear weapons issues attended the PrepCom. Reaching Critical Will is following the events at the PrepCom, including posting government statements online. Physicians for Social Responsibility posted regular updates about the PrepCom here. Want to share your experiences at the PrepCom? Post a comment or link to your report back in the comments sections.
At this year’s PrepCom, US Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller, the lead negotiator for an agreement to replace the expiring START treaty on nuclear weapons reductions with Russia, presented a message from President Obama at the UN:


Bill Gates at the launch of Office 2003
Bill Gates arrives on stage at the launch.
Bill Gates, the uber-geek, presenting the launch of Office 2003.
Bill Gates demonstrates new functionality in Outlook 2003.
Those of us who had lived through the beta testing and had been using Office 2003 for some time were impressed when something went wrong during the presentation, and Gates recovered seamlessly.
Bill Gates during his presentation at the launch.
Millennium Hotel, New York, NY, USA. 21 October 2003.


ECS Executive Director Announces RetirementJune 12, 2012
Episcopal Community Services Executive Director the Rev. John E. Midwood has announced his decision to retire on June 30, 2013 (the end of the ECS 2012-2013 fiscal year). Midwood’s announcement follows a transition planning process which engaged members of the board of trustees and agency staff to refine ECS’ strategic plan and ensure a seamless changing of the guard. In the intervening time, Midwood will continue to lead ECS as he has during his eight-year tenure as executive director, guiding the agency with an eye towards a sustainable and effective future.
“John Midwood has been a tireless advocate for children, youth, families and seniors in need,” said Miriam Kepner, president of the ECS Board of Trustees. “He has not only led this agency with a reverence for the past, an eye to the future and a commitment to sustainability, he has also articulated that vision to countless current and future supporters of ECS, speaking at churches throughout the Diocese of Pennsylvania, serving groups such as The Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services and ECS in America, and educating board and committee members about all aspects of ECS’ programs and management.”
Kepner has appointed a search committee which will be co-chaired by Kurt Brunner, the immediate previous board president, and Gail Trimble, secretary of the board and former director of development at ECS. The members of the committee are Kepner and board members Adrienne Hart, Jim Kelch, David Langfitt, Rob MacRae, the Rev Claire Nevin-Field, John Pickering, Fred Sutherland, Betsey Useem, and Sharon Webster. Jim Anderson, ECS Associate Executive Director of Operations, is the staff liaison to the committee. This committee brings many years of talented service and dedication to ECS and is committed to securing the best possible successor to John Midwood. Additionally, the committee will engage an executive search firm to help ensure that the search reaches the finest candidates possible for ECS’ next executive director.
“ECS is strong as we embark on this transition,” Midwood said. “The board is fully engaged with the present while strategically considering and planning for the future. The staff is meeting the growing complexity of the present and continuing to provide high-quality services consistent with our mission and values. Our financial resources have been prudently managed and preserved for current and future needs. The engagement of our stakeholders, measured both by level of interest and financial support, has never been stronger.”
Midwood joined ECS in 1999, serving as associate director for four years prior to his appointment as executive director in 2003. He was instrumental in the merger between ECS and St. Barnabas Mission, the West Philadelphia shelter for homeless women and children, where he served as president of the board. Under his leadership, the development of the ECS FAST Housing program developed an innovative “housing first” response to chronic family homelessness, while the agency’s foster and kinship care program earned high ratings under the City of Philadelphia’s performance-based contracting model. In recent years, he has steered the 142-year-old agency through tumultuous economic conditions and challenging changes in the social services environment.
Under Midwood’s leadership, ECS has made the transition to outcomes-based service delivery with an emphasis on continuous program quality improvements. Even during this period of transition, Midwood is spearheading major initiatives to improve educational attainment for ECS program participants and to create an intra-agency department dedicated to identifying, testing and implementing innovative approaches to serving the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Prior to joining ECS, he served as Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania for eleven years, focusing on mission strategy and urban ministry. He also touched the lives of many Episcopal Academy students during his years there as chaplain.


Some of the most brutal fighting ever in history in any war took place at Stalingrad.....The images of Stalingrad are fascinating.
Russian soldiers with an anti-aircraft gun wait for the Luftwaffe bombers
A funeral at Stalingrad. August 1942
A priest conducts a funeral service. Stalingrad. August, 1942.
Late summer. 1942. Stalingrad. Things were good then. Germans enjoy music
Summer 1942. Stalingrad area. A German officer offers his men cigarettes.
SURRENDER AT STALINGRAD AS REPORTED BY BBC - FEB 2, 1943
The Soviet Government has announced the final defeat of the German 6th Army at the port of Stalingrad, in southern Russia.
A statement late this evening said: "Our forces have now completed the liquidation of the German Fascist troops encircled in the area of Stalingrad.
"The last centre of enemy resistance in the Stalingrad area has thus been crushed."
The declaration brings to an end five months of heavy fighting for the city. The battle has been described as among the most terrible of the war so far.
Another 45,000 German soldiers have been taken prisoner in the last two days, bringing the total in custody to over 90,000 officers and men.
The prisoners are understood to be in an appalling condition after enduring months of starvation in temperatures down to -30°C.
They are the remains of the 330,000-strong German force sent to take Stalingrad.
The rest - about a quarter of a million men - have died, as many from illness, starvation and frostbite as from the fighting itself.
The 6th Army has been trapped inside the city, completely surrounded by the Red Army, for almost three months during the harshest part of the Russian winter.
They have had to rely totally on air drops by the Luftwaffe for food.
Atrocious weather conditions have reduced the amount getting through to just 90 tonnes a day - less than a third of what they needed.
The German commander of the 6th Army, Field-Marshal Friedrich Paulus, gave himself up two days ago.
He had been in a hopeless position since early December, when a last-ditch rescue attempt was driven back by Soviet troops.
He was given one earlier chance to surrender, on 8 January, by Soviet Regional Commander, Marshal Rokossovsky.
But Hitler repeated his order to the 6th Army that surrender would not be contemplated, and two days later the final Soviet offensive began to flush the Germans out of Stalingrad.
Paulus lost his last German-controlled airfield ten days later, on 22 January, and with it the last hope of any more regular supplies.
By 29 January the desperately weak 6th Army was split into two pockets of men.
The surrender of Field-Marshal Paulus brought the ordeal to an end for one of the groups.
The defeat of the second remnant today closes at last one of the most horrific chapters of the war so far.
It is difficult to distinguish between the quality of both the German and Russian soldiers. Both were motivated by their love for their motherland. But there were others factors that drove the two sides to such desperate fighting.
One, both sides knew that this was a no-holds bar war. Not fighting was thus not an option.
Second, both Hitler and Stalin made squads that killed any deserter. Turning away from fighting was just not possible.


Cryptocurrencies are slowly growing as the chosen method to invest in and buy products. Bitcoin has seen a steep rise in recent years with News BTC reporting that the current Bitcoin price is around the $4,500 (£3,400) mark. Yet as governments look to tighten cryptocurrency regulations, financiers are looking to invest their Bitcoins into other ventures. One such avenue is an old investment favourite: the art market.
Using Bitcoin to buy art is still in its infancy but the practice is starting to become widely used. The Dadiani Fine Art gallery in London’s Mayfair district is the first gallery to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a mode of payment for works of art. The gallery’s owner Eleesa Dadiani said of the change: “We are combining old world business ethics and practice with the new world of technology — the current system is becoming stale and needs to be disrupted.”
Ms Dadiani hopes that by opening up the art market to cryptocurrencies, access to market will be much easier. “Cryptocurrencies will provide a bridge from the elitist, centralist fine art market to a decentralised open source world where many more will be able to become part of this exhilarating market.”
In an interview with the BBC, Ms Dadiani explained the process through which her clients could buy art from her gallery using Bitcoin. “I give the client my public key [a long string of letters and numbers] and they use that to send Bitcoin to my account from their digital wallet or Bitcoin exchange.”
Blockchain is the network (or digital ledger) that cryptocurrencies are managed from and it is used by the Dadiani Fine Art gallery as the method of payment. “Blockchain is a borderless, open source, decentralised peer-to-peer network that governments cannot shut down,” Dadiani says. “For me, the blockchain is going to be the biggest thing since the internet.”
Right to Left: “KELLY-ANNE DAVITT: BEACH BALLS AND MELONS”, “NORMAN TOYNTON: PEGGING REALITY” & “THE NOISE: MIKE O’CONNOR”
One of the first exhibitions at the Dadiani Fine Art gallery to be opened up to investors using cryptocurrencies is The Noise by Mike O’Connor, which features six sculptures that use the exhausts from classic Formula One cars. The sculptures are expected to sell for between £25,000 and £35,000.
The attraction of using cryptocurrencies for investing in art is clear when you look at the privacy benefits. FXCM discussed cryptocurrency in-depth with the site detailing how Bitcoin offers a degree of privacy (although it can be traced) as the Bitcoin addresses (for both client and seller) are randomly generated strings of letters and numbers. This would be appealing for art collectors who may want to keep the amount they spent on art a private matter.
Alongside individuals buying works of art, there is a push to use cryptocurrency for the co-ownership of high-valued artworks. Marcelo Garcia Casil, the chief executive and co-founder for Maecenas, is setting up a venture, forecasted to be launched next year, that could permit art owners to sell shares (up to 49%) on the artworks they own. Investors who don’t want full ownership, or those who simply cannot afford million dollar artworks from known artists, will be able to buy shares of the work using cryptocurrency. Shareholders would be able to trade their shares on the exchange once the artworks are sold at auction.
How widespread using cryptocurrency to buy art becomes, will be determined in the next few years. It has the potential to completely change the art market. If it doesn’t take off then The Block Bills series shows that instead of being used to buy art, it could be used as art.


Could volunteering lead to a longer life?
According to a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, volunteering could be good for your health – particularly once you’re retired.
The article quotes a recent study of 2,705 volunteers age 18 and older from UnitedHealthcare and VolunteerMatch, which found that 75 percent of those who volunteered in the past 12 months said volunteering made them feel physically healthier.
“A much larger study — one involving more than 64,000 subjects age 60 and older from 1998 to 2010 — has found results suggesting that volunteering slows the cognitive decline of aging,” the WSJ states.
The study separated respondents into categories of volunteers, non-volunteers, and individuals who switched back and forth. The findings concluded that those who volunteer 100 hours a year score about 6 percent higher in cognitive testing than a non-volunteer.
The lead researcher found there are several reasons for this. “For starters, unlike paid work, there is a ‘different subjective well-being’ or ‘warm glow’ that a volunteer experiences from helping people. Volunteering is also unique ‘because it supplies mental, physical and social stimulation in one package,’ they said. ‘You have to move around, you interact with people, you think about activities.’ Whereas doing a Sudoku puzzle offers one type of intellectual stimulation…volunteers get all of these types of stimulation simultaneously.”
They found even as little as 2 hours of volunteering per week can have cognitive benefits.
Share these stats with your volunteers and you might just see an uptick in your volunteer attendance! Keeping your volunteers active and engaged can truly benefit both your organization and your volunteers themselves.
Want a free assessment of how well you’re engaging both your volunteers AND your donors?


Banks in Qatar have enough liquidity to provide the capital and finance mega projects worth more than $100 billion in the country up to 2022 and beyond, according to report.
The metro alone is going to cost about $35 billion and the port project between $7 billion and $8 billion. Then there are roads, electricity and water, sewage, Aviation City, stadia for the World Cup in addition to hotels, new shopping malls and Lusail City.
"The bonding requirements for these projects will be a percentage of these numbers and that's a very complex algorithm. We expect infrastructure finance demand will be in excess of $100 billion," indicates the report.
Qatar's financial sector has already been a key foundation of its rapidly developing economy, with finance, insurance and reinsurance outputs now accounting for about 10% of the country's GDP last year. Yet, total assets for Qatar's banking industry has increased at a compound annual rate of 30% in the last 10 years to almost $225 billion, while bank lending to domestic customers has grown by a similar amount in the same period to $130 billion. "Huge further increases in deposits with local and international banks operating in Qatar are also expected and will be provide huge leverage for domestic borrowers," the report says.
Bankers say they expect the aggregate balance sheets of Qatar's banks will continue growing as government investment in projects flows to construction companies and other service providers. Huge further increases in deposits with local and international banks operating in Qatar are also expected and will be provide huge leverage for domestic borrowers.
An emerging issue is the capacity of local banks to absorb the volume of business being generated by the major Qatari projects. "That is why we will increasingly see local banks coming together to finance these large projects. Regional and foreign banks are also increasingly coming in to get a share of the action in Qatar," added the report.
Despite the massive activity currently taking place in Qatar's projects industry and its continued rise in the next few years, there is a consensus among experts that the country's regulators should manage the timing of major infrastructure finance transactions.
Gulf's financial hub?
On the other hand, Qatar is bidding to become the Gulf region's financial hub, introducing a new regulatory framework for financial institutions and other initiatives to facilitate growth in the banking sector. By putting a cap on banks security portfolios to 25% of their capital and reserves, the Qatar Central Bank hopes to avoid the mistakes of the global financial crisis which was largely precipitated by the massive debt exposure of banks.
Qatar brought in two very important laws in 2012; the first was law no. 8 of 2012 on Qatar Financial Markets Authority. The second is Law No. 13 regulating the functioning of Qatar Central Bank. The laws basically restructured the framework of the work of the financial sector in the country.
The new laws were an important step towards regulating financial services and enhancing financial stability. The law also set a framework for cooperation between Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Financial Markets Authority and Qatar Financial Center Authority.
The laws were a healthy update on the regulatory framework that governed the financial sector in Qatar and would elevate the State's status as an international financial hub. The regulatory role of Qatar Financial Markets Authority aims to protect investors and the stability of the market. The authority also regulates the activity of listed companies through each company's disclosure statements.
Actually, the political and economic stability, as well as the flexibility of the banking sector, help Qatar pursue its goal of developing based on Qatar 2030 vision and Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016, despite global economic instability. The GDP in 2012 stood at 12.2 percent, more than $192 billion.
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Banks to provide Qatar's $100 billion construction needWritten by Author | Mon, 30 September 2013 08:08
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This episode continues the "State and Future of AxonIQ" presentation by the AxonIQ CTO, Allard Buijze, and friends at our conference in September.
This presentation highlighted some changes within AxonIQ as a company, as well as the products in the past two years and moving forward.
In this second portion of the talk, Allard and Steven van Beelen (Axon Framework's lead developer) spoke about Axon Framework, its newest edition, and what is to come next.
In the next episode (and the last portion of the presentation), the Axon Server team will discuss the newest additions to the server and their plans for future release(s). Allard will also present Axon Synapse, our newest product.
Connect with Steven on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Connect with Allard on LinkedIn and Twitter.


During the fall semester, Lift For Life Academy high school students visited two fashion designers at their Washington Avenue studio lofts. One designer was Project Runway Season 8 contestant, Michael Drummond. Drummond taught students about his fashion specialty– woven garments. The students saw his weaving machines as well as the type of fabrics he prefers to use. However, Drummond wasn’t able to show off his Project Runway fashions, as those were auctioned off in New York. Teacher Elizabeth Wagner says the visit helped students understand the education Drummond went through to reach this point in his life.
The second designer the students interacted with was Melissa Rae Brown, a vintage fashion designer. She informed students about her unique technique of restyling or taking apart clothing and making them into new garments. She introduced the students to her new collections titled, “Cupcake Collection,” full of frilly and puffy dresses and skirts. Mrs. Wagner said, “The students not only had the opportunity to learn and view haute couture, but they were also able to see how both designers live. It was an invaluable experience the students will never forget.”


Earlier within the day, CEO Mary Barra informed CNBC’s Phil LeBeau, “From a 2018 perspective, it isn’t solely a deal with actually capitalizing on the brand new vans we’ve on the market, the light-duty vans, but additionally the deal with cost discount so it was throughout the board. Every factor of the corporate.”
The firm introduced a number of plant closures and 14,000 job cuts in November, which is expected to save lots of about $6 billion by the top of 2020.
Lutz mentioned these “unpopular” selections have been essential for the firm to enhance earnings.
While no one likes plant closings, it’s a reality of life within the auto business as a result of these crops get outdated and are producing automobiles which can be now not in demand, he defined.
“It’s unhappy. It’s the draw back of a market economic system. But in the event you do not do it, companies die. And no one advantages from that both,” Lutz mentioned.
The firm’s focus now’s on crossover automobiles, moderately than passenger automobiles, which Lutz referred to as “loss turbines.”
He additionally thinks the Detroit automaker is finest positioned to take advantage of latest know-how, noting it has numerous experience in electrical and autonomous automobiles.
“General Motors sees the autonomous and electrification future coming and so they’ve obtained the money and the wherewithal to be a giant player.”
GM is projecting greater than 17 million complete U.S. car gross sales in 2019.
– CNBC’s Robert Ferris contributed to this report.


The manufacturing sector encourages domestic output, exports, and employment, thus stimulating economic expansion. The manufacturing sector of Pakistan has contributed 12.79 percent to the GDP and employed 16.1 percent of the labor force in recent years. Large-scale manufacturing, at 9.73 percent of GDP and 76.1 percent of the sectoral share, dominates the manufacturing sector. It is followed by small-scale manufacturing, at 2.12 percent of GDP and 16.6 percent of the sectoral share. The third component, slaughtering, contributes 0.94 percent to the GDP and 7.4 percent to the sector share.
COVID-19 has emerged as one of the greatest threats to the world and domestic economy, halting economic activity. Due to two factors, the situation was particularly difficult for Pakistan's industrial sector. First, many manufacturing jobs are on-site and cannot be performed remotely. Second is the deceleration of industrial operations due to strong trade and production relations with the hardest-hit nations (Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-21). The CEPD insinuates the industry to address major issues, including red tape, the provision of credit services, tax benefits, lack of government support, inefficient and inadequate material testing laboratories, a dearth of research and development, and a lack of skilled workers.


Why targeting home movers is so important in the age of COVID19.
At the time of launching our Moving Minds research, we could’ve never foreseen the seismic shift in, well, pretty much everything, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s safe to say a lot has changed in the last year, particularly for the home improvement sector.
In the final quarter of 2020, 12% of all British homeowners put their house on the market, motivated by things like the stamp duty holiday and an unusual year reflecting on our living requirements. Home-working and home-learning have both caused many to stop and think about what they want from their property. Last year, Rightmove reported a massive £37 billion worth of property sales agreed in July alone – the busiest month for home buying since they started tracking this data over ten years ago.
Fast forward to this year, and the latest data from Zoopla confirms the home moving trend is continuing into 2021, with buyers still reassessing lifestyle choices and keen to move. In the first two weeks of January home buying demand was up by 13% YoY . Supporting this, Aviva recently reported more than two fifths (43%) of UK adults are considering moving to a different type of setting in 2021, as a result of last year’s events.
Moving home is an ‘inertia-buster’ that changes our spending behaviours dramatically. In the first 12 months after moving, we spend roughly the same on home improvements as we do in the five years that follow. Now more than ever, brands in the home and property sector are faced with a huge opportunity and our Moving Minds study provides us with a deeper insight into the mindset, influences and motivations of those in the process of moving home.
For those who completed their move during lockdown, all the enforced time in their new property has provided them with the chance to throw themselves into home improvement projects. Ebay data shows that during the first lockdown last year, demand in the DIY category spiked, with searches for ‘Interior & exterior paint’ rising 825% YoY, while searches for ‘Cordless drills’ jumped 135%. Supporting data from Kingfisher PLC demonstrates a 164% growth in online sales for quarter three of last year, while Dunelm paid back the government £1.5million in furlough costs after a period of record-breaking online trading.
Yet, it’s not just more downtime at home that has led to increased DIY and home improvement purchases. Our Moving Minds study helps us understand why this might be as it investigates the vital role that home interiors play in the expression of our social identity – a key part of every person’s psychological makeup. Social identity expression is a strong motivator of purchase behaviour because it’s a source of support and self-esteem. With the dramatic and long-lasting disruption to our social identities the home caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re turning to our homes more than ever to fill that void.
The lockdown has forced many to rely less on the clothes they wear and the restaurants they eat in to express social identities. Instead, people are turning to the curation of their surroundings as a way of expressing themselves and their mindsets.
Interestingly, this might tell us a little more about the home interior trends of the past year, and those going forward. One of the major interior design trends of 2020/21 is ‘70s decor - rattan, warm colours and house plants have made their way back into homes of the 21st century. Refinery21 suggests why this might be:
“Despite economic hardships at home, the '70s held a sense of optimism about the future as travel and technology grew. This was reflected in home design: things may be bad now but they could be better. Perhaps our renewed interest in '70s design in 2021 speaks to our wish to return to this sense of optimism and curiosity and even (whisper it) joy. But unlike the forward-looking '70s, we’re now looking back, seeking comfort in a decade which seems a world away.”
Consequently, there’s a huge – and immediate – opportunity for marketers to tune into this purchase driver and craft marketing campaigns around it. By tapping into the motivations and psychology behind these purchase decisions, we can create campaign messaging, materials and media plans that resonate and influence more effectively.
For brands in the home improvement and DIY sector our Moving Minds study can really help focus marketing strategies so that our marketing messages really resonate at a time when people are most likely to spend. To download the full Moving Minds report and find out more about how psychological attitudes and motivations drive home mover purchases, head to the tab at the bottom of your screen.