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Bruce Kreitler: Insights from 'touching trees'
Last week when I was urging people who use firewood, or just want to keep some on hand, to get some soon, I referred to how dependable the electric and gas utilities are in our region.
While our regional utilities have clearly reached a high level of dependability, they aren't the only ones who have done that, or at least want to do so. I would be willing to bet that with the hurricane that is about to hammer Florida, some of our local utility people will have already been sent to Florida, put on standby to go, or have been told that they are going.
The last report I heard was the utility people in Florida have organized 13,000 workers to help post-storm. That's an impressive number of people, and a mountain of equipment. The pre-organizing of people and equipment when a known storm is coming, or the quick calls for aid after unexpected events, by public utilities, is something they've developed over the years, and they are good at it.
One of the things that I frequently mention in these columns is that actually being out among trees (in my business this is referred to as "touching trees"), means that I get to see how trees actually live and grow, versus working in a lab or sitting at a desk writing about what trees may do.
And yes, I obviously spend a fair amount of time at a desk writing about trees, but I usually do that early in the morning, and then go out in the field. Additionally, I seriously doubt that anybody would mistake the writing I do as "scientific" or theoretical.
My end of things is anecdotal, based on what I see, and crackpot theories that I may come up with on my own. Fortunately, actually being out touching trees and seeing things with my own eyes does give me good information, and I believe I have learned things about trees that just can't be learned any other way.
In fact, the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture), of which I am a member, seems to feel the same way, as any certification test they give will have questions on it that are experience-based, rather than study-based. Personally, I didn't think it was possible to ask questions that had no book answers, until I took some of their tests, especially the one for Board Certified Master Arborist.
More:Bruce Kreitler: Plan ahead for fireplace needs
More:Bruce Kreitler: Don't dally on tree planting
More:Bruce Kreitler: West Texas forests take a lot of work
I recently figured out, or at least I think I've hit on a pretty obvious reason, the cause of something we deal with all the time. What I'm talking about is the "flags" in pecan trees that are small, dead sprout-type branches that stand out visually.
I've known for a long time that the cause of those small dead branches is squirrels chewing the bark off them around the base, but what has puzzled me all these years is why they do a lot more of it in trees that have had some harsh pruning. And by harsh pruning, I mean large branches lopped off, and left as "stubs."
This phenomenon is easiest to spot where there has been some clearing of electric lines by a utility pruning crew, as that kind of pruning leaves a lot of stubs.
What I have come to realize, and I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't figure this out sooner, is that squirrels like to chew the sprouts growing on stubs simply because the stub is a much better place to stand while they do it.


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Click on the link below to access the 2nd Grade Book List page: https://fictionalstoriesinscience.wordpress.com/cross-referenced-sciela-standards-with-books/2nd-grade-book-list/ A connection to NGSS 2-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity–Comparing diversity of different habitats. This book doesn't do the work or the depth of this standard, but it provides a… Continue Reading "New Book Added: 2nd Grade Book List"
This was a great Costco find one afternoon. I was pulled in by the title, the colorful illustrations, and this idea of a "peek-through picture book". What was that? I wondered. I loved the out-of-the-box thinking that used the depth from the pages themselves… Continue Reading "Featured Book: "Tree" by Britta Teckentrup"

subset: commoncrawl


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Go out and find auditions if your dream is to act or dance
or sing. They will not come to you, and it is not a good
idea to rely solely on an agent to find you work opportunities.
They may be very busy and also have other clients whom they
have prioritized above you, and meanwhile you sit with no
work waiting for a call from them. You have to take it upon
yourself to find auditions using your investigative skills
and the resources you have available to you.
If you are at a loss as to how to find auditions, start
by going to the local places that you know are involved
with producing plays and other types of productions. Ask
around to see what information the people you meet there
can give you to help find auditions. Theatres, studios,
acting schools, production companies and colleges are all
good possible sources of information, and more and more
recently, actors and agents have begun to use the Internet
to post announcements and find auditions and casting opportunities.
The time to start trying to find audition, if you haven't
started already, is right now. For every day that you wait
or rely on someone else to find them for you, at least one
other person has gone out there and scrounged up the very
information you may have needed to find auditions suitable
for you. This means now there's more competition, and you
still don't even know where the race is.
Copyright ©
2008 AuditionsMovie.com. All rights reserved.
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The Ledlenser P18R SIGNATURE rechargeable LED torch with X-Lens Technology delivers an impressive 4500 lumens of light on Boost, that can be focused an astonishing 720 meters (just under half a mile!). Its oversized head delivers a large wide illumination area making it perfect as a searchlight or area site light in addition to its use as a handheld torch
Ledlenser is an international manufacturer of flashlights and headlamps. Harald and Rainer Opolka founded the company in 1993 and created, with only a few tools and a drawing pad, the success that became Ledlenser.View all products from this brand


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🔑KEY VERSE "I will raise them a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him" (DEUTERONOMY 18:18).
Our text reveals the promise of God to give His people a Prophet that will instruct, direct and warn them. This became necessary so as to teach them how to inquire from God and learn His ways. Though God sent other prophets after Moses, none of them fits the description of the promised Prophet. After the ministry of Moses, the Scripture affirms that none of God's prophets was like him. Thus, this promise can only be applied to Christ, the Messiah.
Moses was faithful to God but Christ "was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has built the house has more honour than the house" (Hebrews 3:3). Christ and Moses both have mediatory, prophetic and priestly offices and other similarities are their peculiar excellence of ministry, backed with variety and magnitude of miracles. They were acknowledged as prophets mighty in words and deeds before God and all the people. They had closeness and familiar communion with God, including great followings as leaders of the people of God. Moses was a divine instrument used by God in giving the Law. Christ gave the new commandments in the gospels and Acts of Apostles on which the Christian Church is founded.
The implication of Christ as the promised Prophet is that He would be the Mouthpiece of God as contained in the original promise. Jesus Christ is, therefore, the eternal Word from God. To believe that He is a Prophet is right, but to fail to do what He says is bad. Acceptance of and obedience to this great Prophet is obligatory. Therefore, anyone who neglects the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Prophet and Word of God, is doomed eternally.
✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Acceptance of, and obedience to Christ is obligatory.
Jesus: The ultimate divine answer to spiritism
- The identity of the Prophet
a. He will be of Jewish origin, v15.
b. He will have a prophetic ministry with capital P, vv15,18.
c. Like unto me, Moses, He will be endowed with uncommon supernatural gifts of healing and miracles, v15.
d. "Like unto me, Moses, He will be a custodian and an oracle of God's word, vv15,16,18.
e. "Like unto me" Moses, He would be a Mediator of a Divine covenant, this time, the New Covenant, vv15,16, 18.
f. "Like unto me", Moses, He will liberate God's people from the Despot, called Pharaoh, and lead them to the Canaan land, vv15,17,18.
f. Refusal or rejection of His words is tantamount to rejecting God and is punishable with death, v19.
Note None fits into those description except our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who delivers us from the dominion of Satan, the prince of this world (spiritual Egypt) and is leading us to our spiritual Canaan, which is heaven, Hebrews 3:1-6.
- The invincibility of His power
a. Men go into spiritism in search of security, superiority over others, sourcing for information not available to mortals, secret of mysteries etc; and they pay heavily for it, vv10,11, Hebrews 2:15. Some pay with the destiny of their children, some mortgage their souls in hell, some pay with untimely death etc.
b. Jesus, the Prophet with capital P, is hereby presented as an answer to the fear, feeling, falsehood, fallacies, futuristic knowledge demand of man, vv15, 16, 17.
c. "Him shall ye hearken", in contrast to the demand, deception and damnation on spiritism, because He is the finality of God's revelation and power, vv15,19.
d. Believers can totally lean on the eternal Prophet of God for protection and security, pure secret of "mysteries" in all matters of life, power source to triumphant living over all obstacles and adversaries in life.
Prayer Points
Lord, I hereby remove all my confidence from other powers and personalities and accept you as my only Prophet and Lord. Let your power be working wonders in my life🙏
Thou Prophet, Priest and King of my life, rule over my life in your power and let the power of the wicked perish in my life🙏
Lord, I hereby ask for the power and the anointing that is greater than all my adversaries🙏
Lord, release the gifts of the Holy Spirit that will shame all the activities of spiritism in the Church🙏
HYMN Christ Jesus has the power.


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Many people around the world are deciding that they want to start becoming more fit. This includes two main aspects, weight loss and muscle gain. By following the tips and advice that you will find in this article, you will be able to start yourself on the fitness journey that you want.
Make an exercise schedule and stick to it, this will improve the results of your overall fitness experience. Sticking to a schedule encourages the habit.
A good tip to stay fit, is to try circuit training. Circuit training is a method of lifting weights where you dramatically reduce the rest time and the weight. This method turns your weight lifting session into a cardio session at the same time, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
A great way to get fit is to invest in a bike. Riding a bike is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. You can also burn a fair amount of calories. You can even ride your bike to take care of your errands.
Be careful to protect your neck when doing a fitness program that involves crunches. One way to reduce strain on your neck when doing crunches is to hold your tongue at the roof of your mouth. This aligns your neck and makes it easier to do the crunches.
Look for support all around you. It's a lot easier to do a workout program when you are working with others. Check at your work, your neighborhood, even your monthly book club and see if anyone is interested in joining you on your fitness program. Having a partner makes the work even easier.
You can do more than traditional abdominal exercises to build great abs. Dead-lifts and squats are shown to build ab muscles. Studies have shown that by doing these two exercises your abdominal muscles are forced to do a lot of work in order to maintain your posture while exercising.
Walk barefoot. This will help strengthen your calf muscles as well as your ankles. This is especially helpful for women, who shorten their calf muscles by walking in high heels so often. Stretching your leg and ankle muscles cuts down on stiffness and encourages flexibility and mobility. Walking barefoot also helps your sense of balance.
A great way to stay fit is to ride the bicycle. The one at the gym works too, and while riding it, you should stay between 80 and 110 revolutions per minute. You will actually ride for a longer distance and you will go faster without becoming tired.
Doing sit ups or crunches can be a good way to develop ones abdominal fitness. Sit ups can be done with out any special equipment just a soft spot to exercise on. Also there are different kinds of sit ups one can do to work different parts of their core. Sit ups can boost ones fitness.
Shop for your workout shoes at the end of the day. This is the time when blood flow to your feet is the heaviest, so your feet will be at their largest. Since blood flow increases during a workout, you want to make sure that your shoes will not suddenly become too tight and uncomfortable.
Try a one-legged bike ride, but keep your balance. Use one leg to both forcefully push the pedal down and pull it back up. Let your other leg rest on the pedals without using it for any pressure. Switch the legs up on occasion for a great workout with minimal effort.
Run with fully inflated lungs to help with endurance and speed. Your legs, as well as the rest of your body, need the maximum amount of oxygen they can get, especially when you are exercising. Make sure that you are pulling enough air into your lungs to make your belly push out.
When you are working out you should try to always remember to keep your tongue at the roof of your mouth during sit-ups and crunches. This will keep your head in alignment and will keep your neck from getting hurt from having too much strain placed on it all at one time.
Summer heat can really make it hard to get out and get the exercise that you want and need to get. Try to drink a low calorie slushie before or after your run. It will cool your body temperature down and give you a refreshing way to rehydrate after a long run.
A great fitness tip is to make sure that your workout shoes fit properly. When purchasing new shoes, do so late in the day as this is the time when your feet are the biggest. Having an uncomfortable pair of shoes that don't fit can cause many back and feet problems down the road.
Kids need exercise just as much as adults. If you want to get your kids moving, turn on music. Dancing is a great way to get exercise. You can give them moves to do, or have them make up their own. See if your child can hop on one foot through a whole song.
When you are changing your grip when working out and lifting weights decrease the weight that you are using by ten percent when you are going to a wider grip. Doing this can save your muscles by stretching in a way that they are not used to and save pain.
Whenever you are lifting weights that target your arms, it is generally a good idea to lift one arm at a time. Often times, one arm is stronger than the other and can do more of the work whenever you lift with both arms at the same time. Exercises which isolate your arms will ensure that both get a proper workout.
Following these tips will help to give you the body that you want. This will lead to a great many benefits for you both psychologically and physically. When you are able to have the level of fitness that you always planned on, you will start to feel like a better and more complete person.


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I take care of myself.
I never lack for a space to write and read.
Every place I ever lived, I carved out a place for me.
Had my own bedroom as a kid, a desk to write at, and a bed to read in.
Since then, through dorm rooms, apartments and houses, there's a desk and a comfy chair.
Today is the same.
I'm not selfish.
Well, maybe just a little.
Maybe I'm just selfish enough.
I take care of myself.
Daily Prompt: Writing Room
A genie has granted your wish to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What's it like?


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The Women's Ocean Washed Long Sleeve Tee is one of the softest shirts with the best graphics around. These shirts weren't really washed in the ocean, but they sure feel like it. The soft v-neck construction flatters and the wide range of pretty, coastal designs makes it hard to decide. These long sleeve graphic tees are so soft, you'll want to stock up on your favorites and be ready for any outdoor adventure that calls.
- Super soft long sleeve t-shirt
- Comfortable, relaxed fit
- Soft V-Neck Collar
- 100% Garment-dyed, Ring-spun Cotton
Style: RWLGT-DC
Reel Life combines outdoor performance with comfort and style. Our line of fishing shirts, beach clothes, and more features performance long-sleeve t-shirts, board shorts, and graphic tees with cool designs that conjure up the smell of saltwater and a backflip off the boat's bow.


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"Everybody can compost and recycle, consume wisely, avoid flying, avoid eating meat or fish from industrial fishing, or anything that has been produced in a harsh way, incl. intensive animal farming. Also, we have to teach children to love and cherish nature and animals. And we have to vote for politicians who are devoted to work against climate crisis NOW, not sometime in the future."
Category: consumption
Easter, or no Easter
respecting the life of non-human persons
Human Library event will take place on Sunday, November 20th in Maardu (EE).
I will be there as a Vegan Feminist on loan to Readers. Registration is now open. Looking forward to respectful conversations! Facebook event: https://clubactive.eu/20-11-22-human-library-maardu/
Four generations of experience in the footwear sector: Nicola Masolini (RE-BORN; IT)
RE-BORN is a family-run company.
Bridging art to the existential threat of atmospheric carbon overload: Allegra Searle-LeBel (US)
"Resisting consumerism, which is especially hard when we're told that the way we can make anything better is by buying something."
Showing that every non-human animal is an individual with a unique personality: Maria Tiqwah (NL)
"Let us be, first and above all, kind"
Helping others to see and appreciate the opportunities and options of a sustainable way of living: Anne and Gary Moore (Wagtail Design; FI)
"Personally we like crisis, it builds and brings out strengths that most don't even know they have. There is a very appropriate saying that I have used as long as I can remember: "If you care enough, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse." You, and you alone are responsible for you; find your way out of crisis."
Shop ´til you drop but keep it cruelty free!: Helen Tintse (Veganshop; EE)
"I admire and respect everyone who has found possibilities to support veganism, environmental protection and equality. There are many different people, some in the forefront, some not. Some can write, some can blog, some creates recipes, some design, some takes photos, some consults, etc. They all help our world to become a better place. Similarly to every person who cares and who makes reasoned choices."
Reducing the amount of food loss and food waste is crucial
During the last two weeks I have filled an Excel file about my food waste.


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14.6 Summary of Session 14
In this session you have looked in detail at routing. A router uses its routing table to determine where to forward IP packets that arrive at its interface. Each entry in the routing table links a network address or a device address to an interface. Incoming IP packets are checked against each line of the table: when an incoming IP address matches an address, the router will forward the packet to the corresponding interface.
Creating the routing table can be done manually by using the ip route command. Static routing like this is only appropriate for small networks that rarely change. Dynamic routing protocols such as RIP allow the router to build the routing table by learning which networks are connected to each interface. Dynamic routing can deal with more complex and dynamic networks.
New terms
In this session you have met the following terms.
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
A simple dynamic routing protocol used on small networks to enable a router to learn about networks from other routers it is connected to.
Quad zero route
The default route in IPv4.


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One of the best and most common ways to combat mold is utilizing an air purifier for mold. This method can be done without much effort or surveillance and will guarantee the least mold exposure.
Here is a list of Best air purifiers that prevent and combat mold
[azonpress_tables id="3″]
Levoit LV-H132
The LEVOIT LV-H132 Air purifier is agreat air purifier for mold. One of the most popular models on the market, the LEVOIT LV-H132 does not use standard methods of air purification such as UV or ions which can create harmful air pollutants; instead it uses a three-stage filtration system that removes 99.97% of dust, allergies, smoke, odors, pollen, pet dander, and most importantly mold spores!
This model comes with a three-speed setting which can handle even the most polluted conditions, creating a clean mold free atmosphere in the home.
This air purifier operates quietly and offers the options of night lights for night use and affordable replacement filters which last between 6 to 8 months depending on the condition of the air in the home.
The LEVOIT LV-H132 air purifier is not only efficient at its job but also cost-efficient, having some of the most affordable replacement filters on the market for long-term use.
Hathaspace Smart True HEPA AirPurifier, 5-in-1
Known as the Destroyer of Pollutants, Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier is capable of eliminating virtually any air pollutant in the home. This air purifier guarantees to remove contaminants in the air such as bacteria, dust mites, allergens, pet dander, viruses, smoke, mold spores, and any other invading microorganisms that could be potentially harmful.
The Hathaspace Smart air purifier even can relieve asthma and allergy symptoms, runny nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, and congestion by removing the contaminating substances that cause them. This system has an automatic air flow system which continually changes the air quality in the home utilizing advanced air quality sensors and monitors which adjust the fan speed according to the quality of the air.
This air purifier is one of the smartest on the market, and also replaces the air in 350 sq. Ft rooms up to 2 times per hour compared to other systems.
Bissell air400
The Bissell air400 Air Purifier uses a 3-stage filtration system which can silently capture 99.7% of microscopic organisms and particles. This machine uses a carbon filter which can detain particles of smoke, pollen, dust, and pet dander.
This model does not specify whether it is capable of collecting pollen but is still one of the best models on the market today. The Bissel air400 is capable of exchanging up to 3 times the air in a 400-sq. Ft room within each hour making it a powerful air purifier. Filter changing of this model is dependent on the condition of the air in the place it is too purify, but the unit comes with one filter which is to be changed every six months.
The Bissell air400 is one of the most cost efficient and productive air filters, easy on your pocket, but hard on air pollution.
Levoit LV-PUR131
LEVOIT Air purifiers are a favorite brand because it uses alternative technology to other brands which use UV or ION technologies which can cause more harm than good when purifying the air of your living spaces.
The Levoit LV-PUR 131 Air purifier eliminates odors and air pollutants using a 3 stage TRUE HEPA filter and activated carbon filters which remove 99.97% of air pollutants such as smoke, odors, pollen, pet dander, and it's even hard on mold spores!
This filter has the capability of filtering particles smaller than 0.4 microns and larger air pollutants which cause stuffy noses and congestion. The smart technology applied to this air purifier ensures that the system automatically adjusts its fan speeds dependant on the quality of air in the area it's used in, saving energy.
This system also has a sleep mode which purifies the air as you sleep, on the lowest setting with optional LED display and timer for respiratory system protection while you sleep. Energy-Star certifies this model for meeting their strict requirements and is quality assured, and also energy-saving.
Alen BreatheSmart Classic Large Room Air Purifier
The Alen BreathSmart Classic air purifier is not only effective at cleaning and purifying the air, but also stylish. This air purifier model is one of the only models which offer color options.
The Alen BreathSmart Classic is capable of absorbing even the smallest of particles while coming in multiple stylish colors such as Brushed bronze, Brushed stainless, espresso, gold champaign, Graphite, maple, oak, primer, rosewood, weathered gray and white.
The Alen BreathSmart Classic air purifier uses their patented WhisperMax technology which makes this not only one of the more proficient purifiers but also the quietest on the market. This model is capable of removing allergens, bacteria, light odors, chemicals, and mold.
The filter used in this model is silver based and coated with an antimicrobial compound that keeps bacteria and fungi from growing inside of the machine, which is a common problem with other models on the market.
This wonderful purifier is capable of displaying the air quality of a room in real time with its smart laser sensors which can detect even the tiniest airborne particles.
The Alen BreathSmart Classic patented filters are the best on the market removing the highest amount of particles 99% to be exact; this is one of the best air purifiers on the market.
Not only is it capable of removing mold it can also stop the spreading of mildew and bacteria, providing all-around clean air protection.
GermGuardian AC5350B
The GermGuardian AC5350B Large room air purifier is a 4-in-1 air purifier which provides relief and comfort for those who suffer from allergies or any other kind of illness that may come from particles in the air.
This model uses a HEPA channel filter which captures up to 99.97% of small particles as tiny ass .3 microns in size.
The GermGuardian also comes with a UV-C light which kills germs and charcoal components which captures odors leaving air fresh and clean. This air purifier is lightweight and able to clean the air in rooms up to 167 sq. Feet.
GermGardian has a sleek and stylish design with a digital touch screen display panel which includes control over every aspect of the machine to ensure constant clean air flow throughout your home.
RabbitAir BioGS 2.0 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier (SPA-625A)
RabbitAir has been creating air purifiers since 2004 and knows how to build the perfect machine to provide their customers with high-quality air in their homes.
This air purifier received the red dot award in 2014 for its outstanding ability to create sterile and constant airflow, also deodorizing air as it purifies through its patented four-stage filtration system. Its filtration system includes a pre-filter, brushless direct current motor, activated carbon filter, BioGS HEPA filter, and Negative ion generator with on and off control to provide fresh air.
This machine is capable of removing large particles, dust mites, mold and fungi, pet hair, particles that carry viruses, bacteria, pollen, exhaust fumes, dander, tobacco smoke and so much more; there's nothing this machine isn't' capable of cleaning from the air.
Winix 5500-2
Winix has recreated the air purifier even more efficiently than most brands. The Winix 5500-2 Air purifier is capable of capturing a whopping 99.97% of all particles in the air down to .3 microns in size.
That includes dust, hair, smoke, mold spores, dander, and any other irritating particles that may be floating around your home. This model contains 4 fan speeds with endless operation options, smart sensors, and monitors with LED indicator displays, and an indicator to remind you when the filter should be changed.
Winix has a patented Plasma wave technology which eliminates virtually all airborne particles in the environment. The model is also remote controllable, and guaranteed to provide your home with fresh, clean, odorless air.
Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover, 465 sq. Ft
The Honeywell True HEPA allergen remover is trusted and recommended for extra-large rooms up to 465 sq.ft able to capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles as tiny as 0.3 microns.
This is an ideal air purifier for those pesky molds and mildew prone spaces in the home such as basements, attics, and crawlspaces. This massive duty turbo cleaning system reduces allergens and is capable of filtering the air five times an hour, making sure clean air circulates for you to breath easy.
Honeywell air purifiers are known for their heavy-duty ability to clean large rooms efficiently; they are easy to maintain, and filters only need to be changed once a year, making it not only efficient but cost-efficient.
Winix 5300-2
Like the previous Winix model, the Winix 5300-2 air purifier is one of the best air purifiers on the market for mold and mildew. This air purifier model from Winix has the same plasma wave technology which eradicates impurities in the air efficiently but is recommended for medium to large spaces.
Its technology is capable of removing even the smallest particles and captures up to 99.97% of all airborne contamination. Perfect for apartments, dormitories and other small spaces, the Winix 5300-2 is cost-efficient and provides high-quality air for your home.
With so many wonderful air purifiers on the market, these are the best air purifiers for mold. When combating mold and mildew in your home, ensure that you chose the best air purifier for mold, not all air purifiers are capable of capturing mold spores.
When selecting your new air purifier, make sure to keep in mind the size of the area it will be working in, and also which model will best fit your clean air needs.
The center of disease control describes in detail how mold can adversely affect your health and also how common it is that people show symptoms of mold exposure.
Not every person can be adversely affected by mold, and there is a lucky few who can be around the mold and not show any symptoms of irritation. For those who do have a mold sensitivity, here are the common symptoms to look out for when exposed to mold:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Stuffy nose
- Irritated throat
The symptoms of an adverse response to mold exposure are similar to many allergic reactions, but mold can pose a severe health threat to those who are sensitive to the mycotoxins which are the possible cause of many serious illnesses.
For those who do not show symptoms of irritation from mold exposure, just because the symptoms are not present does not mean that the mold spores are not harming your health and wellbeing.
Studies conducted by the Institute of Medicine found that early exposure of mold to children is one of the leading causes of asthma, and for adults, it can cause serious upper respiratory complications that can affect even the healthiest people. Hypersensitivity to mold can be life-saving because many times allergy symptoms are commonly the only ways to detect the presence of mold.
Indoor mold produces Stachybotrys chartarum which create mycotoxins and can be poisonous to those who are exposed to it. These powerful poisons produced by mold spores are not exclusive to affecting the respiratory tract; it also can be absorbed by the intestines, skin, and lungs.
When someone is exposed to these toxins over long periods, it can produce serious health problems such as neurotoxicity, memory loss, cancer, cardiac conditions, and so many other reported cases by the U.S Division of Health. If mold is so dangerous to those who are exposed to it, what exactly is it, and why does it cause such harm to the body when it comes in contact with it?
What exactly is mold?
Mold can come in a variety of colors; there is not just one type of mold. There are various forms of the mold to be aware of. Mold is apart of the fungus family, and it is composed of tiny organisms found virtually all over the planet, indoors and outdoors.
Mold can be one of these colors; purple, green, white, black, and orange. It can also survive indoors, or outdoors, although indoor mold is more lethal and poses more problems than mold found outdoors.
Outdoor mold assumes an essential job in nature; its role is to separate and decompose dead trees, plants, and foliage. In the wild, it has a very productive purpose and is an essential part of natural decomposition, but when mold enters spaces closed off to the outdoors, it becomes a dangerous substance.
The component of mold which is the most dangerous is what happens when mold attempts to reproduce. Mold reproduces by producing microscopic spores which travel throughout the air. The Mold itself blossoms amid dampness and areas filled with moisture like most fungi.
Everyone is exposed to mold daily, outdoor mold; but indoor mold is a controllable substance that can be avoided and remedied. Keeping your home and indoor spaces dry will ensure that mold does not begin to make its home in your dwellings.
When mold lands on areas indoors that are sodden and moist, they start to develop and grow, causing problems for those who are exposed to it.
When the mold becomes fully formed on its newfound moisture paradise, it can begin to spread and release spores which are inhaled by unsuspecting victims.
Common places to find mold
Molds favorite food source is wood and other plant-based materials, it also thrives the best in places that are damp, wet, and warm. The most common areas to find mold would be where it has an ample food source and a comfortable environment to reproduce.
The places in the home that fit this description of desirable mold environments are kitchens, bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, and especially crawl spaces.
The mold finds the most appealing place in these spaces to begin developing its home and community. Mold loves carpets, unattended to furniture, floors, walls and even appliances.
Any place in the home that provides the sustenance for mold to develop, blossom, spread, and grow, will inevitably become a mold infestation and will soon need attention and remedy to prevent adverse reactions when exposed to it.
Combating mold
As was mentioned earlier, mold survives all over the planet, indoor and outdoor. Therefore mold is impossible to get rid of entirely, even in the home, although it can be controlled, prevented, and partially removed if done correctly.
Preventing mold is a simple thing to do. Ensure that there are no areas in your home that may be hidden and damp. By reducing moisture in the house and being aware of areas that can produce it will help stop the growth and development of present mold; because mold needs moisture to survive and cannot spread without it.
When there are spills or wet materials present in the home, be sure to clean them up immediately after noticing them. Disinfect, and dry surfaces that may be prone to moisture and repair any leaks that may cause further moisture damage to the home.
Make sure when doing laundry or cleaning that all wet items are thoroughly dried and stored in dry areas to keep them from attracting mold spores.
One of the best ways to prevent mold is by having optimum air flow throughout the home and ventilation in places such as basements, attics, and crawl spaces.
In home
In the event that there is already mold developing in the home, it is vital to tidy up the area which the mold has been discovered. The first tactic for remedying a mold problem is to identify and fix the problem which is causing the damp environment for the fungus to grow in. If the cause of the mold is not corrected, it will return every time it is removed from that area.
In hot, humid and moist climates of the house use dehumidifiers and air conditioners to decrease the noticeable dampness in the air; try to keep the humidity in your home below 50% if conceivable. You can gauge humidity with a hygrometer which can be found in hardware stores.
During cold weather, mold tends to seek shelter, looking for spaces indoors where moisture condenses near cold surfaces. Making sure that the household is insulated and warm during cold weather will help keep mold from getting worse during cold seasons.
In Basements, crawl spaces and other isolated areas of the home
In storm cellars, basements, crawl spaces, and other areas of the home that are the least visited by occupants be sure to apply preventative measures for mold, as these are the most common places mold tend to thrive.
Placing plastics and covers over moisture prone places in these spaces can keep mold from adhering to them, and make for easy clean up if mold does begin to grow. If the floors are prone to wetness, large fans and ventilation strategies can be best for keeping mold out.
Ventilation is the key when combating mold; making sure that there is proper airflow in places of the home that are isolated or rarely visited can be an excellent tactic to slow down or prevent mold growth.
Carpet in these areas is a bad idea because they are not maintained as often as the carpet in spaces utilized daily. Water can enter these spaces through the floors, walls, or any other cracks or crevices; have a professional seal up any openings in isolated areas of the home, to keep moisture and spores out.


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With markets mostly on the downslide all over the world, some of the best stocks are available at throwaway prices. This has been the big reason why several financial planners have been advising their clients to invest now. Over the last few weeks, we've brought you advice on how to invest in stocks and how to invest in equity funds. Today, Ashish Shanker, Head – Investments at Motilal Oswal, picks out the best international stocks to invest in, from India.
As with previous recommendations, it's important to understand the whys and the hows before you place your bets in a foreign country's market. So that brings us to our first question:
What is international investing?
Simply put, international investing is when you invest in assets outside of your country. This could include real estate, stocks or equity funds. While this was once the prerogative only of the ultra-high net worth individuals (or UHNI), the market conditions in the West and economic growth in India have made it affordable even for well-to-do salaried individuals to invest internationally. A flat in London, for instance, starts in the ballpark range of ₹2 crore. Similarly, you can invest in international stocks and international equity funds without having to step out of your country or indeed your home. Which is where we answer…
Why should you invest internationally?
International investing is perfect especially when you're creating a trust fund for your child who may study overseas in the future and you may want to invest in the currency of that country. "Since the US economy comprises 25 per cent of the global economy and America's market cap stands at some 60 per cent, we'll restrict this discussion to American markets," Ashish Shanker says.
1. You want to diversify your portfolio
Diversification is age-old investment wisdom. Ask how your grandparents invested and they'd probably tell you they bought real estate, gold and fixed deposits. That's diversification.
"You diversify because you don't want all your eggs in one basket. So you invest in different asset classes. But that's only one kind of diversification. You can also diversify across geographies," Ashish says. "In the past this option was only available for the select few HNIs who could open businesses overseas and divert their funds outside of India. Now, overseas investing is available to everyone. In the last ten years, the Indian stock markets have given annual returns of 7-9 per cent; in dollar terms, it's only about 4-5 per cent. On the other hand the US markets have appreciated 20 per cent annually. In the previous decade, it was the other way around. And that's the other reason you should invest internationally.
2. Developed markets tend to be more resilient.
Even though the coronavirus problem is much larger in the US, the American markets have fallen far lesser compared to Indian markets, Ashish says. "That's because, like most developed economies, US markets tend to be a lot more resilient to crisis. Even in 2008, when Indian markets fell 60-70 per cent, the US fell about 20-30 per cent. The fluctuation there was much lower and that means your portfolio volatility is much lower too. Since the Indian and US markets have low correlation, both markets don't usually fall or rise at the same time."
3. You can access companies and business models not available in India
Some of the most cutting edge businesses – say Netflix, Facebook, Tesla, etc – don't exist in India and aren't always listed here, Ashish says: "When you invest internationally, you do so because you want to buy into a business model or a company that isn't necessarily available in India. Case in point Coca Cola, Facebook etc."
4. Sometimes international stocks of the same company are cheaper
Because of various factors, stocks of international parent companies can be cheaper than their Indian subsidiaries. Ashish says: "In India, some companies are far more expensive to buy into because there's too much money chasing few shares, which results in driving up their prices. And so, it's easier to buy equity in companies such as Nestle and Unilever internationally than in India." Which brings us to our next question:
How do you access global markets?
There are two ways to access global markets legally.
1. Liberalised Remittance Scheme
The Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (or LRS) is available to all taxpayers in India. In one financial year, each person can remit up to $250,000 overseas "Since the limit is for per person, it isn't unusual for HNI families to easily remit $1m to $2m between March and April of any given year," Ashish says. "You can then use this money to buy anything from real estate to stocks and mutual funds. Interactive Brokers is one of the largest companies in India that facilitates opening of bank accounts and helps HNIs invest overseas."
2. Invest in feeder funds
Like Indian equity funds that give you access to the best stocks in the country, global equity funds help you invest in the best companies in the US, Ashish explains. "Unlike in the case of LRS, there's no limit to how much you can invest because you're investing in Indian rupees and your returns are also converted into INR and deposited in your bank account by factoring the currency movement on a daily basis. But even though you have currency exposure with this, it saves you the headache of tracking stocks and remittance etc."
What are some of the global equity funds in which you can invest?
Now that you know why to invest internationally and how to do it, the question is what option would you rather go for. If you're someone who doesn't follow the markets regularly global equity funds are a safe way forward. There are several funds available in the market. Some are country-specific (which means they invest in stocks of a single country's company) industry-specific (which means they invest in stocks of a particular industry only, say, gold mining or diamond mining etc). Conventional wisdom dictates that while investing in international equity funds, you remain invested for at least five years. Two of the funds that Ashish recommends are:
1. Motilal Oswal NASDAQ 100 Exchange Traded Fund
The NASDAQ 100 Index includes the top 100 non-financial companies in the index. Since the NASDAQ 100 Index has low correlation with Indian equity indices, it offers a good diversification opportunity for your portfolio. Typically, the Motilal Oswal NASDAQ 100 Exchange Traded Fund offers investors an opportunity to invest in global technology companies that are part of NASDAQ 100 Index and gets significantly higher returns over NASDAQ 100 TR Index, due to the rupee depreciation. By restricting the portfolio to just 25-30 stocks, the fund reduces the risk over diversification and buys into select quality companies with growth potential and longevity advantage and favourable prices.
2. Motilal Oswal S&P 500 Index Fund
With a track record of over 63 years, the S&P 500 Index fund has the largest asset
tracked or benchmarked globally. Investing in S&P 500, you're gaining exposure only to large cap companies. Like the NASDAQ 100, the S&P 500 also has had low correlation with the Indian equity market making it great for your portfolio diversification. By investing in this, you will be buying into companies such as Apple, Alphabet, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan Chase, P&G etc.
What are the best US stocks to invest in right now?
Much of the wisdom that surrounds the purchase of Indian stocks holds true even here: don't short, take a long position, don't extrapolate what's happening now into the far out future, follow the numbers and not the emotions etc. The principle of picking stocks also remains the same: buy companies that make good return on principle invested, companies that have growth potential and can execute the plans to meet that potential and, ultimately, companies that have a moat, which means the thing that makes them unique and helps them charge a premium price on their products. As Ashish explained here: "Moats could mean being a great brand, like Apple, having a unique business model, like Indigo Airlines that has the lowest operations cost in India, or having a monopoly, like Facebook. Companies like these will consistently yield high returns because no matter at what point they price their products their customers will buy them."
With this in mind, here are the best international stocks in which to invest from India, according to Ashish Shanker.
1. Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway is a holding company for a multitude of businesses, including GEICO and Fruit of the Loom. "Berkshire's insurance operations – Geico, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (BHRG), and Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group (BHPG) – remain important contributors to the overall business. These businesses contribute 30-35 per cent of the revenue but also have low cost float." Ashish says.
"Led by one of the legends in the business, Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway has a diversified source of revenue and a succession plan already in transition for Buffet. Most importantly, the company holds $128 billion in cash that can be particularly helpful in the time of a pandemic like this one."
2. Alphabet
Alphabet Inc. is the holding company that operates through the Google and Other Bets segments. The Google segment includes its main Internet products such as ads, Android, Chrome, hardware, Google Cloud, Google Maps, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Other Bets segment consists of businesses such as Access, Calico, CapitalG, GV, Verily, Waymo, and X.
"The digital ad market projects will keep growing for the foreseeable future, as global consumption continues to pivot into the digital channels. Despite rising competition, Alphabet projects to remain the global leader in that market, mostly because YouTube and Google Search are irreplaceable titans in the digital ecosystem.
"Beyond the digital ad business, Alphabet's cloud business will continue on its rapid growth trajectory as a continued surge in data volume globally will translate into increased data-center usage."
Ashish also predicts that the hardware business will gain traction with new products like Google Stadia and the self-driving Waymo business will start to produce meaningful revenue once self-driving taxi services become a real thing.
3. Facebook Inc.
"Facebook Inc's products Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Oculus make it the second biggest digital ad platform after Google," Ashish says. "Its users are increasing steadily in the US, Canada and Asia and the recent correction has made the company's valuations attractive."
4. Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Co operates through media networks, parks, experiences and product, studio entertainment and direct-to-consumer and international (DTCI) segments. Disney's networks segment includes cable and broadcast television networks, television production and distribution operations, domestic television stations, radio networks and stations that produce rich content.
"Not only is Disney an established brand, it also holds some of the leading movie franchises produced under Marvel, Lucas Films and Pixar. Disney TV also. boasts of some of the best TV networks such as ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel and Nat Geo. After acquiring a majority stake in HULU, it launched its own streaming services (Disney+) to gain market share in OTT platform and has been expanding its reach in key markets such as India where it launched just a few weeks ago," Ashish says.
5. Coca Cola
"Aside from Coca Cola, the company's flagship product, the company offers more than 500 brands in over 200 countries or territories and serves 1.6 billion servings every single day. The Dividend Yield on Coca Cola is one of the highest as the company has diversified its revenue stream by acquiring Costa coffee and smaller stake in Monster Beverages. As it transits into an asset light model, the company is showing an improvement in its free cash flow," Ashish says.
Disclaimer: This content is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. It is important to do your own research and analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances.
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November 11, 1918, marked the beginning of the end of World War I. An armistice was signed shortly after 5 a.m., but the cease fire would not be in effect until 11 a.m. Those six hours were said to feel like an eternity. Even afterward, some of our soldiers which were entrenched did not want to celebrate or come out of their bunkers. War develops heroes, but it also produces profound fear. The news of the war's end was not readily received by all. A few even thought of digging in a little deeper. They heard the report, but did not fully embrace it.
The struggle can cripple our acceptance of the victory. Long standing conflicts or battles make it difficult to accept God's promises and peace. Those few soldiers who heard the good report reverted back to the battle at hand.
Truth heard is not always truth received. The Message may be believed, but what happens next is most important. The Word which we have heard has the ability to set us free and yet, if that Word is not protected, it can be stolen or become blurred in the cloudy mix of our own dilemma. Messages of freedom, victory, blessing, and more have all been questioned by the people of God. We are made free by the Blood of the Lamb. However, some are still living in the bunker, struggling to accept their own deliverance.
Jesus told the parable of the Sower who sowed the seed, but afterward: Mark 4:15 "…when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." Our joy and confidence in the Lord must be guarded lest we lose what we have found. Our confidence in Jesus and in the Doctrine must be secured lest the enemy of our soul steals it from our hearts.
We have felt the unction of the Holy Spirit in our midst and the Lord has guided our steps. Yet, if the "seed" is to prevail; if it has a chance to grow and multiply, we must guard it with our lives. Jesus has won the victory and His Word is alive in this house of worship and now we must act on what we have heard! The Greater Victory is waiting for us to rise with boldness and lay hold of the promises of God.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole


text: Harav Dovid Yehuda Zussman shlita has presented me with the writings of his forefather, the greatest in his generation, Harav Yeshaya Silberstein ztz"l. It is redundant for me to testify about the greatness of Rabbi Yeshaya Silberstein ztz"l, a unique individual among the giants and tzaddikim of his generation, a leader among learned men. It is comparable to bearing witness that the sun shines in the middle a sunny day. He was famous in Hungary and worldwide for his sharp insights, genius, greatness, and piety. I myself heard my Rebbe, Rabbi Shaul Brach of Kashua zy"a say the following: "I once went to visit the Rabbi of Veitzen and you could see the divine presence emanating from his face..." Thus, I join the throng in noting that this is an incredible mitzvah and ask you to give generously. Undoubtedly, the tzaddik in heaven will derive great pleasure and reward from the learning of his sefer (book) and will act as an advocate and defend all those who assisted him in this world. He will surely protect them from both spiritual and physical harm. Written and signed for the sake of the mitzvah, The humbled one Refoel Blum


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"Helvetica Placed on Arial (in Illustrator)" is a typeface that comes in two styles: Minus Front and Minus Back. Minus Front subtracts Helvetica from Arial (in Illustrator) and Minus Back subtracts Arial from Helvetica (in Illustrator).
Below are the steps used for designing this typeface:
1- Set the entire glyph set in 50 pt Helvetica in Illustrator.
2- Set the same glyph set also in 50 pt Arial in Illustrator.
3- Place Helvetica glyph set on Arial Glyph set.
4- Expand both glyph sets.
5- Ungroup both glyph sets.
6- For each glyph, center align the Helvetica and the Arial versions both horizontally and vertically.
7- For achieving "Helvetica Placed on Arial (in Illustrator), Minus Front," execute the minus front pathfinder tool for all of the glyphs. This will subtract Helvetica from Arial.
8- Repeat the steps 1-6 on a new artboard.
9- For achieving "Helvetica Placed on Arial (in Illustrator), Minus Back," execute the minus back pathfinder tool for all of the glyphs. This will subtract Arial from Helvetica.
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Half my Facebook feed appears to be committed to Marie Kondo and her Netflix show nowadays, in which she allows Americans to tidy up their houses with the aid of getting rid of something that doesn't please them. For some humans, it's their first creation to a more significant movement of minimalism that has to end up increasingly more famous currently.
As some distance as I apprehend it, minimalism is the method of stripping out the components of your existence you don't surely need. This, in large part, is going for merchandise you have accrued over time in the route of an average "want to shop for stuff, so my lifestyles are at ease and not uninteresting" lifestyles. After all, you don't need your own home to seem like a depressing hospital room, with bare fluorescent lights and cold, white partitions.
Eventually, this conventional process fills up your dwelling area and can even outgrow your home. In America, my native USA, over 33 million American households have run out of the city in their homes and must hire self-garage space to avoid becoming crushed by way of all their stuff; it's a developing $38 billion (Dh140bn) business.
That pursuit of more, more fabulous, and more significant isn't always restrained to the USA; it also characterizes many others around the arena, including the UAE. So an awful lot of human beings' lives right here is about shopping in the department stores. It's smooth to look why; they are perfect places with ski slopes, fountains, cinemas, and the entirety else you may believe. Even if we avoid the malls, we have e-commerce making non-stop accumulation as clean as pushing a button.
Until currently, I additionally had way too much stuff for a condominium of my size. A lot of it was sitting around, not doing something, cluttering up my space, and stressing me out. Every corner became stacked high, containers on chairs with magazines on top. There have been cabinets that wouldn't close, where lids to pots and pans slid out every time I got something out of them.
I felt claustrophobic merely being in my dwelling room. Every more object became shouting at me, and it felt overwhelming. Like many, I am an expatriate, and with that comes a touch of uncertainty. My job should continually give up, and I may additionally have to pass it on to someplace else. The quantity I owned taunted me, making me sense trapped because I had no concept of what I could do with all of it if I had to go away.
When I turned younger, I ought to percent all my essential possessions into suitcases, making me experience-free and flexible. Now, halfway through my 30s, there is no way I could pass without an entire shipping field.
In many approaches, minimalism is a pushback against the excess of stuff. While I appreciate Marie Kondo's idea of going via the entirety you own and handiest preserving what pleases you, individually, I stick by the "have I used this in a yr" rule. If I have not used it in a year, I donate it, sell it, or throw it out. For clothes, there may be a donation bin in a close-by building that goes to the needy. For electronics or kitchenware, the cleaners in my construction light up while you give it to them. The UAE's categorized websites are also an unusual manner to turn that stuff into extra money, as are the myriad community Facebook organizations.
To fight the suffocating amount of possessions I had accumulated, I took a week, and every evening I went thru an area of my apartment to find out what to hold and what to put off. Decluttering bolstered why minimalism may be so notable in your price range.
First, if you recognize you do not need extra stuff, it keeps you from buying more. If you think about how an awful lot you've got while you're contemplating a purchase, you are much more likely no longer to buy, that is wonderful on your bank account.
Second, going through your belongings reminds you of what you have, which once more keeps you from buying greater. I discovered pairs of trousers I cherished but a concept I'd misplaced for all time, tucked away at the back of a suitcase. Now I do not want to shop for replacements.
Third, I bought a lot, and that money went directly into my investments and financial savings.
Now, I can breathe effortlessly when I come domestically. Less clutter lowers my blood strain. It is not most straightforward because it is a purifier; however, I stay a happier, more healthy, and luxurious lifestyle. And if I need to, I can p.C. My assets up and move to any other united states plenty easier. I might not be able to shape my stuff into suitcases, but I should probably do 4.


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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday visited Egypt for high-level political discussions on the Middle East, French Ambassador to Egypt Stéphane Romatet told state news agency MENA.
Le Drian is expected to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during his visit, as well as other top Egyptian officials.
The official visit came in conjunction with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Egypt's Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation and France, which aims at enhancing regional and investment cooperation and promoting investment opportunities in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Last April, Le Drian met Al-Sisi in Cairo and discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and regional issues, including the recent developments in Libya and Syria.
Tensions rose between the rival governments in Libya after Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar, backed by Egypt and the UAE, decided to hand control of future revenues of vital oil terminals in Libya to the eastern administration that rivals Libya's UN-backed government.
The announcement came just hours after Haftar's army regained control of the two oil terminals of Ras Lanuf and Sidra from local militias.
Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) on Tuesday called on the United Nations Security Council to block what it described as "illegal" oil sales by the rival government in Libya.
"We urge the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee to track and block any illegal sales," said the UN-backed government, describing Haftar's move as "an irresponsible action and a serious threat to the interests of the Libyan people."
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been an enclave for militant groups. The Islamic State (IS) group gained a foothold in Sirte, the birthplace of Gaddafi, before the town was recaptured in 2016. The war-torn country was politically divided into three governments and two rival parliaments. It has been hit by a financial crisis since 2011 due to clashes between militias and forces loyal to those governments.
In late 2015, the UN reached an agreement to form a new "unity" government headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and based in Tripoli, while the other two others remain in the eastern cities of Bayda and Benghazi.


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We humans are a complex bunch. I have heard that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. With covid, entire countries seem to have gone through their own version of this, which may or may not have included these stages: zero covid, flattening the curve, lockdowns, mass vaccination, and finally living with covid. In the end, it seems, we have to accept and live with whatever pains us.
So are we in a bear market yet? Some would argue not – the S&P 500 is down some 18% from its January peak, and bear markets are defined as falls of 20%. So they are correct, but the NASDAQ has already passed 20%, so it sure does sound a lot like denial, don't you think? I'm generally an optimist, but I've come to appreciate the value of time as I get older, and therefore think we can all save some of this valuable commodity by skipping past anger, bargaining and depression and moving to accept the bear! Grrrr…
So what is it like living with a bear? Well, let's take a look at some of the qualities of this charming beast: Historically bear markets occur every 3-5 years, and on average they last about a year. The S&P 500 typically falls around 33% during bear markets, although a third of these delightful periods have seen drops of over 40%. Bear markets typically end, and bull markets begin, when investor confidence is at a low point. In terms of character, although they may start with a crash, bear markets tend to be a slow grind down, peppered with the odd burst of optimism. Yes, bear market rallies are very much a thing, usually spurred by some piece of good news. However, the rallies are generally short-lived, and then the grind downwards resumes.
As you have probably already guessed, trading the bear is not as easy as you may think. Sure, we would all like to sell the top and then go to the beach, only to return to buy the beginning of the next bull run, but trying to do that can seriously damage your wealth if the market turns around quicker than expected. This is from a post of mine back in 2017:
In the years 1980 to 2015, the S&P 500 experienced an average intra-year decline of 14.2%. However, the market ended up achieving a positive return in 27 of those 36 years. That's 75% of the time. You cannot afford to be sitting on the sidelines while this is happening. In fact, the opportunity cost of doing nothing will cost you far more than any of the corrections, bear markets, and flash crashes:
"From 1996 through 2015, the S&P 500 returned an average of 8.2% a year. But if you missed out on the top 10 trading days during those 20 years, your returns dwindled to just 4.5% a year. Can you believe it? Your returns would have been cut almost in half just by missing the 10 best trading days in 20 years! It gets worse! If you missed out on the top 20 trading days, your returns dropped from 8.2% a year to a paltry 2.1%. And if you missed out on the top 30 trading days? Your returns vanished into thin air, falling all the way to zero!" (from
Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook by Tony Robbins)
So how do you make the most of the slow grind downwards without trying to be too clever and missing out on the best trading days? First of all you need to stay calm. Bear markets are not the time for panic and dumping investments out of hand. If you are taking the time to read this blog you likely have a long term plan and there's no need to deviate from that. Know your risk profile, stay diversified, and take this as an opportunity to accumulate assets at lower prices. Dollar cost averaging is your friend in the bear market. Rather than trying to catch the absolute bottom, keep investing little by little at regular intervals and build up your holdings at a nice average cost. Buy quality, buy what you believe in – this is not the time for speculation on penny stocks.
As to how this particular bear will play out, my thoughts, for what they are worth, are as follows:
- The Ukraine situation is obviously a factor in inflation, but the main driver here is the Federal Reserve and other central banks.
- Stocks in general, and tech stocks in particular, did well in the low interest rate environment during covid – lots of stimulus!
- Now inflation is 8.3% and the Fed funds rate is 0.75%, and it's a similar story elsewhere in developed markets ex-Japan.
- The Fed has to close that gap – they will keep raising rates until they close it / inflation cools down, or until something breaks…
- Means pain for stocks while this goes on – we could still go lower and there will be a plenty of volatility. I don't see capitulation yet.
- I think it will be later in the second half of the year before things start to look better – there are already signs that inflation is cooling off a little. We either get out of this because inflation eases off, allowing the Fed some breathing space, or something breaks and the Fed starts cutting rates again to head off the crisis.
How about crypto?
Crypto bear markets are a rare beast, in that they are programmed into the code of the leading crypto asset and arrive with the regularity of a Japanese train. If you don't understand the Bitcoin 4 year halving cycle, you will constantly be bombarded with narratives to explain the pain, from the Mt Gox hack to the Quadriga scandal, to the Luna / UST debacle of late, there will always be a narrative to explain something that is actually pre-programmed. 2014 was a bear market, 2018 was a bear market, and so here we are in 2022. As with stocks, in crypto bear markets you accumulate quality. That means Bitcoin and Ethereum. Keep your hands off those alts unless you are really confident in their long term value proposition. Even then, prepare to be burned as the LUNAtics have been this week. Bad things happen to alts in bear markets… Bitcoin is down some 60% from its high so far this time around. Keep in mind that peak to trough 80% is the norm. BTC fell from $20,00 to around $3,000 in 2018. In the 2021 bull market it reached $69,000. If you have the nerve, now is the time to accumulate, and 2025 is the when the next bull market train comes along. Act accordingly and embrace the bear.
Disclaimer: This should go without saying, but the information contained in this blog is not investment advice, or an incentive to invest, and should not be considered as such. This is for information only.


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The importance of religious/spiritual involvement and longevity cannot be stressed enough. In Jewish thought, there is a story from the Talmud in which an elderly woman approaches a rabbi and wants to know why she is still alive. When the rabbi inquires, she reveals that she always attends synagogue. The rabbi advises her that if she stops attending for three consecutive days. After the three days, she dies. While the story is about 2000 yrs old, the premise is one which is time immemorial. The routine of carving out time in one's day for prayer and contemplation has a positive effect on one's physical well being as well. As such, it should behoove religious entities to provide for the elderly, especially if there is an idea of respect and appreciation for what they have done in life.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost


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Virtual Classes Continues Student Learning During Lockdown
While we all continue to stay safe at home, we are adapting to the ever-changing environment and are happy to share that the learning continues at Gloucestershire College.
Our teaching staff have worked tirelessly to ensure students can complete their courses this academic year. Classes are being delivered virtually, and there are plenty of online resources and support available for students; academically from their tutors and heads of school, pastorally from our Learning Support team and financially from Student Services.
Online course delivery has included video based dance, performing arts and art classes, with students uploading videos of themselves for assessment. As well as, a wide range of demonstrations: live professional cookery and art techniques. You can find out more about our commitment to engaging lessons here.
Emily, who teaches our media make-up course, said, "We have had a really fun task where we have created makeups based on the rainbow in our online learning to keep the positivity flowing in isolation."
Rachael, construction lecturer, added, "I've been really impressed with how students have used their time and learning from this academic year during lockdown."
Level 3 construction student produces a floor selection model (L), Trussed roof (R)
As always, our staff are here to support you. If you have any general enquiries, please email our Student Services team: firstname.lastname@example.com
Students looking for some extra support while studying at home can contact our Learning Support team to book a support session, which can be delivered by email, telephone or video on Microsoft Teams: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Of all things in life, if I am to let go of something, I'd rather let go of my fears. Not all of them together. But may be, one by one. For a long period of my life, I thought I had feline-phobia. I was so afraid of cats. I still am. But then, I guess my greater fear was in acknowledging that I was afraid of cats than the fear itself. So I decide to let go of that one fear today. And I am proclaiming my fear. Yes! I am shit scared of cats though I always preferred calling it hatred or dislike or whatever. Today morning, I was beckoned by someone at the door. It was rather a 'mya..mya' that I heard and interpreted as 'soumya'. But it was self explanatory as I reached the door and saw a cat stretching on my balcony. The annoyance of being fooled and stupidly mimicked – I was so frustrated. But that wasn't enough for me to kick that creature out of my home. I was too scared to even go any close, that I had to call my grandma to shoo that thing away. "Thankachikkari konjuval. Nee oduvai." (Your sisters pampers it, and you run away seeing it!) The 'it' being that 4 legged creature.
I was insecure about letting go of fears. As anyone else would be. But then, there happens these life changing moments, once in a while. To inspire you to let it go. To push you, a level ahead. I am glad it happens. Its like a sudden revelation that tells me it's not worth hiding under the covers. That, life just happens once, as we know it, and its never too late to start over right now. But may be, the next moment could turn to be too late. So here I am, letting go of it. One by one. By confronting people and things and all that my fears attribute to.
One of the very first times, today, I had another two wheeler bumping onto mine. I was parked by the roadside and waiting to make a U-turn, when a lady casually brushes against my vehicle and parks and walks away. As she was gonna walk away, I called out for her and demanded an explanation. There was no huge damage, but an apology would have been still welcome, as it was evidently her carelessness. But to my surprise, she yelled and freaked out, as though I came hit her from behind. For a moment, I thought I was her. Too scared to confront. Too scared to accept one's own mistakes. I could see more of fear than accusation in her. I was her. Most of my life. But the rest of my life, I knew how not to be her. And how much I want to be not her. So the rest of my life, that's what I would like to do. To let go of fears. And everything else that chains down the flowing spirit in me.
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If you have ever been concerned about how healthy and safe the fish on your plate is, the only question you should be asking is "Is this seafood sustainable"?
But what does it mean to be sustainable?
The idea of sustainable seafood products began in the 1990's and means that the seafood is either farmed or caught in such a way that the well-being of the oceans and waterways, the long-term vitality of the seafood, and the very livelihoods of the communities in which the seafood is harvested are taken into consideration.
In order to be considered a sustainable company, certain criteria need to be met, which were first developed and put forth by Seafood Watch. Some of these include:
- Produce more wild fish than is used to provide net gains over time.
- Protect wild fish stocks by limiting the number of escaped farm fish.
- Do not pose any substantial risk to wild fish through the introduction of disease or parasites.
- Treat and reduce the discharge of organic waste and other potential contaminants that could adversely effect the ecosystem.
A complete list can be found at Seafood Watch.
Sustainable Seafood Benefits
As it turns out, sustainable seafood is healthier. This does not come as a shock, and the journal, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment produced a study speaking directly to several benefits of producing sustaiable seafood products. Some of these benefits included lower levels of mercury and higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.
At Fruge Seafood, we are dedicated to providing our customers with locally-sourced, sustainable seafood, which will benefit their business, their customers, and the environment.
About Fruge Seafood
Simple. Fresh. Delivered.
As an online seafood market, we are dedicated to providing our customers with only the freshest seafood available delivered to your door with easy online ordering and the very best in customer service.
For many restaurant owners and chefs, fresh seafood is one of the most difficult aspects of your business. You need the seafood product on-time and of superior quality every time or your business will suffer. Fruge Seafood understands this, and we offer a 100% Accuracy Guarantee so there are no headaches, and no surprises.
Only the freshest, highest-quality seafood you should demand from your online seafood market.


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KC Stapel
Hi, I am KC and I discovered bitcoins 7 years ago and have been using them ever-since. Of course as with all business sometimes you win and sometime you lose. But over the years much more wins. I want to use my knowledge and expertise to help you to make the correct decision through the many options and scams out there. Good luck


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The quizzes below allow you to assess your cultural knowledge, your personal values, and your organisational culture.
Are you ready to successfully innovate in emerging economies?
What are the most lucrative and innovative sectors for the startup ecosystem in India? Do people from India appreciate punctuality less than Europeans? Not sure about the answers? Take this CUBE IN quiz and learn more!
How do the negotiations in Brazil look like? What are the most innovative sectors? Would you like to find out more about this interesting country? Take the quiz!
What is the "Belt and Road initiative"? Have you already heard about "Guanxi"? Try our CUBE IN quiz about China and learn more about the culture and innovation environment!
Is it complicated for foreign companies to reach the Vietnamese market? How to behave during the first meeting with Vietnamese business partners? Take the Cube In quiz and test your knowledge on this Southeast Asian country!
What should you keep in mind while negotiating with Mexicans? Is Mexican "machismo" only a myth? Test your knowledge of Mexican culture and innovation in our quiz!
How does the decision-making process work in Malaysia? Is it difficult for a foreigner to start a business in Malaysia? Test your knowledge of Malaysian culture and innovation in our quiz and learn more!
How diverse is the economy of the UAE? What cultural influences are present in the UAE culture? Try out the quiz and learn more about the United Arab Emirates!
How much do you know about negotiating with Turks? Which are the most developed sectors? Take the quiz and find out more about Turkey!
Is the usage of AI and Big Data rare in Nigeria? How important is here success? Start our quiz on Nigerian culture and innovation and find out more!
What is the major barrier for the development of Peru's innovation capacity? Is hiring a family member problematic? Take this quiz about Peru and learn more!
Can ethnical background affect business in Kenya? How is the ICT sector in this country? Take this quiz and find out more about the culture and innovation in Kenya!
How important are facts and figures while working on a deal with a Pakistani business partner? What are consumers' decisions in Pakistan based on? Test yourself and find out more about Pakistani culture and innovation!
Is it easy to set up a business in Bangladesh? What are the most promising sectors for SMEs? Take our Cube In quiz and learn about innovating in Bangladesh!
Is Chile an attractive country for investment? Does the government provide a good support for start-ups? Take this quiz and learn about innovating in Chile!
What drives tourism in Thailand? Does the monarchy interfere in the economy? Find your answers in our quiz about innovation in Thailand!
Are Mexico and Chile similar markets? Would you know how to operate a business in Chile? Try out our new CASE STUDY QUIZ!
How do chaebols play a role in the South Korean market? What are the most attractive industries for foreign businesses? Find your answers in our quiz about innovation in South Korea!
What do you need to keep in mind when working with Saudis? How do the project management practices translate in German and Saudi culture? Try out the Cube In Case Study quiz!
What are the Start-up opportunities in Indonesia? Which is the fasted growing sector? Try out this quiz and learn more about the innovation opportunities in Indonesia!
Is Singapore more innovative than the United States of America? Is it illegal to chew gum in Singapore? Try out this quiz and learn more about Singaporean culture and business!
A Swedish carmaker opened an assembly plant in India. Adrian, a highly successful manager in Sweden, was sent to India to set up and lead a team of engineers. How did Adrian do and what were his biggest challenges?
What is Egypt's Vision 2030? What is the start-up situation in Egypt? Try out our quiz and learn more about Egypt!
Saudi Arabia, also referred to as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the world's second largest oil producer and the largest oil exporter. How important are the ICT or tourism sectors in Saudi Arabia and how is the Start-up situation? Take our quiz and learn more!
The United Republic of Tanzania is located in the African Great Lakes region in East Africa. Tanzania is one of the fastest-growing economies in East Africa and became the second-largest economy in East Africa by 2020. How much do you know about Tanzania? Try the quiz!
The Republic of Singapore, a city-state island off the coast of the Malay Peninsula, is one of ASEAN's fastest-growing nations. Singapore is the world's fourth-largest beneficiary of FDI inflows, behind only the USA, China and Hong Kong. Take our quiz and learn more!
A German construction company, Hoch Engineering Co, wanted to grow its market in Africa. Having gained considerable ground in the Kenyan and South African markets, they decided to bid for a building contract for a public service agency in Nigeria. How did it go in Nigeria? Try our quiz and find out!
Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, after Brazil, and also has the second-best economy in South America. The country is a member of the Group of 20 (G20), an intergovernmental forum that brings together the world's 20 most powerful economies. Test your knowledge about innovation in Argentina!


text: Former Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Nick Young are making it feel like '07, popping off on YouTube like they're hitting Ozio and Love later in the evening. But their wacky partnership happened over a decade ago, and Hibachi has long since retired following his infamous brandishing of firearms in the Wizards locker room and a succession of leg injuries. So much time has passed, in fact, you can now call Nick Young a champion without a hint of irony. Continue reading Gilbert Arenas Drains 95 of 100 Three-Pointers for $100K Bet With Nick Young


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Humanitarian activities take you back to your core of "being human" and helps you realise that we all need one another.
Speak up, stand up, sign up—your voice is vital, and you can be an advocate right now with a simple signature. Our Adventist-led movement will help ensure that every child, everywhere has access to quality education so they can fulfill their God-given potential. Sign your name and stay in touch for more Advocacy opportunities.
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For the second straight match, it was a tale of two halves for the Orlando Pride, but unlike their game against Houston, this match had a flair for the dramatic.
The North Carolina Courage dominated the attack in the the first half, scoring three goals and looking to run away with the match, but the Pride battled back, scoring three times, including the game-tying goal in stoppage time, and coming away with a 3-3 draw on Saturday at Exploria Stadium to finish out the NWSL Fall Series
"I'm immensely proud," head coach Marc Skinner said after the match. "It's a roller coaster again, we've left it to the second half to be impactful in the way that we know we could. Again, those are good games to be on the end of if you are obviously the one that's coming back, but I'm so proud of the effort and the energy and commitment to every individual that has come in has given their efforts and time and commitment to what we're asking them to do, and they deserve that. They absolutely deserve that. For the second half performance alone. I think that weren't particularly too bad. Couple of defending moments that we could do better on. But apart from that I thought that they just were tremendous and I'm really, really proud of every single one of them."
Through the first 45 minutes, the Pride were on the back foot for almost the full duration of the half. The Courage counter attack was relentless and clinical, carving up the Pride backline for all three goals.
Debinha was the first to get on the scoresheet for the Courage after a turnover in the midfield sprung the forward through the defense, finishing the play with a clinical strike past Ashlyn Harris to take a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.
Then at the end of the half, the pressure compounded for the Pride, conceding back to back goals in first-half stoppage time through Lynn Williams and Debinha again. Both goals coming off midfield turnovers and though balls in behind the defense.
"North Carolina did exactly what we knew they would do because their shape is that and the personnel is the same. So, the players know it, and then they happily go into the game fully prepared for what we expect," Skinner said of the Courage, "But when you have players that have a little bit less experience than your senior players, they take a feeling out period and this this league is super harsh on counter attacks and it destroys you if you give the board away. The second goal for example, we give the ball away, but we are in a position of power. We should be moving in better angles and then you don't have to defend that. It wasn't an overly dangerous situation."
Skinner continued: "I think that just comes from playing together. I think they were feeling it out. I think the new players were feeling it out, what it's like to play, connecting to other players that might join when they know that they can they can position themselves better. So, it's just the lack of cohesion and understanding from lack of time playing together. But that simply it wasn't lack of effort."
The second half saw Orlando work themselves back into the match. In the 54th minute, Marta found Sydney Leroux on a well worked combination play, ending with Leroux firing towards goal. Katelyn Rowland spilled the ball in front of goal, allowing Marisa Viggiano to swoop in and clean up the save, poking it home to notch her second goal in the tournament.
Less than 20 minutes later, Orlando found their second. Carrie Lawrence, who missed much of the last game due to an injury mid-match, flicked on a ball to Kristen Edmonds, who took a curling shot with her left foot from outside the area, beating Rowland and notching her first goal since 2018.
Only down one, the Pride continued to claw back into the match, and creating chances on the attack, but it took until the 92nd minute to finally complete the comeback.
After Kristen Edmonds was fouled heading towards goal, Marta stood over the ball 35 yards away from goal and proceeded to put in a pinpoint cross for Ally Haran to head home. This was Haran's second appearance for the Pride, but her first goal with an NWSL team.
"I was told to go to the back post and Marta played just the perfect ball, then I was able to break through," Haran said. "I had fresh legs and was able to get a good hit on the ball and able to put it in the back of the net."
With the Fall Series finished, the Pride front office will now turn to the impending expansion draft next month, with exit meetings for the players set to begin next week.
Scoring Summary
19′ – Debinha, assisted by Lauren Milliet (NCC)
45'+5 – Lynn Williams, assisted by Debinha (NCC)
45'+6 – Debinha, assisted by Merideth Speck (NCC)
54′ – Marissa Viggiano (ORL)
71′ – Kristen Edmonds, assisted by Carrie Lawrence (ORL)
90'+2: Ally Haran, assisted by Marta (ORL)
How the Pride lined up
Orlando Pride XI: Ashlyn Harris; Kristen Edmonds, Ali Krieger, Toni Pressley (c), Courtney Petersen; Marisa Viggiano, Jordyn Listro (Ally Haran, 85′), Deneisha Blackwood (Carrie Lawrence, 60′); Abby Elinsky (Chelsee Washington, 72′), Sydney Leroux, Marta.
Pride Bench: Brittany Wilson, Savannah Uveges, Konya Plummer, Kate Howarth
For more coverage, follow the Soccer Journal on Twitter: @OSJSoccer


text: Trujillo is one of the main tourist attractions of Extremadura due to its monumental architectural complex. The monumental set is officially a cultural heritage since 1962 and the town is a tourist asset not only because of its historical importance but also due to its geographical location, natural environment and gastronomy. In this article we will learn what to see in Trujillo, the cradle of the Spanish conquerors.


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Latin Community Lauds Biden's COVID Response But Gives Lower Marks for His Immigration Policies
President Joe Biden's term is off to a very eventful start, with aggressive national efforts underway to combat COVID-19, declining but still high levels of unemployment, an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, an influx of immigrants at our Southern border, social tensions, and a divided country.
In order to ascertain how the Latin community feels about the start of Biden's presidency, 174 of my classmates, teachers and acquaintances were asked to rate Biden's presidency; 55 people responded, resulting in a 32% response rate. Of those who responded, 27% are faculty. Participants were asked to rate whether they approve of Biden's decisions, and to rank Biden's performance on six issues on a scale from 1 (strongly disapprove) to 9 (strongly approve). The survey was completely anonymous because, as previously reported in The Forum, certain members of the Latin community may feel uncomfortable sharing their political opinions publicly.
When evaluating President Biden's overall binary approval, survey participants were presented with the following question: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?" Of the 55 respondents, 48 chose "Approve," suggesting that Biden's presidential approval rating within the Latin community is 87.3%. At the time of study, in the week of April 14, 2021, Biden's FiveThirtyEight national presidential approval rating hovered around 53% (it increased from 52.5% to 53.3% over the course of the week). Thus, the Latin community exhibits an approval rating more than 34 percentage points above the national average. The lowest plausible value within the poll's margin of error is still 25 points above the national average. The presidential approval rating among Latin students is 79%, while 100% of the 15 participating faculty approve of Biden's presidency.
While a binary approval rating reveals the percentage of the community that approves of Biden's presidency, a scaled approval rating reveals how strongly the community approves of Biden's presidency. On a scale from 1 (strongly disapprove) to 9 (strongly approve), the average scaled approval rating among the Latin community is 6.7, which is relatively low for an 87.3% binary approval rating. The scaled approval rating suggests that while most members of the Latin community approve of Biden's presidency, they are not, on average, ecstatic about it.
Since almost three quarters of Cook County voted for Biden, it was expected that the Latin community would have a more favorable opinion of the president relative to the general public. Further, it was expected that there would be selection bias in terms of who chose to participate in the optional survey. Additionally, results of the overall approval rating do not discern among those within the Latin community who disapprove of Biden's presidency because they believe Biden is too left-wing or too right-wing. By focusing on specific policies, as opposed to the overall approval rating, certain inherent biases can be mitigated and deeper insights into how the Latin community feels about the start of Biden's presidency can be learned.
Recent polls, including a NPR/Marist poll and an ABC News/Ipsos poll, reveal that regardless of political party affiliation, Biden's approval is higher in regards to his COVID policies, and lower in regards to his immigration policies. The Latin community appears to feel similarly.
When looking at averages across the Latin poll, approval of Biden's COVID policies is 7.73, while approval of Biden's immigration policies fall just below neutral, with a mean of 4.95. Freshman Kaya Bhandari pinpointed Biden's COVID-related achievements, saying, "He's done well with the vaccines." This sentiment rings true for many, as Biden originally planned to administer 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days; Biden surpassed twice his original goal in under 100 days.
As for Biden's relatively low approval rating regarding immigration reform, one survey participant explained, "Biden has been put into a terrible position with the massive influx of migrants from Latin America who wish to enter the United States. Although there is much improvement to be made in how migrants are housed and their individual cases handled, his administration has been left with a broken system implemented by Trump."
In regards to other specific policies, the Latin community demonstrates modest approval. Foreign policies have a mean approval rating of 6.03 and economic policies have a mean approval rating of 6.56. Social justice initiatives and unity are tied with average approval ratings of 6.40; however, social justice policies have a median or 6.0 while unity has a median of 7.0. These averages show a soft approval, since they are just above the neutral rating of 5.0 but are not close to the "strongly approve" rating of 9.0.
Regarding social justice initiatives, one survey participant noted, "[Biden's] better than the last guy—less polarizing!—though it's interesting to consider to what extent he and [Vice President Kamala] Harris sincerely care about social justice or are simply capitalizing off of certain terminologies that they reference without actively practicing. If we paper over our problems, it may lead to as much division in the long run as Trump created."
While it is interesting to look at average approval ratings of specific policies in their own right, given the inherent political bias in the Latin community, it is important to compare specific averages against the average general approval rating of the surveyed population. This information can be seen in the row "Avg. Specific Performance minus Avg. General Performance" in the results table. In this row, the average general approval rating of 6.67 is subtracted from the approval rating of each specific policy to control for the bias in the population. Similar to the results in the NPR/Marist poll, within the Latin community the average approval of Biden's COVID policies is stronger than his general approval rating, while the average approval of Biden's immigration policies is weaker than his general approval rating.
Specifically, the Latin community's average approval of Biden's COVID policies, 7.73, is 1.06 points higher than his average general approval rating of 6.67, while the Latin community's average approval of Biden's immigration policies, 4.95, is 1.72 points below his average general approval rating of 6.67. Also similar to the NPR/Marist poll, within the Latin community the average approval of Biden's economic policies is similar to his general performance rating. Historically, economic performance is closely related to a president's overall approval rating, so this finding is not unexpected. Approval of Biden's foreign policies, social justice initiatives and unity policies appear on par with Biden's general approval ratings.
Ninth grader Ethan Weiss summed up the Latin community's feeling about the beginning of Biden's presidency. "The Biden administration has exceeded my expectations so far. I think that they've set their sights high on enacting progressive policy and have followed up well thus far."