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We've been wearing traditional undergarment and even the latest seamless underwear for so long, but do you know the evolutionary history of underwear?
The development of everything is traceable. Let's take a look at the history of men's and women's underwear and maybe, it'll give you some inspiration. If you can identify the next trend in the lingerie industry and make it your business, that's awesome! Hah!
In ancient times, people wore underwear mainly to avoid the cold. Gradually, they found that underwear can also be used to hide the body to hide shame, change shape and highlight the figure.
Let's talk about the history of underwear:
1) Early ancient times underwear
As early as ancient China, the earliest linen with a density of 10/ cm was spun. But then the underwear is no big different with the coat, just for the original cover body and warm use.
3,900 years ago, as the technology advances, linen fabric has reached 24/ cm. With Lei Zu's silk technology spread, underwear significantly various from the outerwear function, called Covered Tummy, Tube Top and so on.
From the "Barrette women" in the chiffon low-cut embroidered shirt, we saw the Tang Dynasty woman's "Xie Yi"; and "West chamber" in the Song Dynasty female, then twisted around the belly covered, a young band around neck, a ring in the chest, cover thousands of style, ten thousand charming.
But after all, China is still a conservative country, till the end of the Qing Dynasty with foreign yarn into China, Western bodice truly deducted in the Chinese female's physique above.
2) Ancient Rome period underwear
In 100AD, several of the earliest expertise of underwear stems from old Rome. Ladies wore a "subligaculum", which is essentially a glorified adult diaper.
Females also wore a band of textile called strontium to cover their chests and to bind their breasts, because big breasts were thought about unsightly – that's in full opposition to our contemporary standards of charm.
3) 14th century underwear
Around this century, when females' clothes began obtaining tighter, so did the underwear. We see the camisole sleeves getting even more equipped and also were being constructed of often-transparent as well as slim materials.
Additionally, during the medieval period, we see the introduction of corsetry as well as the bustle. The bustle was an understructure situated at the reduced back used to create volume, highlight the behind, and maintain dresses from dragging out the ground.
The most primitive bustles were made by stitching fox tails right into their skirts. Now, women are putting on a slip and also a bodice – still not real underwear!
4) 16th to 17th century undergarments
In between the late 1400s and also 1600s chemises developed to be much more decorated at the neck as well as sleeves. This is because reduced square necks as well as reduced sleeves started obtaining appeal and often revealed the camisole listed below.
During this period see the development of hoop skirts, farthingale, which was a hooped waistcoat. For the ballers on a budget plan, the more affordable version of this was called a bottom roll – a crescent-shaped pad that imitated the impact of a hoopskirt, bum roll, crinoline as well as a bustle.
Here's the modern bum roll, actually was underwear with butt pads. Females were wearing a corset, slip as well as hoop skirt.
Women ultimately begin using a version in the history of underwear. Italian ladies of the early 1600s began using silk or bed linen breeches, or drawers, under their dress – it was a slit short design with hip connections.
Corset also originated in the early Roman period. In the 16th century, there are iron, timber corset. Up until the Crusades, from the 16th century, with making use of textile modern technology advancement, females put on corsets made with whalebone, steel, and rattan.
In the 1630s, when the fashion weapons are garter, tights, as well as panniers, noticeable to the attention of Westerners on the underwear. The understanding of its function is not just cozy for the sanctuary, and a lot more intent is to shape the body curve.
Underwear is also created to be really made complex, using underwear, it may take a couple of hours' time. To the imperial federal government period (1804-1825), the corset has actually become simplified.
5) 19th century underwear
Basel duration (1870-1890), underwear made a lot more sophisticated, lace, silk, chiffon full usage, but the underwear body sculpting requirements have been gradually watered down since of individuals found in the bodice of the latitude of the steel cable on the body's respiratory system dangerous.
With the flexible textile in the apparel in a wide range of applications, underwear becomes a lot more simple and comfy to put on.
A lot of Europe had actually adopted the short underwear style and also in the 1800's we see hoop skirts at their most significant. The hoop began as an inverted v after that became the perfect dome shape and afterward vacated to the hips. It was during this time that the shimmy started to befall of style, or split right into 2 pieces – the corset and also the cabinets.
Corsets throughout this century ended up being longer as well as covered from bust to hip. Then four types of the new items were found in the history of underwear.
Firstly, Conjoined filar socks were born.
You can think of this kind of tights as a see-through version of Spiderman-type, which shows the graceful curves of a woman's body, but makes it impossible to go to the bathroom.
There is no exact record of when it was designed, but it first appeared in 1861, when American actress Adah Isaacs Menken wore a nude tights to give the illusion of nudity. These days, they're basically considered sexy lingerie.
Secondly, shaping corset.
Shaping corset can be said to be the prototype of modern slim beauty, its meaning of existence is shaping. The earliest corsets were made of cloth or leather with hard strips in the middle. This corset was popular in the 19th century and was worn by both men and women for long periods of time to preserve their bodies. It plays as an important rule in the history of underwear.
However, many doctors condemned the underwear at the time for its unhealthy effect on body shape by binding it externally. Modern corset shaping has improved so much that it has little effect on the human body thanks to various technologies.
Thirdly, French maid dress.
I don't know what happened in the middle, French maid dress has become one of the most popular sexy underwear nowadays, and various shy pieces often appear in it.
Fourthly, corselet in Victorian era.
The Victorian corset was called Basque, a term originally drawn from France. It was an undergarment of delicate construction with a halter that could wrap around the body. By the Victorian era, the Basque was referring to a corset.
Basque can help a woman beautify the waist line above the buttocks. In addition, it has exquisite decoration in the history of underwear, has been thriving in the western fashion industry, and is now a model for many brands to learn from.
6) Early 20th century underwear
Suspenders panties underwear is still common now, a lot of people wear alone at home. Suspenders panties type undergarments first appeared in the 1910s, when it was called women's straight sleeveless underwear, until it became popular in the 1940s.
This is very functional item in the underwear history. It has both vest and shorts function, very practical. At the same time, its workmanship is very delicate; its design, material selection is more and richer, by a lot of women's favorite.
7) From the 1940s to the 1990s undergarments
There are three types of underwear in this period.
Firstly, babydoll sleepwear.
Babydoll sleepwear (pajamas) first appeared during World WarⅡ.Designer Sylvia Pedlar created the sleepwear in response to a shortage of fabric. Its biggest characteristic is sleeveless, loose, usually made of nylon, chiffon, silk and other translucent materials. It started with puffy bottoms until the 1970s, when they were replaced by more fitted briefs.
Babydoll underwear has short hemlines that expose a woman's thighs. Some styles even showed half of their breasts on purpose and were later used as sexy lingerie.
Now, in addition to underwear, doll designs have evolved into casual clothes for cute girls. Its English name is babydoll, but designer Sylvia Pedlar herself doesn't like this name.
Secondly, tight sets.
The tight sets are a bit like garters. But the garter belt is worn below the waist and the tights extend from the waist to the thigh. The main purpose of this product is to shape a woman's waist. It was a must for women from the 1920s to the late 1960s.
In 1947, Christian Dior's "New Look" collection featured even the most crucial elements of a tight fit.
Thirdly, Bikini.
Bikini is the underwear that everybody is familiar with most, also called 3 Point Type. The origin of its name is interesting. In 1946, an atomic bomb exploded on Bikini Island in the Pacific Ocean.
18 days later, Frenchman Louis Reard introduced the Three-point Swimsuit, which took Europe by storm in less than a week. It was thought to have had a nuclear impact, so it was called the Bikini.
The bikini is the smallest swimwear in the world. It consists of two main parts, the top half of which is a bra that covers the breasts, and the bottom half of which is shorts that cover the groin and buttocks of the lower body.
In 1997, U.S. volleyball player Gabrielle Reece promoted her sports career by wearing a bikini. Her volleyball team participated in the first World Beach Volleyball Championship, and the women competed in bikinis for the first time. So, bikini then became a kind of fitness apparel.
8) "Second skin" era.
With the continuous update of underwear fabric, people are more and more in pursuit of new technology products, pure cotton goods have no longer become people's needs.
Known worldwide as "Second skins", Microfibre has reinvented itself in the history of underwear. In 1997, Dupont introduced Lycrasoft, a revolutionary, high-quality, ultra-elastic fiber that allows underwear to stretch as well as cling to the body.
The 21st century to now, modern people not only attach importance to the sense of temptation brought by underwear, but also attach more importance to its health, shaping function!


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On behalf of the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission), the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE) conducted a peer review - with a primary focus on statistics - of the following report submitted to the Energy Commission: "Developing Methods to Reduce Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area," prepared by K. Shawn Smallwood and Carl Thelander.
CIEE first prepared a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and used its main mailing list and other list servers to distribute the RFQ. A Peer Review Selection Committee reviewed four proposals and selected three teams of reviewers. The peer review teams submitted preliminary peer review reports that were reviewed by the authors of the report (Smallwood and Thelander). The authors provided a detailed response to the peer review reports. After reviewing the authors' response, the peer reviewers finalized their reports. The key findings from the final peer reviews are presented in this report. The peer reviews are attached (Attachments A-C), along with the authors' response (Attachment D).
In general, all of the reviewers were explicit in pointing out that the authors had taken on an important issue and had done a credible job with the resources that were available to them. The original report was clearly an exploratory study meant to set the stage for future work in this area. As such, the report serves to provide a basis for continuing research on the topic of avian/wind turbine interactions. The report should not, however, be considered as the basis for developing siting requirements for future wind energy projects. It is clear from the peer reviewers' comments that there are significant problems with this paper and that additional studies are needed. The positive aspects of the report, coupled with the constructive criticism of the reviewers, could form the basis of future work to better define siting requirements and guidelines that should be put in place by permitting agencies. As the reviewers noted, it will be important to evaluate the model developed in the original study with new wind projects. Future research will need to minimize some of the confounding problems in the reviewed study, since remaining disagreements require additional research for their resolution. Also, utilizing new data sets will better serve to determine whether the model is effective. If not, the results should suggest improvements to the model that would help in its function as a predictive tool. More research is needed to identify the causes of collisions and what measures need to be taken to reduce mortality caused by wind turbines.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you get into a car accident, you're going to need to prove that the other driver was at fault. This is the only way you can recover from your injuries. To do this, you're going to need certain evidence. One of the strongest pieces of evidence is the police report. This will detail what happened at the crash scene. It will also contain vital information that your Atlanta car accident lawyer won't be able to get any other way.
When you get into a crash, there are certain things you need to do.
- You need to call 911 immediately: This is important for a few reasons. First, they'll arrange for an ambulance to come to the scene. Second, they'll prepare a police report. Finally, they'll check to make sure all the drivers have a current license, registration, and insurance.
- You need to go to the hospital: This is the only way to document your injuries. If you wait and go a few days later, the defendant will claim something other than your crash that caused your injuries. For example, they may argue that you were in an accident at some point between your crash and the day you sought treatment.
- You need to call an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer: They'll help negotiate with the insurance company. They'll also file a lawsuit if need be.
As long as you follow these 3 steps, you should be able to recover from your injuries. The worst thing you can do is not call the police.
The Police Report is the Strongest Piece of Evidence You Have
One of the reasons the police report is so valuable is because the police are impartial observers. The jury will believe what the police report has to say. They'll take it as gospel. This isn't the case with your witnesses and experts. When you have people testify on your behalf, the jury may think they're skewing things in your direction. They don't do this with the police report.
The police report also contains valuable information that you can't get any other way. No matter how skilled your Atlanta car accident lawyer is, they can't locate witnesses if they don't have their names and addresses. And, if nobody takes pictures at the accident scene, there's no way to get them later on. There are certain things that the police will do that neither you nor your attorney can do.
You Need to Call the Police After Your Crash Anyway
There's really no good reason not to call the cops after your Georgia car wreck. First of all, you're required by law to report the accident. The easiest way to do this is to have the police come directly to the scene.
Second, if you don't call the cops, there's no way to know if the other driver is telling you the truth. They could give you a fake name or expired insurance information. Or, they may be driving a stolen car. You have no idea what is really going on.
The police can also check to see if either of the drivers is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This isn't something you can do yourself. If the other driver was drunk, it will almost guarantee that you'll win your case.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta Today
If you're injured in any sort of motor vehicle accident, you need to contact a skilled accident lawyer in Atlanta. They can review your case and let you know how strong it is. They can also help you fill in the holes where you're missing information. Finally, they can let you know what your case is worth.
The great thing about this is that your initial consultation is free. They don't charge for this meeting. It gives you a chance to have someone review your case and let you know whether you have a shot at recovery.
You're going to be biased. You will believe that you have a case because you were the one who was injured. Nobody wants to point the finger of blame at themselves. But if the police report says that you caused the crash, there's not much an accident lawyer can do for you.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation with our office. We can take the time and speak to you about your case. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.


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Mahler Piano Quartet in a (composed circa 1875-76)
with Amadie Azikiwe, Viola, Michael Finckel, Cello and Adam Golka, Piano
part of Bennington Chamber Music Conference Faculty Artist Series
Haydn String Quartet in C, Op.20 #2
with Mayuyki Fukuhara, Violin, Amadie Azikiwe, Viola Lutz Rath, Cello
as part of Bennington Chamber Music Conference Faculty Artist Series
The third and final Journey of 100 performance sponsored by Hamilton College
A wonderful early evening program: Composer/Bassist Jeffrey Levine and Friends: featuring a selection of his solo piano works performed by Adrienne Kim, Shem and Jeff performing his ballet music Three Dances from Paper Castles, AND – with cellist Julia Bruskin and violist Désirée Elsevier – Schubert's Piano Quintet "The Trout".
Refreshments offered starting at 6:30 PM, music at 7 (donations invited)
Tenri Cultural Institute 43 W. 13th Street NY NY 10011
Sunday June 29, 2014 – 6 PM – FREE ADMISSION – West 89th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. The Chaconne opens this short program…Beethoven's String Trio in G Major comes next – played with my friends Artie Dibble, Viola, and Lindy Clarke, Cello.
This outdoor concert was blessed with perfect weather and a large, appreciative audience…lots of families with children, and the little ones were getting up and coming to the front of the stage area and dancing away with pure delight…somewhat astonishing for me because their delight and joy was like a second counterpoint to this work of Bach's and it was challenging to stay plugged into the deep flow of the Work and not "fall out" into the dancing of the children!
I had spent a lot of time in the last week working on purity of intonation as well as stronger rhythmic organization, and I was happy that that work wasn't wasted…that being said it is humbling that even at this 23rd time, for me, thorough practice is still an essential component: there were areas of which I assumed in my practice sessions "ok, that part's fine, don't need to invest time there", that would have benefitted from slow, mindful work….sigh….I remember reading Kreisler's writing about train travel providing him time to review in his mind every tone of the works he was performing, to sort of, in his words, "re-carve" the grooves on the disc (the vinyl or glass LP recordings of his time)….I will remember that going forward.
The Beethoven seemed an easy delight to play – in gusty winds that required us to pause and carefully replace the clothespins that held the music onto the stands!!! Artie and Lindy are, simply put, terrific.


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The Future of Clinical Trials
By Doug Stewart –Director of Hosted Employment and The Training Academy
In 2015, Professor Allen Frances of Duke University published an article sharing his fears, concerns and indeed, open scorn for the current methodologies of pharmaceutical clinical trials.
"It's been many years since I have trusted anything I read in a medical or psychiatric journal. There is an enterprise wide positive bias; findings never seem to replicate; benefits are hyped; harms are hidden."[i]
Allen goes on to apportion blame for this state of affairs:
"Drug companies bear most of the blame — the research they sponsor is shoddy and market driven. Scientists are also to blame when they torture data so much it will confess to anything. Medical journals are to blame when they publish positive findings from lousy studies and reject negative results from well done studies. And journalists are to blame when they uncritically accept phony claims."[ii]
For anyone who is professionally involved in clinical research, these criticisms were deeply concerning, and were shared by many others.[iii] It was clear that radical changes were needed.
"The only responsible courses of action are to improve designs and measures, standardize implementation, change sponsors, achieve complete transparency, report harms as thoroughly as benefits, and eliminate hype. With all the limitations, there is simply no substitute for randomized placebo controlled studies — we must improve them because we can't do without them."[iv]
The criticism of the pharmaceutical industry was accurate, but it appears that the industry was aware of these issues as well – in 2012, Transcelerate was formed as a collaboration "across the global biopharmaceutical research and development community to identify, prioritize, design and facilitate implementation of solutions designed to drive the efficient, effective and high quality delivery of new medicines."[v]
Their initiatives are many and varied, but are certainly addressing the potential solutions proposed by Allen. In summary, they propose transparency of data, data sharing, far more patient involvement in trial design and agreed standard protocol templates, allowing far more clarity and reproducibility of trials.
The International Council on Harmonisation appears to share many of the same aspirations. It has adapted its guidelines to include radical changes to the design, implementation and monitoring of clinical trials.[vi]
So essentially, industry and ICH appear to be working collaboratively to improve the patient experience, the quality of the data, access to meta data and overall transparency of results. The principles are in place, the goals are clear – how will this all be implemented?
Patient Centric trials
"Patients want transparency. Help us to understand what's working and what isn't. Share results. Give us hope for a cure or a better medicine. Treat patients taking part in a clinical trial as investors; they are investing their bodies in your trial so keep them informed about that investment. They also want to be thanked afterwards. These are basic things".[vii]
There is a strong movement towards including patient groups and representatives in the trial team, from design through to sharing of results. Patients want their study to be integrated into their care. They want the culture of the sponsor and the site to be centred around them. Many companies, both CROs and sponsors, are paying more than lip service to this, with departments being devoted to patient involvement. Given that recruitment of patients to trials is one of the biggest challenges in clinical research, this represents a welcome move. More importantly though, this enables patients to ask the questions that they want answered, not simply those of the marketing department.
Leading on from this, any developments that make trials more available to patients with work commitments or those who live long distances from sites are desirable. Patient profiling, identifying the individual needs of the person taking part can help to reduce issues with recruitment, broaden the patient demographic and improve retention on studies.
Wearable Technology
The internet of things and wearable technologies (such as health trackers and smart watches) mean that data can be collected much more easily, as well as over longer periods. For example, rather than a single twelve lead ECG being taken at the site on a specified day, ECG data can be captured over the course of the whole study with minimal inconvenience. Patient surveys and interviews can be captured via the internet, enabling scheduling of events to suit the patient. These initiatives are already happening, but in a relatively restricted fashion. The advantages are undeniable, and are already leading to further innovations, and the concept of the Siteless Clinical Trial.
Siteless Clinical Trials
The concept is that the more the patient can be treated, communicated with and observed remotely, the less need for the patient to disrupt their normal routine. As well as convenience for the individual, this would also mean that anomalies caused by changes to routine, and the artificial nature of the site visit would be minimised. As recently as last month, one company had raised over $38 million to advance these technologies, believing that as well as improving the experience of the patient, capturing more raw data and eventually lowering costs, these technologies will also enable minority groups to be far better represented.[viii]
Risk Based Trial Design and Monitoring
These technologies, along with older ones such as eCRFs for data capture and digital uploads form monitoring systems directly into the trial databases mean that far greater amounts of data can be captured and analysed – which in turn calls for a very different approach to monitoring the studies, and indeed to their design. Risk based trial design and monitoring is a requirement of ICH GCP from June this year in all new studies. This effectively ends the routine monitoring visit, replacing it with centralised monitoring of trial data and algorithmic applications being used to present these data to the study team. All the while being conducted in real time, to give indications of the main areas for the remote monitor to concentrate on. Not without a certain amount of controversy (there are concerns that the site/CRA relationship will be affected negatively), there is little doubt that this approach will improve both patient safety and data quality.
All of which, in turn, leads to larger, cleaner data sets.
Big Data
The pharmaceutical industry has been relatively slow to catch up with the "big data" revolution. Much of this delay can be put down to jealously guarded intellectual property concerns of a legal and financial nature. However, calls for the publishing of all study reports has grown, and the requirements of regulatory agencies have enforced them. This is not the same as publishing individual data sets, or indeed collective ones, but it does appear to have had the effect of encouraging cooperation with the data themselves. In fact, some of the blue chip pharmaceutical companies have been actively setting standards for data sharing since 2013, but it is only now that the real efforts appear to be bearing fruit. Given that the volume of data captured in trials is going from mega and giga bytes to tera bytes, it is logical to share anonymised data captured for similar interventions.
In summary, collaboration, cooperation, transparency and the patient are providing the direction of travel for clinical researchers. There will, no doubt, be surprises on the way, and IP lawyers may be shifting in their chairs uncomfortably, but this researcher feels a lot more comfortable than he did when he read the thoughts of Professor Frances!
The Clinical Professionals Academy ensures it keeps up to date with all the latest developments with continual review and updates of our modular course content for our Training Academies.
If you would like to know more information about the Training Academy, please visit here
[i] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allen-frances/the-crisis-of-confidence-_b_6432236.html
[ii] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allen-frances/the-crisis-of-confidence-_b_6432236.html
[iii] http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25576520
[iv] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allen-frances/the-crisis-of-confidence-_b_6432236.html ibid.
[v] http://www.transceleratebiopharmainc.com/about/
[vi] http://www.ich.org/fileadmin/Public_Web_Site/ICH_Products/Guidelines/Efficacy/E6/E6_R2__Step_4.pdf
[vii] http://www.pharmatimes.com/magazine/2016/may_2016/patient-centricity_ghost_in_the_machine
[viii] https://pharmaphorum.com/news/science-37-gets-funding-develop-site-less-clinical-trials/


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The French government has announced several initiatives that are in their early stages regarding the regulation of Islam in France.
In May, Ahmet Ogras, the president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), the institution responsible for representing the religion to the public authorities, had first said he wanted such consultation.
CFCM leaders are facing a tight schedule. In spring 2019, their term expires, and new elections must be held. Many say the institution will survive only if it reformed its mode of organization. Hence, the idea launched Mr. Ogras of a consultation, which seems to be stalled. The CFCM suffers from a structural lack of means and rivalry between participating mosque federations.
The second consultation was undertaken by associative activists at the initiative of Marwan Muhammad, the former executive director of the Collective against Islamophobia in France. Participants were able to answer online a series of more or less open questions about their expectations and what they thought about the current situation. This questionnaire was doubled by meetings in mosques during the month of Ramadan.
A committee must summarize the proposals this summer and present proposals in early September. "The hajj [pilgrimage], halal, the operation of mosques, the transparent collection of donations and the traceability of money" should be discussed, said Muhammad.
A confidential statement to French President Emmanuel Macron by one of his closest collaborators and published Le Monde outlines a plan to regulate Islam by making financing transparent and better integrating the community based on the principles of French social and economic life.
The plan was drawn up by Macron collaborator Hakim El Karoui, and provides for the creation of an association managed by French Muslims that will train and pay the imams, remodel the mosques and manage communication. It would be referred to as L'Association pour le financement et le soutien du culte musulman (AFSCM).
It will be financed by a tax on halal food products and on pilgrimages to Mecca, as well as by a tax exemption on donations by followers.
Composed and led by French Muslims, the AFSCM should claim "neutrality" vis-à-vis the various actors. The idea would be to pass through the body most of the sums generated by the Muslim cult, while the financial circuits of Islam, which take part in the states of origin of Muslim families (mainly Algeria, the Morocco and Tunisia) are today hardly traceable, whether halal food, pilgrimage or construction of mosques. "A lot of money circulates and it is possible to organize his job," said El Karoui.
In a process of "total transparency", "professionalism" and "independence", the AMIF should improve the "service rendered" to Muslims in France. By levying a halal fee (60 million euros within five years), the AFSCM will be awarded the role of "certifier certifier", notably by granting a visa to mosques that issue slaughter cards. . While the pilgrimage to Mecca costs more and more to the faithful, the AFSCM would allow to regulate the rates of such trips and offer a better service. The institution could also receive direct, tax-free donations. Recipes that would give AFSCM the power to oversee the training of imams and to participate in the construction of new places of worship. The objective: to constitute "a great movement of emancipation" of the Muslim cult compared to "the guardianship of the State", according to Hakim El Karoui. In return, the AFSCM would have a "clear and republican political charter" including "respect for secularism" and "gender equality".
The association was launched on July 7 at the Great Mosque of Paris. According to relevant documents, the AFSCM "has the sole purpose of the [regulating] the exercise of the Muslim faith in France financially or supporting activities of a religious nature."


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Investment News: OWS Revival Seen as Boon for Socially Conscious Set
Investment News, a publication of Crain Communications, recently ran a front page article about the continuing reverberations of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The story referenced Matt Patsky's presentation at the Investment Management Consultants Association's annual conference in Washington, DC.
In that presentation, Matt pointed out that last year in the United States; the average chief executive's compensation was 380 times that of the average worker at that company. By comparison, the average chief executive in Germany makes 12 times as much as the average worker.
"Occupy Wall Street raised a lot of issues that helped us in terms of making sure we are articulating how we can have a positive impact in both social and environmental outcomes with people's money," [Matt Patsky] said. "I also think we've been more aggressive in terms of looking at opportunities in what we call community investments, where there are higher social or environmental outcomes."
The entire article can be read here (free registration required)


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Features and benefits are just part of the tools that are needed to sell real estate. The other part that is sometimes missing in the equation is focus. Focus is an absolute must. Focusing on the essential elements that make
The home buyer of today is a very different home buyer than we had just 5 to 10 years ago, here is what today's homebuyers are looking for. Quality of the neighborhood Neighborhoods are important to people, which type of
If anyone has ever driven through an area where the home ownership percentage is lower than the national average they will in most cases also see a lower than average concern for the condition and upkeep of the properties in


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If you own a home, you may be frustrated by your garage.
On average, you should spring for garage door repair every ten to twenty years. But obviously, that's a wide range that doesn't even fit every door.
Because of that, it's important to look at the signs you need repairs. If you notice any of these five things, you should fix it.
High Energy Bills
Nobody likes to break the bank on energy bills. Unfortunately, not getting a garage door repair in time can increase your bills.
If you notice that your bills are higher than usual, think about what you're doing. It could legitimately be that your energy habits have changed.
However, if everything's the same, there could be another possibility. That would be that there's something wrong with your door, and you need to hire someone for repair.
A Shaking Garage Door
Your garage door shaking can be a serious safety risk. It can also be a sign that you need repair.
If you notice your door shaking, get repairs as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to be hurt by the door.
There are a number of injuries that can be caused by a shaky door, particularly if it falls. As a matter of fact, there are over ten thousand injuries caused by garage doors each year.
Avoid them by being responsible for on-time repairs.
The Sound Of Needing Garage Door Repair
If your garage door starts to become loud when you open and close it, it's time to get repairs.
Like shaking, this is one of the most important problems to deal with. Other garage door problems can be inconvenient. But if you hear noises or notice shaking, you can end up with a falling door.
This can cause injury or even death. So be a responsible homeowner.
You Can't Open it Or Close It
If you can't open or close your garage door, it's obviously time for repairs.
In general, however, this is a problem you want to avoid before it starts. After all, the inability to properly open or close your garage can lead to massive problems including being late for work.
Avoid this problem by getting regular garage door inspections. You can also look for the next problem.
…Or You Can On A Delay
If the opening or closing of your door can only happen on a delay, it may be time to get some repairs. This is an essential sign to look out for.
That's because this problem often happens before your door becomes impossible to open.
It's better to deal with this before it becomes that serious, which is why repairs are absolutely necessary when this happens.
Get Repairs In Chicago
If you want to repair your garage door in Chicago, we can help. We're dedicated to giving your repairs at a safe and affordable rate.
Don't wait until there's a serious problem. instead, contact us today.


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No matter what type of business you operate, you need an email list. Not just any list, preferably an opt-in list. If it's a double-opt-in list, it's even better. Why? Because your list keeps you in touch with your clients and prospects; it develops a relationship of trust; people buy from people they trust; and finally, it's a very cost effective way of marketing.
Take this example of a hairdressing business with a proprietor we'll call Sophie. Sophie obtains the email addresses of her clients in her database along with details of the types of services they generally require (e.g., perm, haircut, shampoo, etc.).
She and her team know the periods between services so, when clients are due for another hairdo, she sends them an email reminder suggesting they ring a day or two in advance to ensure a booking. Clients respond.
Occasionally, she has a low demand day. Her paid staff is going to stand around without a full day of work. Sophie goes through her database and finds several clients who would normally require a new hair job around about that time. She sends them a short email offering several booking times and a small discount if they accept. Bingo! Instead of four hours without bookings, she now has three hours taken up.
This is only one of many examples. Veterinary practices email people about their animals' vaccinations; dentists about follow-up work; hardware stores about specials and so on.
If you don't maintain an email list, you are missing out on opportunities, including some new ways to make money. Also, if you send letters to clients/prospects now, you can cut out the expense of postage, stationery, printing and other associated costs.
This is all good stuff, however, your list has to be obtained and managed in accordance with the various Spam legislation. That's why you must get people to opt-in and agree to receive email from you before you send it.
Double opt-in occurs when people subscribe to your list from your Internet site and you send them a message seeking assurance that they ... and not someone pretending to be them ... actually completed the form. When they reply, the deal is done. This can all be done automatically saving you a tremendous amount of time and money.
So, if you haven't got an email list, what will you do about it today?
This article was written by Robin Henry © Copyright 2005.
An Email Marketing Role Model
Metrics: One of the Great Benefits of Email Marketing
5 Email Marketing Trends for 2007
Subject Lines That Get Results
You Do Have an Email List...Don't You?
Using Email Newsletters for Customer Retention
Small Business Doesn't Mean Small Marketing
60-Second Guide to Developing a Permission Marketing Strategy
Developing Email-Marketing Lists
Email Marketing Basics for Small Businesses
Ten Attention-Getting Ways to Use Email Lists
Email Marketing Tips
Effective Email Marketing
Review: Email Marketing Benchmark Guide 2006
Email Marketing Campaigns Done Right
Customize your Business Email Marketing Campaign To Increase Sales


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Ice usually occurs in clouds; however, tiny particles of desert dust, soil dust, fungus, and bacteria swept high into the air can cause supercooled water droplets in clouds to freeze around them. High concentrations of these ice-nucleating particles can cause clouds to freeze, conceivably affecting the earth's climate.
A new study monitoring air quality revealed that bonfire night celebrations contaminate our air with hugely elevated amounts of soot.
The soot in the atmosphere around Guy Fawkes Night events was around 100 times its average level.
Scientists conducted experiments on the early hours of 5 November 2016 and later in 2017 from November 4 and 5, filtering the air with samples taken hourly.
Equipment was set up on the School of Earth and Environment building gallery, 15m from ground level and more than 0.5 km from any individual bonfires or firework displays, to represent the air quality over the city.
The filters were washed, and the liquid was subjected to different temperatures to replicate atmospheric conditions.
Black carbon produced on Bonfire Night did not act as ice nucleating particles – but they did not expect to see such high levels of polluting matter in the atmosphere.
Lead author Michael Adams, Research Fellow in Atmospheric Ice Nucleation, said: "Our measurements showed that while pollution emitted on Bonfire Night shouldn't have any effect on whether clouds are liquid or ice, the elevated concentrations of soot and other pollutants in the atmosphere should be a warning to those with pre-existing health conditions, as the aerosol particles are in size range where they can enter the lungs and cause problems."
Research supervisor Benjamin Murray, Professor of Atmospheric Science in Leeds' School of Earth and Environment, said: "Bonfire Night is a massive pollution event across the UK. People with existing health problems, such as heart and lung conditions, are at increased risk."
"The impact on clouds and climate was not clear. The good news is that Bonfire Night does not impact the formation of ice in supercooled cloud droplets. But, we know that BC causes climate warming in other ways.
"I was surprised to see levels of black carbon so persistently high for so long on multiple nights. It was striking how poor air quality was on Bonfire Night."
Weather conditions can affect how long the particles remain in the air. The team found the pollution was flushed out of the city within a few hours during the 2016 experiment due to a brisk wind from the north.
But in 2017, the air was relatively still, and the pollution lingered into the next day.
While providing insight into the levels of black carbon emitted on Bonfire Night, the team's discoveries have also contributed to understanding different sources of ice-nucleating particles – a key research area in climate science.
Prof Murray said: "Clouds containing supercooled water and ice are first-order importance for the climate. Vast cloud systems made of a mixture of ice and water over the world's oceans buffer the warming effect of CO2."
"But the buffering capacity depends on how much ice is in them, which in turn depends on the concentration and distribution of ice-nucleating particles.
"We found that aerosol particles emitted during the celebration are not as effective at nucleating ice as aerosol particles already present in the atmosphere.
"We conclude that aerosol particles emitted from combustion processes such as those observed on Bonfire Night are not an important source of ice-nucleating particles."
The study has been published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres today.


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Volvo's reflective Life Paint makes it easier to spot cyclists in the dark
Volvo has always been known for making the best of cars which are driver friendly and highly safe. However, their new interest in cyclist safety took quite an interesting turn. So for all the cyclists out there concerned about riding in the night -when drivers can't see you-, Volvo has found just the right solution for you and it's as low-tech as it can get.
With about 19000 cyclists getting injured on UKs roads annually, Volvo came up with a simple reflective spray called "life paint". Confused? Then keep on reading!
Originally transparent on spraying it on, the light paint contains light reflecting particles. When exposed to the glare of a vehicle's headlights, the surfaces coated with this paint become highly visible to the driver which enables them to avoid the cyclist. Another notable point to discuss is that this spray paint is completely invisible during day time meaning your clothes and cycle won't look anything out of the ordinary!
So wondering what happens to your clothes when you spray it on? Well, nothing happens to them! It doesn't even minutely affect the color of anything that you spray it on. Moreover, it can be easily washed off and lasts up to one week when you don't! And even if you don't want to spray it on your clothes, the light reflective spray is also available for wood, metals and plastic which means that you simply spray it on your bike and get riding!
Starting at a hefty $66, Volvo's marketing strategy has aimed to prove that the product is worth its price. Their advertisements aim to gain the trust of a potential buyers in order to encourage them to buy the spray for their own safety. Different campaigns include making a movie in which various accident survivors are interviewed, creating a website which shows how many people buy their product and creating billboards sprayed with light paint which reflect when you take a picture.
Volvos efforts for cyclist safety are certainly commendable. It gives the buyer little reason not to test the product out. So what are you waiting for?
h/t: Daily Mail


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6 Big Challenges That Irish Businesses Face Today
Meeting the challenges head on
Operating a small or medium-sized business is hard - and that's without throwing in a global health crisis on top. But for Irish SMEs in particular, there's a broad spectrum of hurdles and challenges to face over the next 12 months that are unlike any seen before. Yes, the Irish economy is (usually) relatively strong, but that doesn't mean everything's automatically fine.
Higher living costs and wage growth that hasn't kept up have taken a heavy toll on both households and business across Ireland over the last few years. Then COVID-19 came along and turned everything we know on its head.
Here we consider the challenges Irish SMEs are facing, both during the remainder of this year and into 2021.
1. The COVID-19 pandemic
And what a year it has been. No one could have predicted how life in 2020 would change so drastically, and with no end to the pandemic in sight the Irish economy is struggling.
In September the government confirmed that Ireland is officially in recession, shrinking by a record 6.1% in the second quarter of this year. Unsurprisingly, the travel, tourism, leisure and hospitality industries have been hit the hardest.
2. Cash flow
We can't talk about the pandemic without mentioning cash flow, as for the majority of Irish businesses the two have gone hand in hand.
A major issue faced by the majority of SMEs across Ireland is cash flow irregularity. This is especially the case in these tough economic times, perhaps as a result of lockdowns, reduced sales and/or footfall, and difficulty in getting credit.
After the 2008 financial crash, and of course now following the coronavirus pandemic, many businesses have had to rebuild from scratch. However, a lack of cash flow can have serious implications on your ability to grow and expand. Many have availed of certain government help like Bounce Back Loans, but for many this hasn't been enough.
3. Brexit
There are many questions still unanswered around the UK's departure from the EU and how it will affect Irish markets. Not only are rules and regulations still being thrashed out, but issues securing funding are a particular headache too.
With the 31st January now only weeks away, the timing really couldn't be worse when set against the backdrop of COVID-19. However, one positive point to note is around settled status.
Earlier this year it was announced that Irish citizens who choose to reside in the UK will be deemed as 'settled', so will have no residency or work permit requirements. They can also move freely between the two nations which comprise the Common Travel Area (CTA), in the same way as UK citizens. Citizens can work within either country, including entering into self-employment. What is still unclear however is what the effect will be on the provision of social security, and how qualifications gained in Ireland will translate to the UK market and vice versa. Pension arrangements too remain unclear, although negotiations are still ongoing.
Then on top of that of course there's the exchange rate. With the economy sliding and Brexit uncertainty only adding to the pain, sterling's value has been far from stable this year. Imports from the Irish Republic are cheaper than they used to be - welcome news for business buying supplies from the UK. However, exporting is now more expensive meaning that Irish companies looking to sell their goods in the UK will suffer a financial blow.
4. Laws and guidelines
If there's one thing we've learned from the emergence of COVID-19 it's that laws and guidance can change at the drop of a hat. Even in 'normal' times, companies continuously have to make sure they comply with the latest health and safety and employee laws in particular. Although such regulations and guidance are clearly in the public interest, they can still be expensive and time consuming to implement. This is especially the case for SMEs where resources are more limited.
5. Competition
Offering something bigger, bolder and better than your competitors is simply another facet of running a business. But for start-ups and SMEs in particular, the risk of customers ditching you for someone else are real. Customers can easily be lost to larger companies that can take advantage of economies for instance.
6. Investing in growth
SMEs and start-ups need to invest in growth and innovation; it's the only way they will thrive long term in increasingly tough circumstances. But such projects don't come cheap.
Step in Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits.
R&D Tax Credits are a Revenue-backed tax programme developed in the early 2000s. It was created to encourage business growth and innovation across all industries and sectors in the Republic of Ireland.
R&D expenditure that meets Revenue's strict criteria will attract a 25% tax credit for offsetting against Corporation Tax, in addition to a lower rate of tax set at 12.5%. This means that in effect Irish companies successfully claiming R&D Tax Credits can receive a Revenue refund of €37.50 for every €100 of R&D project costs. It's an incredibly generous and valuable incentive indeed.
Want to know what your company could claim? Use our calculator to find out instantly.
Don't leave your claim to chance
Submitting a successful R&D Tax Credit claim that Revenue will accept first time is difficult. The process is complex and often laborious, not to mention resource intensive. The last thing you need is to have your claim to be rejected, or worse, for Revenue to launch an investigation into your wider tax affairs. This is why consulting with the experts at Myriad Associates (developers of the Tax Cloud portal) is so important.
Whilst many accountancy firms have some knowledge of R&D tax issues, we specialise entirely in R&D funding and tax rebates. This means we know the entire process in a huge amount of detail, and are best placed to advise you on all areas of this niche area of tax.
With sections for both businesses and accountants the Tax Cloud portal is ideal for those looking for a more-hands off, great value application tool, with added support from us if required. It's free to sign up and easy to use, so why not start your claim now.
Got a question or want to talk to one of our friendly team? Call +353 1 566 2001 or use our contact form and we'll call you back.
- Submitting R&D tax claims since 2017
- Strong track record delivering R&D tax credit claims
- Over €10m claimed and counting
- Industry leading specialists
- We employ technical, costing and tax experts
- Confident of delivering value to our clients, we offer our R&D tax services on a success fee-only basis.
Meet some of the team behind Tax Cloud


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Exercise and Skin Health: How fit is your skin?
Whether you run, go to the gym, or are never without your tennis racquet, your favourite activities keep your body healthy and in shape. So, could your workout also benefit your skin? Doctors and professionals are noticing a direct correlation between exercise and skin health, especially on breakout prone skin. Working out can provide noticeable skin clearing benefits including increased circulation and the removal of damaging toxins, while lowering stress to keep your adrenal glands in check. Your adrenal glands are responsible for excreting hormones that control stress. It's never too soon to concern yourself with healthy ageing skin. In addition to wearing your SPF and following a good skincare regime, keep up a good exercise routine to help stimulate the production of collagen: a tissue in skin that helps keep skin firm, tone and wrinkle-free.


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Jan Vogler at the Philharmonie in Cologne (November 2019)
The renowned cellist Jan Vogler will perform an extraordinary repertoire at the Philharmonie in Cologne on 19 November 2019: Benjamin Britten's Symphony for Violoncello and Orchestra with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski.
19 November Cologne, Philharmonie
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski
Britten: Symphony for Violoncello and Orchestra op. 68
Further information can be found here.


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Pregnant women have many restrictions, especially when it comes to their diet and medication. A common over-the-counter pain reliever, acetaminophen, is no longer considered safe for pregnant women because it can affect the fetus. More than 91 health experts from several countries have published a statement in the journal of Endocrinology explain g the possible consequences.
How can acetaminophen affect babies in the womb?
The study found that this chemical substance, which has been considered safe to take during pregnancy for so long, could trigger reproductive and neurobehavioral abnormalities for the fetus. Both female and male fetuses can suffer developmental consequences inside the womb.
Further research is needed to determine just how much acetaminophen must be taken by pregnant mothers for babies to suffer negative consequences.
Possible side-effects of acetaminophen based o fetus gender
According to extensive research, health experts concluded that several side effects could occur for both genders, such as ADHD, autism, speech delay, and decreased IQ.
For boys, it could trigger reproductive disorders, undescended testicles, and others. Girls can go early into puberty.
Pregnant women should ask their medical provider before taking any medicine
Experts warn that pregnant women should be extra careful because acetaminophen is a common ingredient in so many medications, including over-the-counter ones such as cough syrup, allergy medicine, etc. A doctor can decide if these medications are necessary or if they can be replaced with something else. According to the European Medicines Agency, acetaminophen should be used in small doses during pregnancy.
The conjoint statement has been signed by medical experts from the U.K, the U.S, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Scotland, and other European Countries.
The FDA mentions other medicine that should be avoided during pregnancy, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It goes without saying that illicit opioids are also forbidden as they can cause severe harm to the fetus.


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Texas is an employment at-will employment state and has been that way since at least 1888. In that year, the Texas Supreme Court held that, absent a contractual agreement to the contrary, an employee employed for an indefinite term could be terminated at will without cause. That changed in the 1985 Sabine Pilot case where the Texas Supreme Court affirmed a wrongful termination lawsuit from the Beaumont Court of Appeals to create an exception to the at-will employment doctrine, allowing an employee to bring a tort action for wrongful termination when the employee is fired because the employee refuses to commit an illegal act requested by his or her employer. Justification for the exception was rooted in public policy that promotes preventing workers from being forced by employers to decide between their jobs and facing criminal liabilities and prosecution.
Decided in 2012 by the Texas Supreme Court, the case Safeshred, Inc. v. Martinez, 365 S.W.3d 655 (Tex.2012) decided the issue of whether a Sabine Pilot plaintiff could recover both tort and exemplary (punitive) damages as a result of a wrongful termination, finding that, yes, there are circumstances under which a wrongful termination plaintiff may have an actionable claim for punitive damages. Consequently, punitive damages can be an element of damages in a Sabine Pilot lawsuit.
In that wrongful termination lawsuit, Martinez worked for Safeshred, a trucking company, in October of 2007, hauling loads of cargo between Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Austin. Prior to each haul, Safeshred required Martinez to perform a pre-trip inspection of the truck to confirm its compliance with relevant safety regulations. According to the Texas Supreme Court opinion, Martinez repeatedly discovered safety violations in the vehicle he was asked to drive throughout the beginning of October, but was consistently ordered to drive the truck anyway. In an October 8th trip, Martinez was pulled over by a Department of Public Safety trooper for numerous violations of state and federal regulations, including, for example, improperly secured cargo, due in part to substantial cuts in straps used to secure the load to the truck bed. The trooper told Martinez not to drive the truck again until the defects had been fixed.
At trial in Austin, Texas, Martinez testified that he showed the citation and described the problems to Safeshred management. However, Martinez was asked by Safeshred to drive the truck again on October 9th and he refused to do so. After a week of administrative duties during which time Safeshred supposedly sought to bring the truck in compliance with state and federal regulations, Safeshred again asked Martinez to drive the truck. However, Martinez's concerns about the load's legality persisted, because the cut straps remained, the load was unsafely stacked higher than the top of the truck's cab, and there was no material between the two main rows of the steel shelving. Martinez then drove the truck as ordered. When asked to drive the truck again after that, Martinez he did so but turned around and returned when he felt the cargo shifting and feared for his safety. Upon his return, Martinez urged his concerns about load legality up the chain of command but was told to drive or go home. He went home and was fired.
Martinez retained an attorney in Austin and sued Safeshred for wrongful termination pursuant to Sabine Pilot Service, Inc. v. Hauck, 687 S.W.2d 733 (Tex.1985). A jury trial took place and the jury awarded Martinez $7,569.18 in lost wages, $10,000 in mental anguish damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. The trial judge reduced the punitive damage award to comply with a statutory tort reform damage cap and Safeshred attorneys appealed to the Austin Court of Appeals which dispensed with the mental anguish damages but otherwise left the verdict and judgment undisturbed. The lawsuit proceeded on to the Texas Supreme Court where the Court said a Sabine Pilot plaintiff could, under certain circumstances, obtain punitive damages but this was not one of those cases. Consequently, the Texas Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the Austin Court of Appeals and otherwise affirmed that decision.
Whistleblowing can be a different type of action because reporting or blowing the whistle on the occurrence of unlawful conduct may not always have the same facts and circumstances as the act of refusing to commit a crime requested by the employer. Generally, a Sabine Pilot plaintiff alleges wrongful discharge for refusing to commit a crime while a whistleblower alleges wrongful discharge for reporting an illegal act. A whistleblower receives anti-retaliation protections under the law only where employed by an employer subject to a whistleblower statute. Further, the process for bringing a Sabine Pilot claim can be different than bringing a whistleblower claim. One should consult an attorney about these distinctions since distinctions between whistleblowing and refusing to commit a crime under Sabine Pilot can be fact specific and significant.
For example, in a trucking industry whistleblower claim a truck driver may have to follow an administrative process and the claims may be based on federal law. In this regard, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act contains whistleblower provisions that, depending on the facts and circumstances, may provide whistleblower protections to truck drivers.
The United States Department of Labor reported in a November 19, 2013 press release that two terminated truck drivers filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alleging that their employer discriminated against them in retaliation for activities protected by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act's (STAA) whistleblower provisions. According to the press release, the drivers were dismissed after one was stopped by police and cited for hauling an excess load without a commercial driver's license, operating an overweight trailer and driving without a log book. The cited driver told another driver and they refused to continue driving until the issues were resolved. As a result, both were fired. Under the terms of the consent judgment obtained in that case, the two truck drivers were paid $302,000 to resolve the lawsuit filed on their behalf by the Department of Labor.
To get to that result, the two truck drivers filed complaints with OSHA alleging that the employer discriminated against them in retaliation for activities protected under the STAA. Then the administrative law judge awarded reinstatement and back wages. Afterward, the judge's decision was automatically reviewed when it was referred to the Administrative Review Board which issues final decisions for the secretary of labor in cases arising under a wide range of worker protection laws. Upon review, the Administrative Review Board upheld the judge's decision.
An Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health quoted in the press release commented that the truck drivers were fired for trying to protect themselves and the driving public, that no truck driver should be forced to drive in those employment conditions and that OSHA will continue to defend truck drivers against unscrupulous employers who unlawfully retaliate against drivers who assert their right to drive safely.
Where the STAA whistleblower lawsuit followed an administrative path to resolution, the Sabine Pilot truck driver wrongful termination lawsuit went through the state district court system.
Whether wrongful termination occurs in Cuero, Houston, Karnes City or elsewhere in Texas, trucking company employees terminated from their employment because of their refusal to commit an illegal act or crime may have a potential wrongful termination case and may consult an attorney to determine if the particular facts and circumstances of the employment termination support pursuit of a wrongful termination lawsuit.


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Alejandra Mora Mora is Minister on the Status of Women of Costa Rica and Executive President of the National Institute of Women (INAMU).
Throughout her career, she has been Director of the Office for Women's Defense within the Ombudsman's Office of Costa Rica, Director of advisers of a Parliamentary Faction within the Legislature, and Regional Coordinator of the Women's Network of the Ibero-American Ombudsman Federation.
After earning a Law degree at the University of Costa Rica, Alejandra went on to earn a Master's in Constitutional Law and a postgraduate specialization in the Human Rights of Women at the University of Lind in Sweden and University of Chile. She is also a Family Law professor at the University of Costa Rica.


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Hannah Day (L6)BA (Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts
Hannah produces concept-driven hand-built clay pieces using found objects as a starting point, incorporating textiles and other materials into the finished pieces. Her work relates to our belongings and their importance to us, and she has a particular interest in the exploration of evocative objects as memory prompts and aids to self-understanding.
This work, "Barbara", is a response to a collection of objects which belonged to a relative of Hannah's, and developed as a result of an intimate examination of and interaction with the objects. The process enabled Barbara's own voice to be heard, and a portrait of her life revealed. The new work is intended both as a memorial to Barbara, and as a recognition of the importance of our belongings in life and death.


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Environmental Researcher & Strategist Shares Insights Into Sustainability
by Tara Dickinson
In July 2021 we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jennifer Russell, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech, who is committed to research and education on the value, potential, and tangible opportunities of circular economy. Her expertise lies in Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Efficiency Analysis, Environmental Awareness, and Strategic Leadership. For more information visit her website here.
Tara Dickinson: Circular economy-can you please explain it to us in simple terms?
Jennifer Russell: Circular Economy is a new way of thinking about our economy by trying to move people away from the conventional way of producing and consuming things, such as buy and toss. The practice of making, buying, using, and then throwing things away is called the Linear Economy. The linear model is a use and lose one,while a circular economy looks for innovative ways of making that line more circular, by keeping materials and products in-use, for longer, and using materials that are regenerative.
TD: And how do we implement that? And what are the benefits?
JR: There are several methods of taking something old and making it new again.
- Reuse- something as simple as hand-me-downs is an example of the circular model. This is simple and anyone can participate. There are many other complex, advanced technologies that can be used in a circular economy, like remanufacturing. When we reuse something, we give it a second (or third) service life with a new user. Reuse can happen through donation, gifting, or selling second-hand.
- Repair- we can give an item new life by repairing, refurbishing, or rebuilding it. The idea is to invest effort to maintain something, or to keep it working for longer.
- The benefits are twofold; one, the item doesn't go to the landfill. And two, you're offsetting a lot of environmental impacts that would occur if you had to manufacture another brand-new item to fulfil that consumer need.
- This way, we can reduce the loss of valuable materials and products by keeping them in the system, and avoid environmental harm from tossing them and making new ones.
TD: How are businesses responding?
JR: Businesses are getting excited to see the opportunity for innovation and creativity, and that they don't have to throw away the existing business model. Many companies are working to incorporate new alternatives when consumers are done with a product, like product-take back programs. It's actually a big movement right now. In the last 5 years we've seen a surge in industry leadership trying to engage with and support the idea of a circular economy. It's refreshing to see industry members taking initiative alongside policy makers in this movement. Expectation of consumers is driving a lot of that.
TD: Are there social impacts that go along with this model?
JR: There definitely can be. A lot of people are trying to ensure that these big system changes include social measures to keep the circular economy accessible – these are not just ideas for the rich western world. There is a huge push for a conscious social perspective on many fronts, and this includes efforts to shift to more circular economy models. A big part of this is building a system to manage end-of-life items so that they are not sent to developing economies to be managed.
TD: Can you share some examples?
JR: The circular economy is exciting especially when in regards to reuse.
- Reuse often comes with a lower price point, meaning consumers can get things they need at lower price points.
- This can mean that more people are able to participate in the economy because they have access to things they need and want, at a more affordable price.
- For example, many companies now offer lines of certified refurbished or remanufactured versions of the products (like electronics) that consumers can buy at a lower price than the newest model.
- Consignment clothing and thrift stores help lower income folks by offering clothes at lower price points. Online reuse platforms are exploding right now, providing a space for consumers to post the items they no longer want, find a buyer, and complete a transaction very fast and conveniently. All this leads to less materials going into a landfill, and contributes to consumers having to buy less new stuff.
- Used cars make a good example as well. They are not necessarily upgraded, but they are functional and offered at a discount, so people who can't afford new ones can participate.
TD: I recently became aware of the impacts of fast fashion and how many millions of pounds of clothing end up in landfills every year as well as destroying the environment with cotton being one of the most toxic crops.
JR: Right. The circular economy doesn't address all elements of sustainability, but it's a starting point for addressing over-consumption. The circular economy is different because it doesn't say "do without, stop buying clothes". Instead, there are options to buy them responsibly; buy second-hand; buy durable so it lasts longer; donate it when you're done with it.
I recently got a dose of humility when talking to my grandmother. I was explaining the research I was doing in regards to a circular economy for the United Nations. My grandma looked at me like I was crazy and said, "We've been doing this forever!" And she's right! This isn't such an innovative idea. What we're now doing is innovating to improve on the conventional economic model that has led to a lot of damage and challenges. Now is a time to progress.
TD: What are some of the explicit benefits for the environment?
JR: When you reuse, there is a chance to avoid 100% of the environmental footprint of a brand new product. We do have to take into account emissions from transport but as long as the product is functional it makes a difference. The important part of this is that buying reused products must displace buying new ones. If we just buy more of everything, we're not really solving the problem. A few examples of reuse that don't work well for the environment relate to products that have a lot of impact during their "use-phase" – we don't want to keep refrigerators and ancient cars that both gobble up power and gas. But furniture, electronics, and clothing are all perfect examples where reuse can be 100% beneficial.
TD: What's another shift we can make towards the circular economic model?
JR: It's about awareness and good intentions. The key to remember is value. Just because you no longer want something doesn't mean it has zero value. For example, furniture. You may find a piece that feels old and dated, bulky and not your style. To someone else, this is a valuable prized antique collectible. Value is in the eye of the beholder. The greater population at large tends to ignore craftsmanship, materials, all of the energy that went into making something. This embodied investment often gets forgotten when we no longer want the item anymore. Making that item available for reuse allows the value of the item to be realized.
Phones are another great example. We can't see all the precious metals in them but they are there and have real value. When we start to see and appreciate what constitutes value, it can help to shift us away from being consumers to users. Powerful way of thinking about the circular economy.
TD: Can you share some statistics of the circular economy?
JR: This is a bit hard to define as collecting data is tricky.
- Formal reuse, or direct reuse, what happens when commercial businesses are involved, for example Remoov is easier to track as this system goes back to the marketplace. Benefits of Furniture Reuse.
- Indirect reuse statistics such as yard sales, hand me downs, donations- there is no data on any of that.
- We don't know how much reuse is happening. We know it's out there, and in a wide variety of creative applications and initiatives. A lot of businesses are coming online to arrange this; this is increasing. In the U.S. data from those businesses are not reported separately, so we don't know how much money is going to reused products.
- We can come up with approximate discounts on a reuse item that is around 40-50% of current market price. That tells us at the product level the individual user is saving that much.
- For example, on used cars, the buyer may be getting a 40-60% discount compared to a new one. With all types of products, the discount depends on many factors: the car brand, the quality, how old it is, the aesthetics, etc.
- A general rule we can believe in is that a meaningful price reduction is in place and constitutes a saving for the consumer.
- This may allow for individuals with lower income levels to engage in a market they may not be able to otherwise.
TD: Great points; I think everyone loves getting a good deal. I know I sure do! How much money is spent in a circular economy?
JR: We don't know but estimated projections:
- Estimated net benefits of $500M US and 100k new jobs in 5 years- just in materials for a single project. [For full facts check Economic Benefits & Opportunities of Circular Economy by the Ellen MaCarthur Foundation].
TD: Final thoughts?
JR: The most important motive is that resources are finite. We don't have enough materials on the planet to support current levels of consumption, and we will run out. We need to spearhead innovation that leads to more circular, sustainable forms of production and consumption. How can we ramp up recycling, help with reuse and repair activities? Reuse is critical. It is the number one starting point because everyone, everywhere, can engage in that.
Jennifer Russell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech, Sustainable Biomaterials | College of Natural Resources & Environment. E: [email protected] | jenniferdrussell.com | LinkedIn
#circulareconomy #sustainability #zerowaste #recycle #sustainable #reuse #sustainablefashion #ecofriendly #sustainableliving #environment #recycling #plasticfree #climatechange #circularfashion #design #slowfashion #reducereuserecycle #economiacircular #innovation #reduce #upcycle #eco #savetheplanet #plasticpollution #nature #sustainabledesign #green #fashion #waste


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Netflix TV review: Orange Is the New Black Season 2 (Episode 13)
Review Overview
9Chris Bryant | On 30, Jun 2014
Warning: This contains spoilers.
"It's turned into fucking Riker's round here." Wanda isn't wrong about that. The Season 2 finale is packed with twists and turns, none of them very moral and most of them involving things occurring in prison that should really not be occurring in prison. It's a brilliant, stylised mess.
Vee's story concludes with the aftermath of her 'slocking' of Red. As her crew turn on her – in a fashion reminiscent of The Lion King's Scar and the hyenas – she flees, but not before causing Crazy Eyes some more emotional turmoil. Throughout the season, it's been tough watching Suzanne (a controlled and unstoppable Uzo Aduba) act as the brawn in Vee's crew, especially against Poussey. Suzanne's confusion comes full circle as she admits she's "unreliable" and we understand a little more about her.
In a well plotted, yet unsatisfying, final move, Rosa kills Vee mid-escape. Although Gloria and Norma used faith to ensure Vee's death, it still feels somewhat as though she deserved worse.
A highlight of the episode is Red's conversations with Sister Jane, who now has a "gaggle" (O'Neil asserts that this is the correct collective noun) of nuns at the infirmary gates protesting her treatment. The nuns themselves are brought to some bother when O'Neil decides to protest their protest with help from a 'banjokele' and some hilarious songs about nuns. Red and Jane rarely converse alone, so this shows the best parts of both their personalities. Written by Jenji Kohan, We Have Manners, We're Polite cleverly produces something a little different for each of the characters in this way – not necessarily closure (Season 3 will arrive June 2015) but a change for the characters, a final move to demonstrate their defining features.
Some of the more features are produced by Healy, who is thanked by Pennsatucky and inspired to save Crazy Eyes from being framed for Vee's attempted murder of Red. There's also Bennett, who finally admits to being completely in love with Daya. Less admirable are the moves of Figueroa (embezzling, crying, begging and getting away with it) and, oddly, Caputo. Although his hate for Fig knows few boundaries, audiences may find his sexual bargaining with her somewhat distasteful. He may be angry and proven inept, but Caputo's remained a pretty good guy throughout and the comedy gets lost in his willingness to degrade his boss like that. This proves an awkward, lone blip in an allegorical story about the struggle to do right.
As for Piper, Taylor Schilling delivers a season-high performance. Having spent Season 1 adapting to The Litch, Chapman ends her Season 2 journey adapting to the part of her that adapted to The Litch. She manipulates the naïvety of Polly and Larry and effectively leaves Soso to fend for herself. Now that she knows exactly what she wants, everyone is on the edge of their seats to discover what the third outing brings for her and Alex.
Orange Is The New Black Season 2 has been an eagerly awaited addition to the Netflix programming family. A staple of binge-viewing, Jenji Kohan's adaptation of Piper Kerman's memoirs has continued an onslaught of wit, a barrage of sharply crafted feminism and an excellently evolved plot.
As Schilling takes more of a back-seat, Kate Mulgrew (Red), Samira Wiley (Poussey), Uzo Aduba (Crazy Eyes) and the masterful Lorraine Toussaint (Vee) step forward to give Season 2 a broad feeling of intensity across multiple story arcs. A true collaboration between sympathetic directors, writers and actors, Orange is unlike any other television show. As Black Cindy warns Vee at their parting: "You gotta have people." Orange has some of the very best people around.


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Public invited to have its say on local health and care as part of new interactive citizens' panel
People living across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being encouraged to make their voices heard as part of a new and innovative forum.
The Our Health Our Future Panel seeks to capture the views and opinions people have on health and care mattes in their local area.
Managed by the clinical commissioning group of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, the panel is a virtual arena in which people of all ages and backgrounds are invited to give honest, constructive feedback on a range of health and care related topics through regular surveys and focus groups.
Almost 400 of the 800 current members took part in the most recent survey, which sought to gauge local feeling towards the coronavirus outbreak, and it is hoped the panel will reach the milestone of 1,000 members before the next one is due to take place latest this month.
Gill May, Director of Nursing and Quality, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, said: "It's a privilege to be able to plan health and care for our region but to do it effectively we need to hear from, as well as understand the needs of, the people at the heart of our communities.
"Although we have detailed statistics about ages, backgrounds and current medical conditions, which give us a great starting point in knowing what services are needed and where, what is harder to come by is that more anecdotal information which can support us to empower people to live healthy independent lives.
"The Our Health Our Future panel is a fantastic way for us to connect with our local communities and, while it's not our only method of engagement, the fact it's a digital platform means current social distancing rules can't put a stop to these important conversations."
Earlier in the year, at the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, the current panellists took part in a survey which asked how the pandemic had affected their overall health and wellbeing.
While 90 per cent of respondents said they felt healthy, around a third admitted to feeling lonely during the initial lockdown period.
Two thirds of people said that, given the current circumstances, they would be happy to replace a face-to-face consultation with one that takes place over the phone or by videocall.
However, a significant number of respondents said that virtual appointments would be less appropriate when discussing mental health concerns.
On a positive note, the survey highlighted that the lockdown had not stopped people from accessing routine care, with almost half (42 per cent) saying they had recently used or tried to use a health or care service.
Around one in ten said they had found it difficult to access the care they needed during the lockdown.
Places on the Our Health Our Future Panel are still available, and anyone wishing to join is encouraged to visit www.junglegreenmrc.co.uk/panel for details of how to do so.
Jungle Green is an independent market research agency that is working on behalf of the ICB to support the panel.


text: Do you love challenging arcades where you have to put your reflexes and agility to a real test? Then welcome to Stair Run! Your goal here is rise up a winding and twisting staircase that is filled with all sorts of hurdles and traps. You have to to move fast but carefully because you can always collide with some object or simply fall off the track. At the end of the level, you will be awarded a certain number of points based on your performance.


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Logically's new platform uses AI to combat mis- and disinformation at scale
StateUp 21 member Logically just launched a new threat intelligence platform that can identify, analyse and disarm harmful online misinformation at scale. Here's what you need to know.
What's interesting about Logically?
- Logically was set up to combat online misinformation and disinformation across a variety of online media.
- Logically's media intelligence, credibility assessment, veracity assessment, and social network intelligence capabilities combine Natural Language Processing, Knowledge Engineering, and human research to identify both false information and edited or fake images in news articles and social media posts.
- To date Logically has been active in the USA, the UK and India: all countries that have suffered polarisation and radicalisation partly driven by fake news.
- Logically has proved unusually successful among providers of content analysis and moderation services in quickly securing government contracts. In 2021, Logically plans to extend their threat intelligence and fact checking services to a wide range of government bodies, public sector organisations and private companies.
What does Logically Intelligence do?
- The new platform aims to allow government organisations to make early, proactive decisions to tackle problematic content before it becomes widespread.
- Built on secure cloud infrastructure, Logically Intelligence brings together Logically's capabilities to analyse, classify and detect damaging narratives and online threats.
- The platform reportedly provides countermeasures, including automated fact checking and OSINT research, to tackle identified threats.
- Logically describes leveraging the latest developments in AI, Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing technologies to build a tool that can ingest and analyse data from over one million publicly available media sources and social media platforms. It applies advanced NLP to detect and analyse clusters of threats and emerging narratives, and can identify which demographics or groups the narrative is targeting.
To learn more, read our full StateUp 21 profile of Logically here.


text: We start this episode by letting you know how farmers and scientists are working together to fight ammonia food treatment shortages. Some German scientists have found a more environmentally friendly way through growing bacteria plant treatments. In Dental School 101 the Dr. details his exciting new technology conference he attended and presented for in Las Vegas. Hear about the new 3D microscopic treatment equipment that he tested and other new tech news! In Ask The Expert we present a new perspective on the destruction of cities and how it's tied to Biblical history.


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Balloon Ritchie Theft
5/5 Tiger Paws
Arguably, the greatest thing RIT has ever invented was the construction of Balloon Ritchie. For the uninitiated, Balloon Ritchie is our actual mascot, an abomination of balloons made in hopes to resemble our tiger mascot, Ritchie. But things got out of hand and RIT accidentally made a being far from our control, thus Balloon Ritchie was born. If you are lucky, you might be able to snag one of these little guys and keep him at your dorm window forever, haunting all who walk pass.
Staged Actors
2/5 Tiger Paws
As a student from the 2018 orientation, I think one of the worst parts of it was our sex-ed assemblies. Not for the fact that it was sex-ed, but mostly because I had to sit there and watch paid actors make out on stage to illustrate consent. The only reason why this secondhand embarrassment is up here is for an actor from the presentation. Let's call him Kyle. Kyle played a bystander and was going to throw hands with a guy who roofied drinks at a party. The entire audience cheered. Kyle, if you're out there, know that you are our king.
Out of Place Speaker
0/5 Tiger Paws
From my numerous sources of comrades and friends, we all agreed the worst part was the out-of-place speaker during orientation. We respected their accomplishments, don't get us wrong, but it was hard to connect with someone as freshmen in a crowded auditorium with over 70 degree heat.
A Financial Lawsuit Waiting To Happen
3/5 Tiger Paws
We have to censor this for reasons, but I will never forget the acronym that made RIT famous overnight. A three letter shorthand for what we should do when met with sexual needs. An amazing, arguably extraordinary moment for RIT history. It would be funnier if it didn't make light of a serious problem among the college student demographic.
Hyperspeed Turbo Hustle
4/5 Tiger Paws
If you ever wonder how much RIT pays their students to represent their school as orientation leaders (OL), know that it isn't enough. I may not have been an OL myself, but every time I hear the first few notes of the Turbo Hustle play, I know a former OL's foot twitches in fear. But as a non-OL I think it's fun to see them drop everything to get down. When I went to Orientation, I saw an OL do the Turbo Hustle so fast I think he cracked all of his bones, and that was cool.
Forming the 'R' in RIT
1/5 Tiger Paws
Do you hate people in your personal space? You hate waking up way too early in the morning and waiting for an uninformed amount of time? Do you hate constantly feeling off? Then I sincerely hope you do not get assigned to the 'R' when you are made to make RIT out in the Gordon Field for the yearly freshmen photo. I was the bottom of the R so it was not as bad, but imagine being the curve of it. The audacity of it all.


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Contact Gold Corp.
Contact Gold is currently a Nevada-incorporated entity. The Company is focused on advancing the Green Springs and Pony Creek gold projects in Nevada, both of which host extensive and robust Carlin Type gold systems.
Green Springs is located near the southern end of the Cortez Trend of Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada, east of Fiore Gold's Pan Mine and Gold Rock Project, and south of Waterton's Mount Hamilton deposit. The Green Springs property is 18.5 km2, encompassing 3 shallow past-producing open pits and numerous targets that were not mined.
Pony Creek is strategically located immediately south of Gold Standard Ventures' Railroad-Pinion Project, on the Southern Carlin Trend, and totals 81.7 km2 underpinned by a Carlin-type system with historic gold resources.


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Being arrested for a crime is incredibly stressful. It can be particularly hard on your loved ones as well. As you and your family wait for your first court appearance, you may be feeling anxious because you don't know what to expect.
After you are arrested, you could be held in county jail for a night or two in order to appear in court before a judge prior to being released. This is so the judge can determine if there was probable cause for your arrest, levy an appropriate bail amount and set reasonable bail conditions. Florida state courts strive to have this hearing within the first 24 hours of your arrest, but occasionally the window is expanded to the federally permitted timeframe of up to 72 hours.
However, applicable law for many misdemeanors and non-violent felonies allows the police to indicate a standard bail amount without special conditions on your arrest paperwork which means you can post your bail and be released without seeing the judge. Even if you are charged with one of these offenses, you could still be held to see the judge if you are probation, parole, or conditional release or if there are other circumstances that could impede your immediate release. You may have an unserved warrant from another jurisdiction, for instance.
During this first appearance, a judge will review the four corners of the probable cause affidavit to determine whether or not the police have included facts that, if believed, would establish probable cause for your arrest. Probable cause is a low bar and just means that there is some probability, no matter how small, that you committed the offense.
The prosecution will still have to prove the charges at a later date beyond a reasonable a doubt in order for you to be convicted. If the judge finds that there is no probable cause for your arrest, you will be released on your own recognizance, but the case is not over because prosecutors will still have an opportunity to build a case against you. If the judge finds probable cause for your arrest, the judge may still release you on your recognizance if the charges are not serious, but more often than not, the judge will set a monetary bail amount for each charge where there is probable cause. Having a criminal defense lawyer by your side throughout this entire process can help you fight for your rights and get you the most favorable results during your first appearance.
What is a Pretrial Supervision?
Pretrial supervision or PTS is a way to get out of jail, possibly without having to pay a bond. There are advantages and disadvantages to pre-trial supervision. The obvious advantage is that you typically do not have to pay a monetary bail, although it is not unusual for judges to impose both pretrial supervision and a bond. For example, if your bail was set at $1,000, you may not have to pay if the judge grants you pretrial supervision as alternative. However, pretrial supervision – even without an additional monetary bail – comes with a catch.
You will likely need to report to your pretrial supervision officer in person or telephonically or be subjected to random drug and alcohol screens, among other conditions. In some cases, you will be fitted for GPS monitoring. Failing to report to your pretrial supervision officer or testing positive for drugs or alcohol can result in serious legal consequences, such as your release from jail being revoked. If that happens, you could be held in jail until your case is completed.
Who Can Help Me Pay My Bail?
A criminal defense attorney can advise you on ways to pay your bail. Whether it is through friends and family or a bail bondsman, there are many avenues available to be released from jail through bail. A criminal defense lawyer can also help you reduce your bail by advocating for you at your first appearance or at a subsequent bond motion.
The judge will review your ties the community such as your housing, employment, and family in the area. Your prior criminal record, how many times that you've failed to appear for court, the nature of the charges and potential danger to the community are also considered in determining the appropriate bail amount. If you are on probation and are arrested for new charges, you are not entitled to bail.
What Else Should I Know About the Beginning of My Criminal Case?
Your first appearance in court can be overwhelming. You may have to go through this process alone if you don't hire a criminal defense attorney early and quickly to help you throughout your case as soon as possible. I can help represent you at all stages of your criminal case and help you get the best results possible. Learn more about your first appearance by contacting the Sherman Defense Law Firm, P.A. today at (239) 284-5708.


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Join Maestro Richard Prior as he listens and gives insight into this wonderful past-performance during the LSO Radio show, The Joy of the Orchestra with the LaGrange Symphony's Richard Prior. Tune-in Thursday, April 1st, 8:00 PM on WELR Eagle 102.3 FM. This week's hour-long show features three significant and historically important works by notable female composers. The pieces being discussed and aired in full, are Fanny Mendelssohn: Overture in C, Lily Boulanger: D'un Matin de Printemps, and Florence Price: Symphony No. 3. All three works were performed by the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra during their "Women in Music" concert on October 30th, 2018, Richard Prior conducting.
The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra was proud to bring you this music back on October 30th, 2018. The 2018 LSO president, Kaye Minchew, began the concert with this comment, "Symphony No. 3 in c minor by Florence Price is of historical significance. She is the FIRST African-American composer, male or female, to have a symphonic work performed by a major American symphony. The year was 1933 in Chicago. We believe tonight is the first time that any of Florence Price's symphonies have been performed by a Georgia orchestra."
Since then, this concert has been considered a very significant and memorable performance in LSO history. You may read the concert review that was posted right after this concert back in 2018 – HERE.
Specifics about the Series
Beginning March 18th, the show entitled The Joy of the Orchestra airs on Thursdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM on WELR (Eagle 102.3 FM). We are excited to offer this new series and share The Joy of the Orchestra with you once again. This series will run from March 18th thru May 6th, 2021. Accessing the radio station is exactly the same as in the fall. The only difference is the day and time of the shows. If you want to listen online, there is a handy button on the home page of our website. https://www.lagrangesymphony.org
This show airs every Thursday until May 6th 2021.
How to Participate
Listen with a radio or online Thursdays at 8:00 PM. The station is WELR (Eagle 102.3 FM). On your radio, simply tune to that frequency of 102.3 FM. If you want to listen online (with your computer or smart device) this station can be accessed HERE, or via a handy button on the LaGrange Symphony's website homepage (https://www.lagrangesymphony.org). This button is gold in color and says "LISTEN LIVE HERE". Read more about our 2020-2021 Season HERE.
About the weekly radio show
The Joy of the Orchestra is a weekly, one-hour radio show hosted by the LaGrange Symphony's Richard Prior. Just like the previous series, which aired this past fall, this new spring radio series will feature an exciting array of orchestral music. Maestro Prior will give insights into the selections which include historical background, musical nuances and other elements for which to listen. With an even deeper and richer understanding of the music, you will experience and enjoy these works in a whole new light! This show will focus on live recordings from LSO concerts as well as performances by other notable orchestras.
Posts about Previous Radio Show Episodes in the Spring 2021 Series are listed below.


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Twitch saw 1.1 billion hours of content watched in March, an increase from the previous month of 20% and the highest peak since the streaming platform launched in 2011, according to livestreaming services provider StreamElements and its analytics partner Arsenal.gg.
Up from 928 million in February, Twitch's boom is thought to be largely due to the ongoing global pandemic that is forcing people to self-isolate. Still, the habits gamers develop now could sustain past the pandemic.
"While this 20% growth has gotten a huge boost by stay-at-home mandates, now that more viewers and creators are discovering the power and appeal of live social video, we expect the medium to maintain some of this new momentum beyond the current crisis," said Doron Nir, chief executive of StreamElements.
Nir added that he anticipates new Twitch users will have time to experiment with and grow to enjoy the platform during the quarantine, and that many of those users will continue to subscribe even when the stay-at-home orders are eventually lifted.
According to earlier reports from analytics firm StreamHatchet, other platforms are also experiencing a bump. Total hours watched on YouTube Gaming went up 13% from the last quarter, and Facebook Gaming saw a 20% increase. The news comes roughly a week after The Hollywood Reporter noted Verizon saw video game usage during "peak hours" grow 75%.
Twitch did not comment on the figure and declined to share specific viewer statistics with TheWrap.