text:
Fur & Fashion
INTERNATIONAL FUR FEDERATION
FUR FASHION
SUSTAINABLE FUR
BUSINESS OF FUR
IFF SUPPORTERS
SHOP THE FUR
FUR NOW
VOGUE X NATURAL FUR
Remix 2019
THE FUR GURU BLOG
FUR STYLE BLOG
FUR FUTURES BLOG
FUR TV
Fur Times
Fur Talks Podcast
CATWALK GALLERY
ABOUT FUR
TYPES OF FUR
FUR CARE
CEO Talks -Mark Oaten
Mark Oaten, CEO of the International Fur Federation discusses production figures, auction house news, animal welfare, and new trends in the business of fur.
New Production Figures Reveal Another Strong Year for the Global Fur Trade
By Mark Oaten
London, 16th of June 2016
– Data unveiled today shows that 2015 was yet another successful year for the global fur sector – thanks to the continuing demand from fashion and interiors brands for mink, fox, chinchilla and sable among other fur types.
In 2015, 71.27 million mink pelts were produced globally with a total value of $3.57bn*. There were also 8.93 million fox pelts with a value of more than $1.17bn*.
This information from the International Fur Federation (IFF) shows the global reach of the fur trade, an industry which provides employment to over one million people worldwide and is a vital part of the economy of many countries.
It also highlights how many different nations are involved in producing the various types of fur in use worldwide. Brazil alone contributes a sixth of global chinchilla farming, while most of the rest comes from European countries including Denmark, Hungary and Romania. Finland and China together accounted for close to 95 % of the nearly nine million fox furs produced globally in 2015.
Finland is also the most important European producer of Asiatic Raccoon (known in the trade as "Finnraccoon") contributing 94 % of the 155,000 pelts produced in 2015, with the rest coming from Poland. According to Fur Europe, Poland is also Europe's second largest mink producer after Denmark. They produced 8.5 million and 17.8 million pelts respectively last year, with a value of $426m and $892m*.
Mink Pelts from Saga Furs
Chinese mink production fell to 18 million in 2015, primarily due to the mixed economic outlook in the Chinese market, particularly for luxury goods.
There was also significant wild-fur production in North America, with more than 4 million pelts produced in 2015. These furs were produced by licensed and government-regulated trappers from abundant populations of more than twenty different furbearer species across the US and Canada, including beaver, muskrat, raccoon, marten, coyote and red fox. The regulated production of North American wild fur is an excellent example of the responsible and sustainable use of wildlife, as promoted by international conservation authorities. Smaller quantities of wild fur are also produced in Russia and other countries.
Fox Pelts from North American Fur Auctions (NAFA)
"In line with most luxury sectors, 2015 was a mixed story. The slowdown in China certainly impacted sales in that market, which in turn led to a reduction in production there."
"Nonetheless, China remains a strong market with a lot of growth still taking place in the third tier cities. Korea is also holding very strong. The sanctions and failing oil price in Russia also impacted global sales, but there are signs of a slow turnaround in this important region."
"As a result of the fluctuations in these two big markets, mink production shows a small decline on 2015. But other furs continue to do very well and on the whole 2016 is proving to be another very successful year for the industry, with fur shown in as many as 70% of designer collections. And excitingly, there are newer markets – even in India and Iran — with massive potential where we will be working hard to drive further interest."
* Estimated value derived by multiplying annual production by average price per pelt at auction
One response to "New Production Figures Reveal Another Strong Year for the Global Fur Trade"
Fur is being incorporated in all fashion nowadays, it will remain strong.


In a recent project for a Western Pacific naval facility, ESL manufactured a Shore Power Mound Assembly (Dockside Power Connection Station) and Voice-Data Outlet Station to meet the latest U.S. Military specifications.
That's one thick piece of metal! Shore power mounds must be built to withstand the harshest environments, including hurricane-force winds and waves in the wharf docks.
The shore power mound assembly specifications for this project called out a common receptacle, but ESL offered a safety-interlock receptacle in order to provide a safe and convenient means to disconnect power at the point of connection.
Since the shore power assemblies are installed in extremely brutal environments, the U.S. Military requires the painting process comply with IEEEC57.12.28/29. ESL has developed and achieved certification of a proprietary paint process, ensuring the enclosures will wear better over time and without peeling and chipping.
With a dedicated circuit breaker cabinet for branch and overcurrent protection of industrial receptacles, transformer, and GFCI receptacles, manual resetting of breakers can be executed in a matter of seconds.
In order to accommodate various types of data and voice transmission equipment aboard the cutter, fiber optic receptacles were also provided.
Transformers were installed to step down the incoming voltage to appropriate levels for lights, push buttons, and other lower voltage controlled components.
In addition to the Shore Power Mound Assembly, a dedicated Voice-Data Shore-tie Station was also built to accommodate a retrofit where shore power connections were already adequate.
Although not included in this most recent Dockside Power Connection Station project, ESL customizes Shore Ties which can include a switch to bypass the ground fault monitoring equipment as well as lighting surge protectors, and other equipment as needed.
As a leading manufacturer of military shore power equipment for 10+ years, ESL strives to provide maximum utility in the smallest footprint possible. View ESL's Shore Power Catalog for a sampling of ship-to shore products ESL has provided the US military.
← 2013 Hurricane Outlook. Plan Ahead. Install Standby Power Connection.


Somewhere along the line, many of my scrolling sliders and widgets have turned invisible.
I'm running KDE Plasma on an ~AMD64 system.
Now I can't see the scroll sliders in Firefox, and other field borders are invisible. They are actually there and work, but are invisible. This means I can use the mouse to scroll, but I can't see where the slider is.
This does not effect all applications, but it does effect a lot of major ones. For example, Firefox and EasyTag. I've also tried to install firefox-bin, and it gives the same effect.
Dolphin, LibreOffice, and KDE applications work fine.
Did you recently upgrade to gtk+-3.20?
Yes. I have GTK+ 3.2.
GTK3 USE flag is NOT set, but I see that it is the default for gtk apps under plasma.
GTK+ 3.20 is known to break themes.
Plasma does not set any default, your gtk+ based applications decide over being gtk+2 or 3 based.
It's working fine with gtk-3.20 and gtk2/3 -apps.
Tyler, thanks for your suggestion. I've tried it, but I am probably doing something wrong.
I downloaded the gtk.css file from github and put it in /usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-3.0. Then I selected Breeze theme from KDE system settings, adn restarted Firefox. No change. I also tried creating /usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-3.2 and putting the file ther, but no good.
Where id you put the gtk.css file to make it active?
Too complicated As the Install instructions told you, just copy the folders "Breeze-gtk" & "Breeze-dark-gtk" in ~/.themes and you'll find new entries with the same name in the plasma settings.
OK, I installed the themes, and can change them, but the scroll bar slider is still invisible.
For sure there's a lot of code changes involved. Nothing you can do playing around with themes. Do note though that you can switch it in Firefox by use flags.
You can apply it via user-patches. That requires www-client/firefox - it won't work with www-client/firefox-bin.


text:
`import "github.com/chai2010/qingcloud-go/pkg/client"`

* [Overview](#pkg-overview)
* [Imported Packages](#pkg-imports)
* [Index](#pkg-index)

## Overview

## Imported Packages

- [github.com/chai2010/qingcloud-go/pkg/pbutil](./../pbutil)
- [github.com/chai2010/qingcloud-go/pkg/signature](./../signature)
- [github.com/chai2010/qingcloud-go/pkg/status](./../status)
- [github.com/golang/protobuf/proto](https://godoc.org/github.com/golang/protobuf/proto)

## Index
* [Variables](#pkg-variables)
* [func DecodeResponse(resp \*http.Response, output proto.Message) error](#DecodeResponse)
* [type CallOptions](#CallOptions)
  * [func (p \*CallOptions) GetHttpClient() \*http.Client](#CallOptions.GetHttpClient)
* [type Client](#Client)
  * [func NewClient(apiServer, accessKeyId, secretAccessKey, zone string) \*Client](#NewClient)
  * [func (p \*Client) CallMethod(svcMethodName, httpMethod string, input, output proto.Message, opt \*CallOptions) error](#Client.CallMethod)
  * [func (p \*Client) CallMethodWithMap(svcMethodName, httpMethod string, input map[string]interface{}, opt \*CallOptions) (output string, err error)](#Client.CallMethodWithMap)
* [type Validator](#Validator)

#### Package files
[client.go](./client.go) [opt.go](./opt.go)

## Variables
``` go
var DebugMode = false
```

## func [DecodeResponse](./client.go#L231)
``` go
func DecodeResponse(resp *http.Response, output proto.Message) error
```

## type [CallOptions](./opt.go#L11-L13)
``` go
type CallOptions struct {
    HttpClient *http.Client
}
```

### func (\*CallOptions) [GetHttpClient](./opt.go#L15)
``` go
func (p *CallOptions) GetHttpClient() *http.Client
```

## type [Client](./client.go#L29-L34)
``` go
type Client struct {
    // contains filtered or unexported fields
}
```

### func [NewClient](./client.go#L36)
``` go
func NewClient(apiServer, accessKeyId, secretAccessKey, zone string) *Client
```

### func (\*Client) [CallMethod](./client.go#L55-L59)
``` go
func (p *Client) CallMethod(
    svcMethodName, httpMethod string,
    input, output proto.Message,
    opt *CallOptions,
) error
```

### func (\*Client) [CallMethodWithMap](./client.go#L110-L115)
``` go
func (p *Client) CallMethodWithMap(
    svcMethodName, httpMethod string, input map[string]interface{},
    opt *CallOptions,
) (
    output string, err error,
)
```

## type [Validator](./client.go#L25-L27)
``` go
type Validator interface {
    Validate() error
}
```

- - -
Generated by [godoc2ghmd](https://github.com/GandalfUK/godoc2ghmd)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I slept for many years on a 1/2 inch piece of closed cell blue foam. M was always trying something new, and usually in combination with at least one other pad--the best combination was a Thermarest Z-rest mattress over 1/2 of foam pad.
So we used these pads for about four years, and were pretty darn happy with them. Over time they began to leak and flatten out over the course of a night. And after living with them for a couple of years that way, re0inflating them in the middle of the night, we finally contacted Neo-Air about getting them fixed.
Very simply process, and they made it easy. We sent them our mattresses, and they promised to fix them for very little money indeed--all in the course of a promised 4-6 week turnaround. Can't beat that.


Assembles easily with three 24"W x 60"H panels, connectors and base with 3 casters. Accommodate both slatwall and grid shelves, hooks and accessories. Create your own versatile displays. Great for increasing impulse sales on candy, snacks, software, books, CDs and more. Units feature double wire construction.


text:
Cooper Institute
Our Members and Staff
Social Justice Symposia
Programs and Issues
Livable Income
Economic desperation exists among long-time community members, migrant workers
Commentary by Josie Baker, May 30, The Guardian, Charlottetown
Over the past four years Cooper Institute has been doing research and community engagement on issues surrounding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in PEI.
In recent months media coverage from across Canada has drawn attention to the complex issues at play, much of it thankfully moving beyond the old racist refrain "foreigners are taking our jobs."
Over the past four years Cooper Institute has been doing research and community engagement on issues surrounding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in PEI. In recent months media coverage from across Canada has drawn attention to the complex issues at play, much of it thankfully moving beyond the old racist refrain "foreigners are taking our jobs."
Pitting local workers against migrant workers is a distraction from the real issues, and is a tactic that the present regime has used often. The Government has been actively blaming and criminalizing migrants and immigrants to Canada. Jason Kenny, the current employment minister and former immigration minister invented terms such as "bogus refugees," "marriages fraud," "birth tourism," "human smugglers" and "foreign criminals" in order to justify a rise in deportations and a overhaul of Canada's immigration system. This administration is creating ways of stripping people of their permanent residency status and even of their Canadian Citizenship. The recent moratorium against TFWs in the food services sector is essentially a mass-deportation order for the approximately 45,000 migrant workers already working in Canada, and hoping for a better life for their families.
The unregulated growth of this program over the past decade has been part of the federal government's "business friendly," neoliberal agenda. The 2007 federal budget declared that Canada would "create the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible workforce in the world." The growth of the TFWP has indeed provided educated, skilled, and "flexible" workers to businesses. But across the board jobs in Canada have become more "flexible." This flexibility consists of poorly paid, short term contracts without benefits replacing jobs that used to be full time. Service sector employers categorically avoid offering benefits to their employees by only hiring part-time employees who work almost, but not quite, full time hours. The "flexibility" is further enforced by the changes to the EI programs that will require people to take any job available or move away, leaving rural communities empty, and providing plenty of "flexible" workers for the extractive industries in the West.
It is only the demands of business which have governed the rising numbers of migrant workers entering Canada. The rise of precarious work and of the expansion of the TFWP are both symptoms of the same problem: a political and economic agenda that drives down wages and working conditions. Economic desperation exists both among long-time community members and among migrant workers; both are a product of - and a benefit to - an economy that profits from inequality.
The TFWP has been structured to create a two-tiered job market, with low-wages and a loss of rights, resulting in captive workers unable to complain or change jobs. The TFWP has failed repeatedly to enforce its own rules, let alone protect the rights of this vulnerable population, or monitor international recruitment agencies that habitually charge exorbitant fees to migrants seeking work in Canada. The workers who have come to Canada are suffering from the effects of the same global economic policies that have impoverished rural Canadians. They come to Canada in the hopes of better jobs that will allow them to support their families from afar. Their high level of debt, reliance on their employer, and lack of family and community obligations makes migrant workers efficient cogs in a dehumanizing profit machine.
When asking how to make a more livable economy and a more just job market, let us not let those in power off the hook. Blaming and excluding those working in our communities as migrant workers diverts attention from those responsible, and repeats the historical mistake of blaming immigrants for unemployment and economic trouble. Canada desperately needs to re-build the immigration system, which has been gutted by the current administration. In 1986, Canada's immigration policies received an award from the UN. The new immigration policies are inspired by those of Australia, a country whose policies have been openly labeled racist by the UN Human Rights Commissioner, who compared them to South African Apartheid.
In the short term, fair options should be provided for migrant workers already living and working in Canada. Provincially and Federally we must strengthen Canadian laws, policies, and practices to ensure just wages and working conditions for everyone. Everyone working in Canada, regardless of their immigration status, should be entitled to a livable income and good labour standards. Canada's private sector should be made to adapt; true prosperity cannot be built on poverty.
Migrant Worker Program Advocacy
Tenant Support and Organizing
Land Matters
10 Days for Transit!
Permanent Status for All
Cooper Institute Joins National Campaign for Healthcare for All
Covid-19 Information for Temporary Foreign Workers Now Available
Income Supports for Migrants in Canada
Cooper Institute Office Temporarily Closed Due to Covid-19
PEI Land and Water: Sources of all Live
Protecting Land - Op-Ed by Shelby Downe
Symposium - Basic Income Guarantee - February 22
Seeds of Community presents: Seedy Saturdays 2020!
International Development Week 2020
Community Forum on Basic Income Guarantee
Building a Just and Sustainable Future
Basic Income Guarantee - Let's Just Do It
Basic Income Guarantee - an Equitable Solution for Poverty
Protection of PEI Lands and Water as Sources of All Life
World Oceans Week Symposium - June 1
Let's Chat Basic Income and Health
Leaders' Forum on Environmental Issues
Party Leaders' Debate on the Land
If We Don't Know, We Can Learn
Land Grabbing in Prince Edward Island
Children's Health: What has income got to do with it?
Electoral Referendum Choices: What Do Seniors Want to Know?
Planning to Keep Poverty
Irene Burge, Outstanding Volunteer!
New! Migrant Worker Guides
Children's Health: What does it have to do with Income?
Retirement Security for Workers in the Not-for-Profit Sector
PEOPLE'S FORUM ON JUST TRADE & DEVELOPMENT
Together in 2018 Charlottetown
The Fight for Affordable Housing: Reclaiming our Communities
Reconciling Differences
Common Good Retirement Plan - PEI Employer Roundtable
Evaluating Migrant Workers' Rights
Migrant Worker Forum 2018 - A Great Success
Forum to Address Migrant Workers' Rights
PEI Lands Protection Act: The Spirit and the Letter
Time to Make Waves
Symposium to Address Seniors' Mental Health
PEI Lands Protect Act: The Spirit and the Letter
Updating PEI's Employment Standards Act
No Land, No Food, No Life
Moving Forward on PR
Action Team for Migrant Workers' Rights Launches Facebook Page
Rights, Faith and Policy: A Public Forum on Migrant Worker Issues
Cooper Institute Submission on PEI's Draft Water Act
Food Sovereignty and Climate Change Symposium
Legal Information Document for Migrant Workers in PEI Now Available
Marie Hendricken - A good life, lived exceptionally
Who We Are | Our Work | Our Services | Our Members and Staff | Annual Activity Reports | Community Connections
Livable Income | Food Sovereignty | Diversity and Inclusion | Democracy | Land and Water | Migrant Workers
News and Events | Contact Us | Home | Donate
© 2008 - 2021 Cooper Institute. All rights reserved.
81 Prince Street
Charlottetown PEI C1A 4R3

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Greyhound Drug Ban Moves Forward
By Regan McCarthy • Apr 7, 2017
Originally published on April 6, 2017 5:41 pm
A bill to prevent greyhound tracks from giving their racing dogs steroids is moving forward in the Senate.
Members of the greyhound industry say without the ability to use anabolic steroids, like testosterone, to keep their female dogs from going into heat, a catastrophe could be just around the corner. Fred Johnson works with the Florida Greyhound Association of Jacksonville.
"If there's a fight with males trying to get over here to get to those females that you have 30 of them outside and 30 males it's disastrous—I wouldn't be able to stop them. Nobody in here could stop them," Johnson says.
He says he's been in the business since 1978 and says the public's understanding about steroid use in greyhounds is way off base. They're not shooting the dogs up with needles, he says. Instead the dogs are given chewable steroid tablets twice a month. And Jack Cory who represents the Florida Grey Hound association says he doesn't see why anyone would want to stop dog owners from using the drug.
"Birth control is birth control. Whether it's in a dog or a human being. And birth control methods have been used for a long time in this country—legally, honestly and morally," Cory says.
But animal rights activists, like Kate MacFall with the Humane Society of the United States say giving female racing greyhounds a steroid twice a month for years at a time can have long term negative effects for the dogs.
"For the female dogs it gives them male parts over time. That's sort of what happens. It's bad for their health. It's bad for other parts of their body, but over time that's what can happen," MacFall says.
And Carey Theil with the animal rights group Grey2K says in other countries where greyhound racing is more popular, participants have long stopped using drugs to keep their female dogs from going into heat.
"The female dogs are segmented. They're separated from the male if they're in heat for the period of time they're in heat and then they're allowed to race. It's not complicated," Theil says.
Former Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp who also represents the greyhound racing industry says owners wouldn't do anything to harm their dogs.
"Frankly nobody cares about these animals than their owners," Kottkamp says.
But Theil says that statement raises questions for him.
"Over the past seven years I've heard repeatedly the Florida greyhound industry say that they love their dogs, but every time we bring a proposal to reform this industry they're against them. We bring a proposal to require that injuries be reported—they're against it! We bring a proposal to require that anabolic steroid be prohibited—they're against it," Theil says.
The measure passed out of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee Thursday. A similar measure is awaiting a hearing on the House floor.
Copyright 2017 WFSU-FM. To see more, visit WFSU-FM.
Lawmakers Target Steroids In Greyhound Racing
By The News Service of Florida • Mar 9, 2017
Edster951 / Flickr
The House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee on Wednesday unanimously approved a measure that would ban injecting racing greyhounds with steroids.
10 Charged In Steroid Ring Linked To Miami Gym Operator
By The Associated Press • Feb 23, 2017
Ann Winter / Flickr
Ten people have been charged with operating a $10 million steroid distribution ring allegedly run by a Miami man who co-owns a popular bodybuilding gym.
18 Floridians Charged In Steroid Operation
By Associated Press • Jun 18, 2015
Federal authorities have charged 18 central Florida men and women in the operation of a massive steroid trafficking ring.
The U.S. Attorney's Office unsealed an indictment Wednesday that named the men and women with several drug charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.


Unlock the freedom to play with some of your favorite Disney and Disney/Pixar worlds like never before! The more you play, the more you unlock so the story never ends. It's up to you and your imagination – infinite possibilities, infinite ways to inspire your imagination!
Expand your Disney Infinity Toy Box experience with the Phineas and Ferb Toy Box Pack featuring Disney Infinity Figures for Phineas and Agent P. Use the Power Discs to customize your entire Toy Box to the world of Phineas and Ferb.
We're gonna wreck it! Expand your Disney Infinity Toy Box experience with the Wreck-It Ralph Toy Box Pack featuring Disney Infinity Figures for Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope. Use the Power Discs to customize your entire Toy Box to the world of Sugar Rush.
Feeling mischievous? Join Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey's spellbinding high jinks. With his magic sweep and bursts, he's got more moves under his Sorcerer's hat than a wizard in a wand shop. Abracadabra!
In Disney Infinity you have the freedom and endless opportunity to create stories and play experiences starring some of your favorite Disney and Disney/Pixar characters. Expand your adventures by collecting additional characters available for the Toy Box. Check out Disney Infinity's latest lineup of figures available this Fall, including Wreck-It Ralph, Vanellope, Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, and Jack Skellington!
Unlock the Toy Story Play Set for an all-new journey into the universe! Buzz Lightyear's Star Command calls for your help to save an alien town from destruction!
Fight the good fight in the Disney Infinity Toy Box.
Hear what kids have to say about Disney Infinity.
Saddle up and ride for justice in the Lone Ranger Play Set. Join forces with the famed masked hero John Reid and Native America warrior Tonto to rid the wild west of the lawless Cavendish gang.
Get the Disney Infinity Starter Pack and discover the Monsters University Play Set. Join Sulley, Mike and Randy in their early student days on the campus of Monsters U. Customize your own Frat Row, compete in the annual Scare Games, and watch out for pranksters from rival Fear Tech, who's always up to no good.
Get the DISNEY INFINITY Starter Pack and discover the Pirates of the Caribbean Play Set. Spring a mate from jail, commandeer a ship, sail with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga, and hunt for a series of hidden treasures. Or create your own adventures in the Disney Infinity Toy Box, where the possibilities are endless.
The first installment of this docu-series delves into the inspiration behind DISNEY INFINITY. Watch the video now!
Introducing the Disney Infinity Toy Box, a wide open world of possibilities where you can mix, match and mash-up everything you unlock from the Disney Infinity Play Sets to make your own adventures, build your own worlds, and create your own games. Watch the video now!
Get the DISNEY INFINITY Cars Play Set and discover Radiator Springs, the little town with the big race, and a car that wants to wreck it all. Complete missions, customize the stunt park, and win the big race to unlock new toys and create your own adventures in the Disney Infinity Toy Box.
Watch the first official trailer for Disney Infinity, an exciting new video game available in summer 2013. Unlock the freedom to play with some of your favorite Disney and Disney/Pixar worlds like never before! Experience adventures in the worlds of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles and Monsters University - take on the role of Sulley, the naturally gifted 'scarer'; become Captain Jack Sparrow, the sword-wielding pirate; or transform yourself into Mr. Incredible, one of the world's greatest crime-fighters. Battle enemies, solve puzzles, overcome obstacles and complete a variety of other unique quests. Or create your own world! Unlock virtual toys, characters, buildings, weapons, gadgets and more – and bring them into the Disney Infinity 'Toy Box' where you can mix them all up to create your own game. In the Disney Infinity Toy Box, there are no rules and you can create any adventure you want. Share your creations with your friends with up to 4-player co-op play. The more you play, the more you unlock so the story never ends. It's up to you and your imagination – infinite possibilities, infinite ways to inspire your imagination!


One St Paul's Square is a contemporary 8 storey office building, incorporating imaginative architectural features, quality finishes and considered sustainability. The visual impact of the internal full height Atrium is stunning and the clever design allows high levels of natural light to flood into every floor.
Floorplates in One St Paul's Square offer maximum flexibility for both open plan and cellular offices. Floor to ceiling windows create an exceptionally bright working environment and provides impressive views across the City and St Paul's Square.
Occupiers have exclusive access to the 'number one cafe' a fully equipped restaurant.


text:
TOEFL Goes Online, Adds Speaking Section to Test Ability to Communicate
AA: I'm Avi Arditti with Rosanne Skirble, and this week on Wordmaster: the new TOEFL.
RS: TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It's required by many colleges and universities in the United States and elsewhere as a measure of a student's proficiency in English. There are sections in reading, writing, listening and, from now on, speaking.
AA: The Educational Testing Service, or E.T.S., just debuted its new Internet-based TOEFL test in the United States. Over the next year the computer version will replace the paper exam in testing centers around the world. At the test site students are given a headset with built-in microphone to record their answers, which are then sent to graders via the Internet.
RS: As students who take the free practice test on the ets.org Web site will see, some of the questions require students to integrate their language skills. For example, a student has to read some material and then listen to a speaker before answering. Eileen Tyson, associate director of the TOEFL program at the Educational Testing Service, gives us this example:
EILEEN TYSON: "In one of the integrated questions you'll see on the Web site, the students read a short academic passage about domestication of animals. And it lists what factors make it easier or more difficult to domesticate animals. Then students listen to a short lecture from a professor where he takes those two principles that are defined in the reading and applies them to horses and antelope."
PROFESSOR: "So we've been discussing the suitability of animals for domestication, particularly animals that live together in herds. Now, if we take horses, for example, in the wild, horses live in herds that consist of one male and several females and their young. When a herd moves, the dominant male leads, with the dominant female and her young immediately behind him. The dominant female and her young are then followed immediately by the second most important female and her young, and so on. ..."
EILEEN TYSON: "And then the students are asked to describe how these factors affect horses and antelope, and the response must be based on what they've read and what they heard."
AA: "How long do they have to answer?"
EILEEN TYSON: "They have a minute. Now, they're allowed to take notes throughout this, so as they're listening or they're doing their reading, they can take notes. And then we give them 15 seconds or 30 seconds, depending on the question, to gather their thoughts and then they have a minute to respond to the question."
RS: "How was the test tested? How did it come out when it was tested? Did the students feel comfortable with it?"
EILEEN TYSON: "We did field testing of the test in 2003 and 2004. We tested 3000 students in 30 different countries, so we could be sure that we were getting a good sample that's typical of the TOEFL population. In fact, many of the students told us that it was actually fun. Now we all know that standardized testing, and high-stakes testing in general, is not typically a fun experience. But what they found was that it really tapped their abilities in a way that they had never had before.
"So the responses we got were on the whole positive. But what people did say was, you know, we're not going to be able to just know a lot of vocabulary and do well on this test. We're really going to have to know how to use English, which is the purpose of this new test. It focuses the ability to communicate in English and not just on knowledge of English."
RS: "Well, what impact is this going to have on teaching?"
AA: "Especially in the countries where spoken English is not emphasized so much in the classroom."
EILEEN TYSON: "Now that TOEFL is requiring students to use English for communication, teachers will want to include communicative English in their curriculum. We have teacher professional-development workshops to help teachers think about ways to include communication and using English in their curriculum. So we think that this is going to have a very positive impact in language education. And, in fact, E.S.L. teachers around the world have been telling us that this is something that they're looking forward to."
RS: Be sure to listen next week, when Eileen Tyson from the Educational Testing Service will talk more about the new Internet-based TOEFL and how to prepare for it.
AA: That's Wordmaster for this week. Our e-mail address is word@voanews.com. And our segments are on the Internet at voanews.com/wordmaster. With Rosanne Skirble, I'm Avi Arditti.
Wordmaster - Download MP3
Getting Ready for the Speaking Section on the New TOEFL
www.ets.org/toefl


The Slovak government has indicated that the race to enter European defense structures may not be entirely fair play - either with close neighbors or especially between them. The government's press office released an obscure statement on April 2, indicating that it may try to hamper the Czech Republic's planned accession into the joint American-European military alliance NATO.
The government's statement read: "The government of the Slovak Republic observes that until the present day, the Czech Republic has not settled relations with the Slovak Republic. It is not negotiating with them, nor is it willing to. One of the conditions for accession into NATO requires settlement of a country's relations with its neighbors. Therefore we deem it necessary to notify the NATO member states that in its relationship with the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic is not fulfilling this condition."
Czech Premier Václav Klaus (right) has postponed indefinitely a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar, saying that he has no time to meet with him.
At issue is the sudden frosting of relations between the Slovak and Czech Republics - federation brethren for 75 years until their peaceful split in 1993 - over a planned visit this month by Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar to Prague. That visit has been indefinitely postponed over recent criticism of Bratislava by Czech media and politicians, Mečiar's spokeswoman said on April 1.
"The prime minister [Mečiar] considers the postponement of his visit as correct in view of the given political and media campaign in the Czech Republic," Mečiar's spokeswoman Magda Pospíšilová told a news conference during a regular government session. Pospíšilová said Mečiar was reacting to recent statements by Czech President Václav Havel and Premier Václav Klaus on Mečiar's planned trip to Prague, which would have been his first since the split of the Czechoslovak federation in 1993. The main purpose of the visit was to sign final agreements on the controversial division of property of the former federation, Reuters reported.
The Czech news agency ČTK quoted Havel as saying Mečiar was welcome but that he would also be told things he might not want to hear. It also quoted Klaus as saying his government had more important things to do than to prepare for Mečiar's visit.
Hearing that, the Slovak government took the offensive. The statement on NATO signed by government spokeswoman Ľudmila Buláková was an eyebrow-raiser, mainly because it was released through the Slovak and Czech wire services before it reached any of the NATO member state's missions in Bratislava.
Buláková revealed in an interview for The Slovak Spectator that the statement was released solely for the media. "Unless embassies receive the [Slovak and Czech press agency] TASR or ČTK wire services, they don't know about this statement," she said, adding that embassies "may be notified by proper diplomatic means later" but could not specify when.
Western diplomats were not the only ones left clueless. On the day the statement was released, the Slovak Foreign Ministry's press department could not comment on it, since it didn't know about it either. "Well it's possible that the ministry's press department didn't know about this because we consulted with Mr. Hamžík only this morning," Buláková said.
Mečiar's press department has accused the Czech Republic of dragging feet in settling issues left over since the Czechoslovak federation split. "[The prime minister] deems it inappropriate that the Czech Republic, who is intensely running for NATO membership, is unlawfully retaining and probably also using property of the Slovak Republic and her gold reserves. This is despite the original protocol, according to which the gold should have been ready to be divided by June 30, 1993," the statement read. Opposition parties were only too happy to enter the diplomatic melée.
"Mečiar's statements towards ... the Czech Republic are a childish and naive attempt to camouflage the inability of the Slovak government to lead the Slovak Republic into NATO," a statement issued by the Democratic Party read, adding that "since the conditions to enter the European Union are the same [as for NATO] in the field of democracy, it is absolutely clear that Slovakia led by the current ruling coalition won't be able to join the European Union either."


text:
Partners Involved
The EU, Germany (through GIZ), IRENA, NREL, Pew, The Nature Conservancy, UNDP, and the World Bank.
Leveraging Blue Carbon
Renewables and Green Transport to Decarbonize the Economy
A Revised NDC Addressing Refrigerant and Cooling Gases
Seychelles committed in its NDC to decarbonize its economy completely by 2050, making it one of the few developing countries to target net zero emissions by 2050.
Blue economy—sectors dependent on healthy marine and coastal resources—is at the heart of Seychelles' climate ambition and vision for economic resilience and growth. A Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Seychelles is classified as a high-income economy. Seychelles comprises about 115 islands just above the sea surface. Local communities reside, and the majority of Seychelles' urban areas and infrastructure concentrate, at sea level tightly next to the shore. Populations and industries are particularly vulnerable to increases in climate events and sea level rise. Given its large economic exclusivity zone, much of Seychelles' economic activity relies on the sustainable management of marine resources. Tourism and fisheries are the largest economic sectors of Seychelles; both contribute to the intensity of Seychelles' greenhouse gas emissions.
An international leader in blue economy, the East African nation takes preserving blue carbon, the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, very seriously. Seychelles' national development strategy prioritizes sequestering and storing blue carbon while conserving and restoring coastal and marine environments. Seychelles aims to protect 50 percent of blue carbon stocks by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030. Seychelles has a similar conservation policy for mangroves and hopes to expand it to seagrass meadows. The President of Seychelles highlighted that identifying seagrass meadows throughout the archipelago is a priority at a ministerial cabinet meeting in which the government validated the revised NDC. Seychelles intends to continuously monitor the CO2 absorption from seagrass and report its NDC.
Seychelles' coastal and marine areas are home to rich ecosystems, including endemic flora and fauna. Recent work on mapping these ecosystems' blue carbon potential aims at assessing their mitigation potential and at promoting their conservation. Seychelles is conducting a national survey of seagrass with support from PEW, TNC, SeyCCAT, and the University of Oxford.
The Government of Seychelles identifies in its NDC that it intends for coastal planning and infrastructure to be regulated at the national and local level to prioritize the consideration of "blue" Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for climate resilience. Seychelles' NDC specifies it will protect its blue carbon ecosystems (i.e., at least 50 percent of its seagrass and mangrove ecosystems by 2025 and 100 percent of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems by 2030). Seychelles will establish a long-term monitoring program for seagrass and mangrove ecosystems by 2025. That will include the GHG sink of Seychelles' blue carbon ecosystems by 2025 within the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Seychelles' NDC commits to implementing its adopted Marine Spatial Plan and effectively managing the 30 percent of marine protected areas within the Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone.
The government is rewriting its energy law to empower the development of renewable energy in the country, which will enable the reduction of emissions for the tourism sector. The Energy Commission in charge of renewables is being absorbed into the government and will help encourage private sector involvement, promoting grid energy storage, and supporting independent power producers. The World Bank supported drafting those energy laws, regulations and guidelines. IRENA and Commonwealth Secretariat are also supporting the Ministry of Finance to bolster finance of clean energy.
The European Commission is working on decarbonizing Seychelles' transport sector by promoting electric vehicles and expanding public transport—particularly on Mahé, the Seychelles archipelago's largest island, and for interisland ferries, which are responsible for a great portion of transportation emissions. Additional partners supporting this undertaking are NREL and the World Bank.
The EC provided support as part of CAEP to revise the NDC's mitigation section. This work included revising the sectoral emissions profiles and targets in the NDC and devising a series of actions for the government to implement its mitigation commitments in the revised NDC submitted in August 2021. UNDP provided support for the MRV proposal.
Tourism is the nation's main economic engine; numerous hotels dot the islands of Seychelles, and thus air conditioning is a major source of energy consumption. Refrigerant and cooling gases account for significant emissions. GIZ's Ozone project supported the assessment of refrigerant and cooling gases, and their mitigation potential in Seychelles. The study's results were included in the revised NDC. Seychelles implemented regulations, in effect since February 2021, that incentivize the transition to low-Global Warming Potential refrigerants through a staggered levy system and VAT exemptions. This supports the reduction of HFC-related (direct) emissions. The aim is to ban high-Global Warming Potential refrigerants for air conditioning and domestic and commercial refrigerators starting in 2025 (domestic and commercial refrigerators) and 2030 (split ACs). The mitigation potential, including direct and indirect emissions, totals an estimated 77 ktCO2e for the time period up to 2030.
This work was done through the Climate Action Enhancement Package with support from UNDP, the World Bank, IRENA, and the EC, with additional support from GIZ, The Nature Conservancy, and Pew. As a result, Seychelles' updated NDC features an increase in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 188 ktCO2e, stated in NDC 2015, to 293,8 ktCO2e by 2030.
Read our country stories
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Small Island Developing States (SIDS)


His philosophy: my culinary art is steeped in my love for the elements of nature. I let myself be inspired by their incredible variety, enriching the Mediterranean style with the ingredients of classic cuisine. For me it is important to stress a seasonal cuisine, suited to the time of year, and to combine it with the essential products of the region, the spices and flavours of the Alpine world. So my passion gives pride of place to Alpine herbs and forgotten roots, that give dishes a refined note while at the same time enhancing their digestibility. Interior equilibrium and wellbeing depend to a large extent on a healthy diet. Product quality and fresh preparation are together an essential ingredient.


text:
With a degree in business from St. Mary's of Notre Dame, Nancy brings 10 years of successful experience interfacing with retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, sales rep groups and trade show personal in the B2B specialty retail and gift industry.
Nancy Brooks
Integrated Marketing Consultant
Brian has nearly two decades of experience utilizing a consultative, solutions-focused sales approach, along with effective leadership, principled by coaching teams for success, and a reputation for helping customers to achieve their sales goals using a combined ability to understand business vision and strategically execute on those objectives.
Brian Virgona
Tiffany is a proven successful, 26-year veteran in integrated media advertising sales and has spent nearly all of her professional life serving the lawn & garden industry. She understands her customers' needs and goes over and above to make sure their marketing efforts are successful. It's because of her close ties with her customers and ability to meet expectations that she has forged lasting, long-term relationships with many of them.
Tiffany O'Kelley
Group Publisher
Jolan has two years working with a daily print newspaper and 14 years in customer service. She enjoys meeting deadlines while providing a helpful and friendly customer service experience.
Jolan Godfrey
Client Success Representative
Julie McCallum is the retail group editorial director and co-owner of Great American Media Services. She has been covering the specialty retail industry for more than 20 years. As a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism, Julie is passionate about reporting and telling the stories of the creative minds that make up the gift and stationery industries. She aims to make a difference in the lives of her readers by sharing content that will inspire, inform and help them succeed in their businesses.
Julie McCallum
As editor for Gift Shop Plus (which includes museums&MORE and Gift Shop Pets), Stationery Trends and three specialty publications: The Guide, Holiday Shop and Celebrations & Occasions, Debbie enjoys interviewing retailers and sharing their stories, as so many of them have really made an impact, not only in the retail world, but in their own local communities. Discovering the ideas, passion and creativity behind the products, and sharing that information with readers is an important component to her writing. She encourages and welcomes feedback on topics that Gift Shop Plus highlights in each issue, as well as information on other pertinent topics readers would like covered.
Debbie Eisele
Ali has 5 plus years of experience as a Graphic Designer and has been working at Great American Media Services since the fall of 2016. She currently is lead designer on Gift Shop Plus and Lawn & Garden Retailer. Ali enjoys the world of creative problem solving and has a passion for bringing ideas to life through graphic design.
Allison McKenzie
Kristina has 11 years of experience in art direction, graphic design and brand development. Her love for building and shaping brands has landed her seven national advertising awards. She thrives on connecting people and brands through design, technology and data.
Kristina Howell
Kim Meyers
Becky is an audience insight expert, having working in audience development for more than 13 years. She has a vast amount of experience with the various audiences across print and digital platforms. Becky and her team dig into our entire data platform and, based on the client's needs, provide them with a target audience for the best performance possible.
Becky Stovall
Audience Development
Stephanie has more than 15 years of experience in marketing and events with a demonstrated history of success in the trade show and publishing industries. With her diverse skills in event management, digital and email marketing, audience development, social media and branding, she is an essential part of our team.
Stephanie Leon-Santiago
Marketing & Events Manager
Deb Carnes
Billing/CFO
Kim has 20 years of experience in journalism and marketing. With degrees in journalism and anthropology and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications, she believes in the power of storytelling and information to create connections and bring people together. Her specialty is in combining data and heart to build a compelling brand story, and she loves working with clients to set a unique marketing strategy to drive their businesses forward.
Kimberly Baker
COO & CMO
Matt McCallum
Upcoming Issues
Turn-Key Product Catalog Program
List Rental Program
Signet AdStudy
Upload My Ad
Email Opportunities
Exclusive E-blasts
Exclusive Lead Blast
Ready to Shop! E-newsletter
Ready to Ship E-Newsletter
Video Alert
Shop! Gift Shop® Plus
About Shop! Gift Shop® Plus
Shop! Marketing Package
Upload Your Ad
Virtual Roundtables
Gift + Stationery Week
GiftShopMag.com


Taking prescription drugs with herbs and vitamins is a tricky prospect. You are never sure what herb will interact with something your doctor has prescribed. What's worse, those interactions might harm you. Synthroid does not interact with garlic, but it does interact with other vitamins. Before taking prescription drugs with anything over the counter, ask your doctor for advice. Even better, ask your pharmacist, too. They are experts on all drugs, and can tell you exactly which medications are safe to mix.
Levothyroxine, or synthroid, is a replacement hormone for people who have little or no thyroid hormones created by their own body. You may need this drug if you had your thyroid surgically removed or if you have hypothyroidism, which means your thyroid does not produce enough hormone on its own. This drug is also helpful in preventing or treating goiters, which are enlargements of the thyroid because of hormone imbalances, radiation, surgery or cancer.
Synthroid reacts with some vitamins, but it does not have any interactions with garlic. Use caution if you use this hormone replacement and alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, iron or lemon balm, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Other drug and vitamin interactions include calcium supplements such as calcium carbonate, sucralfate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, antacids that contain aluminum and the cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine. The drugs lithium, amiodarone and certain antidepressants also can affect how synthroid is absorbed, so mention them to your doctor if you are taking them.
Since synthroid mimics a naturally occurring hormone, few side effects are associated with it. However, if side effects are noted, report them to your doctor. You may need your dosage adjusted. These side effects include headache, trouble sleeping, irritability, hot flashes, sweating, irregular menstrual period, appetite changes and possible changes in your weight. Occasionally, hair loss is noted. If you notice signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, itching, swelling of the tongue or trouble breathing, contact your doctor immediately.
Synthroid has some specific instructions in order for it to work most effectively. Take synthroid with a full glass of water to prevent it from dissolving and swelling in your throat. It might cause you to choke or gag. You need to take it on an empty stomach and 30 minutes before you eat any food for the medication to fully absorb. Do not abruptly stop taking this medication. You might need to have blood tests occasionally to determine whether your medication is regulating your thyroid levels correctly. You doctor may need to adjust your medication dosage based on the blood tests.
What Effect Does Calcium Have on the Thyroid?


Wauseon wrestler McKayla Campbell, top, shows off her skills at a USA wrestling event. Campbell will represent her country in a tournament in Bosnia on Aug. 27-29.
Many have said and or believed that wrestling is purely a boys sport. However, for McKayla Campbell, a soon to be Wauseon junior, that notion does not apply.
Ever since she was five years old she has held a place in her heart for the sport. Her interest began while watching her brother, Gage, compete.
And although it took some time to convince her dad, Vance, that she was 'tough enough,' eventually she did just that.
However, Campbell went to her father the next year with a proposition. In an effort to convince him of her strength, she stated that she could take down her brother. She did so eight out of 10 times and the rest is history.
Currently, outside of wrestling for the varsity squad at Wauseon, Campbell competes in several all-girl wrestling tournaments in which she has had success.
Her first one was roughly four years ago, a tournament in Battle Creek, Mich., that she won. While more recently she took home a championship at the Body Bar Women's National Championships in Irving, Texas on May 16, qualifying her for the United States Cadet Women's National Team.
"I like knew that I could be one of the top wrestlers but I didn't know if I was going to win it or not," explained Campbell of the Body Bar tournament.
But she breezed through the competition, winning by technical fall in all of her matches except the final where she won by pin.
With qualifying for the United States team, Campbell has earned the right to represent her country in an international tournament in Sarejevo, Bosnia from Aug. 27-29.
Furthermore, Campbell credits much of her recent success to the wrestling program in which she spends her winters competing against the boys.
Ritter has also had a positive impact on Campbell's career.
"He tries to get me good work. He tries to push us to our limit and then (to) go past the limit," said Campbell.
While at Wauseon, Campbell, as a result of her gender, has had to deal with her matches being viewed upon differently by some of the boys she competes against.
However, she has excelled against the competition by going 16-6 this past season.
It is her hope that her skills will continue to develop and one day, she can reach her goal of qualifying for the Olympics.
"I always thought it would be really cool going to the Olympics for wrestling. To be the first girl to wrestle at Wauseon and then being the first athlete of Wauseon to (compete) on an olympic level," she said.
Ritter is optimistic that she can achieve this goal.
"She's been out to the Olympic Training Center several times, and at this pace, I would fully expect to see her one day representing the U.S. in the Olympics," he said.
But not looking too far in advance, Campbell's time and energy in the near future will be spent on tournaments leading up to going overseas and the Bosnia trip itself. She will also be a part of two wrestling camps, the second to take place in Colorado that will run from Aug. 9 up until she leaves for Bosnia.
Her and her family's time will also be spent on raising the necessary funds for the trip. In total, the trip costs $3,500, and so far, they have raised approximately $1,235.
To help McKayla on her journey, visit www.gofundme.com/mckaylacampbell to donate.


Bleu at 4 months on a six weeks coat, stripped in one go.
As a puppy Bleu was only showed seven times. 6 out of the 7 times he was placed in the puppy group :-) He ended up being Reserve Best Puppy in Show three times out of the seven outings! Three times BPIG and twice BPIG 2nd, BPIG 3rd.
Savannah can be very proud of her "Bleu Eyed Boy"!


Find yourself lost in the wonders of London.
London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st century city with history stretching back to Roman times. Now, you can experience the wonders of this global city via nonstop service from Pittsburgh International Airport on British Airways.
Explore the royal grounds of Buckingham Palace or take a trip on the London Eye Ferris wheel to get a bird's eye view of the city. Take the family to soak in sights and sounds of the bustling Piccadilly Circus area – some refer to is as London's Times Square. A short car ride will transport you to London's countryside. Escape to Sussex or Hampshire and feel like you're in another era filled with quaint homes perched along rolling green hills.
Or, take advantage of London's status as a global hub for international business and finance. With an economy built on professional services, education, law, media and more, your business's next big meeting or big break could be just a flight across the pond.
When you start at Pittsburgh International Airport, your dreams are closer than you think.
Fly direct to London Heathrow Airport on British Airways' Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Tickets are available now with four weekly flight options, with service beginning April 2, 2019.
Year–round service with flights four days per week. Times are approximate.
Customers will be able to fly to London on one of the newest aircraft in British Airways' fleet, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Travelers will also have the opportunity to connect quickly and easily onto one of more than 130 plus destinations to which British Airways flies.
British Airways' state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft accommodates 214 customers across three cabins, with 154 seats in World Traveller (economy), 25 seats in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and 35 seats in Club World (business). All customers will be able to enjoy free meals, beverages, individual widescreen TV screens with complimentary on-demand entertainment, and a free checked bag. Designed to enhance customer wellbeing, the new fuel-efficient aircraft operates with a lower pressurization, reducing the effects of jet lag for customers.
To learn more about Pittsburgh International Airport's other nonstop flights, click here.


Within 24 hours of a school shooting, headlines will read: "Governor's post-Santa Fe school safety meetings happening largely in private," "Lawmakers say safety will be a priority," "School safety comes with a cost." Both the pro-gun right and pro-gun control left want children to feel safe in their schools, yet they cannot agree on how to guarantee this sense of security, to say the least.
Headlines in the aftermath of school shootings feign concern about how to ensure "school safety," but have become coded to invoke the gun debate and ultimately entrench partisan divides even further. However, the more unfortunate byproduct of the stalemate is that it prevents more rigorous interrogation of what it means for a school to be safe for its students altogether.
The gun control debate, like so many of the nation's most contentious issues, is gridlocked. And the assumption that each side does not actually care about the safety of the country's children at least partially fuels the animosity.
While advocates of gun control claim that pro-gun lawmakers are unable to overcome their love of guns in order to pass common sense gun laws, pro-gun politicians insist that more armament could demonstrate dedication to protecting students in schools.
Left wing media has tended to follow headlines about school safety with phrases like "gun control," or "legislation." More conservative networks like Fox News, on the other hand, tend to report non-legislative, physical safeguards to mass shootings. Fox headlines tend to immediately follow up "school safety" with phrases regarding building safety, school safety budget increases, and even the creation of "bullet friendly" furniture.
Were popular headlines about "school safety" not so consistently co-opted by a discussion or deflection of gun policy, Americans could have the opportunity to explore other conceptions of school safety, and various other prevalent factors which also make so many students feel unsafe in schools.
For example, the current debate about gun control largely focuses specifically on mass shootings. And although undoubtedly necessary, this constrained conversation does not acknowledge more discreet violence and daily trauma that occurs in schools with predominantly students of color.
The Washington Post has assessed that children of color are far more likely to experience campus gun violence on a regular basis than the majority white schools which experience mass shootings. The Post analysis also found that 62.6 percent of the students exposed to gun violence at school since 1999 were children of color, and that almost all those shootings were "targeted or accidental," rather than indiscriminate, as is the case with many mass shootings.
These schools consequently do not see the national attention of whiter schools with such explosive instances of violence. Black Lives Matter youth in Chicago, at some points regarded as troublemakers or terrorists, have felt scorned by network news who seems to capitalize on the rousing from Parkland students, but fall silent when black students protest gun violence and police killings.
Consequently, this lack of coverage subverts discussion about how to employ equitable safety measures across communities of different socioeconomic groups.
But there are a myriad of other factors in students' daily lives which have nothing to do with gun violence that make schools feel unsafe.
As of 2016, about 1 in 5 students between ages 12 and 18 reported some form of bullying in schools. Reports referred to verbal as well as physical abuse, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
However, bullying does not affect all students equally, of course. As of 2014, qualitative assessments of student bullying reports as well as school incident reports indicate that race and sexual orientation were the "categories of motivating bias" most frequently associated with hate crimes against students.
And despite overall lowering rates of bullying, anti-semitic and Islamophobic incidents have been steadily on the rise in the past few years. In some extreme cases, even educators have either aided or ignored the harassment and degradation of Muslim students.
Moreover, many neglected but very consequential safety concerns in many American schools are in fact environmental. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used census data to determine that the five worst polluted school areas include New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Jersey City and Camden, New Jersey.
Camden, for example, is heavily African American, Hispanic and young, where around a third of the 75,000 population is under 18. Another third of the city's population lives in poverty. And about half of the city's schools were built before the Great Depression, characterized by creaking buildings, lagging test scores and chronic absenteeism.
A Camden charter school teacher reported to The Guardian that the school's rates of absenteeism are definitely linked to pollution. Many students who are unable to concentrate "like other kids can" lose too many school days to asthma, ADHD and other learning disabilities that are exacerbated by the air and water pollution, and exposure to other toxins buried beneath the school buildings themselves.
Broadly, students of color are disproportionately at risk to environmental factors in schools. Although black children make up just 16 percent of all U.S. public school students, more than a quarter of them attend the schools worst affected by air pollution. By contrast, white children total about 52 percent of the public school students but only half of those attend the highest risk schools.
These are difficult and extremely necessary conversations to be had on a national scale, but it seems that they may never receive the same consideration as the issue of school shootings because gun violence has become so embedded in audience's' understanding of safety.
None of this is intended to minimize the disturbingly prevalent issue of gun violence in schools. It might not be so difficult to have more in-depth discussion about more variant and nuanced issues of student safety if schools were not quite literally under fire so regularly.
While school shootings constitute one of the most direct threats to the current generation of students, one might consider why the issue of mass shootings becomes so much easier to rally concern for than say, lead contaminated soil on inner city school grounds.
Of course the gravity of mass shootings, especially when directed at children, elicits a visceral blend of grief and outrage from most sane Americans.
Various studies have corroborated screen media in general and violent media have been associated with poorer real world attention. So while news about gun violence can have a tight grip on audience attention, the effects are temporary and require continual stoking.
So it's possible that network news is capitalizing on the volatility of the gun debate, leaving one to question whether or not the back and forth between pundits about gun policy has really ever been about "the children" at all.
Or worse yet, whether spouting dedication to "school safety" serves as another opportunity for pundits to puff their chests, and bray their refusal to interrogate various social isms that underscore a lack of reporting on other serious matters of school safety while insisting that guns are the only threat to school children.
Surely one hates to think adults cannot overcome their own egos in order to protect the actual lives of children, but is possible that the nation has become numb to the barrage of headlines about yet another school shooting? Even just a little bit?
There is also a wealth of evidence linking violent media content to decreased empathy and prosocial behavior. The tragic irony then might be that the necessary reporting on the progress of the gun debate amplifies discourse that seems less and less concerned with human lives.
Moreover, the devastating truth is that issues of environmental racism, or daily incremental harassment of marginalized student groups are not as marketable as gun policy, nor are they conceptualized as equally foundational to a collective American identity as the Second Amendment. And unfortunately these issues, although clearly matters of school safety, are deemed less worthy of primetime news slots.
Headlines about "school safety" are misleading. They are not typically followed by nuanced or inclusive discussions of student entitlements to safety within school communities, but rather a chance for opposing camps on gun policy to forward their politics.
They leave little to no consideration for other social and emotional dangers which disproportionately affect some students whose suffering goes largely unnoticed.
Schools will become safer, both in perception and actuality, once journalists openly acknowledge who and what is threatening students, not just on days of tragedy, but always. But when students and journalists are each in their own way continually staring down the barrel of a gun, it can be hard, maybe even impossible, to see beyond the immediate threat.


Love to attend sporting events, but get more excited about the ball park food than the actual game? Pin this 'only here for the hotdogs' pin on your outfit on game day, and it lets you get away with not knowing the current score of the match. You'll thank us later.
The dimensions of the pin are 25mm x 26mm. It has a rubber clutch back, which makes it ideal for securing your pin to clothes and bags. It's skin-friendly and easy to wear.


China's dry bulk owner Fortune Ocean Shipping is looking to expand its fleet with up to six new bulk carriers to be built by its compatriot yard.
Namely, the company placed four firm orders with Tianjin Xingang at a price of USD 23.5 million a piece.
The contract for 82,000 dwt Panamax bulkers includes two more options, according to data provided by VesselsValue.
Under the deal, reportedly signed on July 21, the parties said that the new ships, including the options if exercised, would be delivered by the end of 2018.
The newbuilding orders have a market value of around USD 21.4 million.
Once delivered, these will become a part of Fortune Ocean Shipping's fleet of 17 bulk carriers. The company also has one Ultramax bulker currently on order at China's Dalian shipyard, scheduled to be delivered in July 2017.
Posted on July 24, 2017 with tags Bulk Carrier, Fortune Ocean Shipping, Order, Tianjin Xingang.


With Cinco de Mayo behind us, summer is fast on its way. And after this winter in Philly, I can-not-wait-for-warmer-weather !
This recipe for cilantro potatoes is one of my summer staples. It goes with everything – steaks, grilled chicken, pork chops. They are buttery, garlicky, and so fresh-tasting.
The best thing about this recipe is that it's highly versatile. If you don't like cilantro – use minced parsley instead. Or fresh dill. Any soft fresh herb would be perfect with the garlic and the butter. Or hey, if green isn't your thing, garlic and butter is plenty delicious too.
1. Put quartered potatoes into a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat. Boil for 12-15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. (I always stab a large potato with a fork and if it slides off the fork without much hesitation, they are done.) Drain the potatoes in a colander.
2. Return the saucepan to the stove over low heat and add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and saute until the garlic softens, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the potatoes back to the saucepan and toss with the garlic butter mixture. Add more butter if needed. Add the fresh herbs and toss to combine. Serve warm.


text:
North American Dental Equipment Market Dynamic Outlook and Influencing Key Growth
Nilesh Ghadge
According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the North America Dental Equipment market is expected to gain eminence over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to demonstrate a steady growth by 2023, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a constant CAGR during the anticipated period (2017–2023). The North American dental equipment market is growing at a sound pace and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.23% during the forecast period 2017-2023.
Over the last two hundred years, dentistry has made countless strides and also experienced a few setbacks globally. Though, the ultimate goal of the profession has always remained the same, which is to meet the treatment needs of the patient. Dental technology remains an important and valuable key to providing excellence in patient care. The role of today's dental specialist has extended and evolved to being a gatekeeper of new product information, advisor on new restorative materials, imaging devices and radiology techniques, advocate of new technologies to improve consistency and accuracy, and educator for improved chair side techniques.
Market key Players:
Patterson Dental (US), Henry Schein (US), Dentsply Sirona (US), 3M (US), Straumann (Switzerland), Danaher Corporation (Switzerland), PLANMECA OY (Finland), Carestream Health, Inc.(U.S.), and Biolase Inc. (U.S.) and others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the North America Dental Equipment Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.
Request Free Sample Copy at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4625
At the same time, the industry endures to wrestle with new challenges redesigning the profession of dentistry. In a dental market where fewer percentage of educated and experienced dentists must meet the needs of an ever-growing population, new technologies arose to increase production levels and awaken a dental technology workforce. Dental Laboratories face many challenges today like productivity, profitability, staying competitive, new technologies, and offshore competition. However, it is suggested that the profession has contended with and seized many of these same issues over the recent years. Dental equipment's are used for diagnosis and treatment of dental problems with the help of X-rays, radioactive substances, and other forms of radiant energy. The market is majorly driven by the technological advancements in the dental equipment, high adoption of digital dental radiology and imaging systems, growth in aging population, and dental surgeries gaining impetus. However, huge demand for dental tourism and use of refurbished dental instruments is expected to restrain the growth of this market.
North American Dental Equipment Market - Competitive Analysis
The market for dental equipment is characterised by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of dental equipment appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Major players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the emerging nations, making it putting pressure on the regional players, especially in terms of features such as type, product portfolios, and pricing. The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The key players in the industry are adopting to compete with one another directly and indirectly with other ecosystem players.
To craft a reasonable impact in the market the companies are getting into various key activities. Out of product launches, partnerships & collaborations, and acquisitions are some of the major strategies adopted by the key players in this market.
For instance, in May 2017; Dentsply Sirona Endodontics announced X-Smart IQ digital endodontics ecosystem and app. The system, complete digital ecosystem, redefines the endo experience at every stage of the procedure. The X-Smart IQ iOS app creates customizable treatment plans based on dental professionals' preferred techniques. In addition, the app allows synchronization of future products and immediate updates, allowing the technology to grow with the dentist's practice.
Furthermore, September 2016, 3M acquired Semfinder, a leading developer of precise semantic coding of medical services. The acquisition of Semfinder provides important new coding technology that will enable 3M to accelerate the availability of its 3M 360 Encompass System in countries adopting electronic medical records.
In August 2016, Henry Schein announced acquisition of 80% ownership of Marrodent, which is a full service dental distributer of Poland, thus marking Henry Schein's entry into the dental market of Poland.
In April 2017, 3M Oral Care launches Filtek One bulk-fill restorative with one step placement. 3M Oral Care has launched 3M Filtek One, a bulk-fill restorative material designed for one-step placement without compromising esthetics. Bulk fill composites have become popular in recent years because of their simplicity and speed; and are faster, easier.
Browse Detailed TOC with COVID-19 Impact Analysis at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/north-american-dental-equipment-market-4625
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients.
Akash Anand
North_American_Dental_Equipment_Market
Peraturan pendidikan
Workshop pendidikan
Sing 2 2022 Cały Film Online A Zdarmo
[1080p™] Sing 2 CALY FILM Po zderzeniu całego filmu Podwójny dźwięk Po zderzeniu...
By Shurkou Kerimg 2022-01-04 20:21:53 0 203
Ganzer'FILM] Spider-Man: No Way Home Stream Deutsch | kostenlos anschauen
KINO » Spider-Man: No Way Home (2022) ganzer film deutsch Online Anschauen , Spider-Man: No...
By Terlalu Luu 2022-01-20 04:52:20 0 267
Erling Haaland is the player Manchester City are looking for
Manchester City have Erling Haaland arriving this summer. The Norwegian goalscorer has reportedly...
By Lewis Rosales 2022-06-03 13:47:18 0 121
Эвалар от паразитов инструкция
Тройчатка Эвалар - натуральный препарат против паразитов. За многие тысячелетия паразиты...
By Елена Александровна 2022-05-17 16:29:33 0 64
A professional embroidery machine manufacturer
There is no doubt that a good embroidery machine manufacturer can provide you with a good...
By Zhiyu Zhiyu 2020-10-13 03:38:10 0 277
© 2023 Teachin.id · English
About Teachin.id · Terms · Privacy · Contact Us · Directory


text:
Hendricksville is an unincorporated community in Beech Creek Township, Greene County, Indiana.

History
Hendricksville was likely named for Philip Hendricks, a pioneer. A post office was established at Hendricksville in 1888, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1921.

Geography
Hendricksville is located at .

References

Unincorporated communities in Greene County, Indiana
Unincorporated communities in Indiana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
ALBUM REVIEW: "Lonerism" by Tame Impala
October 09. 2012 | By Sean Morris
Lonerism
[Modular]
Just as many of their space rock predecessors did a generation ago, Tame Impala makes a concerted effort to incorporate catchier elements on Lonerism. "Be Above It" is a forceful opener, with synths and vocals shimmering over the drum lead that submerges us into the deep end of the reverb pool. Two tempos, one sprightly and the other stately, duel on the mini-epic "Apocalypse Dreams." The album truly shines when it revels in tawdry confections like "Mind Mischief," featuring an unabashedly poppy guitar melody. "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" is a stellar (or should we say interstellar?) ballad, cosmic organ and bluesy bass excellently complementing the relationship kiss-off lyrics.
Despite its title, Lonerism's overall tone is sunny and inviting, from the cocktail party chatter on "Keep On Lying" to the classic crunch of "Elephant." The only criticism is that the distortion that accentuates the band's aesthetic also makes comprehending lyrics difficult. The two most common follow-up album pitfalls are as follows: either it sounds too much like a remake of the previous release, or it is so markedly dissimilar that it alienates the fan base. With Lonerism, Tame Impala avoids both snares and produces Innerspeaker's arguably more accessible companion.


Learners are most likely to develop and strengthen their capabilities for living and learning when they learn with teachers in a school whose leadership creates conditions that stimulate key competencies.
The key competencies element of The New Zealand Curriculum brings with it exciting possibilities for making students' experience of learning more relevant, engaging, meaningful, and useful. Key competencies-rich programmes will enable students to be confident, connected, actively involved learners in the present and in the future. They will encourage lifelong learners who are equipped to participate in rapidly changing local, national, and global communities.
Giving effect to key competencies in ways that address their complexity will entail significant challenge and change. Tackling those challenges and compelling change to support key competencies is a vital role for school leadership. Effective leaders create the conditions required for key competencies in teaching and learning. They need to ensure that the culture, pedagogy, systems, partnerships, and networks in their school support key competency development. Leaders also need knowledge and skills in leading change since, for many, key competencies require, and make possible, a significant change in practice.
View a text version of this diagram.
This leadership section draws on the work of the Kiwi Leadership for Principals document and on the work of Professor Viviane Robinson and her team on the Educational Leadership Best Evidence Synthesis.
Partnerships/networks: Do school leaders strengthen partnerships and networks in ways that support key competencies?
Key competencies are not only about what students learn in a classroom. They are about students applying learning in a wide range of authentic contexts – at school, at home, and in the wider community. It is important for school leadership to establish systems and a culture in which teachers, students, parents, and caregivers recognise how learning occurs across all of those contexts, and create educationally powerful connections with family, whānau, and communities.
Teachers need to be able to be responsive to students' capabilities as they occur at school, at home, and beyond. Effective principals will ensure the school community develops in a way that connections can be made between these contexts.
Parents and whānau also need to be able to support their child's learning. Effective leadership will build school-family connections that focus on teaching and learning. They will ensure that the most powerful connections are developed (those, for instance, that help parents support their children's learning at home and school or those that incorporate family and community knowledge into curriculum and teaching). A key role for school leadership will be in supporting communities to recognise key competencies as a valued aspect of student learning. Effective leadership will also reduce expectations likely to lead to negative outcomes for learners (requirements for parent involvement that are not supported, for example, homework surveillance/parent help with homework).
Networks with those in the wider community will also help students and teachers as they seek opportunities for students to apply their learning beyond school in authentic ways. Leaders have a key role in fostering those networks by developing relationships with community partners – for instance, across schools and centres, and with community groups.
Do the partnerships with parents and whānau at your school help parents to support their children's learning?
Do partnerships with parents and whānau enable consideration about students' competencies across school and home contexts?
Do recent school activities aimed at home-school partnerships emphasise informing parents and caregivers, consulting them, or collaborating with them in their child's learning?