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Apple Prime Day deals: discounts on iPad, MacBook, AirPods and more
By Joseph Foley
Contributions from
Beren Neale
last updated 31 October 2022
Find the best Apple Prime Day deals during Amazon's all-new Prime Early Access event.
(Image credit: Future/Apple)
Quick links to deals
MacBook deals
Apple Watch deals
AirPods deals
Apple Pencil deals
The best of Apple Prime Day deals are officially here as the all-new Amazon Prime Early Access event kicks off! Not a member of Amazon Prime? Don't worry: there are still plenty of Apple deals outside of the Prime event that all users can take advantage of. We're still early on in the Apple Amazon Prime Day sale, but we're already seeing some great discounts that even include the brand-new Apple Watch Series 8 in the US!
The Prime Early Access sale runs from 11-12 October. This hub will track all the best Apple Amazon Prime Day deals for the duration of the 48 hour event including iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks and more. We'll be regularly updating this hub with the best Apple tech from the event to get you the best prices possible and we'll include direct links to the sales so you can be sure to get to them quickly before they sell out. Apple products are incredibly popular and discounts are widely sought after, so if there's a stellar deal we don't expect it to last long!
Our hub will include both exclusive Prime member deals and general sale. If you're not a member, now's the perfect time to sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial (opens in new tab) to get the best deals during this event. For now, keep scrolling to find the best Apple Amazon Prime Day deals right now!
Apple Prime Early Access sale deals quick links
Apple Prime Day deals: US
Browse the Apple Amazon sale: See all Apple products at Amazon (opens in new tab)
MacBook Pro 16: Save $300 on the stunning 2021 MacBook Pro 16 (opens in new tab)
MacBook Pro 14: Save $300 on the 2021 MacBook Pro 14 (opens in new tab)
MacBook Air (M2, 2022): Get $150 off Apple's newest laptop (opens in new tab)
iPad Pro 12: $100 price cut, now from $999 (opens in new tab)
iPad Pro 11: Get up to $250 off the 2021 iPad Pro 11 (opens in new tab)
Apple Watch Series 8: Save $50 on the brand-new Apple Watch Series 8 (opens in new tab)
Apple Watch SE: Save up to $120 – now from $199 (opens in new tab)
AirPods: Save $70 on the Apple AirPods Max (opens in new tab)
Apple Amazon Prime Day deals: UK
Current Apple Amazon sale deals: Shop all Apple products at Amazon (opens in new tab)
MacBook Pro: Save up to £270 on the 2021 MacBook Pro 14 (opens in new tab)
MacBook Pro 13: Save up to £150 on the new 2022 M2 MacBook Pro 13 (opens in new tab)
iMac: price cuts of up to 19% on 2020 27-inch iMacs (opens in new tab)
iPad: Get £35 off the 2021 iPad with 256GB – now just £424.99 (opens in new tab)
iPad Pro: £58.90 price cut on the 2021 iPad Pro 11 1TB – now £1,340.10 (opens in new tab)
Mac Mini: £77 off the 2020 M1 Mac mini – now just £622.97 (opens in new tab)
AirPods: Save 21% on AirPods Pro – now £189 (opens in new tab)
Apple Watch: Price cuts of up to $100 on Apple Watch Series 7 (opens in new tab)
Apple Amazon sale deals in full
Apple Amazon sale: iPad deals
The only official iPad Prime Day deal in July was on iPad Air 4 in the UK. We'll soon know if we'll be luckier this time around. For now, the great news is that there are some good Amazon iPad deals that are open to everyone.
Prime Apple iPad deals: US
Jump to iPad deals in the UK
iPad Air (2022): $749 $679 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to $70: This deal was running during Prime Day way back in July, and it's still available now. This saves you $70 on the latest iPad Air, which was only released in March and feels more like an iPad Pro than ever – it even has the same chip.
iPad Pro 11 (M1, 2021) 512GB: $1,099 $849 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $250: There are great savings to be had on the iPad Pro 11 with up to 23% off. This comes with most of the benefits of the larger 12.9in device but with a smaller price. The 128GB entry-level configuration was out of stock when we last checked, but the others were still available.
iPad Pro (12-inch, 2021): $1,199 $999 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $200: Unfortunately, the bigger savings on the highest-end configurations of the iPad Pro had gone when we last checked, but there's still this tasty saving if you want the 128GB entry configuration.
iPad mini (2021): From $499 $399 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $100: The iPad Pro is powerful, but it's also a little large and unwieldy for use on the move, especially while commuting. For creative work on the go, we highly rate the compact little iPad mini, so this is a great deal for anyone who wants a super portable tablet for drawing, note-taking and more.
Prime Apple iPad deals: UK
iPad Pro 11 (M1, 2021, 1TB): From £1,399 £1,340 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £58.90: In the UK, Amazon has this £58.90 saving on the 2021 iPad Pro 11 with an impressive 1TB of storage space.
iPad mini (2021): From £479 £459 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to £40: The iPad mini doesn't have the power of the iPad Pro, but it is a step up from the entry-level iPad, and its compact form makes it perfect for drawing and other creative work on the go. Amazon has discounts on both the 64GB and 256GB configurations.
Apple Amazon sale: MacBook deals
Whether you're looking for the light and portable MacBook Air or the super-powerful MacBook Pro, MacBook Prime Day deals could get you a welcome saving when they come around again. Here are a few good Amazon MacBook deals running right now, and these are available to everyone.
Prime Apple MacBook deals: US
Jump to MacBook deals in the UK
MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro, 2021): $2,499 $2,199 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $300: You get 16GB RAM, 556GB SSD with the 2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch, and save $300. It's bigger than any Apple Prime Day MacBook deal we've seen, so worth thinking about getting now.
Save $300: Get $300 off the 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch, which boasts super performance and practical portability. It's a bit cheaper than its larger 16in sibling above.
MacBook Air (M2, 2022): $1,199 $1,049 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $150: If you don't quite need so much power, Amazon also has a nice saving on the newer and more affordable M2-powered MacBook Air, which was only released in July. We found performance to be on a par with this year's MacBook Pro.
Prime Apple MacBook deals: UK
MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro, 2021): from £1,899 £1,729 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to £270: Get massive power in a sleek portable package with a 16GB RAM MacBook Pro with either a 512GB or 1TB SSD. There's 9% off the former and 11% off the latter.
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022, M2): from £1,349 £1,225 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to £150: The newest MacBook Pro with Apple's new M2 chip already has a £124 discount in this great deal on the 256GB SSD configuration. And there's £150 off the 512GB version.
Apple iMac (27-inch, 2020): £1,999 £1,624 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £375: This 19% off Prime members-only Apple Amazon sale deal is the biggest discount we've seen in the UK on the 2020 27-inch iMac with its retina 5K display. The price above is for the Intel Core i5 configuration, but there's a similar saving on the i7 version too.
Apple Amazon sale: Apple Watch deals
With the new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra released last month, the Apple Amazon sale looks during Prime Early Access looks set to be a good time for Amazon Apple Watch deals. We're most likely to see savings on the 2021 Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE, but we're already seeing some good savings on the latest Series 8 model which is promising.
Prime Apple Watch deals: US
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, 41mm) $399 $349 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $50: Considering the Series 8 is under a month old, we're seriously impressed to see a 13-per cent saving already! We don't expect this to last long, so snap it up whilst stocks last. You can also choose from several colours and configurations. Winner!
Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm): $429 $379 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $50: This certainly isn't the best deal we've seen on the Series 7 – we saw better during Prime Day in July, and it doesn't make huge sense when there's a saving on the newer Series 8, but keep an eye on this because the price could drop.
Apple Watch SE (Gen 1, 2021): From $279 $199 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to $120: Apple's most affordable Apple Watch just got a lot more affordable with up to a third off at Amazonright now. The biggest saving is on the GPS + cellular configurations, where you can save up to $120, but there's $80 off the GPS configuration too in certain colours
Prime Apple Watch deals: UK
Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS): £399 £359 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £40: This members-only Apple Amazon Prime deal saves you £40 on the 45mm GPS configuration of last year's Apple Watch 7. It's a similar deal to what Amazon ran during Prime Day in July and well worth snapping up if you don't want to pay more for the new Apple Watch Series 8. No discount on the 41mm yet though.
Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular): From £499 £399 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save up to £100: There are savings on both sizes of the GPS + cellular configuration of the Apple Watch Series 7, with an impressive 20 per cent off the larger 45mm. That's one of the biggest discounts we've ever seen on the Apple Watch Series 7 in the UK. This deal's available for non-members too.
Apple Watch SE (2021, GPS 44mm): From £269 £239 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £30: There are also Prime members-only deals on the 2021 Apple Watch SE, again only on the larger of the two sizes the watch comes in (we're not sure why Amazon seems to be favouring Prime members with larger wrists).
Apple Amazon sale: AirPods deals
AirPods are the Apple products that tend to see the most regular discounts at Apple Amazon sales, so they could be a good bet for next week's Apple Prime deals. These are the best deals that are live at the moment.
Prime Apple AirPods deals: US
Apple AirPods Max: $549 $479 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $70: This is a welcome discount on Apple's over-ear headphones, but they were previously reduced to $429. Still, this is a great discount.
Apple AirPods: $159 $89.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $69.01: For inner ears, Amazon has 43% off the standard Apple AirPods, taking the price down to a very reasonable $89.99
Prime Apple AirPods deals: UK
Apple AirPods Pro: £239 £189 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £50.97: These fantastic noise-cancelling ear buds come with Siri voice commands, and a wireless charging case to boost battery life. This isn't the best saving we've ever seen in the UK, but it's still a great deal.
Apple AirPods Max: £549 £469 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save £100: You can save 15-per cent off various colour variations of the brilliant Apple AirPods Max on Amazon right now. Considering how expensive these Apple headphones are, it's well worth grabbing this discount if you've had your eye on them.
Apple Amazon sale: iPhone deals
We don't tend to see Amazon iPhone deals in the US – y our best bet for a discount on a new iPhone is usually via trade in direct with Apple (opens in new tab), but there are some Apple Amazon sales deals to be grabbed in the UK.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro (2021): From £1,049 £979 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save 7%: With the new iPhone 14 just released, Amazon has some exclusive Prime members-only savings across last year's iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. There are discounts on several configurations, the cheapest being the 256GB configuration of the Pro in graphite. Savings on the larger Pro Max (opens in new tab) appear to be on the 1TB configuration only.
Today's best iphone 14, Apple iPhone 14 Pro, Apple iPhone 13, Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Mini deals
Contract Deals
Sim Free
Unlimited mins
Unlimitedtexts
3GBdata
(opens in new tab) upfront
at Sky (opens in new tab)
100GBdata
at Affordablemobiles (opens in new tab)
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Apple Amazon sale: Apple Pencil deals
Apple Pencils don't tend to come in for more than the occasional small discount around $20/£20. We saw discounts of that size during Amazon Prime Day in July, and we can expect to see similar next week. Here's what you can get right now...
Today's best Apple Pencil deals
Apple Pencil (1st gen)
All you need to know about the Apple Amazon sale
What is the Amazon Prime Early Access sale?
Amazon is launching a new members-only sale this year with the catchy title of Amazon Prime Early Access sale. The 'early access' appears to be a reference to its timing not long before Black Friday. Since it's a new event, we can't be sure exactly what to expect, but the suggestion is that it will offer Black Friday-style deals exclusively for Prime members.
When is the Amazon Prime Early Access sale 2022?
We can expect to see any Amazon Prime Early access Apple deals appear from Tuesday 11 October at midnight in the UK and at midnight Pacific Time in the US. Like Prime Day, the event will run for 48 hours, but we recommend keeping an eye on the deals below in the run-up to the event and even afterwards too.
Are Apple products included in Amazon Prime Early Access sale?
This will be the first Amazon Prime Early Access sale, so we're not entirely sure what to expect. If turns out to cover the same range of products as Prime Day, then we can expect discounts on a wide range of tech items, probably including some Apple products.
Don't expect massive Apple Prime Early Access deals across the tech giant's whole range. After all, Apple products tend to hold their value and don't often get big discounts. But, based on previous years, we expect to see some decent savings.
During Prime Day in July we saw savings of up to $200 / £200 off the price of some iPads and MacBooks. We also saw a record low price on the Apple Watch Series 7 and some great prices on AirPods. By and large, you'll need to turn to slightly older Apple products for the biggest potential savings, and there may be many savings that are not officially part of the Prime Early Access sale, making them available for everyone.
Do I need to be a Prime member to get Prime Early Access Apple deals?
In the main, yes; at least to get the official deals during Prime Day or the Prime Early Access sale, you need to be a member of Amazon's subscription service, Amazon Prime. Luckily you can sign up for a no-strings-attached 30-day free trial (opens in new tab).
The free trial means you can take advantage of any Amazon Prime Day Early Access deals before you start to be charged for a subscription. And you can always even cancel your subscription with no penalty as soon as Prime Day is over if you really don't think you'll continue to use the benefits of the service. But also, as well as any Prime Early Access Apple deals, we expect we'll also see Apple deals that are open to everyone (see the best current deals below).
What Amazon Prime Early Access Apple deals should I look out for?
In July, we saw Prime Day Apple deals on a wide range of products, from iPads to AirPods and MacBooks. In most cases, they weren't actually official Prime Day Apple deals, but were Amazon Apple deals that were open to everyone, not just Prime members. The one Apple product that did see members-only Prime Day deals was Apple Watch – specifically Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE, the first of which saw discounts of over $100 / £100.
We'd expect to see something similar during the Amazon Prime Early Access sale, especially now that Apple was released the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra. The release of new models makes us think that we'll see even bigger savings on the Series 7, or perhaps even some deals on the Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra. Based on previous savings, we'd say that AirPods are also a good bet for Apple Prime Day Early Access deals. Savings on other Apple products might not be in the Prime Day Early Access sale proper, but we still expect to see more savings than usual across Amazon.
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Joseph Foley
Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news and features, updates buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment for creatives, from monitors to accessories and office supplies. A writer and translator, he also works as a project manager at London and Buenos Aires-based design and branding agency Hermana Creatives, where he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing photography, video content, graphic design and collaterals for the hospitality sector. He enjoys photography, particularly nature photography, wellness and he dances Argentine tango.
With contributions from
Beren NealeDeals Editor
This beautiful animation is the best thing you'll see this weekend


April 13, 2011 Toshiko Ota, 78, of Mililani, a retired Mililani Golf Course cook, died in Mililani. She was born in Korea. She is survived by daughters Akemi Morita and Hitomi Ishikawa; sisters Shigeko Yoshino, Katsuko Otake and Yoriko Tanda; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation: 10 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Services: 11 a.m. Casual attire.


Org, Orlando Weekly, Buffalove Development, kult Studio, The Milk Bar Lounge, Studio Thirteen Tattoo, Ginger Minj Official Fan Page, The Sun Shoppe Cafe, TEDxOrlando, Tepui Tents, The..
Walaupun OPS Sikap xiii sempena Aidilfitri baru-baru ini berjaya mengurangkan kes kemalangan maut daripada 213 kes kepada 203 kes, namun statistik masih menunjukkan bahawa kemalangan keseluruhan pada..
little wheels in it or a wind up toy. We cannot think of life without wheels. Though Rosa Parks is an at-large example, this belief of individuality and "going against the system" can and should be applied to every person's life. From this ancient civilization came some of the most revolutionary and life changing inventions such as writing, medicine, math and most importantly the wheel. On April 23, 1911 the world first of the worlds fastest mile was completed in 25 seconds (Carter). There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. There have been many changes to the wheel that have made it a more advanced invention and changed into newer inventions. Another example is writing, with this you can only keep records or write stories while the wheel can take you all across the country. They are the epitome of the force for which they fight. Better Essays 517 words (1.5 pages). As you can see the wheel is by far the best invention in Ancient Mesopotamian history. Both mode II and mode III having a shear stress acting parallel to the plane of the crack but the difference is in mode II, shear stress is acting perpendicular to the crack front while in mode III, shear stress is acting parallel to the.
The pottery wheel is an invention that has simply changed a few things about the wheel to make it work. The potters wheel is estimated to have been invented in 3000 BC and is a very important feature to the culture of nearly every country (Bryant). Analysis of The Weakest Link and the. Wheel of Fortune This essay will be exploring the conventions of two different quiz shows, The Weakest Link and the.
Due to all of his amazing achievements in science, technology, and art, Leonardo da Vinci is the most influential and significant man of his time. Better Essays 1940 words (5.5 pages) - Transportation has evolved significantly over the course of history, from the primitive body part known as the foot, to the molecular transporters we hope to have in the distant future. Better Essays 951 words (2.7 pages) - Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Pottery is one of the only ways we can tell how the ancient towns had worked. Free Essays 2320 words (6.6 pages) - Some photographs are destined to be ruined or forgotten. The wheel is not only a great invention put it has shaped our would in so many different ways. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.


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Home » Articles » Pentagon R&E Chief Lays Out Plans for Technology Experimentation Campaign
AUSA NEWS: Pentagon R&E Chief Lays Out Plans for Technology Experimentation Campaign
Shyu
Jon Harper photo
The U.S. military is planning to conduct an expansive campaign of "rapid joint experimentation" in fiscal year 2023 and beyond and has already identified more than 30 projects that could be part of the effort, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said Oct. 12.
The R&E office has been working closely with the services, Joint Staff and combatant commands to identify capability gaps and technologies that could potentially fill them.
Shyu's office has received more than 200 white papers addressing a wide variety of areas of interest. Examples include early indication and warning and enhanced communications. After reviewing the proposals, the R&E team made a recommendation to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks to fund 32 projects that are expected to have the greatest payoff.
"What we are doing in the campaign of rapid joint experimentation is we've actually mapped the joint warfighting capability gaps into a set of experiments, and what we plan to do is conduct experiments in FY '23 so we can quantify the effectiveness of the prototypes and enable rapid transition into operations," she told reporters at the Association of the United States Army's annual conference in Washington, D.C.
"There's a lot of enthusiasm because the capability gaps that we're closing are joint capability gaps," she added. "Multiple services have the same capability gap."
The R&E office is working closely with the combatant commands to flesh out the details of how the experiments will be conducted.
After the experiments in 2023 conclude, operators will evaluate whether a particular product would have utility for warfighters. If so, the Pentagon could move toward rapid fielding, Shyu said.
Both government and industry could be asked to bring their equipment to the events, she said.
Beyond 2023, the Pentagon plans to continue the rapid joint experimentation campaign on an annual basis.
However, the amount of funding available will play a major role in shaping how expansive the campaign will be, she noted.
"It's budget constrained, depending on how much money we get," she said. "We've mapped this whole thing out. It's already been briefed, so we're just looking for the money to get going."
In the future, Shyu said her office could conduct two technology "sprints" per year if enough funding is provided.
She declined to say how much funding she has requested for the experimentation campaign.
"But I can tell you that the amount of money we're looking for relative to the value it's going to bring — it's pretty small and very impactful," she said.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As you're probably aware, my birth story is a traumatic one. If you're not aware, you can read all about it here, which I highly recommend doing. You all caught up? Okay, good. Back in October, I finally got the chance to go through my notes and get some answers.
Honestly, I struggled to understand a lot of it, even with a midwife explaining various terms used. Thankfully though, the senior midwife made an appointment for me to discuss it further with a gynaecologist surgeon who was actually there and helped to save my life. But basically, I was fucked. The bleeding started pretty much straight after birth and they gave me a ton of different meds to try and stop it, and massaged my uterus. Unfortunately that didn't work, so next they tried a vaginal 'pack' which was meant to absorb and stop the bleeding. The initial plan was to leave it in for 24 hours, take it out and tah-dah! I'd be fixed. Yeah, no. Clearly that didn't work, so they used the balloon method. I can't remember the science behind this one and it actually makes me quite uncomfortable to think about so I'm just going to skip ahead.
Once they realised that wasn't working they tried a 'modified' b-lynch method; they essentially tied my uterus up into a ball to compress and stop the bleeding. Again, that didn't work. If I remember rightly (I really should have been taking notes myself) they were still pumping me full of medication. They were so desperate not to lose me.
This drawing shows my uterus and the b-lynch method. The circles indicate where the uterus was tied.
Eventually they realised that the only option was to remove the uterus, as any other procedure was most likely to end in death. However, even after the hysterectomy that was still a worry for them. But I'll come back to that shortly.
The main questions I've had since it happened is 1. What did they remove and 2. How much blood did I lose. Thankfully, I now have the answers to both of those questions. While I was reading up on hysterectomies I saw that sometimes they take the cervix, and other times they don't. It's then I realised that I didn't know if I still had that or not. In short; no, I don't. I literally only have my fallopian tubes and ovaries. As for my blood loss, they estimated around 16 pints of blood left my body. So yeah, what my body can hold, twice over. Thank god for blood donors.
I guess I'm just starting to realise the severity of my situation. I was told by Ash and Mum that at around 4am they were told that it was questionable whether I would survive or not. I assumed that this meant they hadn't done the hysterectomy at that point, but it turns out that they started the procedure at 2:43am but they still weren't sure whether I'd make it at 4:15am. Honestly, I thought it was a case of they did the hysterectomy and were celebrating that they'd saved me, but that wasn't the case at all. In fact I don't even know at what point the poor sods were able to relax about my situation.
I'm not sure if I feel better for knowing everything or not. I mean, I always knew that the risk of dying was there, but I didn't realise they were still worried over an hour after the procedure. I think my family are glad that I finally understand, and realise how scared they were for me. In a way it's okay for me, I "slept through it all" and just had to deal with it in the morning, whereas my family - Ash especially - had to be there at the hospital, scared for my life and trying to look after our newborn all night/morning. Obviously I still have to deal with it and will do for the rest of my life, but I didn't have to go through the horror of the situation. Admittedly I was scared when I was freezing cold and shaking before they wheeled me back into theatre but that was still easier on me than my family being scared and worried sick all night and most of the following day.
I am so, so glad that I was able to see Dr Subramanya. Hearing what happened by someone who was actually there and helped make decisions and worked on me was a. Amazing and b. Much more helpful than being read my notes by someone who wasn't there and doesn't even understand half the jargon. She was able to explain the methods used and give me information that wasn't even in my notes. I finally found out why I was bleeding. My uterus was tired from the long labour. Poor thing. I don't know how to feel about that. Yes, it was a long and difficult labour but...my uterus was literally made for that purpose. I don't know, I guess I am a little bit pissed off at my body for failing me but I'm still so grateful for the team and donors that saved my life.
I know I've mentioned it previously but in my October meeting, I was under the impression that I had lost 13 pints of blood but no, it was actually 16. Which is still less than I thought! I also found out that I had a tear at the very top of my uterus. Dr Su did admit there's a possibility that was caused by the team but because it was so high up, they didn't find it until the hysterectomy was commenced. So I guess we'll never know for sure. But I finally got my answer as to why I haemorrhaged. My uterus was tired. My uterus almost killed me because it was tired from doing it's job. I know Mum has always called me bone idle but I think that's taking the piss a bit.
When I was discussing this with my counsellor I told her that the craziest part for me is the fact that many midwives and surgeons remember my name. The situation itself is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, so obviously that's not going to be forgotten any time soon but the fact my name is remembered seven months later really gets me. She then told me that what happened to me is being used to teach other/future doctors and surgeons what to do if it were to happen again. I never even considered that. The entire thing is insane.
I'm still really grateful for the team, and blood donors that were essential to my survival. I do occasionally feel quite bitter about the hysterectomy but when the choice was that or death, I know which one I would pick. I'm also really lucky the bleeding actually started straight away. My counsellor pointed that to me. If I'd made it through recovery and got back to the ward before I started bleeding...it's just not worth thinking about. Now I just have to remember that I've been given a second chance at life (or three or four as my counsellor said) and I need to start living. I need to live my life and do the things I want to do, no matter how much it scares me.


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"Sandpiper has no significant impact"
Posted by admin | Feb 10, 2012 | General News
The developers of the Sandpiper project off the coast of Namibia have found no significant environmental issues regarding its marine component.
"No significant environmental issues pertaining to the marine component of the Sandpiper project have been identified to preclude the dredging of phosphate-enriched sediments from the mining licence area No.170 in the environment impact assessment (EIA) report submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism recently," said Chris Jordinson, managing director of UCL Resources Ltd.
According to Jordinson the stakeholders have, however, identified numerous management and mitigation strategies for the various project aspects and potential impacted areas.
These strategies involve achieving all requirements as outlined in the environmental management plan as in the EIA report; to establish integrated safety, health, environment and quality and operational management systems to facilitate the implementation of the environmental management plan and to undertake monitoring programmes. Mitigation strategies also involve ensuring that the operations at sea are undertaken in accordance with accepted safe and responsible vessel management practices as well as ensuring that the appropriate emergency response systems are in place.
The project, which is based on a marine phosphate deposit situated about 60km offshore and 150km south of Walvis Bay in water depths of 180-300m, has caused alarm amongst environmental experts who say it could have a negative impact on the fisheries industry. A loss of habitat, impairment of food chain functionality, possible release of hydrogen sulphide into the water column, removal of typical spawning and feeding grounds and interference with fish behaviour, are some of the potential impacts of the proposed marine activities associated with the Sandpiper project.
Minemakers owns 42.5% shares in the Sandpiper project, while Union Resources Limited own another 42.5%. Local partner, Tungeni Investments own 15.0%. Once operational, the project could produce 3 million tonnes of marketable rock phosphate concentrate per annum. The Ministry of Mines and Energy awarded the joint venture partners with a mining licence for a period of 20 years. The project will create an estimated 300 to 400 employment opportunities during the construction phase and another 150 permanent jobs during production.
Jordinson says the benefits which can be gained from the proposed project are significant.
"These benefits include employment opportunities for Namibians; training, skills development and educational advancements; increased economic opportunities for support service industries and it could establish Namibia among the world leaders in the production of phosphate," he told the Economist.
He further said that the initial rock phosphate concentrate production forms the first phase of a possible development of an integrated phosphate/fertilizer industry in Namibia.
"It is the company's intention to investigate at a later stage an in-country beneficiation of the product by development of locally based phosphoric acid and fertiliser plant which would create significantly more employment opportunities," Jordinson said.
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Q: Computer emits high pitched squeal I'm making a new thread because I've gone through several diagnostic steps and still have not made any progress. The CPU is custom built by me, and several years old.
At startup and shutdown the computer emits a high-pitched whine/squeal. The only times it definitely makes the sound is during boot-up or startup.
Things I've tested so far:

*

*Removed GPU, still makes sound

*Replaced PSU with new one

*Disconnected HDD's after computer started (so HDD's not on, but computer still squealing; If I don't have them connected the computer won't get past first boot screen and doesn't make a noise.

*Stopped every fan (CPU, GPU, 3 case fans)

It's at the BIOS screen that it made the noise.
It seems like it's coming from the CPU unit, but it is a high-pitched sound so it's hard to localize it. I'm thinking about remounting the CPU, but I need to go get some thermal paste. Could that be the problem? Any other diagnostic steps I should take? I'm baffled.

A: It's probably the power regulators on the motherboard; inductors are known for being noisy at specific frequencies, and the regulators have several inductors.

A: Can only agree with @Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams answer (i was typing answer but he was faster than me), however if you want to test the PSU alone proceed like this :
Disconnect the PSU from everything (motherboard, hdd, ...). then bend green and black wires like on this picture :

It will start the PSU alone and then can check if noise come from there.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Since we are a quarter of the way into 2018, (!!) I'm checking in on my resolution to live an intentional life based on the "Chesterton option," inspired by Dale Ahlquist.
For those of you familiar with Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies, I'm an obliger.
Yaaaay, another box. I do realize that we can't be defined by tidy personality compartments. However I have found the term "obliger" helpful in understanding my relationship with commitment.
This is me: Honey we can't go to that party tonight because last week I mentioned to my mom that maybe we would do dinner tonight.
My honey: Well if you just said 'maybe' then you didn't commit us to anything. I'm sure she's not expecting us if you haven't touched bases since then.
Me: Yea but I feel like she's expecting us and would be disappointed… we just really should go. Let me text her.
Mom, via text: Hey sweetie we have a really busy night, lets try for a different day.
This is also me: Oh woops I forgot to do my burpees today, and now I'm in bed. Bummer.
I will bend over backwards to keep a commitment, however lightly made, to someone else, but I'm not that good at following through with my own fantastic ideas (like doing burpees everyday).
This new year, I resolved to implement certain aspects of "the Chesterton Option" into my daily life. The Chesterton Option is is a blueprint of sorts for an intentional, joyful, faith-centred and quite cultured life, courtesy of Dale Ahlquist. Which you should totally check out in it's entirety here.
We're three months aka one quarter into the new year, so I decided to go back and see how I'm doing with this whole deal.
In a nutshell, living the Chesterton Option means being faithful to the Faith, and taking control of your own life. There are plenty of practical points to help you carry this out, (which I go into below) but these are the two main goals. These two goals are difficult to measure, but I do think it's helpful to reflect on them a little. They are the whole point, after all.
This seems ironic. Didn't I just say I was going to let go of my own plans? Wouldn't that be another way of saying I need to let go of control? Hmmmm. This definitely merits a lot more thought, (maybe it's own post?) but I know that my freedom is a gift from God. If I give that freedom away through complacency, loss of temper, or time-sucking addictions (e.g. to blue light and bad habits) then I am not following God's plan for me. Right now I'm working on control of my self and the time I'm given.
Time: This past month I gave up using Instagram during the week, only allowing myself to check it on Saturday evenings. I no longer mindlessly check Instagram, so I'll count that as a step toward control, but I do still reach for my phone and mindlessly swipe through apps. Geez. Work to do for sure.
Self/Emotions: I have been working on getting enough sleep, calmly explaining my frustrations instead of bottling them in, and respecting others when they request to 'talk about this later.' #1 on that list is going quite well, #s 2 and 3 are touch and go. Ha. Go figure.
Work to become my own employer: I have plans, though they are going more slowly than I would like. Stay posted!
Buy local: This was more difficult than I originally thought it would be. The town where we were living had a very limited winter farmer's market, but we were still able to support local companies that sold their products through the grocery stores. We have talked about ways to give better local support when we are more permanently settled, e.g. stocking up at the summer markets and then freezing and canning, getting in touch with local fishermen and butchers, etc. We were lucky enough this year to partake in a very delicious, locally sourced lamb for Easter dinner. That was awesome.
Give part of my money each month to the poor or worthy causes: I came up with a giving plan that includes my favorite organizations, and I have been keeping cash in my wallet to add to the collection at my parish on Sundays. (Which does me no good when I leave my wallet in the car. :/) Baby steps.
Make my own entertainment: I wrote about our efforts in this post, and it's been a gradual process, with good results. We have enjoyed several evenings of dinner with friends, and have recently managed to cut back on Netflix almost completely. With family in town for Easter there is never a dull moment. We've been hiking, playing pick-up sports, and enjoying each other's company. TBD how things go when the festivities and visits die down.
Make my own art: I have not spent a lot of time on this aspect, although I did partake in some good pysanky making during the last weeks of Lent. I love that kind of ritualistic art, tied to a liturgical season, with deep traditions and meaning. I would love to try icon writing someday!
Read old books: Cutting back on Netflix has given me more time for reading, and I've found some good ones. (I share my favorite books in my monthly newsletter, if you are interested in joining that.) Most of the books haven't been old, (not sure how old is old) but they've been good and very worthwhile.
Grow plants: I nearly killed my basil plant. I'm new to the whole winter thing, so let's check back on this at the end of the next quarter. Cool?
Share a meal every day: We have always made a point of eating dinner together, and breakfast too when possible. We decided to really enjoy this time together by eating at the table, instead of on the couch in front of the tv. Even if we do want to watch a show, we save it for after dinner now. I'm liking it.
Pray for 30 minutes every morning: I almost can't believe it, but I've been pulling this off almost every morning. I miss it when I don't. It's doable, guys! I will say that for the last several weeks I've been ignoring my own advice to get up and out of bed first, but due to circumstances, the best way for me to make it happen has been to get at it as soon as my eyelids crack.
Keep silence: This has been going fine, although I would really like for my brain to be quiet as well. C'mon, brain. I'm still working on turning off external noise for parts of the day, and trying to quiet my own thoughts and be present to God more consistently. Long way to go.
It's encouraging to look back after three months and see that good change is possible. It's also humbling to realize how weak I am and how much better I can do. This whole quarterly check in might become a recurring event!
How has 2018 been for you so far? Where have you grown? And what work would you still like to do? Let me know in the comments so we can encourage each other!


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Home » Entertainment » Exclusive Interviews with the Cast of Baby Daddy
Exclusive Interviews with the Cast of Baby Daddy
Posted by Shelby Barone on Jan 13, 2015 in Entertainment, Television Shows | 0 comments
We attended the interviews as a guest of Disney
After a long day, taking care of the kids, one of the things I enjoy is watching a hilarious comedy with my husband before going to bed. We are always looking for a new television series to watch together, and the series 'Baby Daddy' is one of our favorites.
Recently, I went to Los Angeles to have a sneak peek of the winter premiere, visit the set and interview the cast of the show. The winter premiere is one of my favorite episodes partly because of a steamy shower scene (spoiler alert!).
We started by talking to our favorite comedian on the show, the mom, Bonnie Wheeler, played by Melissa Peterman. Peterman was originally cast for a guest spot in the pilot, but they decided to add her on as a full-time cast member. "The first time I sat down for a table read, I felt like we'd been together forever," said Peterman. Peterman is very active on the show doing lots of falling and tripping. "I adore physical comedy and random falling," said Peterman. The writers cannot write physical comedy into a script..that is all on the talent of the actors, and Peterman is the best I've seen.
I know I had to have gotten your attention by mentioning the steamy shower scene. That scene in the winter premiere features the talented Derek Theler. When Peterman was walking away from talking to us, and Theler sat down to talk to our group, Peterman said, "there was not that many pictures being taking when I was up there." Baby Daddy is the first lead gig for Theler, and he went through six auditions to get the sitcom role. "Who wouldn't like to work like this every day?" said Theler. The actor is the first of his family to start in the business, and he has a pre-med degree. "It's all pure fun. We work all week towards our live Friday night show. The fans, who regularly come, are real..the laugh tracks are real." said Theler.
One of our favorite actors in the show is Tahj Mowrey, who portrays Tucker Dobbs. I've grown-up watching Tahj on the shows 'Full House', 'Who's the Boss' and with his sisters on 'Sister Sister'. It was such an honor to sit down and talk with the actor that I've seen grow up with me on all of my favorite television shows. Why did he choose Baby Daddy to be the next step in his career? "I liked the script a lot and that it was a family driven show," said Mowrey, "When you do it in front of an audience you get instant satisfaction."
We ended the day with a bang by talking with the Baby Daddy himself, Jean-Luc Bilodeau. One factor of the show that caught my attention was that that the first two sets of twins on the show were OC Babies. That's right…OC Moms played a huge role in the success of the show. Bilodeau was nervous about starting the first season and meeting the parents of the babies, "especially the first season when I picked up a baby for the first time in my life," said Bilodeau. After working with the babies on the series, "It has warmed me up to the idea of having a bigger family than I had planned on. I am more comfortable than the first seasons. It's good practice..although I've never changed a diaper," said Bilodeau.
Don't miss the winter premiere of Baby Daddy on ABC Family on Wednesday at 8:30pm. I guarantee that you'll be hooked.
Behind the Scenes of the hit ABC Family Show 'Baby Daddy'
Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence Dish on Melissa & Joey
ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas
OC Mom Blog is Going 'Into the Woods' For the Holidays
The Future is Bright with Future-Worm
Behind the Scenes of Jimmy Kimmel Live
Extreme Weight Loss Tips From JD Roth
10 Facts about the Gilmore Girls
Behind the Scenes Photo Tour of the ABC Series Mistresses
An Epic Voltron Blast From the Past at Dreamworks


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The Dizzy Dogs is a family ride. It has a double circular motion. The base of the ride spins the four bear tubs via electric motor. The dogs themselves spin through people power. There is a round wheel in the center that the riders turn to make the giant dog turn. The faster they spin the wheel, the faster the dog spins.


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Remote Sensing Satellite Market: COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan | $ 4.64 Billion Incremental Growth During 2020-2024 | Technavio
The new remote sensing satellite market research report from Technavio indicates negative growth in the short term as the business impact of COVID-19 spreads.
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Remote Sensing Satellite Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)
Get detailed insights on the COVID-19 pandemic Crisis and Recovery analysis of the remote sensing satellite market.
Get FREE report sample within MINUTES
"One of the primary growth drivers for this market is the growing adoption of SATCOM-based systems and equipment", says a senior analyst for the Industrials industry at Technavio. As the markets recover, Technavio expects the remote sensing satellite market size to grow by USD 4.64 billion during the period 2020-2024.
Remote Sensing Satellite Market Segment Highlights for 2020
The remote sensing satellite market is expected to post a year-over-year growth rate of 7.11%.
Based on the application, the space-based RADAR segment led the market in 2019. The growth of the segment is due to the increasing investments from government agencies in the acquisition of intelligence imagery to address the evolving security concerns.
The market growth in the segment will be significant during the forecast period.
36% of the growth will originate from the APAC region.
The enhancement of the capabilities of combatants for both space and airborne imaging platforms are driving the market growth in APAC.
China and Japan are the key markets for remote sensing satellites in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions.
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Global Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Market - Global satellite manufacturing and launch market is segmented by product (satellite manufacturing and launch services), application (communication satellite, military surveillance, earth observation satellite, navigation satellite, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report
The remote sensing satellite market size is expected to accelerate at a CAGR of almost 7% during the forecast period.
The remote sensing satellite market is segmented by Type (Space-based radar, SATCOM, and Space-based EO/IR) and Geography (Europe, APAC, North America, MEA, and South America).
The market is concentrated due to the presence of many/few established vendors holding significant market share.
The research report offers information on several market vendors, including Airbus SE, Ball Corp., ImageSat International NV, Lockheed Martin Corp., Maxar Technologies Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Planet Labs Inc., Satellite Imaging Corp., Thales Group, and The Boeing Co.
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Maharashtra HSC, SSC exam dates announced
Washington [US], January 21 (ANI): New research published in the British Journal of Psychology indicates that social influence has a large impact on people's adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 21 (ANI): Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Thursday announced the dates for Maharashtra Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) exams.
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 21 (ANI): The Army facilitated vocational training classes for the women in Kashmir's Budgam district in which they have received training of various skill including stitching, knitting, and embroidery.
Hope and inspiration at Joe Biden inauguration
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No tax hike in Springwater in 2021
You might say Springwater Township's zero-per-cent tax increase falls into the zero-net-sum game. If you continue to pay your taxes, they won't raise them in 2021. "We generated a zero-per-cent increase because any increase is impacted by COVID-19. To generate a tax increase in this environment is just not fair," said Coun. Jack Hanna. The 2021 budget has set aside $21.3 million in operating costs, $18.6 million for capital expenditures, $2.8 million for water operations and $1.7 million for wastewater management, for a grand total of $44.4 million. Originally, the budget was expected to show a 1.8-per-cent increase, but council convinced staff to keep the status quo for another year. "This year has brought unprecedented challenges for residents and businesses, as many struggle to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. By approving a zero-per-cent tax increase, council is providing relief to property owners and allowing them to better weather these uncertain times," said Nicole Audette, Springwater's communications officer. However, the budget does include a $2.6-million price tag for a new Springwater Fire Station 2 to be located at the corner of Bayfield Street and Snow Valley Road. It will eventually help service the Geranium subdivision development, which will see 342 homes built on Carson Road in the coming year. The County of Simcoe also approved its annual budget with a zero-per-cent increase. Cheryl Browne, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
The EHRC has not lost its independence
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Over 10 lakh healthcare workers immunised against COVID-19, says Centre; 187 AEFIs reported today
Meanwhile, five people died in a fire that broke out in a facility of the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune's Manjari area. SII is manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, 'Covishield'
Nova Scotia finance minister says she will leave politics when next election called
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's deputy premier and finance minister says she will leave politics when the next provincial election is called. Karen Casey made the announcement following a cabinet meeting today, saying that after 15 years representing the riding of Colchester North, she is ready to retire and wants to spend more time with her grandchildren. Casey says while she had been pondering her future for some time she only made a final decision over the last week. She had served under Premier Stephen McNeil in the education and health portfolios and was named deputy premier in 2017. McNeil, who is leaving politics next month, says he counts Casey as a personal friend and believes she played an "integral role" in helping return the province to fiscal health. Casey was a former interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives and defected to the Liberals in 2011. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. The Canadian Press
Trump Is Out. You Can Laugh Again. TV's Funniest Women Will Show You How
THE AMBER RUFFIN SHOW — "November 6, 2020" Episode 106 — Pictured: Amber Ruffin — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/Peacock) "No one got into comedy to make fun of Donald Trump. You get into comedy so you can dress like a dinosaur and sing a song," Peacock's The Amber Ruffin Show host Amber Ruffin told Refinery29 over the phone in late November. But Donald Trump's administration — a white supremacist black hole that swallowed logic, human rights, and comedy starting with his election in 2016 — banished such frivolity from the late night TV landcape. When he was elected, the comedy community wasn't quite sure how to deal with a professional reality show buffoon squatting in the White House for four years. But the after-hours genre very quickly became our most reliable daily reality check on Trump & Co.'s punishing, brain-melting activities. From Samantha Bee's Full Frontal monologues on TBS to the reliably searing commentary of Daily Show correspondents like Dulcé Sloan, late night was there to break down the day's horrors into digestible pieces and maybe make you choke out a gallows laugh before bed (or during your morning commute). As Comedy Central's Sloan told Refinery29, "That seems like what everyone has been doing the whole time: Just like, 'I know I'm not the only one who saw this!'" But today is January 21, 2021, the first official full day of the Biden era. Trump is somewhere in Florida, far from the cameras of Washington, D.C. Despite weeks of blood pressure-raising deadly turmoil, you can practically hear the national sigh of relief over a new day in America. "I am thrilled that we will be able to get back to dressing like dinosaurs and singing songs, and we won't have to do heartfelt pieces about the hate people feel for us," Ruffin, who is also a breakout writer/recurring star of NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers, added. "I mean maybe not as many." Comedy can also be real joy about a sandwich you ate. It doesn't have to be so painful.Amber Ruffin Late night likely won't be tasked with defining reality following the lumbering fascist's departure from the Oval Office. While Biden may be the "plastic straws" of politicians, as Woody Harrelson said during his 2019 Saturday Night Live impression of the now-president, he has shown a basic interest in humanity in the months leading up to his White House move-in date. Comedy is getting so much of its time — and sanity — back. The genre will be filling that gap with creepy crawlies, sandwiches, and the importance of smaller elections, if you ask its leading ladies — while also probably still battling the dregs of what Donald Trump has wrought. "I think I'm mostly just excited to wake up and not have to see Donald Trump," Full Frontal co-head writer Kristen Barlett chuckled a week prior to Biden and Harris' Inauguration Day. After all, when Barlett — who took over the leadership role in February 2020 — was confronted by Trump every single day, Full Frontal's less politically dire stories could be pushed for months. The "Fat People Have Heads" segment, which Barlett wrote with Full Frontal writer Ashley Nicole Black, was conceived in October 2019. It finally aired in February 2020. Other topics took a backseat, too: "We have a show about endangered wildlife," Bartlett noted. "With Donald Trump the past four years, there hasn't really been time to talk about that. And then we have a piece coming up soon about environmental racism. Stories that highlight what's happening in the world that needs to be fixed." The key to tackling these serious issues going forward is hyper-specificity. For Full Frontal, that hopefully means exploring endangered animals through the lens of "ugly animals." "Yes! We know about pandas," Barlett explained. "But there are also some very important worms." Ruffin, on the other hand, is open to sillier fare: "The main thing that most comedians are thinking now that Trump is gone, is, 'I can get back to comedy. Comedy can be part social commentary. That's great. But comedy can also be real joy about a sandwich you ate. It doesn't have to be so painful. Hopefully, Joe Biden will give us the room to do that." Late night's stars recognize that the fatal insurrection at the capital just over two weeks ago means they won't be done grappling with Trump's legacy anytime soon. "We all knew he wasn't going to go quietly into the night," The Daily Show's Sloan, who is prioritizing "evergreen" stories this year, said. "Them raiding the Capitol wasn't a surprising thing. The surprising thing was them being allowed to leave. That was the thing that was hardest to understand and was kind of insulting, truly — as an American, as a Black person. That was the thing that was hardest to stomach. I'm just like, 'What do you mean they're just going home?'" Late night writers are prepared to monitor Biden's response to the inevitable troubles to come. While they know a Biden presidency is a step in the right political direction, they don't expect this new political era to be a cure-all for a nation in peril. More than 400,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, with numbers continuing to rise. Climate change is still a deadly pressing threat. Only two weeks ago, thousands of dangerous Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. It's unlikely their views changed overnight. "I'm only going to say nice things about Joe Biden… kidding! That is super not the case. I think we'll just tell the truth like we do about everything else," Ruffin joked. "A positive-ish thing about having gone through four years of Trump is people got fed up with garbage. And I think there still will be plenty of garbage. Even if everything Joe Biden did was right, to undo the Trump garage is going to quite a lot of work." Sloan echoed Ruffin: "Trump is gone and Biden's here. But we still have to look at, and find the comedy in, any flaw or any issues that might come up with Biden being president. This can't be, 'Ding dong the witch is dead.'" Despite the garbage ahead, Kristen Barlett is still hopeful. "No matter what, our show wants to hold people responsible for inciting violence [earlier this month]. I think that's going to be a very real thing we talk about for the rest of the year," she began. "But, my God, I hope we get to talk about the worms as well." Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Nicole Byer On Her Historic Emmy NominationGina Torres Is 9-1-1 Lone Star's Newest HeroMichelle Buteau Is More Than Netflix's Rom-Com MVP
This lockdown is far from over if we really want to protect the NHS
Health correspondent Shaun Lintern warns ministers must level with the public about the challenges ahead
'This is... very uncomfortable': Ontario Premier Doug Ford called out for 'stay at home' message in 22 languages
In an effort to continue to send the message that people in Ontario need to stay home, premier Doug Ford posted a video message on Thursday morning to get the message out in 22 languages.
When my mother had her eggs frozen
When my mother had her eggs frozenUniversal credit | Southern English breakfast? | Winter freezes | Goosegrass
U.S. House aims for early February COVID-19 relief bill vote
The U.S. House of Representatives is planning to bring a coronavirus relief bill to a vote the first week of February, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday, as President Joe Biden's administration grapples with a crisis that has killed more than 400,000 Americans. "We will be doing our committee work all next week so that we will be completely ready to go to the floor when we come back," Pelosi said. Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill that would provide enhanced jobless benefits and direct cash payments to households struggling amid the economic fallout from the virus.
Athleta Adds Extended Sizing to 350 Styles in Its 200 Stores and Online
Athleta (NYSE: GPS) announced today the expansion of extended sizing ("1X-3X" or sizes 18-26) to 350 styles across its collection. For Spring 2021, 70% of the Athleta collection will be available in sizes 1X-3X.


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Welcome to Holland
Before I get to the end of this post, I'll explain why the image you see here is not how the people of Holland, Michigan, would like their town to be understood. Yet it's part of a whimsical downtown series of public-art posters in which familiar paintings are given an a la Hollandaise touch. You'll see another below -- the first one obviously after Grant Wood, the second Manet. The fact that a city of some 35,000 people has a downtown commercially and culturally vibrant enough to support this sort of display is part of the story that seems worth figuring out and trying to tell.
This is an early "substance" post in our American Futures series. I think it's useful that my wife and I are beginning this project at the same time that my colleague Ta-Nehisi Coates is in the process of discovering France, and explaining his stages of discovery. In both cases, writers/ observers are wrestling with what is knowable on short exposure, and what takes a very long time to figure out. I realized recently that the professional activity I have done more frequently than anything else is exactly what we are undertaking now: Going some place unfamiliar and asking, What is going on here? I want to say something more about how that process works.
There are first impressions you want to record, because very soon you will stop noticing them. Sometimes they hold up: in my first article after we moved to China seven years ago, I wrote that I had never experienced a society simultaneously so controlled, and so out of control, as China. As the years went on, I realized that most of what I learned was merely an elaboration on that point. Yet other first impressions turn out mainly to be naive.
When you visit new places, you start with a set of questions you'd like to ask -- and then open yourself to the answers people want to give, regardless of the question. The interaction of the planned and the unpredictable, serendipity and design, is the difference between the experience of seeing almost anything -- a city, a country, a factory, a meeting -- and just thinking about it and understanding it at arm's length.
As time goes on, you get some basis for comparison. When you've seen one Chinese factory, you think: This is how factories are in China. When you've seen a hundred, you can say: This is a typical Chinese factory, except ... The opportunity to keep doing this, repeatedly, is what I value about this line of work. As I have often explained, the horrible price you pay is having to do the writing.
Reinvention and resilience across the nation
When it comes to the Coates family in Paris, this wonderful post by Ta-Nehisi explores a point I remember grappling with and writing about when we were in Japan long ago. As a black man in America, he has always had to "think about" race in a way that I, as a white man, didn't. As the Stephen Colbert character says, "I don't see race." Yet as a native English-speaker in Europe, Ta-Nehisi recognizes that he doesn't have to "think about" the world's dominant language. It is his, by birthright -- and yet he notices the "private" languages with which non-English speakers around him can exchange signals he is missing, much as white Americans are aware of signals among African-Americans that whites miss. And as I wrote in the Atlantic long ago, one benefit to my sons of going to Japanese public school, a "benefit" not fully clear to them at the time, is that it put them, as white American young men, in a situation in which they had to "think about" their race all the time. This is my way of saying that one of Ta-Nehisi Coates's early impressions resonates with my experience outside America over the years.
Let's get back to Holland, and the philosophy we're applying during this journey. Any city -- any family, any person -- could take a lifetime to understand fully. We've been here for a few days, have asked people questions and have listened to what they've volunteered, and will have another day or two of more of the same before we're off to the next stop. We're surer than when we arrived that there are several objectively unusual aspects of the town that deserve both note and explanation -- beyond its identity as a heavily churched area whose public art also includes non-whimsical statements like this:
Among the objective elements that make Holland and unusual, and the questions they raise in turn:
This town and the immediate area have an extraordinary concentration of manufacturing facilities, of the kind you might not imagine exist in America any more. The "Big Three" of the world's office-furniture industry -- Steelcase, Herman Miller, and Haworth -- are here or in the immediate environs. A number of major auto-industry suppliers still have viable plants, some of which have shifted to other product lines. Korea's LG company has its biggest battery factory outside of Asia (a special story, for another time). A college friend of mine runs a metal/ plastic/paper recycling works that employs well over 500 people. This is not even to mention the world's largest pickle-processing plant, below.
San Francisco has a culture of people who start new web companies; DC, people who start new blogs or interest groups or think tanks. In this part of Western Michigan, it's a culture of people who start companies that make things. This reminds me of Southern China, and as with China it makes me curious about why, and why here.
The city is small, but its downtown seems to have genuine life, in a way that is puzzling to anyone who has seen most comparable downtowns get hollowed-out and turned into check-cashing/pawn-shop strips as the big-box stores come into town. It can't have survived by accident, and I have been asking about the explanations.
A number of very rich industrial families still live in or feel connected to this little town. How they rose to wealth is one interesting question; why they stay here is another.
Holland has Lake Michigan on one side, and the lagoon-like Lake Macatawa on another, and has the attributes of a resort town (see below) -- yes it seems not to have a tourist-dependent economy.
Holland's identity is -- no surprise! -- traditionally Dutch, and I have seen more Dutch-origin names here than anywhere except Amsterdam. Yet its public schools are "majority-minority," and -- like the rest of the Midwest, we keep discovering -- it is a tremendous magnet for especially Latino immigration. This is the timeless American saga, with new elements here we are learning about.
There is a college right in the middle of downtown; there are sophisticated European-staffed design operations in a city that seems to project a proud retro-American inland provincialism; it seems big and it seems small. All this too is something we're trying to learn more about.
And ... New Holland Brewing, right downtown!
This is a "showing our work" introductory note: what we're trying to do, how we're trying to do it, what we're guessing at, the patterns we're looking for. In the next few days more about Holland's factories and why so many have survived; about its shifting demographics and the strains they create and ease; about the surprising civic culture that seems to account for many of its successes; and about the risks and fears we've heard people talk about. This is certainly enough for now -- and also, we hear that the Holland Symphony is giving a free outdoor concert in the park.
James Fallows is a staff writer at The Atlantic and has written for the magazine since the late 1970s. He has reported extensively from outside the United States and once worked as President Jimmy Carter's chief speechwriter. He and his wife, Deborah Fallows, are the authors of the 2018 book Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America, which was a national best seller and is the basis of a forthcoming HBO documentary.


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Some Long-Term-Care Premiums to Rise
Ask Kim
John Hancock wants to hike rates on many of its policies by 40%.
By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor
Is it true that John Hancock will be raising premiums by 40% on some of its long-term-care insurance policies?
Yes. John Hancock just announced that it will ask state regulators to allow it to increase premiums for many of its long-term-care insurance policies by an average of 40%. If regulators approve the request, the insurer expects to start sending notices about the increase to policyholders in early 2011 and to start raising rates in April or later.
The specific size of the increase may vary, depending on your age and when you purchased the policy, says Marianne Harrison, president of John Hancock Long-Term Care. The increase applies to both individual and group policies, and the largest increases will be restricted to older policies. But the rate hike will not apply to Leading Edge or Custom Care II Enhanced policies, two of their newer policies that are subject to stricter standards for setting premiums. Nor will the price hikes affect the long-term-care policy run by John Hancock for federal employees, which already had a premium increase of up to 25% in the spring.
But for many policyholders, the proposed price hike comes on top of a rate increase of 13% to 18% in 2008. The other long-term-care insurance leaders, Genworth and MetLife, also increased premiums for many of their policies around that time.
John Hancock is raising rates after a study found that the number of claims, the length of claims and the use of benefits from 1990 to 2010 were much higher than the company had expected -- particularly the open-ended expense of providing lifetime benefits in an era when people live longer thanks to medical advances and then require extensive long-term care. "The claims on the lifetime coverage on our older policies were higher than our original policy assumptions," says Harrison. (John Hancock stopped selling new policies with lifetime benefits in June 2010.)
"This is a last resort, from our perspective," says Harrison. "But this is not a viable product if we do not have the appropriate money there to pay claims in the long term."
John Hancock will give policyholders several options. They can keep the policy as is and pay the higher premiums, or they can make changes to lower the cost -- such as reducing the benefit period, adjusting the daily or monthly benefit amount, or extending the waiting period before benefits kick in. Another option would be to switch to a reduced inflation option. "In almost all cases, that would avoid the rate increase completely," says Harrison.
That option could work if you're in your seventies or eighties and have already benefitted from a 5% annual compound inflation adjustment for many years. In that case, the current value of your benefits may have kept up or exceeded the cost of care in your area. To see how your policy stacks up, look up the average cost of care in your area for care in your home, a nursing home or an assisted-living facility at the MetLife Mature Market Institute.
Marilee Driscoll, an expert in long-term-care planning and insurance in Plymouth, Mass., recommends that you keep the policy as is, if you can afford it, to maintain the most protection. If not, investigate whether you can lower the benefit period and keep your premiums the same. The average long-term-care claim is for less than three years.
It's generally less expensive to keep your current policy than it is to switch to another company -- especially if you've developed a medical condition that could make it tough to qualify for new coverage. But if your health is the same or better than when you bought the policy -- especially if the policy is less than five years old -- Driscoll recommends asking your agent to look around for a new policy with the same benefits.
But don't hold your breath for a better deal, says Murray Gordon, chief executive of MAGA Ltd., in Riverwoods, Ill., a firm that advises financial professionals about long-term-care planning. Premiums for new long-term-care policies increase with age, and insurance companies have been raising rates even higher for new policies to try to avoid the same long-term funding problems in the future, Gordon says. He recently compared prices for a financial adviser who owns a John Hancock policy and found that although the proposed rate increase for his policy was 22%, buying a new policy at his current age would have more than doubled his premiums and provided less coverage. Also keep in mind that the premiums for any new policy you purchase now could be subject to rate hikes in the future.
Got a question? Ask Kim at askkim@kiplinger.com.


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Royal Society/Leverhulme Trust senior research fellowships
The Royal Society and the Leverhulme Trust invite applications for their senior research fellowships. These enable researchers to focus on full-time research by relieving them of all their teaching and administrative duties. Candidates may be working in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine.
Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent and hold a permanent post at a UK university or eligible non-profit institution. They must be at a stage in their career where they have an independent research team and would particularly benefit from a period of full-time research. Mid-career candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Fellowships include salary costs and research expenses of up to £2,500 to cover the cost of consumables, equipment and travel. Fellowships are tenable for a period between one academic term and one year. A total of seven fellowships are provided each year.
https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/leverhulme-trust-senior-research/
Fellowships, Funding opportunity, Leverhulme Trust, Research, Royal Society


I know, the photo turned out a bit scary looking. There was no way to fix it since the rest of the batch was eaten earlier. Oh boy, were they good!
I guess there's no need to tell you about the antioxidant properties and all other health-benefits of the pomegranate juice – everyone is amazingly educated these days. But if you find juicing of fresh fruit somewhat labor-intensive (honestly, I do) or simply can't find fresh pomegranate (they are seasonal), there's a blessed product – POM Wonderful – natural juice which is available year round in any well-stocked grocery store.
Center an oven rack and preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two 8-inch pans with parchment paper, lightly butter or oil-spray the paper.
Bring 1 inch of water to a simmer in a wide skillet. Turn the heat off. Combine the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl in the hot water. Stir constantly until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs together, then whisk in the sugars, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir in the chocolate and butter mixture, then fold in the flour. Fold in the cocoa nibs.
Divide the batter between the prepared pans and spread evenly. It will be a thin layer, and that's just the way it's supposed to be. Bake briefly for just about 12 minutes or so. Cool in the pans on a rack.
The brownies for the ice cream sandwiches have to be thin and underbaked. They will firm up a bit further in the freezer, but not too much to become a hockey puck.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine the milk, whipping cream, and ¼ cup of the sugar. Heat over medium heat to a boiling point.
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, remaining ¼ cup of the sugar, and the salt to combine well. Very gradually, in a thin stream, whisk in the hot milk mixture. Return the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan. Cook the custard over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard coats the back of the spoon. Quickly strain the custard into a large bowl set over the ice water. Add the pomegranate juice, beet juice, lime juice, and tequila and whisk to combine. Cool, whisking often. Chill, covered, in the fridge for at least 4 hours, better – overnight.
Right before freezing, whisk the custard energetically to aerate the mixture. Freeze in the ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's direction. While the ice cream is churning, line an 8-inch square pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Fit one brownie slab, top side down, into the bottom of the pan (handle the brownie gently). Once the ice cream is done, spread it evenly over the brownie layer in the pan and top with the second brownie slab, this time – top side up. Cover with plastic wrap and put into the freezer to firm up, for at least 4 hours or overnight. With a warm dry knife, cut into squares and serve, or wrap well and store in the freezer until needed, for up to a couple of days.
Looks yum :-) i cant find cocoa nibs where i stay so is there any substitute i cud use?
Me likey… very much! Wow Vera, what a great twist of flavours! Am loving it!!
I found this quite by accident while googling ice cream. I have some coco nibs to use up, so I will have to come back and try this when I return from holiday. I see you are a daring baker so I will be back again shortly to see your challenge this month…cannot wait to see it!
I love this angle of the dessert! They look fantastic, I hope I will e able to make some equally good-looking!
Valerie, thank you! To get fresh beet juice, peel a small beet, grate it (use fine grater holes), put the grated beet into a piece of cheesecloth and squeeze over a small bowl. A half of very small beet will give you the required amount of juice.
These look so awesome! The only problem I have is not knowing how to get fresh beet juice. I'll have to figure it out cuz I wanna try these.
Wow! What an intense pink color! Pomegranate's are so refreshing.
What do you mean?! They look sensational!
Your 'scary' pictures come out sooo much better than any I've ever clicked! Looks yummy!
Scary? no way, looks good to me! Love the colours!
Those sandwiches look and sound absolutely amazing! I'm lucky, pomegranate juice is a real staple here in Israel- very easy to find!
@JEn: good news! you don't need an icecream maker! I make mine using a hand held mixer!!!!! they come out great!
WHat do you mean scary??!!! It's awesome.. fantastic idea, I love combining chocolate with pomegranate!!
Oh I wish I had an ice-cream maker! Your ice-cream sandwiches look fabulous and I wish I could make them. I guess I'll have to settle for home made brownies with store bought ice-cream though.
They look divine! A lovely combo!
Wow! What lovely flavors and color. Photo looks great.
Scary? Scary good!!! They look fabulous!
I agree with the other comments – the photo is lovely!
I was already in love with the pomegranate ice cream and then I saw the tequila and lime juice in the ingredient list and that just sealed the deal. What a great combination of flavors.
scary? no. exquisite? yes. the color of that filling is just mesmerizing!
Haha not scary at all! Wonderful presentation, in fact! I'm not that excited about ice cream sandwiches usually, but that photo has piqued my interest.
Oh wow. I adore ice cream sandwiches, so this just looks fantastic! Love the color of the pomegranate ice cream!


A number of homes have been flooded and thousands more are without water after a mains pipe burst in Burgess Hill.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was alerted around 4am that the pipe had burst, flooding water into Cromwell Road.
Homes in Fairfield Road, Newport Road and Royal George Road were also affected.
Four fire engines attended the scene and directed water to a nearby field.
The subsequent repairs have meant that water has temporarily been cut off to 3,500 homes while South East Water engineers repair the main.
The clear up operation is now under way after a number of homes were breached.
Some residents have been moved after their houses flooded destroying carpets, furniture and belongings.
Our technicians are on site and have stopped water flowing from the main to allow us to clear the water and to start our repairs.
"We are working really hard to re-route water around our underground network of pipes and customers in the Royal George Road area should be starting to get their water back.
"We expect customers still without water to have supplies restored shortly."
A delivery of bottled water is due to arrive later this morning at the junction of Cromwell Road and Park Close.


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Cross Ash Primary
Cross Ash Primary School, set in a beautiful rural setting north east of Abergavenny opened in 1991 bringing together five smaller village primary schools. The school applied for a Friends of Welsh Hockey Grant to buy hockey equipment for their young players.
Two of the Friends trustee's Roger Caddick and Jeff Robinson went to visit the school to see how the project was going. Both were given a warm welcome by Headteacher Laura Perrett, hockey coach Rebecca Sheen and the masses of young players the school have.
The project was designed to enable more young people to access the sport and then signpost them into local local clubs. The school wanted the grant to help them purchase sticks, balls, goals and other training equipment.
Both trustee's were extremely impressed with how much equipment the school had managed to purchase with the grant received and were sure that the project was in good hands to move forward.
Trustee Jeff Robinson said
What I found remarkable was that despite the school offering an unusually wide range of sports plus a number of extracurricular activities almost 50 of the school's approximately 200 pupils had joined the hockey club - a tribute to Rebeccas inspiration and the support from Headteacher Laura and the parents.
School teacher and hockey coach Rebecca Sheen
Thanks so much to friends of Welsh hockey for helping out our school. The equipment will be a great help and the kids really enjoyed the visit. It is great to see so many children enjoying hockey and hopefully going on to join local clubs.
Friends were delighted to support Rebecca in her bid and wish the school and it pupils every success for the future.


Home » Browse » Magazines » Finance and Accounting Magazines » American Banker » Article details, "A Sharp Drop in 'We'll Just Put It on the..."
Small-business owners aren't whipping out their credit cards as often these days.
Recent surveys show that the use of personal credit cards for business financing-long a mainstay for entrepreneurs who couldn't get a traditional bank loan-has fallen in recent years.
While entrepreneurs still heavily rely on plastic for start-up costs and small equipment purchases, traditional bankers are starting to welcome once untouchable commercial customers more readily. And the bankers are even taking on those who may have relied on their cards too much.
"We look at the cash flow-'Does this business have ability to repay and the intent to repay?'" said Raj Madan, director of marketing for business banking with Barnett Bank in Jacksonville, Fla. "Most of the time we view that potential borrower as an opportunity."
In a 1996 study by the National Federation for Women Business Owners, 23% of the 800 small-business owners surveyed said they used credit cards to finance their companies. The figure was 51% in 1994 and 52% in 1992.
In another survey, conducted last year by Dun & Bradstreet in Murray Hill, N.J., only 16% of 398 small- businesses owners said they used personal credit cards to help finance their businesses. The figure was 36% in a similar survey a year earlier.
Small Business Administration officials and business advisers said it may reflect a new willingness among bankers to lend to small businesses. They said bank lenders from large and small banks have opened the commercial loan spigot to small businesses in recent years, recognizing the potential for growth in serving the sector.
But the downward trend in credit card use may also show that small-business owners don't need such financing as much as in the decade's early and less profitable years. A healthy economy may be giving businesspeople enough earnings to support their own growth.
But though banks are courting them more aggressively, some entrepreneurs still prefer using their credit cards to visiting the bank.


Thou didst like one who goes by night and carries the light behind him, and profits not himself, but makes folk wise that follow him. Purg. Xxii. 67-69.
0 commenti a "Arthur Young's Travels in France During the Years 1787, 1788, 1789"


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U.S. Federal Update
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
It was almost two years ago that we last mentioned the PWFA, which is now officially on the books after President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617) on December 29, 2022. The law goes into effect June 27, 2023 and applies to employers with 15 or more employees. Historically, pregnancy in and of itself, has not been deemed a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) unless there are complications or limitations that interfere with a major life activity. Along the same lines as the ADA, the PFWA requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees (and applicants) with limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions unless the accommodation poses an undue hardship. However, under the PFWA there need not be complications or limitations that interfere with a major life activity; limitations may be a result of the pregnancy progressing normally. Upon request by an employee, employers would have to conduct an interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation. The law protects employees against retaliation for having requested an accommodation. Also a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, requires employers to provide all employees who are nursing with reasonable time and a private space to express breast milk (for up to one year after the child's birth). Previously, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) only required employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space for non-exempt employees.
U.S. State Updates
The City of Angels is planning to end the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration on February 1, 2023 which means the Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) ordinance, originally issued April 7, 2020 and revised on June 24, 2021, will end two weeks later on February 15, 2023.
Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
The Golden State's 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) has indeed expired as of December 31, 2022. Please note that an employee may still receive any remaining SPSL entitlement that extends past December 31, 2022. As an example, if an employee exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and was recommended to isolate on December 28, 2022, they would be entitled to SPSL even if isolation continues into January, 2023. Employees can still request SPSL to which they are entitled if they have yet to be paid by their employer. Last month, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to adopt non-emergency COVID-19 Prevention regulations. The updated regulations are in review with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and will go into effect immediately (expected to be approved this month). Once approved, the new regulations will remain in effect for two years. The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards will remain in effect until the OAL has completed its review. This fact sheet from Cal/OSHA summarizes the updates nicely. FAQs and a COVID-19 Model Written Program are coming soon – we will share once they are available. We'll also keep you updated as to when the new standards are approved and if there are any further changes to note.
Employment Development Department (EDD) – Voluntary Plans
For our clients with Voluntary Plans, the Annual Report of Self-Insured Voluntary Plan Transactions (DE 2568V) and the December 2022/January 2023 bank statements are due on February 15, 2023. The EDD typically sends a reminder in mid-January – rest assured that we are assisting you with these annual requirements. To get a jump start on the DE 2568V, we will be reaching out to you for your 2022 wages. In early February, we will reach out for the bank statements as well as the DE 3D (quarterly contribution return) for the 4th quarter of 2022.
San Francisco – Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE)
The OLSE has confirmed that the Paid Parental Leave Ordinance (PPLO) wage cap for 2023 is $2,700 per week.
Department of Labor and Employment (DLE)
The DLE has released an updated Interpretive Notice & Formal Opinion (INFO) #6B which relates to employer/employee rights and obligations under the Health Families and Workplaces Act. Governor Polis signed an Executive Order in November 2022, which provides for additional medical conditions for which employees can use supplemental Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL). In addition to COVID-19, employees may use PHEL for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), influenza, and other respiratory illnesses. At this point, PHEL requirements remain in effect into February 2023. We will see if federal or state public health emergencies are extended further, which will of course impact PHEL requirements for employers.
Anti-Retaliation
SB1958A was signed by Governor Hochul in December 2022 and goes into effect February 20, 2023. The law prohibits employers from assessing any demerit, occurrence, points, or deductions from an allotted bank of time, which subjects, or could subject, an employee to disciplinary action including failure to receive a promotion or loss of pay, when the employee takes a legally protected absence under federal, local, or state law. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating or discriminating against an employee who makes a complaint about a violation of this law.
Electronic Notices
As we reported here, the legislature passed a bill that requires employers in New York to make all required workplace documents (those that are required to be physically posted in the workplace) available electronically via their website or email. The law pertains to postings required to be physically posted at a workplace pursuant to state or federal law. This bill was signed into law by Governor Hochul and went into effect on December 16, 2022. Employees must also be notified that the notices are available electronically.
The Department of Labor and Training has released the update to the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) contribution rate and taxable wage ceiling for 2023. The employee contribution rate remains at 1.1% and the taxable wage ceiling has increased from $81,500 to $84,000. The maximum contribution will be $924. Further Resources – https://thelarkincompany.com/law-changes/rhode-island/
Canada Provincial Updates
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)
The Quebec maximum insurable earnings (MIE) benefit rates and premium rates for 2023 have now both been released. The premium rates for QPIP in 2023 will remain the same as they are in 2022. Therefore, the premium rate for 2023 is 0.494% for salaried workers and 0.692% for employers. However, the Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) are increasing in Quebec from $88,500 to $91,000. This means that the maximum premium for salaried workers will be $449.54 and $629.72 for employers in 2023. Further, because of the maximum insurable earnings increase, the maximum weekly QPIP benefit amount payable to workers when they claim QPIP benefits, has increased. The maximum weekly benefit for the Basic Plan is $1,225, and for the Special Plan, it is $1,312. Also, during weeks 8-32 of the basic plan for shareable parental benefits, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $962 (see the second column and third row of the Pregnancy and Birth table).
Emergency Leave under the Employment Standards Act in Prince Edward Island has become permanent, effective December 10, 2022. The Emergency Leave was originally introduced during the pandemic to provide job-protected leave to employees required to self-isolate under orders made by the Chief Public Health Office. Emergency Leave can now be used for certain types of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. When an employee has been diagnosed with a disease transmitted by respiratory route, such as COVID-19 or influenza, and has been advised to stay home from work by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner, they can be eligible for Emergency Leave. This leave will provide employees with unpaid leave and job protection for the duration of their contagious period based on the advice of a medical professional.
Amendments to Pregnancy Leave In Force (NS)
The Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code has been amended from January 1, 2023, to ensure an employee who experiences the end of a pregnancy can take a protected leave from work. Employees will be able to take an unpaid leave of absence of up to five consecutive working days for a pregnancy which does not result in a live birth or an unpaid leave of up to 16 weeks if their pregnancy ends after the 19th week.
California Employee Notices
The California Civil Rights Department has released updated required employee notices that can be found here along with rules for displaying the posters. We delayed posting this update until an...


EOU was founded in 1929 as a teachers college and today serves as Oregon's Rural University and a center for education, culture and scholarship. The main campus is located in La Grande, Ore., on I-84, 259 miles east of Portland, Ore. and 177 miles west of Boise, Idaho.
Eastern Oregon University's excellent academic programs are ranked among the best in the nation? Our students have high acceptance rates into graduate, professional and medical schools and are working around the world as teachers, scientists, CEO's and artists to name a few. Discover a program that's right for you!