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Supernovae are some of the most powerful events in the Universe. They’re extremely energetic, luminous explosions that can light up the sky. Astrophysicists have a pretty good idea how they work, and they’ve organized supernovae into two broad categories: they’re the end state for massive stars that explode near the end of their lives, or they’re white dwarfs that draw gas from a companion which triggers runaway fusion.

Now there might be a third type.

Scientists have discovered a white dwarf star that is speeding through the Milky Way after a ‘partial supernova.’ Evidence for the star was found in Hubble Space Telescope by a team of researchers led by astronomers at the University of Warwick.

Their findings are presented in a paper titled “The partially burned remnant of a low-mass white dwarf that underwent thermonuclear ignition?” Lead author is Professor Boris Gaensicke from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick. The paper’s published in The Monthly of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The discovery of this phenomenon is based partly on unusual spectroscopic measurements of a white dwarf with the Hubble.

Most stars end their lives as white dwarfs. It’s the fate that awaits our own Sun. After it leaves the main sequence it’ll become a red giant, and then finally a white dwarf.

Our Sun, and any star with the same mass, will follow a common evolutionary path. Once it leaves the main sequence, after hydrogen burning is complete, it becomes a red giant, then a white dwarf. <Click to enlarge.> Image Credit: By Lithopsian – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48486177

But the newly discovered white dwarf star is spectroscopically different than most other white dwarfs.

White dwarfs have left fusion behind. They’re the cores of stars that have depleted their fuel, and they contain mostly electron-degenerate matter. They have atmospheres that are mostly hydrogen or helium, with some occasional heavier elements that have risen to the surface from the white dwarf’s core.

The star at the center of this study was discovered a couple years ago. It’s named SDSS J1240+6710 and was first observed in 2015. It’s unusual because its atmosphere contained neither hydrogen nor helium, and because follow-up observations with the Hubble showed that the atmosphere also contained carbon, sodium, and aluminium.

Artist’s rendition of a white dwarf from the surface of an orbiting exoplanet. Image Credit: Madden/Cornell University

Those three elements are all produced in supernovae explosions, during the first phase. But that’s not all that Hubble found out. Measurements also showed a lack of iron group elements. The iron group elements are iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium and manganese. A full-blown supernova creates these elements near the end of the supernova process. But this white dwarf had none.

In their paper, the team wrote “We do not detect any iron-group element, with tight limits on the abundances of Ti, Fe, Co, and Ni, and conclude that the star underwent oxygen burning, but did not reach the ignition conditions for silicon burning.”

What gives?

There’s something else unusual about SDSS J1240+6710. It’s speeding through the Milky Way at about 900,000 km/h (560,000 mp/h.) Lastly, the white dwarf is much less massive than other white dwarfs, at only 40% the mass of our Sun.

All of the star’s properties point to a partial supernova explosion as their source.

“The low mass of the white dwarf and its moderately high rest-frame velocity suggest an origin involving a thermonuclear supernova in a compact binary,” the researchers wrote in their paper.

“This star is unique because it has all the key features of a white dwarf but it has this very high velocity and unusual abundances that make no sense when combined with its low mass,” said lead author Gaensicke in a press release.

“It has a chemical composition which is the fingerprint of nuclear burning, a low mass and a very high velocity: all of these facts imply that it must have come from some kind of close binary system and it must have undergone thermonuclear ignition. It would have been a type of supernova, but of a kind that that we haven’t seen before.”

This white dwarf must have had a companion star. In these scenarios, a white dwarf orbits a common center of gravity with a larger companion star. As the companion star ages and becomes a giant, the white dwarf’s gravity draws gas from the companion star to its own surface. The white dwarf’s mass grows to the point where a supernova explosion is triggered.

An artist’s image of a white dwarf drawing material away from its companion. Image Credit: NASA

In this case, the initial stages of the supernova disrupted the white dwarf’s orbit. Both stars would’ve been flung into separate, opposite, trajectories through space. That would explain SDSS J1240+6710’s high velocity through space.

“If it was a tight binary and it underwent thermonuclear ignition, ejecting quite a lot of its mass, you have the conditions to produce a low mass white dwarf and have it fly away with its orbital velocity,” Professor Gaensicke explained.

This study brings to the fore some of the challenges in observing supernovae. Typically, scientists are only alerted to them once they explode. The details prior to the explosions are difficult to tease out.

The researchers wonder if this is one of our first examples of a new type of supernova. In this case, the supernova explosion that sent this star careening through the galaxy was very short-lived, and there would’ve been only a brief flash to signal it. Normally, a Type 1A supernova like this, that completed its supernova explosion, would be visible for months. The explosion produces lots of radioactive nickel (Ni) that powers a long-lasting afterglow.

But this one didn’t produce much Ni. As the authors write in the conclusion of their paper, “The very low mass of Ni produced and ejected in such events would make their detection extremely challenging within the current time-domain surveys.”

Supernova 1994D in Galaxy NGC 4526. Normally, a supernova explosion is visible for months. The afterglow is caused by abundant, radioactive Nickel. But SDSS J1240+6710 produced very little nickel. Image Credit: NASA/ESA, The Hubble Key Project Team and The High-Z Supernova Search Team

“The study of thermonuclear supernovae is a huge field and there’s a vast amount of observational effort into finding supernovae in other galaxies,” Professor Gaensicke said. “The difficulty is that you see the star when it explodes but it’s very difficult to know the properties of the star before it exploded.”

“We are now discovering that there are different types of white dwarf that survive supernovae under different conditions and using the compositions, masses and velocities that they have, we can figure out what type of supernova they have undergone,” Gaensicke explained. “There is clearly a whole zoo out there. Studying the survivors of supernovae in our Milky Way will help us to understand the myriads of supernovae that we see going off in other galaxies.”

Evan Gough

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text: The IASC Taskforce on HIV in Humanitarian Situations was established in March 2007 to assess the implementation of the IASC Guidelines on HIV/AIDS in Emergency Settings and update them along with accompanying training materials, as well as to strengthen and harmonize the monitoring and evaluation of HIV interventions in humanitarian situations. The Task Force is composed of UN agencies, NGOs consortia, IOM and the IFRC and meets on a quarterly basis. It is co-chaired by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a rotating representative of the non-UN membership.

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View artist Media & Songlist

With two genuine lead singers – one male, one female, a total of 3 vocalists, keyboard, guitar, bass and drums; Un-limited has no limits to it’s repertoire.
The already large and constantly growing song catalogue journeys through the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today and covers all genres from modern pop to classic rock. Top 40 hits spanning five decades will blow your mind when you hear them played true to the original with the use of absolutely no backing/sequence tapes! This gives an authentic and genuine live atmosphere that simply can’t be recreated in any other way.
Supported by experienced, musical families, all gigs are conducted professionally with over 50 years experience of musicianship and 500 gigs experience between band members.
With an enormous enthusiasm for live shows, this young sensation is rising faster than the days of your favourite hit songs shooting up the charts! Your guests will be left thinking “Oh, What A Night!” as they meander home recollecting the band’s ability to relentlessly recreate that classic sound!
The band’s professionalism, quality musicianship and experience all soar far beyond what they charge to setup and play. You have found yourself a bargain by looking at a comparatively younger band who is eager about building up its reputation.
Whether it is to get people up and dancing or to slow things down with a ballad, UN-LIMITED provides a range of musical entertainment for any occasion. Make it your occasion !


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Krakow Souvenir-making workshop: giving something back to the local community

August 30, 2019
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Monika Prylinska

Our local guide Monika talks about why she is so passionate about her new Krakow tour, which teams up with social enterprise organisation ŻyWa Pracownia (Alive Lab) to support local residents who are living below the poverty line:

My team and I have partnered up with ŻyWa Pracownia (Alive Lab), a socially engaged organisation based in the Podgorze neighborhood of Krakow, that specialises in giving workshops on traditional crafts, design, architecture and urban gardening. The main idea of its creators, Magda and Adam, was to combine nature and folk culture (a natural combination for them as Magda has a background in arts and crafts and is fascinated by Polish ethnographic design, while Adam is a nature lover with highly effective social skills). Together they are dedicated to ecological and cultural education and to the promotion of a world which is open for everybody, without any social or cultural barriers. The organisation is very hands-on in the local community, regularly working on community projects such as designing natural spaces for children, building outdoor installations that enhance neighbourhoods, and introducing urban gardens to built-up areas.

Learning how to make traditional Polish folk dolls with the friendly volunteers at ŻyWa Pracownia. | Photo credit: Krakow Urban Adventures

All the workshops run by ŻyWa Pracownia are open for all, particularly those at risk of social exclusion; street children, senior citizens, the poor, the disabled, refugees and the homeless. Many workshops are held at the organisation’s HQ, 5 Celna Street, but they also do a lot of out reach work. ŻyWa Pracownia cooperates with many local non-profit organisations and cultural institutions and are very visible the whole year round as they participate in numerous festivals and cultural events such as the Ethno Festival in Krakow, the Feast for the Poor, the Pannonica Folk Festival in Beskidy mountains etc.

Krakow Urban Adventures’ In Focus Souvenir Making Workshop is your special invitation to see the real city of Krakow, with its joys and sorrows, without separation between locals and foreigners. If you join us on this tour, not only will you learn how to make a traditional Polish folk doll to take home with you, you’ll learn about Polish history and local traditions as well as everyday life in the city and the challenges its citizens face and you’ll contribute directly to the great work of ŻyWa Pracownia.

Volunteers at Zupa na Plantach Sunday soup day, Krakow, Poland
Volunteers helping out at the weekly Sunday Soup Day that takes place in Planty Park, which provides hot food for locals who are below the poverty line and gives them a safe space to come and talk about their problems. | Photo credit: ŻyWa Pracownia

ŻyWa Pracownia are also behind the very special Sunday initiative called – Zupa na Plantach (Soup in the Planty Park), which began somewhat spontaneously some years ago but soon became a weekly tradition that inspires people people all over Poland. Thanks to ŻyWa Pracownia every single Sunday local volunteers work together to prepare a huge pot full of tasty, hot soup; they then bring it from their kitchen to Planty Park near the railway station to share with poverty-stricken local people. Inclusion is a big part of the initiative; eating together shows that the poor are accepted and encouraged to talk about their problems and open up.

In addition to this project, ZyWa Pracownia also provides clothes and hygienic materials for those in need and a Mobile Library for the Homeless which provides easy and free access to education and culture for people who cannot afford to buy books or simply have no home to collect them.

We at Krakow Urban Adventures love what ZyWa Pracownia are doing and we constantly keep our fingers crossed for the success of their mission of helping others. That is why we promote them a lot during our tours and why we participate in the Zupa na Plantach Sundays project regularly. Proceeds from our In Focus Souvenir Making Workshop go directly to support this initiative.

Our tour guests know that the beautiful dolls that they are taking home with them from Krakow as a gift have a story behind them. Each doll made on the tour provides 5 free soups for local people in need. Isn’t it great that you can create something for you and help others at the same time? We really think it is!

Souvenir Making Workshop Book Now


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The best sweets shops in Thessaloniki

March 02, 2018
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Kyriakos Kalantaridis

If you are a dessert lover planning to spend your holidays in Greece, then Greece’s gastronomic capital, Thessaloniki, should be your first stop. The city is not only famous for its coffee shops, restaurants and nightlife, but also for the plentiful pastry shops offering a great variety of desserts, from the traditional tsoureki to the well-know profiterole. All different types of Greek sweets can be found in town, and here are some of our favourite pastry shops and what to order at each. Whatever you do, do not leave Thessaloniki without tasting the delights at all of them!

Tsoureki by Terkenlis

sliced cake with icing

The most famous dessert in Thessaloniki must be on your to-eat list | Photo via Terkenlis, used with permission

If you are passing by Aristotelous Square or Agias Sofias Street and craving dessert, then make a sweet stop in Terkenlis, founded in 1948 and one of the most famous bakeries in Thessaloniki. You should definitely try the delicious and traditional sweet tsoureki (a sweet, soft bread similar to the French brioche) with white chocolate and chestnut cream filling — you will quickly understand why it’s the most famous sweet of Thessaloniki.

Trigona by Elenidis

close-up of cream-stuffed pastry triangles

#localsknow where to find these treats that are still prepared using the original recipe | Photo via Elenidis, used with permission

Another favourite place and another favourite dessert, which goes back to the 1960s when Giorgos Elenidis came up with the recipe for trigona (literally meaning ‘triangles’). These delicious crunchy triangular cones filled with cream have become one of the main trademarks of the city, as well as an overall symbol of Thessaloniki’s food culture. Today, the family at Elenidis still bakes trigona following the original recipe created by Giorgos.

Profiterole by Choureál

bowls of desserts

Some of the best desserts in town are at this stylish shop | Photo via Choureál, used with permission

Profiterole (cream puff) is a dessert that almost everyone loves, right? The combination of chocolate, cream and the soft choux makes it an absolute sweet paradise. And Thessaloniki has its very own pastry shop dedicated to profiterole at Choureál, which serves fresh and delicious profiterole every day. The unique element of this place is that the profiterole is prepared in front of your eyes, so you can watch the magic of creation before you dig in.

Mpougatsan by Estrella

croissant in a bowl of cream

Breakfast meets dessert in this popular street food treat | Photo via Estrella, used with permission

Estrella is a rather new entry compared to the previous recommendations, but it has nothing to be jealous of. Currently, it’s one of the most popular street food places in Thessaloniki, where you can taste one of the most famous hybrid desserts in the world, mpougatsan. This delight is the ultimate combination of a dessert: a freshly baked croissant, filled with mpougatsa custard cream and served with strawberries and raspberries. Even the most demanding foodies will fall in love with the taste of mpougatsan.


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CST Pika C1894

CST Pika C1894
$22.99 - $24.99
Please select options

Before the Pika, gaining traction on gravel roads was a true feat. Now, it’s child’s play. Ramped center knobs roll fast on loose gravel, and U-shaped shoulder knobs dig in on the turns. The Pika is equipped with dual compound tread, EPS protection, and wire bead.

Part Numbers

Option UPC MPN Store SKU
Black / 700 x 38c 06933882517691 TB97714000 3812
Black / 700 x 42c 06933882518841 TB96444000


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Price Reduction - Views
180 Elm Valley Dr Bulverde, TX
$ 579,000
Property Attributes
  • MLS#1493562
  • TypeSingle Family
  • CountyCOMAL
  • CityBulverde
  • Area2601
  • NeighborhoodElm Valley
  • Zip78163
  • StyleTwo Story,Traditional
  • Year Built1998
  • Taxes8778
  • Price$ 579,000
  • Bedrooms3
  • Full Bathrooms3
  • Half Bathrooms0
  • Sqr Footage3971
  • Lot Size5.17 Acres
Listing Provided Courtesy Of:
Dale Hancock at Reliance Residential Realty-BL
Property Description

Don't miss your chance to make this custom built unique multilevel layout your new home! Nestled on 5.17 acres in the heart of the Texas Hill Country with an oversized private well, septic, and gated entrance. One mile from Singing Hills Shopping Center, HEB, and great Comal ISD schools from elementary through high school as starters. This home is convenient, yet private. This 3 bedroom 3 bathroom home has 4000 square feet of interchangeable living space. Granite countertops compliment the primary kitchen while a roomy island and expansive countertops cover cabinets galore. A Window over the sink provides a view to your trees as well as doubles as a walk-up window/pass-through for keeping everyone on the covered deck fed. A smaller kitchen in the back of the house is connected to laundry room, a secondary bedroom, it's own living area, plus exterior doors to a porch or driveway. Downstairs you can entertain or live in your 1,000 sq. ft. Living room with its towering ceilings, large fireplace, and generous windows with beautiful views. Rich cedar beams are exposed for a classic hill country aesthetic. Entertaining is a breeze with a generous wet bar and serving station. A bathroom and guest room are there as well. As you look up, You see beautiful bamboo flooring creating a generous loft over part of the living area which could be a great office space for working from home. The windows up there are massive, and the light plus a beautiful second story view is one you will have to see to believe. The enormous master suite with a windowed sitting area boasts a walk-in shower for 2, a dual vanity, and a water closet. Dual walk-in closets are more than generous. Outside you can enjoy endless views of the hill country from over 1000 square feet of multi-level decks wrapping around the front and side of the house. Tons of outdoor storage in the forms of storage sheds and space under the decks. Parking is not a problem. Lots of options available upstairs and downstairs. Too many extras to list. Come see for yourself why you need to call this property your new home and Bring us an offer before this one is gone! New roof 11/2020.

Elementary School Middle School High School
Rahe Bulverde Elementary Spring Branch Middle School Smithson Valley High School
Price History
11/6/2020 Listed $599,999
11/16/2020 4% - $579,000

General Features

Bathrooms 3
Builder Unknown
Class Single Residential
Construction Pre-Owned
Cooling Three+ Central
Elementary School Rahe Bulverde Elementary
Energy Efficiency Programmable Thermostat, Double Pane Windows, Ceiling Fans
Heating Central, 3+ Units
High School Smithson Valley
Hoa Mandatory None
Legal Description ELM VALLEY 2, LOT 32
Listing Area 2601
Middle School Spring Branch
Miscellaneous Virtual Tour, School Bus, As-Is
Neighborhood Amenities None
Potential Short Sale No
Proposed Terms Conventional, FHA, VA, Cash
Roof Composition
School District Comal
Status Price Change
Style Two Story, Traditional
Subdivision ELM VALLEY
Taxes 8778.5
Type Single Family Detached
Year Built 1998

Interior Features

# of Fireplaces 1
Bedroom2 Width 9
Bedroom3 Length 12
Bedroom3 Width 8
Dining Room Length 13
Dining Room Width 12
Entry Room Length 18
Entry Room Width 10
Family Room Length 13
Flooring Carpeting, Ceramic Tile, Wood
Full Baths 3
Heating Fuel Electric
Interior Features Two Living Area, Liv/Din Combo, Separate Dining Room, Eat-In Kitchen, Auxillary Kitchen, Two Eating Areas, Island Kitchen, Breakfast Bar, Walk-In Pantry, Study/Library, Loft, Utility Room Inside, High Ceilings
Kitchen Length 16
Kitchen Width 16
Living Area 3971
Living Room Length 38
Living Room Width 19
Master Bath Shower Only, Double Vanity
Master Bath Length 10
Master Bath Width 8
Master Bed Length 20
Master Bed Width 16
Master Bedroom Upstairs, Sitting Room, Walk-In Closet, Ceiling Fan, Full Bath
Other Room Length 12
Other Room Use KITCHEN 2
Other Room Width 11
Other Room2 Length 12
Other Room2 Use DINING 2
Other Room2 Width 10
Stories 2
Study/office Length 18
Study/office Width 14
Total Bedrooms 3
Utility Room Length 12
Utility Room Width 9
Window Coverings All Remain

Exterior Features

Exterior Cement Fiber
Exterior Features Patio Slab, Covered Patio, Bar-B-Que Pit/Grill, Deck/Balcony, Chain Link Fence, Partial Fence, Double Pane Windows, Storage Building/Shed, Has Gutters, Mature Trees
Foundation Slab
Garage Parking None/Not Applicable
Inclusions Ceiling Fans, Washer Connection, Dryer Connection, Cook Top, Built-In Oven, Self-Cleaning Oven, Microwave Oven, Refrigerator, Disposal, Dishwasher, Ice Maker Connection, Water Softener (owned), Vent Fan
Lot Description County VIew, 5 - 14 Acres, Partially Wooded, Mature Trees (ext feat), Secluded, Sloping, Level
Lot Improvements Street Paved, Asphalt, County Road, Interstate Hwy - 1 Mile or less
Lot Size 5.17
Pool None
Pool (Y/N) No
Water/Sewer Private Well, Septic, Water Storage

  • Foreclosure
  • Views
  • Short Sale
  • New Construction
  • Adult
  • Lease To Own
  • No HOA Fees
  • Furnished
  • Master On Main
  • Air Conditioning
  • Seller Finance
  • Green
  • Fixer Upper
  • Horse
  • Golf
  • Fireplace
  • Deck
  • Garage
  • Basement
  • Pool

Property vs Zip Code Average in 78163

AVG $460K
AVG $2,949
AVG 73
Year Built
AVG 2016

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Couple passport covers

A fine collection of matching passport covers, handcrafted from premium leather in beautiful colors.

Oh! you got here too very soon!

Our Gappas are working behind the scene on getting the products all ready which will soon be launched in the next 2 weeks.

So, just stay tuned and in the meanwhile will recommend you to browse our featured categories-


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207 Quaker Lane
Suite 1
West Warwick, RI 02893

191 Social St
6th Floor
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Office: (401) 828-7110
Fax: (401) 827-6364

Map this Location

Dr. Atip Chatsudthipong

Dr. Atip Chatsudthipong is a graduate of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He obtained his Medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has also completed General Surgery internship and Urology Residency training at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital.

Dr. Chatsudthipong practices general urology with a special interest in urinary stone disease, BPH, erectile dysfunction, and hypogonadism. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery and advanced endo-urological treatment of diseases of the Prostate, Kidney, ureter and bladder.

He is a member of the American Urological Association. Dr. Chatsudthipong speaks English and Thai. He is accepting new patients in our West Warwick and Woonsocket offices


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Only $4.99 per month

Video: White nationalists celebrate Trump's victory at conference

Steph Solis

For white nationalists in Washington, D.C., there was cause to celebrate Saturday.

The 200 attendees at the National Policy Institute's annual conference at the Ronald Reagan building celebrated the rise of Donald Trump as president-elect and promoted a conquer-or-be-conquered mentality.

"America was, until this past generation, a white country, designed for ourselves and our posterity," Richard Spencer, a prominent white nationalist within the alt-right movement. "It is our creation. It is our inheritance and it belongs to us."

A video published by The Atlantic, which is working on a documentary on Spencer, shows clips of Spencer's speech for the National Policy Institute, an independent research organization "dedicated to the heritage, identity and future of people of European descent in the United States," according to its website. The Atlantic reported that Spencer envisions “a new society, an ethno-state that would be a gathering point for all Europeans,” and supports “peaceful ethnic cleansing.”

Members of the D.C. Antifascist Coalition protested the conference and an anti-Semitic dinner hosted at Maggiano's on Saturday. Some held banners and posters outside of the Italian restaurant, while at least one protester was seen outside of Trump International Hotel.

Restaurant apologizes for 'inadvertently' hosting alt-right event

Toward the beginning of his speech, Spencer said, "Hail Trump. Hail our people. Hail victory!" and the room broke out in applause. Some raised a hand in a Nazi salute.

Spencer also slammed the press, calling members "genuinely stupid" and promoted a philosophy of "conquer or die" among attendees. "To be white is to be a striver, a crusader, an explorer and a conqueror."

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement it was alarmed at the conference's rhetoric: "The Holocaust did not begin with killing; it began with words. The Museum calls on all American citizens, our religious and civic leaders, and the leadership of all branches of the government to confront racist thinking and divisive hateful speech."

Trump has denounced the racism perpetuated by the alt-right movement, CNN reported.


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Scattered breakouts persist NE of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

Scattered breakouts persist northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō...

Detailed Description

This photo looks west towards the upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. The fume-filled crater at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is in the foreground, and the vent for the June 27th lava flow is just out of view of the lower right corner of the photo. Mauna Loa is visible in the upper right.

Image Dimensions: 5184 x 3456

Date Taken:


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NEW Framed Mini's arriving 27/11 🤍

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Bush Football by Dinny Kunoth Kemarre (SOLD)

30cm x 30cm

Shop current artworks by Dinny Kunoth Kemarre

Bush football is a sport that receives a passionate involvement from the Utopia community throughout the course of its season and sees the teams named after and don insignia of some of the AFL’s most prominent teams. Utopia teams include the Apungalingum Eagles, for whom Dinny barracks for, the Mulga Bore Magpies, Arlparra Dockers and Arnkawenyerr Swans.

They are all great players – I like to gather around the television with my sons Alan, Simon, Patrick and Benjamin and watch the AFL – even better is going to see my sons play for the Apungalingum Eagles in our local bush football competition, families come from all around to watch the bush football games although not as many people as at the MCG.” – Dinny Kunoth

Dinny’s desire is to share his passions of contemporary Aboriginal life in remote Central Australia through his artwork.

Artist: Dinny Kunoth Kemarre
Skin name: Kemarre
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ahalpere
Area: Utopia Region, Central Australia
Born: 1954

  • Medium: Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
  • This painting comes unstretched and rolled in a tube
  • Size of painting: 30cm x 30cm
  • Background colour: Black
  • Linen border: Approx 2cm strip of black border designed to be wrapped around a 2cm deep stretcher frame. Plus approx 6cm of natural coloured linen overhang.
  • This painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and artist profile.


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The best rentals from the top sites, all in one place

We believe finding a vacation rental in Arkansas should be easy and not take hours of searching and scrolling. We’ve designed VacationRenter from the ground up to help travelers find the perfect rental faster and easier.

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Vacation rentals in Arkansas

There are 4,743 vacation rentals near Arkansas for all manner or mood of travel, availability of time off, and size of budget. So, if you are hoping for an affordable Arkansas vacation, you can find 10% rentals under $65/night. Or if you are willing to splurge on a luxury vacation in Arkansas, there are 474 between $319 and $3,500/night. Whether you are sleeping by yourself or with a significant other, or are travelling with a group of 116 there are short term home and apartment rentals in Arkansas to fit your vacation needs. The most popular types of short-term rental homes in Arkansas are houses, hotels and condos. Arkansas has been a frequently searched travel destination this year and continues to grow in popularity. VacationRenter offers a wide selection of vacation rental availability from leading travel sites like Vrbo (Vacation Rentals By Owner),, and many more. Search your travel dates to find available Arkansas vacation homes for your trip.

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Arkansas has a variety of property types for you to consider when booking a trip. Here are the most popular property types in Arkansas:

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Arkansas has several popular points of interest for you to check out when visiting the area. Here are the most popular points of interest in Arkansas:

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Seasoned investment professionals, sector-dedicated analysts, and creative thinkers are at the heart of our business. Get their perspective on today's market climate.

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Earnings Growth Story for Emerging Markets Equities in 2018

GILLIAN KEMMERER: Welcome. I’m Gillian Kemmerer. Emerging markets have had a great run in 2017, but is there still room to rise? VanEck Portfolio Manager, David Semple is here to tell us more about his process and the broader macro picture. David, thanks for joining us.

DAVID SEMPLE: Pleasure to be here.

KEMMERER: Emerging markets, they've had a great year. If you're an investor who is sitting on the sidelines, did you miss all of the upside?

SEMPLE: I think there is a very good underpinning to what's been going on in emerging markets. We don't try to forecast particular amounts that the markets are going to go up. But I think if you look and break it down into various categories, like the big macro issues, some of those have moved off the table. People are not as concerned about the U.S. dollar strengthening rapidly, which is the worst scenario for emerging markets. Interest rates have gone up, and I suppose the conversation has turned a little bit to over-tightening and the effect that might have on the developed market economies, and therefore in emerging markets economies. But for the time being we've had the Federal Reserve raise interest rates, and that's fine. And that's typically a good environment for emerging markets, because it talks about better global growth. And then we continue to have news on protectionism and tariffs. But I think in this case the bark is worse than the bite and there's been a lot of talk about it. But the reality is that it would impact people in a bad way in emerging markets and in developed markets. So I think the reality will be a lot less.

And, then, when you look at the emerging markets macro itself, it is actually exceptionally benign just now. All the things that we traditionally look at as on the macro side, and bear in mind we're bottom-up stock pickers, so I'm really describing the environment that we're picking stocks in. These macro issues like fiscal deficits, current account deficits, amount of external debt a country has, all those sort of things, if you aggregate them all, it's pretty benign just now. We're in a pretty good place. And then China. China is the place which yet again hasn't collapsed, despite the worse prognostications of the hedge fund community in New York. It hasn't happened. China continues to do actually very, very well. Now, it probably will slow down this year, but the idea that it's all going to, in some way, fall apart, I think is wide of the mark, again. So that's been good. But the real story, and the one that excites us as bottom-up stock pickers, is on the micro side. Companies are actually delivering. From 2012 to 2015, companies failed to really deliver EPS [earnings per share] in any meaningful amount in emerging markets. And then this year, well, actually from the middle of last year, 2016, that all changed.

But there is more. I know I sound like an infomercial, but there is more, and the more is that the cash flow that the companies are generating is really turned up very nicely, because operating cash flows picked up nicely, and capex is flat to going down in many places. So it is spare cash, spare money that companies are generating. It is a high quality problem about what they do with it. We think that that's really what gives a lot of the emerging markets its legs. Then, on the other side, if you decompose what's actually happened this year and in fact what's happened in terms of the last few years – that it has not been a re-rating story for emerging markets. It has been much more, particularly this last year and the year before, an earnings growth story and a little bit of an FX story. So it is not that we are the most expensive place, far from it. We are, depending upon which measure you look at, broadly speaking, average in terms of valuations for emerging markets. But that certainly makes us the least dirty shirt in the laundry, when a lot of the other asset classes are pretty fully valued.

KEMMERER: Well, I was going to ask about the currencies, I think the last time I looked, every EM [emerging markets] currency was up this year, granted coming off of a low base. Could we see that continue to stabilize and strengthen, even if we see some pressure from the U.S. dollar moving forward?

SEMPLE: I think it's going to be a little bit more mixed going forward probably. I've learnt over many, many years, that predicting shorter-term FX movements is kind of a fool's game, because we can talk about valuations of currencies and what's cheap and what's expensive. And it can be cheap and expensive for years, and what really matters is flows. But from what I see, I think that it depends on what happens here. So it is as much a reflection of what happens here, how EM FX will do, rather than the fundamentals of their own making. But what has changed over the longer term for emerging markets, and this gives them a lot more flexibility, is that we've moved off from fixed exchange rates, crawling pegs, dirty floats, all that sort of stuff, to truly floating exchange rates. And that acts as a kind of escape valve, and allows emerging markets to develop their own monetary policy suitable for their own circumstances. It's not that they'll always get it right, but they actually have an opportunity to really be more tailored, rather than simply a reflection of what the Fed is doing. So that will help on their FX.

KEMMERER: Well, on the currency side actually it brings up another important point which is China. You alluded to it earlier. We saw some technical movements made in the renminbi earlier, I guess this year into late last year, and the Western World really panicked when they saw it. But you seem to think that we shouldn't be looking at China as a “Doomsday” situation.

SEMPLE: Well, certainly not for the whole economy. The trouble with China is that whatever preconception you have about China, you can find evidence for it. It's simultaneously the best place to invest, and the worst place to invest. We have always, with our strategy of structural growth, looked at those companies that are in the so-called new China. I don't think that's an elegant phrase about what's going on. But what we're talking about here is not the old smoke stack industry, the heavily cyclical state-owned part of the universe, a lot of the banks and so forth. They might have a moment in the sun simply because, as bad things getting slightly better, they can perform. But we'd rather invest in what people want to spend their money on going forward. And that's things like healthcare, it's things like education, it's things like travel, it's things like the internet. And some of the things that are happening in China, where they leapfrog what's happening here, is just truly amazing. Because they don't have a lot of the legacy costs of, let's say, a shopping mall to close down, or a bank on every corner. And they're able to leapfrog that, and they have a generation, which is very willing to accept new things like fintech. So, it's very exciting what's happening there. Of course there'll be accidents. Of course there'll be issues. But it's been a fabulous place for us to be investing. And it's actually one of the places that a lot of emerging markets managers have been underweight and yet it's been a persistent performer.

KEMMERER:So more an issue of turbulence rather than a hard landing?

SEMPLE: Well, I think the sort of negativism which comes, you know, principally, apparently from New York, about what happens in China creates fantastic opportunities for the rest of us to just go and invest in what the good parts are. It allows us the valuation opportunity to do that.

KEMMERER: Well, speaking of, you're early in on Tencent, how is it doing and do you think that there's still room to run?

SEMPLE: Well, they just reported their numbers, quarterly numbers, and it was a beat across the board. So, I think that probably answers your question. This year's scale of the opportunity to them has become apparent more and more to the company, to the investors, as time has gone on. And as they invest in front of that, clearly that depresses near-term earnings, so maybe optically it appears more expensive in a one year out, two years out, outlook. But the sheer benefit of having that huge community they have available to them, and their conservatism in monetizing it, means there's a lot more to come from Tencent.1

EMMERER: Excellent. Now, you brought up another stock pick when we were speaking earlier, and it was in South Africa, it's a really interesting business. Tell us a bit more about that.

SEMPLE: We were talking about Transaction Capital.2 The main business that it's involved with is actually financing little minibus taxis in South Africa, which is a fundamental part of the transportation infrastructure. It's how, basically, people get to work. South Africa's quite spread out, and these buses follow fixed routes. When they fill up they go, and the next bus comes up and so forth. And this company finances these owner/operators, so I mean it's a great entrepreneurial type of thing. But they also use big data in what they do, which is not only to track where the collateral is, the bus, but also to track whether people are actually working and, if there's an issue, nip it in the bud, rather than wait till the guy doesn't pay. I.e., speak to them now and say: "What, are you ill? Is the bus broken?" Whatever it is. And if the bus is broken they have the full ability to refurbish it and if the guy's not going to work, he can take it back, sell it again. I mean it's an end-to-end type of thing. But it's a very nice little company. I mean it's not going to be a Tencent, it's very different, but it's structurally growing very nicely for us.

KEMMERER: Excellent. So finally, if you're a client that perhaps hasn't taken advantage of the emerging markets run but is looking at the headlines and thinking, I missed out. What would you say to them about the next year or so, looking ahead? Is it still a good place to be allocating more capital?

SEMPLE: Well, we think people should be persistent allocators there. I mean it's not, in my view, an optional asset class. Now, obviously I would say that because I'm an EM guy, and I've been an EM guy for a very long time. But here's the difference. A lot of the cyclicality has been taken out of emerging markets. We've talked about the currencies. It means that the countries can basically be masters of their own destiny. And some of that cyclicality which came from having to follow the Fed has been taken out. The composition of the universe, what we're actually investing in emerging markets, has become much less cyclical as time has gone on. So, the energy, and the materials, those types of cyclical sector have become much smaller, and you've had the rise of companies like Tencent and Alibaba,3 which have become very big.

Even cyclical companies like Samsung4 have become much more structural, if you think about their memory business. There used to be lots of people who made those products, and it went into very few applications, basically your PC. Now fewer people make it and it goes everywhere. It's in your PC, your phone, your car, and your refrigerator, whatever. So, there's a lot of different things there, and that's taken some of the cyclicality out of it. And I think the investor base for emerging markets has changed a lot over the years. It used to be sort of foreigners, growth tourists, all in and then all out. But now it's moved on where you have the rise of a lot of domestic institutional investors, life companies, pension funds, wealth managers, people who are natural buyers of equities on dips, and away from the self-investing, sort of mom and pop momentum-driven investing. It's still there, but over the years it becomes less. So a much wider range of people invest in the market, and again that takes some of the cyclicality out of the asset class.

KEMMERER: David, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us and to share your view on where EM is going next.

SEMPLE: It's a pleasure. Thank you.

KEMMERER: And thank you for tuning in. For this and other insights from VanEck, please visit

- - - - - - - - - -

The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and are current as of the video’s posting date. Video commentaries are general in nature and should not be construed as investment advice. Opinions are subject to change with market conditions. All performance information is historical and is not a guarantee of future results. For more information about VanEck Funds, VanEck Vectors ETFs or fund performance, visit Any discussion of specific securities mentioned in the video commentaries is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy these securities. Fund holdings will vary. All indices mentioned are measures of common market sectors and performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Information on holdings, performance and indices can be found at

Please note that Van Eck Securities Corporation offers investment products that invest in the asset class(es) in this video.

The Emerging Markets Equity strategy is subject to the risks associated with its investments in emerging markets securities, which tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities traded in developed countries. The strategy's investments in foreign securities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls, and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, including the takeover of property without adequate compensation or imposition of prohibitive taxation. The strategy is subject to risks associated with investments in derivatives, illiquid securities, and small or mid-cap companies. The strategy is also subject to inflation risk, market risk, non-diversification risk, and leverage risk. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus for information on these and other risk considerations.

1Tencent is 5.98% of the VanEck Emerging Markets Fund net assets, as of 10/31/17

2Transaction Capital is 0.56% of the VanEck Emerging Markets Fund net assets, as of 10/31/17

3 Alibaba is 6.17% of the VanEck Emerging Markets Fund net assets, as of 10/31/17

4 Samsung is 7.05% of the VanEck Emerging Markets Fund net assets, as of 10/31/17

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of Van Eck Securities Corporation. © Van Eck Securities Corporation.

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Waterford, NY, has a population of roughly 8,600 residents. The town is in Saratoga County and falls along the Mohawk River. Waterford is also the name of the town's principal village.

Waterford-Halfmoon Junior-Senior High School serves the town's students as a member of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District. You may enjoy working with Waterford tutors, who are happy to provide you with online tutoring and test prep assistance. It's imperative for high schoolers to achieve greatness in their academics in order to be accepted to the college of their dreams. If you seek online or in-home private tutoring for test prep and general subject instruction from Waterford, NY, tutors, you could potentially increase your odds of getting into your top school choice. One nearby college choice is the University at Albany SUNY. This New York school is ranked in the top 130 schools in the nation, which may make it difficult to be accepted into the college. A private Waterford tutoring session can give you expert in-home or online instruction to potentially help you improve in your test prep or course.

Waterford has a lot of great places for you to visit when you're ready to take a break from studying. You can start exploring the town by visiting Peebles Island State Park. The park is surrounded by beautiful scenery for you to enjoy. Accessible by bridge, the park is entirely surrounded by water, and you can take a nearly two-mile walk along the shoreline. A leisurely stroll along the path is pleasant at any time of day, but as the sun is setting it is particularly lovely. If you're looking for a wooded walking path, there are several that run through the center of the island. You can also reach the park via boat, as there is a boat launch on the island.

Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center is another great attraction that has an educational spin. The local history museum is located in a Greek Revival mansion from the 1830s. The museum features one permanent exhibit about the history of the town and several rotating exhibits about specific facets of the town. The restored mansion also includes a Victorian period room, complete with furnishings and decor. Visitors will be able to have a peek at what this room looked like when it was part of a home.

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Tutoring review by Michael in Waterford, NY
The student and I worked with logarithmic functions yesterday. We began by working with equations that had the same log base on each side of the equation. The student flew through these problems, noting that he had already done a few of them the previous day for homework. His class has a quiz on these types of problems this week, and the students felt really strong about the quiz. After seeing that he was more than capable of solving these problems, we opted to move towards using his chapter review packet and getting into some log functions that he had not yet learned in class. We covered probably two days worth of lessons in the 30 minutes we had remaining. The student was really pumped that we were able to get a head start, and was looking forward to class today knowing that he would have a leg up on his peers. It was a great session for the student.
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The student is back in school. She's actually been back for a few weeks. We worked on review problems. They mostly involved lines. We worked with the standard form, the point slope form, and the slope intercept form. We also worked on systems of equations and graphing with vertical, and horizontal changes.
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Tutoring review by Gaither in Waterford, NY
We covered a variety of topics that will be covered on her next test. This mainly included friction and inclined planes. She worked very hard on grasping the concepts that we covered. She seemed to have an excellent understanding of the material and I am confident she is going to score well on her next test.
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Tutoring review by Michael in Waterford, NY
The student was ready to begin when I arrived. We went over chemistry labs from the previous week to assist him in catching up; he was able to explain the purpose of the lab as well as the methodology. He also showed a great deal of insight contributing the possible causes of error (we eventually realized that he was unable to allow a component to fully sublimate due to safety reasons).
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Tutoring review by Carlos in Waterford, NY
After today's session the student seems to be understanding basic Spanish vocabulary better. He struggles with some grammar but it's progressing as each session grows. I was very pleased to see him asking me important questions about the subject matter and he wasn't afraid to ask after confusion occurred. For the purpose of having him do more than just memorize his Spanish I made him get more creative by having him create his own sentences without aid of the book or flashcards.
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Tutoring review by Amanda in Waterford, NY
We spoke with each other English for about 20 minutes and then began writing sentences to determine the student's comfort level with written diction in English. She only had minor mistakes and struggles most with verb tense, specifically past participles (past tense) and definite articles (that or this). We also looked up some vocabulary words that were unfamiliar to her. We spent the remainder of our time practicing pronunciation, and working in front of a mirror with "sh" vs. "ch," "y" vs. "j," and "v" vs. "b" sounds. Additionally, we practiced using google translate, which she will use before our next session.
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Elizabeth Cole

From decorating the limbs of celebrities to coloring the pages of Vogue, Elizabeth Cole’s jewelry has gained a reputation for making splashy appearances. Founded in 2005 by Stephanie Owen, the jewelry brand’s bold confections pair unexpected shapes with luxurious materials to offer endless glamour that’s both unique and wearable.
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Thu, Jun 04 | Online

Artist Talk with UBCO BFA Grad: Aiden de Vin

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is excited to announce that we will be hosting artist talks for three of the UBCO Visual Arts 4th Year grad students!
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Jun 04, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

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Borne the Battle Podcast Ep. 215: Benefits Breakdown, Intimate Violence Assistance Program

In support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Borne the Battle’s featured guest this week is Dr. LeAnn Bruce, National Program Manager for the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) who shares the importance of the program and how the VA offers these services to Veterans.

Dr. Bruce talks where and what services are offered through the program, and how paying attention to IPV can save a Veteran’s or their family member’s life.

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Trans People Are Pushing the FDA to Rethink Their Rules on Blood Donations

The FDA only recognizes the birth gender of possible blood donors, a policy that critics say ignores the new legal identities of trans individuals.
February 4, 2015, 8:20pm
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

When the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans in December to change — but not repeal — its ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood, the agency was quickly criticized for continuing to discriminate.

But little attention was paid to the ban's effects on the transgender community, which is also affected by FDA policies that recognize only the birth gender of possible donors. Now, trans activists are adding their disapproval to the chorus of voices urging the FDA to rethink its blood donation policies completely as the public commentary phase of the decision-making process begins.

Following a recommendation from the Health and Human Services Department, the FDA announced in December that it was proposing a change to its ban on gay donors. The current policy prohibits any man who has had sex with another man (MSM) since 1977 from donating blood. The new policy would ban only men who have had sex with a man during the past year. The FDA said it would publish a draft of the policy early in 2015 followed by a period of public comment before making its final decision.

Gay rights advocates, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), criticized the FDA's proposal, saying a rule that demands a year of celibacy still effectively bans almost all gay men from donating, reinforces an outdated stereotype that HIV is a gay disease, and is not backed up by science. GMHC said that all donors — men and women, gay or straight — should be evaluated on their individual risk factors.

FDA announces plans to end the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood. Read more here.

But the trans community is now contesting another portion of the proposed policy. Under both the current FDA regulations and proposed changes, all donors are evaluated based on the gender they were at birth. If someone was born male and later transitioned to female, they are still considered a male by the FDA and blood banks, the FDA told VICE News. If that person has had sex with a man — even through heterosexual sex after their transition — they are banned from donating blood.

In the opposite case, where an individual born female transitions to male, that person will always be considered a woman by the FDA in regard to blood donation. So even if they transition to male and have sex with a man, they will be allowed to donate blood. In addition to the inconsistency, the FDA ignores the new legal identities of trans individuals, critics say.

The FDA said in an email to VICE News that the ban is "based on well-documented observations of much higher rates of transmissible diseases among MSM than in the non-MSM population. With regard to the FDA's door deferral policy for MSM, it is recommended that sex as determined at birth be used for the purpose of determining donor eligibility."

Mara Kiesling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, called the existing ban "a BS policy based on fear with total disregard for science," and said that the FDA didn't expect their announcement to be followed by "people on the ground wanting to figure out what that meant for trans people."

Rikers Island jail to open special housing unit for trans women inmates. Read more here.

Kiesling said the FDA's basic problem is that it hasn't considered trans people at all while creating its policies, instead just lumping them in with the gay population. When the agency announced possible changes to the ban in December, she added, it was clear the FDA would have to develop a policy that also addresses trans donors.

"There's always been a conflation between gay men and trans people," Kiesling said. "The blood people used to conflate trans people as some kind of gay variety, while trans men were just invisible. This time when they announced their half-assed and still-unscientific policy they got questions and pushback. There was no way now the trans community was going to allow them to make us invisible on this policy or conflate us with gay men."

Kiesling said the National Center for Trans Equality is seeking a meeting with the policymakers at the FDA to get clarification on the agency's views, and to share their own ideas for new blood donor rules.

"There's nothing inherent in our people that should prevent us from donating blood or blood products, nothing about us that should ban us. We are not gay men," Kiesling said, noting that she also disagrees with the blanket ban on gay men donating blood.

I. Glenn Cohen, co-director of Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, told VICE News that all blood samples are rigorously tested "no matter what," and that the FDA should move toward an individualized assessment for risky behavior.

Gay and trans immigrants may not find reprieve in Obama's executive action. Read more here.

"It took a long time for [the FDA] to move to this, the question is whether the pressure will continue to be on them," Cohen said, explaining that the move does buy the agency time. "It's reasonable for them to say, 'Let's evaluate what happens with this move first then decide.' But I hope gay rights activists and the public health community will continue to push them."

Tara Goodin, spokeswoman for the FDA, noted that the policies are merely recommendations to blood banks and centers, and each individual facility has the ultimate say on who is allowed to donate. She also emphasized the importance of the upcoming public comment period.

"We'd encourage people who are interested in transgender [issues] to comment on that so we could get more detail," Goodin said. "The FDA encourages all stakeholders, including those concerned about transgender issues, to take the opportunity to provide comments on the draft guidance."

Follow Colleen Curry on Twitter: @currycolleen

Photo via Wikimedia Commons


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We are Open For Business - PLAN NOW, TRAVEL LATER – No Deposits to Pay.
Follow the link for Covid-19 updates in Zimbabwe.

by Steve & Rani Chetty
(Durban, South Africa)

My wife and I spent our 30th wedding anniversary dinner celebrations at the Boma Restaurant on Saturday 20th August 2011 and what an experience it turned out to be. As we entered the restaurant,we were met and greeted by a traditionally dressed Zimbabwean who draped us in a shawl.

The next stage was painting of our faces to look like warriors. We were then led into the restaurant and escorted to out table. On the way to our table, we were overwhelmed by the display of all types of food both traditional as well as western.
On reaching our table, a staff member brought us a caste iron pot with water to wash our hands. Thereafter we were give traditional beer to sip and taste which they said was customary. Dinner followed. We had the lamb on spit together with a few other items. I also sampled crocodile tail which tasted like smoked chicken.
I was also introduced to the famous Fried Mopani Worms which I politely refused. The next item on the agenda was the drumming competition where each couple was given a DRUM SIMILAR TO THE BONGO drum which we had to beat on. The audience was divided into 4 groups and each group had to beat on the drum on cue. This was fantastic to see some 100 drums being beaten. It was real fun. We were then invited to the dance floor to join the other guests in doing the traditional dance. Unfortunately all good things had to end as we had to catch our taxi back to our hotel. In summary, the food, entertainment and hospitality of The Boma to My wife and I were 5 star, a sentiment echoed by most of the guest that we spoke to on the night. PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS EXPERIENCE.

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There’s been a great piece in the news this week – which even made the BBC news homepage – about how Blackcaps have shifted their European migration route to exploit the food we put out for birds in our gardens. How good is that?!

The findings have come from a BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) report which covered data from a 12 year period, and essentially showed that many Blackcaps, which breed in central Europe, had progressively adapted their behaviour to spend winters in Britain rather than head further south to the Mediterranean. Two reasons were cited for this: climate change and the availability of food put out in gardens.

Lead researcher for the project, Dr Kate Plummer, commented that: "This is the first time that we've shown that feeding birds actually influences the distribution of a bird species across a whole country." Commenting on the fact that the increased sightings of Blackcaps were in gardens where food was put out for birds, Dr Plummer went on to say: "Where there was a reliable supply of food, Blackcaps were more likely to be seen."

This is of course great news and something at Vine House Farm we’ve long suspected. This is driven by the number of our customers that have increasingly reported regular sightings of this very attractive little warbler in their gardens during autumn, winter and very early spring.

So what foods can you put out to attract Blackcaps to your garden? Well in our experience and from what our customers tell us, suet pellets and suet blocks are a real favourite. Blackcaps will often feed from ground feeders and tables, but will also cling onto hanging feeders and in particular suet block cages. They also like sunflower hearts and chopped peanuts, and if you take a look at our video about feeding garden birds you’ll see a lovely female Blackcap (at about 4.56 in the video) on a ground feeding tray eating a husk-free mix which contains both these foods.

Please do tell us about Blackcaps in your garden and the foods which are attracting them.


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Contact Us

(206) 223-2319

Frequently Asked Questions about Hepatitis C

Below are some frequently asked questions about hepatitis C. For more information about hepatitis C or how to make an appointment at our Hepatitis C Clinic please call (206) 223-2319 or contact us online.

1. What is hepatitis C?
2. How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
3. Is hepatitis C symptomatic?
4. How might I have been infected?
5. Are patients with hepatitis C contagious?
6. Who should be tested for hepatitis C?
7. How serious is HCV infection?
8. What are the complications of hepatitis C?
9. What evaluation is required of someone with hepatitis C?
10. Can hepatitis C affect organs other than my liver?
11. How is hepatitis C treated?
12. Are there side effects of treatment?
13. What are the chances of my HCV being cured?
14. Which patients should be treated now?
15. How can I get involved in clinical trials?
16. If I enroll in such a clinical trial, will I get placebo?
17. What follow up is necessary after successful treatment?
18. How can I keep my liver healthy?
19. Other Resources for Hepatitis C

1. Q: What is hepatitis C?

A: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a liver disease caused by a blood-borne virus. More than 5 million people, or nearly 2% of the United States population, are living with HCV. Approximately 75 to 85% of those exposed to the virus will develop chronic infection, and are at risk for damage to the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Over half of those living with chronic HCV are undiagnosed and therefore unaware of their infection.

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2. Q: How is hepatitis C diagnosed?

A: Hepatitis C can be diagnosed through simple blood tests. Antibodies to HCV are found in the blood of anyone who has been exposed to the virus. Those who develop chronic infection will have a positive HCV viral load. It is also important to determine which of the six HCV genotypes is present in the blood stream. In the US, 75% of HCV cases are genotype 1. Liver enzymes can be elevated, can fluctuate, or be normal in the setting of HCV infection.

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3. Q: Is hepatitis C symptomatic?

A: Most people with HCV have no symptoms or only mild nonspecific symptoms that are difficult to attribute to the infection. Among those who do have symptoms, the most frequent complaint is fatigue. Other less common symptoms include nausea, decreased appetite, muscle or joint pain, weakness, and weight loss. Those who have developed advanced scarring of the liver, or symptomatic, are likely to be more symptomatic. Persons with portal hypertension, the end stage of HCV infection, may have yellowing of the eyes and skin (ie: jaundice), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ie: ascites), change in mental status (ie: hepatic encephalopathy), and are at risk for bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract from dilated blood vessels called varices.

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4. Q: How might I have been infected?

A:  The hepatitis C virus is spread by contact with blood. The most common ways people have been infected include:

- Sharing of needles, syringes, or other paraphernalia used for injection drug use

- Receiving a blood transfusion before 1990, when blood was not routinely tested for hepatitis C or other infections

- Being born between 1945 and 1965

- Sexual or close household contact with an HCV-infected person

- Often, people are diagnosed with HCV and cannot identify a clear risk factor for infection

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5. Q: Are patients with hepatitis C contagious?

A: The hepatitis C virus can be spread through sharing of needles, syringes, or equipment to inject drugs, and by needle-stick injuries. The virus is much more difficult to spread by sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes. While HCV can be spread by sexual contact, the risk of transmission is thought to be quite low, although this risk may be increased for those with multiple sex partners, those who engage in rough sex, and for those with HIV or sexually transmitted infections.

Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or breastfeeding. It is also not spread through food or water.

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6. Q: Who should be tested for hepatitis C?

A: HCV is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with HCV by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

You should be screened for hepatitis C virus if:

  • You were born from 1945 through 1965
  • You are a current or former injection drug user, even if you injected only one time or many years ago.
  • You received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992.
  • You are on long-term hemodialysis for kidney disease
  • You have abnormal liver tests
  • You work in health care and were exposed to blood through a needlestick or other sharp object injury.
  • You are infected with HIV.

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7. Q: How serious is HCV infection?

A: Chronic HCV infection can lead to serious long-term health problems including liver damage, liver failure, liver failure, and even death. Currently HCV is the leading cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplant in the United States, and leads to more than 15,000 deaths per year. Cirrhosis is an irreversible condition, although eradicating the virus through HCV antivirals can stabilize or improve liver disease and prevent further complications.

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8. Q: What are the complications of hepatitis C?

A: Among those who develop chronic HCV infection, approximately 20 to 25% will develop cirrhosis after two to three decades of infection. While it is difficult to predict which patients will progress to cirrhosis, factors associated with an increased rate of liver scarring include acquisition of HCV at an older age, increased age regardless of duration of infection, male sex, co-infection with HIV or hepatitis B (HBV) virus, heavy alcohol use, daily marijuana use, and presence of obesity, diabetes, and/or fatty liver disease.

For those persons with cirrhosis, a process called portal hypertension can occur whereby blood cannot flow through the liver, which is shrunken and scarred, and this can lead to life-threatening complications. For example, fluid can accumulate in the abdomen (ie: ascites) and become infected, veins in the GI tract can dilate and may hemorrhage, blood does not clot appropriately, and kidney function can be impaired. When the liver can no longer detoxify the blood stream, toxins are shunted into the blood circulating to the brain which leads changes in mental status including confusion and sleepiness (known as encephalopathy).

Individuals who develop HCV-related cirrhosis have approximately 1 to 4% risk per year of developing primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC. For this reason, all persons with advanced liver scarring should undergo screening for HCC with an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI) every six months in addition to blood tests.

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9. Q: What evaluation is required of someone with hepatitis C?

A: During initial evaluation for a person newly diagnosed with HCV, healthcare providers will confirm the presence of infection with an HCV viral load and determine the HCV genotype. Providers will perform a thorough history and physical examination, with a focus on stigmata of chronic liver disease and manifestations attributable to HCV infection. A complete baseline laboratory evaluation includes testing for liver inflammation, assessment of liver function, and investigation for signs of portal hypertension which occurs in patients with cirrhosis. A radiographic study of the abdomen is often helpful.

Providers can assess the degree of liver scarring and damage using a number of blood tests and a newly available technology called FibroScan, which is available at Virginia Mason and can replace liver biopsy for most patients. In addition to routinely recommended adult immunizations, all persons with chronic hepatitis C infection should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B unless they are already immune or have active infection.

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10. Q: Can hepatitis C affect organs other than my liver?

A: Yes. Hepatitis C virus is associated with a range of clinical conditions other than liver disease. Persons with chronic HCV can develop renal disease, vasculitis, and skin disorders related to the virus. Those with HCV are also more likely to develop diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, and these conditions can accelerate HCV liver disease progression. Successful treatment of HCV appears to also benefit and reduce the risk of some of these manifestations.

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11. Q: How is hepatitis C treated?

A: For the past 25 years, the only treatment available for chronic hepatitis was interferon, an injection therapy with intolerable side effects, combined with ribavirin. For patients with genotype 1, the chance of cure after one year of such therapy was only around 50%.

A revolution in HCV therapeutics has occurred, and Virginia Mason contributed to this progress by enrolling willing patients in key critical trials. Currently, we are only using oral direct-acting antiviral medications. The regimen used for treating HCV depends on a patient’s genotype. For those with  genotype 1, which is the most common in the United States, we are currently using a combination of two medications, sofosbuvir and ledipasvir, which are conveniently formulated in one pill called Harvoni that is taken once per day. The duration of treatment depends on whether patients’ have previously been treated without success, and ranges from 8 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks. For patients with genotype 2 and 3, the combination of sofosbuvir and ribavirin is given for 12 weeks duration for genotype 2 and 24 weeks for genotype 3, which is slightly more difficult to cure. While on treatment, we ask that patients go to a local laboratory for blood tests every four weeks to ensure the virus is responding to treatment and that the HCV viral load is undetectable in the blood stream. being adequately suppressed. We also monitor blood counts and basic liver tests.

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12. Q: Are there side effects of treatment?

A: The difference between interferon-based therapies of the past and current all-oral regimens is like night and day. Less than 1 in 5 patients treated with sofosbuvir or Harvoni experience fatigue or a mild headache. Occasional nausea and diarrhea have been reported, but are not common. There are very few drug interactions but our providers closely review a patient’s medication list before prescribing HCV therapy.

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13. Q: What are the chances of my HCV being cured?

A: The goal of therapy is to achieve sustained virologic response (SVR) which is equivalent to a cure. The hepatitis C does not come back if the viral load is negative 6 months after completion of therapy. In clinical trials, approximately 95% of all patients treated with Harvoni are cured. For the 5% of patients that do not achieve cure, we can offer participation in ongoing clinical trials of new drug combinations and also expect that in the new future, other FDA-approved options for treating HCV will be available.

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14. Q: Which patients should be treated now?

A: All patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis should be treated as soon as possible to prevent further liver damage and reduce the risk of complications including liver failure and liver cancer. Some patients will have other manifestations of hepatitis C that would benefit from treatment, including HCV cryoglobulinemia which can cause kidney disease and skin rash. All patients who may require liver transplantation should have their virus eradicated so it does not re-infect the new liver.

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15. Q: How can I get involved in clinical trials?

A: Virginia Mason has a range of clinical trials involving novel HCV antiviral regimens, and should you be interested, we will assess whether you meet inclusion criteria.

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16. Q: If I enroll in such a clinical trial, will I get placebo?

A: It is highly unlikely that you will get a placebo. The current phase two trials are each administering active drug combinations rather than placebos.

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17. Q: What follow up is necessary after successful treatment?

A: Whether an individual needs lifelong follow up by a hepatologist depends on whether they had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis prior to HCV treatment. For those with cirrhosis, long-term surveillance for liver cancer with an imaging study and serum tumor markers is necessary every six months. Some patients with portal hypertension also require ongoing surveillance for esophageal varices and management of ascites and/or encephalopathy, which occur with advanced liver disease. While liver function generally improves after eradication of the hepatitis C virus, blood tests of liver function should still be monitored.

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18. Q: How can I keep my liver healthy?

A: There are ways to keep your liver healthy when infected with HCV and after HCV cure.

  • Avoidance of heavy alcohol for all persons, and avoidance of any alcohol for those with cirrhosis or advanced liver disease. The negative effects of alcohol on the liver occur at lower doses (ie: fewer drinks per day) for women
  • Daily cannabis / marijuana use is associated with higher risk of liver fibrosis
    For persons with cirrhosis and liver dysfunction, NSAIDs (ie: ibuprofen, naproxen) should be used sparingly. Up to 2g of Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be safely used without risk to the liver for most patients, but 1g daily may be safer for those with cirrhosis
  • Obesity and insulin resistance, which is seen in type II diabetes, are associated with higher risk of liver fibrosis and may affect treatment response to HCV antivirals
  • There is insufficient use to support the benefit of herbal remedies or supplements for liver disease (ie: milk thistle, SAMe, and many others).
  • Herbs and supplements are not regulated by the FDA or standardized, and some can rarely cause an acute severe hepatitis. Most liver doctors recommend avoidance.

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19. Other Resources for Hepatitis C

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)

American Liver Foundation (ALF)

Infectious Diseases Society of America

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Ecopsychology Intensives

In every walk with nature one receives far more than they seek. - John Muir

Ecological psychology (ecopsychology) is an educative approach to understanding the same ecological processes that affect complex narratives and behaviors of Earth - affect the complexity of narratives and behaviors of the ecological psyche, of the organization, institution, corporation, and community.

The study of ecopsychology offers an extensive knowledge base that examines ecological and psychological processes:

  • energy exchange,
  • diversity/multiplicity,
  • Intra-actions and waste,
  • change,
  • relationality, and
  • decay and renewal (ecological and psychological composting) that underpin all ecologies including the human psyche.

Human narratives have an efficacy of their own: to poison or to activate, to close down or to open up possibilities.

The narratives we fabricate the world with matter; the ideas we think other ideas with … matter.

An ecology of practice examines and reconfigures human narratives and their resulting practices that make and unmake the world - narratives that promote changing the climate, destroying half the planet's surface landscapes, polluting the oceans with plastics, fostering human supremacy, and deweaving democratic values of inclusive citizenship.

An ecopsychology study activates attention, widens perceptivity, cultivates senses, and promotes responsibility to the fibers of ethicality and justice that compose the world.

Our aim is for VGI participants to lead different conversations and actions in the world for how things can be different. To learn practical and effective ways to reconfigure narratives, thereby transforming behavior.

These skills support individuals, communities, and organizations in becoming accountable and responsible for the narratives, behaviors, and practices enacted in the world.

Ecopsychology Intensive programs are designed for a cross-section of audiences.

• Citizens wanting to gain an ecopsychological literacy for personal growth.

• Business leaders and corporate managers seeking a time-proven, innovative, and narrative-changing education to enhance and advance professional development in the areas of corporate sustainability, ethics, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

• Educators and coaches who wish to teach or directly apply ecopsychology processes in the classroom, individual and organizational coaching and consulting practices.

• Health care professionals, including clinicians, therapists, social workers, environmental grief counselors, and environmental first responders.

• Environmental and social activists and community leaders.

• Civic and governmental agency executives and managers.

Ecological literacy is psychological literacy – a necessity for any person, business, organization, or institution endeavoring to evolve open, nutritious, and innovative ideas, practices, products, services, and relationships.

  1. Apply ecological and psychological knowledge in transforming destructive narratives and practices into relational and cooperative solutions.

  2. Apply ecological knowledge and psychological capabilities in one's personal and professional lives.

  3. Envisaging and proposing ideas and practices participants take back to their community and/or organization.

Ecological Psychology (Ecopsychology) Intensive

6-month program

Dates: January 7 - June 3, 2021

Day/Time: Thursday 12:00pm - 2:00pm Pacific Time. Each class is 2 hours.

Venue: ONLINE via Zoom

Cost: $2500

Payment options available.

1. Please DOWNLOAD Enrollment Agreement and send to

2. Make your course payment (Paypal or check. Please select a payment options). If you need to make other payment arrangements, please contact

Ecopsychology Intensive Fee

For more information please contact

Student Testimonials

"Thank you so much for the Ecopsychology Intensive! It was beyond what I ever expected. I particularly appreciated what we learned about diversity and energy within the context of ecopsychology. You are a dedicated educator with a commitment and talent to move thought and provide paradigms for students that is / will help heal the world. "  -With gratitude, Bridget/California

"Thank you, Lori, for offering such a wonderful course in ecopsychology. I have thoroughly enjoyed the new perspective on life (and death!)." -Thank you, Sue

"I took part in the  Ecospychology Intensive that was offered online last year and I have to say that it really gave me an appreciation for what ecopsychology is all about.  The lectures were very interesting, as were the additional readings offered each week...but it was the practical aspect of the course, that I really got the most from.  I highly recommend doing it. We were given weekly journal questions to answer.  These were responded to by Lori Pye and sent back with more questions to consider.  It was from this exercise that I really understood the value of ecopsychology on a personal level.  From this experience, I now understand how powerful it can be, and how it could be most helpful for others as well.  I was interested in ecopsychology before beginning the course, but I am now committed to including it as I move forward in my professional life."   -Thank you! Antonella - Canada

Wanting to find deeper meaning in my life and work, I had been looking for an ecopsychological community with a heart for removing barriers of communication within and between the individual and the soul of the world.  I found that through the Intensive Program at Viridis I learned and practiced a profound, creative, and empathic way of seeing my interconnectedness with all of life.  I also appreciated the live online video classroom because it too was a conscious effort to remove barriers of communication among the students and with the professor.  Overall, the program is a modern, relevant, and evolutionary program that has empowered me to change, grow, and lead with confidence.   -Lynn, North Carolina

I participated in the Intensive Program and frankly, it has changed my aspirations for my future, and the hope I hold for the future of mankind and our planet. That may sound dramatic, but so is the understanding that the eco-psychological perspective can bring. As a psychologist working with organisational culture, I thought I already held a psychological view of the world, but the lens of environmental humanities in conjunction with depth psychology is extraordinary; optimistic, raw, challenging, and inspiring. I am so glad Viridis Institute is forging a path for the future, a path I will continue to walk. - Pippa, AU

It was an honor to be a part of the VGI community as part of the Intensive Program. Viridis is doing such important work for individuals, communities and the planet. My experience was educational, empowering and inspiring. Thanks to the brilliant leadership of Lori, and the engaged participation of students, this experience was enormously rewarding and enriching. I couldn't be more grateful.-Dennis, Maine.

At slide 12 of this week's lecture I had to press pause and write to you. THANK YOU, thank goodness, thank the gods and goddesses, that you are speaking these great ideas, that you are calling us to action, and pointing the way. I am in tears, your insights move me so. And I couldn't agree more. Your words point to the first truly hopeful direction I have encountered since beginning my deep dive into Ecopsychology. It is a huge hard task but doing it together will make it easier, once we overcome our fear, our need to protect our individual vulnerable, rather shattered and fragmented interiors. All I can say is thank you - over and over. I feel so much gratitude that you are here now, doing this work, having these insights and that I was blessed with the amazing fortune of finding Viridis and signing up for this course!" – Laurie, CO.

Viridis graduate institute, ecopsychology, ecological psychology, ecopsychology intensives, introduction to ecopsychology, ecopsychology degrees, online education, distance education, masters in ecopsychology, doctorate in ecopsychology, PhD in ecopsychology, depth psychology, archetypal psychology, ecology, nature, everything is connected, ecopsychology, ecopsychology programs, ecopsychology programs online, wilderness training, rewilding, ecological psychology, diversity, biodiversity, environmental studies, degree in ecopsychology, social ecology, ecological sociology, cultural ecology, ecopsychologist, career in ecopsychology, ecopsychology intensives, intensives in ecopsychology, certificate in ecopsychology, ecopsychology certificate, ecopsychology career, narrative studies, change the narrative, change the culture, ecologize the psyche, ecopsychological education, Earth dynamics, earth systems, earth science, ecological processes, multispecies, human behavior, symbiotic planet, symbionts, symbiosis, anthropology, anthropocene, psychology, conservation ecology, biology, wildlife conservation, conscious, unconscious, worldviews, dualistic thinking, new narratives, think ecologically – act psychologically, ethics, rewild the psyche, study in nature, moral psychology, social justice, environmental injustice, education in ecopsychology, career in ecopsychology, ecopsychologist, ideas, ecological developmental biology, social justice, BIPOC


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Vision33 Consulting Services for Government

Consulting Services

Within the disruptive and innovative digital world of today, there is an opportunity for governments to become more agile and cost effective – and turn to technology for answers. Yet, there is an undeniable challenge in navigating through the complexities of the current digital landscape to successfully execute on strategy and solutions for eGovernment.

Vision33 works in collaboration with customers and partners to weave through complexities and help transform public sector clients into digitally enabled government agencies.  We have been delivering IT consulting and IT professional services to public sector clients across North America since our inception. Simply stated – we know government. Vision33 has experience working across multiple jurisdictions at the Federal, State, Provincial, County and Municipal levels. In North America, we have direct experience with Public Sector Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

To obtain real value from investments in technology, agencies require an experienced eGovernment implementation services provider. A qualified partner who works tirelessly to maximize the benefits of eGovernment technologies, aligning them with an agency’s existing processes and goals. Simultaneously – a partner that minimizes the risk associated with implementing a sophisticated application that touches all aspects of your organization.

Vision33 exists to empower our government clients to be successful with technology. We understand the positive and powerful impact that technology can have in the public sector when information technology works in perfect synchronization with business processes and supports strategic vision.

Whether you are considering putting a specific government service online and need direction on what must be in place, performing a readiness assessment, or want to upgrade or expand on existing technology solutions, Vision33 can position you for success. Our expertise with Government at all levels enables our Consultants to be able to carefully access customer requirements and formulate the right solution.

Vision33 exists to empower our government clients to be successful with technology

Flexible and pragmatic, Vision33 works in partnership to understand your government’s business needs. We work in collaboration with customers on a strategic level; delivering an approach that can support the changing needs of your agency. Vision33 engages clients in long term partnerships to maximize the delivery approach and increase value to the organization.

The value of Vision33’s consulting services lies in the ability to not only provide qualified resources, but to provide the full support of a global professional consulting organization with a vested interest in the long-term success of you - the customer. We have experts in the technologies and methodologies that are of most value to you.

Working in partnership with Vision33, we will help you optimize your technology investment, delivering government services efficiently, reduce costs and improve overall citizen satisfaction.

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For more information about our Consulting team, please contact us.