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The Soviet Union has lost one of its toughest-negotiating diplomats, a man who survived five Kremlin leadership changes and weathered the dramatic turns of East-West relations. It was announced Monday that former Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko had died Sunday. ``He was part of our history, with all its good sides and all its bad sides,'' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov, adding that Gromyko recently had been criticized for emphasizing relations with the United States at the expense of ties with other countries.

During his 50-year career, Gromyko helped forge the Soviet-American World War II alliance, draft the UN Charter, and superpower arms cuts. He served as Soviet ambassador to the United States, Britain, and the United Nations.

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PreviPharma & Fraunhofer

PreviPharma & Fraunhofer

To save lives, researchers from Mannheim are using blood plasma to create new forms of medicine. We met up in the CUBEX 41 start-up center, with the duo Marc Mazur, of PreviPharma, and Dr. Jens Langejürgen, who heads the Fraunhofer project group “Automation in Medicine and Biotech”.

Marc and Jens – how did you two come to cooperate, here in CUBEX 41?

Marc Mazur: We’ve been in Cubex since 2015. I got to know Jens in April of 2018, while having a cup of coffee and playing some table football. It was clear from the beginning, that we had a lot in common. Things didn’t get going with an official meeting, five-page concepts, or loads of manuscripts; it was an unassuming “Hey, what do you guys do?”. In the beginning we had one room – by today we are the second largest tenant in Cubex, and rent a whole wing. Our workflow, representation and networking is on-point at the moment.

Dr. Jens Langejürgen: Both of our teams are in Cubex, so everything is short distance. Marc had been receiving funding through the Fraunhofer Institute since the beginning. This was mostly for an event in Australia. One of the largest plasma fractionators is located there, so this was a potentially big business client for Marc.

From the left: The duo Marc Mazur, of PreviPharma, and Dr. Jens Langejürgen, who heads the Fraunhofer project group “Automation in Medicine and Biotech”.

Okay! Before we get ahead of ourselves … tell us what plasma is all about.

Marc: Plasma makes up about 60% of our blood. It is the liquid, cell-free and slightly yellow part of it. It transports the cellular blood components, as well as plasma proteins and low-molecular substances. Plasma is won through centrifugation, after which the blood is virus tested and snap-frozen. We aren’t plasma fractionators, but we do use plasma for our research.

Jens: My crew develops and optimizes measuring technology for biomedical applications. This involves temperature sensors. Plasma can be quite delicate, and freezing and thawing it cad be tricky. Marcs and my team got together to conduct some experiments regarding applicability. Our experience with sensors, and PreviPharmas knowledge regarding plasma, were a perfect match.

There must be several firms worldwide, that produce medication using blood plasma. What is unique about your approach?

Marc: At the moment there are about six or seven products on the market, which are made from plasma. They help patients with genetic defects. These defects can, for example, cause swelling of the extremities, because of a coagulation disorder or an immune deficiency. These are standard medications, which were developed decades ago – and haven’t been further developed since then, to help with other forms of therapy! We have re-opened these ideas. For instance, we have been developing a new substance since 2015, which is part of a therapy concept involving a plasma protein. What makes this especially interesting is the fact, that the substance not only helps patients with genetic defects, but also those with acquired  deficiencies. This is relevant for therapeutic areas such as organ failure, or infectious diseases. What we are doing is to dramatically broaden the the pool of potential patients. What was once a tiny niche is becoming a large area of therapy, with the possibility of helping a large number of patients. Further active ingredients are currently being developed. And I am convinced we are creating pharmaceuticals with billions in potential revenue.

You both are currently researching medical technology, while you both come from other fields. What led you here?

Marc: After school I finished my bachelor’s degree and MBA in Corporate Finance, in Los Angeles. During my first years as a management consultant, I provided guidance for several clients from the pharmaceutical industry. This was my first contact with that industry. After this I went on to pursue a top managing position, as part of the internal management consultancy and IT department at Volkswagen. It wasn’t till 2013, that I became part of PreviPharma – initially with a small amount of medical-technical know-how.

Jens: I’m no medical expert either. I studied physics at the „Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule“ in Aachen. After this I obtained a doctorate in the field of electrical engineering, at Leibniz University, Hanover. Following this I spent my postdoc in analytical chemistry, in England, after which I worked as a team leader in the medical technology segment, at Fraunhofer.

Is it easy to find open ears in the medical industry, as a start-up consisting of lateral entrants?

Marc: The plasma-sector as a niche, is highly complex and difficult. There is hardly any exchange of know-how. When I became part of PreviPharma, in 2013, we weren’t on the map yet, neither nationally nor internationally. My first steps were to completely refocus the business: the start-up was founded in 2007, with an initial focus on technological development. There were some good concepts, but the business was to small. My vision was to refocus and get into the service-integrators sector. This means we worked several years as moderators and consultants, to eventually become absolut insiders in the field.

Jens: During the summer we travelled to Australia, to present our approach to a group of professors and students, as well as a very large blood-plasma fractionator. The feedback was very positive, as Marc is very knowledgeable in the plasma field, has international business expertise, and through his business management background, he knows how to run a business, and what requirements our clients have. As PreviPharma is a relatively small business, it’s great to have Fraunhofer as a partner. They have over 20.000 employees. This combination of a young, innovative start-up, and our world-renowned research facility, is what makes us so strong together.

Let’s take another step back: how do you fund a start-up in the medical technology sector?

Marc: What we could offer from the get-go was our know-how. Aside from a 25.000 euro founder-award, which we received in 2015, by the state of Baden-Württemberg, we have been able to finance our operation solely through our technical knowledge, and the resulting services we are able to provide. We also began asking plasma fractioning firms, if they were interested in trying our approach. Many didn’t take us seriously, or reacted almost patronizingly. They never believed our approach would work. So in the end we did things ourselves – and it worked! Within a few years we transitioned from offering technological services, to functioning as a medical research company. This is the top of the game and we now have many more strategic options.

That sounds quite optimistic. Did any cooperations arise after your Australia trip?

Jens: Talks are currently underway, and we greatly profit from the high-end network and the publicity. I see this a real success. You have to be persistent and wait for the right moment to make projects happen. I was recently invited by the German Ministry of Education and Research, to give a presentation on our cooperation and the exchange program.

Marc: Since the symposium we have been cooperating with the Adelaide university for preclinical trials. It’s all about meeting up, getting to know each other, and exchanging knowledge. This is vital. We never would have met this way through the internet, as one tends to overlook a lot online.

Are you expecting a visit to Mannheim by the Australians?

Jens: Indeed! They will be here in November of 2018. They do outstanding research, and a well functioning economy, but the Australians lack the transfer. The structures there make it hard to bring the more academic side of the business out to the people, and to gain new insights and connections. This is why Marc and I, and our Mannheim tandem business model, is an interesting example of a “best practice” for the Australians.

Marc: Further networking is great for us. Since 2017 we have been creating a “Medical Innovation Plattform”. It is our goal to bring several new active substances, with new indications, which are generated from plasma, to the patients, in collaboration with our partners. We research medications, this is all about saving lives. I truly believe in this. Not in a religious way. I’m a very optimistic person, and I don’t believe in coincidences. What I do believe in are ideas, that make good things happen.

Interview: Sina Listmann / LA.MAG

Photos: Ricardo Wiesinger

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CC For Sale: 1976 Buick Skyhawk – Preserved Green Bird

Other than the handfuls of modified Chevrolet Monzas sporting high performance goodies that you’ll find being carted to drag strips around North America, the actual numbers of these ‘second generation’ GM H-bodies still lingering on the streets are very few. In fact, this particular example I came across in a recent Kijiji browse is the first one I have seen in a long time, and only from the comfort of my living room. It would be have been nice to view it and shoot it in person, but the clean and original condition of this particular bird absolutely requires me to share.

The Skyhawk, as GM would note “the smallest Buick in 60 years”, was simply a badge-engineered version of the Monza, which itself was spun off GM’s infamous Chevrolet Vega subcompact that made waves in the automotive world in the early 1970s. While stories of the Vega are plentiful and almost always negative, I find that those of the later built GM H-bodies are a little more varied. Overall build quality was typical of the big three in the ’70s (ie: mediocre) and more often than not, these cars fell to the always persistent rust bug if not some kind of major mechanical malady and disappeared off the streets as quickly as other common ’70s offerings.

76skyhawk3 76skyhawk5

It has been many years since I have even seen a Skyhawk of this generation, though I will also note that all Skyhawks are a rare sight these days given the J-body successor introduced in 1982 ceased production over 25 years ago while it’s cousin, the Cavalier, successfully carried on for many years after. Growing up in Northern BC, a childhood friend was carted around in a light blue ’70s Skyhawk (I don’t remember it’s exact vintage) and I took a few rides in it myself, thankful for the fact that I was a youngster at the time and easily fit in the tight confines of that rear seat area. I recall it carrying a moderate amount of rust at the time (late 1980s) though more of my attention was focused on the road hockey game we would be playing on the street behind it, with the occasional tennis ball bouncing off it’s rear bumper or hatchback glass.

Today’s example is available to the highest bidder coming to you from an estate sale and it’s easy to conjure a life of dedicated shelter within a warm garage and very infrequent trips on the streets over it’s 40 years. 32,000 miles are advertised though it’s possible for this to be after one trip around the clock, or perhaps it’s actual original mileage. The overall condition of the typical-for-the-era green paint and bright white interior certainly demonstrate that it’s been in the possession of a loving owner for a very long time. The 231 CID (or 3.8L) Buick V6, mated to the optional 3 speed automatic, would give reasonable spunk to this subcompact even though output was only rated at 110 horses.

It would be interesting to know what the car ultimately sells for… will someone get themselves a real bargain on this 70s classic and dare to put it into regular service or will a collector come along to continue it’s life of limited use?


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About Central Virginia Antique Tractor Pulling Association

A big thanks goes out to all who helped out this year. We continue to count on all of your help and support. Thanks for a great 2019

As always the tractor classes offered will be "A", "B", "C", "D", Modified, Non-Turbo, and Run What You Brung Class.  We'll also have truck classes at a few pulls (Classes may vary depending on the pull location, check the schedule.) On the two-day pulls we'll pull heavy to light on Saturday and light to heavy on Sunday.  The 2019 rules for all classes are also posted. The Points System will be as follows:  1ST Place = 5 Points; 2nd Place = 4 Points; 3rd Place = 3 Points; 4th Place = 2 Points; All Others = 1 Point.  Please note that points will be counted for members effective the date they join.  Points awards will be given at the end-of-season banquet, and only Club members will receive points for pulls.  All pulls will count for points, but points for one pull will be dropped (lowest points pull).

The hook fee will be $15.00 per hook for "A", "B", "C", "D" and Modified  and $30 for Run What You Brung Classes.  Please try to register on time, and be sure you’re in line when your time comes to pull as this will avoid unnecessary delays.

Now is the time to sign up for 2020 membership if you want to be eligible to receive points.  Even if you don’t plan to pull this year but will be attending the pulls, your membership is always welcome as the fee helps with the many expenses the Club encounters during the year.  The annual membership fee is $25.00.  If you wish to sign up and haven’t already done so, please provide your name, address, and phone number, and mail it to Cynthia Edwards , along with your check for the fee, at 15064 Foursquare Road, Smithfield, Virginia 23430. Please make your check payable to Central Virginia Antique Tractor Pulling Association, or CVATPA.  If you’re paying for more than one member, please indicate on the form.

We look forward to seeing you again at the Pulls this year, and Always Remember……Safety First!

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Apr 03, 2020

What good business leadership looks like when crisis strikes – an expert weighs in

Marvin Washington, Associate Dean of Executive Education and Professor at the Alberta School of Business, outlines some essential tenets of crisis leadership.

The path to becoming a strong business leader is long and winding but, in a crisis, it can veer into the unknown. Responsibility magnifies. Demands heighten. Employees search for direction and clarity. A crisis renders the day-to-day as anything but business as usual. The good news is that there are practical ways leaders can simultaneously maintain the strength of their business and provide effective guidance for their employees.

Plan to manage the rapid flow of information

When crisis hit in the past, information used to move slowly. Few updates were available until details were confirmed. Crisis management meant addressing known variables, making careful considerations and taking one deliberate step at a time. In today’s age of social media and short news cycles, information churns rapidly and thus requires a very different response.

“You have to move faster than the speed of information,” says Marvin Washington, Associate Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Strategic Management and Organization at the University of Alberta’s School of Business. “But leaders need to anticipate what’s ahead. They have to be composed and convey assuredness when talking to employees, who will be coping with heightened emotions.”

One of the earliest decisions that leaders must make in a crisis is their communication strategy. Inconsistent or conflicting messages from leadership may lead to rumours, uncertainty, reduced morale and lesser productivity. “As a leader, you have to be clear on what you’re communicating. What’s your communication chain? How are you sharing information? Information needs to be consolidated.”

Seek outsourced support where ability is limited

Challenges in crisis can produce emotional turmoil for leadership and, when that turmoil combines with financial stress, the team environment may suffer. While larger businesses are more likely to have tools and technology in place to support staff members, small- and medium-sized business might need to look externally. Consider outsourcing certain functions to experts, including those that specialize in workplace technology and employee mental wellness. “You might not have the skill set [for all parts of a crisis],” Marvin adds, “but these resources are crucial for helping your staff cope.”

Outsourcing digital technology can assist leaders with an element of crisis management that is especially important: visible presence. Marvin notes that it’s important for leaders to be seen and heard. When it’s not physically possible – for example, in remote work setups – online communication tools like Skype or Google Hangouts enable leadership to connect with teams in a more direct and personal way.

Even when digital tools are the only available mode, Marvin recommends that leaders work to maintain one-on-one meetings with employees to maintain trust and transparent communication. “We need more connection in times of stress,” he states, giving a nod to the sense of presence and ‘coming together’ these tools convey. “Meetings may not necessarily have a formal agenda, but they can serve as a quick check-in with casual conversation to see how everyone is doing.”

Be ready to adapt your business – and quickly

When a crisis unfolds, it can be tempting to carry on with business as usual for the sake of consistency. However, it is important that leaders move quickly to shift operations and priorities. “Organizations have to adjust from leading in normal times to leading during a crisis,” Marvin states. “The sooner you can pivot to leading in a crisis, the sooner you can pivot towards leading out of that crisis.”

When times become uncertain, leaders need to ask themselves what the new normal is — at an individual, team and business level. “You see so many great examples of businesses starting to adapt in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he says. “Clothing companies that never made hospital clothes are now starting to produce them. Why? We have the technology, and the business moved quickly.” Indeed, the quickness with which leaders move to adapt business operations may be the most critical success factor in a crisis.

Be flexible in adapting your strategies

Leaders must make quick business decisions in crisis, but they also must balance the short- and long-term impact of those decisions. “You will need flexible strategies,” Marvin says. “If I’m a business leader, I probably have a traditional business development strategy. I would stop and think if I need to employ additional tools. I would need to develop fresh strategies to find new business, because the old way of developing business might not be there when things return to normal.” He looks to companies like Airbnb and Uber who found success as economies emerged from recession. He attributes that success to how they recognized aspects of their business models that did not work, while seizing an opportunity to innovate and adjust their strategies for a new environment.

To move forward, leaders must be willing to heighten their emotional self-awareness. Marvin sees this trait as a critical factor in a leader’s effective response to employees asking for extra support or guidance. “Soft skills in leadership — calmness, integrity, honesty — is what employees need right now,” he emphasizes. “There is so much information out there, and your team may not know how to make sense of it. They’re looking to their leader to help them understand what is and is not valuable. They’re not looking for a leader who has all the answers, because no one has all the answers. But they do want to know that their leader cares about them.”


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Central Washington University

CWU Professor Named to American Hospital Association’s Committee on Governance

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Central Washington University Professor Matthew AltmanCWU Professor Matthew Altman is the newest member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Committee on Governance (COG). Altman was appointed by the AHA Board of Trustees to represent the 9th District, which includes Washington, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon.

Altman, who teaches in the university's Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, is one of 26 representatives who will assist the board’s advocacy efforts in the legislative, judicial, and regulatory areas, policy and resource development, and in determining strategic opportunities.

“My teaching and research often address deep questions concerning medical practice, healthcare, and public policy,” Altman said. “Through the AHA Committee on Governance, I will use my philosophical training to discuss important ethical and political issues, represent the interests of rural hospitals, and contribute to the national conversation about healthcare.”

Altman will serve a three-year term on the committee. COG members are briefed on the current political landscape regarding healthcare and are asked to provide input and suggestions regarding the AHA’s legislative and public policy agendas.

“I’m excited to be involved,” Altman added. “It gives me a chance to use what I know, but I am also learning a lot about the business and politics of healthcare, which I can then bring back to my students, my fellow Board members, and administrators at Kittitas Valley Healthcare.”

Altman is now in his fifth year, of a six-year term, as a member of the Board of Commissioners for Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 1. He is one of the few AHA COG members representing rural hospitals.

Altman recently returned from his first COG meeting in Denver (February 27-28), where the committee discussed ways to improve billing and collection practices, the AHA’s role in addressing rising healthcare costs, and threats posed by the coronavirus to the supply of medical equipment.
Media contact:
Robert Lowery, Public Affairs, 509-963-1487,

Take the Next Step to Becoming a Wildcat.


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articles | 30 April 2015

Co-op Central Bank reports profit

The Cooperative Central Bank recently announced a net profit of €41.20 million for 2014, after having revised upwards its provision for impairment losses on loans and other advances by €166.05 and a tax credit of €15.22 million.

In 2013 it recorded a loss of €1.69 million.

The Bank’s return to profitability is mainly due to a containment in provisions for impairment losses on loans and other advances, according to the audited financial results on a consolidated basis approved by the Committee of the Bank on April 28.

The audited financial results do not present any significant changes from the non-audited results published on March 30.

Non performing loans (NPLs) as they stood on December 31, 2014 were €7.31 million (2013: €6.13 million and corresponded to 55.8% of the total loan and other advances to customers portfolio (2013: 46%).

The comparative amounts of 2013 were calculated using the definitions of the previous Central Bank directive.

The total net income for the Cooperative Central Bank for 2014 came to €392,636 (2013: €398,951).

Profit derived from the Bank’s ordinary operations before provisions for impairment, was down by 1.6% to €192,355 in 2014 compared to €195,428 in 2013.

Deposits and other customer accounts came to €12,392,608 on December 31, 2014, recording an annual drop of €1,084,541 or 8%. Loans and other advancements to customers, after the provisions, came on December 31 to €10,126,728, recording an annual drop of €651,412 or 6%.

The Group’s equity came to €1,221,534after its successful recapitalisation with €1.5 billion from Cyprus’ international bail-out. The equity ratio came to 13.56%.

The Group’s Committee assures its members that despite the finance sector’s difficult conditions and the continued economic recession it will continue its effort for the Bank’s and the cooperative credit institutions’ normal functioning.

It further notes that the Bank has placed particular emphasis on faithfully following a restructuring plan aiming to maintain and enhance its capital ratios, safeguard sound liquidity and efficiently manage credit risk.

The most important risks which the Cooperative sector are exposed to are a credit risk, a market risk, a liquidity risk and an asset management risk.

The Group points out that it has put into place a risk management framework. At the core of this framework is a reliable evaluation of financial risks, it adds.

Source: InCyprus

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Da Couch Tomato

An attempt at a new layout, with horrible glitches, and very minimal knowledge of HTML.

Curiosity took the better of me, so I watched Shame for a glimpse of Magneto's... er, Michael Fassbender's thing without any idea what the film was about. And if I were to describe my first impression of this film after watching it: soft porn. But it's not really that; or rather, it's more than that.

Brandon (Fassbender) is a sex addict disconnected with his family and everyone else really, enjoying his privacy and indulging in several acts of sexual pleasure. But when his troubled sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) comes to stay with him, his whole world shatters. Change is the only solution, but how could he manage that?

Either he just had sex or he just pleasured himself.

If you look past the suggested sex scenes and the sex scenes per se, you will see how lonely and alone Brandon is. I think, his sex addiction developed as a coping mechanism for underlying family and personal issues—just like Sissy  developed  a coping mechanism of her own, too. The beauty of Fassbender's portrayal is that you can clearly see that Brandon is struggling. He's ashamed of himself in so many ways that he couldn't even try to open himself to another person for fear of being judged.

Stop walking in on my masturbating, okay, you cutter biatch?

Just a side thought though while watching the film: "Are these numerous sex scenes absolutely necessary?" The implied sex scenes really worked well. And while I don't squirm at sex scenes, actual pumping in the nude was kind of distracting. But I guess it comes with the story and to establish the character.

Yes, they're even kind of putting on a show.

Shame gets a six out of ten, for digging deep inside a sex addict's psyche, good casting choice, but bordering on "I can put as many sex scenes as I deem fit."

*screencaps by VLC

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Killary Vista, Mullaghgloss, Renvyle, Tully Cross, Co. Galway

From €297 Per week
Short term house | 3 Beds | 2 Baths
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Property Overview:

  • 3 Bedrooms (3 double : sleeps 6), 2 Bathrooms

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Holiday home
Killary Vista is a semi-detached bungalow, attached to the owner's home, 1.4 miles from Tully near Tullycross. The cottage sleeps six people in three bedrooms which are a double and two twin rooms. There is also a shower room and a bathroom. Completing the accommodation is a kitchen with a dining area and a sitting room with an open fire. Outside there is ample off road parking and a front lawned garden with furniture. Situated in a fantastic location, Killary Vista is a lovely cottage.

The seaside village of Tully sits on the picturesque Renvyle Peninsula, County Galway. The village lies on the Atlantic Ocean, and fishermen still land the daily catch on the small pier by the beach. The village has two bars, a Post Office, a supermarket and a horseriding centre, as well as Teach Ceoil, a music house which holds traditional evenings of music each Tuesday evening during July and August. Across the bay are the mountains of Mweelrea and Croagh Patrick, and within easy reach are Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, and Inishbofin Island, not to mention numerous walking and cycling routes, sea cruises, angling trips and much more. A wonderful base for a relaxing Irish holiday.

Oil central heating with open fire. Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV with Saorview, DVD, WiFi suitable for browsing only, selection of DVDs. Fuel, power and starter pack for fire inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. Travel cot and highchair on request. Ample off road parking. Front lawned garden with furniture. Sorry, no pets and no smoking. Shop and pub 1.4 miles. Beach 2 miles.

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Killary Vista, Mullaghgloss, Renvyle, Tully Cross, Co. Galway


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Dublin: 15 °C Saturday 8 August, 2020

#nature programmes

Stephen Fry narrates a chipmunk Matrix-style fight on telly tonight

BBC One’s Hidden Kingdoms is back.


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Delay PM SVANidhi loan disbursals to September: Hawkers body

KOLKATA, July 10: A hawkers body has suggested to
The Centre to push the loan disbursal under PM SVANidhi programme to September for the beneficiaries.
The scheme ‘PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi’, (PM SVANidhi) launched this month aims to offer microloans up to Rs 10,000 at a subsidized rate to overcome COVID-19 pandemic crisis to about 50 lakh micro vendors. The scheme offers cash backs to encourage adopting digital payments.
The portal is open for digital applications and more than 40,000 vendors have raised demand for loan and more than 300 have been sanctioned.
“If the disbursement of loans begins immediately we believe the street vendors would spend the loan money to make ends meet as 70 per cent have not been able to restart their activity and are already in deep trouble. The consequence of this is that they would not be able to repay the loan,” National Hawkers’ Federation general secretary Saktiman Ghosh said.
“The benefits of the loan will go in vain. In our opinion, the process should continue, but the disbursement of the loans should start in September, 2020,” Ghosh said.
He said the Federation has drawn the attention of Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in this regard through a presentation.
Ghosh said 70 per cent of the street vendors cant vend all over India. In most states, 30 per cent of the street vendors commenced vending, but due to lack of business, they are forced to close down.
Moreover, as number of COVID-19 cases has increased in many states and cities, lockdown has been imposed in several locations by the administration, he said.
He urged the Centre to provide grants to street vendors through direct cash transfer. The government is providing free foodgrains to people, it should provide some grants to street vendors also to help them overcome the economic crisis, he said.
Government has also offered cash backs worth Rs 1,200 for a year to promote digital transactions. The hawkers body urged the government to reduce the number of digital transactions and their value given the current situation. (PTI)


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Kohli only cricketer in top-10 highest-earning athletes on Instagram during lockdown

London: India skipper Virat Kohli emerged as the only cricketer in the world’s top-10 list of highest-earning athletes through sponsored Instagram posts during the lockdown, according to a report.
The cricket superstar was sixth on the list, the figures for which were collected by ‘Attain’ during the period between March 12 and May 14, when the world literally shut down to stem the growth of the coronavirus outbreak.
According to the list, Kohli earned a total of 379,294 pounds through his sponsored posts, raking up 126,431 pounds per post.
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with an estimated earning of 1.8 million pounds while Argentina and FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi and PSG’s Neymar were second and third with earnings of 1.2 million and 1.1 million respectively.
Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal and (583,628 pounds) former England football captain David Bekham (405,359 pounds) wrap up the top five.
Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic (184,413 pounds), ex NBA star Dwayne Wade (143,146), Brazillian footballer Dani Alves (133,694) and boxer Anthony Joshua (121,500) complete the top-10 list of highest earning athletes during the lockdown period worldwide. (AGENCIES)


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DIY Damp Course - in three easy steps

Property Repair Systems is OPEN FOR BUSINESS - 01626 872886

Where you can speak to real DPC people

Click for Home Page

How to install a cream silicone damp proof course

Order and Free Technical Help - 01626 872886 - our experts answer your call - discuss your building problem with a Qualified Dampness Expert (C.R.D.S.)

There are three easy steps to installing an injected Damp Proof Course;

1. Mark the holes 6 inches (150mm) above the ground and drill with a 12mm masonry bit. Drill into the joint, brick or stone horizontally or at a slight down angle.

2. Inject the DPC Quick Cream very gently and slowly, from the base of the hole outwards.

3. Insert a DPC Plug, to seal the hole. You can mortar over this with coloured mortar, if you wish.

The Damp Proof Course can go into the Mortar Joint or into the Brick or Stone.

A Calibrated Dose Gun avoids waste.

Step one - drill a 12mm diameter hole for the DPC InjectionStep two - inject the DPC CreamStep three - fill the hole with a plug

Step 1 - Drill 12mm diameter holes. Step 2 - Inject the Quick Cream gently. Step 3 - Inset the DPC Plastic Plug.

Options for larger damp proofing projects;

A. Use the 1 Litre Cartridge - a Calibrated Dose Gun avoids waste

One Litre Cartridge of DPC Cream in a skeleton gunOne Litre skeleton gun next to a one litre cartridge

B. Use the 3 Litre Bucket of Cream in a Pump up Pot

Pump up pot for injecting DPC CreamUsing a Pump Up Pot to inject DPC Cream through an injection rod

Note - injection, no matter which method you use, requires virtually no pressure.

Our Damp Proofing required: Quick Cream DPC, Skeleton Gun - either a 380cc or professional 1000cc, Option - Calibrated Dose Gun.

Optional Products: Renderproof Replastering Additive (5 litre), Wall Plugs, Boron Ultra Gel (2.5 litre), UltraProof exterior wall treatment (5 litre or 25 litre), Anti-Mould Paint (2.5 litre), Professional Skeleton Guns (380cc or 1000cc), Professional Extension Nozzle (for repeated use with 1000cc cartridges)

Tools Required: 12mm masonry bit, electric hammer drill, eye protection

Click here to visit the Damp Shop

Typical damp proofing cream injection usage rates

4.5 inch thick (115mm) single leaf wall - 1000cc (1 litre) per 9 metres, inject from either side

9 inch thick wall (230mm) double leaf solid or cavity - 1000cc(1 litre) per 4.5 metres, inject from one side or from both sides.

18 inch thick wall (460mm) solid or random fill - 1000cc (1 litre) per 2 metres, inject from both sides

Replastering Notes

Don't forget that replastering is essential if dampness has affected your plaster because of the 'salts' that come with the water: you have two options - either replaster to our specification using sand and cement, with Renderpruf salt inhibitor/waterproofer in the water or look at the Wall Membrane option. Wall Membranes offer a considerable improvement over sand and cement - they produce a warmer surface, can be insulated easily and can be directly plastered with lightweight, modern plasters, like Carlite Bonding.

For easy fix Membrane information go to: www.drywallandfloor.co.uk

Mesh Membrane showing quick fix plugKontract Membrane for floors

Click here to visit the Damp Shop

Learn from the UK's top Expert: become your own expert - save money.

Quick DIY Master Class in Dampness and Condensation - become your own Expert in 1 hour! Buy our "Dampness in Buildings" reprinted book by the great expert Graham Coleman. A great read, short and to the point.

Click here to buy the reprint.

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Site written by: David Moore

David Moore, B.A. (Hons.), C.T.I.S., C.R.D.S. Technical Author

Other Property Repair Systems Sites:

www.boron.org.uk - how to use Boron based insecticides/fungicides to treat timber rots and insect attack

www.deck-treatment.co.uk - how to treat patio decks and yacht decks

www.dryrot.biz - how to kill Dry Rot in buildings

www.drywallandfloor.co.uk - membranes for lining damp walls, floors, basements and cellars

www.epoxy-info.co.uk - resins for repairing and sealing all types of masonry

www.fire-door-paint.co.uk - upgrade doors to 30 minutes fire resistance

www.joist-repair.co.uk - how to quickly repair joists and beams of any size

www.propertyrepairsystems.co.uk - our Home Site

www.steel-fire-paint.co.uk - treat steel with Intumescent Paint to provide fire protection

www.timber.org.uk - systems of repair, with step by step methods

www.timber-repair.co.uk - how to repair timber beams

www.woodworm-info.co.uk - how to kill and prevent woodworm and death watch beetle

www.woodworm-expert-advice-forum.org.uk - all your questions and our answers about woodworm treatment DIY


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24 Hour Emergency Service: 941-926-7272

FL 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing Service

Sarasota 24 hour emergency plumbing serviceWe have technicians standing by 24 hours a day 7 days a week including holidays. Problems don’t always happen during normal business hours and we understand that. Here at Daniel’s Plumbing Service there is always someone available to take care of that emergency when you least expect it. Just pick up the phone and give us a call! A plumbing repair technician will respond to your call in a timely manner whether it’s Thanksgiving or June 10th at midnight, we will be there for you.


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Coronavirus Tests: Antibody & PCR Home Tests now available! Coronavirus Tests: Antibody & PCR Home Tests now available!
Home / Blog / Do siblings have the same DNA or it can be different?
Dante Labs - Do siblings have the same DNA or it can be different?

Do siblings have the same DNA or it can be different?

Do siblings have the same DNA or it can be different?

Not really. Here’s why your parents didn't make exact replicas and why siblings' DNA can be surprisingly different

Parents and Siblings

As biological siblings, two persons got their genes from their parents. Actually, there can be striking genetic differences between brothers and sisters. As National Geographic wrote, it happened that two twin girls were born with different skin colours: one child inherited the mother’s genes, and the other, the father’s.
That's why, even with the same parents, we only share some of our genes with our parents, which are about 50%. That's because the human body has several biological mechanisms that can create an almost infinite number of gene combinations. And this is what gives brothers and sisters different DNAs.

Different DNAs

DNA is packed into special units, called chromosomes. Scientists have numbered human chromosome pairs from 1 to 23 which allows them to locate and describe specific genes. Most cells are diploid, which means that they have two copies of each chromosome. One comes from mother, and the other from father, which adds up to a total of 46 chromosomes.

What is particularly interesting is the 23rd pair of chromosomes, since it is the one that defines biological sex. Girls (XX) inherit an X chromosome from both parents, but boys (XY) always get a Y instead of an X from their fathers.
Within a multicellular organism it is necessary that all cells (in order not to recognise each other as strangers) have the same hereditary heritage. This is provided by mitosis, dividing the chromosomes between the daughter cells, in which the equality of genetic information is ensured by the DNA reduplication mechanism, in a cellular continuity that goes from the zygote to the last cells of the organism, in what is called the somatic line of cell generations.

However, if the same mechanism were adopted in the generation of descendants, the whole species would tend to be composed of genetically equal individuals. Such a lack of genetic variability could easily affect the survival of the species as environmental conditions change. Therefore it is necessary that the species, within the variability of the genetic material that it admits, can give rise to a reassortment, a mixing, not within the individual organism, but in the passage from one generation to another. This is done by the phenomena of sexuality and the particular mechanism of cell division called meiosis (meiosis is a form of cell division that is only used to produce a special category of cells, called gametes. Depending on your biological sex, your body produces one type of gametes: either sperm or egg cells).

How much DNA from each parent?

Every child gets 50% of their genome from each parent, but it is always a different 50%. During meiosis, gametes get a random chromosome from each pair. This means that there are over 8 million possible DNA combinations from 23 chromosome sets!

However, nature has another mechanism to further differentiate brother and sister DNA. Scientists find similar and different genes in siblings, often even on the same chromosome: this mix-up is possible because of a biological mechanism called chromosomal crossover during meiosis.

The genes transferred from one chromosome end up in the same location on the other chromosome. Because of this swap, gametes receive a unique jigsaw puzzle assembled from the two original sources. This generates even more diversity between sibling DNA.

Every gene is made up from thousands of one-letter DNA blocks: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Our cells use these sequences as blueprints to produce proteins - molecular machines with specialised functions.

99% of DNA is the same for all people, otherwise the blueprints wouldn’t work. However, a single-letter change in certain genes doesn’t change the protein recipe too much. These alterations are called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

It doesn’t matter which family you are from, DNA is surprisingly different!

Do you want to know more about Dante Labs Genetic Test?
Click here and choose the best one for you.


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Darkley Primary School, Armagh
P7Transition Parent Workshop Thursday 13th August @ 7pm for parents and children  | School Reopens: Darkley PS reopens for all pupils on Monday 24th August.
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Our News - 80th Anniversary

2013/2014 School Year

28th Jan 2014
We will be holding a non-uniform day on Friday 7th Feb 2014 in aid of British Heart...
18th Dec 2013
Plans for a new play park in Darkley have taken a significant step forward. At the...

2012/2013 School Year

14th May 2013
On Friday 10th of May, the Lady Mayor Sharon Haughey-Grimley, welcomed parents, staff...
22nd Apr 2013
On the 18th of April 2013, Darkley Primary School was the place to be as it celebrated...
22nd Mar 2013
Thursday 18th April 2013 @ 5.30 to late. All past pupils are welcome. 80 years young!


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Skip to main content

Home / Community / Disaster Emergency / COVID-19 Coronavirus / Community Resources information - COVID-19 / Grown-ups

Keep involved with the community through volunteering, learn new skills or some entertainment ideas to do at home.

Feel like you want to do more to help your community? Below is a list of local organisations seeking volunteer support.

Australian Red Cross logo

Visit the Australian Red Cross website to discover volunteering opportunities in your community.

RSPCA Darwin branch logo

Visit the RSPCA website to complete an online volunteer application form

If your organisation requires additional volunteer support for its COVID-19 response activities, please contact our Community Development Officer on (08) 8930 0645.

You could reach out to people in your neighbourhood who are self-isolating with a #ViralKindness card and volunteer your time to help them with shopping, posting mail, or just checking in that they’re ok.

Other great tools for connecting with and coordinating help from neighbours is Gather My Crew and Nextdoor.

Mutual Aid – Darwin – A Facebook group set up for those who have resources to help the community around them and for Territorians who are seeking assistance.

Darwin NT – Corona Virus - Supporting Businesses in Need – A Facebook group for local businesses to advertise to the community and for the community to see which options they currently have available to them, with the goal of supporting local businesses as much as possible during these challenging times.

Darwin - Help a Mate – A Facebook group for those who need help or are able to offer help.

Neighbourliness/ community connectedness

  • During this challenging time learning to stay connected in different ways will be super important to our wellbeing. Here are some of our favourite ideas for creatively connecting with your neighbours:
  • Chat (or sing, or play I-Spy!) over or through the fence OR from balcony to balcony, verandah to verandah.
  • Host a virtual morning tea. Grab a cuppa, and telephone or video call to connect.
  • Host a virtual dance party. Invite your friends and neighbours to ‘virtually join’ you for a party. Put on some great tunes and dance with your mates on a video chat platform.
  • Driveway drinks or dinner. Pick a time. Grab a table and a few chairs. Set up in your driveway. Have a drink or dinner 'with' your neighbours across the street or next door. Wave, chat, and 'get together' from a distance.
  • Drop off a #ViralKindness card to support and help those who are self-isolating. This card promotes kindness in times when the community connection needs a different approach.
  • Through GIVIT you can direct your generosity to the people who need it most. They work with charities and community organisations in Darwin, across the NT, and throughout Australia. If you have some high-quality items you’d like to donate, visit:

Upskilling/ learning online

Always wanted to learn another language? On Duolingo you could start learning German, Italian, French, Spanish, or Russian!

Coursera offers free courses from top universities such as Yale, Michigan, Stanford, and leading companies including Google and IBM.

Or listen to the 1000s of inspiring speakers on TED Talks. For the best TED Talks of all time, click here.

For more tips and ideas for things to do at home you can check out this planoly blog with free resources and information.

Help us improve this site


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Outreach & Science Communication

A 'Science in the Pub' talk from 2013 on dinosaur behaviour.

A ‘Science in the Pub’ talk from 2013 on dinosaur behaviour.

Poster to advertise my one-day event on dinosaurs in cinema

I am always happy to give public talks (schedule permitting) to groups interested in science, schools, or other educations groups (e.g. adult learning). I have spoken at the Royal Institution (twice), the Cheltenham and Brighton Science Festivals, given a talk at the Royal Observatory, Greenwhich, at the Linnean Society, and for Sceptics in the Pub and Pub Science groups. Contact me if you would like me to speak to your organisation or school – I do not charge a fee for non-profit or educational establishments and my schedule if generally flexible.

I’m very involved in science communication and outreach – getting science out of the classroom or research institute and bringing it to the general public. As such I contribute to a number of groups and organisations which help promote science communication. When possible I do give lectures and talks to a live audience, especially in schools and have done so in many years – I actually started while still studying for my batchelors degree. I also try to convince other academics to get involved in outreach and I try to support sites and groups that encourage this as well as getting contributors and collaborators on my own projects.

My main avenue of communication is my blog on palaeontology (hosted by the Guardian) “Lost Worlds” which is aimed at a general audience. I have also been writing the blog “Archosaur Musings” for over six years, this is for a more advanced audience and there I cover dinosaurs, pterosaurs and science in the media .

I also helped organise and launch a new site focused on pterosaurs – “Pterosaur.Net” which has it’s own blog as well as a series of essays on various aspects of the biology of these animals. I also have whole sections of my site devoted to helping young researchers  and also contribute to the “Why Science” and BBC “Walking with Dinosaurs” websites. I tweet as “@Dave_Hone” and I run a Facebook page for ‘Dave Hone’s Dinosaurs‘.

My biggest project though was “Ask A Biologist” which has a rather explanatory title. I set this site up in 2006 and managed to get a number of grants from various funding bodies to support the site, and then I recruited a number of international researchers to take the public’s questions. We answered over 10 000 biology-related queries and had millions of visitors from around the globe.

Finally, I am currently writing my second book, this time on the latest research in dinosaurs which is due out in 2020 with Hodder. This is not a follow-up to 2017’s The Tyrannosaur Chronicles, but a separate work.

Below are included a number of articles of science communication or that were produced for a general audience and here is a link to an exhuastive list of outreach efforts that are online.


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Supported Employment Services

Supported Employment (SE) services through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and regional centers can be provided either through the vocational rehabilitation program or the Habilitation Services Program (HSP). SE services are aimed at finding competitive work in a community integrated work setting for persons with severe disabilities who need ongoing support services to learn and perform the work. SE placements can be individual placements, or group placements (called enclaves), or work crews, such as landscaping crews. Support is usually provided by a job coach who meets regularly with the individual on the job to help him or her learn the necessary skills and behaviors to work independently. As the individual gains mastery of the job, the support services are gradually phased out.

The DOR is the main vocational rehabilitation program SE service provider for adults with developmental disabilities. However, if the DOR is unable to provide services due to fiscal reasons, the regional center may be able to help individuals served get a job by funding SE under the HSP, or by referring them to other programs that provide SE-like services if these services are available in their area.

If you are interested in applying for SE services you should ask your regional center representative for help or you can apply directly to the local DR office in your community. The nearest DR office location and telephone number is listed in the State Government section of your telephone directory.

Last modified: November 21, 2019


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Mayor Bloomberg spent 73 million wingwangs on his previous election campaign, already spent additional 23 mil on reelection and is rumored to be willing to go as high as 100. So basically the cost of New York City mayorship is about equivalent to a trip to the moon.

That much money could probably help a little bit in balancing NYC’s budget or go a long way in building a new kind of a spaceship (or a space elevator even), but maybe once you have that much money you might want to spend it on what gives you the greatest pleasure, and not the most useful application.

Speaking of circumlunar trips, if the 100 million private trip will ever happen, it will only be a second commercial trip around the Moon. In 1998 a Hughes satellite got stuck in a wrong orbit because the last stage of a Proton booster cut out too early. The insurers wrote it off (200 million, or two NYC mayorships) , but allowed Hughes engineers assisted by two former JPLers, Rex Ridenoure and Ed Belbruno, who came up with the idea, to try something unusual — a lunar swing-by using the satellite’s onboard propellant. They used a trick similar to the one that saved the stranded Apollo 13 astronauts, to bring the satellite through a few figure 8 loops around the Moon and settle it into correct geostationary orbit. Off the shelf software made by AGI was used to make calculations.

Here is a collection of press releases about the maneuver and here’s a diagram of one of the loops that I dug up in archive.org:

I actually have a mug from AGI proudly sitting on my desk. Every time I look at it I remember this story about some smart people and good software that saved a 200 million dollar satellite.


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Debian Security Advisory

DSA-1629-2 postfix -- programming error

Date Reported:
19 Aug 2008
Affected Packages:
Security database references:
In Mitre's CVE dictionary: CVE-2008-2936.
More information:

Sebastian Krahmer discovered that Postfix, a mail transfer agent, incorrectly checks the ownership of a mailbox. In some configurations, this allows for appending data to arbitrary files as root.

Note that only specific configurations are vulnerable; the default Debian installation is not affected. Only a configuration meeting the following requirements is vulnerable:

  • The mail delivery style is mailbox, with the Postfix built-in local(8) or virtual(8) delivery agents.
  • The mail spool directory (/var/spool/mail) is user-writeable.
  • The user can create hardlinks pointing to root-owned symlinks located in other directories.

For a detailed treating of the issue, please refer to the upstream author's announcement.

For the stable distribution (etch), this problem has been fixed in version 2.3.8-2+etch1.

For the testing distribution (lenny), this problem has been fixed in version 2.5.2-2lenny1.

For the unstable distribution (sid), this problem has been fixed in version 2.5.4-1.

We recommend that you upgrade your postfix package.

Fixed in:

Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (etch)

Architecture-independent component:
HP Precision:
Intel IA-32:
Intel IA-64:
Big-endian MIPS:
IBM S/390:
Sun Sparc:

MD5 checksums of the listed files are available in the original advisory.


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Salt and Light

What does it mean to be salt and light? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

As we continue looking at the sermon, we come to the account of salt and light. Both of these are things that stand out and enhance something. I still remember as a kid going to McDonald’s and getting the fries and going crazy with salt on them. It’s still a great treat to have. As for light, in our age we have more access to light in a way. After all, how many of us when we’re walking through our homes at night or outside at night pull out our phones and turn on the flashlight feature?

If a ship is out at sea and the crew is wondering where to go at night, a lighthouse can be seen from 20 miles away if its light is on. That can give great hope to those out at sea. Just a sliver of light can make a difference. Light is a way of representing hope.

And Jesus tells us we’re to be like salt and light.

Unless you have some dietary restriction, most of us like some salt on certain foods of ours. If I fix fillets at night, I put salt and pepper on them. Fix a pizza? Not at all. French fries without salt though seems unthinkable.

Light is specifically meant to be seen. That’s why we’re compared to a city on a hill. Many of us think that we should hide our good deeds. Now, we certainly shouldn’t do something to be seen, but that doesn’t mean we hide away and avoid doing good deeds. We need to do them and then in line with a proper interpretation of 1 Peter 3:15, explain that we do good deeds because of the example of Jesus.

Notably, Jesus says to do these things so people will praise your Father in Heaven. Those who do this are children of God. They are part of the Kingdom. They have not earned it. They have instead demonstrated where their loyalty lies.

Jesus’s call for citizens of the Kingdom is to go out and do something. Be an enhancement in society, as salt is on food. Be a beacon of hope, as light is in the world. Make the world a better place by your devotion to Christ. With all that is going on now, and as I type this there are riots going on over George Floyd, we need that indeed.

In Christ,
Nick Peters

Book Plunge: Who God Is

What do I think of Ben Witherington III’s book published by Lexham Press? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

When I received this book from Lexham, I was a bit skeptical. After all, Ben Witherington is an excellent New Testament scholar, but I have not heard of him being a theologian. Still. I knew that since he wrote it, it would likely be brilliant. The book looked small as well so I thought it would be a quick read and so I decided to dive in.

First off, I was right on one point. This is a quick read. I started it in the late afternoon and I finished it before I went to bed that evening. If you want a quick read on the nature of God, a primer as you will, this is the one to go to. It’s a short read, but let’s get to the other parts.

Second, my skepticism proved to be wrong. This is really a great book. It’s not a dry read from a New Testament scholar. It’s really a passionate act of worship, something I don’t think I’ve seen like that from Witherington before, but it was an excellent work. It focuses on a select few attributes of God, and not always the ones we normally go to.

Normally, if you pick up something like the Summa Theologica for example, you will get the far more metaphysical concepts of God. I was just looking it up. Aquinas wrote a lot, but in the Prima Pars I don’t see love mentioned. What Witherington covers is five concepts. Love, light, life, spirit, and unique.

This isn’t an apologetics book per se. You won’t find arguments for the existence of God or the reliability of Scripture. All of this stuff is just assumed, and that’s fine. This book is more of a devotional book for those who believe.

At times, Witherington does touch on some secondary issues. Towards the end, some issues I didn’t care for being discussed, but if that distracts you from the overall point of the book, you have greatly missed out. Witherington’s book is a refreshing step out of the ivory tower as it were to a place where theology is meant to meet real life.

Far too long, I have said that a disconnect is there. Too many apologists I think have been doing what Lewis said, been so intent on proving God exists that you would think He has nothing to do but to exist. Witherington’s work reminds us that theology is meant to touch your life. It should change how you live.

Are you worried you won’t understand it because it’s deep talk about God? Don’t be. Witherington’s book is very readable. Like I said, it’s short enough that you can read it in a day, but it will be a day well spent. You will find at least one gem in here that will get you closer to worship of our great God.

In Christ,
Nick Peters