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With the Hayne Commission on everyone’s minds, it’s never been more important for companies to be able to conduct credible, independent investigations. And it’s not just financial services institutions under the microscope. With the steady increase of financial, ethical and environmental regulation and enforcement across all industries, more and more companies are under intense scrutiny.

To properly fulfil governance duties, boards and executives often need investigations to assess customer complaints, or instances where Internal Audit identifies misconduct or Risk finds compliance breaches. Often, these investigations are highly complex – for example, in response to a patient complaint in a hospital – requiring a thorough, auditable, compliant and transparent process. Worse, each investigation has unique characteristics, making it hard to drive efficiencies when conducting investigations at scale.

Investigations are a massive drain on resources

They are expensive, complex, time-consuming and disruptive to business operations and personnel. Investigations often have to be completed within mandated timeframes or against the clock of customer and media expectations. But, at the same time, given the fines that could be levied or the potential damage to brand and reputation, you can’t cut corners. Your investigation must be able to produce a coherent, robust, brief of the evidence needed to defend against or prosecute a (possibly criminal) case.

Frequently conducted using emails and excel spreadsheets, the manpower requirements for investigations can be crippling. Very few organisations have dedicated investigations teams. People either get pulled out of other bits of the business – leaving gaps – or organisations rely on multiple third parties. Neither option is ideal. How do you orchestrate all the tasks by third parties and track that each required activity has been done – and done correctly?

Why aren’t we automating these processes?

You’d think investigations would be first on the list for automation, but this has proved extremely challenging. Part of the problem is that investigations – by nature – need information from multiple systems that don’t talk to each other and may be owned by other companies. So, you need to patch together different bits of technology.

This is perfectly possible but, given each investigation is unique, requiring information from different systems and people, it’s not worth doing for a single investigation. As a result, even digitally sophisticated organisations are continuing to conduct investigations manually, chewing through horrendous amounts of human and monetary resources.

Emerging technologies will be a life saver

New developments in intelligent automation, AI and human-centred design are being used to create investigation case management platforms that remove human steps and physical handoffs and learn from each case. These platforms integrate easily with any internal or external system and can be easily customised by people in the business for the next investigation. They enable:

  • Speed and accuracy– Rather than humans laboriously going through all the documentation and trying to connect the dots, the software performs the same task in a fraction of the time – and, frequently, with greater accuracy. Instead of dozens of people poring over documents, computer algorithms can analyse subsets of data using predictive coding to highlight key terms in hundreds of thousands of documents.

The platforms can also track people, objects, locations and events and correlate them with other data points in an investigation. For example, they can quickly and easily identify every data point in the investigation that touches a person of interest, or a particular instance of river pollution. This means, if you have 12 separate reports about the same environmental incident, the system correlates them and treats them as one.

  • Predictive intelligence – Rather than relying one person’s expertise or experience, the platform allows organisations to collect and harness the consolidated wisdom of each investigation. Infused with AI, investigation platforms learn, supporting each new investigation with information gleaned from previous cases. They also use propensity scoring and modelling to determine next best steps through investigation, or look for common patterns or event triggers.
  • Complete transparency and real-time reporting – Boards benefit from access to a constant record of the investigation’s findings and status, with granular visibility of cost, work and process compliance. They also have confidence that the investigation is following the requirements of regulatory or compliance legislation and will result in credible evidence.
  • Better end-user experience – The platforms harness human-centred design to ensure staff and customers have a good experience of the investigation. Screens are intuitive and helpful, scripts work for human beings and don’t ask for information people have already provided. Where needed, the system automatically sends customers regular SMS or email progress updates.
  • Remote access – The new platforms also make it possible to conduct investigations across multiple locations, giving members of the team access to the key documents, investigation plan, progress reports and findings at the touch of a button, wherever they are located.

This is all good news for companies struggling to resource multiple investigations. Investigation case management platforms mean that boards will be able to commission investigations, knowing the results will be credible, the process will be transparent and the cost will be manageable. In the current environment of intense scrutiny, there’s never been a better time to throw the “manual”.

Tobias Butler

Director – Technology, Pega

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Award category partners supporting the event are Active Suffolk, Allied Health Professionals Suffolk; Beckett Investment Management Group; Go Ape; Iliffe Media; KiiWii Clothing & Promotions; Music Sales Group Charitable Trust; Newmarket Racecourses; TA6 Alliance Leisure, SRS Leisure and Unison.

The sports awards are a celebration of local sporting men, women, young people, schools, organisations and clubs, as well as the network of volunteers, coaches, parents and unsung heroes that make sport so special.

The event which is organised by Abbeycroft Leisure on behalf of West Suffolk Council, will be held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral this year, providing a stunning and unique backdrop.

Cllr Joanna Rayner, West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure Culture and Community Hubs said:

“I am delighted that local businesses have come forward with such willing support for the West Suffolk Sports Awards. Sponsors play a vital role in realising potential in so many sporting activities, at all levels and for a huge range of people, and I am very pleased to recognise their contribution.”

Warren Smyth, Chief Executive, Abbeycroft Leisure said:

“We’ve been overwhelmed again this year with the response from our partners and the local business community, in supporting us to make the sports awards evening a success. We’re returning to the Cathedral, which is such a magnificent venue, and we’re looking forward to showcasing the local talent and achievements of so many.”

Kate Rayson-Joyce, Business Development Manager, Greene King said:

“Sport is such a great way of bringing people together and creating community spirit, just as beer and pubs do. With Greene King IPA the Official Beer of England Cricket and Official Community Club Partner of England Rugby we are huge supporters of community sport. We are delighted to once again sponsor West Suffolk Sports Awards celebrating sportsmen and women in West Suffolk, as well as those all-important volunteers who deliver sport in our community.”

Picture credit – Simon Lee Photography.
Back row L-R – Jonathan Law, Beckett Investment Management Group; Russell Claydon, Iliffe Media; Mark Johnson, Unison; Victoria Herbert, Go Ape
Front row L-R – Kate Rayson, Greene King; Alison Blackwell, Abbeycroft Leisure; Cllr Jo Rayner; Rachel Clover, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Keith Williams, Kiiwii Clothing & Promotions.

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Full-Service Restaurants Falter Amid Slumping Sales

Casual dining spots are suffering from similar circumstances plaguing major retailers—slowing sales and shrinking foot traffic—as once-vibrant malls lose favor with Americans. At the same time, U.S. consumers are less satisfied with sit-down venues to the point where fast food now takes the lead in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Just a year ago, full-service restaurants were rated among the top four industries tracked by the ACSI. Now the industry dives 3.7% to a score of 78 on ACSI’s 100-point scale, allowing fast food to slip past at 79—a first in ACSI history. For companies that depend on quality to justify higher prices, it is sobering news when lower-price competitors can deliver a more pleasing experience.

As menu prices rise, lower grocery costs may be encouraging more Americans to dine at home, and younger consumers seek quicker service, convenience, and healthier choices. Amid these changes, many sit-down chains are looking to redefine themselves, including off-premise options and menu upgrades.

The top restaurant continues to be Cracker Barrel, up 1% to 84—a score that makes the Americana-themed entrant a customer favorite. Second-place Texas Roadhouse beats other steakhouses with a score of 82, although Outback Steakhouse gains 4% to 80. Darden’s LongHorn Steakhouse tumbles 6% to fall below average at 77, tied with an improved Chili’s.

Another Darden chain, Olive Garden, holds stable at 81 and it continues to generate sales, aided by to-go order increases. Also hitting 81, Red Lobster rises 3% to a four-year high after investing in better ingredients to upgrade its menu.

For Applebee’s, introducing wood-fired grills has yet to pay off in improved satisfaction and the chain is unmoved at 79. Ruby Tuesday also stagnates at 78 and earlier this year put itself up for sale amid store closings. TGI Fridays falls 3% to 76, tying Denny’s (+3%).

In last place, Red Robin plummets 9% to 73 as its first-quarter same-store sales drop. Red Robin, like many establishments with a mall presence, is not immune to changes in consumer shopping habits. As such, the company is testing delivery and catering options, as well as rethinking its mall locations. For casual dining overall, it remains to be seen if efforts like these will be enough to turn around customer satisfaction and bolster sales in the long term.

Consumer Affairs: Survey Shows Consumers Prefer Fast Food to Full-Service Restaurants »

FSR Magazine: Report: Full-Service Restaurants are Losing to Fast Food »


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Plug Power

About Plug Power

Plug Power is the leading provider of green hydrogen and zero-emission fuel cell solutions that are both cost-effective and reliable. From the generation of green hydrogen to developing fuel cell stations, Plug Power’s vertical integrated solution is enabling the green hydrogen economy. The company is powering electric applications across a broad spectrum of transportation, aerial, and stationary applications, allowing users to operate sustainably, consistently, and efficiently.

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The 8 Ways Diet Can Cause Depression

Food has so many emotional triggers for human beings. For example, while eating a favorite meal can cause feelings of comfort and happiness—binge eating can cause feelings of guilt, shame, and even anger.

Even though the eating of certain foods won’t cause depression outright, the cycle of eating (or rather, certain patterns of eating) can trigger depression if diets are too high in certain elements (i.e., saturated and trans fatty acids) or deficient in other vital nutrients (i.e., B vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids).

Here are eight ways in which diet can increase your risk of depression…

1. Triggering Unhealthy Eating Cycles

It’s often difficult to determine if depression is the root of unhealthy eating or vice versa. However, research conducted and published by the Mayo Clinic indicates that depressed individuals tend to get trapped in an unhealthy cycle of bad food choices that exacerbate their depressive symptoms. For instance, the foods that go hand in hand with a stressful, sleep-deprived lifestyle—fast food, processed sweets, caffeine by the boatload—they all cause a temporary high followed by a sugar or carbohydrate crash and the inevitable need for yet another fix.

2. Lack of Protein

You might associated protein with muscle building. However, adequate protein, or lack thereof, can impact the onset as well as severity and duration of depression. Scientists from the US National Institutes of Health suggest that diets low in protein and associated essential amino acids (many of which are provided via diet alone) can impact the operation of the central nervous system dysfunction, impact brain function, and cause depressed mood and aggression due to the lack of amino acids (i.e., tyrosine and tryptophan), which play a role in production of “feel good” neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

3. Excessive Trans Fats

We might reach for a pint of ice cream or a bucket of French fries when we feel blue. However, the tendency to depend on saturated fat and trans fat as pick-me-ups is quite counterproductive. According to a multi-year Spanish study, published in the US National Library of Medicine, scientists monitored a group of participants to see if dietary fat intake had an impact of the rate of depression. Findings showed that those participants who consumed the highest amount of trans fats risked a higher rate of depression than those who consumed healthier diets.

4. Diets Lacking Healthy Fats

While bad (trans and saturated) fats are tied to a higher rate of depression—good or (omega-3 fatty acids) are credited for reducing stress and melancholy, according to research from the University of Maryland Medical Center, where research confirms that incorporating greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids into individual diets (i.e., from sources like salmon, tuna, herring, rainbow trout, flaxseed, walnuts, and soybeans).

5. Complex Carbohydrates

You may have tried a low carb diet only to feel sluggish, ravenous, and blue.  That’s because complex carbohydrates trigger the emission of serotonin, a “feel good” neurotransmitter that calms anxiety, regulates mood, promotes quality sleep, and helps fuel the body and keep blood sugar levels balanced (to prevent insulin spikes and crashes).

6. Too Many Processed Foods

Get your hand out of that potato chip bag! If your diet consists of mainly processed foods, it won’t surprise scientists from London’s University College that you’re suffering from depression. Studies conducted at the university’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health monitored the diets of a group of adults for 5-years and discovered a link between diets high in processed foods—including sweets, fried foods, processed meats, starchy snacks, and boxed cereals—and higher rates of depression.

7. Diets Low in the B Vitamins

B vitamins, particular B12 and folate, keep both the body and the brain happy and healthy.  While B12 keeps the chemicals in the brain on even keel, folate encourages new cellular growth in the brain and protects neurotransmitters (i.e., dopamine and serotonin), which in turn help ward off depression. Studies indicate that adults with depression tend to have folate deficiencies.

8. Lack of Fresh Fruits & Veggies

If you didn’t buy into the importance of a balanced diet, the nutritional research from the Mayo clinic and other leading health organizations may just change your mind. Research continues to confirm that diets low in refined sweets, trans and saturated fats, and processed carbohydrates yet high in a mix of fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates have the essential vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fats to ward off depression.

Emily Lockhart

Emily Lockhart is a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer. She believes that being healthy is a lifestyle choice, not a punishment or temporary fix to attain a desired fitness or body image goal. Anna helps her clients take responsibility for their own health and wellness through her classes and articles on ActiveBeat.


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Sims2Challenges Mr. Humble

created by Rachel Ziese
sample tin
makes 5 cups
3oz pouch
37¢ per cup
5oz tin
38¢ per cup
Mr. Humble does only one thing in the Sims 2, he drops off a very nice gift. Then, he probably sleeps. This blend is like a very nice gift that lets you sleep because it's decaf.

Trace caffeine | Steep at 212° for 4 minutes.
Signature blends are not eligible for returns.

blended with decaf ceylon tea, rose hips, hibiscus, apple pieces, natural strawberry flavor, pineapple pieces, coconut, strawberries, natural pineapple flavor, natural coconut flavor, natural mango flavor, mango pieces, raspberry leaves & marigold flowers

tea puddle tea puddle tea puddle

teas: decaf mango, decaf tropics, wild strawberry

this tea is part of the Sims2Challenges fandom

Love Sims2Challenges Mr. Humble? This is just one of 59 teas in this fandom. Check out the whole series.

create the perfect fandom gift box

Now's your chance to create your very own custom fandom sampler set! Select six samples of your favorite blends from any collection and we will create a box set unique to you.

tin design
tin design tin design tin design tin design tin design tin design tin design


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Dramatic Tie-Dyed Top

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A sweeping silhouette in shades of blue. Sparkling, paillette-style beads at the yoke enhance this easy, breezy tank-style in soft, flowing viscose. Uneven hemline, racer back with shirring. Gentle wash. Imported. Misses, approx. 36"l.
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love this more than what I thought from pictures. Beautiful silky texture not at all flimsy. Even people I don't know were complimentinghow beautiful it looked on me. Hot weather right now so it's perfect!11 5star+

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Fitness Tracker Watch

  • Fitness Tracker Watch

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  - VBTTD03

This fitness tracker tracks and logs your fitness activity, your heart rate and the quality of your sleep. The LED touch screen displays the time, your heart rhythm, calories burned, distance travelled, number of steps, as well as the duration and quality of your sleep. Equipped with a vibration mode to alert you to calls and text message notifications. Automatic synchronisation with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Can be used with software that is available for smartphones to evaluate progress. Waterproof. Can be charged with a USB cable. Autonomy: 4 to 8 hours. Charging time: 90 minutes. Support OS : IOS7.0 + / Android 4.3+.

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AD-180 C-More Red Dot QD Mount

The AD-180 base is for the C-More RW, CRW, ARW, TRW, CTRW and ATRW red dot optics. This is a direct replacement product.
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The AD-180 base features the Patented QD Auto Lock Lever system which has the following advantages:

  • Does not require proprietary tools for adjustment.
  • Can be adjusted with your finger or a flat blade screwdriver.
  • Lever can be configured to lock to the front or the rear.
  • Superior clamping surface to insure maximum rail engagement.

Materials & Construction

The AD-180 base is precision CNC machined from a block of 6061 T6 aluminum and finished in hard coat type 3 Mil-Spec anodize for a rock hard lasting finish.

  • Precision machined from 6061 T6 Aluminum.
  • Hard coat anodized for a lifetime of performance.
  • Fully adjustable to fit both in spec and out of spec rail systems.
  • American Defense MFG, LLC. products feature a lifetime warranty.
  • Features the Patented QD Auto Lock Lever system.
  • Made with pride in the U.S.A.

The AD-180 base has the following specifications:

  • Weight: 4 ounces

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Olav Martin Kvern

Olav Martin Kvern is an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator, software designer, and writer. He coauthored the ground-breaking Real World PageMaker. He has written for Macworld, Publish, and Adobe magazines. In addition, he has designed many books for Peachpit Press and is currently on the Adobe InDesign Developer Technologies team. David Blatner is an internationally respected author or co-author of more than 15 books, including Adobe InDesign Breakthroughs, Adobe Photoshop Breakthroughs, and Real World Adobe Photoshop. He also wrote the world's best-selling book on QuarkXPress, Real World QuarkXPress.


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Design the Ultimate Crisis Management Blueprint in 3 Steps

By Griffin Suber on 01.19.17

If 2016 taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. At some point, your business will face a crisis, and it’s important to have systems in place for when that happens. How proficient are your employees in diffusing a crisis with tact and speed? Who takes charge if your point person is unavailable?

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Book launch of Dheai Ilsaaid

Dheai Ilsaaid is a general Oriental practitioner, who has trained in both Eastern and Western practices, studying the human from every aspect; emotionally, physically, structurally, and functionally.

He has extensive training in deep acupuncture, Reiki, massage, iridology, cranial sacral manipulation, medical yoga, and much more.

Ilsaaid treats all medical conditions naturally, mainly through acupuncture, which prevents illness and promotes general health and wellbeing. He also teaches specific breathing techniques and gives physical exercises and dietary advice to further help the body to repair itself.

He also employs techniques to treat the subconscious mind, including positive affirmations, neuron-linguistic programming, mindfulness, meditation, timeline therapy, dream interpretation, hypnosis, and beyond the physical body to an astral level by accessing the soul and spirit.

This treatment is purely natural. It treats not only the symptoms but also the root causes. Hence everybody experiences the treatment differently.

Ilsaaid will launch his book Oriental Medicine & Eastern Philosophy in Charlie Byrnes bookshop at 6:30pm today.

He will talk about the philosophy he is so passionate about and answer questions. Ilsaaid is an incredible man with much knowledge which he is eager to share. You do not need to be a medical practitioner to avail of the learning from this man. He brings things to a basic level, which everyone can understand, and from which everyone can benefit. He treats children under 15 for free.

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March 21, 2017

CMS delays start date for several new mandatory bundled payment models

Daily Briefing

    Read Advisory Board's take on this story.

    CMS on Monday announced it plans to delay by three months several mandatory bundled payment models that had been set to take effect in July.

    Some industry experts say the delays, detailed in an interim rule published Tuesday in the Federal Register, raise questions about the future of mandatory payment models under the Trump administration.

    CMS delays mandatory cardiovascular, cardiac rehab bundled payment models

    Under the interim rule, CMS will delay, from July 1 to Oct. 1, two bundled payment programs for heart attack treatment and bypass surgery billed through Medicare. The new mandatory payment models—called the Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Model and the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Model—are retrospective, 90-day bundles in which hospitals will need to reduce their episodic costs below a target quality-adjusted cost threshold lower than the historical average. The payment models are set to run in 98 metropolitan areas.

    The interim rule also will delay the Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Model, which encourage providers in 90 U.S. regions to use cardiac rehabilitation, from July 1, 2017, until Oct. 1, 2017.

    CMS delays mandatory joint replacement bundled payment model expansion

    In addition, the interim rule will postpone, from July 1 to Oct. 1, the expansion of CMS' Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model.

    The mandatory payment model, which launched in April 2016, currently applies to 800 hospitals located in 67 U.S. regions that bill Medicare for hip and knee replacements. Under the expansion, hospitals in those 67 regions would receive retrospective bundled payments related to surgical hip/femur fracture treatment and recovery, under the Surgical Hip and Femur Fracture Treatment Model.

    According to Becker's Hospital Review, the interim final rule also delays certain program requirements for the CJR model from March 21 to May 20.

    Reasons behind the delays

    CMS said the delays would give the agency more time to review the programs and would give providers more time to prepare for the payment changes under the models. The agency is accepting public comment on "the appropriateness" of the delays for 30 days after March 21.

    CMS also said it would prefer to align the payment periods with the calendar year, and as such is seeking comment on further delaying the start of cardiac bundled payments and CJR's expansion until Jan. 1, 2018.

    Stakeholders said HHS' decision to delay the mandatory payment models raises questions about how the Trump administration will approach the transition to value-based payments and the future of mandatory payment models.

    Ashish Jha, a professor of health policy at the Harvard School of Public Health, said the delays might suggest CMS will make the programs voluntary, which he said would affect the pool of participants and ultimately drive up costs.

    However, some industry stakeholders say that voluntary bundled payment programs are more effective than mandatory programs. For instance, Carolyn Magill—CEO of Remedy Partners, a firm that helps hospitals and health systems with bundled payment programs—said, "We have found that voluntary models provide a forum for more engaged participation."

    Leading hospital groups, including the American Hospital Association, had criticized the payment models for being "too much, too soon." The Federation of American Hospitals in a statement praised the "decision to delay these bundled payment programs," saying that the organization, "welcome[s] a fresh set of eyes on these policies."

    According to RevCycle Intelligence, CMS' consideration of delaying the bundled payment models until 2018 also could have implications for whether providers could qualify for the higher incentives offered by the Advanced Alternative Payment Model track under MACRA's Quality Payment Program (Whitman, Modern Healthcare, 3/20; RevCycle Intellignce, 3/20; Ellison, Becker's Hospital Review, 3/20; MacDonald, FierceHealthcare, 3/21; Young, CQ HealthBest, 3/20 [subscription required]; AHA News, 3/20; Federation of American Hospitals release, 3/20).

    Advisory Board's take

    Eric Cragun, Senior Director, Health Policy

    Prior to his confirmation, HHS Secretary Tom Price repeatedly expressed concerns about CMS' mandatory bundled payment programs. The latest announcement indicates that the Trump administration continues to review these programs, although their ultimate fate is still not certain.

    For providers, this new interim final rule suggests that further changes and delays could be on the way in the coming months. The rule delays the start of the Episode Payment Models (EPMs), the expansion of CJR, and new cardiac rehab payments by three months. In addition, CMS is seeking comment on delaying the start dates even further, until January 1, 2018, and suggests that this additional delay might be preferable.

    CMS in the interim final rule also indicated that other aspects of the mandatory bundled payment programs may change, although the agency doesn't specify which elements of the program it is considering modifying, making it impossible to predict any changes.

    One important impact to watch is whether further delays or other changes push more providers into the MIPS track under MACRA's Quality Payment Program, when they might have otherwise qualified for the Advanced APM Track.

    We'll be discussing providers' Medicare risk strategies during an upcoming two-part webconference series. Part 1 will be on reevaluating Medicare ACOs and the path to risk, while Part 2 will be on expanding into the Medicare Advantage Market and ensuring a durable Medicare risk strategy.

    Register now

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March 20, 2018

National Academies: Abortion care in US is safe

Daily Briefing

    Abortion care in the United States is safe for women and results in few complications, but state laws and regulations the limit or delay access can pose barriers to quality care, according to a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

    The more than 200-page report examines the safety and quality of abortion care in the United States.

    Looking at 2014 data, the researcher found that 95% of U.S. abortions occurred in clinics and other office-based settings. The researchers found that in 2014 about 90% of all U.S. abortions occurred during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and that complications for all types of abortions were "rare."

    The researchers found no evidence of long-term physical or mental health effects from abortion care. They did, however, find an association between very preterm birth of a first-born child and a woman having had two or more aspiration abortions.

    The researchers said abortion care can be provided at the highest levels of quality and safety when completed early in pregnancy. However, they wrote, "Abortion specific regulations in many states create barriers to safe and effective care."

    The report noted that some state laws delay access to abortion care, such as by requiring mandatory waiting periods, pre-abortion ultrasound requirements, and separate counseling visits. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 27 states require a woman seeking abortion care to wait at least 24 hours before undergoing the procedure, and 11 states require a woman to first have an ultrasound. The report states, "Delays put the patient at greater risk of an adverse event."

    The report also noted that some states impose requirements on abortion providers. For instance, some states require a provider of abortion care to have hospital admitting privileges, although the report found no evidence that such laws increase patient safety. The report also found that NPs and physician assistants can provide abortion care at the same quality and safety level as physicians.

    The report found the number of abortion clinics in the United States has fallen since 2011, and that in 2014, 39% of reproductive-age women lived in a county without an abortion provider. In 2017, the report found five states had one abortion clinic, and 17% of women had to travel more than 50 miles to access abortion care—which can be difficult for women who must make multiple provider visits.

    Ned Calonge, the co-chair of the committee that authored the report, said, "I would say the main takeaway is that abortions that are provided in the United States are safe and effective."

    Hal Lawrence, CEO of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said of the report, "Abortion is safer when it's performed earlier in gestation. ... And so delaying and making people wait and go through hoops of unnecessary, extra procedures does not improve the safety."

    Meanwhile, Donna Harrison, executive director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, defended state laws restricting abortion care and suggested that data on abortion-related complications is incomplete. She said, "There is no good data collection," in part because providers and patients do not consistently report abortion-related complications (Kodjak, "Shots," NPR, 3/16; Preidt, HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report, 3/16).

    Get 1-page cheat sheets on Hospital Quality Rating Programs

    Download our one page sheets for summaries on the methodology and metric categories used in five hospital quality rating programs:

    Get all the Cheat Sheets

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The new administration building in our home town of AERZEN
Opened in 2013/14: the new administration building in our home town of AERZEN

Since 1864, AERZEN has engineered high performing machines for the industry.

We have developed from a single machine factory into a global player, delivering reliable, high performing and energy efficient blowers and screw compressors all over the world. Along the way, we have spearheaded innovation in our field of complex and demanding applications and developed several new technologies not only responding to market needs, but leading it forward.

This is what we have always done and it is what we will continue to do. It is this history and this culture that have made the AERZEN name more than just a name. It has become a seal of quality. When you see the AERZEN name on a machine, you know exactly what you get.

You can… Expect Performance.

Details and facts

Aerzener Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Reherweg 28
31855 Aerzen

Year of foundation: 1864

Product range blowers, compressors, rotary lobe compressors, turbo blowers.
Certification: DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN ISO 45001, DIN EN ISO 14001, DIN EN ISO 50001, DIN ISO 22000.

Employees: approx. 2.500 (worldwide)
Subsidiary companies: >50 worldwide

Authorized capital: 10,23 million €
Annual turnover: approx. 400 Mio. € (AERZEN-Group)
Export share: approx. 85%

Works area: approx. 180.000 sqm
Blower production: approx. 14.000 per year
Compressor production: approx. 10.000 per year

International social media profiles of AERZEN:
YouTube      Xing      LinkedIn

AERZEN is one of three world-wide leading application specialists with regard to conveying and compression of gases with energy efficient and resource saving products and production processes.

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AERZEN looks back on an eventful history

Whether Wilhelm Meyer, who was the first on the continent to have positive displacement blowers made using the Roots method, Hermann Allstaedt, the Managing Director during the 1930s who focused production consistently on blowers, pumps and gas meters, or Hasso Heller, who founded the first subsidiary Aerzen France in 1968 to set the company on course for internationalisation – over the last 150 years we “Aerzeners” repeatedly took brave decisions to put us a step ahead of the competition.

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Thanks to investments into advanced technologies and methods we develop innovative products and procedures. We inform ourselves on recognized, national and international standards. Our business processes are subject to standard DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN ISO 45001, DIN EN ISO 14001 and DIN EN ISO 50001.

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Home>Travel inspiration>Art + Culture

A Cinema Lover’s Guide to Rome

By Laura Itzkowitz

Oct 17, 2018

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The historic city of Rome has been the setting for many famous films.

Photo by S. Borisov/Shutterstock.com

The historic city of Rome has been the setting for many famous films.

A writer goes on a quest to find the Eternal City’s most cinematic spots.

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It’s no wonder the great Italian director Federico Fellini said, “Rome is the most wonderful movie set in the world.” Just strolling the cobblestoned streets while the church bells are ringing or sitting at a table observing locals animatedly dining at a trattoria, you can feel like you’ve stumbled onto a film set. This UNESCO Creative City of Film is one of the world’s most important cities for cinema after Hollywood. Acclaimed works of the silver screen such as The Bicycle Thief (1948), Roman Holiday (1953), La Dolce Vita (1960), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), and The Great Beauty (2013) are just a few of the countless movies filmed here. In advance of the Rome Film Festival (October 18 – 28) and a new exhibit at the Ara Pacis Museum dedicated to Italy’s most famous leading man, Marcello Mastroianni, here’s a guide to Rome’s most cinematic spots.

Scenes from the Audrey Hepburn classic “Roman Holiday” were filmed near here.

Piazza del Popolo

Any cinematic tour of the Eternal City should start with a cappuccino at Bar Canova on Piazza del Popolo, where Fellini used to hold court; rumor has it he had an office in the back of the bar. Black-and-white photographs, film stills, and his drawings hang on the walls. In the 1960s—the golden age of Italian cinema—much of the action was concentrated around this northern part of the city.

From there, take a leisurely stroll down Via Margutta, a quiet street where Fellini lived (you can see a plaque at number 110) and where today artisans and tradesmen still restore antique frames and carve marble plaques. Roman Holiday—which launched Audrey Hepburn’s career—was filmed at number 51. It’s privately owned, so you can’t go inside, but the street is so picturesque it’s worth a visit anyway. Walk south toward the Spanish Steps, where the fictional Caffè Dinelli was located in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Via Veneto

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In Fellini’s heyday, Via Veneto—a street stretching from Piazza Barberini to the Villa Borghese, where Fellini filmed several scenes for the 1960 classic La Dolce Vita—was the epicenter of the city’s nightlife. In the movie, it appears as the backdrop for raucous sidewalk cafes where aristocrats, movie stars, and intellectuals mingled; nearby, photographers like Paparazzo (the word “paparazzi” actually derives from the character’s name) lurked, waiting to photograph them doing something scandalous. Little remains from that era, but you can still visit Harry’s Bar. There, photographs of prominent actors like Marcello Mastroianni and Giulietta Masina (Fellini’s wife, who starred in many of his award-winning films) hang in gold frames.

Just behind Via Veneto, Hotel Eden is a must-visit spot where Fellini used to conduct interviews with the press on the terrace. Last year, it emerged from a top-to-bottom renovation aimed at bringing it back to its original glory. The views from the rooftop restaurant and bar are some of the best in Rome and the pasta is fantastic. No doubt Fellini would approve.

The Baths of Caracalla have been the backdrop for “La Dolce Vita” and “The Great Beauty.”

The Baths of Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla stand near the Circus Maximus, where Fellini and award-winning Italian director Paolo Sorrentino filmed 53 years apart. Built by the Roman emperor Caracalla in 216 C.E., the complex was once a lavish public bathhouse decorated in marble with frescoes, mosaics, and sculptures. Its ruins now form the most extensive surviving Roman bathhouse, which you can visit during open hours or for seasonal opera performances.

Don’t forget to toss a coin (or three) into the Trevi Fountain to wish for a return to Rome.

Centro Storico

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Rome’s centro storico is jam-packed with filming locations. The most iconic is certainly the Trevi Fountain, which Anita Ekberg’s character wades into in La Dolce Vita’s most famous scene. (Pro tip: wait to visit until after midnight, when the tourist crowds have dispersed.) From there, you might wander over to the Pantheon, which served as a backdrop in Roman Holiday. A more obscure filming location is the beautiful 15th century Palazzo Taverna; its ivy-covered courtyard appears in Sorrentino’s award-winning film The Great Beauty. The building contains private residences, so you can’t go in without the help of a guide like Fulvio de Bonis, president and founder of Imago Artis Travel, who took me to have coffee on the terrace of an aristocratic home located within the complex. The Bicycle Thief was also filmed in the centro storico, including on Via del Tritone, an important avenue near the Trevi Fountain.

You can’t talk about Italian film history without mentioning Pigneto, a historically working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of the city center. Neorealism, a post–World War Two movement in Italian cinema, was all about showing the good, the bad, and the ugly of everyday life for Rome’s average citizens. Director Pier Paolo Pasolini grew up in Pigneto and shot Accattone in its streets. Although still gritty and covered in street art, the neighborhood is gentrifying, especially since Metro line C made it much more accessible. If you go, be sure to have a drink at Necci dal 1924, Pasolini’s old haunt.

Supposedly Teatro 5 was Fellini’s favorite soundstage on which to film at Cinecitta.

Built in 1937 to rival Hollywood, Italy’s largest motion-picture studio is located on the southeastern edge of Rome. (From the city center, it takes about an hour to get there by metro.) Countless filmmakers—including Fellini—and television productions—such as HBO’s Rome—have used its soundstages. Part of the studio has been opened as a permantent exhibit called Cinecittà Shows Off, which you can visit on a guided tour. Nearby, you’ll find the huge Parco degli Acquedotti, another location where both Fellini and Sorrentino filmed. (Fellini shot the opening scene of La Dolce Vita here.)

Scooteroma offeres Vespa tours that stop by famous movie locations in Rome.

If You Go

The Cinema Tour by Scooteroma, a bespoke tour operator specializing in guided Vespa tours of Rome, is a fun way to see the sites and delve into Rome’s cinematic heritage on two wheels. The tours are led by Michele, who studied film at La Sapienza University and enthusiastically shares his passion for Italian cinema with guests. In three hours, you can cover the amount of ground it would take three days to visit if you relied on public transit.

The 13th Rome Film Festival will be held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and other locations throughout the city from October 18 to 28. There will be screenings, talks, master classes, tributes, and exhibitions, including a retrospective at the Ara Pacis Museum dedicated to actor Marcello Mastroianni.

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Former Chanute Air Force Base (BRAC 1988)

Location: Rantoul, Illinois
Total Acreage: 2,200 Acres
Closed: September 1993

Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, was established in 1917 as Chanute Field, making it one of the oldest Air Force facilities prior to its closure in 1993. Chanute began as a pilot training school during World War I, and after a brief closure following the end of the war, reopened as a technical training center. Chanute AFB was recommended for closure by the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 1988. The base was officially closed Sept. 30, 1993.

Environmental Activities
AFCEC continues to work closely with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to ensure environmental cleanup activities satisfy all regulatory standards and protect human health and the environment. The Air Force has invested more than $188 million on cleanup actions at the former installation.

Airmen at Chanute used hazardous materials such as aviation and motor fuels, petroleum products such as motor oil, lubricants and hydraulic fluids, and cleaning solvents when the base was open. Hazardous wastes generated at Chanute AFB included waste oils and fuels, oil/water separator sludge, solvent residues and other chemical wastes. When the base closed, the Air Force collected hazardous wastes from all storage and designated accumulation points and disposed of them off-site at a permitted facility. Primary sources of hazardous substances involved either oil-water separators, underground storage tanks, sludge pits (or a combination of these items) and landfills.

AFCEC is required to investigate and clean up past releases of contamination that may pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. AFCEC implements these requirements under their Installation Restoration Program as well as state regulatory programs such as the Illinois Underground Storage Tank and Leaking UST programs.

Property Transfer
Today, the Village of Rantoul has attracted tenants in the fields of transportation and education, including Lincoln’s ChalleNGe, an intensive, highly structured, alternative educational environment run by the Illinois National Guard and designed to give at-risk youth a new start at becoming contributing members of their community. The former base is also home to the University of Illinois Advanced Transportation and Research Engineering Laboratory, or ATREL, one of the leading transportation research facilities in the nation.

As of October 2018, 1934 acres have transferred and 266 remain

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African Press Association
Nedbank Bank

Nedbank invests R72 million in education solutions

Nedbank Bank

Nedbank Bank

JOHANNESBURG – FINANCIAL services giant, Nedbank, has over the past year invested more than R70 million in education in South Africa.

The funds have been devoted through its corporate social investment arm, the Nedbank Foundation.

Mark Rose, Head of New Business Development for Nedbank Business Banking, disclosed the investment as the firm announced the launch of a range of digital offerings the company believes would ease the administrative
burden at local schools, helping them become more efficient and enhancing the education outcomes of learners.

“(The fund, R72 million) all of which is focused on making a positive difference to the country’s schooling sector and enhancing schools’ capacity to develop the leaders our country needs to take us forward to a
brighter future,” Rose said of the investment.

This suite of solutions announced by Nedbank includes SchoolAdvisor, a procurement offering specifically made for schools that allows staff to easily access price comparisons between suppliers as well as independent
reviews of the quality of service and products each of these suppliers provides.

To enable easy and secure payments and receipts, Nedbank offers the Karri App, which is a mobile payment platform that parents can use to make payments for their children’s participation in school events.

The application makes it easy for teachers and administrators to remind parents about payment deadlines as well as allocate the payments they receive, all without the need for learners to have to carry cash or for
the schools to have to hold large sums of money on premises.

The Nedbank suite of school solutions also includes a digital offering focused on helping learners improve their education outcomes.

Tendopro is a Nedbank-sponsored, free education platform that allows learners to access supplementary learning and revision material online.

The solution offers learners a compelling incentive to work through the material, allowing them to earn ‘Tendoberries’ as they progress, which they can then redeem for airtime, data bundles and music downloads.

Rose said developing the suite of digital solutions afforded the bank the privilege of gaining better understanding of the ecosystem of schools in the country.

“We intend using those insights to constantly refine these solutions and develop innovative offerings that add value to our schools, reduce their administrative burden and maximise the positive impact they have on the lives of the young people they nurture.”
– CAJ News


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Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage

The Senkwekwe Center, located at park headquarters in Rumangabo, is the only facility in the the world that cares for orphan mountain gorilla. Each of the four gorillas living at the center was victimized by poachers or animal traffickers, and likely witnessed family members being murdered. Thanks to the financial support of individuals around the world – and the loving care provided by their human caregivers – the orphans now lead happy and secure lives in their forested enclosure. The orphans also receive veterinary care from the Gorilla Doctors, arguably the most skilled and experienced gorilla veterinarians in the world.

Visiting the center is so amazing experiencing the gorilla conservation work done at the place. On your visit to the Virunga National Park taking gorilla trek, chimpanzee habituation and Nyiragongo Hiking stay at the Mikeno Lodge and you will visit the gorilla sanctuary free of charge. If are interested in volunteering with the center you can make early booking with the park and you will directly get involved in the conservation programs at the Senkwekwe.


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LAZARUS KGAGUDI - If You Don't Know Me (1989)

EZ/8th Avenue/Sounds of Soweto/EMI, EHTH(V)100
Producer: Phiri Motale (exec: Emil Zoghby)
Engineers: Charles Stothard & Craig Beyrooti

Top-notch pop ala Hotstix from the late great Lazarus Kgagudi, one of several blind stars to make their mark. Highlights include 'Makarapa', 'Xipitifaya' and the Motown-inspired 'I'll Never Give You Up'.

"Unlike most of his peers he was not born blind, but his fate was the result of a bicycle acident at an early age. He was born within the royal circle of the Bapedi ba ga Sekhukhune in Mohlaletse. Lazarus received his education at Siloe School for the Blind. That is where he first met Steve Kekana. Some of the individuals who played part in the shaping of his music career were producers Roxy 'Black Cat' Buthelezi, Banzi Kubheka, Phiri Motale and his executive producer Emil Zoghby. His backing bands were mainly Black Cat Trio, The Neighbours, and Step Ahead . . . Lazarus also helped develop young talent by producing the likes of Izzy Boy Masedi, Eric D, Max Masuluke, Willie Mohlala and Sigaman." (Mojapelo 2008:32)


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Crop & Pest Report

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Scout for Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybeans (08/27/20)

Berlin Nelson was scouting soybeans in Richland County last week and identified multiple fields with Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS).

Berlin Nelson was scouting soybeans in Richland County last week and identified multiple fields with Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). The disease was first confirmed in the state in 2018 (Richland County), it can cause significant yield loss, and may be occurring in other areas in North Dakota; particularly in the southeastern corner of the state. We recommend soybean growers scout for SDS.

What is Sudden Death Syndrome?

Sudden Death Syndrome in soybeans refers to a very specific disease that impacts soybeans, and is caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium virguliforme. Frankly, the name is somewhat misleading; the disease is not generally ‘sudden’ and may not cause ‘death’. Other diseases (such as Phytophthora or Pythium root rot) cause damage more that is often ‘sudden’ and results in complete ‘death’. Thus, it is important to look for symptoms specifically related to Sudden Death Syndrome (below).

The pathogen is a root rot pathogen that can survive in the soil for several years. The pathogen infects soybeans soon after planting, and wet conditions favor development of the disease. The pathogen will cause root rotting, but also produces a plant toxin that moves up from the root tissue into the rest of the plant, causing foliar symptoms.

What are the symptoms and signs of SDS?

SDS often shows up in fields in oval/circular spots or clusters of plants in a field (Figure 1). When the disease is becoming severe, yellow patches of soybeans are often visible from a distance.

The first foliar symptoms of SDS are bright chlorotic (yellow) spots that occur diffusely (not connected to one another) between the leaf veins (Figure 2). Soon after, necrotic areas between the leaf veins occur, often bordered by a relatively thin yellow halo (Figure 3). With time, the necrotic areas coalesce, leaving only the veins of the leaves green. In severe cases, leaves may drop, but leaving attached petioles to the plant.

Examination of stem and roots tissue is very important to distinguish SDS from other diseases. With a knife, scrape off the outside of the tissue of the lower stem and tap root near the soil line. SDS infected stems have tanning or browning, but the pith (center of the stem) will remain white (Figure 4). Brown stem rot (BSR) causes a look-alike leaf symptom, but the lower stem symptoms will be opposite; the pith will be brown and the other tissue will be white, giving it a ‘lead in a pencil’ look (Figure 5). Occasionally, a blueish fungal mold may be visible on the stem at the soil line of infected SDS plant (Figure 6).

Where do I scout for SDS?

We have only confirmed SDS in Richland County, however, it is possible (perhaps likely) that the disease may occur in other locations. The presence of soybean cyst nematode increases the likelihood that SDS develops and causes yield loss in your field (another reason to sample for SCN – see previous articles).  The SDS pathogen is soil borne, and moves whenever soil is moved (equipment, wind, water, etc..), so is first likely observed in areas where soil may be introduced into a field.

What do I do if I find it?

If you suspect SDS, it is worth confirming; the pathogen will survive for several years in the soil and management tools can be used in future soybean crops. Additionally, Dr. Berlin Nelson will be doing laboratory confirmations this fall. Please contact him directly if you are interested in submitting a sample (email below). It is important to remember that the pathogen only lives in the roots (a toxin causes foliar symptoms), so even though leaves look bad, confirmation can only be done with root tissue.

There is nothing that can be done to manage the disease this current growing season, but partially resistant varieties and/or fungicide seed treatments may help manage the disease in the future. Lastly, if you find SDS, it is important to also soil sample for SCN this fall (previous article). The two are tightly linked, and managing SCN will help manage SDS.

Where can I find more information?

Many excellent resources to identify and manage SDS exist. We recommend starting with:

The NDSU/UMN Soybean Disease Diagnostic Card series

and the ‘Sudden Death Syndrome’ publication by the Crop Protection Network (a multi-state group of Extension pathologists) as excellent resources to help identify and distinguish SDS from other diseases/ailments.

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pth.3 4

Berlin Nelson

Soybean Pathologist

Sam Markell

Extension Plant Pathologist, Broad-leaf Crops

This site is supported in part by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2017-70006-27144/accession 1013592] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the website author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Food and Nutrition

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Self-crust Pumpkin Pie

This healthy recipe comes from NDSU Extension Service.

  • 2 large eggs (or 3 medium)
  • 1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin or 2 c. cooked pumpkin
  • 1 c. nonfat dry milk powder
  • 2/3 c. brown or white sugar
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. ginger
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • ¼ c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. water

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix all ingredients together, except water, in a large mixing bowl. Gradually stir in water until well mixed. Pour into a greased 9-inch pie plate or an 8-by-8-inch square pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the center comes out clean. Refrigerate leftovers.

Makes 8 servings.

Per serving: 140 calories, 2 grams (g) fat, 30 g carbohydrate and 140 mg sodium.
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NDSU Extension - Sargent County

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Getting the Gratitude Attitude and Doing Something with It - Part II

Getting the Gratitude Attitude and Doing Something with It  - Part II

 “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it,” said William Arthur Ward.

Last week, “Seize the Day” introduced gratitude as both an attitude and a practice.  It cited some benefits that are associated with experiences of gratitude, appreciation, and thankfulness:

  • positive feelings that contribute to one’s overall sense of well-being
  • buffering us against negative living and negative emotions
  • making us more resistant to stress

This week’s column will focus on ways to practice or express gratitude.  Two ways of expressing gratitude are through writing and through face-to-face conversations.

Writing could mean establishing a habit of journaling about gratitude.  Journaling can be done

  • in book or notebook,
  • on slips of paper that you put into a jar, box, or basket,
  • in a word document,
  • online through social media, or
  • electronically with an app.

The journaling habit is associated with some pretty amazing benefits:

  • higher positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy
  • better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, and more happiness

Research has shown that writing our thoughts of gratitude offers more advantages than just thinking them.

Journaling at the end of a day, 1-3 times per week, has been found to offer the optimal benefits.

To journal, simply write five things you are grateful for.  For starters:  people, strengths or talents you have, something in nature, a food or meal, a gesture of kindness from someone, or something at your home or farm.  Key in on things that you might ordinarily take for granted.  Give yourself a little time to think about why you appreciate those things and why they are of value to you.

Every so often, whether it be once a month or once a year, treat yourself to a review of what you’ve written.

Some ways to express gratitude “face-to-face” include:

  • At a meal, have each person tell about something from the day that they are grateful for
  • In a group, have each person tell something they appreciate about the person sitting next to them
  • Go for a walk with a friend and talk about what you are most grateful for
  • Tell a co-worker thank you for what they do and what you admire or appreciate about them
  • Express appreciation to a store clerk, carry-out, or wait staff who served you well.

Adapted from: Whole Health – Change the Conversation, “Creating a Gratitude Practice,” Shilagh A. Mirgain, PhD, and Janice Singles, PsyD, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

Photo Source: https://pixabay.com/en/diary-journal-book-ink-pen-paper-92652/ (downloaded 11/27/18)

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Marquis Nicolas de Condorcet (1743-1794) is one of the fathers of modern democracy. Writing his intellectual testament while hiding from the security police during the French Revolution, Condorcet outlined an optimistic vision of humanity liberated from the yoke of ignorance and political and religious oppression. His vision has in part materialised. Universal suffrage is the norm across the globe, and basic education is considered a human right. On the other hand, negative signs abound. Although the global economy continues to grow, political freedom is now declining. Religious fundamentalism is on the rise, and anti-liberal parties have gained momentum in both new and old democracies.

So what became of Condorcet’s vision? What was the error that he committed when assuming that humanity would more or less automatically liberate itself once the oppressive schemes of the ancien régime had been revealed?

The struggle between the modern and the archaic regime is essentially a struggle between political Left and Right. Genuine Enlightenment is politically radical. The purpose of the present book is to show that Enlightenment values such as rationality, democracy and freedom are as brittle as equality. The natural regime in the province of human beings is neither rational nor democratic. The development and defence of the modern regime requires an institution with the capacity of carrying out these tasks – a strong state.

non-fiction, 300,
to be published by Svante Weyler Förlag 2017

Rights available for: Worldwide

The Author

PER MOLANDER born in 1950, has a background in applied physics and holds a Ph.D. in control theory. He has worked for many years with public sector policy analysis, (OECD countries, the FSU area, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa). He has held leading positions in policy reform and has also served as Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate which he built from scratch. Per Molander’s list of publications comprise around 100 scientific papers, reports and books. This includes books on political and moral philosophy.


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Accolades & Awards

As one of the country’s finest Five Star hotels, the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa is highly appreciative of the industry recognition our luxury hotel, service, spa and restaurant has received over the years.

Recent Awards

Ireland Golf Tour Operators Association - Service Excellence Award 2019

Irish Hotel Industry Employee of the Year 2018 – Maura Casey (Lounge Supervisor)

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Best in Service 2018

Chinese Outbound Tourism Research Institute – Accreditation China Ready

Travel and Leisure – UK and Ireland Resorts Top 10 2018

Irish Hotels Federation – Quality Employer Award 2018

AA (Automobile Association) – Two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence 2017

Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards – Ireland’s Five Star Hotel Spa Experience 2017

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Munster Spa of the Year 2017

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Munster Spa of the Year 2016

Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award – Top 30 Resorts in Europe 2015

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Best Specialised Treatment 2015

World Luxury Spa Awards – Best Luxury Wellness Europe 2015

Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards – Best Five Star Hotel 2014
Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards – People Award – 2014

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Hotel Spa of the Year 2014

Irish Tatler Spa Awards – Best Body Treatment 2014

Full List of Hotel Awards

Irish Tatler Overall Spa Winner 2013

Hotel Spa of the Year 2013

Best Treatment 2013 “Himalayan Rejuvenation”

Best Therapist 2012 – awarded to Rita Bonn

Best Service 2010

Best Service 2009

AA Five Red Stars
Automobile Association 2002/2003/2004/2005/2006

‘AA Hotel of the Year’
Automobile Association, 2001/2002/2006

RAC Blue Ribbon
RAC Hotel Services, 1990-2002

RAC Gold Ribbon
RAC Hotel Services, 2001/2002/2003/2004

Five Star Deluxe
Irish Tourist Board

RAC Dining Award – 3
RAC Hotel Services

Golf Hotel of The Year
IGTOA, 2004

Georgina Campbells
Jameson Hotel of the Year 2005

Travel & Leisure (Feb 2005)
Top 50 Most Romantic Places in The World

The Professional Beauty & Spa Awards UK
Short-listed to the Final 3 for Best European Spa Category 2005

Therapist of the Year, 2007 & 2008
Best Hotel Resort Spa of the Year, 2008
Destination/Resort Spa of the Year, 2006
Irish New Destination/Resort Hotel Spa of the Year 2005

Hotel & Catering Review 2006
Five Star Hotel of The Year

The Food & Wine/Edward Dillon
Restaurant of the Year Awards 2006
Best Restaurant Service 19

What others have said about us

The Times
“At the end of three days, she was positively comatose, thanks to the rejuvenating, healing, chilling and nurturing environment of the hotel’s brand new Aveda Spa…”

Harpers & Queen magazine
“The Spa is the ultimate in luxury, with a purist feel –very Aveda. Perfect for those who want more than just a spa: you can also go walking, play golf….”

Vogue Magazine
“Such pampering, combined with the surrounding nature, makes it a great break.”

Tatler Magazine
“These days, the real Ireland is more likely to be found while sipping cocktails in the quintessentially stylish bar of the Aghadoe Heights Hotel before relaxing the hotels world class spa….”

“Is this the best penthouse in the world? The Penthouse at Ireland’s Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa will take some beating…”

Be the first to hear about upcoming deals and offers.


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Consequences of Contamination in Composting Streams

Contamination (defined here as meaning non-compostables) that is found among materials being diverted to composting remains the industry’s most significant challenge, in the United States, and the most baffling to me. For it really is pretty difficult to mistake a banana for a bottle, plastic wrap for bread wraps, car parts for a Camilla bush or rubber gloves for a roasted chicken.

Contamination is the result of two things and only two things. First, as composting may still be a new concept to many, the person wishing to remove something from the landfill may simply not know what is actually compostable. This can be solved easily by educating the person. That is why AgRecycle provides one hour of free consulting to every new customer wishing to divert food scraps and their associated compostable stream to us.

The second reason non-compostables find their way into the composting stream is a combination of apathy and laziness.  Most often the compost bin is next to the landfill bin but some people just seem to be incapable of moving their hand that extra ten inches so everything ends up in the composting bin. I believe they do not fully understand the consequences of their actions.

Contamination results in polluting cropland when loads are taken to an on-farm composter and higher labor and management costs whether taken to a commercial composter or an on-farm composter as no one wants to find bits of garbage in their finished composts. Therefore, the composter must employ methods of removal and pay for the disposal of these contaminants.  These unanticipated higher processing costs then affords the composter no choice but to impose higher tipping fee costs to the generator as well as forcing finished composts to be sold at higher prices.

While those are national issues, contamination is a much more serious issue for all composters in Pennsylvania. Composters in Pennsylvania do not have the option of taking loads comprised of mixed compostables and non-compostables. The first paragraph in all Pennsylvania composting permits states that composters may only accept source-separated compostable materials from the generator. As such, accepting trash places every composter in this state at risk for losing their permit, being fined or both.

So, the next time your composter rejects your load of compostables because it is contaminated, please know this is being done because the consequence of accepting it is far too severe. And….please understand the value in moving your hand that extra ten inches.


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Mr. Sandeep Raina on ‘Automation of Dairy Farming with Mechanized Milking and Data Collection’

Mr. Sandeep Raina is the Director of Vansun Technologies Pvt Ltd., who are working in Dairy Farming sector mechanization since 1999. Mr. Sandeep says they are the first company in India to Introduce Mecahnized Milking and have 20,000 Customers across India. To know more view


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Mr.Varun Raheja on ‘Post Harvest Management and Agri-Food Processing – Solar Dryer’

Mr. Varun Raheja, Founder, Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt.Ltd., is a Mechanical Engineer by qualification. He says the quest to convert waste to wealth and to help the farmers were the two major areas he started concentrating on and the result was Solar Dryer. To know more view


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How to Meal Prep for the Week (tips to get started)

As a working parent or young adult with a busy schedule, meals can become a difficult task to prepare. With absolutely no time in the day to cook, many people opt to eat out as they feel it saves them time and effort, which at times can be even more important than money. If you are someone that is worried about your health and would like to have healthy and hearty meals every day, then this post is definitely for you.

 Meal prepping is the new trend that is helping people all around. For those who do not have enough time to cook for themselves every day, they can just prep for the upcoming meals and have delicious meals in no time. Meal prepping will not only save you time on the weekday but is comparatively much cheaper eating out. To have a healthy and delicious meal at the end of each day, we have compiled a few tips to get you started in the right direction.

  1. Make a meal plan

Making a meal plan might be the most important step in meal prepping. Deciding what you like and what you do not like is very important. If you prep for a week, but don’t even like the food then you won’t eat it which means double the wastage. It is also important to consider which food can be prepped and which food cannot. For example, bananas can go brown in a few days if peeled, so they might not be the best choice. This is why it is important that you come up with a schedule and plan of exactly what you would like to eat each day of the week, whether it is sustainable through the week and how feasible is it for you to make and prep for it. Organization of the schedule will take you a long way in meal prepping.

  • Always meal prep breakfast

People say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they do so rightfully. This is because when you have breakfast, you get your digestive system to start working after a while and starting with heavy foods can result in bad health. This is why you should meal prep breakfast, so you can start your mornings with a delicious healthy meal. Making overnight oats or egg muffins may be the best choice. However, you can also check out bakery suppliers and have delicious treats like muffins and croissants for breakfast.

  • Hoard the containers

When one meal preps the most important thing they need is a container. You always need to store the food in containers. This is why when you begin to meal prep it is best that you invest in airtight plastic containers that will prevent bacteria or smell from entering your food and give you fresh food through the week. Make sure you always have the right number of containers before you start planning otherwise that meal planning could become a disaster.


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How much grass was grown on Irish farms this year?

Now that the grazing season has ended on the majority of Irish farms, how much grass was actually grown in 2019?

Figures obtained from PastureBase Ireland (PBI) indicate – from farmers who measure through PBI – that 13.25t DM/ha was grown on average.

This represents a 15% increase in the tonnes of DM/ha produced nationally when we compare annual grass growth in 2019 and 2018.

In 2018, annual growth amounted to 11.5t DM/ha on average. However, it must be noted that the severe drought – which grasped a lot of the country in the summer of 2018 – had a major impact on this figure.

In addition, annual tonnage in 2019 is 250kg DM/ha behind the five-year average.

Graph source: PastureBase Ireland

Annual grass growth

Farmers should look at their annual tonnage report to see how they fared in 2019. This will help make decisions in terms of poor-performing paddocks, reseeding and soil fertility requirements.


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Rakleverk Rehearsal-kick!

Mid-April Rakleverk met up with our new Member  Esben Lynge Jørgensen and practiced all of our numbers and some new stuff. Here is a little tease-video from the rehearsal. All of the saxophone voices are played by me, looped by Esben and the beats in the background is him. Music by Daniel Robinson. Enjoy!

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Aircraft Photo of G-DBOW | Hawker Siddeley HS-125-600A | #83101
Registration / Serial:G-DBOW
Aircraft Original Type:De Havilland D.H. 125
Aircraft Generic Type:Hawker Siddeley HS-125 (Dominie)
Aircraft Version:Hawker Siddeley HS-125-600A
C/n (msn):256032
City / Airport:Amsterdam - SchipholMap
Airport Codes:ICAO: EHAM   IATA: AMS   Local: -   Other: -
Photo Date:1977 to 1979
Photo by:Gerard Helmer
Photo ID: 83101

This photo was added on 13 September 2018, and has since been viewed 62 times.

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We're all familiar with the Jewish custom of dipping an apple into honey and eating it on the night of Rosh Hashana. All Jewish customs have Torah, historical and traditional origins, though many of them may be now somewhat obscure due to the passage of time and the circumstances of the long exile of Israel.

So why the apple? Is not placing honey on the piece of challah bread that we begin the meal with sufficient to symbolize a sweet year? What is the special symbolism of the apple that makes it the fruit that most graces our Rosh Hashana table?

The sophisticated doubters amongst us have stated that the apple is used because it is the fruit that was most available in all of the areas of the world of the Jewish exile. However, such reasoning begs the question and misses the entire point of the reasons for the preservation of Jewish customs. Jewish customs come to reinforce Jewish identity and memory. They serve to remind us of our special responsibilities and duties toward God and man. They reinforce our sense of solidity with all previous Jewish generations, and provide an effective method of transmitting our tradition and heritage to our children and grandchildren.

One of the tragedies of the alienation of many Jews currently from their heritage is their ignorance and non-participation regarding Jewish customs. Thus, the custom of the eating of the apple dipped into the honey on the night of Rosh Hashana does have a special traditional significance over and above the ready availability of the fruit at this season of the year. And it is this special significance of memory that enhances the beauty and even the sweetness of the custom.

Fruit of Affection

One of the fruits to which the Jewish people are compared to in Solomon's Song of Songs is the apple. "As the apple is rare and unique among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved -- Israel -- amongst the maidens (nations) of the world."

The Midrash informs us that the apple tree puts forth the nub of its fruit even before the leaves that will surround and protect the little fruit at its beginning stage of growth are fully sprouting. The Jewish people, by accepting the Torah with the statement that "we will do and we will understand" -- placing holy action and observance of Torah commandments even before understanding and rational acceptance -- thereby imitated the behavior of the apple. Thus, the apple became a Jewish symbol, a memory aid, so to speak, to the moment of revelation at Sinai.

The apple also served to remind the Jewish people of their enslavement in Egypt and their deliverance from that bondage. Again, according to Midrash, the apple served as the fruit of affection between husband and wife during the long and painful period of abject slavery. It provided them with hope for the future and the determination to bring a future generation into the world, despite all of the bleakness of Jewish circumstance. The apple therefore also became the symbol of the Jewish home and family, of optimism for a brighter Jewish future, of the tenacity of Jewish spirit and determination.

Garden of Eden

It is interesting to note that in general society, the apple is assigned the role of the fruit of temptation in the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The apple therefore became the symbol of human weakness and downfall, even of death itself.

The fruits on the Garden of Eden were wheat, figs and grapes.

However, the Talmud, when listing the possible "fruits" that may have been products of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, does not include apples in that list. The "fruits" mentioned are wheat, figs and grapes.

There is one Jewish source for an apple being that fateful fruit, quoted in Midrash, but it does not have the weight of authority that a statement in Talmud possesses. The Christian world, for unknown reasons, adopted the view of that Midrash and all Christian art, story and religious tradition for the last 1,500 years has given the apple a bad name.

Not so amongst Jews, where the apple retains its positive symbolism and has its place of honor on our Rosh Hashana table -- as a harbinger of a good, sweet and holy year for us all.

Hey Honey!

Another favorite food staple in the Jewish home during the High Holy Day season is honey. Traditionally, from Rosh Hashana until after Sukkot, honey is served with every major meal. It is smeared on the bread over which we recite the "Hamotzi" blessing, the sweet apple is dipped into honey on the night of Rosh Hashana, sweet baked goods are baked with honey, and honey is used in the preparation of foods such as glazed carrots and sweet desserts.

Aside from the caloric disaster that this custom entails, one is really hard pressed to find a negative thing to say about honey.

The custom of honey on the Jewish table during the High Holiday period is an ancient and universal Jewish custom. It is already recorded in the works of the Babylonian Geonim in the 7th century, and probably dates back to even much earlier times. It is no exaggeration to say that Jews always seemed to possess a sweet tooth.

The obvious reason for the use of honey on our table at this time of the year is the symbolism of our desire for a "sweet new year." Sweet means dear, precious, enjoyable, satisfying, serene, secure and something most pleasing. Well, that about sums up our hopes and prayers for the new year, and therefore honey serves as our representative in expressing these fervent hopes and prayers.

The Bible describes the Land of Israel as "flowing with milk and honey."

However, honey represents more than sweetness per se. It is one of the attributes of the Land of Israel which is described in the Bible as being a land that "flows with milk and honey." Thus honey on the table always reminded the Jew wherever he or she resided of their ancient homeland of Israel and of the Jewish attachment to its history and holy soil.

Actually, the honey referred to in the land flowing "with milk and honey" is not the common bee honey that we use today, but rather describes the honey of biblical times that was primarily produced from overripe dates. Even today, here in Israel, date honey is produced and sold, though the overwhelming majority of honey on the market comes from bees.

Is it Kosher?

The use of bee honey as a permissible kosher food raises an interesting halachic question. The general rule is that food products that are derived from non-kosher creatures are never considered to be kosher for Jewish use as a food. Bees are a non-kosher species of insect life, and therefore one would think that the honey that they produce within the sacs of their bodies would also not be kosher. Yet we find in the Bible that bee honey was eaten without compunction -- the story in the book of Judges of Samson and the bees producing honey on the lion's carcass being only one such example.

Why is honey different from, say, milk from a camel that remains non-kosher, since the camel itself which gave the milk is a non-kosher animal?

The rabbis of the Talmud studied the problem and decided that the sac in the bee that contains the honey is halachically considered to be only a storage place of the honey, and neither it or the honey produced are an integral part of the bee's body. By contrast, the milk-producing organs and the lactating process of the camel are an integral part of the camel's circulatory and digestive system, and thus the camel and its milk product both have the same status of being non-kosher.

The same logic applies to permitting the use of resinous glaze in kosher products today, even though the product originally comes from the body of the insect lac which is found on the trees of rain forests. There too, the sac that contains the glaze and the glaze itself are not considered to be an integral part of the body of the insect itself.

Its symbolism of sweetness in life, its connection to the Land of Israel, its role in halachic discussion, decision and precedent concerning its kashrut, all have combined to make honey a "Jewish" food. The use of honey as a food is certainly one of the more enjoyable customs of Jewish tradition. May its symbolism of sweetness truly be a harbinger of delight for the good year for us all.


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The Carl Verheyen Band – Rumor Mill

Carl Verheyen, guitarist for Supertramp since 1996, has his own trio and offers virtuoso guitar playing with Cliff Hugo and big band drummer Bernie Dresel. This Collectors Edition contains electric, acoustic, and a live performance video.

Carl Verheyen is a virtuoso guitarist that is equally home in the studios of Los Angeles as he is playing with his own trio or rocking out with the super group Supertramp (he has been a member since 1985). As a guitarist myself, I figured I had heard about most of my guitar heros…I have to admit that I didn’t really know who Carl was prior to Cliff Hugo mentioned him to me back in 2005. After checking out his credentials and after hearing his unique style of ripping up and down the neck of his seafoam green 1982 Stratocaster, I was hooked. Carl is the real deal.

Carl’s production holds a special distinction at AIX Records. It was the first one that I shot in HD AND it was was the first and last time that I produced a live concert as part of the production. This is a Collector’s Edition, which means it has two double sided DVDs. There is a DualDisc and a two sided DVD-Video. The two-disc set includes the following bonus features:

  • HD-Audio and Video shot in HD
  • Live performance
  • Extensive artist Interview accompanied with photos
  • Intros and discussion on the tunes
  • Lyrics
  • Comprehensive Bio
  • Complete Discography
  • Guitar Playing Video
  • Photo Gallery
  • Complete Tech Specs, Definitions, Test Tones
  • Deluxe packaging including lyrics and photo booklet

You won’t find a better more comprehensive package featuring the work of Carl Verheyen. As one customer put it, “I just received your DVD and I wanted to thank you for putting together one of the best guitar presentations I have ever seen. The production was great and the extras (i.e. guitar discussion and master seminar) were tremendous. Very informative stuff.

This disc was shot using HD video equipment but has been downconverted to standard definition for this DVD-Video title. NOTE: The DualDisc format may not be compatible with all DVD/CD drives since it is slightly thicker than a standard disc. The DualDisc is not recommended for slot drives players.

The Carl Verheyen Band

Audio Samples:

  1. Wild Flower #2 –
  2. Henry’s Farm –
  3. Chinatown –
  4. Silence Is Golden –
  5. Misunderstood –
  6. Nordenham –
  7. Two Trains –
  8. Lone Star –
  9. Holly House –
  10. Passing Through –
  11. Slang Justice –
  12. Down Like Hail –
  13. Slingshot –
  14. Revival Downs –
  15. No Walkin Blues –
  16. Highland Shuffle –
  17. Maggies Ladder –
  18. Diamonds –
  19. Place For Me –
  20. Rumor Mill –
  21. Wasted Blues –


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The State of Streaming: Where Are We Today?

Streaming is big and getting bigger, although not every genre is fully on board. Pitchfork takes a look at the situation.

Experts have been anticipating the dominance of streaming audio since the days of Y2K and nu metal. In 1999, the first customizable online radio service, Launchcast, was introduced. In 2001, seven years before Spotify, Rhapsody was unveiled as the first proper on-demand streaming music service. But those early streaming dreams were squashed when the iTunes Store opened its virtual doors in 2003,  giving way to a downloads-based digital music economy, which has held fast ever since. Until now: If current patterns hold, 2016 will mark the first time subscription streaming revenues will meaningfully overtake download sales.

So it’s worth noting both the significance of streaming music’s accomplishments this past year as well as how historically fragile those accomplishments remain. Going into 2017, streaming will no longer be a niche for music but the new normal. The big question is no longer whether streaming is the future, but what form that future will take, who will benefit, and what that might mean for listeners.

Read on.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 30+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Let us know what you think!

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Reminisce Shows Off His Baby Mama Of 13 Years, Says He’s Not Ready To Marry

Indigenous rapper, Remilekun Jafaru popularly known as Reminisce has taken to his social media to celebrate his woman of over a decade.

The Talented rapper, Reminisce took to his Instagram page few hours ago to share this photo of himself and his baby mama who he calls “Iya Hafusa“.

He says he has been dating her for over 13 years now and reportedly, has two daughters with her. There were rumours that the rapper had a secret wedding with her last year but he debunked the stories.

“Yes, we live together but we have issues with commitment. I think we are not ready for marriage yet. We will formalize things when the right time comes. I am still planning my future because I am not going to be a musician forever. I will quit music maybe after a decade,” Reminisce told a reporter.

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Compare Listings

20 Balkans DR

Balkans DR

Escape the city life! This well maintained 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath home features vaulted ceilings, an abundance of natural light and a wood burning stove to keep you nice and warm during the cold winter days. There is a 1 car detached garage also and a workshop with wood burning stove. Sit on the front porch and enjoy the peace and quite this area has to offer. There is plenty of flat land for outdoor gatherings, parking and gardening. Call and schedule your viewing today!

  • Address: 20 Balkans DR Timberon, NM
  • City: Timberon
  • Zip/Postal Code: 88350
  • Neighborhood: Timberon
  • Country: United States

Updated on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

  • Property ID: 163862
  • Price: $149,900
  • Property Size: 1456 Sq Ft
  • Bedrooms: 3
  • Bathrooms: 1.75
  • Garage: 2 ATTACHED
  • Year Built: 1984
  • Property Type: Mobile Home / Modular
  • Property Status: For Sale

Contact info

Paula Osborne
Paula Osborne
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