english104

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Marital Status Explained

Annulled Marriage: This is a marriage that is legally declared invalid. An annulment can also be a declaration by the Catholic Church that the marital union did not have a binding force.

Common-Law: This means that you have lived continuously with your partner in a marital-type relationship for a minimum of one year.

Divorced: This means that you are officially separated and have legally ended your marriage.

Legally Separated: This m

eans that you are married, but are no longer living with your spouse.

Married: This means that you and your spouse have had a ceremony that legally binds you to each other. Your marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it was performed and in Canada.

Single: This means that you have never been married and are not in a common-law relationship.

Widowed: This means that your spouse has died and that you have not re-married or entered into a common-law relationship.

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ISBN number?

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.

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Boarding up is the process of installing boards on the windows and doors of a property to protect it from storm damage, to protect unused, vacant, or abandoned property, and/or to prevent unauthorized access by squatters, looters or vandals.

Plywood sheets are usually used for this but an alternative is plastic sheeting. Specialists use 32-foot rolls of tough plastic for this and are able to wrap a complete house in 90 minutes. This has the advantage of waterproofing storm-damaged property but will not protect it from looters or squatters as the plastic may be cut.

While short-term boarding up is associated with protection from storms or in case of a broken window, long-term boarding up is most often associated with unoccupied buildings, and may form part of property preservation of foreclosed properties.

Saskatoon Fire Department responds to a boarded-up garage on fire.

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Explained: What is lab-grown meat?

And is it the same as mock meat?

With Singapore having become the first country to approve a lab-grown meat product, we break down just what lab-grown meat is. Earlier this month, San Francisco based start-up’s Eat Just was granted approval for its lab-grown chicken bites that will initially debut at an undisclosed restaurant in Singapore before being made available across the country. Here’s the meat about lab-grown meat.

So what is lab-grown meat?

Very simply put, lab-grown meat, also known as cultured meat on account of the process, is meat that is prepared from the regeneration of cell animal cultures, instead of slaughtered animals.

Using techniques typically used during regenerative medicine, scientists use animal cells to ‘grow’ more cells by feeding them nutrients like salts and sugars in a controlled lab environment. Once enough muscle fibres have grown, the meat begins to vaguely resemble the animal it was supposed to recreate. The resulting ‘meat’ can then be shaped into patties or sausages. These do resemble actual meat in terms of appearance, texture, and even nutrient profile.

Is lab-grown meat the same as mock meat?

While one would think that they’re essentially the same, they couldn’t be more further apart. Mock meat or vegan meat are plant proteins that are processed to resemble meat. They do not contain any animal fat or animal proteins, unlike lab-grown meat. Mock meat doesn’t require any animals at all in the production process and is completely cruelty-free. The Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger are both mock meat brands that use plant protein.

While lab-grown meat is sustainable and cruelty-free to a degree, it is still biologically meat.

Does it even taste good?

In an experiment in 2013 when several journalists in London were served lab-grown meat burgers, it received mixed reviews. While some said that it tasted just as good as the real thing, others stated that the meat was dry and lacking fat. Since then, after a lot of modifications and research and enhanced food technology, they have been able to combat and perfect the meat.

Earlier this month, a lab-grown meat burger in Israel was served to a journalist, who confirmed that it tasted just like a chicken burger.  

But if it tastes the same, why can’t we just stick to the real thing?

The goal of producing lab-meat isn’t to completely stop eating animals, it’s just to eat a lot fewer. India consumed 3.9 million metric tonnes of poultry (1 tonne = 1,000kg) in 2020 alone. Those numbers pale in comparison to China’s 20 million tonnes and the US consumed 19 million tonnes in 2020.

Lab-meat will effectively eliminate the need to consume so much livestock, resulting in a 46% reduction in energy consumption required for them. Furthermore, it will also reduce water usage. At present, 9,000 litres of water are required to produce 1kg of meat in India as compared to 94 litres required for cultured meat. It will also reduce carbon emissions by 14.5%, as cattle belch up methane, a potent climate-changing gas.

Is lab-grown meat really the future?

Studies have shown that cultured meat is ecologically and economically sustainable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that people will want to consume it. Considering the amount of meat consumed globally, companies will need to invest in a lot of land and resources to be able to cater to the mammoth task of feeding all non-vegetarians. While it is possible to recreate an artificial genetically modified chicken nugget right now, it is going to be a lot harder to recreate a five-pound steak.

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December 4 celebrated as

December 4

National Cookie Day

National Dice Day

National Sock Day

Faux Fur Friday – First Friday in December

National Bartender Day – First Friday in December

Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan war in 1971.

December 4 celebrated as international Miners Day

Around the world, many miners celebrate December 4 as Miners Day and commemorate their patron saint, St. Barbara, requesting her continuing protection for their daily work.

In Canada, the Legacy Project Barbara Celebration 2012 was held at the German Cultural Centre in Saskatoon, with all employees of German-based K+S Potash Canada invited, along with consultants and local service-providers. The organization hopes to establish the Barbara Celebration in Canada, importing some of the traditions and values of the European mining industry. This festive celebration is connected to the very beginning of potash mining in Germany. Photo of Legacy Project Barbara Celebration 2012 in Canada courtesy of K+S Potash.

Saint Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen, armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives, according to Wikipedia. She is invoked against thunder and lightning, all incidents arising from explosions of gunpowder, and venerated by Catholics who face the danger of sudden and violent death in work.

Mining traditions are strictly observed at European mining companies like KGHM International. Beer halls are organized by both the company and individual divisions, and include a traditional “jump over the leather apron” initiation rite. Other festivities include retirement ceremonies, employee anniversaries and awards, meetings with the mothers of miners, family trips to the mines, and many other social events. In Poland, Saint Barbara is associated mainly with mining, and pictures or sculptures of the saint can be found not only in mines, but also in miners’ homes and churches.

In the 18th century, the miners’ uniform was introduced in the mountainous regions of Germany and were used to distinguish the different categories of mining. Enacted into law in 1949, the ceremonial black uniform is designed with a variety of stylized decorations that harken back to earlier working clothes, in which the miner performed a specific function. For example, the brush used for cleaning blasting holes, which was attached to the hat by a band, became a decorative, symbolic feather on the uniform headpiece. The short cloak represents the cape miners used to protect themselves from water dripping from the roof. Special pockets on the chest and cuffs were used to hold the fuses and flints for blasting.

In addition to International Miners’ Day, December 4 is also celebrated around the world by various military units in Britain, Spain, Italy, Greece, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Often the day is celebrated with church parades, sports days, guest nights, cocktail parties, dinners and other activities. Several mining institutions also celebrate, including branches of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

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Catfishing

Catfishing is a deceptive activity where a person creates a sockpuppet presence or fake identity on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific victim for abuse or fraud. The practice may be used for financial gain, to compromise a victim in some way, or simply as forms of trolling or wish fulfillment.

Students reflect on their catfishing experiences during COVID-19

Sierra Mihu just wanted something to pass the time.

The fourth-year biological sciences major felt bored during the pandemic, so she decided to download Bumble. This way, she’d combat her boredom and meet new people at the same time.

Then she met Brian, 24, from Lancaster. She swiped right and messaged him.

“He messaged back, and he was really nice,” Mihu said. “The next day, he messaged me and went out of his way to ask me how my exam was that day. He gave me compliments and was really nice.”

It seemed that Mihu had found a nice guy – someone she felt good talking to. After the two of them talked for a while, Brian asked for her Snapchat. Feeling comfortable enough, Mihu gave it to him.

It was all downhill from there.

“He said, ‘Do you want to see what I look like?’ in the messaging part of Snap,” Mihu said. “I didn’t really know what he meant by that, but I said ‘sure.’ He continued to send me a collection of photos of him, but it didn’t have his face in it.”

The pictures were risque shots of Brian, unclothed. This was Mihu’s first red flag that something might not be right.

“I was uncomfortable that he even did that because it didn’t seem like him,” Mihu said. “It didn't seem like this nice guy who would ask about my day and who would compliment me and have a good conversation.”

Then, Brian asked for photos of Mihu in exchange. She trusted her gut on this one and told him “no” – point-blank saying she didn’t trust him. He tried to prove to her that he was who he said he was by sending a mirror selfie.

Immediately, Mihu consulted with her roommates to show them the sketchy photo. There was a border around the picture, like Brian had taken a photo of another photo. She told Brian that she still was unsure, and he blew up.

“He got so angry,” Mihu said. “He was like, ‘What do you mean you don’t know that it’s me? I sent you a Snap; there’s no way I could be fake,’ pretty much gaslighting me, making me feel like the bad guy. Then he said ‘This always happens,’ which was another red flag.”

He tried to convince Mihu that his outburst was due to trust issues, saying the last woman he talked to saved his photos, then blocked him. Mihu was still nervous, citing human trafficking as one of her main concerns, and refused to send him photos.

Their conversations soon became awkward. Brian played the victim card and complained that Mihu thought he was ugly. Mihu ended up blocking him on Snapchat.

The next day, she was watching the MTV show Catfish – unrelated to her situation – and the host of the show did a reverse image search. Mihu was inspired.

“I was like, ‘You know what? Just out of curiosity, I’m going to do this image search, and the literal first result was a Twitter page of the exact same photo,’” Mihu said.

It turned out Brian was posing as a model from a different country. Mihu was catfished, or lured into a relationship from a fictional persona online.

Just last year, Americans lost $201 million to romance scammers, with Ohio having the No. 9 slot of most victims. The FTC reported that romance scams increased by 40% last year, up from $143 million in 2018.

Catfishing has been a growing epidemic during the coronavirus. In a study from SocialCatfish.com, a record 26.6 million people are using data apps in 2020, which is an 18.4% increase from 2019. Additionally, 31% of users said they are spending more time on dating apps.

But it’s not just dating where people are getting scammed. Reese Little, an Athens resident, lost around $40 from an online “bathing suit sale” that was offering a $5 sale. Then, the sale charged her twice for $20 for a membership that was hidden in the fine print.

“I was so mad,” Little said. “I can’t do anything about it. I couldn’t get a hold of the people, and I didn’t have the money to pay for a membership. That’s why I did the sale in the first place because it was only $5.”

Similarly scammed, Christos Ioannou, a sophomore at Capital University, wanted to build his Twitter presence by procuring the handle @Christos, which had been snagged by a Greek Spanish web developer well over a decade ago.

The man with the handle approached Ioannou to set up a trade: $100 for the handle. After setting up a GoFundMe, receiving several Venmos and contributing $20 of his own, Ioannou sent the man money.

The man promptly stopped responding, and that’s when Ioannou realized he was scammed. With the help of his mom and his bank, he was able to get his money back and refund everyone who donated, all within a week or so.

“At the end of it, I felt like a schmuck because there were so many red flags that I should have seen,” Ioannou said. “I fell hook, line and sinker.”

Mihu, Little and Ioannou believe the coronavirus pandemic has played a large role in the increase of catfishing and Internet scams.

“Ever since March, I’ve been much more terminally online,” Ioannou said. “I think it’s one of those things where, now that so many more people are not forced to be online, but a lot more of our social interactions are through social media, it makes it tougher. Not to mention catfishing specifically ... just thinking about all the people who are that starved for contact, I have to imagine that it’s gone up significantly.”

The Risks of Using Cat Fishing Dating Services

For people who do everything on the computer, from browsing websites to paying bills online, using social media and websites to look for love is a unique alternative to a real-life dating search. Well, now there is a new trend on the Internet that is out there circulating but it is not as new on the Internet world as you might think. This trend is called catfishing.

Catfishing on the Internet should not be taken too lightly. Catfishing can be found on online dating websites and it can happen in person too if you’re not careful in noticing the signs.  These online dating websites are a, “playground for identity thieves, hackers and other nasty people.”

What is a catfish?  “A catfish – or someone online who’s pretending to be someone they are not.” This is something to think about long and hard before anyone makes the decision of trusting these dating websites.

Mellissa Ferrari, who wrote the article called, “What Is Catfishing And How Can We Protect Ourselves” states, “Some catfish do so because they don’t wish to reveal something they see as potentially negative about themselves, and some do it just for the fun of it.” Ferrari mentions in her article, that catfishes are looking to, “coerce someone into doing something they wouldn’t normally do – like give money or send intimate photos – or are trying to gather enough information to commit fraud identity.”

https://thebannercsi.com/2019/03/06/the-risks-of-using-cat-fishing-dating-services/

What is catfishing and how can we protect ourselves?

What is catfishing on the internet

The term ‘catfishing’ is used to describe when someone has created a fake online identity with the intent to pursue someone romantically under false pretences.

Why do people catfish?

Some catfish because they don’t wish to reveal something they see as potentially negative about themselves, and some do it just for the fun of it.

Unfortunately, others have more alarming agendas, such as wanting to coerce someone into doing something they wouldn’t normally do. For example, to give money, send intimate photos, or are trying to gather enough information to commit fraud identity.

How can catfishing make you feel?

Even if the catfishing is not particularly sinister, it can still be extremely hurtful and frustrating when you’ve invested time in someone online, only for them not to be who you thought they were. It can also make some women feel very vulnerable and impact their ability to trust anyone again, especially if they have already suffered a traumatic break up.

Catfishing is a somewhat scary concept, however don’t let it stop you from using dating apps and sites. You just need to protect yourself.

Tips to avoid being a victim of catfishing

Never use the Internet for online dating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Block anyone suspicious.

Don’t leave it weeks, but take time to get to know someone and check that things ‘add up’ before meeting-up in real life.

Do a background check – Google a potential date if you have enough details. You can also use searches created for potential dates as well, thanks to the increase of online dating apps.

Look for red flags, such as spelling mistakes and bad grammar on a profile when someone has stated they are college or university educated.

Be wary if they mention recent traumatic life events (such as the death of a partner or child) as many will fake stories such as these to make you feel you feel sorry for them and therefore be more trusting.

One of the biggest indicators of catfishing is when a person makes excuses to not meet you, won’t do a video call and even avoids all conversation about when to meet up. If they’re putting off a face-to face-date it could mean they have something to hide.

If a profile photo looks like a Hollywood movie star or model and appears too good to be true, use Google images to check the profile photo. If it comes up on another site that makes you feel suspicious, or it’s out rightly a magazine cover model, you are potentially being catfished. You can also use Catfish reverse image search apps.

Always remember, if it’s too good to be true it probably is.

And then there’s kittenfishing

Another thing to be mindful of is kittenfishing. It’s quite likely you’re even guilty of this yourself!

A much lighter version of catfishing, it is when someone embellishes or improves their profile to make themselves more appealing online – such as using a photo from ten years ago, adjusting their age or lying about their education or profession.

Generally, people who kittenfish aren’t meaning to be harmful. The reason for it is to present the best version of themselves they possibly can to increase their odds of meeting someone. This doesn’t make it any less annoying though when you meet them in person.

And if you are tempted to kittenfish yourself, just remember that at some point potential dates and future partners will uncover the ‘real you’. Therefore, a true reflection of who you really are is always best.

https://beanstalkmums.com.au/catfishing-can-protect/

#Risks #CatFishing #DatingServices

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unsavoury

un·sa·vor·y/ˌənˈsāv(ə)rē/

The current tools used by the central bank are enough to keep liquidity from feeding into unsavoury risks. 

adjective

adjective:

unsavoury

disagreeable to taste, smell, or look at."they looked at the scanty, unsavory portions of food doled out to them"Similar:unpalatableunappetizingunpleasantdistastefuldisagreeableuninvitingunappealingunattractiveinedibleuneatabledisgustingloathsomerepugnantrevoltingnauseatingsickeningfoulnastyvileinsipidtastelessblandflavorlessdulluninterestingyuckysick-makinggrossnoisomeOpposite:tastyappetizing

disagreeable and unpleasant because morally disreputable."an unsavory reputation".

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Mount Rushmore

This is a staged photo of a worker hanging from Jefferson’s eye lid on Mount Rushmore c. 1934.

Sculpting the American presidents on Mount Rushmore was a huge task that took almost 13 years to complete. 400 people worked to carve the presidents into the mountainside. The original plan was to carve their bodies as well, but that proved to be too ambitious - the project ran out of time and money and had to stop with the heads.

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Ronald MacDonald

Willard Scott was a local TV star in Washington who played Bozo the Clown before he played Ronald MacDonald.

Bozo was a huge hit with the kids back in the day, so when the show went off the air, MacDonald’s approached Scott offering to create a new clown character to serve as their mascot.

It's rumored the MacDonald’s employ only one actor at a time to play Ronald in commercials and official events.

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Happy Lawyers Day 2020

2020 Advocate's day is celebrated in India by the lawyer community today (3rd day of December every year) to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the First President of India and a very eminent lawyer. https://english104.tumblr.com/post/636547982956920832/happy-lawyers-day-2020

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Caravan and camping trips

Caravan and camping trips became a national craze in England at the end of the twentieth century, when well-to-do gentlemen started traveling for fun.

In 1907 a journalist named J Harris Stone founded the Caravan Club, for fellow travelers.

25 years later, camping trips became more widespread as more and more families started owning cars. Today Stone's club has over 1 million member who travel to 3000 camping sites in all over England.

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December 3 celebrated as

United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities

National Roof Over Your Head Day

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2nd December celebrated as

2nd December celebrated as World Computer Literacy Day, World Pollution Prevention Day and International Day for Abolition of Slavery.

Let’s throw this day to the dogs! Not just any dog, though. Today, we toast to the mixed breeds of the world, so raise your water bowls high … because this one’s for the mutts! There’s no ifs, ands, or mutts about it — December 2 is National Mutt Day, and we’re here to celebrate. In fact, we love this day so much, we celebrate it twice year. The next National Mutt Day is July 31!

December 2

National Fritters Day

National Mutt Day

Special Education Day

National Package Protection Day – Wednesday after Thanksgiving

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Beautiful Abbotsford

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December 1

Tuesday is the first day of December, a month that marks the beginning of winter and also the time for treats and festivities such as Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's Eve.

December got its name from the word "decem," which means ten. In the Northern Hemisphere, the season generally begins on Dec. 21 or 22 with winter solstice, the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight.

World AIDS Day Celebrated December 1st every year.

World AIDS Day, designated on the first day of December every year since 1988, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to acknowledge and support people living with HIV and the lives lost. People around the world observe the day by educating others about the disease and the need to be tested.

BSF Celebrates its 56th Raising Day on December 1, 2020 in India.

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India, is observing its 56th Raising Day on 01 December 2020. BSF was formed on December 1, 1965, as a unified central agency, after the Indo-Pak and India-China wars, for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith. It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India and stands as the world’s largest border guarding force. BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.

#ESL #BSF #AIDS #English104 #learnenglish

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Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster's 2020 Word of the Year Is One You Definitely Know

Merriam-Webster's 2020 Word of the Year  is pandemic—defined as "an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area.   

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30 November - Saint Andrew's Day

St. Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30 November every year in Scotland and especially in the countries where Saint Andrew is the patron saint like Barbados, Bulgaria, Columbia, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Russia, Scotland, and Ukraine.

  #ESL #Gramvo