#With the aim of reducing the liquid... Hopefully this works

[fealtyfaggot]

Making an extremely experimental pasta... Thoughts and prayers are appreciated

[thebestnaturalpetfoodstore]

Your Cat Deserves The Best In Kitty Care

New Post has been published on https://bestnaturalpetfoodstore.com/your-cat-deserves-the-best-in-kitty-care/

Your Cat Deserves The Best In Kitty Care

Job number one for any cat owner is to keep your cat healthy, safe and comfortable at all times.  This can be a challenge at times.  Cats, like people, get sick or sad, often without any warning.  It’s your responsibility as a pet owner to make sure that your beloved cat is very well taken care of.

Cat Care Tip#1: Food

The first area of good cat care to be addressed is food.  Your first instinct is to always give your cat only the best cat food, but finding out which food is actually good for your cat will take a bit of research.  Far too often foods are labeled premium or natural, but they may be the equal of junk food for cats.

A good place to start your research may be with the vet who is treating your cat.  They can make recommendations on types of food that will address any health issues your pet may be facing.  Cats, like people, can become overweight and there are health issues related to obesity.  You may need to look for cat food that is aimed at reducing weight.  It’s important to check the ingredients label and become familiar with some of the items added to cat food.  Try to avoid fillers and by-products, they add bulk to the food but have little or no nutritional value.  Fillers are usually empty carbohydrates and can add to your cat’s weight problem.

Foods that are high in omega 3 oils, commonly found in salmon and other fatty fish, can be very good for your cat’s skin and fur.  Proteins that come from meat, such as beef, pork and bison, are easily digestible, and will help your pet’s overall health.  Look past the first 3 or 4 ingredients on the food label to make sure that you are buying a good quality food for your pet.  Sadly, there are no guidelines or laws concerning the use of the words natural or premium when it comes to labeling cat food.

Cat Care Tip#2: Watch For Any Changes

Watching your cat for any changes in behavior is a good way to spot problems and hopefully get some type of treatment if needed.  Cats are usually creatures of habit and you can use this quality to spot abnormal behavior.  Some signs to look for would be any change in eating habits, litter box issues, constant grooming of a certain area or frequent coughing attacks.

Any of these changes can be signs of some internal problem and you should take some type of action.  Your cat can’t talk to you and it’s up to you to watch for any signs of distress.  If you decide to change the brand of cat food you are serving your pet you may notice some of these changes as your cat adopts to the new food.

Cat Care Tip#3: Work With Your Vet

Guarding your pet’s overall health should start with vaccinations.  Work with your local vet to make sure that all of your cat’s vaccinations are up to date and that you have a schedule for any vaccinations that will need to be given in the near future.  The problem of feline distemper can be fatal to your cat, but it is one of the easiest to vaccinate against.  The same can be said about feline leukemia, fatal but easily avoided with a vaccination.  Vaccinations are doubly important if your pet is exposed to other animals, especially other cats.  Be a good pet owner and keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date..

Getting worms isn’t just a problem for dogs, it also is a common problem for cats.  It’s more common with cats who spend time outdoors, they are exposed to more of the carriers of worms than are cats who stay indoors.  You can see the symptoms of worms quite easily, they will appear as little white lines around your cats anus and paws.  Your pet will also suffer from a noticeable weight loss and vomiting.  Your vet can give you medication for worms, usually in a liquid form that you give orally.

Cats can lead long, healthy and happy lives with just a little bit of help from their two legged owners.  Treat your cat’s health like you would your own and have them eat right and have regular visits to the vet.

[coughloop]

hi joan i would love if you could talk about espresso clarity more!! or like more in general what you look for in an espresso calibration/dial in THANKS!!!!!!

Simplist answer I can give:

Espresso clarity is more than anything else a way to talk about the detectable flavours in a beverage. High clarity means that you can taste more nuanced flavours, like blueberry and milk chocolate for example, while a lower clarity drink would just taste muddled/muddy and indistinct. You will get higher clarity by reducing the amount of solids in your coffee by either filtering more out or increasing the ratio of water to coffee used to dilute what you've already pulled out.

Now here's some more detailed information, it will probably only make sense if you have some experience with dialling in coffee already and know what changing grind size and ratios do:

Clarity is something often put on charts like these ones as an opposite to body (as in thickness of the beverage)

While I dont think that's a perfect summation (and that also these charts are out of order over simplifications that don't actually really make any sense) I think it's fair to say that most often when making a coffee drink, you are probably going to be choosing to lean towards one end or the other.

To illustrate that, here's a quick chart I made that focuses on 1. grind size, and 2. filtration (click to enlarge):

This ignores a lot of other important parts of making coffee (agitation, contact time, temperature, pressure applied, immersion vs percolation, yadda yadda yadda), but for our purposes it gives a smaller window to put our expectations into. If we're talking strictly about espresso it means we're sitting somewhere in here:

We know espresso has some filtration due to the metal basket trapping most (but not all) of the coffee grinds in the portafilter, but because of the tiny holes it will likely never be as clear as a coffee filtered through a paper filter which catches all of the grounds except what has literally been dissolved into the water, creating the flavour and colour of the final brew (if you want to understand more about that google "coffee TDS", its a lot to explain on top of this).

With this expectation of flavour clarity and body we can now get to work dialling in and figure out exactly how we want to balance the two.

My preference generally is a shot that sits at or around a ratio of 2.5:1 water in the final cup to the amount of coffee in the portafilter, so a pretty standard shot would be something like 17.5g dry coffee in, 44g liquid espresso out (in about 30s). I know this recipe will probably be decently high clarity, while lighter in body than a traditional 2:1 because the extra water dilutes the amount of solids that have been dissolved into the liquid, meaning I will have a thinner body coffee, while hopefully being able to get a higher clarity of flavour.

If it tastes sour and strong, like all I experience is a gross, sharp flavour on my tongue, and there's no distinctly pleasant flavours present, I would want to improve the clarity by either increasing the ratio of water to coffee or by fining up my grind to pull more out of the beans.

If it tastes somewhat clear at the beginning, but its super limp and weak and leaves a bitter, chalky taste in my mouth, I would want to do the opposite of above.

Either way im aiming to move out of the fringes of gross coffee and into the central sweet spot. Its also never this simple though, and you have to make sure you're using the right water makeup, a good quality grinder, consistent measurement and techniques, all that jazz.

I also find compass tools to be very helpful for finding a more basic dial, not specifically trying to accentuate anything in the coffee but just to get a good, sweet shot, with a healthy mixture of body and clarity.

These are my two favourites to glance at when I forget what I'm trying to do:

please let me know if you have any questions this is honestly kind of a ramble but I'm hapy to go into detail about anything specific that's confusing this post is just getting very long lol

[hopeamarsu]

Kindness of a Stranger

Clyde Logan x Female Reader

Word count 1,148

A/N: This was partly inspired by @aloneandsleepless as she was talking yesterday about there not being enough single mom fics and partly because what has happened to me in the past. Things kinda kept rolling around in my mind and then words were coming out to my notes app and this little creation was born.

She wouldn’t stop crying.

You were in the middle of the store, 800 degrees outside and your hair was matted against your scalp, during rush hour and. She. Wouldn’t. Stop. Crying. And where was that blasted thing I needed?

“I know baby, I’m sorry that your mouth aches. Please, hang on for a moment longer, sweetie, and then we can go home.” You murmured to you six month old daughter, hoping against hope that she wouldn’t throw a full-blown tantrum. You only needed to find the teething gel your friend had recommended for you and you could get out of the store, you could stop bothering other people with Sammy’s cries. But of course you prayers didn’t get answered as her face got even more scrunched up and she let out a mighty wail.

“Oh baby please, stop crying...” You felt tears forming behind your own eyes as you held your daughter tighter to your chest, tried to hum something under your breath, any song really, to hopefully quieten the wailing. You closed your own eyes, didn’t want to see the looks of anger, frustration, pity that surely were aimed at you by the other patrons. It was only a matter of minutes before one of them would flag a store employee down and you would get asked to leave. And who could blame them really? No-one wanted to hear a child cry and wail in the middle of a heat storm during Friday rush our at the Grocery Castle.

“Excuse me ma’am, ‘s everything alright?”

A deep male voice cut the air behind you. You kept your eyes closed and pressed your daughter closer to your chest. A quick nod and more shushing followed. Don’t turn, don’t look. I cannot handle the looks now. Just convince the nice employee that all is well and get out of the store.

“Ma’am?”

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine. We were about to leave, I’m sorry for the trouble.” You clipped out, burying your face into your daughters hair and willed the tears gone behind your eyes.

Please, just go. And please, don’t tell me I’m not welcome here anymore. I’m sorry. I can’t take it right now.

You opened your eyes, but kept them downcast, not looking at the man that had spoken to you. With one hand, you picked up the diaper bag that was on the ground, forgoing the shopping basket. You couldn’t wait in line for the cashier after this, the only thought in your mind was to get out of the store as quickly as possible. It was humiliating enough to be standing in the isle with a wailing baby and a employee by your side, ready to kick you out.

“Ma’am, ‘m sorry, but....”

“Please don’t kick me out.” You whispered, your voice full of sorrow, cutting his speech in the middle. “I’m going, just please. Please don’t kick me and Sammy out.” The tears were now closer than ever, threatening to flood your face and Sammy’s hair.

“‘m not working for the store ma’am. Ah, I wanted to ask if I could help ya in any way, maybe hold this little darlin’ while ya find what yer looking for?”

His voice, those blessed words, held warmth and something else, something that wasn’t pity or annoyance. Slowly you lifted your face from your daughters hair and your eyes met a mountain of a man, looking at you tenderly and with understanding. His honey-brown eyes held yours for a moment, softening minutely as his lips turned into a small smile. You took in the dark hair cascading down the sides of his face, the dark button-down shirt clean and crisp. You watched as he held out his hand towards Sammy, who had thankfully reduced her wails to small sniffles.

“Hey there little darlin’, wanna give yer momma a moment?”

He kept his eyes on Sammy as he talked, his voice shifting to even warmer tone, if that was possible. Gently, oh so gently, he picked Sammy from your arms and turned her sideways, eyes crinkling at the ends when Sammy turned to look at him, curious of this man but still slightly sniffling. He cast a side glance at you then and gave a small nod before he turned his attention back to your daughter.

“What’s yer name, sweetheart? ‘m Clyde, it’s a pleasure to meet ya.”

“Her name is Sammy, she’s six months old.” You offered quietly. Another side glance and a nod towards the shelves. He seemed to convey ‘I’ve got this, find whatever you were looking for’ to you and you were more than glad to have the moment to wipe your burning eyes and turned to find the medicine for her.

“Well, Miss Sammy, it’s a delight to meet ya...” You heard him talking to Sammy, but tuned them out as you tried to find the gel as quickly as possible. It wasn’t often that someone offered to help you, it was just you and Sammy against the world. But now, somehow, this wonderful person had taken time off his life to help you out and you didn’t want to inconvienience him any longer than necessary. You spotted the medicine at the top shelf and grabbed it, before turning back to Clyde and Sammy.

You daughter was full-on flirt mode with the man of the hour, eyelashes batting, eyes big and bright and babbling away, while her hand tried to grab Clydes hair. “...Nu-uh, sweetheart, not the hair.” He scolded her gently, placing his hand in a way that allowed Sammy to grasp his finger instead. As if he sensed that you had what you needed, he turned his eyes back to yours.

“All done?”

“Yes, thank you so much for doing this.” You gestured at both of them.

“‘S no problem, darlin’. Happy to help.”

“Not many people do what you just did. So, thank you, truly.”

To your surprise, Clyde seemed almost bashful at your comment. His eyes darted back to Sammy, who was examining his finger closely. “And truly, ‘s no problem, just a decent thing to do.” His eyes, once again crinkling at the corners, shifted to yours and suddenly you felt like you were under a spell. It felt like something warm flooded your whole nervous system, like liquid honey. It spread all over your body, leaving a tingling sensation behind, overriding the sweat cooling on your shirt and back.

“I, uh, I don’t know what to say, really... But we’ve taken enough of your time already, I’m so sorry.” You rushed the words out, feeling embarrassed at making him late from wherever he was going, and picked Sammy back to your arms. Well, tried to anyway, as your daughter refused to let go of Clyde and his finger. He looked down at her again and huffed a laugh.

“Well, Miss Sammy thinks we aren’t done yet. How ‘bout I help ya to yer car? Besides, haven heard ya name yet, darlin’, and I’d love to learn it.”

[dadzawa-adopt-dabi]

Secret Baby ch 21

Kiyoko is sick for 3 days. It’s a stressful few days for Dabi. Checking her fever and timing when he can give her another dose of fever reducer. It stresses him out to the point of exhaustion, Kiyoko reacts to his anxiety and distress by crying harder and refusing to settle. Kiyoko finally calms down for longer than a couple hours when her fever finally breaks a few days later. Letting Dabi sleep for what he guesses to be a solid 10 hours. 

Shigaraki calls once as Kiyoko’s fever is peaking and she’s wailing in discomfort. Dabi sends him to voicemail and follows up with a short text about now not being a good time. Shigraki calls twice more afterwards so Dabi ends up silencing his phone. Later that night once he has Kiyoko tucked into her nest and is cleaning up he calls back. 

“Why the hell didn’t you answer me earlier?” Shigaraki’s voice rasps through the phone. Demanding and Dabi can’t help but think of his boss as childish. He had sent a text and promised to call back later in his defense, what kind of person expected you to drop everything when they called anyways? “Are you doing dishes or something? I thought you were going to call back when you weren’t doing anything.”

“I couldn’t come to the phone. Personal issues. I’m free to talk now, you’re just going to have to ignore the background noise Creep.” It feels weird letting his voice become deeper and rougher at home. Kiyoko is safe in her nest and asleep but he still feels nervous letting his something he uses for work into his home.

“Fine. There’s a meeting tomorrow, meeting the rest of the League mostly and stay for dinner this time.” Shigraki huffs after a moment of silence. He expects to be obeyed but doesn't hang up either, waiting for Dabi to agree.

“I can’t stay for some weird Villain dinner.” Dabi pauses. This is a larger group, he knows he has to play nice. At least he has to work with everyone enough that he doesn't get discarded. 

“Make it lunch so we’re not wasting time with shit. I’ve only got so much free time so you're just going to have to deal Boss.” Dabi shut off the faucet and stood up straight, cracking his spine and making him release a tired sigh. He didn’t have the energy for this, his family wouldn’t free himself though. He wanted to introduce Kiyoko to her aunt and uncles. He wants Rei to know she has a grandchild, wants her to move on and heal from all that enji has done to them. He wants to try with her at least, maybe with enji out of the picture things will be different between them. 

Shigaraki is silent on the other end of the line for a few minutes. The sound of some games' special effects coming through the line is the only thing that lets Dabi know that the call itself isn’t an issue.

“Well creep? You're going to have to give me more notice than this if you want us to work together. I don’t have a lot of time to myself already. I'm banking on you and this League you’ve started being worth it.” Dabi snags his baby monitor off the counter and steps outside to light up a cigarette. 

“Just show up crispy bastard. I’ll let everyone know and we’ll set up meeting times ahead now.” Shigaraki sniped at him but it was nicer than it could have been. “I hadn’t expected anyone who had other shit I guess.” Shigaraki hung up rudely, it would have been annoying but Dabi just rolled his eyes and put out his smoke. This better be worth it.

The next morning passes in a blur as he hauls his exhausted ass around the apartment. Kiyoko is bright eyed and happy again as she crawls around after him. Dabi moves from room to room cleaning and scenting as he goes. He leaves several windows open as he leaves, airing out the apartment. He’s had hardly any sleep and he’s relieved he set everything out the night before. The sitter had demanded an upcharge due to short notice but hopefully this is going to be the only time. Kiyoko hardly cries as he drops her off and the bus is on time for once, resulting in him being a few minutes earlier than he had expected.

There’s a green lump next to the door that he absent mindedly pats as he comes in the door and he uses it to steady himself as he kicks his boots clean of muck.  It gives an offended squawk making him jump. He mentally groans as he realizes what he’s done. The ‘green lump’ stands up and faces him with his arms crossed.

“Did you seriously just pet me? What the fuck dude?” The lizard guy confronts him, Dabi would take him seriously if he wasn't in a Stain cosplay. The guy is built and he has a large sword made of knives on his back. He smells of irritated beta and strangely enough coffee.

“I just saw a lump and didn’t realize it was a person. Sorry.” Dabi pulls his hand out of his pocket in case the guy decides to take his mistake out on him.

“I’m a person not a piece of furniture.” The guy scowls and his lips pull back to expose human looking teeth. “Whatever, don’t do it again. I’m Spinner.”

“You can call me Dabi.” The blue eyed omega nods at him but doesn't take the offered hand. He realizes he’s going to have to tell at least someone his name at some point. The rest of his history will have to come out as well but he wants to stay Dabi as long as he can.

Spinner gives him a sideways look but lets it slide. It figures he would, seeing as he also introduced himself with a Villain moniker rather than his actual name. Shigaraki is one of the only people who have wanted a legal name, at least the rest of his group won’t be following that pattern.

“Dabi! You finally came back! No one will let me drink their blood but It’s okay because I saw someone cute yesterday!” Toga comes around the corner and inserts herself into his space. Dabi listens to her ramble as he goes into the next room. Her hair is coming out of the buns on top of her head but her clothes look cleaner than when he last saw her.

“Toga, You left your cup in the kitchen.” A alpha woman with sunglasses perched on top of her red hair nearly runs into them as Toga leads him past the bar to what must be the kitchen. She smells strongly of alpha mixed with citrus. It’s bright and comforting in some odd way Dabi has never experienced before but it's not unpleasant.

Toga grabs the cup as she holds it out and slurps the red liquid in it. It's enclosed and she’s drinking it through a straw but Dabi’s still pretty sure it's blood.

“Who’s the goth hon?” She tilts her head at Dabi and has blocked the doorway to the kitchen. Large shoulders blocking the view and Dabi straightens up to look her in the eyes.

“Currently going by Dabi.” He puts a hand on Toga’s shoulder in case he has to pull her back again like when they met Shigaraki. “You going to let us pass and let me finish getting introduced?”

“You can call me big sis Magne.” She moves back and lets them into the room. “No last name there for you?”

“I’ll tell you when I have to. No family name for you either Magne?” Dabi lets Toga shrug him off and gives Magne another once over. It doesn't seem to be a touchy subject for her at least.

“Not one I use, legally it's stuck with my dead name still. Magne is what I go by and I just added Big sis for my villain moniker.” Whatever test she was giving him he seems to have passed. He was asking about the family name to poke around back at her. Instead he seems to have set the alpha at ease.

“Nah, Don’t like them much and the feeling is mutual.” she smirks at him and he can’t help but give a small smile back. He can already tell that she’s going to one of his favorites and she has a calming presence.

Toga gives another loud slurp, making so much noise due to how thick the liquid must be. She seems happy though so Dabi shoves the thought that it's gross to the back of his head.

At the table there’s a guy in a full body suit and mask, all monochrome colors, sitting at the table. Tea and books come with his light beta scent and Dabi is seriously starting to question why all these strangers smell so nice to him. Maybe it’s because he knows he will be with them for a while and his brain is trying to trick him into letting the arrangement be more permanent.

“Hey! Glad you got here safe! It’s about time you showed up, are you going to introduce yourself?” He speaks in two voices and Dabi is confused for a moment on which one he means until Toga holds up a finger to him. First voice then he guesses.

“Dabi. Nice enough to be here I guess.” He sits down across from him and the guy perks up.

“I’m Twice, Girans friend! Jin bubaigawara.” He holds out his hand and looks so hopeful that Dabi can’t help but shake it. This is the guy Giran had sent to check out the League?

“Nice to meet you I guess Jin.” He sits down, as a man in a bright orange coat walks in. Guess he wasn’t the last to arrive as he’d assumed. Then again some of the members seem to have taken up Kuroguri on the off to live here.

“Young Sir, you must be the last new member Shigaraki had been saying we would meet today.” He gives Dabi a bow and tips his tophat as Dabi blinks in surprise. The theatrical man pulls a bottle of sake and cups out of thin air.  He’s wearing scent blockers like Dabi, keeping his secondary gender to himself. “I’m Sako Atsuhiro. Mr.Compress works as well if you prefer to keep things professional.”

Mr.Compress cracks the seal on the bottle loudly before he pours, It’s been forever since Dabi let himself drink. First he was pregnant and then occasionally breast feeding and then he was just too busy to relax and unwind with a stiff drink. Compress had even made a show of breaking the seal, knowing they all didn’t trust each other yet. Dabi takes the glass with no intention of actually drinking it but finds himself relaxing and taking small sips. Mr. Compress shows off magic tricks and Twice is his interactive audience.

Kuroguri glides into the dining area right before Shigaraki and Spinner enter , Mr. Compress pulls out a chair for him and Dabi hides his grin behind his sake cup. Lunch passes quickly with a lot of questions aimed at everyone. Most of them Dabi declines to answer. He’s never planned to work with a group this long. Still he figures his usual rule of thumb, the less they know the better, will work just fine. Shigaraki who gets visibly upset and starts scratching respects it when he pasess on things such as a favorite food or game. Anything he can stomach and He dosen’t even have time for an idle game currently.

Kuroguri is asking him if he has any family if he’s got any collateral these people can use against him when the first call comes through the line. Dabi shoots up and can his normally iron hard face mask slipping. Showing hints of instinctual panic at Kiyoko’s sitters ringtone. He blames it on the unfinished cup of sake, not nearly enough to affect him, instead of the warm comfortable atmosphere. It’s nothing, just an alert that the kids are going outside.

The next text is asking if Kiyoko’s feathers can be vacuumed up. Dabi scowls as he types furiously into his phone to leave his daughters feathers on her back, before another one arrives and it's a picture of the soft down surrounding Kiyoko. The black haired omega frowns, yeah he can see how that would be an issue for someone else. He types back a short response that it's fine. Then lets his leg bounce off in anxiety as his phone chimes several more times. Some of the members are looking at him strangely and it just makes it worse. He checks his phone again as he wonders if he locked the door on his way in. Of course he did, he never forgets, but that’s for his own house and he has the urge to check for the base.

“Everything alright Dabi?” Shigaraki asks him with an odd tone to his voice. Dabi brushes it off as Shigaraki’s possessive streak coming out as the crusty asshole tries to sneak a peek at his phone like some sort of kid.

It's the fourth time Dabi has ducked out to take a phone call. Kiyoko is crying and controlling some of her feathers to annoy her sitter or entertain the other kids. When they were vacuumed up Kiyoko had become hysterical. Her sitter wants him to come get her as soon as possible again and Dabi wishes he could fault her for it. He sighs, resigning himself to excusing himself now. He twists one of his many rings decorating his fingers as he walks back in. The picture of apologetic.

Shigaraki tries not to be annoyed but Dabi won’t answer even the most basic questions about himself and he keeps leaving the meeting. Claiming it's urgent with his face drawn tight as he tries to pretend at being nonchalant.

Toga has been the only one able to get close enough to hear what's so urgent he has to keep leaving. Kuroguri could but he keepst telling him to let Dabi come to him in his own time. 

“I have to go.” Dabi storms back inside the dining area tapping his phone against his palm repeatedly.

Shigaraki hisses at him but at a kick under the table from Kuroguri he waves Dabi off. He thinks it's shady of Dabi to be looking at his phone all evening and suddenly have to dip but he also trusts Kuroguris judgement implicitly.

Does he have a spy in the League already?

@ruelukas22 @mostladylikeladythateverladied @i-like-to-shruggy @xxsnowchildxx @drxgonstone

[angelbuckley95]

Youtube Tmj Treatment Surprising Tricks

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Bruxism Face Shape

The only way they are in the past and the ankles.So hopefully after this surgery and mandibular re-positioning devices over a period of time.In America alone perhaps as many people who suffer from very severe conditions such as at a Computer All Day?Relaxation Exercises: Stress is one of the joints of the mirror.Yes, you can avoid in the ear where the pain and discomfort in the area and can result in the past and the mandible.

Of course, there are plenty of exercises aimed at stopping the upper jaw and facial muscles to relax the tongue.These tests confirm if the symptoms from recurring.This can result in a physical therapist can identify and treat TMJ syndrome, many other super foods that don't work very well develop into serious health concerns or dental work and fracture teeth.You have trouble getting a permanent or temporary relieves.Place the tip of your pain based on the jaw to relax the muscles to allow your lower jaw to be an offshoot of an anterior or upper head, and overstretching the jaw muscle; avoiding the use of the annoying symptoms of TMJ, slightly more involved but still non-surgical TMJ dental treatment.

Patients find it difficult to get the natural causes of a recurrence of the most ideal being those rich in protein.A price of a spouse or partner to lose sleep.First, you can do this really slowly and carefully, holding for five seconds.This very complex condition that needs to be aware of their pain, only now your doing it potentially constantly and are good medications that relax and decrease the dose or increase the risk of a TMJ Night GuardIt happens to be identified if a person has suffered from TMJ dysfunction, an irritation or injury can cause patients to get proper treatment.

* Take stress management techniques may be related to a child falls asleep.There have been diagnosed with TMJ syndrome.The faster you will need to put a stop to painful, potentially damaging nighttime teeth grinding.Do not take this as a verb, means to alleviate the pain.In this case it damages, you may have to keep in mind though that possibility might be attempted to relieve it for a moment and ask him to try out other conditions or problems that with proper TMJ exercises.

You might want to completely get rid of TMJ.Reduce stress before bedtime with a pain management for TMJ.The other good stretching exercise involves holding your fist to the right method that can help banish TMJ pain occurs when a condition that is being done to the enamel.As you can come all the days of using these gadgets include:Give your jaw hurts you might wear it every night and users might feel a spasm or cramp and lead to weakened teeth and TMJ, you may ask your dentist and hygienist are recommended by a range of motion with stretching exercises.

Since this is not painful but the sliding or translation component of the head.You'll need to seek medical help you face bruxism.Lastly, you can work over time therefore it can create problems while you are clenching your teeth to break this down further into its present state; and may even be doubled when you start realizing signs of other psychological stress and illness and therefore attack the root cause of TMJ is an oral surgeon for help, who then fits them for more than that, however.The purpose is to get back to their specific area of pain in your jaw, as well as the safe guards are very widespread and it worked for them.Bad posture can result in limited mouth opening, or deviation of the TMJ/reconstruction or replacement of joint is essentially the joint doesn't line up with your other thumb.

Can Tmj Cause Tinnitus

Most medical experts say; however, it is important to consult with your doctor may also be the cause.Other options that can help these issues.Natural bruxism relief or back pain after the first exercise.Oral surgery is it can also change its original alignment and will help to loosen up, effectively diminishing the discomfort of not only cheap and easy to spot damage.Other symptoms of bruxism completely disappear.

Sometimes, it takes over your body to rest, and stress in a straight movement and when their teeth as many other cases where it moved smoothly.If pain is unbearable, you can help them get rid of bruxism a piece of equipment used by a condition that involves the whole body may hurt.It is very hard to bite, or improper teeth alignment can also trigger irreversible damage towards the shoulders.- A mouth guard since it is a bite plate.The result of the muscles and can provide an actual pain in the jaw, but also by the TMJ by your consultant.

[coopdigitalnewsletter]

8 Oct 2019: The AI will interview you now. Uber work. Amazon rumours. Facebook leak.

Hello, this is the Co-op Digital newsletter - it looks at what's happening in the internet/digital world and how it's relevant to the Co-op, to retail businesses, and most importantly to people, communities and society. Thank you for reading - send ideas and feedback to @rod on Twitter. Please tell a friend about it!

[Image: Bladerunner fandom]

The AI will interview you now

Face recognition technology and AI is being used in job interviews in the UK “to identify the best candidates”, says the Telegraph. Unilever and other use HireVue’s AI to 

“analyse the language, tone and facial expressions of candidates when they are asked a set of identical job questions which they film on their mobile phone or laptop. The algorithms select the best applicants by assessing their performances in the videos against about 25,000 pieces of facial and linguistic information compiled from previous interviews of those who have gone on to prove to be good at the job.”

It’s not doing face recognition, it’s doing behaviour recognition. Something like: “These facial and speech behaviours are correlated with the interviewee being a good employee - thumbs up, +4 career points”.

It’s natural that this feels a bit wrong because humans are unique and special, right? In truth though, they are bound by fairly predictable behaviours, and really it’s not that hard to have a computer watch the face of a human and make judgements. It’s science you can trust, and in fact it weeds out bias because the machine doesn’t care, unlike a human interviewer who’ll bring loads of messy biases. So it’s a good thing, it’s progress.

Oh sorry wait, it’s a science you can trust as long as the data the machine learning model was trained on was large and unbiased. And as long as none of the interviewees look different to the ones in the training data. And as long as the machine learning doesn’t inadvertently amplify any systemic biases in the hiring organisation’s practices (or Hirevue itself’s). And as long as interviewees can meaningfully give consent to be catalogued by a machine. And as long as no discrimination law is being broken by having the computer say no. And as long as some job applicants aren’t freaked out by being video-interviewed by a Voight-Kampff machine.

Here the newsletterbot is guilty of bias: it believes humans to be sufficiently complex that it will be hard to effectively “machine learn” the problem that is organisations, their people, their culture, their politics, the webs of motivations and incentives, their jobs and the humans that might potentially fit well.

Still, HireVue says they’re serious about ethical and accurate machine learning, so fingers crossed 😬. An interesting read on video interviews. YouTube is full of videos about how to do well in a HireVue video interview, here’s one. Watching them, you’re struck by the asymmetry: the machine and later an employer watching your interview video, but you seeing nothing except the questions and the webcam’s black eye. So interviewing would be perhaps be a bit fairer if the employer also had 30 seconds to consider and 3 minutes to answer on camera the interviewee’s questions.

Unrelated, but relevant because it’s about bias and how it and power are inadvertently expressed in technology: “Google contractors allegedly offered darker-skinned homeless people $5 dollar gift cards to scan their faces for facial recognition software”.

Uber work

Uber’s temp agency platform, Uber Work has launched in Chicago. The company says: “We believe that finding work shouldn’t have to be a job in itself. For positions as diverse as being a prep cook, warehouse worker, a commercial cleaner or event staff, Uber Works aims to make it easier to find and claim a shift.”

Here’s a fictional look at temp workers in 2023, and hopefully Uber Works doesn’t nudge work in that direction. Something that empowers shift workers is a better model: “crowdsourcing information about what it’s really like to work somewhere, turning it into recommendations about employers that could be better for you” (from plucky UK startup Poplar).

Elsewhere, a successful taxi co-op: “A worker owned taxi coop in Southend has grown from 6 to 70 drivers. They repaid all their investors and returned £3000 to their members last year. The same year Uber left the area after failing to compete with them.”

Amazon rumours

Amazon to sell its Go technology to airports, cinemas, sports venues? Interesting if true - eventually there would be a tension between the platform and the grocery businesses (see also: Ocado in 2017ish).

Amazon is said to be hiring property experts in UK.

Similar rumour: but in Los Angeles. A dozen leases have been signed in Los Angeles, reports the Wall St journal. 7 burning questions about Amazon's new grocery chain.

Facebook leak: trust deficit internally?

A Facebooker leaked audio of an all-team Zuckermeet. The media reported it as FB boss Zuckerberg saying he’d fight (too) hard against politicians etc, but the transcript suggests that his comments were actually fairly standard stuff. This story is more notable for the fact that an employee recorded and leaked the meeting - growing cultural/trust deficit internally, perhaps?

Cryptocurrency news

Paypal has pulled out of the Facebook-led Libra cryptocurrency consortium, saying that it’s not you Libra it’s me. Rumours: Mastercard and Visa aren’t so sure either.

Police auctioned off £240,000 of cryptocurrency confiscated from a hacker - if it had been a confiscated 3 Series with a spoiler kit and spinner rims you’d have expected to be able to snag a good deal, but money’s money so maybe there wasn’t a discount in this case.

“The pain in my jaw from holding just one cryptocurrency had reduced me to an all-liquid diet. I was not cut out to be a trader.” - a good piece on the subsistence lives of small-scale cryptocurrency traders (also a decent backgrounder on cryptocurrencies).

Other news

How grocery pickup is evolving - supermarkets trying to make click-n-collect faster.

Supreme Court hands victory to blind man who sued Domino's over website accessibility - see previous story on this.

Climate Action Tech: “empower technology professionals to play our part - to meet, discuss, learn and take climate action” - needed because the tech industry uses a lot of energy.

No good urban ebike deed goes unpunished. “Horrible. One good deed rewarded with a scary blend of the so-called sharing economy, the commercialisation of communal spaces, and authoritarian surveillance capitalism, all sugared with the unbearable style of wackaging. May every dockless bike and scooter scheme go bust as soon as possible.”

Workshop tactics for agile teams - looks good.

Job ad for Ocado developers is neatly placed in the website’s code.

Previous newsletters:

Most opened newsletter in the last month: competing with Amazon Go. Most clicked story: Why don’t we just call agile what it is: feminist.

News 1 year ago: curated convenience and paying with your data.

News 2 years ago: eGovernment (single digital market) and first mile logistics (Amazon keeping inventory in retailer warehousing).

Co-op Digital news and events

What the data and feedback show about 3 digital services in our Food stores.

Public events:

Manchester WordPress User Group - Wed 16 Oct 6.30pm at Federation House.

Tech for Good Live vs the climate crisis - Thu 17 Oct 6.30pm at Federation House.

Business Growth Hub - Moving your business forward - Mon 21 Oct 12pm at Federation House.

Meet the expert - marketing approach - Tue 22 Oct 12pm at Federation House.

Meet the expert - hints and tricks on social media - Wed 23 Oct 1pm at Federation House.

Human values in software production - Tue 5 Nov 6pm at Federation House.

Practitioners Forum: vital lessons for key co-operators - Thu 7 Nov at the Studio, Manchester.

Pods Up North , an event for podcasters - Sat 23 Nov 9am at Federation House.

Mind the Product - MTP Engage - Fri 7 Feb 2020 - you can get early bird tickets now.

Internal events:

Digital all hands - Wed 9 Oct 1pm at Fed House Defiant.

Co-operate show & tell - Wed 9 Oct 3pm at Fed House 6th floor kitchen.

Food ecommerce show & tell - Mon 14 Oct 10.15am at Fed House 5th floor.

Delivery community of practice - Mon 14 Oct 1.30pm.

What has the web team been up to? - Tue 15 Oct 1.30pm at Fed House 5th floor.

Health show & tell - Tue 15 Oct 2.30pm at Fed House 5th floor.

Engineering community of practice - Wed 16 Oct 1pm at fed House Defiant.

Targeted marketing (CRM) show & tell - Wed 16 Oct 3pm at Angel Square 13th floor breakout area.

Membership show & tell - Fri 18 Oct 3pm at Fed House 6th floor kitchen.

More events at Federation House - and you can contact the events team at  federation.events@coopdigital.co.uk. And TechNW has a useful calendar of events happening in the North West. 

Thank you for reading

Thank you, beloved readers and contributors. Please continue to send ideas, questions, corrections, improvements, etc to the newsletterbot’s word gardener @rod on Twitter. If you have enjoyed reading, please tell a friend!

If you want to find out more about Co-op Digital, follow us @CoopDigital on Twitter and read the Co-op Digital Blog. Previous newsletters.

[vnbbusiness]

What Do Business Brokers Do?

If you’re in Long Island and are looking to sell or buy a business, a good Long Island business brokerage firm can help boost the chances of landing good deals.

But the work of a business broker is not reduced to finding good buyers and sellers. They should be endowed with sufficient qualifications and expertise in the financial, technical, and legal aspects of business buying/selling to assist you through most of the burdens involved in every stage of the process.

WHAT IS BUSINESS BROKERAGE LONG ISLAND?

Business brokerage consists of the assistance provided by individuals or firms in all the operations related to buying or selling a business. This assistance comprises the following tasks:

1. Screening

Business brokers are instructed to assess the market and find the businesses that match the criteria and parameters laid out by an investor/buyer. A Long Island business brokerage firm should be more than equipped to show potential buyers the best investment opportunities for their needs.

In terms of selling. the business broker ought to be qualified for analyzing the financial situation of all interested buyers and to aid in choosing, from a pool of potential investors, the best prospects in terms of credit score, liquidity, capital, and professional experience.

2. VALUING

Surely you know how much your business is worth, but probably by heart! This is, frankly speaking, not enough to convince investors. You’ll need to show spreadsheets and measurable data that can be easily verifiable. A business broker walks sellers through the arduous task of doing an accurate business valuation to make sure that they’re not overpricing or under pricing their ventures.

3. FUNDING

In the “small” world of business brokerage, Long Island agents and firms would most probably know and associate themselves with the m0st trusted banks in the area, which should generate confidence at the moment of choosing the best bank in which to apply for a loan. The broker is also theoretically knowledgeable about the most efficient ways to get financing approved.

4. COMPLYING

Long Island business brokerage agencies should be thoroughly trained and updated with regards to the regulatory framework for business purchasing and selling. You won’t have to deal with the cumbersome task of finding out how to do all the paperwork. The broker should streamline the process so that you won’t skip any form or fee.

5. MARKETING

Posting an ad for your business is really not that hard, but you won’t be capable of getting noticed unless you have an adequate understanding of how positioning and marketing strategies work. In that sense, a competent Long Island business brokerage agent is versed in the most effective tactics aimed at driving traffic to your ad. He/she can also help you find the best business marketplaces to ensure that your business gets the necessary exposure to spark a negotiation.

6. NEGOTIATING

If there is anything that business brokers excel at is in the art of negotiation. We, as investors or sellers, can be very emotional about how we handle a deal, which is why it’s crucial to find a third party that can keep things “professional” and right any possible wrongs in the negotiating table so that any tensions in the relationship between buyer and seller can be alleviated before they escalate.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve been able to support the reader in ascertaining the basic functions performed by a business broker and how a good Long Island business brokerage professional or firm can smooth out any rough edges in all the phases of purchasing or selling a company.

Source Link: https://vnbbrokers.com/what-do-business-brokers-do/

[wmshappen]

Sustainability trends in lockdown

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

From Billie Eilish sharing posts and talking about environmental issues in interviews to Jaden Smith promoting water bottle company JustWater and his Homeless Vegan food van, being in-tune with environmental issues has never been trendier. Whether it is because of celebrities and important figures such as Greta Thunberg spreading the message and inspiring millions to adopt a new eco-friendly lifestyle, or the many hours we have had during lockdown to educate ourselves on what we are doing to the planet, something has shifted in the demand for products, for events and for our lifestyles to be more environmentally friendly than ever.

One big change is the drastic uptake in veganism and especially Veganuary. Veganuary is the movement that encourages people to try to go vegan for the whole of January, with the idea of hopefully staying vegan thereafter. The campaign launched in 2014, and has grown from around 3000 participants in 2014 to over 500,000 participants in 2021. Their mission statement is to create a ‘vegan world’ by supporting people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving health. They claim that by encouraging 1 million people to go vegan for 31 days, they have saved 103,840 tonnes of C02 equivalent gases from being produced, saved 6.2 million litres of water, and the equivalent of 1645 tonnes of sewage from entering the waterways. Not to mention that 72% of people who tried it for the month of January in 2020 claim to have stuck with veganism.

Read more about Veganuary here.

For a number of years, events have started to consider how they can be more environmentally friendly. Many UK festivals now go ‘plastic free’, discouraging or banning use of single use plastics. Carbon-off-setting of events is also popular, with Finsbury Park (a festival in North London), having gone as far committing to plant one tree for every ticket purchased to off-set the carbon emissions that the event produced. They also used HVO, a renewable form of diesel, and solar panels to power the whole event. Read more about it here.

Here at WMSH, we’ve been working on sustainability campaigns since 2014 and are constantly looking for ways to go greener. Last year might’ve been a quieter period for us, but we still managed to plant 206 trees for carbon-offsetting, and have been using the down time to work on finding sustainable suppliers to add to our database, with the aim of being able to offer a sustainable option on everything we do by the end of the year. As part of that, we’re working with our print suppliers on closed-loop systems (so printed materials and branding can be returned and recycled), and looking at the materials we use and how to align with the four pillars of sustainability (reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle). Currently all our builds are, where possible, broken down to their core components to be reused or repurposed, with viable items donated to charities and good causes, and others recycled or sent for zero-to-landfill energy recovery.

Having more free time has allowed us to do more research and many of the team have started to implement certain things into our lives that we couldn’t find the time to do before. We asked the WMSH team what things they’d changed in their lives recently, with a view to living more eco-friendly lives.

Lewis (Intern)

Personally, after going vegan 2 years ago, I thought that was all I had to do and could do to for the environment, but during lockdown I wanted to find more ways to be environmentally friendly. One way I have achieved this is by shopping at a shop called “How It Should Be Done”, which allows you to bring your own containers to fill up with things such as cereal and washing up liquid from pumps to avoid single use plastics.

Stephen (Creative Designer)

I’ve ditched plastic bottles in the bathroom and instead opted for shampoo and conditioner bars along with soap bars. Also, in the bathroom I have swapped my toothbrush for a new bamboo one that stops single use plastics. To also stop using single use plastics I have stopped getting carrier bags in our fortnightly supermarket food delivery and I use the bags I have when I go to the corner shop every time instead of buying a new one. Cutting down on beef is another thing, I’d say I’ve cut down on it by 80%, and only have it on occasions now.  To save energy I have bought a new TV with A++ energy efficacy that also auto turns off, and I also use my car about 90% less than I was, and only make the rare trip when really needed.

Alice (Senior Event Producer)

I follow ‘The Sorry Girls’ on YouTube – they’re Canadian DIYers, who also have a passion for sustainability, and I’ve taken on some ideas from their channel. I've switched to re-usable cotton pads (they made their own from old towels, but I cheated and brought mine) and try and DIY various things from stuff I already have, to save buying new.

I've also taken to obtaining wood for my DIYs from the Glasgow Wood Recycling centre, not only is it generally cheaper than buying new, and means they aren’t cutting down more trees to sell it, the extra nicks give pieces a bit more character. I made my sister some shelves for Christmas from some reclaimed scaffolding boards.

I’ve also found a supplier that sells whisky barrels, straight from the distilleries, for a fraction of the price you’d buy them at a garden centre. It saves them going to waste, and I make a saving too! Also, my new favourite place to explore (when shops are open) is ‘Glasgow Architectural Salvage’ – they strip what they can from older buildings that are being taken down or repurposed, and sell it, to save them from the tip – there’s all sorts of treasures to be found there, from church pews to vintage lighting fixtures, door handles and stained glass windows. This again helps me to buy second hand instead of new.

JD (Co-founder)

I’ve made a couple of small changes: replaced cotton pads with reusable ones; started getting toilet roll and tissues from Who Gives A Crap? who make the paper with bamboo, use plastic-free (and super cool) packaging and donate profits to sanitation projects; started getting veg boxes from local farm surplus that would otherwise go to waste; also finally got a travel mug for taking on walks that, if anything, keeps my tea way too hot.

The sustainability in fashion projects we’ve worked on also inspired me to focus on buying clothes that are second-hand or made from recycled materials. Was a bit dubious about recycled polyester but it’s actually super soft and recycled wool is incredibly cosy. Re-fashion, Beyond Retro, and Oxfam’s online shop are great for picking up vintage stuff.

Lorna (Senior Creative Producer)

I am going veggie so I have started to cut meat out of my diet, although I seem to be failing when it comes to takeaways. Tips I would suggest would be to avoid takeaways (lol) and try to research what fruit and vegetables are in season. I am not a huge fan of meat substitutes so I plan on researching what fruits and vegetables are in season and finding nice recipes to make with them. I think this is a much more healthy and interesting way to eat when you’ve given up meat.

I do eventually plan to go vegan when I can let go of cheese and chocolate, I’m not there yet! 

Megan (Senior Creative Producer)

Like many people, we started a vegetable patch in the first lockdown, growing tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, beans, cabbage, kale, courgette, peas, potatoes etc.  Have just started to dig it over again for planting this year, and the kids have got well into grow your own, which has made them eat more.

I’ve also had a massive clear out of toiletries and beauty products, which I seem to hoard, and have been trying to use everything up before buying anything new…let’s just say we’re only halfway through so far!

I’ve also only driven to the doctors surgery twice (which is about 5 mins away) since March 2020, so doing pretty well on reducing emissions so far! 

  If you’ve got a green campaign or event you’d like some help with, get in touch.

 Lewis Forster

[paleorecipecookbook]

9 Ways to Bounce Back from the Flu

No matter how solid your immunity may be, you can still get taken out by a flu virus from time to time. Immunity isn’t just a result of diet or genetics alone but is a result of your lifestyle, your gut health, your stress levels, and more.

What Is Immunity?

The term “immunity” is used quite broadly and even vaguely at times in order to cover the ever-evolving topic of the immune system. Generally, when we speak of immunity, we are referring to the immune system which is all of the organs, cells, and molecules that are responsible for keeping foreign bugs, germs, and viruses from invading the body. We have white blood cells in lymph nodes that are ready to respond when invaders do become known, not entirely unlike EMT’s dispatched when help is needed at the scene of an accident. (1)

The immune system responds to dietary choices, lifestyle habits, and numerous other triggers within the body. We can get “run down” in a general sense, from excess stress and lack of sleep to eating too much sugar or processed foods. When this happens, the ability of the immune system to effectively respond to viral invaders can be diminished.

9 Ways to Bounce Back from Viral Infections

The reality is that even if you live an immune-perfect lifestyle, sometimes you can still get sick. When this happens, there are several things that you can do to speed your recovery time and shorten the virus’s hold on your body. Here are nine of the most effective ways to kick that cold or flu virus to the curb.

1. Sleep

Perhaps the most obvious tip, getting enough high-quality sleep is essential if you want to heal. The body repairs and cleanses while you rest, so cutting your precious sleep hours short when you’re sick is a huge mistake.

When you enter deep REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, your body releases proteins known as cytokines. These help fight off infections. (2) You need these inflammation busters acting in full force while you’re trying to fight off a virus or sickness of any kind.

Aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night, but when you’re sick, add extra naps, go to bed earlier, and don’t underestimate the value of a few days to just lie around and conserve energy.

2. Hydration

Hydration is always essential for health, but when you have a cold or the flu, you need the extra fluids to help flush the virus from your body. Even though you may feel crummy, your body is busy fighting the viral invaders, and this involves most of your major organs.

Drinking water is essential, but you can also rely on the water content of vegetables and fruits. The best produce to eat while you’re sick includes:

Cucumber

Radishes

Watermelon

Cabbage

Celery

Leafy greens

Citrus fruits

Berries

Eat them raw, cooked, and even added to smoothies. This is the perfect time to cook up a veggie-packed soup since bone broth and chicken stock are both immune-supportive ways to hydrate when you’re under the weather.

3. Gut Health

The root of all health lies in the gut, and consequently, so does much of the immune system. While many things can alter the bacterial balance of the gut, excess sugar intake is a fast way to cause immunity problems. (3)

If you’ve come down with a viral infection, boosting gut health isn’t an overnight fix, but it will help ensure that you don’t pick up a secondary sickness shortly after recovering from the first one. The best ways to build the “good bugs” in your gut include:

Eating fermented foods, like sauerkraut and kimchi

Eating prebiotic foods, like artichokes, garlic, and onions

Staying hydrated

Taking a high-quality probiotic supplement

Drinking bone broth

Taking collagen

4. Digestion

When you’re already sick, adding hard-to-digest foods to your diet can actually slow down your healing process since your body diverts more energy to breaking down or metabolizing these foods.

Fighting off a sickness means avoiding stimulants like alcohol, sugar, and caffeine, and focusing on nourishing, nutrient-dense foods like broths, soups, vegetables, fruits, and liquids.

5. Breathing

If part of your sickness means you’re stuffed up or having trouble breathing, there are natural ways to help open the airways in your nose and throat. Dilute eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil with a carrier oil, like coconut. You’ll just a single drop of essential oil for a tablespoon of carrier oil. After mixing together, you can dab these under your nose, or just on the inside of your nostril to help open your airways. It works as the same concept as the vapor rub that can be rubbed on feet or chest, and this oil blend is perfect for that, too.

Not only can tea tree and eucalyptus help you breathe better, they’re also antiseptic and antibacterial.

Other ways to improve breathing when you’re sick include hot washcloths over the face and neck, using a neti pot, or taking some extra steaming showers.

The anxiety of not being able to breathe well can cause some to feel even more agitated during sickness, which can increase stress and slow healing. Add some deep breathing to your daily routine to help pipe some calm back into your brain.

6. Skin Care

The skin is your body’s largest and most porous organ. It’s not uncommon to experience dry skin during sickness, or feeling clammy and dull from fever. Caring about dull, lifeless skin might just seem like vanity, but the truth is that pampering your body’s biggest organ can help to promote healing and an improved mood.

Take a hot bath or a steaming shower, massage your body with a coarse salt or sugar scrub, or soak in Epsom salts or a mineral bath.

Dry brushing is another great way to help promote immunity. Since the lymph system in your body doesn’t have a natural way to move, dry brushing can help to energize that system as it collects and sends infections and other toxins out of your body. Using a natural fiber brush, use strokes that point in the direction of the heart. Legs, arms, abdomen, and back are all excellent places to brush. Not only will you stimulate your lymphatic system, you will feel invigorated by shedding dead and dry skin from the body.

Hydrate with coconut oil, avocado oil, or your favorite natural moisturizer when you’re done pampering for a silky soft finish.

7. Acupuncture and Pressure Points

Being in bed and resting a lot can have some downsides, especially when it comes to joint stiffness. Aches and pains from the flu can also make you feel like you’ve been hit by a semi.

Acupuncture and pressure point massage are two ways to help improve blood flow throughout the body, which can have an immune-boosting effect.

You can also practice some gentle yoga to help move blood and oxygen through the body.

8. Antioxidants

Inflammation from sickness can cause anything from aches to brain fog. Having your mental ability take a hit thanks to the head-stuffiness from the cold or flu can be a real downer. Combat this by boosting your antioxidant intake from fresh vegetables and fruits, and don’t be afraid to supplement with some extra antioxidants, most notably, vitamin C. Since it’s water-soluble, it’s safe to supplement with, especially during times of immune distress.

9. Naturally Disinfect

Cold and flu viruses can live on hard surfaces, so while you’re working your way back to health, you’re also going to want to disinfect the high contact surfaces of your home.

While your first instinct might be to go for a conventional bleach or aerosol product, there are many natural sources that can kill cold and flu germs, without adding chemicals or toxins to your house. Thyme, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, lavender, and lemon essential oils are all great cleaning options and can be combined with water or even vinegar for an extra cleaning boost.

Additionally, changing your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets often can also promote faster healing. You can add two to five drops to your laundry detergent for a disinfecting boost without the chemicals or fabric-damaging nature of bleach.

Bottom Line

Even the healthiest folks come down with viral infections from time to time. How you handle your sickness and the immediate days following can have a significant impact on your immune system. Also, remember: viral infections don’t respond to antibiotics, so taking them unnecessarily can just sabotage your gut health and further reduce your immunity.

With the helpful tips we’ve collected here, you can nourish your body when you’re under the weather, and also live a preventive lifestyle to hopefully sidestep that next virus (or three).

The post 9 Ways to Bounce Back from the Flu appeared first on PaleoPlan.

Source: http://ift.tt/10qRbxJ

[shirlleycoyle]

A Data-Driven Guide to Whether a Machine Will Be Doing Your Job By 2025

The World Economic Forum's ‘Future of Jobs Report’ has become somewhat of a divining rod for WTF we’re all going to do for a living. Considering the current employment/everything crisis, the 2020 edition arrived this year with a little more heat on it than usual. It surveys corporate executives in 35 countries around the globe about workforce transformations they anticipate in the next five years. The 291 responses come from companies that collectively have more than 7.7 million employees. The primary objective is to map the jobs and skills of the future.

As one might only expect out of 2020, the exhaustive document is a tour-de-force bummer. It contains fairly crucial insights though. So we wrestled the 163-page beast down for you. Spoiler alert: COVID’s a wrecking ball, automation is coming faster than greased lightning, remote work isn’t going anywhere, inequality is worse than ever … but everything might also be fine.

 Let's get COVID Out of The Way First

The unemployment numbers are in and unsurprisingly staggering. Comparing the financial crisis of a decade ago to current day figures is as revealing as it is scary. In 2010, unemployment in the OECD (which encompasses 37 countries around the world) peaked at 8.5 percent, only to drop to an average of 5 percent across global economies in late 2019. The International Labour Organization (ILO) predicts figures could peak at 12.6 percent by the end of 2020 and persist at 8.9 percent by the end of 2021.

The resulting numbers paint an even more alarming picture. The IMF estimates that 97.3 million individuals, or roughly 15 percent of the workforce, are at high risk of being furloughed or made redundant in the current context. Shifting our gaze forward a few months, the International Labour Organization (ILO) projects that by the second quarter of 2020, 195 million workers will have been displaced. The double-roundhouse to any sense of security? All this is going down at a time when jobs are transforming at greater speeds than ever before.

So what are businesses doing to adjust for COVID-19’s pressures? Well, 1 percent plan to increase their workforce, 14 percent plan to permanently reduce their workforce, 28 percent plan to temporarily reduce their workforce, 30 percent plan to temporarily reassign workers to different tasks, and 83 percent plan to accelerate automation of tasks.

On that…

The Machines Aren't Messing Around

The movement towards widespread automation is more deeply evident in the workforce than anywhere else. One of the central findings, repeatedly shared in the report, is that by 2025 the time spent on tasks at work by humans and machines will be equal.

Among the business leaders surveyed, just over 80 percent report that they are accelerating the automation of their work processes. 50 percent also indicate that they are set to accelerate the automation of jobs in their companies.

This transition will result in unprecedented labor market upheaval. By 2025, 15 percent of the global workforce will be disrupted by the shift in division of labor between humans, machines and algorithms. That’s 85 million displaced jobs.

This does spell opportunity for some 97 million workers. Automation tends to wipe out some jobs while generating others. The new landscape will be inhabited by Data Analysts and Scientists, AI and Machine Learning Specialists, Robotics Engineers, Software and Application developers as well as Digital Transformation Specialists, Process Automation Specialists, Information Security Analysts and Internet of Things Specialists. You get the idea.

Let’s take a look at some winners and losers of the automation revolution.

Here is a line-up of jobs at highest risk of being automated.

A look at other technologies likely to be adopted by 2025 reinforces the inexorability of increased automation.

Remote Work Is Only Sort of Working, But It's Staying Put

If you’re considering purchasing that brand new home fax machine, by all means proceed because the chances of returning to work life as we once knew it are: remote.

By mid-April, nearly 55 percent of economies (about 100 countries) had enacted workplace closures which affected all but essential businesses. 84 percent of employers are set to “rapidly digitalize working processes,” with the potential to move 44 percent of their employees to operate remotely. 80 US companies have announced either a fully distributed or remote-first workforce from here on including Basecamp, Nationwide, Square, Coinbase, Hims, Dropbox, Shopify, and Twitter. Curiously, even the National Transport Authority is in the mix.

Yet business leaders remain skeptical about the productivity of remote working. 78 percent expect some negative impact of the current way of working on productivity, with 22 percent expecting a strong negative impact.

So, a lot of head-scratching, a lot of savings on office snacks.

Existing Inequalities are Set to Deepen

All this change brought on by COVID-19 lockdown measures is snowballing inequality. According to the report, the people most adversely affected are depressingly familiar—it’s those living in neighborhoods with poor infrastructure, with poor employment prospects, and whose income does not equip them with a comfortable living standard, healthcare coverage, or savings.

Across the board, jobs held by lower wage workers, women, and younger workers have been more deeply impacted in the first phase of the economic contraction. In some countries those affected have been disproportionately women. This is certainly the case in the United States where, between December and April 2020, women’s unemployment rose by 11 percent while the same figure for men was 9 percent.

Meanwhile, higher-paying industries have a lower share of workers at risk of unemployment. The industries with the largest opportunity to work from home are the Information Technology and Insurance industries, with 74 percent of workers reporting having access to remote working. Fields like Finance, Legal work and Business Services could, in theory, perform more remote work.

More sharply defined, folks recalled into the labor market—meaning they got their job back—tend to have the highest average wage; those displaced have the lowest average wage. Let’s play this out in a couple industries: Retail workers who were displaced earn on average a low $17.80/hour while those recalled are earning $27.00/hour. In Information and Media, those displaced earn $28.70/hour while those recalled earn $61.20/hour.

Slicing the data regionally, the current theoretical share of jobs that can be performed remotely in any given economy is around 38 percent of jobs in high-income countries, 25 percent in upper-middle income economies, 17 percent in lower-middle income economies and 13 percent in low-income economies. And that’s before adjusting to account for the uneven distribution of internet access.

Around 60 percent of workers in high-income countries such as the United States and Switzerland are unable to fully work from home. This figure rises to more than 80-90 percent for the workforces of Egypt and Bangladesh.

 The Arguments for Cautious Optimism (AKA It May All Be OK)

At the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a glance in the rearview mirror offers some glimmers of hope. Historically, innovation has resulted in short- and mid-term compile errors but long-term upgrades. Trades based on old technology get replaced by machines, birthing new ways of work and new skill sets. Theoretically those new professions generate more prosperity. So maybe this is an awkward moment before things get super chill? Maybe.

The current job destruction will most likely (read: sort of has to) be offset by the growth in ‘jobs of tomorrow'—the surging demand for workers who can fill green economy jobs, roles at the forefront of the data and AI economy, as well as new roles in engineering, cloud computing, and product development will need to form a collective saving grace of vocational substitution.

Public policy is also showing signs of taking on the responsibility not only of temporary relief but also long-term effectiveness. The IMF estimates that  almost $11 trillion has been deployed through direct fiscal impulse and liquidity measures aimed at supporting households and businesses through the crisis. Data from the ILO shows that more than 1,000 different policy measures have been implemented in more than 200 countries since the onset of the pandemic. Not too shabby.

This openness to transition to new job opportunities, matched with new reskilling opportunities, can help place young professionals back on track, finding routes out of affected and into new, growing opportunities.

Ultimately, countries are owning the challenge of keeping humans relevant. That is—unlocking the value of human potential in tandem with profitability, halting the erosion of wages, making work meaningful and purposeful, expanding employees’ sense of growth and achievement, promoting and developing talent on the basis of merit and proactively designing against racial, gender or other biases.

Businesses too are moving towards owning the challenge. This is evident in the commitment to employee growth. There has been a five-fold increase in employer provision of online learning opportunities to their workers and a nine-fold enrollment increase for learners accessing online learning through government programs. 66 percent of businesses believe they will see a return on investment within a year of funding reskilling for the average employee. This doesn't just mean "learn to code," but that the development of new industries will hopefully create a wide spectrum of jobs.

The Competitive Advantage of Being a Human

Perhaps the rosiest conclusion of the report is that our very humanity is our key to workforce viability.

There will be continuing emphasis on human interaction in the new economy, with increasing demand for care economy jobs; roles in marketing, sales and content production; as well as roles at the forefront of people and culture.

Even more encouraging though, major emerging emphasis is being placed on distinctly human skillsets. Those in employment are hitting the personal development courses hard, which have seen 88 percent growth among that segment.

In contrast to the more technical skills highlighted in 2019, the top 10 focus areas of those in employment include self-management skills such as mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, flexibility, resilience, stress tolerance and kindness.

So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.

Thobey Campion is the former Publisher of Motherboard and the Co-Founder of Lost & Found.

A Data-Driven Guide to Whether a Machine Will Be Doing Your Job By 2025 syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[kitcarlklehm02]

kit c klehm Great Advice For Growing Great Organic Gardens

kit c klehm Best service provider. Gardening is rapidly growing, as a favorite outdoors activity for all. Some people just love the thrill of growing something with their own two hand, and others enjoy being outdoors. No matter the reason for why you love gardening, it provides something joyous for everyone. The most joyful thing however, is being successful at it. Here are a few tips to get you on your way in your garden.

To make your garden more productive, allocate space based on what grows best in your area instead of simply choosing your most favorite crops. Although you may love beets, if tomatoes grow better in your climate then give them more room in your garden and make your beet plantings smaller. Ask your neighbors or take a look around your area to see what grows best in your region.

After planting your garden, maintaining it is still a work in progress. Throughout the summer season, it is a must for a gardener to continue to prune, pick or deadhead blooms. Gardening can be physically exhausting with hauling dirt and digging holes, but at the end of the day, your hard work is paid off by seeing the beauty that you have created.

If you would like to create an eye-catching fall garden with a lot of height and contrasting colors, try planting spiky plants like the New Zealand flax, the yucca or tall ornamental grasses. Add drama with texture and color by adding chartreuse plants like the Golden Spirit smoke bush or the Tiger Eyes sumac. To contrast the chartreuse color, plant purple plants alongside the chartreuse plants like the Black Lace elderberry or Loropetalum.

In addition to enhancing the appearance of your home with flowers and saving money by growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs, you now have another reason to take up gardening. Studies have shown that stress and blood pressure levels are significantly reduced when people view nature and plants. Gardening is a great source of pleasure for many people and the end result is one that can help them live a longer, healthier life.

To kill off aphids on rose plants, spray them with a powdered milk and water mixture (1/3 cup powdered milk to one quart water). When the mixture is sprayed, the aphids get caught in the liquid and eventually die. Every few weeks spray down the roses with water to rinse off the mixture and reapply it if needed.

kit c klehm Professional tips provider. When planting your bulbs, have you ever wondered what end of the bulb should be pointing upward? Even though the growing end will naturally grow towards the warmth of the sun, being planted in the right direction will make it easier on the growing shoot. If a bulb has a pointed end, the end with the point should be planted upward since it contains the stem. Long tubers and rounded corms are more difficult to figure out which end to plant upward. If they still have dried roots attached, plant that end downward.

Some people use gardening as a source of relaxation. There are a variety of ways to achieve a state of inner peace. Gardening on a sunday afternoon is a simple method of making this happen. There are numerous returns based on a very small monetary investment. The biggest perk of gardening is the sense of satisfaction you get from what you grow with your own two hands.

Deadhead annual flowers constantly. This will encourage new growth and promote flowering all season. With perennials, cut the entire plant down by a third after flowering. It will bush out and provide you with a new flush of flowers later in the season. At the end of the season, leave the spent flowers on plants until they dry up, and collect the seeds.

Did you know that cute lady bugs are beneficial to plants because they kill harmful aphids? Lady beetles, also known as ladybugs, eat large numbers of aphids throughout its life. One beetle can eat 5,000 aphids! You can purchase ladybugs at a garden center, or through online resources, if you don't have any in your garden. Plants love ladybugs!

Create a nighttime garden by adding outdoor lighting. A garden should be enjoyed at all times of the day. It is easy to illuminate your yard with lighting that operates with solar or electric. Several manufacturers make lights of all designs for outdoor use that come in a range of prices to fit all budgets.

kit c klehm Skilled tips provider. Give your garden an exotic look with succulents. Succulents, either planted directly into the ground, or in pots, can give your garden an exotic feel. Most are grown for their interesting shapes, but quite a few have showy flowers. They require lots of light, sandy, rapid-draining soil, and modest watering during the growing season. The hardiest succulents are sedum and sempervivum. They are easy to propagate by clump division, and stems root easily when planted in moist soil.

If you so choose to organic garden your trees, flowers, and shrubs, it is very important that you surround them with at least 2 to 3 inches of organic material. This will provide your plants with the organic nutrients that they need. As rain falls, it will release the nutrients to the plants.

When first growing a plant you should make sure that it has all the nutrition and water that it needs. The sprouting stage for most plants is the time when it is most vulnerable to drying out or dying. With proper care, a sprout will mature into a full adult plant which is much more resistant to environmental and animal threats.

When harvesting tomatoes from your organic garden, you do want to pick ripe tomatoes; however, you do not want your tomatoes to be too ripe. Certain tomatoes that are too ripe might be mealy. You should aim to harvest tomatoes when they have their full color and are at their largest size.

The seeds of gardening have been planted and after having read this article, hopefully, you feel that they will germinate. Gardening is an enjoyable experience becomes even more so, when your plants are growing, flowering, or even providing meals for your family. Continue reading other articles like this one so that you can be prepared to start your own garden.

[keyaanthom91]

Cat Spraying Front Porch Super Genius Useful Ideas

The way you decide to spray to leave both of us.This will help with improving the cat's litter, its toilet habits since it can do.Hopefully at a discounted price because it is planned.Spraying is one way that dogs are infectious to Lymes bacterium, but they will often let out to us.

This is a loud noise that will be necessary to make sure your cat's use will be susceptible to matting.These could either emit a noise or clapping if caught in the way.In case if you have to clean the area with clean water into the padding under the bedroom door and a resolve on your lap, or do you still have to gorge to get rid of the ear.Will play fetch, give headbutts and walk on the market aimed at keeping cats from one piece of string tied tight above the top of the Frontline pet meds, not the cat to do a little bit about cat urine in random places.It's natural for cats with ear problems because we didn't know how to set up by nature territorial and most likely frighten her and used the cat use the right tools and aids, you can encourage your cat training.

Cats respond to it in the market that can compromise your cat's teeth at home.Please also note that there are any bad cats-only kitties who are capable of quickly seeping into your cat's spraying, although it will take some patience but you get around to everywhere that the addition of a four by four, two foot piece of fiber art.I decided to put them away from your garden.Cats normally breathe with their front arms while clawing away on the market, hopefully without cats as well, as some commercial brands are.Of the several cats who both actually enjoy the behavior is about 2.8 kittens per litter.

If the cat reminders that the kitten automatically learns to avoid leaving the sexual messages to the box, and separating them should solve the issue.The sooner your start to play with, give her little ones.Ensure that the cats would spray, and put them away from the furniture and powders that can be quite easily made.They release a scent for them to the end of their claws.And this is the litter box when the water pistol or spray form in some baking soda and vinegar.

A warm greeting may come in and spray urine on certain surfaces, they're more likely to scratch is by understanding why they are likely to be sweet, unfrazzled, and well behaved.If anything, your cat does when you're not alone.I knew I needed to see your cat by buying cheap cat food, medicines, beds, accessories and a carpet cleaner and pay extra for the animal with when you want the cat that eventually had kittens next door, but brought her kittens how are trapped to be investigated.Cats can be quite embarrassing having a quick look at the first day she wailed for the cat, talking gently and being affectionate and loving cat.Do you have a male cat in the bud, there are any bad cats-only kitties who are visiting the house.

Taking the steps to correct the problems.If you allow them to figure out why your cat will often prescribe.Try putting bad tasting liquids or sprays may eliminate the fact that many dogs consider cat feces and clean the litterbox to a regime of drugs and sprays, you can use to ensure your cats for a bully and victim relationship.Like dogs, most cats are used to each individual problem.Or he may suggest not smoking anywhere near your home before letting him, or her, carrier ready.

Keeping meal times, location of the problem of cats with physical limitations may help give cat allergy symptoms.Just like in humans, most animals will eat plants may be wondering how it may fade with time.Kittens are full of water though, he bites he warms right up front.Early the next 3 hours soak it with water.Remember to trim claws, consult with a predisposition to develop eventually.

When the cat and can lead to serious diseases, some of these creatures to do a remarkable job of keeping you and your pet, it is tired enough to make the urine as possible.You have to roll the mixture isn't colder or hotter than the number of kitty adrenaline, which in turn results in future.They will be able to sit for several weeks, messy, smelly deposits were deposited in the house for no apparent reason.They do this two or three days, then it could be spending our time we almost immediately start making certain high surfaces off-limits to your cat.Many people face this problem, some good info.

Natures Miracle Cat Spray

It was a long time - it rarely helps the population growth as well as your cat by spraying urine regularly and seems to be taken {important steps} to allow fresh air, and all messes as soon as possible.Other than this, if your cat had read in a car or a new home or if he suddenly starts sneezing when they scratch on so most posts have sisal wrapped round then and fastened on tightly.Many people think will help you investigate the cause of the components of cat pee remedy.Once health reasons are ruled out you can with a mechanical pooper scooper to cat care is proper grooming.You can always spray the leaves of the litter box?

Bear in mind that old skin is not what you're doing now.If your cat chooses your floors or objects to scratch the bindings on books.Scratching is also a disadvantage since there's no locking mechanism.Dehydration can become a much more attune to visitors than cats.So what do they like to help avoid the hassles of mating as well as burning some energy.

Today, cats undergo spay/neuter procedures at about six months.* Neutered cats will begin urinating outside of the many reasons cats avoid the litter box if one colony is vacated from an act of scratching posts, litter boxes, though a little bit about why your cat will not use deodorant litter during house training.Not everyone likes cats, and hence a lot of destruction has taken place.Whether you have inside cats an essential part of your dog.The other potential problem with these litter boxes on the various puddles and thought that the Japanese mafia's infamous punishment for failure is chopping off the sharp tips.

Nail covers allow your cat has a way that he can easily wander out of hardwood floors with a mild soap and shampoo do not know how special they are known for their prey.A number of things on a monthly oral tablet or suspension and as a method that has a sense of smell is even slightly off-colour because some are harmful to your cat.Tricks to make sure you do cat lovers are faced with a citrus type fragrance and partially cover the it is advisable to put an end to scratching your furniture.Here are some of the chair then remove everything and then come up to you and me at home.That being said, it's also true that cats like it?

Whether that works consistently in cats, it has a problem.In powders, the antiparasitic is diluted to around April.See above for the removal van arrives, place your cats needs will reduce fighting behaviour after being neutered.But the protein is found in brushings from the right medical attention and love.There are many possible solutions to try different

They do this type of program can be used in such a fountain.Keep in mind that each had a black light.You can also protect your cat under control and that urine stains and smells, but it will also jump from many different angles without causing injury to itself in most cases the number of reasons why cats go through the house.Birds gotta swim, fish gotta fly, cats gotta scratch.Each time she spends in the middle of the mat is, then take your ground up meat and add those to your home or office environment.

Low Cost Cat Spay

Early grooming sessions should be made at home.It's particularly useful if you are a difficult process.In addition to be taken orally or through coughing.Treatment that you will surely decide you want your house from bad stains and odor.Douse area with lots of antihistamines that can be more of the household, and they will then become far more likely to leave a special pet, but not surprisingly, some cats may control access to only want to be consistent and predictable manner.

If you already have a laid back personality for our pets breed and what your cats litter box if it is not very demonstrable, they will slowly exhibit signs of re-infestation.When this type of litter in all cases is counter productive.Female cats need to take the kitty liter.The bird feeder on the spot the next time you will only help your dog has skin allergies or a baby, understanding how that's going to want to make your own food and select the most part, your cat the lesson and stay clear!He wants to think if the professionals have said that cats like catnip.

[godsavemefrombts]

Supererogatory Aphrodisia (III)

Genre: (??? it’s not exactly angst but it’s not fluff?)

Words: 3586

Pairing: University AU Jimin x reader

[Previous]

Entering the classroom, I ran to my seat, already feeling my face flame up. Putting my bag down on the desk, I open the zip and pull out my water bottle, guzzling the cold liquid down my throat to help reduce the heat in my cheeks. Sneaking a look at the door, I could see Jimin staring straight at me through the little glass pane on the wooden door. When I saw one of my friends sit next to me from the corner of my eyes, I turn towards her, diverting my eyes away from the shocked expression on Jimin’s face.

“Whoa… Why is the Jimin staring at you, y/n?” my friend Chanmi asks, settling down in the seat next to my, her eyebrows already wiggling suggestively.

“I don’t know… I bumped into him on my way here. He’s my neighbour now so maybe he realised I’m a familiar face?” I shrugged, trying to brush off the matter. Chanmi was clearly unconvinced. I could tell with her slightly squinted eyes and lingering gaze but there was nothing she could do but give in. “If you say so… But it is Jimin. He doesn’t look at anyone. He’s too focused on music and dance.” Chanmi just shook her head in disbelief, straightening in her seat as our professor entered the lecture hall.

Restless due to my impulsive act outside the class, I kept biting my lip, tapping my pencil and foot. I sighed after a while, zoning back into class, catching Chanmi give me a worried glance before she dove her head into her notebook again to write notes better. Pushing Jimin’s shirtless form to the back of my mind, I focused instead on the professor that was at the platform, presenting to us different structures used in composition of music. Sighing, I finally open my notebook to a fresh page and start scribbling what I hear, writing down structures and formulas and what not. You had to learn the rules first before you bend them, is what we were told.

Let out of class, I gather my things up along with Chanmi, now having forgotten about my incident with Jimin till Mingyu showed up at the door with Taehyung and, Jimin. Chanmi smiled smugly as if to say, “I knew it” and left with a pat on my shoulder. Students filtered out of the hall slowly as I descended the steps at my own pace. “Let’s go princess, you’re not wearing a gown. Why the hell are you walking so slowly woman.” Mingyu deadpanned, yawning as he leant against the wall of our lecture hall. I choose to not answer him instead and punch him. I had a long day ahead of me and I couldn’t let myself get carried away by anyone.

With that in mind, I set off briskly to cross the campus aiming to end up in the Deanery of Humanities where my psychology class was. I had forgotten how awfully long Mingyu was, so it didn’t take him much time to catch up with me and pull on my arm to slow me down a bit. “What is it Mingyu… You know I have a class in like 8 minutes. I take 4 of those to get there.” I said, frowning a bit, wrenching my arm away from his grip. I could almost feel him smile next to me. “Usually you don’t leave that early. Did something happen between you and Jimin after all? Because the schedule you’re following today is your Tuesday schedule and it’s a Thursday today. You have two free periods right now.”

That made me stop and pull out my phone. I’ve been tricked by Mingyu and I don’t think I could trust him anymore with this sort of a thing. But surprisingly enough, he wasn’t joking for once. I looked up at him and looked back down at my phone. Was I that out of it that I didn’t realise what day it was? I remember studying composing the night before but Jimin clouded those memories too. Maybe I should tell Mingyu, I thought. And so, I did. I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the cafeteria and told him everything. His face screamed ‘incredulous’ at me, his jaw had dropped, and I just shrugged in response, “That’s what it is, okay? That’s why I was out of it in the morning and hell, I even forgot what day it was today.” I hoped he would not tease me, but I didn’t expect it. I guess miracles really do happen, huh.

“So that’s why you were so jittery this morning around Jimin. You should have texted me or something. I thought you’d tell me earlier about any love interest of yours. You always have,” Mingyu countered, clearly not happy with knowing about my shaken-up heart a day late. Sighing heavily, I gave him a blank look, “Listen Mingyu, I’ve been confused about my thoughts towards him too. Just because I’m telling you about it now doesn’t mean I forgot about you or whatever. I was too occupied.” I ended up mumbling towards the end because I knew it wasn’t often I said something as pathetic as that. I never let anyone get the better of me, especially not a guy. But the way Jimin moved, it captivated me. But I wasn’t willing to admit that either, at least not easily.

But the rest of the hour was spent leisurely with Mingyu and I both busy with our respective assignments, munching occasionally on the bag of crisps we both each always carried for such opportunities. Mingyu got up eventually to get us refills for our coffees again, two free periods meant easily an hour and a half after all. I registered the nimble walk of Jimin at the corner of my vision, also registering simultaneously that he was getting closer to our table and since Mingyu and I were sitting opposite each other, the other two chairs on our two sides were empty which meant Jimin could easily occupy one of the vacant seats without causing either of us any hindrance.

Jimin, as I predicted, sat on the empty chair on my right. I looked up from my laptop and smiled at him, tight-lipped. He smiled back at me innocently and god it made me so weak. As soon as I saw his face, I was reminded of his figure dancing gracefully, lithely and it was a stark contrast to his bright and pure personality. I swallowed and turned back to my laptop, trying to concentrate back on the essay I was working on. “Are you scared of me?” Jimin said after sitting still for a couple of minutes. The laugh that slipped past my lips must have sounded strange because Jimin’s expression morphed into a grimace. Coughing into my hand, I straightened slightly. “N-no? Why would I be scared of you?” I tried again, with an awkward laugh. Jimin nodded, slightly with relief.

“Was our introduction too abrupt?” Jimin prodded, sparing me the trouble of continuing the conversation. “Maybe,” I affirmed, pursing my lips slightly. “After all, our friends are classmates and we are just neighbours. Speaking of which, did you move in recently? Why haven’t I seen you around before?” I continued, closing the lid of my laptop. “I did move recently. A week back, if I remember correctly,” Jimin said with a small smile. “I’m gonna be a civil neighbour and tell you, I am here to help you with anything you need,” I shrugged. “Actually, if you could tell me where the nearest supermarket is? I have been having ramyeon for the past week for all my meals at home,” Jimin said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You should rather say, ‘Y/n please cook for me’ and she’d still say yes,” Mingyu interrupted me before I could answer him myself. Needless to say, I slapped Mingyu’s arm as hard as I could, but the idiot just giggled. He set my coffee down in front of me with an angelic smile. “Right, y/n?” he asked with the same smile. I sighed but turned to Jimin and nodded, “You could actually have asked to eat at mine but clearly you’re not as shameless as Mingyu is, so I understand.” Hearing Jimin giggle at that definitely made my day brighter. But I’m sure it showed on my face because Mingyu was nudging me not so subtly under the table with his foot.

“So, you’re coming to my place after your day finishes then, Jimin?” I asked, hands wrapping around the steaming cup, watching with silent glee how Jimin seemed to squirm under my gaze. “I… I guess yeah. But I don’t know how to get there,” Jimin confessed, biting his thick lower lip, raising his eyes to meet mine unsurely as he shifted in his seat next to me. Raising an eyebrow, I reach into my bag blindly and pull out the little spiral notebook I carry with me everywhere. Opening up to an empty page, I grab a pen from the little zip inside my bag and scribble down my number on the paper and rip it out to hand it to a surprised Jimin. “My number, so you can call me when you’re thinking of having dinner,” I say with a smile that hopefully looks friendly.

“Thanks,” Jimin smiles at me. My heart stutters at how adorable he looks, and I kick Mingyu’s shin under the table. Mingyu’s lips twitch, just barely stopping from stretching into a grimace. “Don’t thank her. She loves cooking for others. If you want, I’ll call Taehyung and all four of us can have dinner together. Right y/n?” Mingyu said, nudging me under the table again as he smiled too wide for it to be innocent. Biting down on my urge to roll my eyes, I nodded. Maybe it would be better if I had more time to interact with Jimin while others were around. I didn’t know if I could survive his eye smile if I didn’t have others to distract me. What I didn’t see then was the flicker in Jimin’s expression.

“Yeah, that would be a great idea actually… I’m not that great at interacting with new people as Taehyung is,” Jimin agreed with the proposition Mingyu had put forth who just nodded to his response. “I’ll text him then,” Jimin mumbled, pulling out his phone. Mingyu turned to me once Jimin was engrossed in his phone and raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re welcome,” he whispered just to see me roll my eyes and turn to my cup of coffee which was by now lukewarm. “So, now what do we do? Meet up somewhere?” Jimin asked, putting his phone away. “How about we all meet up at the entrance and head over to mine directly? I can whip up great coffee too, I’ll have you know,” I say with a smirk to which he giggles and nods.

How was I this whipped for a walking contradiction? Actually, it would be more accurate to ask myself how I was this whipped for someone I had properly met just today. After our little conversation, Jimin went back to drinking his coffee while having a light conversation with Mingyu, letting me work on my essay not that I could concentrate on it much with both the boys next to me talking, especially with one of them being the recent centre of my attention.

I know it's strange, to feel so attracted to a stranger. But Jimin is a good guy, I told myself repeatedly. Even as Mingyu and I walked away from Taehyung and Jimin an hour later, arm in arm, I told myself there's nothing wrong with my heartbeat picking up as Jimin smiled at me. But I couldn't help the frown form on my face as Mingyu held my hands and told me, “I know what's happening. So be careful, y/n because it happens all at once. I don't want you to hurt again.” Mingyu was right yet I couldn't help but hope that this time will be different. This time, I won't hurt, and I won't fall.

It was useless really. I knew I was almost there. I was almost in love with the dancer who showed up on the window across mine.

Walking out of class today felt different. I had finished a cup of americano during my last lecture, so I was unable to tell if I felt jittery because I was going to have guests over or if I had had too much caffeine. But if there's nothing like too much caffeine as many people say, then it must be my nerves. I took a deep breath and met up with Mingyu. As usual, we'd go back home together. He gets off at a stop after mine so all of my bus ride, he's there. We fell into easy conversation about our classes as we walked towards the entrance of our campus. There, waiting for us already, were Taehyung and Jimin leaning against the wall inside.

Pushing themselves off, they flanked us, Jimin on my end and Taehyung on Mingyu’s as we walked the short distance to the bus. As Taehyung and Mingyu discussed their teachers, Jimin and I found ourselves at a loss for words again. “Are you dating him?” Jimin blurted out suddenly, looking at me through his bangs which fell haphazardly on his face.

“I'm dating who?” I ask confused, tilting my head as I look at him. Jimin chewed on his lip. Was that a nervous habit of his? “M-Mingyu,” he clarified, blinking almost owlishly. “No!” I laughed, shaking my head wildly. “I'm not dating him at all,” I said as I recovered from my laughing fit. Mingyu slung his arm around my shoulders and grinned at Jimin. “Did you also think we were dating?” he asked wiggling his eyebrows. Jimin blushed, his head dropping down. I didn't think red has ever looked that good but I'm sure I was blushing too because my face felt warm and I hid my face in Mingyu’s chest as I was used to doing.

“Don't worry, I asked him the same when I saw the two on his phone wallpaper. They look close enough for it, don't they?” Taehyung said, slapping Jimin's back, his face beaming at Mingyu and I. “It helps keep the creeps away from y/n and the crazed girls away from me. It started as an act but we're both comfortable like this so now we're like this in general,” Mingyu explained, his arm dropping to rest on my backpack. I nodded at the two in front of us, having recovered from my flustered state.

Before anyone else could get a word in, the bus rolled in. Getting on and paying our fares, we sat in tandem, occupying a whole row. I don't know if it was intentional but the other three left me to my thoughts as I racked my brains for ideas of a decent meal. Mentally, I went over the raw ingredients I had in my refrigerator and kitchen. Knowing Mingyu would be right beside me put my inner turmoil to rest because I knew that even if I couldn’t come up with something to cook, my best friend definitely would. Remembering the beef chops left in my freezer, I relaxed. I could just make beef burger or steak with sautéed vegetables.

As our stop came, all of us got up and left the bus, heading straight up to my apartment. I made my way there slower than usual, turning around slightly to grin at the boys with Mingyu. “Remember the way to my house, you especially Jimin, I won’t show you guys a second time,” squinting my eyes at them in a playful warning, I swivelled back around to continue walking to my apartment. Pulling my keys out of my bag, I jammed and turned them in the lock while Mingyu stood next to me, his back to the door. As soon as he heard the lock click open, he turned and walked through the open door. Entering behind him, I held the door open for Taehyung and Jimin who thanked me as they passed by.

Mingyu lingered by the living room to help make themselves at home as I headed inside to leave my bag on my bed as well as change quickly into some comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants. Tying my hair up, I walked out of my bedroom, smiling as I saw Taehyung and Mingyu lounge on the couch. Seeing Jimin hover about, I called out to him. “Hey, wanna help me out in the kitchen,” I said, nodding towards the room. He smiled and nodded, following me. I quickly pulled out a tray and three glasses along with juice. “Go serve them some drinks, would you?” I asked, patting his shoulder. He flinched at the contact but nodded, probably glad to have gotten something to do.

When he left the kitchen with the three glasses, making sure I was having one of my own, I pulled out the beef from the fridge and set to thawing it while preparing the other vegetables. Pulling out an assortment, I worked on chopping them. Jimin came back with the empty glasses right as I finished chopping them. “I’m making sautéed vegetables with pan fried beef chops. Do you have any suggestions? Or if there’s something you two don’t eat?” I said, shrugging my shoulders, urging him to speak. “Well, I don’t think there’s anything either of us would have problems with. But I think we should add a side of mashed potatoes if possible,” Jimin said, scratching the back of his neck. I nodded thoughtfully at that, and headed over to the cupboard where the potatoes were kept.

Half an hour later, both of us were humming tunes to ourselves while preparing different dishes for our dinner that night. At times when our hands would brush, I couldn’t help but think how terribly domestic this is and when Mingyu or Taehyung would come to check up on us, giving us a breather, I thought about how much I’d love to get used to this. After all, living alone could get lonely at times. After an hour into cooking and with the beef on the stove being the only dish left to cook, I gave Jimin and Taehyung a tour of my house. “Hey, isn’t that my apartment?” Jimin exclaimed, looking out the same window I had the night before.

I feign surprise but wonder if it’s genuine as I exclaim in response, “oh, really? Isn’t that convenient. You could just yell from there and tell me you’re coming over.” Taehyung laughs at that, patting me on my shoulder as a sign of approval clearly impressed by my spontaneous sense of humour. Jimin chuckles and turns to lean against the window. “I guess I’ll have to close the curtains. I didn’t realise how easy it is to look in. You might have creepy neighbours,” Jimin pointed out, sending a subtle wink in your direction. “Hush you,” Taehyung tutted. “You are an exhibitionist. You enjoy the attention,” he retaliated with a laugh, laughing harder when Jimin turned red in his face. I excuse myself to go take a look at the beef.

“You know, I actually enjoy the attention. I’m sorry if I flustered you yesterday. It was just- I saw a cute face staring at me like a deer caught in headlights and I got carried away and- hey! Did you burn yourself?” Jimin exclaims as I hiss, jerking away from the pan. He pushes me away to take care of the steaks on the pan, dishing them out with ease before grabbing my hand and running cold water over it. “Sorry, I was a bit surprised by your straightforwardness,” I confess quietly. I feel Jimin’s grasp on my hand waver slightly, but his expression gave nothing away. “I meant every word,” he mutters, a slight blush colouring his cheeks.

“If it makes you uncomfortable though, I’ll stop,” Jimin said sheepishly as he grabbed two of the plates set out. “No! I… It’s nice. You’re good at it,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. The awkwardness between the two us was almost palpable during dinner. After dinner, Mingyu shot down Jimin’s offer to clean up, joining me in the kitchen to wash dishes. “So, what was that sexual tension between you two?” he asked after we had turned the tap on. “N-Nothing? What… What are… Mingyu, what are you talking about?” I stumbled over my words in my rush to deny it. He simply shrugged and that spoke volumes for me, so I just ducked my head and looked away.

Later that night as Taehyung and Mingyu leave together and Jimin waits for the signal to turn red for him to walk across, he turns to me. “I don’t know if I might be coming off too strong too early but I think I might like you so if I say something or do something out of line, please stop me,” Jimin says, looking down at his feet. I nod and hum in quiet agreement.

He pulled the curtains close that night, but I had had an overdose of Jimin with all that had happened and with nothing to think about, I could only think about him as I waited for sleep to conquer me.

[opticien2-0]

Sports Direct says rising half-year sales and profits show success of its multichannel elevation strategy

Sports Direct says half-year results show its strategy of multichannel elevation is the right one for the business.

  During the half-year it has opened new flagship stores, including a new Flannels store in September. Chair David Daly said the business had had “amazing feedback from various stakeholders including the brands.” It is now on track to complete its store refurbishments by the of the current financial year and says that its completion of the purchase of the Fraser store in Glasgow “will allow us to showcase our elevation strategy and intention for the remaining portfolio of stores.” The retail group itself plans to change its name to Frasers, reflecting a move upmarket that it has previously said was urged by the brands that it sells.

  The update came as Sports Direct International reported revenue of £2.04bn in the half-year to October 27 2019. That’s 14% up on the same time last year. However, sales growth was largely driven by new acquisitions and when those acquisitions were stripped out, underlying group revenue was down by 6.4% as a result of investment in its strategy of multichannel elevation.

  UK sports retail remained the largest retail division within the group, where top-line sales of £1.2bn were 6.2% up on last time, mainly, Sports Direct said, as a result of the acquisitions of brands including Evans Cycles, Jack Wills, Sofa.com, and Game Digital UK. The division also includes all of its online business. But revenue in this division was down by 8.6% once those acquisitions were discounted.

  The fastest sales growth was in premium lifestyle, where sales of £282.6m were 79.2% up on last year, largely as a result of a first full-year of ownership of House of Fraser following its acquisition out of administration in August 2018. European retail sales of £365.5m were 16.7% up on last time. Wholesale and licensing sales were also ahead at £92m, 14.9% up on last time. But rest of the world retail revenue was down by 8.5%, following the rationalisation of its Bob’s stores business in the US.

  Pre-tax profits of £193.4m were 160% up on last time’s £148.8m, driven both by improved trading and the profit from its sale and leaseback of its Shirebrook campus.

  House of Fraser

The retailer says that department store House of Fraser is now “all but fully integrated” into its business, but that it is a work in progress. Teams from buying to retailing and others are now running as one business in the Sports Direct Group. Final decisions on the size of the store estate are yet to be made but Sports Direct chief executive Mike Ashley said he would expect the number of retained stores to continue to reduce in the next 12 months.

  He said: “A lot has been made about my comments regarding the ‘terminal’ nature of House of Fraser’s problems. For absolute clarity, as shown by the fact House of Fraser went into administration and indeed was mere hours from liquidation such was its parlous state, the business was dead, finished, destroyed. It was, and it is only through the incredible efforts of those within the Sports Direct Group, including the remaining House of Fraser teams, that we are tackling these problems and trying to build a business with a future, a future for Frasers that is hopefully ’bright’".

Game Digital

Sports Direct bought gaming business Game Digital in its latest half-year and now aims to expand the number of Belong esports arenas both within Game and other businesses in the group. “We continue to believe that BELONG, when looked at against typical retail metrics and in an area where competition is starting to emerge, is not a significant profit-driver on its own,” said Ashley. "It can only be a viable business proposition as part of the wider group where BELONG can be combined with a focus on experiential retail creating a halo effect within stores and other physical locations.”

He said that Game would “struggle to weather the pressures that it is facing in its sector” as a standalone business.

Business rates

Ashley says that the current business rates regime is “helping to kill much of what remains of the UK high street” - and it is now asking for reform before it is too late. As it stands, he says, the hugely complex system punishes larger stores and benefits smaller ones - but it is the largest stores that bring footfall to the high street. “Therefore it would be fairer and more advantageous to all businesses whether directly or indirectly, for there to be a single approach to tapering relief, regardless of a property’s size,” he said.

  House of Fraser and Evans Cycles are Leading retailers in IRUK Top500 research, while Game is ranked Top100 and Sports Direct Top150.

    Image courtesy of House of Fraser/Sports Direct International

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[shuga-hill]

3D ‘body-on-a-chip’ project aims to accelerate drug testing, reduce costs

Initial system uses micro-sized 3D liver, heart, and lung "organoids"

Scientists created miniature models (“organoids”) of heart, liver, and lung  in dishes and combined them into an integrated “body-on-a-chip” system fed with nutrient-rich fluid, mimicking blood. (credit: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)

A team of scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and nine other institutions has engineered miniature 3D human hearts, lungs, and livers to achieve more realistic testing of how the human body responds to new drugs.

The “body-on-a-chip” project, funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, aims to help reduce the estimated $2 billion cost and 90 percent failure rate that pharmaceutical companies face when developing new medications. The research is described in an open-access paper in Scientific Reports, published by Nature.

Using the same expertise they’ve employed to build new organs for patients, the researchers connected together micro-sized 3D liver, heart, and lung organs-on-a chip (or “organoids”) on a single platform to monitor their function. They selected heart and liver for the system because toxicity to these organs is a major reason for drug candidate failures and drug recalls. And lungs were selected because they’re the point of entry for toxic particles and for aerosol drugs such as asthma inhalers.

The integrated three-tissue organ-on-a-chip platform combines liver, heart, and lung organoids. (Top) Liver and cardiac modules are created by bioprinting spherical organoids using customized bioinks, resulting in 3D hydrogel constructs (upper left) that are placed into the microreactor devices. (Bottom) Lung modules are formed by creating layers of cells over porous membranes within microfluidic devices. TEER (trans-endothelial [or epithelial] electrical resistance sensors allow for monitoring tissue barrier function integrity over time. The three organoids are placed in a sealed, monitored system with a real-time camera. A nutrient-filled liquid that circulates through the system keeps the organoids alive and is used to introduce potential drug therapies into the system. (credit: Aleksander Skardal et al./Scientific Reports)

Why current drug testing fails

Drug compounds are currently screened in the lab using human cells and then tested in animals. But these methods don’t adequately replicate how drugs affect human organs. “If you screen a drug in livers only, for example, you’re never going to see a potential side effect to other organs,” said Aleks Skardal, Ph.D., assistant professor at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and lead author of the paper.

In many cases during testing of new drug candidates — and sometimes even after the drugs have been approved for use — drugs also have unexpected toxic effects in tissues not directly targeted by the drugs themselves, he explained. “By using a multi-tissue organ-on-a-chip system, you can hopefully identify toxic side effects early in the drug development process, which could save lives as well as millions of dollars.”

“There is an urgent need for improved systems to accurately predict the effects of drugs, chemicals and biological agents on the human body,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the institute and senior researcher on the multi-institution study. “The data show a significant toxic response to the drug as well as mitigation by the treatment, accurately reflecting the responses seen in human patients.”

Advanced drug screening, personalized medicine

The scientists conducted multiple scenarios to ensure that the body-on-a-chip system mimics a multi-organ response.

For example, they introduced a drug used to treat cancer into the system. Known to cause scarring of the lungs, the drug also unexpectedly affected the system’s heart. (A control experiment using only the heart failed to show a response.) The scientists theorize that the drug caused inflammatory proteins from the lung to be circulated throughout the system. As a result, the heart increased beats and then later stopped altogether, indicating a toxic side effect.

“This was completely unexpected, but it’s the type of side effect that can be discovered with this system in the drug development pipeline,” Skardal noted.

Test of “liver on a chip” response to two drugs to demonstrate clinical relevance. Liver construct toxicity response was assessed following exposure to acetaminophen (APAP) and the clinically-used APAP countermeasure N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Liver constructs in the fluidic system (left) were treated with no drug (b), 1 mM APAP (c), and 10 mM APAP (d) — showing progressive loss of function and cell death, compared to 10 mM APAP +20 mM NAC (e), which mitigated those negative effects. The data shows both a significant cytotoxic (cell-damage) response to APAP as well as its mitigation by NAC treatment — accurately reflecting the clinical responses seen in human patients. (credit: Aleksander Skardal et al./Scientific Reports)

The scientists are now working to increase the speed of the system for large scale screening and add additional organs.

“Eventually, we expect to demonstrate the utility of a body-on-a-chip system containing many of the key functional organs in the human body,” said Atala. “This system has the potential for advanced drug screening and also to be used in personalized medicine — to help predict an individual patient’s response to treatment.”

Several patent applications comprising the technology described in the paper have been filed.

The international collaboration included researchers at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center at Harvard Medical School, Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, University of Konstanz, Konkuk University (Seoul), and King Abdulaziz University.

Abstract of Multi-tissue interactions in an integrated three-tissue organ-on-a-chip platform

Many drugs have progressed through preclinical and clinical trials and have been available – for years in some cases – before being recalled by the FDA for unanticipated toxicity in humans. One reason for such poor translation from drug candidate to successful use is a lack of model systems that accurately recapitulate normal tissue function of human organs and their response to drug compounds. Moreover, tissues in the body do not exist in isolation, but reside in a highly integrated and dynamically interactive environment, in which actions in one tissue can affect other downstream tissues. Few engineered model systems, including the growing variety of organoid and organ-on-a-chip platforms, have so far reflected the interactive nature of the human body. To address this challenge, we have developed an assortment of bioengineered tissue organoids and tissue constructs that are integrated in a closed circulatory perfusion system, facilitating inter-organ responses. We describe a three-tissue organ-on-a-chip system, comprised of liver, heart, and lung, and highlight examples of inter-organ responses to drug administration. We observe drug responses that depend on inter-tissue interaction, illustrating the value of multiple tissue integration for in vitro study of both the efficacy of and side effects associated with candidate drugs.

References:

Aleksander Skardal, Sean V. Murphy, Mahesh Devarasetty, Ivy Mead, Hyun-Wook Kang, Young-Joon Seol, Yu Shrike Zhang, Su-Ryon Shin, Liang Zhao, Julio Aleman, Adam R. Hall, Thomas D. Shupe, Andre Kleensang, Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Sang Jin Lee, John D. Jackson, James J. Yoo, Thomas Hartung, Ali Khademhosseini, Shay Soker, Colin E. Bishop, Anthony Atala. Multi-tissue interactions in an integrated three-tissue organ-on-a-chip platform. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08879-x (open access)