#agricultural licensing requirements

[farmerstrend]

The Future of Ndengu Farming in Kenya: How the Mung Beans Bill 2022 Could Shape the Industry

Kenyan mung bean or ndengu farmers will require licenses from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) if a new Bill becomes law. The Mung Beans Bill 2022, seeking to promote growth and development of the mung bean industry, proposes that every grower shall register with the relevant county executive committee (CEC) member in charge of agriculture, with each CEC member required to maintain a…

[mxjackparker]

The only way in which selling sex is exceptional as a form of work is that it involves having sex.

Sex work is not more emotionally intimate than all other forms of work. Emotional intimacy can be involved in therapy, care work, and writing about deeply personal topics.

Sex work is not the only form of work which can involve genital contact. This happens in medical environments, care work and when giving genital piercings.

Sex work is not uniquely dangerous. Fishing, construction and underwater welding all have high fatality and injury rates.

Sex work is not more prone to trafficking than all other forms of work. People are trafficked in huge numbers in the agricultural industry and for the manufacture of textiles.

Sex work is not the only form of work which involves frequent sexual harassment. People are often sexually harassed whilst doing bar work, waiting tables and providing health care and social assistance.

Sex work is not the only type of work that is criminalized. Other types of work like busking without a license, drug dealing, con artistry and any kind of job which requires authorisation form a third party where that isn't obtained.

Stop it with the sex work exceptionalism! Treat it like other work.

[mariacallous]

Today, the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against farming equipment manufacturer Deere & Company—makers of the iconic green John Deere tractors, harvesters, and mowers—citing its longtime reluctance to keep its customers from fixing their own machines.

“Farmers rely on their agricultural equipment to earn a living and feed their families,” FTC chair Lina Khan wrote in a statement alongside the full complaint. “Unfair repair restrictions can mean farmers face unnecessary delays during tight planting and harvest windows.”

The FTC’s main complaint here centers around a software problem. Deere places limitations on its operational software, meaning certain features and calibrations on its tractors can only be unlocked by mechanics who have the right digital key. Deere only licenses those keys to its authorized dealers, meaning farmers often can’t take their tractors to more convenient third-party mechanics or just fix a problem themselves. The suit would require John Deere to stop the practice of limiting what repair features its customers can use and make them available to those outside official dealerships.

Kyle Wiens is the CEO of the repair advocacy retailer iFixit and an occasional WIRED contributor who first wrote about John Deere’s repair-averse tactics in 2015. In an interview today, he noted how frustrated farmers get when they try to fix something that has gone wrong, only to run into Deere's policy.

“When you have a thing that doesn’t work, if you’re 10 minutes from the store, it’s not a big deal,” Wiens says. “If the store is three hours away, which it is for farmers in most of the country, it’s a huge problem.”

The other difficulty is that US copyright protections prevent anyone but John Deere from making software that counteracts the restrictions the company has put on its platform. Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 makes it so people can’t legally counteract technological measures that fall under its protections. John Deere’s equipment falls under that copyright policy.

“Not only are they being anti-competitive, it's literally illegal to compete with them,” Wiens says.

Deere in the Headlights

Wiens says that even though there has been a decade of pushback against John Deere from farmers and repairability advocates, the customers using the company’s machines have not seen much benefit from all that discourse.

“Things really have not gotten better for farmers,” Wiens says. “Even with all of the noise around a right to repair over the years, nothing has materially changed for farmers on the ground yet.”

This suit against Deere, he thinks, will be different.

“This has to be the thing that does it,” Wiens says. “The FTC is not going to settle until John Deere makes the software available. This is a step in the right direction.”

Deere’s reluctance to make its products more accessible has angered many of its customers, and even garnered generally bipartisan congressional support for reparability in the agricultural space. The FTC alleges John Deere also violated legislation passed by the Colorado state government in 2023 that requires farm equipment sold in the state to make operational software accessible to users.

“Deere’s unlawful business practices have inflated farmers’ repair costs and degraded farmers’ ability to obtain timely repairs,” the suit reads.

Deere & Company did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Instead, the company forwarded its statement about the FTC's lawsuit. The statement reads, in part: “Deere remains fully committed to ensuring that customers have the highest quality equipment, reliable customer service and that they, along with independent repair technicians, have access to tools and resources that can help diagnose, maintain and repair our customers’ machines. Deere’s commitment to these ideals will not waiver even as it fights against the FTC’s meritless claims.”

Elsewhere in the statement, Deere accused the FTC of "brazen partisanship" filed on the "eve of a change in administration" from chair Lina Khan to FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson. The company also pointed to an announcement, made yesterday, about an expansion to its repairability program that lets independent technicians reprogram the electronic controllers on Deere equipment.

Nathan Proctor, senior director for the Campaign for the Right to Repair at the advocacy group US PIRG, wrote a statement lauding the FTC’s decision. He thinks this case, no matter how it turns out, will be a positive step for the right to repair movement more broadly.

“I think this discovery process will paint a picture that will make it very clear that their equipment is programmed to monopolize certain repair functions,” Proctor tells WIRED. “And I expect that Deere will either fix the problem or pay the price. I don’t know how long that is going to take. But this is such an important milestone, because once the genie’s out of the bottle, there’s no getting it back in.”

[whencyclopedia]

Repartimiento

The Repartimiento system was a distribution of rights to Spanish colonialists and municipalities, which allowed them to extract forced but low-paid labour from local communities in conquered territories. Designed to replace the inefficient encomienda system, the repartimiento system was eventually only used for crucial industries such as food and cloth production and precious metal mining.

The Encomienda System

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the New World in the 16th century, they searched for and shared out the resources they came across. Initially, this was gold, silver, and other precious materials, but as the European colonization of the Americas got underway, labour and slaves became just as valuable. The right to extract labour from a local population – used for working agricultural lands, particularly plantations, and mines – was awarded by the Spanish colonial administration as a license called an encomienda. The license applied to the individual holder and was not tied to any specific area of land, even a town could hold an encomienda. In return for this free labour, the Europeans were expected to give military protection to their labourers and to offer them the opportunity to be converted to Christianity. A holder of an encomienda, therefore, had to fund a parish priest. Although the system was very close to slavery, license-holders could not sell their labourers. The pope had prohibited the slavery of indigenous Americans in 1537, but this scruple clearly did not apply to imported Africans.

From the viewpoint of the Spanish, the encomienda system worked for a while, but it was highly inefficient. Many indigenous peoples, understandably, made attempts to escape. Many were unused and unsuited to working on large-scale agricultural schemes. European-born diseases devastated local populations making it much more difficult to find the labour the Spanish required. Overexploitation of the labourers they could find – literally working and starving them to death – became such a problem that voices in the Establishment back in Spain began to be raised in protest. It was noted, too, that many license-holders did not fulfil their spiritual obligations to their labourers. Bodies like the Council of the Indies, which managed all of Spain's colonies, began to search for a better alternative to the encomienda system. The twin aims of colonization were the extraction of resources and the saving of souls by converting local peoples to Christianity. The encomienda system seemed to be failing on both fronts. The answer the authorities came up with was the repartimiento system.

With rapacious conquistadors and unprincipled settlers eager to extract all they could from colonies, any attempt at change was bound to face practical problems. The first attempt to abolish the encomienda system came in 1542, and a set of New Laws hoped to reduce its application. These attempts failed. The next serious attempt at reform came in 1573 when Philip II of Spain (r. 1556-1598) outlawed any use of the encomienda system in any new territories. Although it was no longer a major aspect of the colonial economy by the end of the 16th century, it was not until the 18th century that the encomienda system finally died out.

Continue reading...

[fatehbaz]

The link between warfare and technological innovation has been well documented [...]. World War II was a particularly intense crucible of technological change, and the repurposing of military technologies and industries in the forging of a new post-war consumer [economy] is crucial [...]. Processes of technological bricolage turned the machines of war onto the natural world as global powers competed to cement their economic and imperial hegemony. In Great Britain’s post-war “groundnut scheme” in its East African territories (1946-51), this collision of nature, military hardware, and technical expertise was part of efforts to both produce more fats for the British diet and to demonstrate to the world (most importantly the United States) that, through a newly energized science-led developmentalism, British colonialism still had a “progressive” role to play in the postwar world.

The aim was to produce millions of tons of peanuts across Tanganyika using the latest methods of advanced scientific agriculture. The environmental conditions in the north, where the scheme was to begin, were known to be especially trying, not least the dry climate [...]. But faith in the power of mechanized agriculture was such that any natural limits were thought to be readily surmountable.

The groundnut scheme was to be, as its Director put it in an interview with the Tanganyika Standard, a “war” with nature, and an “economic Battle of Alamein” waged over some three million acres by an army of colonial technicians - many recruited from military ranks - and local laborers, for many of whom the scheme represented their first entry into the wage labor market.

But it wasn’t just the rhetoric of war that was repurposed.

Lancaster bombers were kitted out to survey and discover “new country” in East Africa for agricultural development. [...] [T]ractors and bulldozers from military surplus stores in Egypt proved unable to tackle the hard ground and tough vegetation, so the planners turned to a novel solution: repurposing surplus Sherman M4A2 tanks. The Vickers-Armstrong factory in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne set about rearranging key elements of the tanks’ construction [...]. The tractors, christened “Shervicks” for their hybrid origins, were [...] thought to be particularly suited to large-scale earth-moving and to the kind of heavy duty “bush clearing” that was required in Tanganyika.

Officials sought to dismiss concerns that large-scale bush clearing would have wider environmental consequences, using the well-worn colonial trope that any observed changes in local climate or erosion patterns were due to the “primitive” agricultural practices of the locals, not to the earth-moving practices of the colonists.  [...] As the plants continued to wilt in the sun, [...] [t]he stakes were high. As [J.R.] of the Colonial Development Corporation put it in a letter: “Our standing as an Imperial power in Africa is to a substantial extent bound up with the future of this scheme. To abandon it would be a humiliating blow to our prestige everywhere.” The only option left was to try and bend the weather itself to the scheme’s will, by seeding the clouds for rain. [...] “Balloon bombs” (photographic film canisters tethered to weather balloons) and a repurposed Royal Navy flare gun were used to target individual clouds [...]. The scheme itself has survived as a cautionary tale of governmental hubris, but it is instructive too as a case study of how technologies of war have been turned against other foes.

---

All text above by: Martin Mahony. “The Enemy is Nature: Military Machines and Technological Bricolage in Britain’s ‘Great Agricultural Experiment.’“ Environment and Society Portal, Arcadia (Spring 2021), no. 11. Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. doi:10.5282/rcc/9191. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Images and their captions are shown unaltered as they originally appear in Mahony's article. Public Domain Mark 1.0 License for images: creativecommons dot org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/]

[darkwood-sleddog]

AVENUES FOR CONTACTING REGARDING THE NEW CDC DOG IMPORTATION RULING

The CDC recently released their newly revised rules applying to all dogs wishing to enter the United States. This includes stricter paperwork and veterinary record requirements within a certain timeframe, implantation of a specific type of microchip PRIOR to rabies vaccination and a hardline restriction on any dog younger than six months. You can view all the new requirements HERE.

It is my belief that several aspects of the new ruling require additional review and nuance that is not being taken, specifically the 6 month of age rule which in my opinion is over regulatory as dogs can be fully inoculated against rabies at four months of age.

The new ruling makes very little if any distinction of dogs coming from high risk rabies countries and dogs coming from no/low risk rabies countries. The reasoning outlined in the ruling is to "streamline" the process of importation by making the requirements the same across all areas of import. This is unreasonable to countries that have no rabies present as they pose no risk.

Additionally, these rules do not take into account the shared land borders between the United States, Canada and Mexico and treats Canada and Mexico like other foreign bodies which is unreasonable. People living in border areas often cross between the US and Canada/Mexico on a frequent basis. There is no fencing at the Canadian border and wildlife of any health status can cross freely on both the northern and southern border. There are also border towns and enclaves that have an increased frequency of border crossings for daily life that need to be taken into account in regards to the paperwork requirements.

And Finally, I take big issue with the fact the ruling and reasonings behind several of the restrictions addressing the concerns of hobbyist and ethical dog breeders regarding the restriction on age of import will put on genetic diversity of dog breeds. Many breeders would rather place a puppy in an equally good home in a country where the puppy can be home at the critical young age than hold on to a dog for months. This will also prevent sport dog, service dog, and working dog puppies from being properly socialized into their future roles. Not only does the CDC make no exception for service dogs, dogs of military families, or any dog in this instance, but they addressed hobbyist and preservation breeder's concerns by stating that the USDA already has rules limited dog imports to 6 months of age for commercial breeding. Note that commercial breeding and what requires a USDA license is very specifically outlined by the USDA which does make exceptions for hobbyist breeding. The CDC ruling talks about commercial and hobbyist breeding as the same thing, referring specifically to the USDA even though the USDA themselves make specific distinctions. The CDC ruling equates hobby breeding with commercial breeding directly, with no acknowledgment that even if they were the same the puppy can be and is often most often already purchased and legally owned by the client/new owner so breeder requirements would no longer be applicable.

There are many other individual concerns. These are just my top concerns.

What can you do?

HERE is a change.org petition by Jaye Foucher that outlines similar concerns that I share as well as ones more specific to sled dog teams traveling and those that frequently do business in Alaska.

CONTACT the CDC directly and voice any concerns you have.

Contact your REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS, especially if you live in a border state. Phone OR email would be fine. I personally prefer email as it provides a written record of the communication. While the CDC is not full of elected officials, the Senate and House recently passed an Agriculture bill titled "The Healthy Dog Importation Act" where many of the new restrictions are echoed and reiterated on a legislative level.

[rottmnt-more-like-brainrottmnt]

Hiii!! I think there's a post floating around that's similar to this but I would like to talk about rottmnt Hidden City headcanons because I LOVE it when fics spend time on Hidden City world building and dive deeper into yokai lore. Very disorganized but here's my list!

Hidden City Headcanons

The hidden city uses gold or copper pieces as currency

The hidden city's government is a complete dumpster fire- lots of political unrest, with people of power gaining influence through wealth or violence, such as in the case of Big Mama or the Foot. There are lots of crime syndicates and the council of heads/police force don't actually have that much influence over them

The hidden city is the last hidden sanctuary for yokai left in the world, due to other hidden cities across the planet being discovered and destroyed by humans

The hidden city deals with a lot of racial prejudice, including the mutant vs. yokai thing but also within the yokai themselves as well. This explains why they often separate into specific regions of the city (ex. Witches in witch town, pirates at pirate bazaar, yokai with hair at the... yokai with hair resort).

Yokai economic system prioritizes trading and bartering, meaning many people own stalls or shops along the street and most businesses are family-run

The hidden city general has larger hallways, doors, ceilings, etc because yokai can be many different sizes. It's incredibly difficult to cater to different yokai types everywhere, so there's probably a lot of different ways public areas are made accessible (etc. different size/shape of seats, or mystic accomodations like magical shelves that can move lower or higher to accommodate height)

Yokai classifications include elf/pixie (think the witches from witch town- these are the most humanoid of the yokai but often have pointy ears and colored skin), gargoyle (think the gargoyles), animal subspecies (in this case their classifications is the animal they resemble), golem (this classifies any being not made of flesh, ex. stone, bone, wood), beast (these are beings with non-human intelligence, like pets- Mayhem falls into this category for example), spirit (ghosts and spirits), and creature (this is the catch-all category for beings that don't fit in the previous categories)

Not every yokai is able to possess or practice magic- generally only witches can, though there are several mystic artifacts that other yokai can use. Many yokai have innate mystic energy whether or not they can produce magic

Cloaking brooches are difficult to get. They are quite expensive, and they require a license to possess them on your person.

Another thing that requires a license is portal seeds- the government regulates how many portal seeds are distributed, and permanent portals require a reported anchor point. Leo's sword breaks all kinds of laws so that's fun

Yokai are extremely superstitious- think about it, if you were a creature of legend, wouldn't you believe every legend/myth/prophecy that came your way?

Technology is generally limited in the hidden city, as magic is the predominate force

Most common form of travel is flight- throughout the show we see many flying ships and balloons in the sky in the hidden city

Most yokai live a REALLY long time- like centuries

Hidden City Headcanons that could be fun to explore/ talk more about

Citizenship- what does it take to allow a mutant to live in the hidden city?

Resource struggle- the hidden city probably has far too big of a population in far too small of a place, underground, I might add. Would this mean yokai have trouble getting important resources like food, water, and building materials? What does agriculture look like in the hidden city to feed that many people?

Is violence more commonplace in the hidden city? When we look at things like the Battle Nexus, you wonder why the yokai seem to be entertained by battle. Do yokai as a species have a predisposition to violence?

Empyrean- is it hard to get a hand on, or does the statue in the middle of the city make it too easy of a resource? What are yokai using empyrean for other than mutation? Could it be considered a drug?

Is there a religion in the hidden city? Are the council of the heads considered beings worthy of worship?

What lights the hidden city? How is it not super dark all the time? Seriously

Do most yokai despise humans? Or do a lot of them travel back and forth with a cloaking brooch, living among humans like one of their kind?

What is the extent of the medical practices in the hidden city? Can magic heal everything or does it have more to do with potions?

Some of these hc's take inspiration from a variety of fics, although I've read so many I don't know that id be able to specifically cite them so... Just go read rottmnt fics in general, you're bound to come across Hidden City world building I promise you.

And that's everything! I have a lot of thoughts about this fictional world, as you can tell. If you have ideas or headcanons, please yap to me! I will most certainly yap back!

[wisdom-devotee]

I just want to say, I reread your updated guide and I love it. However, under the reconstructionist section you made a strange comment hoping no one was making animal sacrifices. For people who do consume meat, the ancient practices of ritual around the slaughter of animals are arguably more humane than other methods. What is important is that people who are practicing animal sacrifice are doing it safely, humanely, and with proper licenses to both butcher the animals, and keep and care for any animals who turn away when led to the sacrificial altar.

In antiquity many groups that followed particular philosophers or mystics didn’t consume meat, and it was not unusual for those who are vegetarian to shape a loaf of bread or cake into the shape of the animal to be sacrificed and burn that instead. That is still animal sacrifice. Historic precedence leans more towards bread based animal sacrifices replacing animal sacrifices than omitting them entirely. It’s hard to reconstruct ancient practices without doing at least some animal sacrifices during major festivals, since some of them were so important there were month named after them.

Animal sacrifice is such a massive part of our religion for reconstructionist Hellenic polytheists. I don’t understand why the practice is maligned, when it is a known and honored way to honor the theoi. I find it worrisome that it is viewed negatively, because it’s another case where it feels like people aren’t deconstructing their previously held religious beliefs (for example that the crucifixion of Christ was supposed to end animal sacrifice) before joining a new faith.

I’m not here to convince people to butcher live animals; that is a practice that requires a set of skills that most people who aren’t living in agricultural communities don’t have. However, animal sacrifices do not inherently require the death of a live animal, and I hope more people incorporate bread based animal sacrifice into their practice.

This is really interesting, and thank you for the correction!

I didn’t know the bread based things/foods with the likeness of an animal were considered to still be animal sacrifices — to me, by definition, ‘animal sacrifice’ literally means sacrificing a live animal. But now that I know this I’ll edit the post to include that

As far as deconstructing goes, I was atheist before I was Helpol, and I never even knew that Jesus dying was given as to why animal sacrifices should be stopped. I was a worshipper of Philotes when I first started out and one of her myths is that she wanted to bring an end to animal and blood sacrifice.

[jewishbarbies]

random things I would do if elected president, in no particular order:

ban LED headlights nationwide, no exceptions

make it illegal to donate to a political campaign if yearly income is above 100k

forgive all student debt (college, medical school, law school, etc.)

ban PACs and super PACs

require a special license for pickup trucks of a certain size with a specific drivers test

mandatory yearly drivers tests for people over the age of 55

make it illegal for politicians to use all social media in an official capacity

install a free public railway that connects all major cities in all 50 states

give Hawaii back to indigenous Hawaiians along with a promise of monetary reparations and/or supplies for an agreed upon period of time

give Puerto Rico back to the Puerto Ricans with monetary incentives for american citizens who move back to the states

ban the purchase of single family homes by any corporate entity in all 50 states

create a care program for migrants and refugees with housing, food, and supplies along with free English classes and courses on their preferred job field (with credits applied if enrolling in college plus a more streamlined path to citizenship starting with a work/school visa) paid for by taxes they’re already going to be paying working here anyway

complete overhaul of the american prison system with an implementation of rehab and mental health facilities, community projects, education and job training with no sentence longer than the completion of these courses/treatments unless for high crimes and special cases

bring home economics, culinary, and finance courses to middle and high schools with specialized AP courses for fields like human/veterinary medicine, law, engineering, environmental science, etc.

create a federally funded program for college students who want to become teachers, including specialized classes, free tuition, and sign on bonuses when employed at your first school as a one time tax credit with proof of employment

run federally funded educational tours and classes with volunteer opportunities at all national parks, with $10 general admission at all parks

require cities with a population over 1k to allocate funds/resources for warming stations, homeless and women’s shelters within city limits and maintain them year round

ban all fireworks no exceptions nationwide

mandatory voting in state and federal elections

executive order to make it illegal for politicians to earn more than the average yearly salary in their state/county/district/etc. at all levels of government

mandatory college education requirements for running for political office

anti inflation laws preventing the selling of goods and services for more than double the cost nationwide

make food waste in the agriculture industries illegal with tax credits for donating unsellable but edible food to shelters, churches, charities, and food banks

increase indigenous sovereignty in all 50 states, with regulations to prevent price gauging and predatory sale prices of goods and services to reservations, and increased legal protections for recognized tribes

work with local tribes to create programs delivering food, water, medicine, and supplies to households on reservations that sign up, 1-2 times a month like a food bank

create a federal agency of environmental scientists, biologists, etc. that work with indigenous peoples and maintain/protect land and local ecosystems in all 50 states through any means necessary with cooperation of the indigenous people

create additional tax credits for families, people with disabilities, students of any kind, home buyers, and farmers/agricultural workers

free school lunches in all schools in all 50 states

this is a non exhaustive fantasy list, don’t take it seriously. I’ll probably add more things I think of later.

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

Do modern cars still use hand signals for turning? If not, how do they indicate turns without using headlights or brake lights?

Modern cars no longer rely on hand signals as a regular way to indicate turns, but regulations in some countries or regions still require the use of hand signals in emergency situations (such as when the turn signal fails). Here is a detailed answer:

​​1. The current status of hand signals

Obsolete in regular driving:

Modern cars are equipped with electronic turn signals (amber indicators) as standard, and hand signals are only used as an emergency alternative when the turn signals fail completely.

Applicable scenarios:

The turn signal circuit is damaged and cannot be repaired immediately (such as a sudden failure during long-distance driving).

Some motorcycles still require hand signals when the electronic turn signal fails (regulatory requirements vary by region).

Regulatory retention requirements:

USA: Some states (such as California and Texas) still require drivers to learn hand signals to deal with emergencies.

Europe: Hand signals are written into the theoretical part of the EU driving test, but are rarely used in actual driving.

China: The driver's license test includes knowledge of hand gestures, but it is not necessary to use them in daily driving.

​​2. Turn signal system of modern cars​​

​​1. Electronic turn signal (Turn Signals)​​

​​Independent operation​​: The turn signal is separated from the headlights and brake lights​​circuit and can be turned on separately.

​​Color and position​​: ​​Front/rear turn signal​​: amber (some US-spec cars have red rear turn signal).

​​Side turn signal​​: integrated in the rearview mirror or front fender (some models have dynamic running water lights).

​​Mandatory requirements of regulations​​: ​​All mass-produced cars must be equipped with​​, and the flashing frequency is​​60–120 times/minute​​(the dashboard will prompt when there is a fault).

​​2. Automatic turn signal technology​​

​​Steering assist​​: The steering wheel rotation angle triggers the turn signal to automatically turn on (such as Tesla, BMW).

​​Lane change signal​​: A light flick of the steering lever can activate 3-5 flashes (prompting a short lane change).

​​3. Alternative lighting system​​

​​Hazard lights:

Used for vehicle failure or emergency parking, and cannot replace turn signals (some countries prohibit turning on the hazard lights while driving to change lanes).

Adaptive lighting system:

Automatically enhance the lighting inside the curve when turning (such as Audi Matrix LED), but the turn signal must still be turned on.

III. Specifications for the use of hand gestures

If you need to use hand gestures temporarily, you must follow the following international standards:

Turn left: Extend your left hand straight out of the window (↓ picture).

Turn right: Bend your left hand upward in an "L" shape (some areas allow the right hand to be extended).

Slow down/stop: Extend your left hand downward with your palm facing backward.

⚠️ ​​Note:

Hand gestures must be turned on in advance (at least 3 seconds) to ensure that other drivers can see them.

Only for emergency situations. Long-term reliance on hand gestures may be judged as a vehicle that does not meet safety standards.

​​IV. Exceptions for special vehicles and regions​​

​​Vintage Cars​​:

Some old cars (such as those produced before 1960) are allowed to be designed without turn signals, but they need to be installed before they can be legally driven on the road.

​​Bicycles and motorcycles​​:

Bicycles usually rely on hand gestures (no electronic signal lights).

If the turn signal of a motorcycle is broken, it is necessary to use hand gestures or stop to repair it.

​​Military/agricultural vehicles​​:

Some special vehicles (such as tractors) may be exempt from the electronic signal light requirement.

​​V. Future trends: intelligent lighting systems​​

​​Projected turn signals​​:

Mercedes-Benz Digital Light system can project turn arrows onto the road surface (↓ picture).

​​V2X communication​​:

Directly send turn intention signals between vehicles (without relying on lights or gestures).

​​Summary​​: Modern cars use electronic turn signals to achieve accurate and safe turn instructions, and hand gesture signals are only used as emergency backup plans. If the turn signal fails, it is recommended to repair it first rather than rely on hand gestures - long-term use may violate vehicle safety regulations (such as US FMVSS 108).

[beardedmrbean]

Bodega cat ‘certification’ plan seeks vet care for four-legged deli workers: ‘Most of them are abused’

The creator of an Instagram account dedicated to profiling the Big Apple’s deli cats is now championing a measure to protect them – as advocates say a concerning lack of regulations lead to many of the city’s feline workers not being properly taken care of.

Dan Rimada, founder of @BodegaCatsofNewYork, launched an online petition last month to create a “certification program” to eliminate health department fines on “responsible” bodega cat owners and establish a city-backed $30,000 Bodega Cats Support Fund for medical and other resources.

“Bodega cats have long been an iconic part of New York City’s soul—they keep shops pest-free, brighten our streets, and offer comfort to communities,” Rimada said in the petition, which has amassed nearly 5,000 signatures to date. “Yet outdated health codes and inconsistent care practices leave many of these cats at risk and burden small business owners with unfair fines.”

“Through years of hands-on experience, I’ve witnessed both the charm of well-cared-for bodega cats and the harsh reality of neglect when standards aren’t met,” Rimada added.

The city’s Department of Health directed The Post for comment to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets, which said it “has not been approached about this effort” yet.

Live animals are not allowed in food service establishments, according to New York City health code.

“The majority of bodega cats that I’ve seen were not properly taken care of,” said independent animal rescuer Tiff Winton, who helped save a cat left behind in a shuttered deli last summer and has since aided several dumped deli cats in the Bronx.

“As much as bodega cats are beloved in New York, most of them are abused and neglected,” she told The Post, adding that she’s seen malnourished, medically neglected and even abandoned deli pets.

Winton attributes the alleged neglect largely to a lack of responsibility and knowledge, and argues the cost-prohibitive nature of veterinary care is a non-factor given the number of free and low-cost services through various nonprofits in the Big Apple.

The certification program would require owners to take a free, multilingual online training course about responsible pet care and food safety, according to the petition.

“There needs to be some sort of process that holds bodega owners accountable for their pets,” she said. “If you have a dog, you have to get a license for it … but there’s no regulations for [cats], nobody is watching if anyone is taking care of them.

“I think it’s partially cultural, it’s partially carelessness – they don’t have the cat because they want to have a pet, it has a function,” she added, alluding to the tradition of keeping store cats as mouse trappers.

Workers at Rodriguez Deli in Williamsburg, Brooklyn told The Post that its cat Ashley last went to the veterinarian two years ago — and reportedly hasn’t required a visit since.

“She is behind on her vaccines,” one worker admitted. She said she wasn’t sure if the bodega would be interested in participating in a certification program, and referred The Post to the owner.

The proposed program would also protect owners who meet standards like regular vet check-ups, proper feeding and safe environments from fines from the city, despite the illegal practice. It would rely on both self-certification and “community-triggered” spot-checks from rescuers, as well as create an online reporting portal for concerns, the petition reads.

The program, which would be funded through a discretionary funding request in City Council, would launch in 15 bodegas to start and collect data on cat health, owner participation and community response before an expansion.

Funds would also be garnered through annual fees around $150 from participating bodega owners and be managed by local veterinary organizations.

A similar petition was launched in 2016 to “legalize” bodega cats with more than 5,800 supporters – but garnered no response from then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, who the petition was addressed to.

Council members Tiffany Cabán, Julie Menin, and Shekar Krishnan have been asked to support the pilot program, according to a project proposal shared with The Post – though none returned a request for comment from The Post regarding whether or not they’ll take up the cause.

About $20,000 of the discretionary funding, if approved, would go towards medical care like spay and neuter services, vaccines and emergency treatment, the proposal states. 

The remaining funds would be split on stipends and travel reimbursements for animal rescuers working on the ground – who oftentimes pay for emergency vet care in the thousands of dollars out-of-pocket, according to Winton.

“We’re not funded at all by the city or anyone – some of the rescues are lucky enough to get small grants – but it’s really a labor of love,” the rescuer said.

Winton recounted the rescue last week of a tuxedo cat on death’s door from a Hell’s Kitchen deli – and a local nonprofit is now helping rescuers like her foot the $7,500 bill after a vet diagnosed the feline with a severe urinary tract infection and blockage. 

“They watched this happen, for days they let this go on and on — and they did nothing,” Winton said, adding the cat was rescued “just hours away from dying.”

While the rescuer contends that $30,000 won’t go very far considering the costly nature of some treatments, Winton contends any support from legislation to regulate – or educate – would help the cause.

“The bodega cat issue, to me, seems like it’s solvable: It’s regulation, education, some sort of program where [owners] have to register their cats and keep up to date on vaccines and have them clean and neutered,” Winton said.

They’re simple things that they should be required to do, just like they’re required to wash their hands before they make a sandwich.”

[farmerstrend]

Macadamia Farmers Beware: Kenya Steps Up Crackdown on Illegal Macadamia Exports, Traders Face Arrest

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) warns macadamia industry players against harvesting, trading, or processing immature nuts, threatening legal action, license revocation, and prosecution to protect Kenya’s market integrity. Kenya’s macadamia industry faces strict regulations as AFA cracks down on illegal harvesting and smuggling. Violators risk hefty penalties, including revoked licenses…

[quickspestcontrol]

Six Factors to Think About When Choosing Orlando Pest Control

When it relates to pest control in Orlando, there are actually many elements to bear in mind to guarantee that you opt for a trustworthy as well as helpful service. Orlando's subtropical weather makes it an excellent setting for bugs like termites, bugs, ants, and also rats, which implies the right pest control Orlando provider is vital to maintaining your home risk-free and pest-free. Below are actually six crucial variables to think about when picking insect control in Orlando:

1. Adventure as well as Image

A provider's knowledge in insect control is actually a critical element to take into consideration. An expert parasite control provider are going to possess a far better understanding of regional insects and how to take care of all of them efficiently. Appear for companies along with an effective performance history in Orlando, as they are likely to have coped with the insects that typically affect house in this region. Checking out consumer reviews as well as testimonies can offer you understanding into the business's track record. Favorable reviews suggest integrity and great client service, while complaints or even adverse reviews may be a warning.

2. Licensing and also License

Just before employing any sort of bug control firm, make sure that they are actually effectively accredited and certified due to the necessary authorities in Florida. In Orlando, pest control providers need to be actually registered along with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Individual Companies (FDACS). This guarantees that the business is actually complying with the appropriate methods as well as requirements for orlando exterminator. Licenses from realized institutions such as the National Pest Management Organization (NPMA) are also a really good sign of professionalism and trust as well as faithfulness to field standards.

3. Expertise of Local Area Pests

Orlando's temperature develops distinct problems when it concerns pest control. Some insects, like termites, bugs, and also rodents, are more popular in this region, and their behavior might contrast from parasites in various other portion of the country. A parasite control firm that knows the certain insects in Orlando and also just how to resolve all of them efficiently will deliver better results. Make certain to ask about the business's expertise of neighborhood bugs and also their adventure in managing all of them. This proficiency guarantees they will definitely utilize one of the most proper procedures to stop problems.

4. Variety of Solutions

Different bug control business may deliver various services, so it's necessary to opt for one that meets your necessities. Some business specialize in one kind of parasite, like pests, while others might use a more comprehensive stable of solutions, consisting of procedures for ants, roaches, rats, vermins, insects, and even more. If you possess a number of insect issues, it might be even more handy to choose a supplier that delivers thorough services. In addition, inquire about recurring bug control plans or even servicing companies that can keep your home safeguarded down the road.

5. Use Safe and also Eco-friendly Products

Protection is a leading concern when it relates to Orlando pest control. Ask about the forms of pesticides or therapies the company makes use of. See to it they use items that are actually risk-free for both your family members and also dogs. In today's world, numerous home owners are also involved regarding the environmental effect of chemical procedures. Seek a bug control company that supplies eco-friendly or organic insect control possibilities. These procedures are much less dangerous to the setting while still working at managing bugs.

6. Cost and also Market Value for Money

While price must not be actually the only determining factor, it is significant to look at the pricing of the parasite control company. Some providers may use single treatments, while others may provide ongoing servicing plans. Acquire quotes coming from numerous providers, yet beware of extraordinarily affordable price, as these might signify subpar solution or less-effective treatments. Ensure that the cost mirrors the top quality and performance of the service given. Typically, devoting a bit extra for a trusted and also experienced company can save you money over time through avoiding recurring attacks.

Final thought

Deciding on the appropriate parasite control company in Orlando requires thoughtful consideration of elements like expertise, image, knowledge of nearby bugs, variety of services, security, and also expense. By thoroughly assessing these facets, you may guarantee that you select a firm that is going to address your insect problems properly and also aid you maintain a pest-free setting at home.

All American Pest Control

390 N Orange Ave Suite #2300

Orlando, FL 32801

(321) 559-7378

Orlando Pest Control

[darkmaga-returns]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a conditional license approval for an inactivated avian flu (bird flu) vaccine to be administered to chickens eaten by Americans. The license is being granted due to H5N1 influenza virus infections spreading in U.S. poultry. The United States has avoided giving H5N1 vaccine to until now.

The license was granted to Zoetis, Inc. a New Jersey-based producer of medicine and vaccines for pets and livestock. The company is the largest animal drug and vaccine producer worldwide and was previously owned by Pfizer, Inc. Their bird flu vaccine contains a killed version of the H5N2 variant that the company developed in an effort to stop circulating variants of the H5N1 virus among poultry.1

H1N1 is a type A influenza virus that was associated with the “swine flu” pandemic of 2009 and is easily spread between humans.2 H5N1 is a type A influenza virus usually infecting birds that can rarely cause “bird flu” in humans, who come in direct contact with infected birds.3

A conditional license from the FDA does not mean that the bird flu vaccine is approved for commercial use or that poultry farmers can purchase it at this time. The manufacturer still will be required to receive final approval from the USDA before it can be used in commercial poultry.4 5

Five Drug Companies Developing mRNA Bird Flu Shots for Humans

There are five drug companies developing an H5N1 biological product labeled a “vaccine” using mRNA technology to prevent H5N1 infections in humans, including GlaxoSmithKline/CureVac; Sanofi, Moderna and Arcturus Therapeutics. The Arcturus Therapeutics product is a self-amplifying mRNA “vaccine” candidate currently in clinical trials funded by the Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHSS) Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).6

[mariacallous]

If you've been wondering when you’ll be able to order the flame-throwing robot that Ohio-based Throwflame first announced last summer, that day has finally arrived. The Thermonator, what Throwflame bills as “the first-ever flamethrower-wielding robot dog” is now available for purchase. The price? $9,420.

Thermonator is a quadruped robot with an ARC flamethrower mounted to its back, fueled by gasoline or napalm. It features a one-hour battery, a 30-foot flame-throwing range, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control through a smartphone.

It also includes a Lidar sensor for mapping and obstacle avoidance, laser sighting, and first-person-view navigation through an onboard camera. The product appears to integrate a version of the Unitree Go2 robot quadruped that retails alone for $1,600 in its base configuration.

The company lists possible applications of the new robot as "wildfire control and prevention," "agricultural management," "ecological conservation," "snow and ice removal," and "entertainment and SFX." But most of all, it sets things on fire in a variety of real-world scenarios.

Back in 2018, Elon Musk made the news for offering an official Boring Company flamethrower that reportedly sold 10,000 units in 48 hours. It sparked some controversy, because flamethrowers can also double as weapons or potentially start wildfires.

Flamethrowers are not specifically regulated in 48 US states, although general product liability and criminal laws may still apply to their use and sale. They are not considered firearms by federal agencies. Specific restrictions exist in Maryland, where flamethrowers require a Federal Firearms License to own, and California, where the range of flamethrowers cannot exceed 10 feet.

Even so, to state the obvious, flamethrowers can easily burn both things and people, starting fires and wreaking havoc if not used safely. Accordingly, the Thermonator might be one Christmas present you should skip for little Johnny this year.

[aktechworld]

Do You Need a License to Drive a Farm Tractor or Utility Vehicle in Canada?

Introduction:

In Canada, driving a farm tractor or utility vehicle may seem like a special case. These vehicles are often used in rural or agricultural areas, and many wonder if a formal driver’s license is required. The rules depend on your province and the type of vehicle you are operating.

Key Points:

1. License Requirements for Farm Tractors In many provinces, you do not need a regular driver’s license to operate a farm tractor on private property. However, if you need to drive the tractor on public roads, you may need a Class 5 or equivalent license. This depends on the weight of the vehicle and the provincial regulations.

2. Exceptions for Agricultural Use In rural areas, there are exceptions for agricultural workers. If you are driving a tractor or utility vehicle strictly for agricultural purposes (i.e., not on public roads), you may not need a license. However, this can vary by province, and some regions require a special farm vehicle endorsement.

3. Operating Utility Vehicles Utility vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles may also have specific requirements based on their use. Some provinces require a valid driver’s license or a specialized off-road vehicle license for operating these vehicles on public land or roads.

4. Age and Experience Requirements In most provinces, you need to be a minimum age to drive farm equipment on public roads (usually 16 or older), and you may need additional training or a specialized certification, particularly if operating heavy machinery.

5. Insurance and Liability Considerations Whether or not you need a license, it’s important to understand the insurance implications of driving farm equipment or utility vehicles. Make sure that your vehicle is insured for road use if applicable and that you are covered in case of an accident.