Daily Archives: August 23, 2022

Since the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in the Mississippi abortion case, Dobbs, vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization, Republican politicians throughout the country have moved to impose whatever abortion restrictions their legislatures can come up with. The Republican dominated 2021 Montana Legislature passed a bundle of laws aimed at restricting access to abortion. Three of those laws are blocked for now by a lawsuit challenging their legality.

Now, the Republican Governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, is asking the states high court to consider his arguments that the justices should reverse a previous decision upholding the right to an abortion (Armstrong vs. the State of Montana) and instead put the matter in state legislators hands. Gianforte wrote in a tweet, Its the Legislatures prerogative to set policy regarding life, as it was for over a century until 1999.

Do Montanans really agree that the Legislature is the final word on who lives and who dies?

These are deeply moral decisions and, frankly, beyond the scope of a group people elected to run the state, not to make personal moral decisions which intervene in citizens personal lives.

This is especially true when the case involves a womans right to make decisions about her own body and her private reproductive choices, free from government interference.

Morality is the differentiation of decisions, intentions, and actions between those that are proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong). Immorality is the active opposition to what is good or right. Morality, in short, are the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong, or good and bad behavior. It is the basis of the Golden Rule, which states One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.

Gianforte, and many other acolytes of the New GOP, who claim they are for limited and smaller government apparently have no problem in inserting their personal religious beliefs into the lives of everyone else. What these Republicans are asking the Montana Supreme Court to do is neither good nor right. It is time to get very frank with these people about what their positions mean.

Across the land Republicans are passing laws which would make no allowance for abortions in the case of incest or rape, or for medical conditions which threaten the health or life of the mother, or the viability of the fetus if it should come to full term because of genetic or non-genetic based maladies. If you are a boy or a girl, teenager or adult, a man, or a woman, and you have been the victim of a rape your life is changed forever. The trauma experienced will have lasting consequences on your physical health, psyche, self-image, and personal feeling of self-worth.

The physical injuries may be life-long, along with the possible consequences of sexually transmitted disease. You may forever be warped in your trust of other people, and may have post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep and eating disorders, along with deeper psychological issues such as borderline personality disorder and dissociative identity disorder. In short, your future life will be a mess. It is a life-changing event.

Having to decide to have an abortion is a decision that only a woman will have to make, because it is a unique aspect of the fact that only women can become pregnant. To even suggest that the victim of rape or incest (which in all cases involving sexual intercourse is rape) should be forced to carry this pregnancy to term is outrageous and immoral. It is codifying the state as a supreme power to intervene and determine the most intimate personal moral and physical decision a person can make, taking away the persons right to self-determination in making their own decisions. It is an affront to the basic human rights of freedom, privacy, recognition as a person before the law and freedom from degrading treatment. However, regardless of the situation that created a pregnancy, each and every women should be the only person to make the decision to have an abortion, or not.

It is their right alone.

The rest is here:

The immorality of Gianforte and the 'New GOP' Daily Montanan - Daily Montanan

Oh hi, I didnt see you there! Youre just in time for me to tell you all about the fourth wall, and all the cool characters who break it.

Last weeks premiere episode ofShe-Hulk employed a particular narrative device that the official library of the MCU hasnt seen yet. Jennifer Walters, much like her comic book character before her, has smashed down the fourth wall. Youve seen it before in some of your favorite classic and new media. But what is the fourth wall? Where does the term come from? And which other beloved characters have done it?

The fourth wall is an imaginary storytelling device that sees a character looking and speaking directly to the audience. In most stories, the actors in the scene interact with one another unaware of the audience watching them. Plenty of these stories give audiences myriad other ways to become engrossed in a story, but whats known as breaking the fourth wall brings them directly in by allowing a character to acknowledge the viewer.

Normally, the golden rule with acting or art is that the subject should never make eye contact with the camera. But when a character breaks the fourth wall, they deliberately take an aside. Sometimes it happens without the notice of other characters in the scene. Fourth wall breaks can be used by a storys lead to elaborate on their own frame of mind. It can even be in contrast with their actual behavior. Or they could be used to punctuate the comedy of a situation. When done well, the storytelling possibilities are endless.

Ferris Bueller is a classic instance of a lead character breaking the fourth wall, courtesy of Paramount Pictures

A greater number of well-known fourth wall breaks occur in comedies. From Groucho Marx to Monty Python to Mel Brooks to Bugs Bunny, its likely your childhood was influenced by fourth wall breaks. Some days I still look in the mirror and say to myself, Its good to be the king.

And speaking directly to the audience isnt just for classics, either. Recently the Amazon Prime showFleabag received critical acclaim for its leads scathingly honest and delightfully raunchy commentary on her own intimate life. And in the vein of comic book movies, Deadpool is the poster child for breaking the fourth wall.

As far as comic books go, She-Hulk was the first major comic book character to break the fourth wall. Jon Byrnes She-Hulk was sassyand self-aware, tearing through pages and roasting her own creative team. It was one of the things that established Jennifer as a character wholly separate from the Hulk. And it was also side-splittingly funny.

Years later, Deadpool would join Shulkie in speaking directly to the audience. Harley Quinn has also been known to break the fourth wall in comics. InBirds of Prey, Harley breaks the fourth wall quite a bit. Its all for the better of the story. The tale of her personal growth and, well, emancipation, is better because its told in Harleys own words.

Now, Deadpool is supposed to reappear in the MCU and She-Hulk has her own show. We can certainly expect to see a lot more instances of favorite characters looking directly at us in order to tell a story and catch some laughs.

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Danni is a staff writer and editor whose expertise lies in comic books, superhero movies, science fiction/fantasy, horror, and cheesy dad jokes. They spent 8 glorious years working at Austin Books & Comics, and created content for almost 15 years. They've written for the Daily Dot and made YouTube content with the Weirdlings. Danni currently does all the things for BoLS, Screen Fanatic, and TheStreet.

Read the original here:

Everything You Need to Know About Breaking the Fourth Wall - BoLS

Snuggling down into fresh bedding is one of lifes simple pleasures, so it can be disappointing when you get into bed only to find rips, snags or discolouration on your sheets. While bed linens arent designed to last forever, British designer Linda Barker explained that adjusting the way you wash them can make a huge difference to both how clean they are, and how long your favourite bed sets last. Heres your expert guide to caring for cotton and silk bedding.

Speaking exclusively toExpress.co.uk, esteemed designer, Linda Barker, who has extended her exclusive homeware collection with home furnishings retailer Terrys,said: In my mind, the look of the bed is the most important aesthetic part of a bedroom's decor.

A beautifully made bed is easy to achieve and is always worth the attention you lavish on it.

While quality bed linen may look expensive and luxurious on your bed, caring for the delicate fabric is really quite simple.

In fact, Linda warned against using complicated washing cycles and even urged people to ditch the supposedly germ-busting hot water cycles altogether.

READ MORE:Golden rule for removing toilet limescale with just 2 ingredients

She explained that cooler temperatures on the washing machine will prolong the life of your bedlinen and protect it from any unnecessary colour loss.

Linda said: Hot water is always damaging to bedlinen as it is breaks up the cotton (or silk) fibres and makes them brittle.

Its what the lint is in your washing machine - (the more lint, the more damage).

I always use an eco wash with only a warm water temperature as this will be much kinder to your linen and the environment.

Linda urged people to reduce the number of chemicals in each wash cycle in order to prevent damage and improve the freshness of their clean laundry.

She said: Often our washing is to get rid of skin and sweat rather than a build up of dirt so dont be too heavy handed with the chemicals which can be too damaging.

I use eco-friendly, plant-based washing liquid detergents and I never use fabric conditioners.

Linda added that once a year, it is worth washing your bed linens without any commercial detergents at all, and instead, use a cup of borax or baking soda to benefit both the fabric the washing machine.

Never use heat for drying

Keeping it simple is crucial when it comes to drying your bedding too according to Linda, who swears by drying sheets exclusively outdoors - even in the winter.

She said: Ill avoid rainy days of course but even in the winter I can usually get things dry. Thankfully taking care of the environment is the best approach for matching the care of our laundry so everything is good here.

How often should you wash bed sheets?

With these hot nights Id recommend that bed linen gets washed a little more often than if the nights were cooler.

Washing bedlinen once a week is a good habit to get into regardless of the season, if this seems too much washing then at least the pillows and the sheet should deserve this attention.

Your duvet cover can hold back a little longer, I suggest every two weeks.

More:

Laundry hacks: Expert says to ditch 4 things when washing bed sheets - always damaging - Express

The cost of energy is going up at an alarming rate in the UK, though the cost of solar panels has decreased by as much as 82 percent in the past decade, according to The Eco Experts. While the fall in prices is making it easier than ever to install these energy-generating panels in British homes, few people know the right way to maintain them for maximum energy generation. Cleaning is just one crucial task that keeps solar panels working to their full potential, but whats the safest and most efficient way to do it?

Solar photovoltaic systems (PV systems) are renewable energy technology that transforms the energy from the sun into electricity using photovoltaics (solar panels).

When these panels get dirty, they become more than just an eye sore and can even reduce efficiency by as much as 15 percent, according to the experts at Deege Solar.

The company said: As bird droppings, dust, pollution, and tree sap start to cover your panels, sunlight can no longer reach the solar cells.

Essentially, dirty panels have the same impact on a solar PV system as shading does.

By making sure your solar panels are clean, your solar generation will always be at its maximum.

READ MORE:Golden rule for removing toilet limescale with just 2 ingredients

The two key signs that your solar panels need cleaning will show in the performance of your PV system, or simply by looking at them.

A monitoring system will show irregularities in the energy generation, while surface debris is very easy to spot with a quick glance.

Roof-mounted solar panels should always be cleaned by a professional as they are hard to access safely without causing damage.However, if your solar panels are ground mounted or easily accessible, there are a few ways to clean them yourself.

Applying high pressure water or abrasive substances onto solar panels may appear to be a quick and easy fix, but it is likely to cause more harm than good.

Using anything that will scratch the panels or damage the silicon seams could also invalidate your warranty, so it is always advisable to keep it simple while cleaning.

According to the experts at Deege Solar, the best tools to use for cleaning solar panels include a water-fed pole with a soft brush, combined with a squeegee.

They said: You can water your solar panels using a hose on a low-pressure setting, scrub off the dirt with a soft brush and then squeegee the surface dry.

The technique isnt the only thing you need to master for cleaning solar panels.

In fact, timing is also crucial if you want gleaming results.

The team at Deege Solar said: Cleaning your solar panels on a hot day will result in leaving smudges all over your panels.

This is because the sun will evaporate the water too quickly.

Instead, it is best to get it done either early in the morning, or late in the evening.

An overcast day is also useful for achieving a seamless finish while cleaning your solar panels.

See original here:

How to clean solar panels: Best method to keep energy generation at its maximum - Express

Antioch

2021 record: 6-4

Coach: Brian Glashagel

Worth noting: Antioch did not win the conference last year for the first time since it started in 2016. The Sequoits are 39-2 in NLCC play all-time. We are hungry to win the title back, said Glashagel, whose teams only NLCC loss last year was to league champion Wauconda (24-13). Antioch is sitting in a good spot with some talented returning folks among the four starters back on offense and four on defense. Lets start with 6-5, 220-pound senior tight end-outside linebacker Joey Neumann, a four-year varsity starter and a three-time all-NLCC academic pick, as well as an all-state academic selection. Hes committed to South Dakota State as a tight end and had eight Division I offers with some recruiting him at outside backer. Joey is ranked as a top tight end in the state, Glashagel said. Hes a Division I player on both sides of the ball. The Sequoits also have senior quarterback Quade Moll back. He threw for 994 yards last year. Junior running back Nick Day ran for 833 yards and six scores on his way to all-conference honors as a sophomore. Running back Aiden Lennon also returns, as does the linebacking trio of Aidan Niemczyk, Caleb Nobiling and Ethan Kolloff. Antioch is always coached well, plays hard, disciplined and tough, Glashagel said. This has always been our strength and will always be. We are nicely balanced with returning starters and some seniors that got quality playing time last fall, with a talented junior and sophomore class. Glashagel is excited about the skill positions on offense. Quade is as good a high school quarterback as there is and hes surrounded with some really good weapons in Aiden Lennon, Nick Day, Martin Cohen (sophomore running back), Marshall Gehrke (sophomore wide receiver) and Joey Neumann, he said. Our skilled offensive players are as good as we have had. Strength and quickness rule the day on defense. We are incredibly strong and fast, the coach noted. Our linebacking unit of Aiden, Ethan and Caleb is our Mike Singletary, Wilbur Marshall and Otis Wilson (famed Chicago Bears linebacking duo in the 1980s).

2021 record: 2-7

Coach: Tim Norwood

Worth noting: Norwood takes over for Chris Robinson and is one of four new head coaches in the league. Top returners on offense for the Bulldogs include junior Rylan Art (QB), seniors Ivan Hernandez (OL-DL) and Yedi Israel (TB) and junior Daymian Longtin (slot-LB). Key players back on defense include seniors KeSean Louramore (DL) and Cameron Lattimore (DL). We hope that our strengths are to be a physical team on offense that runs the ball well, Norwood said. Defensively, we hope to play fast and give great effort. Art is back for his senior season under center. He is one our leaders on the offensive side of the ball, Norwood noted. Louramore, has had a really strong summer on the defensive line and plays with great speed and effort, Norwood added. Also watch for the name Pryde Mendoza at free safety and tailback. Pryde is a type of player who can be a difference-maker on each side of the ball, Norwood said.

2021 record: 8-3

Coach: Mike Maloney

Worth noting: The Rams are coming off a 2021 season where they went to the second round of the state playoffs and have some strong pieces returning from that group (4 starters back on offense and 5 on defense). Headlining that group is 6-3, 200-pound senior wideout-safety Kaiden Miller, who is the programs all-time leader in receiving yards (1,097). Senior Jeremiah Almendarez-Poyser (5-9, 155) is the teams leading returning rusher. Junior middle linebacker-running back Marty Jens (5-7, 187) is the top returning tackler on defense. Other key cogs back from a year ago include junior Garrett Guenther (6-0, 175, slot-DB), senior Jaydin Kante (6-0, 290, NG-OG) and sophomore Jonny Sage (6-0, 165, LB-RB). The overall depth on offense and defense is the best the program has seen in several years, Maloney said. We have a very fast team with a number of track athletes in key positions. We hope this bolsters our potential for explosive plays. Linebacking is where the most experience resides, Maloney noted, with two-year starter Jens and Sage, in the starting trenches as a freshman in 2021, leading the way. Our linebacking corps will anchor the defense, Maloney said. We have tremendous athleticism and coverage capability on the back end. (We) can match any receiver group we may face throughout the year. Maloney is obviously keen on Miller and likes the potential Almendarez-Poyser brings out of the backfield. Kaiden Miller has the potential to be the best football player on the field in several of our games, Maloney said. He will be a difference-maker, for sure. Jeremiah could end up the leading rusher in our conference if our inexperienced, but athletic offensive line can produce at a high level. Keep an eye on junior running back-defensive back Alex Carter. My sleeper pick for most productive offensive player this season, the coach said. Hes a dynamic athlete. Maloney pegs Antioch and Wauconda as NLCC contenders out of the gates. Dont sleep on the Rams, he said of his team. We have a punchers chance at the trophy.

2021 record: 3-6

Coach: Brian Johnson

Worth noting: Johnson is one of four new head coaches patrolling the NLCC sidelines this fall. He takes over a Knights team that has four starters back on offense and six more on the opposite side. Senior quarterback Jacob Donohue is a three-year starter. In seven games last year, he threw for 1,881 yards and 18 scores, coming off a sophomore year where he threw for 1,492 yards and 20 TDs. Jacob is a leader and has good rapport with our receivers, who will all be new, Johnson said. He has an outstanding arm and pocket presence and experience. I am really happy with the offensive line leadership and experience, making the transition to a new offense much easier. Seniors DJ Neely (5-10, 155, WR-DB), Zion Hodges (6-1, 237, LB), Nathan Alfaro (5-10, 225, OL-LB) and Mario Vizzini (5-10, 225, OL-DL) are two-way returning starters, while senior Nik Green (6-2, 265) is a three-year starter on the offensive line at center, and Johnson noted has the potential for being a dominant lineman. The offensive and defensive lines are all seniors with some experience, Johnson pointed out. Quickness on defense will be another positive for North. We have quite a few players that are able to run to the ball, Johnson said. We might not have earth-shattering size, but we have some quickness. We also feel like we have a lockdown corner in Michael Jefferson, which will help out our front seven greatly. Johnson likes Neelys versatility. DJ is an all-around threat running the ball, receiving, receiving kicks and playing defense, he said.

2021 record: 5-5

Coach: Jason Ellerman

Worth noting: The Eagles were one of four NLCC teams to make the playoffs in 2021. Now, Ellerman takes the controls of the program and inherits a squad that has three starters back on offense and only two on defense. Top returning Lakes players include Tyson Dewey (6-2, 170, Sr., WR-DB), Max Bausch (5-10, 180, Sr., QB), Matt Rytina (6-0, 165, DB-WR) and Drew Schmidt (6-1, 195, OL-DL). Ellerman likes Lakes ability to run the ball in a physical manner and use play-action passing to create explosive plays, plus the ability to use its RPO package to get players the ball in space. On defense, Ellerman likes the teams ability to communicate, get off blocks, track ball carriers and tackle. We will strive to be fundamentally sound and aggressive, he said. Ellerman noted three main tenets he is emphasizing this season. We will always celebrate or pick each other up after each play, he said. The other two include: Just be a good person and follow the golden rule, Treat others how you want to be treated, and Just be tough mentally, physically and emotionally. Also keep an eye on senior running back and inside linebacker Amir Al Hindi (5-10, 180), Ellerman noted.

2021 record: 0-9

Coach: Wilton Hill

Worth noting: The Warhawks have not won a game since the last game of the 2021 COVID spring season and scored 52 points in 2021. We are trying to get back to our brand of football after battling through these past two rough seasons, Hill said. Were looking to be competitive and hopefully shock a few teams. North Chicago has four starters back on either side of the ball, including the likes of Bryce Turner (6-2, 160, Sr., DB-WR), Terrell Turner (6-1, 205, Sr., LB-TE), Ellis Usher (5-8, 140, Sr., CB-SB), Shadon Mays (6-2, 350, DL), Marquell Maggett (5-8, 145, S-SB) and Julian Chacon (5-9, 190, DL-OL). Hill said freshman Jalin Strowder (6-2, 355, DL-OL) has a ton of potential up front, while Usher athleticism, he added, will stand out on both sides of the ball. Hill added Terrell Turner can make plays on both sides of the football. I like the competitive drive of the underclassmen, Hill said. We also have strength and athleticism on both sides of the ball on the line, and versatile and athletic skill guys.

2021 record: 2-7

Coach: Scott Blecha

Worth noting: The Panthers graduated 26 seniors or 66 percent of its 2021 varsity roster, so we will be extremely young this year, Blecha said. Back for Round Lake are seniors Anthony Bishop (5-8, 153, RB-DB), Raul Casco (5-11, 220, OL-DL), Easton Nixon (5-11, 135, WR-DB), Rigo Tapia (5-7, 130, WR-DB) and Saul Ugarte (5-9, 215, OL-LB), along with sophomore Kevin Johnson (5-10, 153, WR-DB). Each side of the ball has three starters each back. Blecha said the squad will lean on Ugartes experience as a three-year varsity starter on the offensive line and captain. Saul will be the leader of a young O-line crew that has shown promise throughout the summer and intends to make their mark this season, he said. He will play offensive line and linebacker and looks to be a force on both sides of the ball. Bishop and Tapia are also back as playmakers, while others will step into supporting roles to get the offense going, Blecha said. On defense, Isaac Jackson and Darius Smith, Blecha said, are ready to fill the void at linebacker and lead the defense. Captain and leading tackler Mario Jimenez was among the large graduation exit. Johnson returns at corner after starting as a freshman. Nixon and Tapia will fill out the secondary as a group that is ready to disrupt the passing game, Bleach said. Bishop was the teams third-leading tackler last year, and was a top five receiver and running back on the stat pages.

2021 record: 10-1

Coach: Chris Prostka

Worth noting: Prostka is one of those four new head coaches in the conference and is at the helm of a Bulldogs team that in 2021 became the first non-Antioch team to win the NLCC title since the conference was formed. Wauconda has five starters back on offense and six more on defense, including Nick Smith (6-0, 185, Sr., RB-LB), Tyler Schmidt (6-1, 230, Sr., OL-DL), Jake Becker (6-4, 240, Sr., OL-DL), Chase Groelle (6-3, 190, Sr., WR-OLB), Jackson Ori (6-2, 190, Sr., WR-DB), Broke Pfeiffer (6-1, 170, Jr., WR-DB) and Connor Vanselow (6-0, 175, Jr., RB-OLB). Our numbers are up from the previous two seasons, so our depth will be a benefit this year, Prostka said. Our senior class knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the varsity level. The last two seasons combined we were 15-2. Our players want to keep that level of success going and work to go further in the playoffs. Smith had 15 tackles for loss last season and was an all-NLCC pick. Pfeiffer had eight interceptions as a sophomore in 2021, while Vanselow returns after running for eight scores. We have a good balance on offense and we have playmakers at all positions, Prostka said. We have size on the line and strong runners in the backfield. Our receivers are tall and tough to tackle. They also enjoy their roles blocking in the run game. Prostka noted the Bulldogs have a good amount of experience back on defense, including all-NLCC performers in Schmidt and Smith, and the majority of our secondary played significant minutes last season, he said. Junior Zac Johnson is competing for the starting quarterback position, playing defensive back, punting, kicking and kicking off. Zac is doing a lot of things for us, Prostka said.

Graylake North's Jacob Donohue passes against Grayslake Central on September 10, 2021. (John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com/John Starks)

Week 3: Lakes at Antioch No time is wasted in kicking off the NLCC slate with a bang with this annual neighborhood rivalry game.

Week 4: Grayslake Central at Grayslake North The battle of Grayslake pretty self-explanatory.

Week 6: Wauconda at Antioch Wauconda dethroned Antioch atop the NLCC last season and you can bet a million bucks if you bet a dollar that this is circled on both teams calendars in red ink.

Week 8: Antioch at Grayslake Central Rams coach Mike Maloney said dont sleep on his crew. This could quite the late-season, Week 8 game.

Oct. 21 Wauconda at Grayslake North: Could this Week 9 game have playoff implications for both clubs?

https://football.dailyherald.com/sports/20220819/2022-season-preview-scouting-the-northern-lake-county-conference/

See more here:

2022 season preview: Scouting the Northern Lake County Conference - Friday Night Drive

Your thirties. Whether you're in them or not, you'll know that being in your thirties doesn't mean you have your whole life sorted. Goodness, no. You're still messing things up. Still learning. Still trying to navigate the big ol' game that is, well, life.

In saying that, you've probably picked up some powerful little life lessons and a few good habits along the way, and learned to love the person that you've become.

Just ask Brittany Hockley.

The 34-year-old has one big and busy lifeshe's an actress, reality star, author and podcast co-host with Laura Byrne. And as she tells Mamamia, her rise to success hasn't come without its challenges.

Here, we sat down with the esmi Skin Minerals brand ambassador and had a chat about all the changes she's making in her thirties.

From skincare to career moves, here are the 9 golden rules Brittany lives by.

When it comes to skincare, this is Brittany's number one rule (and honestly, it should be yours, too!)

"I always wear sunscreen now," Brittany tells Mamamia. "I damaged my skin a lot in my youth by surfing and lazing about in the sunprobably like most of our generation. So, now it is about trying to reverse the damage!"

Hands up who can relate?!

"I use SPF everyday on my face, chest, hands, bodyeverywhere. I always carry it in my bag."

Full marks, Britt.

Another important thing the podcast host has learnt over the years, is knowing what her skin needs. "I've noticed a big difference in my skin the last few years. Life catches up with you that's for sure! My skin is always so drythat is my major battle."

Luckily, skin care is something she said she's utterly "obsessed" with. "I spend a lot of time and money looking after it, from treatments like lasers, needling and hydra facials to really good quality skincare, which is why I love esmi. It's made from quality ingredients and [has] different products that suit everyone."

"There is a lot of thought and love that has gone into every product with esmiand they get results," she shares.

"They are always growing and evolving and they are an Australian company, which I love. It's also vegan and cruelty-free, but it still contains high levels of actives, antioxidants and vitamins - meaning you get the results but only using the good stuff!"

See the article here:

"The older I get the more Im learning to love the skin Im in." Brittany Hockley told us her 9 golden rules for success in your thirties. -...

When Britain is faced with colder weather and the rise in energy price cap this winter, bills will increase further. However, there are tasks people can do in their homes now to potentially lower energy bills.

Express.co.uk spoke to Graham Lock, spokesperson for highly reputable double-glazing specialist Art Windows and Doors, based in Glasgow, about what households can do today to save money on energy bills.

Grahams first tip was to properly insulate the property.

Heat is easily lost from your home if you fail to insulate the property adequately, he explained.

Various areas of the property are prone to heat loss. These can include exterior walls, the roof, doors and windows.

READ MORE:Golden rule for removing toilet limescale with just 2 ingredients

Fit an A-rated boiler though and, not only will this run with greater efficiency over the winter months, itll be less temperamental and it could reduce your winter fuel bill by anywhere up to 25 percent.

Before winter arrives, it is worth having your central heating serviced, according to Graham.

Take care of your central heating now and this should prevent any potential problems as the winter embraces your home, the expert said.

Getting your boiler serviced isnt a bad idea, you might want to power flush your radiators or give them a bleed, to remove air from the system and reduce the chances of cold spots.

To further avoid drafts during the winter months, it is worth using window insulation film which is easy to find in any hardware store or online.

The kits include a plastic shrink film to apply to the indoor window frame with double-sided tape before you heat it with a hair dryer to remove any wrinkles and shrink the film, Graham said.

Its a cheap and effective method, but your windows will have a cloudy and shrink-wrapped look.

Rubber weather sealing is another handy product to have on hand. All you need to do is cut long strips to fit the dimensions of your windows and then peel and stick the sealing to the frame to close any gaps, eliminating drafts, Graham explained.

Rubber sealing is a cheap and effective solution that has a minimal impact on the look of your windows.

The expert added that draft snakes can also be used to place under a windowsill or door to prevent drafts.

You can buy them in a variety of great designs, or you can make your own to fit your windows by sewing a tube of fabric and filling it with dry rice, he said.

Whilst this offers you a cheap and easy crafting project, it only prevents a draft from coming from the windowsill, still letting out plenty of heating through the rest of the frame and the window itself.

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'Cheap and effective method' to lower energy bills before winter - 'good place to start' - Express

(RNS) Let our people go! reads a statement shared over the weekend by the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a network of theologically conservative United Methodists.

While the phrase might be borrowed from Moses in the Book of Exodus, the WCA is not exactly calling for a series of escalating plagues.

Nevertheless, the outcry is not without threat.

The organization is calling for churches to stop paying dues, or apportionments, to regional annual conferences it believes are making disaffiliation for churches difficult to impossible amid the United Methodist Churchsslow-moving schism, largely over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ members.

Those apportionments, determined by each annual conference, fund bishops salaries and support the work of the mainline Protestant denomination around the world.

I think as long as a church continues to send money to the people who are holding them captive and not allowing them to disaffiliate under fair terms, theyre continuing to fund the misbehavior and its time to stop doing that, the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the WCA, told Religion News Service.

Therrellannounced Friday(Aug. 12) that the association was calling on conservative members of United Methodist churches to lead their church councils to immediately begin withholding apportionments from 19 of the denominations 53 annual conferences.

Those conferences include Baltimore-Washington, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida, Greater New Jersey, Illinois Great Rivers, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mountain Sky, New England, Northern Illinois, Oregon-Idaho, Peninsula-Delaware, South Carolina, Susquehanna, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.

Members of other annual conferences wishing to show their solidarity should consider withholding their apportionments to the denominations episcopal fund, which pays its bishops, according to Therrells statement.

The WCA president wrote that the 19 annual conferences are adding onerous and punitive requirements to disaffiliation provisions in the denominations rulebook, the Book of Discipline. He told RNS such efforts range from requiring churches to pay more than two years of apportionments to requiring them to complete a six-month discernment period before they can move to disaffiliate.

Jay Therrell. Courtesy of Therrell

We would simply ask them to follow the golden rule: to treat these churches that wish to disaffiliate the way they would want to be treated if they were trying to disaffiliate, Therrell said.

The Book of Discipline allows through 2023 for churches wishing to leave the denomination over its stance on sexuality to take their properties with them after paying two years of apportionments and pension liabilities.Those provisionswere added to the Book of Discipline by General Conference delegates in 2019 alongside legislation called theTraditional Planthat strengthened the denominations language barring the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists.

Read more here:

WCA Calls on Conservative Churches to Withhold Dues From United Methodist Church - Church Leaders

CLEVELAND, Ohio I had a problem with my cable service. I called the 800-number. I waited on hold.

And waited...

And waited...

I listened to same stupid music broken up by your call is very important to us, please hold the line. About the 12th time I heard that phrase, I mumbled, Liar!

Finally, someone answered the phone. The person was in a call center. I explained my problem. English was not a comfortable language for the person. He said he needed to transfer me to someone else, adding please hold on...

I heard a click...

The line went dead.

Welcome to the daily stupid.

ONLY ONE SHOE?

I have a friend who works at a large department store. About everyone there has at least one daily stupid, perhaps every hour.

One day, a man who smelled as if hed slept in a keg of Coors stumbled into the shoe department demanding, Wheres the beer?

Sir, this is the shoe department, my friend said.

Wheres the BEER? he demanded.

Over there, she said pointing, toward the door. He staggered off, grumbling about lousy service.

My friend often finds old, dirty shoes in the aisles. She knows someone changed into new shoes, walked out the door, leaving the old ones behind.

But one day, she found only one old shoe. It appeared the person stole only one new shoe, leaving the other new shoe still in the box with the old one in the aisle.

Of course, that led to a special cleanup job, and taking the one new shoe off the shelf, etc. When youre in a store and take clothes off the rack, shoes out of the box, then dump them elsewhere someone else does have to pick them up.

Put the stuff back on the rack and save someone else from a daily stupid.

HOW WILL WE REACT?

We cant let the daily stupid ruin our day, said Jonathan Schaeffer, pastor of Grace Church in Middleburg Heights.

It may sound minor, but little things can become big things if we dwell on them. Dealing with a rude customer can lead us to have an edge in our voice when the next customer shows up.

Something a self-absorbed relative said can stick with us a two minute talk lasting two hours. An ugly email or text can keep us up at night even though we know the person was thoughtless and just venting.

Consider the source, wrote Dr. Ellen Hendriksen in Psychology Today. Would you be as likely to drink water from a mountain spring as from a puddle under a dumpster of course not...The source matters. The same thing goes for criticism. Does the critique come from someone you like and respect...or is this someone known to shoot off their mouth, having all the subtlety of a sledgehammer?

I was talking to someone recently about my mental daily stupid box. When Im mugged with a daily stupid, I dump in the box and lock it. I dont need to go back and look at it.

IT FEELS PERSONAL

A question worth asking is, Am I looking to be offended.

I called the cable company back. This time, the company offered a chance for me leave my number and they promised to call back in 28-to-34 minutes.

I wondered how they came up with that math, but I left my number not expecting a call back in this decade. About 40 minutes later, someone called. The person was polite. I took a deep breath, slowly and politely explaining my situation. She helped me change my service plan.

Schaeffer and his wife Mary both were on the line when we talked about the daily stupid. Mary mentioned this: Give the assumption of positive intent.

Who said that? I asked.

My mother-in-law, Jamie Norton, said Schaeffer.

Is she a psychologist? I asked.

A counselor, said Mary.

OK, a professional. Its fair point. The guy who cut me off perhaps just hit the wrong button or his phone malfunctioned. Ive done the same thing. Not everyone who messes up is out to get you even when it feels that way.

Hendriksen also wrote: If we can hear fair criticism of our actions without taking it personally, not only do we escape feeling hurt or shamed, we also keep criticism from escalating. By contrast, if we think, You hurt my feelings, so Ill hurt you back, we create more conflict and pain all around.

HOW DO WE VIEW OTHERS?

You can simply write off the conflict as someone having a bad day. Or sometimes, I just tell myself, The guy is a jerk, dont play his game.

Instead, we want to settle the score, hurt them them back an eye-for-an-eye.

But as Mahatma Gandhi said: An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Loud arguments can make us blind to the reality. Sometimes, the person is having a bad day and needs some grace just as we do in the same situation.

In stores, Ive learned to tell a weary even grumpy clerk, Looks like a long day. That usually brings a smile a sense of relief because the clerk believes someone sees her as a person.

Schaeffer cited Matthew 9:36-37: When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Many people now are raised without a strong home life. Manners arent stressed. Interactions on media are rude. Personal attacks common.Others are walking volcanos, looking for a reason to erupt.

Schaeffer mentioned how it helps for us to try and think of the other people involved. What are they dealing with? Its especially true in this age of fewer people working and those on the job having to do more than they ever have before.

As Jesus said in Luke 6:31 (Also known as the Golden Rule): Treat others as you would want to be treated.

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Link:

Dealing with the daily stupid & something stupid happens daily Terry Plutos Faith & You - cleveland.com