17th September 202011:56 am17th September 202011:58 am

In 2015 The Engineer reported that Lockheed Martin was to manufacture high-powered laser weapons and today we bring you a video from the company highlighting its advances in this field.

According to the company, a range of threats mortar and artillery shells, small UAVs, lightweight ground vehicles and small attack boats can now be defeated from a range of around one mile away.

The Laser Weapon System page of the companys website states: As fibre laser power levels increase, our systems will be able to disable larger threats and do so across greater distances. When operated in conjunction with kinetic energy systems, these systems can serve as a force multiplier.

As the company says, the time for laser weapons systems has come. See for yourself in the video below.

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Video of the week: laser weapons on sea, land and air - The Engineer

The Williamson County Board of Commissioners met Sept. 14 to hear a recommendation on the county seal. (Screenshot via YouTube)

Read the latest news from the Nashville area.

Williamson County

Williamson County approves recommendation to remove Confederate flag from county seal

Following weeks of debate and seeking community feedback, the Williamson County Board of Commissioners voted 16-7 on Sept. 14 approving a resolution to accept a recommendation to remove the Confederate flag from the county seal.

DATA: See 6 months of tracking COVID-19 in Williamson County

The Tennessee Department of Health releases several data points each day, and with changes in reporting practices in recent weeks, it can be difficult to know what each metric means.

Here is a breakdown of reporting metrics with local data from the last six months.

Williamson County active coronavirus cases remain stable; cases in school-age children up 13% since last week

The number of active coronavirus cases in Williamson County is 407, according to the Sept. 14 update from the Tennessee Department of Health. While this number is up slightly from Sept. 3, when the department changed its reporting practices to account for shorter active case periods, the total is the same as last week.

3 development projects to know in Williamson County

A number of construction projects, including hotels and new schools, are underway in Williamson County, Take a look at a few currently in progress.

Franklin

Robert Blair selected board chair for Franklin Special School District; community members call for former chair to resign

Following the announcement last week that Tim Stillings, a member of the Franklin Special School District board, would not volunteer to serve as board chair this year, FSSD board member Robert Blair was named as the new board chair Sept. 14.

Brentwood

City of Brentwood to conduct smoke testing in residential areas

As part of the city's ongoing work to improve its sewer system, the city of Brentwood will be conducting smoke testing over the next few weeks in some Brentwood neighborhoods.

Wendy Sturges contributed to this report.

The rest is here:

Confederate flag could be removed from Williamson County seal and more Nashville news - Community Impact Newspaper

A third application to build up to 150 homes in Chester has been lodged with Cheshire West & Chester Council.

For the third time in five years an application to build on land adjacent to Clifton Drive playing fields off Sealand Road has been submitted despite the previous two attempts being unanimously rejected.

The latest application is being submitted by the administrators of former applicant Sealand Commercial Properties Limited (SCP), with Smith & Williamson looking to try and recoup some money by making a last ditch attempt to get the green light.

The plans submitted are for 150 homes with the demolition of four properties on Sealand Road to create access.

The issue over Clifton Drive and the land for the proposed development opposite has rumbled on for a number of years, the previous applications rejected owing to the land being designated a Category Three flood area, one that comes with a very high risk.

In 2015 a bid was submitted for the site by Bloor Homes and SCP before another arrived a little over 12 months when Guernsey-based Astu, again in partnership with SCP, had their application for 280 residential units rejected.

Andy Scargill, chairman of the Friends of Countess of Chester Country Park, has campaigned on the issue in the past and believes this latest attempt to be 'total nonsense'.

"Back in 2012 the old Chester City Council had a report commissioned on the flood plain area that these plans are looking to build on and in each scenario that was modelled the area flooded," Mr Scargill told CheshireLive.

"If the embankment goes then it would be very serious and there would be a huge issue with regards to flooding.

"The administrators on this occasion are obviously trying to recoup what they can so are dipping their toe into the water with this plan again, possibly in the hope that Brexit and COVID-19 will have people distracted enough for them to get outline planning, which is all they really need for the land to be of real value.

"I don't blame them, they are clawing back cash for people who have lost a lot, but my own personal view is that it is total nonsense.

"I'm angry and amused at the same time that someone would consider such a move at such a time like we are currently experiencing.

"I've said it before now but speculators don't care about Chester, they are not from the area and care about the profit and not about what is best for the city and its residents."

Back in February 2018 planning consent was given to Bark Street Investments for 142 homes on the Clifton Drive playing fields site opposite, land which the University of Chester still own the leasehold of.

Find out what's being built in your area by entering your postcode below.

That application was initially rejected before being overturned in 2016 by the High Court, an inquiry opened by the Secretary of State who upheld the decision.

But the land still remains undeveloped.

"When Clifton Drive got planning permission I felt like throwing in the towel," said Mr Scargill.

"The Local Plan had enough housing for 25 years so there was no need for such a development to be pushed through. For a Planning Inspector to say yes to it I found staggering.

"It is land that should never be built upon."

The deadline for comments on the proposals is Friday, September 25.

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Third attempt to build 150 homes on Chester flood risk area branded 'nonsense' - Cheshire Live

Shares of Sealand Capital Galaxy Ltd (LON: SCGL) today surged 57.1% despite the company not making any big announcements as investors bought the companys shares causing its share price to rise.

The last significant announcement form the company was on September 1st when it announced the introduction of the Qiaohuajiao brand of fish maw into mainland China and the brand recognition that it had built since the summer.

The companys marketing efforts had paid off immensely since introducing the fish into the market on 8 July 2020.

Sealand Capital describes itself as a company that provides financial and strategic support to entrepreneurs and this is clear from its partnerships with WeChat and Tencent to provide seamless services in HongKong and across the world.

The companys shares are trading near its all-time lows and may present an excellent opportunity for long-term investors and medium-term swing traders in equal measure.

Sealand Capital share price

Sealand Capital shares today rallied 57.1% to trade at 2.20p having risen from Thursdays closing price of 1.40p.

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Here's Why Sealand Capital Shares Surged 45% Today - AskTraders

This video shows hundreds of people gathering along a road to allegedly watch an "illegal street race."

The footage from a dashcam belonging to Tom Jones shows crowds of onlookers lining the streets as cars whizz by in the opposite direction.

It was captured last night as Mr Jones drove along Bumper's Lane in Chester near Sealand Industrial Estate which is close to the border, reports Cheshire Live.

New covid rules in England mean outdoor gatherings of more than six people are illegal.

The incident has been reported to Cheshire Police.

Tom said: "The council have spent a lot of money resurfacing this road only for it to be abused by these idiots. Not only that but an illegal gathering for covid too.

"I have heard car racing nights in the past often on late Sunday evenings and wondered where it came from. Now I know."

Cheshire Constabulary define "street racing" as illegal racing of any kind of vehicle on a public road.

The only time street racing is permitted is when the organiser has obtained prior permission from the police as part of an organised event.

Cheshire Live has approached Cheshire Constabulary for comment.

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Hundreds break covid rules to watch 'illegal street race' over the border - North Wales Live

The Telegraph

Coronavirus was not the main cause of death for nearly one third of recorded Covid-19 victims in July and August, research by Oxford University has found. Analysis shows that around 30 percent of people included in the coronavirus death toll by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) over the summer months had died primarily from other conditions. It means someone who suffered a heart attack, or even died in a road traffic accident, may have been included in the figures if they had also tested positive for coronavirus at some point, or if doctors believed the virus may have exacerbated their condition. Throughout the entire pandemic, around one in 13 people currently classed as Covid-19 victims did not have the disease as an underlying cause of death. It means 3,877 deaths (7.8 per cent) in which coronavirus was not the primary cause have been included in the figures. In July and August, that number jumped to 28.8 per cent of all registered deaths, meaning Covid-19 was not the main cause of death in 465 of 1,617 recorded victims (listen to the podcast below, which discusses whether Britain's death toll could be set to increase again).

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Artist creates giant image of seal and her pup using natural contours of an iconic beach - Yahoo News UK

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Ministry hopes restored cave will attract seals, bats - Cyprus Mail

TRIPOLI, LEBANON -- Mohammed Sufian did not dream of much: a job, food on the table, the chance to buy his 2 1/2-year-old son the little things a toddler wants.

So when he heard that smugglers were taking people from his hometown of Tripoli to the nearby Mediterranean island of Cyprus, he decided to take the chance with his pregnant wife and child. To pay their way, he sold his furniture and two of his sister's bracelets.

They boarded a small fishing boat with the others. But what would be expected to be a 40-hour trip went badly: For eight harrowing days, they were stranded in the Mediterranean Sea, apparently losing their way and running out of diesel. At least four adults and two children died -- including Sufian's little boy. Six are missing.

"I took my son with me not to give him a high life, not to give him the life of rich people," said Sufian, 21. "I was trying to give him a good life where if he will ask me for a potato chip bag or a juice box I am able to give it to him. This is what drove me out of the country."

In recent weeks, scores of others have tried to make the same illicit sea crossing, attempting to flee a country facing multiple crises and an unprecedented economic and financial collapse.

Generations of Lebanese have emigrated due to war and conflict, including waves of Lebanese who travelled by boat legally to Cyprus during the country's 1975-90 war. But this new flight -- people risking their lives to make illegal crossings in rickety fishing boats to escape poverty -- reflects a level of desperation the country has not seen before.

Tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs in the past months. The local currency has lost 80% of its value, eradicating the purchasing power of many in this tiny country of 5 million where corruption and mismanagement are widespread. Unemployment has reached a soaring 35% and poverty is skyrocketing.

The crisis has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and last month's massive explosion at Beirut port which fed despair among a population that has long given up on its leaders.

Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city, had been one of the poorest and most neglected regions even before the crisis. The city is also home to tens of thousands of Syrians who fled civil war in their country that broke out in March 2011. Many of those taking the boats have been Syrian refugees.

Earlier this month, authorities in Cyprus said they were alarmed by the arrival of four boats carrying Syrian and Lebanese migrants in waters off its coastline. European Union member Cyprus and Lebanon have an agreement to prevent migrants from reaching the island nation.

The boat carrying Sufian's family and 46 other men, women and children, mostly Lebanese and Syrians, left Tripoli on Sept. 7. Each had paid the smuggler the equivalent of up to $930 in Lebanese pounds.

Upon boarding, all their belongings, including food and water, were taken away -- ostensibly, they were too heavy. All would be returned, brought to them by another boat once they are away from Lebanon's coast, they were told.

They never got them back, and were left under the scorching sun, without water or food.

Sufian said that 20 hours after they sailed, his son began asking for water and milk. Having nothing to give and overcome by the heat and his own worry, Sufian fainted, he says. When he woke up, Sufian found that his relatives had given the boy three bottles of sea water.

"My son died later because of lack of food and water," Sufian said. He washed his son and followed the Islamic tradition of covering him with a cloth. Three days later, he dropped the body into the sea, thinking they might never make it back to land.

Sufian said several ships passed the stranded boat but no one helped, perhaps because they feared pirates. After six deaths, a half-dozen men leapt into the sea to seek help.

Ibrahim Lisheen, a 22-year-old migrant, swam for hours. Finally, he reached a warship for the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL; its crew rescued those remaining on the boat. They were offered treatment and handed over to Lebanese authorities in Beirut.

Late Thursday, the body of a young man believed to have been on the ship washed up on the coast south of Beirut. Six are still missing, among them Mohammed Mohammed, 27, who left Lebanon to help his parents and seven sisters.

His father, Khaldoun, says his son had been jobless for years after he lost his job at a shop that sells fire extinguishers; he grew tired of taking "money from me to buy cigarettes," and decided to join cousins who were making the crossing. Mohammed had sold his sister's neckless to pay the smugglers.

The two men who took the money and put the migrants on the fishing boat are in hiding and families are demanding that they be punished.

Mohammed's mother, Afaf Abdul-Hamid, goes to the coast of Tripoli every day, hoping that her son will swim home. "These are human traffickers. They took my son to the middle of the sea and left him there with no food or water."

Lisheen, whose heroics led to the rescue, is furious. "Look at my body, it was eaten by fish. My body is swollen, my teeth were broken due to the salty water and I lost a lot of things," he said, as friends massaged his body with Aloe Vera to alleviate his sunburn.

Why did he take the risk? "I did that because of poverty, it makes us blind," he said. "To those who are asking me why you are leaving, I am telling them why, I am leaving in order to feed my family, my mother."

Sufian and his wife, expected to give birth in two months, live with their sorrow. And the grieving father relives, again and again, the moment when his dreams of a better life for his family became a nightmare.

"My son died due to thirst, I shrouded him with my hands, I washed him with my hands and with my hands I dropped him in the water after three days, because I lost hope."

------

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Continue reading here:

Despair in Lebanon pushing some to flee to Europe in boats - CTV News

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Q. Dear Umbra,

Is there a maximum amount of CO2 that the ocean can absorb? What will be the effects should this happen?

Some Questions Underestimate Imminent Doom

A. Dear SQUID,

Once you learn how many of the various expressions of climate change drought, hurricanes, even wildfires have to do with fluctuations in the ocean, its hard to stop thinking about it. We land-dwellers tend to think of the ocean as this distant, mysterious, separate place. And while the vast majority of it is certainly distant and mysterious, its not separate at all! Marine flora produce more than half of the oxygen humans breathe, ocean currents determine how weather systems move and develop, and sometimes if youre lucky enough to be near a shoreline at the right time, you can see a seal and thats always incredible!

Help Grist raise $20,000 by 9/30. Just click the image above

But understanding marine fluctuations and their effects on dry land requires some grasp of several scientific concepts that, if youre anything like me, you havent thought about since high school. (Dont worry I made sure to consult actual experts on ocean chemistry for this column rather than rely solely on my own understanding of air-sea gas exchange.) And not to spoil the ending, but you dont want the ocean to absorb too much of the carbon dioxide we pump into the atmosphere. (Like, for example, everything thats coming out of the Western wildfires. Yikes.)

Lets start by talking about the concept of a carbon sink basically a natural or artificial reservoir that stores carbon rather than letting it cray all around in the atmosphere. You can find carbon sinks in lots of different ecosystems; they include peat bogs, grasslands, and mangroves. But the ocean is the planets biggest carbon sink by far. Scientists estimate that the ocean absorbs at least a quarter and perhaps as much as half! of all human activity-produced CO2 every year.

Heres how it works: The surface of the ocean and the air above exchange molecules all the time; that explains both how we end up with bits of microplastics in ocean air (not nice) and how carbon dioxide gets pulled out of the atmosphere (nice!). Where does all that marine carbon go? Some of it gets converted into biomass by underwater critters that consider it a delicious, nourishing treat.

There are a bunch of organisms at the sunlit surface level of the ocean kelp! Phytoplankton! Blue-green algae! that convert carbon into sugar via photosynthesis. That sustenance then gets passed along the food chain. The carbon that gets processed out as waste then sinks to the depths of the ocean where ocean scientists like to refer to it as marine snow. Whatever snow isnt consumed ends up as a thick blanket of ooze (NOAAs words, not mine) that makes up about 75 percent of the ocean floor. Meanwhile, the oceans surface is free to absorb more carbon and start the process all over again. James Bishop, a marine chemist who studies the ocean carbon cycle, refers to this process as the biological carbon pump of the ocean.

But carbon dioxide doesnt just get gobbled up by marine plants. It also dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid. This weak acid then dissociates relatable! into ions that can throw off the pH of the ocean, with disastrous results. You might know this phenomenon as ocean acidification. Since the Industrial Revolution, the pH of the ocean, which is naturally slightly basic (not in a pumpkin spice way), has shifted from around 8.2 to a pH of 8.1. That might not sound like much, but its very bad news for anything with a skeleton or shell made of calcium carbonate like corals, for example. Those structures can end up weakened or, in the worst cases, straight-up dissolved.

The weaker the organisms that make up the various stages of that carbon pump become, the less the ocean will be able to uptake and store all the extra carbon dioxide were dumping into the atmosphere. Theres also the fun extra factor that as the planet gets hotter, the ocean absorbs a lot of that heat. Warmer water throws off the balance of marine ecosystems as well as messing with the oceans all-important carbon pump. So, unlike a potential matchs dating history, you cant really use past behavior to predict how the oceans carbon cycle will treat us in the future.

We are already adding carbon dioxide at a rate at least 10 times higher than ever observed in the geological record, which spans at least 100 million years, Bishop said. So we dont know what the trajectory of this biological carbon pump is; we dont know who the winners and losers are going to be. Were already in dangerous territory, and yes, we could still do more damage.

I get the sense that youre trying to suss out whether the ocean can act as a sort of repository for all our climate sins. Well, thats been researched! There is another way that you can take carbon dioxide out of the air and stick it into the ocean, but its kind of the geoengineering equivalent of putting all your dirty clothes under your bed and pretending you never have to do laundry again! In the early 2000s, some scientists got together to study what might happen if you pumped carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the deep ocean via pipelines.

There are a lot of issues with this idea, as you might imagine: Its very expensive; it technically violates international conventions that make it illegal for countries to dump their trash into the ocean; and, well, if the ocean is already acidifying it isnt a great idea to dump more CO2 into it, even at its deepest, darkest levels. In fact, the concept of ocean acidification first came to light when the Department of Energy was doing lab experiments to study the possible impacts of deep-sea carbon injection.

I think that very few people are any longer proposing just to inject molecular carbon dioxide into the deep ocean, said Ken Caldeira, an atmospheric scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Science. I think the general feeling is though, yeah, it would kinda sorta work, there must be something better to do than that.

And in the end, Caldeira added: Theres no limit to how much carbon dioxide you could put in the deep ocean, but it wont stay there and it will come out and warm things up. Because the barrier between land and sea is actually very, very thin!

But just because we cant use the ocean as our unlimited carbon hiding spot doesnt mean its all over: Since the whole problem is atmosphere-warming greenhouse gas emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels, companies and governments could devote more effort to figuring out how to not burn fossil fuels. Rather than crossing our fingers and saying a prayer while sticking the byproducts of that fossil fuel-burning into the deepest crevices of the oceans, why not just turn off the carbon tap?

The ocean can hold a lot of our mistakes, but eventually its going to make us pay for them unless we change our ways.

Forebodingly,

Umbra

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Can we just drown our carbon emissions in the ocean? - Grist

Schools across North Wales have been disrupted as a result of positive coronavirus cases.

As pupils return to classrooms this month, a number of schools have had to take action as a result of Covid-19 cases among pupils and staff.

The cases have led to large groups of pupils having to isolate, and partial closures of some sections of schools.

The Welsh Government previously warned parents to expect "periods of disruption" in schools across North Wales amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview with North Wales Live, Welsh Government education minister Kirsty Williams said schools had worked hard planning for the reopening, which had been "mostly successful".

But there were still new cases of coronavirus and it was a reminder for people to follow the rules and practice hand hygiene and socially distance, she said.

Anglesey

Three schools on Anglesey have reported a positive case so far.

Last week, parents and staff at Ysgol Corn Hir, in Llangefni were informed of the positive case and relevant staff and pupils were told to self-isolate for 14 days.

Today (September 15) the local authority have confirmed that one pupil attending Ysgol y Borth, in Menai Bridge, and one pupil attending Ysgol Llanfechell have tested positive for coronavirus.

Anglesey Council said their thoughts were with the pupils who have tested positive for the virus.

Gwynedd

A pupil has tested positive for coronavirus at Ysgol yr Hendre in Caernarfon.

The council stressed staff had been "following a stringent hygiene process and will continue to do so" and that parents had been informed "as quickly as possible".

Two reception classes will be closed until September 28 but the rest of the school will remain open as usual, the council confirmed.

It has also been confirmed that two kitchen staff members at Ysgol Friars in Bangor tested positive for coronavirus.

The school sent out an email last week informing parents that the canteen would be closed due to "unforeseen circumstances".

Parents were told to provide packed lunches for their children, but say the school did not tell them the reason why until around 11am on last Monday (September 7).

Conwy

A coronavirus case was confirmed in a student at Grwp Llandrillo Menai 's Abergele campus.

The organisation confirmed people in the same class were being taught online for two weeks after the case was confirmed on September 8.

The campus remains open to other students.

Ysgol Nant Y Groes in Colwyn Bay confirmed on Friday, September 18 that a pupil at the school had tested positive for coronavirus.

Pupils in the "DRUM, HEBOG and TAL Y FAN" classes at the school have been asked to keep their children home "until further notice".

Denbighshire

In Denbighshire, 30 pupils went into self-isolation after a case was reported at Ysgol Frongoch on Rhyl Road, Denbigh.

Denbighshire County Council's lead member for education said the school and the local authority were working with Test, Trace and Protect teams and "following Welsh Government guidelines" to contain the virus.

All other classes at the site will continue as normal and and the area has been subject to a deep clean.

Flintshire

Five primary schools in Flintshire have been hit by positive cases this week.

On Monday, the council confirmed that there had been a positive case at St John the Baptist VA School in Penymynydd, Flintshire, with pupils in Year 4 being told to isolate.

On Tuesday, they confirmed that there had been a positive case at Ewloe Green Primary School and pupils in Year 3 at the school were now being asked to quarantine.

And on the same day, they said a positive case had impacted pupils at Saltney Wood Memorial Primary School in Flintshire.

Pupils in year 5 and 6 were being asked to isolate.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that there has been a confirmed case at Sandycroft CP School.

Pupils in Year 3 and 4 at the school are being asked to self isolate and the school remains open to other pupils.

On Thursday, there was a confirmed case at Sealand County Primary School meaning pupils and staff in Year 4 had to self isolate.

There was also a case of a Year 7 pupil at Castell Alun High School in Hope who tested positive.

Coleg Cambria, which has sites in Flintshire and Wrexham, also confirmed that a small number of students had been self isolating due to a suspected case.

They did not say which specific site the case related to.

Wrexham

A primary school in Wrexham was closed for a short period after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.

St Christopher's School shut for a short period on September 7, and described the case as an "isolated incident".

See the rest here:

The full list of North Wales schools which have reported coronavirus cases - North Wales Live

To put it simply: Dealing with blisters is an actual pain. If youre reading this, you probably already know that blisters are those red, raised areas that look like bubbles and occur mostly on the feet for us runners. Located on the upper layer of skin, they often fill with fluid and may also hurt or itch.

Many runners incur them during races, especially marathons, due to prolonged friction between your skin and sock or shoe. But blisters can pop up at any time, including during training runs, and non-running footwear can be to blame as well.

While most blisters dont pose a serious health risk, they shouldnt be taken lightly. A painful blister can sideline a runneror worse, get infected, especially if you use an unsanitary needle to pop it. Heres a complete guide for blister treatment and the best products for first aid and prevention.

Friction leads to annoying, painful blisters. The culprits are usually our socks, shoes, or both rubbing against our skin. Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes, and foot abnormalities, such as bunions, heel spurs, and hammertoes. Heat and moisture intensify friction by causing your feet to swell.

Blisters commonly pop up during races or long runs when mileage is increased and friction occurs without intervention. Your body responds to this friction by producing fluid, which builds up beneath the skin thats being rubbed.

And since moisture is also a factor, races are the perfect breeding ground for blisters: Youre perspiring more by running faster and longer, sloshing through water stations and, if the weather is warm, possibly pouring water over your head.

Vadym PlysiukGetty Images

If you have a large blister thats big, nasty, even purple, and its affecting how your toes bend, give it a day or two to shrink, says Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and a marathoner. If it doesnt improve, you might need to have your doctor pop it in the office under sterile conditions so it doesnt get infected.

If you have a small blister thats not prohibiting your movement, as tempting as it is to touch it, just leave it alone. When the skin and the membrane of the skin are compromised by popping the blister, all of the bacteria that live on the skin normally can invade and could cause inflammation or an infection right away, Metzl says.

You could end up making a very small problem much bigger by puncturing the barrier. You should also leave small blood blisters intact, too. Otherwise, you risk getting bacteria in your bloodstream. Cover it up so the swelling goes down, then try to fix the problem that caused it. Here are some prevention methods to treat small blisters:

If you absolutely must pop a blister (for example, if youre traveling and cant see your doctor), use caution. Metzl suggests cleaning the area and needle with soap and water and following with an antibiotic ointment. Then be sure to clean the area regularly to prevent infection.

One more note: A blister under a nail is best treated by a professional. You never want to deliberately remove the toenail.

To stop blisters before they even start to form, Metzl recommends making sure youre wearing running shoes in the right size. And before you run, coat risky areas with products that dry out your skin, such as baby powder or anti-chafing powder, to minimize the effects of sweating. You can also use a lubricant such as Vaseline or anti-chafing balm to ease pain caused by rubbing.

Shoes that are too small will cause blisters under the toenails or on the tops or tips of the toes. There should be a thumbs width of space between the toes and the end of the toe box. Pay attention to your socks, too: They should fit without bunching up at your toes or slipping down your heels, which are common blister hot spots.

If you suspect your shoes dont fit, consult with your local running store to have an expert help you find your size via a virtual or in-person fitting, or look for socks with reinforced heels and toes to help reduce friction.

Here is the gear we recommend to stave off blisters from occurring, and the products we recommend for healing. Because popping happens.

Lakota Gambill

Altra Torin 4.5 Plush

$139.95

The Torin 4.5 has 360-degree cushioning to surround your foot in a comfy, snug, and secure upper. The Quantic midsole provides a soft and bouncy platform that provides support for your feet and joints. Ample room in the foot-shaped toe box guards against blisters and black toenails.

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Full Review

Lakota Gambill

Topo Athletic Runventure 3

$120.00backcountry.com

Lightweight and flexible, the Runventure is swift on the groomed path and nimble on rugged terrain. The shoe has a rock plate so the pads of your feet wont get poked by trail debris, and a wide forefoot provides stability and wiggle room for your toes. A secure lace enclosure ensures a snug fit without rubbing.

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Injinji Run Lightweight No-Show Socks

Isolate your toes to prevent friction by wearing technical toe socks. Injinjis are lightweight and allow your feet to splay thanks to the five-toe design. A heel cuff protects your Achilles, and the nylon-polyester blend wicks away sweat.

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Bombas Performance Running Merino Ankle Socks

Bombass running socks have a heel cuff to prevent irritation from collar rubbing, and a front cuff to shield your skin from tongue friction. The socks are also contoured and cushioned, with a seamless toe.

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Body Glide Original Anti-Chafe Balm

Body Glide is a convenient balm stick thats available in various sizes from .35 to 2.5 ounces, making it packable for travel and easy to pocket on a run. The balm isnt wet or greasy, and keeps pores clog-free.

Squirrels Nut Butter All Natural Anti-Chafe Salve

$13.99

Squirrels Nut Butter is another preventative product you can slather on blister-prone areas. The nut refers to coconut oil. Other ingredients include nourishing and hydrating cocoa butter, beeswax, and Vitamin E.

Dr. Scholls Moleskin Plus Padding Roll

$22.13

This cotton and foam moleskin roll is perfect for padding blisters, callouses, and bunions. Simply cut a piece down to any size and apply to the areaor areason your foot that are prone to hot spots while running.

KT Tape Performance+ Blister Treatment Patch

Protect blisters and ease pain with this durable hydrocolloid gel patch, which has a waterproof seal and is hypoallergenic and latex-free. Its durable enough to last up to seven days on the affected area.

Band-Aid Hydro Seal Adhesive Bandages For Toe Blisters

These sleek gel pads are dedicated little toe guards. The waterproof adhesive keeps the cushioning in place and seals out dirt and germs.

Neosporin Original First Aid Antibiotic Ointment

$6.99

To prevent infection, apply Neosporin and a bandage (like Band-Aids Blister Gel Guard, above). The ointment comes in a small, slim tube thats convenient for travel or storing in your race belt.

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Best Blister Treatment and Prevention Products | Gear for Blisters 2020 - Runner's World

With less than a week to go until the official start of Autumn on September 22nd, now is the best time to make sure that you prepare your home for chillier months.

Below, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, shares five simple tips to get your house ready as we move into cooler weather and save yourself time, money, and stress.

Clear gutters and drains

It is nobodys favourite job, but maintaining your gutters and drains is an essential part of getting your home ready for autumn and winter. Check for obvious cracks or damage and make time to clear your gutters of debris like leaves, moss, and mud before the wet and windy months start. Autumn leaves are lovely to look at, but they can easily cause a blockage and come heavy rain or snow, you risk leaks or even greater damage if water cannot drain away from your house.

Protect your pipes with lagging

A little investment in the milder months can pay off when the temperature drops and one of the things you can do now to save you time and money come autumn and winter is to lag your pipes. Lagging simply refers to foam insulation tubes, which are inexpensive to buy and easy to install just slip the foam tubing over external pipes (particularly plastic pipes) to reduce heat loss from your system. This will make your heating more efficient, helping you to save on energy bills and lagging will also protect your pipes from freezing and bursting in cold weather.

Check your roof and chimney

Your homes roof is one of those things that you do not think about until there is a problem. Water leaking in from an improperly maintained roof or chimney can damage your home, discolour your walls, and in the case of a bad leak, could mark or spoil anything you may keep in your attic.

Even if everything seems fine now, all it takes is a heavy snowfall or a bad spell of wind and rain to dislodge tiles or mortar, allowing draughts and water to sneak into your home. Save yourself some stress come winter check that your tiles are still firmly in place and that any flashing and pointing is still in good condition, or get a roofer to have a look if you dont have easy access.

Winter-proof your windows

If you have wooden window frames or windowsills, they might need a little bit more care and attention during autumn and winter. Wet weather and freezing temperatures can make untreated wood expand and even rot, so ahead of time, make sure you fill in any cracks, check that any sealant is still firmly in place and holding a good seal, and top up any paint if needed.

Get your boiler serviced

It is easy to put off a boiler servicing it can be expensive, and if your boiler is tucked away in a closet or airing cupboard it is a case of out of sight, out of mind. But the very last thing you want is for your boiler to stop working in the dead of winter, leaving you and your family shivering.

Not to mention, in the colder months you may struggle to find someone who can fix your boiler right away and you may also end up paying more due to out of hours rates or emergency callout prices. Even if you have cover for your boiler, most policies may not pay out if your heating system has not been properly maintained so get your boiler serviced now and enjoy a cosy autumn with fully-functional heating.

Nima concludes: The autumn and winter months may be cosy, but if your house isnt prepared ahead of time, you may find that the cold weather brings plenty of stress and extra expense. Hopefully, our helpful tips will help homeowners beat the cold temperatures, rainy days, and blustery winds.

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Top tips to get your home Autumn-ready - Property Reporter