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I'll Always Be in Love with You By: The X-Rays [Savoy 681] written by Bud Green, Herman Ruby & Sam H. Stept (as Sam Stept) US R&B 3 The X-Rays singles chronology (1949 • 33 pts) The X-Rays singles by points Song versions 1929 • Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1929 • Morton Downey • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1949 • The X-Rays • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1949 • The Ray-O-Vacs • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1951 • Charles Brown • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1956 • Jack Pleis • I'll Always Be in Love with You 1958 • Michael Holliday • I'll Always Be in Love with You

What is a Standard Deviation? Home » Accounting Dictionary » What is a Standard Deviation? Definition: Standard Deviation (SD) is a statistical measure that captures the difference between the average and the outliers in a set of data. In other words, standard deviation measures how volatile a set of data is. What Does Standard Deviation Mean? What is the definition of standard deviation? Standard Deviation is a statistical tool that is used widely by statisticians, economists, financial investors, mathematicians, and government officials. It allows these experts to see how variable a collection of data is. Furthermore, SD is calculated as the square root of the variance of the data. Specifically in finance, investors can use SD to determine the volatility of a certain portfolio of investments. Matthew has just graduated, and has entered the financial industry as an investment analyst for a large firm. One of his first tasks is to determine the SD of a portfolio of three investments: AAC, BBA, and CCD. These investments have annualized returns of 8%, 15%, and 13%, respectively. First, Matthew knows he must calculate the mean, or average, of the data: (.08 + .15 + .13) x 100 / (3) = 12%. Furthermore, he knows that the variance is simply the difference between each investment’s return, and the mean. Thus, the variance for AAC is (8% – 12%) = -4%, the variance for BBA is (15% – 12%) = 3%, and the variance for CCD is (13% – 12%) = 1%. Then, he squares these values to arrive at .16%, .09%, and .01%. Lastly, he adds these values together, and arrives at 0.26%, which is divided by 2 to arrive at the total variance of 0.13%. Then, he takes the square root of the total variance, or .0013,. which equals a deviation of 3.6%. Although this formula can seem intimidating, it is actually an extremely useful tool for investors and non-investors to use to find patterns and information in a set of data. Standard Deviations: Standard deviation means a statistical measurement used to calculate the significance of items as they relate to averages, means, and outliers.

HomeNewsCanada to Give Experimental Ebola Vaccine to the World Health Organization Canada to Give Experimental Ebola Vaccine to the World Health Organization By Steve Scally Thursday, Aug. 14th, 2014 Doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine, developed in Canada, will be donated to the World Health Organization to help in the fight against the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Although the vaccine, VSV-EBOV, has never been tested in humans, it has shown promise in animal research. 800 to 1,000 doses will be donated for research and clinical trials. A small supply of the vaccine will also be kept here in Canada in case we need it. So far, Canada has given over five million dollars in support against the Ebola outbreak. This Ebola outbreak is the largest on record.

HomeNewsBancroft Mayor Clarifies Town’s Stance on Seasonal Businesses Bancroft Mayor Clarifies Town’s Stance on Seasonal Businesses Monday, Apr. 19th, 2021 (Photo Credit: Trevor Smith-Millar) Mayor Paul Jenkins has addressed some concerns raised by the public about the new weekend-only permit system for seasonal businesses in Millennium Park. Jenkins stressed that the system will only be for this year because plans are in place to revitalize the park. It has already gone through a lot of change, but there are some challenges in the future that will not allow seasonal businesses to operate in the park. With the revitalization of downtown Bancroft and the reconstruction of Highway 62, having seasonal businesses operate there would be unfeasible. Jenkins also says the parking lot is insufficient for that kind of traffic. It is because of this and other changes that the system will not be put in place past this year. On the nature of the permit system being weekends-only, Jenkins says that it’s a balance between the public’s use of the park and public safety. Between the summer day camp for children, additional daycare spaces and the youth health program, the park already sees a lot of use on weekdays. All this is on top of the ongoing pandemic, and in the interest of public safety, he and council want to make sure that the area is not too crowded. Jenkins also pointed to the concerns of local taxpayers in the business community. The Mayor says he had heard concerns from restaurants about seasonal businesses and limited them to weekend use out of concern for brick-and-mortar stores. In addition, Jenkins says that the seasonal business setup has always been a trial. While he is open to bringing back the permit system at a later date, at this point in time, and with limited Town land, he says a final decision is too far in the future. Currently, council is considering a takeout hub system proposed by Bancroft Business in Action. The proposal would see a place in Millennium Park where people would order their food from local restaurants and bring it back to the location to enjoy. The BBIA says that it has broad support from the restaurant community in town. Jenkins says he likes the idea, but council was unable to vote on it yet as the information was received too soon to be properly considered at the meeting. Jenkins feels that it is a good compromise between seasonal and brick-and-mortar businesses. However, he once again stresses that this plan is dependent on future plans for Millennium Park.

Angels Camp Residents Allowed Back Home By Bill Johnson Published Apr 22, 2002 07:45 pm Updated Jan 31, 2009 05:28 pm Angels Camp residents in the area of Centennial Lane were allowed back into their homes around 6 p.m. Monday evening after they were evacuated that afternoon because of a chlorine leak at the Angels Camp Water Treatment plant. City officials ordered the precautionary evacuation of about 50 homes in the area of the treatment plant while members of the Office of Emergency Services haz mat team tried to stop the leak on one of two 150 pound chlorine cyclinders located inside the treatment plant building. Tim Shearer, Angels Camp City Administrator said there was a very high concentration of chlorine in the building and that hampered the efforts of crews. The evacuation affected about 40 to 50 homes in the area south of downtown near Highway 49. An evacuation center was set up at the fire station at Monte Verde in Angels Camp. According to Angels Camp police, residents were allowed back into their homes around 6 p.m. Monday evening. Shearer said Monday evening that he didn´t think the leak would affect the treatment plant´s operations, and that the plant should be back in full operation Tuesday.

Shadows of the 60’s At The Centenary Stage By new_view_media on August 25, 2015 No Comment “Get ready, ‘cause here they come”. The sounds of Motown fill the Lackland Center on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. with Shadows of the 60’s: A Tribute to Motown’s Super Groups. Voted by fans as the best Four Tops music tribute show, Shadow’s of the 60’s features Motown memories just the way you remember them. Shadows of the 60’s pays tribute to the tremendous legacy of The Four Tops, Temptations and Supremes and perform the hits that span several decades. Great care is taken to reproduce the music, note for note and in the original keys and arrangements. Now, triple the memories and excitement with a tribute to Motown’s Super Groups and including stunning choreography and costumes. Three Super Groups come together on one stage with a grand finale featuring the music of Motown’s Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves, Junior Walker, and many more. Be sure to bring your friends and family for a night of musical pleasure. Tickets for Shadows of the 60’s are $30 for orchestra seating and $25 for balcony seating. As with all concerts, jazz and special events ticket orders increase $5 day of event. All ticket sales are final. For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at (908) 979 – 0900. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office. The Centenary Stage Company box office is located in the David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and two hours prior to every performance. The 2015-16 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, and CSC corporate sponsors, including Premier Season Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), The Holiday Inn in Budd Lake, and Fulton Bank of New Jersey, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters. Shadows of the 60’s At The Centenary Stage added by new_view_media on August 25, 2015

Search results for "All Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Camps" 2 Summer Camps in for "All Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Camps" Rising Star Musical Theater Camp at the Ordway Real world training and advice from the pros, behind-the-scenes. Triple Threat Training at the Ordway This one week intensive in musical theater is designed exclusively for motivated young artists.

Connor Smith, 32, is facing a nationwide warrant after police showed up to arrest him at his home in Orland Park, Illinois, on Thursday.(Courtesy: Lake County… Connor Smith, 32, is facing a nationwide warrant after police showed up to arrest him at his home in Orland Park, Illinois, on Thursday.(Courtesy: Lake County Sheriff’s Office) Nationwide warrant issued for MTV reality show alum by: Andy Koval ORLAND PARK, Ill. (WGN-TV) — A warrant has been issued for a former MTV reality show contestant accused of communicating with detectives who were posing as an underage girl. Connor Smith, 32, is facing a nationwide warrant after police showed up to arrest him at his home in Orland Park, Illinois, on Thursday. He was able to get away in his black pickup truck, police said. Border Patrol using canines to improve morale of distressed agents, staff The truck has the words “roofing,” “siding” and “windows” on the back gate, along with a phone number (507-218-9979). The truck’s plate number is 3031686. Courtesy Lake County Sheriff’s Office Smith is accused of communicating with undercover detectives who were posing as a girl under the age of 15. He allegedly sent explicit images and videos of himself and then made arrangements to meet the “girl.” Charges of grooming, traveling to meet a minor and disseminating harmful material were approved for the warrant. The warrant’s bond is listed at $1,000,000. Trump attacks Haley on Medicare, Social Security cuts Smith appeared on the third season of the MTV dating show “Are You the One?” in 2015, according to US Weekly. Police said Smith indicated he would turn himself in, but has failed to do so. Anyone who sees him is asked to contact law enforcement. World News / 24 seconds ago

FILE – Emergency services secure the evidence after the shooting of a 16-year-old, who was critically injured in Bramsche, Germany, on Feb. 28, 2023. German… FILE – Emergency services secure the evidence after the shooting of a 16-year-old, who was critically injured in Bramsche, Germany, on Feb. 28, 2023. German authorities said Thursday March 2, 2023 that a 16-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head by an 81-year-old neighbor. (Sina Schuldt/dpa via AP, File) Germany: Teen dies after being shot by 81-year-old neighbor German authorities said Thursday that a 16-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head by an 81-year-old neighbor. Prosecutors said the teen died of his injuries in the hospital late Wednesday, a day after the shooting took place in the northern town of Bramsche. The gunman, an Italian citizen, also shot at the teen’s mother, but missed, before turning the gun on himself. He suffered serious injuries. Prosecutors said the man, who remains hospitalized, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted manslaughter. Authorities said there appeared to have been quarrels among the neighbors, but it wasn’t clear yet whether this was the motive for the shooting. The suspect, a hobby marksman, used a small caliber pistol in the killing, they said.

The nanoparticle - protein complex as a biological entity; a complex fluids and surface science challenge for the 21st century Iseult Lynch Martin Lundqvist Celia Cabaleiro-Lago Kenneth A Dawson The major aim of our current work is to develop a deep understanding of biological effects of nanoparticles and how these effects are mediated by proteins that are adsorbed on the nanoparticles under different biological circumstances. Due to their small size, nanoparticles have distinct properties compared to the bulk form of the same materials, and these properties are rapidly revolutionizing many areas of medicine and technology. However, relatively little is known about the interaction of nanoscale objects with biological systems, as this requires quite different concepts from more established nanoscience. Thus, we have argued that in a biological fluid, proteins associate with nanoparticles, and it is the amount and presentation of the proteins on the surface rather than the particles themselves that are the cause of numerous biological responses. It is this outer layer of proteins that is seen by the biological cells, and leads to their responses. We are developing novel techniques to identify and quantify the proteins that are consistently associated with nanoparticles, as a function of the nanoparticle size, shape, and surface properties, and to correlate the adsorbed protein identities with their association and dissociation rates to and from the nanoparticles. We also seek to understand the degree of conformational change that they undergo upon adsorption to the nanoparticles. In essence, we wish to create "epitope maps" of the protein corona that surrounds nanoparticles in biological solutions, as it is the particle-protein complex that is the biologically active entity. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2007.04.021

Naomi Hartman & Leah Brenner Team _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Homes for an Era, Agents for a Lifetime For Sale / Lease Sold / Leased Fine Homes Income/Condos Home Advise Naomi Hartman & Leah Brenner Welcome October and all the fun that comes with it! Get ready for Halloween - all who live in Los Angeles know what a BIG DEAL it is here! Get your costume ready and enjoy many spooky activities all around the city: http://www.welikela.com/creepy-things-to-do-halloween-los-angeles-2018/ Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos - This massive, all day event at Forever Cemetery offers musical and theatrical performances, Aztec ritual dancers in full costumes, and beautifully decorated altars to commemorate the loved ones. Open to all ages! https://www.ladayofthedead.com/ It’s Octoberfest! - Grab a beer at many venues all around the city! Los Angeles offers so many amazing beer bars and biergartens serving the best of craft beer: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/oktoberfest-los-angeles Feel like a road trip? - Go out of town this weekend to 32nd California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria Oct 5-7 and enjoy many avocado dishes! https://www.avofest.com/ Enjoy Fall Festival at the Original Farmer’s Market at the Grove - right in the heart of the city, October 13-14, bring your whole family for a celebration of harvest, including live music, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, arts & crafts, and plenty more! https://www.farmersmarketla.com/events/eventDetail/Fall-Festival/146 What a $7 Million Home Looks Like in 7 Locations: Where to Watch the Super Bowl in Los Angeles LA Restaurants That Are Open on Christmas Day © Copyright 2023 My Site Name. All rights reserved.

Malawi - Religions As of a 2002 report, it is believed that more than 70% of the population are Christian, with the largest groups being affiliated with the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian—CCAP) Churches. There are smaller numbers of Anglicans, Baptists, evangelicals, and Seventh-Day Adventists. Muslims account for approximately 20% of the population, with most belonging to the Sunni sect. Tribal religionists account for about 3% of the population. There are also small numbers of Hindus and Baha'is. harris chinkhokwe Sep 13, 2011 @ 3:03 am i just want to know about the main religions in Malawi and their believes. please help, i will be great ful if you consider my consideration. thanks may God bless you all the time

Subscribe to About Mack Sperling By Mack Sperling on March 22, 2008 Posted in About Mack Sperling I’m a business litigator in North Carolina, with Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard, LLP. I grew up in New York, went to college there (at Union College in Schenectady), and then came to North Carolina to law school at UNC-Chapel Hill. I clerked for United States District Judge Frank Bullock of the U.S.

This article is from the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, 6 volumes, edited by William S. Powell. Copyright ©1979-1996 by the University of North Carolina Press. Used by permission of the publisher. For personal use and not for further distribution. Please submit permission requests for other use directly to the publisher. Select ratingGive Wait, Samuel 1/5Give Wait, Samuel 2/5Give Wait, Samuel 3/5Give Wait, Samuel 4/5Give Wait, Samuel 5/5 Wait, Samuel by W. Ronald Wachs, 1996; Revised by Jared Dease, Government and Heritage Library, January 2023 19 Dec. 1789–28 July 1867 Samuel Wait, Baptist minister, educator, and college president, was born in White Creek, Washington County, N.Y., the son of Joseph and Martha Wait. During his youth the family moved near Middletown, Vt. A convert of the Second Great Revival, Wait prepared for the ministry and in 1816 accepted a call as minister of the Baptist Church in Sharon, Mass. There he married Sally Merriam of Brandon, Vt. Believing that he needed additional study, in 1819 he began theological studies with Dr. William Staughton, first in Philadelphia and then at Columbian College (now George Washington University) in Washington, D.C. Due to their limited funds, Mrs. Wait remained in New England until 1822, when Wait was employed as a tutor at Columbian. For reasons that are unclear, he received an M.A. degree from Waterville College, Maine, in 1825. While in Washington, the Waits briefly considered being missionaries to the Orient but were dissuaded by her relatives. Eventually, mismanagement of Columbian's finances by Luther Rice, the school's treasurer and a pioneer Baptist missionary, led indirectly to Wait's subsequent move to North Carolina, which he also considered to be a mission field. In late 1826, to alleviate Columbian's monetary problems, its trustees sent President Staughton and Wait into the South to solicit funds. While in New Bern Wait preached several times for the Baptists, having been given a letter of introduction to the parish by Thomas Meredith, their former minister, who was also a former student of Staughton's. Later, when Rice reasserted his primacy in the college's affairs, Wait resigned his agency and returned to New Bern for a trial pastorate. In the autumn of 1827 he moved his family to North Carolina, which he noted was largely bereft of religious enlightenment. For the last forty years of his life he worked to improve the religious and educational conditions in his adopted homeland. In 1830, as one of five college-trained Baptist ministers in the state, Wait was instrumental in founding the Baptist State Convention, an organization espousing the causes of missions and an educated ministry. For three years he was the convention's agent, traversing the state with his family in a covered wagon to solicit financial and organizational support. In 1833 the Baptist State Convention authorized the establishment of a literary institute largely for the training of ministers. To help reduce tuition the convention endorsed a program of manual labor and purchased a farm in Wake County as the site for the school, called the Wake Forest Institute. Chosen principal, Wait had sole responsibility for the care of over seventy students from the time the school opened in early 1834 and until the following year. To demonstrate his regard for the manual labor plan, he worked in the fields with the students. Even so, the work plan was soon scuttled. In 1839, after the legislature had amended the charter, the school became Wake Forest College, of which Wait served as president until 1845. Often during his tenure, the school's precarious financial condition caused Wait to spend much time traveling to raise funds, a task complicated by the nation's economic problems and by the general indifference of many Baptists. Following his resignation he immediately became chairman of the board of trustees, and in 1849 Wake Forest awarded him an honorary doctor of divinity degree. When the Waits moved to North Carolina, their northern relatives frequently criticized them for living in the slave region. Wait maintained that ministers should say nothing about the issue, and Wake Forest enslaved a few people. After the creation of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845, he declined an overture to accept appointment as secretary of a convention mission board. Instead, he remained in North Carolina as minister in several parishes from 1845 to 1851. He later called this the happiest period of his life. In 1851 he returned to education as president of Oxford Female College, a post he held until his retirement in 1857. He then moved to Forestville, where he resided for the rest of his life. Still possessing physical vigor and intellectual clarity, Wait in 1858 evidently considered accepting the presidency of Mississippi Female College in Hernando, Miss. During the Civil War he continued to be active in Baptist association matters as well as chairman of Wake Forest trustees until November 1865. Thereafter he still remained on the board. Such was his devotion to his beloved Wake Forest that even with the onset of mental debility, "he was devising ways and means by which he could promote the interests" of the school. The Waits had two children: Ann Eliza, who married John Brewer, a Wake County merchant; and William Carey, who died in 1831 as an infant. Wait died in Forestville and was buried in Wake Forest. His portrait hangs in Reynolda Hall at Wake Forest University. A few months before Wait's death, a colleague assessed his impact in North Carolina: "You were always a working man. . . . Working men are rare. . . . If for the last 30 years we had had 50 such men as you, N.C. would have been a garden." W. Ronald Wachs, "Conflict on College Hill: Luther Rice, Samuel Wait, and Columbian College's Financial Embarrassments," Quarterly Review: A Survey of Southern Baptist Progress 29 (1969), "'Duty' Against Family: A Vermont Minister Adopts a Slave State," Vermont History 41 (1973), and "Samuel Wait: Evangelical Crusader" (M.A. thesis, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem). Samuel Wait Papers (Baptist Historical Collection, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem). Pascal, George Washington. "Samuel Wait and the Convention." History of Wake Forest College. Vol. I. Wake Forest, N.C.: Wake Forest College. 1935. 694. http://wfu.tizrapublisher.com/history-of-wake-forest-college-volume-i/38 (accessed September 30, 2013). "Samuel Wait (Color print res, Baptist Historical Collection)." Photograph. Baptist Historical Collection. Wake Forest University. https://www.wfu.edu/wfunews/1998/090298yogdpics.htm (accessed September 30, 2013). "Sarah Wait (Color print res, Baptist Historical Collection)." Photograph. Baptist Historical Collection. Wake Forest University. https://www.wfu.edu/wfunews/1998/090298yogdpics.htm (accessed September 30, 2013). Religious Leaders and Clergy Wachs, W. Ronald Origin - location: Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press. 1 January 1996 | Wachs, W. Ronald

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SOFT SKILLS October 16, 2021 | Category: Employment, soft skills, Training “Hire for fit, train for skill.” We say (and hear) these words often in the human resources world. Soft skills play an important role in the retention of employees. Why? Because statistics show that soft skills (the ability to interact well with others) play a big part in creating an environment where employees will want […] June 30, 2021 | Category: Did You Know?, Employee Engagement, Legal Services, Training When was the last time you talked to your employees? Do you know if their performance is lacking because of a personal issue or because they don’t understand how their job aligns with the company mission? Did you know that most of them just want a simple thank you occasionally? Performance management does not happen […] RETALIATION MOST COMMON CLAIM FILED WITH EEOC IN 2020 February 28, 2021 | Category: Discrimination, News, Retaliation, Training Each year the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) releases detailed statistics on the charges filed with its office. On February 26th, the EEOC released its statistics for fiscal year 2020, which ran from October 2019 through September 2020. Again, retaliation was the most frequently cited claim in charges filed with the EEOC. In 2020, retaliation […] January 15, 2021 | Category: Annual Conference, Did You Know?, Training Did you know that we have updated our training offerings? As we speak with employers in the community, it is interesting to see how often they mention that they have taken our training classes. For some, they still have notes from classes they took from us in the mid-1990’s. For others, they attend or send […] December 24, 2020 | Category: Compliance, Did You Know?, HR, Training, Training Series Did you know that it is recommended to do a yearly I-9 audit? It is so important to do regular checks of your employee files and I-9s and this time of the year is the perfect time to do it. If you need assistance, NAE can help. Our team of experienced professionals can assist through […] WHAT’S HOT IN HR September 28, 2020 | Category: Discrimination, Training, What's Hot in HR 2020 has many of us in a charged emotional state. Between the pandemic, civil unrest, and economic troubles, it is difficult to identify how we feel sometimes. Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to educate our staff when it comes to inclusive behavior. Different backgrounds, religions, morals, ethics, and values all come into […] NAE IN A NUTSHELL August 19, 2020 | Category: Employee handbook, HR, Legal Services, Minimum Wage, Training Do you know when to call for HR help? Do you know what it means (and how it feels) to have a resource in HR that you can count on? How do you know if you need HR assistance? And, if you do need HR assistance, what kind do you need? Many companies are too […] WORKPLACE HARASSMENT DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC April 16, 2020 | Category: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Social Media, Training As we all adjust to the new “normal” at home and at the workplace (or for some people their home turning into the workplace) it is important to remember that while the workplace may be disjointed, proper workplace conduct must still be followed. On April 9, 2020 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued “What You […] NEW FORM I-9 RELEASED February 1, 2020 | Category: Compliance, Hiring, Training The day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. The new I-9 has been released. Employers should start using the new form right away. There was only a minor change to the computer fillable form. The print version is still the same however, employers still need to use the updated form to reflect the […] SOFT SKILLS MATTER October 4, 2019 | Category: Hiring, soft skills, Training There’s been a lot of buzz in the HR world recently about soft skills. Employers are recognizing that certain attributes mean more than others when it comes to making decisions about who to hire. At the same time, employees are also recognizing that who they work for matters. Employees will leave a job when they […]

Hedberg Discusses 5g Investments in Europe Cited by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 25 Global executives under age 40 (May, 2001), Jeffrey Hedberg has continued to gain... Wind Tre CEO about smart-working Jeffrey Hedberg, CEO Wind Tre. Managing from Milan, the city hit the most by coronavirus, a large company with 90% of its employees... Where we are in 5G Jeffrey Hedberg, CEO Wind Tre. A perspective on 5G and the opportunity for innovation, growth and sustainability. Jeffrey Hedberg about US and EU diplomacy Jeffrey Hedberg, CEO Wind Tre. ​Telecoms in Italy: a great innovation opportunity The telecommunications market in Italy is characterized by intense competition featuring four major operators (each with foreign...

Trump signs revised trade deal with Mexico, Canada but shuts Democrats out of celebration WASHINGTON – Facing a divisive impeachment trial in the Senate, President Donald Trump celebrated a rare bipartisan achievement Wednesday when he signed into law a revamped trade deal with Mexico and Canada. Surrounded by business leaders wearing hard hats, Trump portrayed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, as “a colossal victory” for American farmers, manufacturers and other workers. “For the first time in American history, we have replaced a disastrous trade deal that rewarded outsourcing with a truly fair and reciprocal trade deal that will keep jobs, wealth and growth right here in America,” Trump said in a signing ceremony on the White House South Lawn. Trump gave a shout-out to more than two dozen Republican lawmakers he credited with helping push the deal through Congress. Left off his list of plaudits and missing from the celebration: congressional Democrats, who put their own stamp on the agreement and whose support was pivotal to helping it secure approval. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office said no Democrats were invited to the ceremony. The revised trade deal, one of Trump's top legislative priorities, is the product of months of negotiations and replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, which essentially eliminated tariffs on most goods traded among the three countries. The agreement guarantees U.S. farmers greater access to Canada’s agriculture market and puts new e-commerce rules in place. It dictates that a higher percentage of autos be made from parts manufactured in North America and requires that at least 40% of vehicle production be done by workers earning at least $16 an hour. The pact, which is supported by labor unions and business groups, includes stronger provisions on labor and pharmaceuticals that Democrats sought as a condition for their approval. What's in the deal? From NAFTA to USMCA: Changes on trilateral trade pact For Trump, the revised deal marks a significant victory as he battles impeachment in the Senate and works to persuade voters to return him to office for another four years. Trump relentlessly ridiculed NAFTA as the “worst trade deal ever” when he ran for president four years ago, arguing that it put American workers at a competitive disadvantage. Other critics, including Democrats, conceded NAFTA was outdated and needed to be revised. Trump reopened trade negotiations with Mexico and Canada four months after taking office, and after 13 months of talks, the sides struck the deal. The pact passed the House last December and the Senate this month with bipartisan support after House Democrats made some revisions. More of the same? 'NAFTA lite': Trump and Democrats' trade deal is similar to pact president mocked as 'worst ever' Though Trump signed the trade pact into law, it won’t be put into force for several months, said Daniel Ujzco, an international trade attorney in Ohio. Canada's Parliament must approve the deal. Mexico’s Senate overwhelmingly approved the agreement in December. The next step is for all three countries to submit notice that they have met all of the requirements under the deal and develop uniform regulations that companies will use to comply with the agreement on a day-to-day basis. The development of the regulations is “the most painstaking, yet most important, part of the process,” Ujzco said. The parties have started working on the regulations, but some areas, such as new auto rules, will require significantly more work, he said. The agreement could be put into force in July but may be pushed back until Labor Day, Ujzco said. “Regardless of the actual date, this will be the new reality for North American companies, and the time is now to focus on potential impacts,” he said. “We have moved past the politics and policy to the practicalities.” Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.

How will AIs that generate videos from text transform media online? Artificial intelligences that turn text into video are making rapid progress, but are we ready for a world in which the authenticity of every video is in question? Insight By Alex Wilkins Stills from a video created by Meta’s Make-A-Video AI Imagine being able to produce a high-quality video of almost anything, whether based on reality or something entirely fanciful, just by describing what you want to see. This isn’t possible yet, but text-to-video artificial intelligence algorithms, such as Meta’s Make-A-Video and Google’s Imagen Video, are rapidly heading towards this goal. In the coming months and years, this technology could have a profound impact on creative industries and trust in online media, as we enter a world in which seeing is no …

June 6, 1925 Issue The bean bag corner By Ben Hecht The New Yorker, June 6, 1925 P. 12 The bean bag corner. I have never been able to get a letter of protest or any sort of communication printed in that part of the daily newspaper identified as "The Voice of the People", or "What every body thinks".... Failure to intrude upon their newspaper playground, has filled me with an almost humble deference toward these individual segments of the Newspaper Mind Published in the print edition of the June 6, 1925, issue. More:Newspapers - Fiction

Dangerously 'D-ficient': Low vitamin D raises your risk of dementia Updated: Oct. 10, 2016, 2:37 p.m. | Vitamin D and Cognitive Decline in Multiethnic Cohort of Older Adults Tony Dearing | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The "D" in vitamin D doesn't stand for dementia. Or does it? We know that many older adults don't get enough vitamin D, and that's a problem. It can leave your bones brittle and more easily broken if you slip and fall. What we didn't know, until now, is that a lack of vitamin D may be every bit as bad for your brain as it is for your body. According to a spate of recent studies, people age 60 and older who have low levels of vitamin D are significantly more apt to suffer cognitive decline. More research is needed, but the findings so far are too compelling to ignore. If you're serious about staying mentally sharp and protecting yourself against the threat of Alzheimer's, you need to make sure you're getting enough vitamin D. "It's growing as a concern," says Joshua Miller, professor of nutritional science at Rutgers University. "We have a lot of circumstantial evidence that older adults have a high prevalence of low vitamin D, and low vitamin D status is associated with faster rates of cognitive decline, independent of race or ethnicity. And independent of sex as well.'' Joshua Miller Miller was the lead author in one of the more important studies so far linking vitamin D deficiency to cognitive loss. He and colleagues at the University of California-Davis looked at 382 adults ranging in age from their 60s to their 90s, and tested them once a year for vitamin D and cognition for an average of five years. Miller says people with low levels of vitamin D experienced cognitive decline at a rate two to three times as fast as those with adequate levels of vitamin D. Other studies have reported similar results, but this one was more diverse in the population it looked at. It included a broad cross-section of whites, African-Americans and Hispanics, as well as both men and women. "About 60 percent of the group, regardless of their age or ethnicity, was low in vitamin D," Miller says. "Those who had dementia had lower vitamin D status than those who had mild cognitive impairment or normal cognitive function." Those with a lack of vitamin D also declined more in both short-term memory and in performing complex cognitive tasks over the course of the study. Two other studies have shown similar results. One looked at nearly 1,200 women between 60 and 70 years of age and found those with low vitamin D had significantly greater cognitive decline nine years later. Most recently, a study published in July found that among a group of more than 1,100 elderly people in China, those with vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to suffer cognitive decline over a two-year period. What's not clear yet is how vitamin D may act to protect the brain, or whether increasing the levels of vitamin D in older adults can effectively prevent them from developing dementia. "The missing piece is a randomized control trial that proves that raising vitamin D levels will actually reduce your risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or will slow cognitive decline," Miller says. "Those studies just haven't been done yet." And it may be a good while before that research gets done. "It's really difficult to get those human studies funded," Miller says. "They're expensive, they take a while to do and to be really frank about it, there's a little bit of a bias in the funding agencies against nutrients, vitamins, minerals, that sort of thing, being used in this manner versus drugs." Part of that bias, Miller says, is drug companies can't make money on something as inexpensive and readily available as vitamin D supplements. "But if they develop a new drug that cures Alzheimer's, they can make a lot of money," he says. "That comes into play." So you can sit around and hope for a more definitive answer someday. Or you can act now to determine if you have a "D-ficiency," and take steps to address it. Getting the right amount of vitamin D is easy to do, whether through natural sources, or by taking a supplement. And it's more important than ever for your health, giving you potential protection against dementia -- not to mention reducing your risk of falls and broken bones. One analysis of more than 40,000 senior citizens found taking vitamin D daily reduced hip and other bone fractures by 20 percent. Want to know more? Here are answers to some basic questions about vitamin D. Q. What are the best sources of vitamin D? A. The primary way our body gets vitamin D naturally is through exposure to sunlight. That's why it's called the "sunshine vitamin." Other sources include certain foods (including fortified milk, cheese, salmon and tuna) and supplements. Q. How common is it to not be getting enough vitamin D? A. Good estimates are hard to come by, but we can safely say somewhere between 25 and 50 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. For older people, the percentage probably is much higher. Q. Why are so many of us not getting enough vitamin D? A. There are a variety of reasons. Older people are particularly susceptible because they have trouble absorbing enough vitamin D from sunlight as their skin thins and their metabolism slows down. Among other common reasons: Concerns about skin cancer is causing more people to use sunscreen, which can reduce our ability to absorb UV rays from the sun. People who have darker skin are at greater risk because they absorb less UV rays. In Miller's study, 70 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics had low levels of vitamin D, compared to 54 percent of whites. "Everything else being equal, darker skin color will reduce the amount of vitamin D that can be produced by exposure to sunlight, because darker skin blocks UV radiation," Miller says. Some people get less exposure to the sun because of the geographic region they live in, or because they spend little time outdoors. The food sources for vitamin D are somewhat limited, and not particularly popular in the Western diet. "There are large proportions of our population that don't eat those foods,'' Miller says. "For instance, people who are lactose intolerant don't drink milk." Q. Should I consider a vitamin D supplement? A. "As long as you are taking the right amount of vitamin D, in other words, not too much, I see no harm in taking a supplement," Miller says. "It's relatively inexpensive. Go to your doctor and say, 'Hey, what about measuring my vitamin D status?' Most doctors these days will likely do it. If it's low, and with your doctor's advice on what levels to take, start taking supplements." Q. But I've heard that getting tested for vitamin D isn't recommended. What's up with that? A. It's a matter of debate these days. Some health experts say testing for vitamin D is overdone. The American Geriatrics Society issued a consensus statement in 2013 that strongly advised doctors to recommend a vitamin D supplement of at least 1,000 international units (IU) for most adults over the age of 65, but said testing for vitamin D levels was not necessary for most people. Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a San Francisco geriatrician and author of the Better Health While Aging blog, explains the issue this way: "I usually tell people (to take) 1,000 IU/day, since it's a nice round number recommended by AGS. I call this the 'healthy aging' dose of daily vitamin D. The idea is that if people take a daily vitamin D supplement as recommended above, they'll be highly unlikely to have a level that is too low or too high. I agree with those who say that vitamin D testing is often overused." The best advice is to seek your own opinion on testing and take your doctor's advice. Q. So is 1,000 IU the right dose? Is that how much I should take? A. There is no one recommendation that's right for everyone. It depends on your age, your ethnicity and a variety of other factors. Consult your physician, and take the amount that's most appropriate for you. For many people over the age of 65, that may be in the range of 1,000 to 2,000 IU. "The issue, though, is that you can take too much," cautions Miller. "The upper level is 4,000 IU per day. You have to remember you get some Vitamin D in your diet, so you don't want to be taking pills that are 4,000 or more." Tony Dearing may be reached at tdearing@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyDearing. 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What's 'grudge' got to do with it? Published: Nov. 03, 2007, 2:00 a.m. Carla A. Katz Josh Margolin has got it bad. It seems like he's downright obsessed. In truth, he should be obsessed with Oprah Winfrey (or her diligent staffers anyway). For months, Josh has had it in his head that I had him thrown out of the Oprah Show taping of McGreevey's "Confessions" book segment and he just can't seem to get past it. First of all, it's just not true. Hey, but why let truth get in the way of a good grudge? Second, considering that the Oprah audience is almost completely female, The Star-Ledger might have sent a woman instead to break the show's "no press allowed" rule and at least blend in. At a minimum, he could have worn a wig. Third, the Oprah folks had a list of press and legitimately wanted to maintain the exclusivity of her show, which tapes days before it airs. Darn them. They looked for him, found him and they kicked him out. So, Josh, get over it. Not that his "grudge" has anything to do with it but Josh seems willing to write a story from pretty much any shred of alleged "news" anyone sends him - if it's about me. Try it. Send him a note that you've seen me and Paris hanging out in Hoboken. Or email him a letter you've sent to the president of the United States asking for unions to be banned since Katz had a relationship with Corzine and that must be against public policy, some law, somehow. He'll be all over it. That's not to knock Josh's journalistic integrity. He's got a Pulitzer on his mantle after all. Someone recently compared him to a "terrier" with a story. I was thinking of animals with much sharper teeth. But seriously, no other union leader's or union's internal local drama (and trust me, we all have internal drama) gets consistently and continuously plastered across the pages of the Ledger, almost all with Josh's byline. It is more than slightly disconcerting to see the comparatively normal internal drama of our local covered in the paper with the same intensity of the Yankees recent quest for a new manager. So, I was thinking that if the Ledger is going to write soooooo much about me and the Local that I should even the playing field and, well, write about Josh. The Josh chronicles. I hear from Tom Shea that Josh is a pretty funny guy so this shouldn't bother him at all. So folks, send me your best Josh Margolin stories. I'll keep them anonymous unless they are Pulitzer material. And I promise, I won't hold a grudge.

Posted on May 16, 2019 July 1, 2019

Stroke and Cerebrovascular Care Understanding Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Cavernous Malformations and Angiomas keyboard_arrow_left Back to Understanding Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Treatments and Locations Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), also referred to as cavernous angiomas or cavernous hemangiomas, are blood vessels that formed abnormally. As opposed to other kinds of hemangiomas, CCM vessels develop and create problems in the brain or spinal cord. These malformations have the appearance of a small mulberry and can vary in size from 2 millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. They may be hereditary but most often occur on their own. CCMs may leak blood, leading to bleeding in the brain or spinal cord (hemorrhage). Brain or spinal hemorrhages can generate a wide range of more apparent neurological symptoms, depending on the location of the CCM in the nervous system. Bleeds Stroke-like symptoms Next: Treatments and Locations arrow_forward

William Peter Blatty (screenplay), William Peter Blatty (novel) George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif, Jason Miller A police Lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward. Morgan Creek Productions Drama, Horror, Mystery Tags: 1990s, Demons, Devil Possession, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sequel

Center Announces Three New Board Members Welcome to the team! Kevin Hinton Kevin Hinton is CEO/Executive Director of Beacon House, an afterschool education and youth development nonprofit organization which serves children and families in Northeast Washington, DC. Beacon House’s Board of Directors appointed Kevin as CEO/Executive Director in February 2017 after he served successfully for five months as Interim Executive Director. Kevin possesses more than 25 years of professional experience in strategic leadership, partnership building, financial management, and team leadership in both the for-profit and the not-for-profit sectors. He holds an MBA degree from NYU-Stern School of Business and a BA degree from Williams College. He is also a graduate of Little Rock Central High School, site of the 1957 desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas. In December 2019, Kevin participated in the 2019 Converge Academy, a leadership academy for social purpose leaders hosted by American Express, the Center for Creative Leadership, and LeaderStories. Kevin was one of 24 participants, selected from nearly 150 applicants from across the United States. Darryl Maxwell Darryl Maxwell is a Director for the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, responsible for the Nonprofit & Small Business Legal Assistance Programs. His work is focused on providing pro bono legal support, education, and counsel to community-based nonprofits and disadvantaged small businesses. Prior to joining the Pro Bono Center, Darryl worked in private practice. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the George Washington University Law School. Darryl currently serves as Board Chair of the Latino Economic Development Center, an organization that assists Latinos and other D.C.-area residents with small business development, microlending, affordable housing preservation, and pathways to homeownership. He also serves at his law school alma mater as a Professorial Lecturer in Law. Sultan Shakir Sultan Shakir is the Executive Director of SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders), an organization that works to support and empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC, metro area. Sultan works to expand opportunities for young LGBTQ people through youth empowerment. Prior to joining SMYAL, Sultan worked at the Human Rights Campaign where he served as a director of the DC and Maryland marriage equality campaigns, and in his most recent role, led the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Project, working to make campuses safer and more inclusive of LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Sultan is the son of teachers. He is a graduate of Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, with an emphasis on double bass performance. His earliest thoughts of community organizing were about sharing his passion for classical music with other young African-American males in Baltimore at a time when as many black males were dropping out of high school as graduating. “I decided it was more important for me to change the world than to be an entertainer,” he said. Sultan has been honored with the Community Circle Award by Baltimore Black Gay Pride, named Jewel of the Month by the National Black Justice Coalition, and won the DC Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance Distinguished Service Award.

Joint Committee on Strategic Planning and Transport 16th May 2013 - 12th May 2022 Page 4 of 4, Displaying meetings 31 to 31 of 31 meetings found in selected date range 11 March 2022 - 10:30 : TBC Nottingham City Council Scheduled Matt Barney Member 27/05/2021 - 12/05/2022 Jim Creamer Member 26/05/2017 - 12/05/2022 John Ogle Vice-Chairman 27/05/2021 - 12/05/2022 Ashfield Independents John Wilmott Member 27/05/2021 - 12/05/2022

Iceland Grants Citizenship to Bobby Fischer Iceland, the country where Bobby Fischer won the world chess championship a generation ago, grants citizenship to the 62-year-old recluse. This was a boost to Fischer's efforts to fight deportation from Japan to the United States. Iceland Grants Citizenship to Bobby Fischer March 22, 200512:00 AM ET Renee Montagne Iceland, the country where Bobby Fischer won the world chess championship a generation ago, grants citizenship to the 62-year-old recluse. This was a boost to Fischer's efforts to fight deportation from Japan to the United States.

Home / FAQs / How do we know what our city’s code requirements are? How do we know what our city’s code requirements are? Federal law dictates that each state is responsible for the code requirements of a state and/or municipality/city. Some states have a state code that each municipality/city must adhere to. In addition, each municipality/city may have supplementary requirements. Some states (i.e. Missouri) have a state code for state buildings, but allow each municipality/city to decide which codes are valid within that municipality/city. While this may seem confusing, a school district should conduct an online search of municipality/city codes. From there, the district will quickly discover whether the municipality/city has a unique code or whether the municipality/city is under the requirements of a state code. Online resources such as www.municode.com have up-to-date lists of all municipality/city codes.

Apple's iPhone Security Fiasco By Tom McDonald | Apr 21, 2011 1:51:00 PM It was recently found that Apple has been tracking every iPhone user’s location with a secret hidden file. This came as a shock to most, as Apple has never mentioned this feature, which was most likely added in the iOS 4 update, and has caused quite a stir among privacy experts. This file tracks your location based on cell phone triangulation, which gives a general pinpoint of where you are at that time by locating the signal strength over 3 towers. What is even more alarming as there is currently no way to prevent apple from gathering your data, even with your GPS off, Apple can see where you were at any given time. To make matters worse, this file is unencrypted, meaning that anyone with a little bit of knowhow can pull up this data and check in on your activities. Currently there is no word on why Apple added this feature to its mobile devices or what it planned on doing with the data, but the data is there assessable to anyone who can gain access to your iPhone or even a backup copy you make during syncing, as the data is transferred from the device to your computer. Current speculation has people wondering if this was even intentional, as both Android and Windows Mobile both track your location, but only the most recent one used. Apple might have been doing the same thing, but do to a bug/oversight it might not be deleting the past data like it should. LCD + e-ink can Apple pull it off? By Tom McDonald | Apr 12, 2011 11:54:00 AM The Pixel Qi, a screen that uses both LCD and e-ink technology, debuted about a year ago showing its ability to switch between its LCD for video and normal computing and then switch to an e-ink display when being used outside in direct light. This is not to be confused with Barnes and Noble’s Nook that uses 2 separate screens, one a LCD, the other e-ink to bridge the gap, this is just one screen and is able to switch between them both at will. What makes this interesting is Apple’s interest in the technology. Amazon has made a lot of money from eBook sales and Apple was looking for part of the market too, in which case it was able to position itself with the iPad as an eBook reader. The problem with this, which Amazon has been keen to point out, is that the iPad isn’t a real eBook reader and still suffers from problems like not being able to read outside in direct sunlight due to glare, along with lower battery life and the eye strain that comes from staring at a LCD screen. Recently Apple filed for a patent that would have a translucent e-ink display that goes over the LCD screen in which it could switch the displays automatically as needed. This is an interesting development for Apple, as they are perfectionists at heart, and if they plan on using this technology in future tablets means that have will have to overcome certain tech limitations. These limitations come from trying to mix the two technologies which leaves the LCD with lower viewing angles and makes it look less robust and crisp compared to current LCDs, while on the other hand it also gives the e-ink screen a slight glare, most likely from the glass that covers the display itself. These problems seem minor, and for any other company they would be, but Apple has prided itself with the fact that it uses such crystal clear displays and noticeably lowering their quality might disappoint Apple fans who buy these products for this level of quality. iPad 2 - The low down on what's new! Network Support CT Reviews. By Tom McDonald | Mar 2, 2011 4:00:00 PM

New Year’s Eve in Berlin the official party at Brandenburg Gate Also this year Berlin will host one of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve parties. The event will take place downtown Berlin on an area over two kilometers long, between two renowned landmarks: the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) and the Victory Column (Siegessäule). With over a million visitors, dozends of artists, bands and DJs the New Year’s Eve Party downtown Berlin is one of the world’s largest events at the turn of the year in Europe – if not in the world. This year’s programme features mostly german, but also some international live acts, such as Kim Wilde, Hot Chocolate, Jimi Jamison, Johnny Logan, Udo Jürgens, Andreas Bourani, Cassandra Steen, Culture Beat, DJ BoBo, Frida Gold, Marianne Rosenberg, Berlins Country/Western band The Boss Hoss and many more. Around midnight the Scorpions are expected to perform one of their very last gigs playing “Wind of Change” around midnight. Later DJ Ötzi and other DJs will spin records until early morning hours. As this is Berlin you are of course alowed to drink alcohol – although you are not allowed to bring glas bottles. So you better be prepared and either bring that champaign in a plastic bottle, or buy your drinks at one of the many “bar booths” that will be located along the party corridor. And additionally you should also not bring any fire works – there will be light and laser performances as well as spectacular midnight fireworks provided. Admission is free – further information can be found on the party’s website in english: www.silvester-in-berlin.de/EN Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg If you prefer to go clubbing on New Year’s Eve without having to travel a lot, you might want to concider an easy option: going to the former brewery “Kulturbrauerei” (“Culture Brewery”) in Prenzlauer Berg – which you might also call “the walled garden option”: some 15 Dancefloors, more than 30 DJs – and you just have to pay for one ticket. The huge court yard connects all the venues and around midnigh you can hang outside and watch the fireworks. Admission is Euro 25,- Further information can be found from the New Year’s Eve Party page of Kulturbrauerei: www.silvester-kulturbrauerei.de other party options Of course there is other party options than going to the largest New Year’s Eve party in town or to the walled garden Kulturbrauerei – basically you can go where ever and be pretty sure, that there’ll be a party. But on the other hand this may also mean, that there’s probably more ‘party’ in the streets than you might expect — like youngsters shooting at each other with fireworks… Or let’s put it this way: you may want to know in advance where you want to go (A) and where you have to go (B) and how to get from A to B and back – without getting too much oth other people’s fun in your way.. Walking down Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg around midnight might not be such a good idea, meeting at some friends’ appartment way before midnight might be a good one..=) Party the Berlin way Get started early, get going early – visit some good friends – eat some Kartoffelsalat (potato salad) and Würstchen (sausages). Some minutes before midnight you should grab a glas, a bottle of champagne and go into the street. But beware: around midnight there might be lots and lots of firecrackers and fireworks going off all around you – especially in certain areas.. Then you’re free to go party hopping – or clubbing – or both – or just stay a little longer wherever you are. What ever you do, where ever you go – whatch you step and mind the gap! Have blast! And a Happy New Year! ← Berlin under construction: Kunsthalle, Library, Autobahn Further developments on Kastanienallee Prenzlauer Berg →

Is 12809 a prime number? What are the divisors of 12809? Is 12809 a prime number? Yes, 12 809 is a prime number. Indeed, the definition of a prime numbers is to have exactly two distinct positive divisors, 1 and itself. A number is a divisor of another number when the remainder of Euclid’s division of the second one by the first one is zero. Concerning the number 12 809, the only two divisors are 1 and 12 809. Therefore 12 809 is a prime number. As a consequence, 12 809 is only a multiple of 1 and 12 809. Since 12809 is a prime number, 12809 is also a deficient number, that is to say 12809 is a natural integer that is strictly larger than the sum of its proper divisors, i.e., the divisors of 12809 without 12809 itself (that is 1, by definition!). Parity of 12 809 12 809 is an odd number, because it is not evenly divisible by 2. Is 12 809 a perfect square number? A number is a perfect square (or a square number) if its square root is an integer; that is to say, it is the product of an integer with itself. Here, the square root of 12 809 is about 113.177. Thus, the square root of 12 809 is not an integer, and therefore 12 809 is not a square number. Anyway, 12 809 is a prime number, and a prime number cannot be a perfect square. What is the square number of 12 809? The square of a number (here 12 809) is the result of the product of this number (12 809) by itself (i.e., 12 809 × 12 809); the square of 12 809 is sometimes called "raising 12 809 to the power 2", or "12 809 squared". The square of 12 809 is 164 070 481 because 12 809 × 12 809 = 12 8092 = 164 070 481. As a consequence, 12 809 is the square root of 164 070 481. Number of digits of 12 809 12 809 is a number with 5 digits. What are the multiples of 12 809? The multiples of 12 809 are all integers evenly divisible by 12 809, that is all numbers such that the remainder of the division by 12 809 is zero. There are infinitely many multiples of 12 809. The smallest multiples of 12 809 are: 0: indeed, 0 is divisible by any natural number, and it is thus a multiple of 12 809 too, since 0 × 12 809 = 0 12 809: indeed, 12 809 is a multiple of itself, since 12 809 is evenly divisible by 12 809 (we have 12 809 / 12 809 = 1, so the remainder of this division is indeed zero) 25 618: indeed, 25 618 = 12 809 × 2 Numbers near 12 809 Preceding numbers: …12 807, 12 808 Following numbers: 12 810, 12 811… Nearest numbers from 12 809 Preceding prime number: 12 799 Following prime number: 12 821 12 809 est-il un nombre premier ?

Healthcare Transformation and Changing Roles for Nursing September 18, 2019 /in Uncategorized /by James Hi class, Topics to review during our first week of the course: · How Healthcare reform is impacting primary care https://www.ajmc.com/contributor/sophia–bernazzani/2016/03/how–healthcare–reform–is–impactingprimarycare • Healthcare reform 101: What the health is going on in 2018? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTWhwWLzHQ • Healthcare Transformation and Changing Roles for Nursing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5266427/pdf/ornur3612.pdf Frequently when the shortage of primary care providers is mentioned with regard to healthcare reform, insurance companies and other institutions forget to factor in the impact nurse practitioners can have on increasing access. How do you think we can improve this understanding of the nurse practitioner role? Discussion 1: Susana Castellanos As listed in the articles provided, there are many barriers to health care access for patients to receive primary care services from a family nurse practitioner. Among them are the annoyingly-varied scope of practice regulations that are different from state-to-state, health care reimbursement from insurance companies, misinformation regarding the roles of the nurse practitioner in health care, and the unvoiced stigma towards nurse practitioners that might exist (Bernazzani, 2016). These are all factors that impede our ability to practice as primary care providers. These barriers do not decrease the burden on primary care providers, despite the fact that more nurses are graduating from these graduate programs to become nurse practitioners. I believe that if the scope of practice for family nurse practitioners can be more standardized across the United States, rather than varying state-by-state, it would have a huge positive impact on the other barriers. A standardized scope of practice for a family nurse practitioner may reduce confusion regarding the role the FNP has in primary care (Altman, 2016). This will allow easier collaboration between other primary care providers. In addition, reimbursement from insurance companies may be better able to recognize the FNP as a primary care provider. If scope of practice is standardized, perhaps patients can accept care in an easer fashion from an FNP and may promote better access to health care. https://www.nursingresearchers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo-300x60.png 0 0 James https://www.nursingresearchers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo-300x60.png James2019-09-18 10:21:072019-09-18 10:21:07Healthcare Transformation and Changing Roles for Nursing Information Management Systems Nursing Assessment / Clinical Manifestations

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MALCOLM BERKO: Cheerios could be worth a mint today Dear Mr. Berko: I read your column about the Quaker Oats land certificates and wish I had kept mine. One of the guys at the shop where I work (we all read and discuss your column) seems to remember that Cheerios once stuffed cereal boxes with Sacagawea dollars and says some of those coins are now worth several thousand dollars. He says he remembers finding such a coin in his Cheerios box. He thinks he put it in his sock drawer, but he can’t find it. He also thinks it was in a presentation holder. What do you know about this? — HG, Vancouver, Wash. Dear HG: Sacagawea was the young Shoshone Indian woman who, between 1804 and 1806, successfully led the famous Lewis and Clark expedition through the unchartered American interior to the Pacific Northwest and safely back again. In December 1999, the U.S. Mint began minting $1 gold-colored coins dated 2000, using the motif of Sacagawea. Conceived by artist Glenna Goodacre, the obverse of the Cheerio dollar depicts Sacagawea carrying Jean Baptiste, her infant son, on her back. The reverse side shows an eagle in flight, and that was designed by U.S. Mint engraver Thomas Rogers Sr. These coins were not released to the Federal Reserve Bank till late January 2000. However, via a special promotion (of 5,500 coins) between the U.S. Mint and General Mills (GIS-$64), some Cheerios devotees began finding the Sacagawea dollars inside their cereal boxes in early January of that year. One out of every 2,000 Cheerios boxes contained a gold-colored coin, and 1 in 4,400 boxes contained a certificate redeemable for 100 Sacagawea dollars. A payment of 5,000 of these dollars with a special finish was given to Goodacre for her obverse design. Unlike the Sacagawea dollars in circulation, these coins were struck on burnished planchets, giving them a prooflike appearance. Because Goodacre wanted her presentation coins to be preserved and permanently identified, she had her 5,000 coins certified and sealed by Independent Coin Graders. Goodarce then sold 250 (one at a time) of those dollars for $200 each and netted $50,000 for her work. Today each of those Goodacre Cheerios dollars is worth somewhere between $6,500 and $9,000. Then, in 2005, several numismatists began to notice a difference between the mass-produced Sacagawea dollars and the Sacagawea Cheerios dollars. All Sacagawea dollars had Rogers’ eagle on the reverse; however, on the Cheerios dollars, the U.S. Mint struck the eagle’s tail feathers with a higher definition. On the Cheerios dollars, the tail feathers have deep veins, and there’s a raised central shaft on the center feather. But on the coins struck for circulation, the details on the feathers are smoothed down, and the shaft on the central feather is incused. Well, what may not seem like much of a difference became a big difference because all U.S. coins that vary from the original mass-produced strike are exciting and important news to collectors. And because only 5,500 of these Sacagawea dollar coins have the variant (over a billion coins were produced by the U.S. Mint), they are considered rare, and that makes them valuable. Most of the coins were taken from the cereal boxes and used as common currency to purchase candy, drinks or snacks and became part of the general circulation, whereas others were just tossed and lost. It’s estimated that fewer than 800 of these Cheerios dollars are accounted for. In 2007, a mint-condition Cheerios dollar was auctioned for $11,500. Today, some nine years later, collectors estimate that the rare Sacagawea Cheerios dollar could auction for between $22,000 and $30,000. And if the lucky stiffs who got a certificate for 100 Cheerios dollars kept their coins, they’d be worth between $2.2 million and $3 million.

One dud and two good investments Dear Mr. Berko: Because the 401(k) where I work has a lousy choice of funds (list enclosed), I am moving $30,000 of the $91,000 into an individual retirement account to seek a better return. The stockbroker recommended $10,000 each in Macquarie Infrastructure, the Fidelity Select Banking Portfolio and American Electric Power. Please comment on these choices. — TW, Kankakee, Ill. Dear TW: I know that the messenger sometimes gets shot, but several employees where you work ought to down a few gum ticklers and then have a face-to-face with the boss or human resources. If the boss knows that those high-cost mutual funds have such ratty performance records and has done nothing about it, he may eventually face some heavy legal costs. And if he hasn't any idea how cruddy those funds have performed, I think he should appreciate that knowledge and make the proper changes. Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC-$77) is a $1.8 billion-revenue company with 3,200 employees that owns a cluster of businesses that focus on the United States' infrastructure, hence the name. MIC owns Atlantic Aviation, which provides fuel, hangaring and other airport services at 69 airports across the United States. MIC also owns a liquid storage and terminal business, a Hawaiian energy business and various solar and wind facilities. The revenues of these four businesses are expected to grow between 4 and 5 percent a year. And Wall Street projects above-average growth in earnings and dividends. This is possible by expanding free cash flow and smartly improving net profit margins. MIC's net profit margins have grown from 5 percent two years ago to 7.9 percent last year. Net profit margins are expected to be 8.7 percent this year and 10.5 percent by 2021. Meanwhile, the current 6.7 percent dividend yield, which should increase annually, makes it easy to own MIC and wait for future capital gains. SunTrust Banks, Barclays, BB&T Capital Markets, Oppenheimer and Jefferies have "buy" recommendations. There could be 20 points waiting for you in the coming two to three years, plus that sweet dividend. Your broker has made a good recommendation. Go for it; invest 10 grand. Fidelity Select Banking Portfolio (FSRBX-$30.90) is really a stinky fund, which is why its 10-year annualized return is an embarrassing 2.8 percent. Imagine if you had invested $10,000 in FSRBX 10 years ago and reinvested all the dividends and capital gains; this fund would be worth $12,672 today, versus $21,000 for the Standard & Poor's 500. And that piteous 10-year return includes last year's 39.5 percent gain from FSRBX's top nine positions — Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Huntington Bancshares, U.S. Bancorp, Capital One, M&T Bank and PNC. Holy moly, a tattooed teenager with a sixth-grade education would do better tossing darts at a target with 100 bank names printed on it. Your broker has the right idea, because bank stocks may be among the best performers in the coming three to four years, but he suggested the wrong investment product. John Sheehy, who runs FSRBX, is a nice guy and doesn't kick his dog. But I think the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE-$52) will have far superior performance. I believe that KRE's smaller regional banks — e.g., First Republic Bank, CIT Group, People's United Financial and KeyCorp — have more room to grow their share values than those huge money-center banks that are plagued by politics and bundled in bureaucracy. Discuss this with your broker. I really like your broker's selection of American Electric Power (AEP-$72), which yields 3.1 percent and has increased its dividend by about 5.6 percent annually since 2007. If you had invested $10,000 in AEP in 2007 and reinvested all dividends, those shares would be worth $29,500 today. That's an attractive 10 percent annualized return from a stodgy, unexciting and dry-as-dust electric utility. I like your broker's recommendation because management has been reducing costs, which has very nicely improved net profit margins. And I like it because AEP management seems to have exceptional skills in seeking rate hikes with numerous public service commissions in the 11 states where AEP serves over 5.4 million customers. AEP is a good place for $10,000.

Do dogs and cats experience sleep apnea? DR. DARA JOHNS / Daily News columnist Dear Dr. Johns: What can veterinarians do about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cats and dogs? It’s an obvious problem, but there doesn’t appear to be any interest in taking it seriously and finding solutions. I have a suspicion that when vets start looking at OSA, the general public will take a greater interest in their own OSA risks and treatment more seriously. Surely, pet owners will and that will be a good thing. I have an interest in it myself because I’m a retired neurologist with successfully treated OSA and as a result, published a booklet for patients, titled, “Deadly Sleep, “Is Your Sleep Killing You?” It looks like cats and dogs suffer some of the same adverse consequences as humans, i.e., obesity, HBP, diabetes, cardiac and cerebral complications, etc. BTW, IMP, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) or “Doggie Alzheimer’s” is likely due to OSA, and the prevention is by treating OSA. But how do you do that in cats and dogs? PAP or tracheotomy appear the only options right now. It will be interesting to see the solutions, if any; the vet community will eventually come up with. — Mack D. Jones, MD, SAAN Dear Dr. Jones: When I was in school, sleep apnea wasn’t really discussed in the human realm much less the world of veterinary medicine. You force me to look at the term “sleep apnea” from an animal perspective. And I realize in fact, we were taught about this condition. We just did not use the umbrella term “sleep apnea.” For instance, stenotic nares, an elongated soft palate, and everted laryngeal saccules are all structural problems that reduce air flow to the lungs of the pet. These conditions are most commonly seen in brachyocephalic dogs. Because of this, it is often called Brachiocephalic Syndrome. A dog can have one or all three of these conditions and have significant loss of air flow to the lungs. Dogs may wheeze or gag. They can get overheated when exercised due to inability to move air to regulate the core body temperature. They can get cyanotic and collapse simply from over-activity or excitement. And they snore, a sure sign of OSA. Older Labrador retrievers can develop laryngeal paralysis. When the laryngeal folds do not move properly, they hang like a drape over the opening of the throat, impeding normal air flow and causing the dog to wheeze and gag. These dogs are prone to life threatening hyperthermia on walks because they cannot move air sufficiently to allow cooling of the core body temperature. And they often have a sonorous snore. Collapsing trachea is a condition seen in a lot of older small breed dogs. The cartilage rings of the trachea weaken and fold, restricting air flow and creating irritation to the throat that results in a chronic cough. And sometimes they snore. Yes, these and many more conditions can lead to obstructive sleep apnea in dogs. We do have treatments that are tailored to the specific problem. It may be a surgical cure or it may be medical management. Much study and thought has gone into the methodic treatment of each condition on an individual basis. But how do you assess the success of the treatment? You have given us much food for thought. Got a question for Dr. Johns? E-mail her at JohnsDVM@aol.com. Write to Pet Peeves, P.O. Box 224, Valparaiso,, FL 32580. Johns is a Niceville veterinarian.

Woman runs afowl of county poultry ordinance JENNIE McKEON / Daily News When Torrie Cox moved from Fort Walton Beach to Mary Esther with her 13 chickens two months ago, she talked to most of her new neighbors. “I have chickens,” she told them. And no one seemed bothered, she said. Even the landlord gave the OK. But apparently all it took was one phone call to the county for Cox to receive a correction notice last Friday from Okaloosa County Code Enforcement. The note said she had five days (not including the weekend) to remove her chickens or she would be cited for failure to comply. The citation amount would be $350 — the fine for failure to comply, $250 and violation of county ordinance $100. Santa Rosa County, where backyard chickens are not prohibited, is a few miles west of Cox's home. See her Change.org petition. “A lady in Navarre, who lives not even 15 minutes away from me can have 40 chickens,” she said. “But I'm not going to break my lease and I don't want to get rid of my birds either.” According to Okaloosa County land development code, live poultry are not allowed in residential areas, like Cox's neighborhood. However, with the growing trend, Cox isn't the only one with backyard chickens in the county. After receiving the correction notice, Cox created a Change.org petition to allow backyard chickens in Mary Ester district R-2, where she lives. In a matter of just a few days, she had 245 supporters signed. Lisa Payton, code enforcement supervisor for Okaloosa County, said the office has had an increase in chicken-related violations. “We've quite often had to remove chickens,” she said. “They get out in to other people's yards. There's also a noise issue.” In fact, Cox's neighbor did inform code enforcement complaining of crowing from Cox's two roosters. To avoid losing her chickens, Cox could file an exemption application, but no matter the final decision, the application costs $800. “I just might bite the bullet and file,” she said. Alternatively, Okaloosa County Commissioners could look toward regulating backyard chickens. Although, it probably won't happen too soon, said Elliot Kampert, director of growth management. "We have not formally presented the board with anything on allowing chickens," he said. "I know that the City of Crestview was kicking that around. The individual cities should get on board first. The issue is obviously the noise — it might come down to chickens only, no roosters." Cox says having chickens has been a positive influence in her life, not just for the health benefits. After incubating more than a dozen of eggs and seeing chicks come to life, the chickens are not just egg-makers. "It's a stress reliever. The animals depend on me, and I like taking care of them," she said. "I don't have kids, but I imagine that's what it feels like." WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? According to Okaloosa County's Land Development Code 2.21.05, "The keeping or harboring of livestock, poultry, or honeybees is not considered customarily incidental to residential uses of property and is prohibited in residential districts including R-1, R-2, R-3 and RR, unless otherwise approved by special exemption." Contact Daily News Staff Writer Jennie McKeon at 850-315-4432 or jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieMnwfdn.

County going forward with skate park Nathan Cobb | 315-4432 | @WaltonSunNate | nathan@waltonsun.com A new skate park is in the works for Walton County. The project began in 2015, but Louis Svehla, Walton County public information manager, said the county hopes to finally have the park operational by the spring of 2019. The concrete skate park will be located in Helen McCall Park, adjacent to the west parking lot. Mike Sturdivant, a board member of the Walton Skate Society, said that with no public or private skate park in Walton County, skaters are forced to use sidewalks, streets, parking lots and unfinished development projects. "This skate park will forever cement our community's embrace of a healthy surf and skate lifestyle," Sturdivant said, adding the group has been working on getting a skate park built for about 10 years. "It's time for our local artisans and athletes to be showcased and for our youth to be inspired and celebrated. It's time to build a skate park.” Sturdivant said one of the biggest problems they’ve faced is educating the county on the importance of having a facility for a low-cost sport like skateboarding. “Skateboarding, as a sport, is an economic equalizer,” Sturdivant said. “Many children cannot afford to play organized sports and don’t have the transportation or support to attend games and tournaments. Skateboarding is inexpensive, provides its own transportation, can be practiced even when away from the park and provides positive health and social benefits." As of now, the county has about $100,000 set aside for the project, $60,000 coming from recreational plat fees, $30,000 from the Walton Skate Society and $10,000 from a Tony Hawk Foundation grant. The Tony Hawk Foundation works to empower youth by helping create skate parks in the U.S. Money granted by the foundation can be used only during the actual construction phase. Miki Vuckovich, the foundation’s executive director, said that’s because constructing the park seems to be the most difficult part to raise money for. In addition, all funds given by the foundation have an expiration date. “Tony Hawk Foundation Skate Park Grants are issued with a three-year window,” Vuckovich said. “The skate park should be completed by then. Projects that receive THF grants are also connected with our programs team, who train and assist skate park advocates throughout the process. So many obstacles and delays can be avoided with our involvement.” Walton County plans to spend around $400,000 in total on the project. To make it more affordable, construction will occur in phases. The completed phases will ultimately be linked together, but they will not be dependent upon one another. Currently, the county is negotiating a design contract with New Line Skate Parks. Once an agreement is reached, Svehla will present his recommendation to the Walton County Board of Commissioners. If approved, the park will be designed. Svehla expects the design process to take about 22 weeks. He hopes that having an official design will boost the park’s momentum, along with an increase in public funding. The county will then take construction bids and begin building the park shortly thereafter. “I would say the earliest something could be skateable, even if it’s phase one, realistically would be spring of 2019," Svehla said. "… If fundraising goes gangbusters, the whole thing gets built faster. If it doesn’t, some phases may never be built.”

FHP: 88-year-old man killed in golf cart traffic crash in front of Paxton Town Hall Sierra Rains PAXTON — An 88-year-old Laurel Hill man died Wednesday after the golf cart he was driving collided with a car in front of Paxton Town Hall. The crash happened at 11:39 a.m. on U.S. Highway 331 and County Road 147 in Walton County, according to a press release from the Florida Highway Patrol. More:Santa Rosa Beach man killed in collision on U.S. Highway 98 in Walton County More:One person killed in wreck on U.S. 331. Then a vehicle crashing through barricades nearly struck a deputy The driver of the golf cart was reportedly traveling west out of a parking lot onto U.S. 331. He did not see a gray sedan heading south, crossed the car's path and was struck, the FHP reported. The golf cart rotated clockwise and overturned onto its left side. Both vehicles ended up in the southbound lanes of U.S. 331. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died. The driver and a passenger in the sedan were not injured, the FHP said.

RED-7 Regionally aligned forces continue to organize despite budget uncertainties WASHINGTON (USASOC News Service) — As forces draw down from Afghanistan, more are available for regional alignment, said the Army’s top forces generation leader. But unfortunately, total forces are also drawing down, limiting that manpower, added Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, commander, U.S. Army Forces Command, known as FORSCOM. Allyn and seven other panel members spoke Oct. 22, at a forum on regionally aligned forces, or RAF, at the 2013 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center. The Army “intends that all forces not committed to assigned missions” — like those in Korea, Afghanistan and in the Global Response Force — “will be in a regionally aligned force construct, available to the geographical combatant commander,” he said. Besides the issue of availability of forces for RAFs, the other is sequestration and budgetary challenges facing all the services, he said, noting that training is also taking a heavy hit. For a RAF unit to be at a full readiness level, it goes through a thorough training cycle at a combat training center, which includes decisive action engagements and wide-area security, as well as follow-on, region-specific training. But the dollars are not there, he said, to rotate units through that cycle, except for those assigned to ongoing operations. For example, should sequestration continue, just one FORSCOM-assigned RAF brigade — 4th Brigade Combat TEam, 1st Infantry Division, backfilling 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, for AFRICOM — will be able to train at NTC this fiscal year. “That’s how tight our resources are,” Allyn said. “If there were more resources available, we would certainly be sending more [brigade combat teams] to combat training centers,” he said. RAF itself is seen by Army leaders as the best strategy going forward, even in this climate of uncertainty and scarce resources. RAF is important during this time of fiscal austerity and the drawdown, said panel member Lt. Gen. James L. Huggins Jr., deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7. “We’ll need to rely more and more on our partners’ capabilities and they on ours, as their armies are drawing down as well.” HOW RAF WORKS Brigades, divisions and corps are assigned to combatant commanders from different regions of the world — U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Southern Command. Those forces, including active and reserve components, could be U.S.-based with some forces deployed to the region to which they’re assigned. The level of forces in the region could be an entire brigade, as was the case during an AFRICOM exercise in South Africa this year, and during a corps-level exercise this year in Australia. Or, it could be as small as a two-Soldier advise-and-assist mission. Units assigned to a region could also be deployed outside their area, should the need arise. Units are not permanently assigned to regions. They rotate in and out of the various regions. While component commanders can get pretty much the tailorable and scalable force they need, when they need it, they should try to anticipate those needs in as far in advance to mitigate risk and delays and help the Army better apportion those assets, Huggins said. The primary goal of RAF is to prevent war by partnering with nations within the region, according to Allyn. Partnering can be military-to-military training, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and sharing intelligence and interoperability. Partnering with other nations includes “engagements and interactions between us, our allies and partners — and even potentially our adversaries,” he said, adding that the players include not just the Army and its sister services, but also U.S. and foreign governments, agencies and non-governmental agencies. REGIONAL EXPERTISE The National Guard has had a State Partnership Program, or SSP, for 20 years now, a precursor to the current RAF. Additionally, the Army Reserve has also had a robust military-to-military training program for a number of years. The reserve components’ programs, together with the active component, are all tools in the toolbox that the combatant commanders have at their disposal. There are some advantages SSP has. While active-duty RAF units rotate in and out of regions, National Guard Soldiers, whose states are aligned with different countries on a more or less permanent basis, have “long lasting relationships” that the active component doesn’t, said panel member Maj. Gen. Patrick A. Murphy, adjutant general, New York National Guard. Murphy’s New York Guard has been aligned with South Africa for 10 years, and he said their close personal relationships have “fostered a high level cooperation,” particularly in law enforcement. The New York Guard brought their expertise to bear as advisors for the World Cup, which was held in that country. Panel member Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Donahue II, commander, U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force, concurred that the State Partnership Program really works. During a visit to Botswana, he said that while his active-duty Soldiers were given a cordial welcome, “when the North Carolina Guard showed up, they were treated like rock stars. It’s all about those established personal relationships, plus, the Guard has that resident expertise.” The Army Reserve also adds special benefits to RAF, said panel member Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, chief, Army Reserve/commander, Army Reserve Command. “We provide long-term stability just as the Guard does,” he said. The Reserve has conducted training exercises in some 30 countries over the last year, as part of the Army Reserve Engagement Cells program, he said. Within those cells are subject-matter experts with expertise in logistics, medicine, engineering, languages and a host of other areas, he said. The Reserve’s civil affairs units have Soldiers trained in myriad languages and cultures, he said. The Reserve also has a linguist program Soldiers can take advantage of. Some of those Soldiers may also be working full time in the State Department and other agencies, he added. Talley said he encourages Soldiers leaving active duty to consider the Reserve, as they still have invaluable talent their country can use. Another stabilizing factor in national and regional expertise are special operations troops, who have in-depth language and cultural expertise and often train and advise militaries, said panel member Maj. Gen. Christopher K. Haas, commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). As to the active component part of RAF, the Soldiers are usually not linguists or resident experts, but they are expected to have a good level of cultural understanding as a result of their RAF experiences, Allyn said. Additionally, it is not uncommon for active-duty formations to have Soldiers whose first language and culture are not American. While the process for finding these Soldiers has not yet been institutionalized, Allyn said wise commanders should “scan their formations to identify resident expertise” for regions their units are assigned. FRENCH RAF MODEL The French have been able to use their intimate knowledge of many areas of the world where French is spoken and where they have lived and trained since colonial times, said panel member Maj. Gen. Olivier Tramond, director, French Army Doctrine Center. The French led a successful peacekeeping mission recently in Mali, where jihadist forces were prevented from overrunning the country. Tramond credits past French outreach efforts in Africa with getting other nations onboard with that peacekeeping effort. Although the French army is relatively small, Tramond said they’ve been doing RAF-like missions throughout the world for decades. He said small units sent in are often isolated, so they have to adapt, think for themselves and rely on partner nations, including those in the European Union and U.N., probably even more so than the U.S. Because their army is small, he said its members must be highly trained, enculturated and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. NOTES OF CAUTION There’s a danger that with a shrinking budget and manpower, that the “Army is trying to cover down on the world. Forces will shrink and resources are finite,” said panel member Nathan Freier, senior fellow, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies. The Army needs to better identify where important engagements will be, he continued, because “in some places where it’s important to be, we won’t be allowed in because we’re not welcomed.” Also, “some things we want to prevent are not preventable,” he said, citing stability of nations that might be influenced by political or grass roots events, where military-to-military exchanges, while helpful, cannot prevent all instability around the world. The thought in the Defense Department seems to be, “we’ll manage terrorist threats remotely” through cyber and “use SOC” where force is needed and direct other forces to Iran or North Korea should the balloon go up. Nevertheless, Freier acknowledged advantages to using RAF to learn to operate in austere and challenging conditions around the world. Allyn concluded that one of the most important benefits of RAF is that it’s exciting work for young leaders. He used the example of a second lieutenant deployed to Uganda to help train her military police counterparts. She left highly motivated by what she and her Soldiers accomplished.

STEVE CHAPMAN: Obama’s foreign policy success often goes overlooked STEVE CHAPMAN | Syndicated Columnist On the campaign trail, Barack Obama’s foreign policy gets no love. Republicans portray it as weak, timid, inept and rudderless. Hillary Clinton has faulted him for the rise of the Islamic State and lacking a strategy. Bernie Sanders doesn’t rush to Obama’s defense. The public seems to agree the president has fallen short. In the latest Economist/YouGov poll, only 36 percent of Americans approved of his handling of international affairs, with 49 percent disapproving. Fear of terrorism is at the highest level since the aftermath of 9/11. In a turbulent world beset by unpredictable and often violent changes, it’s easy to deduce that the president is generating dangerous chaos. But blaming Obama for the upheaval is like arriving in town after the tornado and blaming the Red Cross for the wreckage. History is more likely to give him credit for adopting a sober strategy and making it work. It’s not hard to find achievements on his record. He decimated al-Qaida and killed Osama bin Laden. He completed the withdrawal from Iraq. Working with Russia, he induced Syrian President Bashar Assad to agree to give up his chemical weapons. A climate change agreement committed 195 nations to curb emissions that pose a dire threat to the entire world. A landmark deal with Iran reversed its march toward acquiring the bomb. The last two items are portrayed as insane folly by Republicans who think global warming is a hoax and the Iran agreement will fail. The facts tell a different story. The planet has continued getting hotter over the past seven years. Iran has disabled a reactor, eliminated thousands of centrifuges, shipped enriched uranium out of the country and accepted stringent inspections. Perhaps more important than what Obama has done is what he has chosen not to do. He refused to undertake a war against Assad. He rejected aggressive action when Russia invaded Ukraine. He avoided entanglement in Libya. He didn’t send large numbers of ground forces to fight the Islamic State. His preferred military option has been one notable for minimizing costs and risks to Americans: drone strikes. An interview with Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic makes clear that these choices grew out of a shrewd sense of limits and priorities. Obama “believes that Churchillian rhetoric and, more to the point, Churchillian habits of thought, helped bring his predecessor, George W. Bush, to ruinous war in Iraq,” writes Goldberg. “He was particularly mindful of promising victory in conflicts he believed to be unwinnable.” He has no use for the notion that the U.S. should jump into conflicts to preserve its credibility. “Dropping bombs on someone to prove that you’re willing to drop bombs on someone is just about the worst reason to use force,” Obama has told aides. Even his defenders think he blundered in promising a penalty if Assad used chemical weapons and then changing his mind. But Obama obviously thinks that if he erred, it was in the original vow, not in the ultimate forbearance. What he calls “the Washington playbook” prescribed robust intervention. But that approach is “a trap that can lead to bad decisions,” he told Goldberg. “In the midst of an international challenge like Syria, you get judged harshly if you don’t follow the playbook, even if there are good reasons why it does not apply.” It was “as tough a decision as I’ve made” — but “the right decision.” Sacrificing American lives in idealistic crusades is not something he’s willing to do. An unsentimental skeptic, Obama sometimes clashes with advisers pushing for action to avert humanitarian disasters. “I want a president who has the sense that you can’t fix everything,” he says. Privately, he’s enunciated his chief rule: “Don’t do stupid (stuff).” His biggest departure from that policy was in Libya, where he authorized airstrikes against Moammar Gadhafi. “We actually executed this plan as well as I could have expected,” he says. “And despite all that, Libya is a mess.” The debacle, Goldberg writes, “sealed Obama’s fatalistic view.” That revelation alone distinguishes Obama from one wartime president after another — in his ability to acknowledge a serious failure, avoid compounding it and learn from the experience. As the unforeseen consequences of the Iraq War continue reverberating through the Middle East, Obama deserves credit for sparing us from new mistakes. Right now, it may be hard to appreciate the value of his restraint. But we’ll miss it when he’s gone. Steve Chapman blogs at newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman.

LETTER: Flag etiquette This is my first letter to the editor of any paper. After viewing the front-page photo in Friday’s edition showing our beloved Doolittle Raiders standing in front of two U.S. flags, I would like to suggest that anyone desiring to display our flag reacquaint themselves with the proper display and condition of our flag. The correct position for the flags that were shown in the paper should have reflected both flags displayed the same way with the blue field in the upper left corner. I sincerely hope no one will take offense to my suggestion. However, after serving over 49 years of military/federal service with 37 years in a military protocol advisory capacity, I admit it saddens me when I see such mistakes. People need to know the proper “do’s and don’ts” when displaying our United States flag. Most flag companies will include an instruction sheet with the purchase of your flag, but when in doubt, there are other available resources such as your computer, the local library, or a local military facility. We are proud of our flag and what she stands for, and we owe her the respect to display her in proper fashion. Thank you! — DAVE MILLER Niceville

Investigators unraveling twisted Alabama family's group sex ring with children A flier about missing teenager Brittney Wood at her stepmother's home in Mobile, Ala. The teen hasn't been seen since May 2012 and is presumed dead, but 11 relatives and family friends have since been arrested as members of an alleged ring that swapped children for sex. (Jay Reeves/AP) BAY MINETTE, Ala. - By most accounts, 19-year-old Brittney Wood was with uncle Donnie Holland the night of May 30, 2012, the last time anyone saw her. Holland - who was under investigation for horrific sex crimes at the time - died from a bullet within days in what was ruled a suicide. The investigation that followed has publicly unraveled what authorities describe as a dark, twisted tale of perversion in the working-class neighborhoods and piney backwoods of coastal Alabama. Eight of Woods' adult relatives and three family friends have been charged with dozens of felonies in two counties as the alleged members of an incestuous ring that authorities say shared children for group sex. Holland was the leader, prosecutors say, of what has been described as the largest sex ring ever uncovered in Alabama. Wood was a victim and likely key witness. "Brittney could have been huge," said prosecutor Teresa Heinz. "She could have corroborated so many things." Wood is presumed dead, but authorities haven't found a trace of her and no one is charged in her disappearance. Even without Wood to testify, two of her uncles and an older brother already have pleaded guilty to sex charges, and jurors this month convicted a friend of Holland's of multiple sex charges in the first trial. Others - including the missing teen's mother, Chessie Wood, and two aunts - await trial. Chessie Wood denies committing any crime, but says some of her closest relatives are guilty of abusing children, including of abusing her daughter. "There are innocent people in this and there are guilty people in this," Wood, 39, said in an interview. "I don't know how the judicial system is going to figure it all out because they're not the sharpest tools in the shed." Chessie Wood, accused of having sex with a young female relative, said she had no idea what was going on in the family until after her daughter's disappearance. "The No. 1 thing here is to find Brittney. The No. 2 thing is to get all these sick (people) off the streets," she said. Authorities are making plea-bargain offers and getting ready for more trials, but questions persist. Perhaps most troubling, why didn't child welfare workers pursue charges following what prosecutors describe as multiple complaints about sexual abuse within the family going back at least six years? Stephanie Hanke, stepmother of missing teenager Brittney Wood, looks over materials related to the search for the youth at her home in Mobile, Ala. last month. (Jay Reeves/AP) "You'd be surprised how many of them had prior allegations. Nothing happened," said Heinz, an assistant district attorney in Baldwin County. "You have to wonder what wouldn't have happened to these children if something had been done. And Brittney might still be alive." The case is so big officials don't know exactly how many kids inside and outside the family might have been victimized; estimates range from 11 to 16 children who were as young as 3 or 4 when they were first molested or made to watch adult relatives during drug-fueled orgies. The children of the suspects have all been placed in foster care or with relatives who weren't involved in the crimes. Brittney Wood isn't the alleged victim in any of the cases filed so far; each involved other young people, mostly within her family. But the investigation mushroomed only after she was reported missing and her uncle Donnie had died. Authorities believe group sex and child sexual abuse went on for three generations in two families that merged when Holland married Wendy Wood, Chessie Woods' sister. "Donnie was the manager. He'd say, 'I've got this child and this adult, come on over,'" said Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson. Donald Paul Holland and Dustin Kent, noth uncles of Brittney Wood. Officials wanted to talk to Holland about the sex abuse case but committed suicide. Kent is charged with two counts of second degree rape, first degree sodomy, second degree sodomy, and incest. (Baldwin County Sheriff's Office) Brittney Wood, meanwhile, led a life that was troubled long before folks on the Alabama coast came to know her smile because of missing persons fliers posted in store windows and shared on social media. The single mother of a daughter born when she was 17, Wood was molested as a child by a step-grandfather who went to prison for the crime, said Patterson. Before she went missing, Patterson said, Wood was using drugs and had a gun for personal protection while bouncing between relatives' homes; others often cared for her daughter. A relative reported Holland for allegedly abusing one of the family girls in February 2012, authorities said, and word spread through the clan. Private Facebook messages provided to The Associated Press by Stephanie Hanke, Brittney Wood's stepmother, show that a female relative informed Wood about being raped by three male relatives on May 27, just three days before Wood vanished. The night of the disappearance, cellphone records and witness accounts indicate Wood left west Mobile with Holland and crossed Mobile Bay into Baldwin County, where Holland was found two days later inside his SUV by his wife and one of her friends. He had been shot in the rear of his head behind an ear, which authorities considered an odd spot for a self-inflicted wound. Holland was scheduled to be questioned about allegations of sexual abuse the very day he was found in the car on an isolated dirt road. Wood's cellphone battery was in the vehicle with Holland, but there was no sign of the teen. Her gun was there as well, it was the only gun in the car. Holland never regained consciousness and died several days later. After Holland died, relatives and police wondered about Wood. "We didn't even realize she was missing until after they found him shot," said Hanke. Searches for the teen began and the sex abuse probe picked up, too. Two of Woods's uncles, Dustin Kent and Scott Wood, were arrested within three weeks and later pleaded guilty to rape and sodomy. Aunts and family friends were eventually charged. The Daily News Flash Catch up on the day’s top five stories every weekday afternoon. This month, family friend Billy Brownlee, 50, was convicted in Baldwin County on charges of sexually abusing a girl in the Holland family when she was about 12. Brownlee claimed Donnie Holland forced him into the acts against his will, but jurors needed only 20 minutes to return a guilty verdict. Donnie Holland's 35-year-old wife, Wendy, is set for trial in early December in what could be a key prosecution. Court records show she has pleaded not guilty, and Heinz said she shows no interest in a plea agreement. Still, authorities wonder how child sexual abuse could go on for years between so many people without anyone being charged until 2012. One girl accused an uncle of sexually abusing her as early as 2008, Heinz said, but welfare workers found the complaint unsubstantiated. "You look at these reports and wonder, 'Why? How did it not go anywhere?'" said Heinz. Barry Spear, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, said privacy statutes prevent the agency from commenting. "I can't even say whether we're had any involvement with this family at all," Spear said. On a mobile device? Click here to watch video.

Coin-Op: Exploring the Spirit of ’80s and ’90s Arcade Games Artists: Jonathan Bonner, Steven Doughty, Eric Martin, Jonathan Pettigrew When / Tuesday, December 6, 5:30pm Where / The NYUAD Project Space Join us on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 5:30pm in The Project Space for the opening of Coin-Op: Exploring the Spirit of ‘80s and ‘90s Arcade Games. The exhibition is an interactive installation looking at the retro arcade experience and explored the community and spirit that lived in these spaces. From multiple-player cabinets to single-player experiences, the Coin-Op Arcade gives the audience a feel of 80’s nostalgia. Participants will have the opportunity to play many classic 1980’s 8 and 16-bit games with a modern twist (designed by Jon Bonner). Cabinets designed by Bonner are made mostly of recycled and reused materials and will look at the interactivity and community aspects of gaming. Participants will also take in uniquely created sights and sounds of the 1980s arcade era while exploring the Coin-Op Arcade (designed by Steve Doughty and Eric Martin). So, get your tokens ready and enjoy the Coin—Op Arcade! The artists write: Many remember the times of early ‘80s and ‘90s arcade parlors. The sights, sounds, smells: there was always something special about entering your local arcade with a handful of tokens. Perhaps waiting with your friends as the players ahead finished up on your favorite game. And when it’s your turn, you drop the coin into the slot and you Ready Up! Learn more about the exhibition Arts Chat Building a Life as an Artist in the UAE (Part 5) Presented in partnership with NYUAD Art Gallery and NYUAD Career Development Center Tuesday, May 2, 6:00 PM

Technology Changes Democracy The IT revolution is dramatically changing how we live, in a way that is probably just as profound as the agrarian and industrial revolutions of previous ages. This new revolution has given people control over the way they communicate – in a manner that few of us could have ever imagined. As with all revolutions, change has casualties. Not so many years ago the Post Office was the central hub of most communities, but having access to email and Skype means that most of us don’t see the need to send letters or even Christmas cards anymore. As a result NZ Post is cutting back on services and no doubt Post Offices will close because they no longer satisfy consumer needs. The changes are equally as dramatic in the newspaper industry. As readers switch from print to on-line editions, advertisers are looking for other ways to promote their businesses. The fall in revenue has caused newspapers to shed staff and cuts costs. The adverse effects of this dramatic downsizing of the print media industry are flowing onto paper mills, forestry, transport, and service towns. The changes to democracy are equally profound – but more on that later. This week’s NZCPR Guest Commentator is Karl du Fresne, a freelance journalist and former Editor of the Dominion newspaper. Karl has been following developments in the newspaper industry closely, and in his article Newspapers lose readers and revenue, examines the nature of the crisis: “Dismal financial results reported recently by the two big newspaper groups, APN News and Media and Fairfax Media, confirmed what had long been obvious: that the newspaper industry is reeling from the impact of the internet. Both companies are struggling with high debt and declining revenue. Like newspaper publishers worldwide, they are dealing with a crisis of a magnitude never before encountered and sometimes give the impression of having no clue what to do next. The industry is bleeding and morale could hardly be described as buoyant.” Karl believes that the Australian ownership of most of our newspapers has significantly contributed to the decline, but he also blames the ‘feminisation’ of media content. “Before the feminist lynch mobs assemble, I should explain … it’s not female journalists I’m concerned about – far from it – but the creeping feminisation of newspaper content. By this I mean the increasing proportion of newspaper space devoted to ‘soft’ topics – fluffy human interest stories, gossipy items and lifestyle-oriented content better suited to women’s magazines. Some call it latté journalism. In metropolitan papers especially, café reviews and profiles of celebrity chefs, fashion designers, baristas and TV personalities have displaced investigative reporting and traditional ‘hard’ news about events and issues of importance.” To read Karl’s excellent analysis, click HERE. The consequence of this trend from investigation to fluff is far reaching. The free press has a crucial role to play in democratic affairs. As the Fourth Estate, the media should stand as the fourth pillar of a free democracy – alongside the Executive, Parliament, and the Judiciary – acting not only as a watchdog over government, but as a fearless defender of free speech. But the problem is that as resources that once provided serious in-depth investigative journalism are re-directed into soft entertainment, the ability of mainstream media to fulfil its crucial Fourth Estate role is being compromised. One only needs to look at the changes in the crucial post-news 7pm slot at our state television broadcaster TVNZ to see the trend, as the highly regarded investigative Holmes Show morphed into the ‘lighter’ Closeup, which has now abandoned all pretence at serious investigation to become an unashamedly fluffy ‘Seven Sharp’. These changes are leaving the public increasingly exposed to the spin of vested interest groups masquerading as news. NZCPR reader Robin Grieve has taken exception to one such instance of this by lodging a complaint to TVNZ for incorporating Treaty propaganda into their Waitangi Day news coverage. The complaint involves the usage of the Treaty activists’ line that the Treaty of Waitangi is the Nation’s ‘founding document’ by a news reader who stated in her introduction: “… from the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi where the Nation’s founding document was first signed 173 years ago”. In his letter Robin made the case that the Treaty is not the Nation’s founding document, but was simply an agreement between the British Government and the natives of New Zealand. He argues that it was the 1852 New Zealand Constitution Act that gave the country nationhood status through the right of self government and that it is this Act that should be described as our ‘founding document’. Robin also asserted that the newsreader was promoting misinformation at a crucial time when political activists are pushing for a Treaty of Waitangi constitution: “The news reader’s words will elevate the Treaty in the minds of people who have not researched the facts beyond what it is. There is also debate over the importance of the Treaty and its significance and whether it should be included in any constitution. Opinions vary and that is to be expected and news readers should play no role in shaping people’s opinions other than in presenting facts on which they can base them.” In their reply, the Complaints Committee of TVNZ stated that they could not identify any errors of fact: “The Treaty of Waitangi is widely accepted and known as the founding document of New Zealand and it is therefore accurate to refer to it in this way in the ONE News item.” The issue Robin has highlighted, of course, is that while something may be ‘widely accepted’ it may not in fact be correct – especially where that acceptance has been driven by a vested interest group with a political agenda and parroted by a media that is failing to uphold its responsibilities as the Fourth Estate. Robin has yet to decide whether he wants to take this further and appeal to the Broadcasting Standards Authority. The full complaint and response from TVNZ can be found on Breaking Views HERE – Robin would welcome any constructive suggestions (through the blog comments) for countering the Treaty propaganda machine, which seems to have public broadcasters in its grip! All of this brings to mind The Big Lie, a propaganda technique coined by Adolf Hitler and described in his 1925 book Mein Kampf, that if a lie, so ‘colossal’ that no one would believe that someone ‘could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously’ is repeated often enough, people will eventually come to believe it. The version, “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth” was later attributed to his Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels. That technique is certainly being used by Treaty activists, and New Zealanders like Robin Grieve, who are challenging such misinformation, should be encouraged. While Karl du Fresne has pointed out the impact of the IT revolution on the media, the implications go much wider – to the heart of democracy itself. In Italy last month, the political establishment was stunned to find that a brand new party run by a comedian had secured more votes than any of them. The movement won more than 8 million protest voters, a success seen by local analysts as a signal that Italians are deeply dissatisfied with the country’s political class. With a tsunami-like effect, Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement swept away competitors, winning 25.5 percent of the votes. The success of the Five Star Movement can be attributed to the Internet. Founded by Mr Grillo through his blog in 2009, the movement gathered momentum through a social media campaign that promoted the idea that politics belongs to everyone. He confronted the political ruling class head on and tapped into the mood of public discontent that was looking for a way to demand more responsive government. The IT revolution enabled Grillo to communicate directly that mood for change. How all of this plays out in Italy is anyone’s guess, but what it does signal is that a profound change is now taking root in democracy itself and that New Zealand is not immune from its effects. The reality is that here at home, MMP has forced the two major mainstream parties to have to rely on some of the more radical minor parties for coalition support in order to form a government . To the dismay of centre-right voters, National has been pushing the Maori Party’s Treaty supremacist agenda onto the country, while under Labour, the Greens’ environmental extremism was forced into law. Maybe it is now time for a new way. Using the power of the Internet, perhaps the time is right for a No Confidence Movement to be formed to return democracy to citizens. A movement that is neither left nor right but committed to some basic principles: respect for equal rights, for the rule of law, for private property rights, for community – economic, social, cultural and environmental – wellbeing, and for politicians to become the true servants of the people. Again, thanks to the Internet, a public referendum process could be established that would enable citizens to state their preferences on the bills in front of Parliament. If Switzerland is anything to go by, the public would be eager to embrace the opportunity to have their voices reflected directly in the key public policy decisions of the day. Unfortunately in New Zealand establishment politics is moving further away from citizens democracy. We now have the unacceptable situation where the government is allowing a radical coalition partner to move the country towards a race-based constitution, that would enshrine the privilege of one racial group over all others. That the National Party would go along with such an abhorant and unbridled power grab is an indictment on our democracy and a sad reflection of the arrogance of the political class. This is especially the case when it is realised the politicians have left the way open for the final shape of any new constitution to be determined by a vote in Parliament rather than through a public referendum process. The IT revolution has handed the public the power to reinstate a citizens democracy. But is New Zealand ready for it? Is it time for those with no confidence in the establishment to support a movement designed to shake up New Zealand politics by giving the the people a direct say in the affairs of government? If you believe that time has come then please answer ‘Yes’ in the poll.

Knights Ferry News Valley Home News Altercation Ends With Arrest A 34-year-old man was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after officers responded to a home on the 300 block of South Fourth Avenue on Dec. 8 around 3 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of a family fight involving weapons. Once on scene, officers determined a father and son had been involved in a fight. The father walked out of the home suffering from a head injury after being struck with a pistol by his son. As a precaution, Oakdale Police, with the assistance of Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies, briefly shut down the street and surrounded the home. A short time later, the adult son surrendered to police and a firearm was recovered. The 66-year-old victim was taken to a local area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led up to the confrontation and the involved persons’ actions during the altercation.

Box with 33 sachets This supplement is the world's most researched specialty immune supplement, supported by over 20 human studies and by more than 100 pre-clinical in vivo and in vitro studies. It is made by culturing mycelia mushroom cells.

Economic Policy Reforms Economic Policy Reforms 2019 Going for Growth The Going for Growth report, updated biennially, looks at structural reforms in policy areas that have been identified as priorities to boost incomes in OECD countries and selected non-OECD economies (Argentina, Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, the Russian Federation and South Africa). The selection of priorities and monitoring of reform actions are supported by internationally comparable indicators that enable countries to assess their economic performance and structural policies in a wide range of areas. In addition to detailed policy recommendations to address the priorities, as well as a follow-up on actions taken in the recent years, the report includes individual country notes and, since 2017, a focus on inclusive growth. The 2019 report also includes a special chapter on reform packages that boost growth while ensuring environmental sustainability, a new extension of the Going for Growth framework. OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19) https://doi.org/10.1787/aec5b059-en Click to download EPUB - 19.72MB The gap in GDP per capita relative to the upper half of OECD countries remains large although it has been narrowing steadily since the global financial crisis. Employment has been increasing and labour productivity growth has also contributed to narrowing the gap. https://doi.org/10.1787/d1b7558e-en http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/component/d1b7558e-en

Employing students aged sixteen and seventeen during summer vacation Students aged sixteen and seventeen, who are employed during the summer months after the last day of spring classes and before fall classes begin, are not required to provide their employer with an age and schooling certificate as a condition of employment (RC 4109.02). This exception applies if the student is employed in an area that is nonagricultural and nonhazardous as well as any other area of employment that is not prohibited to persons aged sixteen and seventeen. Students that fit into the above category must provide their employer with proof of age in the same manner as… Human Resources, Student Employees Minimum wage increases continue Posted by OSBA Legal Ledger on 5/15/2009 Ohios minimum wage increased to $7.30 on January 1, 2009. The increase applies to all employers that gross more than $267,000 per year, a category within which most, if not all Ohio public schools fall. Exempted from the increase are 14 and 15-year-old employees, who will continue to receive the federal minimum wage of $6.55 through July 24, 2009, at which time the federal rate will increase to $7.25 per hour. Also exempted are tipped employees, who receive $3.65 per hour, before tips. For more information, please contact the OSBA Legal Division. Human Resources, Legislative Changes, Student Employees

Local author's new book examines history of OKC Zoo By Devon Green Mark Hancock Amy Dee Stephens discusses a picture in her new Oklahoma City Zoo book, Sunday, 8-24-14, during a book signing event at Full Circle Bookstore. Amy Dee Stephens knew that when she finished writing her first book on the Oklahoma City Zoological Park’s first hundred years, a follow-up was inevitable. Stephens’ book, Oklahoma City Zoo, 1960-2013, hit stores Aug. 19 and provides the rest of an epic story of a zoo and the community around it. “The history of the zoo is so integral to the history of our city. For instance, how do you sustain a zoo during the Great Depression?” she said. Unwilling to let the animals of the zoo go hungry, the citizens of Oklahoma City banded together and fed the zoo animals leftovers from their own tables. This is just one of the incredible stories that Stephens uncovered in the course of writing her first book. It took her about 500 hours of research and writing over the course of about two years. And even though she works for the zoo, none of that was on work time; it was all done in her free time. “By that time, I just had 100 years of history rattling around in my head and I needed for it to have someplace to go,” she said. The result was not only the book but also the ZooZeum, a small addition to the zoo’s landscape that features rotating exhibits about the history of the OKC Zoo. Stephens is the zoo’s naturalist instructor supervisor and oversees all educational components in the zoo. And since one of the major purposes of the zoo is to inform and educate the public about the natural world, she has a hand in just about everything. She has worked there for 16 years and loves every minute of it. It has also given her a leg-up on the second part of her zoo history, as some of it has unfolded right before her eyes. While the first book closed a chapter on the zoo’s history at a good stopping point, “1960 was a jumping-off point for a different direction for the zoo,” she said. Dr. Warren Thomas, director of the zoo, began taking the zoo in a direction geared more toward conservation and education. He became zoo director in 1959. “There are over 200 people mentioned in this book for whatever reason — they may be in a photograph, and that’s the fun thing about this book, because people who are living are in it,” she said. Amy Dee Stephens at Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway Stephens enjoyed being able to mention things that are fun and current and that people were there to experience along with her. What stood out to Stephens while writing the book is that the zoo belongs to the city and all citizens of OKC are a part of it. “I had to cut a lot of my favorites, but my intent was to represent the community at large,” she said. The Oklahoma Historical Society played an integral part in both books, allowing Stephens to peruse countless photographs illustrating the history of the zoo. All of them were gems, and she’s hoping to collect the best of them for an exhibit at the ZooZeum. “There’s a photograph from 1930 with Luna the elephant and flapper girls,” she said. When she was going through the old photographs, she said she “had [her] white gloves on and [her] heart was racing.” To be given the keys to that kind of history was thrilling. To turn around and, in her second book, get to tell the story of the zoo as she knows it was a satisfying conclusion. Stephens has several book signing events scheduled through September, but none is perhaps more exciting than being a part of the annual Septemberfest Saturday at Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive. The annual party on the lawn is a highlight of the year for young and old alike as they converge on the grounds of the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). “We have people in from all over the city, and our goal this year is to shut down 23rd Street up to Interstate 35,” said Steve Hawkins, director of marketing at OHS. Hawkins expects a crowd of 10,000-15,000 starting at 10 a.m. The festival features interaction — including hands-on activities and demonstrations — with living participants of every part of our state’s history. “There’s face-painting, storytelling, and the chuck wagons typically do Dutch oven stew, cobblers, anything the cowboys ate,” Hawkins said. There are ongoing activities on the lawn and inside the History Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Stephens will be there to sign and answer questions about her book as an expert on an important part of our city and state history. She has participated as a guest of Septemberfest, but this will be the first time she is part of the presentations. “I’ve always had a passion for the zoo, and I’ve worked there for 16 years. Once we got all that together again, it seemed a shame for it to just disappear again,” she said. Her book is available at local retailers, including Full Circle Books, 1900 Northwest Expressway, and at arcadiapublishing.com. For more information about Septemberfest, visit okhistory.org or call 521-2491. Oklahoma City Zoo, 1960-2013 by Arcadia Publishing Print: Zoo-ology; Local author concludes her project on the history of the OKC Zoo with her second book, in stores now. Amy Dee Stephens, arcadia publishing, local author, local history, local publisher, okc history, okc zoo, Oklahoma City Zoological Park, Oklahoma Historical Society, Septemberfest 2014 Oklahoma Historical Society shares black history online PRESS RELEASE Oklahoma History Center partners with Oklahoma Contemporary for Bright Golden Haze: Reflections PRESS RELEASE Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center reopened to the public June 2

The zoo's brightest creatures go into the Wild By David Dean Art Gone Wild Through Aug. 31 a.k.a. Gallery 3001 S. Paseo St. aka-gallery.com The Oklahoma City Zoo launched its fifth annual Art Gone Wild animal art show earlier this month, with a.k.a. Gallery hosting for the first time. The exhibit will run through the entire month of August and features original pieces of art created by the zoo’s most creative and artistic animals. From gorillas to giraffes, stingrays and sea lions, the art is created using a wild palette at the zoo. “Making connections between wildlife and wild places with people is a major part of the zoo’s mission,” said Tara Henson, the zoo’s director of PR and marketing. “Providing healthy and fun activities for our animals is paramount for their health and well-being. Enhancing each species’ behavioral, physical, social, cognitive and psychological well-being are important. Enrichment activities such as painting [are] just one of the ways our animal care team accomplishes this goal.” Art Gone Wild will provide guests with an opportunity to view and purchase these unique pieces of art, with net proceeds supporting the zoo’s conservation initiatives. “My hope is to raise a lot of money for the zoo and the wildlife conservation groups that they support,” said Ashley Griffith, owner of a.k.a. Gallery. “I also hope people walk away realizing that each and every person can make a difference in helping preserve these beautiful animals and their habitats. Hopefully, with the money we raise, this can be the gallery’s part for now.” Art by zoo animals is one part of providing a stimulating environment. If you’re worried about the safety and health of the animals, there is no need. Creating the art is safe for all the animals; the paints are nontoxic and washable. “Programs like Art Gone Wild help elephants in their natural habitats and at the zoo,” Henson said. “Painting is a collaboration between the animal team and each animal. The animal has a choice on whether it wants to participate. Each animal receives a reward such as a favorite treat if they choose to do so. If not, there’s no negative interaction. Everything is based upon positive reinforcement.” A new addition to the animal artist crew this year is Togo, one of the zoo’s silverback gorillas, along with giraffes Bogy, Ursula, Noel and Ellie. The exhibit will also feature painting by Gus, a Von der Decken’s hornbill, and Zeppy, a salmon-crested cockatoo, who will be showing off their newly acquired painting skills with a paintbrush. Also, back by popular demand is the zoo’s toddler elephant Malee, who has painted more of her “Malee kisses.” Expect to also see other artists like a Komodo dragon, a Red River hog and Galapagos tortoises. The caregivers of these animals should get as much credit as the talented artists. They deeply love and care for each animal, and they support them in their artistic endeavors. Some animals enjoy using paintbrushes, while others choose to paint with their trunks, paws or even noses, all under the encouraging eye of the caregivers. “I think the trainers have the most fun with this fundraiser,” Griffith said. “I got the opportunity to go to the zoo and watch the trainers and animals work together, and it was really spectacular to see how much love and care each of the trainers spend with the animals.” aka gallery, Art Gone Wild, keepers, Oklahoma City Zoo, Paseo, Labor Day in the Paseo PRESS RELEASE Experience Paseo's May First Friday from home! PRESS RELEASE Zoo announces “OKC Zoo @ Two” schedule for April 27 – MAY 3 Latest in Arts Treasure keepers Heavenly beings

Electronic OKC A local record label fosters OKC’s electronic music scene. Benjamin Rosfeld’s “Out of Time” appears on Unexpected Destinations Vol. 1. Taylor McKenzie started a record label to feed a habit he acquired overseas. “I lived and worked in Berlin for a couple years, and techno is just so not an underground thing there, so I got really addicted to the music,” McKenzie said. When he returned to Oklahoma City, McKenzie founded Fixed Rhythms with fellow electronic music fan Stewart Whitmarsh because he had trouble getting the good stuff at home. “It kind of started out as, like, a techno party series, and then it morphed into a record label because, basically, there’s nobody selling this type of music here,” McKenzie said. “It’s crazy. There’s so much good electronic music coming out — not EDM, but techno house, jungle, whatever — new dance music, and nobody’s paying attention to it because you literally cannot touch it. It’s not at any record stores here, not just in Oklahoma City, but in Tulsa and down in Texas, it’s hard to find. You have to be in, like, one store in Chicago, a couple stores in New York and a couple stores in LA. … Techno was born in Detroit, so it’s actually a domestic thing, but U.S. techno is crazy-hard for people to wrap their heads around. There’s, like, a cultural difference. One thing is the 2 a.m. cut-off. It’s nighttime music, and people here are just so used to going out and immediately getting blitz drunk and just going home and passing out. It’s kind of a different culture where you’re going out and you might not even drink but you’re staying out until like eight in the morning. … I guess that’s much more of a thing in places like Berlin.” "It’s blowing your mind that music like that can even exist and move you in that way you’ve never been moved before." — Taylor McKenzie Berlin’s nightlife culture and club scene, where sunrise often comes before last call, might give its electronic dance music an edge, but Fixed Rhythms’ compilation Unexpected Destinations Vol. 1, released Thursday digitally and on cassette tape, sets out to prove that good dance music is being created by “artists living outside of the traditional electronic music hubs.” “There are people making this kind of music in Oklahoma, but they’re just totally doing their own thing,” McKenzie said. “And to me, that’s kind of more beautiful because there are no rules here. There are no standards of DJing. There are no standards of what your house tracks or your techno tracks or your ambient tracks should sound like. You’re just going for it because you’re kind of trying to reach out to the void. I love that shit.” Experimentation not constrained by genre labels or regulated by beats per minute (BPM) allows music and musicians to evolve and grow, McKenzie said. “You have to allow for people to blend things and blow things up a little bit in order to come across new territory,” McKenzie said. “There are so many people who would say, ‘Techno is between this BPM and this BPM, and the bass drum has to go on these spots,’ and it’s just like, whoa. Who is going to work with those boundaries consistently for an entire musical career?” Taylor McKenzie and Stewart Whitmarsh founded Fixed Rhythms record label after discovering the lack of techno and other electronic dance music available at local record stores. Instead of setting these kinds of boundaries, McKenzie said Fixed Rhythms abides by a single mantra: “Electronic music, curated by intuition and love.” So far, the artists released by the label have come through “organic connections” made on the dance floor or, in one case, the classroom. Minimalist music Benjamin Rosfeld, whose “Out of Time” is included on Unexpected Destinations, was a student in the high school German class McKenzie teaches. Rosfeld said a book he was reading about minimalist composers inspired a conversation about Brian Eno, Philip Glass and Steve Reich that led McKenzie and Rosfeld, a classically trained pianist who became interested in electronic music when he began building synthesizers as a hobby, to realize they had not only similar musical tastes, but similar “musical philosophies.” “We’re really about collaboration,” Rosfeld said. “I believe that, as artists, to really create true, good art, we can’t do it by ourselves, and music to me is about not only just the creation of art but creating a community surrounding that. When we’re able to work with other people, I think that’s really some of the true beauty in our creations. … Working with Taylor’s been fantastic. He’s such an onboard, really easygoing, enthusiastic person, but I also really, really respect what the label is doing in unifying these artists. They’re creating a new community of people with this one tape.” McKenzie said his conversations with Rosfeld helped him rediscover his own enthusiasm for minimalist music. Unexpected Destinations Vol. 1, released Thursday digitally and on cassette tape, sets out to prove that good dance music is being created by “artists living outside of the traditional electronic music hubs.” “He’s a composer, and he’s just so on fire,” McKenzie said. “It’s so amazing to watch someone so excited about that kind of music. … You just get, like, obsessed with drone music, and that’s all you listen to. It’s blowing your mind that music like that can even exist and move you in that way you’ve never been moved before, and I hadn’t really felt that excited about that kind of music in a while. Not to sound jaded or anything, but I just hadn’t dug it that hard for a minute.” Rosfeld, now a student at University of Central Oklahoma, said Unexpected Destinations will be his first cassette tape. “Out of Time,” written during his senior year of high school, has a personal meaning for him. “There’s this constant pulse, but not everything that accompanies the pulse is perfectly in time with that,” Rosfeld said. “It’s almost like you’ve got three different layers that are all doing their own thing. I think it’s really expressing how I felt, particularly in my senior year of high school when I wrote the piece. Everything was sort of going on around me, and I almost didn’t feel like I was a part of it or I was out of sync with everything, really overwhelmed. So I think that’s what I was trying to convey, but I’m always open to other people’s interpretations.” Raymond Owen, whose “Citric Acid” opens Unexpected Destinations, said Fixed Rhythms is moving to its own beat. “It’s pretty different from what’s going on in Oklahoma, so hopefully it actually attracts more people that are into these things that probably don’t have a community to share that with,” Owen said. “I feel like Fixed Rhythms is such a special thing for Oklahoma. They’re actually bringing out people that are doing amazing things that no one’s ever actually heard or they would maybe never even hear if they didn’t get connected through Taylor or someone.” McKenzie hopes Unexpected Destinations helps people in OKC and places like it realize they can join the party. “A lot of times, people just get left out of the picture if they’re not from some hype city,” McKenzie said. “I do think it’s kind of metropolitan music. You need people, but I don’t think that it’s impossible for a smaller city with, like, 800,000 people to have like a super healthy dance community. It just takes exposure. … You have to have your hands on it. You have to be exposed to new sounds.” Unexpected Destinations also features tracks by OKC artists Hypervigillance and Holy Siege. Digital albums and cassette tapes are $7. Visit fixedrhythms.com. Fixed Rhythms, Taylor McKenzie, record label, Stewart Whitmarsh, Benjamin Rosfeld, Unexpected Destinations Vol. 1, dance music, techno, house music, jungle music, Raymond Owen, Hypervigillance, Holy Siege, House of ideas TULSA: Multi-Tracker Digital Showcase Don't call it a comeback

Supreme Court Seeks Middle Ground as to the Scope of the Clean Water Act The US Supreme Court struck a compromise this week as to whether the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) can be used to regulate discharges to groundwater that may reach “navigable waters.” The Supreme Court found that certain discharges to groundwater can be regulated under the CWA, for example, by requiring permits for such discharges or taking enforcement action as to the same, but failed to establish a bright line rule. The decision involves the long-running matter of County of Maui v. Hawai'i Wildlife Fund. The County of Maui (Maui) operates a wastewater reclamation facility on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The facility collects sewage from the surrounding area, partially treats it, and pumps the treated water hundreds of feet underground through four injection wells. Some of this effluent then travels one-half mile, through groundwater, to the ocean. The CWA requires permits for discharges from “point sources” to navigable waters. However, where a point source discharges to groundwater (and not directly to navigable water), applicability of the CWA is less certain. Environmental groups sued, claiming that Maui was discharging pollutants from a point sources to navigable waters (the Pacific Ocean) without a CWA permit. Maui argued that because the discharge from the point source was to groundwater and not navigable waters, no permit was required. Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit held that discharges to groundwater required a CWA permit if the pollutants in the discharge are “fairly traceable from the point source to a navigable water.” The Supreme Court narrowed the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, requiring a permit when there is a “direct discharge from a point source into navigable waters or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge from the point source into navigable waters.” (Emphasis added.) However, rather than establishing a clear standard of what constitutes a “functional equivalent,” the majority opinion instead lists potentially relevant considerations, including: how long it takes the pollutant to reach navigable waters; the distance the pollutant travels before reaching navigable waters; the nature of the material through which the pollutant travels; the extent to which the pollutant is diluted or chemically changed as it travels; the amount of pollutant entering the navigable waters relative to the amount of the pollutant that leaves the point source; the manner by or area in which the pollutant enters the navigable waters; and the degree to which the pollution (at that point) has maintained its specific identity. The Court acknowledged that, “Time and distance will be the most important factors in most cases, but not necessarily every case.” The Supreme Court recognized that virtually all water, polluted or not, eventually makes its way to navigable water and that the Ninth Circuit’s “fairly traceable” standard would have allowed the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to broadly assert permitting authority, including over the release of pollutants that reach navigable waters many years after their release and in highly diluted forms. In a concurring opinion, Justice Kavanaugh emphasized the plurality opinion in Rapanos v. United States, wherein Justice Scalia argued that polluters could not “evade the permitting requirement . . . simply by discharging their pollutants into noncovered intermittent watercourses that lie upstream of covered waters.” As to the dissents, Justice Thomas (joined by Justice Gorsuch) argued that the CWA excludes anything other than a direct discharge to navigable waters. Writing separately, Justice Alito assailed the majority’s “functional equivalent” test as an implausible interpretation of the statutory text with no clear meaning as to its application. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Ninth Circuit for further consideration. The Supreme Court’s decision comes two days after the April 21, 2020, issuance by the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers of their Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which significantly alters the universe of water deemed to be navigable waters. The rule becomes effective on June 22, 2020, and is expected to be the subject of numerous court challenges, thereby adding more uncertainty to the scope of the jurisdictional reach of the federal CWA. This memorandum is a summary for general information and discussion only and may be considered an advertisement for certain purposes. It is not a full analysis of the matters presented, may not be relied upon as legal advice, and does not purport to represent the views of our clients or the Firm. Eric Rothenberg, an O’Melveny partner licensed to practice law in Missouri and New York, Kelly McTigue, an O’Melveny partner licensed to practice law in California, and Bob Nicksin, as O’Melveny counsel licensed to practice law in California, contributed to the content of this newsletter. The views expressed in this newsletter are the views of the authors except as otherwise noted. Kelly McTigue Environmental & Natural Resources Litigation Supreme Court & Appellate Litigation

Our school is located on the edge of Hornby village in the beautiful Lune Valley near Lancaster. We have excellent communication links The original Launceston campus commenced in 1995 with only secondary school students, and expanded in 2007 to provide for students from years Placed in the heart of south-western New South Wales, Leeton Campus serves the communities of Leeton and Griffith. Often referred to as Surrounded by the beauties of the Hunter Valley and the Newcastle Coastline, the Maitland Campus provides students from the Maitland, Gosford, Newcastle

All Months April July August October December Apr 17 John Ford, English dramatist ('Tis Pity She's a Whore), born in Ilsington, Devon, England (d. 1639) Apr 20 Saint Rose of Lima [Isabel Flores de Olivia], Peruvian saint, a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, born in Lima, Peru (d. 1617) Jul 5 Thomas Hooker, American colonial clergyman (known as "the father of Connecticut"), born in Marefield, Leicestershire, England (d. 1647) Jul 7 Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, English statesman (d. 1646) Aug 8 Adolf, earl of Nassau-Siegen Aug 14 William Hutchinson, Rhode Island colonist, born in Alford, Lincolnshire, England (d. 1642) Aug 17 Johann V Andreae, German vicar and writer (Christenburg) Oct 9 Jan III van Foreest, Dutch lawyer, poet and mayor of Hoorn, born in Alkmaar, Netherlands (d. 1651) Oct 9 Leopold V, Archduke of Austria, born in Graz, Austria (d. 1632) Dec 6 Niccolò Zucchi, Italian astronomer, born in Parma, Italy (d. 1670) Dec 29 Francisco de Moncada, 3rd Marquis of Aitona, Spanish diplomat, soldier, and writer, born in Valencia, Spain (d. 1635)

Make getting connected to fibre your New Year’s Resolution in Staffordshire Engineer with open van Openreach engineer and van Faster broadband helps you do more online, and the festive period is a great time to think about upgrading Staffordshire residents are being urged to get connected to faster broadband in 2020 and improve their access to a broad range of services and opportunities. Faster broadband helps you do more online, and the festive period is a great time to think about upgrading. Having access to faster speeds is useful for shopping online and picking up a sales bargain, planning next year’s holiday, or streaming a movie. People can find the service provider that’s right for them using the boostyourbroadband.com website – an impartial service from Ofcom and supported by consumer organisation Which? Alternatively, they can go to Superfast Staffordshire’s own www.superfaststaffordshire.co.uk. Across Staffordshire, more than 80,000 homes and businesses can now benefit from faster speeds thanks to the county council’s £32 million Superfast Staffordshire partnership with Openreach – the UK’s largest telephone and broadband network - and the government’s BDUK (Building Digital UK) programme. The work is proving popular as well, with more than 62 per cent of premises already having contacted their service provide and upgraded to a superfast connection. Faster broadband is now considered as an important feature in the home, enabling people to access a range of leisure, education and other services and to work flexibly. The most recent areas to benefit from the Superfast Staffordshire rollout include full fibre to the premises solutions in rural locations such as Draycott in the Moors in Staffordshire Moorlands, Whitmore in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Barlaston in Stafford, Hoar Cross and Dunstall in East Staffordshire, Pillaton and Dunston Heath in South Staffordshire and Huddlesford in Lichfield. Staffordshire County Council’s economic growth leader, Mark Winnington, said: “While well over half of the property owners able to connect to faster broadband through the Superfast Staffordshire scheme have done so, we’re urging more to get in touch and find out how easy it is to make the switch at such little cost. “Connection to faster broadband speeds helps to improve people’s day-to-day living through better access to a range of services. They can choose any provider and can find out more on the Superfast Staffordshire website. “People can also find out about broadband provision and how easy it is to upgrade or change provider through the new boostyourbroadband.com website from Ofcom. We are pleased to have nearly reached 96 per cent coverage across the county, but we will continue to do all we can to find solutions for those not yet in included in the plan.” Kasam Hussain, Openreach’s Regional Partnership Director, said: “We are delighted so many people are using fibre across Staffordshire. Our partnership has been a real success story so far, but we know there is still more to do. We’re now working in some of the most rural parts of the county, but our engineers are highly-skilled in overcoming the challenges this brings. “Our partnership with Staffordshire County Council is just part of Openreach’s work in the West Midlands. We’re making some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK available here through our Fibre First programme. More than 2,600 of our people live and work here and earlier this year we announced nearly 200 new jobs. “Our work in Staffordshire continues throughout the year, even in the worst of the winter weather. Our engineers are fully equipped to deal with snow, ice, wind and rain. We have a huge stock of winter weather equipment including 62,000 kilos of rock salt; 1,700 snow shovels; 3,400 ice and snow grips for footwear; 3,500 sets of snow socks for van tyres; 20,000 litres of screenwash; and 20,000 de-icer sprays”. Across the county, according to independent thinkbroadband.com, more than 96 per cent of premises are able to order superfast broadband. People can find out more at www.superfaststaffordshire.co.uk

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Department of Developmental Services San Diego Imperial Counties $32,198,307.00 Department of Developmental Services 2021 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) City & County Of San Francisco $32,110,780.97 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) 2021 Department of Education Treasurer San Francisco Cnty $31,950,986.00 Department of Education 2022 Department of Public Health Accenture Llp $31,856,681.90 Department of Public Health 2021 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) Santa Clara Valley Medical Ctr $31,806,805.00 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) 2021 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) Blue Cross Of California $31,715,422.36 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) 2021 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) Dxc Technology Services Llc $31,547,825.39 Department of Health Care Services (Dhcs) 2022 Department of Social Services Employment Development Dept $31,509,864.87 Department of Social Services 2021 Department of Public Health Snapmedtech Inc $31,508,496.86 Department of Public Health 2019 California Department of Health Care Services Premier Pharmacy Services $31,474,440.91 California Department of Health Care Services 2019 California Department of Health Care Services Cypress Mental Health Ct $31,441,111.06 California Department of Health Care Services 2022 High-Speed Rail Authority (Chsra) Dragados Flatiron Jv $31,433,564.16 High-Speed Rail Authority (Chsra) 2022 Department of Developmental Services Central Valley Regional Center $31,385,769.62 Department of Developmental Services 2022 Department of Education Treasurer Of Los Angeles Cnty $31,054,593.00 Department of Education 2022 Department of Social Services Blackhawk Engagement Sols Inc $31,000,000.00 Department of Social Services 2021 Department of Public Health County Of San Diego $30,943,642.00 Department of Public Health 2021 Department of Developmental Services Regional Ctr Of East Bay Inc $30,868,091.00 Department of Developmental Services 2021 Department of 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Right-to-Work States Dominate Economic Recovery May, 24, 2017 Posted in Jobs, Worker Freedom Check out the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on how the states did on private sector job growth over nearly three decades highlighted by right-to-work and energy production.

AN EASTERN STYLE GEM SET BROOCH, set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds, mounted in gold, 8.7 g.

this holy week… 2 month countdown!! 2 months from today, we’ll stepping onto a plane to Ethiopia…entrusting more than we ever have before to the Father. The Sedar at our church was a precious way to begin this week…focusing on the BREAD of LIFE…how he PASSED over my sin today, yesterday…all my days…Ella said after the Sedar, “Momma, this is the fullest I’ve ever been.” I pray we could always be SO full of HIM….just like tonight. Maija said, “Mommy, I always have room for JESUS and ICE CREAM!!” Evie, “Judas was a really bad guy.” I have had many opportunities to share the gospel with my children (aka…lots of disobedience…but we ARE seeing the fruit of faithfulness too!!) I love His GRACE over me more each day… My husband is amazing…i am so thankful for my very best friend on this earth. I love the smell of this Easter lilly sitting here in front of me…absolutely the most amazing, indescribable smell. SCENT OF LIFE! Pain….This week began with pain. It was on a small spectrum, but we began the long process of IMMUNIZATIONS!! Those of you who have traveled to Africa may understand…but now multiply times 7!!! Yikes!! Yes, ALL 7 of us spent nearly 3 hours in the immun. clinic. They were amazing, prepared, kind and quick…we had 3 nurses assigned to us wherever we went!! We had to go downstairs for the first round of biggies…short intermission, then upstairs for round 2!! This will bring a smile: As we walked, I quickly realized we were like a small herd and were probably going to run someone over, so Dave took the lead and I asked the kids to line up…they did…in order 🙂 from biggest down to smallest…And I took up the rear with Evie on my hip, of course! I told them they were such good little ducklings. Then the QUACKING ensued!! It was so funny and brought many smiles to many faces through the hospital halls. I’m wondering if our duckling line will work in the airport too… The kids were brave, but it was so hard to watch their fear and pain….of course we explained what a gift this was…that we were getting special protection from lots of bad diseases, but I’m not so sure my Littles can understand yet…We also took the opportunity to talk about the Gospel…every chance we get, right? How JESUS had to suffer…he obediently SUFFERED more than we could ever imagine…he went to the cross, endured it all with JOY! How He went to the cross with joy I’ll probably never understand this side of Heaven…I could barely handle watching my kids hurting….Evie looked up with me with such a look of betrayal and hurt….what did my Savior’s face look like on the Cross? Reality of Sin…..As we sat and read our Holy Week readings last night, in the candle light, I shared a prayer for a young boy who is about to enter Heaven because of cancer…he’s 10. Caleb was sobbing. The rest of us were letting the tears fall quietly as we prayed for him…Why? He asked it. I don’t know why, except for sin. And I know He redeems it. But I can’t explain it to Caleb. I try to share HOPE of heaven…and in the same moment, I can’t help but put myself in that mommy’s place…I want to protect my kids from sickness, from grieving, from hurt, but I know I can’t. I know the life we’re called to is not a sheltered one. It will be one that is full…to the fullest with hurting people, death, loss…children without…I can’t give those moments to my kids without trusting that Jesus is bigger…that He is worth it all..that He somehow redeems it all. In the death, he will bring LIFE…just as He did from the grave. I pray for deep wisdom and understanding for my precious kids…and me. I know God will use it all to strengthen their hearts and draw them to KNOW Him more….I just have to let go. I want to. His resurrection life MUST be real to me today…and when my feet walk through the hospital in Soddo…when they walk to the shelter where hundreds of children live without a family…I have to believe in the LIFE to come…look to that, and live for that…with JOY. He already endured for THEM. For ME. With Joy. The resurrection power is IN me. Thank you, Jesus. I want to know Christ…the POWER of His resurrection…sharing in His sufferings, so somehow to attain to the RESURRECTION. (Phil. 3:10)

David Markson American writer David Merrill Markson (December 20, 1927 – c.June 4, 2010) was an American novelist.He was the author of several postmodern novels, including Springer's Progress, Wittgenstein's Mistress, and Reader's Block. His final book, The Last Novel, published in 2007, was called "a real tour de force" by The New York Times. Markson's work is characterized by an unconventional and experimental approach to narrative, character development and plot.The late writer David Foster Wallace hailed Wittgenstein's Mistress as "pretty much the high point of experimental fiction in this country". While his early works draw on the modernist tradition of William Faulkner and Malcolm Lowry, his later novels are, in Markson's words, "literally crammed with literary and artistic anecdotes" and "nonlinear, discontinuous, collage-like, an assemblage." In addition to his output of modernist and postmodernist experimental literature, he published a book of poetry, a critical study of Malcolm Lowry, three crime novels, and an anti-Western, The Ballad of Dingus Magee, adapted into the film Dirty Dingus Magee, starring Frank Sinatra. Nancy Sweezy William Tenn

ebook ∣ Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating By Christy Harrison Christy Harrison Health & Fitness Psychology Self-Improvement Nonfiction Reclaim your time, money, health, and happiness from our toxic diet culture with groundbreaking strategies from a registered dietitian, journalist, and host of the Food Psych podcast. 68 percent of Americans have dieted at some point in their lives. But upwards of 90% of people who intentionally lose weight gain it back within five years. And as many as 66% of people who embark on weight-loss efforts end up gaining more weight than they lost. If dieting is so clearly ineffective, why are we so obsessed with it? The culprit is diet culture, a system of beliefs that equates thinness to health and moral virtue, promotes weight loss as a means of attaining higher status, and demonizes certain ways of eating while elevating others. It's sexist, racist, and classist, yet this way of thinking about food and bodies is so embedded in the fabric of our society that it can be hard to recognize. It masquerades as health, wellness, and fitness, and for some, it is all-consuming. In Anti-Diet, Christy Harrison takes on diet culture and the multi-billion-dollar industries that profit from it, exposing all the ways it robs people of their time, money, health, and happiness. It will turn what you think you know about health and wellness upside down, as Harrison explores the history of diet culture, how it's infiltrated the health and wellness world, how to recognize it in all its sneaky forms, and how letting go of efforts to lose weight or eat "perfectly" actually helps to improve people's health—no matter their size. Drawing on scientific research, personal experience, and stories from patients and colleagues, Anti-Diet provides a radical alternative to diet culture, and helps readers reclaim their bodies, minds, and lives so they can focus on the things that truly matter. <div><script src="https://www.overdrive.com/media/4715923/sample-embed?slug=anti-diet"></script></div>

New Toyota Cars for Sale in Oxford, Mississippi When it comes to shopping for a new Toyota, you'll have a hard time finding a dealership with a more comprehensive inventory of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Regardless of which type of vehicle you're looking to purchase, the Toyota model lineup is bound to have something that fulfills your transportation needs. Take a peek at our regularly updated online vehicle inventory to begin your journey towards finding your ultimate Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, Tacoma, or Tundra model at your leisure. When you're ready to get a closer look at your desired models, contact our sales department, and we'll be happy to schedule a test drive for you. We look forward to working with you and watching you drive off the lot of our Oxford, Mississippi Toyota dealership in a new vehicle! Finance or Lease a New Toyota from Oxford Toyota Now that you've found the Toyota model, it's time to make it your own by visiting our finance center. Our Toyota financing and leasing professionals are on standby and ready to assist you in obtaining a line of credit. If you're still trying to determine if buying or leasing is the best option for you, we can help guide you in the direction that makes the most financial sense. Over the years we've had the opportunity to help numerous drivers from Holly Springs, New Albany, Oxford, Pontotoc, and Senatobia, to purchase the new Toyota of their dreams.

You have probably seen an obvious ‘Contains Sulphites’ label on your bottle of wine and wondered what they were and why they matter. Well, if you find yourself with crippling headaches the day after a few glasses of wine, pay attention to why we keep these sulphites at the lowest level we can. The term sulphites is an inclusive term for sulphur dioxide (SO2), a preservative that’s widely added in the winemaking process (and most food industries) for its antioxidant properties. Although, it does occur naturally in the fermentation process too. SO2 plays a role in preventing oxidization and maintaining a wine’s freshness. There has long been an anecdotal association with these sulphites in wines and the effect they have on your hangover. Firstly, it is fundamental to note that the main symptoms of a ‘hangover’ are a direct cause of the alcohol present in wine or any other alcoholic beverage, which prompts dehydration. It doesn’t follow that a low or no-sulphite wine will mean that one doesn’t experience any negative effects the next day whatsoever. However, it appears that some of the classic hangover symptoms, specifically headaches, can be eliminated or at least alleviated by drinking low or no sulphite wines, especially in people who have sulphite allergies or sensitivities. This headache isn’t the case for everyone. We’re not saying everyone will react to the amount of sulphites present in a bottle of wine or prosecco. But, if you do have a sulphite sensitivity a headache is a mild symptom of exposure. Other more serious symptoms of the allergy can include asthma, hot flushes and fevers, but these aren’t common after drinking wine. It is thought that around 1-2% of people have a severe sulphite allergy, although it appears to be the case that a greater number have some form of mild intolerance. There is still a lot of research to be done on this topic, specifically concerning how prevalent sulphite allergies are and what levels of sulphites are required to trigger an allergic reaction. Overall, there does seem to be sufficient evidence to support the case for allergic reactions, namely headaches, to sulphites in wine for a significant section of the population. Our approach is simple: if we can produce a quality wine without adding excess sulphites, we will. We only add 40mg/L of sulphites to our prosecco, this puts it under the 50mg/L threshold in Italy for the wine to be classed as natural. For reference, lots of sparkling wines have four times this amount. On balance, this lower quantity will mean that fewer people experience negative side effects the next morning, and more will be able to enjoy Pale Fox with no regrets. The History of the Cocktail

Home Inspiration Why Is Fast Fashion A Bad Thing? | Panaprium Why Is Fast Fashion A Bad Thing? Fast fashion has been growing massively over the past 20 years. It's now a global phenomenon. Fast fashion stores can be found everywhere in the world. And consumers' demand for new trendy and affordable clothing keeps rising. Fast fashion is a bad thing because it has a disastrous social and environmental impact. It creates massive amounts of pollution, waste, and greenhouse gases. It consumes lots of natural resources, water, and energy. And it's responsible for the exploitation and death of people and animals. Fast fashion encourages consumers to buy more clothes and view them as disposable commodities. Consumers wear fast fashion items only a few times before replacing them with new trends almost immediately. Traditionally, fashion used to be slower and expensive. Most fashion houses made created new collections 2 to 4 times per year. Today's fast fashion brands and retailers design, produce and sell new styles every week. The overproduction and overconsumption of cheaply made clothing make the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters globally. It's now time for consumers to rethink their fashion addiction and for brands to take massive action toward sustainability. Here is why fast fashion is a bad thing. Fast fashion and textile waste Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world. It's very hard to imagine a world without any textile. Fast fashion was created to answer consumers' demand for new stylish clothes inspired by runway shows available at an affordable price every week. It offers many advantages for consumers such as accessibility, low prices, and a large variety of styles. Read up my article on the top 10 reasons why fast fashion is so popular to understand the industry's massive growth. The textile and apparel industry is generating USD 2.5 trillion in global annual revenues. Clothing production has grown two times larger to meet consumers' demand over the last 15 years. Fast fashion companies like Zara make more than 1 million garments every day. They often produce more clothes than they can sell. This causes textile waste to pile up at an alarming rate. In the United States, Americans alone create 16.9 million tons of textile waste each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That number is 10 times bigger than in 1960 and has doubled over the last 20 years. Clothes and other textiles end up in landfills to decompose or be incinerated. Less than 1% of all textile waste is recycled to make new clothing, as reported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Waste releases toxic gases and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It contributes to global warming, air, land, and water pollution. "Urgent action is needed to ensure that current material needs do not lead to the over-extraction of resources or the degradation of environmental resources, and should include policies that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and mainstream sustainability practices across all sectors of the economy." - United Nations Economic and Social Council, Progress Towards The Sustainable Development Goals (2019) Pollution and water consumption Apparel and textile products require a total of 100 billion cubic meters of water annually for farming and manufacturing processes such as bleaching and dyeing, as reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The fashion industry accounts for 20% of the world's wastewater, according to the World Bank. It's the second-largest polluter of clean water after agriculture globally. Fast fashion has disastrous consequences for the planet, the people, and animals living on it. It isn't environmentally friendly. It's responsible for massive amounts of pollution and the destruction of ecosystems. The mass production of conventional cotton is very wasteful and toxic. 30.3 million tons of cotton are produced each year globally, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Cotton farming consumes 4% of worldwide of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers, 16% of all insecticides, and 7% of all herbicides, as reported by the Global Fashion Agenda. An alternative is to choose organic cotton. Read up my article on the case for organic cotton to find out about the dangers of regular cotton. Fast fashion and global warming The fashion industry accounts for 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, as reported by the Fashion Transparency Index. It releases 1.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. That number is expected to increase by 50% by 2030 if the trend continues. Climate change has already cost the United States more than USD 350 billion. If we don't act now and drive change, that number will be USD 35 billion a year by 2050. Read up my article on the fashion industry's catastrophic contribution to climate change to learn more about how it affects the planet. Fast fashion has a huge economic impact and is the major contributor to growth in the fashion industry. It has changed the way we produce and consume clothes forever. But fast fashion is a bad thing. It's very damaging to the environment. McKinsey estimated in 2016 that carbon emissions will rise by 77%, and water consumption by 20% from 2015 to 2025. The fast fashion industry promotes and profits from pollution, exploitation, and inequalities. The overproduction and overconsumption of cheaply made clothing are major issues. We have to rethink the whole system of fashion, the way we produce and consume our clothes. It's now more important than ever to lower its impact on the planet, the people, and the animals living on it. Fast fashion ethical issues The textile and apparel industry employs 300 million people around the world, many of them in low-income countries. Fast fashion offers jobs to underserved populations but exploits and abuses them to keep production costs low. Low wages, long working hours, unsafe conditions, and physical assaults are very common in the industry. Many fast fashion brands and retailers use child labor and modern slavery in their cotton farms and garment factories, particularly in Asian developing countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and The Philippines. Inhumane manufacturing practices and human rights violations are being abolished but many sweatshops manage to run illegally. Manufacturers force employees to do crazy amounts of work and drive them to suicide. To learn more about how farmers and workers are poorly treated, check out my list of fashion brands that still use sweatshops. The massive use of hazardous chemicals in farming and clothing manufacturing endangers human health and ecosystems. The processing, dyeing, treatment, and finishing of garments are very chemically intensive and dirty. People exposed to toxic chemicals are subject to life-threatening health problems. Pesticide poisoning results in an excess of 250,000 deaths each year, as estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO). If you want to avoid supporting companies that use unethical practices to make clothing, follow my guide on how to check if a fashion brand is ethical. Fast fashion is also a bad thing because it kills wildlife and puts endangered species at risk. It causes the mass trapping, farming, and skinning of billions of animals every year. Animals such as sheep, cows, goats, minks, pigs, birds, rabbits, cats, and dogs suffer immense pain and are often skinned alive to make wool, leather, fur, silk, and down. They live in poor conditions and often die prematurely from exhaustion, diseases, starvation, dehydration, or injury. Read up my article on how fast fashion affects animals to understand the cruelty of using animal products for fashion. Fast fashion isn't sustainable Fast fashion isn't ethical or sustainable. It has a catastrophic social and environmental impact. It's responsible for massive amounts of waste, greenhouse gas emissions, air, land, and water pollution. Luckily, consumers have the power to drive change by making better purchasing decisions. We choose the clothes we buy and who we support with our money. There are now many alternatives to fast fashion to be more sustainable with clothes. Read up my article on should we boycott fast fashion if you aren't convinced yet. The green movement is booming as more consumers demand environmentally friendly products. But many fast fashion brands and retailers don't have the willingness or capacity to be more sustainable. Some companies are even greenwashing to appeal to conscious consumers. To be more responsible with our clothing choices, we must change our shopping habits, boycott unethical brands, and switch to eco-friendly fashion. Follow my complete guides on how to know if a store is a fast fashion one and how do I stop wearing fast fashion to transition to sustainable fashion. animal welfare animals awareness clean water climate change education fashion lifestyle sustainability

Quick Fix Project Tips For Improving Outcomes Published: 6th March 2018 If at first you don’t succeed, then stop what you are doing, take a look at what you have been doing and make a plan to get things back to where you need them to be. Sometimes you might think that your project has ended up drastically going in the wrong direction and you will never pull it back, but never say never – often all you need is some focused planning and some effort on the right tasks to see huge improvements. These quick fix project tips should help… With the right planning you can improve your project before it has even begun, and this same process applies whether you are a small business or a large corporation, and whatever the size or complexity of your project. Taking the time to make sure you plan out your projects properly can not only help you to keep to budget but also use your resources wisely and meet your deadlines. So, spend a little time before your project gets off the ground making sure your plans are solid and you could really improve the outcome of your current project and future projects. The right tools for making huge improvements are right under your nose, and in some cases, they won’t cost you anything at all. Communicate with the people you are working with, and the people you are working for, at every step of your project. Give updates on timescales and if you are not going to make a deadline then let everyone know. There are a number of different ways that you can communicate with everyone so take some time to work out which is the most effective for your needs. Make sure that you are approachable at all times – if you are leading a project then your team need to feel they can come to you with issues that arise before they become a serious problem. It might be that a quick mini meeting every day works well when everyone can give their own update (make it a stand-up meeting to keep everyone’s attention). Talking really is the key here to making your projects run smoothly – this is one of the best and simplest project tips for everyone. Give you team achievable, interim goals, constantly striving for those milestones on the way to the final deliverable can be really motivational. Being able to say yes, we are on track with this part of the project can motivate the whole team and shows them that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I recently heard someone talking about searching for the light in the tunnel and that might be more appropriate on long, complex projects. Break your project down and watch your team work to achieve those milestones that make up the whole. There are lots of project management tools out there and what works for one company may not work for you, so you might have to do some research to find the most appropriate tool. But, it is worth having a good look for something that works well for your company. They are a great way of keeping on top of all those little details and making sure everyone knows what they are doing next.

The Effects of Television Violence on Kids Researchers estimate that children in the United States watch television on a daily basis, usually for about three to four hours. This of course causes many to speculate just how great an influence the television set has become, when comparing values expressed on TV with those children oftentimes express. Hand in hand with this wonderment is the concern that an increase in television violence could be at least partially responsible for the apparent surge in childhood and teenage violence that is so often reported on the late night news. TV Violence Linked to Harmful Problem Solving Skills Reasons cited for this possible cause and effect phenomenon are legion; most commonly mentioned is the desensitizing effect that blood, guts and gore have on minds of impressionable children who are exposed to it on a daily basis. In addition, since violent acting out is seen as an acceptable method of problem solving, children may be quicker to attack their problems with fists raised than with dialog. Another concern that researchers have expressed is the fact that children tend to identify with the “cool” or heroic character; sometimes, this is the character that does the most shooting and killing, and in the end wins. The insidious danger of television violence rests in the long term incubation period, if you will, that exists between exposure to unpunished, frequent violence and the acting out of aggressive behavior. Even as some kids may act out the next day on the playground or in the daycare center, some may hold on to these thoughts and feelings for years before exploding in a rage. Of course, there are other reasons why children and teens may act out with undue aggression, and television has only been identified as one possible component. Nonetheless, since this is one aspect that parents are in the unique position to control, it is crucial to understand how to eliminate this danger from your child’s environment without getting rid of the TV altogether. This presupposes that parents are intimately involved in their children’s lives and also assume control over the remote control. Monitor the Shows and Television Content Your Child Watches First and foremost, parents must know what the kids are watching. This may require adults to watch some episodes with the kids just to get a feel for the shows, and then approve or disprove of them. Secondly, limiting the time in front of the TV is a good idea as well. Whenever possible, children should be encouraged to play outside, read, engage in art or music, or simply interact with others in the household. Parents also need to take the initiative to explain that actors play a role, and that on TV the blood is not real and the bullets are pretend. Children need to understand that at the end of the scene, everyone gets back up off the ground. In real life, they don’t. Learn to Turn Off the TV & Limit How Long Kids Watch When all else fails, there is nothing wrong with changing the channel, turning off the set altogether, and locking out ratings and certain shows that parents do not believe to be appropriate. Sometimes this will require engaging other parents in the dialog as well, especially those who are a lot more lenient with their rules. For parents who may find it hard to undo years of permissive behavior or who simply need a bit more help, a psychiatrist trained in helping children and adolescents may be of assistance. Criticism’s Harmful Effects Dealing with Divorce and Effects on Kids: How to Help Children Cope with the Family Changes Reading Rewards That Work | Brightly Summer time is fast approaching and that means that school is just about to … [Read More...] 15 New Year’s Eve Traditions to Start With the Family We've all missed out on a lot of travel this year, so to … [Read More...] Best Picture Books for Kids About Feelings (aka. Emotional Intelligence / EQ) Picture books can help children develop their emotional intelligence. One … [Read More...]

What Is Online Dating? One of the best ways to get started on a romance is through turkey bride online dating services, but many individuals are unsure what this type of marriage is. There are numerous differences between online dating and regular dating. Most people who have are looking for an intimate or lovemaking relationship apply online dating to meet up with other people. You will also find differences between online dating and traditional internet dating. While equally may be good options intended for meeting potential partners, a few couple of key dissimilarities. These variances will make understanding the terms easier. Online dating description states there is no genuine recognition of the person till direct speak to is established. Even though this can be daunting for some, it’s the most effective way to make trust and create relationships. Vision insight can include images or video clips online. It is necessary to remember the goal of online dating is to discover compatible spouse and not a date. In addition to sending text messages, you should mail visual insight. You can use images or video to show somebody a little more of yourself. The online dating is certainly fun and convenient. Once you’ve built a list of prospective soul mates, you can search profiles and contact all of them one at a time. The search may be self-guided or guided with a friend. When it’s time to generate a serious connection, it’s important to take time to learn about the person before you make the ultimate decision. When you’ve narrowed down a candidate, it’s time to meet in person and begin a relationship. The idea of online dating seems to be a straightforward one. In fact, who probably would not want to look for true love throughout the Internet? Surely there may be someone in existence who’s only waiting for you. And who knows? Probably it’s you. Don’t limit your range of online dating sites to just absolutely free dating sites, since it’s possible to make a huge amount of money selling ebooks and software program. If you’re looking for take pleasure in, it’s possible. Nevertheless it’s important to do not forget that you don’t have to put money into the process, since there are thousands of other folks trying the same task. An online online dating definition contains the basic qualities of the method. In some cases, it’s simply meeting someone you’ve found online. Consist of cases, it can meeting people you’d never meet in person. If the both of you do finish up chatting on a site, 2 weeks . sign that you’re interested in each other’s profile. It’s a great way to satisfy someone new. And it’s not hard to get started on a dialogue with a unfamiliar person! Another important characteristic of an online dating services definition is normally its ability to allow you to satisfy people coming from all over the world. Actually you can even meet affiliate marketers from all over the world through websites that offer dating services. Yet , if you’re trying to find something more meaningful, online dating is probably not a good option. You could have to fork out a few dollars to meet somebody, but in the long run, you’ll conclude making a lot of money. The benefit of online dating is that you’ll be able to connect with people out of all over the world. In fact , there are many different websites that allow you to do just that. This means you can use meet individuals that share similar interests as you may. The biggest good thing about using an online dating website is that you’ll be able to find the ideal person at this point. If you’re looking for a romantic relationship, then you can definitely find it inside the privacy of your own house. Generally, a web dating service enables you to meet persons in person. For anyone who is looking for a passionate partner, you can content a profile about your self and select criteria that will help you narrow down the outcomes. For instance, you may look for a person in your age bracket, but if you are looking for someone inside your mid-thirties, you are able to type “forties” in the search bar and find out the benefits. Online dating is not only about finding a romantic spouse. It can be regarding finding a good friend, or even beginning a romantic romantic relationship. There are many different types of online dating and each 1 offers a unique benefits. You have more opportunities to discover someone special in the life you ever thought possible. Simillar to with traditional dating, the best person in your case will be the a person for you. The best online dating meaning is based on what you’re looking for in a relationship. Hören Sie auf, Zeit zu verschwenden und beginnen Sie mit online casino 5 Ways To Rekindle Your Ardour For Management Play7777 Absolutely no Bank Advantage several Found at February 2022

Tips for Hiring an Intern (in less than 5 mins) Tips for Hiring an Intern… Today, almost all students are looking for ways to get their foot in the door by working for a company as an intern. Internships not only help students gain the experience they need, but business owners benefit from an extra set of hands around the office. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, “85 percent of employers say hiring an intern was a positive experience.” Internships offer valuable learning experience for those that are looking for a job or just testing out an industry to see if it is a right fit. Be sure to consider these factors when hiring an intern: Paid vs Unpaid Keep in mind that many students are racking up a mountain of debt to better their self for the working world. Paid internships only help to make your company more attractive when they are considering where to apply. Although, some companies cannot afford to offer a paid internship and look to other options such as college credit, health benefits, stipends, providing training, networking opportunities, attendance to conferences or events, etc. These all offer a competitive advantage for those companies able to provide them. Due to recent updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act, be sure to research the requirements by your state’s Department of Labor before bringing anyone on as an intern. This will help to make sure you’re staying compliant with rules and regulations. Interns want to contribute to the success of your organization as well as gain real work experience, not just pick up coffees for the office every morning. Consider offering them a mentor to meet with on a weekly basis or shadow to get a real perspective of daily tasks and functions. Most of these interns will have little to no work experience and will appreciate consistent communication. Incorporate them into a project, or even better, assign them their own project to complete. This will provide them with tangible evidence of what they did during their time as an intern under your company. Prepare to be Flexible Most of your interns are students on summer break. Depending upon what was discussed at the interview and whether the position is paid or not, there will most likely be vacations planned and time off needed. Be ready to work this into the schedule, and be flexible with what you expect them to do during this time. What to Look for in Candidates Interns are great ways to bring in fresh ideas and find potential employees for your company. Fortunately, hiring an intern is not much different than hiring a regular employee. Be clear about what your needs are for an intern, what type of experience they can gain from working for your company, as well as whether the position will be paid or offer another form of compensation. Then look for candidates whose background matches up with your industry or even those who do not, but could bring in a new perspective. All in all, internships are beneficial not only for the person interning, but also for your company. Try to keep these factors in mind when creating a position in your company, and you should have a positive experience from both sides of the spectrum. For a beneficial tool when hiring interns, check out our downloadable seasonal employee onboarding checklist from our recent blog, “8 Best Practices for Hiring Seasonal Workers”. Photo Credit: COD Newsroom Stephanie Allen Stephanie obtained her IMBA in 2012 and started her career at MPAY shortly after. After a year in customer service, she transferred to MPAY’s marketing team, bringing her knowledge of the industry, excitement, and love for marketing.

DEBRA REECE Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. License# BK-3343353 Local Expertise. Global Connections. With 11 years of experience as a brokerage manager, Debra Reece is a seasoned manager currently leading the Palm Beach and Singer Island offices of Sotheby's International Realty. Previously Debra led the Bridgehampton, New York office of Sotheby's International Realty. Together with the superb support team in Palm Beach she provides agents with all the tools and assistance needed to be effective and successful. Debra offers her unique brand of leadership, honed as a business executive and legal advisor, to the day-to-day operations and needs of the offices and agents. She is known for her integrity, quiet yet commanding style, and for the calm that she can bring to the storm. Independent sales associates can rely upon her unerring judgment, guidance, sense of humor, and optimism, all of which contribute to a productive and happy work environment. Debra is known to be a strong advocate for agents and a firm believer in the power of the Sotheby's International Realty brand and all that it has to offer. As a non-competing manager, she can be relied upon as a safe harbor. She is always on the lookout for new resources to offer to the agents and is dedicated to a policy of fairness. Debra's legal background brings a special plus to her ability to negotiate effectively and quickly take action to reach agreement with clients and customers. Her skills are offered to the entire office to help navigate the complexities of the real estate business, which oftentimes moves at lightning speed and is highly competitive. With a full-time dedicated marketing coordinator, an outstanding senior office administrator, and two highly proficient office administrators, Debra and the team work together to ensure that agents are offered ongoing expert marketing for listings, agent branding, and strong and reliable administrative support. She also offers continuous education on a variety of subjects of interest to the agents both formally and informally with a series of classes. She often invites guest speakers to speak at office meetings to provide relevant information and education that agents can use to expand their horizons and their business opportunities. Contact DEBRA REECE

What do you think? Leave a respectful comment. Close Comment Window Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/dreamers-in-the-military-wont-face-deportation-mattis-says ‘Dreamers’ in the military won’t face deportation, Mattis says Politics Feb 8, 2018 5:12 PM EDT WASHINGTON — The nearly 850 immigrants currently serving in the military or waiting to start basic training won’t face deportation despite the ongoing federal wrangling over the fate of people who came to America illegally as children, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday. Mattis said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen earlier Thursday in what he described as a “confirming call” and was told that those military members and all veterans who were honorably discharged will be safe unless they have committed a serious felony or a judge had issued a specific deportation order for them. “In terms of the DACA situation … it’s clarified they are not in any kind of jeopardy.” President Donald Trump said in September that he was terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which provided protection from deportation for people brought to America as children who are now living here illegally. Previously, U.S. officials have said the military members’ DACA status wasn’t clear. But on Thursday, Mattis said flatly it’s not a problem. “They will not be subject to any kind of deportation,” he told reporters. “In terms of the DACA situation … it’s clarified they are not in any kind of jeopardy.” Mattis added that Homeland Security has been always willing to work with the Pentagon on DACA issues, and he said, “we would always stand by one of our people.” All of those DACA service members came in under a small, special recruiting program called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, that seeks people with particularly critical skills. Many of them are fluent in key languages, including various Afghan and Iraqi dialects or perhaps Russian or Chinese. Last September, the administration said people whose DACA status expired before March 5 could apply for renewal, which essentially gave Congress six months to come up with a legislative fix. A federal court ruling, meanwhile, blocked Trump’s move, prompting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to say it was once again accepting and processing DACA renewals. That case leaves open the question as to whether someone could enlist in the military and then seek protection from any subsequent deportation move. Congress continues to struggle to find a legislative solution. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi staged a record-breaking, eight-hour speech in hopes of pressuring Republicans to allow a vote on protecting the hundreds of thousands of so-called “Dreamer” immigrants. Left: Defense Secretary James Mattis joins White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders for the daily press briefing Feb. 7 at the White House in Washington, D.C. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst. Pelosi sets record with marathon House speech pushing for vote for ‘Dreamers’ By Steve Peoples, Associated Press Trump continues to cast some immigrants as criminals By Jill Colvin, Associated Press

Books tags: balance The Food Connection: The Right Food at the Right Time THE FOOD CONNECTION will show you: How to balance your hormonal system to positively affect weight, motivation, sleep patterns and cognitive abilities How to jump start your health with the seven-day "World's Best Diet" The 17 bioenergetic foods to eat daily Mission Critical Windows 2000 Server Administration Syngress Publishing, 2000 To put it in terms understandable to the many former English majors who now manage Windows networks: if Everyman were a system administrator, he'd run Windows 2000 Server. It supports pretty much any business requirement, yet it's user-friendly enough that anyone can learn to be an administrator with a bit of study. Mission Critical! Windows... High-Speed Networking: A Systematic Approach to High-Bandwidth Low-Latency Communication "Building networks with high performance demanded by today's applications requires a complete understanding of the basic principles and latest techniques. This book is the definitive guide to both."-Lyman Chapin High-speed networking is the essential enabler of modern sophisticated distributed computing applications. This... 151 Quick Ideas to Manage Your Time Career Press, 2006 Too many of us live our lives trying to shoehorn our many activities and responsibilities into too few time slots available. Increasingly for business people, fathers and mothers, even kids—(ineffectively) managing the myriad of activities has become an all-consuming chore. And we're so stressed that our relationships and job... C++ 2013 for C# Developers C++/CLI was originally envisioned as a high-level assembler for the .NET runtime, much like C is often considered a high-level assembler for native code generation. That original vision even included the ability to directly mix IL with C++ code, mostly eliminating the need for the IL assembler ilasm. As the design of C++/CLI... Introduction to Finite Element Analysis Using MATLAB® and Abaqus CRC Press, 2013 There are some books that target the theory of the finite element, while others focus on the programming side of things. Introduction to Finite Element Analysis Using MATLAB® and Abaqus accomplishes both. This book teaches the first principles of the finite element method. It presents the theory of the finite... Foundations of Computing Thomson Delmar Learning, 1997 It may sound surprising that in computing, a field which develops so fast that the future often becomes the past without having been the present, there is nothing more stable and worthwhile learning than its foundations. It may sound less surprising that in a field with such a revolutionary methodological impact on all sciences and... RFID Systems: Research Trends and Challenges This book provides an insight into the 'hot' field of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems In this book, the authors provide an insight into the field of RFID systems with an emphasis on networking aspects and research challenges related to passive Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID systems. The book reviews... Machine Learning Using R: With Time Series and Industry-Based Use Cases in R Examine the latest technological advancements in building a scalable machine-learning model with big data using R. This second edition shows you how to work with a machine-learning algorithm and use it to build a ML model from raw data. You will see how to use R programming with TensorFlow, thus avoiding the effort of learning Python... Writing for Digital Media In the digital age, we are all consumers and producers, readers and publishers alike. The Internet has made it possible for anyone to publish his or her writing online almost instantaneously for all the world to read. The evolution of digital media has introduced both unprecedented challenges and opportunities for... Optimal Portfolio Modeling, CD-ROM includes Models Using Excel and R: Models to Maximize Returns and Control Risk in Excel and R (Wiley Trading) it takes more than just precise timing and picking the right stocks to achieve exceptional results in today's markets. In order to capture consistent success, you need to strike the right balance between position sizing and risk management. Nobody understands this better than author Philip McDonnell, and with Optimal Portfolio Modeling,... HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide (6th Edition) O'Reilly, 2006 Put everthing you need to know about HTML & XHTML at your fingertips. For nearly a decade, hundreds of thousands of web developers have turned to HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide to master standards-based web development. Truly a definitive guide, the book combines a unique balance of...

A Gentle Reminder. Thanks March 12, 2012 by Bonni This past weekend, Mitch and I went to see the play Billy Elliot and having no expectations, really enjoyed it! There were many messages in the story. Messages of tolerance and acceptance, the reminder that when you want to dance, you should dance, and also the sad message that hunger is often just around the corner for people who hadn’t been hungry before. When the set changed from the Elliot’s kitchen, to a soup kitchen, of course I found myself sighing and crying, though I definitely did leave the theatre dancing, for Billy was not only accepted by his family and community, but also was off to start a better life for himself. In 2010, 14.5% of households (approximately 1 in 7) were food insecure, the highest number ever recorded in the US). Given the state of our economy, my guess would be those numbers are considerably higher, now. Just a reminder…next Friday evening, March 23 6:30-7:30…yin yoga/peaceful Pilates and more (or should I say, less?) class at Tamarac Fitness Center. A suggested minimum donation of $10.00 gets you the chance to take an hour and simply unwind and lose yourself from the outside world, welcome in beautiful Spring and fight hunger right here in our own backyard. Thanks to those of you who have already secured your spot with a generous donation and thanks as well to those that won’t be able to attend, but have been generous as well. Even in this challenging economy, it just doesn’t make sense that people should be hungry. For more info, read my previous blog from last week by clicking the link below. Still have questions? Just ask! Much love and thanks. Make it a marvelous Monday. Happy anniversary, Lesley and Richard. Thanks for all the inspiration! Let’s Stretch, Decompress AND Feed the Hungry (peaceandfitness.com) Filed Under: Holidays and celebrations, The Soup Kitchen

St Levan's Chapel Rescue Excavation Written by Laura Over September and October 2021 Penwith Landscape Partnership (PLP) have been working closely with Cornwall Archaeology Unit (CAU) to excavate the remains of St Levan's chapel, a tiny Medieval chapel clinging to the cliff edge overlooking Porth Chapel, St Levan. Prompted by concerns for its condition and survival after a severe flash flood in 2018 plus advancing coastal erosion, Historic England and the PLP decided to look into making a record of the site before more material was lost to the elements. Reputed to be one of Cornwall’s earliest Christian chapels, despite numerous excavations in the 20th century, no firm date or full interpretation has ever been possible for the monument. Joint funding from the PLP and Historic England who appointed the project a generous grant to explore effective ways of managing loss to coastal archaeological sites allowed a full excavation of this Scheduled Monument to happen. Part of the project was to ascertain a way forwards for a site in rapid decline- record passively as damage occurs over time, or record actively before loss begins? Often used to seeing Scheduled Monuments in either active management or an undisturbed passive state, it is unusual to see a site so obviously deteriorating in such a dramatically precarious location. However, it is this pressing risk of loss that allows the balance between a more passive management approach and action to be tipped in favour of action. And, whilst the loss of a site is a sad loss to the archaeological record, an opportunity can be found here to learn as much as possible about the site before it is gone. Excavation of a site is by its nature destructive, and so is avoided if possible. This is particularly so on Scheduled Monuments which are deemed nationally important and where, as much as is possible, the emphasis is on preserving and keeping stable the above and below ground remains for the future. The more dynamic damage to Britain’s coastline that we see today, exacerbated by climate change and increasingly common extreme weather events means that a rising number of coastal archaeological sites around the country are under threat. In this case, one of west Cornwall’s mysterious Medieval clifftop chapels. Due to the extremely precarious location of the site the digging team had to be harnessed up for their safety and occasionally lowered over the cliff edge to excavate the outside of the chapel on the seaward facing southern side. The site team worked closely with geotechnical specialists IBEX who managed safety and manoeuvred fallen rocks away from this tiny site. Preliminary findings suggest a period of activity on the site during the Medieval period before it apparently fell out of active use, possibly as the result of damage from a landslide. The remains of a previously unknown building have been found adjacent to the chapel itself on the eastern side, almost mirroring in size and shape the small building (referred to by Charles Thomas after his investigations in the 1950’s as the cell, and presumed to be accommodation for a hermit or similar custodian of the chapel ) which abuts the chapel to the west. Although these buildings all abut each other it is hard to tell if they are all contemporary or represent a series of occupations over time. Samples have been taken for dating alongside environmental samples and a few finds for analysis. Most notably a beautiful and complete jug likely dating to the late 14th/early 15th century was found buried under a considerable depth of landslide soil just outside the southern wall of the chapel adjacent to the stream and inside the newly discovered building there. No material evidence (finds) of Early Medieval occupation was found although it cannot be ruled out and it may be possible that the small previously unknown building is of an earlier date. However, as so little remains here of the buildings and very few finds have been recovered, it will be the soil dating samples taken that we would hope to shed more light on time periods of– a technique called Optically Stimulated Luminescence will be used in an attempt to date samples taken from below the walls. We do know however that during the medieval period the chapel and western cell were well-roofed in slate, had plaster coated interior walls which were painted and had glazed floor tiles. All pointing towards a site that although small, was well set up for visitors. The holy well seems also to have been a key part of this complex of buildings with the presence of culverts in the floors of both smaller buildings which seem to correlate with the flow of water from (presumably) the holy well above. Now the work of excavating and recording has been completed we will monitor the decline of the remains over the remainder of the project and reinstatement of spoil material removed from the monument during excavation. By chance there is in the close vicinity a population of rare burrowing bees, and the exposed soil face of the chapel building bank and the spoil heap of nutrient poor rab or sub soils provide an excellent additional habitat for burrowing bees, wasps and ants. We hope to spend a day or two consolidating these new habitats and the monument itself after site works finish. We will aim to make the site as stable as possible, given the precarious location of the with the hope of allowing it to last as long as possible but there is no doubt that some of it will be lost to the sea in coming years. The south and east sides abutting the stream are particularly fragile and in the most precarious location. The top of the south wall used to be the route of the coast path before it was diverted for safety reasons and appears to be practically hanging on fresh air. A somewhat alarming thought when you consider it was and still is occasionally used as a path! Any visitors to the site should bear in mind that this is a dangerously eroding part of the coast and the coast path route has already been moved away from the cliff edge here for safety reasons. Please also bear in mind that these buildings are part of a Scheduled Monument and therefore it is an offence to cause damage and a lot of the material here is loose and easily disturbed. A great view of the site can be had from the opposite side of the stream on the path down to the beach. Once all the excavation results are in there will be a full report written and a sign produced for the coast path to let folks know about the chapel below. Accurate 3D models were taken of the site before, during and after works so there is as complete a record as possible of what is and was there. We are pleased to be able to share with you a 3D model of the jug that was discovered, which can be found on Sketchfab, or by exploring below. You can explore all the 3D models of the excavation by clicking here. Stlevansjug-sketchfab by Penwith Landscape Partnership on Sketchfab Tagged under: GeneralKedhlow Ollgemmyn Ancient SitesHentylleryow

The foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, and numerous tendons. Complex biomechanics keep all these parts in the right position and moving together. Given these intricacies, it is not surprising that most people will experience some problem with their feet at some time in their lives. Within each foot, the essential structure can be summed up as follows: Seven short tarsal bones make up the heel and back of the instep. Five metatarsal bones spread from the back of the foot toward front and make up the structure for the ball of the foot. Each metatarsal is associated with one of the toes. Fourteen phalanges, small bones, form the toe structure. Tarsal and metatarsal bones provide the structure for the arch of the foot. Bands of ligaments connect and hold all the bones in place. A thick layer of fatty tissue under the sole helps absorb the pressure and shock that comes from walking and everyday movements.

Ice Watch in London. All images courtesy of Studio Olafur Eliasson Olafur Eliasson's Ice Watch will give you a climate change chill Eliasson says seeing chunks of the Greenland ice sheet in our city is just the experience we need to force change Olafur Eliasson is aware of the irony that lies at the heart of Ice Watch, his new public art work. The piece consists of 30 huge blocks of Greenland ice, pulled from the waters of Nuup Kangerlua fjord in Greenland, having broken away from the adjoining ice sheet; 24 blocks have been arranged in a circular formation on Bankside outside Tate Modern; six more are on display in the heart of the City of London outside Bloomberg’s European headquarters. Everyone is allowed to go up, touch, and even drink the melt water from these big bits of ancient, frozen water. The work aims to raise awareness of climate change. As the ice gradually thaws, members of the public will have an opportunity to encounter the tangible effects of climate change by seeing and feeling the ice melt away. Depending on weather conditions, Ice Watch is expected to be on view in London until 21 December 2018. Any remaining ice will then be taken to local community and cultural institutions as part of an extended educational programme. "It's clear that we have only a short period of time to limit the extreme effects of climate change," Eliasson said at the launch this morning. "By enabling people to experience and actually touch the blocks of ice, I hope we will connect people to their surroundings in a deeper way and inspire radical change." Ice Watch has been launched to coincide with a meeting of world leaders at the COP24 climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, which follows the landmark report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 8 October 2018, warning that we have only 12 years to limit the worst effects of climate change. Eliasson's team harvesting the ice for Ice Watch However, you can’t ship tonnes of ice from Greenland to London without contributing to global warming. Eliasson has asked Julie’s Bicycle, an environmental NGO also based in the British capital, to measure Ice Watch’s carbon footprint. The NGO has yet to make its report, however, in 2015 Julie’s Bicycle stated that Eliasson’s Ice Watch Paris, a similar work staged to coincide with the UN Climate Change Summit, produced 30 tonnes of or carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2e, a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. Eliasson's collaborator, professor Minik Thorleif Rosing, Eliasson and supporter, funder and former mayor of NYC, Michael Bloomberg How does that compare with other activities? Well, the reports also states, “the carbon footprint of Ice Watch would be equivalent to 30 people flying return from Paris, France to Nuuk, Greenland.” Doesn't sound like that much carbon. Eliasson believes it's worth it, because, while most people may understand the causes and consequences of climate change, individuals still need some direct experience, in order to change their ways. Olafur Eliasson pictured with Ice Watch “I’ve been studying behavioural psychology, and looking into the consequences of experience,” Eliasson said this morning. “What does it mean to experience something? Does it change you or not change you? It turns out that data alone only promotes a small degree of change. So in order to create the massive behavioural change needed, we have to emotionalise that data, make it physically tangible." Experience by Olafur Eliasson And if enough of Ice Watch's London visitors mend their ways, then, a few flights to Greenland and back might be a small price to pay. For more on Olafur Eliasson get his new book Experience, here. ExperienceOlafur Eliasson with a text by Michelle Kuo Experience spans Eliasson's career to date via images of his installations, sculptures, paintings, photographs, films, architectural projects, and interventions in public space - each with an extended caption to guide readers through the work Conceived in close collaboration with the artist, this survey tracks almost three decades of Eliasson's artistic practice - including works completed in 2018. Hundreds of illustrations are introduced by a perceptive essay by art historian Michelle Kuo and an interview with Eliasson. The book provides an unparalleled overview of his creative output, which speaks to an astonishingly varied audience, from large-scale installations such as The weather project, which drew over two million visitors to London's Tate Modern in 2003-4, to smaller, more delicate works, such as watercolours, compasses, and glass works. Views of his dynamic studio in Berlin round out the picture. An inspiring guide to the work of one of today's most multi-faceted and influential artists, Experience includes such pivotal artworks as Green river (1998), Ice Watch (2014), and Waterfall at the Palace of Versailles in Paris (2016), and gives an invaluable glimpse into many of his lesser-known works. It also features brand-new projects A view of things to come, Reality projector, and The unspeakable openness of things, which was installed in Beijing in March 2018. From the publisher of Olafur Eliasson and Studio Olafur Eliasson: The Kitchen. Size: 305 × 238 mm (12 × 9 3/8 in) Olafur Eliasson is an Icelandic-Danish artist whose works have been exhibited globally in institutions such as MoMA, Tate, and the Venice Biennale. He works and lives in Copenhagen and Berlin. Michelle Kuo is the Marlene Hess Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. She was the Editor in Chief of Artforum International from 2010 to 2017 and has lectured and published widely, on the work of artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Anicka Yi, and Le Corbusier. Anna Engberg-Pedersen directs research and communications at Studio Olafur Eliasson. "Olafur Eliasson's Reality Projector installation at the Marciano Art Foundation "is a smashing immersive environment guaranteed to elicit an immediate 'Oh, wow' from visitors"."—Los Angeles Times "Eliasson has a faith in the improving power of art that has been out of fashion since Victorian times."—New York Times "Olafur Eliasson injects his work with a universal conscience that catapults art outside of its normal confines and challenges the way we inhabit the world."—The Art Story "This monograph by the master of elemental art provides a concise career retrospective to date. From his famous installation The Weather roject (which drew an incredible two million visitors to Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2003-04) to equally monumental works including Waterfall which seemed to be suspended in the air above the ornamental lakes at the Palace of Versailles (2016), this book captures Eliasson's scale and vision. But there are also moments of surprising calm and delicacy – watercolours and works in glass reveal a lightness of touch that take the breath away in other, more subtle ways."—HoleandCorner.com "Eliasson's multifaceted, confrontation-generating output is the subject of a new and exciting tome by Phaidon... This weighty compendium of essays, interviews and mind-bending colour images spans three decades of innovation and experimentation... Eliasson's real gift for manipulating the viewer's perspective, however lies in his ability to alter not only how a person sees the world around them [...] but also how they see themselves."—Aesthetica "An unparalleled overview of [Eliasson's] remarkable output."—SomethingCurated.com "A journey in texts and especially in images on 440 pages summarizing 30 years of art to experience, to feel, to be within and not... If Experience will be your first step in Eliasson's new alphabet where science meets mankind in a tangible way via arts, you will keep yourself amazed for hours and will find yourself surprisingly read it back frequently."—Slow-Words.com "To pigeonhole Eliasson as an installation artist is to do him a disservice; his work is kaleidoscopic is scale, medium, and thought... Olafur Eliasson - Experience with its bright yellow fabric binding provides an unparalleled insight into the man and his work... An Eliasson fan would be delighted to own it, as would anyone with an interest in modern art and its place in our world."—londonlamppost.comThe Sunday Times (Ireland) "Conceived in close collaboration with the artist and his studio team... A broad yet detailed overview of the renowned artist's 30-year oeuvre... Succinctly brings the artist's myriad ideas, installations, architecture, performances, philosophies and philanthropies, (a catalogue of achievement difficult to express fully under one roof) together, under one, bright yellow cover... Through interviews, texts by and about Eliasson, alongside never-before-seen photographs of his Berlin studio, we 'meet up with' Eliasson's work personally and profoundly, as if tracking the globe exhibition-hopping and architectural site-seeing... Eliasson has done the rare thing of captivating both the art world, and the world at large."—Wallpaper.com "[Eliasson's] larger-than-life art installations remix the elements and shock the senses to provoke a reaction, physical as much as emotional, in the viewer."—CNN style Studio Olafur Eliasson: The Kitchen Price AUD$65.00 Price CAD$59.95 Price €39.95 Price £35.00 Price T49.95 Price USD$49.95 Trevor Paglen Price AUD$65.00 Price CAD$64.95 Price €39.95 Price £29.95 Price T49.95 Price USD$49.95 Thomas Bayrle: Playtime Price AUD$125.00 Price CAD$115.00 Price €69.95 Price £59.95 Price T79.95 Price USD$79.95 Jessica Stockholder Price AUD$79.95 Price CAD$90.00 Price €59.95 Price £39.95 Price T69.95 Price USD$69.95 Pipilotti Rist: Pixel Forest Price AUD$100.00 Price CAD$105.00 Price €69.95 Price £49.95 Price T79.95 Price USD$79.95 More on Olafur Eliasson's Ice Watch will give you a climate change chill Wolfgang Tillmans and Olafur Eliasson reopen Berghain How Olafur Eliasson's 'hedonistic' dad helped his art Olafur Eliasson on Rauschenberg, glasses and black mirrors Got a question for Olafur Eliasson? Olafur Eliasson's Ice Watch is headed for London Watch René Redzepi feed Olafur Eliasson a live scallop Olafur Eliasson and a French opera of forbidden love The hidden story in Olafur Eliasson’s new book "What is the size of ‘we’?" – Olafur Eliasson on public art, building bridges, and his Experience of togetherness 'Street dance is crucial' – Olafur Eliasson on Harlem Gun Crew, his teenage years and the Experience of space ‘An exhibition is like a small weather system’ - Olafur Eliasson on art, audience and the Experience of putting on a show ‘I grew up surrounded by art that embraced abstraction, mythology and allowed space for imagination' - Olafur Eliasson on landscape, Experience and the art his father made Why Olafur Eliasson just met with Emmanuel Macron ‘Nature has become fragile’ - Olafur Eliasson on melting glaciers and his Experience of a changing climate ‘Encountering a work of art is about recognition, about feeling listened to’ - Olafur Eliasson on art, Experience and uncertainty It’s OK if you don’t understand Olafur Eliasson’s new show Heading for the beach? Try this Olafur Eliasson experiment! From seaweed to strawberries, Olafur Eliasson is going local Olafur Eliasson Tate story

FDA Commissioner To Resign January 20th By Pharmaceutical Processing | December 16, 2008 By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) – Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, who made progress in stabilizing a troubled agency, has announced his resignation effective Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. His successor will be named by the incoming administration. President-elect Barack Obama is considering a list of candidates that includes Baltimore’s health commissioner, several prominent physicians, and former and current FDA officials.Von Eschenbach, 67, a prostate cancer specialist, was appointed by President Bush in 2005 as the FDA was reeling from widespread criticism about lax oversight of prescription drug safety. His predecessor had resigned under an ethical cloud. A cancer survivor himself, von Eschenbach was director of the National Cancer Institute before coming to the FDA. As commissioner, von Eschenbach has overseen a major increase in funding that Congress mandated for the FDA’s drug safety office. He also directed the agency’s first steps to strengthen its role as an international regulator, opening three offices in China only last month. The global initiative came in the aftermath of a major recall of tainted heparin, a bloodthinner produced in China at a factory that the FDA failed to inspect because of a mix-up. The FDA has continued to receive criticism from Congress and consumer groups, most recently over its handling of the salmonella outbreak this summer. But under von Eschenbach, tensions seem to have eased between the agency’s drug safety office and the much larger division that handles drug approvals. Key lawmakers and consumer advocates, including critics, say they have enjoyed ready access to von Eschenbach during his tenure and found him easy to work with. Industry had no major complaints. “This critical time of opportunity has not been without its significant challenges, but I am firmly convinced that the transformation is under way,” von Eschenbach wrote in an e-mail to FDA employees Monday evening. “I have said it is hard to fall in love with FDA from outside the agency because so few can fully appreciate who you are and what you mean to this country, but it is impossible not to fall in love with the agency…once you are inside.” Von Eschenbach had been expected to resign with the end of Bush administration. He said he will return to Texas, where his family and grandchildren live. Before joining the Bush administration, he held senior medical positions at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Possible successors under an Obama administration include Baltimore health commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a pediatrician who is handling FDA issues for the transition team, prominent physicians such as Duke’s Robert Califf and the Cleveland Clinic’s Steven Nissen, and several former and current FDA officials. FDA releases guidance on pharmaceutical supply chain security PRISM.science debuts new adverse-event monitoring tool FDA issues warning letters to several companies 2023 State of Revenue Report highlights staffing challenges for pharma companies

2023 NFL Scouting Combine Preview: Tight End Oregon State's Luke Musgrave Many analysts will point to this group of tight ends as one of the strongest positions in the entire draft class. With a variety of skill sets and body types, no matter what your favorite NFL team is looking for, chances are they'll be able to find an option this spring at the position. Workout Warriors These are the players who analysts expect to see perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout. Luke Musgrave (Oregon State) – Musgrave is the guy all of the analysts are excited to see this week. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, the nephew of former Eagles Quarterbacks Coach Bill Musgrave has excellent speed down the seam, which was presented in Bruce Feldman's annual Freak List article last summer as the senior came in at No. 27 on the list. The four-sport high school star, who was an excellent skier in the state of Oregon (that flexibility and body control does show up on tape as well), should be one of the best testers at the tight end spot this week. Zack Kuntz (Old Dominion) – On that Freak List last summer, Kuntz was one of the biggest "wait, who is that?!" names inserted into the NFL Draft landscape, as he checked in at No. 11 for Feldman. The Penn State transfer moved to ODU in 2021 and caught 73 passes for nearly 700 yards and five touchdowns on his way to being named First-Team All-Conference USA. With potential 4.5 speed and explosiveness in his lower half, Kuntz (who was a state champion both as a hurdler and high jumper in high school) should impress. Josh Whyle (Cincinnati) – Whyle checked in just outside the Top 75 on Feldman's Freak List last summer, and his athleticism does show up on tape. A field stretcher with an impressive 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame, the senior tight end is a smooth natural athlete who should impress in all athletic tests across the board with good shuttles and jumps as well as a positive result in the 40-yard dash. Will Mallory (Miami) – There hasn't been a ton written about Mallory's potential test scores this week, so this is all gut instinct on my part based off film study, where I thought the tight end flew off the ball and showed the ability to be a vertical weapon. The senior's fluidity and lack of wasted movement stood out while watching him as a junior, when he caught four touchdowns for the Hurricanes as an every-week starter. A year later and the Jacksonville native was named Second-Team All-ACC because of his playmaking ability as he set career highs with 42 catches and 538 yards in the new "U" offense. Brenton Strange (Penn State) – While Kuntz is a Penn State transfer, Strange stuck it out with the Nittany Lions and paid it off this year with career highs in catches (32), yards (362), and touchdowns (5) this season as a junior. At 6-3, 246 pounds, he's built like a matchup-type, a movement piece who can be shifted around the formation in the passing game. A four-year letterman for his high school basketball team, Strange's movement skills on the gridiron should transfer well to the track this week. Will Kill the Drills These position drills are meant to make players uncomfortable, and for a lot of these players, blocking is not something they're used to doing. Here are some things to take note of in the bag drills on the field: When these tight ends strike the bags, look for explosiveness out of their stance, some knockback on the bag, and finally some violence through contact. Ideally, if the microphones are turned up on the field, you should be able to hear the "thud" on contact! Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills: Darnell Washington (Georgia) – Listed at 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, Washington is a true throwback at the tight end spot and I won't argue with those who view him as a potential offensive tackle convert in the mold of former Eagle Jason Peters. A devastating blocker in all areas of the game, Washington should look good when striking the bag considering how dominant at the point of attack he was on a weekly basis in the best conference in college football. Michael Mayer (Notre Dame) – While he's not the devastatingly powerful blocker that Washington is, Mayer is no slouch. Only one tight end (Air Force's Kyle Patterson) turned in a better Run Block Grade from Pro Football Focus this season, and the film backs it up with Mayer's effort and technique at the point of attack. He should look good in those drills. Noah Gindorff (North Dakota State) – Gindorff is a huge human being at 6-foot-6, 266 pounds with giant hands and an impressive wingspan. He could only put his skills on display for three starts this season due to injury, but the Bison star has great tape throughout his career and his size allows him to be really impactful in the run game. Brayden Willis (Oklahoma) – Willis is a fun player to study because he's a headhunter as a blocker. At 6-3, 239 pounds, he has a unique body type as kind of an H-Back/fullback build, and his athleticism and tenacity shows up the moment you put the tape on. An accomplished special teams player throughout his career, Willis was named Second-Team All-Big 12 this year after reaching the end zone seven times in the passing game, but his blocking versatility will boost his value. These players have great stories to tell, but who has taken the most unique journey to get to this point? Dalton Kincaid (Utah) – Coming into the season, Kincaid was my favorite tight end in the nation because of what he showed on tape a year ago as a 13-game starter, his first as a full-time player for the Utes. He followed that up with an All-American campaign that featured him as one of the best pass catchers in football, particularly in the second half of the season. Kincaid is a smooth, but not explosive, athlete who gets in and out of breaks well and never puts the ball on the ground. He's reached the end zone 16 times in the last two years for the Utes. If you think that's impressive, factor in the other 19 scores he posted in his first two collegiate seasons at the University of San Diego. Kincaid, who reminds me of former Eagle Zach Ertz with the way he plays the game, is an easy projection as a pass catching option in the NFL. Payne Durham (Purdue) – One of the fun parts of the tight end position is that you typically get a handful of late bloomers who are new to the position, and Durham is a guy that falls into that category. The senior didn't start playing football until his senior year of high school just outside Atlanta (he was an accomplished lacrosse player before that), but didn't take long to make his mark, earning a trip to the Big Ten and hitting the ground running. In four years on the field with the Boilermakers, Durham never had fewer than three touchdowns in a season, and he had 14 in his final two combined. The touchdown-maker is excellent in the red zone, and his pass catching-prowess should impress in positional work at Lucas Oil Stadium. That said, you have to remember that he was *this* close to not even playing the sport. Significant Stats These are the players of note with a special statistic or measurement that sets them apart from their peers. Davis Allen (Clemson) – Watching Clemson's offense this year, it was very apparent that they had a lot of faith in Allen and his ability to be the focal point of the passing game, as they moved him around the formation and dialed up play after play where he was the primary option for the quarterback. He repaid them by being an extremely reliable pass catcher and one of their leading receivers. Just how reliable was he at the catch point? Well, only one tight end at the Combine (Kincaid) had a lower career drop rate (per Pro Football Focus) than Allen, who allowed just 3.3 percent of his targets to hit the ground during his career with the orange and white. Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State) – On a per-route basis, no tight end at this event has had a more productive career than Kraft, who gained 2.33 yards per route run over the course of his career with the Jackrabbits, where he carries the mantle of Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (whose 2.83 yards per route run in college was the highest of any tight end drafted in the last decade that PFF charted). At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Kraft is big, productive, and athletic. He's a fascinating prospect. The Rest of the Pack Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order)" Sam LaPorta (Iowa), Cameron Latu (Alabama), Kyle Patterson (Air Force), Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan), Leonard Taylor (Cincinnati), Blake Whiteheart (Wake Forest) Mr. Average We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks ... but wouldn't it be nice to have some context? What is considered a "good" 40-yard dash time? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here's what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (based on my own personal research). Height: 6045 (6'4 5/8") Hand Size: 968 (9 3/4") Arm Length: 3300 (33") Wingspan: 7928 (79 1/4") Unofficial 40-Time (Stopwatch): 4.69 Official 40-Time (Laser): 4.73 10-Yard Split: 1.63 Short Shuttle: 4.38 Broad Jump: 118" Vertical Jump: 33.5" Eagles get Greedy (Williams) at the cornerback position The former second-round pick will sign a one-year deal. Big Play Slay: 'I plan on retiring an Eagle' The Pro Bowl cornerback signed his two-year contract extension on Friday. Eagles provided the perfect fit for James Bradberry The All-Pro cornerback signed his three-year contract on Friday. Rashaad Penny hits the reset button on his career The running back's search for a new chapter lands him with the Eagles. Howie Roseman's latest gem: Eagles find a way to extend Darius Slay Tap for 6 insights about the team's early approach to the start of the 2023 league year. Who are the Eagles' free agents? Here is a list of players whose contracts expired when the new league year begins on March 15. Fletcher Cox will continue an all-time career with the Eagles The franchise's all-time leader in sacks among defensive tackles returns for a 12th campaign. Eagles bring back Boston Scott on a one-year deal More than a Giant Killer, Scott has done it all for the Eagles' offense and special teams since arriving in 2018. Jason Kelce: 'Philadelphia has been a blessing for me' The All-Pro center looks ahead after signing his contract for the 2013 season. James Bradberry returns to the Eagles on a 3-year deal The All-Pro cornerback decided that the best option was the one right in front of him. Rashaad Penny adds a different dimension to the backfield The former first-round pick agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday. Eagles Autism Foundation contributes $4.1 million to fund 20 pilot studies and community projects Eagles Autism Foundation to raise an additional $200K through a new matching gift designed to help Eagles Autism Challenge participants meet and exceed their fundraising goals for 2023.

Trump is back on Twitter The former US president Donald Trump is back on Twitter after the new owner and CEO Elon Musk, held a... Kanye WestNEWS Kanye West banned from Twitter again. Ye previously known as Kanye West is suspended from Twitter after tweeting an image of a swastika inside a Star... CelebrityNEWS The Former ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ DJ Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss dead at 40 The Former “Ellen DeGeneres Show” DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss has died from suicide at age 40. He rose to fame on the reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” before joining “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” as a D.J., guest host, and, later as an executive producer. His death was... CelebrityEntertainmentNEWS Henry Cavill confirms He Will Not Return as Super Man – “My turn to wear the cape has passed”. Henry Cavill confirmed that he will not return as Super Man in an official Instagram statement to his fans on... According to The Daily Mail, the series is currently the “third worst rated TV show in IMDB history.” In its... A UN correspondent stated on Tuesday that Denmark failed to effectively combat racist hate speech when it dropped an investigation into an art exhibition that featured “racist hate images” nearly a decade ago. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) found that Denmark did not effectively combat... A 9-year-old girl from Detroit is currently being held by the police after she was caught on camera threatening to...

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D 2020 138 Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado and, in particular, pursuant to Article IV, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution and the relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act, C.R.S. § 24-33.5-701 et seq. (Act), I, Jared Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order ordering individuals in Colorado to wear a medical or non-medical face covering due to the presence of coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Colorado. This order applies to people in Colorado over the age of 10 years old when they are in public indoor spaces. People who do not comply with the Executive Order may be subject to civil or criminal penalties. Businesses that do not comply could be at risk of losing their license. (This includes healthcare facilities.)

Chris Lord's Pixielated Pixels Arcanum Locus purchasing & links trillium gallery interview A Bit Of Blighty Countryside and coastal vistas around the south of England. Click the arrow symbol on the right for a full screen slideshow. My images do not belong to the public domain and may not be posted in or linked to another web page on the internet or intranet, published in any book, magazine, newsletter, or newspaper, duplicated, used in a derivative work of art, used as an illustration for musical, dramatic, and/or literary works, or used for commercial use of any kind whatsoever without the express written permission, including but not limited to the resale of my images without a license for use. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission, or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use whatsoever, personal or commercial, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited by law.

GYB Little League Baseball Labor Day Festival Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Thanksgiving Dinner Basket Give-Away Christmas Shop with a Cop Program KickBack Sundays Event +Media Greenbelt MD Mother Chapter Gallery Petersburg VA Chapter Gallery Greensboro NC Chapter Gallery Restricted - Members ONLY GUESTBOOK Sign-In On-line Membership Application New Charter Chapter Request Form PLATINUM ROLLERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB This Membership Agreement, hereinafter referred to as "Agreement," is entered into and made effective as of August 15th, 2015 by and between the following parties: Platinum-Rollers Motorcycle Club, Inc. ("Organization"), a corporation, incorporated under the laws of the state of Maryland, having its principal place of business at the following address: 9900-E Greenbelt Road Website Address: www.platinum-rollersmc.com Email: info@platinum-rollersmc.com All current and future Applicants/Members of the Organization, specifically the current individual agreeing to the terms of this Agreement. Organization and Applicant/Member may be referred to individually as "Party" and collectively as the "Parties." RECITALS: WHEREAS, Organization is designed for the following purpose, elaborated on more fully below: Social and Recreational Club; WHEREAS, Member would like to join Organization and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions listed herein; NOW, therefore, in consideration of the promises and covenants contained herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), the Parties do agree as follows: Article 1 - MEMBERSHIP: ​This Agreement forms a legally binding agreement between Applicant/Member and Organization and governs the Applicants and Member's access and use of the Organization's services (the "Membership Services"). This Agreement also covers the Organization's provision of services (the "Membership Services"). Hereinafter, "you" and other third-person pronouns will refer to Member. BY ACCESSING OR USING ANY OF THE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND AND ABIDE BY THE ORGANIZATION BY-LAWS AND BY THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO. READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING ANY OF THE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS AGREEMENT MAY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, SUCH AS REQUIRING BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, AND LIMITING YOUR RIGHT TO BRING A LAWSUIT OR CLASS ACTION. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CEASE USE OF ANY OF THE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES. Article 2 - MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: The Membership Services provided by Organization are as follows: 1. District of Columbia, Maryland, & Virginia (DMV) Coalition Member 2. 804 Council Member 3. Club Support of Charities and Foundations within our community 4. Club Sponsored Events 5. Club Sponsored Organized Motorcycle Rides 6. Club Discounts 7. Club Merchandise and Clothing 8. Club Invitations to Special Events 9. Club Annual Anniversary Event 10. Club Group Rides 11. Club Website (Access to PRMC Members Only Area) The Membership Services will specifically include the ability and responsibility of the Organization to deal with all requisite third parties. Article 3 - FEES: A nonrefundable initiation/application fee of the following amount is required: $300.00 (three hundred US dollars). If applicant becomes a Member after a six (6) months probation period, Member will be responsible for the payment of membership fees ("Fees") to the Organization each month. The monthly Fees will be $25.00 (twenty-five US dollars). The first Fee payment is due on the next month after applicants probationary periods ends. Thereafter, Fees are due in advance on the first of every month. Fees may be paid via the following methods: Platinum Rollers MC, Inc. uses Stripe through our website. Payment method(s) Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Debit card. Article 4 - TERMINATION: ​This Membership Agreement shall continue until the occurrence of the following event: 1. Voluntary Resignation: Any members of the Organization have the right to terminate their membership at anytime by giving proper notification. A member may do so in writing by submitting a written request to any member of the Executive Officers along with forfeiting their Colors to the Sergeant-at-Arms or any Executive Officer. Upon receipt of the written request, the membership of the individual shall automatically terminate. No Refund will be distributed for any pro-rated or unused monthly dues. The executive Officers will notify the membership status of the individual at the next regularly schedule Organizational Meeting. 2. Attendance: Membership of any member who fails to attend the minimal amount of Organizational General Meetings, Mandatory Events, Mandatory Rides, and Mandatory Charity Events will result in Probation before Judgment (PBJ) and/or termination of membership as described in ARTICLE II, Section 2.04 and the Member must reapply for Membership. ​3. NON-Payment of Organizational Monthly Dues: ​Membership of any member who fails to pay Organizational Monthly Dues will result in termination of membership as described in ARTICLE II. Section 2.04 Membership Dues. The individual will forfeit their Colors to the Sergeant-at-Arms or any Executive Officer. Membership can be re-instated upon full payment of delinquent Organization Membership dues and has been approved by the Executive Officers. If delinquent membership dues is not paid by the time frame as described in ARTICLE II. Section 2.04 Membership Dues, Membership will be terminated and the Member must reapply for Membership. ​4. Death of a Member: ​5. Inactive Membership Status Expires: ​Any members of the Organization have the right to change their membership status to Inactive at anytime by giving proper notification. A member may do so in writing by submitting a written request to any member of the Executive Officers. Upon receipt of the written request, the membership of the individual shall automatically change to Inactive. If the individual member does not become an Active member prior to Nine (9) months or 270 days after receipt of written request, membership of the individual shall automatically terminate. No Refund will be distributed for any pro-rated or unused monthly dues. The executive Officers will notify the membership status of the individual at the next regularly schedule Organizational Meeting. ​6. Expulsion of a member: ​Membership of any member of the Organization may be terminated by the Executive Officers if a member: 1. Violates Organization By-Laws. 2. No longer meets Eligibility requirements. 3. Acts in a manner that’s harmful to the welfare, safety, and/or reputation of the Organization. This Agreement may also be immediately terminated in the event that there is a breach of the terms of this Agreement by either Party. This Agreement will also immediately terminate upon the death of the Member, the inability of the Member to pay the Fees required, the liquidation, dissolution or discontinuance of the Organization by the Organization in any manner, or the filing of any petition by or against the Organization under federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency laws. Article 5 - LIMITED LICENSE: ​Member acknowledges and agrees that the Organization's name, services, and any logos, designs, text, graphics, software, content, files, materials, and any other intellectual property rights contained therein, including without limitation, any copyrights, patents, trademarks, proprietary or other rights arising thereof, are owned by the Organization or its affiliates, licensors, or suppliers. Member acknowledges and agrees that the source and object code of certain Membership Services and the format, directories, queries, algorithms, structure, and organization of the same are the intellectual property, proprietary, and confidential information of Organization and its affiliates, licensors, and suppliers. Member expressly agrees not to do anything inconsistent with Organization's ownership of all of the intellectual property discussed herein. Member further agrees that there are no rights, title, or interest in or to any Membership Services, except as stated in this Agreement. In addition, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, Member is not conveyed any right or license by implication, estoppel, or otherwise in or under any patent, trademark, copyright, or other proprietary rights of Organization or any third party. For any Membership Services which enable you to use any software, content, equipment or other physical or non physical materials owned or licensed by us, we grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable license to access and use the specific Membership Services, and any related software, content, equipment or other materials FOR YOUR PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. ​Article 6 - RESTRICTIONS: ​You are prohibited from, and expressly agree that you will not: (i) circumvent or disable any content protection system or digital rights management technology used with any Membership Services; (ii) decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise reduce any Membership Services to a human-readable form; (iii) remove identification, copyright, or other proprietary notices in or on the Membership Services; (iv) access or use any Membership Services in an unlawful or unauthorized manner, or in a manner that suggests an association with our content, products, services or brands, unless you have an executed agreement with us that allows for such activity; (v) use, alter, copy, modify, store, sell, reproduce, distribute, republish, download, publicly perform, display, post, transmit, create derivative works of, or exploit any Membership Services or any part thereof, except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or as part of the Membership Services provided to you; (vi) introduce a virus or other harmful component, or otherwise tamper with, impair, or damage any Membership Services or connected network, or interfere with any person or entity's use or enjoyment of any of the Membership Services; (vii) access, monitor, or copy any element of the Membership Services using a robot, spider, scraper or other automated means or manual process without our express written permission; or (viii) sell, resell, or make commercial use of the Membership Services, unless you have an executed agreement with us that expressly allows for such activity. Article 7 - THIRD PARTY SERVICES: ​Certain Memberships Services may integrate, be integrated into, or be provided in connection with third-party websites, services, content, and/or materials ("Third-Party Services"). We do not control any Third-Party Services. We additionally make no claim or representation regarding the third-party services and accept no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature, or reliability of Third-Party Services accessible from our websites, application, software or any other element of the Membership Services. There is no implied affiliation, endorsement, or adoption by the Organization of these Third-Party Services and we shall not be responsible for any content provided on or through these Third-Party Services. You should read the terms of use and legal agreements that apply to these Third-Party Services. ​Article 8 - MEMBER CONSENTS: ​Member agrees to hold the Organization, its owners, affiliates, and representatives, harmless from any damage, whether tangible or intangible, that may happen to Member while participating in the Membership Services. Member agrees that the Organization offers their membership program with no guarantee of results of any kind. Member agrees that any results that occur during their membership, whether positive or negative, are the effects of Member's own personal choices. Member agrees and verifies that all of the information they have given the Organization and its representatives is accurate, up to date, and without the omission of any requested information. Member agrees and verifies that even if they have omitted any necessary personal information, whether knowingly or unknowingly, they will hold the Organization harmless against all liability for any damages that may occur to Member or others because of Member's actions or inactions. Member agrees to notify the Organization Membership Group of any changes or upcoming changes concerning their personal information. ​Article 9 - ASSUMPTION OF RISK: ​Member agrees and understands that their participation in the Membership Services may involve risks. These risks may lead to tangible or intangible harm, and Member agrees that they these risks may result not only from their own actions but also from the actions of others. With the knowledge and understanding of these risks, Member chooses, of their own will and volition, to continue participating in the Membership Services. Article 10 - INDEMNIFICATION: Member agrees to defend and indemnify Organization and any of its affiliates (if applicable) and hold them harmless against any and all legal claims and demands, including reasonable attorney's fees, which may arise from or relate to Member's use or misuse of the activities, Member's breach of this Agreement, or Member's conduct or actions. Member agrees that Organization shall be able to select its own legal counsel and may participate in its own defense, if so desired. Article 11 - REPRESENTATION: ​Member agrees that they are over 25 (twenty-five) years of age and may legally consent to and enter into this Agreement. Article 12 - ENTIRE AGREEMENT: ​This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Member and the Organization with respect to any and all use of the activities and facilities. This Agreement supersedes and replaces all prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings, written or oral, regarding the Parties' relationship. Article 13 - COUNTERPARTS: ​This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute a single agreement. The Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth above. Article 14 - SURVIVAL: ​Any provision of this Agreement which by its terms imposes continuing obligations on either of the parties shall survive termination of this Agreement. ​Article 15 - SEVERABILITY: ​If any part or subpart of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of law or competent arbitrator, the remaining parts and sub-parts will be enforced to the maximum extent possible. In such condition, the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force. ​Article 16 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION: ​In case of a dispute between the Parties relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute personally and in good faith. If these personal resolution attempts fail, the Parties shall then submit the dispute to binding arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in the county and state noted in the GOVERNING LAW provision of this Agreement. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator, and such arbitrator shall have no authority to add Parties, vary the provisions of this Agreement, award punitive damages, or certify a class. The arbitrator shall be bound by applicable and governing federal law as well as the law of Maryland. Each Party shall pay their own costs and fees. Claims necessitating arbitration under this section include, but are not limited to: contract claims, tort claims, claims based on federal and state law, and claims based on local laws, ordinances, statutes or regulations. Intellectual property claims by the Organization will not be subject to arbitration and may, as an exception to this sub-part, be litigated. The Parties, in agreement with this sub-part of this Agreement, waive any rights they may have to a jury trial in regard to arbitral claims. ​Article 17 - GOVERNING LAW: ​This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of Maryland without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule. Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in the following county: Prince George's. ​Article 18 - NOTICES: ​All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder (each, a "Notice") shall be in writing and addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement. All notices shall be delivered by email or at the address which the parties may designate to each other, personal delivery, nationally recognized overnight courier (with all fees prepaid), or certified or registered mail (in each case, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a Notice is effective only if (a) the receiving party has received the Notice and (b) the party giving the Notice has complied with the requirements of this Section. Article 19 - HEADINGS: ​Headings to this Agreement are for convenience only. Headings shall in no way affect the provisions themselves and shall not be construed in any way that would limit or otherwise affect the terms of this Agreement. ​Subscribe to Platinum Rollers Motorcycle Club Website to be sure you receive upcoming Club EVENTs! Enter your email address information below: ​We respect your privacy and do not tolerate spam and will never sell, rent, lease or give away your information (name, address, email, etc.) to any third party. Nor will we send you unsolicited email. Copyright © 2020 Platinum Rollers Motorcycle Club, Inc. ® All Rights Reserved.

Posted on August 17, 2011 August 17, 2011 by Michael Stern The Supercommittee, Moral Entrenchment, and the Puzzle of Statutized Rules The Budget Control Act of 2011 (“BCA”) establishes a number of expedited procedures to govern House and Senate consideration of the legislative proposal from the “Supercommittee.” In essence, it requires that both the House and Senate have an up-or-down vote on the bill as proposed, and it forbids amendment of the bill in either house. These provisions, of course, amend the normal rules of procedure that apply in the House and Senate. The BCA expressly recognizes this and provides that these procedures are enacted “as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such they shall be considered as part of the rules of each House, respectively, or of that House to which they specifically apply, and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent therewith.” It is not unusual for Congress to enact in statute special rules to expedite the consideration of particular legislation (examples include “fast track” approval for trade agreements and the closing of military bases under the Base Realignment and Closure Act). Such “statutized rules” raise some thorny constitutional questions, however. See Aaron-Andrew P. Bruhl, Using Statutes to Set Legislative Rules: Entrenchment, Separation of Powers, and the Rules of Proceedings Clause, 19 J.L.& Po. 345 (2003). For example, are the House and Senate legally bound to follow the rules prescribed in the BCA? The generally accepted answer to this is no. Because the Constitution grants each house the power to determine its own rules, a statute cannot remove this power, and thus each house must remain free to change its rules independently. Indeed, the BCA expressly states that its congressional procedural provisions are enacted “with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change such rules (so far as relating to such House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of such House.” If that is so, then either the House or Senate is legally free, notwithstanding the procedures specified in the BCA, to supersede those procedures with respect to consideration in its own body. As Professor Bruhl notes, this may not mean so much in the Senate, where it can be extremely difficult to change the rules. In the House, however, changing the rules is quite easy. It is typical in the House that legislation sent to the floor is accompanied by a special rule from the Rules Committee that sets the terms of the debate and consideration for that particular bill. This special rule can vary or waive any of the provisions of the Standing Rules of the House. For example, this CRS report discusses the use of expedited rules in military base closings, and notes some instances where the House waived the requirements of those rules. The report states: “As House Parliamentarian Emeritus Charles W. Johnson observes, a chamber may ‘change or waive the rules governing its proceedings. This is so even with respect to rules enacted by statute.’ These changes can be accomplished, for example, by the adoption of a special rule from the House Committee on Rules, by suspension of the rules, or by unanimous consent agreement.” I am informed by a congressional source that it is unlikely the Rules Committee would promulgate a special rule to accompany the Supercommittee’s proposed bill. The reason, however, is not lack of constitutional power to do so; rather it is the fear that the adoption of a special rule, if it contravened any of the procedures established in the BCA, could jeopardize the bill’s “privileged status” in the Senate. In other words, the BCA forms something like a contract between the House and Senate, and one party’s breach of the requirements would arguably free the other from complying with its terms. Nevertheless, there would appear to be no legal barrier to the House changing the procedures set forth in the BCA if a simple majority so desires (the situation is more complicated in the Senate due to the ability of a minority to filibuster a motion to amend the rules). In what sense, then, can the BCA be said to have entrenched the rules governing consideration of the Super-committee’s legislation? As Bruhl observes, “statutized rules can be understood as devices for preventing Congress from engaging in certain types of procedural opportunism [yet because] Congress believes that the Constitution limits its ability to constrain itself in matters of procedure [, they are] a curiously noncommittal form of commitment.” Another way of describing the effect of statutized rules is that they are “morally entrenched.” That is, they reflect a promise by the House and Senate to follow certain rules, and not to utilize such constitutional power as they have to alter or amend such rules. But if should they break their promise (which has happened from time to time with regard to other statutized rules), there is (probably) no legal violation and (certainly) no legal remedy. To make things just a little more complicated, it should be noted that BCA differs from the typical statutized rule situation in a couple of ways. First, because of the short duration of the Supercommittee, the provisions of the BCA only affect the Congress that enacted it. This is important because there is precedent in the House for the proposition that a statutized rule can constitutionally bind the Congress that enacted it. Bruhl thinks, and I agree, that this precedent is probably wrong, but it could be used to argue that the 112th Congress is in fact without constitutional power to modify the rules set forth in the BCA (absent a statutory amendment). The savings provision quoted earlier might defeat such an argument anyway, but the provision arguably does nothing more than reflect a particular understanding of the constitutional powers of the House and Senate, which understanding might turn out to be incorrect. Second, the BCA does more than merely prescribe a particular procedure for considering certain legislation. It imposes a consequence (automatic spending cuts in excess of one trillion dollars) for the failure to enact the legislation proposed by the Supercommittee. If Congress passes such legislation in accordance with the requirements of the BCA, then any constitutional questions regarding the procedure would not affect the validity of the final product. Moreover, even if Congress enacts a law that varies substantively from the requirements of the BCA, or in a manner that violates the BCA’s procedural prescriptions, it is likely that this law will be written in such a way as to ensure that BCA’s automatic spending cuts are overridden. But what happens if Congress cannot agree on any legislation and the automatic spending cuts go into effect? At that point could not there be a constitutional challenge to the procedures established in the BCA? It could be argued that the BCA unconstitutionally attempts to prescribe procedures for the House and Senate, violating the constitutional mandate that each house determine the rules of its own proceedings. Bruhl argues, reasonably enough, that statutized rules do not violate the Constitution so long as each house remains free to change those rules without interference from the other house or the President. But one could ask whether each house is free to depart from the procedures specified by BCA, for example by amending the Supercommittee’s proposed bill, when the consequence of doing so would be the automatic spending cuts triggered by non-compliance with BCA. In essence, by providing a draconian “penalty” for changing the procedures established in the statute, the BCA imposes an unconstitutional condition on the exercise of the rulemaking power. One final piece of this puzzle. Section 401(b)(3)(B) of the BCA provides that “[a]ny change to the Rules of the House of Representatives or the Standing Rules of the Senate included in the report or legislative language shall be merely advisory.” This means, apparently, that even if the Super-committee proposes legislative language that effects a permanent change in House or Senate rules, and the Congress passes a bill that purports to enact those changes, the changes are not in fact effective. The Super-committee could not, for example, force Congress to enact a rule that makes the Super-committee permanent, or requires Congress to use expedited procedures for future legislation. This seems to be the legislative equivalent of the genie saying that you get three wishes, but “ixnay on the wishing for more wishes.” See Aladdin (1992). It seems to reflect some discomfort with the enormous power that the BCA invests in the Supercommittee. As a constitutional matter, it seems to put the BCA in the awkward position of both entrenching certain rules and prohibiting future legislation from entrenching additional rules. Hopefully I will get some feedback on these thoughts, and refine them as we go along. CategoriesHouse Rules, Rulemaking Power, Senate Rules Previous PostPrevious Sunshine for the Super-Committee? Next PostNext The Three Established Branches of Speech or Debate

Showing posts with the label Jeff Mizanskey Cop Admits to Sexual Abusing 2 young ladies, instead of 30 Years, He was given simply 60 Days in jail Police, we are told, are society’s finest. Heroic men and women sacrifice themselves to protect society from criminals so that we may live long and safe lives. If this assertion were entirely true, when these fine men and women commit a crime they are sworn to prevent, they should be held to higher standards than the rest of society because not only have they broken a law, but they have betrayed the trust of people they serve. However, as the case below illustrates, all too often, when a police officer betrays this trust—going so far as to prey on society’s most vulnerable, children—their badge grants them a lower standard of justice and they escape accountability. A now-former Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy was entrusted by the citizens of Jefferson County, Mo. to serve and protect them. However, protecting and serving were the last things this admitted child predator had on his mind. According to police, former deputy Joshua Skaggs, 25, was accused of molesting two children on t Location: Jefferson County, MO, USA

Millionaire Butler In 1974, a young man born in a Nepalese fishing village named Indra Tamang met poet and author Charles Henri Ford, brother of actress Ruth Ford. The connection between the two was instant, and when he was offered passage to the United States, Tamang took it instantly. “”I was always hearing about America,” said the butler. “I took my chance and I came. I had no idea how the work was going to go and how long I would stay.” The stay lasted until 2009, when Tamang’s employer Ruth Ford passed away and turned her faithful butler into a multi-millionaire. Ford, in her will, left her butler with two luxury apartments in The Dakota, as well as a valuable collection of art. That took Indra from a humble servant to a man rich enough to have his own butler overnight, as well as bringing him instant fame and notoriety. Of course, it’s not all peaches and gravy with the insta-famous millionaire butler, as finding money makes things difficult. “I rather be Indra of yore. I rather live my own life than try to be someone else.” Indra still lives with his wife and three children in a modest two-family house in Queens, New York. Tags: butler inherits million dollars, inheritance, Indra Tamang, Ruth Ford, millionaire butler, The Dakota, butler inherits two luxury apartments and art collection, unusual inheritance

Dan Bracaglia Updated Feb 1, 2023 12:05 PM EST The best Leica cameras in 2023 The iconic red dot lets you know that the cameras are quality and they’re not going to be cheap. Best overall Leica M11 This super-versatile camera maintains the old-school style. Best Leica film camera Leica MP Yes, Leica still makes a film rangefinder and it’s great. Best Leica compact Leica Q2 It has a beautiful 28mm lens attached. Written By Stan Horaczek Updated Feb 1, 2023 12:05 PM Mention Leica cameras around photography nerds (like us) and you’ll almost certainly get one of a few different reactions. Some people will quickly tell you that they’re some of the finest photographic machines ever created. Some will tell you that Leica cameras have access to some of the best lenses of all time. And many, many people will tell you that Leicas come with extremely high price tags. In our eyes, all of that is true. While Leica cameras command high prices, they also offer a unique mix of photographic acumen and design that few other manufacturers can challenge (at least since Contax went away). This list of the best Leica cameras offers options for nearly any style of shooter. Just don’t expect to find any bargains. Best overall: Leica M11 Best Leica film camera: Leica MP Best vintage Leica film camera: Leica M6 Best mirrorless: Leica SL2 Best compact: Leica Q2 Best for professionals: Leica S3 How we chose the best Leica cameras The writers and editors here at Popular Photography have been covering and working in photography for decades. In that time, we have used and reviewed nearly every major camera release from all the major manufacturers. We’re currently in the process of our full Leica M11 review, but it has been extremely impressive so far, which earned it its spot as our best overall pick. The rest of the picks come from a mix of hands-on experience, editorial reviews, user reviews, and spec comparisons. We chose models currently in Leica’s lineup, as well as one legacy offering in the M6, which is still a great camera and will continue to be popular for years to come. We left out the compact offerings, which are largely just re-configured Panasonic cameras. They’re solid performers, but they’re overpriced for what they offer. The best Leica cameras: Reviews & Recommendations Why it made the cut: Leica’s latest flagship camera offers some very clever new features, including a triple-resolution sensor inside a familiar, elegant body. Resolution: 60 megapixels Lens mount: Leica M Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.5 x 5.8″ Exceptional feel and build quality High-res sensor can capture lower-res images with better noise performance Compatible with some of the best lenses ever made Improved multi-field meter makes reading light simpler Electronic shutter can go as fast as 1/16,000th second Pricy (get used to seeing that here) No video features With the M11, Leica created a photographer’s camera. It handles just as you’d expect an M-series body to. It doesn’t have autofocus. It doesn’t shoot video. It’s about as pure as it gets. But, don’t let that fool you into thinking it lacks advanced technology. The new 60-megapixel sensor inside offers three different resolution settings. You can capture the full 60 megapixels for maximum data, reduce it down to 36 megapixels for increased dynamic range, or drop it all the way to 18 megapixels for max dynamic range and improved low-light performance. It’s a clever system that gives this camera a ton of flexibility. The M11 also offers a litany of other improvements over the M-series cameras that came before it. The battery offers more than 50 percent more power on a charge. You no longer have to remove the base plate in order to put in the battery or card. It has built-in storage for shooting without a card and its electronic shutter can hit 1/16,000th second if you need short, quiet shooting. It’s a beautiful piece of gear and the photos that come out of it match its beauty. Why it made the cut: This 35mm camera’s name stands for “Mechanical Perfection” and it’s hard to argue otherwise. Resolution: 35mm film Dimensions: 5.47 x 3.15 x 1.65″ All-mechanical operation Easy to service and get parts for Very inconspicuous No autofocus Unless you’re paying attention to the small details on Leica’s M-series film bodies, it can be hard to tell them apart. The MP is about as understated as they come. It has an all-black body with minimal branding on it. It doesn’t require a battery to operate unless you want to use the built-in meter, in which case it only requires a small cell. If you’re hoping for bells and or whistles, you won’t find them here. It’s an all-metal body with a super-precise shutter that operates in near total silence. It doesn’t autofocus and you need to manually advance the film with your thumb on the advance lever. This is a fully manual camera and it’s meant to shoot the old school way. If you want something extremely reliable and very pleasant to use when you’re paying full attention to your photography, then this thing is worth the high price of admission. Why it made the cut: This true classic can save you some money compared to the newer models. Dimensions: 5.43 in × 3.03 in × 1.32 in Weight: 20.6 ounces Cheaper than the new models Basically identical in function to modern bodies They have really gone up in price over the years If you can’t swing the price of a brand new Leica body, the M6 still offers a fairly substantial discount and provides nearly identical performance. Unlike the M7 that came after it, the M6 still relied on fully mechanical operation, which means you don’t have to worry about electronics breaking down unless you’re worried about the shutter. There are several versions of the M6, including one that offers TTL flash metering. That version is typically indicated as the M6 TTL. While that model does sometimes tend to be more desirable, I don’t think it’s worth paying extra for it unless you know you’re going to use it. In recent years, the M6 has become one of the most fashionable cameras around, which has driven the price up. Celebrities and YouTubers have flocked to this camera as their go-to, so you’ll likely end up in a bidding war for one unless you buy from a dealer. Why it made the cut: If you want the Leica look with more modern features and comforts, then this is the body to get. Lens mount: Leica L Advanced video features Big electronic viewfinder In-body image stabilization Autofocus (which isn’t a given with Leica cameras) If you want to stay in the Leica family but you’re not the rangefinder type, the SL2 offers a much more familiar experience. It’s built in the DSLR-style with a raised electronic viewfinder and a very substantial hand grip. It offers a 47.3-megapixel sensor with full autofocus capabilities and object tracking. The SL2 employs L-mount lenses, which came as part of a collaboration between Sigma, Panasonic, and Leica. The lenses aren’t cheap (you’re shocked, we know), but they are excellent. Compared to an M-series body, this is a much different experience. The SL2 has a large 3.2-inch touchscreen and it can even shoot oversampled 5K footage for easier cropping to 4K. This is a modern, high-end mirrorless camera that easily competes with models from Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Why it made the cut: This compact camera offers a high-quality fixed-lens that’s perfect for walk-around shooting and street photography. Lens mount: Fixed 28mm f/1.7 Incredible lens performance Compact and easy to carry Impeccably designed Tactile manual controls You have to really love the look of the 28mm lens To call the Q2 a compact camera would undersell it. This 1.5-pound body has a 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens permanently attached to the front. That means you don’t have to worry about buying additional lenses. It also means you don’t have to worry about dust getting inside the body or dirty lens contacts. The Q2 offers a tactile shutter speed dial and an aperture ring on the lens, so it operates like a mini version of the actual Leica M. The Q2 has the same full-frame sensor inside as the advanced SL2, so the image quality is exceptionally high. The Q2 even has some straight up impressive stats, like 1/500th second flash sync speed, which is twice as fast as full-sized interchangeable-lens cameras. You can get the Q2 in the standard model or as a black-and-white-only Monochrom version if you’re sure you really don’t want color. Why it made the cut: You’ll find a massive medium-format sensor at the heart of this pro-grade camera. Lens mount: Leica S Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.15 x 4.72″ 30mm x 45mm sensor is larger than full-frame 15 stops of dynamic range Optical viewfinder with zero lag Extremely burly weatherproofing I could forgive you if you’ve never heard of the Leica S3. It’s $20,000 medium format DSLR with its own line of super-pricy lenses and enough bulk to tax the beefiest forearms. The sensor inside measures 30mm x 45mm, which makes it larger than a full-frame chip. All that real estate offers 64 megapixels of resolution and 15 stops of dynamic range, which makes it an excellent studio camera. The body itself sports heavy duty ruggedization and weatherproofing, so it can stand up to hardcore professional work in whatever environment requires it. Despite its 2020 release date, this isn’t a mirrorless camera, it’s a full-fledged DSLR. You can shoot in live view, of course, and it offers advanced tethering features because pros use that feature more than most other people. But, the viewfinder is totally optical and relies on a mirror box inside that makes an awesome noise when you fire the shutter. What to look for when shopping for the best Leica cameras Dig into Leicas camera arsenal and you’ll find a few different lines, all of which have their own distinct features, advantages, and disadvantages. Here’s a quick overview of the big players in Leica’s lineup. You’ll notice that some of the technical aspects like resolution and specific specs aren’t listed here and that’s because Leica clearly defines its different lines and doesn’t offer a ton of different models. This is what most people think of when they picture a Leica camera. The company introduced the first M-mount camera in the mid 1950s and it immediately had a huge impact. It used bayonet-mount lenses that easily twisted on and off of the body much more quickly and easily than screw-mount glass. It also had the familiar film advance lever instead of knobs typical of rangefinders before that. Leica has stuck with a very similar rangefinder design ever since to great success. Pick up a brand new M11 and its lineage back to the original M3 is immediately clear. This is Leica’s medium format digital line. These cameras offer larger, high-resolution sensors compared to the M-mount. They’re also much larger and command even higher prices. If you’re looking for a walk-around camera, then the S-series likely isn’t for you. These bodies belong in the studio or other controlled environments. Rather than relying on a system of interchangeable lenses, the Q2 offers a fixed prime lens on the front with a full-frame, high-res sensor inside. It’s a compact taken to the extreme and it’s wonderful. SL-series Sometimes overlooked, Leica offers a more traditional mirrorless camera. The SL2 encompasses a full-frame sensor and offers interchangeable lenses via the L-mount, which it co-developed with Panasonic and Sigma. It’s a high-performance machine with several extremely lux lens options. Film or digital? Yes, Leica is one of the few camera manufacturers still putting out film bodies here in 2023. Right now, it’s basically limited to the M-A and the MP, but both are spectacular. While digital Leica bodies hold their value much better than other digital options, film Leicas tend to get even more desirable as they go along. Legacy versions If you’re looking for a film Leica, there are several great models out there in the world that you can get for cheaper than a new model. Even models like the M6, which has skyrocketed in value in recent years, can still cost you roughly half of what it would for a brand new MP. Because Leica’s designs haven’t changed all that much, they’re often relatively straightforward to get repaired. Even some of the older digital Leica M bodies still perform very well and deserve a look. Color or black-and-white? If you’re looking for a modern camera that shoots native black-and-white photos, your options are extremely limited. You have the odd medium format option or the Leica Monochrom cameras. These bodies have dedicated monochrome sensors that don’t require colored filters. As a result, they can pull in more light, recreate more detail, and provide a more film-like look due to the arrangement of the noise/grain. Leica makes an M-series Monochrom and a Q2 Monochrom, so you can have a rangefinder or a fixed-lens rangefinder. They’re specialty cameras, but they’re very cool. Q: What is the most expensive Leica camera? If you’re talking about typical Leica cameras in the company’s current lineup, then the $20,000 S3 medium format camera takes that crown. If you’re talking about limited-edition models, then the prices can get extremely absurd. If you’re talking about vintage historic Leicas, you need Elon Musk money to play in that game. Q: How much does a Leica camera cost? If you’re going to spend the cash on a new M11, which will last you many, many years, then you can expect to pay about $9,000 before tax. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to buy a lens. The 50mm f/2 Summicron is a very standard starter lens and costs just over $2,500. If you want to go with a third-party lensmaker, you can save considerably money there. Q: Do professional photographers use Leica? Some pros love Leicas. You likely won’t find them on the sidelines of NFL games or anything like that, but some high-end wedding and portrait shooters love their Leicas. They’re more than capable of professional work, but it’s a matter of preference. Final thoughts on the best Leica cameras If you’re going to buy a digital Leica right now, the M11 is a fantastic option. It’s a perfect mix of high-end tech with old-school design. If you’re in the market for a film camera, it’s also hard to beat the MP if you can afford the cost. Whatever you buy, though, it will likely last you a long, long time. Stan Horaczek Stan Horaczek is the senior gear editor of PopPhoto. He oversees a team of gear-obsessed writers and editors dedicated to finding and featuring the best and most useful photography equipment, from cameras and lenses to bags and accessories.

Voss and Buckley Speak on Federal Enforcement of Labor and Employment Regulations Partner Wendy Voss and associate Jennifer Penberthy Buckley were speakers at the 2018 Delaware State Human Resources Conference and Expo in Dover. Their presentation, titled “Alphabet Soup: What Is Happening in Federal Enforcement” covered the DOL, NLRB, OSHA, ACA, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, PDA, and other labor and employment issues. Potter Anderson was a gold sponsor of this year’s conference. Voss represents management in a wide variety of industries, providing counsel on legal compliance, personnel policies and best practices, and benefit plan design and compliance. She represents clients before the EEOC, the Delaware Department of Labor, and other state agencies, as well as before the NLRB and the Delaware Public Employee Relations Board. She frequently provides strategic counsel to officers and directors and the entities they serve on both state and federal law issues, with a focus on on-going or anticipated litigation and litigation-avoidance. Buckley’s practice focuses on employment, intellectual property and contract litigation in the state and federal courts of Delaware. She also provides counseling to clients regarding business and regulatory issues. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Karen L. Valihura of the Supreme Court of Delaware. For more information about the conference, visit Delaware SHRM’s website.

Good News….* Inspirational messages and words of encouragement through daily inspirational readings from God’s word, testimonials, and inspiring quotes. This program is geared to motivate believers in their walk with God. Whether you’re in need of a Christian message, a quick word of encouragement or looking for a daily dose of inspiration.

Unshackled….* Real people…real life stories…stirring, dramatic accounts of hopelessness, and the hope that changes everything. UNSHACKLED! the award-winning radio drama from Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, grips the heart with compelling and relevant stories of transformed lives. Without Jesus Christ, we are all shackled by sin — by our wrong choices, disobedience and selfish motives. But God is at work, and when the power of Christ sets us free from our bondage. We are… UNSHACKLED!

Weather Report.. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services is the National Meteorological Services and is attached to the Civil Aviation Department , Ministry of National Security, Air and Sea Port Development. It is the official provider of weather and climate information and related products and services for the state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Service now no longer provides only routine hourly reports, but also synoptic observations, daily public weather, climatological data and climate related publications. Check Weather here

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) Blogs Raising a Prophetic Voice through the Social Justice Policy of Presbyterians Since 1946 Communities of Faith Sign Letter to Protect Poultry Processing Workers BY Nora Leccese Posted at 10:50am Dear Members of Congress and Acting Deputy Under Secretary Rottenberg, We are writing on behalf of some of the most vulnerable people in our country: poultry processing workers. Every day, the health and safety of these hard-working people is in jeopardy due to ever-increasing line speeds, the hiring of unskilled workers without proper training,… Read more » Religious Organizations Call for Passage of Just Transition Legislation Religious Organizations Call for Passage of Just Transition Legislation 40 denominations and faith-based organizations urge U.S. House leadership to pass RECLAIM Act of 2017 (Washington, DC) — Today, religious communities sent a letter to U.S. House leadership expressing support for a bipartisan bill that could jump-start economies in coal communities: the RECLAIM Act of 2017…. Read more » Announcing PCUSA Commitments in the Poor Peoples Campaign- A National Call for a Moral Revival BY Nora Leccese Posted at 5:07pm December 4, 2017- Washington, D.C.— Today, on the fiftieth anniversary of the announcement of the first Poor People’s Campaign of 1967-68, a growing and diverse leadership has come together in Washington, D.C., to announce the launch of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. This broad and deep national moral fusion movement, co-chaired by… Read more » Why the PC(USA) General Assemblies Favor Keeping the Johnson Amendment to the Tax Code By Rev. Christian Iosso, Ph.D., Coordinator, Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, Presbyterian Mission Agency, Louisville, KY The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has, since its formal organization in 1789, supported the separation of church and state and the free exercise of religious faith. As a Reformed Protestant body tracing its origins to Reformers in Switzerland and… Read more » Read Rev. Hawkins Full Remarks from the Faithful Budget Congressional Briefing Washington DC The Presbyterian Church (USA) has a long history of commitment to the establishment of “Faithful Budget” as it calls Presbyterians to the understanding that a budget does indeed reflect our values. We are committed to working with interfaith and ecumenical partners to advocate for budget priorities which protect the poor and vulnerable, rebuild… Read more » The Office of Public Witness Joins U.S. Civil Society Organizations in Call for Transparent Vote Count in Honduras BY catherinegordon Posted at 2:51pm November 29, 2017 As U.S.-based civil society organizations, we call on the Honduran authorities to ensure that the vote count for presidential, legislative, and municipal elections is conducted in a completely transparent manner. The delays and lack of transparency that have characterized the process thus far have the potential to undermine faith in the legitimacy… Read more » Office of Public Witness Signs on to Letter Urging Continued Support for Fight against HIV/AIDS – Dec 1 is World AIDS Day World AIDS Day is December 1, and there are worrying signs that the commitment to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS is waning. The letter below, signed on to by the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness and other NGO and faith communities, urges continued US commitment. November 29, 2017 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Senate Majority… Read more » Sustain the OPW, Invest in Justice Work All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29 NRSV) The past year has been marked by grave threats to the marginalized and repeated need for powerful mobilizations of… Read more » Women on the Frontlines at the #COP23 BY Nora Leccese Posted at 4:18am At the COP 23, we are faced with two striking facts: first, that women comprise 80% of all climate refugees, and second that this burden is not borne equally around the world. On average, one woman in the Global North consumes 400 times the resources of a woman on the continent of Africa, and is… Read more » “Indigenous Peoples Knowledge is as valuable as Western Knowledge”: The Doctrine of Discovery and Creation Care at the COP 23 Evidence of indigenous solutions to climate change are all over the COP 23; there is enormous double-hulled Fijian sailing canoe in the sleek glass and steel great hall of conference center. The canoe, or drua, is made of wood and fiber—the informational sign is careful to tell us that the boat contains no metal components…. Read more » 1. Visit our website here. 2. Click here to sign up for our e-mail alerts! The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness is the public policy information and advocacy office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its task is to advocate, and help the church to advocate, the social witness perspectives and policies of the Presbyterian General Assembly. The church has a long history of applying these biblically and theologically-based insights to issues that affect the public — maintaining a public policy ministry in the nation’s capital since 1946. Reformed theology teaches that because a sovereign God is at work in all the world, the church and Christian citizens should be concerned about public policy. In addition, Presbyterian forefather John Calvin wrote, “Civil magistry is a calling not only holy and legitimate, but by far the most sacred and honorable in human life.” PCUSA Joins 20 faith groups calling for Cuba to be taken off State Sponsors of Terrorism List PC(USA) Joins Faith Letter Calling on US to Hold Israel Accountable for Human Rights Violations Biden’s Asylum Transit Ban: A Concerning Road Ahead The Holy Family’s migration story still happens today A Reflection on Loss and Damage for a Season of Thanksgiving Categories Select Category Uncategorized (161) See all Blogs › PC(USA) Home ›

LABELING SERVICES FINISHING & PACKAGING Generation Z vs. Millennials: What’s the Difference? We’re all familiar with the stereotypes that characterize the millennial generation- avocado toast, “killing” chain restaurants, and being social media obsessed. But what actually defines a millennial? Millennials are the generation born between 1980-1994. These are people who remember a time before cell phones and the internet were integral to everyday life but have grown up with these technologies. Following millennials, you have Generation Z, also referred to as Gen Z. Gen Zers were born between 1995-2015, meaning they’re anywhere between 5 and 25 years old. This is the first generation to never experience a world without smartphones and the internet. Members of both generations may be young, but there are huge differences in the ways they view money, interact with brands, and respond to marketing. Despite spending their childhood and early teens in a generally healthy economy, millennials are typically portrayed as financially underprivileged. This generation could be defined by the student debt crisis, of which they are the primary victims. Even though their childhoods in the late 80s and 90s were prosperous, when many millennials began working in the late 2000s, they entered a depressed job market, saddled with tens of thousands in student debt. However, they’re still regarded as a very optimistic generation economically. This could be owed to their upbringing in a time of economic fortune. On the other hand, Gen Zers have grown up in the economy of the Great Recession, making many of them incredibly conscious of debt and their economic state. As a result, Gen Zers are less inclined toward student loans, allowing them to enter the job force with little to no debt and in a much more flexible financial state than their older counterparts. Millennials are known for being very brand loyal. Despite the wide berth of choice available to them, millennials are more likely to make repeat purchases from their favorite brands than other generations. This has been attributed to several factors, including social proof. Social proof is the psychological concept that humans naturally look towards those around them to make choices. With the advent of social media, it’s easier than ever to see what brands your friends are interacting with, making it easier to choose based on what the people around you are purchasing. Millennials are also drawn into brand loyalty because of the things they value in brands. For instance, millennials value the customer experience, so if they are provided with a good experience, they are more likely to remain loyal to a brand. Generation Zers, however, are more concerned with showing off their individuality than remaining loyal to their favorite brands. They are generally less brand-conscious than their older counterparts and tend to spend less. This generation prefers trends that can be shown off on social media, such as rainbow makeup or political clothing items. Being able to brag about affording a certain brand just isn’t as appealing to Gen Zers as showcasing their personality with their purchases. Knowing what makes each generation tick is integral to effectively marketing to them. Millennials respond to brands that support causes they agree with and provide memorable customer experiences. They can be reached by emphasizing the causes that you support or by showcasing what you do to make their experience special. Generation Z also responds well to brands that support their causes, but they put much less emphasis on the customer experience. Gen Zers prefer marketing that comes across as personal, authentic, and emphasizes their individuality as people. They are best reached with marketing that’s a little outside the box and appeals to their sense of self. Millennials are a little more old-fashioned when it comes to brand loyalty and spending practices, whereas Generation Z is on the modern side as far as using brands to show off their individuality. While Millennials and Generation Z are similar in age, it’s important to make note of their differences to really understand how to reach them. Category: Business Advice, Marketing Inspiration Tags: Millennials, Generation Z, Promotional Products, Marketing Tips Bamboo: It's Not Just for Pandas! Mindfulness and the Workplace Check Up On Your Hospital Essentials: 6 Promo Products For Hospitals Productivity Tips Promotional Product Ideas 22 Canal St Unit #425, 4th Flr Somersworth, New Hampshire 03878 t. 603-692-2500 · 1-800-984-9909 hello@printedtees.com

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Probate Lawyers Results - Chicago, Illinois, United States Adam Becker Chicago, Illinois, 60625-2812, United States Send Message Adam Gurney Attorney Adam Gurney is the managing partner of Gurney Law Group in Chicago, Illinois. A top-ranked trial and transactional attorney with more than seven Chicago, Illinois, 60606, United States Send Message Aisha Cooks Navigating through any legal matter can be challenging and frustrating. The Law Office of Aisha S. Cooks is committed to providing personal, professional and Alan Sohn Alan E. Sohn received his Juris Doctorate from the College of Law of the University of Illinois in 1968 and has been a practicing attorney for more than 41 Alex Chez Experienced attorney focused on the practice areas of asset protection, estate and trust administration and litigation, elder law, and guardianship. Alia Caravelli Allison Adams Alma Tyson I have always been interested in history, literature, and the beauty of language. I wanted to become a member of the profession that had advance the cause Andrew Hays Mr. Hays is a member of the Illinois bar and is also admitted to practice in the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of the United States District Court. Andrew A. Wilson is an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois with experience in landlord/tenant, personal injury, real estate, probate and civil litigation.

American Socialism – Top 3 Pros and Cons Last updated on: 1/21/2022 | Author: ProCon.org | MORE HEADLINES Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates Source: David Shankbone, “Members of the Democratic Socialists of America march at the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York,” wikimedia.org, Sep. 17, 2011, creative commons license Socialism in the United States is an increasingly popular topic. Some argue that the country should actively move toward socialism to spur social progress and greater equity, while others demand that the country prevent this by any and all means necessary. This subject is often brought up in connection with universal healthcare and free college education, ideas that are socialist by definition, or as a general warning against leftist politics. While some politicians openly promote socialism or socialist policies (Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example), others reject the socialist label (now Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “not a Democratic Socialist” during the 2020 presidential campaign) or invoke it as a dirty word that is contrary to American ideals (in the 2019 State of the Union, President Trump stated the US would “never be a socialist country” because “We are born free, and we will stay free”). [1] [2] To consider whether the United States should adopt socialism or at least more socialist policies, the relevant terms must first be defined. Socialism is an economic and social policy in which the public owns industry and products, rather than private individuals or corporations. Under socialism, the government controls most means of production and natural resources, among other industries, and everyone in the country is entitled to an equitable share according to their contribution to society. Individual private ownership is encouraged. [3] Politically, socialist countries tend to be multi-party with democratic elections. Currently no country operates under a 100% socialist policy. Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, while heavily socialist, all combine socialism with capitalism. [4] [5] Capitalism, the United States’ current economic model, is a policy in which private individuals and corporations control production that is guided through markets, not by the government. Capitalism is also called a free market economy or free enterprise economy. Capitalism functions on private property, profit motive, and market competition. [6] Politically, capitalist countries range from democracies to monarchies to oligarchies to despotisms. Most western countries are capitalist, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. Also capitalist are Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. However, many of these countries, including the United States, have implemented socialist policies within their capitalist systems, such as social security, minimum wages, and energy subsidies. [7] [8] Communism is frequently used as a synonym for socialism and the exact differences between the two are heavily debated. One difference is that communism provides everyone in the country with an equal share, rather than the equitable share promised by socialism. Communism is commonly summarized by the Karl Marx slogan, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,” and was believed by Marx to be the step beyond socialism. Individual private ownership is illegal in most communist countries. [4] [9] Politically, communist countries tend to be led by one communist party, and elections are only within that party. Frequently, the military has significant political power. Historically, a secret police has also shared that power, as in the former Soviet Union, the largest communist country in history. Civil liberties (such as freedom of the press, speech, and assembly) are publicly embraced, but frequently limited in practice, often by force. Countries that are currently communist include China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. Worth noting is that some of these countries, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, label themselves as democratic or socialist though they meet the definition of communism and are run by communist parties. Additionally, some communist countries, such as China and Vietnam, operate with partial free market economies, which is a cornerstone of capitalism, and some socialist policies. [4] [5] [10] [11] [12] [13] Given those definitions, should the United States adopt more socialist policies such as free college, medicare-for-all, and the Green New Deal? Should the US Become Socialist? The US already has many successful and popular socialist policies. A lot of everyday American policies are socialist: medicare, social security, the minimum wage, and child labor laws to name a few. As Jack Schwartz, the late Newsday book editor and author explained, the Socialist Party platform of 1912 contained many policies Americans now wouldn’t think of as “socialist,” including: “An eight-hour workday at a decent wage, a public-works program for the jobless (realized later in the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration), safety regulations for workers in the mines and factories, a child-labor law, an old-age pension, unemployment and accident insurance, a graduated income tax, an inheritance tax, suffrage for women, a direct vote in national elections doing away with the electoral college, the creation of separate departments of health, education and labor, and a convention to revise the Constitution. The first of their political demands was absolute freedom of the press, speech and assembly.” [14] If existing and proposed socialist policies are so heavily favored, they should be maintained. The job of the US government is to enable and protect all of its citizens. More socialist policies can work with capitalist structures to undo the harm done by unfettered capitalism. Capitalism has resulted in the top 1% of Americans holding more wealth (a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion, or 30.4% of all US wealth) than the bottom 50% of Americans ($2.1 trillion, or 1.9%). [22] This disparity is not because billionaires work harder than those earning a minimum wage. Instead, rich Americans have more access and exposure to the stock market, and the Americans with the top 10% of wealth hold over 88% of all available equity in corporations and mutual fund shares (and the top 1% hold more than twice as much equity than the bottom 50% of Americans combined). And nationwide crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, only increase these disparities. [22] Socialist policies, particularly a wealth tax, could redistribute wealth and aid Americans who have been penalized by a structurally inequitable system. Those who support socialist policies believe the measures could “create a fairer, more generous system,” and “build upon… and improve capitalism.” Adding socialist policies isn’t an either/or debate against capitalism. Both systems can function together. [23] The American public supports the implementation of more socialist policies. In general, socialist policies are broadly supported by Americans: 69% support medicare-for-all. 63% support free public college tuition. 59% support raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2025. 85% support paid work leave for illness. 82% support paid maternity leave. 69% support paid paternity leave. 67% support paid leave to care for an ill family member. 74% support continued social security benefits without cuts. 66% support government-led environmental protections. And 64% support a wealth tax. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] Con 1 The US already has too many costly socialist entitlements. Socialism is a series of entitlements that cost the American public a considerable amount of money. 2018 estimates put the cost of Democratic Socialist proposals, including but not limited to Social Security expansion, free college, paid family leave, and medicare-for-all, at $42.5 trillion over ten years. In 2017, the federal government spent around $2.7 trillion on entitlements including Social Security, medicare, and unemployment insurance. If new entitlements cost $4.2 more per year, that’s a 157% increase in government spending for handouts. [24] [25] To raise money to pay for the entitlements, taxes are going to have to be raised. The socialists propose a wealth tax, but 60% of registered voters were not in favor of a wealth tax if it applied to them (if they won the lottery, for example). [26] The job of the US government is to enable free enterprise and then get out of the way of individual ingenuity and hard work. The government should promote equal opportunity, not promise equal results. As the Dallas Federal Reserve explained, “Free enterprise means men and women have the opportunity to own economic resources, such as land, minerals, manufacturing plants and computers, and to use those tools to create goods and services for sale… Others have no intention of starting a business. If they choose, they can offer their labor, another economic resource, for wages and salaries… By allowing people to pursue their own interests, a free enterprise system can produce phenomenal results. Running shoes, walking shoes, mint toothpaste, gel toothpaste, skim milk, chocolate milk, cellular phones and BlackBerrys are just a few of the millions of products created as a result of economic freedom.” [31] When the government allows individuals to pursue what is best for them without interference, individuals prosper, the country enjoys “an average per capita GDP roughly six times greater than those with lower levels of economic freedom, as well as higher life expectancy, political and civil liberties, gender equality, and happiness.” In summary, “the diversity of economic freedom… helps us thrive both as individuals and as a society.” [32] The American public supports a capitalist economy. The American public does not support socialism. 60% of Americans have favorable views of capitalism, while 38% have a unfavorable view of socialism. 84% of Americans support free enterprise, a cornerstone of capitalism, and 60% believe a free market model is the best economy. [27] [28] [29] [33] Capitalism is the best fit for the American entrepreneurial spirit. As Mark J. Perry, PhD, MBA, Scholar at American Enterprise Institute and Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Michigan, explained, “Capitalism will play a major role in the global revival of liberty and prosperity because it nurtures the human spirit, inspires human creativity, and promotes the spirit of enterprise. By providing a powerful system of incentives that promote thrift, hard work, and efficiency, capitalism creates wealth. The main difference between capitalism and socialism is this: Capitalism works.” [30] 1. Should the US government enact more socialist policies? Which policies and why? Or why not? 2. Should the US get rid of existing socialist policies? Which policies and why? Or why not? 3. What combination of capitalist, socialist, and/or communist policies would your ideal government have? Explain your answer. 1. Consider this defense of socialism by Bruce Nissen, Carol McNamee and Sean Armil. 2. Explore socialism with the Brookings Institute primer. 3. Analyze Andy Puzder’s defense of capitalism. 4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the “other side of the issue” now helps you better argue your position. 5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. 1. Jeremy Hobson and Serena McMahon, “What Is Socialism? A History of the Word Used as a Scare Tactic in American Politics,” wbur.org, Mar. 7, 2019 2. Rebecca Walser, “Trump Says US Will 'Never' Be a Socialist Country, Here's Why It Matters So Much,” foxbusiness.com, Feb. 6, 2019 3. Terrence Ball and Richard Dagger, “Socialism,” britannica.com, Mar. 1, 2021 4. Matt Rosenberg, “A List of Current Communist Countries in the World,” thoughtco.com, Apr. 11, 2020 5. Kimberly Amadeo, “Socialism and Its Characteristics: Pros, Cons, Examples, and Types,” thebalance.com, Nov. 7, 2020 6. Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Capitalism,” britannica.com, Sep. 23, 2020 7. Kimberly Amadeo, “Capitalism: Its Characteristics, Pros, and Cons,” thebalance.com, Oct. 16, 2020 8. George Waas, “America Already Has Socialist Programs — You Probably Benefit from Them | Opinion,” tallahassee.com, Dec. 2, 2020 9. Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, “Communism,” britannica.com, Nov. 13, 2019 10. Kimberly Amadeo, “What Is Communism?,” thebalance.com, Mar. 18, 2021 11. Robert W. Pringle, “KGB,” britannica.com, Mar. 2, 2021 12. Martin McCauley, “Soviet Union,” britannica.com, Nov. 10, 2020 13. Carmen Alexe, “I Grew Up in a Communist System. Here’s What Americans Don’t Understand About Freedom,” fee.org, Mar. 9, 2018 14. Jack Schwartz, “How Socialism Made America Great,” thedailybeast.com, July 1, 2019 15. Hannah Hartig, “Democrats Overwhelmingly Favor Free College Tuition, while Republicans Are Divided by Age, Education,” pewresearch.org, Feb. 21, 2020 16. The Hill, “Poll: 69 Percent of Voters Support Medicare for All,” thehill.com, Apr. 4, 2020 17. Reuters Staff, “Majority of Americans Support $15 Minimum Wage, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows,” reuters.com Feb. 25, 2021 18. Juliana Menasce Horowitz, et al., “Americans Widely Support Paid Family and Medical Leave, but Differ over Specific Policies,” pewresearch.org, Mar. 23, 2017 19. Kim Parker, Rich Morin and Juliana Menasce Horowitz, “Retirement, Social Security and Long-Term Care,” pewresearch.org, Mar. 21, 2019 20. Mohamed Younis, “Four in 10 Americans Embrace Some Form of Socialism,” news.gallup.com, May 20, 2019 21. Howard Schneider and Chris Kahn, "Majority of Americans Favor Wealth Tax on Very Rich: Reuters/Ipsos Poll," reuters.com, Jan. 10, 2020 22. Tommy Beer, “Top 1% Of U.S. Households Hold 15 Times More Wealth Than Bottom 50% Combined,” forbes.com, Oct. 8, 2020 23. Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Ruth Igielnik, and Rakesh Kochhar, “Most Americans Say There Is Too Much Economic Inequality in the U.S., but Fewer Than Half Call It a Top Priority,” pewresearch.org, Jan. 9, 2020 24. Brian Riedl, “America Might Be Ready for Democratic Socialism. It’s Not Ready for the Bill.,” vox.com, Aug 7, 2018 25. Drew Desilver, “What Does the Federal Government Spend Your Tax Dollars On? Social Insurance Programs, Mostly,” pewresearch.org, Apr. 4, 2017 26. Matthew Sheffield, “Polls: Americans Want a 70 Percent Tax Rate on the Rich, but Are Less Enthused about Applying It to Themselves,” thehill.com, Feb. 26, 2019 27. Jennifer Rubin, “Opinion: New Poll: Capitalism Is More Popular Than Socialism,” washingtonpost.com, June 25, 2019 28. Jeffrey M. Jones and Lydia Saad, “U.S. Support for More Government Inches Up, but Not for Socialism,” news.gallup.com, Nov. 18, 2019 29. Ezra Klein, “Is America’s Future Capitalist or Socialist?,” vox.com, Jan. 7, 2019 30. Mark J. Perry, “Why Socialism Always Fails,” aei.org, Mar. 22, 2016 31. Dallas Federal Reserve, “Free Enterprise, the Economy and Monetary Policy,” dallasfed.org, Sep. 2005 32. Policy Circle, “Free Enterprise and Economic Freedom,” thepolicycircle.org (accessed Apr. 2, 2021) 33. Jeffrey M. Jones, "Socialism, Capitalism Ratings in U.S. Unchanged," news.gallup.com, Dec. 6, 2021 More Politics Debate Topics Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service? – Proponents say national service would foster unity. Opponents say mandatory service infringes upon freedom. Should Sanctuary Cities Receive Federal Funding? – Proponents say sanctuary cities encourage better police relations. Opponents say the cities harbor criminals. Should the Federal Government Pay Reparations to the Descendants of Slaves? – Proponents say reparations could resolve giant disparities in wealth left by slavery. Opponents say no one living is responsible for slavery. Reprinting Policy ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA Natalie Leppard procon@eb.com © 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All Issues / Topics Private Prisons Space Colonization ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): APA (7th ed.): ProCon.org. (2022, January 21). American Socialism – Top 3 Pros and Cons. ProCon.org. https://www.procon.org/headlines/american-socialism-top-2-pros-and-cons [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries.] Chicago (17th ed.): ProCon.org, "American Socialism – Top 3 Pros and Cons," ProCon.org. last modified January 21, 2022. https://www.procon.org/headlines/american-socialism-top-2-pros-and-cons/. MLA (9th ed.): ProCon.org, "American Socialism – Top 3 Pros and Cons." ProCon.org. 21 Jan. 2022, www.procon.org/headlines/american-socialism-top-2-pros-and-cons [Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.] Turabian (9th ed.): ProCon.org. "American Socialism – Top 3 Pros and Cons." ProCon.org. Last modified on January 21, 2022. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/american-socialism-top-2-pros-and-cons/

Everett Shaw Everett ShawKevin Vicroy2021-08-23T11:19:14-06:00 Steer Roping • Inducted 1979 For more than 15 years, Everett Shaw was the man to beat in single steer roping. Between 1945 and 1962 he won a record six world championships. Shaw, born June 7, 1908, in Hog Shooter Creek, Okla., was “discovered” by Dick Truitt, who later became his brother-in-law. A fine tie-down roper in the early days of his career, Shaw learned to rope steers on the circuit with Truitt, the 1939 world champion. Shaw won two legs on the Sam Jackson all-around cowboy trophy at the famed Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. The best known of many good horses used by Shaw during his career was Peanuts, on which he won most of his championships. One of the original Turtles, membership number 7, Shaw served in the Cowboys’ Turtle Association and the Rodeo Cowboys Association for 20 years. He died November 1979. Steer Roping: 1945, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1959, 1962 National Finals Rodeo Average Champion Steer Roping: 1962 Born: June 7, 1908 in Hog Shooter Creek, Oklahoma Died: November 10, 1979 in Stonewall, Oklahoma Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY Steer Roping: 1951, 1953, 1957, 1959 Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR Steer Roping: 1948, 1965

Tag: Energy Spotlight Energy Spotlight: Kelly Fikes Kelly Fikes will be celebrating an extraordinary 24 years with Alabama Power in January. In her tenure, she has experienced many changes and worked in numerous facets of the utility. Fikes began her career with Alabama Power as an Administrative Assistant. After a few years in this role, she worked as an Account Manager in the residential segment before moving to a position as a Residential Planner for the utility’s corporate office. Following this position, she was named the Mass Marketing & Events Manager before a company reorganization took place and she was asked to join the residential major accounts team. After this move, another reorganization occurred, and Fikes entered into her current role as Training Program Manager for the marketing and economic development organization. Fikes has been in her current role for almost three years, with a goal to ensure new employees have the training they need and to refresh training courses for existing key account managers. Although each of her roles seem vastly different, they all had a common denominator — Alabama Power’s customers. “Everything we do at Alabama Power is with our customers in mind,” Fikes says. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with account managers and customers in different sectors of the company, but the goal has always remained the same — creating the best customer experience we can.” Fikes’ adaptability across different roles has made her open to changes. “You adapt and roll with it,” she says. Fikes began her current role just two months before the start of the pandemic, which led to her jumpstarting the marketing organization’s digital training efforts. “There wasn’t someone in my position before me, so I was creating it as I went along,” Fikes says. “When COVID hit, I realized we had nothing [training-wise] that was online, on-demand or digital. I needed to build an online library and utilize digital content to not only have it available for our account managers to push out to customers as needed, but as a training resource for them as well.” As she continues to choose content to add to the library, she takes inspiration from outside campaigns to connect with customers. “Content can be fun,” Fikes says. “It doesn’t always have to be educational. A lot of it can be creative and catchy, and that lets the customer tie the concept back to your utility and what you’re trying to promote. That sticks really well.” When she’s not crafting content or training materials, Fikes enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and three cats. She loves any activities outside, including gardening, pool time or watching her youngest daughter play softball. Questline Digital connected with Fikes to get her thoughts on changes in the industry as well as meeting and exceeding the needs of customers. How did you get started in the energy utility industry? I was recruited by a company recruiter in my senior year at college! What has changed the most about your job working in the utility industry over the course of your career? Throughout my career in marketing, technology has continuously changed how we communicate with customers, and more recently, how we train our employees. What excites you the most about the energy utility space? Using analytics to learn more about how our customers use electricity! In turn, taking that information to predict consumer usage patterns and customize products and offerings for customers. What campaign or initiative are you most proud of? I can’t cull it down to just one, but an initiative that stands out is a tankless water heater pilot that we did. Electric tankless water heaters are not very popular, and gas tankless water heaters were starting to eat up our market share. So, we wanted to test the electric tankless to see how it would hold on our system. We went to a couple of different builders asking them if we could pilot this and put it in a few new homes. We looked at two cul-de-sac areas and in 24 houses we put electric tankless water heaters to see what it would do to our system in terms of distribution. We had some hiccups, but overall, the product was great. The manufacturer worked very closely with us, and it was successful. As far as I know, most of those houses still have electric tankless water heaters in them today. It was a fun research project. What’s a marketing campaign you wish you’d thought of and why (inside or outside the energy industry)? I love some of the old campaigns: Nike’s “Just Do It!,” Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” and “Yo Quiero Taco Bell,” but those are bit before my prime! Of the more recent ones, I love Farmer’s Insurance “University of Farmers” that successfully drives home the importance of being insured while depicting worst-case scenarios with a bit of sarcasm and humor. What is the hardest part of working in the energy industry today? Anticipating what’s next! Technology also changes how we serve our customers. Knowing what to expect and being prepared puts us in a positive position with our customers. Finish this sentence: If I weren’t working in the utility industry, I would be… Working in construction! I love everything about it. How do you anticipate the world of energy evolving in the coming years? Technology and customer demands will be big drivers in the evolution of the energy industry. I think we will continue to see innovations delivering smart energy (efficient, convenient and environmentally friendly) while expanding others, such as the electric transportation industry. I’m looking forward to seeing how utility operations embrace technology in generating and delivering service. What advice would you give to those entering the utility space? Buckle up and hang on tight! The utility industry is quickly evolving in fun and innovative ways. Participation in Questline Digital’s Energy Spotlight series does not indicate an endorsement from utility partners. Energy Spotlight: Sonja Britland Sonja Britland has worn many hats at Taunton Municipal Light Plant (TMLP), from marketing to public communications. In her latest role as Sustainability and Commercial Development Manager, she is passionate about the environment and helping customers take advantage of renewable energy. “I really hope to make a difference and put my energy toward something tangible to help our customers,” Britland says. “At the end of the day, I feel this role is so meaningful to me. I want to make an impact on our local community and future generations to come.” Britland joined TMLP in 2004 as a marketing specialist for the internet side of the business. When they needed to cover a soon-to-be-open public communications position for the energy division in 2012, she was asked to fill in. It was supposed to be temporary, but ultimately it turned into a full-time opportunity for Britland, along with managing energy services and key accounts. This past year, Britland took on the responsibility of managing TMLP’s newly created sustainability department, including hiring employees and crafting a sustainability plan. “It’s so much more than simply buying Renewable Energy Credits,” she explains. “It’s also about building vendor partnerships and finding ways to increase sustainability in the community.” Throughout her tenure, Britland has been dedicated to increasing customer participation in renewable energy. One example is the Go Green 100% program, which she helped communicate to the public. This voluntary program gives customers a choice to have their electricity come from 100% renewable energy sources. “We have customers who want their energy to come from renewable sources,” Britland explains. “But we live in an area with quite a few multi-dwelling units, and some customers are unable to take advantage of solar power. This is a way that we could make it economical for those that may have barriers to entry.” For Britland, the biggest challenge for TMLP is the balance of providing competitive rates and reliable service, while also being an environmental steward. Some customers want their energy to come from 100% renewable energy sources, and others only care about energy costs. That’s why, she notes, it’s important to hear ongoing feedback from customers to develop new and equitable programs. “Everything we do revolves around our mission to provide reliable, competitively priced services in an environmentally sensitive manner,” Britland says. “When you think about it, that’s a three-legged stool: If one of those pieces disengages, the stool won’t stand on its own. That mentality is what guides us.” If she wasn’t creating sustainability goals for TMLP, you’d find Britland doing special effects makeup for horror movies. In her early 20s, she created makeup looks for various Fangoria Magazine events. Nowadays, you’ll find Britland in the great outdoors, whether hiking, kayaking or swimming. She also loves music and spending time with her friends, husband and 11-year-old son. Questline Digital connected with Britland to get her thoughts on changes in the utility industry and what inspires her on a daily basis. With a background in business and marketing in the private sector, I joined the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) in 2004 as a Marketing Specialist for the Internet Services Group. My primary role was to work with our commercial customers interested in bringing fiber optic internet access solutions to their facilities. The most significant change was transitioning from general utility operations to a more strategic approach to decarbonization and sustainability, while balancing our rates and reliability to our customers. As a public power provider governed by our elected commissioners, our customers have an active voice in TMLP. Emerging technologies and tools being introduced to aid in decarbonization and electrification initiatives. It’s exciting to see what can help us achieve our federal, state and utility-provider goals to mitigate climate change. Go Green 100% is a voluntary program that allows our customers’ electricity to come from 100% renewable fuel sources. Go Green 100% accomplishes this through the purchase of Massachusetts Class 1 Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” television commercials. They were so outlandish, but also creative. I always looked forward to the next installment. A close runner-up is Dr. Pepper’s Lil’ Sweet commercials because they make me laugh and I’m a HUGE Prince fan! The hardest part of working in the energy industry is the balance of providing reliable service with low rates, while also working toward decarbonization. Creating special effects for horror movies. I believe we will come up with new technologies that will enable us to reduce our carbon footprint to help stall climate change. What advice would you give to those entering the utility industry? It’s amazing how quickly things can change in this industry. Always keep your mind open to new ideas and technologies, and how they can help our customers and our environment. Energy Spotlight: Anna Smith Every industry pulls success stories and learning opportunities from one another. As someone who worked in the banking and financial industry for 17 years, Anna Smith knows this all too well. Smith, Key Account Manager for Arizona Public Service (APS), says there are many differences she’s noticed from her time in the banking industry. “I’ve seen more collaboration in the utility industry than I had ever seen,” she says. “Utilities are willing to share information and best practices for the greater good. When we go to utility conferences, we get to go in breakout sessions and hear thoughts, ideas and challenges from other utilities. That would never happen in the banking industry.” However, as with most industries, she’s seen similarities as well. “Both industries are very in-tune with upcoming changes and leveraging technology. The utility industry is on the cutting edge of solar storage, green energy, electric vehicles and more,” Smith says. “Both industries are very in-tune to what’s coming, which is how you remain competitive. You don’t want to be behind the eight ball.” While most U.S. energy utilities don’t serve customers in another country, Smith’s role has extended beyond the border to assist not only her Arizona-based customers but four business customers in Mexico as well. Originally brought into the project as a translator, Smith soon took over key account management for the customers. Through a presidential permit originally signed by President Bill Clinton, APS is allowed to serve electricity to Mexico as a U.S. entity. “I went from being a translator to taking care of them fully, 100%. There’s been a lot of learning,” Smith says. “All of their equipment is south of the border, there are Homeland Security issues…it’s a highly unique situation. Nothing about the relationship with those customers is similar to my other customers except for wanting them to feel the same white-glove treatment that all of our other customers receive.” Smith’s primary communication method with these customers is through email, as she works to both translate and share information and resources with them. “These customers are different because I can’t just pay them a visit,” she says. “You can’t just go there and fix their equipment if something happens. It’s fun, but has been a learning experience.” Additionally, Smith serves as the president of an employee network group, the Hispanic Organic Leadership Advancement (HOLA). After the group was formed, the APS Promise was launched — an internal initiative that works to bring employees together and anchor them in the values of APS. As a committee, HOLA puts together events and professional development opportunities at least once a month for members. Currently, HOLA encompasses nearly 400 out of 6,000 employees. “Our leadership is encouraged to look at their employees, see who is living our promise daily and being ambassadors for our company and the community,” Smith says. “I’m really proud of this initiative. APS doesn’t just say they’re inclusive or a great place to work, they make it happen. At APS, you can feel confident being who you are. You can feel confident to be accepted.” Outside of work, Smith enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and nine- and 14-year-old daughters. They love to travel together and most recently visited Utah, Texas and California. Her oldest daughter plays on a volleyball travel team, which keeps the family on the move. Questline Digital connected with Smith to get her thoughts on changes in the utility industry and the evolution of energy. I worked in banking and finance for most of my career and the instability of the industry finally got to me. I grew tired of wondering if I was going to have a job next year or the year after that. The stability provided by working for a utility was what attracted me to the industry at first, as well as the many opportunities for a young professional. I also felt that utilities are “recession-proof” and there are not many industries that are like that. After 17 years in banking, I began my career in the energy utility industry and never looked back! The shift to green energy. Years ago, there were not as many environmental concerns, such as the number of harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere from coal-fired power plants. The increased focus on generating power from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, has been great and having a plan in place to get us to carbon-free by 2050 demonstrates APS’s commitment to get there. All the technology that allows energy efficiency to be improved in the things we use and do every day, as well as all the exciting renewable energy projects that can be found across the world that shows why renewables are the future of energy. It is awesome to work in an industry where we get to be a part of amazing work that is making an impact not just locally, but on a global scale. The introduction of the APS Promise. The APS Promise anchors all of us toward improving our processes by searching for new ways of doing things, respectfully challenging one another, and including different perspectives in our decision-making. It also reminds us to ensure we are doing activities safely and for the betterment of our community. What’s a marketing campaign you wish you’d thought of (inside or outside the energy industry)? The creation of a department specifically focused on diversity and inclusion. The introduction of this department has transformed our workplace and has encouraged collaboration and teamwork across the organization. Keeping up with the explosive growth taking place in Arizona. Providing energy to Arizona residents as well as attracting new businesses now and into the future is no easy task. APS focuses on safety, reliability and resiliency to drive new investment in power-generating capacity in the coming years to support this growth. Making a difference in the lives of people — most likely working in the non-profit sector. Through Employee Networking Groups, APS offers many opportunities to volunteer and get involved in causes that are important to their employees. Since working here, I have been exposed to many wonderful organizations and have enjoyed volunteering and contributing to the great work they do in the communities we serve. I am a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Arizona, and I would have never been involved in this if I wasn’t made aware of it through APS. I am looking forward to seeing how new technologies will be leveraged to drive market transformations and serve our customers in ways we never dreamed were possible. There is an enormous amount of innovation and investment in the clean energy space, and it is reassuring to see the positive signals from not only our government, but governments around the world making significant commitments to sustainability and a green agenda. I have learned a lot from many leaders over the years, but one thing really resonated with me: “Get comfortable with the uncomfortable,” in other words keep challenging yourself. We work in a complicated industry with endless change. It can be stressful at times, but do not be afraid of it and make a commitment to continually challenge yourself. Energy Spotlight: Laurel Gerdine Laurel Gerdine, Head of Client Marketing at Franklin Energy, found her love for the energy industry right out of college, joining the team at San Diego Gas & Electric. Since then, Gerdine received her MBA, made a career in the advertising world, owned and operated her own marketing strategy firm and worked as the VP of a software firm. After so many ventures, Gerdine has found herself back in the utility industry and couldn’t be more thrilled about it. “I know when I wake up in the morning the things that I’m working on bring value to communities and to the world,” says Gerdine. “That’s why I made the career change to come back to this industry.” At Franklin Energy, Gerdine leads client and e-commerce marketing. However, during the early days of the pandemic, Gerdine and her team took a step back to reflect on what would truly be helpful to energy utility customers during the unprecedented times. Like many other businesses, COVID greatly impacted Franklin Energy’s services, such as delivering energy efficiency and grid optimization services and education to consumers and businesses. “One of the themes COVID brought to the forefront for me in particular and our utility clients, is the meaning and value of community,” says Gerdine. “With COVID, we really needed to find other ways to deliver much-needed services to those in our communities for our utility clients.” After conversations with the executive team, Franklin Energy decided to focus on ways to assist their customers beyond energy marketing. “We started to really brainstorm, ‘What are all of the things that we can do that would be helpful during this time?’” Gerdine says. They took their services out to the community and began delivering resources like LED lightbulbs and energy efficiency educational materials to families served by food banks to help them save energy and money during the pandemic. The initiative eventually served several urban locations across the country. “I think what’s really important is the connections to our community. Energy is a utility, it is a very basic commodity. Customers aren’t often very engaged. From a marketing perspective, you might see 70% of your audience not engaged at all. That’s changing, but in the meantime, we want to make sure our programs are impacting the community in as many positive ways as possible,” says Gerdine. As communities settle back into more familiar routines, Gerdine and her team are focused on tackling common utility challenges head-on, including energy efficiency education and technology advancements. “I think the biggest challenge that my teams face in terms of execution is the complex technology landscape that our clients have,” says Gerdine. “Making all of the systems work together to deliver the type of marketing that we want, getting the right offer and the right message to the right customer at the right time, is extremely challenging in this industry.” Outside of work, Gerdine enjoys spending time with her husband, four children and two dogs. She travels around Massachusetts for her son’s baseball team and loves to take advantage of time outside, hiking and visiting national parks. She also has a love for skydiving and hopes to learn how to solo skydive one day. Questline Digital connected with Gerdine to get her thoughts on impactful customer campaigns and opportunities within the industry. Working in this industry was my first job out of college (many years ago!). I helped start up an income-qualified program for San Diego Gas & Electric. I fell in love with it and stayed working in the industry for almost a decade before going to business school and switching careers entirely to advertising! What has changed the most about your job in the utility industry over the course of your career? A lot has changed for me — mostly because of the time gap and focus change between my first career 20 years ago and my new career in this industry today. The biggest thing that has changed is our customers’ expectations — we live in the age of Amazon and Google — and these expectations accelerated even more in the last two years with COVID. These have evolved and accelerated to a level where our teams across implementers, consultants, service providers and clients have to include much more diverse skillsets and perspectives to meet them and succeed. The opportunities and impact that modernization and technology innovation have on the grid, energy supply and demand — and what these means for our customers and communities. This is also what scares me the most. I am most proud of the pivot that our teams made to serve our clients’ customers through food banks and other central community organizations during COVID. This allowed our programs and services to make an impact with those in our communities that needed us most and provided our employees a way to deliver value in a time that was the most chaotic and uncertain for all involved. It was a win all around. The rate of change and the headwinds on it created by technologies and structures not yet aligned with where we need to go. Getting my pilot’s license and learning how to be a skydiving instructor. How do you anticipate the world of energy evolving in the coming years? What are you looking forward to? I think we are going to see a lot of solutions for energy usage and management built into how we live (and work and manufacture and shop), solutions that learn from our behaviors and activities and adjust in the background to deliver energy when and how it is needed to our requirements, without our thinking about it or having to take any action. This is exciting and I am looking forward to it, but it also has the potential for imbalance and inequity. For a needed item like energy, this has serious implications and must be addressed proactively and collaboratively. Be ready for change and to think outside of the box. Be open to new ideas and bring new perspectives! This isn’t your mother’s utility anymore! Energy Spotlight: Jessica Carthen Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s Jessica Carthen helps customers understand and take advantage of energy efficiency programs — a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly. “As a marketer, you don’t always have the opportunity to promote something that is truly a service for good,” Carthen says. “There is something really fulfilling about being able to promote energy efficiency. Not only are we helping the community, but we’re also putting money back in the pockets of our customers.” As Consumer Programs Marketing Senior Coordinator, Carthen creates marketing campaigns and educational content to help customers benefit from PSO’s energy efficiency programs and services. Since energy efficiency is not a one-size-fits-all message, she utilizes customer data from various sources, such as smart meter usage data, to create personalized campaigns. “I definitely see customers wanting more personalization,” Carthen says. “If you’re blasting marketing messages that don’t apply to them, they are going to lose interest very quickly. In my role, I’ll say, ‘Show me what data we have, and let’s see if we can refine our approach so we’re giving customers information that’s most relevant to them.’” Last year, Carthen led an innovative campaign to help customers not only understand energy efficiency, but also engage with it in a new way. The goal of the Save the Watts campaign was to make the often-complicated topic of energy efficiency easy to understand. The campaign features cute characters that give a physical representation to the term “watts” to capture attention and increase engagement. “When we developed the Save the Watts campaign, we started with customer research,” Carthen explains. “Customers told us, ‘I understand that my home could be using energy more efficiently, but I don’t really think about it.’ When we got that research back, we worked with an agency to help us make energy efficiency top of mind for our customers.” The Save the Watts campaign started with video as the primary tactic and expanded to social media, broadcast television and even radio ads. Now, Carthen says people will stop by their booth at various community events and mention how much they love the campaign. In addition to being well-received by customers, the Save the Watts campaign won a 2021 E Source Utility Ad Award, an industry honor that recognizes creative excellence. “A good portion of our demographic is families, so if you can catch their attention you’ve won half the battle,” Carthen says. “The brand recognition from the Save the Watts campaign has really helped us increase consumer awareness of energy efficiency.” Even with widespread marketing campaigns, Carthen acknowledges it can still be a challenge to reach some customers. That’s why Carthen is working to ensure energy efficiency is available to all customers in PSO’s service territory, especially those with limited income. She regularly looks at program participation data to see where they should be focusing their marketing efforts to best reach customers in need. “Maybe we served a community really well in the past, but now we need to focus our efforts in a different community or geographical area,” Carthen says. “Our mission is to ensure we are serving all customers that can be served. We are always looking for ways to improve parity among our programs.” When Carthen isn’t marketing EE programs and services, you’ll find her enjoying the great outdoors with her 6-year-old son or working on home projects with her husband, who is a project manager for AEP, the parent company of PSO. Questline Digital connected with Carthen to learn more about what inspired her to work in utility marketing, how best to promote energy efficiency and some of her favorite campaigns. I was working in an advertising agency and was looking for a position that would let me leverage my brand strategy experience in a more meaningful way. I have family in the utility industry so when the opportunity in the energy efficiency group at Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) came available, I knew I wanted to apply. Luckily, they were looking for someone with agency experience to lead their energy efficiency marketing efforts, and it was a great fit for both of us. What has changed the most about working in the utility industry over the course of your career? My career in the utility industry is still fairly new, especially when you consider that many people at my company have worked here for 30-plus years. In the three-and-a-half years I’ve been with PSO, the emphasis on data integration and analysis has really shaped how we do business and respond to the needs of our customers as the industry continues to evolve. The impact our work has on our communities. We literally power people’s lives, which is something I don’t take lightly. The ability to market something like energy efficiency is exciting because it truly helps customers. As a marketer, it’s really fulfilling to promote something that serves a greater purpose. We’ve launched some really creative and effective marketing campaigns, including the Save the Watts campaign that was awarded first place at the E Source Utility Ad Awards. However, our smaller day-to-day initiatives are some of my favorites. When I started, I went on a ride-along with one of our small business lighting consultants and literally watched them go door-to-door and offer free lighting audits to local businesses. Not long after that, we implemented a marketing campaign that delivers customer leads directly to the lighting consultants. Now they have more time to spend doing actual lighting upgrade projects. The lighting consultants appreciate the campaign, and it helps our company meet its energy-saving goals. There are so many campaigns I wish I had thought of, but the most recent one is Progressive’s “Becoming Your Parents” campaign. It’s fun, relatable and a great fit for their target audience. I always appreciate when a brand doesn’t take themselves too seriously because, at the end of the day, marketing is about building connections with people. I would be doing marketing in some shape or form because it’s what I love to do. Regardless of where I was working, I know I would be having fun and hopefully making an impact. In my role, I anticipate that our energy efficiency programs and offerings will continue to evolve as there are advances in technology. And with that, customer education will continue to be an important part of my job. As energy efficiency programs adapt, content creation will become even more important — more videos, blogs, etc. to help customers understand new technologies and the impact they have on their homes and businesses. First, take the time to understand the industry and how you can make an impact in your role. And second, don’t be afraid to speak up and cause healthy disruption. Sometimes, we have to question things for us all to get better.

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