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Talking Headways Podcast: Houston, Transit Paradise?
Welcome to a super-long extra-bonus episode of Talking Headways! We only took on two topics this week, but we got so enthralled by both of them we just couldn't shut up.
First, we talked to Christof Spieler, a member of Houston Metro, about the "blank-sheet" bus overhaul he helped design. Instead of trying to tweak the current system around its edges, Metro decided to start again from scratch, planning routes and service that make sense for the way the city is now. Metro thought the upside would outweigh the downside, but the agency wasn't prepared for this: There was almost no downside. By eliminating redundant and inefficient service, Metro could optimize routes without eliminating low-ridership routes that people depend on. And to hear Christof tell it, what they're accomplishing is pretty amazing:
What we're really doing is focusing on frequent service. We're basically doubling the number of routes that offer frequent service, and we're extending that frequent service to seven days a week. So: every 15 minutes, seven days a week, network of about 20 routes.
That puts a million people within walking distance of those routes; it puts a million jobs within walking distance of those routes. It is going to be one of the largest coverage areas of high frequency transit in the United States. And that is a huge deal for our existing riders, because currently only about 25 percent of our boardings are at stops that have all-week frequent service. This will take that up to 73 percent.
Once we tear ourselves away from Christof and his beautiful vision of the future of transit, we do a debrief on what's going on with the transportation bill in Congress. The Senate bill isn't all it could be, but in Congress nothing is ever all it could be, and this one at least stands a chance of passage — or it would if there were an actual, realistic funding stream attached to it. No such luck. Tune in for all the gory details.
Side note: Big thanks to all who have donated during Streetsblog's spring pledge drive, especially those of you who specifically mentioned the podcast as why you're giving. We appreciate you! There's still time to get in on the fun: Please donate today!
As always, Talking Headways is available on iTunes or Stitcher or by signing up for our RSS feed, and this right here is where you leave your snappy comments. We welcome your backtalk and your sassy mouth.
Filed Under: Buses, Houston, Podcast, Reauthorization, Transit
Talking Headways Podcast: What Is the Structure of Your City?
By Jeff Wood | Nov 3, 2016
At last month's Rail~Volution conference I caught up with Houston Metro board member Christof Spieler. Hear from Christof about the progress on Houston's bus reimagining and his tips for public engagement and transit system planning. We also discuss route alignments for bus and rail lines and the importance of good data when making decisions about transit systems.
Talking Headways Podcast: Trains, Buses, People
By Jeff Wood | Dec 20, 2018
Transit doesn't have to be a mystery for planners. We all know what works.
Talking Headways Podcast: Growing Up and Out in Houston
By Jeff Wood | Mar 25, 2015
This week and next I'm joined by Christof Spieler, a vice president of Morris Architects who serves on the board of Houston Metro, to talk about Houston. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the podcasts. Christof tells stories about how planning works in Houston, including how Intercontinental Airport was sited during a backroom deal and how people inside the city think […]
Talking Headways Podcast: Cowboys on Light Rail
By Jeff Wood | Apr 2, 2015
Christof Spieler joins me again to continue our discussion of Houston. This time we talk transportation and all the great things Houston is working on. Uptown, home to the highest building in the U.S. outside of a central business district, will soon be getting true Bus Rapid Transit, and people on bikes are now rolling next to the bayous and connecting […]
Talking Headways Podcast: Building a Better Transit Board
By Jeff Wood | Jan 6, 2022
This week on the podcast, we're back at last fall's virtual Railvolution conference. Former BART GM Grace Crunican discusses the role of board members in transit agencies with former MBTA board member Monica Tibbits-Nutt and former Houston Metro board member Christof Spieler.
Houston Just Rebuilt Its Bus System From Scratch
On Sunday, Houston debuted an entirely new and improved bus system. The city didn't pass a new transit levy. Instead it put existing resources to use in a way that is designed to maximize frequent service and boost ridership. With the help of consultant Jarrett Walker (of Network blog Human Transit), Houston's METRO changed nearly […]


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"First time visiting the mans and he really did my hair justice. Been a while since I had such an even fresh cut!"
"Phenomenal barber! Very detailed and customer oriented! Will definitely be back!"


00:00:22 Flex- norre you gonna farm for 40 minutes again?
00:00:22 WTGD rubic or am?
00:01:03 Mrtn.dk what u want?
00:19:08 Dota.m spiller hvad med dig ?
00:23:49 Buttons want me to tank up#?
00:33:24 Mrtn.dk why dont i have share?
00:34:01 Mrtn.dk but why me?
00:35:08 Mrtn.dk and u do that?
00:35:33 infect and you should know that lesh isnt support hero?
00:39:17 Buttons sell for hood then?
00:43:45 Flex- seen the new simpsons episode?


Three years ago, I wrote an article that was critical of the United States Supreme Court for not following the leads of the state supreme courts in providing live video telecasts of oral arguments. Sadly, though, it still has not moved in the direction of these state supreme courts and refuses to record video of its oral arguments, either for live or delayed broadcasts. My personal opinion is that this recalcitrance on the part of the court denies the people of this country a critically important benefit. What could be more educational than making these arguments available?
Despite this reluctance, there are hopeful signs that the court may change. Justice Elena Kagan said in her confirmation hearings this summer that she supported live broadcasts while quipping that this would mean more hair appointments for her. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is also receptive to the idea, as may be Justices Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor.
For more information about the Court's decision to stream its oral arguments live, see our post from yesterday, entitled Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the Arkansas Supreme Court is Now in Session . . . Live & Online!
The first oral argument to be streamed live online will take place tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Watch it live on the Arkansas Supreme Court's website.
« Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the Arkansas Supreme Court is Now in Session . . . Live & Online!


When you are going to sell products online mostly you need a web-site. Today looking for a web hosting solution is an imperative decision decision. Below is all you'll need to get started with hosting cheap.
What does all of this should do with web hosting? Better than running a website on your own desktop computer, you could buy a server. Nowadays servers can be shared among many customers or dedicated to a single user, the latter of which is particularly common for larger Web sites where the needs of the Web site owner necessitate more bandwidth. Remember, that when you use a web hosting provider for your website, your website isn't floating in an alternate dimension. Web hosting services also offer additional features, like a protection against the latest malware trying to wreak havoc on the computers accessing their sites. All types of hosting sometimes offer some advantages and disadvantages. Several types of Web hosting companies are considered a form of shared Web hosting, also known as virtual hosting. Additionally, if you need more power in the future, usually you can just upgrade from the cheaper packages to the professional plan. Virtual Private Server still share the physical server hardware with other customers, but splits-up the physical hardware so that each cloud server has its own dedicated resources. Absolutely, since such hosting is the fabulous offer, buyers loves to get it.
There are various reasons why individuals want to change to a hosting company. Other example is hosting cheap. Start with this and move up as needed, your web hosting plan can grow with your business. Variant providers arrange their web hosting deals according to special segments like a e-commerce, features for instance a cloud computing or platforms like a Linux. Sundry having a good reputation hosting companies offer customers the opportunity to acquire a quality service that fits well with their expectations. Also, don't defy the importance of using the internet. Several web hosting companies will give you a discount of a few dollars a month if you sign up for one year or more. Moreover you need note the points you would need when choosing best one. No doubt you have to be extra discreet in making the decision about the hosting service.
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Over the last several months we have been working intensely on a farm on the corner of New Jersey and K Streets, NW. The Farm is on the campus of the DC Public School Walker Jones. It is for the school and the surrounding community. About 2 months ago the nearly 3/4 acre plot was a grassy field. On July 16 we began tilling and since then we have grown hundreds of pounds of food which we have shared with students and their families, made into school snacks, given to neighbors and donated to DC Central Kitchen. We have gotten this far with no money exchanged, just help from volunteers and generous donations of seeds and other supplies. Next Wednesday September 15 Whole Foods is going to donate 5% of their sales from the P Street, Georgetown and Tenley Stores to benefit the Farm at Walker Jones. This money will be a great boost and help us to further develop the emerging farm. All shopping at Whole Foods next Wednesday will be greatly appreciated!!


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National Marketplace
Alpha Heater Reviews : Is AlphaHeater Legit or Cheap Product?
Keeping your family warm during the cold season is very important as it allows them to stay warm and do their things comfortably. A warm house will also keep your family safe from potential colds and viruses that may weaken the body. If you are worried about the best heating solution to use, do not worry because the Alpha Heater is here to solve your problems.
Unlike the traditional heaters, Alpha Heater is a reliable heating device that is safe for use, and the best part is that it does not consume much power. This does not mean that it does not effectively heat a room. This review will help you understand more about this device so that you can determine if it's worth buying.
What is Alpha Heater?
Alpha Heater, reviewed in the AP News, is a compact device designed to transform your home into a comfortable and cozy place. It is the best alternative to conventional heating solutions as it does not eat up too much power. The device is also portable and lightweight, which means you can use it in any room around your house.
The portable heater uses 30% less energy to heat any room around your home. This will help you save on power bills while enjoying a cozy home. Alpha Heater also comes with unique features and specifications that contribute to the proper functioning of the device.
Features and Specifications of Alpha Heater
Alpha Heater ensures that you enjoy a warm room throughout the winter session. Without its features and specifications, the device cannot work effectively. Here are a few of them;
Alpha Heater is a portable and lightweight device that allows you to carry and use it whenever you want. If you wish to use the device in the office, bedroom, kitchen, or living room, you can comfortably carry it from one place to another.
Safety Protection Feature
This is one thing that makes Alpha Heater stand out among many other heating devices. Because of this feature, you can use it around the kids and pets without worrying that it will injure them. The device has been created with your family's safety in mind.
Alpha Heater has an in-built timer that allows it to work or stop after specific hours. This device ensures that your room is warm most of the time, and most importantly, it keeps your house safe from fire damage even if you forget to switch it off.
With Alpha Heater, there is no need to worry about expensive electric bills. The device consumes less energy, unlike most appliances in the market. This will allow you to save a considerable amount of money to use it on other things.
Fast Heat Up Time
Alpha Heater quickly heats a 350 square foot room in only 10 minutes. You can constantly adjust the modes according to your preference to ensure that you are comfortable.
Operation Quiet
You won't even know if it is working when using Alpha Heater because it does not produce any noise. This does not mean that the device does not effectively work. You may not hear it working, but you will feel the difference. Due to this feature, the device allows you to sleep or read comfortably without any disturbances.
Alpha Heater has been designed using the latest technology. It does not consume a lot of storage space, and it can be a great addition to any home or room.
Can decrease the temperature to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and increase up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
When turned off, Alpha Heater blows air for 60 seconds to cool the unit
Equipped with 1 to 6-hour timers
Warms the room up to 350 square feet
The heaters use 650 to 1200 watts
How Does Alpha Heater Work?
Alpha Heater can be used in most rooms to keep the temperature warm, and the best thing is that it has been built to last. The device has adjustable settings, including 1 to 6-hour timers, which automatically shuts down the unit after 6 hours are over.
ALSO READ: Turbo Heater 3 Reviews – Mini Personal Heater That Works or Scam?
The appliance also reduces its temperature to 104 degrees Fahrenheit if it reaches a temperature more than 122F. If it exceeds 122F, the device usually shuts down and takes 30 seconds to cool before cutting off the power supply.
What Are Customers Saying About Alpha Heater?
Alpha Heater has proven to work effectively for most customers, and many are happy with the results. Some customers say they were hesitant to buy the device at first, but they were amazed by the results after trying it out.
The few customer testimonials posted on the official website prove that the device exists and effectively works to warm any room. For example, Darryl Williams says that Alpha Heater effectively warms a room as it is quiet, takes less space, and quickly warms up a room. You should try it to stay comfortable in your home during the winter sessions.
Alpha Heater Pricing
If you want to transform your office or home into a warm space, Alpha Heater is here. It is currently sold on the official website at 50% off, and you can get as many as you want for your family and friends. All you have to do is select your preferred package, fill in your shipping and payment details and wait for your Alpha Heaters to be shipped. These are all the packages offered;
Package 1 – Get 1 Alpha Heater @ $49.95
Package 2 – Get 3 Alpha Heaters @ $134.87
Package 3 – Get 2 Alpha Heaters @ $94.91
All the payment methods are indicated on the official website, and all packages are covered with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, with customer service on standby for questions at:
Email: Support@GetAlphaHeater.com
Shippings are done 24 hours after your order has been confirmed, and delivery will take 5 to 7 business days.
Can I use Alpha Heater in the bathroom?
You are not allowed to use heaters in the bathroom or wet areas unless they are UL rated.
What happens when Alpha Heater overheats?
Alpha Heater will shut down automatically when it goes above 122F and cuts the power supply.
To learn more and exclusively order the Alpha Heater, visit the official website today.
RELATED: HeatR Reviews: Is HeatR Heater Legit? What are Customers Saying?
The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission if you opt to purchase the product recommended at no additional cost to you. This goes towards supporting our research and editorial team and please know we only recommend high quality products.
Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely a substitute for sound medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. Make sure to consult with a professional physician before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the review details shared above. Individual results may vary as the statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The news and editorial staff of Sound Publishing, Inc. had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this sponsored post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Sound Publishing, Inc.
Sound Publishing, Inc. does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products, nor do we endorse any products posted in our Marketplace.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Walter Price
Kt Emmerson
Crate Digger Confidential
22. August 2018 By Walter Price 0
Howlin Wolf – "Smokestack Lightnin'": A Hypnotic One-Chord Drone Piece Three-Way
Howlin Wolf is available @ iTunes.
by Walter Price
One of the most recognizable and influential songs of all time, "Smokestack Lightnin'" has been referred to as 'a hypnotic one-chord drone piece'. And, this, is what the origins of Rock N' Roll is. Ask Ike Turner next time you see him…Howlin' Lord (Chester Arthur Burnett) was known for this cobbled together classic as early as the 1930's while playing the Delta clubs. But it wasn't until the 1960's' and 70's that its powers would change the world of music forever.
"I just play blues for fun. I raise corn and cattle and soybeans. Soybeans are a good cash crop. I got about 65 acres on the Tennessee-Mississippi line." – Howlin" Wolf
From Chuck Berry, CCR, Captain Beefheart to all those British Invasion cats who 'borrowed' elements of what Howlin' Wolf (and Muddy Waters) laid down and morphed them into something the masses (white kids) could understand. But often, folks forget to give thanks where thanks are due. Which is a weird thing to say now that, over recent decades, "Smokestack Lightnin'" has been recorded by hundreds of artists, spanning every genre… But how many of those covers are authentic adulation for its origin?
I'd say a good number are seriously paying homage, but you can be the judge. I've picked three of my favorite version of this seminal blues classic for you to dissect.
Big Head Todd & the Monsters
HOWLIN WOLF
support great artists, buy music
Category3 Reasons Why Walter Price
TagsBig Head Todd & the Monsters blues Howlin Wolf Quicksilver Messenger Service Soundgarden
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Press Release -- March 20th, 2018
Source: ADTRAN
ADTRAN Increases Market Leadership in North American MSO Business by Entering Broad Based Agreement with Sumitomo Electric Industries
ADTRAN accelerates MSOs' path to SD-Access with the expansion of Gigabit broadband portfolio
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.-- (March 20, 2018) — ADTRAN®, Inc., (NASDAQ:ADTN, news, filings), a leading provider of next-generation open networking solutions, today announced it has secured the market-leading EPON business for North America, as well as technology license and OEM supply for North America, South America, EMEA, Australia and New Zealand, from Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. (Sumitomo Electric). Sumitomo Electric is a leading global provider of next-generation Optical Broadband Access network solutions in Asia and North America. ADTRAN will assume sales, customer relationship, distribution, support, manufacturing and development rights for these industry-leading EPON solutions from Sumitomo Electric for its target markets outside of Japan and Asia. ADTRAN will leverage Sumitomo Electric's dominant North American EPON market share and deep industry experience in engineering, support and sales functions. These EPON solutions will be integrated into ADTRAN's SD-Access portfolio to further support ADTRAN's ongoing commitment to serve the needs of its growing base of cable MSO customers.
"Sumitomo Electric EPON products have been the market leader over the past twelve years in Japan, the last four years in North America and are a strong fit for ADTRAN to integrate into our industry-leading SD-Access portfolio," said Jay Wilson, Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategy, ADTRAN. "These products come to ADTRAN with large, installed deployments within leading MSOs, including the top two North American cable broadband providers. We will build upon Sumitomo Electric solutions to further accelerate the MSO market's adoption of our open, programmable and scalable architectures, enabling them to accomplish their strategic network priorities."
This deal solidifies a global alliance with two well-respected industry leaders with unmatched domain expertise in the access market by allowing Sumitomo Electric to take the ADTRAN SD-Access portfolio to the Japanese and Asian market, including the ADTRAN Mosaic cloud platform, NG-PON2 and Gfast technologies. These market-leading technologies, combined with the expertise and experience of ADTRAN and Sumitomo Electric, will enable the execution of distributed access architecture strategies as cable MSOs look to deliver multi-gigabit services. The companies will also collaborate on future PON and SDN technology developments.
"Our global alliance ensures that cable MSOs and internet service providers around the globe are supported with the industry's most open and complete 10G-EPON, NG-PON2 and Gfast with SD-Access solutions and with the company best positioned to advance their networks and accommodate next-generation services," said Hiroaki Nishimoto, General Manager, Broad Networks Division, Sumitomo Electric. "ADTRAN is the right partner for Sumitomo Electric, because of its long-term trust from Tier-1 Telco and MSO customers in North America, and also because of its leadership in a complementary product portfolio and its unique experience with deploying and maintaining remote electronics. We look forward to the collaboration between our teams that will result in more competitive solutions for our customers."
"The combination of ADTRAN and Sumitomo Electric brings unparalleled experience and commitment to meet and exceed the needs of MSO customers and prospects around the world," Newly-appointed ADTRAN Vice President of Engineering Howie Abramson said. Formerly in a similar role for Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp. (a North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric), Abramson brings vast experience in cable networking, DOCSIS, DML and PON access. He is complemented by a select, highly-skilled team of Sumitomo Electric experts in sales, engineering and support that will now be part of the ADTRAN team.
"The global alliance between ADTRAN and Sumitomo Electric will greatly benefit MSOs and service providers around the world," principal analyst at Ovum Julie Kunstler said. "It is a win-win. ADTRAN is obtaining the most widely deployed 10G EPON equipment solution in North America and aligning itself with a leading global 10G EPON supplier, while Sumitomo Electric has the opportunity to leverage the ADTRAN SD-Access portfolio in its home market."
About ADTRAN
ADTRAN, Inc. is a leading global provider of networking and communications equipment. ADTRAN's products enable voice, data, video and Internet communications across a variety of network infrastructures. ADTRAN solutions are currently in use by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations, and millions of individual users worldwide. For more information, please visit www.adtran.com
About Sumitomo Electric
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. was established in 1897. With our history in electric wire and cable manufacturing technologies, Sumitomo Electric has invested heavily over the years in research and development to expand and establish new businesses. These efforts have allowed us to create new products and new technologies, as well as diversify our business fields. Currently, we operate our businesses on a global basis in the following five segments: Automotive; Info Communications; Electronics; Environment & Energy; and Industrial Materials. We have been contributing to society through environmental friendly and fair business activities globally. For more information, please visit http://global-sei.com
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Home » News & Press Coverage » IYA2009 Updates » Galileoscopes signed by celebrities up for auction
Galileoscopes signed by celebrities up for auction
Two Galileoscopes have been signed by stars of the screen, in order to raise funds to donate more telescopes to children unable to obtain them.
One Galileoscope has been signed by cast members of the new Battlestar Galactica, and actress Felicia Day. The other has been signed by part of the Ghost Hunters International cast.
Bids on these special telescopes are being taken on the auction site eBay. For every $15 (US) of the winning bid, one Galileoscope will be purchased and sent to a school child. The auctions are set to end on 1 October 2009.
The Galileoscope is a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit developed for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 by a team of leading astronomers, optical engineers, and science educators. No matter where you live, with this easy-to-assemble, 50-mm (2-inch) diameter, 25- to 50-power achromatic refractor, you can see the celestial wonders that Galileo Galilei first glimpsed 400 years ago and that still delight stargazers today. These include lunar craters and mountains, four moons circling Jupiter, the phases of Venus, Saturn's rings, and countless stars invisible to the unaided eye.
Battlestar Galactica Galileoscope: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140347449698&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling#ht_500wt_1182
Ghost Hunters International Galileoscope: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140347450269&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling#ht_500wt_995
Official Galileoscope website: https://www.galileoscope.org/


HELLO FRIENDS AND visitors! Can you believe it's already November?! Welcome to the November Book of Choice Giveaway Hop hosted here at FLYLēF! I'll be selecting one (1) winner to receive one (1) new book of their choice worth up to $20. Open internationally so long as The Book Depository ships to you. Good Luck!
Stephanie V. (from Belgium!) is the winner of the October Book of Choice Giveaway Hop. Upon her request, she is now the owner of a hardcover of A Pocketful of Crows by Joanne M. Harris. Thank you everyone for your entry.
Ends November 15, 2017. One (1) lucky winner will be selected at random by Rafflecopter to receive one (1) new book of their choice worth up to $20 USD. Open internationally so long as The Book Depository ships to you. View shipping information. The Winner will be announced here as well as by e-mail, and will have 72 hours to respond or a new Winner will be chosen. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. Void where prohibited by law.
Don't miss this upcoming Book of Choice Giveaway Hop!
As a thank you, by participating in any month of the Book of Choice Giveaway Hops, you're eligible to enter in a quarterly giveaway exclusively for participants! Go on, don't be shy.


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Home / Legal News / Federal judge rules ban on overpass signs legal (UPDATE)
Federal judge rules ban on overpass signs legal (UPDATE)
By: Associated Press	June 23, 2015 1:41 pm
By TODD RICHMOND
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A western Wisconsin town can ban signs on an interstate overpass, a federal judge ruled in rejecting tea party claims that the prohibition sparked by the group's demonstrations was unconstitutional.
Two La Crosse tea party members, Greg Luce and Nicholas Newman, had sued in 2014, alleging that the ordinance violated their free speech rights. U.S. District Judge William Conley ruled on June 16 that the ordinance is a reasonable restriction on free speech, online court records show.
Conley wrote that the prohibition is content-neutral, it's narrowly tailored to further the government's interest in traffic safety and demonstrators have many other ways to reach people, including going door-to-door, using the telephone, speaking at public meetings and displaying signs in public parks and near other roadways.
Erin Mersino, one of Luce and Newman's attorneys, said she planned to appeal the ruling. She disputed that signs on the overpass create any danger for drivers below.
"The court really trampled the First Amendment," she said. "What this ordinance did was forbid free speech on the public sidewalk."
The overpass spans Interstate 90 in Campbell, a town of about 4,000 people on the Mississippi River just outside of La Crosse. Town officials enacted the sign prohibition in fall 2013 after a series of protests on the bridge that were part of the tea party's national push that summer to impeach President Barack Obama.
Tim Kelemen, then Campbell's chief of police, pushed for the ban, telling town leaders he was worried the protesters and their signs were distracting interstate drivers and could cause crashes.
Campbell Police Chief Tim Kelemen (center) pleaded no contest July 25 to a charge that he signed a local tea party leader up on gay dating, pornography and federal health care websites. (AP File Photo/Rory O'Driscoll, La Crosse Tribune)
Luce and Kelemen have been quarrelling ever since.
Kelemen said tea party supporters flooded Campbell's five-officer department with complaints and threats. He told investigators that Luce had urged tea partiers across the country to harass his officers.
As payback, Kelemen said, he signed Luce up for gay dating, pornographic and the federal health care websites. He was charged last year with one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a computerized communication system. He pleaded no contest in a deal that calls for the charge to be dismissed in two years if he doesn't commit any new crimes. He resigned as police chief in November.
Luce had amended the free speech lawsuit to demand damages from Kelemen for stealing his identity and using his official powers to retaliate against him.
Conley reprimanded Kelemen in his ruling, saying his conduct "falls woefully short of the minimum professionalism and detachment one should reasonably expect of a police officer, much less a chief of police." But he warned that it appears Luce doesn't have a case against Kelemen since the former chief didn't use his official police powers to retaliate against him.
The judge gave both sides until Friday to submit additional briefs on the issue.
free speech William Conley 1:41 pm Tue, June 23, 2015 Wisconsin Law Journal - WI Legal News & Resources
Tagged with: free speech William Conley
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text:
Q: How to generate a RethinkDB changefeed for all tables in a database I'm testing an API which inserts or deletes data in multiple tables of a RethinkDB database. In order to monitor what is happening to the database while using the API, I would like to print the changes in all its tables.
Here is some 'pseudo-code' of what I'm trying to achieve:
import rethinkdb as r

# Prior to running this script, run "rethinkdb --port-offset 1" at the command line
conn = r.connect('localhost', 28016)
if 'test' in r.db_list().run(conn):
    r.db_drop('test').run(conn)
r.db_create('test').run(conn)

r.table_create('table1').run(conn)
r.table_create('table2').run(conn)

feed = r.table('table1' and 'table2').changes().run(conn)
for document in feed:
    print document

Prior to running this script, I would run rethinkdb --port-offset 1 to initialize the RethinkDB database.
Once this script is running, I'd like to insert data into either table1 or table2 (using, for example, the web UI at localhost:8081) and see the changes printed in the terminal running the script. This appears not to work, however,
 because r.table('table1' and 'table2') is probably not a valid ReQL query.
How can I monitor changes in both tables?

A: You can follow multiple changefeeds in a single query using r.union:
r.union(
  r.table('table1').changes(),
  r.table('table2').changes()
).run(conn)

A: I ended up running the changefeeds for each table in a separate thread:
import rethinkdb as r
import threading

# Prior to running this script, run "rethinkdb --port-offset 1" at the command line
conn = r.connect('localhost', 28016)

def clear_test_database():
    '''Clear the contents of the "test" database by dropping and re-creating it.'''
    if 'test' in r.db_list().run(conn):
        r.db_drop('test').run(conn)
    r.db_create('test').run(conn)

clear_test_database()

def monitor_changes(table_name, conn):
    feed = r.table(table_name).changes().run(conn)
    for document in feed:
        print document

tables = ['table1', 'table2']

for table in tables:
    conn = r.connect('localhost', 28016)
    r.table_create(table).run(conn)
    thread = threading.Thread(target=monitor_changes, args=(table, conn))
    thread.start()

Note that I re-define the conn connection object within the for-loop as these objects are not thread-safe.
To test the method, I opened the web UI at localhost:8081 and used the following insert command:

In the Sublime runner I see the changes being added every time I press the "Run" button:

This works both when I choose table1 or table2 in the insert command.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Though PvdA lost seats in 1994 they outperformed the other parties. They recouped their losses in the next election four years later, when Kok formed a second coalition government with the same parties that lasted nearly four more years through mid 2002.
He led the Netherlands through an economic boom, and he won admiration and respect abroad. He is frequently described as being frank and honest, with a strong ability to build accord.
Kok took control of the Labour party in 1986, and led the party to a strong enough position to be part of the coalition government after the 1989 election. He became the finance minister in that cabinet, Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers' third.
Lubbers also passed away earlier this year.
Of Kok, Rutte added, "A great man to whom our country owes many thanks. A man too who will be missed, above all by his family and family. I wish his wife, children and grandchildren, his friends political and otherwise, much strength."


DragonFly™ is Circuit Monkey's ArduinoMega-capable Atmel ATmega1280 based microcontroller board for robotics and embedded developers. It features an ATmega1280 16 MHz processor with 86 digital I/O lines, 128K byte self-programming Flash program memory, 8K byte SRAM, 4K byte EEPROM, and 16 channel 10-bit A/D converter. It is capable of driving up to 16 RC servos or other PWM devices and is 3. 3–5.5V powered. On-board LEDs include one power indicator and one programmable indicator. It is capable of communicating via RS-232, I2C, and SPI. There are four on-chip USARTs. Connectors are equipment-grade reliable Molex MicroBlade connectors. All I/O lines are pinned out to 11 11-pin connectors (each supplying up to eight I/Os plus one power and two grounds). There is a crystal based 16 MHz clock. The board measures 80 mm x 40 mm ( 3. 2 x 1.58 inches). It is software programmable with Atmel AVR Studio or free open-source (avr-gcc, avrdude) tools (not included), as well as the Arduino software IDE. The basic board costs $59.90. An Arduino bundle with cables and USB-serial adapter is available for $89.90. A low weight ( 11 grams), super thin ( 2. 7 mm), 'naked' version suitable for UAV design is available for $39.90. Other accessories are available individually.
its new Robotic Evaluation Board (EVALBOT) for use with Micrium's uC/OS-III. The evaluation kit is a mini robot that allows developers to experience the Stellaris ARM® Cortex™-M3-based LM3S9B92 MCU in real-world applications that leverage the processor's integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC/PHY, USB On-The-Go, CAN, and motion control capabilities. Based on a complete analog and embedded processing signal chain from TI, the kit includes all of the hardware and software required for quick assembly so that developers can begin evaluation in 10 minutes or less.
Stellaris EVALBOT and book bundle features and benefits (EKB-UCOS3-BNDL) include: • 80 MHz Stellaris LM3S9B92 MCU with 256K Flash, 96K SRAM, Stellaris Ware® software in ROM, as well as integrated Ethernet, USB On-the-Go (OTG)/Host/Device and CAN.


Thank you West Ashfield Inner Wheel for presenting the Children's Air Ambulance with a cheque for £1,500.
President Linda Elkin, kindly presented the fantastic donation to the Children's Air Ambulance following a year long fundraising campaign with West Ashfield Inner Wheel.
The money was raised through a whole host of events including a fashion show, afternoon tea, raffles and charity dinners.
If you'd like to find out more about how you can support the Children's Air Ambulance, with your local community group, please contact us on 0300 3045 999.


Money management is essential whether you're in debt or just juggling your household costs.
These are our top money management tips, to help you stay in control of your finances.
Make sure you're checking your bank account regularly. By doing this you'll be able to check that there's enough money to cover your direct debits or bills.
If you pay things by direct debit make sure you know what you're paying for. Check you aren't still paying for any services you don't use any more.
Using cash will help you control your spending. If you're going shopping or having a day out, take the amount you can afford to spend with you in cash and leave your debit card at home. This way you won't blow your budget as you can only spend what you've got.
You don't need to make big changes to your lifestyle to save money. Cutting back on the little things you buy can make a big difference. For example, if you spend £2.00 on a coffee every week day this adds up to £520 every year.
If you have debts and you're struggling to pay them try using this online Debt Remedy tool from Stepchange Or, if you'd prefer to call us, then please call us on 07541978789 to speak to one of our volunteers who will help you get your situation back on track. We will give you free, impartial debt information that's tailored to your situation. We'll be able to help you find the best way to manage your debts.


He said the government was trying to assemble the facts and find out what happened.
It has apparently been a tough task to assemble the facts.
People would be invited to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of constructing criminal indictments, but to assemble the facts," said Leahy, a frequent Bush critic.
What I will say is before we take action, as a city we will assemble the facts, the data and the documentation so when we do proceed forward we will be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that fraud is involved.
Ackroyd has undoubtedly done his best to assemble the facts, to tell them well, and to consider what they signify while (for the most part) resisting the urge merely to speculate.
Ackroyd has done his best to assemble the facts and to tell them well.
No matter how you look at diversity, or how you assemble the facts, it is difficult to argue that historically women, people of color and other diverse groups have not always had the same opportunities to gain a college degree and to enter a career where they can reach the elite levels in an organization.
to assemble the facts that show that from the start the Iraq war demanded deception.
Now even in daytime this kind of televisual bombshell would have created mild confusion; in the crusty-eyed bowels of nocturnal gloom, I have to admit to requiring several moments to assemble the facts of the situation into an understandable order.
Before anyone could unearth and assemble the facts, most U.
The political and communications and even policy advisers are pacing nervously in the hallways as the lawyers assemble the facts.
The singer's clandestine excursions to Newark and New York night clubs and her triumph at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night contest are detailed, but here and throughout the book the author makes no real attempt to do much more than assemble the facts.


text:
Rest In Beauty: Compiling an Archive in Memory of Harold Budd
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my favorite ambient composer, Harold Budd this month, who we lost to complications due to COVID-19. I've always been able to count on his ethereal soundscapes to soothe my nerves and vanquish my anxieties, so the finality of his death was a blow to my musical world.
Budd released an impressive catalog of albums over his 49-year career in music. I maintain a digital archive of 46 of his major album releases including his latest collaboration with his longtime friend, Robin Guthrie titled Another Flower, issued just days before his passing.
I feel so fortunate to have collected all of Budd's albums from the 70s and 80s comprising his first eight major releases issued on vinyl before his label switched to the then-popular compact disc format, as well as the three albums he recorded with John Foxx combined into a single deluxe vinyl box set with a signed art print by Foxx.
There is one LP which preceded his first official album, The Pavilion of Dreams – the elusive The Oak Of The Golden Dreams from 1971, copies of which command many hundreds of dollars on the rare occasion that they surface. That recording was realized on the Buchla Electronic Music System at the California Institute of the Arts (then in Burbank) in 1970 and was not an official commercial release.
I'm overjoyed to have collected all of Budd's early official vinyl releases. There are a few later albums that were issued on vinyl which I would love to own but sadly few if any have resurfaced on the used album market. Collectors purchased them directly from the label and held fast to their treasured copies, all the more so now that Budd has passed away. I watched several listed copies of his first album vanish before my eyes after news of his death spread on social media, so I had to act quickly and decisively, as I don't expect these albums to get any less expensive and will only become rarer as more time passes. (Pavilion nearly doubled in price the day the news of his death was announced.)
I ordered the LPs I was missing on December 9th. The first hundred dollar package ended up shipping from just a few miles north of my home. Had I known that I would have instead just opted to pick it up myself. Unfortunately, the US Postal Service mis-shipped the package nearly nine hundred miles off course to Alabama, delaying its delivery in the midst of the holiday season. And as insurance was not offered on the purchase, the delay was agonizing, all the more so as a replacement copy would require international shipping and would command a still higher purchase price. After working with my local Consumer Affairs Department, I eventually received the package 19 days later, thankfully intact.
Pictured below are Budd's first eight LPs, as well as the aforementioned Nighthawks, Translucence And Drift Music autographed box set issued in 2011. These are among the most-treasured LPs in my Archive. They include:
The Pavilion of Dreams
Ambient 2: Plateaux of Mirror
The Serpent (In Quicksilver)
Abandoned Cities
The Moon And The Melodies
Lovely Thunder
The White Arcades
Translucence
and Drift Music
John Diliberto of Echos published a wonderful feature on Budd to celebrate his memory, saying, "Harold Budd Has Left the Planet: Rest in Beauty."
on December 28, 2020 at 3:49 pm Comments (2)
Tags: COLLECTION, Harold Budd, John Foxx, LP, RIP, Vinyl
2018 has been a year of great personal development and growth, and as such, I've found myself time and again seeking warm, familiar tonalities rather than venturing into the unfamiliar and novel territories I'd explored in the years prior. I found it comforting to revisit long-standing favorite composers who created a sense of returning home each time I revisited their catalogs. That is precisely what made this latest discovery such a joy for me at this point in my life.
Harold Budd is unquestionably one of the foremost veterans in the field of ambient composition. His trademark soft-pedal technique is instantly captivating and calming, and while he may not be breaking any new ground in the genre, that's not what his listeners are seeking. Budd commands a mastery of his craft seldom matched in his field, and he's consistently delivered quality contemplative soundscapes for nearly fifty years.
At 81 years of age, Harold Budd has shown no sign of slowing down. He's collaborated with numerous artists, including Brian Eno, Robin Guthrie, The Cocteau Twins, Clive Wright, Eraldo Bernocchi, Bill Nelson, Andy Partridge, Daniel Lentz, Fila Brazilla, & U2. Budd retired briefly in 2005 but quickly returned to composition and released ten more albums and this magnificent new acquisition in the years that followed. I'd always wanted a vinyl keepsake of Budd's music, but much of his catalog was limited to compact disc, including the Budd Box seven-disc set. That what made this discovery an exciting addition to my library.
From the original VinylFactory announcement in September:
Translucence, Drift Music and Nighthawks are being released on limited edition 3xLP by Demon Music for the first time.
Translucence / Drift Music is a 2003 double studio album from ex-Ultravox frontman John Foxx and ambient composer Harold Budd. Minimalist composer Ruben Garcia joined the duo to feature on their third album Nighthawks.
The triple vinyl package also features artwork by Jonathan Barnbrook, the graphic designer who created the Grammy-winning art for David Bowie's Blackstar.
This box set features the complete Budd/Foxx recordings – seminal collaborations of the ambient genre. Nighthawks is dedicated to Garcia, who sadly passed away in 2013. At the announcement of the box set, Popmatters.com noted that, at the album's 142-minute runtime, you're going to need a lot of candles. They called the set, "lovely and provocative" with occasional chromatics and discord. "The City Stops for Snow" was described as "painting a picture of urban stillness" with its interplay of tiny overtones over top the many sustains and echoes.
This is the first time these recordings have been available on vinyl, and Demon Records did an exquisite job. The discs are 180g heavyweight vinyl, housed in a rigid slipcase. This release also comes with a limited print signed by John Foxx.
Rateyourmusic user, dvd offered some valuable insight about the impact of this music on the listener:
It is very strange: after I listen I find it really difficult to recall any more specific details of the music itself. … The music is so transparent, like there is nothing to grab onto, and it just sort of drifts in and out on the edge of consciousness on its own. Maybe this is not a bad thing for ambient music, and likely part of what the creators were going for based on the title(s). For all its subtleties, the music still feels like it has some power over my mental state, as if it puts me in sort of a weird trance: something that's vaguely serene and beautiful.
Paste Magazine shared similar remarks about the tranquil calm of this set, calling it "almost unbearably beautiful." The impressionistic nature of the soundscapes was described as evoking images of "silhouettes of birds cutting across an early evening sky or slowly floating on a quiet, still body of water" and "tramping through a blanket of white on a quiet boulevard." This is precisely the sort of contemplative music which brings me that feeling of homecoming.
I discovered Budd's compositions early in my musical journey, initially through his collaborations with Brian Eno. The Pearl and The Plateaux of Mirror were albums I instantly knew I needed to have on vinyl, and they were followed shortly thereafter by an original pressing of his critically-acclaimed collaboration with Cocteau Twins for The Moon and The Melodies. But other than the aforementioned titles and a pressing of The Serpent in Quicksilver, I'd never been able to find a release on vinyl that truly felt like it celebrated and showcased Budd's best work. And sadly the Budd Box has only been issued on CD. So imagine my excitement at discovering this recently-issued collection of the complete Budd & Foxx recordings!
Mike Powell of Pitchfork fittingly described Harold Budd's characteristic sound as existing "in that misty place between ambient, new age, and minimalist composition, where everything is gentle and nothing lasts for long." Powell described Budd's quietly recognizable style as "intimate and intuitive; fragile but warm; seductive but just a little bit mysterious, like the soft tinkling of a presence in the next room."
But perhaps the most fitting description comes from the set's designer Jonathan Barnbrook who explains:
These are pieces that I return to again and again. Separate from his (John Foxx) more electronic work, they have a humanity and serenity that only comes with a great musician working in collaboration with others greats in an empathetic, understanding style. The music has a delicate, reflective quality – of human beings that have lived life and realise the beauty of it all, the joy and the suffering. They ask us to stop and consider, and that despite it all we should never desire to change a moment of it.
TheQuietus published a wonderful interview with John Foxx at the launch of this box set. His remarks revealed much about the albums' composition and his thoughts about their collaboration. Foxx stated that he, "especially wanted to extend the harmonics of the piano strings resonance and sonic decay and use that as a live, real-time expansion of the sound." He went so far as to call Budd "a modern-day Satie."
And describing the production process, Foxx said:
We also used another completely unique property of recording – reversed time. By reversing sounds and recording reverbs, then playing them forward and applying further layers of reverberation, you can enrich the already extended harmonics. You also have the miracle of reverberations moving simultaneously forward and backwards in time, and a truly complex interplay and texture going on between them. We took all this layering and multiplying as far as we possibly could, while still observing the delicacy and emotional tone of the pieces. All you have to do is listen and feel.
Allmusic.com summarized Budd's sound as "distinctively dreamy, often extraordinary and occasionally ominous" and likens his technique to that of Erik Satie and Claude Debussy. Budd's slowly morphing reverberant and shimmering atmospherics certainly have an impressionistic quality, and the parallels drawn to these greats are not inapt.
To those who might precipitously dismiss these works as simple new age music, I'd offer this closing remark from The Brighton Festival's Guy Morley who said, "I think the impact of Harold is yet to be realised. Tonally, Harold has always come from a very deep and instinctive place. You don't need a degree in composition. Its simplicity belies its originality."
By any measure, this box set is a fantastic keepsake for anyone who enjoys the godfathers of ambient music.
LP 1 / Translucence
1.Subtext
2.Spoken Roses
3.Momentary Architecture
4.Adult
5. Long Light
6. A Change In The Weather
7. Here And Now
8. Almost Overlooked
9. Implicit
10. Raindust
11.Missing Person
12. You Again
LP 2 / Drift Music
1. Sunlit Silhouette
2. The Other Room
3. Some Way Through All The Cities
4. Stepping Sideways
5 A Delicate Romance
6. Linger
7. Curtains Blowing
8. Weather Patterns
9. Coming Into Focus
10. After All This Time
11. Someone Almost There
12. Resonant Frequency
13. Avenue Of Trees
14. Underwater Flowers
15. Arriving
LP 3 / Nighthawks
1. Down A Windy Street
2. Now That I've Forgotten You
4. Fugitive Desire
5. From Then To Now
6. When The City Stops For Snow
7. The Shadow Of Her Former Self
8. Music For Swimmers
9. Lovedust
10. Nighthawks
on April 17, 2018 at 12:56 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: 180g, 3LP, 7CD, Ambient, Andy Partridge, autograph, Bill Nelson, Blackstar, box set, Brian Eno, Budd Box, Claude Debussy, Clive Wright, Daniel Lentz, David Bowie, Demon Records, Drift Music, Eraldo Bernocchi, erik satie, Fila Brazilla, Guy Morley, Harold Budd, John Foxx, Jonathan Barnbrook, limited edition, minimal, minimalism, minimalist, Moon and the Melodies, Plateaux of Mirror, record, Robin Guthrie, Ruben Garcia, signed, The Cocteau Twins, The Pearl, The Serpent in Quicksilver, Translucence, U2, Ultravox, Vinyl


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text:
30 American Cities That Are the Most Stressed Out
The U.S. is overworked, underpaid and gets significantly less paid time off than most other nations, so it's no wonder that these 30 cities are stressed out.
The United States is stressed out.
Americans eat terribly, hardly exercise and live in the most developed nation without major social safety nets like healthcare. The U.S. is overworked, underpaid and gets significantly less paid time off than most other nations.
The gig economy was invented in the U.S., meaning fewer residents receive even basic benefits. Americans also get less for their rising tax dollars than other parts of the world.
But in a sea of stress, these 30 cities are doing the worst, according to the 2020 Wallethub study that analyzed 182 cities in 42 key metrics and ranked them from least to most stressed out. What can we do to help them relax?
30. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Health & Safety Stress Rank: 12
Family Stress Rank: 73
Financial Stress Rank: 61
Work Stress Rank: 39
Total Score: 54.85
* All of the data listed was sourced from Wallethub.
Bottom Line: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Louisiana capital is the first city from the state on this list.
The stress created in Baton Rouge largely has centered around the city's pandemic response as well as its placement directly in the line of hurricanes.
29. San Bernardino, California
Family Stress Rank: 2
Work Stress Rank: 121
Bottom Line: San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is still recovering from its 2012 bankruptcy, and the city is this high on the list of stressed-out municipalities because of the residents' unusually long commutes.
Those who have to trek the 120-mile round trip to Los Angeles for work could be out of the house for 12 hours or more per day. That pays a heavy toll on families.
28. Indianapolis, Indiana
Family Stress Rank: 130
Bottom Line: Indianapolis, Indiana
The crime rate in Indianapolis is among the highest in the United States, which explains the health and safety stress rating, and about 15 percent of Central Indianans live in poverty.
The city is the capital of Indiana, which also explains the high work-stress ranking.
27. Newport News, Virginia
Bottom Line: Newport News, Virginia
Norfolk, which is just 26 miles from Newport News, ranks fifth on the list of most hours worked per week. So it wouldn't be stunning to see that stress spill over into the Newport News area, particularly since Norfolk, Newport News and Virginia Beach make up a television market.
Newport News' jobless rate is higher than average for Virginia, and 15.1 percent of the city lives in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
26. New York, New York
Health & Safety Stress Rank: 129
Work Stress Rank: 4
Bottom Line: New York, New York
It's perhaps no surprise that a city that dubs itself as one that "never sleeps" is high on the list of most stressed cities. New York boasts the highest median housing cost in the nation, and its major industries are high-stakes finances and angst-inducing media.
It's a wonder New York is even this low on the list.
25. Chicago, Illinois
Bottom Line: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago gets something of a bad wrap nationally, as its No. 85 ranking in health and safety stress indicates, but as the hub city for the Midwest, it carries other stressors.
Chicago residents are generally concerned with work-life balance, as the No. 7 work-stress ranking indicates, but things seem to be getting better. Chicago ranked No. 18 on this same list in 2018.
24. Columbus, Georgia
Total Score: 56
Bottom Line: Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is one of the most dangerous small cities in the U.S., with violent crime and property crime well above the national average, according to Bestplaces.net.
Columbus also has a high poverty ranking, above 21 percent, which explains the financial stress rating.
23. Augusta, Georgia
Bottom Line: Augusta, Georgia
More than 23 percent of Augusta's population lives in poverty, which explains its No. 12 financial stress rank.
But things are looking up: The city's rating actually dropped four spots from No. 19 in 2019.
22. Wilmington, Delaware
Bottom Line: Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware is the 16th least stressed state in the nation, according to Wallethub, which makes it surprising to see a city from the First State on this list.
But Wilmington has the fifth highest divorce rate and has been among the most dangerous cities in the country over the past decade, which is why residents have family stress and health and safety stress.
21. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bottom Line: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee has the third lowest job-security rate, which accounts for the city's financial stress rank and family stress rank.
There is high poverty, too, since a high percentage of residents don't have healthcare and don't sleep well.
20. Huntington, West Virginia
Financial Stress Rank: 9
Bottom Line: Huntington, West Virginia
West Virginia has been ravaged by poverty and an opioid crisis, so it's no wonder that Huntington, the state's second largest city, would be among the nation's most stressed.
Huntington is tied for first in the U.S. among cities in poor or fair health and has the third highest poverty rate in the nation.
Health & Safety Stress Rank: 7
Bottom Line: Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati has an extremely high crime rate, well above the national average, and 62 percent of Hamilton County residents are overweight or obese, according to the CDC.
One in every three residents also lives in poverty, which explains the full scope of the city's stress.
18. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bottom Line: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia may not have the same cost of living as New York, Washington or Boston, but that doesn't mean it's exactly cheap to live in the City of Brotherly Love.
Add long work hours and traffic — along with the Eagles' perpetual inconsistency — and it's not hard to see why Philadelphia is a high-stress city.
17. Memphis, Tennessee
Bottom Line: Memphis, Tennessee
Financial stress is a huge factor and leads to other stressors coming out.
For instance, Memphis has the highest crime rate, which is a correlation of the financial stress and creates the city's high family stress and health and safety stress rank.
16. Shreveport, Louisiana
Bottom Line: Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport has the fourth lowest job security rate in the U.S., which plays into the city's financial stress.
Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic factored heavily into Shreveport's spot at No. 10 in the health and safety stress category.
15. Houston, Texas
Bottom Line: Houston, Texas
Ironically, the fact Houston is right in the line of devastating hurricanes each year does not contribute heavily to the stress in Southeast Texas. Yet the trappings of living in the largest city in the south does get to Houstonians.
A study by Kisi found that Houston ranks No. 2 on the list of most overworked people, which might also factor into Houston's No. 11 ranking in Wallethub's family stress category.
14. Charleston, West Virginia
Bottom Line: Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is tied for first in the nation with Huntington, West Virginia, for its number of residents in poor health, which is where the No. 2 ranking in the health and safety category comes from.
Wallethub found West Virginia to be the fourth most stressed state in the country in 2021, ranking first in health and safety stress and fourth in money-related stresses, so it's no surprise the state's largest city would reflect that.
13. Toledo, Ohio
Bottom Line: Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ranks No. 5 on the lowest average night sleep, which undoubtedly is the cause of its sixth place ranking in health and safety.
Toledo's stress score has gone up since 2018, but its place on the list has since fallen from No. 5 to No. 13, a sign of just how much more stressed the rest of the country is.
12. Akron, Ohio
Bottom Line: Akron, Ohio
Akron actually ranks No. 5 for having the most affordable housing of the 182 cities studied, but that is countered by the fact the city has the fourth lowest average night's sleep among the municipalities on the list.
Also, the fact Akron residents aren't seeing a return on their housing investments is a likely cause of the city's No. 11 ranking in financial stress.
11. Montgomery, Alabama
Bottom Line: Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the first Alabama city to appear on the list, even though Wallethub deemed the state to be the most stressed in 2017.
Residents of Montgomery have the fifth lowest median credit score, and like much of the state, it deals with low-wage work and poverty.
10. Jackson, Mississippi
Bottom Line: Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the first Mississippi city on the list, even though it's also among the highest stressed states in the nation. Jackson ranks fourth in the nation in lowest median credit score, and like the rest of the state, it has dealt with COVID-19 outbreaks.
Plus, its location amidst the Gulf Coast region adds annual stress during hurricane season.
9. Mobile, Alabama
Bottom Line: Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, like port cities along the Gulf of Mexico, is annually blasted by hurricanes and tropical storms, which leaves a damaging mental impact each year.
Add to that the fact that nearly one in four Mobile residents live in poverty, and you can see why Mobile is so high on this list.
8. St. Louis, Missouri
Bottom Line: St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is regularly one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S., and it ranks third in the country in crime rate, according to Wallethub.
Add the fact that nearly 40 percent of St. Louis children live in poverty, according to BizJournal, and you have a recipe for anxiety.
7. New Orleans, Louisiana
Bottom Line: New Orleans, Louisiana
It's not all "good times" in New Orleans. While the city has rebounded admirably from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, that storm still left a scar on the city, and the threat of hurricanes annually taxes the region.
Add the high crime, smoking rates and the city's robust (read: caloric) food scene, and you start to see how quickly the stress can build up.
6. Baltimore, Maryland
Bottom Line: Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore has enjoyed something of a resurgence, building up the Inner Harbor as a destination for tourists, but away from the shiny and nice section is still a hard and depleted city where people are trying to get by.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the city has also jumped 15 spots in the past year as already-stressed inhabitants have been sent to the brink due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Newark, New Jersey
Bottom Line: Newark, New Jersey
Newark is only about 15 miles west of New York, meaning it's in the same insanely priced housing market. Yet, Newark doesn't have the same industry, and many who work in the city commute to the wealthy suburbs of Northern New Jersey.
This leaves Newark as a crime hotbed after dark, and residents rank No. 2 in lowest median credit score and lowest average number of hours slept.
4. Gulfport, Mississippi
Bottom Line: Gulfport, Mississippi
According to Wallethub, Mississippi is the fifth most stressed state in the country, so it's not that stunning that Gulfport is the second Mississippi city in the top 10.
Gulfport has been affected by natural disasters, specifically hurricanes since it sits right on the Gulf of Mexico, which taxes the region's psyche.
3. Birmingham, Alabama
Bottom Line: Birmingham, Alabama
Another Alabaman city to make the list, Birmingham has actually seen a resurgence in recent years, with a hot new food scene and historic monuments underway.
But it's high family stress and health and safety stress rankings are keeping this city in a high spot on this list.
2. Detroit, Michigan
Bottom Line: Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is annually among the nation's most dangerous cities and ranks No. 1 in the U.S. in lowest median credit score, least amount of hours slept and highest poverty level.
All of these undoubtedly feed the nation's second highest divorce rate.
1. Cleveland, Ohio
Bottom Line: Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio, and specifically Northeastern Ohio, has been depressed over the past 20 or so years, as industry has moved out of Cleveland to other, cheaper parts of the country and beyond. Cleveland has been slow to adapt to this shift, specifically compared to neighboring Pittsburgh, and that's had a negative impact.
Thus, Cleveland has the highest divorce rate and second highest poverty rate, which is why the fine people there are the most stressed in the nation.


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Does My Bomb Look Big in This? at Soho Theatre
Does My Bomb Look Big in This? at Soho Theatre | Theatre review
Bev Lung
As its title might suggest, Does My Bomb Look Big in This? is a play unafraid to take the hard-hitting, uncomfortable stuff and douse it with audience laughter. However, this is also a production that takes its big topics seriously. Namely, the disappearance of 15-year-old Yasmin, who runs away to Syria and becomes a "jihadi bride". On paper, this could go horribly and insensitively wrong, but new talent Nyla Levy has written a fresh and witty script with a unique and energetic approach.
Dubbed "terror baby" by the media, Yasmin's story is no secret from the start. Below the headlines, however, there is a deeper, humanising narrative about the search for belonging. But how did it all happen? Levy (who also stars as Yasmin) shows a tragic, less extreme route to radicalisation: bullying, racism, discrimination, events that shake up a happy home life, and opportunistic online grooming.
The story is told by Aisha (Halema Hussein), still reeling from the shock of her best friend's actions but needing to share it nonetheless, thus leading to a surprisingly engaging retelling. Almost like talking to a ghost, this fourth-wall narrative might initially raise a few eyebrows, but under Mingyu Lin's playful direction it just works. It includes Yasmin re-enacting the events of her past as she "discovers" new revelations herself, Aisha instructing the "sound guy", and the actor playing school bully Morgan "breaking character" to complain mid-scene. Oh-so meta. The quirky setup has its three leading performers effortlessly rotating a multitude of supporting roles and accents, and also lends itself to Eleanor Williams's hilariously versatile turn as "Actor 3'", who comments on the one-dimensional, non-representative nature of her white school bully/shop assistant-type characters.
In fact, the irony is that Levy was driven to write Does My Bomb… after being typecast herself in the "terrorist girlfriend" role. It's elements like these that prove the debut playwright's fierce originality. Other strengths include the effortless integration of an Urdu and Urban Dictionary slang-filled script, where the likes of "bare/boid/bookey/bruv" rarely feel forced. There's also a smart depiction of social media, in which WhatsApp conversations are brought to life, adding huge comic relief. The contrast of Yasmin in a lonely mansion on an ISIS Tinder-style app for husbands is stark and an interesting inclusion.
Although the story isn't perfect, it's a powerful piece of theatre that concludes on a note of hope. There's topical relevance considering similar real-time headlines, but beyond that it's also a captivating exploration of adolescence and friendship. Soho Theatre is usually a prime spot for spotting new talent – and all three actresses certainly hit the mark.
Photo: Bettina Adela
Does My Bomb Look Big in This? is at Soho Theatre from 21st May until 8th June 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre's website here.
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Does My Bomb Look Big in This?
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What is a pickle? Texas couple suing over the definition of this savory snack
The Lone Star State's definition of a "pickle" has a surprising restriction for farmers and small businesses.
June 6, 2018, 8:39 PM UTC / Source: TODAY
By Erica Chayes Wida
A Texas law about pickles has left a sour taste in the mouths of one couple — and they're doing something about it to help fellow farmers around the state.
Anita and Jim McHaney moved to a 10-acre farm in Hearne, Texas, after retiring in 2013. The fields were fertile so the McHaneys were able to bring their produce to the local farmers' market every Saturday to sell. It was their retirement dream fulfilled.
The McHaneys' harvest.Anita McHaney
One of the best ways the couple tried to supplement their income was to pickle leftover items like beets and okra, particularly in between market days and during the hot Texas summers. But when the McHaneys went to a class to ensure they were doing everything right when it came to farming and selling their wares, they realized their little Berry Ridge Farm was facing a big problem ... at least when it came to pickles.
The Texas Department of State Health Services enforces the Cottage Food Law, which allows some types of home food production to be "exempt from the requirements of a food service establishment." The law enables mom and pop businesses and farmers to make and sell certain food items without having to abide by commercial kitchen regulations.
While the law was updated in 2013 to include a myriad of farmers' market friendly items — from baked goods to roasted coffees and dehydrated fruits — its definition of a "pickle" included only one vegetable: the cucumber.
Preserved Gherkins (on wooden background) as detailed close-up shot; Shutterstock ID 360489134; PO: today-foodShutterstock / HandmadePictures
"Pickles are seen as a value-added product. In Texas, we love our pickles. We eat all kinds of pickles. When we read this, I said, 'You're going to tell everyone in Texas that pickled jalapeno peppers aren't real?' Excuse me," Anita McHaney told TODAY Food.
Texan-pickle pride aside, the language set forth by health services means some farmers like the McHaneys, who can't grow cucumbers due to sunlit, sandy soil, will miss out on income. Anita told TODAY that selling only fresh produce at the Saturday markets does not allow them to break even, and pickling is a common solution.
"We know a lot of people who make and sell [cucumber] pickles and they are inundated with people at the market who say 'Where are the pickled beets, where's the pickled okra?' And the [farmers] have to tell them they're not allowed to sell those," Anita said.
'I'm shocked!' Watch Kathie Lee and Hoda try chocolate pickles
Aug. 11, 201701:03
If purveyors sell pickled vegetables that aren't cucumbers at farmers' markets, The Texas Monitor reported they can face fines up to $25,000.
Rather than forgo lucrative farmers' market sales, the McHaney's sought the help of Institute for Justice in Austin, Texas. The couple filed a lawsuit against the State Department of State Health Services on May 31 with the law firm Drinker, Biddle and Reath, which took on the case pro bono.
"We're pretty conservative people," Anita told TODAY Food. "When we see a law is wrong, we don't just break it. We try to get it changed to be rational. That's what we're trying to do here." Anita said she believes a change to the law could help a lot of Texans — especially single moms or stay-at-home moms who can easily pickle produce and make "a little extra cash." According to The Institute for Justice, women represent 83 percent of cottage food producers in the United States.
One of the McHaneys' attorneys, Nate Bilhartz, told The Associated Press that the state's narrow pickle definition ignores "recent Texas Supreme Court precedent upholding the right under the Texas Constitution to earn an honest living free from unreasonable government interference."
As news of the McHaneys' situation spread on social media, many on Twitter reacted to the suit, though mostly through pickle puns.
Some tweeters felt "sour" about the whole thing.
I have soured on State Regulations
— f moskowitz (@freddymo2) June 6, 2018
Another thought the state's narrow definition just wasn't "kosher."
This is not kosher.
— Mike Bailey (@Mikebzr1) June 6, 2018
And one person said the law was much too "cu-cumbersome" and that the couple deserves a break.
This law is too cucumbersome. Give this couple a break, I'm sure the whole experience was jarring.
— Patrick J Halloran (@HalloranPJ) June 6, 2018
Others, however, didn't seem to think the case was a "big dill."
What's the big dill, really?
— Alan Carasso (@EquinealTDN) June 6, 2018
Before retiring, the McHaneys worked their whole lives in Houston (Anita as a nurse and Jim was an engineering consultant) to be able to buy their very own farm in retirement.
Until the case is settled, however, the farm lies fallow — as the McHaneys shift their energy from harvesting and selling at Saturday markets to changing the definition of a "pickle" for generations of Texas farmers to come.
Erica Chayes Wida is a New York City-area based journalist and food writer obsessed with culture, poetry and international travel. Follow her work on Instagram and Contently.


The Brit behind the "Spanish National Anthem" brought his group, Voz a Voz, and a group of children singers to Ellis Island to give its first live performance of 'Nuestro Himno' yesterday.
Video from the debut at Ellis Island Here.
"We chose Ellis Island because of the obvious symbolism it has for the whole American immigrant experience," said New York-based British music producer Adam Kidron.
Kidron, 46, provoked a heated debate last month when his recording label, Urban Box Office (UBO), released "Nuestro Himno" (Our Anthem), a Spanish version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" which he hoped would become a rallying song for protest marches against immigration reform.
Tuesday's event coincided with the launch by UBO of an album "Somos Americanos" (We Are Americans) which features the anthem and other songs about the immigrant experience by artists from across the United States and Latin America.
"Nuestro Himno" became the target of angry criticism on its release, with US President George W. Bush echoing others who argued that the national anthem should be sung in English.
Most Americans don't have much of a problem with legal immigration. And, most Americans know there is a difference between a legal immigrant and an illegal immigrant.
But, with 12-20 million illegal immigrants in the country, a majority of them Mexican, the choice of Ellis Island for the anthem's debut is a slap in the face for all of the legal immigrants in this country.


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What does responsibility and sustainability mean to DCP? Operating safely and reliably, managing our business responsibly and efficiently, and growing to serve the country's future energy demands.
We've been gathering and processing natural gas since 1929, and we've since grown into a fully integrated midstream services provider ― one of the largest in the nation, in fact.
The DCP enterprise leadership is renowned for its ability to assess future industry needs and trends to plan for growth.
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The European high-yield bond market has enjoyed stellar growth since 2009. Its value has risen from EUR50 billion to EUR300 billion*. We believe it has the potential to expand by half as much again to EUR450 billion in the next five years, writes Kevin Connell, Managing Director High Yield Markets, Merijn Nederveen, Managing Director, Corporate Advisory and Usman Qureshi, Corporate Advisory at RBS.
The next stage of growth may be driven by the refinancing needs of non-investment grade (non-IG) corporates and financial sponsors, such as private equity houses, still heavily exposed to bank funding. It is also anticipated that any pick up in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) could result in an increased demand for non-bank funding.
The exceptional growth to date has been down to a virtuous combination of strong fundamentals and unique technical factors such as low rates, abundant liquidity and increased risk appetite from investors. While these technical factors may not always be as supportive, the fundamental underpinning of the market should continue to be a force unabated for the foreseeable future.
At EUR300 billion, the European high-yield market has reached the size where it can offer liquidity and efficient pricing across sectors. It is now a deeper, more diversified and more mature asset class that is becoming highly attractive to both issuers and investors.
For example, according to the Mercer 2013 survey of pension funds, about 10 per cent are investing in high-yield now up from only 5.5 per cent of pension funds in 2011. Over that same period, the average allocation level changed from 4.3 per cent to about 5 per cent.
The financial crisis showed corporates the importance of a diversified capital structure. Across the board, companies are now thinking strategically about how to enhance flexibility, diversify exposure, and extend duration. High-yield bonds do all of that.
However, the fact remains, that European corporates are still largely bank financed, especially when compared with those in the US.
Balance sheets across the European banking sector must continue to shrink for another five to seven years, according to Deloitte. Arguably this deleveraging will impose a structural shift in how corporates are funded. Reduced bank lending means non-IG borrowers may scramble for alternative sources of liquidity for their funding needs.
And the need for significant refinancing is there. About EUR45 billion of non-IG bank debt is set to mature annually over the next four years. If one third of the maturing bank debt is refinanced in the high-yield market, in line with the trend seen since 2009, that alone could provide a further EUR60 billion of incremental growth for high-yield bonds up to 2017.
M&A-related issuance is also showing signs of recovery. From about EUR3 billion a year between 2009 and 2011, it rose to EUR5 billion in 2012 and had already reached EUR6 billion by July this year**. Looking to the future, issuance of up to EUR10 billion a year seems reasonable, especially in light of historical evidence. This would further add to the high-yield growth story.
On this basis, we could see further growth of around EUR100 billion – 120 billion in the European high-yield market by 2018 through corporate bank to bond refinancing and increased M&A alone.
Add to that the continued financial sponsor activity, including refinancing of Leveraged Buy Out loans in the capital markets, and a market size of up to EUR450 billion within the next five years is eminently plausible.
All this needs setting in the current context of a European high-yield market that at EUR300 billion is still only 30 per cent of its US counterpart, which is worth a whopping EUR1 trillion equivalent***.
Europe may never achieve the same depth or size. Its underlying economies are more fragmented, diverse and governed by different regulations. But the gap is very large given the relative size of the two economies. Europe's GDP was about USD17 trillion last year compared with USD16 trillion for the US. What that suggests is a European high-yield market with considerable upside.
Clearly there are still risks to this growth outlook, such as a sudden rise in base rates, renewed eurozone worries or a surge in upgrades for fallen angels (companies downgraded to non-IG during the crisis).
However, we firmly believe a critical inflection point has been passed. It is not a matter anymore of whether the high-yield market is here to stay as the main non-IG alternative bank funding. It is only a matter of time.
No representation, warranty, or assurance of any kind, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document and RBS accepts no obligation to any recipient to update or correct any information contained herein. The information in this document is published for information purposes only. Views expressed herein are not intended to be and should not be viewed as advice or as a recommendation. You should take independent advice on issues that are of concern to you. This document does not purport to be all inclusive or constitute any form of recommendation and is not to be taken as a substitute for the recipient exercising his own judgement and seeking his own advice. This document is for your private information only and does not constitute an analysis of all potentially material issues nor does it constitute an offer to buy or sell any investment. Prior to entering into any transaction, you should consider the relevance of the information contained herein to your decision given your own investment objectives, experience, financial and operational resources and any other relevant circumstances. Neither RBS nor other persons shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this communication.
The products and services described in this document may be provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. or both.
RBS and its affiliates, connected companies, employees or clients may have an interest in financial instruments of the type described in this document and/or in related financial instruments. Such interest may include dealing in, trading, holding, or acting as market-makers in such instruments and may include providing banking, credit and other financial services to any company or issuer of securities or financial instruments referred to herein.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. 90312. Registered Office: 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YB. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. is authorised by De Nederlandsche Bank and regulated by the Autoriteit Financiele Markten (AFM) for the conduct of business in the Netherlands. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc is in certain jurisdictions an authorised agent of The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. is in certain jurisdictions an authorised agent of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.
RBS is authorised and regulated in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, in Japan by the Financial Services Agency of Japan, in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority ABN 30 101 464 528 (AFS Licence No. 241114) and in the US, by the New York State Banking Department and the Federal Reserve Board. The financial instruments described in this document are made in compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933. In the United States, securities activities are undertaken by RBS Securities Inc., which is a FINRA/SIPC member and subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc.


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Università della California, Berkeley – università statunitense
 UCB – azienda biofarmaceutica belga
 Uffici Centrali del Bilancio – uffici presenti in ogni Ministero che fanno capo alla Ragioneria generale dello Stato

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


What a great time we had at Busch Stadium for Nazareth's Dinner on the Track event. We were blessed with a stunningly beautiful evening which added to the festive atmosphere. Everything went smoothly thanks to the many dedicated volunteers and staff. Thanks to all who donated and bid on auction items.


Home › Videos › EPT 8 Campione: Jannick Wrang is the Champion!
EPT 8 Campione: Jannick Wrang is the Champion!
The innagural event in Campione has found its very first champion in Danish pro Jannick Wrang. This is the first time one country has held three EPT titles in a row!


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Reskin instructions inside the document.


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