Correspondence: Emily Y. Chew, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, CRC Room 3-2531, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1204, Bethesda, MD 20892-1204; echew@nei.nih.gov.
Emily Y. Chew; Nutrition Effects on Ocular Diseases in the Aging Eye. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(14):ORSF42-ORSF47. doi: 10.1167/iovs13-12914.
Purpose. : We reviewed the data from the clinical trials of nutritional supplements for the treatment of age-related cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to determine future directions of research and treatment.
Methods. : Data from the controlled clinical trials are presented and reviewed for potential opportunities for further research into the treatment of cataracts and AMD.
Results. : Two trials using daily multivitamins/minerals demonstrated a reduction in the progression of nuclear cataract, but increased the risk of posterior subcapsular cataract. For AMD, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation (vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper) reduced the risk of progression to advanced AMD by 25% at 5 years. Because beta-carotene is associated with increased lung cancer in former smokers, lutein/zeaxanthin could replace beta-carotene and provide an incremental increase in the beneficial effects beyond the effects of the AREDS formulation. In addition, a randomized clinical trial of B vitamins demonstrated a beneficial effect for AMD with the vitamin B complex.
Conclusions. : Future evaluation may include additional assessments of nutrients for the treatment of progression of cataract and AMD. A modest reduction would have significant impact as the numbers of persons affected with these two leading causes of blindness are projected to double in the next decade. An important step would be to develop surrogate outcomes to increase efficiency in clinical trials. More detailed phenotyping, especially of AMD, is required as it appears to be not one disease, but a group of diseases. Genotype-phenotype analyses may help to target pathways that are important in AMD.
Age-related cataract and macular degeneration (AMD), two leading causes of blindness in the United States, are age-related ocular conditions in which nutritional risk factors have been evaluated extensively with observational and interventional studies. The results of a number of observational studies have provided the hypotheses and rationale for the interventional studies. The results of these interventional trials will be presented to identify potential opportunities for further research in these ocular conditions of significant public health importance. The Table gives a compilation of randomized controlled clinical trials for age-related cataract and AMD, including the nutrients evaluated and the study results.
Age-related cataract is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States and its prevalence is rising; an estimated 30.1 million Americans will be affected by 2020. 1 Treatments that can delay the progression of lens opacities likely would reduce the burden of disease markedly. Numerous observational epidemiologic studies have demonstrated inverse relationships between dietary micronutrients and the development of age-related cataract or cataract surgery. 2–7 These studies have generated interest in micronutrients with antioxidant capabilities because of the potential importance of oxidative damage in cataract formation. Several controlled clinical trials have tested whether selected micronutrients with antioxidant characteristics or multivitamins affect cataract development. 8–14 The results of some of these studies will be discussed below and areas of future research will be considered.
These trials were ancillary studies in a nutritionally deprived population at high risk of developing esophageal/gastric cancer living in Linxian, China. 10 Separate clinical trials tested multivitamins/minerals (n = 2141), and a mixture (n = 3249) containing retinol and zinc, riboflavin and niacin, vitamin C and molybdenum, selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, using a factorial design with these four different vitamin/mineral combinations. In the studies, the risk of nuclear cataract progression was decreased by at least 36% and 44%, for multivitamins and mixture, respectively, in 5 to 6 years. However, there appeared to be an increased risk of posterior subcapsular cataract with the use of riboflavin/niacin. In this population, the results of the two trials suggest that vitamin/mineral supplements may be beneficial for slowing the progression of lens opacities. Further research is suggested in a less nutritionally deprived population before such results can be translated into general recommendations.
The Physicians' Health Study evaluated aspirin and a number of nutrients, including vitamins E, C, and beta-carotene, in a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Secondary analyses included the ocular end-points of age-related cataracts and AMD in male physicians 50 years or older. These outcomes were obtained with self-reports and confirmed by medical records.
In a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin E (400 IU) every other day and vitamin C (500 mg) daily in 11,545 male physicians, the rates of incident cataract were investigated. 15 After 8 years of treatment and follow-up, there were no beneficial or harmful effects of this treatment regimen of vitamins E and C on the development of incident cataract in comparison of those treated versus the placebo group. The hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [CI]) were 0.99 (95% CI, 0.88–1.11) for vitamin E versus placebo and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.91–1.14) for vitamin C versus placebo.
In a secondary study of a randomized controlled clinical trial of beta-carotene (50 mg on alternate days) versus placebo for cataract in 22,071 male physicians followed for a mean of 12 years, incident cataract and cataract surgery were the main outcomes. 9 There was no statistically significant difference between beta-carotene versus placebo on the incidence of cataract (relative risk [RR] of 1.00; 95% CI, 0.91–1.09) or cataract surgery (RR of 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89–1.12).
The Women's Health Study was a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effects of beta-carotene (50 mg every other day), and daily vitamin E and aspirin in the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. 12 The study participants were 39,876 female health professionals aged at least 45 years. The main ocular outcome measures were visually-significant cataract and cataract extraction, based on self-reports with confirmation with medical records.
After a median follow-up of 2.1 years with beta-carotene, the randomization was stopped. There were neither statistically significant beneficial nor harmful effects of beta-carotene on the development of cataract. For the development of incident cataract, the RR was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.75–1.21) and for cataract extraction, the RR was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.78–1.39).
This study also evaluated vitamin E (600 IU on alternate days) versus placebo for a mean follow-up of 9.7 years for incident cataract. 16 Again, there was no significant difference between vitamin E and placebo for the development of cataract (RR of 0.96; 95% CI, 0.88–1.04). No differences also were noted for the subtypes of cataract or cataract surgery.
This was a randomized controlled clinical trial that evaluated antioxidant vitamins (500 mg C, 400 IU of E) and beta-carotene (15 mg) daily for the treatment of cataract in persons with varying degree of AMD. 17 The mean follow-up was 6.3 years in 4629 AREDS participants, both men and women aged 55 to 80 years. There was no effect on progression of the three types of cataract or the incidence of cataract surgery (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 99% CI, 0.84–1.11; P = 0.55 for progression to any cataract event.
The AREDS2 is a randomized controlled clinical trial of lutein/zeaxanthin for the treatment of age-related cataract. 18 The 3159 AREDS2 participants, aged 50 to 80, were followed for a median of 4.7 years. The HR for progression to cataract surgery, the main outcome measure, was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.83–1.09; P = 0.49), comparing lutein/zeaxanthin versus no lutein/zeaxanthin. Lutein/zeaxanthin was not recommended for treatment of cataract, although those participants whose dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin was in the lowest quintile experienced a beneficial effect of the supplement. These data will need to be investigated further in similar studies of lutein/zeaxanthin for cataract progression.
This 13-year single-center clinical trial was designed to evaluate the role of multivitamin/mineral supplement (Centrum; Lederle Laboratory, Inc., Pearl River, NY) for the treatment of age-related cataracts. A total of 1020 participants was enrolled at the University of Parma, Parma, Italy, and followed for a mean of 9 years. 14 In general, there was a decrease in the total number of subjects with lens progression in those participants assigned to Centrum compared to those assigned to placebo (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68–0.98; P = 0.03). Progression to nuclear cataract was particularly decreased (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50–0.88; P = 0.004). Posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) events, however, were increased with the use of Centrum compared to placebo (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.35–2.98; P = 0.001). Because of these mixed results, that is, opposite effects on nuclear and PSC, no recommendations had been made by the investigators for the treatment of cataract.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness, accounting for more than 50% of blindness in the United States. 19 Therefore, this is an ocular disease of major public health importance. It is predicted that by 2020, there may be nearly 3 million individuals in the United States with advanced AMD. 20 Although anti-VEGF agents have reduced the risk of vision loss from neovascular AMD, to our knowledge there are no proven treatments for the atrophic (dry) form of AMD. The role of nutritional supplements has been raised by a number of observational and randomized clinical trials.
The pathogenesis of AMD is unknown, although oxidative stress is considered to have a role. Since 1988, evaluation of the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey suggested that persons eating a diet with increased sources of vitamins A and C had an inverse association with AMD. Other observational studies also have implicated inverse dietary associations with AMD. 21–26 Observational data from AREDS and epidemiologic studies provide a rationale for examining the potential impact of other nutrients on the development of AMD, specifically higher dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin and/or omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs; docosahexanoic acid [DHA]/eicosapentanoic acid [EPA]) are associated with a decreased risk of developing advanced AMD. 27–40 These studies have provided data to support hypotheses that were tested in the controlled clinical trials of nutrients for the treatment of AMD presented below.
This was a single center study of a randomized controlled clinical trial of zinc versus placebo in 151 individuals with early AMD. 41 A daily dose of zinc sulfate (100 mg) versus placebo was tested with 1:1 randomization. The outcome measurement was visual acuity change compared to baseline. There was a significantly positive treatment effect with zinc (P < 0.05). Importantly, the final visual acuity was significantly less likely to deteriorate in the zinc-treated group.
The AREDS was a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate vitamins C (500 mg), E (400 IU), and beta-carotene (15 mg), with or without zinc (zinc oxide 80 mg), with copper (2 mg cupric oxide), in a factorial design for the treatment of AMD. 42 The 3640 AREDS participants, aged 55 to 80 years, had varying severity of AMD and were followed for a mean of 6.3 years. The combination of the antioxidant vitamins with the minerals demonstrated a statistically significant odds reduction for the progression to advanced AMD (OR, 0.72; 99% CI, 0.52–0.98; P = 0.002). There was an approximately 25% reduction in risk of developing advanced AMD at 5 years. This treatment effect appeared to persist following 5 additional years of follow-up after the clinical trial was stopped. 43 The AREDS formulation became the standard of care for persons who are at high risk for AMD, either intermediate AMD or large drusen in both eyes, or advanced disease in one eye with large drusen in the fellow eye.
The AREDS2, 44 a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical, was conducted in 4203 participants, aged 50 to 85 years, who had intermediate AMD (bilateral large drusen) or large drusen in 1 eye and advanced AMD in the fellow eye. They were assigned randomly to placebo, lutein (10 mg)/zeaxanthin (2 mg), omega 3 fatty acids (DHA 350 mg and EPA 650 mg), or the combination of lutein/zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, all the participants were administered either the original AREDS formulation (vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, and zinc with copper) or some modification of the AREDS formulation (either elimination of beta-carotene, lowering of the zinc, or the combination of the two). The participants were followed for a median of approximately 5 years. Approximately 50% of the participants were former smokers and 7% were current smokers.
The primary analyses consisted of comparing each treatment group with the placebo group, using only half of the study population (∼2000) for each of these analyses. These three treatment groups did not demonstrate additional beneficial effects beyond the effects of the AREDS formulation. However, in the analyses which used the entire population (4000+) to conduct the analysis of the main effects, that is, evaluating all those assigned to lutein/zeaxanthin (n = 2123) versus those not assigned lutein/zeaxanthin (n = 2080), there was an added 10% reduction in the risk of progression to advanced AMD (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99; P = 0.04). When analyses were restricted to those with lowest dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin, there was a further reduction in the risk of advanced AMD (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59–0.94; P = 0.01). When lutein/zeaxanthin with AREDS formulation minus the beta-carotene treatment group was compared to the AREDS (with beta-carotene and no lutein/zeaxanthin) treatment group, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69–0.96, P = 0.02). The adverse effect associated with beta-carotene was the increased risk of lung cancer in former smokers. A number of other secondary analyses, some prespecified and others were post hoc, as well as the emergence of this important adverse effect contributes to the totality of the evidence that suggest adding lutein/zeaxanthin and eliminating beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation may result in an incremental increase beyond the beneficial effects of the AREDS formulation for reduction in the risk of developing advanced AMD.
The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study was a randomized controlled clinical trial of female health care professionals (n = 5442) who were 40 years or older with preexisting cardiovascular disease, or who have three or more cardiovascular disease risk factors. 45 They were randomized to a combination of B vitamins (folic acid 2.5 mg, pyridoxine hydrochloride or B6 at 50 mg, cyanocobalamin or B12 at 1 mg) or placebo daily. A total of 5205 women, who were not diagnosed with AMD at baseline, was followed for a period of 7.3 years. The outcome was incident AMD that was self-reported and confirmed by medical records. The results demonstrated that daily supplementation of the B vitamins, folic acid, pyridoxine, and cyanocobalamin may reduce the risk of AMD (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.93; P = 0.02). Since these were secondary analyses, further studies are warranted before making clinical recommendations for use of B vitamins in the treatment of AMD.
The data from randomized controlled clinical trials mostly have failed to demonstrate beneficial effects of nutritional supplements for the treatment of cataract. However, two randomized controlled clinical trials of multivitamins/minerals have suggested a beneficial role for the treatment of age-related cataracts, one in a nutritional deprived population in Linxian, China, and another in a well-nourished population in Parma, Italy. The beneficial effect for nuclear cataract was countered by the harmful effect of developing PSC cataract. One study suggested that riboflavin/niacin may be contributing to this deleterious effect. None of these studies has evaluated the individual nutrient that may be important in the multivitamin/mineral combination. Future studies may have the opportunity to provide clarification. However, such a trial may be extremely costly, requiring tremendous numbers of subjects and lengthy follow-up. Thus, an important area of future research is to find clinically meaningful surrogate outcomes that would allow clinical research to be conducted in a shorter interval of time with smaller number of participants. An example of this would be the potential use of the technology designed to detect precataractous lens protein changes clinically using dynamic light scattering. 46 The dynamic light-scattering device has been used to evaluate α-crystallin, a molecular chaperone protein that has been demonstrated to bind to damaged lens proteins, which prevent their aggregation. This measure of an α-crystallin index decrease was associated with increasing nuclear lens opacities (P < 0.002). Even in clinically clear lens, significant decreases in α-crystallin can be detected.
A small reduction in the progression of age-related cataract would have a profound effect on the costs of American health, as this condition currently is a significant public health problem, with large numbers of people affected with the disease projected to increase markedly with increasing longevity. Currently, one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States is cataract surgery. A successful preventive measure would reduce the cost of this condition to society, and to the individuals and their families.
Although the pathogenesis is not well understood, antioxidative properties of nutrient-based therapies are attractive for these chronic conditions. The therapeutic effects seen in those with the lowest dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin, for example, suggest that nutrient therapy may have a role in preventing cataract. The public health message of "You are what you eat" is important. Eating well, and having a diet replete with fish and many colored vegetables, especially the green leafy ones, are public health messages that might be particularly important to communicate to the entire population. This has implications for general well-being as well as potential reduction of ocular diseases.
The nutritional supplement, known as the AREDS formulation, has been demonstrated to reduce the progression to advanced AMD by 25% in 5 years in persons with intermediate AMD (bilateral large drusen) or having large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the fellow eye. There is an incremental increase in the efficacy of the AREDS formulation when beta-carotene is replaced by the addition of lutein/zeaxanthin to this formulation. Again, those in the lowest dietary intake group of lutein/zeaxanthin appear to have the greatest benefit. Thus, the public health message of proper diet is essential for prevention of chronic disease, such as AMD and other systemic conditions.
Aside from the beneficial effects of folic acid during pregnancy for the prevention of spina bifida and calcium for prevention of osteoporosis, the AREDS formulation is the only other nutritional supplement known to have beneficial effects on any disease. All the previous studies of nutritional supplements for cardiovascular disease and cancer have been proven to be negative. For example, nutritional studies of the B vitamins for cardiovascular disease were negative, while the ancillary studies in ocular disease demonstrated a beneficial effect for AMD. Ideally, it would be prudent to have a duplicate randomized, double-masked, controlled clinical trial to support the AREDS formulation and its effects on the retina. With limited resources, the feasibility of replicating the AREDS is unlikely as the AREDS formulation has become the standard of care for many of the individuals at risk for developing advanced AMD. One is reassured by the beneficial effects that persisted in the observational study that followed the clinical trial. At 10 years, there was still a 27% reduction in the risk of developing advanced AMD. In addition to the nutrients evaluated in AREDS2, should other vitamins be studied? Do we need further analyses with observational studies of nutritional intake? The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study of B complex of vitamins suggested a beneficial effect for AMD. Would further randomized trial be feasible and be warranted, given the preliminary findings of a protective effect of the B vitamins for AMD? These are questions that yet must be answered.
An explosion of genetic information is occurring in the field of AMD. 47,48 Additional pathways have been emerging as potential disease mechanisms from studies of genetic associations. These include pathways that involve inflammatory, complement, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol pathways that potentially are part of AMD pathogenesis. The further analyses of these genetic associations with the dietary intake and the randomized trials of nutrient supplement should give us clues as to the potential for personalized medicine and potential targets for future treatment.
An important step in the research for AMD includes the need for better phenotyping, as AMD is likely to include a number of conditions that may be separated genetically. We also need a better understanding of the functional and structural correlations of the disease process. The technologies for imaging have developed rapidly, and may provide better tools for developing and improving our outcome measures for cataract and AMD outcomes for clinical trials.
Finally, it is important to understand that a modest protective effect on the progression of AMD (and cataract) still would have a significant impact on patient welfare and on cost control given the large and increasing numbers of patients affected. Areas of unmet medical need include finding effective therapy for geographic atrophy and for primary prevention of AMD. Prevention certainly would be favored over intravitreal injections, even though they may be successful in reducing the risk of vision loss. We believe the next decade will witness some major changes in the way we will treat AMD.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group 2. Randomized trial of lutein/zeaxanthin for age-related cataract. AREDS2 Report No. 4. JAMA Ophthalmol . 2013; 119: 1439–1452.
Increase in lens gangliosides due to aging and cataract progression in human senile cataract.


text:
BAD TO WORSE
ISIS's War Kills Syrian Orphans
Rockets into southern Turkey terrorize a town where refugees outnumber native Turks.
Louisa Loveluck
KILIS, TURKEY — The Syrian orphanage stands empty, its rooftop littered with toys, blood and rubble. Last month, four children were killed here as they played—the girls in their fresh summer dresses, the boys frowning over a puzzle.
Yasmin, Tesnim, Muhammed and Mutasem are casualties of ISIS, a jihadist superpower which has seized territory across their homeland. But this orphanage was in Turkey, not Syria, and the children had seen it as a refuge.
Three miles from the Syrian border, the town of Kilis is in the terror group's crosshairs. Since in mid-April, Katyusha rockets have landed almost daily, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens more as part of a stepped-up war against the Turkish state.
"We told our children they would be safe here. Now they think they are back in Syria," said Abdul Ghani Alshawakh, director of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet organization which runs the orphanage and women's shelter where the four children died. "Europe is sending us back here by the boatload. Do they think Syrian blood is cheap?"
As Europe closes its borders to most refugees, a new agreement between Brussels and Ankara will see many returned to Turkey on the grounds that it is safe. In Kilis, where Syrians now outnumber Turks, these newcomers say it is anything but.
The attacks come as Turkey intensifies its war against ISIS, tightening control of its border and backing preferred rebel groups who are fighting the militants in northern Syria. In response, ISIS has escalated sporadic bomb attacks on Turkish territory into daily rocket salvo—sometimes as many as seven—as well as a May Day car bomb in the southern city of Gaziantep.
When the rocket smashed through the orphanage roof last month, Om Kheir, the mother of Tesnim, Muhammed and Mutasem, was approaching on foot. "I knew in that moment they were dead," she said, clutching photograph of her children. "I felt their souls leave this world as I screamed. I hope they forgive me for bringing them to this town."
Their journey to Turkey had been long and harrowing. They had lived for months in an open field, after fleeing the northern city of Azaz in 2012. Om Kheir's husband, Bassem, has not been heard of since he was arrested early that year by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. One report from a former cellmate suggested he had died from torture.
"The children lost their father, they lost their country, and then the war killed them in the one place I promised they'd be safe," said Om Kheir.
In Kilis, where roughly 129,000 Syrians outnumber the 93,300 local Turks, the attacks have deepened tensions between the refugees and their host community. The influx had already strained local services, more than tripling pre-war levels of water consumption and waste collection, and shrinking the amount of green space per person from five square meters to just over one.
"Now the Turks say we have brought war to their homes as well. It's getting harder to convince them that we are victims too," said Mahmoud Ghazal, a former headteacher from Aleppo. As he spoke, the boom of another rocket—the third before midday—shattered the morning calm. Up ahead, two spindle-legged Syrian school girls bolted, losing rucksacks and shoes as they ran.
"So many people here are traumatized," said Ghazal. "You see the fear in their eyes when the rockets land. They can't escape it. They're back in Aleppo."
Kilis residents have appealed to Ankara for greater protection. "Rockets fall on our houses, shrapnel pieces rain on us, we are killed inside our homes, we are killed on the streets," wrote a group of local business leaders in a recent newspaper spot.
Turkey said on Sunday that it had retaliated with cross-border shelling, killing 55 ISIS militants in northern Syria and taking out several rocket installations and vehicles. But experts say attacks are unlikely to be extinguished without clearing ISIS from the so-called 'Manbij pocket,' the last strip of territory it controls along the Turkish border.
The rockets are launched opportunistically off the back of pickup trucks and their firing mechanisms give off limited heat, evading detection by thermal imagery from circling drones.
"The rockets are a new phase in the [ISIS] war, and one in which the Turkish government has no answer for," said Aaron Stein, a Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. "Absent a significant military escalation, Turkey won't be able to stop the rocket fire."
Disagreements between Turkey and the United States over how to clear the Manbij pocket have slowed attempts to push ISIS from the area. While Ankara is backing indigenous Arab forces to do the job, Washington prefers to use fighters mostly drawn from the Kurdish People's Protection Units, a force the Turkish government describe as "terrorists."
Up on the roof of the Kilis orphanage, reminders of the human cost of the Islamic State's war lie scattered in every corner. The smell of flesh still lingers and on the very edge, where the rooftop meets the sky, lies a certificate for Muhammed, the youngest child. "For Syria's best future scientist," it reads. He had won first place.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is acknowledged as an important driver of change, empowering learners to take the decisions and actions needed to build a just and economically viable society respectful of both the environment and cultural diversity. This type of education addresses learning content and outcomes, innovative pedagogy and 'learning by doing', and uses a whole-school approach to engage communities in achieving sustainable change. This publication explores key issues related to ESD policy and practice with the aim of helping to accelerate the reorientation of education towards achieving a sustainable and resilient world. Topics include key ESD competencies and themes, policy, changes in the learning environment, teacher training, youth as lead actors, scaling-up action, and the monitoring of progress towards Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4. ESD is explicitly mentioned in this target, which aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development and is understood as an important means to achieve all the other 16 SDGs.


Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 505th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the five most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (28 January – 3 February, 2018), together with a hand-picked seven you might otherwise have missed.
1. Another gain from Labour in Sunderland by Jonathan Wallace on Jonathan Wallace.
Details from the campaign trail itself.
2. The bad news for remainers in the latest Guardian poll on Brexit by Mark Pack on Mark Pack.
It only showed the slimmest of majorities for remaining in the EU. There is more work to do.
3. Lib Dems gain seat from Labour from 4th place with 33% swing by Mark Pack on Mark Pack.
That excellent Pallion ward by-election again.
4. New light on the suspension of two Lib Dem members of York City Council's executive? by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
Maybe a change in the leadership of the Conservative group will make a difference.
5. If Tory backbenchers pull the plug on May, who will become Prime Minister? A journey into the bizarre by Nick Tyrone on NickTyrone.com.
It could be a wacky race if it happens.
6. How the motions got selected for Southport Conference in excruciating detail by Jennie Rigg on Ten KitKats and a Motoring Atlas .
In a party of geeks, this will go down very well. An insight into the decision making process.
7. Young girl, Ahed Tamimi, spends 17th birthday in an Israeli jail by Maelo Manning on .Libdemchild aged 18.
Whatever your stance on Israel/Palestine, says Maelo, surely imprisoning and shooting children is going too far.
8. Suicide, the DUP and me by Stephen Glenn on Stephen's Liberal Journal .
Stephen highlights the damage and long term harm that prejudice can cause.
9. How to come back to a racist by Jane Chelliah on Feminist Mama.
10. The unexpected return of fairies by David Boyle on The Real Blog.
Well, it's a break from Brexit, Trump and Google.
11. Grilling Vince Cable by Jonathan Fryer on Jonathan Fryer.
12. Britain's regional policy needs more government by Matthew Green on Thinking Liberal.
Countries which devolve power also have wider prosperity. .
This entry was posted in Best of the blogs and Op-eds.
Welcome to my day: 5 February 2018 – time to wrap up a little warmer?
I would especially recommend Jennie Rigg's blog post about how the motions were selected for Spring Conference. Jennie says in the title that she goes into "excruciating detail", but actually I would have liked a good deal more detail! I guess I am a geek!
Jennie has done a great deal to make the process of choosing motions more transparent, but nevertheless there are evidently some things she is not allowed to say, and things she is too tactful to say. But surely there should be total transparency in this process, with detailed minutes being available to members?
Some of the things that Jennie does reveal, give cause for concern. It seems that some motions were rejected at a very early stage, without any lengthy discussion, because of what Jennie refers to as the "snowball test" – if a motion is felt not to have a snowball's chance in…of being selected. But as it is FCC that makes the decisions, the snowball test is surely just self fulfilling, and surely every motion deserves to be properly discussed?
It is especially disappointing to learn that the motion about supporting the UN Treaty banning nuclear weapons, was considered to fail the snowball test, and therefore was not seriously considered. I believe that the official reason given for rejecting this motion, was that nuclear weapons had been debated by conference recently. It is true that there was a debate on nuclear weapons at Spring Conference 2017. But this is not a valid reason for rejecting this motion, for the specific issue of the UN Treaty has never been debated by conference.
The preamble to the Lib Dem Constitution says that we must work with international organisations to achieve peace and disarmament. So it surely follows that we should, and must, support the UN Treaty, and it is hard to think of a more important subject for conference to debate.
The apparent "rule" about not debating an issue that has been debated recently is, anyway, not consistently enforced. There is to be a debate about Brexit, despite the fact that there were debates about the EU and Brexit at Autumn Conference 2016, Spring Conference 2017, and Autumn Conference 2017.


text:
Авиньонската катедрала или  Нотр Дам от Авиньон  () е катедрала в Авиньон.

Сградата е исторически паметник на Франция и на Архиепархия Авиньон. Катедралата се намира по-високо от Папския дворец.

История
Нотр Дам е построена през XII век в романски стил. Нейната историческа значимост пред други катедрали на страната се дължи на факта, че в 1309 – 1378 г. Светият Престол е не в Рим, а в Авиньон. Този период е известен като Авиньонското пленничество на папите, които по това време всъщност изпълняват и функциите на епископи на Авиньон. Дори и след края на пленничеството Авиньон не губи значение: започва Великият западен разкол, когато и в Авиньон, и в Рим има конкуруращи се папи, разделящи целия католически свят.

Интериорът съдържа многобройни произведения на изкуството, сред тях – мавзолей на папа Йоан XXII, един от шедьоврите на готическата дърворезба на XIV век. Втората съществена реконструкция възникна през XVII век. На западната кула е поставена позлатена статуя на Дева Мария.

Днес катедралата заедно с Папския дворец и мостът "Сен Бенезе" влиза в обектите на Световното културно наследство на ЮНЕСКО.

Синопии за фрески на Симоне Мартини

Източници
 La cathédrale d ' Avignon, basilique métropole Notre-Dame-des-Фод veille sur le palais des Papes  – официален сайт

Катедрали във Франция

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
US Housing Market To Get Uglier In Near Future
Authored by Wolf Richter via WolfStreet.com,
Sales decline to steepen, no respite in sight.
The reasons for the housing-market downturn are in the eye of the beholder, as we will see in a moment. But whatever the reasons for it may be, the data on the housing market is getting uglier by the month.
Pending home sales is a forward-looking measure. It counts how many contracts were signed, rather than how many sales actually closed that month. There can be a lag of about a month or two between signing the contract and closing the sale. Last week, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its Pending Home Sales Index for November, an indication of the direction of actual sales to be reported for December and January. This index for November fell to the lowest level since May 2014:
"There is no reason to be concerned," the report said, reassuringly. And it predicted "solid growth potential for the long-term."
And the index plunged 7.7% compared to November last year, the biggest year-over-year percentage drop since June 2014. The drops in October and November are indicated in red:
All four regions got whacked by year-over-year declines:
Northeast : -3.5%
Midwest: -7.0%
South: -7.4%
West: -12.2%
The plunge in pending home sales in the West, a vast and diverse region, will prolong the plunge in closed sales for the region. Particularly on the West Coast, the largest and very expensive markets — Seattle metro, Portland metro, Bay Area, and Los Angeles area — have been experiencing sharp sales declines, a surge in inventory for sale, and starting this summer, declining prices.
Last week's pending home sales data confirms that these trends are intact and will likely continue.
The NAR report blames the sales decline in the expensive markets in the West on "affordability challenges" – because prices "have risen too much, too fast," it said.
And this is a true and huge problem: Home prices have shot up for years, even while wages ticked up at much slower rates. At some point, the market is going to run out of people with median incomes who are willing to stretch to the limit to buy a starter shack; and the market is going to run out of people with high incomes who are willing to stretch to the limit to buy a median house.
For example, at the peak, the median house price in San Francisco was over $1.7 million. That median house is nothing fancy. And the market has run out of high-income people blowing so much money on a modest house. Hence prices have come down sharply over the past six months.
"Local officials should consider ways to boost local supply," the report says. Alas, there is all kinds of supply suddenly coming on the market. It's not that there isn't anything to buy; the problem is that everything is too expensive, and that sellers and buyers no longer see eye-to-eye.
But the decline in sales on a national basis, according to the report, is a "short-term pullback" that "does not yet capture the impact of recent favorable conditions of mortgage rates."
Sure, lower mortgage rates are a relief for buyers. But wait… According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the average rate of conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with a 20% down payment has dropped to 4.94% during the latest reporting week. This is 23 basis points off the high of 5.17% in early November.
But here is the thing: In January 2018, when the Pending Home Sales index plunged to the lowest level since December 2015 (indicated in the first chart above), the NAR blamed low supply of homes and surging mortgage rates.
Since then, supply has sharply increased, and mortgage rates?
Currently, the average 30-year fixed rate, at 4.94%, is still 54 basis points higher than it had been in January. And if an average mortgage rate of 4.4% was blamed for plunging home sales in January, then an average rate of 4.94% isn't going to suddenly boost sales.
There is a lot more at play here than just wobbling mortgage rates. At the top of the list are woefully inflated prices that potential buyers now see as such.
And these potential buyers are now also confronting the fear that prices will decline, or further decline, after they buy. This is a scary thought, given the amount of leverage and the large dollar figures involved in a home purchase. Potential buyers now see that after the purchase, those fears could translate into some real and long-lasting headaches.
In Seattle, house prices dropped 4.4% in four months, the biggest four-month drop since Housing Bust 1, according to the Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Prices also deflated in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Denver, and Portland. Read… The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in America Decline
Apple warning bell triggers fears for global economy
Rattled by alerts on China growth, markets expect pause in Fed rate rises
The Disappearance of AI
As the markets enter into the gyrations of this last December, with the Dow Jones now down 16% from the year's highs, the idea that the party would never end is now giving way to grabbing the car keys and biding the hosts adieu, and those of us in IT are battening down the hatches in a serious way.
Robot Waiters In This Tokyo Cafe Are Controlled By Disabled People
A cafe with an all-robot wait staff controlled by paralyzed people has recently concluded its eight-month experiment in Tokyo, Japan.
Ten people with a variety of conditions including spinal cord injuries and the progressive neurodegenerative disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) were employed at Dawn Ver café, according to Sankei.
The robot's operators earned about 1,000 yen ($9) per hour – the standard rate of pay for wait staff in Japan.
From home or hospital, they operated the small fleet of OriHime-D robots used in the cafe were developed by Japanese start-up Ory and were initially designed to be used in the homes of people with disabilities.
Sankei reported that robots could be told to move, observe, communicate with guest and carry objects to tables, even if their operator can only roll their eyes.
The pilot program started in April of last year and concluded on December 7 at the Nippon Foundation Building in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Researchers collected vital data on the connections between disabled people and robots, to encourage plans of integrating people who might otherwise be housebound earn a wage and interact with other people more easily.
"If the people operating the robots feel the joy of serving customers and working in a café, I think it's wrong to leave that to AI," said Kentaro Yoshifuji, the CEO of Ory Lab Inc.
This experiment, done in cooperation with The Nippon Foundation, Avatar Robotic Consultative Association (ARCA), All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Ory seems to have been a limited-time event, but a new crowdfunding operation aims to open a permanent location with disabled people controlling robot servers by 2020.
Maybe disabled people controlling robots in restaurants could be the first push back against AI. As we have warned before, AI robots were built to replace low-skilled workers that could trigger economic disruption far greater than we experienced over the past eight decades. By the end of the 2020s, automation may eliminate 20% to 25% of current jobs, so by allowing disabled people today to operate robots in the service sector, well, it is a start, but it will sadly not be enough to stop the AI takeover.
Jon Jones Wants To Fight 3 Times In 2019 And That's Great For The UFC And ESPN
Jon Jones' commitment to fighting three times in 2019 should be music to the ears of the people in charge at the UFC and ESPN.
Nancy Pelosi: When You Have Power, Use It
Nancy Pelosi's challenge will be to use that power to insist on bipartisanship and work to prepare the next generation to lead. This she must do amidst the roiling waters of investigations into President Trump.
House Defies Trump; Votes To Reopen Government With No Wall Funding
In what what can only be described as theatre, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted late Thursday to pass two bills that would reopen parts of the government affected by the partial shutdown.
The only problem is that neither of the bills contain funding for what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called an "inhumane" border wall – leaving Republicans and Democrats without any possible way forward during a Friday meeting at the White House following President Trump's vow to veto any legislation that does not include money for perhaps his greatest election promise.
Trump will meet at 11:30 a.m. with Pelosi and House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) along with other congressional leaders, according to the Washington Examiner.
"We'll go down there, we'll talk," said Hoyer on Thursday. "We'll try to come to an agreement."
That said, House Democrats held a Thursday afternoon hallway press conference where they took turns proclaiming how they would stand their ground against Trump's wall.
"We are not doing a wall," said Pelosi – calling it "an immorality."
Pelosi said the $5 billion Trump is requesting for the wall diverts money from other critical needs, although it is a tiny fraction of all federal spending. Still, she said the wall was a distraction put forward by President Trump who wants to shield his base from the negative impact of his agenda.
"It's a wall between reality and his constituents, his supporters," Pelosi said.
Shortly after Christmas, White House officials said they told Democratic leaders they would accept about half of their initial $5 billion request. But when asked about the offer, Pelosi suggested the Trump administration backed away from that idea.
"You can't have an agreement that people walk away from," she said. "Go to them and say, 'Why don't you stick to what you offered?'" –Washington Examiner
So at this point, tomorrow's White House meeting looks like it will be a massive waste of everybody's time – especially considering that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on Thursday that he will not consider any House-passed bills that Trump won't sign.
The two House bills would fund several agencies through September 30, and the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8. The DHS funding would give the agency $1.3 billion for border security which could not be used for Trump's wall. Just five Republicans voted for the bill, while sevel GOP lawmakers supported the other bill funding the other agencies until the end of September.
Approximately 800,000 federal employees have been affected by the partial shutdown which began on December 23, representing around 25 percent of the federal government.
What Was The Most Important Breakthrough In Nanotechnology In 2018?
What was the most important breakthrough in nanotechnology in 2018? This question was originally answered on Quora by Nathan Donahue.
Why Your Workplace Should Be Prioritizing Your Health
Do you believe workplace wellness is becoming a staple of the modern workforce? This question was originally answered on Quora by David Hauser.


A few of the initiatives included in Gov. Cuomo's Executive Budget proposal, which was released Tuesday, align with MCC's work in combatting poverty in Rochester and beyond and in connecting students to high-demand occupations available across the Finger Lakes region. MCC's innovative work in labor market analytics is also recognized in the governor's budget plan.
Among MCC's latest efforts is a new comprehensive labor-market study that shows an MCC education in a career program pays off—literally.
Five years after achieving their degree or certificate in a career program and immediately obtaining employment in an industry aligned to their program of study, many MCC graduates in New York state are earning a median hourly wage on par with the mid-career pay rate for a worker in the same field in the Finger Lakes region.
In some cases, within five years of earning their degree or certificate, MCC graduates in technical career fields who are working in New York state earn nearly as much as the average wage of bachelor's degree holders, no matter the field, in Monroe County.
An example of a program with big earnings payoff is the mechanical technology degree. The median starting salary of new MCC graduates is $15.25 an hour. These same graduates by the end of their fifth year of employment earn a median wage of $24.46 an hour. When comparing the wages of program graduates in New York state with that of the Finger Lakes region's workers employed in the same occupations, MCC graduates have achieved nearly 95% of the region's median mid-career hourly wage—$25.90—in their fifth year out. The fifth-year wage attainment also represents 91% of the average hourly wage of a Monroe County bachelor's degree holder—at $26.78.
MCC career programs across various industry sectors show healthy payoffs, including optical systems technology, electrical engineering technology, welding, computer systems technology, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. These programs support efforts at the local and state level to reverse the skills gap impacting the region while putting graduates on a trajectory to earn strong wages.
Data on current and future job openings related to 17 MCC career programs and a corresponding list of top employers seeking to hire talent can be found at www.mcclmi.com. The study was conducted by MCC's Economic and Workforce Development Center.


Once again it's that happy time of year, Chanukah, where the Jewish people celebrate the miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Army and the reclaiming of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
We traditionally eat food fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of one tiny flask of pure oil, which was meant to last one night, but lasted for eight nights following the siege. Ashkenazi Jews, those from Eastern Europe, traditionally eat potato latkes and applesauce--foods that were plentiful in their native region. For Sephardi Jews various fried dough dishes like Sfenj in Morocco and YoYos in Tunisia are popular. The grandmother of all of these is likely Spanish bunuelos (pronounced boon-way-lows). These fried dough balls can be found in cuisines across North Africa all the way to Turkey and Latin America. In Mexico they take the form of fried tortillas sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and in Columbia a soft cheese is added to the batter (personally I think the latter is perfect for Chanukah, because we also eat dairy to commemorate the role of Yehudit (Judith) in the Chanukah victory).
I decided to play around with the bunuelo recipe to develop one my whole family could eat. This meant making one that was gluten free, non-dairy and egg-free. I had an idea to sub the egg with soy yogurt and it was a Chanukah miracle..it worked!
Last month I met a hard working gal named Orly who has designed a line of gluten free flour blends (each complete with xanthan gum), that are specialized for different types of baked goods, i.e. cakes, cookies, breads, etc. I would like to suggest trying the Blends by Orly-Manhattan Blend for the bunuelos. It is gluten, soy, corn and dairy free and optimally formulated by this pastry chef to produce the best taste and texture for each particular type of baked good.
If you do eat dairy you may wish to sub the soy yogurt with plain or vanilla flavored dairy yogurt. If you can't have soy or dairy there are a variety of options such as coconut milk and almond milk yogurt.
Note: If you add a piece of carrot to the oil when frying, it absorbs the icky brown film that sometimes develops when doing several batches of fried items.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together Bisquick, sugar and nutmeg. Stir in yogurt and seltzer until well combined.
Heat oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven to 375F degree (on my gas stove, that is about the 7 or 8 mark on the dial). Put a small piece of batter into the oil and see if small bubbles form around dough--you're oil is ready at this point. Add the carrots.
With slightly damp hands or a cookie scoop, form batter into walnut sized balls. Gently drop about 4 at a time into the hot oil. When the submerged part begins to brown, after about 3-5 minutes, turn with tongs or a slotted spoon and fry on other side for the same amount of time, until golden brown. Remove from oil with tongs or slotted spoon, and place on a wire rack set on a cookie sheet or paper towel to drain off excess oil. Repeat with remaining batter.
Place cinnamon-sugar in a clean paper bag or small bowl. Toss several bunuelos at a time in cinnamon-sugar to coat. Best served warm. Store in airtight container for up to 2 days.


Use clear jars that are generally laying about the house. Pickles and jelly jars are excellent for this type of project.
You should be able to pick up the boil bags, wicks, and wax at a local craft store. Gather all your kids broken crayons and separated them into color schemes. (Try red and green for Christmas and then top them with gold and silver.) You can use a butter knife to tear apart the old crayons (for the kids). You can use a sharp knife that works much better.
The hardest part of this project is getting the wicks to stand up straight while you pour the wax. If the wick is not straight, the candle will not burn well, so try tying it to the top of the jar with twist ties. Try crossing them over in the middle in an "X" shape with the wick in the center.
After the jars are ready, melt the white wax in a boil bag. pour the wax, a little at a time, add the broken crayons to the mix. Since the wax is hot, the crayons melt, and the effect is very artistic! When you pour the jar full, top it off with a handful of some interesting color. The hot wax will cause the colors to "run" into the candles.


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5 min read | Jun 2021
We Kept Our Sex Club Going Through Quarantine
COVID threw a wrench in our plans, but it wasn't anything a Zoom orgy couldn't fix.
Your Favorite Kinksters / Millennial / Progressive / Sex Club Owner, Publicist
We run a private members club in New York City offering sex-and-cannabis-positive experiences, events and education. We opened it five years ago to fill the gap that we saw in the city for an elevated experience for all genders, identities and orientations looking to explore empowered pleasure. If you're feminist, sex-positive, poly, queer, kink-friendly, and/or a cannabis consumer—or like us, all of the above—it's very easy to feel like you're "too much" or "too lewd" or whatever in just about every space you're in. But at our club, there's no judgment, it's just community and acceptance.
Pre-pandemic, we were in expansion mode. We'd begun hosting massive parties for up to 400 members at spots around the city. We were working on a travel show with a famous TV person's production company, in which we'd bring the philosophies developed at our club to new countries through elaborate sexual stunts. Membership was booming, with plans to open doors in other cities.
And then: nothing.
Going virtual showed us the potential for our community and made the goal of building a global community of sexy fucks more attainable.
COVID Stopped Us in Our Tracks
Last March, nearly every project we had going was halted. We had to close down our clubhouse in SoHo. We lost a second unit for our expansion that we had just started renting. We were set to hit $1.5 million in revenue for 2020, and then the world stopped.
The week we went into lockdown, one of us was flying out to a music festival in the Caribbean for a birthday trip. The next day all flights were canceled. We realized this would be the last time in a long time we'd be able to party like this. When the following Monday rolled around, we knew we needed a plan. Once we deleted our events calendar and ripped apart the megabed, it was as sudden as a slap in the face: the play parties we went to just weeks ago were a thing of the past. We needed to pivot fast, not only for ourselves but also for our team, our performers and all our members.
Pure necessity inspired our virtual play parties. We had a community of people looking to us to be there for them. We launched online chats through WhatsApp to keep people connected, before eventually moving to Discord. At first, we were hesitant about the virtual parties. The thought of having to be on camera felt like torture, especially during those first few weeks of COVID when it was hard not to feel like the world was coming to an end. (One of us grew up in a doomsday cult, which didn't really put us in a good mindset for a global catastrophe.) But we knew we had to be strong for the membership and to come up with something that could keep us together.
Video Sex Parties Gave Us a New Way to Connect
The virtual parties launched and it was definitely a bit awkward at first. The idea of getting naked on camera was new for so many of the people who joined in. But it was also exciting, and there was a feeling of relief once people started getting comfortable. I remember having sex with my partner for the first time on camera and just feeling so sexy. Members from all over the world were joining in and, within a few weeks, we had an event that people loved and came back to. But gosh, it was a nightly learning lesson. (It turns out a double-ended dildo is an effective prop for a ring light!)
Our virtual play parties really showed us that our members feel the same way we do: that our club isn't just about the sex or the play, but more about the community. We had 30-plus couples dialing in every weekend from around the world: Mexico City, Paris, Barcelona, London, Sri Lanka, Columbia and across the U.S. Our host would open up with erotic readings and games of Truth or Dare. Members would show up in lingerie and show us their toy collections. They couldn't leave their homes, but they could look forward to these virtual meets.
For many, it was the escape they needed. It gave them something to get dressed up for and excited about. By the end of each party, various screens would be filled with solo and partnered couples coming together. We'd spotlight people who were being extra sexy and you could see how watching someone in pleasure would get others to do the same. As stressful as the time was for so many people, going virtual showed us the potential for our community and made the goal of building a global community of sexy fucks more attainable.
After COVID, we're predicting the Whoring Twenties.
Quarantine Only Made Our Community Stronger
The community is now building fast. I feel we're stronger now because so many saw us fight to stay alive during a time when many places closed down. We have a waitlist for new locations and all the international press we received has brought in a lot of people offering to fund. The goal now is to make our little club for the adventurous more accessible, a place as common as an Equinox or SoulCycle—a reminder for people to prioritize their sexual health, to connect to a community and to make an effort to be better lovers. To be someplace that will be there for them even when the world feels like it's ending.
Everyone is eager to come to events. Folks who weren't interested in the club before now can't get to it fast enough. The whole experience taught us a lot. It showed us the power of our community. It showed us that even in the worst of times they will be there to support us and keep us going. It made us realize that this is so much more than just a fun time but something bigger that we need to keep building. The pandemic made our New York City club international. It opened the door for our club to exist in more places and attracted serious funding to make that opportunity real.
The main change now is that we're less worried about our future. COVID changed many peoples' perceptions of sex and intimacy. It made those quarantining alone more aware that they wanted partners, and helped couples realize that they might want to spice things up. It gave people time to consider the things that make them happy in their lives and made sex a higher priority. People are leaving COVID with a greater sense of desire to not be stuck in the things that made them unhappy. We're seeing it in people not returning to low-paying jobs and we're seeing it in people not returning to low-libido lifestyles. After the Spanish Flu, we had the Roaring Twenties. After COVID, we're predicting the Whoring Twenties. It's more than just a hot vax summer, it's a hot vax lifestyle and one we're expecting to be a major part of.
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Chandigarh, May 11 (UNI) Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah today said that the Central Information Commission (CIC) has the authority to seek the disproportionate assets accounts of anybody if the same has been sought by a petitioner.
''The Commission can seek such information and it can even reveal it if the case is in public interest,'' he said, while talking to the newsmen after the launch of the official website of the State Information Commission, Punjab here.
Mr Habibullah said the Official Secrets Act would continue to be implemented in its existing form, while there had been a few instances when the CIC had denied an information to the petitioner, keeping in view the provisions of the Act.
He even said that the banks had been assured that the bank account were private information of the clients and the same would not be sought by the Commission unless there was an exceptional case in public interest.
Clarifying that there was no legislation as such for the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioners in states, he said such appointments were made with the consent of the Leader of Opposition in states as per the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Addressing the gathering at the lauch of the Punjab Information Commission website www.infocommpunjab.com, he said he was impressed with the manner in which the Punjab state Information Commission had come up in such a short span of time. The system for management and disposal of references developed in Punjab could become a useful model for Information Commissions in other states which were in the process of establishing themselves, he said.
Punjab Governor Gen (retd) S F Rodrigues, who also inaugurated the office of State Information Commission Punjab on the occasion, commended the Commission for effective use of information technology for the convenience of the common public in obtaining information from government offices in the state.
Pointing out that the RTI Act had placed power in the hands of all citizens, he expressed confidence that the people of the state would use this ''valuable instrument'' to bring about transparency and accountability in all public bodies. He exhorted citizens of the state to approach government offices with confidence.
Commending the role of Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Rajan Kashyap in establishing the office, he urged the state government to speed up the process of decentralisation of powers to Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural areas and Municipal Local Bodies in urban areas.
Linked with the Right to Information, decentralisation would improve the delivery of public services to the common man, Gen Rodrigues added.


jexperience.me 9 out of 10 based on 862 ratings. 2,087 user reviews.
Wiring a Baseboard Heater Thermostat Electrical Question #1: How do I wire a baseboard heater and thermostat? I have a HHBT 2 thermostat that is for a 220 volt baseboard heater.
Quicker and less expensive to install than just about any other type of heating, electric baseboard heating might be the right choice for a variety of heating needs.
If it is a 240 volt unit and you have all 4 wires at the thermostat, it would be better to use a double pole thermostat. That way, when the heat is off, everything is dead from the thermostat on.
I have a new CT410A,B baseboard thermostat. The baseboard heater is 240 and the wall box wiring has 2 hot wires and 2 wires going to the heater, 2 black and 2 red.
Provide an excellent comfort level to your home by selecting this Cadet Double Pole Wall Mount Mechanical Non programmable Thermostat in White.
Line voltage thermostats are used to regulate heating cooling systems that run on direct electricity (line voltage – 120 volts or 240 volts). A classic example is baseboard heaters which operate on line voltage.
Under certain circumstances a large wire size may be needed even if your amp requirement does not seem to justify it. Go to the next largest wire size if your run is more than 100 feet, inside a conduit, or ganged with other wires where the heat dissipation may be inhibited.


this is my backup. >> @zoelaverne my main.
my fandom. do not give cody anymore hate please it's not right we know that.
been talking to him for 22 min now. cody and i are talking everything out. and he admitted that it looks bad cause he threatened to "expose" me but he promised he didn't hack me it's my fault for accusing him.


I have a ton of websites and want a script that will log into the stats software once per day and update. I want to log into it and check up to the day stats.
I have far too many sites to install Analytics on them, so that's pretty much out.
I have such a system, home made and am thinking of re-writing it to make it available to the community. Perhaps you could be a beta tester at some point. let me know your thoughts.


During an investigation of an Alfalfa County man for deer poaching, a game warden discovered the man had a previous felony conviction making gun ownership illegal.
According to court records, on March 27 Game Warden Ben Bickerstaff contacted District Attorney's Investigator Steve Tanio about Matthew Roberts of Cherokee. Bickerstaff said he questioned Roberts at his home about a report that Robers had used his vehicle headlights to light up a deer and then shoot it. Roberts admitted to "head lighting" the deer but denied shooting at any deer.


Miller Harris has currently 22 products available on our pages. The fragrances include 3 men colognes and 10 woman perfume. Also 9 unisex products are available. Use links below to learn the details of each particular fragrance by Miller Harris.


Today's cake class was fun and difficult at the same time. Started out with a small bud and crafting each petal one by one, glueing them to the bud and seeing how a fully bloomed rose sprung out in the end. There is no other option than to use flower paste if you want the petals thin and layered. You could do it in marzipan, but then all the petals would be much thicker and the number of layers reduced. The rose took about 3 hrs to craft.


Title track from the recording T.I.H., filmed entirely on location in Hamilton, ON (Canada).
Get the tracks at https://sinnicks.com/hear-music (or your favourite streaming service).
A video from SG Sinnicks' most recent album, T.I.H.
City That Pharma Built (SG SInnicks) from the CD T.I.H.
From the Barbershop Podcast. Always a good time.
The the lamented farmers Hope in mannheim PA in 2013. Not bad for a lost phone video.
Some of the new stuff. 2014 SOCAN.
An oldie but a goodie. All songs SG Sinnicks all songs SOCAN.
Steve Sinnicks wins Folk/Roots Recording Of The Year 2009 at the Hamilton Music Awards for his CD Red Meat & Blue 88's and performs "Jesus Was A Refugee".


A Meyers Manx beach buggy combined with the frame and suspension + wheels from an MPC Datsun monster-wrecker Engine is a V6 from a Firdebird GTA.
Ha, what a nasty machines! Loved that veedub, and the monster was great as well. Good job!
Creative and fun models you have there, gonna copy your idea of using humwee wheels on a street car someday.


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Environmental film contest goes countywide
RUTLAND HERALD 09/22/20
By Keith Whitcomb Jr.
BRANDON — An environmental film contest that awarded cash prizes to local students is going countywide this year.
Michael Shank, an adjunct faculty member at New York University Center for Global Affairs, of Brandon, contributor to a number of national publications, said Tuesday the Brandon Environmental Film Competition, which in May awarded several hundred dollars of Shanks' money in prizes, was such a success that he's expanding it.
The Rutland County Environmental Film Competition opened Sept. 3. The deadline for submissions is March 1 with winners announced May 1. Shank said Tuesday that any student in Rutland County can enter. Prizes are $500 for first place, $250 for second, $100 for third, and $50 to honorable mentions. Visit RutlandFilms.org for more information.
"It's a slow expansion," said Shank. "Next year, or the year after, I'd love to make it statewide. I figured I'd start in Brandon, see what the response is like and expand to Rutland County."
The contest got its start at Neshobe Elementary School where Shank volunteers in the library. He said the school librarian, Hannah Fjord, was instrumental in drumming up interest and support, along with others.
For this contest, he's reaching out to teachers he knows at Rutland High School, Mill River Union High school and others.
"Last year we had about 20 submissions and if I'm able to double that I would be thrilled," he said. "I have a great lineup of judges, and these are 2 or 3 minute films so we can review those and evaluate their contribution to county-wide conversations pretty quickly."
Through the contest he hopes to see students develop transferable skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, civic engagement in the community and communications. A winning entry will have a clear and coherent environmental message, a compelling invitation that encourages people to get engaged, creative storytelling and visuals, and be tightly edited.
Last year, the grand prize winners were Mickeen Hogan and Isaac James, who attended Stafford Technical Center, and based their film around flooding, which has played a large role in shaping parts of the town.
Cash prizes help get students interested in things like this, said Cristina Kumka, instructor of video communications at Stafford Technical Center.
Hogan and James were two of her students. She said they already had impressive video making skills when the contest rolled around, the trick was teaching them to think about what sort of message they wanted to convey. She asked them what was most important to them in their lives and how the environment affects that. It turned out they lived in an area where the government purchased people's homes and removed them on account of flooding, so that was the topic they selected.
"I think environmental film contests like the one Mr. Shank is putting on… are really good right now, at a time when video is everywhere, and it's a perfect time for anyone to tell a story through video," she said. "I think an environmental topic is difficult for teens, but that's how they grow, they have to wrap their heads around something other than technology, they have to wrap their heads around how we're going to get through the pandemic or the next flood."
Shank said the COVID-19 pandemic has environmental implications, but the film contest isn't specifically geared for that as a topic, though someone might find an appropriate angle. His other competition, found at BrandonWrites.org, seeks essays proposing solutions to a broad range of problems, the pandemic among them.
keith.whitcomb@rutlandherald.com


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Tag: gallery
Bulldogs in Pictures: Dogs Put Through Intense Workout [GALLERY]
Post author By Rabita Naqvi
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By Rabita, Photojournalist, All Habs Hockey Magazine
HAMILTON,ON. — It was a sea of red when I entered the arena today. Half of the team decked out only in red jerseys did skating drills in Copps Coliseum. Like lots of skating. It was definitely a high-cardio practice.
(Photo by Rabita Naqvi | Rocket Sports Media)
In total there were nine players participating including goalie Dustin Tokarski. The net was outfitted with a goalie target with cutouts for players to practice their shots. Martin St. Pierre came out in a white jersey and practiced alone with one of the coaches.
At the end of the intense session, the coaches praised all the players in red jerseys, patting them on the back.
It was then time for the other half of the split squad all in white jerseys. The drills were similar but they were divided into four groups. The practice ended with all players trying to score on goalie Robert Mayer.
Enjoy the photos! I welcome your comments.
Tags Bulldogs, Copps Coliseum, Dustin Tokarski, featured, gallery, Hamilton Bulldogs, Martin St-Pierre, Robert Mayer
Bulldogs in Pictures: A Frosty Day at Practice [GALLERY]
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HAMILTON,ON. — It was cold, very cold as I walked through the blowing snow on the way into Copps Coliseum for morning practice. Funny thing is that it didn't get any warmer inside the arena as the drills began.
Gone was the light-hearted banter, replaced by the coaches being more stern and barking their commands. Yes they definitely were yelling a lot more. Rink-side, there was a chilly mood indeed.
There was a new arrival, Jordan Owens, who had been signed to a professional try out contract earlier in the week. The coaches spent more time on individual instruction, including with Owen, who was wearing number 26. But with the Bulldogs playing a game later in the day, the skate was kept shorter than usual.
Attending the game, it was incredible to see the boys put the effort and hard work from practice into the game against the Toronto Marlies. It was also interesting to see players show the same characteristics that I had witnessed at the practices. It was weird at first to see such a full stadium — I'm used to just empty seats. But I was happy to see such a good turn out!
Enjoy the photos!
Tags AHL, Copps Coliseum, Dustin Tokarski, featured, gallery, Hamilton Bulldogs, Jarred Tinordi, Jonas Nattinen, Jordan Owens, Nathan Beaulieu, Robert Mayer, Sylvain Lefebvre, Toronto Marlies
Bulldogs in Pictures: Sometimes Jerseys Are Optional [GALLERY]
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HAMILTON,ON. — You might think that a hockey practice is rather routine: stretching, skating and drills. That may be partly true but there's always something different. It's a time to watch the skills of the players but more importantly see the interactions between teammates and the coaches. Last time, I told you (and showed you photos) of the small fight between Darren Dietz and Nick Tarnasky.
Today started like any other practice. The players got on the ice and started their drills right away, split into white and red jerseys. It was good to see the older players being vocal, encouraging the younger players in the drills. Something I found interesting (and wouldn't have seen otherwise) is that the coaches actively participated in the drills rather than just instructing the players.
But what was the most fascinating to me was when goalie Dustin Tokarski returned to the ice without a jersey or protective gear and began going through the motions of saving phantom pucks and recovering for the next stop in his mind. He is a very focused athlete.
Enjoy the photos. I look forward to your comments.
Tags Copps Coliseum, Darren Deitz, featured, Gabriel Dumont, gallery, Habs, Hamilton Bulldogs, Jarred Tinordi, Louis Leblanc, Montreal Canadiens, Morgan Ellis, Nick Tarnasky, Robert Mayer, Sylvain Lefebvre
Emotions On Display at Hamilton Bulldogs Practice [PHOTO GALLERY]
1 Comment on Emotions On Display at Hamilton Bulldogs Practice [PHOTO GALLERY]
If you are a regular reader of All Habs Hockey Magazine, you know that we do things differently and you tell us that it's one of the reasons you keep coming back. In addition to our comprehensive coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, we also commit to providing you the most in-depth coverage of prospects in the organization. Being a Canadiens fan means you want to keep current on the progress of future stars too.
One of our Senior Writers, Dan Kramer, is in his second full season of providing you game-by-game reports for the Hamilton Bulldogs from the press box. We are pleased to introduce to you Rabita, another member of All Habs team who will be providing you with images from Copps Coliseum. Her experience in sports photography will tell you the story from Hamilton in pictures.
We have more changes in store for you that are just around the corner. We think that you'll like them.
HAMILTON,ON. — I'm used to be on the field as a sidelines photographer. But I knew that this photo assignment was going to be different when the pucks slammed against the glass, quite startling when one is looking through a camera lens. And the speed. Being rink-side gave a whole new appreciation for the speed, even at this level. The guys are really fast which made it a challenge to capture them in motion sometimes.
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting warmed up and beginning their drills. The team worked hard all through the practice in preparation for Tuesday's game against the Texas Stars. There was plenty of chatter on the ice with teammates encouraging each other. Players seemed to pair up reserving conversation with one partner. And the coaches showed their fun and joking side at times too.
At one point, the 'communication' became intense. Nick Tarnasky, playing the role of the veteran, felt that a rookie defenceman wasn't taking things seriously enough. He and Darren Dietz exchanged rough language and eventually dropped the gloves. The minor dispute was settled quickly by the coaches and fellow teammates. Just the emotion of the game.
All in all, today was an incredible experience photographing the Bulldogs. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to capture the skills and emotions of these talented players.
I am pleased to join the All Habs team. I will be telling you the stories of Hamilton Bulldogs through pictures this season. I hope that you enjoy them. I'd love to hear what you think. Please leave me a note in the comment box.