Dark and foreboding collaborations between science and art, Orange County, California-based artist Laurie Hassold creates fantastical creatures that carry a calm and quiet magnetic energy with them. Her biomorphic and alien-like objects are decadent and curious, drawing viewers close to inspect every tiny and thoughtful detail Laurie incorporates into her meticulous creations. Unexpected and exciting glimpses into the playful darkness inherent in life, death, and the fine line in-between, Laurie works with real bones, found objects, intricate clay work, and many other strange and eclectic materials to compose, sculpt and create intricate and detailed biomorphic beauties.
Having just wrapped up her latest solo exhibit at Bert Green Fine Art, and two other California-based shows, Laurie is constantly working, whether teaching at a number of universities in Southern California or creating in her studio, this artist never stops going.
Laurie grew up around science thanks to her father, a medical professional. Her early exposure to the medical world aimed her imagination toward fearless and interested experimentation, and allowed her to create wonderful objects and drawings, playing with relics of animal bodies and bones in that process. Laurie was able to not only watch but also participate in medical procedures with her father, from mole excisions to hysterectomies, only fueling her interest in construction and deconstruction of things, people, creatures, and places.
Her interest in biomorphic design, and the seemingly endless possibilities of nature's creative genius combined with her artist's imagination and led her down a path of innate success, although she admits that she feels she collaborates with her materials, letting them guide her through the creation process, with only a small internal plan beforehand.
Her resulting sculptures have a pulsating feel of scientific glamour as her delicate embellishments offer a calm and attractive façade to pull viewers in. The perceived fragility inherent in her creations carry a powerful energy, while the dark and morbid style, coloring, and themes tend to offer an additional threat of evil, encrusted in pearls and jewels, these objects are imbued with a seduction that teeters on the edge between life and death, and heaven and hell.
Stumbling upon one of her sculptures is like discovering an abandoned mad scientist's lair or fossils of an alien species that has come and gone. Regardless of their size, her sculptures are powerful and loud in any space. Within any of her work, there are dozens of details to be discovered at a closer glance—viewers stand with her pieces for hours finding new and strange relics of life and interaction in every crevasse.
Tiny humans bowing to dance to each other inside of what looks like a tree's chest cavity, with other relics from human life scattered in small pockets of bone and pearl, recalling the strangest of story lines, offering a chance at multiple lives inside death. Using only the power of her imagination and creative genius, her imagination, and what Earth's creations, her passion for life and emotional ties to science is combined to throw her viewers into a surrealist dream world where there are no nightmares, because everything is possible. Laurie's ominous and extravagant works of art straddle the real, imaginary, familiar and foreign and entice views imagination to soar to strange and uncharted territory.


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Thick Forests and Mineral Waters
by CAPRAC Admin April 6, 2022
April 2022 article by: Line Labrecque
featured image: L'autre rive, by Sylvie Pilon
Bloggers usually try to answer questions. We research and share what we find. Sometimes though, research reaps more questions than answers. Researching the general history and heritage of Prescott-Russell is one of those times. A few books, and some Google pages brought me to some interesting bits of information.
Looking at the agricultural landscape we could be tempted to assume that the natural heritage here has always been the same. This is not the case. I can now imagine the thick forest (late 18th century) and its transformation. Colonization and agriculture have totally transformed this area.
One of my interests was the rise and fall of the region's industries. First came lumber. The thick forest was a perfect resource. Wood was used in everything from building and heating homes, furniture, and roads. Non-existent roads and the need to engage in commerce with others gave the lumber industry the perfect incentive. At the time, rivers were the thoroughfares that led to travel and commerce. Sawmills were everywhere. When the trees were gone, agriculture became the main industry of the counties.
*Fun fact: The Government of Ontario passed a decree obligating landowners to each build the road adjacent to their properties.
The land itself reacted to these efforts. By the end of the 19th century, deforestation had stripped the soil, leaving limestone and sand. Still, settlers worked and established cheese factories, churches, stores, and schools. They faced setbacks like pests, droughts, floods, fire, and political changes. Some communities disappeared while others survived and thrived.
Mineral Waters — Source of Good Health
Another interest are mineral water sources found in certain areas like Caledonia, Plantagenet, and Carlsbad Springs. Caledonia Springs became quite famous, acquiring international renown from the wealthy and religious leaders. Plantagenet had a bottling plant of their mineral waters for many years.
*Fun Fact: Legend says that an Indigenous chief named Rolling Thunder had a daughter, Night Star, who was sick and dying. Crow's Feather, a young man looking to marry her, made a deal with the chief that if he cured Night Star the chief would agree to the marriage. Crow's Feather knew of curing waters in this region. At the mineral water source (Caledonia Springs) he built a bed of cedar branches, laid Night Star down on them and gave her water alternatively from the 4 sources for one day. Her fever broke the next day and within a few days she was cured.
For all you armchair historians, researchers of the past, possessing knowledge, I ask these questions: What happened to the mineral water sources after the hotels closed? Or after the bottling plants shut down? Do the mineral water sources still exist?
As promised, this is a blog post that is asking you questions instead of answering them. I invite you to continue this conversation about the history of our region and the natural resources of this territory.
Line Labrecque's main goal is to find meaning in the world around her. She uses polymer clay, words, and fibres as a medium to do so. Her ultimate goal is to create connections between artistic expression and the world.
Learn more about Line
See Line's collection on the CAPRAC Gallery
Merci, Line, pour cet article intéressant si bien rédigé. On peut toujours en apprendre sur notre région!
Lynn Bray-Levac April 21, 2022
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


People often ask me how they can change? Or more importantly for them, how can they change quickly? One of the fastest ways to change the results you're getting in your life is to change your thoughts. By changing what goes on inside, you change what goes on outside.
Those little images, sounds and feelings that dart through your head during the day have a tremendous impact on you. They can alter the direction of your mindset and your results. Even those that appear harmless can nudge you off course by a mere degree or two or three. That simple miscalculation in your thinking can cause major misfortune down the road.
You only have to be off course by a few degrees to miss your destination by what seems to be a million miles.
"CANCEL that! What I meant to say/think/picture is..."
This simple technique will dramatically alter your focus and thereby your direction, creating more empowering results.
If you're looking for lasting change in your life, your thoughts are an excellent place to start. Whatever is in your mind consistently and backed up with emotional intensity, will manifest in your life.
Whether you believe to be true or not is irrelevant.
This is a bit of a review and I do that for a reason.
Basics, Basics, Basics. The more you read it, the more you see it, the more you do it - the better you get.
As the saying goes, "Listen to me now, believe me later."


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How my successor will emerge - Ganduje
•Governor Umar Ganduje
Amid speculations on who the All Progressive Congress (APC) will field for the 2023 governorship election in Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has spoken on how his successor will emerge.
The governor also hinted how the presidential candidate of the ruling party will emerge amidst clamour for zoning in the party.
While responding to questions during an interactive session with journalists on Monday, Ganduje said the party's flagbearers for both governorship and presidency will be decided by delegates.
"It will be the delegates that will do that. Looking at the antecedent of the governor (referring to himself), his political dexterity, he too is a complicated complex in politics. So, time will tell; but it will be resolved democratically," he said.
It was reported that this is coming after three former gubernatorial candidates in previous elections under different political parties decamped to the ruling APC.
Aside the trio of Salihu Sagir Takai, A.A. Zaura and Umar Yakubu Danhassan, who recently joined the party and are being touted as potential successors of the governor, other bigwigs of the party in the state, including the Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, and the senator representing Kano North, Bara'u Jibrin, are also being promoted as likely successors.
Similarly, several posters of APC National Leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, were sighted on the streets of Kano on Saturday.
The APC leader is seen as very close to Ganduje. When the governor was asked whether he will retire from active politics after 2023, he said he was not yet tired and would reveal his next move at the right time.
Alluding to Governor Aminu Masari, who recently said he will resign from active politics after 2023, Ganduje said, "You want me to tell you whether I will retire as well? Well, I am not tired. Whether I will retire or not, time will tell. But you should know that I have been in politics since 1978. So, even if I resign or retire, I think my ears are on what is happening." (Daily Trust)
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Weah, Boakai face presidential runoff in Liberia next month
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Varsity suspends four students over cultism


Hire Me SC in blue letters with an arrow pointing up as the "I". Next to it is a blue and green graphic in the shape of SC and a pin drop that says Lancaster. Below Hire Me SC, it reads "Disability Benefits and Employment: Making it Work For You.
If you need accommodations, please request them by December 4, 2018, by contacting us at hiremesc@able-sc.org or 800-681-7715/TTY: 864-235-8798.


It's been an eventful year for the Mattel doll who celebrates her birthday today.
BARBIE'S BIRTHDAY: It's been 57 years since Barbie made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. And it's been an eventful year for the Mattel doll, who celebrates her birthday today.
In January, the toy company evolved her look to make her more diverse and unveiled three additions to its Barbie Fashionistas line to include tall, curvy and petite body types and in a range of skin tones and hairstyles. The new Barbie doll even made the cover of the Feb. 8 issue of Time Magazine.
Barbie made waves on the online front as the company reported that the Moschino Barbie sold out on Net-a-porter in under an hour. This was part of an eight-piece collection designed by Jeremy Scott, which inspired his spring collection.
Barbie will wrap up Paris Fashion Week with an exhibit titled "Barbie" at Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris, which opens Thursday and includes 700 dolls, models, videos, art work and fashion items from the museum's archives, including Carven, Thierry Mugler and Chanel, plus loans from Maison Margiela, Jeremy Scott and the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent.
Milan's new MUDEC — Museo delle Culture — museum mounted an exhibition dedicated to the Mattel model. "Barbie: The Icon," featured the journey of Barbara Millicent Robert, also known as Barbie, designed by Ruth Handler, the wife of Mattel's founder, in 1959.


That magic feeling of autumn and the need of enjoing home, between hugs, cozy blankets and candle light, cooking muffins and drinking cinnamon latte.
When Autumn begins, it begins the season of raisin muffins and pumpkin soup, of risotto and ginger cookies. Before Christmas season arrives, before snow falls and before mountain getaways, this is the season that I love most to live in town and having cozy Sundays at home. With nothing to do but staying comfy with your beloved.
Warm hugs from hubby and our little Cookie sleeping on my legs, new Tv series to watch and hot cinnamon latte to drink while the leaves of the big tree in front of the house are getting golden.
This is the season when I love the most cooking, especially sweets, for the cooking it self and for that amazing scent that you can feel all around the house, while they are baking in the oven.
Muffins with raisins and oats are probably my favorites, I think that they are perfect both for breakfast and for an afternoon snack.
Preheat the oven to 180 celsius. Put the paper liners into the muffin pan (12 cups).
In a bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt until you obtain a creamy result. Stir the oats (leave some for decoration at the end) and raisins. Add oil, eggs, milk, carrots and stir until blended.
Fill each muffin cup and put on top the oats over the muffins. Bake until they are golden or umtil a toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Some useful tools to cook muffins.
If muffins are not enough, you can find HERE my easy Apple Pie recipe.
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UCL is one of the world's very best universities, and is consistently placed high in the world rankings. Currently UCL is ranked 7th in the QS World University Rankings 2018. UCL is a multi-disciplinary university, home to centers of teaching excellence in subjects from medicine to languages, law to engineering and history to astrophysics. Being located in Central London gives UCL students access not only to the best in entertainment and nightlife, but also to cultural and academic resources.
UCL is the only leading UK university to offer its own undergraduate foundation courses. These Foundation Courses are taught by UCL Academic Staff. And students have access to all university resources. Application NOW Open for September 2018!
Interested? Come and Meet Mr Christophe Castiglioni from UCL CLIE on
Mon, 6 Nov '17 @ 4-6 pm
JACK Study Abroad
Sahid Sudirman Center, 56th Floor
Jl Jend Sudirman Kav 86
Limited Space! RSVP Please call 021 8063 1833 / 0811 888 9719


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The Vallés Symphony Orchestra has got to be the most versatile orchestra in Catalonia, and one of the first to bank on the idea of showing a film on the big screen accompanied by live music. This particular show enjoyed huge success in Madrid, with some 18,000 spectators. You'll see 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (dubbed in Spanish) as the orchestra plays the score along with the screening of the film. It's all part of a tour that's taking the show to various European capital cities.


If you feel the same way about the wilderness as I do, then an entry level job with The Wilderness Society might be something worth considering.
Posted by Willy Franzen on December 14, 2008. Jobs updated daily.
For me the wilderness is central to life itself – I can't be happy without time spent outdoors. That doesn't mean that I'm not enjoying life in downtown Chicago, but I plan on spending lots of time in the woods and rivers of Wisconsin and Michigan once Spring starts to show its face. My philosophy is shared by the people at The Wilderness Society. Their About page says that "It is our calling and our passion to protect America's wilderness, not as a relic of our nation's past, but as a thriving ecological community that is central to life itself." I couldn't agree more. They're a non-profit organization that provides "scientific, economic, legal and policy guidance to land managers, communities, local conservation groups and state and federal decision-makers" to "ensure the best management of our lands – national forests, parks and refuges, as well as public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management." I've seen one of my favorite places in the world (a Northern Michigan tract of wilderness and quality fishing areas) put at risk by poor land management policies that would have allowed natural gas drilling in an extremely sensitive area, so I know how firsthand how vital The Wilderness Society's work is.
If you feel the same way about the wilderness as I do, then an entry level job with The Wilderness Society might be something worth considering. Their website does a great job of telling their story, so you should be able to get a much clearer picture o who they are and what they about by spending a little time browsing it. They even have a cool section where you can tell them what you've been doing to help. I'm not sure what they do with those stories, but it's nice to see that they're putting user-generated content to work for them. Their Jobs page lists a couple of opportunities that look like they have potential for new college grads. The most likely jobs are Office Administrator (San Francisco, CA) and Development Operations Coordinator (Washington, DC). To apply for these jobs, visit the specific job descriptions and use the e-mail at the bottom of the posting to send your cover letter and resume.
Do you enjoy the wilderness as much as I do?


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Home » Guides » Impacts of Natural Land Loss on Water Quality
Impacts of Natural Land Loss on Water Quality
Display to header level All 1 2 3 4 5 6
Loss of Natural Land Cover Harms Water Systems
The Problem of Impervious Surfaces
The Problem of Sediment
The Problem of Excess Nutrients
Runoff Carries Nutrients
Excess Nutrients Result in Low Oxygen
Low Oxygen Leads to Fish Kills and Drops in Food Production
Extent of Dead Zones
Extent of Waterway Impairment
Urban Development Degrades Water Quality
Species Loss in the U.S.
Riparian Buffers Mitigate Loss of Natural Lands
Filtration of Sediments
Filtration of Pollutant
Trees Cool Streams and Moderate Temperature Swing
Water Temperature and Chemical Toxicity
Aquatic Habitat
Terrestrial Habitat
- hide table of contents -
Forests, riparian buffers, wetlands and other natural lands are essential for the protection of water quality and aquatic habitat. The loss of forests, riparian buffers, wetlands and other natural lands increases the amount of pollutants and sediment in water, alters stream flows, erodes stream banks, eliminates habitat for aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, decreases the replenishment of groundwater supplies, and increases the frequency of both flooding and periods of low stream flows.
Typical End Users
Obstacles and Challenges
When natural lands are developed, their permeable surfaces are replaced by impervious surfaces such as roads, roofs and parking lots and less permeable surfaces such as lawns. This increases stormwater runoff and is one of urbanization's most significant impacts to natural water systems (Booth, 2000).
The porous terrain of natural environments allows rainwater and snowmelt to slowly absorb into the ground. Only small portions run off the surface and go directly into streams and other bodies of water. This allows for groundwater supplies to be recharged and for the slow release of rainwater into water bodies. Stored water is then available later in the year and during periods of dry weather, which benefits fisheries and water quality.
In contrast, the impervious (nonporous) surfaces of built environments prevent rain and snowmelt from soaking into the ground. Stormwater flows off impervious surfaces, picks up pollutants, and flows into waterways. In comparison to a typical parking lot, which allows no water to be absorbed into the ground, an acre of wetlands can store 1-1.5 million gallons of water (EPA, 2001). During a heavy rainstorm, the closely mowed lawns typical of suburban developments are little better than blacktop in absorbing rainfall (Ware, n.d.). The pollutants picked up by storm water runoff include excess fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides from lawns, farms and golf courses; bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet waste and faulty septic systems; antifreeze, salt and sand from roads; partially oxidized hydrocarbons from cars and trucks; and sediment from farms, timberlands and improperly managed construction sites.
Urban development causes rainwater to reach water bodies much more rapidly than if land was left in its natural state. In a small watershed, urban development causes rain water to reach streams with a typical delay of a few minutes, as opposed to hours, days, or even weeks if the watershed were in its natural state (Booth, 2000). This drastically changes flow patterns downstream. The runoff is often warmed by streets, rooftops and parking lots and the increased temperatures are harmful to the health and reproduction of aquatic life. (EPA, 2003)
Unlike the slow, dispersed release of water into water bodies by natural systems, storm sewer systems concentrate runoff into smooth, straight conduits where the runoff gains speed. When it empties into a stream, the excessive volume and power blast out stream banks, damaging streamside vegetation and wiping out aquatic habitat. Additional sediments are picked up from eroded stream banks (EPA, 2003). In some cities, stormwater flows into sewage treatment plants. During large storms, the excess flow created by impervious surfaces can bring so much water into a treatment plant that treatment capacity is exceeded and both untreated rainwater and household sewage are released into waterways (EPA, 1999).
And while there is increased flooding during and immediately after wet weather, the lack of groundwater recharge and decreased levels of water stored in the soil in urbanized areas lower stream flows during dry weather. Many native fish and other aquatic life cannot survive the periods of low flow (EPA, 2003). Even with storm water detention ponds, urbanization can produce seasonal and storm flow patterns that are substantially different from those to which native aquatic animals have adapted (Booth, 2000). Although small streams can help to recharge groundwater, according to American Rivers (n.d.), sprawling development fills or buries as many as one-third of small streams to make way for buildings, roads, and parking lots. Smaller streams are often simply paved over and larger, intermittent and perennial streams put into storm drains (Lookingbill et al., 2009). The water that would normally be caught by the smaller streams and recharge groundwater is then lost to larger water bodies.
Sediment is the loose particles of sand, clay, silt and other soil particles that enter streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. Sediment can come either from water washing away soil particles from the streambed or banks or from stormwater runoff and wind carrying sediment to the water. A certain amount of erosion and sedimentation occurs naturally and riparian buffers and other natural lands filter much of it out of water and reduce streambank erosion. However, at the same time sediment in stormwater is increasing due to urbanization, industrial agriculture, natural resource extraction, construction and timbering, riparian buffers are being lost to development. (See the Riparian Buffer section below for more information on the role of riparian buffers.)
In the United States, excess sediment is a leading cause of water quality impairment (EPA, n.d.). It clouds the water and prevents light from reaching underwater plants, killing them or inhibiting their growth, which lowers the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. In the Chesapeake Bay, reduced water clarity from sedimentation has lead to a drastic decline in submerged aquatic vegetation over the past 30 years. This, coupled with poor water quality, leaves the Chesapeake Bay classified as an "impaired water body" (Phillips 2001).
Excess sedimentation increases fish mortality in several ways. Sediment can clog or be abrasive to fish's gills. It increases turbidity (the cloudiness of water), which lowers the ability of visual feeders such as trout and bass to see and hinders the filter-feeding systems of other fish. Sediment covers fish eggs, suffocating them and preventing them from hatching and covers and suffocates aquatic insects, decreasing fishes' food availability. It can destroy the mucus covering that protects the eyes and scales of fish, increasing their susceptibility to infection. Sediment covers aquatic habitat used for egg laying and buries bottom dwelling animals such as oysters and clams.
Sediment often carries chemicals, pathogens, nutrients, and other harmful substances that have been applied to, or spilled onto the land. Sediment particles absorb warmth from the sun. The resulting increase in water temperature can hurt aquatic life (the impact of increased temperatures is discussed later in this guide.
The loss of natural lands, including wetlands and riparian buffers, is the leading cause of excess nutrients reaching waterways. It increases stormwater runoff, the nutrient loads in the runoff, and the loss of the ability to filter nutrients from the runoff. Runoff occurs from croplands, lands used for animal agriculture, and urban and suburban areas. Wastewater treatment plant discharges and air deposits also contribute nutrients to water systems. (Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 2010).
The excess nutrients cause algal blooms, which can cause rapid drops in dissolved oxygen levels in water, killing or hurting aquatic life. The increased algae growth decreases dissolved oxygen levels in two ways: through increased plant respiration and through the decomposition of plants after algal blooms. As nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, accumulate in water bodies, they fertilize algal blooms. Although these algae produce oxygen in the daytime via photosynthesis, the algae's cellular respiration, which depletes dissolved oxygen levels, continues at night. As the amount of algae continues to increase, the rate of oxygen depletion can outpace the rate of oxygen production and the water can become hypoxic, meaning oxygen concentrations fall below the level necessary to sustain most animal life. Oxygen levels fluctuate both seasonally and daily, and hypoxic conditions occur more frequently in the summer when temperature and respiration rates are high (as water temperatures increase, oxygen levels decrease at the same time animal metabolism increases) or after a period of cloudy days, when the oxygen from photosynthesis by aquatic plants is low.
Once algal blooms deplete the water of excess nutrients, they die off and sink to the bottom of the water. There they provide a rich food source for bacteria, which, in the act of decomposition, consume dissolved oxygen from surrounding waters. This can also significantly deplete dissolved oxygen and create hypoxic conditions.
Although fish and other mobile aquatic animals can escape hypoxic areas, commonly referred to as dead zones, fish kills do occur, especially when dissolved oxygen levels drop rapidly (Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 2010). Aquatic animals are most vulnerable to lowered dissolved oxygen levels in the early morning on hot summer days when stream flows are low, water temperatures are high, and aquatic plants have not been producing oxygen since sunset (EPA, 1997).
Immobile species such as oysters and mussels are particularly vulnerable to hypoxia, and may die because of it, resulting in significant negative impacts to the food web and the economy. The death and stunted growth of bottom dwellers such as clams and worms caused by hypoxia robs their predators of an important source of nutrition. In the Chesapeake Bay, it causes the loss of about 10,000 metric tons of carbon each year, 5% of the Bay's total production of food energy (Malmquist, 2008). Hypoxia depletes populations of mussels, which, in addition to being a source of food, provide habitat for benthic (bottom dwelling) plants, stabilize sediment, and are important sources of water filtration, removing large amounts of phytoplankton, bacteria and inorganic nutrients (Nobles & Zhang, 2011). For more information, see the Guide The Importance of Biodiversity (Coming Soon).
Globally, the number of water bodies with recorded and published accounts of low dissolved oxygen are increasing rapidly. Since 1960, the number of areas with dead zones has approximately doubled each decade. As of 2008, the number has risen to more than 400, affecting a total area of more than 245,000 square kilometers worldwide (Diaz & Rosenberg, 2008).
A 2008 analysis of 647 United States coastal and estuarine ecosystems found that 307 (47%) had dead zones. This type of analysis was first conducted in 1985, when it was found that 38% of systems had dead zones (Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 2010).
Between 2007 and 2011, the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico was 6,688 square miles (NOAA, 2011). In June of 2011, one-third of the Chesapeake Bay was a dead zone, an 83-mile area stretching from the Baltimore Harbor to the mid-channel region in the Potomac River (Fears, 2011).
Some degree of measurable resource degradation can be seen at virtually any level of urban development within a watershed. Though not every watershed responds equally to a given level of human disturbance, field observations and hydrologic modeling have found that severely degraded stream conditions are seen when just 10% of a watershed is covered by impervious surfaces, or less than 65% of the watershed's original forest cover remains. At lower levels of human disturbance, aquatic-system damage may range from slight to severe (Booth, 2000).
In 2004, states reported to the EPA that about 44% of assessed stream miles, 64% of assessed lake acres, and 30% of assessed bay and estuarine areas were not clean enough to support uses such as fishing and swimming. Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen. The top sources of these pollutants included atmospheric deposition, agriculture, hydrologic modifications, and unknown or unspecified sources (EPA, 2009).
Fifty percent of all listed threatened or endangered species in the United States depend on rivers and streams for their continued existence. Yet the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 70% of the riparian habitats nationwide have been lost or altered (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2004).
Because there is a constant flow of water over land and through systems of interconnected lakes, rivers and wetlands, aquatic animals are highly sensitive to human activities throughout a watershed (Combes, 2003). A combination of increasing human water needs and extensive land development has contributed to fresh water animals disappearing at a rate much higher than that of terrestrial animals. The projected average future extinction rate of North American freshwater animals is about five times higher than that of terrestrial animals, three times higher than coastal marine mammals, and comparable to the rate predicted for tropical rainforest communities, which are thought to be the most stressed terrestrial ecosystems on the planet (Ricciardi and Rasmussen, 1999). The rate is 1,000 times higher than the background extinction rate (Ricciardi and Rasmussen, 1999).
In temperate freshwater ecosystems, the extinction of even a few species can promote further extinctions and disrupt ecosystem functioning (Ricciardi and Rasmussen, 1999). For more information on the importance of biodiversity, see the guide The Importance of Biodiversity (coming soon).
Riparian buffers are the lands and assemblages of plants bordering rivers, streams, bays and other waterways. They directly affect and are directly impacted by the aquatic environment. Buffers have high levels of soil moisture, experience frequent flooding, and are populated by plant and animal communities that are adapted to life along the water. The boundary between the buffer and adjoining uplands is gradual and may not be well defined (Klapproth, 2009).
The USDA Forest Service estimates that over one-third of the rivers and streams in Pennsylvania have had their riparian buffers degraded or altered, a sobering statistic when their functions are considered (DEP, 2006). Through the interaction of their soils, hydrology, and biotic communities, riparian buffers maintain many important physical, biological, and ecological functions (Klapproth, 2009).
When buffers are lost, habitat and water quality are degraded by the loss of:
the capacity to filter excess nutrients and sediment
terrestrial wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors
habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms due to the loss of woody debris and leaf litter
dissolved organic carbon inputs
shade, which leads to a loss of water temperature moderation
stream bank stability and the resulting erosion
Riparian buffers reduce erosion of stream/river banks and filter sediment from storm runoff, reducing the amount of sediment in streams and rivers. Tree roots and downed trees slow the flow of surface water and form a physical barrier, which allows sediment to settle out and be trapped. A buffer's roots of herbaceous and woody plants strengthen the stream bank by going through the top layers of soil and into a stream bank's weathered or fractured bedrock and other more stable strata. This increases the stream bank cohesiveness and adds a tensile strength that can resist shear stresses on stream bank soil (Castelle, 2000).
Several studies have shown the effectiveness of riparian buffers in filtering sediment, including:
In Blacksburg, VA, when 9.1m and 4.6m wide orchard grass buffers were exposed to shallow, uniform waterflow, they removed an average of 84% and 70% of incoming suspended solids respectively (Dillaha, Renea, Mostaghimi, & Lee, 1989).
Over a 100-year period (1880-1979), a riparian zone of a coastal plain agricultural watershed in Georgia accumulated an estimated 190,667 to 283,276 pounds of sediment per acre per year (Lowrance, Sharpe, & Sheridan, 1986).
In North Carolina, the movement of runoff was measured through two types of riparian buffers: a grass buffer and a buffer composed of grass, weeds and small shrubs that became an area with hardwood trees. The buffers reduced sediment load in the runoff by 60% to 90%. The effectiveness of the filters varied with the erosiveness of the watershed and storm intensity (Daniels, 1996).
Filtration of sediment is also important for removing chemical pollutants that bind to sediment. For example, excess phosphorus (P) binds to soil and is found primarily in the top few inches of the soil, which are very susceptible to erosion. Trapping sediments is the most effective way to reduce non-point source pollution (Bongard, 2009).
Riparian vegetation removes metals, nutrients, and other chemicals from runoff via plant uptake and by facilitating bacterial degradation of the pollutants (Castelle & Johnson, 2000 Although narrow buffers can generally remove sediment in runoff, wide buffers are needed for effective nutrient removal (Dabney, Moore, & Locke, 2006), lending additional importance to the conservation of existing buffers..
The removal of nitrogen, a major pollutant of many watersheds, from runoff occurs almost exclusively in water-saturated zones where abundant organic matter is present, lending importance to buffer protection in agricultural areas. Bacteria in the buffer use nitrogen as an energy source, converting it to gas. Plant roots also absorb nitrogen in groundwater and use it for plant growth. Buffers act as a nitrogen sink when it is taken up by trees and stored in their biomass.
Multiple studies have shown that buffers are effective in removing pollutants from water:
A study of 16 streams in eastern Pennsylvania found that forested streams were far more efficient at removing key pollutants from water than non-forested streams. In the case of nitrogen pollution, 200-800 times more nitrogen reached the stream in the non-forested segments than reached the stream in the forested segments (Chesapeake Bay Foundation, n.d.).
In Coastal Plain, Georgia, researchers measured agricultural runoff through a 38-meter riparian buffer. The riparian buffer lowered the concentrations of atrazine and alachor by a factor of 20. Atrazine and alachor are both commonly used herbicides. Atrazine is among the most common contaminants in American reservoirs and other sources of drinking water (Duhigg, 2009).
The degradation of the herbicide metachlor before it reaches water bodies is given extra importance because it does not readily break down in aquatic environments. It is, however, metabolized in the soil by microorganisms. It reaches water bodies by soil leaching and surface runoff. In Mississippi, the half-life of the herbicide metachlor was 10 days in a vegetated buffer as compared to 23 days in an adjacent bare field. This was likely due to a higher level of organic matter and microbial activity in the riparian strip. The enhanced degradation of metachlor in buffers may limit how much reaches water bodies (Staddon, Locke, & Zablotowicz, 2001).
In northern Baltimore County, MD, Minebank Run flows past residential areas, corporate offices, the Baltimore beltway, a high school, and a county park before reaching the Gunpowder River. For decades, heavy volumes of stormwater runoff, driven by impervious surfaces like roads, rooftops and parking lots, have impacted the stream. Restoration efforts included widening the riparian buffer with over 3,000 new trees and 6,000 shrubs. The restoration work, which affected nearly 3.5 stream miles, prevents up to 50,000 pounds of sediment from entering the stream annually and reduces the stream nitrogen levels by 25-50% (Lutz, 2006).
The trees of riparian buffers block solar radiation and shade the water, moderating water temperature. Temperature is a critical influence in aquatic ecosystems, affecting both the physical and biological characteristics of the stream. Changes in temperature can decrease stream biodiversity and impede animal growth. Increases in summer temperatures can increase the susceptibility of fish to pathogens; decrease food availability; alter the feeding activity and body metabolism of fish; inhibit spawning, and block spawning runs into streams (Castelle and Johnson, 2000). At the same time higher stream temperatures reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in water, they also increase the metabolic rate of aquatic animals, increasing their oxygen needs.
In small streams, the presence of a forest canopy greatly affects the intensity of light reaching the surface of the stream. Depending on the season, light intensity in a shaded area of a stream can be 30 to 60% less than that of an exposed area (Sweeney, 1992). By limiting the amount of solar radiation that can reach a stream, trees limit both the daily fluctuations in stream temperature and the maximum stream temperatures reached (Bongard, 2009). A British Columbia study found that streams without buffers have temperatures up to 1-2 o C higher than those with buffers (Rayne, Henderson, Gill, & Forest, 2008). A study from Washington State found that non-buffered streams have maximum temperatures 2.4oC higher than those with buffers (Pollock, Beechie, Liermann, & Bigley, 2009). In Oregon, studies of stream temperatures following the removal of riparian vegetation found that maximum stream temperatures both increased by 7°C and occurred earlier in the summer. (Shifts in the timing of maximum temperatures, with greater increases in early summer stream temperatures, can impact sensitive stages of aquatic animals.)
Increased water temperature increases the toxicity of many chemicals, such as ammonia. Ammonia is an inorganic form of nitrogen. It is present in water in two forms, un-ionized (NH3), which has a relatively high toxicity, and ionized (NH4+), which has a relatively negligible toxicity. As water temperatures increase, more of the ammonia is converted to the toxic un-ionized ammonia form (EPA, 1995). Polluted runoff is a large source of ammonia and nitrogen to streams (EPA, 1995). When riparian buffers are not preserved, both their ability to remove nitrogen from runoff and their ability to maintain lower water temperatures and prevent it from converting to its un-ionized ammonia form are lost.
Large woody debris is an essential part of stream life. It provides fish habitat and changes the stream's physical condition. Organic matter from riparian buffers, such as leaves, twigs, logs and stems that fall from the buffer into the water are a main source of food for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone, are visible with the naked eye and spend all or part of their life in the water. These animals, which include worms, mollusks, insects and crustaceans, consume the wood and the biofilms (bacteria, fungi, and algae) that form on it (Pitt & Batzer, 2011), serving as a vital link in the food web between the producers (e.g. leaves, algae) and higher consumers, such as fish.
The wood from buffers also traps additional leaf litter and wood. Macroinvertebrates use the wood as habitat, living inside the wood, under residual bark, and on surfaces that protrude out of the water. Some insects use the protruding surfaces as sites to emerge into adults or to lay eggs (Pitt & Batzer, 2011). A study of 16 streams in eastern Pennsylvania found that forested stream segments have over six times the amount of large woody debris than do grass buffered streams, even though two-thirds of the grass buffered streams were immediately downstream of forested areas (Sweeney,1992)
Forested riparian buffers are also essential for maintaining stream and river bottom habitat. Most of the biological activity in stream ecosystems takes place on inorganic (sand, gravel, cobble, etc.) and organic (leaves, woody debris, etc.) materials on stream bottoms. Networks of tree roots, the organic debris from buffers and the variety of sizes of cobble and gravel these trap can increase the overall size of bottom habitat more than a thousand times when compared to a bare mineral soil bottom in a grass-buffered stream (Sweeney, 1992). In addition, where riparian buffers have been deforested, streams are narrower because of encroachment by herbaceous plants, mostly grasses, that would have been shaded out under forest cover, causing an additional loss of river bottom habitat (Sweeney, 1992).
Deforestation of a section of a riparian buffer can change stream bottom habitat and influence biodiversity, even if the deforested section is still vegetated. In southern Appalachia, 12 streams south of deforested, but vegetated buffers were studied. The deforested sections were up to 5.3 km long. The stream segments studied were all downslope of watersheds with at least 95% forest cover. As the length of deforested sections increased, habitat diversity decreased and riffles became filled with fine sediments (Jones, Helfman, Harper, & Bolstadt, 1999). As the length of the non-forested segments increased, overall fish abundance decreased, though the number of non-native species increased. Even in heavily forested areas, clearing a 1-3 km stretch of forested buffer was found to have substantial impacts on fish assemblages (Jones, Helfman, Harper, & Bolstadt, 1999).
A broad range of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians rely on riparian buffers for habitat. Riparian buffers are core habitat for many semi-aquatic and terrestrial ecotone species, such as salamanders, frogs, turtles, minks, beavers and otters, and these species require a buffer that is both long and wide. Long stretches of riparian buffer also serve as wildlife travel corridors. Many birds, such as herons, fishers, eagles, and ospreys, as well as some mammals, rely on forested buffers for both habitat and resting places. These birds hunt for fish in the water and nest in adjacent forests. Preservation of riparian buffers is critical for the preservation of biodiversity amongst terrestrial and semi-aquatic animals.
For buffers to provide adequate habitat for forest dependent songbirds, they must be wide. Several studies have shown that bird species richness increases in buffers that are at least 100 meters wide and that the presence of forest dependent songbirds decreases dramatically when buffers are less than 50 meters (Bongard, 2009). For more information on the importance of protecting species richness, see the guide The Importance of Biodiversity. (coming soon)
American Rivers (n.d.). It's Not Just The Rain! Sprawl And Water Supply. Retrieved 5/25/12 from http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/water-supply/water-efficiency/its-not-just-the-rain.html.
Booth, D. (2000). Forest Cover, Impervious Surface Area, and the Mitigation of Urbanization Impacts in King County, Washington. Center for Urban Water Resources Management. Prepared for King County Water and Land Resources Division.
Bongard, P. (2009). Riparian Forest Buffers for Trout Habitat Improvement: A Review. University of Minnesota Extension.
Combes, S. (2003). Ecosystems in the Face of Global Climate Change. In, Hansen, L., Biringer J., and Hoffman, J. (Eds.), Buying Time: A User's Manual for Building Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change in Natural Systems (pp. 177-216). Germany: World Wildlife Foundation.
Castelle, A., and Johnson, A. (2000). Riparian Vegetation Effectiveness: Technical Bulletin No. 799. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. 36pp.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (n.d). Forested Buffers: The Key to Clean Streams. Annapolis, MD: Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 499.
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (2010). Scientific Assessment of Hypoxia in U.S. Coastal Waters. Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Human Health of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. Washington, DC.
Diaz, R., and Rosenberg, R. (2008). Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems. Science, 321(5891), 926-929. doi: 10.1126/science.1156401.
Dabney, S., Moore, M., and Locke, M. (2006). Integrated Management of In-Field, Edge-of-Field, and After-Field Buffers. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 42(1),15-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2006.tb03819.x.
Daniels, R. B. and Gilliam, J. W. (1996). Sediment and Chemical Load Reduction by Grass and Riparian Filters. Journal Soil Science Society of America, 60, 246-251.
Dillaha, T., Reneau R., Mostaghimi, S., and Lee, D. (1989). Vegetative Filter Strips for Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Control. Transactions of the ASABE, 32(2), 0513-0519.
Duhigg, C. (2009, August 23). Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass. The New York Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com.
Fears, D. (2011, July 24). Alarming 'Dead Zone" Grows in the Chesapeake. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com.
Goodrich, L., Brittingham, M., Bishop J., and Barber, P. (2002). Wildlife Habitat in Pennsylvania: Past, Present, and Future. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 236pp.
Jones, E.,, III, Helfman, G., Harper, J., and Bolstadt, P. (1999). Effects of Riparian Forest Removal on Fish Assemblages in Southern Appalachian Streams. Conservation Biology, 13(6). 1454-1465.
Klapproth, J. and Johnson, J. (2009). Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Plant and Animal Communities. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Publication 420-152
Lutz, L. (2006). Minebank Run Restoration Hits Pay Dirt in Reducing Nitrogen Loads. Chesapeake Bay Journal, 16(2). Retreived from http://www.bayjournal.com.
Lookingbill, T. R., Kaushal S.S., Elmore, A. J., Gardner, R., Eshleman, K. N, Hilderbrand, R. H., Morgan, R. P., Boynton, W. R., M., Palmer, A. and Dennison, W. C. (2009). Altered Ecological Flows Blur Boundaries in Urbanizing Watersheds. Ecology and Society, 14(2), 10pp. Retrieved from: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art10/
Lowrance, R., Sharpe, J., and Sheridan, J. (1986). Long-term Sediment Deposition in the Riparian Zone of a Costal Plain Watershed. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 41(4): 266-271.
Malmquist, D. (2008). Dead Zones Continue to Spread. William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 1/30/2012 from http://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/archives/2008/dead_zones_spread.php.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA, 2011). NOAA Supported Scientists Find Large Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico. Retrieved 4/4/12 from www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110804_deadzone.html.
Nobles, T. & Zhang, Y. (2011). Biodiversity Loss in Freshwater Mussels: Importance, Threats, and Solutions. In Grillo, O. and Venora, G., (Eds.), Biodiversity Loss in a Changing Planet (pp. 137–162). Rijeka, Croatia: InTech. Doi: 10.5772/25102
Osborne, L., and Kovacic, D. (1993). Riparian Vegetated Buffer Strips in Water-Quality Restoration and Stream Management. Freshwater Biology 29(2), 243-258. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1993.tb00761.x.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP, 2006). Structural BMP's. Chapter 6 in Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 257pp.
Phillips, S. (2001). The Impact of Sediment on the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed. United States Geological Society. SRI 2004-5056
Pitt, D. and Batzer, D. (2011). Woody Debris as a Resource for Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Stream and River Habitats of the Southeastern United States: A Review. Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 11-14, 2011, at the University of Georgia.
Pollock, M., Beechie, T., Liermann, M., and Bigley, R. (2009). Stream Temperature Relationships to Forest Harvest in Western Washington. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 45(1), 141-156. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2008.00266.x.
Rayne, S., Henderson, G., Gill, P., and Forest, K. (2008). Riparian Forest Harvesting Effects on Maximum Water Temperatures in Wetland-sourced Headwater Streams from the Nicola River Watershed, British Columbia, Canada. Water Resources Management, 22(5), 565-578. doi: 10.1007/s11269-007-9178-8.
Schueler, T. (1994). The Importance of Imperviousness. Watershed Protection Techniques, 1(3), 100-111.
Staddon, W., Locke, M., Zablotowicz, R. (2001). Microbial Characteristics of a Vegetative Buffer Strip Soil and Degradation and Sorption of Metolaclor. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 65(4).], 1136-1142.
Sweeney, B. (1992). Streamside Forests and the Physical, Chemical, and Trophic Characteristics of Piedmont Streams in Eastern North America. Water Science and Technology. 26 (12), 2653-2673.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District (2004). San Antonio River, San Antonio, Texas Channel Improvement Project: General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Assessment, Chapter 4, Recommended Plan.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,1995). Linking Restoration Practices to Water Quality Parameters. Chapter 3 in Ecological Restoration: A Tool To Manage Stream Quality, Washington, D.C., U.S. EPA. EPA 841-F-95-007.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 1997). Dissolved Oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen Demand. Chapter 5.2 in Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual. Chapter, Office of Water. EPA 841-B-97-003
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 1999). Combined Sewer Overflow Technology Fact Sheet: Maximization of In-line Storage. EPA 832-F-99-036. 7pp
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2001). Functions and Values of Wetlands. EPA 843-F-01-002c. 2pp.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2003). Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff. February 2003. EPA 841-F-03-003
United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (EPA, 2009). The National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress for the 2004 Reporting Cycle – A Profile. EPA 841-F-08-003
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, n.d.). Introduction to Sediment & River Stability. Retrieved 5/30/12 from http://water.epa.gov/scitech/datait/tools/warsss/sedsource_index.cfm.
Ware, G. (n.d.). The Challenge for Increasing Rainfall Infiltration in Urban Landscapes. The Morton Arboretum. Retrieved 5/25/11 from http://www.mortonarb.org/tree-plant-advice/article/16920/the-challenge-for-increasing-rainfall-infiltration-in-urban-landscapes.html.
A Scientific Foundation for Shaping Riparian Buffer Protection Regulations
From Lawn to Meadow
The Science Behind the Need for Riparian Buffer Protection
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Greening your SALDO: Minimizing the Impact of Development on Water Quality
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India's A-SAT mission planned in a way that debris will decay soon: DRDO Chief
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Article Posted on : - Apr 12, 2019
The anti-satellite weapon of India (Photo: PTI)
NEW DELHI (PTI): Seeking to assuage concerns over the orbital debris created by India's A-SAT test, DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy on Thursday again assured that the mission was planned in a way that the resulting fragments will decay in a few weeks and there was no threat to the ISS.
Speaking at the Vivekananda International Foundation, a think-tank, Reddy said the location for the test was "well away" from the International Space Station (ISS).
"The debris will decay in a few weeks. That's how the whole mission was planned," he said.
Noting that the A-SAT test was an exemplary effort reflecting India's indigenous defence technology, the Defence and Research Development Organisation chief said more than 50 industries participated in the mission contributing 200 components to make the mission a success.
India shot down one of its satellites in space on March 27 with a ground-launched anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile to demonstrate this complex capability, joining the elite club of countries the US, Russia and China which have such capabilities.
The A-SAT test was successfully conducted with a new interceptor missile against a live orbiting satellite in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a hit-to-kill mode.
This had raised concerns about the threat the debris will pose to global space assets, including the ISS.
During his address on Thursday, Reddy emphasised that India has to become self-sufficient in areas like making bulletproof jackets to manufacturing composite materials.
He said the DRDO is also focussing on small arms like carbines.
"Not much has happened in the area of small arms. We have taken this up very seriously. Based on the RFP (Request for Proposal) floated by the armed forces, we have started developing some of them. Some have gone through trials," Reddy said.
Elaborating on the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, he said it has been converted into a 'guided Pinaka' with an extended range. It is, he said, in the process of induction into the Army.
India ASAT Missile Space ISS DRDO Chief
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Indian Navy at Chinese Fleet Review sends message of bonhomie, peaceful co-existence
US, Russia pioneers of ASAT technology; India too joins club of space super powers
GSAT-7A: India's major strategic asset in space
Humanity's quest for deep-space exploration continues
From developing reusable space launch vehicles to planning inter-planetary missions to set up colonies on the Moon and eventually on Mars, the space faring nations are surely aiming for the farthest in the infinite Universe.


Justice Daphne Barak-Erez rejects petition on grounds of Knesset, Attorney General response.
Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez has rejected Yesh Atid's petition for an interim injunction to prevent the continuation of the Basic Law Amendment process to increase the number of ministers in the next government.
In her decision, the justice wrote Monday that "after reviewing responses to the petition and the Attorney General's position, it is not appropriate to provide the requested interim order directed mainly against the legislative process."
The judge added that Yesh Atid party members, who filed the petition, must notify the court by Thursday on developments over the issue.
On Sunday night, Lapid gave the government a 12-hour deadline to respond to his appeal against the extension of the Cabinet from 18 ministers to 22, which was approved in a ministerial vote earlier that day.
The motion, filed earlier by MK Ofer Shelah and Yesh Atid's attorneys, claims that the current transition government is not empowered to change or update basic laws, even if it can muster the 61 votes needed to temporarily suspend the limit on 18 ministers, as the law prescribes.
In addition, the motion contends that the coalition agreement provides for an unlawful distribution of funds by parties and specific MKs, distributions that the Attorney General has declared illegal. According to reports, numerous MKs in Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Jewish Home have been given specific sums, as much as NIS 20 million, to spend on projects.
In the response, which was filed on behalf of Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) and Knesset Legal Advisor Eyal Yinon, the Knesset argued to reject Yesh Atid's petition on grounds that the bill had not been submitted to the Knesset for vote yet and is therefore premature.
The Attorney General also filed its response to the petition, stating that "there is no room to extend the interim orders sought" due to the low likelihood of the petition being ratified and due to time and convenience considerations in the rush to finalize the government.
The Attorney General's Office also stated that the case does not justify High Court intervention and that any discrepancies in the law will be addressed internally by an intra-parliamentary committee.


Behind the Music in the Evening: And, we're back.
You know, it's not easy being an unemployed layabout. What with doing the dishes and volunteering at the library and staring, vacant-minded, at half-finished scripts while saliva drips from your slack jaws, the days fly by and you realize you've neglected your one-man musical variety show operation, not to mention blogging about said one-man musical variety show operation.
But a man's interests are like a great burning wheel, turning slowly through the cosmos, crushing worlds like inhabited grapes. And once in a while, such a man comes down from his mountain redoubt, knocks the dust from his sandals, and sets himself to work once again. Is this man … ME?
Maybe! I make no promises, but I'm feeling the bug again. It's gnawing on my flesh, and I like the neurotoxin in its saliva that is trickling into my brain, paralyzing the plump neurons therein. It feels like fizz.


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stealthcello
because everything's better with cello
Music Under the Trees 2019
Musical Groups
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Out of respect for dryads everywhere, Betsy usually plays a carbon-fiber cello for which no trees were murdered. (Well, okay, maybe one tree, since the bridge is still made of wood. However, we are sure that even the dryads would forgive her once they've heard her play.) Betsy's black five-string carbon-fiber cello, Raven, was custom-made for her by Luis & Clark Instruments of Boston.
Betsy normally plays Raven standing up, using an extra-long custom endpin and a harness system she invented herself. That's Raven there, to the left.
You can hear Raven on many of Betsy's recent recordings, including Tricky Pixie's studio album, Mythcreants, and S.J. Tucker's "Girl With The Lion's Tail" (Quartered, 2009).
Betsy's five-string electric cello, Buzz, was custom-made for her by Jensen Musical Instruments. She plays Buzz standing up, too, fastened to a sturdy drum stand. As you can see in this photo, Buzz consists mainly of an ebony fingerboard, strings, and a bridge; because of this, he was responsible for Betsy's online moniker, "stealthcello," originally used by a reviewer to describe Betsy's radical-looking instrument.
These days, Betsy plays her old wooden cello, Godiva, mainly for studio recording. Godiva is a German instrument, made in 1935 by Heinrich Fuchs. She has a dark, rich, sweet tone (hence her name) but is not very loud. You can hear Godiva on Betsy's Internet single, "Dark Eyes," on Leannan Sidhe's album Fragile Dreams (2011), on S.J. Tucker's "Cold Sunshine" (Sirens, 2006) and on Gaia Consort's album Vitus Dance (2007).
Cade Tinney at Conflikt 2020
DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport
Seatac, WA, USA (map)
Jan 25: Seatac, WA - Cade Tinney at Conflikt 2020
Mar 7: Seattle, WA - Menage a Trio at Friday Afternoon Tea
All material on this website is copyrighted by Betsy Tinney (c) 2011, except as specified otherwise. All rights reserved. Blah ipsum legal blah.


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Mario Solis' Today's Memory
Boris Williams' birthday
Originally shared by Mario Solis
Boris Williams (born 24 April 1957) is an English drummer best known for his extensive work with The Cure (1984–1994).
Williams first joined The Cure in 1984 (first gig on 7 November in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), replacing Andy Anderson, who was fired for destroying a hotel room. During his tenure, Williams helped The Cure reach their critical and commercial peak recording the studio albums The Head on the Door, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Disintegration, and Wish. He also appeared on the live albums Entreat, Paris, and Show as well as the videos for Staring at the Sea, The Cure in Orange, Picture Show, Galore and Greatest Hits. He also helped record the re-remixes album Mixed Up.
Boris Williams drumming style is often referred to by drummers as 'Linear' as it follows regular cycles with repetitive rhythmic themes, patterns and fills. This style creates a solid foundation around which the music is structured. Current Cure drummer Jason Cooper also commented on this in the live Cure DVD "Trilogy" recorded in Berlin. Cooper recreates all of the classic Williams drum parts for the songs just as they were written for this very reason.
Williams, like all other Cure drummers, also very rarely used a ride cymbal in his work with the band, which is most unusual for a modern drum kit player. A second pair of hi-hats was instead used in the usual ride cymbal position so that open handed/un-crossed arm playing was possible. This arrangement also made for interesting pattern variations a crossed-handed player would normally find very difficult to play. In between the tenure of Andy Anderson and Boris Williams, Vince Ely (Psychedelic Furs) sat in temporarily on the 1984 tour. It was in fact Vince who had used the second hi-hat in the ride position. Boris liked the idea and used this method after Vince.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks_qOI0lzho
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Our long term success depends on our long term social, emotional and physiological health. If we don't consistently invest in building and maintaining these, they erode and will trip us up, sooner or later.
Even a few hours sitting at a desk affects concentration and productivity, as this limits the oxygen getting to the brain. And eventually inactivity and poor nutrition lead to major career breakdowns, caused for example by strokes and heart disease.
We all need a strong network of relationships around us, in both professional and personal life. We need friends, partners, mentors, team buddies, leaders, experts in areas that we are not, advocates, sponsors. We have to get into situations where we connect with such people. Then it takes time and will to invest in building and maintaining these relationships. Take anyone for granted and they may not be there when we need them!
And we need to have the confidence in ourselves to overcome our inner critic, to experiment and sometimes fail, to take criticism and hard knocks, and to bounce back even stronger for the experience.
Don't put this off. Take action, and keep taking action, in all three areas.
I really like the 4 C's in Paul McGee's book "Self Confidence." He writes about building self confidence which in turn builds emotional reslience; the four roles he suggests people need are a :coach, a confidant, a champion and a cheerleader. Who are those people in yout life?


text:
Met Live 2021-22: Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
Theater 3 Sat, May 21 12:55 PM
Soprano Nadine Sierra takes on one of the repertory's most formidable and storied roles, the haunted heroine of Lucia di Lammermoor, in an electrifying new staging by in-demand Australian theater and film director Simon Stone, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Show-stopping tenor Javier Camarena adds to the bel canto fireworks as Lucia's beloved, Edgardo, with baritone Artur Rucinski as her overbearing brother, Enrico, and bass Matthew Rose as her tutor, Raimondo.
3hrs 25mins / Includes two 30-minute intermissions - after Act I and Act II.
This live cinema transmission is part of the Met's award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.


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text:
By Anonymous - 15/06/2017 21:00 - Italy
Today, I found out that when my 7 year old daughter invites her friends to eat dinner with us, she charges them 3 euros for the meal and puts it in her piggy bank. FML
Empathy lives
By Sadmom - 17/09/2009 23:58 - United States
Today, my 7 year old daughter decided to use my laptop without my permission. She accidentally got SpaghettiOs on the screen, then used the hard side of a sponge, filled with soapy water, to scrub both the keyboard and screen of my laptop to clean it off so Mommy wouldn't know. FML
By LarissaT18 - 02/02/2014 16:13 - United States - Reynoldsburg
Today, the highlight of my day was when I figured out that my little brother's toy dump truck could actually dump stuff out. I'm 18. FML
By grossedout - 06/09/2011 05:33 - United States
Today, while cleaning the house, I discovered that my husband has been making a little mountain of whatever he finds up his nose on the underside of our couch when he watches TV. FML
By Bonnie and Clyde - 08/05/2015 02:18 - United States - Humble
Today, my boyfriend and I got busted by a cop for having sex in his car. When the cop sent us on our way, we went home and the garage was open, so we called the cops thinking someone was in the home. No one was in the house, and we got the same cop. FML
By amidreaming?? - 11/06/2012 21:45 - United Kingdom - Bushey
Today, I asked my girlfriend why she never lets me in her house. She stared blankly and said, "What is inside is not for thine eyes." I told her best friend about this creepiness later on. She sighed and said, "T'was not for mine eyes either. I didst fail to listen." I feel like I'm losing my mind here. FML
Today, I was the designated driver. On the way home with my drunk friends, they decide to give me a beer shower. I swerved, and was pulled over by a cop moments after. I was the only one arrested. FML
By B.B - 07/10/2016 14:03 - United States - New York
Today, my husband brought me breakfast in bed. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful and love him even more for the thought. But the only problem with breakfast in bed is that you have to eat what they bring you, even if it's bad. FML
Blogged up
By Arran - 10/04/2011 00:24 - United Kingdom
Today, I was reading a blog post by a girl that I really like. In the post, it said, "I know I'm not beautiful." I told her that I thought it wasn't true at all. She responded by crying hysterically and asking me why I would say that. It turned out that it actually said, "I know I'm beautiful." FML
By Mr. Sensitive Nips - 17/03/2011 22:38 - United States
Today, I was spending Saint Patrick's Day with my girlfriend, when she started pinching me for not wearing green. To my complete shock, when she pinched my nipple, I got the biggest, most noticeable erection I've ever had in my life, and no matter what I did, it wouldn't go away. We were in public. FML
By Stressed Mother - 18/03/2015 21:26 - United States - Piscataway
Today, after months of job hunting, I finally got a phone call. They were impressed with me. That's when my son decided to throw a tantrum asking for food. After some silence, the caller told me they were looking for someone who wasn't juggling little kids at home and hung up. My son is 20. FML
Today, I ran into a guy that I had gone on a few dates with 3 months ago and slept with him a few times, but then never heard from him again. When he looked at me, I went over and gave him a hug and said "Hey, how are you, Chris?". He hugged me back and said "Hey there cutie, what's your name?". FML
Today, my parents found several drawings of a dinosaur girl in various bondage equipment posing seductively in my purse. The drawings weren't mine, nor do I have any idea where they came from, but my parents now think I'm a freak. FML
By Anonymous - 16/07/2013 00:10 - United States - Charlotte
Today, my 11-year-old daughter heard the quote, "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be." She decided to test this out by letting our new puppy out of the front door. FML
By Depirama - 28/02/2014 21:26 - France - Bron
Today, I confessed my love for the girl I like, on the forum she moderates. She responded by banning me. FML
By anonymous - 02/09/2014 18:58 - United States - Wolcott
Today, I proposed to my girlfriend. She just grabbed the ring and said in a raspy voice, "My precious..." FML
By lonergirl - 18/02/2015 12:35 - Australia
Today, after being with the company for over 3 years, I realised nobody really knows my name. This was after my boss was walking around a new staff member and couldn't introduce me. Neither could my colleague, who's been sitting next to me for the last 6 months. FML
By Ryanissaur - 19/10/2009 05:34 - Australia
Today, being a music student, a professional orchestra performed a symphony that I wrote and dedicated to my girlfriend. It took months to compose and it the first and only time it was ever going to be played. My girlfriend forgot to come. FML
BO Central
By jess - 16/12/2020 06:02 - United States - Denver
Today, I was loudly asked if I'd rubbed poop all over myself this morning. I shower three times a day, brush my teeth for 10 minutes twice a day, and wear copious amounts of antiperspirant. FML
Today, I went into work and noticed one of my fellow colleagues had a large bunch of flowers on her desk. As soon as I saw her, I immediately said, "Happy Birthday!" Everyone went quiet. It wasn't her birthday; her father had died. FML
By benjamin03 - 05/07/2016 16:34 - United States - Philadelphia
Today, my mom continued her search for a special, super-healthy laundry detergent that she knows makes me break out in hives. FML
By alissa_roar - 18/04/2011 17:54 - United States
Today, my boyfriend of two years told me I was being too obsessive. This is the guy who has gone through my phone two separate times and deleted all of my male contacts. FML
By notyouagain - 03/10/2010 07:40 - Australia
Today, I went over to my friend's house. Her 5 year old son answered the door and when he saw me said, 'oh great, it's YOU' and slammed the door in my face. FML
Main attraction
By kcountry92 - 01/10/2021 22:01 - United States - Archie
Today, my mother thought it would be a wonderful idea to make me late for me own wedding. It wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't focused solely on my sister because my wedding didn't center on her. The sister in question snubbed being my maid of honor over a year ago, and just decided to randomly show up. FML
Today, as I was finalizing my divorce with my soon to be ex-wife, she thought it would be a good idea to bring our two children to the divorce court. Before custody was put in place my ex-wife gave them both a piece of candy and promised them a trip to Disneyland they chose her. FML
Rod Stewart was wrong
By WTF Lady? - 08/04/2020 20:00
Today, I was walking down my street when a girl came up behind me and started yelling about me being a slut. When she saw I was the wrong person, she continued to yell at me because I have blonde hair. FML
By SimpleSimon - 01/07/2009 00:14 - United Kingdom
Today, I went to work leaving my girlfriend asleep in my bed. Later she calls me demanding to know how long I've been cheating on her. We don't use condoms but she found several in the bin when she decided to empty it. I had to explain while my colleagues listened that I use them to masturbate. FML
By Anonymous - 09/03/2016 18:54 - United Kingdom - Carlisle
Today, at a family dinner, I found the courage to tell my husband's parents about my schizophrenia. They exchanged weird looks and then there was an uncomfortable silence. Then my father-in-law finally says, "Christ. The grandkids won't come out all nutty, right?" FML
By givingup - 30/01/2012 05:37 - United States
Today, I was left at the altar. For the second time. By the same man. FML
By FourKnees - 15/05/2009 04:05 - United States
Today, I accepted an internship in Chicago and finished my final exams. I decided to play some pick up basketball one last time before summer. Within 2 minutes I got undercut going for a rebound and shattered my knee cap into 3 pieces. My summer in Chicago will be spent in a full leg cast. FML
Today, I think my friends were trying to tell me something with all my Christmas gifts being mostly perfume, deodorant, and soap. FML
By Anon - 27/02/2010 16:07 - United States
Today, my boss told me that if I didn't become his neighbor on Farmville I wouldn't have a job. I laughed. He didn't. FML
By getmeoutofthiscountry - 19/07/2013 19:06 - United States
Today, I agreed to lend my daughter's inflatable pool to my neighbor for the day. Barely an hour later, I witnessed his son jump off their balcony, missing the pool by inches. He's now in hospital, and my neighbor has sworn to sue me, saying I'm responsible because the pool is mine. FML
By ugheffmylife - 09/05/2009 19:06 - United States
Today, I was playing with my phone and turned it on lock mode. I changed my lock code a few months ago, so that no one would be able to guess it. Turns out I can't guess it either. FML
By Bob - 20/06/2009 04:22 - United States
Today, while teaching at a daycare, a child came up to me and asked if he could go to the bathroom. Obviously, I said it was fine. He then pulled his pants down, and pee on my brand new shoes, and all over my leg. FML
By GumStickExtraGmail - 14/09/2017 17:30 - United States - Arvada
Today, I found my daughter playing on my phone. When I got it back, I saw multiple texts to my boss saying that I quit. FML
By Alison - 08/12/2009 02:14 - United States
Today, the "hot" guy I've been talking to for a few weeks sent me a picture. He was very overweight and not good looking at all. He then followed up with, "Now send me one of you so I can prove to all of my friends that you're real." FML
Today, I went on a date with a man I met on Halloween. It appears that his mullet wasn't actually part of his costume. FML
By needtoscratch - 05/09/2012 14:06 - United States - Duluth
Today, my dormant eczema decided to come back with a vengeance - on my scrotum. I work in an open office and can't scratch unless I repeatedly run into the restroom. FML
Today, a man tried to rob the winery I worked at by knife-point. I managed to scare him off by throwing a bottle of wine at him. My boss fired me because I broke a $25 bottle of wine. FML
By Gabi - 09/01/2010 18:00 - United Kingdom
Today, I spent about half an hour trying to decide whether to buy a top, because even though it was lovely, it was really expensive. Eventually, after deciding to buy it because I could always return it if I changed my mind, I got home and realised I'd left it on the bus. FML
Druu 53
Thursday 15 June 2017 21:37
That's ridiculous! Presumably, YOU cooked the meal, so those three euros should go into YOUR piggy bank.
DaDezza244 31
That's one smart child you raised there, OP. Be Proud!
Pure profit because she stiffed the suppliers. Genius! She could become president of a large Western democracy some day.
zainman13 26
I wonder what values did the child see in her upbringing. Children are a reflection of their parenting and upbringing.
coute21 6
The daughter did all of the marketing so she should get a cut as well.
StarkWolf_fml 23
smart kid you got there
Kitiara521 23
Enterprising little stinker. And now that you know about it, you don't have to give her pocket money for every little thing - she's got her own.
Notmymonkeysnotmycircus 16
You can't even be mad at her! She's a true capitalist and entrepreneur. Don't punish her for it for the love of god don't punish her for seeing a demand and supplying it and making money with no expense to her. That kind of thinking will make her a millionaire! All you have to do is educate her that businesses have expenses and get her enrolled in some classes or courses for business.
ThatHorse 15
Sounds like your daughter would make a great american, tbh.
Ashley Beecher 8
Friday 16 June 2017 7:12
yep. pretty much.
CupidStunts 12
Your daughter is a very smart young lady.
acmariner99 25
She's got a mind for business. Teach her about taxes by taking half of it for yourself.


Please join us on Saturday, April 20th for the 5th annual Real Estate Golf Benefit for Children of Promise NYC. This is a casual golf outing intended for transaction-oriented professionals in the commercial real estate industry. RSVP by purchasing your ticket by Wednesday, April 10th.


text:
Biggest housing initiative in Nevada history would help 13,000 households, Sisolak says
CARSON CITY — Gov. Steve Sisolak says more than 13,000 Nevada households would benefit from the $500 million housing initiative he proposed last week through a combination of direct investments and leveraging of other forms of debt financing programs.
Sisolak said the initiative he dubbed "Home Means Nevada" would utilize federal COVID-19 relief money to establish four categories of funds within the Nevada Housing Division.
What to expect in 2022:Reno-Sparks home price ends 2021 with another record high
The Democrat running for re-election said it would be the single biggest housing investment in state history. He said it will help lower costs, boost availability and assist seniors in making repairs to stay in their existing homes.
The spending must be approved by the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee.
The single largest fund would be $300 million for "multifamily development." It could produce up to 1,000 housing units for families and seniors earning less than 60% of the area median income. It also could be used to leverage other debt funding for development of up to 1,700 additional units, Sisolak said.
A $130 million multipreservation fund with similar income guidelines would allow for rehabilitation and preservation of more than 3,000 units and leverage debt funding for nearly 4,000 more.
The package also calls for $40 million for land acquisition.
In Reno, the housing crunch is creating a crisis in an area whose median home price shattered previous records recently at $600,000, putting affordable housing out of many residents' reach. The number of homeless people on Reno-area streets has almost doubled over the past year, based on Washoe County's online "Community Dashboard."
Reno officials said in December that they are preparing initiatives to address the crisis, including potentially spending federal pandemic recovery funds on housing.


After serving as the National Council of Churches' executive leader for the briefest tenure in the Council's history, Peg Birk can also look back on the most comprehensive restructuring and redirecting of the NCC since its founding in 1950.
Birk, a nationally known change management expert and Congregational laywoman, took office as Transitional General Secretary of the NCC in July 2012 with the understanding she would serve with the sole purpose of guiding an historic re-envisioning and restructuring of the financially beleaguered Council.
Now, with a new President and General Secretary about to take office and a new organizational structure in place, Birk is returning home to Minneapolis, Minn., on January 1.
"She has successfully implemented a complex plan for re-envisioning and restructuring the NCC under significant pressure for time, resources, and reserves," Lohre said.
Birk succeeded the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon who resigned as general secretary in December 2011 for health reasons. At the time, the Council was reeling from the effects of the "Great Recession" of 2008 that contributed to a major decline in income and other financial woes.
Birk's first major decision was to implement a "pause" in Council programs to enable a re-examination of NCC's intricate organization and myriad ministries.
Among the more visible signs of reorganization was the consolidation of its administrative offices in Washington.
The transitional period saw the Council reduce staff by eliminating 11 full-time positions, consolidating its offices in Washington, D.C., and locating three associate general secretaries in satellite offices in New York City.
The governing board itself has been reduced in size to include only the leaders of the NCC member communions, with eight at-large members to enhance strategic partnerships, provide for needed skill sets and uphold the Council's commitment to diversity.
Also, the numbers of NCC officers and board committees were realigned to reflect the distinction between board governance and the life of the Council.
The NCC will now focus on two priorities: addressing the injustices of mass incarceration; and interfaith relations with a focus on peace. It will also continue to respond to urgent issues with the same moral voice it has expressed throughout its history.
James E. Winkler, a United Methodist commission leader, will assume office Jan.1 as President and General Secretary.
The approved budget of the Council is based on "pledges received and revenue forecast for royalties" and an "appropriate fee structure" for Council members and affiliates was developed.
The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, expressed thanks for Birk's "faithful, creative, and persistent leadership through this immensely challenging period.
As she settles in back home, Birk said she hopes to return to her change management company, Interim Solutions, and work full-time in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
"While the NCC transformative work was the pinnacle of my Interim Solutions portfolio," she said, "my hope is to bring the cumulative leadership experiences I have had in several sectors together into a final body of work that will be locally based'.
Peg Birk has led Interim Solutions since 2007. The consulting firm has had notable success working with foundations and non-profit organizations undergoing management and organizational changes.
An attorney and former adjunct faculty member of the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., Birk served as interim president for the Fund for Theological Education in 2009-2010.
She is credited with implementing new leadership practices to deepen the board and staff's ability to clarify and deliver on the group's mission.
Birk has also served as interim president of the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis, where she managed a 38-person staff and operations that included approving grants of about $90 million.
She was senior vice president and general counsel of Federated Insurance Companies in Owatonna, Minn. from 1999 to 2005.
As City Attorney of St. Paul, Minn., from 1997 to 1998, Birk managed a 60-member staff and oversaw all aspects of municipal law. She led a staff of attorneys and support staff and represented the city for labor relations and media inquiries.
She previously served on the McKnight Foundation board of directors, the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation board of directors, the Hamline University board of trustees, the International Alliance of Executive Women, the Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable board of directors, and was co-chair of the Center for Religious Inquiry with former Vice President Walter Mondale at St. Mark's Cathedral.
Birk currently serves on the board of directors as the treasurer of the Beatitudes Society and is a member of the advisory board of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.


Bateaux en revue : un millefeuille à l'ancienne…!!!
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