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Grandview Avenue. Photo by Brian Conway.
Mt. Washington CDC lays out plans for 2019 and beyond
Creating good policies and programs to strengthen and grow a community like Mt. Washington requires hard, empirical data on neighborhood needs. And that's data that the Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation (MWCDC) doesn't have, at least for now.
But as MWCDC Executive Director Gordon Davidson explained last night during a community forum at the Mt. Washington Healthy Active Living Center, gathering that data is among organization's goals for the coming year.
Working off of plans that were originally submitted to Pittsburgh City Council for approval last summer, Davidson explained that in the coming weeks the MWCDC and its local partners will embark on a broad campaign of research and data collection in what he calls the "nano neighborhoods" located in the Mt. Washington census tract.
Davidson says MWCDC volunteers will hit the streets and scour public records for data on critical questions like the number of vacant and blighted properties in the neighborhood, the number of home-based businesses and what available local real estate could become home to small businesses.
From there, the data will form the basis for neighborhood action plans addressing issues like affordable housing and the need for more women- and minority-owned businesses.
While it will require much physical and analytical work, Davidson says it will be worth the effort.
"This is extremely ambitious," he said. "But if a significant amount of it gets done, we gain an enormous capacity to help the community."
Davidson is the only full-time employee of the MWCDC, and was hired last March. He stresses that the organization's work extends far beyond his own office, much of it depending on board members and volunteers who donate their free time to improving the community. These partners will be key to completing the study.
Speaking to NEXTpittsburgh, Davidson also said that delivery dates for the data depend on which local partners agree to participate in research and canvassing efforts.
But, he says, he is confident the assistance will come and expects each of the action plans to be completed by Aug. 31 of this year at the latest.
While certain issues like housing and economic development clearly need to be addressed, Davidson told NEXT he is looking forward to seeing what other insights emerge from the data.
Among those potential insights: "I'm going to look into if a community land trust is reasonable," he said. "I don't know if it is yet."
The forum also heard from contractor Kris Senko and architect Kevin Hart from Senko Construction and Hart Architectural Services, respectively. The duo discussed a project to construct eight new, single-family townhomes along Grandview Avenue.
While Senko said the project was only at "the very beginning of city approval process," he vowed to keep sharing information as the project moved forward over the course of the year. He also shared early renderings of the site, which Senko hopes will be under construction before the end of the year.
The project from Senko and Hart is one of several new developments currently underway across Mt. Washington.
Grandview AvenueMt. WashingtonMt. Washington Community Development Corporation
Mt. Washington listed among best views in Pa.
Mt. Washington design competition seeks ideas for Boggs/Bailey business district


Sophie is an actress and writer who was born and raised in London, UK and moved to New York to train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. As an actress, she has most recently starred as Michelle in Nowhere Man at Theater for the New City, the Holocaust Survivor in Upstander Bystander at the NY Frigid Festival, and has just finished filming in the title role in a film, Callie, which she also wrote, and which was produced by Cinema Scape Studios with a mostly female cast and crew. In January, she published her debut poetry collection, entitled lost and found, which is available on Amazon worldwide and which has been received extremely well. She is a proud feminist and advocate for women in film.


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Rising star Mahalia continues her meteoric rise with a sold-out show at Leeds Beckett University. Check out the photos here.
Given that her own debut album, Love And Compromise, only saw release early in September, the popularity of this young R'n'B star has risen so quickly that this short run of dates around the UK was completely sold-out by the time they rolled round in November. What this meant was that, if you were lucky enough to get a ticket for one of these dates, you were one of the lucky ones witnessing a singer who will surely be one of the names to make an impact on the British r'n'b scene in 2020.
Striding out to a heavily decorated stage and to a crowd illuminated by a sea of mobile phones, Mahalia bounds around the stage with a huge grin on her face dressed a knee length jacket and black bodysuit. Opening up with Hide Out from the album, the predominantly young female crowd danced and sang along with her. "I've been told that I do talk a lot so, if I go on, just tell me to shut up!" jokes the singer during her first interaction with the crowd. A huge cheer goes up as Mahalia reveals her love of Leeds comes from spending a lot of time while another cheer goes up from both the singer and the crowd as she announces her brother is somewhere in this packed room.
Swaying about the stage, the singer seems to have a boundless level of energy which she maintains throughout a set pulled together from her hit album. Mesmerizing the room with tracks like "Good Company", "Simmer" and "Sober", Mahalia put on the kind of star performance that fully explains the sold-out shows which are surely going to be a springboard to much bigger and better things over the next twelve months.
Watch Coldplay's beautiful Sunrise and Sunset performances

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Brand: Honor
Main:(13+5+2)MP; Front:8MP
Honor 9A - Full Specifications & Features
Brand Honor
Model 9A
Price ৳ 13,000
Released May, 2020
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A Cat4 150/50 Mbps
OS Version Android 10, Magic UI 3.1, no Google Play Services
Chipset Mediatek MT6762R Helio P22 (12 nm)
Aspect Ratio 20:9 ratio
Camera 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Camera 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Body Type Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions 159.1 x 74.1 x 9 mm
Colors Black, Blue, Green
External Card microSDXC (dedicated slot)
WiFi Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
NFC Yes (market/region dependent)
Battery Type Non-removable Li-Po
FM Radio Yes, built-in antenna
Honor 9A Price in Bangladesh
Release Date May, 2020
Honor 9A price in Bangladesh starts from BDT 13,000. Honor 9A smartphone was launched in May, 2020. Honor 9A comes in Black, Blue, Green colors in different online stores and Honor authorized shops in Bangladesh.
Honor 9A Features Review and Details
Honor 9A runs on Android 10, Magic UI 3.1, no Google Play Services and is powered by Mediatek MT6762R Helio P22 (12 nm). The smartphone comes in 3GB of RAM and 64GB built-in storage capacity.
The phone has a 6.3" display, with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a pixel density of 278 PPI. The screen to body ratio of about 81.3%. It measures 159.1 x 74.1 x 9 mm and weight 185 grams.
The rear camera of Honor 9A comprises a 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF main sensor, a 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) and 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth). It features a 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) selfie camera at the front.
Honor 9A is backed by a 5000 mAh Non-removable Li-Po battery.
Connectivity aspects onboard include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile Hotspot, GPS, 2G, 3G and 4G (with support for the band used by some LTE networks in Bangladesh). The phone's sensors include an accelerometer, proximity, mass storage device, USB charging, Bluetooth v5, 3.5 mm audio jack and Fingerprint sensor.
More Products from Honor
Honor Pad X6


Where is the AdditionalReferencePath in TFS 2010?
Thanks for putting this together! For translating the local location, it may change based on the workspace definitions for the build. What I found is the best is to ask for a server path location and use the ConvertWorkspaceItem or CovertWorkspaceItems build activity (available out of the box) to convert the server path(s) to their corresponding local paths. You don't have to worry about using the Assign activity as you did above to concatenate it with the Sources directory.
Thanks for the feedback, and a very good suggestion.
So to be clear about this, you are saying that you want to store the server paths in the reference argument. And then use the ConvertWorkspaceItem to convert that server path into a local path on the build server?
It is another way of looking at the problem. But how do you handle supporting different branches? When I now use the build definition for another branch, I only have to modify the workspace and the "items to build". In your case you have to modify the references argument too.
I find that people are more familiar with the concept of a server path rather than where it is going to be locally downloaded on the build server. That's often because the people who are editing the build definition may not have the ability to login to the build server(s) locally to understand the location where it will be downloaded locally.
As far as changing it for new build definitions based on new branches, it's super easy especially if you use the StringList and StringListEditor. You can "clone" the build definition using the Power Tools and then open the string list editor and replace the branch name. Simple as that... You often have to do this activity anyway with the solutions & projects to build any way so this is just an added factor to that existing activity.


In my name and in the name of the municipal council, I am pleased to welcome you to our municipal web site.
This important virtual link between the municipality, its citizens and visitors is unquestionably the most effective way to transmit information about the municipality. The site also provides an opportunity to discover the charm of our municipality and learn about our services and future activities.
Because our goal is to provide more on-line services to serve you better, our site is in constant evolution. For this reason, we invite you to visit our site regularly.
We ask you to share your suggestions and comments with us so that this web site may continue to evolve to respond to your needs.


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Here's Why 'Inert' Ingredients May Be the Most Harmful of All
The 50-Year Cover-Up Killing Millions
How the Zika Industry Was Born
Monsanto is facing multiple lawsuits from people who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup
The suits allege that glyphosate, along with the product's inert ingredients are to blame, and in fact that the mixture of chemicals is far more dangerous than glyphosate alone
Research found one "inactive" Roundup ingredient, POEA, was toxic to living cells and up to 2,000 times more toxic than glyphosate alone
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, has been the focus of increasing scrutiny after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined it to be a probable human carcinogen.
Yet, glyphosate is not the only ingredient in Roundup and other glyphosate-based products, nor is it the only potentially toxic ingredient.
The formulation includes a number of so-called inert ingredients as well, and these have largely evaded scrutiny because they were concealed as proprietary "trade secrets."
Monsanto is now facing multiple lawsuits from people who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup. The suits allege that glyphosate, along with the product's inert ingredients are to blame, and in fact that the mixture of chemicals together is far more dangerous than glyphosate alone.
According to the Intercept, one of the lawsuits states, "Monsanto 'knew or should have known that Roundup is more toxic than glyphosate alone and that safety studies of Roundup, Roundup's adjuvants and 'inert' ingredients' were necessary."1
Inert Ingredients in Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Are Toxic to Living Cells
Most studies looking into glyphosate toxicity have only studied glyphosate and its toxic breakdown product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), even though the presence of "inactive" compounds are likely amplifying glyphosate's toxic effects.
A 2012 study revealed that ingredients such as solvents, preservatives, surfactants and other added substances are anything but "inactive." They can, and oftentimes do, contribute to a product's toxicity in a synergistic manner — even if they're non-toxic in isolation.
Certain adjuvants in glyphosate-based herbicides were also found to be "active principles of human cell toxicity," adding to the hazards inherent with glyphosate.
It's well worth noting that, according to the researchers, this cell damage and/or cell death can occur at the residual levels found on Roundup-treated crops, as well as lawns and gardens where Roundup is applied for weed control.2 As written in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health:3
"Pesticide formulations contain declared active ingredients and co-formulants presented as inert and confidential compounds. We tested the endocrine disruption of co-formulants in six glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) …
All co-formulants and formulations were comparably cytotoxic [toxic to living cells] well below the agricultural dilution of 1 percent (18 to 2000 times for co-formulants, eight to 141 times for formulations).
… It was demonstrated for the first time that endocrine disruption by GBH could not only be due to the declared active ingredient but also to co-formulants.
These results could explain numerous in vivo results with GBHs not seen with G [glyphosate] alone; moreover, they challenge the relevance of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value for GBHs exposures, currently calculated from toxicity tests of the declared active ingredient alone."
'Inert' Ingredient Polyethoxylated Tallowamine (POEA) 2,000 Times More Toxic Than Glyphosate
POEA (polyethoxylated tallow amine), a major adjuvant surfactant in Roundup, has been shown to be cytotoxic (toxic to cells) at doses far lower than glyphosate itself. Unfortunately, most regulatory bodies regard POEA as inert, requiring no risk assessment, even as research suggests otherwise.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study found POEA was between 1,200 and 2,000 times more toxic than glyphosate alone, which highlights the problems with letting so-called inert ingredients escape regulatory scrutiny.4 In 2014, the Institute of Science in Society (ISIS) reported:5
"The major adjuvant POEA in glyphosate Roundup formulations is by far the most cytotoxic for human cells, ahead of glyphosate and its metabolite. It also amplifies the toxic effects of glyphosate …
It is very likely that the primary target of Roundup, especially its POEA surfactant, is the mitochondria, which play a key role in the development of sperm cells and sperm motility. In addition, male infertility could arise from ROS damages to mitochondrial DNA."
Accumulating Research Shows Roundup More Dangerous Than Glyphosate Alone
Germany removed POEA-containing herbicides from the market in 2014 because a forestry worker developed inflammation of the lungs after exposure.
Earlier this year, ANSES, the national health and safety agency in France, also took steps to ban the product. The European Commission has also proposed banning POEA.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to monitor food for glyphosate residue but not for POEA, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) won't focus on POEA either, simply because it's not an official active ingredient.
Monsanto must be well aware of the problems, as they're reportedly preparing to transition to other types of surfactants.6 The fact is, research is mounting that, when it comes to Roundup, the sum of its parts may be even more toxic than glyphosate alone. For instance:7
• In 2002 and 2004, studies showed glyphosate-containing herbicides were more likely to cause changes linked to cancer (specifically, cell-cycle dysregulation) than glyphosate alone8,9
• In 2005, research showed Roundup to be more toxic to rats' livers than glyphosate alone10
• In 2009, various Roundup formulations were found to be more toxic to human umbilical, embryonic and placental cells than glyphosate alone.11 The researcher explained:
"This clearly confirms that the [inert ingredients] in Roundup formulations are not inert … Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death [at the] residual levels [found on Roundup-treated crops]."12
NAS Releases New Study on Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) released their assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).13
The 400-page report, which was sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cites an ongoing lack of transparency that is fueling distrust in consumers.14
For instance, in 2002 the U.S. General Accounting Office recommended that the FDA verify raw test data from a GMO developer on a random basis, but it doesn't appear the FDA followed through with this recommendation. As The Huffington Post reported:15
"The committee said that much of the information submitted to regulatory agencies seeking approval of new GMO products is kept secret, treated as 'confidential business information.'
This lack of public access to health and safety data submitted by developers creates distrust, the committee said.
'Given a developer's self-interest in getting a product approved and its control over the material considered by the agency, the lack of access creates skepticism about the quality of the data,' the committee said."
No Evidence GE Crops Changed the Rate of Increase in Yields
Also noteworthy, the NAS report found no evidence that GE crops led to overall increases in yields of soybeans, cotton or corn, a benefit long parroted by the industry for why GMO crops are necessary to "feed the world."
The spread of resistant weeds and insects as a result of GE crops is also discussed. As for glyphosate, the report only noted there is "significant disagreement among expert committees on the potential harm that could be caused" by its use. It also downplayed the severity of many issues while failing to recommend needed policy changes.
Charles Benbrook, Ph.D. an agricultural economist at Washington State University, recommended three strategies that could significantly reduce human exposure to glyphosate at very little cost (unfortunately, such common-sense strategies were missing from the NAS report):16
"Hopefully, the U.S. and EU will soon agree to three steps — banning all pre-harvest uses of glyphosate on small grains, edible beans, and other human food crops (all non-GE) …
… [S]econd, reducing the ridiculously high tolerances on GE crops that Monsanto and other companies were able to get onto the books over the last decade in the U.S., and internationally via Codex; and three, banning use of high-risk surfactants and other so-called 'inert' ingredients in formulated, ready-to-use herbicide products."
Roundup Residues Found in Foods You Might Not Expect
If you want to avoid consuming residues of Roundup, you'll want to limit or eliminate processed foods in your diet. Most of them are made with GE crops that are heavily sprayed with Roundup. Even foods you might not expect can also contain Roundup residues.
An Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) analysis found the highest levels of glyphosate in non-GE crops including bagels, bread and wheat cereal. This, they noted, is likely the result of the common practice of using glyphosate as a desiccant shortly before harvest.
Ten out of 24 breakfast foods tested in ANH's analysis had detectable levels of glyphosate. This included oatmeal, bagels, coffee creamer, organic bread and even organic, cage-free, and antibiotic-free eggs. In addition, advocacy group Moms Across America sent 10 wine samples to be tested for glyphosate. All of the samples tested positive for glyphosate — even organic wines, although their levels were significantly lower.17
Roundup isn't even sprayed directly onto grapes in vineyards, but it is often used to spray the ground on either side of the grape vines. A study of glyphosate residues by the Munich Environmental Institute also found glyphosate in 14 best-selling German beers.18
All of the beers tested had glyphosate levels above the 0.1 microgram limit allowed in drinking water. Although these studies didn't test for the "inert" Roundup ingredients, if glyphosate was detected there's a good chance their companion additives would be too.
Eat Organic Foods to Avoid Roundup Residues
Your best bet for minimizing health risks from herbicide and pesticide exposure — including both the active and "inactive" ingredients — is to avoid them in the first place by eating organic as much as possible and investing in a good water filtration system for your home or apartment. If you know you have been exposed to herbicides and pesticides, the lactic acid bacteria formed during the fermentation of kimchi may help your body break them down.
So including fermented foods like kimchi in your diet may also be a wise strategy to help detox the pesticides that do enter your body. One of the benefits of eating organic is that the foods will be free GE ingredients, and this is key to avoiding exposure to toxic Roundup ingredients.
Eating locally produced organic food will not only support your family's health, it will also protect the environment from harmful chemical pollutants and the inadvertent spread of GE seeds and chemical-resistant weeds and pests.
The Intercept May 17, 2016
Scientific American June 23, 2009
The Huffington Post May 17, 2016
Daily Mail May 17, 2016
1, 6, 7 The Intercept May 17, 2016
2 Toxicology 2012 Sep 21 [Epub ahead of print]
3, 4 Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13(3), 264
5 Institute of Science in Society March 19, 2014
8 Chem Res Toxicol. 2002 Mar;15(3):326-31.
9 Biol Cell. 2004 Apr;96(3):245-9.
10 Chemosphere 61(8):1115-22 · December 2005
11 Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2009, 22 (1), pp 97–105
12 Scientific American June 23, 2009
13 National Academies of Sciences, A Science-Based Look at Genetically Engineered Crops
14, 15 The Huffington Post May 17, 2016
16 Charles Benbrook NAS Report on GMOs May 18, 2016
17 Moms Across America March 24, 2016
18 Bloomberg March 10, 2016
Previous Article The 50-Year Cover-Up Killing Millions
Next Article How the Zika Industry Was Born
How GMOs and Glyphosate Impact Soil Biology
Monsanto Is Inside Everything
Researcher Reveals Monsanto Has Known Since 1981 That Glyphosate Promotes Cancer


One of the goals of Instaknow is to couple the award winning Instaknow Human Intelligence Automation technology with industry thought leaders that can provide the domain expertise and professional services needed to drive significant value for our customers. We are very proud of the partnerships we have already created and look forward to forging new relationships with industry leading vendors. Instaknow's partner network includes system integrators, OEM's, ISVs and resellers.
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Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
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The latest project of Dave Jenkins Jr bursts out the gates his debut single/video, arriving ahead of shows at BIGSOUND next week.
After working with names such as Daniel Johns, Andy Bull, Bertie Blackman, Gordi and Eves Karydas as a drummer and musical director, chances are you've already come across a song touched by Dave Jenkins Jr's signature charm. If you're not so sure, well then it's worth making an entry point with NOT A BOYS NAME, his latest project, which just jumped out the gates with its debut single, Hazard Perception Test. It's an anthemic and festival-ready tune with an added touch of quirkiness, giving it a bouncy, indie-pop flavour you'd expect from an act like Vampire Weekend on an international scale. "The song is about resilience," he says on the track, which arrives ahead of a handful of shows at BIGSOUND next week with the promise of more to come. "Fighting back when you are being stunted by your own fears and insecurities. It's less about a romantic kind of heart than it is about having heart and having the strength to do what you want to do, the way YOU want to do it."
My name is Dave Jenkins Jr. I play lots of instruments, I write songs about love and the internet. I'm a Scorpio and generally speaking I prefer movie sequels.
It's a solo project that sounds like a band. Fuzzy guitars, unorthodox production... in a tiny nutshell I'm an indie/alt artist and I am brutally honest.
What are your production and writing processes like?
It all comes together very quickly. I don't like sitting on an idea for too long. If I have to work too hard, I'll usually just export it to the trash and try something else.
Can you tell us about your new single, Hazard Perception Test?
I was experiencing a time where the universe was hurling giant balls of crap at me every time I tried to move forward with any aspect of my life. I felt like I was in a real-life version of the touchscreen test you take to get your drivers licence. Things pop up that you aren't prepared for and you have to figure out the best way to deal with them. The song poured out of me in a day... lyrics, production... everything. It's the first song I wrote for this project and it hasn't changed one bit since that first recording I made.
I'll be playing at Bigsound in Brisbane with my band in September. After that probably something chill like a world tour.
What's the rest of the year have in store for you?
I have so much music to unleash on the world, my god. I've finished my first record. Second one's on the way. I should probably release them.
Where can we find more of your music?
The first single is on the internet - Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Google Play... the rest of it is lurking around the dark web somewhere.
Meet Sydney teen group Erthlings, who just signed to Future Classic with their debut singleTheir debut single Bridges arrives ahead of a bunch of shows in Brisbane and Sydney, at BIGSOUND and supporting G Flip respectively.
Exclusive: Watch PAGAN rock the F out for Half Way Records' Halfway Sessions Episode 2The Melbourne four-piece make for a perfect follow-up to Press Club.
A surprisingly good comeback tune from the childhood favourites.
The likeable lads are up and about to end the year in style.
The band is marching towards an album and film release - CHINATOWN.
Following the track premiere on Good Nights, here's the tripped-out clip for Loon Lake's Just Now.
Talking new albums, the cultural hotbed of Revesby and diva rider requests.
The album is out later this month and then the lads are off on a world tour.
The energetic single marks the Newcastle trio's first single for 2019 and the first taste of an upcoming EP.
Ginsberg oozes a Jeff Buckley vibe.


Soil Tests for the Melbourne Residential Market: What Do They Mean, and Why Do You Need to Know?
What exactly is a soil test? What does it mean to a person who is intending to buy land and build a new home? Do you need to know, or can you leave it to the experts? This article will give an overview of what a soil report is actually reporting, and why it is useful to educate yourself in this regard.
In order to know what soil you are building your home on, as part of an application for a Building Permit for a new home you will need to obtain a Soil Test (also known as a Geotechnical report.) This is required to verify that the foundation design on your working drawings is suitable for the conditions relating to your site.
In a nutshell, what your soil report is telling you is how much clay is in the soil. Think back to playing with mudpies, you dug down and found some clay, and created an ash tray or other masterpiece. You set it out to dry in the sun, and pretty soon, it cracked. When clay is wet, it is sticky, and swells. But when you let it dry in the sun, it shrinks and cracks.
When there is high clay content in soil, as the soil loses moisture its capacity as a foundation comes into question. Soil conditions in Melbourne change greatly from summer to winter, so there is a need to modify foundations to compensate for different clay content.
Melbourne is broken up into specific soil classifications, based on their reaction to moisture. A and S Class soils have low reactivity. M Class is Moderately Reactive which means your soil has medium reaction to moisture. This is sandy loam to clay mixture. H is Highly Reactive. E is extremely reactive, and P Class = Problem! P Class cannot be classified without a lot more work. This reactivity to moisture is essentially telling you how much clay is in the soil.
Stable, non-reactive. Most sand and rock sites. Little or no ground movement likely as a result of moisture changes.
Slightly reactive clay sites. May experience slight ground movement as a result of moisture changes.
Moderately reactive clay or silt sites. May experience moderate ground movement as a result of moisture changes.
Highly reactive clay sites. May experience a high amount of ground movement as a result of moisture changes.
Extremely reactive sites. May experience extreme amounts of ground movement as a result of moisture changes.
Problem sites. The ability of the soil to evenly bear a load is very poor. Sites may be classified as 'Class P' as a result of mine subsidence, landslip, collapse activity or coastal erosion. Ground movement as a result of moisture changes may be very severe. If you are building on a Class P site you will need to consult a structural engineer.
What does all this mean to you as a person who wants to build a new home?
When people buy a block of land, they generally don't have a soil report. If they are in areas where the soil conditions are fairly uniform, such as Frankston, where it is predominantly sand, with a bit of research they should have a good idea of what soil conditions are going to be like. When you are on the border of soil types, say in Doreen or Cranbourne/Pakenham, until a soil test is done you may not know what you are looking at.
When a test is done, the engineers bore until they hit rock or a solid clay base. Even when there is sand, they are looking for an underlying solid clay base. This will dictate how deep the foundations need to be. Fill is far worse than any amount of clay, because it generally has to be removed for the foundations. There will be a need for trenches filled with concrete. Imagine that there's a metre of fill; now the foundations need to be a metre plus 600 mil below that for steel reinforcing. These metres of trench will soon add up to cubic metres of concrete, and this is expensive.
How does Rock tie in?
Whenever someone asks me, "does the contract include rock?" the simple answer is "No" because without X-ray vision, you don't know what you will be presented with. In Melbourne, areas such as Epping and Craigieburn and further West and South, all around to Caroline Springs, you are more likely to encounter Rock. Just drive along the Western highway and see the fences our ancestors built out of the Volcanic Rock around them.
Where striking rock is highly likely, the builder can use modern construction methods such as Waffle Pad, which is Reinforcement Concrete slab construction above ground out of Polystyrene blocks. Instead of digging in, the building site is leveled, spread with crushed rock, and foundations are built above ground. There is some negative press about waffle pad construction, but this is based on the fact that when it was introduced a few instances were poorly implemented. The issues were resolved, but there remains some misinformation. Waffle Pad is a very valid method of construction in certain circumstances.
When in doubt, speak to your builder. I don't usually suggest that people get their own soil report. It is in your interest to go through this process in consultation with a competent custom builder, who is experienced in the terrain where you wish to purchase. The builder will have a good idea as to what the soil is like in that area, and will also be able to advise you through the process to the best outcome. Once you find a builder whose integrity and quality you trust, you will be able to work through the possibilities and process based on your particular situation.
← You've Signed With A Quality Custom Builder: How Can You Ensure The Best Experience?


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Harbor-
Guest Slip Rentals
Live Aboards
Mooring Rentals
Mooring Permittees
Harbor Fees
Balboa Yacht Basin Marina
Harbor Tidelands+
Commercial Tidelands Permits and Leases
Harbor Commission+
Title 17 Review
Sea Lions
Resources & Services-
Beacon Bay Bill
Sheriff's Harbor Patrol
Government » DEPARTMENTS » Harbor » Resources & Services
The Beacon Bay Bill is a reference to the California State Lands Commission's grant of sovereign tide and submerged lands in trust to the City of Newport Beach (City). The original grant was dated July 25, 1919 and there have been several separate amendments since then, including a new grant in 1978. All of these combined documents are referred to as the Beacon Bay Bill (bill) for simplicity purposes.
Generally, the bill states that the lands shall be used by the City for purposes in which there is general statewide interest, as follows:
For the establishment, improvement and conduct of a public harbor for the promotion and accommodation of commerce and navigation;
For the establishment, improvement and conduct of public bathing beaches, public marinas, public aquatic playgrounds and similar recreational facilities open to the general public; and
For the preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of the land in its natural state and the reestablishment of the natural state of the lands so they may serve as ecological units for scientific study, as open space, and as environments which provide food and habitat for birds and marine life and which favorably affect the scenery and climate of the area.
The following are documents related to the bill that are maintained on the California State Lands Commission's website.
Title Settlements
AD596 - Compromise Title Settlement and Land Exchange Agreement Regarding Certain Lands in the Vicinity of Lower Newport Bay, City of Newport Beach, California
AD113 - Transfer of Municipal Property to City of Newport Beach Tidelands Trust
Granting Statues
Statues of 2012, Chapter 286, approved September 7, 2012
Statues of 2004, Chapter 361, approved August 27, 2004
Statues of 2001, Chapter 745
Statues of 1994, Chapter 728, approved September 21, 1994
Statues of 1978, Chapter 74, approved April 6, 1978
Statues of 1953, Chapter 1096, approved June 9, 1953
Statues of 1935, Chapter 448, approved July 11, 1935
Statues of 1931, Chapter 200, repealed by Chapter 74
Statues of 1927, Chapter 70, repealed by Chapter 74
Statues of 1919, Chapter 495, approved May 25, 1919
The State Lands Commission staff reports relevant to the bill are available for online.


text:
Posted in artists responsibility, arts issues, Off-Broadway
My Name Is Asher Lev: What does it take to be an artist? What is the artist's responsbility?
Author: New York Theater Published Date: November 28, 2012 3 Comments on My Name Is Asher Lev: What does it take to be an artist? What is the artist's responsbility?
My Name Is Asher Lev: "You have a responsibility. Do you know what that responsibility is?" the art teacher (Mark Nelson) asks his student, an art prodigy who is also an Orthodox Jew (Ari Brand)
"As working, and sometimes non-working, actors, we're focused on paying the bills. It's only in the rehearsal room and on the stage that we can remember why we do all this. Because of the art. Because of the thrill of creation."
So actor Ari Brand told me in my article for Playbill about the play, "My Name Is Asher Lev," opening tonight at the Westside Theater. The play itself holds special interest for those struggling to be artists, or those struggling with the issues they confront as artists of any kind.
Directed by Gordon Edelstein and adapted by playwright Aaron Posner from the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. "My Name is Asher Leve" stars Brand as Asher, a boy who grows up in Brooklyn with the gift for drawing, and a passion for art. The problem is that his parents, members of a Hasidic Jewish community, disapprove of this activity. Playing Asher's religious parents and all other characters are Mark Nelson and (the unfortunately-named) Jenny Bacon. (Bacon is understudied by Naama Potok, Chaim Potok's daughter, whom I also interviewed for the Playbill article.)
As the show's slogan puts it, the play depicts "one boy's struggle between tradition and art." One of the scenes in which that struggle is represented is when the rebbe (the leader of the Hasidic sect to which his family belongs) sends Asher to apprentice with a well-regarded older artist named Kahn.
Kahn: You have a gift, Asher Lev. You have a responsibility. Do you know what that responsibility is?
Asher: Um, I don't know.
Kahn: Do you feel you are responsible to anyone? Anything?
Asher: To my people
Kahn: What people?
Asher: The Jewish people
Kahn: Ahhh.. Why do you think you are responsible to the Jewish people?
Asher: All Jews are responsible, one to the other. It is in the Talmud. My father…
Kahn: As an artist you are responsible to no one and nothing except to yourself and to the truth as you see it! An artist is responsible to his art! To his art! Just that. Anything else is propaganda.
Tagged Aaron Posner, Ari Brand, Chaim Potok, My Name Is Asher Lev, Naama Potok
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text:
« 2018 IMMAF – WMMAA Unified World Championships
IMMAF CONFIRMS PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN FOR 2018 ASIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS »
Appetite for a Comeback – Part 3: Charlotte discovers new career path as certified cutwoman
Pictured: cutwoman Charlotte Lewis readying an MMA competitor.
By IMMAF.org lead writer, Jorden Curran
After her fast paced teenage years spent as a martial arts competitor, Charlotte Lewis joined Britain's Royal Air Force at the age of just 19, continuing her adventurous and extrovert life journey. A tragic workplace accident saw her confined to a wheelchair and dealt the bleak prognosis of never being able to walk again.
In Part 2 of Appetite for a Comeback, 'Char' recalled how her recovery had gathered great momentum and had reached positive shores. That is until a reality gut shot was delivered, in which she faced the realisation of not being able to return to kickboxing.
Catch up on Part 2 HERE.
Char accepted the reality and found alternative paths to fulfilling physical ambitions above and beyond that of walking, of which was once so far out of reach. She is now back in the gym, and alongside her progression as a certified combat sports cuts woman, has found a new way to satisfy the hunger for competition.
"I'm training again," she proudly states, "competing in bikini fitness competitions. It's safe to say I absolutely love it. I have a new coach, so I still have that personal connection with someone who supports and works towards something with me. I'm able to throw myself into something where I see changes and improvements every day."
Nevertheless, martial arts had been a foundation of her upbringing. "Despite not fighting, I wanted to stay involved," she said. It was time for Char to refill her think-tank for ways to rekindle a martial arts career.
In doing so, she discovered the IMMAF progression pathways, specifically, the branch established by international cutman, Joe Clifford, who has implemented an exam based education and progression system for Seconds, from beginners to the experienced international level.
"I'd always been fascinated by hand wrapping and the cutman role," Char said, "but had absolutely no idea of how one would go about getting involved in it, and did think I would face challenges trying to break in to a male dominated role."
But it was quite the opposite, as she would discover. IMMAF's cuts team, supervised by one of the industry's best, has seen Clifford lead an international group of men and women, each certified and educated as ongoing course graduates, gaining experience at regional events and IMMAF championships across the globe.
"After intense googling, I came across the IMMAF process," Char explained. "By the next day I was booked on and ready to head to Dublin two months later. I couldn't recommend the course highly enough. Joe is an absolute wizard, I learnt so much and he was and continues to be such a supportive role model, I am very lucky to have him in my corner.
"I started off with some shadowing, I met a lovely lady called Beccy Davies, who also came up through the IMMAF process. She has been another massive supporter for me and has openly welcomed me, offering years of knowledge. I started off shadowing her and I travel to Dublin to get some experience in with Joe and his regular team, which has been amazing. I have been fortunate enough to be booked for various gigs this year, both solo and as part of an all-female cuts team including Beccy and another inspiration, Nicola Vicarey. I am hoping to be selected to be on Joe and Bob Plant's team for the IMMAF Asian open in Beijing and the IMMAF world championships in Bahrain this year.
"After everything that's happened over the last 7 years, I am just so pleased to have fallen in love with a career path again. I have a hugely supportive team around me, I am excited about all the opportunities that are now within reach and after missing the sense of belonging I felt while I was serving, I feel like I'm finding that again within IMMAF and the sport of MMA. I look forward to many more years on the cuts team and would just like to thank everyone that has been involved in my journey so far."
For information on how you can take part in Joe Clifford's educational cutman program, or to inquire about certification, please contact malik@immaf.org
The post Appetite for a Comeback – Part 3: Charlotte discovers new career path as certified cutwoman appeared first on IMMAF.
August 13th, 2018 | Tags: IMMAF | Category: News


text:
ARKIA Israeli Airlines to operate up to four A330-900neo
ARKIA Israeli Airlines, majority owned by Jordache Enterprises, will receive up to four A330-900neo aircraft, making the airline the first Airbus widebody customer in Israel.
The A330neo aircraft will be the backbone of ARKIA's expansion into long-haul and leisure markets.
ARKIA became an Airbus customer in 2012 through an order for four A321neo aircraft. Airbus' unique commonality and Cross Crew Qualification concept that allow pilots and engineers to transition between single and twin aisle aircraft easily means that the A330-900neo and A321neo will operate seamlessly together and bring operational benefits to the entire fleet.
The A330neo will be equipped with Airspace by Airbus cabins offering superior comfort, ambience, and design, and complemented with fourth generation or light In-Flight entertainment, enabling mobile telephony, internet and on board Wi-Fi via personal devices.
"The A330-900neo will be a key asset to help us grow efficiently on highly competitive international long-haul routes from Israel. The aircraft will offer our passengers the latest product with great cabin comfort on direct long-haul flights," said Mr. Joe Nakash, Chairman of Jordache Enterprises. "Thanks to the proven reliability and fuel efficiency of the A330 family, the A330neo will also deliver us with the best in class operating economics."
"We are delighted to be making inroads in Israel." said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. "The A330neo offers 14 percent reduced fuel burn per seat married with the best in class economics and comfort. The mix of the A321neo with A330neo in ARKIA's fleet will allow the airline to reap the benefits of Airbus' unique aircraft commonality."
The A330-900neo is the most cost-efficient aircraft in its size category offering an increased non-stop range of up to 400 nautical miles.
Jordache manages a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio including MG Aviation in Hong-Kong, U.S. POLO Assn, Jordache Jeans, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and real estate located in prime locations throughout the world. The real estate portfolio consists of retail, office, multifamily and hotel properties. Among the group's recent acquisitions are the famous Versace Mansion and the luxury Setai Miami Beach.
Related Items:Arkia
Arkia Israeli Airlines Takes Delivery of World's First A321LR
Embraer and Arkia sign Letter of Intent for six E195-E2 jets
Azerbaijan seeks enhanced ties with budget airlines


text:
Koyraboro Senni (Koroboro Senni, Koyra Senni or Gao Senni) is a member of the Songhay languages of Mali and is spoken by some 400,000 people along the Niger River from the town of Gourma-Rharous, east of Timbuktu, through Bourem, Gao and Ansongo to the Mali–Niger border.

The expression "koyra-boro senn-i" denotes "the language of the town dwellers", as opposed to nomads like the Tuareg people and other transhumant people.

Although Koyraboro Senni is associated with settled towns, it is a cosmopolitan language which has spread east and west of Gao, to the Fula people living at the Mali–Niger border and to the Bozo people of the Niger River. East of Timbuktu, Koyra Senni gives way relatively abruptly to the closely related Koyra Chiini.

Geographic distribution
The majority of speakers live in the Gao Region of Mali. It is also spoken in other parts of Mali and in other countries.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

Nasalized realizations of vowel sounds may also occur, but they are rare among different dialects.

References
 Jeffrey Heath: Grammar of Koyraboro (Koroboro) Senni, the Songhay of Gao. Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Köln 1999.

External links

 Open Language Archives Community
 Songhay Language Description

Songhay languages
Languages of Mali

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Saturday, December 5th ~ 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6th ~ 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Click here to see an example of the fine furniture for sale at this event.
Follow The Gathering Place on Instagram or Twitter and you will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to The Gathering Place Warehouse. Share or retweet this post and you'll be entered again. Four chances to win.
Winners will be contacted through their Instagram or Twitter.


The S&P 500 and Dow ended a volatile session down slightly on Tuesday as investor optimism over China-U.S. trade talks was offset by U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the U.S. government. Fred Katayama reports.
The Dow & S&P 500 inched down in a choppy session Tuesday. Unnerving investors: U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the U.S. government and political uncertainty in Britain.
Redmount Capital Partners chief investment officer Vincent Catalano says Wall Street could enter a bear market.
"I think the market's on the cusp of possibly turning from a bull market into a cyclical bear market, a period in which prices decline in the United States pretty substantially over a relatively short period of time."
Among the market leaders: defensive stocks like healthcare, consumer staples and utilities.
Auto stocks like GM, Ford and Tesla rose after a U.S. official told Reuters China has indicated it'll cut tariffs on U.S. autos.
Alphabet shares rose. CEO Sundar Pichai told Congressional lawmakers its Google unit doesn't plan to relaunch a search engine in China.
Pfizer shares fell after JP Morgan downgraded the drugmaker to "neutral" from "overweight."
The major indexes in Europe gained more than one percent. Materials and tech stocks led a broad rally.


text:
FitzRoy, Supporting people with learning disabilities
Why FitzRoy
Registered Care
Supported Living & Support at Home
Day Opportunities
Beds Available
Love4Life
Volunteer at Love4Life
FitzRoy's History
Meet FitzRoy Staff
Home Voices I've got my boy back!
I've got my boy back!
Blog by Carly Stannard, FitzRoy Manager
Before we opened Lethrede, a FitzRoy Supported Living home in Suffolk, Neil Timms, who has autism, was placed over 150 miles away from his family. Undaunted, his mum, sometimes accompanied by his brother, would travel the long journey to see him. She took his favourite chocolates and other things he loved. Neil would take her gifts, spend a short time with them and then simply say goodbye and return to his bedroom. Rarely would her visit last more than thirty minutes. This heart-breaking situation went on for several years.
Neil needed specialist support to fulfil meaningful relationships, communicate his needs and wishes positively, and to access his community. Living with autism, Neil can struggle with relationships, understanding emotions, and social pressures.
Things changed for all the family when Neil moved to a FitzRoy Supported Living home, Lethrede, which is only 20 minutes away from his mum. Paying special attention to his need for routines FitzRoy staff made sure his bedroom had exactly the same colours and the furniture was in the same place. With a lot of long-term planning and dedicated expert support the staff created a caring environment in which Neil could feel safe.
The transformation in Neil has been huge. After a year of gaining confidence he took part in a sponsored bounce and invited his mum and brother to watch. They stayed for several hours enjoying the BBQ to celebrate Neil's new house being open for a year. During the visit Neil pulled his Mum close and kissed her on the head. Grinning, she said "I've got my boy back." We all had tears in our eyes.
The whole family are over the moon and last Mother's day Neil bought chocolates to give his Mum when she visited; gone were the days of her being left on the doorstep. In another lovely twist, Neil's brother has joined FitzRoy as a Support Worker, enjoying the fulfilling daily life of caring for adults with learning disabilities."
Neil's mum has her say "We were delighted with how Neil settled in to his new home – the staff team working with Neil did a tremendous job in planning the move so that everything could go as smoothly as possible.
We are delighted that Neil has his own car so that he can go out in to the community as he desires. There was only a shared mini bus in his last place, and Neil has always struggled to socialise with the other people he has been living with – so sharing the vehicle would cause Neil anxiety. Now, with the help of his support staff, he can go out on longer journeys which are much more fun for him.
The move has allowed Neil to live a fuller life and his health, including his weight, has improved as a result.
It is a nice feeling having Neil live so close as we can call in to see him much more frequently than we could before. It is reassuring that we could bump in to Neil if he were out in the town. He is always happy to see us and we can see from his general demeanour how settled and relaxed he is.
We can't thank FitzRoy enough for the way that they have supported Neil over the past three years.
FitzRoy General Enquiries 01730 711 111
FitzRoy Advice Line 0800 014 7588
Central Support, FitzRoy House, 8 Hylton Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3JY.
Registered charity number 1011290 / A company limited by guarantee, number 2699902
© FitzRoy 2014 - 2020
By Pixeldot


text:
$20 million Mega Millions ticket sold in The Bronx
Mount Eden, Neighborhoods, News
The Bronx may have a new mega-millionaire!
A ticket worth $20 million bucks for this past Tuesday's mega-million drawing was sold in The Bronx at 170th Street Grocery in the Mount Eden neighborhood of The Bronx.
This isn't the first time a winning ticket has been sold in The Bronx but it does appear to be the largest winning in recent memory.
170th Street Grocery in Mount Eden where Tuesday's million-dollar Mega Millions ticket was sold/Image via Google Streets
The last large sum won in The Bronx was in 2019 when a single ticket worth $10 million was sold at TS Stationary in Norwood.
Last summer, a $1 million ticket was sold in Kingsbridge Heights, also for the Mega Million drawing, and in 2021, another $1 million ticket was sold in the borough.
As of this morning, a winner hasn't been identified but according to information provided to The New York Post by the New York State Gaming Commission, they're currently verifying someone who came forward claiming to have been the winner but we're hoping it's a lucky Bronxite in the area that woke up $20 million richer.
To the new winner, if they need help spending the money by donating to non-profit organizations, we know a few here and there that they can make contributions to like the Bronx Documentary Center, or, perhaps the Bronx Children's Museum which recently opened to the public.
There are also places like The Point CDC, Rocking the Boat, and The Bronx River Alliance, which do so much work to help our residents as well as the environment within our borough and we're pretty sure that any donation will go a long way but, however you choose to use your new found wealth, may you use it wisely and it lasts you a lifetime.
Dear reader: Now more than ever, it is important to support local journalism, especially as told by a Bronx-born and raised journalist telling our stories. If you found this or any of our stories informative and enjoyed our photography throughout the past years, kindly consider donating to support local Bronx journalism for decades to come.
Tags: Lotto, Mount Eden
The Bronx is freezing: Borough leads NYC in heat & hot water complaints for sixth year in a row
SEE IT: Dolphins spotted this week in The Bronx River!
Ed García Conde January 19, 2023
New Neighborhood To Be Created In The Bronx: Hello Cromwell-Jerome?
Ed García Conde September 24, 2014


The choices of means to advertise your business can be a bit overwhelming when you consider all the forms of Print Advertising (brochures, newspapers, magazines, billboards, direct-mail campaigns, and many more), Media Advertising (TV, radio, movie theater, and more), Internet Advertising (website, banner ads, Search Engine Optimization and Marketing, Social Media Management, e-newsletters, directory listing management, and many more), and other forms of promotion to get your business noticed. Our 4-year- degreed marketing and design professionals will work with your business or organization to research and understand your product and/or service, sales objectives, and budget, to develop a specific plan and set of materials that most effectively targets potential customers and creates brand awareness.
Our copywriting professionals can work with your business to craft dynamic and relevant text you require for any form of print advertisement and/or Internet/website marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) information. Whether you need your copy to tell a captivating story about your company, provide product or service information to your customers, create a "call-to-action" response, or influence a customer's behavior, our copywriting professionals will work with your business to strategize, research, and creatively develop text that represents your brand strategy and supports your marketing objectives.
A Direct Mail campaign can target existing or prospective customers with very specific or general demographic characteristics within a defined geographic area by utilizing a visually appealing printed mailer with a dynamic message relevant to the marketing/sales objectives of the campaign. Our mailing list services use the latest technology and algorithms to provide you with an inclusive and highly accurate list to target your defined prospective customer. In addition, our postal management services take the hassle away from you and can accommodate small or very large campaigns effectively.
Frequently distributed marketing promotional items or "give-away's" can help you to unleash the power of your branding strategy. We can provide you with any type of promotional item featuring your business logo and information. We offer a large selection of products from multiple distributors to provide a creative and fun means to market your business.
Avid Design Group can work with your business or organization to identify your sales and marketing objectives in a defined geographic or web-based market and develop strategies to evaluate your competitors marketing objectives and strategies, customer behavior and other market factors that will affect the purchasing behavior of potential customers to your product or service.
Avid Design Group can coordinate and manage any of the visual image services that you may require for your marketing campaign, print materials or Internet marketing activities. Whether you require general industry photos from our large stock photography repository, or require custom on-site, studio or aerial photography and/or video services, we have the photograph and video resources that will meet your project needs. We only work with the most proven, reputable, professional, and cost effective videographers and photographers for your business.
Our friends at ADG are our go-to team for just about everything in our marketing portfolio. Over the last ten years these good folks have guided our award-winning re-branding launch, structured our award-winning print and television campaigns, provided crisp and creative design of every brochure and promotional piece, and deliver effective, full-service social media management. We do good work here, for some really good people, and we credit ADG in helping us achieve a brighter spot on the community's philanthropic radar.


text:
O'Fallon Park is a municipal park in St. Louis, Missouri, that opened in 1908.

Description
The park is named after John O'Fallon, a colonel who fought in the War of 1812 and nephew of William Clark. The park is 126.63 acres and was once part of O'Fallon's 600-acre land holding. The park has a lake with a boathouse. It has basketball courts, tennis courts, softball fields, and a football field. It has a playground, multiple picnic grounds, and a spray pool.

Geography
O'Fallon Park is located near the riverfront. On the north, it is bordered by Interstate 70; on the southwest, by W. Florissant Ave. The southeastern border follows E. Harris Ave., Algernon St., and Adelaide Ave.

Surrounding areas
O'Fallon Park is surrounded by five St. Louis neighborhoods. North Riverfront borders the north, Penrose borders the west, Near North Riverfront borders the east by a tip, and finally two neighborhoods border the south, O'Fallon and College Hill.

See also
John O'Fallon
People and culture of St. Louis, Missouri
Neighborhoods of St. Louis
Parks in St. Louis, Missouri

References

External links
 O'Fallon Park - Official St. Louis Park Department website

Parks in St. Louis
Culture of St. Louis
Tourist attractions in St. Louis
1908 establishments in Missouri


text:
Q: How to access the ID without using json(), while using HttpClient I need to access the id of the object here. However, could not use json(), as it's in HttpClient. Please advise, what could be a solution. The error I'm facing is: "TS2339: Property 'json' does not exist on type 'Object'."
And without Json, the error is with 'id'. i.e. "TS2339: Property 'id' does not exist on type 'Object'." (Please refer to: post['id'] = response.json().id;)
import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';

import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';
// const headers = { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
@Component({
  selector: 'posts',
  templateUrl: './posts.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./posts.component.css'],
})
export class PostsComponent {
  posts: any[];
  private url = 'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts';
  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {
    http
      .get(this.url) //{ headers }
      .subscribe((response: any[]) => {
        this.posts = response;
      });
  }
  createPost(input: HTMLInputElement) {
    let post = { title: input.value };
    this.http.post(this.url, JSON.stringify(post)).subscribe((response) => {
      post['id'] = response.json().id;
      console.log(response);
    });
  }
}

A: try something like below :
createPost(input: HTMLInputElement) {
    let post = { title: input.value };
    this.http.post(this.url, JSON.stringify(post)).subscribe((response:any) => {
      post['id'] = response.id;
      console.log(response);
    });
  }

take a look at this sample :
https://stackblitz.com/edit/angular-ivy-o8b7ri?file=src%2Fapp%2Fapp.component.ts

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
About CMCS
The Center for Media and Communications Studies (CMCS) is a research center of Central European University in Budapest dedicated to advancing media and communications scholarship and the democratic potential of the media.
The CMCS produces scholarly and practice-oriented research addressing academic, policy and civil society needs. CMCS research and activities address media and communication policy and the democratic potential of the media, civil society and participation, fundamental communication and informational rights, and the complexities of media and communication in transition.
The CMCS is a key resource for data and information on the 2010 Hungarian media legislation. Our work in this area includes "Hungarian Media Laws in Europe: An Assessment of the Consistency of Hungary's Media Laws with European Practices and Norms," a comparative examination of key elements of the Hungarian legislation across 20 EU-member and European states; an Interactive Timeline and Overview of Key Resources, as well as a comprehensive online archive with links to the legislation, government statements, reports by intergovermental bodies and international NGOs, and news reports.
Contact the CMCS: Tel. (36-1) 327-3000 2607; E-mail: cmcs AT ceu.hu
Sign up to receive regular updates from the Hungarian Media Monitor
Contact us at: mediamonitor@ceu.hu
Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative License.
©2011 Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS). Some rights reserved.


text:
Q: Streaming MutationGroups into Spanner I'm trying to stream MutationGroups into spanner with SpannerIO.
The goal is to write new MuationGroups every 10 seconds, as we will use spanner to query near-time KPI's.
When I don't use any windows, I get the following error:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalStateException: GroupByKey cannot be applied to non-bounded PCollection in the GlobalWindow without a trigger. Use a Window.into or Window.triggering transform prior to GroupByKey.
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.GroupByKey.applicableTo(GroupByKey.java:173)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.GroupByKey.expand(GroupByKey.java:204)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.GroupByKey.expand(GroupByKey.java:120)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyInternal(Pipeline.java:537)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyTransform(Pipeline.java:472)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection.apply(PCollection.java:286)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.Combine$PerKey.expand(Combine.java:1585)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.Combine$PerKey.expand(Combine.java:1470)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyInternal(Pipeline.java:537)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyTransform(Pipeline.java:491)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection.apply(PCollection.java:299)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.io.gcp.spanner.SpannerIO$WriteGrouped.expand(SpannerIO.java:868)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.io.gcp.spanner.SpannerIO$WriteGrouped.expand(SpannerIO.java:823)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyInternal(Pipeline.java:537)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyTransform(Pipeline.java:472)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection.apply(PCollection.java:286)
    at quantum.base.transform.entity.spanner.SpannerProtoWrite.expand(SpannerProtoWrite.java:52)
    at quantum.base.transform.entity.spanner.SpannerProtoWrite.expand(SpannerProtoWrite.java:20)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyInternal(Pipeline.java:537)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyTransform(Pipeline.java:491)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection.apply(PCollection.java:299)
    at quantum.entitybuilder.pipeline.EntityBuilderPipeline$Write$SpannerWrite.expand(EntityBuilderPipeline.java:388)
    at quantum.entitybuilder.pipeline.EntityBuilderPipeline$Write$SpannerWrite.expand(EntityBuilderPipeline.java:372)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyInternal(Pipeline.java:537)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline.applyTransform(Pipeline.java:491)
    at org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection.apply(PCollection.java:299)
    at quantum.entitybuilder.pipeline.EntityBuilderPipeline.main(EntityBuilderPipeline.java:122)
:entityBuilder FAILED

Because of the error above I assume the input collection needs to be windowed and triggered, as SpannerIO uses a GroupByKey (this is also what I need for my use case):
        ...
        .apply("1-minute windows", Window.<MutationGroup>into(FixedWindows.of(Duration.standardMinutes(1)))
            .triggering(Repeatedly.forever(AfterProcessingTime
                    .pastFirstElementInPane()
                    .plusDelayOf(Duration.standardSeconds(10))
            ).orFinally(AfterWatermark.pastEndOfWindow()))
            .discardingFiredPanes()
            .withAllowedLateness(Duration.ZERO))
        .apply(SpannerIO.write()
                    .withProjectId(entityConfig.getSpannerProject())
                    .withInstanceId(entityConfig.getSpannerInstance())
                    .withDatabaseId(entityConfig.getSpannerDb())
                    .grouped());

When I do this, I get the following exceptions during runtime:
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Attempted to get side input window for GlobalWindow from non-global WindowFn
        org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.windowing.PartitioningWindowFn$1.getSideInputWindow(PartitioningWindowFn.java:49)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.StreamingModeExecutionContext$StepContext.issueSideInputFetch(StreamingModeExecutionContext.java:631)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.StreamingModeExecutionContext$UserStepContext.issueSideInputFetch(StreamingModeExecutionContext.java:683)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.StreamingSideInputFetcher.storeIfBlocked(StreamingSideInputFetcher.java:182)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.StreamingSideInputDoFnRunner.processElement(StreamingSideInputDoFnRunner.java:71)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.SimpleParDoFn.processElement(SimpleParDoFn.java:323)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.util.common.worker.ParDoOperation.process(ParDoOperation.java:43)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.util.common.worker.OutputReceiver.process(OutputReceiver.java:48)
        com.google.cloud.dataflow.worker.SimpleParDoFn$1.output(SimpleParDoFn.java:271)
        org.apache.beam.runners.core.SimpleDoFnRunner.outputWindowedValue(SimpleDoFnRunner.java:219)
        org.apache.beam.runners.core.SimpleDoFnRunner.access$700(SimpleDoFnRunner.java:69)
        org.apache.beam.runners.core.SimpleDoFnRunner$DoFnProcessContext.output(SimpleDoFnRunner.java:517)
        org.apache.beam.runners.core.SimpleDoFnRunner$DoFnProcessContext.output(SimpleDoFnRunner.java:505)
        org.apache.beam.sdk.values.ValueWithRecordId$StripIdsDoFn.processElement(ValueWithRecordId.java:145)

After investigating further it appears to be due to the .apply(Wait.on(input)) in SpannerIO: It has a global side input which does not seem to work with my fixed windows, as the docs of Wait.java state:
If signal is globally windowed, main input must also be. This typically would be useful
 *       only in a batch pipeline, because the global window of an infinite PCollection never
 *       closes, so the wait signal will never be ready.

As a temporary workaround I tried the following:

*

*add a GlobalWindow with triggers instead of fixed windows:
    .apply("globalwindow", Window.<MutationGroup>into(new GlobalWindows())
            .triggering(Repeatedly.forever(AfterProcessingTime
                    .pastFirstElementInPane()
                    .plusDelayOf(Duration.standardSeconds(10))
            ).orFinally(AfterWatermark.pastEndOfWindow()))
            .discardingFiredPanes()
            .withAllowedLateness(Duration.ZERO))

This results in writes to spanner only when I drain my pipeline. I have the impression the Wait.on() signal is only triggered when the Global windows closes, and doesn't work with triggers.

*Disable the .apply(Wait.on(input)) in SpannerIO:
This results in the pipeline getting stuck on the view creation which
is described in this SO post:
SpannerIO Dataflow 2.3.0 stuck in CreateDataflowView.
When I check the worker logs for clues, I do get the following warnings:
logger:  "org.apache.beam.sdk.coders.SerializableCoder"
message:  "Can't verify serialized elements of type SpannerSchema have well defined equals method. This may produce incorrect results on some PipelineRunner
logger:  "org.apache.beam.sdk.coders.SerializableCoder"
message:  "Can't verify serialized elements of type BoundedSource have well defined equals method. This may produce incorrect results on some PipelineRunner"

Note that everything works with the DirectRunner and that I'm trying to use the DataflowRunner.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for things I can try to get this running? I can hardly imagine that I'm the only one trying to stream MutationGroups into spanner.
Thanks in advance!

A: Currently, SpannerIO connector is not supported with Beam Streaming. Please follow this Pull Request which adds streaming support for spanner IO connector.


Iraq and Iran increased their crude oil shipments abroad last month, taking advantage of lower Saudi exports to key destinations to expand their international market share.
Data from Bloomberg suggests that Iraq, OPEC's number-two exporter, shipped 3.98 million bpd to foreign clients in September—the highest daily rate since last December. Iran, for its part, exported 2.28 million bpd in September, the highest since February.
The two neighbors have also made no secret of their oil production expansion plans. Despite their participation in the OPEC-wide production cut, Iraq and are Iran both eager to boost their crude oil production sooner rather than later.
Iraq, for example, has announced plans to boost its oil production capacity to 5 million bpd and the development of three fields, West Qurna-1, Halfaya, and Zubair could provide the additional capacity. This means that Iraq will be very reluctant to agree to any further extension to the OPEC deal, which Russia's Vladimir Putin last week suggested could be extended until end-2018 if need be. Related: Is The Bakken Profitable At $50 Oil?
Iran is growing its production, as it was allowed to pump an additional 90,000 bpd based on its October production level under the OPEC cut deal, and it is expanding its footprint in Asia. China is a major destination for Iranian crude, and fresh cargo data from Bloomberg suggests that last month Iran exported 600,000 bpd to China, versus 833,000 bpd of Asia-bound crude oil exports for Saudi Arabia.
Iraq has more choices: it can also export to the U.S. In September, Iraq shipped 871,000 bpd to the States, exceeding the level of Saudi exports to the U.S. for the second month in a row. In August, Iraqi oil shipments to the U.S. were twice as high as Saudi's U.S.-bound oil exports.
Hopefully oil price listened to Rush yesterday on the radio. For California to go all electric will take many, many,many more n.g. power plants as each electric filling station will need enough power to light a small city. Fascinating report and something that needs to be done before auto companies put the cart before the horse. They could add 20 power plants in California alone just to meet a 2040 deadline.


We've come a long way from the days before the suffrage movement, when women were more possession than person. We've even evolved beyond the iconic woman of the 1950s, miserably enduring her domestication. Since those early times, women have consistently engaged in radical movements aimed at minimizing their invisibility and maximizing their opportunities.
Divorce is less taboo and more common in our current climate. However, if we're honest and look into the deep crevices of our understandings about gender roles, we can notice some inequities that are still evident. Those archaic residuals become less palatable after the walk down the aisle.
Time recently published a study suggesting that women in marital relationships are more likely to ask for a divorce than their husbands. This statistic differs from the one in cohabitating or dating relationships, in which there is no difference between the genders.
Why would marriage create an environment in which women feel they have to give up their dreams of a future and possibly cause great strife for their children? Is divorce the new radical movement for women?
1. Women are doing more of the housework.
Now, I must say I'm an exception to this rule, but then again, I'm still happily married. It's a pervasive and prevalent reality in our culture that women are more responsible for what's traditionally considered housework (dishes, laundry and the ever-dreaded dusting).
This reality seems to mirror what the rest of society believes are gender appropriate work roles. Women are doing the passive work — the work that men don't want to do — and that has less value in the eyes of the masses. Women at work and at home are underutilized and it would appear that same woman feels as though she has more say in whether she leaves a job or a marriage.
2. Women are making more money.
Money gives women the freedom to make choices in her life. She can decide to do something about her level of happiness in ways that she might not have ever been able to before. Once a woman starts asking that question and comes up with the answer that she might be able and better on her own, the natural progression from that point is often to divorce.
3. Women are working more now than ever in our history.
Even the "stay at home mom" has something going on. Whether that's an Etsy account or a thrift business, most women are reaping the financial and emotional rewards of generating an income. Lots of the work women are doing is meaningful work and so women feel better about themselves. Women are beginning to internalize the message that they are worthwhile, even if their husbands haven't quite been able to express that. As humans we become empowered when we successfully navigate new terrain in the world. Once we have a certain notion of our capabilities, it's harder to accept things as they've always been.
4. Men are not quite on the curve yet.
The benefits of the cultural shift are innumerable for women and they're immediate. Men are benefiting too by having women more engaged in their own lives and their couple life, but those benefits are less obvious and they're somewhat painful for the husband. Whenever the status quo changes, there's some level of discomfort. No one wants to do the dusting, so that man who's accustomed to things the way they were for his parents maybe isn't so willing to make a change.
Our husbands are capable of the change, and as couples we are able to navigate evolution. We must change our messages to men on the whole. In social circles, our husbands need high-fives for changing diapers and mopping floors. In our churches, we need to hear messages of equality and not servitude by women. In our schools, our boys need to see more male teachers and our daughters need to receive equal pay for the same work her male counterpart is doing. We save our families when we begin to question what's always been and provide support for what's different.
Lydia Kickliter, LMHC is a therapist specializing in helping women through transition. You can find her at www.thepathwaystowellness.org.
Glamour honored Lupita as "The Breakthrough" Woman of the Year for her achievements as an actress. This includes her Academy Award win for 12 Years a Slave and her new roles in The Jungle Book and Star Wars: Episode VII. Lupita also became the new face of Lancome's and landed the cover of People's Most Beautiful issue.
[To her mother:] "Thank you for the fierce example of womanhood that you have set for me."
Glamour honored Laverne as "The Advocate" Woman of the Year. Laverne utilized her breakthrough, transgender role on Orange is the New Black to educate the world, welcome the transgender community, and fight for both gay rights and marriage equality.
Mindy is this year's "Lady Boss," honored for her work as a comedian on The Mindy Project, a writer for the hit show The Office, and the author of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). Mindy tells Glamour, "It's my responsibility to try to encourage groups that don't get represented."
"It's only when I'm living in the present that I feel at piece."
Robin Roberts is this year's "Survivor," fighting both breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome (and winning!). Robin is also an anchor on Good Morning America and has started a new production company.
"It's always better to get caught trying...than never to have tried."
Chelsea Clinton is honored as "The Women's Champion" for her work at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation. There, among other successes, Clinton has worked to lower the cost of diarrhea treatments, a cause that could save the lives of 170,000 children by 2015. Chelsea also leads No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project.
"With knowing comes caring—With caring there is HOPE."
Sylvia, Glamour's "Explorer" of the year, is a legendary oceanographer who has discovered tens of thousands of species while embarking on over 100 explorations. Sylvia also stands up against over-fishing and pollution. Her foundation, Mission Blue, aims to protect the ocean, because, as Sylvia tells Glamour, the ocean "is the heart of our planet that keeps us alive."
"Justice. Love. Empathy. Compassion. Truth. Inclusivity!"
Natalia Vodianova is recognized as "The Voice for Children," honoring her efforts as founder of the Naked Heart Foundation. The organization has built over 100 parks and playgrounds, summer camps, and more, in order to help and provide for special needs children.
Sarah, "The Visionary," took over for designer Alexander McQueen after he passed, working to maintain the aesthetic of his brand. Sarah was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world as well as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
"Don't compare your insides to other people's outsides. You can do it too!"
Samantha Power is Glamour's "Ambassador," honored for her work as the youngest-ever permanent representative to the UN. She is also the founder of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Problem From Hell; America and the Age of Genocide.
Last night Karlie, alongside Karen Elson, presented to Sarah Burton.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt"
Freida awarded "The Bravest Girls in the World," honoring every girl, all over the world, who, despite obstacles, will fight in order to go to school.


I've got an application (okay, scratty PHP script) which glues together some API things and shows them onto a dashboard for me. Recently, I updated it to use Guzzle as the consuming client, since twitter now needs me to authenticate (I wrote about that if you're interested), and I used Composer to bring the new library in. It was very simple so I thought I'd share it as it's quite minimal example, and those are my favourite kind.
First of all, you'll need to either install composer, or at least get the .phar - these examples use the composer.phar file from under the "Manual Download" section.
Once you've got composer ready to go, then we can move on and configure it.
And there you have it - all the libraries you need are in place.
There you go :) Enjoy using Composer even in existing/legacy applications, projects that aren't built in "the one true way" or really anywhere else you don't want to have to include libraries in your repositories.
Oh, and one more tip if you're just getting started: add the vendor folder to your source control "ignore" file.
This entry was posted in php and tagged composer, dependency management, guzzle by lornajane. Bookmark the permalink.
You could also do a *php composer.phar require guzzle/guzzle 3.7* on the console, which would a) create the composer.json and b) install the required package; which is IMHO more suitable for these 'one package scenarios'.
I did not know that, thanks for taking the time to comment!


text:
DAVIDsTEA to Seek Court Authorization for CCAA Plan of Arrangement
MONTREAL, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DAVIDsTEA Inc. (Nasdaq:DTEA) ("DAVIDsTEA" or the "Company"), a leading tea merchant in North America, announces that it will seek authorization from the Québec Superior Court on Friday, May 7, 2021 to file its Plan of Arrangement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") and to call a creditors' meeting to be held on June 11, 2021. The Plan of Arrangement to be submitted to the creditors for approval provides that DAVIDsTEA will distribute an aggregate amount of approximately CDN $18 million to its creditors and those of DAVIDsTEA (USA) Inc., the Company's wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, in full and final settlement of all claims affected by the Plan of Arrangement.
"The Plan of Arrangement results from extensive discussions with our creditors. We thank them for their understanding, co-operation and patience and look forward to completing the CCAA process following the creditors' meeting on June 11," said Herschel Segal, DAVIDsTEA's Chairman and Founder.
Under the CCAA, the Plan of Arrangement must be approved by a simple majority of creditors of DAVIDsTEA and of DAVIDsTEA (USA) Inc., voting separately, whose claims are affected by the Plan of Arrangement, representing in each case at least two-thirds in dollar value of all such claims duly filed in accordance with the CCAA proceedings.
As previously announced, PwC is acting as Court-appointed Monitor in the CCAA proceedings. All documents relating to the CCAA proceedings, including the Plan of Arrangement, will be available at www.pwc.com/ca/davidstea. The Company will continue to provide updates throughout the CCAA restructuring process as events warrant.
DAVIDsTEA can provide no assurance that it will obtain authorization from the Québec Superior Court to file its Plan of Arrangement and call a creditors' meeting, or that the proposed Plan of Arrangement will be accepted by the respective creditors of DAVIDsTEA Inc. and DAVIDsTEA (USA) Inc. on the terms set out therein, or at all.
This press release includes statements that express our opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans or assumptions regarding future events or future results and there are, or may be deemed to be, in this press release "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The following cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the provisions of the Act and with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "approximately", "intends", "plans", "estimates" or "anticipates" or, in each case, their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our proceedings under the CCAA, authorization by the Québec Superior Court to file the Plan of Arrangement and call a creditors' meeting, approval of the Plan of Arrangement by the creditors of DAVIDsTEA Inc. and DAVIDsTEA (USA) Inc., respectively, by the requisite majorities, the COVID-19 pandemic, our strategy of transitioning to e-commerce and wholesale sales, future sales through our e-commerce and wholesale channels, future lease liabilities, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and prospects, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global macroeconomic environment, and our ability to avoid the delisting of the Company's common stock by Nasdaq due to the restructuring or our inability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements.
While we believe these opinions and expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, including the risk factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, filed with both the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and with the Autorité des marchés financiers, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.
DAVIDsTEA offers a specialty branded selection of high-quality proprietary loose-leaf teas, pre-packaged teas, tea sachets, tea-related accessories and gifts through its e-commerce platform at www.davidstea.com and the Amazon Marketplace, its wholesale customers which include over 2,500 grocery stores and pharmacies, and 18 company-owned stores across Canada. We offer primarily proprietary tea blends that are exclusive to DAVIDsTEA, as well as traditional single-origin teas and herbs. Our passion for and knowledge of tea permeates our culture and is rooted in an excitement to explore the taste, health and lifestyle elements of tea. With a focus on innovative flavours, wellness-driven ingredients and organic tea, the Company launches seasonally driven "collections" with a mission of making tea accessible to a wide audience. The Company is headquartered in Montréal, Canada.


text:
Rockefeller Foundation's Justina Lai throws light on the growing investment opportunities for impact investing and how the foundation supports the concept of shared value
By Sujata Srinivasan
Published: Jul 16, 2012 06:15:30 AM IST
Updated: Feb 27, 2014 06:13:51 PM IST
Justina Lai works with the Rockefeller Foundation's Program Related Investments (PRI) portfolio and on the impact investing initiative in New York.
Q. How is the Rockefeller Foundation supporting shared value through private partnerships with stakeholders in India?
We know that our resources, combined with other philanthropic and public spending, are insufficient given the magnitude of the social and environmental challenges in the world. Similar to our rationale for being involved in impact investing, we recognise that we need to leverage corporate and investor resources to achieve the impact we care about. We hope to support the concept of shared value, while holding stakeholders accountable for impact, in a similar way globally. Within India, we have supported the Monitor Group in their work around low-income housing for the urban poor. We have also worked with Intellecap to organise the Sankalp Forum to bring together stakeholders across Asia to share information on how market-based mechanisms can provide efficient and innovative solutions that address the needs of the poor. With our support, Intellecap has also explored how to engage the private sector in building urban climate change resilience and landscaped emerging business opportunities that can benefit the poor. Through our programme-related investments portfolio, we have invested in Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund, which provides risk capital and assistance to micro and small businesses primarily in rural areas in order to commercialise innovations that arise from, and are marketed to, people at the base of the pyramid.
Q. Will impact investing gain mainstream recognition as an asset class?
Impact investing has certainly gained significant momentum and traction over the past few years partly due to the recognition that there simply is not enough philanthropic or public money to address the growing social and environmental challenges in the world. In addition, investors and consumers are increasingly looking to align their purchases and investments with their values. There is a growing number of people who don't like hearing that their only options are to invest for maximum returns and then give a small portion away in charity. They want to move away from that binary mindset, and think about their investments as a tool for achieving social change aligned with their values. We are also seeing track records of success—sustainable business models are gaining traction and being replicated in different geographies and funds are showing positive and oftentimes, stabilising returns in a volatile market.
Q. What is the scope?
In the US, which has the single largest philanthropic sector, the combined assets of all foundations is $580 billion and only about $43 billion is given out in donations each year. At $200 billion per year, the combined funding of bilateral donors is a bit higher than foundations but this is still far short of what is needed even when combined with philanthropy. In contrast, there are tens of trillions of dollars in the global capital markets. So the real opportunity lies in harnessing a portion of that funding, as well as the creativity and reach of the private sector, to put to work toward solving social and environmental problems.
Q. What interest are you seeing among institutional investors in the US to fund social projects in the global south?
We're seeing a broad range of investors entering the field including significant institutional investor interest and activity. Foundations such as the Gates Foundation are making programme-related investments and using their balance sheet to provide guarantees. Family offices have been pioneers in the field—investing in funds and making direct investments that align with their values. Banks are establishing social finance units—Morgan Stanley Sustainable Finance, UBS Values-Based Investing, JPM Social Finance to name a few. A more recent survey conducted by JPM and GIIN [Global Impact Investing Network] in December 2011, indicates that almost $4 billion is planned for investment over the coming year from the 52 investors that responded.
Justina Lai
Program Related Investments
Global Impact Investing Network
Kris M Balderston: We want people to know that what they're going to buy is going be good
Hess Oil's Russian Mob Problem