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by Viviana Teston | Jan 18, 2022 | Development, Events, Uncategorized
Do you know where you were on August 10, 2021? For those of us who spend the summers in Puerto Vallarta, it is a day we will all remember. That afternoon the excavation occurring on Calle Santa Barbara in preparation for the new development called Serena – came violently crashing down. Thankfully there was no loss of life; however, the landslide significantly disrupted the lives of those who live and work on that street. Businesses were closed for several months, some neighbors have not had water for nearly five months, employees have had their incomes significantly reduced, and no one can use the street to access the other side.
On Wednesday, January 5th a meeting was planned between Susanna Carreño, local journalist and activist from Radio Universidad Puerto Vallarta 104.3, to conduct interviews with those people and businesses who were impacted by the landslide on Calle Santa Barbara. Even though she was late in arriving, the extra time gave ANA an opportunity to share common information with the nearly 40 attendees.
One Interview Leads to Two
At approximately 1:16 pm Susana Carreño arrived and explained her late arrival as a result of her spending time with the Federal Secretary of Environment & Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) María Luisa Albores González who had spent the previous days with representatives of Districts 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10 regarding ecological issues in the city. Amapas is a part of District 9. Susana's meetings with Mexican President Lopez Obrador had brought the attention of ecological issues and corruption to his attention. She shared there was to be a video with English subtitles of what has happened in the area.
Susana Carreño shared with the group that the Secretary of SEMARNAT had completed her analysis and diagnosis of the problems in Puerto Vallarta. There was now a dictamen from the Department of Disaster Prevention that there was to not be any other buildings here. The Secretary of SEMARNAT will return to Puerto Vallarta on February 28, 2022. Susana offered to get us a meeting with the Mayor and SEAPAL at which point she immediately contacted the director of SEAPAL via cell phone. He offered to attend the meeting in session.
Director of SEAPAL, Engineer Salvador Llamas, arrived at 2:20 pm and was greeted to a round of applause by the remaining attendees. Robert Howell greeted him cordially and reminded him that we had yet to hear any response to the Manifesto we had sent to the City nearly three months ago. He also asked if it was true that the person who contributed to the problem – the landslide – was indeed expected to fix the problem. Robert requested a response from the Mayor and the acceptance of our Civil Engineer to
represent the neighborhood in any repairs. Llamas later confirmed that the City is looking into several
ways in which to get the work completed on Calle Santa Barbara in a quicker manner. This could include
alternative repair contracts under City direction.
While there was no money to fix Calle Santa Barbara when this new administration came into office, this week the City has finished securing estimates from SEAPAL, IZZY, TELMEX, CFE, and Obras Públicas regarding the work that needs to be done in the area. The next step will be to get an estimate from different construction companies as to the costs of redoing Calle Santa Barbara by Villa Serena.
Initially the work had begun by the developer; however, the developer stopped the work when he filed a lawsuit against SEMARNAT. The City has also filed a lawsuit against Villa Serena. The winner of these lawsuits will determine who is financially responsible for the repairs of Calle Santa Barbara. Once the work is approved it will take at least five months to complete.
Since significant damage occurred to the surrounding infrastructure in the area, Salvador Llamas made a compromise with the neighbors. The water pipes will be connected within 5 weeks. When the final work of the street is finished, the City will need to temporarily cut the service to add it properly to the street works.
Calle Santa Barbara will be fixed. Initially, it may only be for pedestrian use but it may not stay this way forever.
Neighbors on Calle Santa Barbara should expect the reconnection of the water pipes within 5 weeks – approximately February 5th. However, it is important to realize that the current water issues in the city will still exist.
As part of the meeting held with the Federal Secretary of SEMARNAT Llamas shared that building construction and their environmental impact will be reviewed directly by the Secretary of the Environment, in order to avoid local corruption.
by Viviana Teston | Nov 11, 2021 | Uncategorized
Luis Alberto Michel Rodriguez THE MAYOR
PUERTO VALLARTA CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
The residents of the Amapas neighborhood, visitors, and residents, want to express our concern and annoyance caused by the deterioration and collapse of a section on Santa Bárbara street, located in front of where the Serena Villa was located, which has limited access to residents and visitors and has caused collateral damage to public infrastructure for electricity, drinking water, drainage, and cable and telephone services, as well as damage to private property.
Santa Bárbara Street has suffered constant damage for several years, not only as a result of meteorological phenomena or the obsolete water (potable and sewer) infrastructure in the area, but also the heavy traffic caused by new real estate developments, which has led to the street to come into a deplorable state, which requires an action plan and the intervention of the authority, for its repair and demarcation of responsibilities.
Since the collapse of the street on August 10, 2021, the actions taken for its repair have not been clear to the neighbors. The neighbors have shown their concern, and requested information from municipal agencies; yet the information has not been provided.
We request from the competent authority to:
Support to control the access of construction vehicles in limited hours.
Participate with the neighbors in the corresponding plans and actions to repair the damage to the street.
Take the timely action of the authority in the necessary temporary repairs in order to help the traffic until the work is completed,
Carry out the repair of the collapsed part, in front of Villa serena, as well as the remodeling of the street itself, and the water, drainage, electricity and communication services located in it, to restore the street to its optimal state .
Study, identify and create a plan to identify possible geological phenomena in the area.
by Viviana Teston | Oct 12, 2021 | Uncategorized
September 2021 news & updatesSeptember| Issue 4
SERENA LANDSLIDE – What's Happening?
President Sylvia Toy met with the Serena developer, Roberto Contreras, on Monday, September 20th. This edition reflects some of his comments and information.
It was a friendly and informative meeting which gave us another perspective from which to see what has been going on since the landslide occurred on August 10. According to Contreras, reducing the risk of more collapses and rebuilding the street of Calle Santa Barbara have been their top two priorities.
Contreras shared that bench material has been brought in to counterbalance the affected slopes. Despite this year's torrential rains there have been many preparations to withstand the strong winds and the incessant rain. This has included plastic sheeting and netting to keep the new soil in place.
President Sylvia Toy is actually standing on the perimeter of the base of Calle Santa Barbara.
Neighbors commented that work starts at 8 in the morning and usually lasts until 6 in the afternoon. Contreras noted that there were three nights in which the work lasted until midnight as pipes were installed to direct the flow of water away from the hill. Given the nature of this disaster, according to Contreras, the City had given them the authority to work 24 hours a day.
Santa Barbara Street is full of potholes, some covered with sheet metal while others continue to grow. According to Contreras sheet metal was put down to prevent further rupture of the 12" asbestos pipe laid high on the surface by SEAPAL 40-45 years ago which over time has lost its resistance.
Contreras has promised to return the street to its original state once the project is completed. He also stated that should your building suffer any external damage and/or needs water, please document and notify them.
Contreras shared the following Good News. For the following 3 to 4 weeks (approximately mid-October) no trucks will be used, only the personal vehicles of their main contractors.
Contreras noted that he work will resume once they have the geological study and final design of the structural stabilization required of the slope. Once that occurs, then they will begin to remove material for stabilization.
President Sylvia Toy reached out to Roberto Contreras in hopes of finding out what's going on at Serena and its future plans.
The City had not been helpful in providing ANA with any information since the collapse. This meeting with Roberto Contreras allowed us to address the concerns of the surrounding neighbors and re-establish important communications.
ANA's attempts at bringing in funds speak loudly as to where our members' priorities are – fighting irresponsible development does not appear to be a priority. To date we've only brought in 20,000 pesos (approx. $1000 USD). Our target was to build up a war chest and the reality is that we have a small piggy bank. This is tragic as we now have consultation and scientific studies to back up our effort to combat irresponsible development.
Please Act Now!
Continued development without appropriately issued permits, and without appropriate environmental and engineering impact studies will continue to result in the issues we have observed with Calle Santa Barbara and the Rivera Cuale Condos now tottering on the edge of Rio Cuale.
It is critical to understand that when a building collapses it affects all the properties and infrastructure around it. ANA cannot continue to do our work which includes negotiations and interventions without your financial support.
ANA NEGOTIATES NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTSWITH DEVELOPER
For the first time the Amapas Junta Vecinal and the Amapas Neighborhood Association (ANA) had a seat at the table with a developer prior to them breaking ground. Excuse the pun, but it was Ground Breaking!
As Sylvia Toy represents both organizations, the developers were seeking approval of the Junta. The EDGE development will be located on Calle Malecón at the site of Villas Enriques and Grupo GOVA is the development company.
Discussions and negotiations were held over the course of several months and the developer has pledged significant improvements to the surrounding community, such as improving Calle Malecon, increased lighting, burying overhead wires and cables, improvements to the boca calles (water entrances to the beach), and conservation of the various arroyos (creeks). These are huge wins for Amapas as we have never been in a position to demand such improvements.
The Junta's goal was to obtain observable and measurable improvements to the impacted community. Destruction and construction are messy events. There is no avoiding that process. We are confident that everyone will be pleased once the entire project is finished and the improvements are more easily seen.
More details will be forthcoming in the next Newsletter once formal agreements have been finalized.
INFRASTRUCTURE – WHAT YOU DON'T SEE MIGHT HURT YOU
Where does all of the water go that comes from the rain ? It all flows down and eventually down to the sea. Hurricane Nora's damage to Puerto Vallarta occurred as a result of the heavy rains that accumulated up in the mountains and then came roaring down the Rio Cuale, Rio Pitiall, and Rio Ameca. The Amapas community also has lots of arroyos, narrow creeks, where water trickles down to the beaches. Again, with Hurricane Nora and this year's overly abundant rainy season, it is more obvious what the water and drainage issues are in the area. For years these drains have been handling everything that comes down from the mountains – good, bad, and ugly. The picture below of a boca calle is but one area that highlights the infrastructure projects that need to occur in the Amapas neighborhood.
The goal of the Amapas Junta Vecinal and ANA is that this type of infrastructure improvement be addressed through the agreement with Grupo GOVA as mentioned above. What does this mean for the Amapas community (ANA and the Junta)? Our community does not need to raise funds to get this type of work done! It will be done and paid for by the developer. An important first for our Amapas community!
A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AFTER HURRICANE NORA
Even though Hurricane Nora was only a Category 1 hurricane, the rainfall in the mountains of Vallarta created significant flooding and devastation along the three rivers that serve Puerto Vallarta – Rio Cuale, Rio Pitillal, and Rio Ameca. The damage on the Rio Cuale is what most people saw as the waters crashed into the bridge at Calle Insurgentes (on one side is Incanto and the other side is Bonito Kitchen).
The Amapas Neighborhood Association (ANA) kicked into action and using PAVE funds, ANA Administrator, Viviana Teston, was able to bring roasted chicken lunches and cokes for two straight days to those who were working nonstop (City workers, Marines, neighbors, business owners, and volunteers) to clean up the mess – tons of mud, debris, and water.
Even though our colonia of Amapas was spared the devastation, our members' hearts care for everyone in Puerto Vallarta. Viviana was able to gain access to the Emiliano Zapata, Buenos Aires, and Paso Ancho colonias that were directly impacted.
Disasters such as this help us know that we are all part of a greater community and PAVE is a great way of touching lives.
Funds were provided through the PAVE project of the Amapas Neighborhood Association (ANA) where the focus is on providing food to locals while purchasing the food from local businesses.
Your donations made a difference! Thanks for your kindness.
THE AMAPAS WALL
It took us exactly one year to finish the Amapas wall located on Highway 200 and near the OXXO. Not bad considering all of the various restrictions we had to contend with because of the pandemic. With the leadership of PVShares and its founder Elroy Quenroe, an ANA member, and 23 generous donors we raised the much needed funds to paint a mural on the longest wall in the center. Sharo Garcia was the chosen muralist whose mural evoked the movement and various creatures one would see in the Amapas area. That was Phase I.
Phase II included 30 additional benefactors from the Amapas community who were inspired to commemorate and/or memorialize loved ones through the purchase of various sized tile plaques. We found a local talented person who installed each tile into the wall. He worked with Sharo Garcia, the muralist, who created another design for the second wall section focused on our beloved humpback whales. The final installation looks marvelous. Phase III focused on installing the dedication plaque on the first and smallest section. On this section we gave honor and tribute to former ANA President, Tom Swale, whose vision and work brought us the Highway 200 Sidewalk. Our original plans were to hold a dedication ceremony at the end of August, but like many other great plans, we had to adjust and cancel because of the pandemic, summer rains, and the resurgence of the Delta Variant in the PV community. We'll still have our dedication ceremony…sometime. But until then, we hope you enjoy the pictures of this beautiful piece of art.
We'll still have our dedication ceremony…sometime. But until then, we hope you enjoy the pictures of this beautiful piece of art.
by Viviana Teston | Sep 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
Like many other neighborhood organizations, the Amapas Neighborhood Association (ANA), is doing what it can to help our fellow neighbors after the destruction brought onto our beloved city of Puerto Vallarta.
Today ANA provided a roasted chicken lunch and a beverage to those workers who have been working diligently cleaning up the tons of mud and debris in the downtown area. ANA Administrator, Viviana Testón, loaded up her car with roasted chickens from Pollo Ranchero on Libramiento.
With the assistance of the La Guardia Nacional, Viviana was able to bring the food down to those who are working nonstop in this restricted area. Funds were provided through the PAVE project where the focus is on providing food to locals while benefitting local businesses. Robin Spencer lead us in this most appreciative PAVE initiative. Your ANA at work
by Viviana Teston | Aug 23, 2021 | Newsletter


text:
Q: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'snd_aloop': No such device I'm trying to make a Jack-ALSA bridge on gentoo, but I cannot load the snd_aloop module.
Kernel:
$ uname -a
Linux MalfattiTux 4.6.7-rt-rt11 #1 SMP Thu Sep 22 14:54:42 BRT 2016 x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4710HQ CPU @ 2.50GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

snd_aloop compiled as a module:
$ cat /usr/src/linux-4.6.7-rt11/.config | grep ALOOP
CONFIG_SND_ALOOP=m

snd_aloop info:
$ sudo modinfo snd_aloop
filename:       /lib/modules/4.6.7-rt-rt11/kernel/sound/drivers/snd-aloop.ko
license:        GPL
description:    A loopback soundcard
author:         Jaroslav Kysela <perex@perex.cz>
depends:        snd-pcm
intree:         Y
vermagic:       4.6.7-rt-rt11 SMP mod_unload modversions
parm:           index:Index value for loopback soundcard. (array of int)
parm:           id:ID string for loopback soundcard. (array of charp)
parm:           enable:Enable this loopback soundcard. (array of bool)
parm:           pcm_substreams:PCM substreams # (1-8) for loopback driver. (array of int)
parm:           pcm_notify:Break capture when PCM format/rate/channels changes. (array of int)

Settings for the snd_aloop module:
$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf | grep aloop
options snd-aloop id=Loopback index=0 pcm_substreams=2 enable=1
alias snd-card-0 snd-aloop

Audio devices:
$ sudo lspci | grep -i audio
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)

$ sudo lspci -k -s 00:03.0
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06)
    Subsystem: Lenovo Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller
    Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
    Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

$ sudo lspci -k -s 00:1b.0
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
    Subsystem: Lenovo 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller
    Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
    Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

All looks ok. But then:
$ sudo modprobe snd_aloop
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'snd_aloop': No such device

I also tried compiling it not as a module, but included in the kernel. Then, I had loopback devices, but I had no control over them (like number of substreams, for example).
Is there any specific setting needed for this module to work on gentoo?
Thanks :)

A: The index option of a sound driver specifies the card number it should use.
However, this does not work if another driver is already loaded at the same index.
So you have to set matching index options on all drivers that are used (and might be used in the future, such as USB audio).
A better idea is to drop all index options, and to use the slots options of the snd module to specify that only a specific driver can use a specific index:
options snd slots=snd-aloop,snd-hda-intel,snd-hda-intel

or if the loopback driver should not be the first (default) one:
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel,snd-hda-intel,snd-aloop

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Die Hepatozoonose ist eine durch parasitäre Einzeller der Gattung Hepatozoon hervorgerufene Krankheit bei Hunden. Sie verläuft unspezifisch mit Fieber, Gewichtsverlust und Schmerzen in der Lendenregion. Gelegentlich treten blutige Durchfälle auf. Eine vollständige Heilung ist nicht möglich, die Erkrankung ist mit Antiprotozoika jedoch unter Kontrolle zu bringen. Die wirksamste Vorbeugung ist der Schutz vor Zecken, über deren orale Aufnahme die Infektion erfolgt.

Erreger und Übertragung
In Europa, Afrika und Asien wird die Hepatozoonose vor allem durch Hepatozoon canis hervorgerufen. Der Erreger kommt in Südeuropa, Afrika und Asien vor, so dass die Hepatozoonose in Mitteleuropa vor allem eine "Reisekrankheit" ("Mittelmeerkrankheit") ist. In den Sommermonaten kann die Braune Hundezecke aber auch in Mitteleuropa vorkommen, in beheizten Räumen auch ganzjährig, so dass ein Infektionsrisiko auch hier besteht.

In Amerika wird die Hepatozoonose vorwiegend durch Hepatozoon americanum ausgelöst. Überträger ist die Golfküstenzecke (Amblyomma maculatum).

Der Erreger wird oral durch Fressen, Verschlucken oder Zerbeißen der Zecken übertragen. Empfänglich sind vor allem Hunde, jedoch auch Katzen. Hepatozoen befallen die weißen Blutkörperchen, insbesondere die eosinophilen Granulozyten und Monozyten, sowie Endothelzellen der Milz, Leber, Muskulatur, Lungen und des Knochenmarks. In Geweben verursacht die Infektion eine eitrig-granulomatöse Entzündung. Durch Bildung von Immunkomplexen kann eine Glomerulonephritis oder Amyloidose entstehen.

Bei Katzen wird der Erreger seltener nachgewiesen, verursacht als Ko-infektion ähnliche Krankheitserscheinungen wie beim Hund.

Klinisches Bild
Die Inkubationszeit beträgt zwei bis vier Wochen. Das klinische Bild ist unspezifisch. Zeichen der Allgemeininfektion sind Fieberschübe, Gewichtsabnahme und Lymphknotenschwellungen. Die Schleimhäute können aufgrund einer Anämie blass erscheinen.

Durch Eindringen der Sporozoiten in die Darmschleimhaut kann es zu blutigen Durchfällen und Inappetenz kommen. Bei Schizontenbildung in der Muskulatur treten Überempfindlichkeit vor allem in der Lendenregion, Muskelentzündungen, steifer Gang und Muskelschwund auf. Bei jungen Hunden kommt es häufig zu einer Reaktion der Knochen mit Ausnahme des Schädels.

Diagnose
Die Diagnose ist klinisch nicht zu stellen, insbesondere Reisen in den Mittelmeerraum sind hier vorberichtlich zu erfragen.

Im Blutbild zeigt sich eine Neutrophilie mit Linksverschiebung. Die Zahl der roten Blutkörperchen nimmt ab (normozytäre, normochrome Anämie). Die Aktivität der alkalischen Phosphatase ist erhöht.

Die Gamonten lassen sich im Blutausstrich mittels Giemsa-Färbung nachweisen. Ein histologischer Nachweis der Schizonten kann anhand von Bioptaten erfolgen. Der indirekte Nachweis über Antikörper mittels Immunhistochemie (IFAT) ist in Deutschland seit 2008 verfügbar.

Differentialdiagnostisch kommen vor allem Babesiose, Ehrlichiose, Leishmaniose und Immunkrankheiten in Betracht.

Behandlung
Eine vollständige Elimination des Erreger ist nicht möglich. Eine klinische Heilung kann mit einer Kombination aus Imidocarb und Doxycyclin oder mit Trimethoprim und Sulfonamiden erreicht werden. Gegen Hepatozoon americanum ist eine Kombination aus Trimethoprim, Sulfadiazin, Pyrimethamin und Clindamycin wirksam. Decoquinat vermindert die Gefahr von Rezidiven und erhöht die Überlebenszeit.

Eine Prophylaxe ist vor allem durch Verhinderung eines Zeckenbefalls möglich. Milbenabweisende und -abtötende Wirkungen haben Amitraz, Fipronil, Permethrin, Propoxur und Pyriprol, die bei Auftropfen auf die Haut (Spot-on) eine Schutzwirkung von etwa vier Wochen haben. Fluralaner wird oral verabreicht und schützt zwölf Wochen. Deltamethrin und Propoxur haben bei Anwendung in Form imprägnierter Halsbänder eine Schutzwirkung von etwa sechs, Dimpylat von vier Monaten.

Literatur
Cornelia Heile und Eberhard Schein (Hrsg.): Leitlinie Verhinderung der Erregerübertragung durch blutsaugende Vektoren bei Hunden. BpT 2007
Richard W. Nelson und C. Guillermo Couto (Hrsg.): Hepatotozoonosis. In: Small Animal Internal Medicine. Mosby 2003, S. 1302–1303. ISBN 0-323-01724-X

Parasitose bei Hunden

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


New alert systems, better communication, other changes aim to make future wildfires less dangerous.
GATLINBURG — Before the Nov. 28, 2016, Sevier County wildfire, Robin Sutherland and her husband Cam owned three rental cabins in the woods around Gatlinburg.
They sold one a month before the fire and planned to build their retirement home at 702 Nocks Drive, in the hills behind Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, on the same lot as their two remaining rentals.
The day before the fire spread to the city of Gatlinburg from the Smoky Mountains, the Sutherlands' architect walked the property in preparation for building.
Both cabins burned down, and rebuilding is too expensive, she said. Instead they're only planning to build their retirement home on the site.
"Progress is slow," Sutherland said.
Many others are still rebuilding, too. Construction on the Sutherlands' house was supposed to start in October, but they're still waiting on bank approval.
Sutherland said she greatly enjoyed talking to her guests, some of whom rented a cabin for their honeymoon.
"They would tell me, 'Oh, we're going to come back and stay here every year for our anniversary,'" she said. Some former renters still email her, hoping the cabins will be rebuilt, Sutherland said.
Those cabins were among more than 2,500 buildings destroyed or heavily damaged by the wildfire two years ago, on Nov. 28, 2016. The fire burned for five days in an isolated part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park before being whipped up by high winds and sweeping toward Gatlinburg. It killed 14 people, hurt nearly 200 more, and burned 17,000 acres, mostly of woodland.
A report by ABS Consulting that looked at local authorities' response found, a year later, that police and firefighters did their jobs heroically but were hampered by lack of warning, overloaded communications, power failures and misunderstandings.
A similar review by the National Park Service blamed understaffing and incomprehension of the danger for a response that violated park service policies and didn't do enough in time to warn people in the fire's path. The report said such a fire will happen again unless changes are made.
The most critical factor, consultants found, was lack of early warning from park officials to local emergency responders – at the time, their radios could not communicate directly.
When the fire arrived on Gatlinburg's outskirts, the volume of calls and radio traffic overwhelmed Sevier County's E-911 system. And the city's downtown emergency siren – originally installed to warn of floods – didn't sound for an hour and 18 minutes after the city fire chief requested it. In the crowded, noisy command center, his several radio requests may have gone unheard. When the siren did go off, people outside the downtown area couldn't hear it.
Even so, most of Gatlinburg's 14,000 people evacuated safely, despite burning trees blocking some roads and fire already sweeping through outlying neighborhoods. The downtown business district survived largely unscathed, and flames got no further than the outskirts of Pigeon Forge.
What about the teens who started the fire?
Jimmy Dunn, Sevier County's top prosecutor, sought to lay blame for the fatal fires at the feet of two Anderson County teenagers.
The teens, ages 17 and 15, were hiking on the Chimney Tops trail in the park on Nov. 23 and tossing lit matches onto the ground around the trail. Brush caught fire. The boys continued hiking down the trail, unaware they had sparked a fire. The National Park Service decided to let that fire burn rather than extinguish it. Five days later, winds of nearly 90 mph inexplicably whipped up, spreading deadly flames into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Dunn charged them with causing the fatal fires but later was forced to toss out the case.
In a written statement, Dunn cited the "unprecedented, unexpected and unforeseeable wind event" that occurred five days after the Chimney Tops fire as cause for why the boys could not be held legally accountable for the deadly wildfires. Those winds spread deadly embers into Gatlinburg and the surrounding region.
Dunn has refused to answer questions about it and did not mention in his statement that he didn't have the power to prosecute the boys at all.
The USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee obtained records showing state authorities have had no legal authority to prosecute crimes in the park since 1997.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has declined to comment on whether federal prosecutors are considering any charges against the teenagers in connection either with the Chimney Tops fire or the Gatlinburg wildfires.
The after-action reports called for better communication between all agencies involved, and ways to get earlier warning not just to residents but to Sevier County's thousands of tourists.
On the Sutherlands' house site, a new utility pole has joined the Porta Potty, but otherwise the site remains bare, except for dead trees, Sutherland said.
Sutherland said she hasn't seen any fire-related safety improvements around her houses site since the fire. She believes the nearest fire hydrant is still too far away and has asked the water department about it.
All the government agencies involved in the local fire response, however, say along with rebuilding have come safety improvements – some visible, some not, such as upgraded communication.
The park's damaged trails have reopened, except for the last quarter-mile of the Chimney Tops Trail, said National Park Service spokesperson Dana Soehn. The last two trails – Bull Head and Sugarland Mountain – reopened Oct. 26. Friends of the Smokies members nationwide helped fund trail repairs, including $195,000 for the last two to reopen, Soehn said.
The park service has addressed one of the biggest factors cited in its report: upgrading its radios to add dedicated emergency lines, letting rangers for the first time talk directly to neighboring first-response agencies, Soehn said.
The park gate on the Gatlinburg Bypass has been moved to give people in the Ski Mountain community an easier escape route when the park itself is closed, she said. In conjunction with the Gatlinburg Fire Department, the park service installed a new emergency siren in the Sugarlands Visitor Center area, about a mile southwest of Gatlinburg.
To cut the risk of future fires, park workers have removed "heavy accumulations of dead wood and brush" for 1.5 miles along the park's boundary in the Ski Mountain area, Soehn said.
And now the park service is letting nearby private landowners – with a special permit –remove flammable material on adjacent parts of the park itself, in order to create a fire defense under the National Fire Protection Association's Firewise standards, she said.
Rebuilding is far from complete in Sevier County – fewer than 40 percent of the damaged or destroyed properties have been rebuilt, according to county spokesman Perrin Anderson. But in the year after the fire, building permits in the unincorporated area – which saw most of the housing losses – spiked nearly 50 percent from the year before.
The county issued 943 permits in 2017; in the first 10 months of this year, it issued another 739, Anderson said. If that trend continues, 2018 won't equal 2017, but will still be up substantially from the pre-fire number, indicating that rebuilding and new growth continue.
Even with rebuilding incomplete, the county's assessed property values are up $65 million from fire pre-fire values, Anderson said. And lodging revenue in Sevier County – outside the three main cities – was almost 18 percent above 2017's numbers through October, he said. Sales tax receipts for the same area are up nearly 14 percent.
A major problem even before the fire was a lack of affordable housing in Sevier County. With many rental properties lost, employers complained they couldn't find staff for their restaurants, hotels and attractions due to the housing shortage. Since then, the county has worked with state agencies to get developers to build more apartments for the local workforce, Anderson said.
To aid in any future emergency, navigation signs have gone up in Gatlinburg and more will be posted elsewhere in the county soon, he said. Some emergency sirens have been installed, and more are coming.
Nearly 20,000 people in Sevier County have registered for the Code Red emergency notification service, Anderson said. CodeRED can send out mass alerts by phone, text and email. The county had about 37,000 households at the end of 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sevier County and Gatlinburg officials are still reviewing recommendations made in the fire after-action report and implementing them whenever possible, Anderson said.
"From day one we said we hope an event like this never happens (again) but we are determined to make improvements in as many areas as possible," he said.
In Gatlinburg itself, the city hardest hit by the fire, 2016's "banner year" tax receipts have fully rebounded – plus 1.1 percent – in 2018 so far, according to Marci Claude, public relations manager for the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.
From Jan. 1, 2017, through this October, Gatlinburg issued 377 "rebuild permits," she said. In the two previous years, the city issued only 61 building permits.
"The Building and Planning Department has worked above and beyond to help Gatlinburg come back from the 2016 wildfires," Claude said.
The city also issued 336 new business licenses since the fire. Claude pointed to major new attractions including Anakeesta and the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg, and renovation or expansion of others such as the Gatlinburg Sky Lift and Ripley's attractions, plus new hotels and restaurants.
Claude confirmed Gatlinburg is working with the county to implement all recommendations from the fire after-action report. Thirty-one have been done, with the remaining 10 "still in progress," she said.
The navigation signs Anderson mentioned are going up in Chalet Village and North Chalet Village, Claude said. Those neighborhoods were among the worst affected, losing 533 cabins. The city spent $20,000 on the signs, which are reflective and fire-resistant, she said.
Gatlinburg spent $485,150 to upgrade its emergency warnings, including a new siren system, 1680-AM radio station and CodeRED notification service, Claude said. In case cell phone towers go out, first responders can use satellite phones – bought by Gatlinburg for $31,300, she said.
The city spent $574,000 to buy 14 more police cars, which officers can take home. That should cut emergency response time, Claude said.
Gatlinburg's firefighters have had more than 500 hours of wildland fire training this year, Claude said. The department now has more Fire Commission Wildland Firefighter 1&2 certified personnel than any other Tennessee fire department, she said.
"In March 2018 the City of Gatlinburg became one of only three cities in Tennessee to gain National Firewise Recognition," Claude said via email. "The City Parks and Recreation Department has spent hundreds of hours landscaping according to Firewise Practices.
The National Fire Protection Association lists 25 Tennessee locales as Firewise participants, but those include unincorporated areas such as Chalet Village as well as Gatlinburg. Six of the listed communities are in Sevier County, including Pigeon Forge.
Gaining recognition for adoption of Firewise practices is probably "the biggest thing we've done," Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. Through a federal Firewise grant, Pigeon Forge firefighters now offer free wildfire-safety assessments of commercial and residential buildings, he said.
"That includes rental cabins," Watson said.
In a year, the department did 544 "curbside" and 300 full walk-through assessments, he said. Recommendations include keeping leaves off roofs and out of gutters, screening vents to keep out embers, using plants that don't burn easily, and keeping flammable plants, leaves or dead wood 30 to 50 feet away from a structure, Watson said.
The department will give full details on a flash drive; however, all the Firewise recommendations are "purely suggestions," not mandatory or enforceable, he said.
Through another grant – Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire – Pigeon Forge is getting a thorough assessment of fire preparedness and a list of recommendations, Watson said.
"We think that we will have the first draft … by probably the first of the year," he said.
The fire department has added four personnel since the fire, and meetings continue on improving warning communication between agencies, he said. Being able to talk directly to GSMNP rangers is a big help, Watson said.
"We've really worked hard at just making those relationships stronger," he said.
In 2016 the city had one Smokey the Bear roadside sign with a moveable arm showing the current level of fire risk. It's being refurbished, and more are coming, Watson said.
"We've got three more of those ordered to put up throughout the city," he said.
More grants have been used to upgrade existing systems, but Sevier County's addition of the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or IPAWS, is "huge," Watson said.
Sevierville took no serious damage from the fire, but is adding alert systems, said Bob Stahlke, city public information officer. Sevierville had CodeRED even before the fire, but city officials can activate the county's new IPAWS system to send out alerts on landlines, cell phones and email, he said.
"Additionally, we have studied an outdoor warning system through the same vendor being used in other areas of Sevier County," Stahlke said in an email.
The city is partnering with Sevier County to use the county's former fire siren as a downtown alert in Sevierville, hooked into the county's outdoor warning system, he said.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee Staff Writer Jamie Satterfield contributed to this story.


According to the California Legislature, the vast majority of joint tenancies in California are used as a will substitute among family members. In a joint tenancy, the survivor among the title holders "inherits" the property. This is different from holding the property as tenants in common, in which case each party owns a percentage interest in the property; if one passes, their percentage would go to the deceased person's heirs. Real estate lawyers are reluctant to suggest joint tenancy because of the risks involved (though escrow officers suggest it). A joint tenancy requires a great amount of trust in the co-parties, because any joint tenant may sever the joint tenancy at any time by recording a deed. Thus, John Doe, joint tenant, could deed his interest to himself as John Doe, tenant in common, at any time, and the other owners of the property would never know. The result would be that the parties are no longer joint tenants, but are now tenants in common. Sacramento real estate attorneys commonly see this happen with estranged couples who bought property as joint tenants. One unexpected result of this problem surprised two Marin County brothers in a recent court case, when one brother deeded his interest to himself as tenant in common. This triggered reassessment, and they got hit with a huge tax bill.
In Benson v. Marin County Assessment Appeals Board, Mom was joint tenant with good son. After mom died, good son owned the property outright. He put his ungrateful brother on title as joint tenants. Ten years later Ungrateful severed the joint tenancy by recording a grant deed in which he granted to himself his interest as a tenant in common. The County Assessor felt this triggered the reassessment provisions, the assessed value of the house went up, and the property tax increased an additional $2,683 per year. Ungrateful brought this lawsuit claiming that severing the joint tenancy did not constitute a change in ownership for reassessment purposes, but was merely a change in the way title was held..
Under Proposition 13 real property tax is based on "full cash value," meaning "the appraised value of real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred. Generally, any sale or transfer of property results in a change of ownership.
However, the legislation and regulations carve out some exceptions to the definition of change in ownership, especially for joint tenancies. Joint tenancies and tenancies-in-common create undivided interests in land, with each co-tenant owning a percentage (fractional) interest. Transfer of any fractional interest is a change of ownership, but results in reappraisal ONLY of the percentage interest transferred. This created a concern because, as the fractional interests change ownership, the various County Assessors would be required to keep track of the various interests and their varied assessments. To minimize this accounting nightmare, the Legislature determined that separate accounting would not be required for family joint tenancies, which are the bulk of joint tenancies in California. It is treated as an equivalent to making a will. As there is no change in ownership in making a will, so there should be no such change in creating a family joint tenancy. Change in ownership would occur when the joint tenancy terminated, frequently on the death of the last surviving parent.
The court, looking at this history, concluded that the law required reassessment to occur when a joint tenancy ended, no matter how that happened. Property will be reassessed. This decision brings to light two issues that most folks in a joint tenancy do not consider. First, is that any joint tenant can sever the tenancy at any time. And secondly, that such severance may have unforseen tax consequences.


The Coralee Firm mattress has Serta® PillowSoft™ Foam. This extra-soft foam gently contours the body to provide enhanced cushioning. ComfortRight™ Layers - Advanced system of foams and fluffy fibers Custom Support® System - 420 SertaFlex™ Innerspring uses an offset coil design to ensure maximum flexibility and responsiveness. Has increased surface coverage compared to other value-priced innersprings. Alternating coil design enhances stability and strengthens mattress edges. Comfort Last® Construction – Serta's StabL-Base® Double Beam Foundation provides consistent support across the bottom of the mattress and lasting durability to the mattress sleep set.
The Coralee Firm mattress has Serta® PillowSoft™ Foam. This extra-soft foam gently contours the body to provide enhanced cushioning.
420 SertaFlex™ Innerspring uses an offset coil design to ensure maximum flexibility and responsiveness. Has increased surface coverage compared to other value-priced innersprings. Alternating coil design enhances stability and strengthens mattress edges.
Overall Dimensions L 79.5 in. x W 59.5 in. x H 7 in.
This is one of the MOST comfortable mattresses I've ever bought and for the PRICE we paid... I'm really shocked!!! I knew it was comfortable when I chose it, but they all are when you lay on them for a few seconds in the store, they're new and different, you're not sleeping on them in the proper position, with your pillows and your PJ's on, in your house with the days worries on your shoulders... But I'm honestly SLEEPING in my bed for the first time in a year, really sleeping and it's great!!! I couldn't be happier.
This mattress is horrible! It's not "firm" makes all kinds of noise when we move around on it. My husband' s bad back is worse sleeping on this thing. Don't think it's going to last very long. I've only had it since Feb. highly unsatisfied!!! The delivery guys were nice though.
Worst mattress ever. Makes squeaky noises, worsened back pain, the spring inside stock out on the sides of the mattress causing it to RIP through the material. All in all worst experience. Couldn't even return it because they wanted a restock fee and charge for return delivery..
its a good mattress with right amount of firmness and comfort. good for any season. in very good condition still.
We had to buy a foam 3 inch form topper just so I could sleep I should have returned it then but I did not think you could send it back. And it is probably right but I thought I would give it a try I found a serta mattress you have on sale right now plush I would like to exhange this mattress and box springs for just a mattress.I will probably never here from you .
Worst mattress ever. It has caved in.
This was by far the worst mattress I have ever purchased. I understand that it was a cheap mattress, but it hasn't even lasted 9 months. It sags really bad in the middle, has no support and I wish I would have never purchased it. I wouldn't even give it one star but I had to pick at least one.
why does this only have 2 stars? whats wrong with it?
its not that there is anything wrong with it, it is just a fairly cheap mattress, i wouldn't recommend it for a nightly usage mattress but it would work well for a guest bed or something of that nature.


text:
Tunisia names new CEO for national carrier Tunisair
Business, Emerging Markets, Headlines, Tunisia
The Tunisian ministry of Transport and Logistic Monday named a new Chief Executive Officer for the national carrier, headless since the dismissal in July 2020 of a former executive on corruption charges.
The new CEO Olfa Hamdi is tasked with developing a strategic action plan to save the airline and enable it to be competitive.
Hamdi, until her appointment, was according to her Linkedin page, Founder and CEO of Concord Project Technologies, a company based in Palo Alto, California, United States.
She is a global expert in capital project strategic construction-driven planning and execution and an American-trained engineer, inventor, and Silicon Valley entrepreneur.
She is a graduate from the University of Texas, in Austin. The Tunisian woman takes over from Elyes Mnakbi fired in July last year on corruption allegations.
Belgacem Tayaa was then appointed caretaker until a new CEO was named at the head of the under-performing airline.
Tunis Air is experiencing financial stress and is struggling with debts. The airline, in February 2019, announced drastic measures including the laying off of 1.200 employees.
The airline's issues have compounded with the impact of the pandemic which has drastically affected the global travel industry.
Former transport minister Hichem Ben Ahmed then said the airline would reduce 200 staff employed per aircraft to 164 while the international norm is much lower at 84 agents.
The carrier operates 30 aircrafts.
Newer PostIran's maneuvers in Maghreb, one of reasons prompting US recognition of Moroccan Sahara – Israeli Diplomat
Older PostMorocco's OCP seals R§D joint venture with China's Hubei Forbon Technology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Positron Tomography Unit, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Laurent Renier, Olivier Collignon, Colline Poirier, Dai Tranduy, Annick Vanlierde, Anne Bol, Claude Veraart, Anne G. De Volder; Cross-modal activation of visual cortex during depth perception using auditory substitution of vision. Journal of Vision 2005;5(8):902. doi: 10.1167/5.8.902.
Previous neuroimaging studies identified multimodal brain areas in the visual cortex that are specialized in the processing of specific information, such as visual-haptic recognition of objects. Here we test whether visual brain areas are involved in depth perception when auditory substitution of vision is used. Seven early blind subjects (EB) and nine blindfolded sighted volunteers (BS) were trained to use a prosthesis substituting vision with audition (PSVA) to recognize two-dimensional figures. They were also taught some pictorial monocular depth cues during an object distance estimation task with the prosthesis in a real three-dimensional environment. Using positron emission tomography, regional cerebral blood flow was assessed during exploration of virtual 3D images with the prosthesis while focusing either on 2D features (target search) or on depth (target distance comparison). Results in sighted subjects showed activation in visual association areas for both the target search task, involving the occipito-parietal cortex, and the depth perception condition, which activated occipito-parietal and occipito-temporal areas. This indicates that some brain areas of the visual cortex are relatively multimodal and may be recruited for depth processing via another sense than vision. By contrast in EB subjects the activation patterns during both target search and 3D perception were quite similar and restricted to the dorsal visual stream. The absence of any specific brain activation for depth perception in the EB subjects underlined the crucial role of previous visual experience to get a visual-like depth perception with the PSVA.


It's Matt Simpson's debut season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, driving the Speedworks Motorsport-backed Honda Civic Type R, and the Middlesex racer is enjoying the challenge, and the buzz, of what has been an educational first five events.
Simpson's elbows-out racing experience is derived from a schooling in the Quaife Intermarque championship, where the 34-year-old racked up a host of high-level honours and achieved great success. Back-to-back Quaife Intermarque titles came in a Vauxhall Tigra in 2013 and 2014. Prior to that, he was a leading protagonist on the Hot-Rod scene, clinching the European laurels in 2009 and 2011 and finishing runner-up in the World Championship in 2008 and 2009, and third in 2012.
The BTCC has proved to be a different kettle of fish for Simpson, who has spent the vast majority of his career driving rear-wheel drive 'silhouettes' and hot-rods. He spoke to btcc.net to discuss the aftermath of what was a fruitful Snetterton test back in June.
"It was great to be able to clock a bit more mileage and get a bit of track knowledge together as well as I'd only raced at Snetterton two or three times before in the past," said Simpson. "The front-wheel drive is also a massive learning curve for me from what I've raced in the past – I've been rear-wheel drive for a big part of my racing career.
Two 13th-placed finishes and points at Thruxton were a particular highlight of Simpson's 2016 campaign on a circuit that undoubtedly played to both his and his car's strengths. The former Hot-Rod champion prefers to be in the heat of battle, slicing and dicing for position and the high-speed Hampshire circuit is one that rewards the duelling driver with many an opportunity to overtake.
Simpson is hoping that the second half of 2016 will yield further progress as he aims to further familiarise himself with the demands of the championship ahead of a second bite at the cherry next season.
"It's been a massive learning curve to be fair but we're making steps forward and we're hopefully going to keep improving to come back bigger, better and stronger for next year. There's a massive fan base and the popularity of the series makes it such a great series to be part of – it's such a buzz.


Le Chatelier's Principle predicts that the equilibrium position will shift in order to: consume more heat if the reaction mixture is heated (that is, the endothermic reaction is favoured when the reaction mixture is …... 19/11/2007 · -Reaction shifts left. -Reaction shifts right. -There is no shift. I got a) Reaction shifts left b) There is no shift c) Reactions shifts left d) Reaction shifts right I'm just checking if I got the right answers. If you got something differnt could you please explain why. I'm feeling a bit lost and I'm not sure if I used the right reasoning in finding answers.
6/06/2009 · a) it is altering the pressure in a reaction..it has got 2 ways by means of constant volume or either constant pressure..however,the equilibrium will shift towards the direction of …... Note: The indication for which way the equilibrium position of the reaction shifts is based on color. Add four drops of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to the potassium chromate. Add drops of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the chemical system until the color change is complete.
See also, How to Conquer Your Selling Fears. In Sum. Rejection is expected in selling and more advanced retail sales role playing can help even your newest part-timer learn how to welcome it.
The reaction will shift to the forward direction and more SO 3 will be produced. b) Partial pressure of SO 3 is decreased (Some of the SO 3 is removed fro the system). The system will shift to the right.
The reaction shifts towards the reactants (or, to the left) and the concentration of both the Fe +3 ion and the SCN-complex increases. Since the Fe +3 ion is the only one of the two that is colored (yellow), the system changes to a yellow color.


Derek Hanna from Hanna's Nurseries assessing pot Hydrangea plants for market acceptability.
Growing more crops locally helps nursery businesses gain market share and supports employment. Import substitution reduces transport costs, as a typical garden plant can cost up to one euro to transport from Holland.
The Hydrangea crop was grown using heat from the biomass boiler burning woodchip. Ten varieties are being assessed to allow selection of the best performing colours. The cropping period at this time of year is 13 weeks.
Bulrush Horticulture has developed dedicated growing media to enhance the growth and flowering of Hydrangea and this technology is also part of the project.
The product is sold in a sleeve and initial feedback on the quality of the pot product has been very encouraging.
If you wish to view this crop, please contact David Kerr on 028 3752 9059 or mobile 07899 864 343.
Anyone who uses pesticides (approved for use in agriculture, horticulture and forestry) in their job is legally required to have a City and Guilds / NPTC Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Pesticides for Farmers and Growers. A current exemption in United Kingdom law is commonly known as 'grandfather rights'. This allows anyone born on, or before, 31 December 1964 to use Plant Protection Products (PPP's) authorised for professional use on their own or their employer's land, without a certificate of competence although they should still be suitably trained and competent for the job.
PA1 - Foundation module (Safe Use of Pesticides). Everyone must do this. You then can choose from the following module(s) appropriate to your business on completion of PA1.
PA2a –Ground crop sprayer (tractor mounted).
PA3a – Broadcast orchard sprayer with air assistance (mounted or trailed).
PA6a – Handheld applicator (knapsack sprayer).
Grandfather Rights, Unit 051 and Unit 052 (knapsack sprayer).
Grandfather Rights, Unit 051 and Unit 053 (boom sprayer).
Grandfather Rights Unit 051, which is mandatory, involves one day of classroom based training and covers the same areas as PA1. Grandfather Rights Unit 052, which is optional, also involves one day's training and covers the same areas as PA6a. Grandfather Rights Unit 053 (optional) covers the same areas as PA2a.
It is important to remember that professional pesticide products must not be purchased or used after 26 November 2015 unless the operator applying the product is certificated.


text:
namespace Microsoft.Azure.Management.ResourceManager.Models
{
    using Microsoft.Azure;
    using Microsoft.Azure.Management;
    using Microsoft.Azure.Management.ResourceManager;
    using Newtonsoft.Json;
    using System.Linq;

    /// <summary>
    /// (Optional) The ID of the parent management group.
    /// </summary>
    public partial class ParentGroupInfo
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of the ParentGroupInfo class.
        /// </summary>
        public ParentGroupInfo()
        {
          CustomInit();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of the ParentGroupInfo class.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="parentId">The ID of the parent management group. E.g.
        /// /providers/Microsoft.Management/managementGroups/30000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000</param>
        /// <param name="displayName">The friendly name of the management
        /// group.</param>
        public ParentGroupInfo(string parentId = default(string), string displayName = default(string))
        {
            ParentId = parentId;
            DisplayName = displayName;
            CustomInit();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// An initialization method that performs custom operations like setting defaults
        /// </summary>
        partial void CustomInit();

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the ID of the parent management group. E.g.
        /// /providers/Microsoft.Management/managementGroups/30000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
        /// </summary>
        [JsonProperty(PropertyName = "parentId")]
        public string ParentId { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the friendly name of the management group.
        /// </summary>
        [JsonProperty(PropertyName = "displayName")]
        public string DisplayName { get; set; }

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Howdy ho what's up brotato chip?
how's things over in SA?
Nothing that glamorous, just watching the kids while the missus is at the boys sports day. Listening to the wiggles...do the propeller, do the propeller, do the propeller around and around.
Pretty nice weather today though.
Haha they aren't as bad as you might think.
haha, my local barber here in Ballarat does a $10 jobby. Also a few barbers in the Melbourne CBD do mens cuts for $10 (or 15 if you're not there on a Mon/Tues).
I've never been to Bali and probably never will.
Will bring my clippers on the snowies cruise.
I spent $100 on a set of Remington cordless clippers and I've never looked back. They're curved, they are wide, they last for a couple of months on a single charge, they are fairly water proof and they cut quick as you like.
I think I'm down to 25 cents per hair cut now.
Worst thing is that I have to come back again for 5 nights in December for one of the GF's friends weddings Will have definitely done my Bali dash for a while then I reckon!
That's pretty cool. A LOT of dosh for an outboard though! How big is it? Any more pics of the boat? Are you mechanicing or painting?
Sounds very similar to this. Fyi, they mention it's 14m but it's 12m.
I watched a thousand odd hp boat launch from a trawler mothership in the Torres Strait. Holy crap that thing got up and boogied!!!
Haha you could say that Lockie got lucky!
That's pretty cool. A LOT of dosh for an outboard though! How big is it? Any more pics of the boat?
edit: @k31th, do you know why these pictures are coming up as links ?
Probably the forum getting little confused as to what you exactly wanted. I'll fix em up for ya.
I spent $100 on a set of Remington cordless clippers ... I think I'm down to 25 cents per hair cut now.


text:
Musicians from the New York Philharmonic invite you on a playdate—where musical instruments are toys, songs become games, and we can make believe whatever our hearts desire! Join Philippe the Penguin and host Rebecca Young to make new friends and share in the fun of music.
Designed by Philharmonic musicians together with faculty of Columbia University's Teacher's College, Very Young People's Concerts combine games, storytelling, and great music in one fun-filled hour that unlocks children's imagination and talent.
This Very Young People's Concert includes:
Fun with the Philharmonic: pre-concert musical games with musicians
The Concert: a half-hour hosted performance, including audience participation and story with Philippe the Penguin
Amy Zoloto, clarinet
Roger Nye, bassoon
Christopher Martin, trumpet
Quan Ge, violin
Alexei Yupanqui Gonzales, cello
Eric Huebner, piano
Rebecca Young, host
Doug Fitch, designer/director
Martinů: La revue de cuisine
Learn more about Very Young People's Concerts
February 22, 2018 | Madeline Rogers
Lincoln Center introduces the Big Umbrella Festival.
Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse
Large-print programs
Braille programs
Wheelchair-accessible seating
For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact [email protected] or 212.875.5375.
For ticketing information and general questions, please call 212.721.6500.
Very Young People's Concerts: "Make Believe"
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 4:00 pm Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse
Tickets $18
Add to Calendar America/New_York Very Young People's Concert: "Make Believe" Big Umbrella - The NY Philharmonic invites you on a playdate where musical instruments are toys and songs become games. Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, 165 West 65th Street, New York, NY 10023 Lincoln Center - Big Umbrella false MM/DD/YYYY aho3e0k00zv7rk56sm4e178
In Person: David Geffen Hall Box Office located at Columbus Avenue at 64th Street, open Monday–Saturday 10:00 am–6:00 pm and Sunday 12:00–6:00 pm.
By Phone: 212.875.5656
The Stanley H. Kaplan is located on the 10th floor of the Rose Building at 165 West 65th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. To reach the Rose Building, take the stairs, elevator, or escalator from street level to plaza level, on the north side of the street. The theaters are accessible from the elevators inside the lobby.
To reach the Penthouse by subway, take the 1 train to 66th Street—Lincoln Center. The M5, M7, M10, M11, M66 and M104 bus lines all stop within one block of the venue.
Select a checkout option
Take me straight to the best available seats
Choose my own seats on Tickets.LincolnCenter.org


Launched in 2016, Global Traceability and NEPCon now offer an integrated solution that supports your implementation of EU Timber Regulation and your own legality and sustainability policies.
The solution combines two tools, Global Traceability's RADIX Tree – an online platform that enables the sharing of sustainability data along supply chains – and NEPCon's LegalSource – a tailored due diligence service that assists the development and improvement of due diligence systems and procedures.
By combining both the technical platform and legal expertise, your company is provided with the system to trace your timber supply chain and the highest standard of support to mitigate risk.
Global Traceability are the providers of RADIX Tree, an online platform that enables businesses and organisations to share and record data with their network of suppliers and clients. We work with industry leading companies to accurately map their supply chains, retrieve sustainability data and trace products back to source.
NEPCon are formally recognised by the European Commission as an EUTR Monitoring Organisation, based on their EUTR-compliant due diligence system and competencies. The LegalSource system is applied by a number of large companies in the EU and globally including retailers, timber traders and manufacturers.
You can read how we're implementing this solution for the retailer DT Group here.
Global Traceability delivers the technical expertise by providing the online data management and evaluation solution involving all necessary stakeholders in the due diligence process. NEPCon's LegalSource services include evaluation of information integrity, risk assessment and risk management. Throughout the service your primary point of contact will be your NEPCon advisor.
First we set up your company's account on RADIX Tree. The web-based platform works much like a social network by connecting your suppliers as Business Relationships. Your suppliers repeat the process and connect with their own suppliers, mapping the supply chain, enabling you to record all the necessary information and documentation.
Rules set up on the platform are used to validate the availability and accuracy of the information provided by your suppliers. For example, a retailer may require the tree species and country of origin of all timber products for each shipment.
If the data input is inadequate, the system alerts you. Combined with a traffic light warning system, the RADIX Tree empowers you to react and respond appropriately in a targeted, time and cost-efficient manner.
All information and documentation is collected in one place, available for the evaluation of the risks and the initiation of risk mitigation processes when needed.
As part of the LegalSource service, you are assigned an expert to help tailor the system to your requirements. They are granted viewing access to your RADIX Tree account to monitor data shared by your supply chain.
Support to refining alerts to cover specific challenges that you are facing.
Review of alerts, risk screening and recommendations for follow-up actions.
NEPCon's LegalSource team may also take care of follow-up actions. This may range from gathering of further information to supplier verification in the field. Such additional LegalSource assistance is optional and will typically be agreed on an ad-hoc basis.
Contact us today to discuss how this solution can work for you.


text:
Death Mask of Nikola Tesla on Pedestal, 1943
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) is one of the greatest figures in the history of electrical power and telecommunications. His alternating current induction motor and pioneering work with polyphase electricity were fundamental to the development of today's electric power grid systems. This death mask, made of electroplated copper, was created at the request of Hugo Gernsback -- a publisher, writer, and friend of Tesla. …
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) is one of the greatest figures in the history of electrical power and telecommunications. His alternating current induction motor and pioneering work with polyphase electricity were fundamental to the development of today's electric power grid systems. This death mask, made of electroplated copper, was created at the request of Hugo Gernsback -- a publisher, writer, and friend of Tesla.
In the era before photography, masks--cast from molds taken directly from an individual's face or hands--were a means of making a portrait without resorting to the services (and perhaps shortcomings) of an artist. By the mid-twentieth century it was far easier to make a photographic portrait than to go to the trouble of making a mask. The detailed and lifelike quality of masks--taken from living or recently deceased individuals--ensured the survival of the process.
This copper mask captures the likeness of electrical pioneer and experimenter Nikola Tesla. It was made immediately upon the latter's death in 1943, at the request of publisher and writer Hugo Gernsback, a friend of Tesla's.
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) is one of the greatest figures in the history of electrical power and telecommunications. His alternating current induction motor and pioneering work with polyphase electricity were fundamental to the development of today's electric power grid systems. Tesla's achievements, as well as his visionary and provocative ideas, resonated with the futuristically-inclined Hugo Gernsback--who, in turn, fanned the public's interest via magazines such as Amazing Stories, Electric Experimenter, and Science and Invention. Gernsback's immense respect for Tesla and his achievements, and his eagerness to preserve his memory, led to the making of this mask.
The mask is made of multiple layers of electroplated copper--a fitting process given Tesla's role as an innovator in the world of electricity. The plating process would have been begun using a thin layer of powdered copper, mixed with beeswax, spread on the surface of a mold taken from Tesla's face. This layer of copper would have been enough to conduct electricity and begin the build up of successive layers. The finished form was then provided with a backing of plaster for strength, and a post to allow its mounting on a plinth.
The mask's pedestal, designed by sculptor Onorio Ruotolo, depicts Tesla's Wardenclyffe power transmission tower, his first AC induction motor, and a Tesla coil complete with looped electrical discharges. Gernsback displayed the mask close at hand, in his office. It was donated to The Henry Ford by Harvey Gernsback in 1968, following his father's death the previous year.
Death mask
Gernsback, Hugo, 1884-1967
Ruotolo, Onorio, b. 1888
Mask and pedestal commissioned by Hugo Gernsback; pedestal designed by American sculptor Onorio Ruotolo
United States, New York, New York
Castings (Object genre)
Death masks
Tesla coils
Transmission towers
Tesla, Nikola, 1856-1943
Gernsback Publications, Inc.
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. In Memory of Hugo Gernsback.
Copper (Metal)
Marble (Rock)
Casting (Process)
Plating (Metal coating)
Grayish reddish orange
Height: 22.75 in (overall; base and head)
Width: 11.5 in
Depth: 11.31 in
Weight: 53 lbs (Base alone weighs 40lbs)
Lettering on the front of pedestal: DEATH MASK / OF / NIKOLA TESLA / 1859-1943
Wolves of Yellowstone
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Lineage Logistics Closes $1B Deal To Acquire Industry Rival
By Mark Scott on May 3, 2019
Detroit Local Deals
Lineage Logistics LLC has closed a deal to acquire rival Preferred Freezer Services LLC.
The combined company now features the largest temperature-controlled facility network globally with over 1.3 billion cubic feet and 37 million square feet of capacity across more than 200 facilities spanning North America, Europe and Asia to support customer supply chain needs worldwide. The deal was first announced on Feb. 25. Novi-based Lineage paid more than $1 billion for Preferred, according to the Wall Street Journal, uniting two of the refrigerated storage industry's largest companies.
Bay Grove LLC was the principal investment firm backing Lineage in the deal to acquire the Chatham, New Jersey-based company.
"Since founding Lineage in 2008, we have been focused on strategically growing the business to meet expanding customer needs," Bay Grove Founder and Managing Partner Kevin Marchetti said in a statement. "The close of this transaction unlocks an entirely new set of opportunities as we look to build upon our industry-leading position with additional capital deployment in technological advancements and new projects."


Clothing that tells stories. This dress was worn by Louisa Heileman Mueller, daughter of Gottlieb and Johanna Heileman.
La Crosse County Historical Society maintains a collection of artifacts that pertain to the history of La Crosse County. Most of the museum's collections have been donated by former and current residents. We look for items that have a local story, are unique to our collection, are in good condition, and can safely be stored in our facilities. Donated materials are preserved for future generations. Potential additions to the collection go through a rigorous review process and are subject to a vote by the Society's Collections Committee and Board of Directors.
If you are interested in donating items, please call and speak to the curator at 608-782-1980. Drop offs will not be accepted: we do not have staff available to handle unsolicited donations. LCHS reserves the right to dispose of any unsolicited materials delivered to one of its sites.
Because of its standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as an interested party, La Crosse County Historical Society cannot appraise or assign a monetary value to items.


Historical Tapestry: Thursday Threads - Where and What are you reading?
Thursday Threads - Where and What are you reading?
Where and What are you reading?
I read and reviewed this one a couple of weeks ago. Loved it ever so much. Made quite an impact on me.
I just finished reading and reviewing Kay Bratt's short novella, Train To Nowhere, set against the background of China's Cultural Revolution. I'm now reading The Corpse Reader By Antonio Garrido which takes place in Ancient China.
I just finished "The Boleyn King" by Laura Andersen last night and am pondering what to say in a review.
Now, I have to choose something else... It'll probably be "My Apprenticeship" by Collette, one of my favorite writers of French literature.
I just posted a review for Lighthouse Bay by Kimberly Freeman. I enjoyed the book. The book's location was Australia.
Last week, finished Lauren Willig's THE ASHFORD AFFAIR (England, New York, and Africa) and the week before that I finished THE NIGHT CIRCUS. Both were supremely excellent!


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f The burden of malaria in pregnancy in malaria-endemic areas
RW Steketee, BL Nahlen, ME Parise and C Menendez
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 64, Issue 1_suppl, 1 Jan 2001, p. 28 - 35
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2001.64.28
Pregnant women in malarious areas may experience a variety of adverse consequences from malaria infection including maternal anemia, placental accumulation of parasites, low birth weight (LBW) from prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), fetal parasite exposure and congenital infection, and infant mortality (IM) linked to preterm-LBW and IUGR-LBW. We reviewed studies between 1985 and 2000 and summarized the malaria population attributable risk (PAR) that accounts for both the prevalence of the risk factors in the population and the magnitude of the associated risk for anemia, LBW, and IM. Consequences from anemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection in these studies were also considered. Population attributable risks were substantial: malaria was associated with anemia (PAR range = 3-15%), LBW (8-14%), preterm-LBW (8-36%), IUGR-LBW (13-70%), and IM (3-8%). Human immunodeficiency virus was associated with anemia (PAR range = 12-14%), LBW (11-38%), and direct transmission in 20-40% of newborns, with direct mortality consequences. Maternal anemia was associated with LBW (PAR range = 7-18%), and fetal anemia was associated with increased IM (PAR not available). We estimate that each year 75,000 to 200,000 infant deaths are associated with malaria infection in pregnancy. The failure to apply known effective antimalarial interventions through antenatal programs continues to contribute substantially to infant deaths globally.
/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.2001.64.28
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.2001.64.28
10.4269/ajtmh.2001.64.28


Former Gov. Chris Christie left New Jersey with "the worst of both worlds" when he decided to pull the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
A new report highlighting the benefits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative provides a context for how much New Jersey lost by leaving the program.
New Jersey forfeited the opportunity to pump at least $62 million—and perhaps as much as $154 million—in auction revenues into energy savings over the last three years by exiting a Northeastern cap-and-invest compact designed to limit carbon emissions from fossil fuel-driven power plants.
By dropping out in 2011, the Garden State also couldn't capitalize on the extra jobs and investments that have continued to boost the economies of the nine states still participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Estimates of New Jersey's losses come from an Energy News Network interview with Susan Tierney, co-author of a detailed report released Tuesday about the economic and environmental impacts of RGGI between 2015 and 2017.
Researchers with the Analysis Group, who have tracked RGGI since its 2009 inception, presented their latest conclusions in Santa Fe at a National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners conference.
Their 53-page report finds that RGGI did far more than help cut emissions of heat-trapping gases by more than half—from 133 million metric tons in 2008 to 66 million metric tons in 2017—in New York, Delaware and Maryland and the six New England states. Some of that reduction was also due to more renewables and natural gas coming online.
The point of the Analysis Group's work is to chart any economic impacts of RGGI, explains Tierney, a senior adviser with the consultancy.
For instance, from 2015 to 2017, RGGI states reaped $1.4 billion in net economic value and benefited from 14,500 job-years (the equivalent of a full-time job for one year) even as the emissions cap was lowered and pollution allowance costs rose.
Overall, states have added 44,000 new job-years and economic benefits exceeding $4 billion since 2009.
RGGI-related jobs include energy audits, energy conservation training, and sales and installation of products related to energy efficiency and renewables.
Tierney said she and her co-authors are encouraged by news that Gov. Philip Murphy, D-New Jersey, plans to rejoin RGGI.
She says that former Republican Gov. Chris Christie dealt a blow to ratepayers when he yanked the state out of RGGI in May 2011. Partly because of the way the grid operates in New Jersey, they never received enough of a financial return after paying the higher electricity costs agreed to under the compact.
Between 2009 and 2011, all 10 RGGI states collected $952 million in revenue from auctions of power plant allowances, according to the report. New Jersey's portion was $118 million. While the state dedicated the bulk of that to its general fund, some $27 million was invested in renewables and $10 million provided direct bill assistance to ratepayers. In total, the reach of those investments reduced electricity costs to ratepayers by $149 million until 2011.
On top of that, New Jersey's short stay in RGGI added $151 million to the state's economy, Tierney says.
It's about impossible for the researchers to predict exactly how New Jersey would have benefited financially from RGGI today because of the myriad economic variables that affect the electrical system and the macroeconomic modeling.
"But in light of the report's findings that participating states continue to realize positive value in the years since then, it safe to assume that New Jersey would have also enjoyed such benefits had it stayed in RGGI," Tierney says.
She figures New Jersey's auction revenue from allowances between 2015 to 2017 would fall somewhere between the $61.8 million that Connecticut earned and the $154.3 that Massachusetts earned in that three-year period.
Over the last nine years, a total of $2.8 billion in auction proceeds has flowed to member states.
Years ago, Christie maligned RGGI as nothing more than a tax on electricity and businesses that would harm the economy and fail to have any measurable environmental impact.
RGGI states can direct allowances to their general fund or programs that invest in energy efficiency, clean technology research and development, direct bill assistance, renewables, education and job training. States decide where to spend their money and some have shifted those investments since 2009.
Analysis Group researchers noted that ratepayers benefiting from energy savings are more likely to put those pocketed dollars back into the local economy.
New Jersey didn't direct any RGGI dollars to energy efficiency during its brief stint in the program, according to the report. However, between 2015 and 2017, all nine RGGI states invested robustly in energy efficiency, with only Delaware and Maryland allotting more to direct-bill assistance.


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Finalists Announced for the 2018 Scottish Financial Services Awards
Five businesses have been selected as finalists for this year's Scottish Financial Services Awards.
Barclays, Copylab, CYBG, Origo and Previse all impressed the judges with their range of achievements, innovation, commitment to Scotland and contribution to wider society.
The winner will be announced at the Scottish Financial Enterprise Annual Dinner in Glasgow on Thursday 25 October. The winner of the Rising Star Award will also be revealed.
Run by Scottish Financial Enterprise and sponsored by EY, the awards celebrate success and recognise excellence in financial services.
A panel of industry leaders, including SFE board members and independent judges, selected this year's finalists. Nominees were judged on their contribution to Scotland's standing as a financial centre, their long-term perspectives, the benefits they bring for customers and their innovation and imagination.
Graeme Jones, Scottish Financial Enterprise Chief Executive, said: "The calibre of this year's nominations was extremely high and created a difficult task for the judging panel. The range of businesses represented in the final line-up illustrates our diverse and successful industry, which continues to grow with 10,000 new financial services jobs being created and the second highest foreign direct investment in the UK being secured.
"The commitment from the finalists to local communities and the next generation of talent is very encouraging and I would like to thank and congratulate the finalists for their efforts to make a positive difference not only customers and clients, but to wider society as well.
"We're thrilled to once again recognise people in the early stages of their career who have demonstrated outstanding potential and looked beyond their own personal career to promote financial services. Congratulations to this year's Rising Star Award finalists, Alex McCutcheon and Milly Dent, who are both passionate about supporting the success of fellow young professionals."
Sue Dawe, Head of Financial Services at EY in Scotland, said: "This year's finalists are incredible people and organisations that signify the quality of Scotland's financial services industry. They demonstrate our industry's ability to create high value jobs, revolutionise operations through a relentless commitment to innovation and the adoption of new technologies while also nurturing the next generation of leaders.
"Those shortlisted represent our industry as a community inspired to make significant contributions to Scotland's wider society. It is important that the passion of those working within financial services who strive do more for the greater good is celebrated and showcased as examples for others to follow."
Previous recipients of the Scottish Financial Services Award include, Edinburgh-based fintech Nucleus, which listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM after winning the Award in 2017, Royal Bank of Scotland, Tesco Bank and Standard Life Investments.
Victoria Maclean, an Equities Fund Manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments, won the inaugural Rising Star Award in 2017 and has gone on to become Chairwoman of SFE Young Professionals.
The finalists for the 2018 Scottish Financial Services Award are:
Barclays has been selected for enabling local communities in Scotland to prosper through the sharing of skills and experience. The bank's range of initiatives and projects, including Digital Eagles, Eagle Lab and LifeSkills, are making a positive impact on wider society. With over 90% of Scottish secondary schools registered for LifeSkills, Barclays is supporting young people to prepare for the 21st century workplace. Over 2,000 children, and their parents, in the Govanhill area have directly benefited from Barclays support, helping them look beyond current circumstances and consider a range of future opportunities. The Eagle Lab provides a space for entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses to innovate, upscale and collaborate. Barclays decision to build a new state-of-the-art campus in Glasgow will transform the Buchanan Wharf and is a significant commitment to Scotland, with the prospect of up to 2,500 new jobs.
Copylab
Copylab is a pioneering Scottish exporter. In the past five years, the specialist investment writing agency has become the largest of its kind in the world, creating more than 70 high-value careers in North America, the Middle East, Asia and most importantly, in Scotland. Copylab's specialist financial writers create high-quality, creative and technical communications for asset managers, insurance companies, wealth managers and fintech companies. It's an accredited Living Wage Employer and has signed the Scottish Government's Business Pledge. Copylab's paid internship programme with Glasgow University is a consummate example of a small organisation supporting the next generation.
CYBG
CYBG, owner of Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and digital banking service, B, has created a new technology platform which is transforming the bank into a leading financial services innovator and placing it at the forefront of the Open Banking revolution. The development of the platform was an important strategic objective, making CYBG a truly digital bank, with the ability to deliver flexible, omni-channel capabilities for customers at speed. The platform is operated entirely by its digital team in Glasgow. CYBG's technology and innovation centre of excellence has created high-value technology jobs in the city and the bank has cemented its long-term commitment to Scotland with investment in a new Glasgow headquarters.
Based in Edinburgh and of critical service to the whole of the UK, Origo is Scotland's longest running fintech, dedicated to improving outcomes for consumers by transforming the financial services industry's operating efficiencies. The Options Transfers Service has seen an 80% reduction in the time it takes to transfer pensions and ISAs and its Pensions Dashboard project could have a major, positive social impact. The Integration Hub is helping smaller platforms, providers and software suppliers interface with larger players in the industry. This ability to develop new technologies that connect the industry and help position Scotland at the forefront of fintech is at the heart of Origo's success.
Previse
Previse opened a Glasgow office last year, creating nearly 40 new data science jobs, and established an Edinburgh base shortly after. The fintech company's mission is to get suppliers paid instantly. Its smart tech analyses the data of a large buyer to predict the very few invoices that are unlikely to get paid, so that the rest can be paid instantly. Previse has quickly become part of the fintech community, partnering with The Data Lab and the University of Strathclyde. It has shown a real commitment to supporting home-grown talent into employment by partnering with Auticon UK to create tech jobs for autistics adults in Glasgow.
The finalists for the 2018 Rising Star Award are:
Alex McCutcheon
The Business Consultant at Sopra Steria has a passion for fostering digital talent and supporting fellow young professionals within financial services. Alex has proven himself to be an excellent ambassador for the industry not only through his work with Sopra Steria, but also with SFE Young Professionals. He has demonstrated outstanding potential and development in the early stages of his career illustrated by becoming one of the youngest members of the key accounts team at Sopra Steria and providing senior leaders in the industry with unique and valued insights into the market.
Milly Dent
The Commercial Manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland goes above and beyond to ensure colleagues and networks are set up for success. She supports young professionals and organises events for charity, volunteer days and training for graduates. Her passion to embrace innovation and use it to create positive change among wider society shone through in a project for the Chartered Banker: Young Banker of the Year Competition in which she reached the semi-finals with an idea to build customer trust in banking.


For many people and for many reasons – including the death of a loved one, job loss, illness, loneliness, and the long, dark nights of winter – the holidays are not "the most wonderful time of the year." Know that you're not alone. Help is available.
Find resources in Transylvania County here or call 211.
If you are experiencing a crisis, call 888.573.1006 for behavioral health professionals available 24/7/365 through RHA's Mobile Crisis Team. This service is free and they will come to you, wherever you are.
Community organizations are also offering events to share hope and encouragement, such as the "Service of the Longest Night" sponsored by St. Timothy UMC and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. (learn more).


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Is Ethereum ready to resolve the scaling challenge?
May 7, 2018·2 min read
At EDCON, the ethereum developers' conference in Toronto, Vitalik Buterin joked, "Sleep? What is this word?" as he addressed the audience and discussed with a panel how to tackle ethereum's biggest challenge: scaling.
The discussion featured Vlad Zamfir, Philip Daian, Joseph Poon, Karl Floersch, Hsiao-Wei Wang and Justin Drake, and the joking was left to one side as the talked about the enormity of this task for the platform.
The scaling problem became apparent some six months back when Cryptokitties almost brought the ethereum blockchain to a standstill, due to its popularity. And it is an issue that Buterin has acknowledged more recently, saying that the current state of scaling is holding back app developers.
Zamfir, the developer behind ethereum's upcoming consensus algorithm change, also gave voice to the doubts: "I still don't know how scalable it can get. I don't know, I can't even quantify the possible scalability of the blockchain, really."
But, all is not lost, ethereum still has a lot going for it, because there are numerous solutions to scalability coming through, such as Raiden, Plasma, Liquidity Network, Loom Network, OmiseGO, sharding, state channels and others now in the earliest stages of development.
"What keeps me up at night is that not that many people know how to solve it," said Floersch, a crypto-economics researcher who works on scaling solution Plasma.
Two roads to success
Buterin and others at the conference were positive that understanding of the challenge was getting better, but said that there were essentially two ways to deal with scaling. These are layer-one technologies, like sharding that necessitate changes to the ethereum blockchain, and "layer-two" technologies, which can be built independently and added to the blockchain without a fundamental change.
All solutions are being pursued at the same time and hopefully they might be combined to deliver an even better solution. Buterin said: "For every single problem, multiple solutions exist." He added: "If for some reason the trolls are right and sharding gets delayed by five years then guess what, next year we still have awesome state channel networks and we still have Raiden and we still have liquidity and whatever else is being built."
Buterin is optimistic that a solution will be found within the year, while others think that is too optimistic and put a five-year timeline on resolving the scaling challenge.


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We arrived in Muscat, Oman. We picked up our rental car and we are off to explore.
Oman too, has oil but Sultan Qaboos decided to preserve the country's authenticity so there are no skyscrapers. The whole city of Muscat is more like a seaside resort type. Muttrah is the harbour district. Their architecture is very specific, very cool. Every building is painted white or off white which makes it very charming against the aqua waters of the Persian Gulf. The city is surrounded by the most rugged sharp-edged, huge, bronze color mountains. The setting is truly stunning. At various peaks you can see fort towers. Some built by the Portuguese long ago. Just beautiful!
Oman is an absolute monarchy. Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said is the self-appointed leader of the country since 1970 and the longest serving ruler in the Middle East. They absolutely love their Sultan. They believe he is the most inspirational leader in the world. Al Alam Palace is his ceremonial palace.
Oman ranks as the 59th most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
The Omani hats or 'kuma' are my favorite. More structured than other muslim hats and have really beautiful patterns. I have to be discreet when taking pictures.
This feels very different than the neighbors (UAE). Much more mellow, much more serene. The mountains give it a remote feel as well. More my style. So far, I love it!
Muscat gate
Muscat Giant Incense Burner
Muttrah
Muttrah Souk
The most magnificent mango ice cream!
Al Alam Palace
Oman Road Trip has officially begun. Two hours southwest of Muscat, we explored an area called Al Dakhiliyah. Our home base is the main city of Nizwa.
First, we visited JABREEN CASTLE, a magnificent Omani architectural masterpiece. Built in the 15th century as the home of Imam Bel'arab bin Sultan Al Yarubi. His father was Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi, the Imam who removed the Portuguese from Oman.
The castle is absolutely beautiful. Surrounded by palm trees in a flat expanse surrounded by the rugged mountains that pepper Oman, its setting is stunning.
Then we drove to the town of Bahla to see the BAHLA FORT. The fort was built during the 12th century and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. However, it was "In Danger" for many many years until 2004 when it was fully restored and opened to the public.
The fort is really big. The architecture again impressed us. Such a gorgeous example of Omani design and architectural stamp.
We then explored the ruins of TANOOF with its small section of Falaj (an ancient irrigation system, about 2000 years old.)
And speaking of falaj, at the end of the day we went to check out FALAJ DARIS, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Back in Nizwa we briefly walked through its souk where we saw some typical pottery.
Tomorrow we will explore Nizwa Fort before setting off to Wahiba Sands to camp with Bedouins.
#LovingOman
magdalenawhitney December 11, 2015 December 2, 2016 Bahla, Budget Travel, Countries, Culture, Daris, Education, Falaj, Family Travel, Global Citizens, Humans, International Travel, Jabreen, Languajes, Life, Life lessons, Middle East, Muscat, Muttrah, Nizwa, Oman, Tanoof, Tolerance, Travel, Travel with kids, Unesco World Heritage Site, Ways of Life
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34 Interior Design Photos vs. $7 Million Luxury Modern Wood Celebrity Home in Los Angeles
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Style: Modern & contemporary with inspiring interior decorating
Watch Video of $7 Million Luxury Modern Wood Celebrity Home in Los Angeles A bold and boxy contemporary home in the fashionable, hipster-favored Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, owned by showbiz polymath Mark Duplass and actor Katie Aselton, has hit the market with an asking price of $6.75 million.
Designed by eminently respected L.A.-based architect Barbara Bestor, and completed in 2006, the redwood, stucco and glass architectural presides over a generous, one-third-acre parcel just above the reservoir for which the artsy neighborhood takes it name. The Aselton-Duplasses snapped up the property about five-and-a-half years ago for almost $4.45 million from British film producer Callum Greene, whose impressive credits include "Lost in Translation" and the "Pacific Rim" franchise.
The Aselton-Duplasses' three-story, L-shaped home has a total of five bedrooms and five full and two half bathrooms throughout almost 7,300 square feet of clean-lined space done up in a high-end, vaguely 1970s boho-chic fashion with pedigreed furniture, imported rugs and designer lighting. Clad in tongue-and-groove redwood planks, the spacious, not-quite-square living room is anchored by a simple but imposing masonry fireplace, and the dining room is highlighted by a delicate, abstract wall mural.
Arranged around a large island with terrazzo (or terrazzo-style) counters, premium-quality culinary equipment and a convenient walk-in pantry, the kitchen flows easily in to an informal dining area and family room.
Large windows fill the space with light, and glass sliders allow for an easy transition to a covered dining terrace with outdoor fireplace. A small but voluminous library just off the living room sports a built-in aquarium and leads to a couple of cozily proportioned private offices, while, at the opposite end of the house, beyond the family room, a game's room opens to the backyard.
Duplass, writer, director producer of the recently canceled HBO series "Room 104" and a 2018 Emmy winner as an executive producer of the Netflix true-crime docu-series "Wild Wild Country," and Aselton, set to appear opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the upcoming supernatural triller "Shrine," previously owned a 1940s hillside hacienda in the Los Feliz area of L.A.
(Video via Youtube: LAUREN ENGEL)
Lauren posts and shoots a lot of LA house videos
https://www.instagram.com/engelaurenp...
https://www.engelauren.com
Other recommended interior design tours of luxury home in Los Angeles, CA:
45 Interior Design Photos vs. 1442 Tanager Way, Los Angeles, CA Ultra Luxury Mansion Tour
59 Interior Design Photos vs. 1894 N Stanley Ave, Los Angeles, CA Ultra Luxury Mansion Tour
59 Interior Design Photos vs. 1369 Londonderry Pl, Los Angeles, CA Ultra Luxury Mansion Tour
Versus under - Best, CA, Contemporary, Favs, Home, Inspiring Decor, Interior Decor, Interior Design, Modern


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The 2013 Tro-Bro Léon was the 30th edition of the Tro-Bro Léon cycle race and was held on 14 April 2013. The race was won by Francis Mourey.

General classification

References

2013
2013 in road cycling
2013 in French sport


This live action video was produced to highlight the benefits of Mercedes-Benz's ECO Start / Stop function. A standard feature on most models, the goal of this video was to explain when and how the engine will shut off to conserve fuel and emissions.
Behind the scenes photos can be viewed on my blog – click here.
Here's a video showing the post production clean up and color correction for this video.
Before – After (Mercedes-Benz: ECO Start/Stop Technology) from All Things Media on Vimeo.