On January 24, the NYS Public Service Commission issued an unusual decision regarding an agreement between Suez and PSC Staff for a rate increase and conservation plan. Listening to hundreds of comments from Rockland elected officials and ratepayers, the Commissioners modified the proposal. We recognize that it is very rare for the Commission to modify a proposal. At the same time, we are disappointed with many aspects of this decision.
The final decision still allows the company to be reimbursed for nearly all of its planning costs for the failed desalination plant which was never constructed. Equally important, the conservation plan should be stronger to maximize this most cost effective way to increase water supply before turning to more expensive and harmful infrastructure projects.
Nonetheless, when we compare the final results to where we were a few years ago, facing an energy intensive, massively expensive desalination proposal that would have left us with trace amounts of radionuclides in our drinking water, we have accomplished a lot.
On February 23, the County and several other parties filed petitions for a rehearing. That could lead to further lawsuits against the PSC for "arbitrary and capricious" decisions.
Desalination is off the table. Now it is up to Rockland ratepayers to make conservation work, in conjunction with accelerated repair of leaks by Suez.
Suez will still recover almost $54 million in planning costs for their failed project. With interest over 15 years this will cost the ratepayers almost $79 million. The PSC cut both the capital and rate of return slightly. Over the series of cases, the capital was reduced from $62 million to $54 million.
The target from conservation and leak repairs has been increased from 2 million gallons per day to 3 million gallons per day. It is not entirely clear where that increase comes from, but it appears to be in the rebates. Unfortunately a very high proportion could be from "free riders", as it is still unclear how many people will be moved to install new toilets for the $75 rebate.
A program to help low income customers will be developed. This program could include a "direct install" program, which would include free installation of water efficient fixtures. Direct install was the recommendation from our expert.
A conservation rate structure based on usage will replace the current winter/summer rates and will include a special drought rate. While we are disappointed that this rate structure reduces summer rates for many users, the new rate structure will penalize larger water users.
Penalties and incentives: The company will face financial penalties and incentives up to about $1.5 million for performance on its rebate plan.
Suez leak repair plans are now strengthened by potential penalties. (Non-revenue water loss must be brought below 18% from a current rate of about 24.55%) The non-revenue water loss goal is now set for 15%.
Water quality: The company will hire a water quality specialist and must report on water quality more frequently.
Rebates and water audits: The company will offer rebates for toilets and other fixtures and will provide some water audits and contractor training workshops.
When we look back, in 2013 Suez was touting its desalination plant as a "done deal." We have come a long way in the last nine years, defeating a project which would have likely cost more than $200 million in construction costs, while harming irreplaceable habitat in Haverstraw Bay and exposing residents to trace levels of radioactivity which could not be removed.
The Rockland Water Coalition looks forward to working productively with the Rockland Water Task Force and Suez to move forward with steps the county and public can take to build on the conservation plan in this rate case decision.


On Thursday 11 and Friday, June 12th, 2015, more than 40 Belgian and international experts together in Ghent to write recommendations for how a sustainable urban food system should look like.
The international seminar will focus on the impact of local choices on food sovereignty in cities worldwide. Because of the focus on the global aspect of Ghent wants a broader thinking about boosting local food in cities. The public part of the conference , open to everyone, will take place tonight at the Peace House, St. Margaret Street in Ghent.
In cities worldwide, the number of allotments, but also arise food deserts. The challenge of feeding cities, is much wider than just the question of how we produce food in and around cities.
Ghent already since 2013 its own food strategy 'Ghent and Garde' . The principle is that local food systems are the right choice, but this can not be separated from international trade and economic (in) balances. Ghent wants to food strategy to further expand by examining concretely what our choices for local consumption for cities on other continents. We need to consume more vegetables from the region around the own city, but all cities that logic simply apply if we really want to continue without coffee?
Cities should not be seen merely as places where only problems come together, but also as places where innovations arise and solutions are tested.
Ghent will increasingly be one of those smart cities. The Ghent food strategy and policy on fair trade within Europe have already recognized and shared. Ghent, however, is well aware that a smart city must be a learning city. Therefore Gent brings on June 11 and 12 more than 40 experts on the theme together.
– The relationship between food safety and food security.
In each of these themes are international researchers or experience experts share their experiences. They are inspiring studies or projects that will do consider the impact that can have local choices on the rest of the world.


Daily meditation can have a profound impact on your overall health.
High levels of stress can have a profound impact on your overall health.
Find out which types of foods you may want to eat more often in order to give your health a boost.
We all know vegetables are good for you, but could your favorite varieties be high in sugar?


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Die H-Klasse (englisch: "H" class oder "H" Boats) der britischen Blue Funnel Line wurde ab 1949 in vier Einheiten gebaut. Die Schiffe der H-Klasse entstanden auf zwei verschiedenen Bauwerften und waren für den Australiendienst der Reederei entwickelt worden. Der Begriff H-Klasse leitete sich von einigen mit dem Buchstaben "H" beginnenden Schiffsnamen ab.

Einsatz der Schiffe
Die Lebensläufe der Schiffe waren verhältnismäßig unaufgeregt. Die Taufe der Hector wurde im Juli 1949 vom britischen Premierminister Clement Attlee vorgenommen. Als die Helenus am 9. November 1949 im Gladstone Dock im Liverpool die Ladung für ihre Jungfernreise an Bord nahm, kam es im Dock zu einem Brand, woraufhin sie ihre erste Ausreise am 12. des Monats nur mit einer Teilladung begann. Die Jason transportierte 1960 die australische Reitermannschaft mit ihren Pferden von Sydney nach Liverpool, von wo sie weiter zu den Olympischen Spielen nach Rom reisten. An Bord wurde eigens ein Trainingsplatz für die Pferde angelegt. Die Ixion hatte in Australien aufgrund ihres Namens, den man in römischen Zahlen aufteilen konnte, den Spitznamen nine to one on.

Die Schiffe der Fernost- und Australiendienste waren in einen sehr strikten Fahrplan eingebunden und beförderten daher überwiegend eilige Waren zu verhältnismäßig hohen Frachtraten. Die Reederei legte entsprechend großes Augenmerk auf die Pflege und Wartung der Schiffe und sandte sie jeweils zum Abschluss der Rundreise in ein eigens angemietetes Trockendock der Werft Barclay, Curle in Glasgow.

In den Jahren 1961/62 gab man die Passagierbeförderung auf, da sich der Großteil des Passagieraufkommens auf den Flugverkehr verlagerte.

Technische Beschreibung
Die H-Klasse-Schiffe waren herkömmliche Stückgutschiffe. Der Entwurf war eine Weiterentwicklung der A-Klasse-Schiffe, deren Auslegung die 1938 bis 1942 für das Tochterunternehmen Glen Line gebauten, aber bei Holt entwickelten Schiffe der Glenearn-Klasse zugrunde lagen. Die Schiffe besaßen eine Tragfähigkeit von gut 11.000 Tonnen, sieben Laderäume mit Zwischendecks, Kühlladeräume und Süßöltanks. Der Ladungsumschlag erfolgte mit konventionellem Ladegeschirr. Die H-Klasse-Schiffe waren in großen Teilen identisch mit denen der P-Klasse, verfügten jedoch über eine abweichende Aufteilung der Laderäume und Tanks, sowie über eine deutlich größere Kühlraumkapazität.

Der Antrieb wurde aufgrund der hohen geforderten Geschwindigkeit auf der Fernostroute durch drei über ein Reduziergetriebe auf eine Einzelschraube wirkende Dampfturbinen besorgt. Die mittschiffs angeordneten Aufbauten verfügten über 35 Passagierplätze.

Die Schiffe

Literatur

Weblinks
 Ausschnitt Schiffsliste der Blue Funnel Line bei Red Duster (englisch)

Frachtschiffstyp
Frachtschiffsklasse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Tag: Swayam Bhatia
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Season 2
Written by:Danielle SolzmanPosted on: September 27, 2022 September 24, 2022
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers returns for its second season as the team travels to an intense hockey institute during summer. I know exactly what you're thinking. Is it still worth watching the show after the departure of Emilio Estevez? The answer is yes. This show has always been about the underdogs and if the first four episodes of season two are any indication, showrunners Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa are sticking to the franchise…
"The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Season 2"
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Hits Disney+
The quack attack is back after 25 years when The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers makes its long-awaited streaming debut on Disney+. These are not the same Mighty Ducks that we grew up with. After ten consecutive championships, they're basically the Hawks. There's no other way to say it. I grew up watching the Ducks as the underdog. The brand that they're playing now is super competitive and you have to be better than just being…
"The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Hits Disney+"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A great way to create more interesting video perspectives is to raise your camera higher. Positioning the camera above any scene gives a unique view—and putting the camera into motion from that position can result in really dynamic shots.
In this week's video, we look at a couple of tools for raising your camera up higher, and discuss techniques for getting the most out of elevated shots.
Using a monopod to extend your reach. Learn why a monopod is one of the easiest ways to get the camera up higher and extend it into a scene.
What is a jib? A jib is an extremely popular way of elevating the camera, while also putting it into motion. We'll check out all the various features and parts of a jib system.
Operating a jib. Catch up with director of photography Jim Ball and learn about some hard-won techniques for operating a jib.
Real-world examples. We'll evaluate several elevated shots from a recent music video shoot, breaking down what worked and what didn't.


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Girls' Club to Present Drifting: A Theatrical Exquisite Corpse
Posted by admin on November 13, 2013
By: Vanessa Garcia
On Friday, November 22, 2013 Girls' Club [117 NE 2nd Street Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301] will premiere Drifting: A Theatrical Exquisite Corpse, a night of experimental theatre. Admission is Free, though RSVP is required and capped at the first 50 people [954.828.9151]. Doors open at 7pm and show starts promptly at 7:30pm.
Drifting: A Theatrical Exquisite Corpse draws from the surrealist tradition of the exquisite corpse, a collaborative exercise using words and images to construct a figure or phrase. Girls' Club writer in residence, Vanessa Garcia, brings you the exquisite corpse in theatrical form -- for a night that includes dance, performance art, and more traditional forms of theatre. A multi-disciplinary feast for the eyes and head, inspired by the exhibition "I think it's in my head," curated by the TM Sisters. Garcia promises "This is art you will truly live through, not just look at."
"The idea behind the performance," says Garcia, "is not only to take you through the exhibit, but also to see what's inside the head of some pretty amazing artists, all women working out of South Florida." These artists include dancer and choreographer Ivonne Batanero; multi-disciplinary artist Patricia Margarita Hernandez; writer Christina Frigo; director Nicole Stodard, Producing Artistic Director of Thinking Cap Theatre, Actors Carey Brianna Hart, and Sheri Allender, as well as writer and multi-disciplinary artist, Vanessa Garcia.
During the creation process, Garcia gave her collaborators a series of prompts. Each artist could only see and respond to the work that preceded it in the show, as they worked on their individual pieces. Also, the words: "I think it's in my head" had to appear in the pieces. The result is a series of 10-15 interconnected shorts. "What's most fascinating is the way these pieces connect to each other and to the idea behind the TM sisters' show as a whole," says Garcia.
Following the Girls' Club premiere, the show will reprise for another night during Art Basel Miami Beach, in collaboration with Reading Queer, The Krane, and Panther Coffee on December 6, 2013 at Panther Coffee in Wynwood at 9pm (2390 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127). Admission also free.


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Joe's Forum
The United States Marines . . .
. . . believe no one should be left behind on the field of battle. For two tours of duty in Vietnam, Joe Labriola lived that creed, risking his life many times to retrieve fallen comrades.
In 1973, shortly after his return to the USA and discharge from the Marines, Joe was found guilty of a murder he did not commit. He has been in Massachusetts prisons for nearly all of the last 40 years, serving a sentence of life without parole.
We believe Joe was grievously wronged by a flawed system, and has been legally "wounded" and left to die. He must not be abandoned.
This is Joe's story. Please tour the website, and also:
Read Joe's summary of his current situation.
See a brief tableau and outline of Joe's plight (in PDF format).
View a video profile of Joe's case, created in 1997.
Read a collection of testimonials.
Contact us if you have information pertinent to Joe's case.
© 2006-2020 Joe Lab Defense
All rights reserved. No part of this web site or its contents may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever without prior written permission of the author.
Special thanks to Miele-Fleury Graphics (http://www.miele-fleury.com).


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Пентадий () — римский политический деятель середины IV века.

В 354 году Пентадий был нотарием. В тот год он по приказу императора Констанция II провёл в Пуле вместе с Евсевием и Маллобавдом судебный процесс над Констанцием Галлом, цезарем Востока и двоюродным братом Констанция, обвиняемого в предательстве. Галл был признан виновным и на его казни присутствовал Пентадий.

Позднее он был назначен в 358 году магистром оффиций нового цезаря Запада, брата Галла — Юлиана II, который отправился после своего назначения в Галлию. Тогда Пентадий вместе с Павлом и Гауденцием способствовал отправке в отставку префекта Саллюстия Секунда. В 360 году Пентадий вместе с магистром Небридием и военачальником Деценцием убеждал Юлиана подчиниться приказу Констанция и послать тому свои лучшие войска. А когда Юлиан был провозглашён императором войсками, которые не хотели оставить Галлию и уходить на Восток, Пентадий был отправлен вместе с Евтерием к Констанцию сообщить весть и становлении Юлиана императором.

В 361 году Юлиан стал единственным императором в Константинополе. Тогда был развязан Халкидонский процесс против чиновников Констанция. Пентадий обвинялся в гибели Галла, но вскоре был оправдан.

Примечания

Литература

Чиновники Римской империи


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Past General Assemblies
Portland, OR 2007
Opening Ceremony and Plenary I
Opening Ceremony and Plenary I, General Assembly 2007
General Assembly, Past General Assemblies
Video on Smallscreen
General Assembly 2007 Event 1030
"Welcome to Portland! We've been waiting for you," said Judi McGavin, a resident of Portland, OR, and the District Coordinator for this year's General Assembly (GA) Planning Committee. "Welcome to the city of roses." Thousands of delegates and other attendees heard these words by McGavin, a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), as the 2007 General Assembly of the UUA opened at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR, got underway.
Dick Jackie, the Chair of the Pacific Northwest District of Unitarian Universalist congregations, offered his welcome to delegates to the 41st annual GA. Jackie pointed out that UU congregations in the Pacific Northwest District have grown 32%. "I have never been one to promote growth for growth's sake," Jackie said. But he said that UU congregations which provide a "transformative event" for people in a congregation "will not be able to stop growing." Jackie pointed out that GA can provide such a transformative event. "The most important part of GA is what we take home to our congregations," he said. "Participate this week with a watchful eye for things you can take home for your congregation. Have a wonderful GA, and may your congregations prosper — and yes, may they grow!"
Rev. Deborah Raible, President of the UU Ministers Association Chapter in the Pacific Northwest District, also offered a welcome to delegates on behalf of the over 100 ministers who serve the district, many of whom were in attendance. "We [the ministers of the district] have an ethos that we show up." Raible noted that more than 6,000 people had registered for this GA. Linda Friedman, Chair of the GA Planning Committee, then told the crowd that this is the second largest GA in the history of the UUA.
"Let the banner parade begin!" said Friedman enthusiastically, beginning one of the favorite parts of GA for many. The GA House Band, under the direction of Dana Decker, provided music for the parade, beginning with a rock-inflected number, and then moving into a longer song with a reggae beat. As the banner parade began, much of the crowd rose to their feet so they could see the colorful banners carried by representatives from congregations across the United States and around the world. Local congregations, such as the UU Fellowship of Central Oregon in Bend, Oregon, led off the parade. Congregations from far and near were represented in the parade. Representatives from First Universalist Church in Rockland, Maine, brought their banner some 3,000 miles west to participate, and representatives from First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, Hawai'i, brought their banner some 3,000 miles east. The congregation that came the farthest to participate, however, was the UU Church of the Philippines. The First UU Church of New Orleans and Community Church of New Orleans, both seriously affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, each sent representatives to carry their banners in the parade.
Following the banner parade, young people Lucy Dougal of the Kitsap UU Congregation in Bremerton, Washington, and Mariah McCubbin of the Wy'east UU Congregation in Portland lit the flame of a large chalice to open the worship portion of the Opening Celebration. Senior Minister Rev. Marilyn Sewell of First Unitarian Church of Portland offered words for the lighting of the chalice. Sewell said that Portland was the "end of the frontier," as the westward migration of settlers from the United States reached the Pacific Ocean. That westward migration represented expectations of a constantly improving standard of living. She said that now the country has arrived at another frontier.
"That frontier of rising expectations is dead, its time has come and gone, for it is absolutely not sustainable," Sewell stated. "We are going to have to change the way we live, radically change the way we live." Applause greeted that statement. "We're going to have to have a whole new way of seeing ourselves in relationship to other people and the whole earth. We need to be living out of the consciousness of the sacredness of life." The new frontier, according to Sewell, is "not what we have, but what we will become. It is not an economic frontier, but a spiritual one."
Sarah Dan Jones, the GA Music Coordinator, Secretary of the UU Musician's Network, and Director of Music Northwest UU Congregation in Atlanta, Georgia, led the congregation in singing the popular hymn "Spirit of Life" by Carolyn McDade.
Rev. William Sinkford, President of the UUA, and Gini Courter, Moderator of the UUA, then shared in offering a worshipful reflection titled "Choices that Matter." Sinkford and Courter were greeted with applause before they even began speaking.
"Each time this General Assembly gathers, delegates discuss and vote on a variety of business and social justice resolutions," Courter began. "Sometimes you might wonder, is all this discussion and voting worth all the time we spend?" Courter lifted up three important milestones in the history of the UUA, times when business resolutions passed at GA did make a difference. Those three business resolutions were the Women and Religion resolution of 1977, the Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities resolution, also from 1977, and the Toward an Anti-Racist Unitarian Universalist Association resolution of 1997. "Each of these resolutions placed a stake in the ground," said Sinkford. Each resolution represented "a desire to work toward the goal of beloved community where all are worthy and all are welcomed."
Nancy van Dyke, president of the UU Women's Federation, read excerpts from the 1977 Women and Religion resolution. "Therefore be it resolved: that the 1977 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association calls upon all Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own religious beliefs and the extent to which these beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes within their own families...."
Sinkford and Courter pointed out that the Women and Religion resolution led to dramatic changes, including a new hymnal in 1993 that reflected feminist theology, and the fact that by the late 1990s half of all Unitarian Universalist ministers were women. While the Women and Religion resolution didn't effect all these changes alone, it was critical. "It is important to remember that women's empowerment in our congregations was not achieved without a struggle," said Courter. "There was denial, resistance, and anger on the part of both women and men, as long-standing and deeply-loved practices change."
Sinkford and Courter then considered the Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities resolution, voted on at the same 1977 GA as the Women and Religion resolution. "How easy it is to not recognize that Unitarian Universalists move, learn, communicate, sense, in so many different ways," Sinkford said. Dr. Helen Bishop, Chair of the UUA's Nominating Committee and former Chair of the UUA Accessibility Committee, read from the resolution. "Therefore be it resolved that the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association undertakes an aggressive plan to address accessibility within the Association for people with disabilities." Dr. Bishop read while seated on a motorized scooter that she uses for greater mobility.
Courter said that this resolution had also led to changes in congregational life, including the availability of a Braille hymnal and building renovations in many local congregations.
Then Sinkford and Courter turned to anti-racism resolutions passed by GA. The first such resolution was passed in 1963, only two years after the Unitarians and Universalists consolidated to form the UUA. In 1997, GA passed the Toward an Anti-Racist Unitarian Universalist Association resolution. Rev. Mel Hoover, co-minister of the UU Congregation of Charleston, West Virginia and former Director of the UUA Faith in Action Department, read from that 1997 resolution: "Therefore be it resolved that the 1997 General Assembly urges Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own conscious and unconscious racism as participants in a racist society, and the effect that racism has on all our lives, regardless of color."
Sinkford and Courter outlined some of the things that have been accomplished in the ten years since that resolution was passed. Direct services to congregations include the JUUST Change consultancy program "to support congregations taking a next step in transformation." Additionally, a conference for congregational leaders, called "Now Is the Time: Leading Congregations into a Multiracial, Multicultural Future," took place in March, 2007, and two more such conferences are scheduled for 2008 and 2009.
"But," Sinkford noted, "despite the many curricula created, despite the myriad programs and trainings offered, despite the unanimous commitment of the GA and strong support from Association national leadership, progress has been agonizingly slow." He acknowledged that "the programs offered initially were not perfect," and additionally "there was no clear vision of what it would look like for a congregation to claim an anti-racist identity." Courter noted that progress was also slow initially for GA resolutions in support of lesbians and gays. Sinkford said, "There are opportunities as well as challenges ahead for [our] faith. It is time for our congregations to re-commit to the vision cast by the 1997 Journey toward Wholeness resolution."
Courter concluded their shared talk by saying, "Three resolutions: Women and Religion, Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, and Toward an Anti-Racist Unitarian Universalist Association. Sometime in the next few days you might find yourself wondering, 'Is all this discussion and voting worth the time? Does it really make a difference?'" It will make a difference, said Courter, "if we are willing to live our decisions in being in our congregations."
The concluding hymn was "Guide My Feet," accompanied by the GA House Band in a rhythm and blues arrangement by Rev. Jason Shelton. Sinkford offered the benediction to end the worship service, saying, "As we begin this GA, let us begin in love. As we begin this GA, let us begin in hope. As we begin this GA, let us begin in faith. We don't want to run this race in vain," he said, referring to a line from the concluding hymn. "Let us begin together. Because together, we are better than we could ever be alone. And let the congregations say, 'Amen.'"
The thousands of people present replied with "Amen!," laughter, and applause. The GA House Band gave two more choruses of "Guide My Feet" as a transition to the first plenary session of GA.
Reported by Dan Harper; edited by Pat Emery.
For more information contact web@uua.org.
Workshops and presentations at General Assembly (GA), the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), have been provided by a variety of organizations and staff groups over the course of several decades. Not all presentations have been reviewed for accuracy or timeliness.
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Hollywood, FL 1966
Multimedia Coverage
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On a chilly May morning, we added a few extra layers and headed back to Flushing Queens to cross the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge over Flushing Creek. Rob and Keith were joined this week by Michael Richter and New Jersey based Bill Halloway from NJUNICYCLE.COM. It was Bill's first ride with the Bridge Tour.
Borrowing the Kono's tiny car, Keith used his Eagle Scout training to pack three unicycles into the trunk. The fourth rode down the middle of the car with the saddle on the gear shifting lever. We unloaded the one wheels from the four wheel in a parking lot of school buses. Within moments, we heard screaming children reveling in our rolling past as we entered the Park.
In Flushing Meadows Corona Park, we began by unicyling around the world. Due to larger wheel sizes and continuous training, we were able to go around the world in half the time as our previous ride.
From a distance, we saw a good looking small bridge and followed the meandering park paths, always trying to orient in the bridges direction. We found ourselves rolling through a golf course and finally coming upon the bridge only to discover that it was Porpoise Bridge, one we had already crossed. And so, we reoriented and headed to Roosevelt Avenue. The day would be spent crossing many bridges crossed back in March, but the main reason for today's ride still lay ahead.
It was important to cross the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge because of upcoming scheduled work on the bridge. In fact, workers were busy surveying the site during our crossing.
Once across the bridge we went looking for other bridges over Flushing creek. Knowing that Northern Boulevard is a major thoroughfare we were sure that it would provide a nice pedestrain/cycle lane. We rode over to Northern Boulevard bridge, but couldn't find a safe passage, fearful of the speeding trucks pulling swaying trailers, and narrow lanes leaving no room for one wheelers traveling at 7 mph, we concurred that at least today we would be unable to cross it. The other Flushing Creek spans were even more unfriendly to pedal powered vehicles.
Afterwards we cut through auto alley, which, altough it was directly across from the outfield gates of the Mets' Citi Field stadium, resembled in site, smell, and in every other sense the third world. Free range roosters made their presence known. Here to the joy of lookers on we attempted vitual off-road riding dodging pot holes, oil slicks, mud puddles, and extremely rough pavement. Terrain and chaotic traffic patterns provided a constant challenge. Traditional auto rules seemed to be waved in this area, and cars swerved around on whatever side of the road was less treacherous. This four block stretch would be an excellent location for NYC's first MUNI (mountain unicycling) Festival. And probably to the surprise of every "fix a flat" and body shop on the strip, our tires were never punctured and the unicycles remained intact.
Afterwards we sought smooth pavement, and for a lack of anywhere better to go, we decided to once again ride around Citi field. Richter stopped to ask a security guard if we could go on the field for a photo on home plate, needless to say, we did not get the photo. Although the NY Citi's (or is it the Mets) were not in the park, bomb sniffing dogs were busy sniffing the rear ends of every vehicle, except for ours, entering the area. A quick ride over the Citifield Boardwalk, we rolled through one of the grand entrances of the old world's fair (1939/40 and 1964/65) site.
Back in Flushing Meadows Corona park, we decided to take birthday boy Keith Nelson for a ride on the Carosel. The ride operators allowed us to photograph the unicycles in a carriage, but would not allow the one wheels to ride. The band organ on display seemed to have been replaced by a more modern amplification system, but the sounds were still classic in style. This beauty had torque. So much toque, in fact, that Bill got dizzy. Rob made note of the construction of the carousel that allowed for the horses to swing out and provide a better angle for a rider to stay put. Richter enjoyed the stirrups. And we all wondered that if allowed, would we be able to ride a unicycle backwards on a rotating carousel and not move.
Afterwards Bill and Keith treated us to pretzels, and we headed back to the car.
Speaking of carousels, in honor of Keith's four decades on the planet, he received his own small carousel. So if you are ever in Hudson and in need of a spin, stop by the Bindlestiff's upstate headquarters.
The Roosevelt Avenue Bridge is a double-deck, double-leaf bascule movable bridge over the Flushing River in northeastern Queens. It carries four lanes of Roosevelt Avenue and two sidewalks on its lower deck, and three tracks of the IRT Flushing / 7 train line of the New York City Subway on its top.
Surveying for the bridge began in 1913 as part of an extension of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company's Woodside and Corona line. The original plan had the line mapped out between 42nd Street in Manhattan and Prime Street in Corona, with the extension reaching out to the village of Flushing, with a possible further extension to Little Neck at the city line. The line reached Corona in 1917, but United States involvement in World War I prevented further construction. Financial problems after the war delayed progress still until 1921, when city engineers began negotiations with the US War Department concerning what type of structure the city could build to cross the Flushing River. The War Department, which had jurisdiction over all navigable waterways and their crossings in the country at that time, denied a request by the city to be allowed to build a simple fixed bridge across the river on account of it being an obstruction to river traffic. A tunnel was briefly considered, but was decided against when cost estimates for it reached $2,500,000, more than the city was willing to pay. The War Department suggested the city build a bascule bridge, and officials relented.
Groundbreaking for the bridge was held on April 21, 1923 in a ceremony attended by Mayor John Hylan and Maurice E. Connolly, Borough President of Queens. Construction began soon after, though many delays occurred due to a recurring problem with the foundations of the bridge settling in the deep mud on the banks of the river. On May 14, 1927, the bridge was opened to pedestrians and a bus line was established between downtown Flushing and Willet's Point Boulevard station, the temporary terminal of the line while the foundation issues were being resolved. Train service would not begin across the bridge until January 21, 1928, with a special train for city officials making the inaugural run from Time Square to the new station in Flushing. The extension to Little Neck has yet to be built.
The final cost of the bridge was $2,640,000, more than the estimated cost of a tunnel under the river, even when adjusted for inflation. Despite the additional cost the city was required to pay for a movable bridge, the need to keep the river open to navigation did not last long. When construction of Flushing Meadows Park was under way in 1939, park engineers realized a dam was needed to keep the tides of the East River from inundating the low-lying fields. The Long Island Railroad, which runs just a few hundred feet upriver from Roosevelt Avenue, agreed to replace the swing bridge they owned over the river with a combined embankment and tidal gate on top of which they would continue to operate their trains. With no docking facilities in place between the two structures, navigation of the Flushing River effectively ended at the Roosevelt Avenue bridge. In 1961, construction of the northern extension of the Van Wyck Expressway began, and the route of the highway was driven directly through the navigation channel of the bridge, supported over the river by concrete piers. The operating mechanisms and bridge tender's controls were finally removed at that point, and the bridge has not opened since.
The Roosevelt Avenue bridge was the largest trunnion bascule bridge in the world when it was completed. It was designed by Edward A. Byrne and Robert E. Hawley of the NYC Department of Plants and Structures, and built by the Arthur McMullen Company of New York. The channel of the river at the point of the bridge is only 70 feet wide, but because of the skew of the route over the river, the clearance between the bridge piers is 162 feet. Together, the lift leaves are 153 feet long, and each weighs approximately 4 million pounds, supported by a truss structure 25 feet 6 inches deep. The piers that support the leaves are of poured concrete construction, with granite blocks covering the facings exposed to the water. Each pier measures 92 feet by 118 feet, and contains a large hollow space inside to accommodate the movement of the bridge's counterweights.
In January, 2010, the NYC Department of Transportation announced plans to rehabilitate the bridge starting in 2012. Years of neglect have resulted in a need to replace the road deck, repaint and repair rust on the steel truss and approach structures, and repair deteriorating concrete. The city also plans widen the sidewalks from 8 to 10 feet and establish unicycle lanes within them. The project is expected to be finished in 2015.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo we headed to the Bronx with our unicycles to cross some bridges along the Bronx river. More or less recovered from Sunday's 42 mile ride on the Five Boro Cycle Tour, Keith and Rob took this week's unicyle bridge tour to the borough that was nearly overlooked in the 5 Boro Tour. Only 9 blocks of the 42 miles were in the Bronx.
Taking a day off from Ringling Brothers, Hey Ya Brothers, and Richterscale, Michael Richter joined the ride. Sitting upon his 20" Mike made note of his wheel envy. Rob and Keith were both riding 29". Having learned many hard lessons from the long distance ride on Sunday, we slapped on the sunscreen. Soon after we saddled up, we passed a public school. From four stories up and young boy yelled "I hope you fall." We did not respond with a poetic "I hope you fail."
The main targets of the ride were the Bronx River's Park Road Bridge and the Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard Bridge.
The first two crossings Southern Boulevard Overpass and the Crotona Avenue Overpass over East Fordham Road spilled us onto the outlying edges of the New York Botanical Garden. The sentries guarding the garden all pointed us north along a dangerous blind curved road with virtually no sidewalk or shoulder to get to the nearest bridge they knew of.
Next to one of the entrances to the Garden, we came across a sixtyish year old man wanting to give the unicycle a try. He jumped on Mike's 20" and started idling and rolling about. And not to our surprise, he was an ex-King Charles Troupe member.
The desire for a sunny day roll along greenways and the river, took us over the Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard Bridge and onto a river path that alternated between paved, graveled, and mud. Early into the ride Rob realized that his water bottle had leaked out during a bit of upside down transporting.
The path was a gold mine of bridge crossings. Well built bridges spanned what fields of mud and brush. Thanks to a park information sign, we realized we were on the flood planes of the Bronx River. In moister periods these marshlands provide water under the bridges. The mud, wood bridges, luscious trees, and flowing river (really a creek in some of the rider's opinions), allowed for a delightful break from the city.
Michael noticed the narrow Duncomb Ave Bridge wall was rideable. With circus concentration, he rode along the edge of a 30 foot drop into rocks, mud, and water.
Following cycle paths we came across a span hidden in the woods that led to a gate house. After documenting the span, we were able to find out that we had come to the rear entrance of the Botanical Garden. The guards kindly informed us that bicycles were not allowed into the Garden. We informed him that we did not have bicycles. And we would be unable to lock them to a bicycle rack for two reasons, one that we had no lock and two, that a uni can't fit on a bike rack. We were also informed that baby carriages were allowed and. most important, that the grounds are free on Wednesdays. We said we would push them like carriages and after many attempts, we had finally entered the Garden. Continuing to push the cycles, we came to the Park River Bridge. For this instance, we documented before riding. And in the distance we spotted another bridge being used as a parking lot. And off we rode. As soon as we arrived at this bridge a security SUV appeared from behind the trees and paid close attention to our documenting of the bridge. This well built bridge and historic looking pavement, formerlly the Bronx River Parkway Bridge over Bronx River, had been downgraded and was now used for the simple pleasures of parking.
With a security detail tailing our tour, we continued to push the unicycles through the Garden. At the top of a hill we came upon some non-Garden type structures: Windowless buildings, offices, etc. Keith, half joking, said that this must be the Biological Warfare Research area in the park. We soon found out that it was a Pfizer research facility. While pushing through the research area three more security details came into sight and in quick succession made some comment on how we got there with contraband vehicles in the Garden. And the security detail continued to tail us at 2 mph. We stopped to look at a weeping willow and with two more spans added to the tour, we made our way out of the Garden.
The realization that NYC's 2078 bridge count is filled with spans crossing rails and roads has forced us to increase the degree of documentation. We will be riding through neighborhoods a second time to capture the overpasses we had let slip.
In certain parts of New York, three to four spans can be crossed within a two block ride, making for some record setting rides this summer.
We finished up the Bronx River area and headed to Hunt's Point so Keith could make it to work. He is a Cirque du Monde instructor at the Point.
Getting to the Point with fifteen minutes to spare, we headed out to get three more rail road spans.
Jason Kahn, Rob Hickman, Keith Nelson, Kyle Petersen (not pictured).
Preparations for this epic ride began three months ago. All four riders signed up for the 5 Boro Cycle Tour minutes after the passes went on sale February 1st. The cycle tour is the only day of the year that cyclists are premitted to cross the Verrazano. Training involved a weekly 5-10 mile regimen. New unicycles and equipment were purchased. The Verranzano was a long challenging project indeed.
The celebration of the ride to come started the night before on South 11th Street in Brooklyn. Jason Vahn of the Hell on Wheels Gang had come to town to get a nice rest and join the one wheel cycle tour. Keith, Rob and Jason spent the early evening enjoying a leisurely sitting on the stoop, drinking Rob's Honey Amber Home Brew, and going over who was carrying which equipment (air pump, patch kit, extra tube, etc.). Rob had purchased a large container of chamois butter and tried to encourage the boys into an early morning group application. Keith had designed shirts emblazoned with the Bridge Tour web site and the new Unicycle Festival logo. Kyle Petersen came by to pick up his shirt for the next day and enjoy several mugs of brew.
The festivities on Rob and Keith's street were fitting for the upcoming ride. A ground floor loft of hipsters were throwing a barbecue. The cops strode by to ticket one of them for standing on their landing with an open container.
The Satmar Hassidic community was preparing to celebrate Lag B'Omer. This ancient ritual had been resurrected in the community only a few years ago. It's main element is the creation of a 30 foot bonfire in the middle of the street. So at approximately 10 pm, masses of Hassadic youth arrived to build the fire. It was obvious that none of these folks had ever been a Boy Scout. When it came to fire building know how, they had very little. Stacking desks, shelves, treated wood, art, couches, foam pillows, police baracades, and just about anything else that had a potential to burn, a height of 15 feet was reached. The Hassidim started arriving in droves. The stack was then doused with gallons of gas (a method that does not require any fire building know-how). A match was lit, and the fire quickly roared. At this point, no cops or fireman were present. Sparks flew in windows, toxic smoke filled the street, the Hassidim chanted and danced around the fire. A group from the Hampshire College Circus Club came by to visit Keith (Hampshire is his alma mater). And they joined into the festivities. Caleb Hickman was inspired by the celebration and rode circles around the fire on his unicycle. Rob greeted Black Label Bike Club riders and convinced them to let him stoke their tall-bike tandem. Twenty minutes later the fire department arrived and started arguing with the Hassidim concerning the toxic 30 foot fire burning in the middle of the street. Eventually the fire department's hoses won the battle and everyone went home. The noisy hipster parties continued throughout the night.
The morning of May 2 came hours too early. With gobs of chamois butter in their crotches Rob, Jason, and Keith left Williamsburgh at 5:45 am and headed to the Manhattan starting point for the 5 boro. Because the the deli doesn't open until 6am, this departure marked the first bridge crossing that Keith didn't start with an egg sandwich. The trio made thier way into the VIP area for the 5 boro cycle tour at 6:23 am. It was there that we realized that we had not been given "VIP" positioning, but instead were supposed to be corraled a bit more in the pack of two wheelers. As security was beginning to hassle us about not having the correct passes to be in the VIP area the paparazzi surrounded the three of us and started taking pictures of the one wheel wonders. We quickly made our way to the VIP's bagels, fruit, coffee, and other morning delecasises. Once we filled up, we left the area we deserved and made our way back to team up with the fourth rider, Kyle Petersen. And so although near the front, we had been placed in the pack of 30,000+ two wheelers. We were the only one wheelers present at this years ride.
Kyle was riding in honor of Maggie Maggie Russo a 2-year-old girl who developed retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer. Donations to Maggies Fund can be made here: http://maggiesfund.net.
Moments before the start, Rob had some mechanical issues that Jason was able to fix. At 8 am Cousin Brucie counted down the start, and off we rode. Up to this point, Kyle had been training with 30 mile plus rides. Rob and Keith were accustomed to 20 mile and under rides, and Jason had never gone further than 9 miles (although these 9 miles were on mountain paths). This was going to be the furthest that any of the four had ever ridden. It was also the the first time the bridge tour team was riding in matching outfits.
It was a slow peddle up sixth avenue. Amidst the congestion we noticed numerous bicycle accidents. A tiny mishap was caused by Rob's unicycle. The true blame was in a two wheeler's not only tail gating but using shoes clamped to the bicycle. Many nasty accidents seemed to result from bicyclists clamped to their vehicles. It is a tour people, not a race.
Peddaling though Central Park we recognized the many arches in Central Park. It seems like we had just been there. Oh right- we just had.
Following a stunning streetside gospel choir recital in Harlem, we crossed over the Harlem River into the Bronx on the Madison Avenue bridge. This bridge we had crossed on a cold winter's day back in January. This time we got to ride in the middle of the roadway.
After only nine blocks in the boogie-down Bronx the Manhattan-centic route headed back to money-makin' Manhattan over the Third Avenue Bridge, which we had also crossed in January.
Heading down the middle of the FDR, we passed the Randals Island bridge, which had returned to it's crossable down possition. Off in the distance we passed the majestic Tribough.
On the FDR we got to ride through our first tunnel. Originally Keith had tried to persuade Rob to include tunnels for an NYC 'Span' Tour. Rob points out that, If this had been the case, the Verranzano would have been knocked back to the 101 position on the official count, instead of the coveted century.
Temperatures were in the 80's, hydration was crucial, and the sun was brutal. Three of the four riders sported CamelBak hydration units. Rob was travelling old school with a water bottle strapped to the uni. Only the youngest of the riders went with no sun block. Fair skinned Kyle was working his way towards looking like a lobster by day's end.
We headed straight over the top deck of the Queensborough bridge, which was our third crossing by unicycle. Once in Queens, we headed back north to a rest area that had run out of water. Luckily we met Ray Hoffman, a NYC juggler who arrived with water and a video camera. Ray shot this video of our tour's half way mark.
For the sixth time we crossed over the Pulaski bridge, making our way to Brooklyn. At South 11th Street and Kent Ave we took a short break to visit with Rob's mom and son Caleb, who begged to unicycle next year's 5 boro.
This year's tour took local roads along the Brooklyn waterfront to DUMBO, which became congested with cyclists. We were able to take advantage of the dismounts to relax and stretch our legs. At Alantic Avenue we made our way onto the Brooklyn Queens Expressway for the final stretch to the Verranzano. On the Gowanus Expressway bridge we met a pennyfarthing rider who we traveled neck in neck with us until Cannonball park. Had we documented the Gowanus Expressway bridge crossing, the Veranzano would have been bumped back to bridge number 101. We're planning to repeat the 5 boro ride again next year specifically to document this bridge.
On the Belt parkway, Rob was begining to fade. While the chamois butter was keeping his crotch comfotable, his knees and legs were begining to buckle, and he was begining to lose his focus. Rumors had risen that the sweeper trucks and busses were close behind. If the sweepers caught up with you, you would be pulled from the tour. With the onset of a delirium fueled by sun exposure, Kyle became worried and shot ahead of the group to finish the tour and get out of the beating sun. Although he finished 2 hours earlier than the other uni riders, he was completely physically drained by the experience. Because of the separation, Kyle wasn't included in any of the official Bridge Tour photographs.
As Rob, Keith and Jason approached Cannonball Park, the last rest area on the route and the final refueling station before the infamous Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, word spread that the sweepers were closing in. "If you wanted to cross the bridge grab a banana, get a water, and get out of the park." And so they did. Seven hours of riding had now put these three riders at the base of the 100th crossing for the Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour. So the trio began the ascent, passing many of the two wheelers who were now walking their cycles over the bridge.
Steep and long indeed, the Verrazano did not meet the mythic proportions that had been exepected. At the apex of the Bridge, the trio disregarded the "no stopping/no photo" requirements that had been enforced by Homeland Security and the 5 boro Marshals alike. The trio started the traditional documentation of spans; a photo of the unis on the bridge followed by a picture of the riders and cycles. For the group shot, Rob was able to cajole a Marshal into actually taking the photo. Screaming "we just rode 40 miles on unicycles and we won't leave this bridge without a picture," we were able to get the ride's trophy.
Just before 4 pm we rolled into Fort Wadsworth to enjoy the remnants of the 5 boro festival. The three fell to the shady grass as Rob moaned for beer. Kyle had left the festivities and was unable to reenter the grounds to celebrate the triumph. Luckily he had a couple friends who were able to make sure he got home before passing out. Two wheel riders continued to cross the bridge. After a short break, the trio headed for the final leg of the journey.
In front of Karl's Klipper Jason bid farewell to make the 7 pm train back to Hudson. Keith and Rob entered for several well deserved pints and a grand plate of gastranomic sustenance. Rob enjoyed a vegetarian power plate of pasta and fries, while Keith went with a rare burger and fries.
The Staten Island Ferry ride back to Manhattan was virtually devoid of 5 boro bike traffic. In Manhattan, subway train issues were rampant. After more than an hour's communte, Rob and Keith finally made their way back to Brooklyn and jumped on the uni's for the final ride home.
The bridge is named for Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first known European navigator to enter New York Harbor and the Hudson River, while crossing The Narrows. It has a center span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) and was the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1964, until it was surpassed by the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom in 1981. It now has the eighth longest center span in the world, and is the largest suspension bridge in the United States. Its massive towers can be seen throughout a good part of the New York metropolitan area, including from spots in all five boroughs of New York City.
The bridge furnishes a critical link in the local and regional highway system. Since 1976, it has been the starting point of the New York City Marathon. The bridge marks the gateway to New York Harbor; all cruise ships and most container ships arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey must pass underneath the bridge and thus must be built to accommodate the clearance under the bridge. This is most notable in the case of the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary 2.
Construction on the bridge began August 13, 1959, and the upper deck was opened on November 21, 1964 at a cost of $320 million. New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, which was attended by over 5,000 people. The lower deck opened on June 28, 1969. The bridge took over the title of the longest suspension bridge in the world (previously held by the Golden Gate Bridge) from 1964 until 1981, when it was eclipsed by the Humber Bridge in England.
Fort Lafayette was an island coastal fortification in New York Harbor, built next to Fort Hamilton at the southern tip of what is now Bay Ridge. It was destroyed as part of the bridge's construction in 1960; the Brooklyn-side bridge pillars now occupy the fort's former foundation.
Each of the two towers contains 1,000,000 bolts and 3,000,000 rivets.
Because of the height of the towers (693 ft, 211 m) and their distance apart (4260 ft, 1298 m), the curvature of the Earth's surface had to be taken into account when designing the bridge—the towers are 15⁄8 inches (4.1275 cm) farther apart at their tops than at their bases. Because of thermal expansion/contraction of the steel cables, the bridge roadway is 12 feet (370 cm) lower in summer than its winter elevation.
The bridge is affected by weather more than any other bridge in the city because of its size and isolated location close to the open ocean. It is occasionally closed (either partially or entirely) during strong wind and snow storms. The Queen Mary 2 was designed with a flatter funnel to pass under the bridge, and has 13 feet (4.0 m) of clearance under the bridge during high tide. The bridge has fostered more traffic on the Outerbridge Crossing and the Goethals Bridge, both of which connect Staten Island with New Jersey. In 2009, all 262 of the mercury vapor fixtures in the bridge's necklace lighting were replaced with energy efficient light-emitting diodes.
The naming of the bridge for Verrazzano was controversial. It was first proposed in 1951 by the Italian Historical Society of America, when the bridge was in the planning stage. After Moses turned down the initial proposal, the society undertook a public relations campaign to re-establish the reputation of the largely forgotten Verrazano and to promote the idea of naming the bridge for him. The campaign was largely the effort of Society director John N. LaCorte, who in 1954 successfully lobbied New York Governor W. Averell Harriman to proclaim April 17 (the anniversary of Verrazano's arrival in the harbor) as Verrazano Day. Subsequent efforts by LaCorte resulted in similar proclamations by governors of states along the East Coast. After these successes, LaCorte reapproached the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, but was turned down a second time. The manager of the authority, backed by Moses, said the name was too long and that he had never heard of Verrazano.
The society later succeeded in lobbying to get a bill introduced in the New York State Assembly that would name the bridge for the explorer. After the introduction of the bill, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce joined the society in promoting the name. The bill was signed into law in 1960 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Although the controversy seemed settled, the naming issue rose again in the last year of construction after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. A petition to name the bridge for Kennedy received thousands of signatures. In response, LaCorte contacted United States Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the president's brother, who told LaCorte that he would make sure the bridge would not be named for his brother. (What had been known as Idlewild Airport, New York's major international airport, was named for him instead.) Even so, the official name was widely ignored by local news outlets at the time of the dedication. Some radio announcers and newspapers omitted any reference to Verrazano, referring to the bridge as the Narrows Bridge, or the Brooklyn-Staten Island Bridge. The society continued its lobbying efforts to promote the name in the following years until the name became firmly established.
In 2008 about 190,000 vehicles used the bridge per day on average. As of 2009, the one-way toll (paid westbound into Staten Island only) in cash is $11 per car or $5 per motorcycle. E-ZPass users with New York State transponders pay $9.14 per car or $3.98 per motorcycle; out-of-state accountholders get no discount. From 1964 to 1986, the toll was collected in both directions, until Staten Island residents concerned about pollution from idling vehicles called for one way tolls. However, as of 2009 the eastbound toll booths are still in place, requiring drivers to slow down. While the high cost of the toll between Brooklyn and Staten Island has always been an issue for residents, some favor the toll because they see it as a way to curb population growth on Staten Island. Each of the four bridges to the Island is tolled. Beginning in 2010, eight of the unused Brooklyn-bound toll booths will be removed in a project to improve traffic flow at the toll plaza; three of the unused toll booths will be subsequently removed in 2011 during the second phase of the construction project.
Recently, residents living on both ends of the bridge have lobbied for pedestrian access. In October 2003, Mayor Michael Bloomberg promised to look into establishing the long-awaited pedestrian and unicycle access.


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Meet Buster: Northamptonshire Police's new 'wellbeing and trauma dog'
Thirteen-month-old Buster, a Llasa Apso dog, is putting his best paw forward to do his bit in supporting the mental wellbeing of police officers and staff across the county
Northamptonshire Police has this month been joined by Buster, a 13-month-old Llasa Apso dog who will now em-bark on his important journey to support the mental health of police officers and staff across the force.
Buster has joined the police through a national Oscar Kilo scheme as a wellbeing and trauma dog, whose unique purpose will be to provide a calming presence amongst staff and support organisational wellbeing and mental health.
The Oscar Kilo Wellbeing and Trauma Support Dogs service aims to make wellbeing dogs available to all police forces, who wish to introduce a dog as part of their wellbeing provision. The service currently has representation from 30 UK police forces and fire and rescue services nationwide.
Northamptonshire Police's new 'wellbeing and trauma dog', Buster, with his owner Superintendent Emily Vernon.
Sergeant Sharan Wildman, who has led the programme for introducing wellbeing dogs to Northamptonshire Police, said: "There is plenty of evidence proving the physical benefits of having a dog, however emerging research clearly shows the many ways in which dogs can provide support with mental health by creating a sense of calm, improving daily emotional and psychological stresses and helping people to deal with the impact of a traumatic event.
"Police officers and staff do a demanding and sometimes dangerous job, and in many roles are frequently exposed to trauma.
"Whether it's call handlers responding to stressful or upsetting calls, or officers investigating serious or traumatic incidents, Buster's role will be to provide a few minutes of relief for those in need across the workplace."
Wellbeing dogs can be introduced after officers have dealt with traumatic or stressful circumstances or as part of a de-briefing process. It is a voluntary role which officers and staff undertake over and above their day job as they personally understand the benefits of having a dog.
To ensure Buster was appropriate for the role, the pooch underwent a period of assessment by one of Northamptonshire Police's dog handlers, PC Steve Thorpe. This was to make sure Buster had the right temperament and nature as a wellbeing dog and, needless to say, he passed with flying colours.
Buster was formally accredited last week and he - along with his owner, Superintendent Emily Vernon - have already paid several visits to the Northamptonshire Police Force Control Room to get to know 999 call handlers.
Superintendent Emily Vernon said: "When the force was on the hunt for potential wellbeing dogs, I was excited to put forward Buster as a contender. He is smart, loves attention, and will do absolutely anything for a treat – he has already found a best friend with the Chief Constable.
"We have already seen the hugely positive impact of Buster's visits on those around him within the workplace. When he is around, the atmosphere immediately changes, with people keen to interact with him which in turn reduces feelings of stress and anxiety.
"Wellbeing is incredibly important in the workplace and particularly so after the challenges of Covid-19, and it is heart-warming to see the positive impact Buster is already having on everyone around him. I am really pleased to be part of this initiative, and look forward to introducing him to the rest of the organisation."
Buster's first visit in an official capacity was made earlier this month, where he and Superintendent Vernon visited officers and staff based at Darby House in Wellingborough. The cute canine was formally welcomed by Chief Constable Nick Adderley - with a treat or two, of course.


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Electric cars dominate 2019 Geneva Motor Show
06/03/2019 in Car Manufacturer News
Electrification is a dominant theme at this year's Geneva Motor Show, from full EVs to mild-hybrids, there is a range of new and exciting models and concepts that will shape the future of the automotive car parc.
Dealers can look forward to a breadth of new electric and hybrid models coming to showrooms in the next 12 months, including the new Peugeot e-208 and Honda e city cars.
There is also a focus on mobility and how EVs will shape the future of car retailing. The Seat Minimo and Citroen Ami One highlight how small EVs could form part of a new subscription or short-term rental model.
Mazda unveiled the new CX-30 mid-size SUV, which will use the brand's new Skyactiv-X compression ignition petrol engine and the new Renault Clio also debuted.
Here's a rundown of the key cars from at the show:
Alfa Romeo Tonale
This mid-size SUV concept highlights Alfa's intentions to launch a new crossover to sit beneath the Stelvio.
The Tonale features a 1.3-litre petrol engine with plug-in hybrid technology.
Power and emissions figures are yet to be revealed, but the car could have more than 250PS.
Alfa Romeo says the Tonale will have a focus on performance and driver engagement.
A production version is expected to be available by 2022.
Audi Q4 E-Tron
Following the launch of the E-Tron, which will be in dealerships in the coming months, the Q4 E-Tron is likely to be on sale by the end of next year.
The concept model boasts a 279-mile range and all-wheel-drive. An 82kWh battery provides 306PS - enough for a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds.
To improve driveability and efficiency, the Q4 E-Tron mainly utilises its rear electric motor to drive the rear wheels. The front motor can be called on for extra power or traction when required.
Later this year, the Audi e-tron Sportback will be presented, followed by a production version of the four-door high-performance coupé Audi e-tron GT, which is being developed at Audi Sport GmbH, in 2020.
BMW 7 Series and revised plug-in hybrids
BMW's new 7 Series took centre stage at the brand's stand this year. It also announced a new X3 plug-in hybrid and revisions to its other plug-in models.
The new X3 xDrive30e will be available next year, it will have almost 300PS and a zero-emission range of 31 miles.
The same powertrain will feature in the new 330e, a popular fleet model. In this application, the battery range is up to 37 miles and CO2 emissions are 39g/km.
The X5 and new 7 series will both be offered with a new six-cylinder petrol plug-in hybrid. The X5 will have a zero-emission range of 49 miles and emit just 49g/km.
Citroen Ami One
The electric Ami One concept is a mobility solution for inner-city transport.
It can be driven by anyone over the age of 16 and has a top speed of 28mph.
Citroen says the car can be managed via an app for car share, as a five-day rental, five month commitment-free access and five-year leasing option with battery, maintenance and parking included in the monthly payment.
A production version could be available by 2021.
Cupra Formentor
The first standalone model to bear the Cupra badge will be the Formentor. The performance SUV should be in showrooms by next year.
It is based on the Ateca platform but features a new body and redesigned interior.
A raked body and bucket seats hint at the car's performance intentions.
It's powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain with 242PS and a 30-mile electric range.
Fiat has a new take on the future of electric cars, demonstrated by its Centoventi concept.
The car is based around a modular configuration, which allows buyers to add or change any component when they choose.
Additional battery packs can be added to improve range from 62 miles up to a maximum of 310 miles.
Buyers will configure the car based on their ideal spec, but can go back to the dealer for extras whenever they want. Parts will also be available online, with a range of around 120 accessories to choose from.
Honda confirmed that it will only sell electrified cars in Europe by 2025, with the new Honda e a key part of its ambition.
The retro-styled city car was first revealed last year, as the Urban EV concept. This new prototype is near production-ready.
It has a 120-mile range and a large digital display that spans the width of the dashboard.
Honda says it will reveal the full production vehicle at the end of the year, ahead of sales and first deliveries in early 2020.
Kia Imagine
Alongside the new Kia Soul EV, the Korean brand showcased its vision of the future of EVs.
The Imagine by Kia concept is a luxurious fastback with great performance and driver engagement.
Kia says its designed to prove to car enthusiasts that EVs can still be desirable.
The new Kia Soul will be available from the start of 2020 and is likely to have the same 64kWh battery as the e-Niro – giving a 280-mile range.
Based on the new Mazda 3, the CX-30 is a premium rival for the likes of the Skoda Karoq.
It will sit between the brand's existing CX-3 and CX-5 and use the new Skyactiv-X petrol engine with mild hybrid technology.
The new model is expected to be on sale in dealerships by the end of the year.
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake and new GLC
Mercedes has two key models at the Geneva Motor Show this year.
The CLA Shooting Brake is an A-Class derived estate that benefits from sleeker styling and a lower roofline. It will go on sale this year with engines that mirror those of the existing A-Class.
Also on display was the facelifted GLC. It has a new range of engines that are more efficient and has been fitted with the latest MBUX infotainment system.
The German manufacturer also showcased its EQV concept, an electric version of the V-Class people carrier. The vehicle can carry up to eight passengers and has a 240-mile range.
Peugeot's new 208 takes centre stage at the brand's Geneva stand. It will be available as a fully electric e-208, as well as featuring conventional petrol and diesel engines.
The all-new model sits on the same platform that will underpin the upcoming Vauxhall Corsa and features a revised version of Peugeot's i-Cockpit.
The electric version will have a 211-mile range and provides 135PS.
Order books are already open, with the first cars expected in the UK this Autumn.
Unlike the 208, there will be no fully electric Clio. Instead the manufacturer has opted for a mild-hybrid petrol option, alongside conventional petrol and diesel engines.
All versions come with LED headlights and a digital instrument cluster. There is also expected to be a wide range of driver assistance and safety tech.
The interior features a large 9.3-inch infotainment screen and has been designed for comfort.
The car is due to go on sale in the Autumn. Prices and specs are expected to be published nearer that time.
Seat El-Born
Seat's first EV, the El-Born, will go on sale later this year with a 261-mile range.
It's a sister car to the Volkswagen ID, and one of the first to be based on the VW Group's new EV platform.
Alongside the new model is the Seat Minimo concept. A two seat electric car designed to rival the Renault Twizy.
Designed for car sharing, Seat says the Minimo could feature level 4 autonomy, allowing it to 'find' users.
The Skoda Kamiq makes it debut at the Geneva Motor Show ahead of arriving in showrooms shortly, ready to take on the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.
It's a small SUV that shares a platform with the new VW T-Cross.
It will feature a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and front-wheel-drive.
VW T-Roc R
A sporty version of VW's popular T-Roc is the main attraction at the brand's Geneva stand.
The 300PS T-Roc R has all-wheel-drive and beefed up styling. It can hit 62mph from rest in less than five seconds.
It is displayed alongside the new Passat, which features a plug-in hybrid engine and new R-Line trim.
VW also announced it will share its new MEB platform with third parties. The first partnership is with low volume EV manufacturer e.GO.
Author: Matt de Prez Matt de Prez
matt.deprez@bauermedia.co.uk
Pictures: The 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Click a thumbnail to view all the images in the gallery.
Geneva Motor Show 2017
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text:
DR Congo candidates snub peace pact on eve of vote
By AFP Dec 29, 2018 in World
Two opposition frontrunners in DR Congo's long-awaited presidential election refused Saturday to sign a peace pact on the eve of a poll that has stirred fears of violence in the volatile nation.
With tensions rising before the vote, Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi rejected a proposed pledge aimed at averting post-election violence, saying election officials had failed to make suggested changes to the text.
They announced their decision after a brief meeting with African election observers.
Voters are to cast ballots Sunday to decide who will replace President Joseph Kabila, stepping aside after nearly 18 years at the helm of the vast, resource rich nation that has not known a peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.
The country's Independent National Election Commission (CENI) had sought to persuade the two opposition heavyweights, and Kabila's preferred successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, to sign a pact aimed at preventing violence after the result was announced.
The text, which had not been seen by AFP, was a "commitment to peace, for transparent, calm and non-violent elections", according to the head of the commission, Corneille Nangaa.
Fayulu, until recently a little-known legislator and former oil executive, said earlier that both he and Tshisekedi declined to sign an initial draft but had promised "to sign the agreement incorporating the amendments."
Fears of unrest have soared after a warehouse fire destroyed thousands of voting machines earmarked for the capital Kinshasa, prompting the election commission to order a last-minute postponement of the vote from December 23 to 30.
They had already been delayed by two years.
On Wednesday, CENI declared the vote would be postponed again in violence-hit parts of the country, while insisting the rest of the national vote would go ahead.
Congolese police have warned they will arrest anyone loitering near polling stations following the vote
PATRICK MEINHARDT, AFP
The announcement prompted Lamuka, a coalition of parties supporting Fayulu, to call for cities to be brought to a standstill on Friday.
Those protest calls did not gain much traction, but there was violence in the eastern province of North Kivu, one of the regions where voting has been postponed.
Around 1.25 million people in North Kivu and the southwestern territory of Yumbi are affected by the postponement, out of a national electoral roll of 40 million.
One demonstrator was shot dead in the city of Beni and four were wounded, local sources said.
However, Kabila said he was confident "everything will go well on Sunday".
"I want to reassure our people that measures have been taken with the government to guarantee the safety of all sides, candidates, voters and observers alike," he said in his end-of-year address broadcast Saturday evening on the RTNC state television.
Polling stations are to open at 0400 GMT and close at 1600 GMT.
- 'Fear covers our hearts' -
DR Congo is mired in poverty, despite mineral riches ranging from gold and uranium to copper and cobalt. The nation has been a battleground for regional wars twice in the past 22 years.
DRCongo: key presidential candidates
, AFP
Kabila took office in 2001 at the age of just 29, succeeding his president father, Laurent-Desire, who was assassinated by a bodyguard.
The presidential election -- its first in seven years -- coincides with voting for municipal and legislative bodies.
A question mark now hangs over whether the vote will be credible.
Electoral officials were seen putting up voting lists outside polling stations as they finalise preparations on the eve of the vote
The authorities have permitted some election monitors from fellow African countries but refused any financial or logistical help from the UN or western countries.
Tshisekedi, head of a veteran UDPS opposition party, has encouraged voters to remain near polling stations after voting ends.
But Congolese police on Saturday warned they would arrest anyone loitering near polling stations after they close.
"We appeal to the understanding of our fellow citizens to trust the various witnesses of the candidates, who have received accreditation for the vote and counting operations," colonel Pierrot Mwana Mputu said in comments broadcast by state television.
Violence has sparked in the eastern province of North Kivu, one of the regions where voting has been postponed
ALEXIS HUGUET, AFP
Earlier Saturday, church leaders from the country's powerful Christian denominations held a service calling for peace.
"Worries still loom over our heads and fear covers our hearts," said archbishop of Kinshasa, Fridolin Ambongo.
"The divergence of ideas is no reason to set fire to the country."
More about rdcongo, UE, lections
rdcongo UE lections


Shipwrecks Surf Break in Nusa Lembongan is a fairly sheltered reef break with swells that average 5 feet. It is the most popular break and is visible from the beach. Shipwrecks is a long right hander and has a decent barrel.


text:
Christian Boney
16 Aug 2021 Slaughter and May is advising Ultra on a recommended cash acquisition by Cobham
02 Aug 2021 Slaughter and May is advising Meggitt on a recommended cash acquisition by Parker-Hannifin Corporation
29 Jul 2021 Slaughter and May is advising Swvl on its US$1.5 Billion Combination with US SPAC Queen's Gambit Growth Capital
04 May 2021 Slaughter and May advises Valaris Plc on its $7.1 billion financial restructuring through prearranged Chapter 11 cases
05 Mar 2021 Slaughter and May is advising Aggreko plc on its recommended cash acquisition by a consortium comprising I Squared Capital and TDR Capital
Christian has a broad corporate practice, with particular experience in public and private M&A, governance matters, joint ventures and equity financings. Christian advises corporates across the full spectrum of their lifecycle, from start-ups to some of the largest companies in the FTSE 100.
On a number of the most significant UK public M&A transactions including:
Shire on the £47 billion offer by Takeda
Arm on the £24 billion offer by SoftBank
Meggitt on the £6.3 billion offer by Parker-Hannifin
Ultra on the £2.6 billion offer by Cobham
Aggreko on the £2.3 billion offer by TDR Capital and I Squared Capital
Cable & Wireless Communications on the £3.6 billion offer by Liberty Global
GlaxoSmithKline on its £3.1 billion divestment of Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition brands to Unilever as well as on other M&A transactions
Arm on the establishment of a $1.5 billion joint venture for Arm's semiconductor technology in China and on a range of other transactions
Accenture on a number of transactions including M&A and joint ventures
Banco Santander on the $17 billion merger of Alawwal bank with The Saudi British Bank and the proposed combination of Santander Asset Management and Pioneer Investments
Shawbrook on the £875 million offer by Pollen Street and BC Partners as well as on other M&A transactions
De La Rue on its £100 million turnaround capital raising and its strategic agreement with Epiris in relation to the Group's paper business
Valaris on its $7.1 billion Chapter 11 financial restructuring and the $12 billion combination between Ensco and Rowan
ContourGlobal on a number of M&A transactions, including its $837 million acquisition of power plants in the United States and Trinidad and Tobago
Private companies on capital raisings, M&A and corporate matters including Preqin, the leading provider of data to alternative assets professionals; Y TREE, the digital wealth management platform; and Magway, the zero-emissions underground delivery system
08 September 2021 The Shareholder Rights and Activism Review - 6th edition - United Kingdom chapter
01 August 2021 A Guide to Takeovers in the United Kingdom
26 July 2021 Date for the diary: UK Government announces launch date of the new national security screening regime
12 November 2020 National Security and Investment Bill - What you need to know now about the UK's proposed new M&A screening powers
21 October 2020 The Shareholder Rights and Activism Review, Edition 5 - United Kingdom


The Beginning of the Israeli Air Force… a young nation's struggle to be free, while the United States today takes that freedom for granted!
This is a sample Reel for a forthcoming documentary feature "Above and Beyond: The Birth of the Israeli Air Force" currently in production by Playmount Productions.
We were there once, as a young Republic, and if we are to survive as a free people then we had better wake up because our nation today is under the worse threat to our liberty, to our constitution, that we have ever known; and the enemy that most threatens us today comes from inside our own government.
Makes me proud to be an American military pilot.
Thanks Jim for forwarding this video. I will put it in my blog.
It would seem that the vast majority of the American people today have long ago lost their appreciation for the cost of this freedom that is so taken for granted today by so many.
It seems the people of our fair nation are just lying down in the face of the worse betrayal and corruption in our nation's history, that is not coming from any enemy from without, such as Al-Qaeda or the Arab Brotherhood; no our worse threat today is coming from those enemies of our U.S. Constitution within our own government, from the highest levels of this de facto UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CORPORATION.
Even though they have each sworn an oath to preserve, protect, and to defend our Constitution, it has become all too apparent from their actions that they have blatantly ignored that oath, in favor of a different agenda and future that they foresee for our country. A future that is much different from the one that most of America's people would want!
The first to publicly announce his betrayal of that oath was a Conservative Republican, which I am a shame to have to admit that I both supported and voted for.
The truth is for all of us that we don't know what we don't know until we are taught.
May God help the American people to wake up.
In the mean time, let us continue to offer up our prayers for a Spiritual Awakening and Revival in our land.
Join the Republic for the united states of America.
Previous Previous post: It appears now that Obama is preparing to declare Martial Law… and is just waiting on an excuse!


text:
Instantnudeln sind Nudeln, die in einem vorgekochten und getrockneten Block mit Aromapulver und/oder Würzöl verkauft werden und als Instantsuppen schnell zubereitet werden können. Die Aromastoffe befinden sich in der Regel in einer separaten Packung, bei Bechernudeln sind die Aromastoffe jedoch oft lose im Becher enthalten. Einige Instantnudelprodukte sind versiegelt. Sie können aufgewärmt und direkt aus der Packung/dem Behälter verzehrt werden. Getrocknete Nudelblöcke sind so konzipiert, dass sie vor dem Verzehr in kochendem Wasser gekocht oder eingeweicht werden, können aber auch trocken verzehrt werden.

Die Hauptzutaten für getrocknete Nudeln sind normalerweise Weizenmehl, Palmöl und Salz. Übliche Zutaten im Aromapulver sind Salz, Mononatriumglutamat, Gewürze und Zucker. Der getrocknete Nudelblock wird durch das Kurzbraten von gekochten Nudeln hergestellt, dies ist immer noch die Hauptmethode in asiatischen Ländern. In westlichen Ländern werden luftgetrocknete Nudelblöcke bevorzugt.

Instantnudeln wurden von Momofuku Andō von Nissin Foods in Japan erfunden. Sie wurden 1958 unter dem Markennamen Chikin Ramen  eingeführt. 1971 führte Nissin Cup Noodles ein, das erste Bechernudelprodukt.

Aufgrund der Vielseitigkeit von Instantnudeln können sie als Alternative zu den typischen langen Nudeln verwendet werden. Sie werden zur Herstellung von Gerichten wie Ramen, koreanischem Budaejjigae und sogar Chow mein verwendet. Weltweit gibt es Instantnudeln in einer großen Vielfalt von verschiedenen Geschmacksrichtungen.

Der Konsum von Instantnudeln stieg in den letzten Jahrzehnten rasant an und betrug 2019 ca. 106,4 Milliarden Einheiten. Vorteilhaft ist die Möglichkeit der kostengünstigen Massenproduktion und damit Erschwinglichkeit für Verbraucher. Gleichzeitig werden Instantnudeln oft als Junkfood kritisiert. Eine einzelne Portion Instantnudeln enthält viele Kohlenhydrate, Salz und Fett, aber wenig Eiweiß, Ballaststoffe, Vitamine und wichtige Mineralien.

Geschichte

Die Geschichte der Nudeln in China reicht viele Jahrhunderte zurück, und es gibt Hinweise darauf, dass eine Nudel, die gekocht und dann gebraten und in einer Suppe serviert wird, ähnlich der Yi-Nudel, aus dem alten China stammt. Der Legende nach legte ein Koch während der Qing-Dynastie bereits gekochte Eiernudeln zum Kochen hinein. Um sie zu retten, schöpfte er sie heraus, frittierte sie in heißem Öl und servierte sie als Suppe. Laut dem Journal of Ethnic Foods waren frühe Instantnudelverpackungen mit "Yi-Nudeln" gekennzeichnet.

Die moderne Instant-Nudel wurde von dem taiwanesisch-japanischen Erfinder Momofuku Andō in Japan entwickelt. Sie wurde erstmals am 25. August 1958 von Andos Firma Nissin unter dem Markennamen Chikin Ramen vermarktet. Andō entwickelte die gesamte Produktionsmethode der blitzschnell frittierten Nudeln, von den Prozessen der Nudelherstellung, des Dämpfens und Würzens bis hin zum Trocknen in heißem Öl, wodurch die "Instant"-Nudel entstand. Dadurch wurden die Nudeln getrocknet und erhielten eine längere Haltbarkeit, die sogar die von Tiefkühlnudeln übertraf. Jeder Nudelblock war vorgewürzt und wurde für 35 Yen verkauft. Durch die Zugabe von kochendem Wasser waren die Instantnudeln in nur zwei Minuten verzehrfertig. Aufgrund ihres Preises und ihrer Neuartigkeit wurden Chikin Ramen anfangs als Luxusartikel angesehen, da japanische Lebensmittelgeschäfte frische Nudeln normalerweise für ein Sechstel des Preises verkauften. Trotzdem gewannen Instantnudeln schließlich immense Popularität, vor allem nachdem sie von der Mitsubishi Corporation beworben wurden. Nachdem sie zunächst in Ost-, Süd- und Südostasien populär geworden waren, wo sie nun fest in den lokalen Kulturen dieser Regionen verankert sind, verbreiteten sich Instantnudeln schließlich auch in den meisten anderen Teilen der Welt und gewannen an Popularität.

Mit der Sorge um bessere Qualität verbesserten die Hersteller den Geschmack der Instantnudeln weiter, indem sie Aromapulver in einer separaten Packung hinzufügten. 1971 führte Nissin die Nissin Cup Noodles ein, eine Bechernudel, der kochendes Wasser hinzugefügt wird. Eine weitere Innovation fügte dem Becher getrocknetes Gemüse hinzu, wodurch ein komplettes Instant-Suppengericht entstand. Sie kombinierte die Funktionen des Verpackungsmaterials, des Kochers beim Kochen des Wassers und einer Schüssel beim Verzehr der Nudeln. Im Zuge des gestiegenen Gesundheitsbewusstseins brachten viele Hersteller Instantnudeln mit verschiedenen gesunden Rezepturen auf den Markt: Nudeln mit Ballaststoffen und Kollagen, Nudeln mit reduziertem physiologischem Brennwert und Nudeln mit geringerem Natriumgehalt.

Seit den 2010er Jahren wird darüber berichtet, dass die Nudeln aus Instantsuppen als Snack bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland beliebt sind. Die trockenen Nudeln werden dabei ungekocht ähnlich wie Chips gegessen.

Globaler Konsum
2021 wurden weltweit über 118 Milliarden Einheiten Instantnudeln konsumiert. Der größte Teil des Verbrauchs findet in Asien statt und allein China ist für mehr als ein Drittel des Weltkonsums verantwortlich. Den höchsten Pro-Kopf-Konsum wiesen Vietnam (88 Einheiten pro Kopf), Südkorea (74 Einheiten pro Kopf) und Nepal (55 Einheiten pro Kopf) auf. In Deutschland wurden insgesamt 390 Millionen Einheiten konsumiert (5 Einheiten pro Kopf). (Stand Mai 2022)

Rangliste der Länder in Konsum

Rezeption
 Das Cup Noodles Museum in Japan mit Niederlassungen u. a. in Yokohama, Ikeda und auch Hongkong widmet sich dem Leben von Momofuku Andō und seiner Erfindung von Instantnudeln.

Anmerkung

Weblinks

 Offizielle Website der World Instant Noodles Association – WINA (englisch, chinesisch, japanisch)
 Geschichte der Nudelherstellung als Videoclip – WINA (englisch, chinesisch, japanisch)

Einzelnachweise

Suppeneinlage
Fertiggericht als Thema


text:
Q: Setting GraphicsDevice to 30Hz Refresh Actually Sets 29Hz. Why? I am using Java SE8 on Windows 10 to set my ViewSonic VX2453 monitor to a 30Hz refresh rate when it is in full-screen mode. When I query the device, however, it reports that it is set to 29Hz. Both 30Hz and 29Hz are listed among the display modes available for the monitor. Here's my code, which reports all of the available display modes for each of the three monitors on my computer. The VX2453 is the first of the three:
import java.awt.DisplayMode;
import java.awt.GraphicsDevice;
import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
import javax.swing.JFrame;

public class Refresh
{
    JFrame frame;

    public static void main(String... args)
    {
        Refresh main = new Refresh();

        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(main::init);
    }

    void init()
    {
        GraphicsEnvironment ge = GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
        GraphicsDevice gd[] = ge.getScreenDevices();

        for (int device = 0; device < gd.length; device++)
        {
            DisplayMode dm[] = gd[device].getDisplayModes();

            System.out.printf("Device %d:\n", device);

            for (int mode = 0; mode < dm.length; mode++)
            {
                System.out.printf("dm[%2d]: %4d x %4d : %2d - %3d\n",
                        mode,
                        dm[mode].getWidth(),
                        dm[mode].getHeight(),
                        dm[mode].getBitDepth(),
                        dm[mode].getRefreshRate());
            }
        }

        GraphicsDevice myDevice = gd[0];

        frame = new JFrame();
        frame.setUndecorated(true);
        frame.setResizable(false);
        frame.setIgnoreRepaint(true);

        try
        {
            myDevice.setFullScreenWindow(frame);
            myDevice.setDisplayMode(new DisplayMode(1920, 1080, 32, 30));
            DisplayMode m = myDevice.getDisplayMode();

            System.out.printf("%d x %d %d - %d\n", m.getWidth(), m.getHeight(), m.getBitDepth(), m.getRefreshRate());
        }
        finally
        {
            myDevice.setFullScreenWindow(null);
        }

        System.exit(0);
    }
}

Here's my output (with extraneous lines edited out):
run:
Device 0:
dm[ 0]:  640 x  480 : 32 -  56
...
dm[40]: 1920 x 1080 : 32 -  29
...
dm[43]: 1920 x 1080 : 32 -  30
...
dm[45]: 1400 x 1050 : 32 -  60
Device 1:
dm[ 0]:  768 x 1024 : 32 -  75
...
dm[18]:  600 x  800 : 32 -  56
Device 2:
dm[ 0]:  768 x 1024 : 32 -  75
...
dm[22]:  720 x 1280 : 32 -  60
1920 x 1080 32 - 29

The monitor is initially at 60Hz before the program runs.
setDisplayMode throws an IllegalArgumentException if any of its parameters are not supported by the GraphicsDevice. My call, asking for 30Hz, does not throw an exception (but, as a test, a call asking for 31Hz does thrown an exception).
Why does a successful call to setDisplayMode specifying a refresh rate of 30Hz end up returning 29Hz in a subsequent call to getDisplayMode?
UPDATE:
As Durandl suggested, I checked the actual refresh rate after each requested change. Here's what I got
Asked for  Reported  Actual
   59         60      60.1
   60         60      60.1
   25         25      49.9
   50         50      50.0
   29         29      59.9
   30         29      60.0

Now, in "PC" mode, the monitor's menu reports my screen resolution as "1920x1080," for all the rates above (which is what I asked for). But, in "AV" mode (where it slightly overscans the physical screen), the monitor's menu reports it as either "1080p" or "1080i." For all the refresh rates below 50, it is 1080i. For all of them at 50 or above, it is 1080p. Thus, as it appears the lower rates all put the monitor into interlaced mode, that explains why the vertical frequency is (roughly) twice the requested refresh rate. That part makes sense, as does the slight departure the monitor reports from the integral values requested. But it still doesn't explain why a request for "30" returns "29."
Interestingly, there is no screen flicker in the "change" from 59Hz to 60Hz, both of which report 60 from getDisplayMode, nor is there any screen flicker in the "change" from 29Hz to 30Hz, both of which report 29 from getDisplayMode. I'm guessing those pairs of modes are actually the same, in operation.
Still puzzled about the odd return value.

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