text:
The Art Guys
MICHAEL GALBRETH
As we build our city
a failed housing project
"The storm irresistibly propels him into the future to which his back is turned, while the pile of debris before him grows skyward. This storm is what we call 'progress'."
– Walter Benjamin, Thesis on the Philosophy of History, Ninth Thesis
shotgun houses, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990
Part One – anti-gravity
The Fourth Ward has been obliterated. There ain't nothin' left. It's been plowed under and covered over by the storm of progress. What was once Freedman's Town, populated by descendants of freed slaves living in shotgun houses, has now been replaced by condominiums, claptrap mansionettes, and the plague of empty architecture fraudulently identified as "lofts." The neighborhood is designated as a historical neighborhood, but there's no history left. Nor is there any visual or cultural relationship today with the Fourth Ward compared to what it was in 1990. That's when The Art Guys submitted an idea for a temporary outdoor sculpture work for LANDscapes.
LANDscapes was a resuscitated version of the Bayou Show after the semi-demise of the Houston Festival in 1986. LANDscapes would take the same format as the Bayou Show: A small selection of artworks would be placed along the banks of Buffalo Bayou in Buffalo Bayou Park just to the west and at the foot of downtown Houston. Diverseworks, working in concert with the Houston Festival, was the organizer of this new LANDscapes show. They were responsible for all aspects of the exhibition.
In the winter of 1990, a call went out to artists to submit proposals for LANDscapes. Approximately a half dozen works would be chosen for this temporary outdoor show which was scheduled to be up for 90 days beginning in March. The budget allotted for each project was modest – five thousand dollars. The jurors charged with selecting the works were Jim Edwards, who was then the director of the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the artists Rachel Hecker and James Surls, all three of whom were familiar with us and our work. Believing that we had a good chance of being selected, we threw our hats into the ring and began working on a proposal.
We wanted to do something that would have an impact, something that would reverberate beyond the city of Houston. In order to do that, we thought, it had to have some scale to it, physically and otherwise. In our typical fashion, we rummaged through a range of ideas before settling on the one that we thought would work best for this situation. We whittled down numerous concepts into a vague notion of doing something with a shotgun house.
initial concept sketches for the "Landscapes" show
"Shrink Wrap Shotgun House" (undated)
Jack was particularly interested in shotgun houses as a sculptural material and already had many ideas using them. My appreciation and interest in them mainly derived from Jack, but they had characteristics that attracted both of us. More than anything, their form – an elegant combination of shape, size, and dimensions – we found most beautiful. They were so simple, which somehow made them sophisticated in the same broad American vernacular that includes Model T Fords and Shaker furniture. And considered from the standpoint of readily available sculptural material, shotgun houses were plentiful.
Jack spent a lot of time in the Fourth Ward, exploring it and getting to know its history and people. Jack was the scout. If you looked, empty shotgun houses were all over in Houston in the 1980s. Abandoned shotgun houses in every state of dilapidation dotted the city, appearing especially in the poorer, mixed-race "ward" neighborhoods immediately surrounding downtown Houston. Knowing this, we drove all around Houston researching potential houses to use. It was during these exploratory drives, bantering about ideas, that we settled on our concept.
shotgun houses, various locations, Houston, 1990
[The shotgun houses pictured on the lower center and lower right would later become "Project Row Houses."]
Our goal was to make a shotgun house more than what it was while somehow not changing it at all, or hardly at all. In other words, what could be done with the least amount of alteration and yet achieve the greatest impact? A paradox for certain, but not insoluble.
Ornamentation was out. Adding anything or decorating them in any way would only obscure their inherent nature. Why try to beautify something that already looked so good? It had a be a gesture – a singular moment that would enhance the already exquisite architectural nature of a shotgun house.
notebook studies and notes for upside down houses,1990
The solution was this: we would turn it upside down. Then, to exaggerate the wrongheadedness and enlarge the effect, we thought it far better to upend not just one, but three. They were row houses, after all. And as a final poetic touch, we would take the concrete steps in front of the houses and place them in reverse, facing the houses as if they were contemplative ready-made benches.
It was so simple, like the houses themselves, yet it had the eccentric jolt we were seeking. Because there was alarm at the white gentrification of a historically black neighborhood, we thought that placing the houses upside down could be interpreted as a signal for distress in the same way that an upside down American flag signals distress, or danger to life or property. While we both welcomed this potential political connotation, it could be appreciated solely for its unusual, discordant sculptural qualities. Regardless, our idea had all the formal, political, and aesthetic qualities we were both looking for.
proposed site of upside down houses, Buffalo Bayou Park, north side of bayou,
west of Sabine Street [GPS 29.762118, -95.376940], Jack pictured on far right
There was a location for our concept that was ideal. In Buffalo Bayou Park, just south of the old City of Houston Water Works, and just west of the Sabine Street Bridge on the north side of Buffalo Bayou, the banks rose up to form a small plateau with an unimpeded vista of downtown Houston. Today, that location is a skate park. Back then, it was an empty field. It was clear, firm, flat ground that was easily accessible for any necessary trucks or heavy equipment. Best of all, it was highly visible from numerous vantage points, both to park visitors and to drive-by traffic along Allen Parkway across the Bayou. It was perfect.
We titled the work "As we build our city, let us think that we are building forever," a quote that appears inside the rotunda of City Hall, and submitted our idea.
City Hall, Houston
The form of the proposal that we submitted for the selection committee was a spare, two-part tandem that consisted of a drawing and a model. The drawing was typical of our proposal drawings with the concept diagrammed and explained, and ancillary collage material of various kinds to further support the idea. The model was a crude, cardboard maquette made from scraps from boxes that, in our minds, mimicked the humbleness of the actual houses. Although our concept was ambitious for the venue and budget, it was accepted.
"Study for 'As We Build Our City Let Us Think That We Are Building Forever' from the project '101 of the World's Greatest Sculpture Proposals'"
(1990) graphite, charcoal, collage (paint chips, newspaper clipping, map section, photo) on paper, 22 x 30 inches, private collection
maquette for 'As We Build Our City Let Us Think That We Are Building Forever'" (1990)
cardboard, tape, model makers grass, and twigs on plywood base, approx. 6 x 36 x 30 inches (nonextant)
Upon acceptance, we set upon designing the work in earnest, devoting ourselves full-time to the project. We had a lot of work to do. Not only had we yet to identify and secure the houses we needed, we only had the vaguest ideas about how to flip them over and secure them safely. It required some engineering prowess.
Besides their small size, one of the fortunate characteristics of shotgun houses is their inherent structural integrity. They're strong. They were largely built using balloon framing, a newish architectural technique for their time, but a common one today. This, combined with their "lap and gap" siding both inside and out, makes them sturdy and relatively easy to modify.
shotgun house, Fourth Ward, Houston, interior view showing "balloon" framing and lap siding
Houses, like all things on the planet, are design-dependent on gravity, an overtly obvious of-course until one considers the opposite. Shotgun houses are built with the larger, weightier wood construction at the bottom (the floors) with the lighter parts on top (the roof). Our theory called for reversing the weight-load support system. We surmised that this could be done by first stripping away any unnecessary interior walls and flooring thereby essentially making them empty boxes, and then adding heavy supports in the roof and cross-bracing throughout. We consulted with our longtime friend and Houston art supporter, Gus Kopriva, who happened to be an engineer. He assured us this was the right approach and that it was feasible.
"Studies for 'As We Build Our City Let Us Think That We Are Building Forever' No.'s 1–3 from the series '101 of the World's Greatest Sculpture Proposals'"(1990)
graphite, colored pencil, collage on paper, 24 x 36 inches each
Locating abandoned shotgun houses in Houston was easy, but finding three in a row that looked the same was difficult. Scouring neighborhoods as well as city records, we searched.
We found three adjacent shotgun houses on Robin Street in the Fourth Ward that our research indicated were owned by the same person. We contacted him, and after explaining our project, he agreed to give them to us. A few other initial inquiries that we made repeated this same result: all of the owners we contacted were willing to give the houses to us as long as we removed them at our expense. To the owners, they were a financial burden. And the city considered them a nuisance, often posting warnings on them for the owners to fix them up or face a fine. But repair wasn't going to happen. The owners didn't want to deal with them anymore and mostly allowed them to dissolve into permanent disrepair, making them unlivable. Indeed, their presence was considered a liability that depreciated the land value, which was all the owners cared about anyway.
Jack with houses, 915, 917, 919 Robin street, Fourth Ward, 1990
While we were able to secure the three houses on Robin Street, we still weren't satisfied. For our sculptural purposes, the most ideal situation would be to use three identical houses that would produce a pleasing visual alliteration. The houses on Robin Street, while free, didn't all match. Of the three, one was slightly smaller than the others which would give the composition an imbalance that we found undesirable. So we continued to look.
Down the street and around the corner on Arthur Street were three shotgun houses that met all of our criteria. They had the correct combination of size, design, and condition. But before we could find the owner and contact them, we received a call.
shotgun houses located on 1302, 1304, 1306 Arthur Street, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990
Part Two – tempest
Michael Peranteau, co-director of DiverseWorks, called to say the project had been cancelled.
"What? Why?"
We were told that the Parks Department would not allow the houses to be placed in Buffalo Bayou Park. Furthermore, the exhibition time would be cut in half, shortened from 90 days to 45 days
This is where the story gets hazier and crazier. With the opening of the LANDscapes show only weeks away, and in the midst of the complicated tasks of locating, moving, and altering three shotgun houses, suddenly we stopped. Apparently, the director of the Houston Parks Department, Don Olsen, single-handedly nixed our piece. And we weren't the only ones. Wendy Smith and Sharon Kopriva had their works cancelled too (Sharon, coincidentally, is married to Gus, who advised us on the engineering of our upside-down houses). This meant that nearly half of the works selected for LANDscapes would not be proceeding. When the press got a hold of this news, the fireworks started.
Our phone began ringing and didn't stop, with one call after another – from DiverseWorks, the Houston Post, the Houston Chronicle, a representative from the Municipal Arts Commission, then DiverseWorks again... Up to this point, The Art Guys had received significant media attention for whatever activities we were up to, but we hadn't experienced anything like this. It was a true squall. It was the first, but hardly the last, media frenzy of our illustrious career.
A flurry of newspaper articles appeared immediately with almost all in agreement that, at best, the process had been botched. Everyone was unhappy, most of all, us. The Post sent a photographer over to our studio who had us pose with our model, requesting that we look serious and concerned. We obliged. But in a touch of winkery in order to pollute the message with coded humor, Jack positioned a suitcase adjacent to us from one our suitcase sculpture light pieces that read "funny," a small hint that no matter the gravity of the situation, we could make fun of it.
Initially, the explanation given for cancelling the three works was because of safety concerns. Smith and Kopriva quickly resolved the issues with their works enough to satisfy Olsen and they were given the green light. But not us. We were told that our work would not be approved no matter what. And the reasons kept changing. First, as with Kopriva and Smith, it was safety. Then we were told that it was the undesired aesthetics of the disintegrating houses. Others claimed it was the supposed political message they elicited, and with the upcoming G7 summit arriving soon, three upside down shotgun houses at the foot of our gleaming city was a visual aggression that would not stand. We never could get a straight answer.
Our requests to meet directly with anyone in the position of decision-making were rebutted. Frustrated at the condescending stonewalling, and disgusted with the dishonesty of the fluctuating excuses, I lost patience and was ready to walk away. Jack, on the other hand, did not give up. He conjured a second idea as a solution.
Part Three – ghosts
Like the upside down houses, Jack's new concept was also a reflection of the condition of much of Fourth Ward at that time and how the condemnation/demolition process occurred. Often, the abandoned shotgun house would be left alone, purposefully or through negligence, eventually rotting enough with no choice left but to bulldoze it to the ground leaving nothing but a flattened, empty lot. Except for one thing. Oddly, the only remnants that remained were the concrete steps, because, we surmised, they were just too heavy for the razers to bother with. So they left them. These isolated concrete steps were far more numerous than the abandoned shotgun houses. They were scattered everywhere across the Fourth Ward.
abandoned concrete steps, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990
Focusing on one aspect of our initial, but now cancelled proposal – the steps – Jack's idea was to place a long line of these concrete stoops that would stretch almost 1/4 mile spanning across Buffalo Bayou Park.
We titled this new piece "Phantom Neighborhood," alluding to the ghosts of departed quantities of their once adjacent structures. While "Phantom Neighborhood" was not our number one choice, we thought that it was still a great idea.
We quickly whipped up this alternative proposal and submitted it. It was approved.
"Study for 'Phantom Neighborhood' from the series '101 of the World's Greatest Sculpture Proposals'" (1990)
Because of the squabbling and delays, the installation window before the scheduled opening of LANDscapes shrank to just days. We didn't have much time. Fortunately, the logistics for acquiring, moving, and installing the concrete steps, while labor intensive, did not come close to matching the complexity of the upside down houses. Still, we needed to get busy.
The first order of business was to measure and position the work. We selected a pathway for the line of the steps that we thought would be the longest and most visible. The farthest western point of this line began a few meters south and west of Henry Moore's "Large Spindle Piece" which is located on a rise between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway. It then continued eastward down the hill, straddling walkways and the bayou until it terminated at a small tributary just to the south of Sawyer thus making the entire line of steps a little more than 1/4 mile in length.
"Phantom Neighborhood" approximate position, Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston, 1990 (current Google Maps image, 2019)
"Phantom Neighborhood" installation – measuring, planning, layout, Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston, 1990
Satisfied with our layout, we rented an all-terrain forklift and a flatbed truck and for the next few days we proceeded to find, lift, load, move, and place the steps. There was no need to consult the land owners to obtain permission to take the steps. No one wanted them. We simply drove around the Fourth Ward plucking them from various places, stacked them onto the bed of the truck, then drove the load of concrete steps over to the sculpture site where we would unload and place them in their pre-marked locations. Working unhindered by any oversight, everything went rapidly and splendidly. It was great fun.
"Phantom Neighborhood" installation, 1990, moving steps from Fourth Ward to Buffalo Bayou Park
We positioned the steps at a distance greater than their typical spacing when they originally rested in front of their houses. This spreading format separated them psychologically further from their former locations, creating a weird geometrical accordion effect. Because they weren't that close to each other and somewhat isolated, they could be considered alone, individually. Yet, when one stood on the line of the steps and looked down the line, the perspective snapped them into a collective unit. They related. Another push/pull scaling effect happened because the individual stoops were relatively small and human-sized. But when seen together as one, it was big. You couldn't quite see from one end to the other. Because the line of steps, seen as a cohesive whole, straddled the varied topography of Buffalo Bayou Park, it accentuated the diverse characteristics of the landscape thereby addressing the specifics of the site as well as the very title of the show.
Another positive phenomenon that took place was their newfound utility. People used them as park benches where previously there were none. This interaction related to their former use in a historical sense. Just as people would sit on their steps outside their house in the evenings to catch the cool summer breeze, park visitors and joggers now sat on them to enjoy a picnic lunch or simply to rest. Although intended, we were still delighted that this happened.
As best as I could tell, the steps were enjoyed. But I'm not sure how they were perceived by most of the park users. They were odd elements. Unless you knew the story of them and how they got there, they were visual non sequiturs. Although they had a practicality as benches, their funky, homemade construction indicated that they weren't new park improvements. Unless they were considered as art, they made little sense. Or rather, because they made little sense, the only thing they could be was art. This open-ended disconnect allowed for various interpretations, or for wonder alone. And as far as their inherent history and potential associative politics, they were suggestive without being didactic. I liked that.
"Phantom Neighborhood" 1990, concrete steps from Fourth Ward, Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston, approximately 1/4 mile long
At the conclusion of the exhibition we de-installed "Phantom Neighborhood" in reverse order of the installation, returning the steps from whence they came in the Fourth Ward. But we kept three as artifacts/souvenirs, moving them to our new Art Guys World Headquarters in the Heights where we plopped them around the building and used them as benches and to display potted plants. About ten years later, an image of "Phantom Neighborhood" was used in a high school English textbook. The steps in front of the old studio have long since disappeared after we departed years ago. I don't know if the English book is still in use.
"Phantom Neighborhood" steps, Art Guys studio, 1995
"Phantom Neighborhood" as it appears in a high school English textbook,
Barrett Kendall Publishing, Austin, 2001
I learned a few things from this episode, things that would inform and fuel future endeavors.
First, I learned that art by committee, i.e. public art, is often a dreadful experience. Committees and ingenuity are inversely related. The more decision makers there are, the worse it is. Art committees say they want innovation and complain when they get it. When you shave around the edges, sharpness is removed, and the result is dullness. This is a universal truth.
Another thing I learned was that the media can be an unruly beast, like a wolf that can neither be held nor safely let go. While The Art Guys had already embarked on experiments of extending our ideas through the media, we were media novices and still considered relatively new to the scene. As such, people had still not fully formed their opinions about The Art Guys and largely gave us the benefit of the doubt. Over the years, however, media brushfires have erupted. In this particular case, the press was sympathetic to us and our work. But this has not always been so. Play with fire and you can get scorched.
Perhaps most importantly, I learned that for every idea, no matter how good it may be, there are an infinite number of others that may also work. Finding a new way is not necessarily a compromise. Jack's almost zen-like patience turned what could have been a disaster into something positive. While patient persistence doesn't always work, human instigated impediments, when considered dispassionately, can sometimes be overcome.
The Art Guys have remained interested in shotgun houses and still have many ideas using them. To my great disappointment, the upside-down shotgun house piece for the LANDscapes show didn't happen. Conditions would make the project even more difficult to realize today than in 1990, including the disappearance of so many shotgun houses in Houston, especially abandoned, free ones. But the idea still exists. Who knows? It may yet be realized.
915, 917, 919 Robin street, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990 and 2019
1302, 1304, 1306 Arthur Street, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990 and 2019
abandoned steps, Fourth Ward, Houston, 1990 and 2019
Fourth Ward, Houston, 2019
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, 'See! This our fathers did for us."
– John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, The Lamp of Memory, Chapter 6, No. X
*All photographs are by the author unless otherwise noted.
© Michael Galbreth


text:
Q: Prove: the density operator of a pure state has exactly one non-zero eigenvalue equal to unity What is the proper way of proving : the density operator $\hat{\rho}$ of a pure state has exactly one non-zero eigenvalue and it is unity, i.e,
the density matrix takes the form (after diagonalizing):
\begin{equation}
\hat{\rho}=
{\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\
0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix}}
\end{equation}
For mixed state: $\hat{\rho}=\sum \limits_{i}P_{i}|\psi_{i}\rangle\langle\psi_{i}|$
For any state: $Tr(\hat{\rho})=\sum\limits_{i}P_{i}=1$
For pure state: $\hat{\rho}=|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$
$|\psi\rangle$ is the statevector of the system
$P_{i}$ is the probability to be in the state $|\psi_{i}\rangle$, which are the eigenvalues of the density operator.

A: Since $\langle \psi|\psi\rangle=1$, we have
$$
(|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|)^2=|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|=|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|
$$
Then $|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$ is a projection, and its eigenvalues are $0$ and $1$. Since we know that the trace of $|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$ is one we conclude that, counting multiplicities, the eigenvalues of $|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$ are $1,0,\ldots,0$. So its diagonal form is
\begin{equation}
\hat{\rho}=
{\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\
0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix}}
\end{equation}

A: Do you not know how to find the eigenvalues of a matrix by solving the "characteristic equation" of the matrix?   The characteristic equation of any diagonal matrix is just the product of linear terms, each the number on the diagonal minus x so the eigenvalues [b]are[/b] the numbers on the diagonal.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


bringing us greetings from our nearest and dearest.
We were all alive then.
a rainbow would suddenly appear.
suitable for all seasons of the year.
and eventually a ruin in a lawsuit.
bringing us greetings from ourselves.
ни носеше поздрави од ближните.
погодно за секое годишно време.
па руина во судски спор.
ни носи поздрави од самите себе.
'Exo' was published in Lidija Dimkovska's collection of poetry, Црно на бело (In Black and White, Ili-Ili, 2016). It has been republished in Rochford Street Review with the author's permission, along with the first English translation, 'Echo'.


text:
10 Animal Retirement Homes
BY Miss Cellania
House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary via Facebook
Shelters have a hard time finding adoptive families for elderly pets, animals with disabilities or chronic medical conditions, large animals that need special facilities, and working animals who have outlived their usefulness. Some people have stepped up to provide permanent care for these animals, so that they can live out their lives in comfort and security.
1. OLD FRIENDS FARM
Many thoroughbreds are born each year, but only a few can be champion racehorses. Of the rest, some become pets and a few will be used for breeding stock, but even they become old eventually. In 2002, the public was shocked to hear that 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was sent to a slaughterhouse. The Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen was already trying to raise money to start a thoroughbred retirement farm, and the response to Ferdinand's fate brought in enough donations to open Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. That's where former champion racehorses live out their retirement years alongside thoroughbreds that never raced—160 horses in all. The farm in Georgetown and its other locations in Franklin, Kentucky, and Greenfield Center, New York, are open to the public daily. Pictured above is 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, who is now a resident of Old Friends.
2. CHIMP HAVEN
For decades, the U.S. produced medical breakthroughs with the help of experimental lab animals, including hundreds of chimpanzees. When animal testing began declining, research centers found themselves with a surplus of elderly chimps. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) founded chimpanzee retirement farms, funded through the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act.
Chimp Haven in Keithville, Louisiana, is the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, home to more than 200 retired research chimpanzees on 200 acres of forest land. The chimps are free to roam, build their own nests, and associate with each other as they please. The staff at Chimp Haven interacts with the chimps to ensure they have veterinary care, complete nutrition, and enrichment.
3. HEARTS THAT PURR
Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians via Facebook
Elderly people worry about what will happen to their cats if something happens to them. In Tucson, Arizona, they know that their pets can be taken in by Hearts that Purr Feline Guardians. The cats that come into their care live in a family environment, but the demand is more than the home can provide. Founder Jeanmarie Schiller-McGinnis began a foster care program to help alleviate overcrowding by placing cats with other elderly people who could use a companion pet. The foster cats remain under the guardianship of Hearts That Purr in case something happens. Some of the cats are available for permanent adoption.
4. HOUSE WITH A HEART
Dogs of advanced age and dogs with disabilities have a hard time finding homes because they present unique challenges and potential expenses not usually associated with the many younger dogs available for adoption. In 2006, Joe and Sher Polvinale turned their Gaithersburg, Maryland, home into a pet sanctuary for such hard-to-place canines. Joe has since passed away, but Sher continues to run House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary, a retirement home for elderly and special needs dogs. With the help of a team of volunteers, the dogs get proper care and lots of affection.
5. SHEBA'S HAVEN RESCUE
Sheba's Haven Rescue via Facebook
Sheba's Haven Rescue in Inverary, Ontario, Canada, is both a retirement home and a hospice for dogs. It takes in shelter dogs with incurable illnesses, disabilities, or limited lifespans and offers a loving family environment and palliative care. The resident dogs have three acres to explore, and orthotics, such as wheels, for those who need them. Dogs that are able can visit a local nursing home to spend time with human residents on Wednesdays. Dogs that were considered unadoptable have a permanent home at Sheba's Haven.
6. THE SHANNON FOUNDATION
The Shannon Foundation via Facebook
The Shannon Foundation is a farm in St. Clair, Missouri, where all kinds of retired pets and farm animals can live out their lives. Current residents of the 100-acre farm include dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pigs, goats, chickens and other poultry, deer, a Fennec fox, and exotic pet birds. Some are special needs pets from shelters, others came when their owners died, and some were rescued from abusive situations. A few of the younger animals—including sugar gliders, emus, and horses, as well as cats and dogs—are available for adoption.
7. THE CENTER FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION
In May of 2016, Ringling Bros. Circus officially retired their last 11 circus elephants to a sanctuary in Florida. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation sits on 200 acres of land between Tampa and Orlando. The facility holds 40 Asian elephants who have either retired from the circus since 1995, or are offspring of retirees.
8. THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE
Ringling's Florida facility is not the first elephant retirement village in the U.S., nor the largest. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has 13 elephants who retired from zoos and circuses and live on more than 2700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee.
9. ELEPHANT NATURE PARK
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand is a retirement home for elephants that have spent their lives working in transportation and heavy lifting, or were rescued from abusive owners. Elephant Nature Park is supported by tourism, and runs various elephant care projects in Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
10. BIG CAT RESCUE
People are enamored with the idea of an exotic pet, like a wildcat, but then find that a full-grown wild animal is too much: too expensive to feed, too strong to live with, and in need of too much time and space. Exotic wildcats raised in captivity can't go to a normal shelter and can never be returned to their native habitats.
Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, provides a permanent shelter for big cats and exotic wildcats that began their lives in captivity. In addition to abandoned pets, they take in cats rescued from roadside zoos, circuses, and other stressful situations. The current population includes lions, tigers, leopards, lynxes, cougars, bobcats, servals, ocelots, and more. Their mission is to give big cats as wonderful a home as possible, but Big Cat Rescue also lobbies against the exotic pet trade and works to educate the public about wildlife issues. They also have a great YouTube channel.
Animals Lists Miss Cellania Pets

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Combined Arts Conference was held on Saturday 19 March at the Magill Campus of UniSA.
The conference brought together educators from all sectors of the arts including dance, drama, media, music and visual arts.
The five teachers sponsored by the Teachers Registration Board took full advantage of the range of workshops on offer and their conference reports are now available to read on our website.
Expressions of Interest are invited from registered teachers who would like to attend the Australian Association for the Teaching of English and the Australian Literacy Educators' Association 2016 conference 'Weaving worlds with words and wonder'.
The TRB has five sponsorships available. Find out more here.
The Geography Teachers Association SA (GTASA) annual conference is being held at the EDC Hindmarsh on 26-27 May. More information here.
GTASA is also holding a Spatial technologies workshop at Pedare Christian College on Saturday 28 May. More information here.
Royal Institution of Australia presents STEM careers in SA – now and the near future for middle and secondary teachers. The Science Exchange, 7pm – 9pm Wednesday 18 May. For more information email tmeyer@riaus.org.au.
EdTechSA present 'Maker projects & the digital technologies curriculum' at Adelaide University on Tuesday 17 May, 5pm – 7pm. Find out more here.


Choose a room you use every day to brighten the winter months. The bathroom. It can be easier than you think. Some cool new fixtures and fresh paint will do the trick!
For a real makeover consider new flooring while you are at it. You don't have to sacrifice style to get a low-maintenance floor. The newer vinyls provide an upscale look with waterproof protection. One of the latest design trends for floors and walls is using contrasting tile styles and colors. Create a unique look by making a tile design on the floor and/or wall and then framing it with edging tiles.
Every time you step into your new bathroom it will be like a relaxing retreat as you enjoy the fresh new look and colors. We can show you how easy it can be to do a quick make over or full remodel by calling us at 707-257-2222 today.
You might not need extensive earthquake protection added to your home but a simple, often overlooked item is your hot water tank. It can be a quick fix to keep 50 gallons of hot water safe in an earthquake. Napa experienced a big one not too long ago but even a little temblor can dislodge an improperly installed heater. For this reason, your hot water heater must be properly strapped, vented, and elevated depending on where they are located.
The County of Napa sets up hot water heater installation guidelines that you and/or your contractor must follow. They are simple, and the materials are usually inexpensive but important to carefully heed.
We often install hot water heaters when we remodel kitchens and bathrooms. Insurance claims from hot water heaters damaging a home can be denied if yours was not properly installed. Our crew can pull the proper permit for you and make sure you are meeting all the requirements to stay safe - call our office today (707-257-2222) to evaluate your needs for earthquake safety. A licensed contractor such as myself will do the work to keep you out of hot water!
Is an "In-Law Unit" for You?
Accessory dwelling units are an extended dwelling place of the main house. They can be over your garage, a basement apartment or a tiny house located near the main house.
Homeowners often use these units for additional income. Also used to give space and privacy while keeping the family connection for parents, older children and guests. Some homeowners are even retiring to the "garden cottage" while they get a nice income from their main house.
A unit such as these can add value to your home while creating options for now and the future. Give us a call (707-257-2222) and we will make an appointment to come out and see where an ADU can fit into your life.
The Alpine Construction crew has been specially trained in the type of work that is required to carefully secure your home to its foundation. Check out the program and sign up here: Brace & Bolt. You will also find that Alpine Construction is listed as one of the preferred contractors for this program.
You may qualify for up to $3,000 toward a seismic retrofit of your house. So, check it out and if you need help give us a call.
This is the summer for you to finally put in your new deck with a great awning. No need to keep holding your BBQ on the lawn when you can get off the dirt and onto a clean smooth deck. This photo is of one of our client's deck who chose to make a special place to relax under a great awning with a simple style that is timeless.
Composite decking, has come a long way in 20 years. Other products don't come close to the fade and stain resistance that the gorgeous and affordable Azex® high-performance boards deliver with their unbeatable guarantee.
Get a quote on your dream deck by scheduling an appointment with our staff today ~ Phone: 707-257-2222.
This look is likely going to be around for a long time. It is an attractive practical application for the modern bathroom. Wall mounted fixtures can make any room look larger which is most appreciated in a tiny bathroom.
Floors are easier to clean without anything blocking your mop!
The streamlined look can help show off other features such as a stunning soaking tub.
More room for radiant-heat flooring to get the most out of your choice for heating your bathroom.
Allows interesting decorating techniques such as extending your tile to the floor and under the fixture for a seamless look.
Some put the extra room under a vanity for a child's step stool or to keep an extra towel handy.
Once you decide this is for you give us a call and we will help you make it happen!
Curb appeal is not overrated. A good looking home and front yard makes you happy every time you come home, is a friendly greeting for your friends and neighbors and adds value to your investment.
Three quick "fixes" we can help you with to improve your curb appeal are: a new front and garage door and a garage door opener. We can do them in a variety of materials and finishes. This is a good time to consider adding some security features with new locks and cameras.
Some quick "fixes" you can do yourself are: install a new mailbox, new street numbers on the house and/or painted on the curb, and freshen up your flower beds/boxes.
So, you read that Ultra Violet is the Pantone paint color of the year for 2018 but is it for you? Will you still love it in a week, a year? Only you and time will tell.
The image to the left for this monthly blog is also a link to an article you might want to check out on mistakes people make when choosing paint color. Very often trending colors are the ones people regret. Using a color as an accent might be the solution, you get a splash of color and it is easy to change.
Our painters are happy to help you with color choices but in the end, it is your decision. A vibrant color like this one might be just the thing. If you decide it's not a long-term favorite, no harm done! We can easily repaint!
Are you like Tim in the TV show Tool Time, having a daily chat with your neighbor over the fence? Or do you require more privacy than that?
A common solution to a short fence is adding a fence topper to get the extra height. These toppers can be fairly open, as the one pictured here, that we did for a local customer or more solid for even more privacy. The key is to decide what your end goal is and then look at your options for color and style.
Materials come in a variety to please everyone. We can match your current fence or use a contrasting product to add texture and interest.
For a solution to a "too short" fence or a new fence from the ground up give us a call (Phone: 707-257-2222) for an estimate appointment today.
Are you thinking about that master bedroom/bathroom suite you have always wanted? Or maybe you would like a great family room where everyone can kick back and have fun? It is easier than you think.
Several things are imperative when you add on to an existing home. You want your remodel done in such a way to add value. That means designing the addition, so it looks like it is part of the home not just "stuck on". Also having proper permits so you will not have to remove it when you sell the home.
Is it a room addition or a remodel that is needed?
Are you "bumping" out or up?
Hire a crew like ours who will respect your living space while adding on more!
Our crew can help you through every step of the way.
Give us a call (Phone: 707-257-2222) to see how easy it is.
Time fly's when you are having fun or is it when you are busy? Well. either way we have been both! Alpine Construction is celebrating 40 years of serving the home owners and business in Napa Valley. We so appreciate the loyal support from our community. Our many repeat customers prove that we have what you were looking for - affordable and high quality.
Over the years, I have watched Napa grow from a small sleepy agricultural community to a world class destination for foodies, wine lovers and any who seek a beautiful place to relax and renew. All the while the locals are busy raising their families creating that unique "Napa" look - a great blend modern and historical architecture as they live out their dreams. We look forward to helping you do that - one project at a time!
Earthquake Protection for Your Home?
Just a reminder to those who missed my blog at the end of 2017 about the earthquake protection program. You need to be aware it has a limited time for you to sign up and then it is gone. Our certified staff can set up an appointment to inspect your home to see what needs to be done. Contact me at 707-257-2222 to make an appointment for an inspection to see how this program can help you.
Home remodeling trends for the new year are bringing back some tried and true traditional favorites for the kitchen.
One of the most popular rooms in a home to get a makeover is still the kitchen. The minimal look with fewer upper cabinets is one trend in particular that seems to be here to stay. Borrowed from the farm house - the modern kitchen is looking great with effective use of shelving instead of upper cabinets and deep drawers in lower cabinets for your dishes and pans.
We see a lot of white kitchens with just a pop of color allowing a home owner to get a clean crisp look. On the flip side, we see just as many who want color, and lots of it. Cabinets are getting painted and new hardware for a quick inexpensive facelift.
Our staff can set up an appointment to review your options for that great new kitchen. Give us a call at 707-257-2222 to make an appointment for an estimate on what can be done to get your kitchen updated for 2018.
Love your ideas for a bathroom update. Wondering what you can suggest to warm it up? It is always chilly in there.
Your feet will love heated floor tiles. Installing a radiant system under the tiles will do the trick. Also heated towel racks expertly installed will totally give you that spoiled spa day feeling.
I want to move my hot water heater into a closet. Can I do that?
The simple answer is - Maybe. There is a lot more going on to move a unit than just the question "will it fit?". Your tank must be properly vented to the outside for air and drainage/overflow. You will need to run the water pipes to it and of course make sure it is strapped. A CO2 monitor may be required as well. Also some closets are in rooms that are not allowed to have one at all. Check out the link provided in our November blog to the county pdf for their rules.
" What is a "second unit" and how many can I build on my property? "
A second unit is a complete, independent living facility for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation on the same parcel on which the primary unit is situated. Napa County allows one second unit per legal lot.
" Can I hire just any contractor to do the work on my house with this program. "
You will want a Licensed contractor educated in seismic retrofits. Starting with the 2019 EBB program, homeowners must hire contractors from the EBB Contractor Directory. Our workers have been trained to identify common seismic vulnerabilities and identify rehabilitation approaches. Check out the Homeowner Reviews about our work on their web site! Type in our zip code 94559 on this search with within 5 miles as a filter and it will pull us up. Brace & Bolt.
" So what's the deal with the warranty on this Azex® product? I want my deck to last a long time. "
Then you are going to love this product it has a 30 year guarantee. Azex® capped polymer and PVC performance materials resist scratches, stains, mold, and mildew. They back your deck with an industry-leading 30-year limited fade and stain and a limited lifetime warranty and promise protection from cracking, cupping, and more. Call us for more details.
" I love the look of the floating fixtures for a bathroom. Am I right in thinking this is not one for the "do it yourself" kind of home owner? "
Your right about that! You need a professional to mount these fixtures. You really don't want one of these to fall creating an injury to someone and or water damage to the home. We may even need to do some special framing for support. Call today for a free consultation, 707-257-2222.
" Your suggestion for upgrading the front of our home is just what we need to get our home ready to sell. How do I choose my new doors? "
Getting the style right is important so the new doors complement your home. You want them to look like they belong to the home and were not just stuck on. One way is to take a photo of your home and then view it alongside photos of doors to see if they complement each other.
" I have some paint color ideas, but it is hard to decide just using the little chips of color. Any suggestions? "
You are right about those chips. They can be hard to use because you may not get enough of an idea of what your room will look like. We like to use the newer "samples" which are actual quarts of paint that we paint on a wall for you.
You can choose one color or several and we will paint some nice size swatches. You can even live with them a few days or more to see how they look with your lighting and decor.
" A higher fence would be great. Can I choose any height I want? "
That depends on where you live and the local regulations. Your city and county may have regulations on fence height and even the materials that you use. We also need to take into consideration your neighborhood rules and regulations. Subdivision often have Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions which often dictate what you can and cannot do.
Our staff will help you research the rules for your property and make sure your fence topper or fence is in compliance before it is put up. Also you may need to get permits and permissions from these different agencies. Give me a call and we will see what is required.
" I would love a master bedroom with bath addition. How do you make sure we can still live in my house while you are working on it? "
Not everyone can move out for the duration of a remodel. So, we have developed ways of minimizing the interruption in your lives while we work. Our workers are trained to "wall off" your living area with walls of plastic to keep the dust from entering it. We also clean up after each day, so your evening and weekends are not spent stumbling over saw horses etc.
We cannot guarantee that you will not be inconvenienced but we always do our best. When it is done I have had home owners tell me "It is like labor pains - you totally forget them when you see the results".
" Congratulations on 40 years of being in business. What do you attribute to your longevity? "
Thanks so much. I think the most important thing for longevity is you have to love what you do. If you don't love it you will not be able to stay focused and keep up with the changes in your industry.
I enjoy each project and look forward to seeing a customer's ideas and dreams become a reality. That what makes it worth coming in each day.
" I love the new look with fewer upper cabinets. How do I get it and still be able to put everything away? "
My favorite option to get more storage in your kitchen is with a pantry. Even a small home can often have an area that can be repurposed as a pantry.
A pantry can organize your cooking supplies, dishes and small appliances giving your kitchen that clean uncluttered look.


text:
information@c-p.com
Tomorrow, together
Sales And Client Leadership
Certifications & Expertise
Senior Living/Healthcare
Cuhaci Peterson Expands to Phoenix!
Author Kraig Koelsch Categories Announcements, Press Release
Cuhaci Peterson has added another office to its location portfolio.
Today the Central Florida-based architecture and engineering firm announced the opening of its new Phoenix, Arizona office, bringing more than a dozen jobs to the city. The new office space, located in downtown Phoenix in the historic Luhrs Tower, supports the company's growth strategy.
"The decision to expand our presence into Phoenix was a logical step in our business growth strategy," said Greg Simpson, the firm's Chief Executive Officer. "The area is rich with diverse talent, home to some of our clients and enables us to increase our ability to service current and future markets."
The firm has tapped Eric Harris, a 30-year architecture and engineering industry veteran, to lead the office, which will also include business development efforts spearheaded by Jade Nunes, Assistant Manager of Business Development.
"I am very proud to be part of this new office that extends Cuhaci Peterson's reach to the West," Harris exclaimed. "With a great staff already in place, this location will allow us to better serve local clients while expanding our offerings to existing national clients as far as the West Coast."
The local staff of nearly 15 will support the firm's services in the grocery and retail sectors, among others. Based in Maitland, Florida, the Phoenix office joins other locations in Boston, Orlando and Philadelphia.
We cannot wait to meet you!
Schedule a meeting with us by clicking here.
January 5, 2022Cuhaci Peterson Appoints Nunes to Support New Business Growth Plan
January 5, 2022Cuhaci Peterson Expands to Phoenix!
December 17, 2021Old West Palm Bank Becomes New, Super Cool 7-Eleven
Categories Select Category Announcements (239) Insights and Perspectives (22) Press Release (41)
930 Woodcock Road
550 Township Line Road
45 W Jefferson St.
Grocery Reimagined
2600 Maitland Center Parkway
Copyright © 2022 Cuhaci Peterson by c-p.com | License #AAC000526


text:
Nice Business You Got There. It'd Be A Shame If It…Broke, Or Something
Posted on August 13, 2020 by Mitch Berg
Minneapolis businesses destroyed when the City failed – no, abnegated, competely – at its responsibility to deliver the public safety and order that taxpayers expect…
…have to pay in advance on their taxes to clear the rubble of the businesses that the City didn't even bother protecting with last year's taxes:
Light leaving "moral" today won't reach Minneapolis's city goverment until long after Mayor McDreamy's great-grandchildren are collecting social security.
This entry was posted in 2020 Riots, Minneapolis by Mitch Berg. Bookmark the permalink.
19 thoughts on "Nice Business You Got There. It'd Be A Shame If It…Broke, Or Something"
jdm on August 13, 2020 at 6:02 am said:
FRESCHFISCH on August 13, 2020 at 6:21 am said:
Building the Utopian dream.
New signage as you enter Minneapolis.
Mammuthus Primigenius on August 13, 2020 at 6:27 am said:
The death spiral has begun. This is a good opportunity for Saint Paul and the inner ring Minneapolis suburbs to fatten themselves at the expense of Minneapolis.
Greg on August 13, 2020 at 6:37 am said:
If you don't pay your taxes, the city will seize your burn down wreck.
bosshoss429 on August 13, 2020 at 6:55 am said:
Greg;
That's freaking brilliant, man! Forfeit the property, which isn't worth the taxes they are being assessed for, due to the Mayor's feckless actions, and let them clean it up. I doubt that anyone will be willing to buy those distressed properties, given their current state and the volatility of the neighborhood. Once again, Democrats are getting the rewards that they so richly deserve.
Joe Doakes on August 13, 2020 at 7:40 am said:
If you don't pay your taxes so you can get a permit to rebuild, the City will send clean-up crews to remove the rubble on the grounds it's a "public health and safety hazard." Then the city will specially assess the clean-up cost to your land as an addition to your taxes. Since you're not paying those taxes, the state will forfeit your land for back taxes and if Minneapolis asks for it, the state will give your land to the city as part of a "targeted community" economic recovery plan to redevelop blighted areas.
You still owe the lender on the Promissory Note that was secured by the mortgage on the land you no longer own. The lender will sue you, get a judgement against you, levy on your bank accounts, garnish your wages, seize your non-exempt assets, and eventually drive you into bankruptcy.
Night Writer on August 13, 2020 at 7:58 am said:
Meanwhile, the Governor says I can't evict tenants who haven't paid their rent.
Pig Bodine on August 13, 2020 at 7:59 am said:
JD is correct,
the City of Mpls has a long history of using the combination of "public health and safety hazard" cleanups at exorbitant rates, Special assessments, tax forfeit laws and economic recovery plans in lieu of Eminent Domain to acquire properties that well connected(DFL) developers have their eye on.
Eminent Domain requires hearings and transparency (who you are taking the land from and who you are giving it to) whereas tax forfeit property sales are never publicly scrutinized.
Face it Mpls just wants to be sure they get their beak wet!
But Joe, you are a lawyer. 🙂
Now tell us how to structure a business so that the bank and the city are left holding the bag.
Okay, okay, I know I shouldn't launch into a story, but I can't help myself
Back in the 80's, I worked for The American Lutheran Church (ALC) which eventually merged with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) to produce the people who brought us ELCA hair.
During the kickoff meeting to merge the two pension funds, our CFO held up copies of both pension plans and turning to our consul, said, "Tell us in plain English what they say?"
The attorney cracked a big grin and replied, "I am a lawyer, you tell me what you want them to say."
kinlaw on August 13, 2020 at 9:20 am said:
I imagine the destroyed areas will be a ghost town for a LONG time.
The gummint (dems) and the media (birm) will call it racism.
kinlaw
the destroyed areas will become campaign finance ATMs. Every 2 years DFL politicians will point to these areas saying if they are elected they will do what is necessary to revitalize and restore the neighborhood if you only contribute to their campaign. Its a model that has worked successfully for 50 years, just drive down West Broadway, Plymouth Ave, or Floyd B Olson Hwy, many of those empty lots date back to the riots of the late 60s.
Sorry, Greg, I'm not a wizard of finance, I'm just a bureaucrat. I suspect it can be done, if at all, by getting the City to fund the project. That's how the Vikings and soccer stadium did it.
justplainangry on August 13, 2020 at 9:36 am said:
I doubt that anyone will be willing to buy those distressed properties, given their current state and the volatility of the neighborhood.
I disagree. From my post on an earlier thread – follow the money. These will be snapped up very quickly and as JD pointed out end up in the hands of the people responsible for their destruction. Nifty, eh?
Joe Doakes on August 13, 2020 at 10:16 am said:
And after the City gets the land, it sells to a do-gooder organization like Habitat for Humanity which builds housing funded by donations from woke corporations and grants of taxpayer money from people who can't afford to move out of the city, then sells the new housing at a discount to people who can't afford to live in it.
The second wave is coming . . . .
justplainangry on August 13, 2020 at 10:42 am said:
JD, you forgot to mention that new taxes will be levied on burbs to support the poor unfortunate in the city. Impoverishing burb denizens and driving them out of the metroplex or the state altogether. Or making them move to the city to become goobernment's chattel. All according to plan.
Emery Incognito on August 13, 2020 at 11:13 am said:
I am a little confused. Property taxes are based on the assessed value. How much value does a burned down building have? It seems to me these property owners have been paying taxes for police and fire protection. At the point the Mayor told everyone to stand down and let the rioters do what they want the city became responsible for making these people whole.
Joe Doakes on August 13, 2020 at 12:32 pm said:
Property taxes lag by a year. In 2019, your house was assessed at $250,000 so in 2020, that's the value used for taxes. If you don't agree with it, you must challenge that valuation in 2019, when assessed.
If your house burns during 2020, you still owe the 2020 taxes. Plus the special assessment for removing the debris which, for an ordinary vacant house in St. Paul, runs around $20,000.
That leaves you with a bare lot worth $40,000 encumbered by $40,000 taxes and assessments, and a Promissory Note to the bank for $250,000.
There is a long string of cases saying government has NO legal obligation to provide police or fire protection and its failure to do so does not entitle the resident to be made whole.
jdm on August 13, 2020 at 12:36 pm said:
All true. Funny how that long string of cases before a government court would come to such a conclusion.
Forgot to mention from way before because I was so shocked by this whole fiasco that what doubled my shock was the utter incompetence exhibited by the city of Mpls. I mean, that picture is of the owner of the (ex-)Uncle Hugos bookstore who *did* pay his taxes so as to get a building permit and still has not received it.


Changes were made to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to provide more assistance to service members and assure that they also get the educational aid necessary for school. The G.I. Bill 2.0 changes for Post-9/11 G.I. went into effect last August, but there were some that didn't go into effect until October 2011. The changes may have changed your benefits. If you don't currently know your situation, you should check with the Department of Veterans Affairs by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1.
The changes were in some ways retroactive and in others, not. This means that most of the changes to the Post-9/11 Bill were not retroactive. However, the change in eligibility for Guardsman was activated for title 32 orders and is retroactive to August 1st, 2009. This change went into effect on October 1st, 2011.
You'll get 100 percent of your benefits if you have 36 months or more of total service. You also will receive 100 percent of benefits if you have served 30 or more days with disability related discharge. After that, you only receive 90 percent for 30 total months of service, 80 percent for 24 months of service, and so on in increments of 6.
There are also new benefits that you should understand based on new G.I. Bill 2.0. The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill offers several different education assistance programs The three major benefits will include up to 100 percent of paid tuition despite the education level you are seeking. In addition, you'll get a monthly stupid and $1,000 a year for books and supplies if you attend full-time. Less than that, you will receive a portion of this payment which is based solely on the number of units per study. The payment rates are according to the length of your period of service.
Payments made to the school of your choice. The bill will pay for tuition and fees. Students who choose to attend private colleges and universities have a $17,500 annual tuition and fee cap. There is also the amount of established charges that are payable for the entire quarter, semester or term that are also paid directly to the school in a lump sum payment. There is also a monthly housing stipend that is paid based on the monthly basic allowance for housing. If you are on active duty or training at half time or less, then you are not eligible to receive this benefit.
One of the major changes is that students who are online or in distance learning programs will also get a living expenses stipend. Before, only students who went to school at brick and mortar institutions were able to receive this benefit. The new housing allowance is payable to students enrolled only in distance learning programs. This benefit is subject to prorate based on the number of credits being taken. The housing stipend is also less than the amount that you would receive if you went to a traditional school.
There are also changes to the type of service that counts towards G.I. eligibility. Active Service that is performed by National Guard members under title 32 who respond to a national emergency are able to use their time to count towards benefit eligibility.
The changes to the G.I. Bill will certainly help military students, particularly those who had issues getting benefits because they served in the National Guard or who weren't in school full time, or who chose to take online courses. The new changes are there to help students get the educational benefits and pay for all the tuition and fees in order to graduate. The changes were a part of a G.I. Bill overhaul after thousands of complaints from veterans previously about the red tape and problems with the delivery of funds on time for school.


text:
BRUNDLE'S
Number of nights 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Number of guests 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Flythrough Video
See Byron for yourself. Watch our stunning flythrough video.
Byron Apartments Woolacombe from Panoptic Motion on Vimeo.
info@bwhlholidays.co.uk
Sign up with Byron to receive our latest offers and local guides.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2021 Byron, Beach Road, Woolacombe EX34 7BS
Site designed by HLS Solutions


text:
Q: Created New Facebook Application for Android publish permission not working.Used Facebook sdk 3.14.xx and samples I am using facebook sdk 3.14(latest updated sdk) and created application for android platform
like other old applications which i have added same options and everything.
i want to use share photo feature for that I am using below code to add publish_actions permission. but permission is not getting updated or granted.
** I have checked with other old application which i have created last month which is working fine with same code photo sharing and all is working , permissions also getting add.
But application which i have created today.with that app id I am not able to add permission for publish.
if (session.isOpened()) {
                // We need to get new permissions, then complete the action when
                // we get called back.
                Session.NewPermissionsRequest permission = new NewPermissionsRequest(
                        this, PERMISSION);
                permission.setCallback(new StatusCallback() {

                    @Override
                    public void call(Session session, SessionState state,
                            Exception exception) {
//session.getPermissions() //here m not getting publish_permission in list
                        Log.e("", "");
                    }
                });
                session.requestNewPublishPermissions(permission);
                return;
            }

i have also tried with samples which is provided with facebook sdk.
onActivity result and all are as per facebook sample given in sdk .
any help?
** try to create new facebook application and use that app id.

A: I found the solution for testing facebook application.After 30th April facebook changed some structure regarding roles.For testing some of the permissions like publish_actions , friends related need to add roles in facebook app.Add testers and developer roles in facebook application after adding role(s) i am able to test that sharing image and other things with that added testers or developer id.For live now its required to post application for review process.After login into developer account Open facebook application and  check the Roles Menu.


text:
package block

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"math/rand"
	"os"
	"path/filepath"
	"sync"
	"time"

	"github.com/ltick/tick-framework/config"
)

var (
	errNotExist error = fmt.Errorf("block: key not exist")
)

const (
	FilenameSuffixInSecond string = "20060102150405"
	FilenameBlockIndex     string = "blockIndex"
	FilenameBlockIndexTemp string = "blockIndexTemp"
)

type Block struct {
	tempDir       string
	maxSize       int64
	contentMutex  *sync.Mutex
	contentWriter ContentWriter     // 只有一个写句柄
	indexTable    map[string]*Index // 内存index信息
	indexMutex    *sync.RWMutex
	indexWriter   IndexWriter
}

func NewFileBlockHandler() BlockHandler {
	return &Block{
		contentMutex: new(sync.Mutex),
		indexTable:   make(map[string]*Index),
		indexMutex:   new(sync.RWMutex),
	}
}

func (b *Block) Initiate(ctx context.Context, conf *config.Config) (err error) {
	var (
		tempDir      string        = conf.GetString("FILESYSTEM_BLOCK_DIR")
		maxSize      int64         = conf.GetInt64("FILESYSTEM_BLOCK_CONTENT_SIZE")
		dumpInterval time.Duration = conf.GetDuration("FILESYSTEM_BLOCK_INDEX_SAVE_INTERVAL")
	)
	if err = os.MkdirAll(tempDir, os.FileMode(0755)); err != nil {
		return
	}
	b.tempDir = tempDir
	b.maxSize = maxSize

	// 初始化 将上次退出时的文件句柄传入
	if err = filepath.Walk(b.tempDir, func(path string, f os.FileInfo, err error) error {
		if f == nil {
			return err
		}
		if f.IsDir() {
			return nil
		}
		if f.Name() == FilenameBlockIndex || f.Name() == FilenameBlockIndexTemp {
			return nil
		}
		var blockWriter ContentWriter
		if blockWriter, err = NewContentWriter(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, f.Name()), b.tempDir); err != nil {
			return err
		}
		if b.maxSize > 0 && blockWriter.Size() >= b.maxSize {
			blockWriter.Close()
			return nil
		}
		b.contentMutex.Lock()
		if b.contentWriter != nil {
			b.contentWriter.Close()
		}
		b.contentWriter = blockWriter
		b.contentMutex.Unlock()
		return nil
	}); err != nil {
		return
	}
	// 初始化 index句柄
	if b.indexWriter, err = NewIndexWriter(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndex), false); err != nil {
		return
	}
	// 初始化 内存index
	b.loadIndex()
	go func() {
		for range time.Tick(dumpInterval) {
			b.dumpIndex()
		}
	}()
	return
}

func (b *Block) loadIndex() (err error) {
	var indexTable map[string]*Index
	if indexTable, err = LoadIndexFromFile(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndex)); err != nil {
		return
	}
	b.indexMutex.Lock()
	defer b.indexMutex.Unlock()
	var (
		key   string
		index *Index
	)
	for key, index = range indexTable {
		b.indexTable[key] = index
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) dumpIndex() (err error) {
	// 打开Buffer
	b.indexMutex.Lock()
	b.indexWriter.WriteAndBuffered()
	b.indexMutex.Unlock()

	// 打开原来的index文件, 然后整理合并完key数据后, 再重命名, 切换句柄
	// 不影响内存中原有的map
	var indexTable map[string]*Index
	if indexTable, err = LoadIndexFromFile(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndex)); err != nil {
		return
	}
	var (
		key         string
		index       *Index
		indexWriter *indexWriter
	)
	if indexWriter, err = NewIndexWriter(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndexTemp), true); err != nil {
		return
	}
	for key, index = range indexTable {
		if err = indexWriter.Write(key, index); err != nil {
			continue
		}
	}
	// buff写回, 重命名, 再切换句柄
	b.indexMutex.Lock()
	if _, err = b.indexWriter.BufferWriteTo(indexWriter); err != nil {
		b.indexMutex.Unlock()
		return
	}
	b.indexWriter.Close()
	os.Rename(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndexTemp), filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndex))
	b.indexWriter = indexWriter
	b.indexMutex.Unlock()
	return
}

func (b *Block) updateContentWriter() (err error) {
	if b.contentWriter == nil {
		goto update
	}
	// 文件大小超过限制,切换文件句柄
	if b.maxSize > 0 && b.contentWriter.Size() >= b.maxSize {
		b.contentWriter.Close()
		goto update
	}
	return
update:
	var filename string = filepath.Join(b.tempDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%d", time.Now().Format(FilenameSuffixInSecond), rand.Uint64()))
	if b.contentWriter, err = NewContentWriter(filename, b.tempDir); err != nil {
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) Set(key string, value []byte) (err error) {
	var index *Index
	if index, err = b.writeContent([]byte(key), value); err != nil {
		return
	}
	if err = b.writeIndex(key, index); err != nil {
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) writeContent(key, value []byte) (index *Index, err error) {
	b.contentMutex.Lock()
	defer b.contentMutex.Unlock()
	if err = b.updateContentWriter(); err != nil {
		return
	}
	if index, err = b.contentWriter.Write(key, value); err != nil {
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) writeIndex(key string, index *Index) (err error) {
	b.indexMutex.Lock()
	defer b.indexMutex.Unlock()

	if err = b.indexWriter.Write(key, index); err != nil { // 同步写文件
		return
	}
	b.indexTable[key] = index
	return
}

func (b *Block) Get(key string) (value []byte, err error) {
	var index *Index
	if index, err = b.readIndex(key); err != nil {
		return
	}
	if value, err = b.readContent(index); err != nil {
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) readIndex(key string) (index *Index, err error) {
	var ok bool
	b.indexMutex.RLock()
	index, ok = b.indexTable[key]
	b.indexMutex.RUnlock()
	if !ok {
		err = errNotExist
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) readContent(index *Index) (value []byte, err error) {
	var r ContentReader
	if r, err = NewContentReader(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, index.Filename()), b.tempDir); err != nil {
		return
	}
	defer r.Close()
	return r.Read(index.offset, index.length)
}

func (b *Block) Del(key string) (err error) {
	b.indexMutex.Lock()
	defer b.indexMutex.Unlock()

	if err = b.indexWriter.Write(key, NewDelIndex()); err != nil {
		return
	}
	delete(b.indexTable, key)
	return
}

// content整理
// set相同key的时候, 之前key的index会更新, 但是旧content还保留着
// 删除key时, content还保留着
func (b *Block) DefragContent(defragDuration time.Duration) (err error) {
	var defragTimestamp time.Time = time.Now().Add(-defragDuration)
	if err = filepath.Walk(b.tempDir, func(path string, f os.FileInfo, err error) error {
		if f == nil {
			return err
		}
		if f.IsDir() {
			return nil
		}
		if f.Name() == FilenameBlockIndex || f.Name() == FilenameBlockIndexTemp {
			return nil
		}
		if f.Size() < b.maxSize {
			return nil
		}
		if f.ModTime().After(defragTimestamp) { // 一段时间之内的vlog不整理
			return nil
		}

		// 开始整理文件
		var (
			filename      string = filepath.Join(b.tempDir, f.Name())
			contentReader ContentReader
		)
		if contentReader, err = NewContentReader(filename, b.tempDir); err != nil {
			return nil
		}
	loop:
		for {
			var (
				key   string
				index *Index
				err   error
			)
			if key, index, err = contentReader.SequentialRead(); err != nil {
				if err == io.EOF {
					break loop
				} else {
					continue
				}
			}
			// 重建索引
			b.rebuildIndex(key, index)
		}
		contentReader.Close()
		os.Remove(filename)
		return nil
	}); err != nil {
		return
	}
	return
}

func (b *Block) rebuildIndex(key string, index *Index) {
	var (
		latestIndex *Index
		latestValue []byte
		err         error
	)
	if latestIndex, err = b.readIndex(key); err != nil {
		return
	}
	if !latestIndex.Same(index) {
		return
	}
	if latestValue, err = b.readContent(index); err != nil {
		return
	}
	b.Set(key, latestValue)
}

func (b *Block) Range(doFunc func(key string, exist bool)) (err error) {
	return RangeIndexFromFile(filepath.Join(b.tempDir, FilenameBlockIndex), func(key string, index *Index) {
		doFunc(key, !index.IsDel())
	})
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Standardization and Verification
Systems on Silicon
Verification Techniques for System-Level Design
Authors: Masahiro Fujita Indradeep Ghosh Mukul Prasad
Imprint: Morgan Kaufmann
Published Date: 17th October 2007
View all volumes in this series: Systems on Silicon
This book will explain how to verify SoC (Systems on Chip) logic designs using "formal" and "semiformal" verification techniques. The critical issue to be addressed is whether the functionality of the design is the one that the designers intended. Simulation has been used for checking the correctness of SoC designs (as in "functional" verification), but many subtle design errors cannot be caught by simulation. Recently, formal verification, giving mathematical proof of the correctness of designs, has been gaining popularity.
For higher design productivity, it is essential to debug designs as early as possible, which this book facilitates. This book covers all aspects of high-level formal and semiformal verification techniques for system level designs.
• First book that covers all aspects of formal and semiformal, high-level (higher than RTL) design verification targeting SoC designs. • Formal verification of high-level designs (RTL or higher). • Verification techniques are discussed with associated system-level design methodology.
PRIMARY: Practitioners/Researchers in System-Level Design and Verification; Design Engineers at companies such as Synopsis, Cadence, Intel. SECONDARY: Reference for graduate-level courses in SoC design and verification.
© Morgan Kaufmann 2008
Morgan Kaufmann
Masahiro Fujita Author
*Spent 15 years at Fujitsu research laboratories.
*Research on synthesis and verification of digital systems for more than 25 years
*Full professor at VLSI Design and Education Center in the University of Tokyo
Professor, VLSI Design & Education Center, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Indradeep Ghosh Author
Indradeep Ghosh received the Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, in 1993, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, in 1995 and 1998, respectively.
Since 1998 he has been a member of research staff in at Fujitsu Laboratories of America, Sunnyvale, California. He has authored or co-authored more that 40 technical articles in international journals and conferences and holds 6 US patents. He has given numerous presentations in international conferences and workshops. In Fujitsu he has been involved in design verification and testing of industrial systems that are currently in production. His research interests include testing, verification, and validation of hardware and software systems. He is senior member of the IEEE and a member of the ACM.
Senior Researcher, Fujitsu Labs of America, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
Mukul Prasad Author
Mukul Prasad:
Mukul Prasad received the Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, in 1995, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001.
Since 2001 he has been a member of the research staff in the Trusted Systems Innovation group at Fujitsu Laboratories of America in Sunnyvale, California. His doctoral thesis and his subsequent research has involved the development and application of verification technologies such as Satisfiability solvers. His work has received a Best Paper Award at the Design Automation & Test in Europe Conference (DATE 2002). His current research addresses various problems in system-level design validation. He has co-authored more than 20 technical papers and presented three tutorials at international conferences and jointly holds 3 U.S. patents in the area of formal validation.


text:
HomeMusicWizkid's "Essence" is the most Shazamed Song in the US Right Now
Wizkid's "Essence" is the most Shazamed Song in the US Right Now
Wizkid's song with Tems titled "Essense" becomes the most Shazamed song in the US
Grammy award-winning star, Wizkid has consistently made global trends recently because of his ten-month-old album "Made In Lagos" for which he released a deluxe edition on August 27, 2021.
Some of the album tracks that have gained massive airplay include "Ginger" featuring Grammy winner Burna Boy, "Blessed" featuring Damian Marley, "Mighty Whine", "Reckless", "Smile" featuring H.E.R, "No Stress", and "Mood" from the deluxe edition featuring Buju.
Of all the tracks on the "Made In Lagos" album, the one that has stayed steady on charts not just in Africa, but also in the UK and US is "Essence" featuring Tems, one of the Afrobeats heavyweight followed up with a tantalizing Justin Bieber remix.
The hit Summer song which has been recognised by many international stars including Kevin Hart, Kylie Jenner, BIA, Keke Palmer, Janelle Monae, Doja Cat, and more also received a freestyle cover from DaBaby.
"Essence" has now crushed another record, after it was announced the most shazamed song in the United States on the 31st of August.
"Big congrats to @wizkidayo!! #Essence is now the most Shazamed song in the United States 🎉," the post was captioned on the official Instagram page for Shazam.
A post shared by Shazam (@shazam)
A post shared by Wizkid News (@wizkidnews)
This is not the only feat "Essence", as well as the "Made In Lagos" album has attained. "Essence" is currently number 1 on the US Urban Radio chart.
"Essence" has reached a new peak as number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, while MIL which was number 58 is now 77 on the Billboard 200 where it has been for nine weeks.
"Essence" has also achieved its third number one spot on a Billboard chart for R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay!
The "Made In Lagos" Deluxe Edition became number 1 on the UK Apple Music album chart in less than a week of its release and three of its tracks, "Mood", "Essence (Remix)", and "Steady" are on the Top 10 most listened tracks list in London.
"Essence" featuring Tems has also reached a new peak of number 6 on the US Apple Music chart, making it the highest-peaking African song.
While "Essence" featuring Tems has garnered 60,000,000 plays on Apple Music, 40,000,000 on Spotify and the official video, over 25,000,000 views on YouTube in 4 months, the remix with Justin Bieber has 10,000,000 plays on Spotify in less than two weeks.
"Made in Lagos" is Wizkid's first number one album on the World Albums Chart.
Big ups to BigWiz👏👏 Keep crushing those charts for the Afrobeats culture!


The obligation of consolidation is regulated by the Accounting Act, while details of implementation and consolidation rules are written in CFRS 2 - Consolidated Financial Statements for small and medium-sized entities and in IFRS 10 - Consolidated Financial Statements for large entities.
Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are required to consolidate the financial statements according to Accounting Act and IFRS 2 when they represent the parent company that has the obligation to consolidate financial statements. According to CFRS, the parent company is a company that controls one or more subsidiaries. Large entrepreneurs are required to consolidate the financial statements according to Accounting Act or IFRS 10 when they represent a parent company that has control over one or more subsidiaries.
In determining the obligation of consolidation of the financial statements, it should be careful about prescribed exceptions. According to the Accounting Act, the parent company doesn't have to prepare consolidated financial statements for small groups unless those small groups include entities of public interest. Further, if the group consist only parent company and subsidiaries that are not individually or collectively significant for the consolidated financial statements, the parent company has no obligation to prepare consolidated financial statements, with the condition that it doesn't include entities of public interest. Exceptions from consolidation are more detailed prescribed by the directive of Article 25 of the Accounting Act, or directives of CFRS 2 and IFRS 10.
The deadline for submitting the consolidated financial statements for 2016 is 30th September of the current year.
Under obligation of auditing are consolidated financial statements of large and medium-sized groups and consolidated financial statements of small groups which include entities of public interest.
Average number of employees during the business year 25.
Under obligation of auditing are also annual consolidated financial statements of parent company which has submitted a request for the incorporation of its securities into a regulated market.
If you need to prepare consolidated financial statements or need to audit the consolidated financial statements, please contact our consolidation experts and certified auditors at revizija@uhy.hr.


text:
Wheat Hill is a mountain located in the Catskill Mountains of New York southwest of Franklin. Lawton Hill is located east, Hodges Hill is located south and Vandervort Hill is located west of Wheat Hill.

References

Mountains of Delaware County, New York
Mountains of New York (state)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Shuperb present outdoor comfort in these new Hush Puppies shoes. They're designed for the outdoors, with a strong rubber sole. These shoes keep you comfy under the layered leather nubuck upper thanks to a padded textile lining and dual fit insole, allowing you to achieve either a wide or a standard fit. It's all secured in a 5 metal eyelet lace-up.


text:
What to Do When You Feel Like You Don't Have Work-Life Balance Anymore
Is your job eating up your happiness?
by Charlene J. Owen | Feb 1, 2019
Share Tweet Pin Post a Comment
Some jobs demand so much of you that they eat into the other aspects of your life all the time—which should not be the case. IMAGE iStock IMAGE iStock
There are people who say that there's no such thing as "work-life balance," and they may have a point—there are times when you feel like you should focus more on your job than your friends, or that you need to stay with your loved ones instead of prioritizing your career. "Some suggested alternative ideas," says Forbes contributor Jessica Lutz. "Work-life integration, work-life harmony, and work-life blend."
It's true that there's no cookie-cutter solution to giving all aspects of your life enough time and focus, and yes, you can't divide your time to the second to accommodate everything; however, the "balance" in "work-life balance" can also mean allowing everything you want to do to have space in your life and finding joy in them. You create a system to feel balanced, no matter the push-pull of your responsibilities.
That being said, the imbalance begins when one aspect of your life outweighs the rest; you are unable to control it and you start to feel incomplete and unhappy. This is what drains you—the thought that you're giving too much to one thing and unwittingly abandoning the rest. If you feel unsatisfied and unfulfulled, here are tips you can follow:
Take a step back.
Is all the intensity you're putting into that one "important" thing necessary? Maybe you're being too hard on yourself. When you start to feel mentally suffocated by everything that you need to accomplish, pause, breathe, and take a step back to look at the bigger picture. Which things really matter and which don't? If you can take a physical break from what you're currently busy with to take stock of things, you can recalibrate your personal system to accommodate everything that really needs your attention.
Find a career that you know you'll love.
It's harder to work when you don't like what you're doing, so follow your passion but remember to temper it with logic and foresight. Some people believe that following your passion is bad advice, but as long as you're willing to do what it takes to succeed without sacrificing self-love and important relationships, then go for it, even if you do have to relearn a few things. The payback will be better professionally and personally.
More From FemaleNetwork.com
Create boundaries.
Some jobs demand so much of you that they eat into other aspects of your life all the time—which should not be the case. Before you even accept an offer, inform your direct boss of boundaries you know you'll need to stay grounded. Angle it in such a way that you can offer optimum efficiency if you're well-rested and have regular days off, among others.
If you've been working in your current company for a while and feel that it's starting to encroach too much on your personal life, speak with those involved in your work to see if there are adjustments that can be made. Trust us: it's better that you keep the people around you informed rather than just allowing the negativity to simmer inside you.
Find things to do for yourself.
Always have time, no matter how little, for yourself. Setting aside an hour a day to exercise, read a book, or even just to take a walk can immediately make you feel better and complete. The good vibes will flow through everything you need to do for the day, and you won't feel like you've short-changed yourself no matter how heavy your tasks are.
Know that you're in control of your life.
If your job is taking a toll on your well-being, know that you always have the option to walk away. Don't ever think that your position is what defines you—you earn to live, not the other way around. There are many available opportunities to those that are open to them, so listen to your gut, be aware of the signs, and don't be afraid to make an informed decision that you know will make you happy in the end. Embrace the change, and this time around, put yourself first. When you prioritize your peace of mind, everything else will follow.
Get the latest updates from Female Network
Career Path Careers Work Life Balance
Dress-and-Earring Pairings for The Next Wedding You'll Attend
Got a plain dress? No problem. by Patricia Melliza
Traveling 'is not just about the pictures' But The Memories, Says Maxene Magalona
"When we travel, we sometimes get lost..." by FM Ganal for Pep.ph
She was also spotted hanging out with Natalie Portman! by Jam Nitura for Preview.ph
The Most Flattering Clothes for Petite Pinays, According to Kris Bernal's Stylist
Spoiler: High-waist pants are the best. by Patricia Melliza
Why Date Nights Still Matter Even if You've Been Together for Years
They can help you mentally and emotionally recharge. by Kate Borbon for SmartParenting.com.ph
Here's a Closer Look at the World's Most Expensive Designer Bag
It sold for a record-breaking $500,000 (that's roughly over 25 million!) by Yanna Lopez for Preview.ph
Pinays Start Shapewear Line Because of Lack of Affordable Options Locally
Siblings Cris Cariaga-Lacuna and Andie Estrada share how they started their own shapewear line. by Charlene J. Owen
This School is Offering Scholarships If You Want to Get Into Fashion
Now is a good time as any to do a career shift! by Charlene J. Owen
5 Ways to Become a Better Version of Yourself in Your 30s
Be consistent and you will reap the results. by Elyssa Christine Lopez for Entrepreneur.com.ph
This House Bill Seeks to Keep Sidewalks Free from Cars, Vendors
It looks like a game changer for pedestrians. by Drei Laurel for TopGear.com.ph
Turns Out, Neil Arce Proposed to Angel Locsin on Father's Day
Neil spoke with Angel's dad before asking for her hand! by Lily Grace Tabanera for Cosmo.ph
Easy Blush Tricks You Can Do for a Youthful Glow
Grab your cheek tints! by Patricia Melliza
You're leaving?
How about one more story before you go?
What to Buy to Build a Mini Workout Station at Home
Coral Stationery Items to Upgrade Your Cozy Cubicle With


During the Child in the City World Conference in Vienna, there were a number of interesting field trips to child-friendly places across the city. In this article, Simon Walter who was the tour guide recounts what took place.
In the two field trips to, Robinson playground (Robinson-Insel) we basically made a tour through the 7000 square meters sized adventure playground also known as" 'a tiny bit of wilderness' in the heart of Vienna. The big difference between the two field trips was that on Monday we could go around in a beautiful but empty space designed together with children and youngsters, while on Wednesday the trip was during the regular opening times of the playground, so there were children playing everywhere while we were discovering the place.
Generally what the participants saw is quite hard to put in words. Robinson playground is a special place because it is not "just" a classical adventure playground but a playground that combines constructing and building with the spirit of nature/environmental education and a holistic approach towards the living together of children with the natural environment there. The place is an attractive place to be and live there for children and the animals that live there. The visitors have seen the balance of designed and undersigned spaces, the many buildings and constructions that were planned built in lots of projects together with children. But whatever I write here does not really cover the atmosphere and beauty of this unique place.
This site is so important for a child-friendly city because it is one of the rare spaces for children where they can within an urban environment experience nature "in all its diversity". This environmental approach together with a very radical participatory way of designing the playground together with children makes it a playground that is "owned" and created by children. So it is not very surprising why the question "Why is there only one playground like this?" was repeated many times by a lot of different participants of the field trips.
Simon Walter, General Secretary of Rote Falken, Vienna. For the last 15 years Simon Walter is active in Falken- movements. Starting in Germany being active as group leader, he came to Austria in 2008 and got active in Rote Falken here. He held different positions in the organisations over time and has been International Secretary of Rote Falken Austria for seven years. Now he is employed as administrative worker at Rote Falken Vienna and organises together with a voluntary team on-going activities and major projects of the children and youth organisation.


China is emerging as one of the strong global economy since the last two decade and is the world's biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves with the reserves touching 1.8 trillion US dollars few months back (March, 2008). Many countries around the world are interested in business with China and are actively involved in learning Chinese language to understand and enhance the business opportunities.
Napoleon Bonaparte has once said that "China is the sleeping giant. Let her lie and sleep for when she awakens she will tremble the world." Nearly two century after the visionary statement of the legend, China's dormant economy emerged so drastically that economic power that country holds now directly affects and facilitates the pace of global market.
People around the world and countries are now deliberately moving forward to exchange business relation with world's fastest growing nation, a nation which is experiencing huge transition from a central-planned economy to a global-oriented market and has become a dominant player in the international economy and financial system. Hence for better business understanding, business opportunity and cultural exchange, learning Chinese language has become an all time high with approximately thirty million people are studying Chinese in universities, colleges or private courses.
Chinese is considered to be one of the world's most popular languages and is a simple structured and tonal language where a single word can have different meaning depending upon the way it is pronounced. There are number of dialects in Chinese spoken in different province but the popularity is gaining by Mandarin language and this has also been recognized as the official language of China.
Furthermore, students can choose Chinese language with a hope of getting easy employment in areas like banking, trade, financial, diplomatic work, academics, news media, content management, tours and travel and many more. Each of these fields is very challenging and gives one an enough exposure to Chinese society, culture and tradition.
Hence, if you are feeling the urgency of learning Chinese language, experiencing Chinese culture and align yourself in the fast track of business by learning Chinese language, this is the right time to start. CHWEST (www.e-admission.edu.cn) provide you study in China solutions with all-in-one service from searching schools, online application to pre-departure preparation and assistance after arrival.


text:
In a split decision, the Alberta Appeal Court says a sentence of nine years is more appropriate for Helen Naslund. (Image courtesy Creative Outlet)
Appeal Court reduces sentence by half for Alberta woman who killed her husband
Helen Naslund's original sentence of 18 years reduced to 9
The Alberta Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence for a woman who admitted to shooting her husband and dumping his body in a slough.
Helen Naslund was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Miles Naslund in September 2011 on their farm near Holden, about 100 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
In a split decision, the Appeal Court says a sentence of nine years is more appropriate.
One of the judges on the three-member appeal panel felt the sentence was fit.
An agreed statement of facts presented at the trial said Miles Naslund had a domineering pattern of abuse against his wife.
A notice of appeal filed in February of last year said the sentencing judge failed to give proper consideration to the history of domestic abuse.
It also said the 18-year sentence brought the "administration of justice into disrepute."
LifeLabs temporarily closes 2 Greater Victoria sites, reduces hours at 2 others
Food delivery coming for remote Vancouver Island communities


Please click on the image above to view an updated graphic depicting the upcoming Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) evaluations at Alliance institutions.
Congratulations to the administrators, faculty, and staff of Corban University, Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and the Pacific Northwest College of Art for their diligence and dedication preparing for and hosting their NWCCU evaluation visits this Fall!
We also wish the accreditation teams at the Oregon College of Art and Craft, the University of Western States, Linfield College, and Multnomah University all the best as they prepare for their visits in Spring 2019.