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Fields of activity and mission
Foundation worldwide
Hanns Seidel
Namibia Office
Overview – Namibia Office
House of Democracy
Selected Partners
Democracy and Good Governance
HSF Training Consultants
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overview - Foundation
"In the service of democracy, peace and development" – this is how the Hanns Seidel Foundation describes its mission and its work. These words apply to its activities in Germany – and of course particularly in Bavaria – and to its commitments abroad.Overview...
"In the service of democracy, peace and development" – this motto is present in the work and mission of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. This motto applies both to its domestic activities – especially Bavaria – as well as its engagements abroad.Overview...
overview - Fields of Activity
Sustainable Development Programmes: The Hanns Seidel Foundation is operating in four main areas.Overview...
overview - Media
Find out more about the Hanns Seidel Foundation and our representation in the Namibian press. And discover our current activities and recent projects through a selection of videos, pictures and publications.Overview...
National Conference on Sustainable Resource Management
The value chains of climate-smart agriculture, sustainable forest manage-ment and integrated management of freshwater fisheries were at the cen-tre of discussions of a national conference on 2 October 2019, hosted by the Hanns Seidel Foundation Namibia in partnership with the Namibian Parliament and the Namibia Nature Foundation, as well as various national and international stakeholders.
The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, addressed the more than 200 participants at the Safari Court and Conference Centre, highlighting ecosystem services as key to Namibia's economy and human well-being.
On 2 October 2019, the Hanns Seidel Foundation Namibia (HSF), in partnership with the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia and the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) as well as various national and international stakeholders hosted a one-day conference along the value chain of three renewable source-based sectors, namely agriculture, forestry and freshwater fishery. More than 200 participants took part in the event at the Safari Court and Conference Centre. Various speeches by high-level representatives of government, presentations by national and international experts as well as lively and partly emotional panel discussions contributed to outlining the current state of the afore-mentioned sectors, as well as to identifying potential pathways for a bioeconomy-based value chain for Namibia.
After the welcoming remarks by the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Prof Dr Peter Katjavivi, the HSF Resident Representative, Dr Clemens von Doderer, set the scene by elucidating the objectives and outputs expected with a plastic illustration, referring to the three pillars of sustainability (economy, social, environment). Vividly he demonstrated the need for balancing the three pillars for the establishment of a sustainable bioeconomy in Namibia. This was followed by an impulse talk by Prof Dr Gilbert Nduru from Karatina University on Kenya's efforts to stimulate its rural bioeconomy.
Nduru pointed out that solutions-based research in communities, focus on biological diversity strategies, policy and resources processes in the face of a sustainable value chain, as well as effective monitoring and evaluation are key considerations for a successful exploitation of bioeconomy's potential. According to the professor, bioeconomy is an important driver of a future green and circular economic growth that takes societal concerns as well as those of the environment into consideration. It can further create new jobs and improve livelihood opportunities, as well as enhance public health, food security and nutrition.
Session I: "The Current State of Agriculture and Climate-Smart Ways Towards Food Security"
The appearance of perennial droughts which seem to become the norm in Namibia, as well as the severe recession of Namibia's economy were highlighted by Agribanks' CEO Sakaria Nghikembua in his setting-the scene presentation. Focusing on the current state of agriculture, he pointed out that agriculture's contribution to GDP is in long-term decline and that sector's contribution to employment concomitantly decreases despite an increase in funding for the agriculture sector.
After the setting-the scene, Session I was formally commenced by the session keynote speech, delivered by Hon. Minister Alpheus !Naruseb who assigned Mildred Kambinda, Director of the Directorate of Agricultural Production, Extension and Engineering Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF).
Dr Miguel Fernández Carrillo, Agricultural Engineer and Management Technician on Plant Health at the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Environment in the Region of Murcia, Spain, then broadened the perspective of the discussion by his overseas' country example on climate-smart agriculture from Spain. He outlined the climate-smart and innovative approaches towards sustainable food production of the Murcia Region. Furthermore, the overseas' country expert illustrated current challenges agriculture is facing in Spain (e.g. global climate change, soil protection, diversification of the rural economy, enhancing of bioeconomy), and explained how they are responding to these challenges by utisiling some examples.
The agriculture session (I) concluded with a panel discussion, moderated by Agribanks' CEO Sakaria Nghikembua. The panel included the two previous speakers as well as three further experts, namely Roelie Venter, Executive Director of the Namibia Agricultural Union, Prof Dr Oliver Ruppel, Professor for Law at the University of Stellenbosch, and Joseph Hailwa in his capacity as Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF). Initial questions which were prepared by the moderator concerned governmental plans to guide Namibia out of the drought crisis and to transform into a climate-smart agriculture. Governmental plans for drought mitigation are among others engagement in irrigation schemes, desalination programmes and improvement of water infrastructure (e.g. expansion of canal systems, supply of borehole water).
The Government representative pointed out that - even the economy is not so well recently - irrigation systems for agricultural production are of great importance. Concerning the transition to climate-smart agriculture, the Farmer Unions' representative highlighted the need of rangeland restoration. The current ratio of grass and bush has to be changed and rangeland has to be more intensified. He further stated that water needs to be utilised particularly for food production.
Additional questions from the audience concerned the use of smart technology and the actions regarding the improvement of the soil water holding capacity. It was highlighted that the opportunity to use cell phones for information gathering is crucial, particularly for land users in communal areas. Decision-makers should have the opportunity to get information from around the world. Therefore, a gapless network coverage is important for Namibia.
Concerning the soil water holding capacity, government representatives referred to their training programmes, awareness-raising campaigns as well as their technical demonstrations which are conducted around the country. In conclusion, the panel discussants agreed on the need for an integrated approach to improve the current situation on the ground. Ministries affected should sit together and should work globally to make a change locally.
Session II: "The Sustainability of Forests and Its Ecosystem Services"
The conference's second session was opened by Dr Vera de Cauwer from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Her setting-the scene presentation gave a brief insight on the current situation of Namibia's Forestry and necessary improvements. She criticised a lack of research and assessments on the forests. Furthermore, she mentioned data on growth rates and certification as important tools for ensuring a sustainable use of timber resources.
After the setting-the scene, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister for Environment and Tourism (MET), opened session II officially by delivering the session keynote speech. Referring to Article 95 (l) of the Namibian Constitution as more important ever now, he underpinned the need to fight against deforestation, while ensuring the devolution of rights accompanied by livelihood improvement opportunities through ecosystem services and the sustainable use of forest resources. "Ecosystem services are of particular importance to the most deprived sections of our society, especially our communities residing in rural areas. (…) It is particularly important that we desist from exploiting any of our natural resources for short term gains which ignores the future and thereby sacrifices the future generations."
Craig Norris from NCT Forestry Co-Operative Limited and representative of PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) delivered a presentation on forest certifications. He considered the question if forest certification could be a tool to ensure sustainable management of timber resources in South Africa. Norris expounded the long-term management of forest assets and the elimination of illegal activities. Both would be provided through forest certification, as well as better prices and international investments.
The next impulse talk was given by Henrik Janer from the Finnish company Risutec. The overseas' country example illustrated how Finland handles different issues in silvicultural practice and showed practical solution approaches regarding climate change. Similar to the first session, the second one was concluded by a panel discussion, moderated by Dr Absalom Kahumba from the University of Namibia (UNAM). The panel consisted of Dr Vera de Cauwer, Craig Norris and Henrik Janer as well as of three further experts, namely Martha Naanda, Programme Specialist / Head at UNDP, Dr Chris Brown, CEO of the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE), and Joseph Hailwa, Director of the Directorate of Forestry, MAWF.
Questions which were raised during the very animated and emotional panel discussion concerned opportunities for adding value to the value chain of forest material, amount of timber resources left and control mechanisms against illegal deforestation. During the discussion, it became clear that forest material should only be exported after value had been added to leave the value in the country. "But this process will take time", stated Dr de Cauwer. In the meantime, communities need more encouragement and the establishment of a timber processing industry has to be secured. In addition, the panellists highlighted that trees offer much more than only an economic value. Services such as carbon storage, biodiversity, improved water holding capacity, flood protection or fodder provided by the forest ecosystems should also be taken into account. The panellists further agreed that for ensuring a more sustainable management of forest resources, a coherent and complete national forest inventory is needed. Currently no reliable data on forest areas and timber resources is available. In terms of control mechanisms, the government representative stated that the current permit system used is the best available, but that they are trying to improve constantly and, that they are open for recommendations.
The audience could witness a lively and engaged discussion. Overall, it became clear that a there is a lack of communication and more stakeholder platforms are needed to jointly and actively address the numerous challenges Namibia's forest sector is facing. A possible starting point could be a change in the job description of forestry management, one of the panellists said.
Session III: "Integrated Management of Freshwater Fisheries"
Dr Clinton Hay from UNAM and representative of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) gave in his setting-the scene an overview of the role of fishery regarding global hunger and malnutrition and offered information about fishery in Namibia, especially focusing on the Zambezi/Chobe Rivers. He also eluded to the issues of value of inland fish, impact of climate change and fish protection.
The keynote speech for this session was delivered by Hon. Sylvia Makgone, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), on behalf of Hon. Benard Esau, the MFMR Minister. Dr Louise Lange from the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in the United Kingdom (UK) then broadened the discussion on freshwater fisheries by her overseas' country example from the UK She illustrated potential threats to freshwater biodiversity and talked about the impact of non-native species from a globally as well as Namibian point of view and she explained CEFAS work on invasive species management.
The third session was also concluded by a panel discussion, moderated by Kirsty Watermeyer. The panel included Dr Hay and Dr Lange who were joined by three further experts, namely Renier Burger, representative of MFMR, Sekgowa Motsumi, Okavango Basin Programme Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) from Botswana, and Evans Mutanuka, Chief Fisheries Officer at the Zambian Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The latter was asked to report on the functionality of freshwater fishery in Zambia. Zambia makes use of aquacultures to satisfy their demand for fish but, Mutanuka also stated that aquacultures are only an interim fix and not a real solution with long-term character. Furthermore, the Zambian expert highlighted that freshwater fishery is a transboundary issue; there is a need of transboundary interventions in which all adjoining states, communities etc. have to work together to meet the existing challenges and problems. Eluding to the Botswana example and how they are managing their freshwater fishery resources, Mr Motsumi made clear that the complexity of the whole system needs to be considered and holistic solutions are needed to properly manage freshwater fisheries. Dr Hay pointed out the relevance of community support. The responsibility on freshwater fishery has to be given to the communities, but they need support from government. Further, the moderator raised the question on risks and options of fish production in aquaculture in Namibia. MFMR representative Burger explained that due to climatic limitations (minus degrees in Namibian winters), species mix and low economic attractiveness (e.g. lower income per square meter than chicken production) aquaculture is not of real interest for Namibia. But, if the fish production is combined with crop growing in aquaponic systems, Burger sees potential for Namibia; aquaculture is not the solution, aquaponic could be. Overall, it became clear that fish resources have to be secured for the communities who depend on that fish. The need for an integrated, community-based approach became apparent. Freshwater fisheries management is a joint responsibility and needs therefore intergovernmental dialogues.
The Conference was officially closed with the closing remarks by Hon. Ruusa Joyce Nangula, Member of National Council and Member of Namibia Conservation Parliamentary Caucus (NACOPAC), and the vote of thanks by Hon. Sophia Swartz, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Management of Natural Resources. Afterwards, all participants were invited to an informal cocktail reception.
View full gallery on our Facebook page.
Text by: Dr Lara Beer | Images by: Christian Stiebahl
© 2020 Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung


What is with the ginormous bags?!? They're huge. You could, I expect, carry not only toiletries, phone, wallet, and car keys in one, but possibly a full wardrobe change, several firearms, and a positive menagerie of pets. Maybe that is it? It is like a new version of homeless chic. You may not be able to afford a place to live after purchasing that Coach bag, but you won't really need a place to hang your hat… or pants… or anything because it all fits in the bag. Doesn't matter if you look like a staggering hunchback due to the imbalanced weight dangling from one shoulder or the other… you are en vogue!
I looked up the word "purse" in the dictionary. I ignored the part about the lips being drawn together to express displeasure or irritation (but I could see how discomfort might come into the issue with some of these bags). The definition that pertains in this instance is "a small bag used especially by a woman to carry everyday personal items." Who needs that much stuff every day while out?!? Holy cowhide! Look at this gal. I'm fairly certain that if that bag actually contained anywhere near the material to fill it, it would outweigh her.
I have referred to myself as an accessory moron, but if there is one area in which I am even more of an imbecile, it would be with regards to handbags, purses, clutches, evening bags… I am not only uninformed, I am totally uninterested. The most likely outcome of me carrying some sort of luggage would be that I totally forget to take it with me and leave it hanging on a chair, in a chair, on a table, under the table… you get the idea. I am not of the mindset to carry my belongings in a stylish receptacle. In fact, I'm likely not to carry a receptacle at all, stylish or not. The only exception is for situations like conferences or travel when I might have a carry-on or utility backpack that is capable of housing all the necessities, but more often to stow the various items and information gathered at booths and tables and vendors along the way. Even so, what do I really need to have with me? I honestly cannot imagine requiring on my person while walking freely about town enough stuff to require the space of a large attaché or small suitcase.
However, that is not so much the issue as the question of why do purses now resemble luggage? I mean, seriously, I remember a time when purses of the larger variety were restricted to individuals who carried the necessity of changing an infant or toddler (aka, the diaper bag) or to those individuals of an uncertain age (aka, grandma bag). You know what I'm talking about, because mother's who are trying to travel or just run errands with accompanying offspring cannot do so without many parcels and items that the rest of us generally don't require (snacks, drinks, activities, diapers, wet wipes, pack and play cribs, physical restraints…). As for grandma, I never did understand all that. There might be wallet or billfold, checkbook, glasses, tissues (in varying states of use…ew), a collection of candy, gum, and cough drops, hair brush, hair spray, compact (with or without make up)… houseplants and maybe a floor lamp… The words "Just a moment, I have it in my purse…" were generally guaranteed to foreshadow a 20-30 minute archeological dig through a voluminous shoulder bag.
So, when did this become fashionable? I suppose technology can assume part of the blame as people seem more and more incapable of functioning without a laptop or tablet that might be larger than a pocket or clutch. Without the accompanying larger devices though, I'm baffled. I've seen young… young people squealing at non-human decibel and frequency over gargantuan constructions designed, I'm certain, to hold most of their worldly goods. What are they actually doing? If they pack the thing to its capacity, they are likely to cause significant and permanent spinal deformity that would draw pity from Quasimodo. You cannot convince me it is necessary for the individual who can actually afford the monstrosity to carry everything she owns, unless… maybe that is it. Due to the cost of fashion, the purchaser is no longer able to afford lodgings and is forced to convey their possessions and all necessities with them at all times? Has our world and society become such that all inhabitants should have a bug-out bag with them at all times? Maybe they actually live in there? Now that would be a trick. I might actually take up the habit of carrying some sort of baggage when they manage to harness some sort of mystical force or scientific breakthrough to create Timelord type technology that makes it bigger enough on the inside for me to crawl into it or possibly a bag of holding capable of also serving as my residence. At that point, we can talk. Until then (and without chiropractic services on retainer), I'm pretty certain that I shan't be able to join the tribe of the giant bags.


let me know if you have any questions regarding this write-up.
are the following fields: "
PDU packet as shown in the figure below.
PDU packet as shown in the figure 3.3.
example just before the FCS for Ethernet.
example, for the Ethernet packet this would be just before the FCS.


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As we make our way through this Holy Season and on to the New Year; we want to take a moment to say "Thank You" to all of you who made a difference in our lives this year, especially those of you who supported the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests with your time, prayers, treasure and gifts.
In 2015, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests ordained 30 women; 3 bishops, 15 priests and 12 deacons; each woman making a difference in her local community and in service to others.
May you and your loved ones be abundantly blessed in 2016.
Please take a moment to view our "Thank You" video!


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Home	Opinion	SERAP urges Pres. Buhari to Withdraw Conditions Imposed On Twitter
SERAP urges Pres. Buhari to Withdraw Conditions Imposed On Twitter
by Nwani Chisom October 3, 2021
written by Nwani Chisom October 3, 2021 0 comment
oyogist has learned that the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has criticised a declaration made by President Muhammadu Buhari Regarding when the ban on Twitter in the country would be lifted.
The president had given certain conditions for twitter to meet.
SERAP in reaction to this, urged president Buhari to withdraw the conditions imposed on the microblogging site pending the final ruling of ECOWAS Court on the case.
SERAP noted that the conditions given by the Nigerian government make a mockery of the case pending before the ECOWAS Court and also create an impression that the course of justice would be impeded.
A letter by SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Sunday, read in part; "Pushing conditions on Twitter while the ECOWAS case is pending would prejudice the interests of the Plaintiffs, undermine the ability of ECOWAS Court to do justice in the case, damage public confidence in the court, and prejudice the outcome of the case.
"It is in the public interest to keep the streams of justice clear and pure, and to maintain the authority of the ECOWAS Court in the case. If not immediately withdrawn, the conditions would seriously undermine Nigeria's international human rights obligations including under ECOWAS treaties and protocols, and have serious consequences for the public interest.
"Given that the only way in which SERAP and other plaintiffs can have a fair and effective access to justice is to allow the court to decide on the merits of the case before it, fairness and justice must, on the facts of the ECOWAS case, outweigh any stated national security conditions.
"Your government should allow the ECOWAS Court to decide these issues, especially as the Federal Government has made the arguments on national security before the court.
"The core of the principle of judicial independence is the complete liberty of the judge to hear and decide the cases before them on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any improper interference, direct or indirect.
"The principle of the independence of the judiciary has also been enshrined in the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, endorsed by the General Assembly in 1985.
"The Principles provide, inter alia, that it is the duty of all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary (principle 1); that judges shall decide matters before them impartially without any restrictions or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason (principle 2); and that there shall not be any inappropriate or unwarranted interference with the judicial process (principle 4)."
"SERAP therefore urges you to urgently withdraw the conditions imposed on Twitter, and to allow the ECOWAS court to decide on the suit brought by SERAP and other plaintiffs challenging the legality of the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Judgment in the suit is fixed for 20 January, 2022."
Pres. BuhariSERAP
Nwani Chisom
Blogger/Digital Marketer
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A friend of mine that I met at a local writers group some months ago introduced me to this site.
While I've never roleplayed (is that the write expression?) before. I do enjoy reading and writing.
I guess I'll leave it there for now. I hope I can deliver.
Oh, I'm sure you'll do quite well here, Fred. Many of us are writers first and players second.
Writers should get along fabulously here. It is all about the idea and getting it out there!
Welcome Fearless One! Pray tell, who was this brilliant ( ) friend? Is he a member?
Great to see you here, FF. I've found the Citadel to be a wonderful resource for practicing good descriptive writing, as well as for worldbuilding your own custom setting. Short stories are enjoyed, but usually a bit long to get much feedback here -- we really focus on fleshing out a single idea at a time. Hope your stay at the Citadel is long, and that Othamm blesses you greatly.
I'd like to thank you all for the wonderful welcome.
Kassandra she's called, sweet woman, hell of an accent. Which reminds me, she did mention something about there being confusion with regards to area or something like that.


Starting in the 1600s, painters of romantic landscapes (and two centuries later, many photographers) composed picturesquely balanced views of nature, often punctuated by a small classical ruin or snippet of rural life. Yet from the invention of photography in France in 1839, and its quick embrace in the English-speaking world, Edouard Baldus, Francis Frith, and Carlton E. Watkins, among others, captured panoramas of the traditional and industrializing city. Others such as Eugene Atget, Walker Evans, and Henri Cartier-Bresson walked its streets reveling in the overlooked details of the everyday, vernacular landscape. The first half of Vernacular in Place samples the canon of landscape photography as taught and collected at UNM by historian Beaumont Newhall and founding director of the Art Museum, Van Deren Coke, in the 1960s and 70s—decades when UNM was arguably the leading international center of photo history and studio photography.
These decades also witnessed the civil rights, anti-colonial and environmental movements, the rise of an international youth counterculture and the grassroots mobilization against the Viet Nam War. Amid this combination of an emerging photo historical consciousness, and a broader anti-authoritarian spirit, a younger generation of photographers—many UNM students, alumni and faculty—reacted against the canon of landscape photography best embodied in those days by Ansel Adams, who consciously edited out signs of modern society. Lee Freidlander, Steve Fitch, and Thomas Barrow, as well as a group assembled in the New Topographics exhibition of 1977 including Lewis Baltz, Joe Deal, Frank Gohlke, and Nicholas Nixon, instead stepped back to include telephone poles and cobra-headed street lamps, and to turn their cameras on gas stations, industrial parks, and newly-built suburban houses at the desert's edge. Their cool, deadpan, ironic, yet loving embrace of the contemporary vernacular landscape resonates in the work of landscape photographers down to this day.
In addition to the photographers already mentioned, the exhibition also includes works by Kenneth Winston Baird, Hilla and Bernd Becher, Sabine Delcour, Gus, Foster, Lynn Geesaman, Debora Hunter, William Henry Jackson, Danny Lyon, Joan Meyer, Beaumont Newhall, Bernard Plossu, Edward Ruscha, David Stephenson, Edward Weston and Steve Yates.
The exhibit has been developed in coordination with the PhotoPaysage/ LandscapeRepresentation conference, October 15-17, 2015, a French/American dialogue about the role of photography in changing conceptions of landscape and an additional exhibition, "Photographic Notes on the Road: J. B. Jackson, 1955-1989," October 15 – November 9, School of Architecture and Planning Gallery.


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RPO musician comes back to land in spotlight
Once concerned he may never play again, the trumpeter steps into the Mahler No. 5 spotlight.
RPO musician comes back to land in spotlight Once concerned he may never play again, the trumpeter steps into the Mahler No. 5 spotlight. Check out this story on DemocratandChronicle.com: http://on.rocne.ws/2pBjLz4
Jeff Spevak, @jeffspevak1 Published 2:04 p.m. ET April 14, 2017 | Updated 6:11 p.m. ET April 15, 2017
Doug Prosser, principal trumpet player for the RPO, plays in Hatch Recital Hall near Kodak Hall in downtown Rochester Monday, April 3, 2017. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Buy Photo
The City of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra's trumpet player had abruptly disappeared, leaving behind two suitcases of clothes, music, his trumpet mute and a note to his roommate: "Barcelona is not for me."
With one simple telephone conversation, without having to even pick up his horn, Doug Prosser became the new principal trumpet of the City of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. Barcelona: What was there to not like? To Prosser, it was everything a young man just out of college could hope for. Amazing food, beautiful women, beautiful clothing. The climate? "I had just spent six years in Rochester," he says, and that says enough.
He moved to a land electric with intrigue: personal, professional and political. The Berlin Wall was still standing. Spain's dictator, Francisco Franco, may have died 12 years earlier, "but the vestiges of totalitarianism were still there." The country's arts institutions were run by people who still had links to Communist countries in Eastern Europe. That was a lot of the orchestra's gigs, playing Communist bloc parties.
"We were kind of the Iron Curtain Orchestra," Prosser says.
"Spain was like a mystery novel, 3,000 pages deep."
►Read more: Performing Mahler's music is hard work
In one of the later chapters, Prosser finds his way back to Rochester. To our Garbage Plates, to our snow-filled sidewalks, and to the first trumpet chair of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Thursday and Saturday at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, he will open Mahler's Symphony No. 5. Twenty seconds of fanfare, when the stage is his alone, leading into a crescendo opening of what Music Director Ward Stare calls "the biggest thing I have ever done with this orchestra."
"I wouldn't want to do Mahler 5 if I didn't have a strong principal trumpet," Stare says. "If you don't, you're in for a bumpy ride. The trumpet is the hero in the whole first movement."
Doug Prosser, principal trumpet player for the RPO, plays in Hatch Recital Hall earlier this month. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
"We all have our stories to tell," Stare says, suggesting that an understanding of the turbulent times and the turmoil of Gustav Mahler's life helps a 21st-century audience relate to a piece that debuted in 1901. The musicians performing Mahler 5 all have stories to tell as well.
Prosser's is a comeback story. In Barcelona, he was flirting with one of those beautiful women behind a jewelry counter and playing at the Barcelona Summer Olympics, but still came back to Rochester. And he came back to play the trumpet once again, spotlighted in the difficult Mahler 5, after being silenced by a curious malady that sometimes hits brass players.
The "Satchmo Syndrome," as one surgeon called it, based on his suspicion that the great jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong turned increasingly to singing when over-use of the muscles in his mouth led to soreness, pain and perhaps even physical damage. In Prosser's case, it was the extreme. It's the result of those chops — the word in the world of brass players for anything that comes in contact with their instrument's mouthpiece — getting pounded by a lot of pounds per square inch. The equivalent of a baseball pitcher who comes down with a torn rotator cuff after one curveball too many.
Prosser's response to the possibility that, at a mere 29 years of age, he might never play the trumpet again, was to turn to his days in high school shop class in Colorado. "I bought a bunch of power tools," he says. "I felt like a piece of me was dying. I was preparing myself for what might come."
The unexpected death of artistic aspiration, after a lifetime of preparation for playing trumpet in a symphony orchestra, was difficult. "Emotionally, I had a little bit of an obsessive-compulsive disorder with classical music," he admits. "It felt like a big calling. It was intense, single-minded."
Doug Prosser, principal trumpet player for the RPO, plays in Hatch Recital Hall near Kodak Hall in downtown Rochester Monday, April 3, 2017. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Prosser was born in Kansas but grew up in Colorado. He attended the Eastman School of Music, wrapped up his master's degree in 1987, and landed a part-time gig as third trumpet with the RPO. Until the orchestra went on strike. "I figured I'd go back to Colorado until this blows over," he says.
But the phone rang. It was the music director of the City of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, now in desperate need of a trumpet player. A mutual friend had recommended Prosser, who was now unexpectedly forced to recite his résumé over the phone to a complete stranger, "talking a big game." The Brighton Symphony Orchestra sounds good, but it's a volunteer community orchestra.
Perhaps it's his musician's ear, but Prosser has developed a fine ability to mimic voices. And to him, this guy talking on the phone from Spain sounded a lot like Christopher Lloyd's mad scientist character in Back to the Future.
"Zo, you are pretty goot?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty good."
"He hired me over the phone," Prosser says. "'You come to Barcelona.' Click. He never said goodbye or anything."
Of course Prosser was going to go. "It was a chance to play fresh out of school," he says.
Doug Prosser, principal trumpet player for the RPO, has had the opportunity to play all of Mahler's symphonies and will open the RPO's performance of Mahler 5 on April 20 and 22. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Finding his chops
During his eight years with the City of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Prosser had the opportunity to play all of Mahler's symphonies. "And Mahler 5 several times," he says. That's a pretty high profile for a long-dead composer who, for decades, had been forgotten.
By the time Mahler's Symphony No. 5 was first heard, "Old Europe was collapsing, World War I was coming," Stare says. "They were living in a militaristic, imperialistic atmosphere."
Mahler, apparently short on people skills, was a match for the times, which did little to endear himself to his contemporaries. His career was filled with feuds, shouting was a prime component of communicating with his musicians. Beset by health problems, including a legendary case of hemorrhoids, he died in 1911, just 51 years old.
By the time the Second World War swept through Europe, Germany had effectively silenced the work of its native son. Although Mahler was a lifelong agnostic, he was raised Jewish, and the music of Jewish composers was not performed.
Mahler owes his rediscovery to Leonard Bernstein, the legendary conductor who began presenting the music once again in the 1960s. The music was hugely complex and unrelenting; Mahler 5 is nearly 70 minutes long. And, as Stare said, the composition needs a standout trumpet player.
And what's a standout trumpet player without the chops?
By early 1992, Prosser was in too much pain to play. A neurologist diagnosed that the muscle of his upper lip was torn; reconstructive surgery was recommended.
"They make an incision, pull the skin back, suture the muscle, suture the skin, off you go," Prosser says.
Off you go. If only it were that easy.
"I really didn't have a clear idea how it was going to go," he says. "All I knew was, 'It could be this, it could be that, we'll see.' When you're in that space of the unknown, you don't really have any guarantees, and sometimes minds can work overtime."
"Oh yeah, he came home and thought his career was over," says his wife, Hildegard Mediano. There were other concerns in the household at the time; she was pregnant with their second child.
Prosser, obsessed with his classical music studies, was no star in high school shop class. But he liked the idea of acquiring a skill. So he bought the power tools. "I think I just wanted to do something creative to distract myself, while I was going through that period of my life," says. He built a bookshelf. And a little kitchen snack table.
"They were very artistic," Mediano says, supportively.
So perhaps a career in woodworking was at hand. "But, I'm generally an optimist, that's one of the reasons I was able to work through it," Prosser says of his rehabilitation, adding with a laugh: "Unless I'm dwelling on narcissistic old wounds."
There were two to three months of healing, followed by seven or eight months of "rebuilding my technique," he says. There's psychological recovery, regaining your confidence. I started with Strauss tone poems. I did OK. It's an ongoing process that took a few years."
By July, Prosser had healed enough to join the City of Barcelona Philharmonic Orchestra for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The orchestra was seated in the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, hopefully playing for 67,000 people, but went largely unheard. Instead, most of the crowd and the worldwide television audience could only hear the PA system blasting the orchestra's recordings of the national anthems of all 169 countries participating. Including Germany, competing for the first time as a united nation, and the four teams that had emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union.
The City of Barcelona Orchestra had come a long way in the first five years that Prosser was with it. "A lot of money was poured into it those years. They were spending money to do something I had always dreamed of.
"But some of that faded." He sensed the orchestra was turning its back on its ambitions and growing insular. Musicians left and were replaced by less-skilled players. The orchestra was taking on pieces by local composers, "so-called composers," as Prosser calls them. "After those first five years they were becoming provincial again, and there was a narrow-mindedness," he says.
"Professionally, I thought it might be time for me to go."
"When we got married, I knew at some point we were going to move, because he's a musician," Hildegard says.
The sheet music for Mahler 5, written in Mahler's own hand and side notations, in a book in Hatch Recital Hall in downtown Rochester. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Return to RPO
In 2005, Prosser heard that the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra needed a first-chair trumpet, and after winning an audition he took a year's leave of absence from Barcelona. The move became permanent as he began teaching at the Eastman School of Music, where he is associate professor of trumpet and brass chamber music. To his duties with the RPO, he's added frequent guest appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, "where I'm on stage with some of the finest musicians in the country," he says.
During his time in Barcelona, the final chapters of the Spanish mystery novel were solved. The trumpet player whose mysterious disappearance opened the door for Prosser had turned up as a cargo pilot.
Prosser successfully navigated what he calls the "cornucopia" of political intrigue that was post-Franco Spain, and pre-collapse of communism in Europe.
And after facing the possibility of losing the thing that had been his lifelong focus — playing trumpet — he understands the value of staying open to a wide range of experiences. "I talk to my students about that too," he says, "trying to get them to be a little more open-minded, and not be so myopically focused on one thing. About growing emotionally, developmentally, as a human.
"When I was a student, I wish I had learned a lot more jazz, been active in a lot more kinds of music."
Today, the 54-year-old Prosser and Hildegard, a court interpreter in the Hall of Justice, live in Fairport. Their three kids are 26, 25 and 21. There's a purebred dachshund as well, Bandit.
There has to be a love story in the novel, right?
In the fall of 1988, The City of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra was scheduled for a concert in East Germany. "A Russian jet showed up, a couple of hours late," Prosser says. "We were hanging out at the airport, and this gorgeous Spanish woman was arranging jewelry in a glass case. He and one of his fellow musicians walked over to the shop, pretending to be shopping.
"We flirted and smiled and talked," Prosser says. "Then we were told the plane was ready, we said a hurried goodbye.
"We sat on the runway for 20 minutes. Then they told us they were not going to let us into East Germany. They were not satisfied with the documentation on our instrument cases."
The Communists knew better than to trust musicians. The orchestra left the plane and returned to the airport terminal.
The jewelry clerk was still there. Hildegard.
"I said, 'I told the pilot I didn't have your phone number,'" Prosser says, "'so he turned the plane around.'"
As it happened, she was on her lunch break. They sat and talked. His Spanish was still sketchy, as was her English. But she did accept his offer for tickets to the next concert by the City of Barcelona Philharmonic Orchestra.
And, "I did get her number," Prosser says.
That's how music breaks down barriers. A year later, the Berlin Wall fell as well.
JSPEVAK@Gannett.com
What: The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mahler's Symphony No. 5 and Leonard Slatkin's Kinah.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22.
Where: Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs St.
Tickets: Ranging from $23 to $99, available at rpo.org, (585) 454-2100 and Wegmans.
Read or Share this story: http://on.rocne.ws/2pBjLz4
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'The Great Reappraisal': How managers are adapting to the age of flexible work
May 17, 2022 Michael Belfiore Freelance Journalist
Since the Great Resignation began, employers and managers have been scrambling to lead, and retain, workers in an environment that has been anything but stable. Beyond the initial impacts of turnover, the shift to remote and hybrid work is making managers realize that when it comes to keeping their employees happy, offering flexibility goes a lot further than a pizza party in the breakroom.
In part one of our two-part series on The Great Onboarding, we took a look at what it means to be a worker, job seeker, or move jobs in a time of unprecedented changes in the work world. This time, we take a look at the employer side of things.
As much as the world has changed for workers, so too has it changed for people doing the hiring. Workers are moving jobs in search of greener pastures, renegotiating the terms of their employment, and generally calling the shots more than they have before, putting increased pressure on employers.
But with all the challenges come opportunities. Opportunities to attract and retain talented workers wherever they happen to live, opportunities to create more friendly workplaces, and opportunities to serve customers more effectively. In other words, the rebalancing going on in the workplace can benefit workers and employers alike.
It starts with flexibility at work. Specifically, that means managing the work, not the worker, according to Phyllis Moen, University of Minnesota sociology professor and co-author (with MIT professor Erin Kelly) of Overload: How Good Jobs Went Bad and What We Can Do About It. "Looking at deadlines and bottom lines is far better than trying to monitor where people are [and] what they're doing every few minutes," she says.
Benefits of flexible work
The benefits to employers of flex work and adapting the workplace to help employees stay happy and healthy — not to mention at their companies — are legion. For starters, it makes for more productive workplaces, according to Moen.
"Productivity is hard to measure," Moen admits. Nevertheless, the on-the-ground (or, more accurately, in-the-cubicle) research that led to her book showed results indicative of greater productivity.
Key changes led to teams, individual workers, and managers feeling more productive. "They got rid of low-value work," Moen says of the workplace experiments she helped run. Out went meetings without clear agendas and time-consuming documentation of work in progress that no one read. As a result, teams focused more on their goals and less on busywork.
Other benefits of workplace changes instigated by Moen, Kelly, and their team include:
Reduced stress, as evidenced by reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Better sleep — not so much more of it, but of better quality and longer duration.
More exercise, resulting in more energy for work and fewer health problems.
Happier workers, leading to reduced turnover and lower healthcare costs.
The changes lead to better quality work, more creative problem solving, i.e., increased innovation at the organization, and more productive workplaces.
In Overload, Moen and Kelly lay out some concrete steps backed up by their research for improving the workplace through increased flexibility.
Help employees make time for both personal and work obligations
Balancing work and time doing other things has become a priority for workers everywhere, and employers must adapt to attract and retain top talent, the Overload authors say.
Part of that may mean letting workers decline meetings that are not strictly necessary. Doing so saves valuable time for everyone, reduces stress, and gives employees a greater sense of ownership over their work schedules so they can better handle other obligations like caring for children.
Moen advises employers to think explicitly about how work impacts their employees' personal lives and help them make adjustments to handle obligations at home. "Be supportive of people's whole lives," she says. "Supervisors, managers, employers just need to be supportive."
Allow remote and hybrid work arrangements
It may seem obvious, but cutting down on commuting reduces physiological wear and tear, increasing productivity. At the same time, some people work better at the office, at least some of the time. Give them choices, Moen advises.
"Time doesn't matter," she says. "Place doesn't matter." Instead, she advises judging the quality and timeliness of work rather than where and when it got done.
Moen and Kelly also note that it's vital to offer flexible working arrangements regardless of family situation or gender. Doing so avoids penalizing women — who have historically asked for more flex-time than men to help meet family obligations, often at the expense of promotions or pay raises.
Engage in dialogue with employees about what they need
Arriving at workplace adjustments collaboratively instead of through top-down edicts doesn't just keep everyone on the same page. It also fosters the flexibility workers and employers need to adapt to constantly changing conditions in the world and the economy.
Aim to establish a dual-agenda workplace, Moen and Kelly suggest in their book. That's where employees and managers in dialogue consider each other's needs when creating schedules and defining work tasks.
As part of this process, Overload suggests deploying collaboration technology in ways that foster seamless communication without insisting on never-ending availability and instant responses to requests.
"None of this would have been possible without these innovative communication technologies that have made it possible for you to work anywhere, any time," Moen says of the positive results of flexible work arrangements. That includes getting the maximum benefit of each worker's talents. "Technology is augmentation," she says. "That's how we should look at it." In other words, employers should see tech as a tool to help employees do their best work rather than as a means to control them.
Encourage time away from work
Helping employees unplug gives them valuable time during non-work hours to recharge so they can perform better on the job, say the authors of Overload. That may mean not sending requests after 6 pm or on weekends — or at least not expecting replies during off-hours.
The Overload authors even suggest going as far as to offer incentives for each day disconnected from work logins while on vacation. Ideas they offer for incentives include granting extra vacation time, paying small cash bonuses, and donating to an employee's charity of choice.
Consider replacing some full-time positions with part-time work
An even more radical approach to flexible work replaces one or more full-time professional positions with part-time jobs. Such arrangements could benefit older workers, parents, people with health issues, and workers returning to school, Moen and Kelly say in their book.
The Overload authors advise employers to track part-timers' hours to ensure they don't end up as de facto full-timers on part-time pay, creating a one-sided situation that benefits employers more than employees. It's just this sort of imbalance that contributes to talent leaving for greener pastures, the authors say.
Foster greater predictability for hourly workers
Moen and Kelly say more flexible work isn't just for knowledge workers. Retail and other workers who need to show up physically can also benefit from workplace changes. For example, giving them more predictable scheduling and assigning just the number of shifts they need — no more and no less — can improve worker satisfaction and productivity, according to Overload.
Ways the authors suggest to get there include cross-training staff to make it easier for workers to fill in for each other without having to call people in at the last minute and improving operational efficiency to reduce peak-time chaos.
All can help reduce stress, improve problem-solving, and deliver the other benefits of more flexible work.
Looking to the future of work
"We're not going back," Moen says of the era of top-down management styles that require workers to conform to rigid work structures. "People want more control over their lives." And they can get it, she points out. "That's why you're seeing this Great Resignation. I see it as the Great Reappraisal."
The world of work has changed, no doubt. The era of the breakroom pizza parties may be good, but opportunities abound for employers as well as workers to take advantage of the new era.


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You Go Along with This?
I think it was probably mid-'50s when I learned that flying the American flag upside down was a code for trouble, nation in distress. Boy scouts lore again. We also learned to march in close formation, and to savor Army surplus gear. The Army had a more practical canteen than the Scouts model, which operated more like a purse on a long strap. I had an Army canteen on camping trips to the mountains, and to the piney woods around Fort Bragg. But I also had a dad who often said I should "read between the lines," and so when he accompanied me to movies like Flying Leathernecks and Sabre Jet, the exciting air battles were tempered in my ten-year-old brain. Good thing I still think. I still managed to shoot a neighbor kid in the ankle with a .22 one Sunday afternoon when I was supposed to be at the movies--this was when I was older, probably 8th Grade. But I at least had the rifle pointed at the ground like my Dad always taught me when I accidentally discharged it, and the kid, Ed Marr was his name, went on to serve with honor in the 82nd Airborne, which meant that he could land a jump ok. He healed up in other words, and didn't decide to kill me!
But we learned a lot more than President Trump learned apparently, and thank god we didn't learn enough about living a cunning life to turn into what Trump also seems to be. There's certainly no question but that Trump learned, very long ago, that one need not ever "tell the truth." I always knew pretty well when I was lying. So did the rest of Troop 3 I think. Maybe we didn't really understand, in a way that involves real empathy, what those bullet holes that appeared in the airman's leg during the dogfight in Leathernecks actually meant. But we knew something. Maybe enough to start seeing through Vietnam, although I'll certainly give plenty of credit to Martin Luther King, Jr., who came some after the Boy Scouts in my education.
Anyways, it's pretty easy to see through Trump's phony patriotism, even when Pence articulates it in his masterful stylings of reprehence. Newt couldn't do it better, even with his new Vatican connections. And that gets us to General Kelly. USMC, Retired. Man of the Empty Barrel. With Trump there is always a kind of blur that must be contended with. Trump lives in masterful inarticulation. Kelly, the other day, was clear as ice, strolling amongst the tombstones and savoring the fact that, as he said, "I put many of them there." You'd think the only worthy soldiers in Kelly's army are the deceased. If you didn't know one of them personal, why you don't even deserve to sit with the adults and talk realities, even if those so-called realities include an utterly spurious rendition of an event Congresswoman Wilson attended which turns out (thank god) to be preserved on tape.
None of this is a surprise. General Kelly helped build his deportation force before switching jobs. Here's what some of them are doing, in Laredo, TX.
Border Agents Proudly Detain Just-Hospitalized Child Who Has Cerebral Palsy
Look at her. That's the face of evil right there. [photo of smiling ten-year-old girl with withered arm] That is the face of a future rapist or drug mule or murdering member of the MS-13 gang that has us all huddled in our houses, curtains closed in fear. Where will she strike? Whose job will she steal? Yeah, when you look at the grinning girl in a Moana t-shirt, you are seeing the insidious reality of the illegal immigration problem in the United States. And God help us if we don't treat her like the criminal she is.
Or, maybe, you could see little Rosamaria Hernandez, who was brought to the United States 10 years ago, when she was a 3-month old baby. Her parents wanted to get her more help for the cerebral palsy she has, and this week she was on her way to a hospital, from Laredo, Texas, to Corpus Christi, in an ambulance so she could get an emergency gall bladder operation.
The ambulance had to cross an immigration checkpoint, which led to Border Patrol agents discovering Rosamaria's status as an undocumented immigrant. They allowed her to get the surgery, accompanying the ambulance to the hospital, but they were stationed outside her room to take her away when she was well enough to be moved. The surgery was on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Border Patrol took her into custody and brought her to a detention facility in San Antonio to await deportation.
We're talking about a 10 year-old developmentally disabled girl with cerebral palsy who has lived all but 3 months of her life in the United States and who asked her mother over video chat, "Mom, where are you?" after she was being taken away. Oh, and she's got a grandfather who is a permanent U.S. resident and a cousin who is a citizen. If you can read those facts and not feel even a wince of empathy, you are a fucking monster who deserves this Trump-coated shit world we're damned to exist in. Hell, you probably love wallowing around in it.
I wonder how the Border Patrol agents felt doing this. I wonder if they were proud of how they were discharging their duties. I wonder if they went home after work and told their partners or spouses or other family how they were responsible for making sure that a little girl was taken away from her parents. I wonder if they thought for even a moment that they could have been using their time perhaps going after those drug mules. Or maybe stopping some human trafficking. I wonder if they thought it was really worth it, that it had been a good day. I suppose they could claim they were just doing their jobs, except that immigration enforcement standards say they shouldn't be targeting hospitals (let alone kids in hospitals).
And then I saw this: [photo of smiling uniformed Border Patrol agent]
That's one of the agents smiling as Rosamaria's bed rolled by. And I both had a moment of sympathy - here was a man who was obviously smiling to comfort a little girl going through a frightening situation - and more than a few moments of rage. Because that smiling son of a bitch is there to make sure that little girl's life is turned upside down and that damage is done to her that she may never recover from.
I hope smiling fuckface up there wakes up in the middle of the night, wondering if the anxiety that's pounding his chest is a heart attack, as he realizes that his life was devoted to hurting children. And I hope he'll tell his supervisors that it's bullshit and can't he go after real criminals. And I hope his supervisors will tell people at the Department of Homeland Security that it's bullsh--
Nah. Who am I kidding? He's fuckin' proud of what he did. And so are all of the idiot hordes who voted for this.
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2017/10/border-agents-proudly-detain-just.html
This is who we're saluting when we stand for the flag and then anthem today at all the sporting events, including some that will get hours of national attention later on in the evening, in Houston, TX, just up the road a bit from those streets of Laredo. It's of course not all we're saluting. It's of course always a mixed bag, this patriotism, unless and until some black day that's not quite here when the whole body of undoubtedly courageous young Americans who Kelly worships as the one percent, the true Americans, is so stained by his own hard corps of enforcers that the nice distinctions can no longer be made. It certainly has come to that in other places and other times.
We really ought to thank our stars for the handful of NFL players who are kneeling. Today I hope they're saving a place for that little girl who went to the hospital and is now in military custody and on her way, apparently, to a deportation to a place she's never known, and without her loving mother. This is General Kelly's logic, as it was the logic of General Sherman, and of Harry Truman. When you grow up--if you've learned enough--you can often see the tragic flaws before they are visible to those who embody them. All you can do, sometimes, is fly the flag upside down.
General Mattis, meanwhile, said that we're not the Peace Corps in Niger, we have guns. That didn't seem to me like some sort of consolation.
Posted by Fiddlin Bill at 11:44 AM


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Is the Gulf of Mexico safe for swimming? Dangers still lurk below
POLITICAL FIX FLORIDA
House speaker says he's against sugar land buy
Isadora Rangel, (@IsadoraRangel2)
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli dealt a blow to local hopes the state would buy land from sugar growers to help alleviate discharges into the St. Lucie River.
The Merritt Island Republican told Scripps/Tampa Tribune Capital Bureau reporters Thursday he is against the purchase, which would allow water from Lake Okeechobee south into the Everglades, saying he's a "proponent of agriculture."
"I don't think the state needs to own more land," he said.
Crisafulli also said the state should use money made available through Amendment 1 to preserve land it already owns.
Approved by more than 75 percent of voters last year, the amendment sets aside one-third of real estate transaction tax revenues through 2035 — totaling an estimated $22.6 billion and $757 million this year — to buy, restore, improve and manage conservation lands, including rivers and the Indian River Lagoon.


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Home > Canada News > Rent Advertisements in a Young Entrepreneur's Room
Rent Advertisements in a Young Entrepreneur's Room
(PRWEB) January 8, 2005 - For so long, internet advertising has seemed to be in a slump for creativity. It has always been the same old types and sizes whether it's those flashy banners, or annoying pop-ups. But now a new more creative advertising has emerged.
Patrick Hankinson, a young entrepreneur from Nova Scotia, Canada has promised that he would place advertisements in his bedroom to help him raise enough money so he could start his own business, without going through the hassle of taking out loans and finding investors.
The website (richpixels.com) shows Patrick's room constantly being updated with the new advertisements. The unique twist of this type of advertising is anyone who physically enters his room can see all the advertisements, as well as visit the website online and view the advertisements online via the pictures of his room.
According to Patrick, "I have always had a very entrepreneurial orientated mind. I've run almost every internet business from selling computers, web hosting, and computer reviewing websites. At one point my computer reviewing website was receiving close to 1 million visitors a month. I also had a video game published with Xtreme Games LLC. Currently, I am partnered with the owner of spycop.com and run a website called Gold Maker. I am trying just to raise enough money so I could start my own business and give others the opportunity to make money through my website." RichPixels.com has an affiliate system built in it, allowing anyone else to earn some extra money by helping Patrick sell his bedroom advertisements.
"Being actively involved in running my own internet websites, for quite some time now, I understand the huge potential of making money whether it's online or offline, but I also understand the amount of money that goes into creating a successful company. This is why I created this website, to help me raise enough money to start my own company, hopefully before my 18th birthday without getting investors, or taking out huge loans!"
But like most other teenagers he does have one mention in terms and conditions. "I also can't guarantee my room to always been clean, so bare with me."
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We completed a job today at Helensvale, where the customer had a severe roof leak in one section. On inspection, we lifted the tiles above the affected area and found that the existing sarking in that section was gaping and loose and not pulled firm. We therefore removed the tiles in this section, repaired the sarking to sit tight and flat once again and reinstated the roof tiles.
Sarking is an important element in a roof, as it prevents water from penetrating into your roof cavity, onto your roof trusses, insulation, ceiling and plaster. Depending on the environment and location surrounding your home, in some cases moisture tends to condense on the underside of the roofs when there is a particular temperature difference between the roof space and the exterior (e.g. cold nights). This condensed water drips onto the trusses, insulation and ceiling and can cause timber to decay and plaster to stain and deteriorate.
Sarking is a great extra protection in your roof, an extra 'insurance policy' and is recommended to preserve the longevity of your home.


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Main Topics General Nostalgia Talk « You are here
#40274 by Trakbytes
Afternoon folks. I am in the process of gearing up to resume updating the Trakbytes website and I was reminded of an unsolved mystery. Years ago I had a page on the site with a number of questions regarding some of the landmark moments in UK Drag Racing history. Most of them were answered (I think), but one that still remains is the details of the first side-by-side five second Funny Car race. A few people came up with suggestions, none of which I could find any information on to verify. I asked Bob Jarrett and he suspected it was at a Cannonball event, but couldn't offer any more than that.
So, does anyone out there have the answer?
Trakbytes
Re: First side-by-side Funny Car fives
#40275 by NitroWars
Chris, you could try asking Nick Pettitt... Or Gary Page may know.
NitroWars
Jim Broome
#40288 by Archie King
It's been a month, I wonder if you find an answer to this question?
Archie King
#40297 by Jappy
Jappy
#40320 by ukdrn
Seems like this question has got everyone stumped. I've asked around but still no definitive answer.
ukdrn
Jon Spoard
Cornwall UK
I think we have the answer now, thanks to Simon Groves. The earliest record we can find of two Funny Cars running side-by-side fives was at the 1996 Cannonball. John Spuffard ran 5.57/250 alongside a 5.76/208 from Gary Page.
I really thought it would have been earlier than that, but having trawled through all the material available to me it seems that this was the one.
I really thought it would have been earlier than that as well Chris.
Spuff running in the mid 5s before somebody ran a 5 with him seems strange but if that's the only record we can find.
Return to "General Nostalgia Talk"


During this weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live, there were very few jokes made at the expense of the show's host, Donald Trump. The fact that Trump had veto power over the sketches may or may not have had anything to do with that. But other than Larry David's jovial interruption, the biggest digs at Trump in the episode came from "Weekend Update" host Michael Che. As Che and fellow Update anchor, Colin Jost, explained on "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" Tuesday, the temptation to go a lot harsher was there.
Che worked in two solid digs at Trump over the course of "Update." One came at the tail-end of a Ben Carson segment when Che brought up President Obama's birth certificate woes. Joking that after being elected to office twice, Obama was still forced to show ID in order to get into the building, Che murmured, "And I'm talking about the guy hosting the show." You can see that aside around the three-minute mark in this video.
But just because he understood the protests, doesn't mean Che was unwilling to do his job. "I would do that show ten times out of ten," he said. "We're a comedy show and that's kind of what makes our show special is that we can have people like that on and we can try to make something out of it. We can address the elephant in the room in a unique way that a lot of shows can't do. We can flat out confront what it is people are protesting. And we can also be tongue in cheek." But I think most critics would point out that, with the exception of Che and maybe David, no one was really willing to confront or address Trump on Saturday night. Compared to, say, the time Sarah Palin appeared alongside Tina Fey, this most recent episode was downright toothless.


HomeBiographyYouTuber Ethan Klein's Net Worth, Bio, Age, Married, Wife, Children, Career, and more!
Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing.
Most of us get on the internet to have fun and get entertained, but a few others are making a whole lot of money aside from the internet. Ethan Klein is one of those lucky few people. He doesn't just make money through the internet but also has made a name for himself. He is a famous American YouTube comedian best recognized for the "h3h3Productions" channel which he performs beside his wife named Hila Klein. Their content or performances consist of comedy and commentary, reaction videos as well as sketch comedy.
Ethan Klein was born on June 24, 1985, in Ventura, California, the USA under the birth sign Cancer. As of early 2019, he is currently 33 years old. About his childhood days, he was born Ethan Edward Klein to his parents; father Gary Klein and mother Donna Klein.
Ethan spent his childhood life in Ventura with his family. He holds an American nationality and belongs to Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity.
Ethan completed his high school from Buena High School. Later on, he attended the University of California from the year 2004 to 2009. From there, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing.
Height & Weight: The 33 years' Youtuber, Ethan Klein has an average body built with the height of 5 feet 10 inches which is similar to YouTuber Jason Gastrow while his body weight is around 88kg.
Eyes Color: His eye color is brown which has reflected his personality to be independent and self-confident.
Aged 33 years, Ethan Klein is a married man for a long time. He is married to social media star Hila Klein. In 2011, the pair first met in Israel while Ethan was there on a trip. Immediately after their first meeting they became good friends and got romantically involved.
After a few months of their relationship, the couple tied the knot in 2012, in Israel. There are no records of their children until now. The couple is married for over six years and still going strong together without any rumors of separation and divorce issues.
Talking about Ethan Klein's glinting career, Ethan started his career as a marketing executive in Israel. He began his social media career in 2011. He started his own YouTube channel called h3h3Productions in the year 2011 and that channel has over 6,252,199 subscribers and more than 697 million views at present.
His most famous video named The Fine Bros Rant which earned nearly 3 million views in just over a month. His video "How to kiss — h3h3 reaction video" also became very popular. Ethan and his wife also run a second channel called 'Ethan and Hila', which has more than 2.1 million subscribers.
As per some sources, Ethan Klein's net worth is $2.5 million together with his wife, Hila Klein. The source of the couple income is from the YouTube channels that they own. Their channel includes h3h3Productions, Ethan and Hila as well as H3 Podcast.
The main source of income is h3h3Productions where they have more than 6 million subscribers. As per the socialblade, their channel makes around $4.5K – $71.3K per month and $53.4K – $855.2K yearly. Moreover, they also earn a revenue of around $660,000 a year from the ads in their videos.
Ethan Klein YouTube Channel, h3h3productions was announced as a YouTube channel of the year in 2016 by social media site named Reddit.
His video named VAPE NATION is the most famous in his channel with over 20 million.
He is the grandson of late American producer and screenwriter, Leonard Katzman.
Also have a look at the net worth, career, relationship, bio of Faze Censor, FaZe Blaze, and Khia Lopez.


IT WAS THE fastest, most luxurious ocean liner of its day, and whisked the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel, Marlon Brando and four US presidents across the Atlantic.
But now the SS United States sits derelict in a Philadelphia dock as a conservation group makes an urgent appeal for funding to save it from the scrap yard by the end of the month.
Moored on the Delaware River opposite an Ikea store, its paintwork is peeling, its funnels discolored by the sun. Footsteps echo in the cavernous interior, stripped long ago of the vestiges of the vessel's golden past.
On its maiden voyage on July 3, 1952 the 301-metre ocean liner crossed the Atlantic in a record three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes.
A marvel in elegance and technology, it was designed to be transformed rapidly – if the Cold War escalated – into a troop carrier and was therefore funded largely by the US government.
Its naval architect, William Francis Gibbs, also proclaimed it fire resistant thanks to its heavy use of aluminum.
A million passengers, Hollywood stars, politicians, industrialists and immigrants travelled the SS United States between America and Europe.
On board were three orchestras, a ballroom, two cinemas, 20 elevators and a swimming pool.
"Everybody that was a major contributor in their field, they were here," remembers 82-year-old Joe Rota, who went from elevator operator to bell boy to onboard photographer.
"The technology, the comfort, the speed, the food, everything was so perfect. We never had a breakdown, we were never late," he said, recalling memories of Prince Rainier, Brando, US president Harry Truman and Salvador Dali.
The Mona Lisa was also a passenger, coming home from an exhibition at the National Gallery in Washington.
She had her own cabin, outside which were placed size-15 shoes for polishing.
The idea apparently was to make people think the painting was being protected by a very large man also traveling inside the cabin.
But air travel quickly sounded the death knell for ocean liners and the SS United States was decommissioned on November 11, 1969 after 400 voyages. The ship, which could carry 2,000 passengers serviced by 1,000 staff, was no longer cost effective.
It was bought several times with various ideas of turning it into a casino, a cruise liner or a hospital ship, but nothing came of these proposals.
In 1984, its furniture and what remained inside were sold at auction. Then in 2011 it was bought by the non-profit SS United States Conservancy, whose director Susan Gibbs is none other than granddaughter of its architect.
The organisation is urgently appealing for donors and investors, in an effort to give the ocean liner a future it deserves such as a hotel, floating apartments, office space or a museum.
"It's like an horizontal skyscraper. It's exactly the height of the Chrysler building," said Gibbs.
She is making particular overtures to technology companies in a nod to its past as a marvel of technology.
She emphasised the available floor space, up to 500,000 square feet, and insists the ship is structurally very sound.
Gibbs said discussions are underway for what could be a "very innovative contemporary use of the spaces" and refers to the second life enjoyed by other liners, such as the Queen Mary and the Rotterdam.
"It could be extraordinary. Fingers crossed," she says.
But while waiting for projects to come to fruition, the association has to pay $60,000 a month to dock the ship.
Donations are coming in from all 50 states in America and from 36 countries, but the cost is unsustainable.
"We've never been closer to saving the SS United States, and we've never been closer to losing her," said Gibbs.
The board of directors announced recently their intention to sell the ship to the scrapyard if no new investors or donors come forward by the end of October.
"We need to have a game changing development," said Gibbs. An appeal has also been made to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"It was the most beautiful ship in the world," said Rota, still believing it can be rescued.
Read: What do you think of Dublin's new logo?
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Home/IASI
IASIadmin2019-05-06T18:29:48+03:00
City of residence of Iasi County, Moldova, Romania
The city of Iaşi is situated in the northeastern part of the country and spreads over seven quiet hills (Cetăţuia, Galata, Copou, Bucium-Păun, Şorogari, Repedea and Breazu), often compared to Rome. It is the cultural, economic and academic center of Moldova. Here we find the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, one of the mostprestigious academic institutions in Romania. From the historical point of view thecity is of great significance, being the capital of Moldavia between 1564-1859, oneof the two capitals of the United Principalities between 1859 and 1862 and thecapital of the Kingdom of Romania between 1916 and 1918 (during the FirstWorld War, when Bucharest was under German occupation).
Whoever wants to discover the city will enter here as a huge gateway to the historyof the Romanian nation. In Iaşi every stone speaks of the past", through the largenumber of monasteries, museums, memorial houses. Therefore, it can be said thatthe city of Iaşi is a true national museum, through the treasures of history and artthat it has, being the capital of Orthodoxy in the north of the country. It is also thelargest city in northern Romania, which can be visited in any seaso, and the placewhere great personalities of the country were born.
A place filled with history, Iaşi is a tourist destination that can be visited in anyseason. Among the goals you should not miss, we mention one of the symbols ofIaşi, namely the Palace of Culture. This impressive building is the work of I.D.Berindei. Its construction began in 1906 and only two decades later wascompleted, being inaugurated by King Ferdinand of Romania. Designed as a neo-gothic style, the Palace of Culture in Iaşi is remarkable for its grandeur andarchitectural details. At present, the Palace of Culture is home to many culturalinstitutions.The Copou Park, located on the hill of the same name, is an oasis ofgreenery in the capital of Moldova and the place where the great poet MihaiEminescu rested in the shade of the linden, that now is bearing its name. Next tothe Eminescu linden, the bust of the poet can also be admired, as well as theEminescu Museum, whose heritage includes important works and poems.
The Botanical Garden in Iaşi is the oldest in Romania. This space is a wonderfulplace, where thousands of plant species can be admired in all their splendor, thegarden that currently spreads over a 5 hectare area. Here ornamental plants aregrown, as well as Mediterranean, tropical, grassy, woody plants and a collection of800 varieties of roses can be admired. The Metropolitan Church of Moldavia and Bukovina, situated in the center of the city and where believers can worship at therelics of the Holy Mother Parascheva, considered by the christians as the protectorof Moldova. Each year, hundreds of thousands of believers come here to worshipand pray at the relics of Saint Paraskeva.
Ion Creangăs Bojdeuca from Iaşi, the first literary memorial museum in Romania,inaugurated on April 15, 1918. The house is located in the picturesque district ofŢicău Iaşi, where the great storyteller Ion Creangă lived between 1872 and 1889.
THE DANUBE DELTA


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Building Homes For Your Wellbeing – The WELL Building Standard
This article is about the latest building standard which focuses on protecting your wellbeing as well as the environment.
Homo sapiens built out of necessity. The first constructed structures were raised in the New Stone Age and were in the form of tents and shelters made of mammoth ribs, bamboo, clay and other locally available natural materials. These structures were designed to suit people's basic needs for protection from the elements and left no traces in the environment.
The Early Ancient Civilizations – Building To Last
The early ancient civilizations – the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Mesopotamians – were the world's first architects. Their buildings were large structures (i.e.: the pyramids), designed to last over centuries and were a testament of their culture and civilization. These structures are amazing feats of engineering and changed the face of the world forever.
The ancient civilizations died and were replaced by advanced modern civilizations. Technological developments influence our lives, our jobs, the homes we live in and the buildings we work in. But these changes aren't always good for our health.
The Sick Building Syndrome
In the 20th century, the sick building syndrome was identified. The sick building syndrome is a medical condition where people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or feel unwell for no apparent reason.
The symptoms include a wide range of conditions such as headache, eye, nose, and throat irritation, fatigue, dizziness and nausea.
This syndrome is linked to various causes: inadequate ventilation, deteriorating fibreglass duct liners, chemical contaminants from indoor or outdoor sources, and biological contaminants, air recycled using fan coils, traffic noise, poor lighting, molds. In short – our buildings were harming us.
Aside from us, our buildings and construction have a detrimental impact on the environment. According to research, the construction sector contributes to 23% of air pollution, 50% of the climatic change, 40% of drinking water pollution, 50% of landfill wastes and accounts for 40% of worldwide energy usage, with estimations that by 2030 emissions from commercial buildings will grow by 1.8%. (source)
Building to Protect the Environment
Our world has limited resources. It's up to us to protect it. It's up to us to design and build structures that don't harm our environment and our health.
That's why new standards of construction were developed during the 1990s such as BREEAM and LEED.
Learn more: Mihai-Toader Pasti – Building The Homes of the Future at EFdeN
These standards indicate that a building has achieved a certain level of environmentally-conscious design. They help building owners and operators to be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.
The next step in the sustainable or ecological architecture movement is designing for people's wellbeing.
image: agda.com.au
The WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard illustrates this goal and was developed in 2014 by the International WELL Building Institute.
The WELL Building Standard is the premier standard for buildings, interior spaces and communities seeking to implement, validate and measure features that support and advance human health and wellness.
The WELL Building Institute
The goal of the WELL Building Standard is to help architects create healthy buildings, which actively support their occupants' health and well-being.
WELL was developed by integrating scientific and medical research and literature on environmental health, behavioural factors, health outcomes and demographic risk factors that affect health with leading practices in building design, construction and management.
According to WELL, buildings should be functional and comfortable, built sustainably, contribute to their occupants' health and wellbeing and be able to adapt to their needs.
image: greenengineer.com
The standard covers seven core design aspects: Air, Water, Light, Nourishment, Fitness, Comfort, and Mind.
Here is how the WELL Building Standard contributes to the health and wellbeing of your family:
The WELL Building Standard™ establishes requirements that promote clean air and reduce or minimize the sources of indoor air pollution.
The standard promotes safe and clean water through the implementation of proper filtration techniques and regular testing in order for building occupants to receive an optimal quality of water for various uses.
3. Nourishment
According to the standard, fresh and wholesome foods are required, unhealthy ingredients are limited and better eating habits and food culture are encouraged.
The WELL provides guidelines that minimize disruption to the body's circadian system, enhance productivity, support good sleep quality and provide appropriate visual acuity.
It promotes the integration of physical activity into everyday life by providing the opportunities and support for an active lifestyle and discouraging sedentary behaviours.
6. Comfort
The standard establishes requirements designed to create distraction-free, productive and comfortable indoor environments.
It optimizes cognitive and emotional health through design, technology and treatment strategies.
For an in-depth presentation of these concepts, go to The International WELL Building Institute.


WHAT A method of pouring steel directly from the furnace into a billet, bloom, or slab directly from its molten form. WHY Continuous casting avoids the need for large, expensive mills for rolling ingots into slabs. Continuous cast slabs also solidify in a few minutes versus several hours for an ingot. Because of this, the chemical composition and mechanical properties are more uniform. HOW Steel from the BOF or electric furnace is poured into a tundish (a shallow vessel that looks like a bathtub) atop the continuous caster. As steel carefully flows from the tundish down into the water cooled copper mold of the caster, it solidifies into a ribbon of red hot steel. At the bottom of the caster, torches cut the continuously flowing steel to form slabs or blooms.


We recently updated our design for LeftAction's flagship petition site. It's built with extensive customization of the sharing and interaction flows using a combination of Drupal and SalsaLabs's CRM to support an active community of more than 1.5 million active users. LeftAction has been a client since 2010.


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Q: regex - Checking for characters within 'line range' Im trying to search for characters within a string, but only within a range of the search string itself.
For example, lets say I have to look for the character 'o' in;
the quick fox jumped over the lazy dog
But, I only need to search for this character with the range of character 20 (the letter 'd') and character 25 (the letter 'r').
How would I write a regex expression to match just this character between both positions?
I have tried ^(.{20})o(.{13})$ to no avail. All I can find is resources about character ranges, ([A-Z] for example) instead of positional ranges

A: You can use this regex :
/^.{0,20}.*(o).*r/

In this regex, an anchor is placed at first ^ to make sure the match begin from the first character of the string, next we move from 0 to 20, precisely the end of letter d of jumped, then we use .* because we don't know how much space to reach the char o and another .* till we reach r,
demo https://regex101.com/r/PLHS43/1
There is another way using this regex:
/^.{0,20}.*(o).*?r{1}/

It basically does the same but it stops when it found the first r and match the o what is between char 20 and 25
demo: https://regex101.com/r/3cX2gw/1

A: Do you have a compulsory search for a single regex? Unix prides itself on the passionate use of pipes to connect commands instead of writing complicated and therefore uncertain expressions.
in Shell
 echo 'the quick fox jumped over the lazy dog' | cut -c 20-25

or in Javascript:
 'the quick fox jumped over the lazy dog'.substr(19,6)

both will give a "d over" slice, and then a simple expression to find the letter "o" and make a section of what you want in the next step.

A: Designing an expression for the given problem is quite a puzzle, maybe we could just start with:
^.{0,21}\K((?:[^o]*)(o*)|(o*)(?:[^o]*)).{4}.*\K$

yet we'd encounter challenges, including the failure of 4 quantifier, when any o is being found.
My guess is that some sort of recursion might be required, difficult to integrate though.
Demo

A: If you want to capture a single o, you might use a capturing group:
^.{20}[^o]*(o)

*

*^ Start of string

*.{20} Match any character 20 times

*[^o]* Match 0+ times not o

*(o) Capture in group 1 matching o
Regex demo
If you want to capture multiple times an o and finite/infinite lookbehind is supported you might use:
(?<=^.{20,24})o

*

*(?<= Positive lookbehind, assert what is on the left is

*

*^ Assert start of string

*.{20,24} Match 20 - 24 times any character except a newline

*) Close positive lookahead

*o Match '
For example a regex demo in C#

A: This finds the letter "o" between the 20th and the 25th character in a string:
^.{20}[^o]{0,4}\Ko

**Explanation:
^               # beginning of line
  .{20}         # 20 any characters
  [^o]{0,4}     # 0 up to 4 any character that is not o
  \K            # forget all we have seen until this psition
  o             # the letter o

Demo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Showing http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8709060843 captured on Feb 6, 2009
Captured 2 times between January 30, 2009 and February 6, 2009
Bani-Etemad to Preside Jury of Dubai festival
TEHRAN (FNA)- The celebrated Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad has been appointed head of jury of the Muhr Asia-Africa Documentaries section of the 5th Dubai International Film Festival.
Meanwhile, the organizers of the festival that will take place from December 11 to 18, have also selected the Iranian actress and director Niki Karimi as a member of the jury for the Muhr Asia-Africa Features.
A number of Iranian films will be screening in various categories of the event, Tehran Times reported.
Nader Davudi's "Aref Squared" will go on screen at the Muhr Asia-Africa Documentary Section and Ramtin Lavvafipur's "Be Calm and Count to Seven" will be competing in the Muhr Asia-Africa Feature Film Section.
In addition, "The Song of Sparrows" by Majid Majidi and "Three Women" by Manijeh Hekmat have also been slated for screening at the festival's Cinema of Asia-Africa Section.
"35 Meters from the Water" by Hooman Seyyedi has been scheduled for screening at the Muhr Asia-Africa Short Section of the event.
The Muhr Award for Excellence in Arab Cinema was launched in 2006, with the aim of recognizing Arab filmmakers both regionally and internationally. In 2008, the Muhr Awards for Excellence have been expanded to include two separate competitions: one for the Arab Muhr Award, and the other for the Asia-Africa Muhr Award.