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Search Results: 204 books from 3 publishers. Learn more ›
The Tiger Lily Code
Janet Lorimer (author)
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781602919174
Who is revealing Sweet Scents corporated secrets to rival Eden Cosmetics? When Kim's sister is accused of spying and is fired by Sabrina Sweet, Kim becomes a detective.
The House on the Hill
Janice Greene (author)
Devin purchases an old house with a secret past without consulting his new wife, Sarita. While Sarita detests her new home, Devin loves it and undergoes a serious personality change.
Look to the Light
Jill is left a gorgeous but decaying house on a prime piece of beachfront property from her cousin Aggie. Can she find the money to fix it up or will she have to sell it to an unscrupulous real estate agent?
The Eye of the Hurricane
Laina, Bobby, and Cesar are trapped in a flooding house with three small children during a terrible hurricane.
Anne Schraff (author)
Brevin McCoy had everything going for him, until a mysterious poison was given to him at a party; since then all he wants is his old life back.
The Very Bad Dream
Surely Valerie Monroe's nightmare was not real. But it felt real, and the news on the television frightened her even more. Was she a witness to a real crime? Maybe it wasn't a dream!
The Accuser
Ricky is the only family Donyell Mason has left. When Ricky becomes a prime suspect in a terrible crime, Donyell sets about to clear his big brother.
75-Cent Son, The
Humiliated by his father's constant criticism, a dyslexic young man proves his worth when a fire threatens to sink their ship.
Mystery Quilt, The
Rachel was desperate for a topic for her term paper for her least favorite class- history. But the impeding due date and her need to begin writing conflicts with her mother's plans for Rachel's 20th birthday.
Experiment, The
Psychology professor Odin Fruder has had it. He designs a very special project for his most disruptive students.
Kula'i Street Knights
Who are the strangers in Eddie Kahele's Honolulu neighborhood? The old people are calling them heroes. But Eddie suspects there's a lot more to the story.
Black Widow Beauty
Monique Reed is a gorgeous girl, all right. Is it her fault that every guy she dates ends up having a freak accident.
Danger on Ice
The police swore that the hulking serial killer was dead. Then Ken Hudson sees Leviathan standing right there in the doorway.
Empty Eyes
There's something odd about the attendants at the Painted Desert Resort. Brad can't shake the feeling that they never stop watching him.
The Beginning: Book 5
Sara Michelle (author)
Cecilia has always been secure in her world. A high school cheerleader, she is pretty and popular. And she dates Ryan, one of the cutest boys in her school. She leads a charmed and pampered life. Clearly everyone forgot the warnings buried deep in the quatrains of Nostradamus-- the end of days. When the world they know is destroyed, will their struggle to survive destroy their love? This new normal-- this new life-- is cruel and unpredictable and tests both of them in ways that they've never imagined. But it's not the end, only the beginning, but the beginning of what? Jesska's eyes were filled with confusion ... and fear. The Hummer's headlights created an eerie glow. Ryan was determined. Survival. Meant. Everything. Cecilia would live. They would all live. But nothing prepared him for what he was about to do. And the whirring blades of the helicopters
The Others: Book 3
Cecilia has always been secure in her world. A high school cheerleader, she is pretty and popular. And she dates Ryan, one of the cutest boys in her school. She leads a charmed and pampered life. Clearly everyone forgot the warnings buried deep in the quatrains of Nostradamus-- the end of days. When the world they know is destroyed, will their struggle to survive destroy their love? This new normal-- this new life-- is cruel and unpredictable and tests both of them in ways that they've never imagined. But it's not the end, only the beginning, but the beginning of what? Just when I was about to lose it again, someone knocked on my door. My heart began beating faster and butterflies twirled in my stomach. It felt wrong. I hadn't felt this nervous about seeing Ryan in months. He always made me feel just right. Why did I have to worry about him now? I coughed and tried to straighten my shirt. I sighed and walked over to open the door. When I did, it wasn't exactly who I was hoping for, but it was good enough. It was Daniel.
The Outside: Book 4
Cecilia has always been secure in her world. A high school cheerleader, she is pretty and popular. And she dates Ryan, one of the cutest boys in her school. She leads a charmed and pampered life. Clearly everyone forgot the warnings buried deep in the quatrains of Nostradamus-- the end of days. When the world they know is destroyed, will their struggle to survive destroy their love? This new normal-- this new life-- is cruel and unpredictable and tests both of them in ways that they've never imagined. But it's not the end, only the beginning, but the beginning of what? In the end, we agreed that we would be heading north toward LoDo: the Lower Downtown Historic District. Cecilia and I had arrived at the shelter from the south, so I had no idea what to expect in LoDo. But by traveling this way, we would pass by some of the richer suburbs, like Cherry Hills Village. The weather had been pretty good, but it was still the middle of the winter on the Front Range.
The Aftermath: Book 1
Cecilia has always been secure in her world. A high school cheerleader, she is pretty and popular. And she dates Ryan, one of the cutest boys in her school. She leads a charmed and pampered life. Clearly everyone forgot the warnings buried deep in the quatrains of Nostradamus-- the end of days. When the world they know is destroyed, will their struggle to survive destroy their love? This new normal-- this new life-- is cruel and unpredictable and tests both of them in ways that they've never imagined. But it's not the end, only the beginning, but the beginning of what? From what we've calculated, it's been seven days since The End. We don't really have a more suitable name for it. There was absolutely no warning. It was three days after Christmas. We were alone and scared. Nobody expected the theories and stories to actually come true. After 2012 passed with no strange activity, the whole idea of the apocalypse seemed like rubbish. But we were proven terribly wrong. Nostradamus got it right after all.
The Inside: Book 2
Cecilia has always been secure in her world. A high school cheerleader, she is pretty and popular. And she dates Ryan, one of the cutest boys in her school. She leads a charmed and pampered life. Clearly everyone forgot the warnings buried deep in the quatrains of Nostradamus-- the end of days. When the world they know is destroyed, will their struggle to survive destroy their love? This new normal-- this new life-- is cruel and unpredictable and tests both of them in ways that they've never imagined. But it's not the end, only the beginning, but the beginning of what? This situation was way out of my control. I was willing to give up anything to go back to the way things were before... I tried my best to comfort and reassure Cecilia that somehow everything would be okay. But I really couldn't be convincing when I could barely convince myself. We were walking into an unknown world. A world without leadership. No government. No medicine. No transportation. No food except what we could grow... or kill. It was going to be mass chaos.
Settle Down / Be Real (Cheer Drama / Baller Swag)
Stephanie Perry Moore (author)
Urban Teen Fiction Flip Book - showing the point of view from two sides- the cheer squad and the football team. Want a different point of view? Just flip the book!...because every story has two sides. The Lockwood High cheer squad has it all. And the ballers are hot, tough, and on point. But where there's cheer, there's drama...The girls story are part of Cheer Drama - Always Upbeat, Keep Jumping, Yell Out, Settle Down, and Shake It. The boys stories are Baller Swag - All That, No Hating, Do You, Be Real and Got Pride. Together they tell the story of high school couples through the eyes of the cheerleading squad and the varsity football team. The first letter in each book, C-H-E-E-R, and B-A-L-L-ER, represent the names of the featured high school couple. Settle Down (Cheer Drama): Eva Blount is a salty girl with a bad rep and attitude to spare. Everyone knows not to mess with her. She speaks her mind. She does her thing. She holds her own. Guys, in her opinion, are good for just a few things: a free meal, some quick cash, and a good feeling. But one guy takes it too far. Be Real (Baller Swag): Landon King was born with a silver spoon: he has talent, smarts, and looks to spare, so why does the star wide receiver feel the desperate need to fit in with thugs and lowlifes? Landon's famous parents have little time for their children, which does not sit well with Landon. Then a devastating memory resurfaces and Landon's world crashes down around him.
Yell Out / Do You (Cheer Drama / Baller Swag)
Urban Teen Fiction Flip Book - showing the point of view from two sides- the cheer squad and the football team. Want a different point of view? Just flip the book!...because every story has two sides. The Lockwood High cheer squad has it all. And the ballers are hot, tough, and on point. But where there's cheer, there's drama...The girls story are part of Cheer Drama - Always Upbeat, Keep Jumping, Yell Out, Settle Down, and Shake It. The boys stories are Baller Swag - All That, No Hating, Do You, Be Real and Got Pride. Together they tell the story of high school couples through the eyes of the cheerleading squad and the varsity football team. The first letter in each book, C-H-E-E-R, and B-A-L-L-ER, represent the names of the featured high school couple. Yell Out (Cheer Drama): Sweetheart Ella Blount is always a pushover when it comes to her girls. And she'll do anything to keep them together, walking a fine line between what is right and feeling guilty for going against her better judgment. But the line has been crossed, and she's caught in a cheating scandal that jeopardizes her GPA and her status on the squad. Do You (Baller Swag): For hunky player Leo Steele, football is his life. Leo has suffered some hard knocks, the latest being his mother's abandonment. The talented defensive end starts squatting in the school; with nowhere else to go, it's his only safe choice. But when the local gang, who have beef with Leo, discovers him alone on the deserted campus, he suffers a brutal beating.
Shake It / Got Pride (Cheer Drama / Baller Swag)
Urban Teen Fiction Flip Book - showing the point of view from two sides- the cheer squad and the football team. Want a different point of view? Just flip the book!...because every story has two sides. The Lockwood High cheer squad has it all. And the ballers are hot, tough, and on point. But where there's cheer, there's drama...The girls story are part of Cheer Drama - Always Upbeat, Keep Jumping, Yell Out, Settle Down, and Shake It. The boys stories are Baller Swag - All That, No Hating, Do You, Be Real and Got Pride. Together they tell the story of high school couples through the eyes of the cheerleading squad and the varsity football team. The first letter in each book, C-H-E-E-R, and B-A-L-L-ER, represent the names of the featured high school couple. Shake It (Cheer Drama): Randal Raines is trapped between two cultures and awkward in both. Sensitive and shy, Randal craves to belong. She is embarrassed by her white mother and uncomfortable in her own skin. Trying to hard to fit in, she goes off the deep end and risks losing it all. Will Randal learn what it means to be "more than one?" Got Pride (Baller Swag): Coach hopes that ER Stone's kicking ability will be just what the Lions need for a championship year. The season may rest on ER's shoulders. But ER's eligibility is in question, and the other ballers are not too thrilled to have a white boy on their star team. Everyone is tense with so much on the line, which leaves ER wondering if this environment is the right fit.
Falling Out of Place
M.G. Higgins (author)
Gabby Herrera is not like her perfect sister, Celia--straight-A student, obedient, responsible. Her parents don't get it. They don't get er C-average report card. Her love for basketball. "The three of them think anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, I've tried. It's not possible." She can't be who she is unless she is just like them. And if she's not like them, she's not a real person. She's a broken person. A broken Herrera. And that is unacceptable.
Unchained
L.B. Tillit (author)
After two years in a loving home, TJ's mother got him back. She was clean. No pot. No meth. His chest felt like it was burning. His heart was racing. Trapped. He felt trapped. He didn't have a say. Everything he had come to care about would be gone: Miss Dixie, hot meals, friends, Mae's little hand, and Annabelle. And the brutal life he'd escaped quickly reclaimed him. Kaden Cruz didn't run after him. Instead his voice boomed, "You owe us." TJ didn't look back. But he knew this wasn't the end of Kaden Cruz. He could still hear his father's voice. "It's not free. You'll have to pay them back one day."
Sixteen-year-old Neema Powell was always the best-looking girl in school. Her girlfriends said that she looked like Beyonce, with beautiful caramel skin and a body others would kill for. But right now she was a wreck. Her mother's sleazy boyfriend was towering over her screaming, "Get out!" And her own mother wouldn't even look at her as she walked out of the apartment into the dead January day. Neema knew that Nate, her boyfriend, would take care of her. I'll give Mom a couple of days to calm down, Neema thought, and I'll swing by to pick up a few items. Like my pills. A couple of days couldn't hurt. But those two days made all the difference, and Neema must draw from somewhere deep for the inner strength she will need.


The state of the "NIA World" can only be described as good. Although 2006 was not without its challenges, it is hard to find an industry participant who did not have a good year and is not optimistic about 2007. Projects are plentiful, sufficient capacity of materials is available, there is a shortage of qualified labor, and margins are trending in a positive direction—all of which directly translates to improved profitability. Depending on one's definition, in fact, "good" may be conservative.
The U.S. commercial and industrial mechanical insulation world is full of opportunities, while the challenges facing the industry are relatively small in comparison to the difficulties present in today's complex global marketplace. The industry continues to adjust to market and competitive demands, as well as the fluctuating economy and political climates. The industry's resilience and flexibility is taken for granted by some and baffles others. As with all industries, when business is robust, the bad times are easily forgotten; when business is slow, the whining and hoping for better times becomes the center of the universe. The good times—or the latest market recovery—for the NIA World began in late 2003 and early 2004, and it is forecast by many to continue through 2007. Some forecast a flattening of the market to begin in late 2007, and they have begun to examine its potential effects on their businesses; others are beginning to practice the art of whining.
With a market subject to cycles that are driven by factors outside the direct control of industry participants', continual change is inevitable. The NIA World is not immune to that characterization. It is vulnerable to cycles that create opportunities and challenges that have proven to net long-term market growth and, in some cases, fundamental changes in the industry. Some of the changes are temporary in nature, while others have become imbedded in the core of the industry.
Regardless of whose crystal ball one looks into, the opportunities appear to be abundant. Projected growth rates vary by product, geographic area, industry segment, market, etc. Even the most doomsday forecast, however, does not predict any significant decline in business for the NIA World over the next several years. Of course, to some a flattening or slight decline may be seen as a catastrophe requiring defensive actions to preserve what they deem to be acceptable performance. To others, it is an opportunity to breathe and strengthen the ranks for the next surge in business. These varying opinions and positions motivate much discussion in the NIA World (some call it rumor control central).
Here are a few of the most current opportunities, challenges, and potential fundamental changes in the insulation industry.
Ever since the two catastrophic fiberglass manufacturing facility fires in 2003, import and acceptance of foreign-manufactured materials have been more amenable to all industry participants. This is true for the fiberglass segment, as well as all other material segments. Distributors who had their supply line alliances and views on demand versus supply challenged as a result of the fires are much more open to establishing alternative supply sources. Contractors who had difficulty obtaining materials certainly have a different approach to the market as it pertains to alternative materials. The end user, in many cases, does not place primary importance on "made in the United States" if the product meets the specification. Therein lies a very important question: Does the foreign-manufactured material meet the specification? It may look and feel the same—and come in a similar wrapper—but are the composition, health and safety aspects, quality, and performance standards measured on the same basis as U.S.-manufactured materials?
This discussion is not focused on manufacturers that are major contributors to the U.S. market and have plants outside the United States. They may have supplied material or supplemented their U.S. manufacturing from those plants both before and after the 2003 fire era. Instead, materials imported through a variety of other channels are the focus of this discussion.
Imports increased dramatically in the months immediately following the 2003 fires and began subsiding within a year. The estimate as to their current market share varies greatly. It is believed to be relatively small, but it still poses a continual threat.
This article does not suggest that imported materials are inferior to those manufactured in the United States. It simply raises a caution flag to individuals and companies considering the use of foreign-manufactured materials. Are the materials tested and performance measured on the same basis as U.S. materials? The burden of proof and ownership of the material ultimately lies with the end user, but all channel participants involved in the decision-making process will shoulder some degree of responsibility if a failure occurs. A failure of any magnitude, regardless of cause, is detrimental to the industry. Assumption of equivalence and warranty support could be costly.
Most materials are subject to multiple tests—including thermal conductivity, compression strength, and fire rating—to validate their performance. Do we, as industry consumers, see the test listed on a data sheet and take for granted that the material was tested in accordance with the listed standard, and that the results are current and actual? Of course we do. But what do we know about the respective standard? Does the manufacturer need to test its materials on a regular basis, or can it test the material once and continue to publish the same results even if the manufacturing process or composition has changed? Can testing be done in house, or is third-party testing required? Who polices the validity of the published data? All of these are interesting questions, and their importance is potentially compounded with foreign-manufactured materials.
What is the role of the organizations that have established the standards by which the materials should be tested? What is the role of the manufacturer? What is the role of competitive manufacturers? Should they be the police and challenge the results of their competitors? What is the role of the distributors or contractors? Should they ask for copies of the actual test reports? The NIA World has been basically self-policing and trusting the published information. That is not a bad model. However, the world has changed. Industry members operate in a complex, competitive, and legalistic global market that requires all companies to have greater knowledge than ever before on a variety of subjects, including material standards, test procedures, and test results.
Manufacturers are generally more knowledgeable about testing procedures and standards than distributors and contractors. Many specifiers and end users rely solely upon channel participants for knowledge on this subject or simply request assurance that all materials comply with the listed standards. Given the importance and the varying degrees of knowledge on testing procedures and standards, the industry may need to look at an educational initiative on the topic. Perhaps the organizations establishing the standards or testing procedures should take the lead. It would be beneficial to all direct and indirect industry participants. Business is just not simple anymore.
Manufacturers have improved—and will continue to improve—the materials they offer to the industry. They are addressing the quality of their materials, packaging, delivery, administrative processes, and a host of other initiatives to improve quality and customer service, and to lower cost. The industry needs that commitment to improvement. To those committed to that end, on behalf of the industry, thank you.
True product innovation has not been one of the cornerstones of the industry over the last few decades. Many great improvements have been introduced; but truly new products, finishes, and application methods have been limited or slow in coming. In the last several years, however, there appears to have been a surge of new products and approaches—from nanotechnology insulation systems to finishes and application techniques that are intriguing and may offer significant advantages.
Product innovation and continual rollout of new products and systems add excitement to the industry and give everyone a renewed opportunity to sell. What a novel idea: Sell new products and systems, emphasize the values of reliable customer service, and differentiate your company from the competition. That sure sounds more motivating and rewarding than the old price game.
The industry may want to consider being more diligent in examining and educating industry participants about new products or possible crossover products from other industries. If warranted, the industry may want to take a more active role in embracing the introduction and use of these crossover products in the NIA World, pointing out the differences in testing procedures, standards, and properties. These products may be great, but their performance may be highly reliant on specific installation procedures, and it may be measured by different standards that are not traditionally recognized in the mechanical insulation industry.
Too many new products or choices could lead to market confusion. That is a real-world problem in a competitive market, especially when an industry does not have a governing body. Education is a real positive.
The knowledge base of mechanical insulation systems at the engineering, architectural, and facility-owner levels over the last 15 to 20 years has, in many cases, eroded. The root cause can be summarized as a by-product of the corporate world's drive for profits, right sizing, multitasking, etc. Regardless of the cause, the fact remains that mechanical insulation is not a field that is currently attracting specialization in the engineering, architectural, or maintenance arenas. This reduced knowledge base has led mechanical insulation to be improperly used (or not used at all) and undervalued in many applications.
For years, insulation manufacturers were the educators of the industry. They had specialists who focused on the engineering, architectural, and facility-owner communities, and they did a good job. They fell victim to the same root cause as the engineering and architectural communities. While some manufacturers have now returned to their education efforts, it is more difficult than it was just a few years ago. The electronic age, time pressure, and the need to contact so many more people have made it difficult to spend quality time with influential individuals in the specifying community.
Awareness and education need to be major focal points of the industry. Improved awareness of the benefits of properly specifying, installing, and maintaining mechanical insulation systems is more important to the industry today than it ever has been. As the proper and additional use of mechanical insulation improves, everyone—including manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and, most importantly, end users—benefits.
Increased knowledge and use of mechanical insulation can provide an unrivaled return on investment (ROI) opportunity in both the new construction and maintenance markets. It can also help reduce dependency on foreign energy sources, improve the environment, and grow the economy. But how many specifiers and end users understand this and can quantify the ROI?
Awareness of and education about the benefits of mechanical insulation at all rungs on the ladder are essential to the growth and prosperity of the industry. The challenge is to accomplish that objective in a reasonable time period, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. One thing is clear: The responsibility for this rests on all industry participants. No one segment or company can or should be asked to bear the total burden. All industry participants will benefit, so they should all bear the moral, ethical, and financial responsibility. This is not something that can be solved overnight or by a one-time financial contribution. This is an ongoing opportunity to improve and grow the industry. What an opportunity it is! Now is the time to think about mechanical insulation, the industry, and the role of your industry association differently.
For many years the contractor and distributor segments of the mechanical insulation industry have been characterized as a group of small, family-owned and -operated businesses. That same characterization applied to many of the smaller manufacturers. There are several second- and third-generation companies in the industry. Some companies have executed a successful transition of ownership to management, while others sold their companies to other industry participants (industry consolidation). Does this characterization still apply today? Will it apply 5 years from now?
Consolidation over the last 10 to 15 years certainly has changed the industry's profile. It is more evident in the distributor and manufacturer segments than in the contractor segment, but it has still affected contractors. With only a few exceptions, consolidation has so far been driven by industry participants rather than outside investors. Is that changing?
The mechanical insulation industry is now attracting more investment banking firms to invest in the industry. The building products industry, and especially the mechanical insulation segment, traditionally has not been a primary target or attraction for investment. That could be changing. How will this affect the industry?
Investment banking firms normally take a hands-on approach with their investments by providing financial, advisory, and/or management services where needed, or assisting the company in executing its strategic plans (such as mergers, divestitures, acquisitions, and restructuring). They bring a fresh approach by examining traditional ways of doing business and looking for ways to improve performance. The biggest difference is potentially the long-term view of ownership or investment in the business.
Investment firms are in business to make money on their investments for the benefit of their shareholders. Why else would they be investing? Their view is normally shorter term than many "inside" or "family" investors. There may not be a magic formula, but it certainly is perceived that investment banking firms pursue some form of significant financial transaction on their investments within 3 to 7 years. There are many types of potential transactions that could occur, not just selling the business.
Investment firms may have a different view of acceptable financial performance and a company's worth than that of an inside or family investor. The investment firm continually seeks to raise the bar, challenging the logic that "this is how we have always done business." Examining and exploring new avenues to improve performance can only be viewed as a positive direction for the industry. No one will ever object to increased profitability and value for a company. Unfortunately, that success sometimes comes with a price that can create individual hardships. The "good old boy" ideals and family atmosphere of a company could take on a different perspective. Change sometimes can be difficult. Change is not always wrong, though—just different.
The dynamics that investment banking firms could, and probably will, bring to the industry will be well received by some and dreaded by others. ("Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.") History will be the judge and jury of their contribution to the industry. One thing is for sure: It will be exciting, while challenging, and will present many opportunities to all industry participants.
A shortage of qualified labor in any industry creates its own set of unique challenges. The question—about which there are varied opinions—is this: Will the shortage in the mechanical insulation industry be a short-term or a fundamental, long-term challenge?
The mechanical insulation industry is represented by both union and non-union labor forces. The problem appears to be universal to both segments and varies greatly by geographical area. Each segment has its own approach to recruiting and training personnel. However, if the shortage is expected to be long term, both segments should accelerate investment in their programs.
Immigration laws and their enforcement can affect recruitment efforts, but that should not be the only recruitment avenue pursued—nor should it be hidden behind as a barrier to recruiting personnel. The opportunities available in the mechanical insulation industry are not well known in high schools, trade schools, or colleges. Many people do not understand the insulation trade. They do not understand that mechanical insulation is a major contributor to the country's energy independence, to protecting the environment, and to helping U.S. manufacturers compete in a global market. They do not understand the opportunities that are available, or that working in the industry could offer them a source of pride. Maybe the industry needs to examine some grassroots approaches to a long-term recruitment program and reduce its dependence on short-term migrant labor. That is something to think about.
How does your company's performance compare to the industry average? Is revenue up or down? Maybe your revenue is up 2 percent, but the industry's is up 8 percent. Say you are looking to sell your company, and the potential buyer asks for information on the industry. Where do you send them to get the information? There are many reasons the mechanical insulation industry would benefit from performance benchmarking and industry data.
In the past, many participants from all industry segments have reacted negatively to participating in surveys that contained information pertaining to their companies' performance. The reaction has been, "My company's information is super-secret stuff." Whether that reaction is driven by trust-related matters or not understanding the value of having meaningful comparative data, or both, remains a mystery.
The profile of the industry has changed.
Outside investors are looking more closely at the industry.
Insulation is and is destined to be a larger part of the country's energy conversation and environmental protection strategy.
Internal and external shareholders want more information.
Is it time to revisit the value of and process for obtaining timely and meaningful company performance benchmarking and industry data?
The value of this type of information is different to each industry segment. Different questions apply to manufacturers, contractors, and distributors. Participants from each industry segment would view the information from different perspectives, but it would be beneficial to all. Amassing the information could be accomplished by a reputable third-party firm that specializes in gathering, analyzing, and publishing data in a process that maintains the confidentiality of "super-secret stuff" and does not offer an advantage to any one reader or group. The mechanical insulation industry is overdue for this information. Yes, some industry participants may be unique in many aspects; but other industries have unique areas and casts of characters, and they have developed performance benchmarking and industry data that is updated on a regular basis. Is the mechanical insulation industry that different?
The NIA World is alive and well. It is stronger today than it has been in years and is continuing to grow. The mechanical and industrial insulation industry is not without its challenges, but the opportunities are far greater than the difficulties.
The need to communicate and educate specifiers and end users about the benefits of properly specifying, installing, and maintaining mechanical insulation has never been greater or more timely. Consider the following topics: energy conservation, process control, condensation control, mold prevention, corrosion under insulation (CUI), reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, safety, workplace environment, sustainable design, and ROI. Any of these is vital in today's business environment. Mechanical insulation receives little respect and is taken for granted. While insulation is a powerful resource when designed, applied, and maintained properly, this technology is often forgotten or put on the bottom of the list and ignored. This valued technology is misunderstood by many, and is underutilized and undervalued. Now is the time to change that by thinking about insulation, the value of insulation, and the role of your association differently. Now, possibly more than any other period in recent history, is the time to invest in industry initiatives.
The industry is continually changing, opportunities are developing in all segments, and the challenges are not insurmountable. A recent report by an international research group forecast that the total world market for mechanical insulation would increase by 3 to 5 percent annually through 2009. The North American market, depending upon the segment, would experience annual growth rates of 2 to 5 percent during that same period. Adding up all of the components yields a great formula for success. This is an exciting time for the industry, its participants, and the National Insulation Association. The NIA World is a good place to be.


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Q: Remove characters from a cell and divide remaining float by 2 in python pandas I have a dataframe with multiple columns where some cells contain the characters "DL" and a float. The other cells contain floats only.
For example:

Column1
Column2

row1
DL10.4
5.6

row2
4.7
DL8.8

I want use python to remove the characters "DL" and divide the remaining floats by 2. The cells without characters should be unchanged and not divided by 2.
Expected result:

Column1
Column2

row1
5.2
5.6

row2
4.7
4.4

A: Use Series.str.extractSeries.str.extractall for values after DL, divide by 2 and replace non DL valeus by original DataFrame:
df1 = df.apply(lambda x: x.str.extract('DL(\d+\.\d+)', expand=False))
df = df1.astype(float).div(2).fillna(df).astype(float)
print (df)
      Column1  Column2
row1      5.2      5.6
row2      4.7      4.4

A: You could use applymap() method on the original DF and store the result in a new DF:
df2 = df.applymap(lambda x: float(x[2:])/2 if isinstance(x, str) else x)

This checks if the value is a string then slices all characters except the first two before converting to a float and dividing by two.
And if you want to keep the values rounded to 1.d.p you can just use the modified version below:
 df2 = df.applymap(lambda x: round(float(x[2:])/2, 1) if isinstance(x, str) else x)

A: like this:
df.applymap(lambda x: float(x.replace('DL', ''))/2 if 'DL' in x else x)
'''
     Column1 Column2
row1     5.2     5.6
row2     4.7     4.4
'''

A: I will assume you have a way of looping through each row in the dataset.
With that in mind, something like this should work for you:
import re
for row in df.iterrows():
    for col_value in row:
        reg_match = re.match("^DL([0-9]+\.[0-9])", col_value)
        if reg_match:
            num = float(reg_match.group(1))
            col_value = num

I'm not sure whether or not Python will complain about modifying the col_value in this case. If it does, you probably want to save the new values into a new data frame instead.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I saw a news article last night where the inventor of the CD has admitted that it is now obsolete in the face of USB drives, iPods and DVDs. It got me thinking about this, which I only wrote a month or so ago.
Wrote this recently though I'd been working on the idea for a while. I have been interested in the idea of concepts that the English language has no matching word for ever since I first read the Neal Stephenson book "Snow Crash". For those who haven't read it (or can't remember), the protagonist muses on the Japanese word, zanshin. The nearest meeting point in English is "emotional intensity" but it's not quite right.
Mokita has a translation that has a closer meeting point, but English still has no matching word. Mokita describes a situation wherein everyone is aware of a topic but no one will discuss it. It's not taboo, though a taboo is often the reason for mokita. I think the closest explanation I've encountered is a friend telling me of the "White Elephant" in a room that everyone is desperate to ignore.
Anyway, this being one of the reasons I have this blog up and about, feel free to read and critique.
There is a word I cannot say.
A word is trapped between my teeth.
it stains everything else that I say.
to give it a voice and an exit.
This word is replacing my silences.
one that everyone is keeping from each other.
Festering in the dead air it creates.
Admittedly, thanks to the inimitable Stephen Fry, star of stage, screen and the talking type wireless, I have an answer that I think I'm happy with.
It is writing where consideration is given primarily to the weight of each word. It's relationship with the rest of the piece.
I know that prose writers, be they fiction or non-fiction, take this into consideration. The difference I think is a matter of precendence. If a prose author were to take the care and crafting word by word that a poet does. I expect that many books would never be completed.
An author expects to clear a few thousand words a day, a poet expects to find a few thousand words in their latest book.
Like all attempts at putting a definition to an artform, they are by nature a little liquid. Partially because someone will invariably bring up something that tries to push boundries between one thing and another, or tries to mess up the definitions. Personally, I think they confirm the boundaries. To transgress a boundary, you have to kind of define and accept it's existence. Otherwise, it's posturing.
Posted on 3 June, 2007 19 January, 2009 Categories News, OtherTags discussion, musing, PoetryLeave a comment on What is poetry?


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The Dow's been climbing for the past 3 days in a row -- triple-digit climbing, mind, none of this...
The Dow's been climbing for the past 3 days in a row -- triple-digit climbing, mind, none of this wussy 30-points-in-a-day type wavering that used to constitute a good day on the markets. But that's all over now: in a move that takes the situation from being merely hilarious to being frankly flabbergasting, WorldCom announced that the misrepresentation of its profits -- already the biggest ever -- is actually twice as big, at a total of $7 billion. Hey, whoops, sorry we didn't spot that earlier! The new fraud (don't think it isn't) was discovered by going back to financial records from 2000. So clearly WorldCom has been making a habit of misreporting income, which would explain why the new executives say there may be yet more "restatements" to come. Was this company ever profitable?
Meanwhile, Modern Humorist continues to be very funny (if badly spelled) with suggestions for more politically-aware muppet characters and a preview of upcoming episodes of the Anna Nicole show

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Leaders by Ammon
Jueves, 16 Junio 2016
If we were born in this world with the concept of "Good" or "Bad" is different depending on your country, religions or culture. In some part of the world eating beef is an offence, while in other parts of the world it's part of their culture, with this simple example we can see the differences between us. But can this difference explain why we are what we are today? Today we are living in a world that has already begun to collapse, we use more than what we have, with change climate water becomes scarce, it is winter when it used to be summer and this everywhere. Today we have discussions about how many people can live on this world? [caption id="attachment_5205" align="alignright" width="400"] Photo Credit: Quora This is the world that we are living in, our world cannot feel the connection because we are so different, with different cultures and different ways of belief, because of this it is very difficult to fix the problems we have in our world. This is the perfect excuse to do nothing, for us to unconsciously think that the task of changing the world is not for us, we think this is the work for superior people, almost like a superhero that can unite and fight evil. Someone who is morally superior, able to guide us on the path...
SVG's 'Treelympics' win International Award
Miércoles, 15 Junio 2016
Climate Change News Climate Compliance Conference
" Treelympics SVG ", the local arm of a worldwide tree planting competition has won the Austria-based Energy Globe National Award 2016 for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). The project, implemented by Richmond Vale Academy , resulted in 1,500 trees being planted in SVG since 2014. Treelympics SVG was among 1,700 submissions from countries across the world. The Energy Globe Award was founded in 1999 by the Austrian energy pioneer Wolfgang Neumann and is one of today's most prestigious environmental awards. The award aims to present successful sustainable projects to a broad audience. Projects that conserve and protect natural resources or that employ renewable energy can participate. National (country) Energy Globe Awards distinguish the best project submission from a country. National winners receive an Energy Globe certificate, which is presented by partner organisation (if available) in the respective countries. SVG Treelympics formed part of the broader Environment Online (ENO) pledge at the Rio+20 Summit to plant 100 million trees by 2017. As a part of their pledge, ENO launched the Treelympics campaign, a worldwide competition in tree planting for schools and community organisations. More than 100 countries have participated. In 2014, Richmond Vale Academy mobilised 99 per cent of the schools in SVG to plant trees, making St. Vincent the winners of the Golden Medal for the world's most active country. In the fall of...
Martes, 14 Junio 2016
The St. Vincent Climate Compliance Conference has been established in 2012 to run for 10 years. During this time, it is the objective of Richmond Vale Academy (RVA) to make the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines climate compliant, i.e. self-sufficient food and energy-wise, as well as resistant to natural disasters. This will be ensured both by implementing material projects (tree-planting, infrastructure building, creating vegetable gardens) and by educating the public – both youth in schools and adults through various actions. The Conference participants are climate activists (or future activists) from all over the world – as well as from St. Vincent – who come to RVA to learn by doing and teaching. Ideally, those activists then go back home to teach others about climate change and sustainable living – either by giving presentations etc. or leading by example. RVA starts 6-month teams 3 times a year to ensure the continuity of the Conference and longer projects around the island, while each team prepares and realizes their own shorter projects from start to finish. Besides organising practical actions both in school and in local communities, the participants take the time to study issues pertaining to climate change, its causes and consequences around the world. Everyone is strongly encouraged to give presentations to the school on the topics they find most interesting, although prior knowledge...
NEWS: CO2 Turned Into Stone To Fight Climate Change
Sábado, 11 Junio 2016
The future of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies A new study conducted in the Hellisheidi power plant in Iceland has found that carbon dioxide can be turned into stone much more quickly than previously thought, thus reducing the plant's emissios and helping in the fight against climate change . [caption id="attachment_5198" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Hellisheidi geothermal power plant has used basalt to capture underground its carbon dioxide emissions. -Photo Credit: Wikipedia A team of scientists pumped the plant's carbon dioxide emissions, and other gases, to a depth of 400-500m in a soil rich in basalts. The results: the basalts react with carbon dioxide, creating carbonate minerals which make up limestone. The whole process takes two years, compared with the few thousands that were previously estimated. Turning carbon dioxide into rock gets rid of the leakage concerns from storing it as gas underground and of separating CO2 from other gases before sequestering it. Moreover, basalts are found in many places around the world, including sea beds and in very pollutant countries, such as the United States and India, which would make the implementation of this form of CCS in those countries very cost-effective. On the downside, this technology uses excessive amounts of water, needing 25tonnes of it per every tonne of carbon minerals produced. As proposed by the scientific team who conducted the study, the required amount of...
Common Malnutrition Diseases
Malnutrition —along with its causes , signs , symptoms and effects— has been broadly discussed in previous articles. It cannot be stressed enough that this issue is very much alive today, in both the developing and developed world. The rise of the diet culture , which has seen incredibly restrictive and harmful diets being merchandised as something good, has played with the self-esteem —and the health— of millions. Moreover, the prevalence and affordability of fast food over its healthy counterparts in food deserts has condemned a wide range of people —namely the urban poor— to trading proper nutrition for cheap, available foods. On the other end of the spectrum, obesity is considered an epidemic in the US and other developed countries, while in the developing world people live day-to-day not knowing if they are going to eat or not. This plethora of situations, not to mention illnesses and other causes of malnutrition, leads to different kinds of nutritional deficiencies, which manifest in several forms. At its most severe, malnutrition can lead to illness, which is what this post focus on. Keep reading for common malnutrition diseases, meaning those that are caused by malnutrition. COMMON MALNUTRITION DISEASES: SCURVY [caption id="attachment_5154" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Scurvy is making a comeback, after being considered an illness of the past - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Although not entirely common and largely considered an...
Effects of Malnutrition
Malnutrition is an imbalance in micro and macronutrients —either a deficit or surplus of them— which impedes the body's capability of growing and staying healthy. As mentioned in previous articles, malnutrition can be caused by several different factors , which include but are not limited to disease, lack of access to safe drinking water, eating disorders, mental health illnesses, and even climate change . With such a wide range of causes, it is expected that the effects of malnutrition are just as varied. Keep reading for more information on the effects of malnutrition on the human body and overall health. [caption id="attachment_4885" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The effects of malnutrition in children are irreversible after their second to third year of age - Photo Credit: Flickr EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION Sources: Livestrong.com , Nursingtimes.net , Bapen.org.uk As described on Livestrong.com, malnutrition occurs in stages. The imbalance in nutrients first shows in blood and tissue, followed by metabolic processes —finally, tell-tale signs and symptoms appear. The effects of malnutrition include: changes in body mass, poor wound healing, severe weight loss (cachexia), and organ failure —among others—, all of which are described below. [caption id="attachment_4892" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sarcopenia, as seen here, is common in old-age. However, sarcopenia can be one of the effects of malnutrition - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Sarcopenia: It is the progressive loss of lean body mass, which normally...
El Niño & La Niña For Dummies
Lunes, 06 Junio 2016
News outlets over the last few months have been overflowing with reports on the impact of this year's El Niño. The meteorological phenomenon, the strongest in 35 years, lasted 18 months and caused long droughts, unusually and unbearably high temperatures, along with water shortages and flooding around the world. In its wake, nearly 100 million people are enduring hunger and diseases, half of which are in Southern Africa. Now that El Niño is over —as sea surface temperatures have gone back to normal, with very little chance of rising again this year— the jury is out on whether the temperatures will stay neutral or continue to drop until the reverse effect —La Niña— is reached. Standing in El Niño's aftermath, the answer to this question is a particularly relevant one for the global community. Although it cannot be answered without uncertainty, there is a high change that the world will see La Niña this fall. So what is in it for us? We'll try to answer that in this post. Keep reading for handy information on El Niño and La Niña WHAT ARE EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA? As described by the NOAA , "El Niño and La Niña are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific" . These meteorological events are opposite phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)...
NEWS: Overlooked Area of Antarctica Sees Major Ice Loss
Domingo, 05 Junio 2016
New research on a relatively unmonitored part of Antarctica shows that the ice in the area has been melting at a faster pace —and for longer— than previously thought. The study, which appears in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, provides insight on the implications of ice loss in Antarctica for sea level rise ( for a brief compilation on the topic, check this article ). [caption id="attachment_4863" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Amundsen Sea Embayment, Antarctica - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Satellite reviews of West Antarctica over the past two decades show the rapid increase of ice-loss. The ice shelves —blocks of floating ice that flow from Antarctica's glaciers to the ocean— are shrinking and disappearing, this leaves way for warm waters to gnaw at the glaciers' grounding line, which separates land-bound ice from the floating ice. As a consequence, the grounding line in West Antarctica's glaciers has started to receed and expose thicker, older ice; thus increasing the flow of the glaciers. In some cases, this acceleration in flow has reached the point of no-return. Put in perspective, if all glaciers in West Antarctica were to melt, sea level rise would be of 10 to 13 feet. Read the full article from Seeker below: OVERLOOKED AREA OF ANTARCTICA SEES MAJOR ICE LOSS A relatively little studied part of West Antarctica has seen considerable ice loss over a longer period of time...
NEWS: Japan Contributes US$ 1.8 Million To Jamaica's Climate Change Fight
Japan will contribute 220 million Jamaican dollars to the country's efforts in fighting climate change. The initiative is framed in the Japan-Caribean Climate Change Partnership, which will see the Asian country spend US$ 15 million in eight Caribbean countries. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will benefit Belize, Suriname, Guyana, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Saint Lucia and Jamaica. [caption id="attachment_4856" align="aligncenter" width="500"] A street in Montego Bay, Jamaica - Photo Credit: Wikipedia The Japan-Caribbean cooperation is a success within the establishment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The entirety of Agenda, and specifically Global Goal 13 and Global Goal 17 , call for international cooperation in building capacity and resilience in the wake of increasingly severe weather. Read the full article by the Jamaica Observer below: JAPAN COMMITS $220 MILLION TO ASSIST JAMAICA IN CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT The Japan Government has earmarked approximately US$1.8 million ($220 million) through the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) to provide assistance to Jamaica in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Approximately $73 million of that sum will be provided to support on-the-ground work to help communities' efforts to cope with the effects of climate change. Another portion of the money will be allocated at the national level to address barriers to the implementation of climate-resilient technologies and to build Jamaica's own capacity...
NEWS: Climate Change Is Threatening Canada's Indigenous Communities
Climate change is increasing the number and severity of natural disasters in Canada, says a secret briefing to the country's Indigenous Affairs Minister. Catastrophes like the May wildfires that affected Fort McMurray and Saskatchewan are particularly harmful to indigenous people living in remote reserve communities. Contrary to declarations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau —who said the Fort McMurray fires were not exacerbated by climate change— secret advice to the Indigenous Affairs Minister cites indigenous communities being at a greater risk for experiencing natural disasters. This would be a consequence of extreme weather in the Canadian north, which has been fueled by climate change. [caption id="attachment_4847" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The catastrophic wildfires that took place this may burnt 581,695 hectares between Fort McMurray and Saskatchewan. The fires destroyed an approximate of 2,400 homes and buildings and affected the Athabasca oil sands opperations. The 2016 Fort McMurray's wildfires are the costliest wildfires in the area as of yet - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Indigenous communities have been vocal about the insufficient measures taken by the government in prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in reserve territory, despite recent public investments in First Nations "resilience" and infrastructure. Read the entire post from Canada's National Post below: FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES SUFFERING 'MORE INTENSE' IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SECRET BRIEFING SAYS OTTAWA — Secret briefings to Canada's indigenous affairs minister warn that...
Top 10 Environmental Celebrity Activists
1.Leonardo DiCaprio [caption id="attachment_4826" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo Credit: Flickr The Oscar-winning actor and one of the most notorious environmental activists , created the Leonard DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 "to support organizations and initiatives dedicated to securing a sustainable future for our planet" ( WWF , W/D) . Ever since, DiCaprio has been engaged with pressing environmental issues, such as access to clean water , disaster relief, preservation of biodiversity and the Earth's oceans , among others. DiCaprio currently sits at the board of important environmental organizations, like the World Wildlife Fund, NDRC, Global Green USA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. In addition to this, the actor has produced two short movies (Water Planet and Global Warming) to raise awareness on environmental topics. DiCaprio also used his production company, Appian Way, to write, narrate and produce his critically acclaimed documentary: The 11 th hour. The film was four years in the making and provides the public with an overview of Earth's problems, as well as exciting solutions for them. 2.Robert Redford [caption id="attachment_4827" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo Credit: Flickr Undoubtedly, Robert Redford is one of the –if not the sole- pioneer in celebrity environmentalism. Without Redford and a small group of other people, the United States would have surrendered the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to commercial hands. Redford's advocacy kept the 1.7 million-acre out of the...
What Is An Environmental Activist?
Based on the definition of "environmental activism" that appears on TheFreeDictionary.com, one can define an environmental activist as a person who advocates for, or works towards, protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution. But really, an environmental activist is not more than a responsible person with a conscience. [caption id="attachment_4820" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo Credit: Wikipedia Today, Earth is the only home we have. Humans, animals and plants — all of us — are bound to dwell on this planet for as long as it will have us. And that time might very well end soon. Human activities have damaged Earth so deeply that the planet might be inhospitable by the turn of next century . It is more disturbing yet that harm is still being done, despite numerous hints at what is to come. April 2016 was the seventh month in a record-breaking streak of the hottest months ever documented . All over the world, lakes and other water sources are drying up , maiming the water and food supply for countless people —while in other parts, precipitations have put entire cities under water . Places like the Death Valley in Arizona are inhospitable after a certain time of the day and China is importing fresh air from Canada as its own air becomes unbreathable. Yet, climate change deniers are having a field-day with allegations that...
NEWS: Guilt Is Not Very Effective For Getting People Involved with Climate Change
A new study by Nick Obradovich and Scott M. Guenther has found that guilt-tripping people into thinking of climate change is not a very effective way to get them to care about it. The study, posted on the scientific journal Climatic Change, is based on two experiments conducted on members of the Audubon Society and of Mechanical Turk. In the experiments, people were sorted into three groups, each with different instructions. They were to write about either their personal contribution to climate change, the general causes of this issue or their daily oral hygiene rutine. As incentive, the writers were told they were on to win $100 and subsequently asked how much of it they would donate to climate change-related causes. [caption id="attachment_4811" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Photo Credit: Pixabay Surprisingly, those who wrote about their personal contribution to climate change donated a similar amount to those who wrote about their oral hygiene. Both groups donated less than the individuals who wrote about the general causes of climate change. The answer? No one likes to feel guilt, and getting people to care about climate change by making them feel they hold the sole responsibility is counterproductive. Instead, people are more likely to engage in cleaner practices and support climate change research if they feel they are contributing to solving an issue that affects us all. These results are consistent...
NEWS: World Heritage Sites At Risk From Climate Change
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a report on the impact climate change has had on World Heritage sites. The report, aptly titled "World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate", was mentioned in yesterday's NEWS post , after Australia censored it citing potential harm for tourism. [caption id="attachment_4804" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Cartagena, in Colombia, is among the most vulnerable World Heritage Sites, according to Un report - Photo Credit: Wikipedia UNESCO seeks to highlight and inform the general reader about the terrible consequences sea-level rise, increasing temperatures and melting ice —among other climate change effects— can carry for World Heritage Sites, which are considered to have "Outstanding Universal Value". The report, which covers places like Cartagena, Venice and the Galapagos Islands, is also a call to decouble environmentally harmful practices and tourism. Read the full news article, as published by the UN , below: WORLD HERITAGE SITES AT RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE —JOINT UN REPORT 27 May 2016 – Some 31 natural and cultural World Heritage sites in 29 countries across the world are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a new report released by the United Nations has found. The World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate report documents climate impacts including increasing temperatures, melting glaciers, rising seas, intensifying weather events, worsening droughts and longer wildfire seasons, at iconic...
NEWS: Report on Great Barrier Reef Disaster Censored by Australian Government
It was mentioned in this article from last week that the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is experiencing its worst episode of bleaching. Ever . The combined action of climate change and weather phenomena have caused warm waters to severely damage 93% of the corals in the area. Moreover, half of the corals in the northerm part of the Reef have allegedly died. [caption id="attachment_4789" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Bleached Acropora coral. Keppel Islands, Great Barrier Reef - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Such a tremendous blow to biodiversity at the hands of man-induced climate change would naturally appear in the UNESCO's "World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate" report, right? Wrong. As the report was being reviewed, the Australian Government objected on the grounds that: "Recent experience in Australia had shown that negative commentary about the status of world heritage properties impacted on tourism", and thus, any mention of Australia in the report was scrubbed from it. The Guardian has since posted the censored Australia section of the report, which you can read here . For the full article, also by The Guardian, on the censorship, please read below: AUSTRALIA SCRUBBED FROM UN CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT AFTER GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION Exclusive: All mentions of Australia were removed from the final version of a Unesco report on climate change and world heritage sites after the Australian government objected on the grounds...
Global Goal 17: Revitalize The Global Partnership For The Goals
"We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race" —Cicero The content of this post intends to provide a general overview of Global Goal 17 —more specifically, what it encompasses and why it is important to achieving the rest of the Sustainable Development Goals . If you have read other articles in our Global Goals series, you will have noticed that the achievement of all previous goals is based upon international cooperation and the development of solid alliances between neighboring countries, and those who share a specific problem. This is Global Goal 17 in a nutshell —however, said goal is more clearly defined below, using information from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . GLOBAL GOAL 17: STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT [caption id="attachment_4773" align="alignright" width="287"] Global Goal 17: Revitalize the partnership for the goals - Photo Credit: GlobalGoals.org Global Goal 17 is, perhaps, the one that best reflects the ambitious nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and thus, the one that best reflects the sheer amount of work that is needed to accomplish all targets contemplated in it. All 16 Global Goals that have been reviewed until now have a specific focus —however, since the target of Goal 17 is cooperation, it spans a wide action...
Global Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
As defined by Corruption Watch , corruption is "the abuse of public resources or public power for personal gain" . It can be classed as grand, petty or political depending on the monetary losses and the sector in which it happens. Disregarding any classification, however, corruption is deadly for the short and long term development of any country. It undermines the pillars upon which society is built, namely "sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice" ; it also deteriorates the institutions and values of democratic systems. Furthermore, corruption is linked to a higher incidence of violence and it discourages local and foreign direct investments. This is hardly a surprise, considering that a country where money gets stolen from the public coffers does not represent an attractive business partner for public and private investors. [embed]
[/embed] Corruption affects the weak and vulnerable. If an individual, for any given reason, depends on government aid to subsist, a lack of governance and the mismanagement of public funds will cause delay in the service delivery. Moreover, deviating funds takes away from the money that is meant to be destined to improving services like healthcare, education, housing and security. This is especially important because without the proper management and maintenance, public infrastructure may be severely damaged. Sustainable economic development will not be achieved until transparency is the common rule, not only on...
NEWS: How Carbon Farming Can Reverse Climate Change
Carbon farming encompasses a series of practices that allow to reduce carbon emissions by sequestering said carbon underground. These practices, such as crop rotations and agroforestry can be implemented strategically to maintain or increase yields while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of plantations. This is especially important given that the agricultural industry is one of the main contributors to GHG emissions worldwide. [caption id="attachment_4728" align="aligncenter" width="500"] oung soybean plants thrive in and are protected by the residue of a wheat crop. This form of no till farming provides good protection for the soil from erosion and helps retain moisture for the new crop. - Photo Credit: Wikipedia Sequestering carbon underground is nothing new and in fact, it is part of the carbon cycle, a part of nature that fuels life. However, technology on carbon sequestration is still in its early stages --as mentioned in this previous post-- . The jury is still out on whether it can carry adverse consequences of not, but the little research done on the topic has given promising results. EcoWatch wrote an interesting article on how carbon farming can reverse climate change. You can read it below: HOW CARBON FARMING CAN REVERSE CLIMATE CHANGE Are there agricultural practices that might offer more potential than the ones commonly discussed in the " carbon farming " conversation? In a companion post , I wrote about...
NEWS: China's CTG Plants Pose a Threat For The Planet
CTG —which stands for coal-to-gas— technology encompasses expossing coal to controlled amounts of heat and limiting the oxygen so it breaks apart chemically rather than burning. The outcome of this process is syngas —short for synthetic natural gas—, which would reduce the air pollution generated by power plants accross the country. However, there's a catch in China's attempt to clear their black skies: coal-to-gas plants require more water and release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than coal burning does . On the long run, implementation of CTG technology would increase China's greenhouse gas emissions between 36 an 82%, which would have disastrous consequences for the environment. [caption id="attachment_4723" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo Credit: Wikipedia On a brighter note, CTG is quite costly, a factor that has significantly influenced the failure of this enterprise in other countries, such as the United States. It was discussed in a previous post that the North American country has contemplated the use of coal-to-gas technology as an alternative to thermoelectric plants that rely on burning coal. However, only one plant is operating. This means that, although China has three plants running and several others in the planning and approval stages, the jury is still out on whether they will be built or not. Read the full article by Vox down below: CHINA'S LATEST IDEA FOR CLEANING UP AIR POLLUTION COULD BE HORRIBLE FOR...
Global Goal 15: Conserve And Sustainably Use Life On Land
Humans have always exploited the resources available to them, whether for subsistence or for trade. Sadly, mankind has a history of doing so in unsustainable ways that can cause great harm to their surroundings. The impact of human activities on marine ecosystems was succinctly discussed in a previous post about Global Goal 14 –however, it doesn't stay there. As you will see in this post, atrocious practices such as poaching, deforestation and the introduction of invasive alien species into land and water ecosystems have taken a massive toll on the planet. [caption id="attachment_4712" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Deforestation is closely linked to population growth and human activities such as development and agriculture - Photo Credit: Wikipedia According to the Population Reference Bureau ( 2004 ), human activities such as logging, development and agricultural expansion caused the deforestation of 12,000 kilometers in the two decades prior to their study. However, natural re-growth and reforestation could only regain 10% of the area. The study remarks that deforestation is closely related to population growth, which is backed up by a study Population Action International conducted in 2010 . Said growth does not necessarily have to be geographically close, says the PRB, as "external forces such as demand for timber or cattle in other parts of the country or world can lead to deforestation". This is especially evident in zones of the...


When I was engaged, my wife gave me a plaque that stated we were called to be married before the foundations of the world. We had been chosen by God to be in each other's lives.
This idea of being chosen is vital to gain a better understanding of our walk with God. We were selected to be children of God. We were chosen toreceive all that he has made available in Christ Jesus.
This frame of thought is what we call "predestination." To be predestined is to obtain a pre-chosen future. Picture this: before he formed us, he wrote a script that details our lives, that show us God's designed destiny for our lives. Destiny is not something we create, it is something written and something that we discover. Our destinies, are laid out in Christ. We discover our future by going to and learning from him.
future, and we can start participating in the story he has written. All we have to do is allow his love to fill us and then to follow what he has written for us.
him, we have been given grace without measure.


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Glee star Cory Monteith found dead in hotel room
Posted on July 15, 2013 Author The guardian	Comment(0)
Police say no foul play suspected after the actor was discovered in his room at a hotel in Vancouver
Canadian actor Cory Monteith, heart throb of Fox's musical-comedy television series Glee, has been found dead at a hotel in Vancouver, Canada, police said.
There were no signs of foul play, they said, and the cause of death was not immediately apparent.
Paramedics responding to an emergency call found Monteith, 31, dead at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in the city centre, Vancouver Police Department acting chief Doug LePard told a news conference.
Monteith had checked into the hotel on 6 July, and was due to check out on Saturday, LePard told reporters. Others were in the hotel room with Monteith on Friday night, but evidence including his fob key entries indicate he returned to his room by himself early on Saturday and was alone when he died, police said.
"We do not have a great deal of information as to cause of death," coroner Lisa Lapointe said.
Lepard said Monteith had been out with people earlier and that those people were being interviewed.
LePard said he wanted to offer condolences "to the family, friends, castmates and millions of fans of Mr Monteith".
Monteith's spokeswoman, Melissa Kates, said in a statement: "We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate."
"I have no words! My heart is broken," Dot-Marie Jones, who plays football coach Shannon Beiste on Glee, said on Twitter on Saturday night. She called Monteith a "hell of a friend" and an "amazing" man.
"What an absolutely tragic loss of a very talented young man," tweeted the actor Zooey Deschanel.
Fox and the producers of Glee, including 20th Century Fox Television, called him an exceptional performer "and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously".
"We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss," his representatives at Viewpoint public relations in Los Angeles said in a statement.
In April, Monteith admitted himself to a treatment facility for "substance addiction" and asked for privacy as he took steps toward recovery, a representative said at the time.
Lea Michele, his Glee co-star and real-life girlfriend, told People magazine then she loved and supported him and was proud he was seeking help.
It was not Monteith's first time in rehab. He received treatment when he was 19 and had previously talked about his addiction struggles, saying he had a serious problem and took just "anything and everything".
He told Parade magazine in 2011 he was "lucky to be alive".
Monteith, who turned 31 on 11 May, starred in Glee as a high school football player who puts his status and popularity at risk to join the glee club and its outcast members.
The show, with its pop music-based song-and-dance numbers and high-profile guest stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, became an immediate hit and made stars of its relatively unknown cast.
On his Twitter account, Monteith described himself as "tall, awkward, canadian, actor, drummer, person".
Monteith was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Vancouver Island as a child.
His TV credits included roles on the series Kaya and Kyle XY. His film credits included Final Destination 3, The Invisible, Deck the Halls and Whisper.
An autopsy was set for Monday, LePard said.
Bollywood star, Abhishek Bachchan launches END7 campaign
Posted on March 6, 2014 Author Agency Reporter
ORISSA INDIA – In a striking and emotional moment, Abhishek Bachchan, who has been named the first END7 Campaign Ambassador in India by The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (Global Network), poured water over the feet of an elderly man suffering from lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), a debilitating and disfiguring neglected tropical disease (NTD), at […]
PDP Chairman Chief Vincent Ogbulafor's trial get big media play in Nigeria
Posted on May 16, 2010 Author codewit news
Lagos, Nigeria – President Goodluck Jonathan's nomination of Namadi Sambo as his Vice President-designate, the trial of the Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, for corruption and the arrest of ex-governor James Ibori in far away United Arab Emirates dominated front pages in the Nigerian media this week. At the […]
Don't Blame Me if My Clothes Don't Cover My Boobs — Yvonne Jegede
Posted on February 22, 2014 Author Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi
Yvonne Jegede, she was one of the 3 ladies featured in Tuface Idibia's "African Queen" video, made a stunning comeback to acting after several years of being away from the industry in promo pictures that got most men drooling and a lot more people talking. And in a new interview with Vanguard, she explained why […]
Nollywood: My life, struggles and triumphs – Shan George
Nigeria: Pastor, wife trade adultery claims in court


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Jul 17, 2019 - Wed
2 m/s, NNE
This October, Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Will Be Announced in Buenos Aires
Last year, 10 Argentine restaurants made the final cut.
By Paige Nichols | [email protected] | June 19, 2019 1:43pm
Photo via Mira Argentina
October promises to be a very busy month in Argentina, and not just because of the impending presidential elections taking place on the 27th. The seventh installment of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants will be announced on October 10th right here in Buenos Aires. After successful runs in Lima, Mexico City, and Bogotá, the gourmet action heads down toward el fin del mundo where the best and brightest will be crowned in a live ceremony at the Usina del Arte cultural center in La Boca.
The news was shared by the official World's 50 Best Instagram account a couple of weeks ago, and the excitement has started to ramp up as the conversation turns to speculation about who will make the cut, who won't, and what the biggest surprises will be.
Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2019 has touched down in Lima, Mexico City, and Bogotá. Now, it's heading back south and will be taking place on 10th October in Buenos Aires City! Follow the link in our profile to learn more. #LatAm50Best #BuenosAires #Awards #Chefs #Restaurants #Foodie @sanpellegrino_official @acquapanna @travelbuenosaires
A post shared by The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants (@theworlds50best) on Jun 4, 2019 at 11:50am PDT
"This event provides a great opportunity for tourism in the city since travelers often choose a destination because of its cuisine, and 50 Best brings major figures from the culinary world to its host location," says Gonzalo Robredo, president of the Tourism Board for the City of Buenos Aires. "International chefs will find that Buenos Aires combines the best of our own cuisine and of Latin American food due to the variety of Latin American immigration in our city, which has enhanced its flavor over the last decade."
Beyond the big awards ceremony and fancy-pants gala dinner (spoiler alert: you probably won't be invited to that), the full program also includes a special thought leadership series known as #50Best Talks, hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, as well as the annual Chef's Fest on October 9th. Other awards that will be given out include the Sustainable Restaurant Award, the One to Watch Award, sponsored by Miele, and the Latin America's Best Female Chef Award.
It's about time Argentina plays host to what many consider the gold standard of restaurant rankings (more on that in a minute). In last year's Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants ranking, the country earned ten entries overall, with parrilla powerhouse Don Julio snagging the No. 6 spot – to the surprise of many.
How did Buenos Aires fare with regard to the rest of the list? Tegui came in at No. 11, Mishiguene and Chila at No. 18 and No. 19, respectively, Elena at No. 32, El Baqueano at No. 36, Gran Dabbang at No. 38, Aramburu at No. 42, Proper at No. 44, and Narda Comedor rounded it out at No. 46. (What's more, Don Julio and Tegui even made it into the coveted World's 50 Best Restaurants final list, coming in at No. 55 and No. 60, respectively.)
But how are these restaurants even chosen? How is a steakhouse – albeit a very delicious one like Don Julio – rubbing elbows with the likes of Maido, Central, and Pujol? The voting system and organization as a whole aren't without its critics. Argentina's favorite flamboyant uncle Francis Mallmann was even quoted in a 2015 New York Times article about the issue, which touched on everything from validity to integrity to lobbying and amiguismo (cronyism).
In the spirit of transparency and objectivity, the official process is published on the World's 50 Best website. The voters are an even split of chefs, food writers, and "well-traveled gourmets" (whatever that means), and each voter has to have visited the restaurant they select at least once in the last 18 months (among other requirements). Voting is anonymous and the organization assures that there is "no strict checklist," "hidden secret," or "criteria" that play a role in how finalists are determined. Professional consultancy firm Deloitte acts as the independent adjudication partner to both confirm and verify the authenticity of the overall voting process.
For example, according to the website, in order to guarantee a fair relationship between the percentage of votes a region receives and their proportionate representation in the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list, in the event of a significant variance, Deloitte applies a normalization process to the voting data.
However, just because there are rules doesn't mean that's how the game actually plays out. In the aforementioned New York Times piece from 2015, illustrious French pastry chef Jöel Robuchon said, "Voters are supposed to have eaten in the restaurants they vote for at least once in the preceding 18 months, but no proof of their visit, no expense bill is required, and I know for a fact that this is a major loophole in the process." Things may have changed in the four years since the article was published, but murmurs of unfair play and less-than-transparent maneuvers raise doubts.
Infographic via World's 50 Best website
Drama and intrigue aside, it's a massive deal for Buenos Aires to play host for Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. With all eyes – in the food world that is – on the country, this is a chance for local chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary bigwigs to put their best foot forward, celebrate the strides made in recent years, and turn up the dial on that famous Argentine hospitality.
Paige Nichols
Originally from the US, Paige has been living in Buenos Aires since 2007. She enjoys talking to her plants and hanging out with her dog Pocho.
Tags: don julio, gourmet, latin america's 50 best, parrilla, ranking, Tegui, Usina del Arte, world's 50 best
Street Artists Honor the 25th Anniversary of AMIA Bombing
The three murals pay tribute to the hospital that received the most injured.
A Foreigner's Guide to the Game of Truco
The essentials of Argentina's favorite card game, played everywhere and nowhere.
by Nelson Ruseler-Smith
Choo-choo!
Buenos Aires City Government Finalizes Plans for Subte F Line
The new line, which would be operate without conductors or guards, will connect the neighborhoods of Barracas and Palermo.
Just Like Us?
Twitter Thread Perfectly Recounts the Antics of Foreign Celebs in Argentina
Slash holding up a SUBE. Ashton Kutcher running through Palermo. Julian Casablancas eating Mantecol. Celebrities really seem to love Argentina, don't they?


Under an ominous sky and setting sun, I pull off the highway. Just a few hundred feet away three towers come into view. Old and overgrown, grass and bushes sprout from the cracks between the terracotta bricks. It feels like an ancient forgotten city, in fact, it is. Once part of the great Champa, a region ruled by the Cham ethnic group throughout what is now Central and Southern Vietnam. These are the Chien Dan Cham Temples near the town of Tam Ky.
The archeologist inside me ignites my imagination as I wander through the grass in front of the temples. Crumbling bricks and stone pedestals hint at a grand entrance to this trinity. I wonder what it might have been like 900 years ago when the Cham people flourished in this region.
I soon discover that I'm alone here. As the last light fades on a cloudy afternoon I walk through the grass and into the temples. A few ancient carvings adorn the base; much of the remaining statues have been moved into a simple museum nearby.
The towers on the North and South sides have lost their roofs over the last 900 years of exposure to the elements. Although if you keep in mind that the Cham people used no mortar in their structures, you realize how much of a feat of engineering this was. Instead, they used a kind of interlocking dovetail method for the terracotta bricks. And now, almost 1,000 years later I can marvel at these ancient structures and still see the beautiful details.
The region controlled by the Cham people for over 1,500 years is called "Champa". It encompasses most of Central and Southern Vietnam. Established in the Second century AD it lasted for over 1,500 years and was eventually absorbed into Vietnam in 1832 by the Nguyen Emperor Minh Mang, though it was in decline since the 10th Century.
Unfortunately, there aren't any Cham left in this region; after many conflicts over the years, they were forced to move further South around what is now Nha Trang.
When these temples were built around the height of Champa, the Cham people practiced Brahmanism, an early form of Hinduism. Evidence of this can be seen in their stone carvings that can be found around the base of the temples as well as in the museum nearby.
Over the years the religion has changed and a lot of Cham people have adopted Islam in a kind of mix of religions that is common in Asia. It has elements of Islam as well as their traditional Cham culture. These are the Bani Cham. There are however Cham people who still practice Brahmanism with a mix of local traditions, these are the Balamon Cham.
Further, some of the ancient Cham temples (like that in the Marble Mountains of Da Nang) are used as Buddhist shrines of worship, with the Linga (representation of the Creator God Shiva in Hinduism) still venerated by multiple faiths.
Now as darkness sets over the three towers I get back on my motorcycle, leaving this ancient Cham city behind me, pulling back onto the highway I'm back in the hustle and bustle of the daily life of the Vietnamese people.
Get There: The three towers are just off of highway QL1A (on the West side) about 8km North of Tam Ky. Marked on Google Maps as "Chien Dan Cham towers".


I discovered that an "in-ear metronome" used by musicians improves my speech by about 50%. I bought the "mm-1 metronome" in a music store for 25 dollars! It is used like a bluetooth.
I put it in my ear, and I only have to do to speak at the rhythm of the metronome. Because the device has various settings: from fast paced to low paced. Thus you do not get used to it and is therefore more effective. But I found lower settings from 50 to 120 more effective. But it works fine with a setting of 70 or 65, too. Stuttering reduced to about 50% in one week and went down to 40% the next.
Before, I was not able to read without stuttering, and with the device I can read a whole page of a book, and stutter minimally like 2 times per page. &Past week I read for 15 minutes in front of my doctor and I didn't stutter once. (When I see a doctor, generally I turn nervous).


Morrison, J.; (2009) Understanding the effect of a participatory intervention with women's groups to improve maternal and neonatal health in rural Nepal. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Background: Rigorous evaluation of community based interventions is necessary to build the evidence base for maternal and child survival in developing countries. Randomised controlled trials may be the most reliable method of determining effectiveness of interventions, but they are unable to evaluate the impact of context and implementation, and explain how an outcome occurred. This thesis explores the outcome of a cluster randomised controlled trial using women's groups in Nepal. Intervention areas experienced a 30% reduction in neonatal mortality, and increases in good care behaviours. I describe how communities experienced the intervention and explore how the implementation process and community context affected the community response. Methods: I used qualitative research methods, purposefully sampling stakeholders from two intervention areas, and one control area. Photoelicitation was used, and research assistants conducted semi-structured interviews, group interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. Data were tape recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Data were analysed using framework and NVIVO qualitative analysis software. Data were also fed back to respondents to increase validity. Results: Themes emerging from the data revealed a lack of trust in local health facilities, plurality in care seeking during illness, and a positive attitude towards working with non governmental organisations. Women's groups created a learning forum for group members, and this knowledge was disseminated in communities. Strategies to address problems were of particular significance in enabling dissemination of information and enabling community participation. The intervention increased social networks and built community capacity. Discussion: The effect of context on the intervention is considered in order to assess the generalisability of the intervention. Potential mechanisms of effect are also discussed which help to explain the trial outcome. This thesis supports calls for the integration of concurrent process evaluations within randomised controlled trials, and contributes to the evidence for community-based interventions for maternal and newborn survival.
Two articles in the appendices have been removed from the e-thesis due to copyright reasons.


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International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is an international organisation the members of which are national accreditation bodies and other organisations in the field of laboratory testing and inspection. They have signed the Memorandum of Understanding that constitutes a basis for the establishment and further development of multilateral agreement system. In this way test results are recognised globally and technical barriers to trade are eliminated.
ILAC also provides assistance to developing countries that are in the process of developing their own laboratory accreditation systems. These developing systems are able to participate in ILAC as associate members, and access the resources of ILAC's more established members.
In conjunction with ILAC, specific regions have also established their own accreditation co-operations, notably in Europe (EA) and the Asia-Pacific (APLAC), America (IAAC), and Africa (SADC and AFRAC). These regional co-operations work in harmony with ILAC procedures. ILAC is encouraging the development of such regional co-operations in other parts of the globe.
Structure of the ILAC MRA
The ILAC MRA is structured in five levels:
Level 1 - ISO/IEC 17011, specifies mandatory criteria that apply to all accreditation bodies (ABs)
Level 2 - Conformity assessment activities of conformity assessment bodies to which the accreditation body grants accreditation according to the generic, normative documents listed in Level 3
Proficiency Testing
Reference Material Production*
Level 3 - Generic, normative documents used by the AB to assess the conformity assessment body (CAB) competence for each activity in Level 2 are:
For Testing: ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189
For Calibration: ISO/IEC 17025
For Inspection: ISO/IEC 17020
For Proficiency Testing: ISO/IEC 17043
For Production of Reference Material*: ISO 17034
Level 4 - Sector-specific normative documents which specify internationally recognised applications of the generic, normative document listed in Level 3. These application documents are used by the AB, in combination with the generic, normative documents listed in Level 3, to assess the CAB competence in the relevant sector and are:
(a) Normative documents to be used in combination with ISO/IEC 17025:
For anti-doping testing laboratories also accredited by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) - the WADA International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)
For medical reference measurement laboratories - ISO 15195
(b) Normative documents to be used in combination with ISO 15189:
For Point-of-Care Testing - ISO 22870
(c) Normative documents to be used in combination with ISO/IEC 17020:
None currently endorsed
(d) Normative documents to be used in combination with ISO/IEC 17043:
(e) Normative documents to be used in combination with ISO 17034*:
Level 5 - The scope of accreditation of the CAB accredited by an ILAC Arrangement signatory.
*) The General Assembly endorses the recommendation of the ARC to extend the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) to include accreditation of reference material producers to the criteria specified in ISO 17034 according to the Resolution ILAC GA 20.13.
‹ IAF up Contact ›
ATS Scope of Work
ATS Organs and Bodies
ATS Logo and Accreditation Symbol
Assessors and Technical Experts
Public Invitation to Assessors to Apply
ATS Annual Report
International Organisations and Agreements
» International Organisations and Agreements


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Home > asia > tokyo > diamond-hotel
Welcome to Diamond Hotel
Property Location With a stay at Diamond Hotel in Tokyo (Akasaka), you'll be minutes from Tokyo National Theatre and close to Tokyo Imperial Palace. This family-friendly hotel is close to Tokyo Tower and Meiji Jingu Shrine. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 304 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature deep soaking bathtubs and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily. Dining Grab a bite to eat at one of the hotel's dining establishments, which include 2 restaurants and a coffee shop/café. Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access and a 24-hour front desk.


This 600,000 SF mixed-use specialty retail center is conveniently located along Highway 101 in West Ventura County and includes a wealth of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in a relaxed, family setting. Anchored by Whole Foods, REI, Century Theatres, and the recently added Target, this center will remain active both day and night.
If you have a business and would like more information, you can click on the logo below and call Phil Bacalzo at 805-218-4594, Keller Williams Realty, Private Client Group, CA DRE# 01351751. Phil is experienced in representing businesses in negotiating commercial leases. Dealing directly with the landlord's representative may result in less than optimal terms for your business since the landlord's representative has a fiduciary responsibility to the landlord. All commissions and fees are paid by the landlord which means Phil's services are free to the lessee.


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Water sampling in a wetland
www.natureconservancy.ca > Home > Where We Work > New Brunswick > Our Work
Online conservation tool for fresh water and streams
Stream on Stehelin property, NS (Photo by NCC)
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has completed the first stage of a major research and mapping project on freshwater rivers and streams in eastern Canada and the United States.
This is the first classification of streams and rivers to be mapped across New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, southern Quebec and the northeastern United States. The information is now available online to conservation groups and the public. Its goal is to support conservation for Atlantic salmon and many other freshwater species.
The project will inform better planning and conservation across watersheds, provinces and even between Canada and the U.S. Data is provided for cross-border watersheds in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Until now, cross-border freshwater conservation efforts had incomplete or incompatible data. The project also provides a valuable baseline for monitoring freshwater health, which may be impacted in the future due to climate change.
NCC is leading the project, with 22 partners and freshwater experts from universities, government and non-government organizations. All of the partners have collaborated on the project, to aid conservation efforts region-wide.
The stream classification project is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Trottier Family Foundation and The Salamander Foundation.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada's stream and river classification is the first of four tools being developed to prioritize freshwater conservation and restoration in the region. The next stage of NCC's three-year Aquatic Blueprint project will document the ecological health of streams and rivers in the region. It will also assist groups with prioritizing conservation areas.
The user-friendly maps and scientific data compiled by NCC are now available online free of charge, here.