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Taking a Closer Look at Copper as Phase Out Nears
April 24, 2017 | by Peter Schrappen
Copper. The reddish metal that you may remember from the periodic chart has kept a vigilant presence in boating since the 18th century when the British Royal Navy adhered copper plates to their hulls to protect them from shipworms and other marine growth. Copper has worked so well that it remains in most of the bottom paint you will find on store shelves.
Copper, like tributyl tin (which was phased out in 1988) and zinc, is known as a biocide. "Bio" means "life" and "cide" means "killing." Copper may be a victim of its own success. While it's great at killing life on your hull, paint can leach into its environment.
"Even in extremely small concentrations, copper is a dangerous pollutant for marine life, especially our salmon. In many cases, it's even more toxic than lead," said Chris Wilke, executive director of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. He's been looking at this issue for years and came to the same conclusion that Northwest Marine Trade Association arrived at in 2011 — that copper should be phased out of paint.
A 2007 study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that copper disrupts a young salmon's ability to smell. According to the study, salmon swimming through dissolved copper lose the ability to smell their prey. Salmon also use their sense of smell to locate food, find their home stream, and reproduce.
"If we know that copper is bad, and if we know that boatyards are continually struggling to make the benchmarks in their boatyard permit, why not try an approach that addresses the pollutant at its source? For us, that was looking at the paint in the can and not copper at the end of the pipe," said Jim Brown, chair of the Clean Boating Foundation board and one of the original core members of the group that put forward legislation to phase out copper-bottom paint.
Washington state's Department of Ecology has scrutinized copper on industrial sights for decades. When it comes to the state's 69 boatyards, they are scored by how much copper and zinc is found in water samples taken during a storm. Any more than 147 parts per billion of copper in a sample exceeds the benchmark. If that happens twice during the five-year permit, the boatyard must take corrective action, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars for engineering reports and the purchase and upkeep of a filtration device. Keep in mind that 147 parts per billion is next to nothing. To put this amount is perspective, it is equivalent to 3 drops of food coloring within 50,000 liters of water.
When it came to the legislation, Senate Bill 5436, which passed in 2011, made Washington the first state to adopt non-copper paint guidelines: No new recreational boat up to 65 feet can arrive with copper on its hull starting in Jan. 1, 2018, and no copper can be sold or applied to a boat after Jan. 1, 2020. This law only applies to boats in Washington. Also, these upcoming dates are not retroactive, meaning that is legal to have copper on your boat after these dates, it just cannot be applied or sold after January 1, 2020. Plus, it is permissible for non-copper paint to cover copper paint with this new law.
But the bill will only apply to recreational boats up to 65 feet, raising the question of why only a portion of boats have been targeted.
"While we had some things going in our advantage for this legislation, the team that brought this forward had other disadvantages we had to account for. In particular, while copper is bad regardless of whether it's on a yacht or a freighter, our core group did not have needed support to have this legislation apply to all sectors. Also, the boatyard permit pays special attention to regulating boats up to 65 feet, which falls within the NMTA membership. We went to Olympia unified around the best bill we could muster with the hope that other marine stakeholders and other states would join in. As they say in Olympia, 'perfect is the enemy of good.' While this bill was not perfect, it was a good one," said George Harris, NMTA president.
The bill brought together diverse interest groups around a common conundrum: cleaning up Puget Sound while not employing heavy-handed regulations that would create a death spiral for any one sector. Also, paint companies that provided products for recreational boats would need time to research and produce paints that worked in the unique climate of Washington.
"We have a couple of things going in our advantage that made this bill possible. First, there had been a history of our industry and environmental groups working together for clean water. Second, because of the cold waters here, we don't see the level of marine growth found in other areas. Third, we had a reason to move this legislation forward because the boatyard permit mandates that copper keeps getting harder and harder to have in your samples. Fourth, we had the right mix of legislators and interest groups coming together in unison, shouting that clean water matters," said Bill Youngsman, then-chair of the Northwest Marine Trade Association.
Wilke, of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, said, "In order to protect our waters and the natural resources that we enjoy, we must move away from the most harmful chemicals and pollutants, especially when suitable alternatives exist."
It's not just the environmental community and boating industry that welcomed this chance.
Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish Farms was pleasantly surprised with the leadership of NMTA on this issue. "There's no confusion that nasty chemicals like copper and oysters don't mix. Typically, our partners when we work on addressing pollution sources are environmental groups not organizations like NMTA whose members may be contributing to the problem. We applaud the industry's leadership to address copper bottom paint. What a great example for their counterparts around the country. Hopefully others will follow their lead."
Alternative paints already exist. As the key dates of the legislation approach, more and more success stories are popping up. Bremerton Yacht Club, for one, has made a complete transition to non-copper paint.
"You can only buy non-copper paint in our club store," said Don Floyd, lead volunteer at Bremerton Yacht Club. Floyd said only about one out of 50 boats have had a problem with non-copper paints.
"We have seen very few issues with these non-copper paints. Plus, it has helped us comply with the boatyard permit so we can continue to operate," he said.
Others share Floyd's optimism. Bob Ranzenbach, a power-boater and member of the Seattle Yacht Club, applied non-copper paint in 2012 and is now a "true believer" in its attributes. "I was completely surprised and impressed by my experience."
If you ask some paint companies, they are planning for this phase-out with eyes wide open.
Tony Bulpin from Sea Hawk Paint and a regular contributor to Northwest Yachting has spent considerable time on this subject in recent years. He said the boating public needs to know that these new paints work well but are different from conventional ones.
"Boaters can't be expected to have the same experience and lifecycle as they are having with the current copper-based paints," he said.
"There's a reason that boaters like copper. Taking out this chemical is going to have an effect, and our responsibility is to minimize the risk to get boaters what they ultimately need and want: a clean bottom. Sea Hawk has the product and is working on other products, but changing a boater's behavior can be a challenge," Bulpin said.
He added that boaters should know that their products do exceptionally well with hard growth and barnacles, but they should not be surprised if they see soft growth and slime when the boat is pulled.
But not everyone is completely sold on non-copper paints.
"While it's the correct thing for us to do, I worry that with too many bad experiences people may get out of boating," said Scott Anderson of CSR Marine. Anderson co-owns the two CSR boatyards, enjoys sailing and cruising, and serves on the board of the 101-year-old schooner Adventuress.
"Do I understand why we need to make this change? Yes. Am I ecstatic about it? No, but it's the law, so we are going to do everything we can to make (this change) a success"
While the expectation was that other states would join Washington with a phase-out of copper-bottom paint, new laws have not yet been adopted elsewhere in the U.S. California looked to have the most momentum before Washington's law and has most recently taken up the issue once again. Instead of legislative action, it is looking at regulatory changes, focusing on leach rates and impaired water bodies. Marina del Rey, Newport Beach and Shelter Bay near San Diego have all received the attention of California's clean-water agency.
Because copper levels are not in compliance with federal standards in these three places, the agency is considering a reduction plan that could force boaters to use copper-free paint, according to a 2015 article in the Los Angeles Times. Under the proposal, copper levels in Newport Bay would have to be reduced 83% in the next 15 years to comply with their clean water regulations.
"Getting California to join us would be a real game-changer. Our concern is that Washington is such a small fish in a big pond," said Brown, of the Clean Boating Foundation. Washington ranks 24th in the country in boat registrations, with 240,000 of the United States' 6 million boats.
"Once other states see that viable options exist, paint companies will even be that much more encouraged to get non-copper paints onto the shelves," he said.
Another part of the law that is receiving scrutiny is how to test chemicals in these new paints. The law stipulated that alternative chemicals be evaluated beginning in January 2017. Northwest Green Chemistry has started assessing with the support of boating businesses, boaters and the NMTA.
"The last thing we want to see happen is a regrettable substitution, where the replacements contain chemicals even worse than copper," said Dr. Amelia Nestler, Northwest Green Chemistry's project manager. "We are not dictating which products to use, but we are producing a selection guide to help boaters choose the best option for their boating needs and for Puget Sound."
Nestler has shown the ability to innovate as she goes along, according to many of those participating in the alternatives assessment process.
"CSR suggested that they see which of these non-copper paints actually work. Amelia said that it wasn't part of their original plan but have displayed a willingness to adjust their testing to accommodate our request," said Anderson, of CSR Marine.
Many boating businesses have appreciated Northwest Green Chemistry's openness and transparency. Nestler credits that to their desire to get this assessment right.
"This alternative assessment is the first one of its kind. There are few things we already know in the first months of this process: No other spot in the world has a phase-out of copper-bottom paint, which means that boaters around the globe are watching what we are doing here to get both the test and the phase-out right," she said.
All of the Northwest Green Chemistry's meetings are public, and boaters are encouraged to email Nestler directly (anestler@nullnorthwestwgreenchemistry.org) if they want play a role in the study.
What formally began in 2011 with the passage of the non-copper paint law has led many boaters to look at other practices that could both help boatyards comply with the permit issued by Department of Ecology and clean up water.
"Taking care of the environment is a never-ending process. Paint has received a lot of attention for good reason, but boaters should do more than just switch paints. Boatyards are also scored on the zinc that comes off of their yards. A simple solution here would be to switch to aluminum anodes. Marinas can consider moving to zinc-free marine bumpers, too," said Nestler.
Brown believes boaters are environmentalists. "It's not like we go out on the water wondering how many ways we can pollute. If we weren't into nature, we would spend our time on the couch. That said, because we use the environment to have fun we have a responsibility to take care of our surroundings. Sometimes that means making changes and of those changes on the horizon is switching to less toxic paint."
Chris Wilke agrees. "I am proud that Washington is now a leader in the effort to protect our waterways from toxic pollution. The move away from copper bottom paint shows one way that boaters and the maritime industry are doing their part. Progress is difficult sometimes, but if we can save our salmon, it will be great for everyone — especially boaters, fishermen and anyone who enjoys the water."
NMTA's president had another idea to ensure that these new paints work.
"Boats are like muscles," Harris said. "If you don't use them, they turn to mush. Use your boat and good things happen. If your boat just sits in the marina, of course it's going to grow nasty stuff. Chances are that it won't just be your boat's bottom that needs to be cleaned, too. I've always found that the more I use my boat, the better it operates."
(Author's note: I was the lead lobbyist on the passage of this legislation and have worked with boaters and boatyards to move forward with non-copper paint as part of my role with the Clean Boating Foundation.)


According to an article posted last night on ComingSoon.net, citing Deadline as its source, Ghostbusters 3 is moving forward without Ivan Reitman as director, who directed the first 2 films. But Reitman will be staying on as producer. Here's the link to the full article: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=116170 Today, Dan Aykroyd, who plays Ray Stantz in the … More Ghostbusters 3 To Film In 2015?
Leave a comment Ghostbusters 3 To Film In 2015?


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Heatwave Magazine
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The Naturals– Hive
Review: The Naturals– Hive
Record Label: Howling Owl Records
Release: November 2015
Okay, I should just get this over with first– I'm not majorly into this kind of music. I struggle to stay interested, as I like energy along with a clear point and drive to a song. I like when there is noticeable passion and meaning. The Naturals' Hive isn't quite there for me. All the songs on Hive are long (or at least by my standards). The music is soaked in feedback and reverb that it's hard to concentrate. I struggled to stay on top of the task at hand, which was to review the record.
So, unfortunately, I couldn't really do it. As the current wave of nostalgia-drenched nineties psych bands are everywhere, I can't say that Hive offered anything new. I'll give anything a listen, and can find merit in most music, but I just didn't feel it. It's a shame, as I definitely heard good things about the band.
Lyrics, if there were any at all, were lost to the echo of the previous drawling words. I couldn't pinpoint one song that suggested the band were into hooks, choruses or bridges– the things that I suppose you could say make a song. Don't get me wrong, I know a formulaic structure isn't the be-all and end-all when it comes to songwriting (my favourite band on earth is Shellac), but it kind of would be nice to have a point of reference. The album does offer endless vowels and power chords the length of full songs. I kept waiting, but I was offered nothing meaty. While listening to Hive, I was like Ron Swanson waiting for beef at a vegetarian restaurant– that level of disappointment. I heard such good things about The Naturals, but that wasn't what I took away from Hive.
I feel bad writing it, but if I have been tasked with reviewing– and asked to be honest– then no, I'm just not into this at all. (Sorry guys!)
By Frieda Strachan
Heatwave Stats

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is a very famous and quite haunting illusion that works amazingly well. Stare at the four dots in the centre of the negative image for a minute or so. Now close your eyes. It works better if you have light facing you. The face of Jesus, inside a white circle, will suddenly appear beneath your eyelids. The face is not the same negative of the original image, but an accurate face. Your brain cleverly reverses the negative image and the result is quite stunning. Jesus appears and stays a while, his pale face surrounded by his long dark hair.
you will see a white circle with the face of Jesus inside it.


Fuseli, in the introduction to the second part of his Lectures, has touched on the character of Cicero, respecting his knowledge and feeling of Art, in a manner which excites our curiosity. "Though Cicero seems to have had as little native taste for painting and sculpture, and even less than he had taste for poetry, he had a conception of Nature, and with his usual acumen frequently scattered useful hints and pertinent observations. For many of these he might probably be indebted to Hortensius, with whom, though his rival in eloquence, he lived on terms of familiarity, and who was a man of declared taste, and one of the first collectors of the time." We may trace the progress of Cicero's taste for the works of art. It was probably a late, though an ardent pursuit; and their actual enjoyment seems with this celebrated man rather to have been connected with some future plan of life.
Cicero, when about forty-three years of age, seems to have projected the formation of a library and a collection of antiquities, with the remote intention of secession, and one day stealing away from the noisy honours of the republic. Although that great man remained too long a victim to his political ambition, yet at all times his natural dispositions would break out, and amidst his public avocations he often anticipated a time when life would be unvalued without uninterrupted repose; but repose, destitute of the ample furniture, and even of the luxuries of a mind occupying itself in literature and art, would only for him have opened the repose of a desert! It was rather his provident wisdom than their actual enjoyment, which induced him, at a busied period of his life, to accumulate from all parts books, and statues, and curiosities without number; in a word, to become, according to the term, too often misapplied and misconceived among us, for it is not always understood in an honourable sense, a COLLECTOR!
Like other late collectors, Cicero often appears ardent to possess what he was not able to command; sometimes he entreats, or circuitously negotiates, or is planning the future means to secure the acquisitions which he thirsted after. He is repeatedly soliciting his literary friend Atticus to keep his books for him, and not to dispose of his collections on any terms, however earnestly the bidders may crowd; and, to keep his patience in good hope (for Atticus imagined his collection would exceed the price which Cicero could afford), he desires Atticus not to despair of his being able to make them his, for that he was saving all his rents to purchase these books for the relief of his old age.
This projected library and collection of antiquities it was the intention of Cicero to have placed in his favourite villa in the neighbourhood of Rome, whose name, consecrated by time, now proverbially describes the retirement of a man of elegant taste. To adorn his villa at Tusculum formed the day-dreams of this man of genius; and his passion broke out in all the enthusiasm and impatience which so frequently characterise the modern collector. Not only Atticus, on whose fine taste he could depend, but every one likely to increase his acquisitions was Cicero persecuting with entreaties on entreaties, with the seduction of large prices, and with the expectation, that if the orator and consul would submit to accept any bribe, it would hardly be refused in the shape of a manuscript or a statue. "In the name of our friendship," says Cicero, addressing Atticus, "suffer nothing to escape you of whatever you find curious or rare." When Atticus informed him that he should send him a fine statue, in which the heads of Mercury and Minerva were united together, Cicero, with the enthusiasm of a maniacal lover of the present day, finds every object which is uncommon the very thing for which he has a proper place. "Your discovery is admirable, and the statue you mention seems to have been made purposely for my cabinet." Then follows an explanation of the mystery of this allegorical statue, which expressed the happy union of exercise and study. "Continue," he adds, "to collect for me as you have promised, in as great a quantity as possible, morsels of this kind." Cicero, like other collectors, may be suspected not to have been very difficult in his choice, and for him the curious was not less valued than the beautiful. The mind and temper of Cicero were of a robust and philosophical cast, not too subject to the tortures of those whose morbid imagination and delicacy of taste touch on infirmity. It is, however, amusing to observe this great man, actuated by all the fervour and joy of collecting. "I have paid your agent, as you ordered, for the Megaric statues; send me as many of them as you can, and as soon as possible, with any others which you think proper for the place, and to my taste, and good enough to please yours. You cannot imagine how greatly my passion increases for this sort of things; it is such that it may appear ridiculous in the eyes of many; but you are my friend, and will only think of satisfying my wishes." Again–"Purchase for me, without thinking farther, all that you discover of rarity. My friend, do not spare my purse." And, indeed, in another place he loves Atticus both for his promptitude and cheap purchases: Te multum amamus, quod ea abs te diligenter, parvoque curata sunt.


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Red Lodge, MT - Under new management, historic Red Lodge theater anchored on Broadway
posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on November 7, 2016 at 11:42 pm
From The Billings Gazette: In its early days, boxing matches would precede film showings at the Roman Theater in Red Lodge, said manager Mike Booth.
But for most of the theater's long history, it's just been movies. The Roman was built in 1917 and has been seating audiences since. A short list of managers have overseen the building over the years, and it's changing the guard once again.
"For a lot of us who grew up here, there's all those memories of the theater," said Booth, who took over as manager in October.
The aged Broadway Avenue building contains 202 seats, which are rarely filled. Booth said an average of 15 to 25 people show up each night. The balconies that flank the center gallery no longer hold a crowd of people. They're used for storage.
Building owners Jeff Anderson and Betsy Scanlin put in a new screen and invested in a digital projector in 2012 — anything to keep Red Lodge's only theater going.
"We're very lucky if we break even," Anderson said.
That's how Booth got into the managerial position after the previous day-to-day operator left. He said he wanted to make sure the theater wouldn't close.
Booth is a business consultant who works in Red Lodge and Billings. While management is part-time, it's a daily endeavor. He oversees five employees, keeps things running and files paperwork from a small office next to the projector room upstairs.
He took over as manager after the Red Lodge Theater Company pulled out as manager. The troupe took over in 2013 after longtime manager Lee Hanchett left the business.
In addition to showing movies, the Theater Company used the stage for live productions. Guynema Terry, a member of the troupe, said that they decided to try for something more than part-time live theater, and so they moved on from the Roman.
But she said that running the old building was special.
"It was wonderful, and I hated letting it go," Terry said. "The Roman kind of gets in your soul."
Anderson and Scanlin took over the building in 2000. Anderson said that the building was slated for conversion into a restaurant, but the deal fell through. Soon after, they owned the building.
His long-term goal is to keep the place open.
Booth carries an unofficial interim tag as manager, but he's not sure how long he'll stay in the position. While it's meaningful work, the independent theater business isn't a cash cow.
Ticket prices recently went up slightly, and Booth closed the theater on Mondays to save a little money. He said they run top-10 box office movies to attract the largest audience in the small town.
He logs the ticket sales for each movie nightly and reports it to a telephone hotline. That's how production studios get their royalties, which can range from 35 percent to 60 percent, depending on the movie.
He's also working on other uses for the space. There are a handful of special events at the Roman each year. The theater is an occasional venue for the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, which Booth directs. There are special showings for local ski and outdoor films.
Booth is working on plans for the theater's 100-year anniversary, which falls next year.
Whether it's hosting local students or regional artists, Booth said he wants to get some traffic into the place while he's at the helm.
"It really belongs to the community," he said. "Because people have been coming to the movie theater for 100 years."
Story link: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/under-new-management-historic-red-lodge-theater-anchored-on-broadway/article_00534b46-2ee3-5a6c-bc51-2a5078e49fda.html
ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America's historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America's theatres.
Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org


Pancharaaksharam is another upcoming 2019 Tamil cinema that directed by Balaji Vairamuthu. Santhosh Pratap, Ashwin Jerome, Gokul plays a vital roles during this movie. Sundaramurthy KS composed the film's music Soundtracks and background score. Pancharaaksharam movie officially release on 2019.


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Denning T&M Program Profile: Rehman Pirani
Profile: Rehman Pirani
Rehman Pirani moved to the U.S. at the age of 6 when his family was presented the opportunity by winning a green card lottery in Pakistan. His parents owned a dry fruits and nuts store, which at the time did not require a college education. So, when it was time for Pirani to apply, he was the first in the family to navigate the process.
"It was a little challenging, and I was kind of on my own, but everyone is in a sense," he said.
Pirani, who went to high school in Johns Creek, was torn between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, but he made up his mind at an event for Dean's Scholars at the Scheller College of Business.
"That event and the people I met there were the main reason I came to Tech," he said. He also wanted a technical minor, which he found in the Denning Technology and Management Program.
Pirani himself became one of those Tech students whom prospective students meet when they visit campus. He got further involved in the business community as an ambassador for the Scheller College of Business and through Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity. This year he also served as president of Scheller's Student Development Board.
Seeing prospective students not only enroll, but then sometimes even join the organizations that have meant so much to him, has been one of Pirani's favorite things about college.
"The cycle is fun - seeing everyone who came in at once and watching where they go and end up," he said. "It's also cool to see how much the College of Business has changed." (The former College of Management had just taken on its new name when Pirani enrolled in 2012.)
Before choosing business at Georgia Tech, Pirani thought he wanted to be an architect. An internship in high school told him that might not be the best career for him, though. It would be the first of several career experiences that led him to find what he wanted to do.
At times, Pirani pursued entrepreneurial endeavors. During his sophomore year, he launched a mobile development startup that created iPhone apps for those who did not have the tools to do so themselves. One client was a faculty member at Florida International University — Pirani's company helped her convert her e-books into interactive iPhone apps that her students could then use to supplement lectures.
He later participated in Ideas to SERVE, where his team, SmileBright, won first place in 2015. They conceived a 3-D printed prototype for a toothbrush called SmileBuddy for people with developmental disabilities.
"That was the best team I've ever worked with," he said. "We were all different majors and skill sets, yet we worked so well together."
Ultimately, Pirani decided he wanted to work at a company where he would have strong mentors. This spring, he'll start a full-time job in San Francisco with Workday, where he also did an internship. After four and a half years, he's ready to go from student to alumnus, and his family is ready to celebrate with him.
"They're excited - my mom bought an American dress for the ceremony, which she doesn't do very often," he said. "My parents have worked so hard to make it easy on me. Being able to graduate debt-free with a good job and career path is all thanks to them. They've always been there to support me and would tell me, 'just keep working hard.'"
Writer: Kristen Bailey
Photographer: Rob Felt
Digital Designer: Melanie Goux
City for Growth of Women-Owned Businesses
Center for an Urban Future 2016
Scheller College of Business Rises In Latest U.S. News & World Report Rankings


I was really looking forward to this book, as I love Antonio's cookery programmes and am a fan of Italian cooking.
In the introduction he promises to share the secrets he has learnt over 50 years. I had great expectations of this book, but I am not sure that I garnered too many secrets from it. How to boil an egg! (Tuna-Stuffed Eggs.) The book lives up to its title and the recipes are simple. Some disappointingly so.
The recipe for Air Dried Meat Platter is just that. The recipe telling you to arrange a selection of air dried meats artistically on a platter. With the comment at the end that the best thing about this dish is that you don't need to cook it. Hmm. In other similar 'recipes', Platter of smoked fish, he does acknowledge that it is less of a recipe and more of a serving suggestion.
Predictably there is a section on pasta which made interesting reading. Describing how the various shapes of pasta are used and very clear instructions as to pasta etiquette. Only babies are permitted to use a spoon. Oops, you can't take me anywhere.
I cooked the Umbrian Lentil and Homemade Sausage Stew. Just right for this time of year. I wouldn't have thought of making my own sausages but gave it a go and they were delicious. Previously I have been put off making my own sausages by having to invest in sausage skins etc. But this recipe is straight- forward and you are rewarded with a delicious stew, confident in the provenance of your sausages – no preservatives, or carbohydrate padding and very substantial. I successfully froze surplus sausages making any repeats of this dish quicker to accomplish. It is also remarkably easy to adjust the recipe to cater for a smaller or larger number of portions. Always useful. This is one which I am sure will become a staple.
I am a bit of soup junky and so tried the Pumpkin Soup. This was delicious with the celeriac adding another layer of flavour. The suggested garnish of pancetta worked very well and the dish provided an easy and satisfying lunch.
Finally, I tried the Zabaglione Recipe, and virtuously avoided the suggested bitter chocolate sauce for diet reasons! Although I am sure this is not a long-term stance.
This took me right back to my student days and I was delighted with the result, also the additional info on how to turn this into an ice-cream means I am happy cooking more of it and freezing a quantity. It is always great to have a recipe which involves egg yolks, to use after making pavlova, or meringue.
I enjoyed reading the book. But Simple is Simple.


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Beas, "The living Bethelehem"
Mr. Sunshine Reports Our cultural legate
Beas is seated on a small hill about 123 meters above sea level, belonging to the lands of the County of Huelva, an area characterized because of its wines (Vinos del Condado de Huelva) and its countryside activities.
This small town near the capital is focused on two main pillars: agriculture and livestock.
Regardless of its productions of wines, oils and cereals, Beas is locally known for its festivals and celebrations, and more specifically for its so-called: "Living Bethlehem".
Organized from beginning of December till beginning of January by the Brotherhood of "Ntra. Sra. de los Clarines", this nativity scene is installed in a place built expressly for that purpose, in 3.000 square meters of land, which 2.000 are fully dedicated to the scenes that make up what, to the delight of the audience.
Its big attraction is that the visitor is immersed in a multitude of sensations (sight of scenes and characters with real animals, architectures, objects, artefacts and ancient furnishings, typical Christmas music, and even the taste of traditional deserts and breads of Beas). This whole host of factors has led to 37 years after its founding the Living Bethlehem becomes the main tourist attraction on this small village, collecting between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors in each edition.
Visitors will also have a large number of services around this "living Bethlehem" to make them the most pleasant stay in Beas: Restaurants, Coffe shops, and local Bars, will offer the most traditional products during the Christmas season.
Come and enjoy this amazing village and its environment, where tradition, culture and history take part on each corner.
The most significant monument is the Church of St. Bartholomew Parish, located on the top of the hill on which sits the town of Beas. The building, which responds to the distinctive Gothic-Mudejar temple, whose construction could start during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, has a rectangular plan with three naves and transept. Its tower, is one of the highest and most beautiful in the province.
This building construction had seized the remains of an ancient watchtower. For layout and forms may be said to be a tower of the late eighteenth century, whose end is marked by the date in your weathervane: 1829. Inside the church there is a rich artistic heritage (Virgen del Rosario, Virgen de Gracia, San Bartolomé and the Blood of Christ from the XVI century, pieces of jewelery, paintings, etc.)..
Among the religious buildings of the village, is still preserved in the streets of Santa Engracia hospital chapel of Santa María de Gracia, Mudéjar layout, founded in 1566 as Pascual Madoz and dedicated to the care of poor and abandoned children.
Also we must emphasize the Town Hall being renovated in 1999, conducted in 1881 by the architect Manuel Pérez González, and the building used today as Casa de la Cultura, projected a year later by the same architect for the town schools.
Three kilometers from Beas is the Hermitage of Clarines whose current structure is the result of reconstruction carried out in the same in 1970, after the effects of the earthquake of 1969 and subsequent reforms in 1980 and 1990. This area preserves important image size, as the Lord of Clarines, by Leon Ortega 1943; the image of Our Lady of the Castle Clarines Lastrucci 1938 and Santa Ana, the image of the late sixteenth century.
We should not forget some other important places as:
Navahermosa "Ermita de las Mercedes". Inside it retains the image of the Virgen de las Mercedes, polychrome wood carving in 1992.
Candón: highlighted in the Parish Church of St. Joseph, whose inauguration took place in 1917. The interior of the church has a nave roof and ceiling. Like most outstanding pieces in it are a polychrome wood sculpture of the Sacred Heart, made by Manuel Cerquera in 1939, a crucifix Leon Ortega, made in 1980 and the image of San José in polychrome and carved wood in 1995.
Finally, include the Shrine of "Nuestra Señora de España", although located in Sotiel Coronada, municipality of Calañas, is tied by history and feelings to Beas inhabitants because is venerated since time immemorial. The current image of the Virgin is the work of Antonio Castillo Lastrucci, at 1956.
This and many more is what you cand find at this marvellous land where the light lives.
For further information: http://www.aytobeas.es/


We define landing pages as your digital handshake to the world. It's the first place a visitor will go on your website when clicking on a link in search results or typing in a URL in the address bar, and if you don't get it right those potential new customers will bounce away before exploring your brand further. A compelling landing page could make the difference in making or losing a sale, so you want to make a great first impression. Let's look at some landing page best practices and examples, and how you can optimize your landing pages and increase your conversions.
A landing page can be any page on your website that a visitor can land or arrive on and each page should have a goal that it was created to achieve. The page should add value to the customer and have a clear action for the customer to take. A good landing page will make it worth the while to stay and to discover the call-to-action.
Your landing page should be simple with compelling text and a clear path to follow.
Get to the point. The key is to only have as much text as you need to convey your message. Long blocks of text tend to scare people away and the last thing you want is for visitors to bounce before they arrive at your CTA.
Ditch the navigation. You don't want your visitors to be distracted by anything other than the action you clearly defined on the landing page. The best landing page practices offer as few click-out options as possible. Some landing pages will not even be included in your site's navigation.
Support your marketing campaigns. You (hopefully) don't spam your customers with every single item you have on sale and for promotion. Many landing pages are used solely for the purpose of tying together special events, dates, promotions as part of your email marketing campaigns.
Keep consistency. The font, imagery, colors, spacing and voice should be cohesive throughout your website and follow your brand guidelines and image.
The debate of gated content goes as so. The people who are against gated content say that your content should be so amazing people start to recognize you as a thought leader in your industry, frequently visit your content and happily and deliberately take your call-to-action by choice. For some small business and startups however, you can't always afford to give away your content for free, and customers won't want to provide you with information to contact them unless you make it worth it for them. When done right landing pages are a great way to generate leads.
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The Black Hawk Security Helicopters
A fleet of four Black Hawk helicopters, stationed at the north end of the base, provide air security around Area 51. More accurately they are Sikorsky HH-60U, a new and upgraded version of the Black Hawk. Only four HH-60U exist, all of them at Area 51. They were coverted in 2011 from U.S. Army HH-60M, originally developed to guard U.S. nuclear missile sites. The exact date is unknown, but it is likely that they replaced the older generation MH-60G Pave Hawk around 2011 or 2012. Scroll down for some photos and registration numbers of the older Pave Hawks. The MH-60G had a retractable in-flight refueling probe that was often mistaken for a large gun by visitors to the area. The new HH-60U does not have a refueling probe.
Several times daily the Black Hawk Helicopter can be seen doing its rounds out of the base and across Tikaboo Valley, patrolling the Area 51 perimeter. Visitors in the early 1990's report the Black Hawk would sometimes "sandblast" curious tourists. We are not aware of any such instances in recent years. However, the chopper may come out to investigate if curious visitors explore sensitive areas where it is difficult for ground-based security to keep track of them.
One such area is Roadblock Canyon, where access to the old trail up to Freedom Ridge has been blocked by an artificial rockslide blocking the road in a canyon. Of course access to Freedom Ridge is no longer possible after the 1995 land withdrawal, but for several reasons it is still a rather interesting (and sensitive) area. It is very easy there to disappear from view of the watchful eye of the Cammos.
HH-60U currently in use at Area 51
Serial # Contract year Type Unit Status Last Confirmed
10-20321 2010 HH-60U AFTC Det.3 Active 04/10/2016
10-20324 2010 HH-60U AFTC Det.3 Active 08/15/2020, returning from the East Coast
Mode-S enabled, hex code: AE5196, frequent call sign ANVIL 54
The Drive: Area 51 Has Its Own Unique Fleet Of HH-60U Ghost Hawk Helicopters
One of the Area 51 choppers, 10-20323, dropping off a patient at Centennial Hospital in Las Vegas, 08/07/2019. Click to enlarge.
Photos by Kris.
One of the Area 51 HH-60U flying low over Rachel, March 24, 2021
Older MH-60G Pave Hawk, no longer in use
Serial # Contract year Type Unit Status
90-26222 1990 MH-60G (mod. to L) Ogden ALC, UT (Air Logistics Center) Visually confirmed, 01/2001, no longer active
90-26223 1990 MH-60G (mod. to L) Ogden ALC, UT (Air Logistics Center) Visually confirmed, 05/29/2003, no longer active
Ogden ALC is part of Hill AFB, UT, which seems to have some kind of connection to Groom. Ogden uses the tail code "HAFB" for fixed-wing planes. Please let us know if you see any planes with that tail code in the Groom Area. Note the four letter code, as opposed to the usual two letter tail codes (like HI and HL for other units of Hill AFB).
Photos (click to enlarge)
General Characteristics of the MH-60G Pave Hawk:
Primary Function: Infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
Builder: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Power Plant: Two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines
Thrust: 1,630 shaft horsepower, each engine
Length: 64 feet, 8 inches (17.1 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 8 inches (4.4 meters)
Rotary Diameter: 53 feet, 7 inches (14.1 meters)
Speed: 184 mph (294.4 kph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,000 pounds (9,900 kilograms)
Range: 445 statute miles; 504 nautical miles (unlimited with air refueling)
Armament: Two 7.62mm mini-guns
Unit Cost: $10.1 million (1992 dollars)
Crew: Two pilots, one flight engineer and one gunner
Seating capacity: 14 to 17
Date Deployed: 1982


text:
static const NSString * kRNFDictionaryDataDeserializerMappings = @"mappings";
static const NSString * kRNFDictionaryDataDeserializerTransforms = @"transforms";
static const NSString * kRNFDictionaryDataDeserializerTargetClass = @"targetClass";
static const NSString * kRNFDictionaryDataDeserializerOnlyDeserializedMappedKeys = @"skipNotMapped";
static const NSString * kRNFDictionaryDataDeserializerMapTo = @"mapResultTo";

@interface RNFDictionaryDataDeserializer : NSObject <RNFDataDeserializer, RNFInitializableWithDictionary>

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We bring our signature free-spirited style to jeans for women in Sundance's own denim collection. Our curated line of premium denims showcases classic jeans sure to perfect your everyday looks, along with chic jeans elevated by intricate embroidery and distinctive distressing. Discover irresistibly soft denims in fits designed to flatter with a hint of stretch and refined silhouettes. Traditional five-pocket looks are timeless favorites in light and deep washes, and jeans in cuts ranging from slim to skinny to straight leg ensure you find a look that matches your style. With Sundance jeans, a wardrobe essential rises from ordinary to statement making.


My blog has stayed pretty stagnant lately but it's certainly not indicative of my kitchen! I've used (no joke) three bags of flour in as many days. We've been busy and enjoyed Christmas. My KitchenAid, Ms. Empire Red, got a new boyfriend for Christmas. Don't worry, I'm still in love with my KitchenAid but I am excited to have the Bosch for bread making. I've always felt a little guilty about overusing my dearest mixer on big batches of cinnamon rolls or brioche! Yesterday, after all the commotion died down, I made a big batch of wheat bread, rolls, a batch of orange rolls and a batch of cinnamon rolls. My Tall Man, Mr. Carbohydrate himself, is enjoying my present too.
I have lots of yummy recipes to post and hope to be back soon. Merry Christmas from my house to yours!
Last week at a Christmas party, my girlfriend and I were laughing at another friend's ridiculous food aversion. "No way will I eat onions, they're like tapeworms!" she repeated and we laughed. "Come on, everyone knows onions are nasty." Another chimed in against onions and added another equally repulsive (to her) food- tomatoes. Natalie and I just had to look at each other and laugh. When she said, "Well if you don't like onions or tomatoes I don't think I could make you anything for dinner" I had to agree. I can't imagine never eating those delicious foods again (come on, lasagna, best food of them all) but do understand the ridiculous food aversion.
My number one, can't do it food is coconut. No way on the texture (I'll refrain from posting what I identify it with since this is a food blog after all) and the flavor (sunblock? Apply not eat, thank you!) So when I saw this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe from Cobbler du Monde was an Apple Coconut cake I knew that wouldn't do. For a minute I even thought about growing up and making it with coconut since it was for my husband's coworkers anyway, but it turns out there isn't even any coconut in my house, which makes since considering I do all the shopping! So I just upped the apple, added some orange zest and juice to sub for the rum, and made it my own with a little more Greek yogurt (regular plain yogurt would work just fine, too) and a little less oil. Of course since I was already off the radar of the original recipe I added some orange zested frosting, why not? They are cupcakes, after all, and try as I may to grow up in my food preferences, frosting will always trump cake around here. Since they felt a little muffin-y I went light on the frosting, for me anyways. Really though, the orange, cinnamon, and vanilla pair so nicely with the apple and my house just smells like Christmas. Not bad for about 15 minutes of work (20 if you count the dishes). See the real deal with the other TWD bakers and come back later this week for a fun giveaway.
Preheat the oven to 350. Line about 18 muffin tins with paper wrappers, set on a baking sheet, and set aside.
Whisk together the dry team (flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, salt).
Peel and cut the apples into a small dice (I like to use my apple peeler). Zest the orange and then squeeze the juice from one half into the bowl- combine to prevent browning.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together for a minute or so. Add in the yogurt, oil, and vanilla and mix until nicely combined. Fold in the dry ingredients with a silicone spatula, being careful not to overbeat so the cake stays tender. Lightly mix in the apples and scoop into prepared muffin tins using an ice cream scoop.
Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool and frost with my favorite frosting, whipped cream, or apple jelly.
Did you have a great Thanksgiving? I hope so! Ours went a lot different than planned. We were going to go to Utah to see family but decided against it due to bad weather. We ended up staying home and I was happy to relax. Since we made our plans so late in the game, dinners were already planned so we were going to scoot on in to dinner with my tall man's family and a later dinner with my cousins and not really worry about cooking at all. My husband left first thing to play football with the guys from Church and while the kids and I were getting ready to go meet them at the park there was a knock at the door- my tall man with a nasty dislocated finger. Our plans went out the window and we spent some time with the nice, patient people at urgent care and the er. The doctors laughed about how many guys were in with football injuries, my husband said over and over again, while he sat with a throbbing, tangled finger for a few hours, "I'm never playing sports again" (believe that when I see it), and we ate turkey sandwiches while we waited on xrays. It was memorable to say the least.
We did make it to our dinners and had awesome food and better company. The rest of the week flew and here we are, December already. I've been working on a handmade felt advent calendar (like the pottery barn kids one here) and it's not done yet! My poor, hungry husband has been eating sandwiches and breakfast for dinner while I stitch away as often as I can. Good thing my kids are little and don't know one day from another. I did squeeze in this lemon cake and it's a winner. It's made with a mix (once again, half of my readers just unsubscribed and the other half are finally thinking about making one of my recipes) and ridiculously delicious. The recipe comes from a Church friend, Cyndi Reis, who is an amazing cook. She brought us dinner after Baby Strawberry was born and this dessert was the start of the show. We offered to share with my brother in law who was over but after we tried the cake we realized we shouldn't have shared, if you know what I mean! I knew I needed to the get the recipe right away and truly value my photocopied recipe cards Cyndi brought over. I figured it was time to put the recipe on my blog so I wouldn't risk it being lost/colored on/cut into pieces by my little preschooler.
Really, try this cake, even if you're against mixes. The cake is moist and flavorful. I'm all about the frosting and can usually take or leave the cake but this lemon cake is really better than frosting (I can't believe I said that!) It's so good I might have to put down my sewing and make it again. And I forgot to post the winner for the CSNStores Giveaway- Naomi. Shoot me an email (it's on the top right).There's lots of baking to be done with Christmas right around the corner. I'll be back soon!
Combine ingredients in stand mixer and mix for five minutes on medium. Pour into ungreased cake pan (about 9 x 13 or two 8-9" rounds) and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Warm butter, water and juice in microwave for about a minute, or until they are just warm and will nicely combine. Stir well and pour over powdered sugar. Mix until smooth.
Prick cake all over with a fork and pour glaze on top. Enjoy!


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Home Prescription Drug Addiction Prescription Drug News What to Know About Off-Label Prescribing
Off-Label Prescribing & Uses: What to Know
Off-label prescribing is done by many doctors and can provide helpful drug treatment to cancer patients and children. There are risks and benefits of off-label prescriptions.
By Joy Youell
Off-label prescribing is a fairly common practice in the United States. As many as 20% of prescriptions in the U.S. are off-label uses. So, what is off-label prescribing?
Off-Label Use
Off-label use is when medicines are prescribed for different purposes than they are approved for, or in different dosages or forms. This kind of prescribing is legal for many drugs. It's currently illegal to prescribe opioid drugs like fentanyl for purposes other than their approved use, however.
The FDA explains that there are multiple reasons a doctor might prescribe an approved drug for an unapproved use. These include when:
Drugs are used to treat different but similar conditions, such as types of cancer
The drug is administered or taken differently, such as a pill versus a liquid
A drug is given in a different dose than it is approved for.
Prescriptions for off-label use may be provided to children, who can safely consume certain medications but only in smaller doses, or people who require different forms of medicine.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a branch of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, explains there may be safe and effective drugs that are technically off-label as they await approval or more research. With cancer treatment, for example, these drugs may be the only treatment option left. In other situations, these drugs may have extensive anecdotal evidence of effectiveness to treat conditions outside of their approved use.
Some of the common health conditions for which off-label drugs are prescribed include:
There is some controversy about off-label prescribing and use, as it is at the physician's discretion. In some cases, off-label drugs have been prescribed and greatly benefitted patients. In other cases, off-label drug use has adverse effects. There are both risks and benefits.
The Risks of Off-Label Drug Use
The American Cancer Society details what is perhaps the biggest objection to off-label drug use, which is reimbursement. Many insurance companies won't pay for off-label drugs. Medicaid will sometimes pay for them. Also, while off-label prescribing is not technically illegal, there are multiple points at which providers could be susceptible to malpractice suits, or the practice of this prescribing could strengthen a malpractice suit from a different point of a patient's care.
There can be risks when the companies who make certain drugs market them for uses beyond their approved scope. A landmark case was a 2012 ruling requiring the drug company GlaxoSmithKline pay $3 billion for allegations of fraud. The company was allegedly using marketing messaging for their drug Paxil that suggested it be used in adolescents and children. This was not an approved use of this drug. Research began to show significant dangers in giving anti-depressants to teens and kids, indicating it may enhance depressive symptoms and even lead to suicide. The dramatic consequences in this scenario led to attention and prosecution.
The Benefits of Off-Label Drug Use
The process for FDA approval can take a long time, with multiple steps and some barriers. While strict regulation may ensure the greatest safety, it may also limit access for people who are very ill and could benefit from unapproved drugs. In this case, it is often up to the physician to perform medical trials with unapproved drugs as an effort to keep someone alive.
Drug regulations play a vital role in public health and the FDA's systems of review for new drugs is an important step prior to their release to the general public. If a drug has not yet been approved, there are other bodies of review that physicians can use to learn about new drugs. These are outside of manufacturer oversight, reasonably ensuring that there are no biases. For doctors who are seeking alternative treatment, these sources can offer insight into what unapproved drugs are available for treatment.
Off-label prescribing is a practice that can be immensely helpful to people who have found no effective treatment with approved drugs. It is something that healthcare providers have to approach with research and care. The goal should always be that patients receive the safest and most effective treatment for their conditions.
American Cancer Society. "Off-Label Drug Use." Updated March 17, 2015. Accessed August 3, 2019.
Consumerreports.com. "Off-label drug prescribing: What does it mean for you?" Updated July 2015. Accessed August 3, 2019.
Food and Drug Administration. "Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs 'Off Label.'" Updated February 2, 2018. Accessed August 3, 2019.
National Institutes of Health. "Off-Label Drug Information." August 2009. Accessed August 3, 2019.
The United States Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs. "GlaxoSmithKline to Plead Guilty and Pay $3 Billion to Resolve Fraud Allegations and Failure to Report Safety Data."July 2, 2012. Accessed August 3, 2019.
Wittich, Christopher M. et al. "Ten Common Questions (and Their Answers) About Off-label Drug Use." October 2012. Accessed August 3, 2019.
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What will the future of cities be like?
At the recent Fast Company Innovation Festival, experts discussed how the pandemic is shaping the future of cities
By FastCo Works
The death of cities due to COVID-19 has been greatly exaggerated. Early in the pandemic, as the epicenter of the virus spread from Wuhan to Milan to New York City and much of the world entered lockdown, many wondered if this was the end of people living in such close proximity to one another. After all, if all cities now had to offer was contagion, and if more than a third of urban workforces could seamlessly switch online, then what was the point of sticking around?
Corporate employers seemed to agree. Initially, banks and insurers, followed by tech companies, such as Twitter and Facebook, declared working from home would last forever. And who needed to go shopping? Both malls and mom-and-pop stores died by the thousands—as many as 25,000 locations are expected to close this year—as e-commerce sales surged 44.5% during lockdowns. Real estate brokerages such as Redfin reported millennials fleeing cities for suburbs and small towns—where searches were up 164% in June—preferring homes with his-and-her Zoom rooms.
Not so fast, counters Honeywell Building Technologies president and CEO Vimal Kapur. "We believe the extreme of anything is always bad—so we shouldn't switch from always working in the office to always working from home." His remarks were part of a freewheeling virtual discussion amongst urbanists, technologists, and real estate experts as part of this year's Fast Company Innovation Festival. At stake: How will cities recover once the pandemic is over, and how can they thrive in this new world we're building?
REIMAGINING OUR ENVIRONMENT
If there's one change that's likely to stick, it's the end of daily commuting for white-collar workers. "The 4+1 or 3+2 model is going to be the norm," said McKinsey Global Institute partner Jaana Remes, referring to the number of days in the office and the number at home. One reason for this is the sheer length of American commutes—an average of 26 minutes each way—that had already stretched employees to the breaking point.
Going forward, offices will transform from spaces to engage in focused, solo work—for which they've become increasingly ill-suited—to places for pure "problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation," as Kapur put it. And that will in turn create new uses and opportunities for rethinking the neighborhoods around them.
Retailing has likely also been transformed forever as the long-feared "mallpocalypse" predicted by Credit Suisse—that a quarter of all American malls would close by 2022—has arrived ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, mammoth retailers such as Amazon and Walmart have thrived during quarantine, with the former hiring 100,000 workers a month this spring in a struggle to keep pace with orders, while the latter's online sales surged 74% as demand for curbside pickup exploded. Their success has in turn fueled the rise of so-called "cloud kitchens" and "dark stores" without seating or even customers allowed inside. Are Main Streets destined to disappear behind an app?
"Even as the Internet has penetrated retail globally, we've seen the most fabulous experiential retail develop in our major cities," said Dr. Richard Barkham, global chief economist and head of Americas research for the real estate brokerage CBRE. To thrive going forward, they'll have to stop competing on cost and start competing on experience—what Barkham described as "a combination of shopping, leisure, culture, and art."
They'll also have to become "hyperlocal," argued Diana Lind, author of Brave New Home and housing fellow at NewCities. As cities have struggled to create space for social distancing, dining and retail has moved outdoors onto sidewalks and even into streets. While many turned to e-commerce early in the pandemic for safety, Lind said, "people are rediscovering the joy of connecting with their neighborhood grocery and hardware store." Meanwhile, empty storefronts in city centers might become the incubators for post-pandemic entrepreneurs, reflecting the arch-urbanist Jane Jacobs' observation that "new ideas need old buildings."
THE 15-MINUTE CITY
Looking further ahead and overseas, Paris and Milan are betting the future is local enough to be a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride away. "Crossing Paris from east to west by car is something you'll have to forget," Mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters ahead of unveiling her plans for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The city is confidently closing streets to traffic and adding new cycling lanes as part of its plans to create an archipelago of urban villages metropolis-wide.
The dream of the "15-minute city" may not be practical outside of Europe, "but it provides some useful constraints to think about how we want to live," Lind said. "If this is a place where thousands of people could live and work and play, how much housing do we need and how dense should it be?"
Access to nature and physical activity will also be key, argued Remes. "COVID has forced us to rethink so many things. Now is the time when people actually have time to exercise, to value going on a walk in [outdoor] spaces. Now is the opportunity to make a difference."
Ultimately, as Kapur noted, living a more local life will somewhat paradoxically depend on new technologies. Not only is the 15-minute city only possible with remote work and just-in-time logistics, but Asia's post-pandemic megacities are already pointing to a future of new "city-systems" for improving daily life. "I clearly see where technology that was adopted by necessity during COVID will become a new normal," he said. The future of cities is only 15 minutes away.
FastCo Works is Fast Company's branded content studio. Advertisers commission us to consult on projects, as well as to create content and video on their behalf.
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From G.I. Joe and Action Man to The Masters of The Universe, via Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Marvel superheroes, right up to the modern-day Funko phenomena, award-winning writer and editor of Toy Max International Tim Pilcher takes you on whirlwind tour through all things action-orientated and articulated! From the ground-breaking Star Wars toys explosion of the Seventies to the ultra-realistic modelling boom of the late 1990s, you'll discover the fascinating hidden history of some of our most beloved (and weirdest) toys, and the tragic fate of his favourite action figures.


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Vincenzo Miceli – giurista italiano
 Vincenzo Miceli – politico italiano
 Vincenzo Miceli – teologo italiano

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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We won't forget our Japanese sisters and brothers…
April 7, midnight, Japan. A magnitude 7.1 aftershock scared many people in Eastern Japan once again in the middle of the night on 7 April. The epicentre is located in about the same area as the major quake of March 11. This is the story.
April 13, 2011 | Andreas Mazza CD-EUD
Friday, March 11, 2:46pm - Tokyo: "My wife and I are walking up the stairs that lead to the Metropolitan Theatre in Tokyo, close to the UENO underground station. On a small square in front of the theatre we see the trees moving in an unnatural manner. Initially, we enjoy what looks like a gimmick of modern technology in a hi-tech city. Then we see a crane shaking dangerously, we feel the earth move, we see the skyscrapers sway. People are starting to sit obediently on the floor, a few raise their voices - an orderly and disciplined nation, even under these circumstances. We sit for 2-3 chilling minutes on the floor. Then we have to decide what to do. All the underground stations are closed, the buses have stopped running. The taxis are all busy. The traffic goes crazy... Japanese television transmits images of the disaster. The Prime Minister Kan is constantly talking to the nation on the TV."
The worst earthquake in the modern history of Japan, magnitude 8.9 which is recorded as the fifth biggest one in world history occurred on March 11, 2011, at 14:46, Japan time, on the Pacific coastline of the northeast region of Honshu, the main island. The quake was so massive that more than half of Honshu Island was shaken, including even the Tokyo area which is located about 400 km south of the devastated area. The tsunami warning was issued immediately throughout Japan. Within 30 minutes, the 6-meter-high tsunami (some parts were as high as 10 meters), struck the eastern coastline of Honshu.
The devastating natural disaster claimed more than 12,000 lives, and the number keeps rising as almost 15,000 remain missing, presumably dead. Nearly 158,000 people are trying to survive in makeshift homes and evacuation sites. Due to the quake, there was a leakage of radioactive materials at Fukushima Daiichi plant's Unit One, some 250 kilometres northeast of Tokyo. Japan is facing one of the biggest crises since World War II. The government estimates the loss at between $188 billion and $293 billion; reconstruction could take years.
In Japan there are 115 churches and about 15,300 members, as well as a long list of institutions (42, including colleges, food factories, hospitals, retirement homes, etc.).
There are 17 churches, 10 schools and 5 other church institutions in the earthquake-affected areas. No church/school/institutional buildings have been affected by the earthquakes and tsunamis except 3 or 4 buildings that suffered slightly cracked walls. There are no casualties among church members.
ADRA Japan has responded, initially assisting people that were stranded in the central Tokyo area by operating a shelter in the central Adventist Church in Tokyo since underground and overground trains were unavailable for people to return home and the streets were too cold for stranded people to spend the night. ADRA Japan responded to 150 people in these initial operations.
ADRA Japan has dispatched an assessment team to the affected area with 2 vehicles loaded with materials and food, and distributes hot meals to a target of 500-600 families in evacuation centres in the area. Beneficiaries are jointly selected in cooperation with each concerned city or municipal Department of Social Welfare Services' offices.
Hideo Watanabe, Program Officer of ADRA Japan, reached the affected area of Fukushima. He has seen roads collapsed and cracks along the way but recovery work is also under way. He reached the SDA Church in Fukushima city. He visited the prefectural head quarters for disaster control, getting feedback on the situation on the ground. ADRA staff members met with the DSS (Department of Social Services) of the Miyagi prefecture. According to the DSS the information is still very limited. However, 2 wards (Miyagino and Wakabayashi) in Sendai City have established a Volunteer Coordination Centre. According to the DSS report, the great need in the area is for water and food. The loc
al government has appointed ADRA Japan to support an evacuation centre in Wakabayashi ward in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture. This evacuation centre is a public junior high school. At the centre (school), about 320 people spend nights and approximately 1,000 people come to receive meals. Unfortunately, the earth continued to tremble.
Thursday, April 7. A magnitude 7.1 aftershock scared many people in Eastern Japan again. The epicentre is located at about the same area as the major quake of 11 March. The tsunami alert was announced on the coastline area of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures and even though it was midnight many people ran. However, there was no significant tsunami reported.
The official report up to now is 4 dead, 140 injured; 2.6 million homes were without electricity for a long time.
We have confirmed all of the Adventist Churches in the region had no damage. ADRA staff and volunteers are safe and well. ADRA staff set up the base camp with storage tents, office and staff tents; tents operating this week in the civic centre of Yamamoto city. There are 9 displaced camps in the city vicinity with 3440 displaced people, most of whom lost their homes to the tsunami, since the city faces the ocean as a fishing city.
Sabbath, April 9, Andy Espinoza, pastor of the Tokyo International Adventist Church wrote: "We are in Tokyo. Just a few minutes ago there was another quake. We are doing what we can to support ADRA and the churches that have been damaged."
Even if the situation seems to be under control, the population is alarmed about what will happen next: a damaged nuclear reactor emitting hazardous radiation, aftershocks that are expected to occur, etc. What touched me most was the reaction of the Japanese people: simply extraordinary. Order, calm and discipline. A people who feel a great need for love and human affection. A people that has great material wealth, but who need the presence and love of Jesus.


text:
import {Component} from '@angular/core';
import {createSelector, select, Store} from '@ngrx/store';
import {getEnvironment, State} from '../core/store';

const getLogdir = createSelector(
  getEnvironment,
  (environment): string => environment.data_location
);

@Component({
  selector: 'tbdev-upload-dialog',
  template: `
    <tbdev-upload-dialog-component
      [logdir]="logdir$ | async"
    ></tbdev-upload-dialog-component>
  `,
})
export class TbdevUploadDialogContainer {
  readonly logdir$ = this.store.pipe(select(getLogdir));

  constructor(private readonly store: Store<State>) {}
}


China's central bank takes a step closer to creating a nationally recognized digital currency.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has reportedly been taking steps to develop a digital currency of its own. In 2014, China assembled a research team to study digital currencies and application scenarios by collaborating with experts from Citigroup Inc. and Deloitte LLP.
Chinese consumers are already well-versed in executing transactions with their mobile devices through payment services such as Alipay or WeChat. Soft drink purchases can even be made from vending machines by scanning QR codes with smartphone applications that are linked to bank accounts. For merchants or private sellers, digital payments would be sent peer-to-peer, lowering transaction costs and cutting out middlemen like banks and third party brokers.
According to Bloomberg, the PBOC has initiated trial runs of its prototype cryptocurrency, in a steady advancement towards becoming one of the first major banks to issue digital money. While this move by the central back seems encouraging to some digital currency enthusiasts, the PBOC has also increased scrutiny of bitcoin, causing two of China's most popular exchanges (OKCoin and Huobi) to suspend bitcoin and litecoin withdrawals. This move that took place in early February 2017 was enacted by the PBOC as way to address money laundering, market manipulation, and capital flight (the transferring of Chinese money out of the country).
Other benefits of a digital currency include the reduction of costs associated with printing money, minting coins, and combating paper note counterfeiters. In a country of 1.4 billion people, managing and circulating physical money can get very expensive. Using digital currency to supplement the cash in circulation can improve speed and convenience, while providing unprecedented transparency of transactions.
Because of these benefits and China's willingness to adopt new technology, a national digital currency seems like a natural transition for tech savvy consumers and businesses seeking to lower expenses.
"Cutting costs is an obvious benefit, but the impact of shifting to blockchain-based digital money from the current payment structure goes beyond that. There's a potential you can pay anybody in the system, any bank, and any merchant directly. Blockchain will change the whole infrastructure. This is revolutionary."
Using blockchain technology will allow the PBOC to trace transactions and collect authentic data in real-time, which can be used to compile precise monetary indicators, such as money supply growth and consumer spending habits. This will eliminate dependence on monthly surveys of businesses and collations of spending from the statistic authority. Monetary policies could therefore be adjusted on a day-to-day or hourly basis, providing a level of precision to money management like never before.
In addition to China, countries like India, Singapore, Canada, and Germany, have begun to weigh these benefits. Some are experimenting with their own prototype cryptocurrencies, such as Germany's Deutsche Bundesbank.
Regardless of which country becomes the first to nationalize digital money, strong evidence provided to the PBOC supports the notion that a national cryptocurrency will become a part of China's standard financial landscape, coexisting with outstanding paper tender but not replacing it entirely. It's still too early to determine the rate and extent of this shift.
"Talking about the impact of digital money now is like trying to predict how the Internet would transform lives in the 1980s," Duan said. "We know it's going to be huge. It has the potential to change the entire economic infrastructure. We're just not sure about when and how."
Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter @ETHNews_ to receive the latest People's Bank of China, digital currency or other Ethereum world news.


text:
World Council of Churches launches textbook on mission
The launch of a comprehensive textbook on mission marks an important moment in the life of the Commission for World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches.
J. Keum, H. Wolters, K. Avtzi, G. Mor Coorilos, K. Ross.Photo: Dinesh Suna/WCC
Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
The book, designed for use in theological seminaries, is the first to offer a comprehensive overview of church mission work since the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1910.
"The book is a significant contribution to studies of contemporary missiology," says Dr Kenneth Ross of the Church of Scotland, who served as one of the editors.
Ross made his remarks at the book launch held on Friday during meetings of the WCC Central Committee in Trondheim, Norway. Ross, who has served as a missionary in Malawi, is currently an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
Ecumenical Missiology: Changing Landscapes and New Conceptions of Mission, co-published by WCC and Regnum Publishers, marks the final volume in Regnum's 35-book series on mission and is intended as a tool for teaching missiology.
The 575-page volume begins with a history of mission in the ecumenical movement over the past 100 years and an exploration of key concepts in contemporary missiology. It concludes with a section focused on the new ecumenical mission statement Together towards Life.
CWME Director Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, presented a copy of the text to WCC Central Committee member Yang-en Cheng, professor of Church History at Taiwan Theological College and Seminary. Keum explained that this was a symbolic act to emphasize that the book is for use in classes in ecumenical mission formation.
Kyriaki Avtzi, responsible for the WCC programme on evangelism, edited chapters on "hot" issues such as proselytism, evangelism in multi-faith contexts and the intersection between gospel and culture.
"The question before us on these issues is how to highlight the good news of the Gospel for today? What does this imply?" Avtzi said.
The Orthodox lay theologian adds that discipleship is emerging as an important lens for conceiving evangelism in contemporary missiology.
"We still are unpacking what discipleship means in evangelism where lay people are often dominant," she notes.
Keum, who is one of the mission textbook's editors, told the capacity crowd gathered for the launch that a consultation at Cuba's Matanzas Theological Seminary in September will prepare a syllabus and course outlines to accompany the textbook. The Korean theologian also noted that work is underway to prepare a handbook on Together towards Life for use in congregations.
The textbook on mission is expected serve as reference material for the next world mission conference that is to be held in March 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania will host the conference.
WCC Central Committee meeting
Ecumenical perspectives on mission and unity
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After tragic Norway landslide, "God is providing light in the shadow"
WCC condemns Yemen blast, offers prayers for Croatian earthquake, Norway landslide
New publication invites people to rediscover mission as "a matter of the heart"
"Converting Discipleship: Dissidence and Metanoia" paper newly announced during webinar
Responding to the Arusha Call - Mission Rediscovered: Transforming Disciples will debut during webinar
Webinar will explore many facets of "Converting Discipleship: Dissidence and Metanoia" study paper


Never mess with Cupid. He is easily offended. When Apollo, the god of sun and music, of poetry and art, mocked Eros (Cupid), the god of love and desire, taunting him as the lesser archer, Cupid decided he would prove Apollo otherwise. So he shot Apollo with a golden arrow, making him fall hopelessly in love with the river nymph Daphne; at the same time, he shot Daphne with a lead arrow, which caused her to feel an aversion for Apollo and a desire to flee from him.
This is one of the most famous stories from ancient Greek mythology, often reprised by Roman authors, including Ovid in his Metamorphoses. In the myth, a person struck by the golden arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire, and the one struck by the lead arrow feels aversion and wants only to flee.


1 "Could you hand me that three-quarter-inch wrench, please?" asked Dad.
2 Donald picked through the tool box until he found the right one. He handed it to his father, who was lying on his back under the recreational vehicle. The concrete driveway made a fairly good place to work. At least it was level, and the little wheeled dolly that Dad was lying on could roll easily in and out from under the large vehicle.
3 "Dad, when do you think we will be done with all of the renovations on this thing?" asked Donald.
4 "Well, let's see. We finished the cabinets in the kitchen area, and as soon as I have all of these fittings tight, we will be done with the plumbing. I think the new radio is going to be nice, but I still want to get the new carpet installed, and I would like to redo the fabric on the seats."
5 "Yes, but how long will all of that take?" asked Donald with just a little bit of irritation in his voice.
6 "We've made a lot of progress on redoing this old girl. Some of this stuff takes time and, of course, a lot of money. I want to do things right as I go along. It is not good to rush certain things that are critical," said Dad.
7 "Yeah, I know," said Donald, "but will we be able to take her out camping this summer? Now that school is out, I wanted to go camping someplace."
8 "I know what you mean, son. I want to do that, too. There are several things that would need to be done before we could take her out on the road. There is also the cost of gasoline. Since everything is so high right now, I don't think we could afford to take it for a very long trip." Dad looked at the disappointment in Donald's eyes. Then he added, "Maybe we could go to a local campground after we get some more things fixed."
9 Donald brightened up a bit. "Maybe we could take it to the lake. That's not too far from here, and if we went there, we could do some fishing."


text:
«Любовь в Германии» () — художественный фильм польского кинорежиссёра Анджея Вайды, экранизация произведения Рольфа Хоххута.

Сюжет
Иностранец приезжает с сыном в Бромбах, маленький немецкий городок недалеко от швейцарской границы, и начинает расследовать историю, о которой не любят вспоминать местные жители: любовь Паулины Кропп и польского рабочего во время Второй мировой войны. Любовь эта имела смертельный финал. Все свидетели трагедии признают свою вину, но никто не чувствует себя виноватым.

В ролях
 Ханна Шигулла — Паулина Кропп
 Армин Мюллер-Шталь — Майер
 Пётр Лысак — Станислав Засада
 Даниэль Ольбрыхский — Викторчик
 Бернхард Викки — доктор Борг
 Мари-Кристин Барро — Мария Вилер

Ссылки

Фильмы-драмы ФРГ
Фильмы-драмы Франции
Фильмы Анджея Вайды
Экранизации литературных произведений
Фильмы TF1 Films Production
Фильмы с музыкой Мишеля Леграна


text:
Mandatory Redistribution Party
Mandatory Redistribution Party is a radical left comedy podcast brimming with left wing lore, interviews and repartee.
Capitalist Realism
Over a decade since the publication of Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism, are we better equipped to imagine an alternative to capitalism?
The Boomer Radicalisation Pipeline
How can we protect our precious boomers from being press ganged onto the front lines of the culture war?
It's fun to toil
We've glimpsed a society in which non-essential work is paused and people are allowed to be as calm as multiple catastrophes allow. Now we're revving up the Global Warming Machine and preparing to forget that another world was ever possible.
A beautiful day at the snail races
Examining the friction between a desire for an overhaul of oppressive hierarchies through confrontational direct action versus my other desire to sit in a dark room and sweat all the liquid out of my body.
The Clap
Scorched Britons jerk their bodies upright, shake sand from puckered skin and crane their eyes towards a fixed position in the centre of the sun. It is time to commence The Clap.
It's fun to trust our overseers as they allow us to die
If we truly believed our system can help people then we'd retain that faith in times of political, economic and social crisis.
It's fun to remain calm and stay indoors
I look forward to those heralding the return of the spirit of the blitz actually rolling their sleeves up and making it happen.
It is fun to be tugged towards behaviour you can neither explain nor justify
The most popular reasons for not going to the moon included "not enough to do" (23%), "would rather visit places on Earth" (10%), and "reject premise that safe return could be guaranteed" (9%).
Tulpamancy Explained
What separates a tulpa from an imaginary friend is that, once fully formed after months of a process called 'forcing', a tulpa will act autonomously.
It's fun to have your worldview shaped by unknown forces
The issues that modern nations face are not issues that an individual can easily come to their own independent conclusions on.


The increase of cross-border mobility has been identified by the European institutions as well as by the OECD as being one of the strongest triggering factors for succeeding in the Europe 2020 Strategy. However, cross-border labour mobility is not sufficiently addressed at EU level which is why the CoR has decided to draft an own-initiative opinion aiming both to take stock of the current situation and to present a forward-looking action plan to address remaining challenges.
Based on the own-initiative opinion on Frontier workers: Assessment of the situation after ten years of the Internal Market: Problems and Perspectiveswhich the CoR adopted in November 2004 this new own-initiative opinion will look at cross-border labour mobility, including coordination of tax agreements or coordination between tax and social security agreements for cross-border activity, portability of pensions rights, recognition of professional qualifications, access to public sector jobs for non-nationals and financing of EURES-T partnerships.
The rapporteur is Dr Karl-Heinz Lambertz (PES/BE), Minister-President of the German-speaking Community in Belgium.
The Committee of the Regions is drafting an own–initiative opinion on "Frontier workers: Assessment of the situation after twenty years of the Internal Market: Problems and Perspectives". Ten years after CoR's own-initiative opinion on Frontier workers: Assessment of the situation after ten years of the Internal Market: Problems and Perspectives, adopted in November 2004, the purpose of this opinion is to address on-going issues and challenges related to cross-border labour mobility. This document also can be found on the CoR website.
Both the European institutions and the OECD have identified cross-border mobility as one of the strongest triggering factors for the possible success of the Europe 2020 Strategy. This own-initiative opinion is also inscribed within the 2013 CoR priorities on strengthening the single market and of territorial cooperation and cohesion.
From political, economic and social perspectives it is obvious that this dossier is of high relevance for local and regional authorities. However, at EU level, cross-border labour mobility is not addressed systematically and it would therefore be of high strategic relevance if the CoR were to present a stock-taking document and a forward-looking action plan to address remaining challenges.
In this context, the Rapporteur on the Opinion, Mr. Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ (BE/PES), Member of the ECOS Commission of the CoR and Minister-President of the German-speaking Community in Belgium together with his expert, the AEBR's Secretary General Mr Martin GUILLERMO-RAMÍREZ, would like to convey representatives of local and regional associations and other stakeholders for a consultation and an exchange of views in the preparation of this opinion.
The Rapporteur would be very keen to debate on your views during the meeting. After a short introduction by the rapporteur, you will be invited to react and to give your views on the Rapporteur's working document that you will receive upon registration or via the CoR website. In addition, if you have any position papers relevant to the subject, you are welcome to send them by e-mail to the addresses below.
The meeting will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation allowing you to speak in German, English and French, while listening in German and English. Please note that the mother tongue of the rapporteur is German.
You can already register to participate in this debate to further shape the Rapporteurs views. For practical reasons, you are kindly asked to confirm your participation before Friday, 8 March at 15.00 by registering on the following link).