Absolutely! We love well-mannered dogs, as long as they are under control and on a leash at all times. Your dog doesn't even have to be Scottish to attend. Also, please be courteous to your fellow patrons and pick up after your dog.
Do I have to wear a kilt?
No, but you might look kind of funny as the only man in pants. If you don't have a kilt yet and you'd like to purchase one, we will have several kilt vendors at the Games who can outfit you in Highland wear.
Can I wear Renaissance garb?
Although we're not a Renaissance festival, we don't discriminate against those who love to dress in costume. Please just ensure that your choice of clothing, costume or not, is family friendly.
Where can I stay when visiting the festival?
For our out of town guests (or those who just don't want to drive home), we have made arrangements with a couple local hotels to offer special rates for Festival attendees. Note that these rates only last until about 3 weeks before the Festival occurs. Click here to find out more.
Most portions of our event are handicap accessible. The roads on the festival grounds have been paved and there are handicap accessible portable toilets available for use. Additionally, there is handicap parking available near the front entrance. These parking spaces are typically filled early in the festival day.
Areas such as the Living History encampment and the athletics field may be more difficult to access, as they are located in grassy areas; however, the areas are generally flat.
We do not allow our festival visitors to bring in food. Our food vendors have been carefully selected to offer a wide variety of foods, both traditional Scottish, and traditional festival food. We are certain that you will find something offered that is pleasing to your palette. Additionally, due to TABC regulations alcohol may never be brought into or taken out of the festival. We reserve the right to inspect all coolers and other carriers.
Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accept credit cards to purchase tickets onsite. However, you are able to purchase your tickets in advance using a credit card. If you wish to buy tickets at the gate, please ensure that you have cash on hand, or utilize the ATM situated just outside the main entrance gate. Most vendors will accept credit cards; however, not all do.
We will have three ATMs available this year. One will be just outside the festival entrance and two will be situated on the grounds.
My children are under 2 years. Do I have to pay for their admission?
Children under 2 receive free admission to the festival.
What ages are included in the children's admission price?
Kids under 2 are free. Kids 2-12 are $6.
At what age does your senior discount begin?
The senior discount is applied for anyone 55 and older.


Fibbers on a Friday night. Rockers of all ages. Language students from schools that hide in the old Georgian buildings of the north inner-city. Regulars moving pint glasses from the green-felted edge of the pool table to carry on their game.
Turn back, walk 10 metres down the road to the door under the red neon "niteclub" sign. A bouncer stamps the wrists of a student in an Ellesse tracksuit and Nike Air Maxes, and a drag queen in a black sequin dress. Both shiver from the October cold as they enter the building.
It's a world away from the night upstairs – or any other currently in Dublin. Its founders had christened the night Club Comfort a year before they even started the party, says Jack Colley, one of the founders.
It was born as an escape from dull dance music in other clubs and a safe space for queer and trans people, says Colley. "We had all these ideas and we knew exactly what we wanted it to be," he says.
He is sitting at a table upstairs in the Central Hotel's Library Bar, a couple of days after Friday's party. To his left are Club Comfort's other two founders, Roo Honeychild and Cian Murphy. The three of them still on a high after the success of Friday, and their guest Manra's rambunctious set.
Colley works in 147 Deli and lives and breathes music. Honeychild is a student in her final year in Trinity College Dublin. Murphy is a few years older than the other two, and has been organising parties for about a decade.
"We knew exactly what kind of people we wanted to be there, but we didn't have the space in mind for it. Because we really didn't think there was a space for it in its most pure and unadulterated way," says Colley.
The trio found the space for Club Comfort last November after looking for nearly a year, and have been running the night since then.
Their main mission was to create somewhere that everybody felt comfortable. It wasn't so much to put on a queer night, as to put on a night where attendees could express themselves, and where the music would be challenging.
"It's kind of a running theme basically with all of my friends," says Honeychild, who identifies as a trans woman.
Experiences within the clubs can be intimidating too, says Honeychild. Finding overtly masculine, tops-off crowds in lots of the other dance-music venues in the city made her reluctant to go clubbing.
For Reilly, music is at the heart of the night. The stuff "that you would hear there is not like anything else you'd hear in Dublin", she said.
The night attracts clubbers, ravers and music heads of all ages who seek different tunes to the house and techno that dominate other club nights.
"They were playing a mash-up of American black club music with big dancehall, r'n'b, pop and hip-hop influences and a smattering of footwork, all unified over bass," says Kate Butler, a DJ and stalwart of Dublin's clubbing scene.
"That's something we embrace as DJs, finding dissonant sounds," says Colley, and bringing them to a room of pumped-up revellers.
All of the organisers have either put on club nights or DJed in Dublin, some for more years than others.
But Murphy says Club Comfort excites him because of "the idea of a more communal DJ hemisphere", he says – connecting different groups.
Last February, an anti-trans group from the United Kingdom had plans to visit Dublin as part of a series of talks. None of the Club Comfort team had organised a protest before. They decided to throw a party instead.
They raised money for the group Mermaids, which advocates for the rights of transgender people, the Alliance for Choice in Northern Ireland and Repeal, says Honeychild.
The protest night was a "huge all-women line up", says Colley. It had ELLLL, Gadget and the Cloud, and Cathy Flynn.
They were folks who "wouldn't have fit our brief before", says Colley. It was a step towards connecting with a broader circle of musicians, producers and DJs.
"I made so many friends from doing it," says Honeychild.
As Club Comfort gets more popular, might that change its dynamic? If people come for the music, and don't respect the visible queerness of the night?
Colley says not. "It's kind of getting to the stage now where it's self-policing," he says. "We've had a core group of people who come every month, of people who get it and they're invested in the vision as well." They set the tone.


text:
Psychology student named Athlete of the Week
Shir Levy, freshman forward on the WSU women's basketball team, might not pop off the stat sheet, but her defensive presence has kept her in the starting lineup and earned her "Athlete of the Week" from the Daily Evergreen.
Levy's international experience, along with her freshman standing, makes her a very intriguing piece for the future of the WSU women's basketball program.
Before making the trek to Pullman, Levy was a star in the European Championships with her native Israel team. As a member of the U-18 national team, she helped guide Israel to a third-place finish at the European Championships in the B Division, earning her country a promotion to the top division in European women's basketball. Levy also competed in international play with Israel's U-20 squad.
Levy also competed on Israel's 3-on-3 team, placing third in the 2015 European Championships. This international experience greatly influenced her decision to play for WSU, Shir told WSU Athletic Communications in a June interview.
"Since I am familiar with European basketball, I looked for a place with international players," Levy said. "That's why WSU fits me the best." She plans on graduating with a degree in psychology.
Levy is a mainstay in the Cougar starting lineup, starting every game so far this season. Despite averaging only 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, Levy is an active defender capable of defending all the way to the three-point line and has been lethal from beyond the arc and from the free-throw, shooting 40.7 percent and 100 percent respectively in limited opportunities.
Top photo: Freshman forward Shir Levy passes the ball to her teammate in the game against Utah State on Nov. 6 in Beasley Coliseum.
By Shawn P. O'Connor for the Daily Evergreen
Categories: CAS Story Hub, Psychology, Undergraduate

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Questions on setting up Jenkins in GKE I am setting up Jenkins in GKE using stable helm chart(https://github.com/helm/charts/tree/master/stable/jenkins) as discussed in https://cloud.google.com/solutions/jenkins-on-kubernetes-engine-tutorial
I am a beginner in kubernetes/GKE, and want to know how the following things can be achieved:

*

*I want the $JENKINS_HOME data to be accessible even when I bring a new GKE cluster up and deploy jenkins there. I will need NFS server for this. Is Cloud Filestore a good choice or should I create an NFS server on my own?

*How do we achieve HA for Jenkins master pod?

*Should I keep the Jenkins ServiceType as LoadBalancer or should I use Ingress Controller and define Jenkins service as ClusterIP instead. What are advantages of one over the other?

A: *

*Filestore should be fine. You can use static PersistentVolumes or use dynamic provisioning like that. I guess in case of Jenkins you want static volume like that.

*I don't think you need HA for Jenkins pod other than what's already provided by Kubernetes. In case of problems with node Jenkins pod will be started on another machine. I guess 1-2 minutes of very rare downtime for Jenkins is not so critical.

*You'd better use Ingress because this allows you to reuse the same Load Balancer (which costs money) for other services. Also I would recommend using Nginx Ingress as an Ingress Controller because it is highly configurable. GKE Ingress is not very flexible, actually it is not flexible at all. You should use GKE Ingress only if you want to make use of Google Global Load Balancing, e.g. place your service in multiple regions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We often learn what to do by observing what not to do. The latter comes from real-world experiences. From experiences where someone had a big chance, but due to lack of Vision and expertise, lost the big opportunity. This is very true of products. These had become wasted opportunities. We shall discuss some of these examples in some detail in this article.
Those who still get to travel by the few Ambassador cars that are still around in the tourism industry will be still thrilled with the leg space and the relative comfort of the car, even when compared to the latest cars. Yes, it was and still is a very comfortable car.
However, it is no more manufactured and has entered the dustbin of history. So has its nearest cousin, called the Fiat. These were the two cars that literally dominated the Indian market for decades. That was before one gentleman called Mr. V. Krishnamurthy took over a company called Maruti Udyog, took on board some very good smart Engineer-MBAs on board, struck a collaboration with a Japanese company called the Suzuki (the present owner with a 100% equity share), introduced the small car called Maruti.
India was never the same again. We will discuss these examples, along with a few more, in the following paragraphs. What really follows is a history of missed opportunities. Of Management making Himalayan blunders.
In this article, we will discuss the examples with specific reference to a) Product innovation and development in the automobile industry b) Product innovation and development in the electronics industry c) Product innovation and development in the FMCG industry. The focus will also be on Indian failures and the lessons to be learned from them.
What was described above is one example of how Maruti changed the face of the Indian automobile industry forever. The scenario is still dominated by foreign companies. Only in SUV do we have the Tatas and the Mahindra and Mahindra, who have very good products. They are very good examples of what ought to be done.
Take leadership. It is said that Anand Mahindra shopped around the world and zeroed in on Pawan Gupta, the CEO of Mahindra and Mahindra's automobile products. It was he who masterminded the launch of the highly successful Scorpio. It is another story that Anand Mahindra took a very big risk by pumping in a full six hundred crores in developing the product with a team of Indian engineers, all of whom were totally empowered to do their bit their best to come out with a very good product.
Just contrast this with what happened to the case of Fiat. Even when the whole market was exploding, the company was hit with a major labor problem. As can be reasonably expected, the workers will always keep demanding higher wages. The Management did not take the workmen into confidence and strike a deal to reopen the plant and invest in product innovation. Management was keen to somehow ensure that they ended the production and marketing of the fiat car. The last new car was possibly sold in the year 2001. Well, the fact that even today the old Fiat cars are available for just Rs.50,000 and can be made to look like new cars by spending another 40,000 rupees is proof enough for the solid basic design of the car. If the owners had stayed back in business, invested a little in improvising the same car to resemble the Maruti in the matter of comfort to the customer, the Fiat would have become a force to reckon with. It lost the opportunity.
Hyundai, another foreign company from Korea, smelt a big opportunity. The then DMK Government had a futuristic vision of developing a suburb called Sriperamadur, some forty kilometers from Chennai, en route to Bangalore. The license was given. It has successfully manufactured hundreds of thousands of cars and has always given Maruti a big chase. The products are so good and the middle-class customers can eminently buy the product. Which they do.
The bank loans have made it so much easier too. The same labor troubles that hit Fiat also hit the Ambassador plant in West Bengal, a communist bastion. Still, the factory is gone and the G.P. Birla company lost all the opportunity. If it had only invested in some product innovation with the same ambassador, we would still be riding the ambassador. Two Management failures. Two big lessons for MBA students. Today, we have BMW, Volkswagen, Renault Nissan, and Ford in Chennai. That the TVS group, the leading auto-ancillary component manufacturers with a big focus and world-class products are based out of Chennai, reduces the cost of production and this is one reason that Chennai is called the Detroit of India.
This includes consumer durables. Videocon was a big name in television not so long ago. It today is an also-ran company. It was never able to make a dent in the hugely competitive air-conditioners industry. It also made mistakes in the marketing of televisions. It was the first to actually catch on the low-cost warrior game. However, when the two companies LG and Samsung from Korea came in, they were not able to withstand the competition. When someone gives the better product at similar prices, what will you and I, as customers do? Obviously, we will go to the guy, whom we think is best. This is exactly what happened to Videocon. They were unable to match the new products. Product development also happened late.
Exactly the same story has happened to Micromax. This Indian company did grow very fast and was the largest selling cell phone company just 36 months ago. Today, the new guy called Xiomi from China has far better quality that matches the Indian product. The rest, as they say, is history. Indian manufacturers are unable to do Apple computers in India. There is no one in India to think like Steve Jobs.
In cell phones, Jio from Reliance has tried to eat the lower end of the market with an Rs.1500 cell phone and a recharge of just Rs.49 that gives unlimited calls. The same phone also has internet. Most of these phones have been discarded within six months. Yet, the rural population and the semi-urban population of India, are always wedded to "use it and throw it" culture. Try to get a refill for a gel pen today. Refill manufacture is almost as good as gone. The similar philosophy rides the growth of Jio. For now.
However, Jio cannot just sustain with such a poor product at all. We also come across similar products in the same television and the air-conditioner industry. Onida, for example, was a superb product. Family infighting among the family members of founders allowed the other competitors to milk the market. Samsung and LG have all bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle covered. Now, there is no place for Onida.
For company after company, we find Indian companies have lost out in the race. What makes the Samsung product, for example so good? Picture quality and sound. It has a huge advantage as these two essential features have been so good. As good or if not better than even Sony. The giant Japanese company that is now fighting with the Korean street smart operators. However, Sony has the technology that is far superior to any Indian company. Our R&D expenditures are very low. The founders of most Indian organizations always think of importing technology from China. This is not a solution at all.
V-care is a small company that is now growing so rapidly in the grooming industry. Based out of Chennai, this company has come out with a hair-dye that can be applied on the scalp without the help of even the traditional gloves. This is the best ever example of good innovation. Called VIP hair dye, this product is a big hit in the market. Hit, the product acquired by Godrej is a big success in the "banish mosquitoes' market. Similarly, the small company called Kalimark has invested in high-decibel advertising and has increased the market share of its soft drink, called Bovonto. It is still expanding the product mix and has innovated with a panner flavor and has an Rs.35 per bottle of a product called Vibro. Its capability to enter the vacant spaces of both Coca Cola and Pepsi is admirable.
Cavinkare came out with a product called Meera shampoo and snatched away some market from existing shampoo market. This traditional mix of Shikkakai as it is called makes the hair very soft. It is a big example of product innovation at its best. However, Campa Cola, the one-time superb soft drink sold out to Coca Cola and since then, the product is not in the market. Had Mr.Chauhan, who owns the Parle brand of biscuits not sold out, he would have perhaps reinvented the very good Campa Cola.
In the FMCG industry, it is often seen that only companies with a very nimble foot and abilities to change very fast, can succeed in the market. The others simply fade out. In the recent past, Pathanjali is riding the new 'organic" wave. It is a big wave and with rising consciousness of the harmful preservatives that are part of the MNC products, it is hoped that the Indian customer will still stand by Pathanjali products and shun the MNC ones. Already, in Tamil Nadu, Pepsi and Coca Cola are not that famous.
The aforesaid examples are only indicative. There have been so many other failures as well. However, giants such as Asian Paints still dominate the Indian market. Just like another very company called Marico Industries does. Not every company is a failure. However, the examples of failures to invest in product development and the case studies in detail that are available in so many business magazines, published at different points in time,will make very good learning for any MBA student. Only only hopes that the mistakes are not repeated again. Corporate India has also learned some lessons and there are other success stories. These will be discussed in other articles.
A good article giving the insights and status of innovations and entrepreneurship in our country.
Yes, it is true that we have failed miserably in many areas but it was due to the international competition. When our economy was not open to the global giants there was nothing to compare. Today there is cut-throat competition in the industry and due to this globalisation, the weaker countries are exposed.
In our country, everyone had only one dream that is to get an education and get some Govt white collar job and then forget everything and relax. An economy does not grow with such notions neither the innovation gets encouraged.
Our education system and political environment were not conducive to entrepreneur growth. It is unfortunate to conclude like that but it is the fact. In many countries, children are taught skills and they start earning since early ages but we are simply pampering our youths by giving them all the facilities in the house for free. They do not know the value of money. They want some job where there is no work. It is ridiculous. What is the legacy we are leaving for the youngsters of our country?
Whether we blame Govt or society or individual families for it, it is still happening. So how can we dream that our product will compete with the products from Korea, China, Germany and many other countries who are aggressively flooding the world markets with their products?


Guessing why do you have Sore Breasts during Menopause?
Find out with the below video the most commons symptoms and signs of Menopause.
Hi, I'm Dr. Maura McGill. I'm an expert in nature hormone treatments.
Today, I want to answer some questions about sore breasts and menopause. It is, in fact, the case that women who have a hormonal imbalance during menopause have usually got very low estrogen and low progesterone, but when they go on to either standard HRT or natural HRT, when their estrogen level is increased through the mechanism of tablets or creams or something, sometimes women are very sensitive to estrogen, and those women will find that their breasts become a little swollen and a little sore.
It is useful as a guide to whether they are getting too much estrogen. Any one of menopause level who has sore breasts should (A) have a breast examination and (B) have their hormones tested so that we can decide if they are having too much estrogen, or if indeed something else is going on entirely.


Ice sculptures Perth is committed to bringing you high quality ice sculptures for your special day or for any corporate event! Make your event the talk of the year with having an ice sculpture as a decorative and entertaining feature. The splendid beauty of our ice sculptures and the way they melt into your heart is always a big hit with any one who attends an event. Use them as your main feature or as table decor. They are great as photo props or to serve your food in.


The first TEDxESA event will take place on 11 November 2015 at ESTEC, the technology and engineering centre of the European Space Agency (ESA). Design & Data will provide the livestreaming of the event to the general public.
Following the success of TEDxRheinMain Rocketminds hosted by ESOC, ESA's Operations Centre in Darmstadt (Germany) in May 2014, the first TEDxESA will take place at ESA's technical heart at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Design & Data will livestream the event in a range of streaming qualities with multi-bitrate encoding suitable for mobiles and desktops.
TEDxESA is set to become a long-term communication platform, aiming to reach out across Europe to share "ideas worth spreading" about space in other ESA centres in the years to come.
The event will be hosted by Dutch ESA Astronaut, André Kuipers together with Franco Ongaro (Head of ESTEC). Speakers also include comedienne Helen Keen, rebellious Chef Thorsten Schmidt, neuroscientist Danko Nikolić, novelist/futurist Nick Harkaway, space visionary Rick Tumlinson, ESA's Head of Materials Technology Tommaso Ghidini and aeronautical engineer and former ESA Young Graduate Trainee Kanika Anand.
For further details about the event and to see the livestream on 11 November visit tedx.esa.int.
Follow the event on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Instagram together with hashtag #ScienceBeyondFiction.


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U.S. Rep. Ron Barber showed congressional colleague Rep. Tammy Duckworth the UA's nationally regarded services for student veterans during a visit to the campus on Tuesday.
During a visit to the University of Arizona, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), one of the first women to fly combat missions during the war in Iraq, noted that the UA has a suite of student veteran services that is unique and reputable in the nation.
Duckworth's congressional colleague, U.S. Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.), hosted the visit to the UA's recently expanded Veterans Education and Transition Services, or Student VETS Center, which has become a national model for serving student veterans.
"We are here together because we both are strong supporters of veterans," Barber said during Tuesday's tour. "We have to make sure we do everything in our power to support veterans."
Barber said the UA has been proactive and responsive in addressing national demand.
The UA has developed a comprehensive set of offerings to help student veterans – before they arrive on campus and during their studies – to transition from military life to academic studies.
The University offers support for its nearly 1,000 student veterans through academic courses, social engagement opportunities and advocacy and disability resources, among other things.
While at the center, Duckworth and Barber learned about the important role of the Disability Resource Center in serving student veterans and the University's Supporting Education for the Returning Veterans (SERV) courses, a cohort-based program that helps student veterans transition into higher education and civilian life. Of the student veterans who have taken the UA's SERV courses, more than 90 percent continued their studies at the UA.
Duckworth noted that, across the nation, student veterans have begun asking their institutions for designated spaces. However, it is important to offer more than that, she said.
"We're in a place that is so different from military life and culture. Having a safe place is critical," said Duckworth, who also served as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after a 2009 appointment by U.S. President Barack Obama.
"This institution really is serving as an example for the nation," said Duckworth who, like Barber, has led initiatives to better support the nation's veterans and active military personnel.
Duckworth and Barber both expressed that they were impressed with the University's strong partnership with the Southern Arizona Veteran Affairs Health Care System. The lead psychologist, a women's counselor and nurse practitioner with the center offer regular counseling and health workshops to student veterans at the UA.
"I have not come across anything like that elsewhere," Duckworth said.


Well, the extraction site is healing nicely. Thanks for all the well wishes and tips! I think I will go to an oral surgeon next time, hopefully it won't be so brutal! LOL!
I've been on CureZone for a year now, and had this forum for about 9 months? or thereabouts? Anyway, it is time I took a real vacation! Rest assured that it will resume someday on another website, and that the VitalHealth Yahoo Group will keep me in touch with all of you, and of course you can access my e-mail just by clicking on the "e-mail shelleycat" link that is in every post I make.
Anyway, while things are so up in the air I figure that's as good as time as any to take some time off. I'm happy to see that others have been filling in for me and giving great advice, but since I won't be checking in this week to make sure that all of the advice is safe advice, I will turn off the ability to start new threads.
If you need immediate assistance, feel free to e-mail me directly or feel free to post in the other great forums such as Ask Andreas, Ask CureZone Team, Ask Ana, or the appropriate support forum, etc.


Can free online counseling really help you tackle whole health? For some, they love the idea of whole health and keeping their bodies in the best possible condition but it's not always easy. However, with some top books on whole health, you can actually get a lot of help and support. So, what are the top ten books on whole health and why do you need to read these books?
Does whole health matter? To be honest, there are many who think whole health is a waste of time, money and energy because as long as you feel healthy and are thin, you are healthy. Well, that isn't the case, in any way! You can be thin but that doesn't mean to say you're healthy whether it's heart or mind healthy. That is why you have to think very carefully about whole health and how you can stay healthy from your toes to your head. With online therapy, you can actually get into the right mindset and tackle your whole health in the correct manner. There has never been a better time to tackle your health.
Can You Really Take Care Of Your Entire Body?
You would think it's absolutely impossible to take care of your entire body at one time but, in truth, it is possible. However, you have to tackle it in the right manner. For instance, you cannot just focus on what you eat but also how you treat your body and how positively or negatively you think of it too. Free online counseling can also be useful when it comes to whole health and becoming healthier. What is more, if you aren't sure how to tackle this and feel a bit out of your depth, counseling can be a useful tool to help.
What Are The Top 10 Books On Whole Health?
The above are just ten top books on whole health and they really can open your eyes to how you approach food, health, exercise and so much more. You really will find the books to be extremely useful and very versatile indeed. You can find out so much and the best thing of all is that you can use tips and tricks from each of them to help you. Whole health is important and you must work on it all. What is more, you can use some free online counseling tips to help you get in the right frame of mind too.
You might not think so but you can read your way to whole health. It's very much true; you can read a variety of books covering topics of heart and head health as well as other areas. You can stay healthy and treat your body, your entire body, become healthier and happier. Whole health is important and when you find the best books you can get so much help. Even if you're going to try online therapy you can still read the books and hopefully, they'll inspire you.


28 stories in a variety of styles illustrating the range of tellers. It included The Gypsy Boy from Pete's Nottinghamshire Folk Tales book.
Unlike all the others in the series it's a hard back so it would make a great present.


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Over time, your carpets can start to become worn, tired and dull especially in high traffic areas. Our carpet cleaning service is the perfect solution and will lift up and remove ground in dirt, dust and bacteria that can become lodged deep within your carpet's fibres. The result is bright, vibrant, clean, and sweet-smelling carpets that look and feel amazing once more. We use only the latest and most effective carpet cleaning equipment and cleaning solutions so that your carpets are gently yet effectively cleaned. We can also take care of stains thanks to our wide selection of unique stain removers. Each of our carpet cleaning technicians has the skills and know-how to treat your carpet and restore it to showroom condition.
We can clean carpets and rugs in any room of your home and our prices can often be reduced if you have more than one room to clean. We can arrange domestic or commercial carpet cleaning for any type of carpet and will ensure a perfect job is carried out each and every time. Our cleaning methods also leave your carpets dry in a much shorter time than other carpet cleaning companies. We can also take care of pet hair to ensure your carpets are left hair-free and free from allergens that can lurk deep within your carpet. Give our team a call today for a fast and cost effective quote.


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Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Latest PDF issue | Give to the Voice | Search
'Life' evokes memory of 'Alien,' but struggles with deeper theme
By Nicholas Weninger
Astronauts (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson and Ryan Reynolds) aboard the International Space Station are on the verge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. As the members of the crew conduct their research, the rapidly evolving life-form proves far more intelligent and terrifying than anyone could have imagined.
You might be thinking that reading that brief introduction of the movie "Life" sounds a lot like "Alien," the 1979 science fiction/horror movie classic. If that is the case, you would be right. If this film has one big overarching flaw, it's that it does borrow a lot from this classic film. However, it does stay different enough to not be a copy and paste or a remake. With a star studded cast, good writing and wonderfully tense moments, "Life" is an enjoyable ride.
What I like about this film the most is seeing the alien, later named Calvin, grow. The gradual development only adds to the intensity of the situation. As this alien is growing, it only becomes stronger and smarter.
I really love this aspect, and this is something really unique. Starting from the size of a cell and growing into… well, I'd rather not tell you what it becomes or what it does. Just know that it is great.
Going off of this aspect of seeing Calvin grow, this film feels very real to me. I mean that in the sense that this feels like something that could actually happen. What would happen if we really did get dirt samples back from Mars and there turned out to be signs of life? And what if that life form turned out to be aggressive and not what we had hoped? I really love this quality about "Life."
I really love movies that have a confined sense about them, and there is just something about being in space that makes it better. I mean, where is there to go? You can't exactly run away, which means you have to either fight it or outsmart it.
There are times where the people are very smart, but then there is this other scene where they break this and it is a little frustrating. I think you will know it when you see it.
"Life" really nails the sci-fi and horror aspect but struggles when it comes to the deeper questions and themes it tries to pull off. The tension is there, but the philosophical aspect isn't quite at the level they are trying to achieve. However, it doesn't really take away from the film; it just seems like a slightly missed opportunity.
If you are a fan of the movie "Alien" and other such sci-fi horror films, then "Life" is the movie for you. While it won't measure up quite to that level, it still makes for a good time. Just know that the ending is wonderful, one that I will be thinking about for a long time.


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14 February 2013 / Home & Energy
Neonicotinoids – is it time for them to buzz off?
Veronica Peerless
It's been a tough few years for bees, with numbers dropping in the UK and internationally. Could agricultural insecticides be to blame? Do you use insecticides to keep your garden pest-free?
Everyone agrees that bee numbers are in decline, but the reasons why are still hotly debated.
It's likely that there are several factors at work, but one that's been in the frame for a while is a group of insecticides called neonicotinoids. They're used on some crops and can also be found in many garden pesticides. They've already been banned in several countries, including France.
Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to suspend three neonicotinoids from sale and to overhaul pesticide safety tests, which it says are inadequate. It also wants David Cameron to urgently implement a Bee Action Plan. The campaign has been given a boost by a recent European Food Standards Authority Report, which suggests that neonicotinoids pose a risk to bees.
Banishing the bug killers
B&Q and Homebase have recently announced that they're removing Bayer Lawn Grub Killer from their shelves and Wickes is withdrawing Westland Plant Rescue Bug Killer, both of which contain neonicotinoids. But there are at least 20 more products that contain these chemicals, many of them popular insecticides, and there are, as yet, no plans to withdraw these. A full list of pesticides containing neonicotinoids can be found at pan-uk.org.
Manufacturers insist that pesticides are safe if used according to the label – but does everyone read the label? Even if you do, the wording about bees and the warning not to spray plants in flower or when bees are likely to be flying around is often so small that it could easily go unnoticed.
Dr Ken Thompson, wildlife expert and Which? Gardening contributor, says:
'Neonics are very effective pesticides, so I can understand the temptation to use them. But they get into pollen and nectar, so you are likely to feed them to your bees, however careful you are. My advice would be to think very hard about whether you really need to use insecticides at all, and then use them only as a last resort. And if at all possible, do not use insecticides on or near plants with flowers that are visited by bees.'
I haven't had to think about it much at all – I don't use insecticides. Anything that's labelled a 'bug killer' will kill any bug, not just bad ones. Bees need all the help they can get, so surely anything that is thought to harm them should be withdrawn as a precaution?
Do you use insecticides and if so, do you read the label? Do you think neonicotinoids should be banned?
garden products 51
If your flight was cancelled due to the pandemic, what compensation did your airline offer you?
A full refund
A partial refund
Travel credit / a voucher for future travel
I had the choice of the above options, including the refund
I could choose between a voucher or rescheduled dates - no refunds
I haven't been contacted yet about my cancelled flight
Friend of the bees says:
An important research article from the American Bird Conservancy has just been published, which analysed all the factors related to bird declines on grassland/ farmland. It looks at 'habitat loss'. agricultural intensification and pesticide use – among other things. They found that the 'strongest predictor' for bird population decline, was the intensity of pesticide use.
This confirms what we have suspected for some years, namely that the super-efficiency of neoncotinoids, in killing virtually all insect life, above and below ground, coupled with the extreme persistence of clothianidin and imidacloprid in farm-soils (2-19 years) – is the best 'predictor' of farmland bird declines.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0057457
" Common agricultural birds are in decline, both in Europe and in North America.
Evidence from Europe suggests that agricultural intensification and, for some species, the indirect effects of pesticides mediated through a loss of insect food resource is in part responsible.
On a state-by-state basis for the conterminous Unites States (U.S.), we looked at several agronomic variables to predict the number of grassland species increasing or declining according to breeding bird surveys conducted between 1980 and 2003.
Best predictors of species declines were the lethal risk from insecticide use modeled from pesticide impact studies, followed by the loss of cropped pasture. Loss of permanent pasture or simple measures of agricultural intensification such as the proportion of land under crop or the proportion of farmland treated with herbicides did not explain bird declines as well.
Because the proportion of farmland treated with insecticides, and more particularly the lethal risk to birds from the use of current insecticides feature so prominently in the best models, this suggests that, in the U.S. at least, pesticide toxicity to birds should be considered as an important factor in grassland bird declines.
Che Guebuddha says:
One of you said that there is a shortage of food!
If you care to spare 40 minutes of your life (im sure you spared much more on TV-advertisements) you can see in this documentary how to re-generate destryed eco systems around the world. By simply preserving the soil food web. Its that simple if one is not totally sold its soul to the profit orientated mind;
http://youtu.be/YBLZmwlPa8A
I agree with Cha – there'd be no shortage of food if we'd just divert less of the world's cereal production to feeding animals
See http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/jun/07/super-farms-environment-livestock-climate – where Tim Lang (Prof of Food Policy at City University, London) states that "Half the world's (and UK's) cereal production is fed to animals. This is a ludicrous waste of arable potential, land use and ecological space."
Beeboy says:
•	There is no evidence to suggest that crop yield will be harmfully affected; and even if there was a small drop in production the waste stats for the UK indicate that food availability would be of no concern to anyone.
•	There is evidence to suggest that icides are so toxic that they kill indiscriminately and negatively affect the entire food chain in levels so low that it is quite possible they could be causing damage to every living thing that consumes any amount, even in undetectable quantities… (This could include humans).
•	This is why the precautionary measure exists. The reason it is not being implemented is unfortunately due to government incompetence and miss-information.
(With respect claiming we need an absolute change in western lifestyle is a little beyond this topic and quite possibly counterproductive, not to say that I wouldn't agree in a much deeper interrelated discussion)
•	A Paranoid person may claim that the government must have unwritten back hand agreements and that the chemical industry have these "Trolls" working for them to spread confusion; I however simply believe that those who claim there are no better alternatives without chemical interference are either wearing blinkers, or really do not understand that the entire eco system works best with a "natural balance"
•	***** Better Alternatives are Progressive Developments; more of the same is Stagnating Failures*****
An interesting 'factoid' which was passed to me recently. In 1972 when the American EPA came into existence, total pesticide useage in the USA was 200,000,000 lbs by weight.
Today – – 40 odd years later, guess what pesticide use is now in America?
400 million lbs? 600 million lbs? even 800 million lbs?
No, the answer is apparently 5 BILLION pounds of pesticide used annually in the USA – that is:
5,000,000,000 lbs of poison. There are roughly 300 million people in theUSA, so that implies that they are using approx 15lbs of pesticides per person, per year.
California – just one state – uses almost 200 million pounds of pesticides on a SINGLE crop – almonds.
Check it out: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/pur10rep/comrpt10.pdf
Is it any wonder that America has some of the worst cancer rates and other disease rates in the world?
Someone here mentioned urban people not having land to produce food for themselves 😉 what a load of crap. Our country is OURS 🙂 claim the fields and start planting. This documentary demonstartes that its possible;
http://ediblecitythemovie.com/
as well as this one;
http://chopwoodcarrywaterplantseeds.blogspot.se/2012/02/urban-roots-farms-in-schools.html
and this one;
http://youtu.be/yUUJsb4V5aU
Grow the Revolution we need no pesticides 🙂
Katie Benson says:
Just spotted this update on the EU neonicotinoids decision:
wavechange says:
I have just spotted that Garden centre giants the Garden Centre Group and Dobbies have removed neonicotinoid-based pesticide products from their stores:
http://www.hortweek.com/news/1174099/garden-centre-group-takes-neonicotinoid-based-product-off-shelves/
It is reported that FERA – the Food and Environment Reasearch Agency (FERA, a public body under Defra) has prepared two reports – "Honeybee Disease in Europe" and "Neonicotinoid Pesticides and Bees". However these were not apparently done for the public, but for "a commercial client". Who? A supplier of neonicotinoids.
The UK is resisting banning neonicotinoids until other work is concluded – despite the European Food Safety Authority conclusion that pesticides pose a high risk to bees.
If this is true, you have to ask whether the UK can be regarded as objective in giving a decision if it allows its resources to be used – and presumably paid for – by the industry with a vested interest in avioding a ban.
'Neonicotinoid insecticides and bees' is a Defra report subtitled 'The state of the science and the regulatory response', and there is no link with industry.
'Honeybee Disease in Europe' is subtitled 'Report to Syngenta Ltd', presumably because Defra acted as consultants.
Both documents are available as pdf files. I found them with a web search, thanks to your titles.
The first report is not the above, it is titled as stated "Neonicotinoid pesticides and bees", was published by FERA, and is shown on their website along with the other document as a report to Syngenta Ltd and is headed "industry funded".
It asks questions when a Government Department Reasearch Group undertakes paid work, presumably for an industry that has a vested interest in the outcome. I would have thought that FERA should be seen to be working independently of vested interests, funded by the public purse in the interests only of the public. Wouldn't you?
Fera is part of Defra. Defra has been criticised for the amount it spends on specialist consultants. Other government agencies also use consultants. I don't know, but I expect that government agencies are allowed to generate funds by acting as consultants. At least the report is available to the general public.
Potential for a conflict of interest, isn't it?
There is always that possibility when employing consultants.
Here's another research update from the BBC News website:
BUZZKILL – A SPECIAL VIDEO REPORT BY ANCHORMAN DAN RATHER
Tonight there will be a short documentary shown on American TV – called 'Buzzkill' which will focus on the vast loss of bee colonies that has just happened among he California Almond groves.
Over 825,000 acres of the Central Valley of California is planted as a single monoculture of Almonds. This is the most profitable crop in all America – and generates more income than the entire California wine and tourism industries combined.
However, since they have killed all other plants and flowers in this 825,000 acre plantation, they have created an ecological dead-zone that supports few native bees, insects or birds. In addition they apply 20 million pounds weight of pesticides to the Almonds each year – that is 200 million pounds of pesticides in the last decade.
They have to bring 1.5 million beehives from all over America to pollinate the Almonds, which all bloom at the same time over a 3 week period. But the bees are exposed to all the pesticides used on the Almonds – and even worse, they bring with them stored pollen from Florida, Midwest etc – that is also contaminated with neonicotinoids.
The result every year has been the loss of about 30% of all the bee colonies brought to the Almonds. But this season it has been much worse, more than 50% of all the colonies have died within a matter of weeks, that is 750,000 bee colonies, valued at about $200 each – or $1.5 BILLION worth of bees. One farmer, Bret Adee, took 13,000 colonies to the Almonds this year and he has lost 10,000 hives of bees – worth around $2 million. it is an ecological disaster on a huge scale and this could be the last year. Because many of these migratory bee farmers will be bankrupted by this, which could spell economic disaster for the almond industry as well.
The film is broadcast at 8pm US Eastern time on Tuesday, so it will be Wednesday morning here before you can see it.
Patrick Steen says:
We've published a new Conversation about bees and pesticides if you'd like to join in: https://conversation.which.co.uk/energy-home/neonicotinoid-pesticides-bees-gardening-usage-instructions/
Sue Lees says:
We now have an agreed EU ban for two years on (much) neonicitinoid use (as at 29 April 2013). Thank goodness. (Regrettably UK Environment minister Owen Paterson voted against the ban.)
It's not just affecting bees.
A Dutch paper on the effects of one of the neonicitinoids on aquatic life has just been published: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0062374
The authors conclude that: " In addition to the existing experimental evidence on the negative effects of imidacloprid on invertebrate life, our study, based on data from large-scale field monitoring during multiple years, shows that serious concern about the far-reaching consequences of the abundant use of imidacloprid for aquatic ecosystems is justified."
As the neonicitinoids have been spread far and wide (mostly since 2004), it is possible that the level of damage to life generally will be as extensive as that caused by DDT. It does seem shocking that many governments, including the UK's, have let these pesticides explode into the environment.
Alex Toplis says:
Hi everyone, we've just posted a new story with some updates on pesticides and bees. Late last year the European Commission ruled that three neonicotinoids which are known to be harmful to bees should be banned for two years… but is that enough? Come and have look and join the debate.
https://conversation.which.co.uk/energy-home/bees-death-dying-neonicotinoids-pesticides-banbees-harm-ban-neonicotinoids-garden/
How are you managing household waste?
Lithium-ion batteries: why we're changing our tests
Do you try to attract wildlife to your garden?
Is your garden ready for winter?


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The Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
Title: The Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
Additional Title: Opened December 2, 1822
Historic Street Address: Sixth & Chestnut Streets
The second Chestnut Street Theatre rose from the ashes of the first Chestnut Street Theatre in 1822, which had burned down two years earlier. Its marble facade was embellished with statues of Comedy and Tragedy, sculpted by William Rush.
Rush, William, 1756-1833
Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler, Rush, William, 1756-1833. The Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. [Scrapbooks]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/38948
Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler, Rush, William, 1756-1833. The Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/38948. (accessed Feb 1, 2023)


RE: The tariff classification of a bed lamp from China.
In your letter dated October 20, 1994, you requested a tariff classification ruling. Sample is being returned as requested.
The sample submitted is a metal bed lamp, product number 453801, that possesses a 350 degree swivel for directing the light where needed and an adjustable bracket designed to be fitted over a headboard.
The applicable subheading for the metal bed lamp, product number 453801, will be 9405.40.6000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for other electric lamps of base metal. The rate of duty will be 7.6 percent ad valorem.


Pewter Diamond Key hole cover.
The Diamond Escutcheon is part of the Monkeytail range by From The Anvil.
This diamond shape escutcheon is designed to work alongside the Monkeytail handle on a diamond rosette with a standard mortice sash lock.
Covers up the key hole and gives the door a complete finish.


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Egypt Funded for Africa's Largest Solar Array
Solar panels at the 3rd project in Aswan province under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Egypt Renewable Energy Framework (Photo courtesy EBRD) Posted for media use
LONDON, UK, November 9, 2017 (Maximpact.com News) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) have agreed that they will strengthen their cooperation to mobilize green energy financing.
The ISA is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them sunshine countries, which lie completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
A joint declaration to promote solar energy in the countries where both organizations operate, was signed November 2 in New Delhi by Nandita Parshad, the EBRD's managing director for energy and natural resources, and the ISA's interim Director General Upendra Tripathy.
The ceremony was attended by Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and visiting EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti.
Signing the declaration, the EBRD President said the bank has always been eager to share its expertise with new partners and also to learn from them. "With the ISA," he said, "we share the vision of sustainable development and of green energy, which ultimately benefits the global economy."
During a panel discussion at the Prabodhan Leaders' Conclave, entitled "Smart Cities: what can India learn and unlearn from Europe?" Sir Suma presented the bank's work to modernize urban infrastructure in the 38 emerging economies where the multilateral development bank invests.
Under its Green Energy Transition approach, launched in 2015, the EBRD seeks to increase the volume of green financing from an average of 24 percent of its annual business investment in the 10 years up to 2016 to 40 percent by 2020.
To date, the EBRD has invested more than €3.7 billion directly in renewable energy, supporting 111 projects in 23 countries and funding more than 5.7 GW of generating capacity.
For instance, the bank has set its course to help build the largest solar installation in Africa near a village in the Aswan governate in the sunny land of Egypt.
The EBRD, the Green Climate Fund and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) are supporting the expansion of renewable energy in Egypt with a US$87 million syndicated loan to Infinity Solar Energy SAE, an Egyptian renewable energy developer, and to ib vogt GmbH, an international solar developer based in Germany.
The funds will be used to construct and operate two solar photovoltaic power plants located at the Benban solar complex in Egypt's southern governorate of Aswan.
There, the country's first solar power complex is being built on an area of 14.4 square miles in Benban village.
The land for the Benban solar development complex was dedicated to the state-run New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) by presidential decree in 2014.
The NREA divided the site into 41 plots and made them available to developers and companies to carry out individual projects. The Benban complex consists of 41 solar power plants with a total capacity of 1.8 GW.
The project began in 2015 and is expected to be complete by 2018 with an investment worth 40 billion Egyptian pounds (US$2.26 billion).
Benben is expected to be one of the largest solar generation facilities in the world, certainly the largest solar installation in Africa, with a planned total capacity of 1.8 GW.
The village of Benben takes its name from the Benben Stone, one of the most important of the Egyptian religious symbols. The sun temple, located in the city of Heliopolis, Egypt, was dedicated to the solar deity Ra, and housed the sacred Benben Stone.
A pyramid-shaped capstone on top of an obelisk, the discovery of the Benben Stone led to the construction of the famous Egyptian pyramids. The Benben stone was discovered in the Temple of the Phoenix. It is a symbol of this bird with red and golden feathers that sheltered in the Tree of Life and had the power to be reborn.
The two EBRD solar plants at Benben will be built by Alfanar Energy, a Saudi-based construction and electric manufacturing company.
Each development will be funded through loans of US$87 million under an A/B structure, comprising EBRD A Loans of US$58 million, of which US$44 million will be from the Bank's own account and US$14 million from the Green Climate Fund. FMO will provide B Loans of US$29 million.
The investment is part of the EBRD's US$500 million framework for renewable energy in Egypt, adopted by the bank's Board of Directors earlier this year. The framework focuses on developing Egypt's potential in renewables and strengthening private sector involvement in the power and energy sector.
The EBRD loan will be complemented by a parallel loan of up to US$28.5 million from the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) , the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank.
The project is expected to abate up to 100,000 tons of CO2-equivalent every year, supporting Egypt's emission reduction targets under the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as promoting sustainable energy development and private sector participation in the country's energy landscape.
Sabah Mohammed Al Mutlaq, chairman of Alfa Solar and vice-chairman of Alfanar Group, commented, "Globally, countries are experiencing the effects of climate change and renewable energy investors and financier's role is vital to cultivate more investment in the region for green energy and scale down the effects of global warming."
"This partnership will assist the socio-economic development in Benban by providing local population with infrastructure, job creation and skills training. The region has tremendous potential when generating power from the natural resources, and Alfanar will continue to actively consider venturing with ICD for additional renewable technology projects in solar, wind as well as energy from waste."
Support for the EBRD framework is provided by the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) Energy Efficiency Policy Dialogue Framework, funded by the European Union's Neighbourhood Investment Facility, and the SEMED Multi-Donor Account.
The Green Climate Fund is picking up the pace in implementing its project portfolio, and has now reached the milestone of $100 million in project disbursements, GCF officials say.
Ayaan Adam, private sector facility director for the Green Climate Fund, said, "This first investment with the EBRD under our Egypt Renewable Energy Financing Framework project is a big step forward. It shows the potential for public and private climate finance to drive the transition to low-emission energy in support of Egypt's climate goals."
Once the Benben solar power plants are completed, the energy generated will be connected to the national grid and then distributed across the country. Officials estimate the whole Benben project's generated power to equal 90 percent of the electricity generated by Egypt's Aswan High Dam.
Egypt aims to increase its use of renewable energy to 22 percent by 2020, the country's Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr said during a corporate meeting in Cairo in April.
Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD and has been receiving funding since 2012. To date, the bank has invested €2.7 billion in 51 projects in the country.
The EBRD strives to be ahead of the field in green investment. Together with the Green Climate Fund, the bank signed an agreement on cooperation in April 2017 that cements the EBRD's position as the largest single recipient of Green Climate Fund resources and paves the way for more joint projects aimed at combating climate change in the bank's regions. In October 2016 the Green Climate Fund decided to allocate US$378 million to support green investments by the EBRD.
International institutional interest in solar has helped some 30 companies close on power plants in Benben, "African Review" reports.
The International Finance Corporation has been among the international finance institutions to dish out some of the US$1.8 billion pledged to the Benban solar complex, helping companies in the project reach financial close.
The UK government announced it would be taking part in the IFC's debt package through the state-owned CDC Group, which is investing US$97 million in the complex.
Meanwhile, the African Development Bank's infrastructure fund for Africa, Africa50, signed financing documentation with Scatec Solar and Norfund for developing 400 MW in solar plants in Benban by contributing equity and leveraging total funding of close to US$450 million.
Featured Image: Benben stone from the Pyramid of Amenemhat III, 12th Dynasty. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. (Photo by Jon Bodsworth courtesy Wikipedia) Creative Commons license
Benben Egypt European Bank for Reconstruction and Development green energy financing India International Solar Alliance Renewable energy Solar Solar Power
Novel Electronics Boost Solar Panel Power
Sunny Abu Dhabi Signs Multiple Clean Energy Deals
COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact Keeps 1.5°C Goal Alive
Climate-Safe World Means Millions of New Energy Jobs


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Female Fire Captain files suit against Salt Lake City, mayor and former chief
She says she was disciplined in retaliation after alleging fraud and cover-ups.
View Caption
Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo Martha Ellis is sworn in after being promoted to the rank of division chief for Salt Lake | Courtesy Martha Ellis, Salt Lake City Fire Department
Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo Martha Ellis is sworn in after being promoted to the rank of division chief for Salt Lake City, becoming the Salt Lake City Fire Department's first female fire marshall on May 7, 2009. Ellis has filed a lawsuit, alleging fraud, fire code violations and cover-ups at SLC Fire Department. | Courtesy Martha Ellis, Salt Lake City Fire Department
By Christopher Smart The Salt Lake Tribune
· November 3, 2016 9:18 pm
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The first female battalion chief for the Salt Lake City Fire Department has filed a whistleblower lawsuit in 3rd District Court against the municipality, claiming workplace retaliation for highlighting practices by top brass that include alleged fraud, state fire-code violations and cover-ups.
Martha Ellis, a 21-year veteran firefighter, was demoted May 3 to captain from her previous position of division chief of logistics. She also had served as the city's fire marshal.
The suit says that in March 2015, she uncovered information that suggested the department was allowing members of its executive team to pursue outside endeavors on city time without disclosure or pay reduction.
The complaint also says certain employees were paid for a 40-hour week when they worked three 12-hour shifts.
Further, Ellis' claim states that she received pressure to use her influence to get "a seal of approval" from the department's engineering committee for concrete bike lanes on 300 South that narrowed the roadway, rendering it out of compliance with state fire code. She refused to cover up the "deliberate violation of the state fire code," it states.
Ellis also refused to cover up the lack of smoke detectors in Fire Station 2 prior to a fire there in March 2015, according to the filing.
The legal claim seeks reinstatement of Ellis to her previous position as battalion chief, back pay and benefits. It also seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress, damage to her reputation and loss of enjoyment of life.
City Hall spokesman Matthew Rojas said Wednesday that municipal officials do not comment on pending litigation.
The suit against Salt Lake City also identifies as defendants Mayor Jackie Biskupski, former Fire Chief Brian Dale, interim Chief Karl Lieb and Deputy Chief Robert McMicken.
Wednesday, Jaqualin Peterson, who represents Ellis, said her client had tried unsuccessfully to resolve these issues at every possible level. She said the lawsuit, which followed a previously reported notice of claim, was the last resort.
"This isn't personal," Peterson said. "This is about issues of public interest; how funds are spent and safety issues."
Ellis first complained of possible payroll fraud in a May 2015 letter to the city attorney, and again tried to seek official attention in a September 2015 complaint to the city's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program manager,
After Biskupski was elected last November, Ellis notified the mayor-elect of her concerns, according to the suit. She again took her observations to the mayor in January.
Among her claims was that then-Chief Dale was consulting for the Salt Lake City-based International Academies of Emergency Dispatchers (IAED) while on the job for Salt Lake City.
Dale told The Tribune in February that when he was deputy chief, he taught classes at IAED conferences, earning $20,000 to $30,000 annually. As deputy chief, the city paid him a salary of $110,116 and benefits worth $11,116, for a total package of $121,232.
Dale said in his City Council confirmation hearing in May 2015 and later in a Tribune interview that he had not abused his office or broken the public trust.
Dale retired last month. Lieb is acting as interim chief.
On Feb. 21, The Tribune published a story regarding Dale's relationship with IAED. The Tribune brought information to Biskupski, including its finding that in 2012 he spent over 40 days at various conferences, according to his computerized calendar. IAED paid for Dale's travel and expenses at conferences across the United States and in Europe. The organization also paid him for lectures and training sessions.
Biskupski told The Tribune she would look into the information. The newspaper did not receive a further response from her office regarding its findings.
On March 15 — three weeks after The Tribune story — Ellis was placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the Public Safety Building. According to the suit, her supervisors claimed she demonstrated a lack of engagement with her current work assignment, an inability or unwillingness to follow instructions and a lack of respect for chain of command.
Ellis believed she was being subjected to retaliatory discipline because of her critical comments, the suit said. She was concerned about her reputation and met with Biskupski again March 30  — to reiterate her complaints regarding the fire department and its executives' "unlawful behavior."
Nonetheless, Ellis was demoted May 3. She has been on personal leave in the months since.
But, the suit stated, "[T]he fire department and Salt Lake City (presumably with the mayor's acquiescence, since she was fully aware of the allegations and the ongoing proceedings) had already decided upon Ms. Ellis' discipline before actually meeting with her or giving her the opportunity to present her side of the story."
Ellis earlier had filed a federal complaint of sexual discrimination and harassment against the department with the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. That action remains pending.
csmart@sltrib.com
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Never before has Estonian literature been so full of different voices. Indeed, for a nation of about a million there are now about 500 publishers, plus journals, newspapers, the virtual world… There are so many readings, performances and happenings, poetry slams and literary festivals like Prima Vista in Tartu or HeadRead in Tallinn, to name just a few, bringing together well-known writers from all over the world. No one – no matter how dedicated – can attend all the events, nor read all the books published.
While Estonian language, which is among the Finno-Ugric family, is not too easily understood or translated into main Indo-European languages like English, French or German, Estonians have always been very diligent translators themselves, taking good care that the most important world literature also exists in Estonian. For example, in the "Open Estonian Book" series (also called "Marble Series"), 111 philosophical books have been translated into Estonian over a range of years, brought out by different publishers. For more than ten years, the journal Ninniku has freely published translations of world poetry, of all ages and languages.
This is to say that Estonian literature is quite naturally part of world literature and Estonian writers are usually well-read. That is why an interesting kind of 'bonsai culture' has developed in this corner of Europe: within a relatively small group of writers, there are authors of all genres, appeasing most tastes. Our national epic "Kalevipoeg" ("Son of Kalev"), written more than one hundred years ago by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, has recently been retranslated into English for the second time, as well as into French and even Hindi. However, no new "big novel" of universal value and representative of national psyche has been written for a long time. Maybe this is also too idealistic to ask for – Estonians are rather good at self-irony, as quite many texts happen to prove.
Probably the most well-known, prolific and popular Estonian writer is Andrus Kivirähk (1970) with his slightly grotesque, but healthy sense of humour. He writes with admirable ease for adults and children, for stage, and TV as well as columns for newspapers. Cartoons based on his stories are being shown at a number of film festivals. Among influential authors, Mihkel Mutt (1953) should also be mentioned. As a writer and editor, he cleverly combines cultural background with style and wit in his short stories, novels and a sequence of memoirs. Jan Kaus (1971) is another fluent and influential author engaged in most genres of literature, but also a dedicated facilitator of art and culture in true Renaissance spirit. His criticism reaches from witty sarcasm to warm empathy.
Naturally, there are authors, whose influence surpasses their lifetime – like Mati Unt (1944-2005), a legendary ever-restless modernist; or Juhan Viiding (Jüri Üdi) (1948-1995), a tragic trickster, whose witty, colloquial and deceivingly simple poetry set the rhythm for two or three generations. Most Estonians are likewise looking forward to the day when freethinker Jaan Kaplinski (1941) – a famous poet, writer, translator and essayist – will receive a well-deserved Nobel Prize.
Among world-class women writers in Estonia, well respected, widely read and translated Ene Mihkelson (1944) is deeply entangled in the collective psyche of Estonians. Reading her works is not always easy, but certainly cathartic. Viivi Luik (1946) appeared on the literary scene as a poet prodigy at the age of sixteen. The same powerful mirthful and sinister magnetism also flows in her three novels. Mari Saat's (1947) prose contains a delicate, yet psychologically loaded questioning of ethics. Also, Maimu Berg (1945) is socially alert, writing in inventive, bold and brilliant way, and Eeva Park (1950) writes down-to-earth prose and poetry that is vibrant with sensations. A broad academic and cultural background as well as intellectual wit has made Maarja Kangro (1973) well known as a translator, poet and essayist. Her short stories as well as poems are sharp, clear and often funny.
Moving from broad daylight towards more shadowy and mysterious areas, one can't help noticing Jüri Ehlvest's (1967-2006) style of prose – it is somewhat feverish, confusing and complex; intriguingly cryptic. Ervin Õunapuu (1956), a talented artist and writer, is equally dark and intense, obsessed with rather morbid and/or religious themes. As for Mehis Heinsaar (1973) – from his very first short stories, he has been claimed the master of Estonian magical realism; his poetic and imaginative writing has been inspirational to many. Furthermore, a huge audience of readers has been absolutely thrilled by Indrek Hargla (1970). Melted together in his novels are medieval history, crime and science fiction in a most fascinating way.
Style and elegance are also characteristic to Tõnu Õnnepalu (1962), who has written novels under different pseudonyms (Emil Tode, Anton Nigov), wonderful essays and slowly flowing poetry about changing moods and seasons with a melancholic or philosophical touch. Poet, essayist, modern thinker and translator Hasso Krull (1964) likewise blends sophisticated cultural studies with traditional cultures and rediscovered ancient roots; his writing is a true benchmark. Jürgen Rooste (1979), poet par excellence, is the pumping heart and motor of his generation. His Dionysian blues full of ecstasy, despair and laughter are as famous as his persona: always bursting with ideas and empathy.
Triin Soomets (1969) is one of the most remarkable female poets in Estonia. Her complex psychological, melodious and highly enhancing poetry has a slight, but haunting metaphysical touch. Kristiina Ehin (1977) is also probably the most well-known and loved Estonian poet particularly in English-speaking world. She gracefully weaves Finno-Ugric mythology and folklore in her very contemporary and personal poetry, charming wide audiences.
Besides the poetical and mystical, however, one can easily be captivated by the poetry of disillusionment. Elo Viiding's (1974) writing oscillates between prose and poetry, aiming at perfection and ultimate quality. Her clear and often commanding voice has great power and cutting irony. François Serpent (Indrek Mesikepp, 1971) is associated with the movement of "new honesty, new sincerity". His lucid poems reveal in their bareness an existential human condition here and now. Furthermore, Sven Kivisildnik (1963) is the champion of intellectual bravado, never failing in his mission. He has published both the bulkiest as well as the thinnest book of poetry in Estonia, consisting of one sentence: Come to your senses!
Needless to say, all authors mentioned here have received numerous prizes and have been widely translated. The time and space permitted here allow just a brief glimpse into Estonian literature, which is doubtless as rich and exciting, as full of surprises and pulsating with fresh energy as any other literature. Just ask the translators.
However, there is a lot more to discover for those starting the journey into the heart of Estonian literature. Bon voyage!
For more information about Doris Kareva, click here.


Many B2B organizations have introduced webinars into their marketing mix. While it's a good idea to optimize your webinar strategy to increase registrants, attendees, interaction, and engagement, are these elements really moving the needle for your business? By understanding how webinars can help your organization solve your biggest marketing challenges, you can start to shift your optimization efforts to achieve better results from your webinar strategy. In this presentation, Thue Madsen, Marketing Operations Manager at Kissmetrics, explains how to use webinars to meet your B2B marketing goals.


Marchettino - The ONLY official website: 1700hp GT-R is pretty quick!
A stock Nissan GT-R is able to compete with many supercars, but a tuned one might beat with not much efforts even the most expensive hypercars in the world. This GT-R AMS Alpha set an incredible mile run record in just 22.7s with a speed of 374kmh. Just to let you know, this GT-R reached 300km/h in 12.8s which is nearly 1s faster than the Hennessey Venom GT and nearly 2s faster than the Koenigsegg Agera R and Bugatti Veyron SS. 120 octane race fuel, semi slick tires and 1700hp might have been a good help to achieve this incredible result..
It makes me wonder: if sometimes, the intetion is to make a supercar incredbly very fast, why don't nissan do a stoc 1700hp GT-R since it is possible??
It might be possible, but I don't think it's something they can mass produce. I'm sure almost everything in that engine was cherry-picked.
That's Bugatti's and Koenigsegg's job.
I wonder what the top speed is..


Ever wondered what the whole dry brushing craze is over or even what dry brushing is?! Us too. Dry brushing has actually been practiced for over thousands of years and after doing this for a few months we can see why. Adding 5 minutes to your morning routine may seem like a lot when sleep time is precious but once you start to see the results, you'll be glad you started.
What is dry brushing & how do I do it? Dry brushing is when you take a natural haired brush and you brush your skin in upward motions, starting at your ankles and working your way up to your neck.
1. Right when you wake up, before you go pee ( if you can ) dry brush on a dry skin. Doing it before you go to the washroom is important because you are removing a lot of toxins that will be released when you go pee so it's even more effective.
2. Start brushing in firm ( but not too hard ) circular, upward motions rather than long & smooth strokes. This will be more stimulating.
3. Use the diagram above to guide you as you need to follow the lymphatic system. Always move in movements towards the heart as this is the way your lymphatic system flows so you will want to flow in the same way for maximum results.
5. Make sure you brush everywhere and be a little more gentle on your delicate areas like the chest and neck.
6. Hop in the shower and wash away all of the dead skin cells & impurities and then add a nice moisturizer after and your skin will feel invigorated, smooth and soft.
7. Quick tip! Natural haired body brushes can be found at Winners, drug stores, Walmart etc. The best deals I've seen are at Winners! $10-$15 you're set and they last a very long time.
Try this every day for a month and you will be surprised in how amazing your skin feels and how much smoother it will look. Don't take our word for it, go ahead and try! Happy brushing.
Namaste. My muse and I.
The use of Apple cider vinegar for various cosmetic purposes can be traced back to the Roman times. Today we are using it for the hair as a treatment. I was really skeptical about this but wow, it really works and there are many benefits besides making your hair soft, smooth and voluminous! It also simulates scalp to promote hair growth, cleanses the hair without stripping natural oils, removes build up from chemical products, helps hair retain moisture for future conditioning, antibacterial and antifungal properties to help with flaky and itchy scalps and closes the hair cuticle allowing for shine and fewer tangles.
Bring 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in a cup or any kind of container with you when you shower (A plastic container is safer in case you drop it). If your hair is dry use a little less vinegar. If your hair is oily use a little more. First wash your hair & then rinse. Then take the vinegar and pour over all of your hair and scalp making sure it's all saturated. Leave it in for a few minutes, rinse and voila! Your hair will feel very squeaky and clean and you may think oh my I need to add conditioner but don't. Just dry your hair and you'll be amazed at how soft, smooth and especially voluminous your hair is!! I have no volume in my hair and hate adding volumizing products because they always leave my hair feeling weighed down or grimy so this was really amazing. My hair was left feeling light, soft and had the most volume I've ever had naturally.
This isn't a treatment for every wash but I'm definitely going to add this into my routine once every month or two. It really does get rid of any product build up and my hair felt so healthy after. It's a must try!!
For the regular weekly washes I like to use Davines and Kevin Murphy which are paraben, sulphate & cruelty free and use a lot of natural ingredients.
The new repair me line has natural pineapple extract, smells like a dream and leaves your hair feeling so soft yet not weighed down. Love, love, love. The blonde angel is also amazing for keeping the blonde looking nice and ashy ( I'm not a fan of brassy blonde ) and the young again infused treatment oil is awesome to apply on the ends of your hair when it's wet. You won't be left with any oil feeling in your locks & your hair will feel nourished. Great for little fly aways too.
My hair routine steps : first wash with repair me wash, second wash with blonde angel wash & leave on for a few mins ( I have to wash twice as my hair is very oily ). Rinse, then condition with repair me rinse. Towel dry, then I spray in the oi all in one milk, add a few pumps of the young again oil to the ends and then a quick blow dry. After it's dry I add a bit of the Kevin Murphy fresh hair to the roots as even after I wash & dry I have no volume and this adds amazing volume without feeling like I have product in my hair. It also absorbs oil throughout the day which is a big thing for me.
Please note – after the apple cider vinegar treatment I did not add any styling products as there was so much volume and softness so there was no need!
I hope this inspires you to try a very simple, yet effective at home beauty treatment that I think you will love!
Select photographs by Iulia Agnew, of Vancouver, BC.
putting natural deodorants to the test!
I have always equated the thought of natural deodorants with the lingering scent of stinky BO. Doing Yoga, and as a generally active person, I sweat a lot and I've always thought I needed something more powerful and the only kinds out there that were powerful enough were the "Secrets" and "Doves" of the world. Well, I've recently learned that this is not true…and I'm so happy about it! I never liked the idea of what the mass deodorants and anti perspirants really do – in a nutshell – they try to stop the sweat by clogging your pores full of chemicals . So the fact that I've found a few things that actually work.
First step is to get rid of any smell. Freshening in the AM is important. The simple way to do this is to take a cotton pad or the edge of your wash cloth and saturate with white vinegar. Yup, simple, white vinegar. Yes it's smelly but vinegar is an anti bacterial substance and instantly gets rid of any smell you may have under your pits! The scent goes away within minutes and you literally will feel fresher, for real.
Next is to put on your natual deoderant. The 2 brands I have been trying are : Saje, the peacful warrior & Mamalani, olu olu that we picked during a recent trip to Hawaii .
The Saje one is in a spray form and I do about 5 sprays per side, let it dry and I'm good to go! I really do find the tea tree oil in this one helps you smell fresh throughout the day I've been loving it. I sometimes take it with me if I know I'm going to have an extra long day and do a refresher spray half way through the day and it really works.
Ingredients : potassium alum, essential oils of palmarosa, rosewood, sandalwood, lavender, lime, patchouli, fennel and vetiver.
The Mamalani is in a powder form and I take about a pea to dime size in my palm and place it over my entire under arm and kind of pat it so that it stays in place. There is a little that falls but it just brushes away easily. This one has rosemary, sage & peppermint and again I really feel like these combat the smells throughout the day as they really smell fresh!
Ingredients : baking soda, pia ( arrowroot ), kaolin clay, olena ( Hawaiian turmeric ), organic essential oils of rosemary, sage and peppermint.
So for someone who really puts these natural deodorants to the test, I find that these work and I feel like I'm detoxing my armpits. They feel so free and like they can breathe….If armpits could speak, I'm sure this is what they would say. In fact, I think they whispered that to me in my last Yoga class.
I've only named the few of positive impacts for me but I know that there are also a lot of other health and environmental benefits to going au natural. I've heard of so many of the mass deoderants being linked to bad things so I just feel a lot better about letting my pits breathe at last. Hope you'll give it a shot and let us know what you think!
Garlic alfredo…what could be better? Plant based garlic alfredo that tastes better than the original "cowy "one! This sauce has been a favourite of ours for about the last year and we've made it more times than we can count. We've brought it to functions where there are non vegans there and – every time, without fail I get asked "what is in this?, this is the best alfredo sauce I've ever had". It really is, the best alfredo sauce you will ever have and on top of that, it's so easy to make and it will keep the peeps comin back for more – time and time again which is what I like. We really will change the world one meal at a time.
1 medium onion (make sure it's at least 1 1/2 cups chopped. We usually use a large white onion instead of a medium one so to have extra sauce for leftovers.
First, pour 1 cup of the veggie broth into your frying pan, and warming up at at medium to low heat. Have your onions and garlic all chopped up and add them to your veggie broth. Keep on stirring in your pan until your veggie broth has evaporated completely and your onions are nice and tender. Add some salt and pepper while they are simmering in the broth too, for some flavouring.
Next, it's time to get your blender out and start to add ingredients. As an aside we use a Vitamix which is hands down the best blender on the market, because it makes the sauce so smooth and uniform, like it was done by a master chef. We have become Vitamix evangelists ( and we didn't get paid to say that, no affiliation, blah blah) They're pricey but worth it! but we digress.
Put your onions and garlic in the blender first, then add about 3/4 cup – 1 cup of the remaining veggie broth. We usually do 1 cup just so we have a little extra sauce for later. Then add your salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, rosemary leaves, lemon and cashews and blend on high for a few mins. When you open that lid you will be blown away by the amazing aroma this sauce makes…it will take your breath away! In the original recipe, it does not call for rosemary leaves but we started adding them awhile ago and it adds just the slightest flavour that enhances all the other ingredients, We just love the end result. You will too!
Now can you believe it?! Your sauce is done in no time and now you can boil up some water and start making some pasta. Our favourite right now is a pasta called " Organic Ancient Grain Pasta Penne by New Roots " It's made with organic brown rice, quinoa, amaranth & corn. It's also whole grain and gluten free. We are not gluten free, but this pasta just happens to be one that we love and ended up being gluten free. It's so delicious and satisfying, and the pasta alone – without even counting the other ingredients – contains almost 10 grams of protein!
Last step is to pick your veggies that you would like to add to your pasta and sauce. Our favourite is broccoli. We just can't get enough broccoli these days, it's so good! Steam your broccoli for 5-10 minutes. We usually end up steaming a few heads of broccoli which is enough for one or two people. Once your veggies & pasta are all cooked up place on a plate and pour your sauce over them and voila! Dinner is served.
You can now eat a guilt free garlic alfredo that you can feel good about eating. It's not only so easy to make, it's oil free and dairy free, and above rather importantly – cruelty free. Three of our favourite as none of them are healthy – for anyone.
You will go back for seconds and thirds and you won't be able to stop eating this. We dream about it…no lie.
Lovely photography by Iulia Agnew, of Vancouver, BC.