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Covid-19 hospitalisations in Europe still only a fraction of what they were at the pandemic's peak
September 8, 2020 adminLeave a Comment on Covid-19 hospitalisations in Europe still only a fraction of what they were at the pandemic's peak
Coronavirus hospital admissions in Europe are still at only a fraction of the level they were in March and April, despite warnings from officials that a second wave is rolling across the continent.
Countries such as France, Spain and Belgium, which are now seeing hospital patient numbers rise again, are recording far fewer admissions than at the peak of the pandemic.
UK health officials including Health Secretary Matt Hancock have warned of a 'second wave rolling across Europe' and told Brits to act now to stop a resurgence here.
Data shows, however, that although hospital admissions are rising around Europe they are still low, despite thousands of cases being declared each day.
In France, for example, the weekly rate of admission to hospital is now two per 100,000, down from more than 35 at the peak of the outbreak in March. This is despite the country counting record numbers of infections in recent weeks.
And in Spain, where the admission rate was one per 100,000 in June, hospitalisations hit four per 100,000 at the end of August – still a far cry from the 50 per 100,000 being admitted in early April.
Mr Hancock claimed today that Spain's hospitalisations had 'risen 15 times since mid-July'. But data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows admissions rose by four times in that period.
Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that in the science community 'nobody expects hospital admissions and death rates to stay flat for more than two weeks'.
But the kinds of people ending up in hospital is crucial for judging the severity of the outbreak — younger people are significantly less likely to die than the elderly.
Professor Hunter said: 'Most people would expect that in two, three, four, weeks we'll see an obvious increase in both in hospitalisations and deaths.'
Professor Keith Neal, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Nottingham, added that rising cases in Spain 'hasn't really been reflected in the hospitalisations', so outbreaks may not follow the same trajectory that they did the first time round.
Scientists agreed that cases and, as a result, hospitalisations and deaths, would rise when lockdown was lifted. The Government's task now is to keep them under control.
Although poor testing during the worst of the outbreak meant not all cases were picked up, whereas most of them likely are now, experts have also said many infections now are among younger people who are less likely to get seriously ill.
Coronavirus hospital admissions could start to rise in the UK in three weeks, data from other European countries suggests. When Spain, France and Belgium hit 18 cases per 100,000 (which the UK did on Sunday) they then saw admissions increase by up to four-fold
But European nations are only seeing a fraction of the weekly admissions they had during the peak of the pandemic, raising questions about whether it can really constitute a 'second wave'
In late March, thousands of people were being admitted to French hospitals per day, and the weekly hospitalisation rate was 35 per 100,000. Now, about 800 people are being taken to hospitals across the Channel every week, giving it a rate of about two per 100,000
Spain had a Covid hospitalisation rate of four per 100,000 in late August, up from one per 100,000 a month prior. While admissions technically quadrupled, they were still miles away from the level seen in late March, when 50 per 100,000 people were being hospitalised a week
In August the hospitalisation rate in Belgium doubled from one two, which is not even a tenth of the worst levels seen in April (30 per 100,000)
Hospitalisation rates remain low and falling in the UK, from a peak of more than 30 per 100,000 people to fewer than one per 100,000, but officials fear they will rise again soon
Cases per capita in Britain are now higher than 20 per 100,000 people, a level at which UK officials consider putting foreign countries on a quarantine list because they are deemed to have lost control of the virus.
It comes after nearly 3,000 people tested positive for two days in a row on Sunday and Monday and marks a near threefold rise from last week's rate of 12.8 per 100,000.
British hospital admissions have remained stable, however, with just one in 100,000 people currently needing medical care for Covid-19 infection.
It represents a fraction of the approximately 32 people per 100,000 who were taken to hospital with the virus at the peak of the UK's crisis in mid-April.
There are currently about 800 patients in British hospitals fighting Covid-19, compared to 20,000 six months ago.
Data from Spain, Belgium and France shows when case rates were at a similar level to the UK's, admissions then spiked over the following three weeks.
HOW COVID-19 HOSPITAL ADMISSION RATES HAVE CHANGED
APRIL: 32 PER 100,000
JUNE: 1 PER 100,000
SEPTEMBER: <1 PER 100,000
SEPTEMBER: 2 PER 100,000
When the case rate goes above 20 per 100,000, it indicates that the reproduction 'R' rate has likely risen above one and the virus could grow exponentially.
The case rate rose above 18 per 100,000 in France three weeks ago in mid-August and, at the time, hospital rates were about one per 100,000 people, on par with the UK's.
In the three weeks that have followed, admissions have doubled to two per 100,000, but they still remain just a fraction of the level seen at the peak,
In late March, thousands of people were being admitted to French hospitals per day, and the weekly hospitalisation rate was 35 per 100,000.
Now, about 800 people are being taken to hospitals across the Channel every week and about 5,000 people in total are currently being treated.
Spain has seen the most dramatic rise in hospitalisations of any European country, data shows.
After successfully squashing the epidemic with one of the strictest lockdowns on the continent, Spain then saw hospitalisations creep up in mid July.
The country had a Covid hospitalisation rate of four per 100,000 in late August, up from one per 100,000 a month prior.
While admissions technically quadrupled, they were still miles below the level seen in late March, when 50 per 100,000 people were being hospitalised a week.
And crucially, the weekly rate of ICU admissions in Spain is now well below one per 100,000, whereas it peaked at five per 100,000 in April.
Most recent figures show that about 1,800 people are being taken to hospital with Covid every week, and 140 into ICU.
This compares to the more-than-8,000 being admitted to general wards per week in late March and hundreds being rushed into intensive care daily.
Meanwhile in Belgium, hospital admissions followed a similar trajectory to those in Spain and France.
After coming right down to around one per 100,000 in June, they then started creeping up slightly in the weeks that followed.
By late August the rate had doubled to two, which is not even a tenth of the worst levels seen in April (30 per 100,000).
In total, 235 patients are currently in hospital, of which 52 are in the intensive care unit – but Belgium's smaller population means its admission rate is still higher than the UK's.
Data from Public Health England shows that more than 40 per cent of coronavirus tests done in hospitals were positive in March and April but this has now plummeted and remains below 2.5 per cent in both hospitals and the community. This shows that there remains only a small proportion of people with the symptoms of coronavirus who actually have it
But the number of people who receive a 'positive' result after getting tested under Pillar 2 has increased in recent weeks (blue line) to 2.3 per cent. It's also increased under Pillar 2 (red line), but is nowhere near the levels seen at the height of the pandemic
At the peak of Belgium's crisis, in early April, hospitals were filled with 6,000 coronavirus patients every day.
Keith Neal, emeritus professor in the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline: 'I think the likelihood is that hospital rates go up in the coming weeks because even some young people will end up in hospital – because infections are quite high.
'A small percentage of young people will be badly affected and need hospitalisations, and the threshold for admissions has probably been lowered compared to in April when only the sickest people were admitted.
HOW DOES TESTING AFFECT CASE NUMBERS?
If more people are being tested for Covid-19, this will show up in cases data, experts say. On the surface, it may look like a spike in infections, but broadly is not something to worry about because it just means more people are being diagnosed than before, when testing was limited to those in hospital.
Professor Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics, The Open University, said: 'In the early stages of the pandemic, there was far less availability of testing in most countries than there now is. So one reason there are more cases is just that people have got better at looking for and finding them.'
And Dr Andrew Preston, a reader in microbial pathogenesis at University of Bath, said: Test more people, you will find more positives.
'Initially, testing was restricted to those reporting symptoms, but this has eased and it's now possible for a wider range of people to request tests.'
Testing capacity has rapidly increased over the course of the pandemic in order to reach more people. And this has caused a slight increase in the number of people getting a positive result – but not to levels that suggest prevalence of the virus is soaring.
A significantly higher number of people are being tested since July – when diagnosed cases were at their lowest, NHS Test and Trace data shows.
Some 442,392 people were tested between 13 August and 19 August – an almost 20 per cent increase on the 355,597 tested between July 9 and 15.
However, the positive result rate only slightly went up, from 1.12 per cent to 1.4 per cent in the same period. This shows there no that many more people testing positive compared to negative in August than in July.
Other data from Public Health England reveals a similar trend over the course of the pandemic.
Testing has increased vastly from no more than 13,000 tests per day at the start of April to around 150,000 in July.
During the same period, positive test results in Pillar 2 – which are those outside of hospitals and care homes – went drastically down from a peak of 5.2 per cent in May to 1.4 per cent in mid-July, showing that less people were testing positive for the coronavirus despite testing reaching thousands more people.
This figure has risen slightly over this month from 1.6 per cent to 2.1 per cent in the week ending August 23. But it's a small increase when comparing with the 5 per cent seen in May. Testing has shot up to almost 200,000 per day this month.
Commenting on these figures, Dr Duncan Young, a professor of intensive care medicine at University of Oxford, told MailOnline: 'It is therefore very possible that the increase in cases is mostly related to increased testing, but will a small additional effect from the increased prevalence.'
Despite this, it doesn't necessarily rule out that transmission of the disease is, indeed, climbing.
Scientists admit that the evident rise in cases will be driven by more transmission in the community as a result of easing lockdown restrictions.
'But the position isn't like it was back in March and April,' Professor McConway said.
'The level of cases [in the UK] remains a very long way below what it was at the peak of the pandemic here in March and April.
'If we look to Spain, it has had very high rates in the north east and lower in rest of country – but it hasn't really been reflected in the hospitalisations, when you compare them to April – which is a bit of a mystery.'
Professor Neal warned, though, that as more and more young people continue to test positive it is 'only a matter of time' before infections spill over into the older age groups, who are most likely to fall criticially unwell and die.
Lawrence Young, a virologist and oncologist at the University of Warwick, said that although cases are on an upward trajectory, 'it is becoming increasingly clear that people are less likely to die if they get Covid-19 now compared with earlier in the pandemic, at least in Europe'.
He told MailOnline: 'Possible explanations include that a larger number of younger people (15-44 year olds) are now being infected compared to the first peak in cases in April and this group are less likely to get severe disease.
'Two; there is now more effective treatment for patients with Covid-19 with far fewer needing mechanical ventilation; and three; less aggressive variants of SARS-CoV-2, particularly the D614G variant, are more prevalent – these remain very infectious but are less likely to cause severe disease.'
Professor Young added: 'It was not unexpected that easing of lockdown and a return to more regular activities would result in more infections.
'I guess the question is 'when do local spikes in coronavirus infections become a second wave?'
There has been much confusion about whether the UK or any European country is actually experiencing a second wave.
Scientists accused the UK Government of losing its grip on the disease as the highest number of cases since May were reported on Sunday – 2,988 – and a further 2,948 were added to the toll yesterday.
But even though case numbers are high, the percentage of people testing positive for the disease is still dramatically lower than it was at the peak of the crisis.
When the disease was out of control in March and April, rationed testing meant that at times more than 40 per cent of test results were positive, but this has since plummeted to just 2.3 per cent in the community and 0.5 per cent in hospitals.
That means around one in 50 people test positive in testing centres, while just one in 200 hospital patients who get swabbed actually have the disease.
As more and more people get tested, the proportion of the tests that come back positive has stayed level, showing the current strategy is successfully finding more and more people who actually have the disease but that still only a small proportion of those suspected of having Covid-19 actually do.
And numbers cannot be directly compared, either. Although there were days in April and March with similar numbers of cases to what the country is seeing now, only a fraction of people who were sick were getting tested. The true number of cases is now thought to have been in the hundreds of thousands at any given time during the peak at the end of March, while no more than 5,200 people were ever diagnosed in a day.
For this reason, 3,000 cases in a day now, when everyone who thinks they might be ill can get tested, cannot be compared like-for-like with 3,000 cases per day in April, when only severely ill people were tested and the real size of the epidemic was a mystery.
Eminent statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter told MailOnline that infection rates could 'no longer give a simple answer' about the virus's trajectory. He admitted that a huge increase in testing was skewing the figures upwards, but he noted that the proportion of people testing positive was also rising very slowly, suggesting a mixture of more swabs in high risk areas and 'some increase in infection risk' was driving the case rate up.
The current case rate – the number of people per 100,000 who test positive for Covid-19 – has risen since June and July as lockdown rules have loosened but is still only a fraction of what it was during the worst days of Britain's crisis.
A surge in positive tests over the weekend pushed the rate to 21.3 per 100,000 for the past week, which is above Britain's own holiday quarantine threshold. Once infections rise above 20 in 100,000 in other countries, the British Government begins seriously considering enforcing a quarantine period for holidaymakers returning from abroad.
Scientists say it was always inevitable that more tests would yield more cases, and that there would be a rise in infections when rules were lifted.
Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at The Open University, said: 'In the early stages of the pandemic, there was far less availability of testing in most countries than there now is. So one reason there are more cases is just that people have got better at looking for and finding them.'
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Xylouris White is a musical collaboration established in 2013, involving Greek singer and laouto player George Xylouris and Australian drummer Jim White, best known for his work with Dirty Three.  The duo's music has been described as combining "free-jazz, avant-rock and ages-old Greek folk traditions."  To date they have released three albums, and undertaken multiple world tours.

History
The two musicians first met in Melbourne in 1990, when Xylouris was touring with his father, Antonis Xylouris, and became friends.  White first played with Xylouris' family band in Australia in 2009.  They began recording and performing regularly in public together in New York City in late 2013.  They released their first album, Goats, in 2014; it topped the Billboard World Music chart.

They performed together at the Sydney Festival in 2015, in advance of a world tour, and released their second album, Black Peak, on Bella Union, in 2016.

Their third album, Mother, was released early in 2018.

Each of their albums have been produced by Guy Picciotto (Fugazi).

Discography

Albums

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

!
|-
| 2017
| Black Peak
| Best World Music Album
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| rowspan="3"|
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| 2018
| Mother
| Best World Music Album
|
|-
| 2020
| The Sisypheans
| Best World Music Album
|

Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

!
|-
| Music Victoria Awards of 2018
| Xylouris White
| Best Global Act
|
|
|-

References

Australian musical duos
Cretan music
Bella Union artists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Well we've been back from our honeymoon for a little over a week now and it's time to recap! We went on a roadtrip going up through Alabama, across Tennessee, into North Carolina, then down through South Carolina, into Georgia and back into Florida. On Day 1 we drove up to Tuscumbia, Alabama and visited Ivy Green which is Helen Keller's homestead.
Here I am at the infamous well where Helen had her "aha!" moment and learned the word water.
That night we went out for Mexican food to celebrate Dos de Mayo.
Then we went to a Walmart to try to get some cord or something Matt needed for his phone and on the way into walmart a man pulled up next to us in his car and tried to sell me a bunny. That was weird.
We stayed that night at a campground in Tuscumbia and headed out early the next morning towards Memphis, bound for Graceland! We toured Graceland, Elvis's planes and visited the museums on site.
We ended up seeing everything we wanted to at Graceland by 2pm so instead of staying in Memphis for the night like we planned, we decided to fly by the seat of our pants and head to Nashville for the night! We went to Jackalope brewhouse and then Yazoo brewery.
Then we got some dinner at Peg Leg Porker.
We took a drive down Broadway but couldn't find any parking so we decided to just head to the Nashville Walmart and sleep there for the night. The next morning we took off towards Asheville and decided to stop in Crab Orchard, Tennessee to see this waterfall.
It was a pretty awesome place to stop and stretch our legs with a short hike down to the bottom of the falls. We continued our drive but decided to stop again when we saw a sign for Bootleggers Moonshine.
After some free samples and a tour we continued on. As we were getting off the exit to the campground we were going to be staying at for the next 4 nights, we couldn't believe our eyes, but there was a sign for Sierra Nevada Brewery! As it turns out, this Sierra Nevada Brewery location has only been open for a few years and it was just 2 miles from our campground. For a long time Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale has sat in the #1 spot on Matt's list of his favorite beers, so stumbling upon the brewery was good fortune!
The next day we visited the Biltmore! First we toured the home and gardens.
Then we went over to the stables and winery!
On the way back to the campground from the Biltmore we stopped at Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville for some beers.
We weren't overly impressed with Wicked Weed so we headed back to Sierra Nevada for some more great beers and some amazing food.
I discovered that my beer of choice, Otra Vez, happened to contain cactus! The next day, it was time to attend the Mother Earth News Fair! We arrived early and waited for the gates to open. It was absolutely freezing out and we were grossly under-dressed for the conditions.
It was a nice day of learning and good food but cold, windy weather mixed with some rain made us long for some sunny Florida weather! We came prepared the next day though, which wasn't quite as cold and windy. We arrived even earlier the second day so that we could get good seats to Joel Salatin's Pastured Poultry Profits workshop. Then we headed over to the book signing so we could each get our books signed.
Here I am with my hero, Joel Salatin, holding my copy of "Everything I Want to Do is Illegal" after having it signed. Joel is brilliant and I think everyone in America should read this book. For the consumer it really sheds some light on why it's so difficult to find wholesome food these days. For the wannabe farmer it gives you an idea of obstacles 1-8000 that you may encounter when trying to sell the wonderful wholesome food you have produced.
Well that was certainly the highlight of the day, but we did also attend workshops on vermiculture and meat rabbits before heading back to the campground and cooking up some leftovers. The next morning we head out en route to Kinston, North Carolina to eat dinner at Chef and the Farmer. This restaurant is featured in a PBS show called A Chef's Life that Matt and I have watched a few times which is how we got the idea to visit the restaurant. Everything was delicious!
If you are interested in keeping up with what's going on at the farm, subscribe to the channel so you can get notified each time we post a new video. Ok, now back to the story.
Next we headed down to River St. for our customary alcoholic slushies at Wet Willie's but made it back to the Marshall House for the free cheese and wine reception at 6. Next we got a crab boil for dinner!
Then we went on a walking ghost tour of Savannah and heard some ghost stories and ghost sounds. We rounded at the night with an ice cream from Leopold's, of course, because that's what we do when we're in Savannah! The next morning we were off again, this time homeward bound!
We had an amazing trip, got to see some really cool places, eat some great food, talk to interesting people and gain valuable knowledge. BUT, there's no place like home! A lot has happened since our return so I will catch y'all up on that in the next post!


The World Robotics Report 2016, recently released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) forecasts that compact, user-friendly collaborative robots will become a key driver in the automation market. The report predicts the worldwide annual sales of industrial robots to increase by at least 13 percent on average per year from 2017 to 2019. Human-robot collaboration will have a "breakthrough" in this period, enabling robots and humans to work safely side-by-side without any fences, while increasing production efficiency and quality.
"As the market leader of the cobot industry, Universal Robots welcomes the report which confirms the validity of our mission: lowering barriers and enabling automation in areas previously considered too complex or costly," said Chief Commercial Officer of Universal Robots, Daniel Friis.
Industries predicted by IFR to adopt cobots at an increasing rate include automotive, the plastics industry, electronics assembly and the machine tool industry. These are all key sectors in Southeast Asia, and where Universal Robots is seeing strong traction.
"UR robots are now increasingly deployed on the auto assembly line, working hand-in-hand with employees, by relieving them of ergonomically unfavourable tasks. We have recent case studies documenting how cobots quadrupled injection moulding production, and how our new UR3 table-top robot is now a sought-after automation tool for light assembly, such as circuit board handling," said Friis.
In Asia, strong, continued robot growth is forecasted by IFR, with the recent report suggesting a rise of 18 percent in robot supplies this year, while installations are expected to rise by 15 percent. China is predicted to remain the main driver of robot growth, expanding its dominance with almost 40 percent of the global robot supply being installed in China by 2019.
"Asia is a strong focus area for Universal Robots. We opened a Shanghai subsidiary in 2013 and are constantly expanding our distributor network in the regions where customers are increasingly using our cobots to optimise product quality and automate repetitive tasks that many manufacturers have difficulty staffing with manual labour," said Friis.
According to Friis, the demand for consumer goods across global markets is pushing manufacturers to produce innovative, high-quality products more quickly, consistently, and sustainably around the world.
"To support the growing demand for flexible cobot solutions, Universal Robots recently launched Universal Robots+, an online showroom for end-effectors, software, peripherals and accessories from the UR ecosystem of 3rd-party developers that are optimised to work flawlessly with UR robots. This allows UR's integrators, distributors and customers to hit the ground running when completing their next UR robot installation," said Friis.
Complementing Universal Robots+, is the new UR Academy, which includes free e-learning modules available to all that make up the basic programming training for UR robots. This includes adding end-effectors, connecting I/Os for communication with external devices and setting up safety zones. Universal Robots expects the initiative to help support Industry 4.0.
"It's unprecedented in the industry to provide hands-on interactive teaching modules available for free with no licensing required. The Academy offers an instrumental tool in helping us educate the market on how our technology can address key business challenges. As Southeast Asia gears up to be the world's manufacturing hub, educating future operators and programmers now to bridge this gap becomes even more important," said Friis.


On Wednesday the 15th June, three IWA youth members from Dublin travelled to Aras an Uachtarain to meet the President Michael D. Higgins and commemorate the young people (40) who died in the 1916 Rising. In late 2015, the three lads represented their peers on a Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) committee. The idea of the initial workshop was to have young people from all over Ireland come together and discuss the young people who died during 1916, and accordingly, decide on ways to commemorate their lives during 2016. Having thrashed through a number of ideas, it was put forward that for each of the 40 young people who died, a lantern would be presented to the president of Ireland, to honour both the young people and their families.
Wednesday the 15th June was a lovely summer's morning and the three lads arrived, dressed very smartly and looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the president and his entourage. The lads got a guided tour of the Aras and the gardens, both eye opening experiences, akin to something out of a Hollywood film! The memorial event itself was a lovely occasion, with two of our youth group involved in presenting the lanterns to the president. A time capsule was then buried in the Aras gardens, in another commemoration to the 40 young people.
There was some great fun after the ceremony in the Aras garden with live music, games galore and tasty delights to sample. There was a lovely atmosphere as President Higgins took his time in meeting and greeting all the young people in attendance.
All in all it was a great day out for the three young lads involved and they did a fantastic job representing the views and ideas from their peers in the IWA. We had a sneaky word with the President's head of security on the way out and we're putting in an application to host our youth service Christmas party in the Aras in 2016!


This week's food diary features a busy week...of eating.
12pm: A berry smoothie sprinkled with granola with a side of cream bun from my favorite Asian bakery 85 Degrees. It's my last bun so I eat slowly and savor every bite.
7pm: At the JINS Eyewear event, I play hostess while sampling lettuce cups, fried dumplings, shrimp, and crab cakes and indulge in a piece of rice crispy treat, two pieces of cheesecake, and a "I really shouldn't but I can't help it" brownie bite.
9pm: After coming home, I have a slice of Fresh Brothers pizza and a handful of grapes. I'm starting to get sick of their pizza as we have it way too regularly. That's the difference between M and I. He finds something he likes and he can eat it forever. Me? I need to switch things up to fully appreciate it. And yes, that's basically our perspective on life as well.
6pm: I'm starving and make a veggie salad with baked teriyaki tofu and heat up two slices of Fresh Brothers deep dish pizza.
8pm: A bowl of grapes.
9am: At a breakfast with Blue Mercury in Brentwood, I have a small berry smoothie, iced coffee, and a delicious finger sandwich made with homemade bread. I pass by one of the Housewives of BH on my way to the parking lot. She's just left SoulCycle.
11am: At the Shu Uemura event at Society Salon in West Hollywood, I have a mini yogurt parfait and a few pieces of delicious mango and coconut rice rolls.
2pm: Apple and mini Larabar in Cashew Cookie.
7:30pm: My brother comes over for dinner and he's currently on a one month pescatarian cleanse so I make a big pot of veggie pasta with pesto sauce, toss some garden salad, and grill some marinated chicken breast for M and I.
10:30am: A hearty berry smoothie bowl topped with granola, frozen berries, and sliced banana.
4pm: After making friends with Stan the Giraffe and Michelle O'lama the Llama on the Malibu Wine Safari hosted by Teva, we head over to Malibu Wines for a delicious "linner" of assorted salads and roasted turkey sandwich from lemonade. I treat myself to a big chewy gooey chocolate chip cookie.
8pm: After dropping by a friend's bon voyage party, M and I head over to Daikokuya in West Hollywood where he eats the majority of the oyakadon and fried rice while I have a few bites of both. We're quickly becoming regulars as our server recognizes us and tells us to keep coming and to bring the baby once he arrives.
10pm: A bowl of watermelon.
10:00am: At breakfast with Clarins at Viviane Beverly Hills previewing their new fall products, I dine on eggs, bacon, fruit, and yogurt while chatting French baguettes, NYC pizza, and other food related topics with the Clarins team.
1pm: Americano at Peet's Coffee in Beverly Hills while catching up on a ton of work.
8pm: I experience the fab foodie of the week moment eating the crispy chicken sandwich at Honor Bar in Beverly Hills. The chicken is crispy while the bun is soft and sweet. I have it with some coleslaw and fries and two pieces of coconut shrimp roll.
10pm: Pinkberry, the original and best tart froyo.
7pm: Trying Bollywood Indian Restaurant for the first time where the chicken tikka masala is my favorite. The okra comes a close second. The sag paneer is a little salty and the lamb dish just isn't as flavorful as the chicken. Overall, it's pretty good and with zero wait on a Saturday night, I'm definitely bookmarking for future visits.
9pm: A bowl of grapes.
1pm: I get a late start on eating with a bbq at my friend's new place. I fill my plate with half a hamburger, half a dirty dog, and some salad.
5pm: Still quite full, I meet up with M at the Eastside Food Festival as a guest of Gilt City where I try a little bit of this and that. The pulled pork is amazing and so is the pizza. For dessert, I indulge in a double scoop berry and salted caramel ice cream cone. After about half an hour of eating, I wave the white flag and head out as I cannot eat another bite.


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text:
He Just Might Change the Future
Felix came to the Mission as an intern from Bunker Hill Community College. Instead of serving meals to those in need, he offered digital skills instead.
As the Mission freshens its web site, Felix wants to help create a professional view of the Mission that people can see across the world.
Prior to the Mission, Felix hadn't volunteered much besides coaching little league baseball in his home town of Caracas, Venezuela. Now he wants to become a software developer.
"In the future, technology will do a lot of work for us" says Felix. "I'd like to bring my passions to a company like Microsoft or Apple, and do something important that might change their future."
He's certainly changing ours. You can too! Contact our volunteer team at (617) 338-9000 ext. 1230 or
volunteer@brm.org
for your next volunteer calling.
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text:
Landschapsarchitectuur, Ruimtelijke Planning, Culturele Geografie
Afstudeerwerk
Over TOPOS
Quito blog 2: The mobility challenges of an Andean city
11-05-2015 | tags: Ecuador,infrastructuur,Nieuwe Wereld,ruimtelijke kwaliteit,verkeer,Zuid-Amerika |
_ARTIKEL_ door Abel Coenen
With almost 2 million inhabitants Quito is a big city. Its dense historical centre proves to be the perfect location for a tourist visit. Many people move around through the city by car or taxi but, as Dutch as I am, I'd rather go for a walk. When one day I almost got run over by a car I realized that the culture of car driving is rather special here.
This is the second blogpost in the series about Quito, Ecuador. The first contribution can be found here.
The banana-shaped city of Quito stretches 70 kilometres in length, but not more than 4 kilometres in width. For this reason, the quiteños do not speak of a west or east side of the city, but only of "north" and "south". North is the wealthier side of the city and south contains the poorer neighbourhoods – although I also saw some exceptions to this rule.
Quito is located within the Andes and consists of a few adjacent mountain valleys. The historical centre has the archetypical grid structure of a colonial city in Latin America. The rough mountain topography with steep hills and deep valleys on the other hand has always strongly steered the development of the urban landscape. Landfills and equalization has given the city a flatter surface. Through the years the "constant struggle between grid and ground", as described by architect and urbanist Felipe Correa (2012), has created the current spatial layout of the city.
Figure 1: The constant struggle between grid and ground: the street pattern (in red) of the historical centre laid over a topography map (adapted from Correa 2013).
Traffic in Quito
Throughout the city, the main infrastructural lines go from north to south and a few, recently redeveloped highways provide fast connections to the outer parts. At peak hours, some of these roads tend to clog up, as well as the main roads within the city. Friday afternoons can therefore be really crazy.
One of the policies that should solve the infrastructural congestions is to restrict car driving in and around Quito. This is done by a system called Pico y Placa which translates as something like "peak hour and [license] plate". The idea is that the last digit of the license plate of a vehicle refers to the moment that it is not allowed to drive, mostly one day per week. This is a successful system because it keeps cars off the street, although I also understood that people who can afford it for this reason buy two cars to be sure they can always drive one. Concerning environmental impact I would say this is not the best system.
Figure 2: Quito's situation in a large mountain valley (seen from the east).
An obvious solution of course is to stimulate other forms of transport such as public transport or cycling. I realize that this is easy to say for someone who grew up in a country where walking and cycling is deeply embedded in its culture. In the daily life in Quito it is very common to take the car or taxi for everything: for work, shopping, leisure, even for a lunch. Compared to other forms of transport the car is much safer because you cannot get robbed, it is easier because it brings you from door to door, and it is also very cheap. A litre of gas costs not even 60 dollar cents and taking a cab usually costs only a few dollars. Busses also go frequently but they are hard to rely on and are known to be unsafe.
Cycling is seen as a type of sport rather than a mode of transport. The country is famous for its mountain bike trails and tours. To stimulate cycling, every Sunday, one of the main routes crossing the city is reserved only for cyclists and skaters. This great initiative, organized by a local group called Ciclopaseo, creates a huge contrast with the busy streetscapes of weekdays. A very successful project but unfortunately just effective for one day.
Figure 3: On Sundays, some streets are reserved for cyclists and skaters.
I am lucky that I can walk from my apartment to my work, to my Spanish classes and to the supermarket, all within half an hour. But because the cars are so dominant here, this is often not an easy job: sidewalks can be not so pedestrian-friendly with overhanging trees, big holes and cracks in the pavement, and the very steep topography. To cross the main roads in the city is a dangerous and time-consuming activity. Especially when walking west-east through the city, one has to cross many main roads which can take you double the time only because of waiting to cross the streets. In a recent article for De Correspondent, Arjen van Veelen described the poor situation of the pedestrian in St. Louis, USA where the car still is the most important mode of traffic. But I dare to say that in some parts of Quito the situation of the pedestrian is even worse.
Figure 4: One of the main avenidas through the city, not very easy to cross.
Besides that, I experienced that car drivers can be very ignorant of pedestrians, when I almost got overrun by one. Giving priority to pedestrians or being aware of a certain responsibility in traffic seems to be not common at all. The car is everywhere in Quito and, unfortunately, many people seem to own a big American model and do not turn out to be such skilled drivers. On top of that, most cars include a car alarm that goes off for no reason a few times a day – besides the barking dogs one of the most heard sounds in the city.
Please don't get me wrong: I think Quito is a great city, and offers very nice places and atmospheres; it has many beautiful historical plazas, parks and streets. But I recognize that the city lacks a strong mobility network that is both functional for cars and busses, but also pleasant for slow traffic like pedestrians and bicycles.
Figure 5: Successful public spaces: Parque El Ejido (left) and famous street La Ronda in the Historical Centre (right).
Changing the city
One of the main challenges today to make Quito a more attractive city is to reduce the use of cars and to stimulate walking or using other modes of transport. This concerns not only spatial matters like bus connections and safer walking routes, but also a cultural change. The car can be routed over main roads with sufficient capacity and should be made an unwelcome guest in other places, especially in the residential neighbourhoods.
The best practical example of this is the neighbourhood Guapulo, which main connection to the city basically consists of one steep curving road with cobblestones. As for many people this road is a direct connection to the city, during peak hours the road is full of cars, often stationary, waiting in a row. Understandably, the inhabitants of Guapulo dislike this situation and protest against the presence of cars. "Guapulo es barrio, no autopista" the handmade posters say, "Guapulo is a neighbourhood, not a highway".
A comparable situation happens within my own neighbourhood, La Floresta. On a saturday morning a group called Mécanicos Urbanos initiated a design workshop. With the name #MiCalle ("My Street") they aim for a discussion around themes like gentrification, place-making and walkability in the neighbourhood. All inhabitants of La Floresta have been invited to help think about how their own neighbourhood can be improved, with a specific focus on street layout; sidewalks, parking spaces, greenery, zebras, litter and even dog poo are part of the discussion. Where can street space be exchanged for social spaces? How can the speed of cars be decreased and the walkability be increased? Which parts of the neighbourhood can be given a safer atmosphere?
Inspired by works of Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl and examples from Brooklyn and Europe, the workshop tries to find answers to these questions. The discussion is playfully triggered by using drawn maps and on-scale design elements such as benches and rows of trees that can be placed on these maps. This "board game of streets" evokes strong reactions with the participants and is therefore a very smart idea to build up such a workshop.
Figure 6: In the workshop #MiCalle many diverse topics are discussed using detailed maps like a board game.
As far as I experienced, the workshop did not result in many concrete ideas or a better street design. I think it is always hard in such meetings to come to shared ideas and conclusions, especially when the topics are so diverse. Some participants are mostly concerned about cars, others only want to talk about the tree that blocks their view. I believe the main benefit of #MiCalle is not so much the outcome but rather the involvement of the participants within their neighbourhood and the themes of the discussion.
Even though they are small initiatives, the examples of Guapulo and #MiCalle prove that the cultural change in thinking about mobility in Quito has already started. Within the city, more and more people are concerned with the dominant role of cars and strive for a more pedestrian friendly public space. In that sense, the new struggle between ground and people is becoming more and more relevant.
Correa, F. (2012) 'Quito: the section as an instigator of urbanism', in Correa, F. (ed.), Cities by design II reader, Harvard University, available: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1045812.files/CBD%20Weeks%2002-03_Quito.pdf.
Correa, F. (2013) A line in the Andes, Una línea en los Andes, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, p.39-41.
van Veelen, A. (2015) 'Waarom sommige Amerikanen veel te veel lopen (en ik te weinig)', De Correspondent [online], 7 April, available: https://decorrespondent.nl/2659/Waarom-sommige-Amerikanen-veel-te-veel-lopen-en-ik-te-weinig/202515045172-c178d408 [accessed 1 May 2015]
tags: Ecuador,infrastructuur,Nieuwe Wereld,ruimtelijke kwaliteit,verkeer,Zuid-Amerika
Abel Coenen
MSc Landschapsarchitectuur
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© TOPOS 2016


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Book review: Designed in the USSR
Enter the fascinating world of Soviet design with a peak behind the Iron Curtain in Designed in the USSR: 1950-1989. Published by Phaidon and created with the help of Moscow Design Museum, the book is a captivating account of life under Communist rule told through the design of every-day objects, graphics, illustration and advertising. The 350 images here, selected largely from the museum's collection, tell a compelling story of design in the USSR.
Spanning almost four decades, this is the first publication to celebrate the largely unexpected creativity, innovation and diversity of Soviet design. Moscow Design Museum is dedicated to preserving Russia's design heritage, and the collection featured here includes a diverse range of objects and ideas from children's toys, homewares and fashion to posters, electronics and space-race ephemera.
Designed in the USSR 1950 – 1989 is organised into three chapters: citizen, state and world with an introductory essay by the director of the Museum Alexandra Sankova for an insight into the socio-political context of Soviet design.
The first chapter celebrates domestic and consumer products. We then learn about items that shed light on the state-controlled system of design, including movie posters, portable cassette players and a children's modular radio construction kit. Whilst the final chapter takes the Soviet Union onto the international scene through objects such as the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games mascot and the Saturnas vacuum cleaner – inspired by the Sputnik satellite and a remarkable example of space-age design.
Nargess Banks
Picture caption and credits (in order)
Rozhki pasta packaging, 1980s, manufactured by the Rostov Pasta Factory © Moscow Design Museum
Avos ́ka string shopping bag, 1950–80s © Moscow Design Museum
Young People, Go to the Textile Industry! Social awareness poster, 1970s, designed by Miron Lukyanov © Moscow Design Museum


On a recent trip, Cliff Kapono hit some of the more popular surf breaks in Ireland, England and Morocco. He is proudly Native Hawaiian and no stranger to the hunt for the perfect wave. But this time he was chasing something even more unusual: microbial swabs from fellow surfers. Cliff, a biochemist earning his doctorate at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), USA, heads the Surfer Biome Project, a unique effort to determine whether routine exposure to the ocean alters the microbial communities of the body, and whether those alterations might have consequences for surfers — and for the rest of us.
Cliff has collected more than 500 samples by rubbing cotton-tipped swabs over the heads, mouths, navels and other parts of surfers' bodies, as well as their boards.
Volunteers also donate a faecal sample. He uses mass spectrometry to create high-resolution maps of the chemical metabolites found in each sample. Then, working in collaboration with UCSD's Centre for Microbiome Innovation, Cliff and his colleagues sequence and map the microbes found on this unusually amphibious demographic. He and his colleagues are looking for signs of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Part of their aim is to determine whether, and to what extent, the ocean spreads the genes for resistance.
Many antibiotics used today derive from chemicals produced by microbes to defend themselves or to attack other microorganisms. No surprise, then, that strains of competing bacteria have also evolved the genetic means to shrug off these chemicals. While drug resistance comes about because of antibiotic overuse, the genes responsible for creating resistance are widely disseminated in nature and have been evolving in microbes for eons. Startlingly, that means genes giving rise to drug resistance can be found in places untouched by modern antibiotics.
Several years ago, researchers identified antibiotic-resistant genes in a sample of ancient permafrost from Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic. William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, USA, was among those showing that these genes conferred a resistance to amikacin, a semisynthetic drug that did not exist before the 1970s. "There was a gene that encoded resistance to it in something that was alive 6,000 years ago," he said in an interview.
By some estimates, surfers can swallow about 170 milliliteres of seawater per session. Because bacteria readily pick up and pass on genetic information across species, researchers suspect the risks of acquiring resistant genes are higher in places that facilitate direct transfer with microbes inhabiting the body. Coastal waters polluted with sewage, in this view, are probably more worrisome than smog or deep caves.
At the moment, no one is sure whether it is actually possible for people to pick up these microbial genes from a long day at the beach. In the lab, however, Cliff has found evidence for the transfer of resistance genes from bacteria in the ocean into strains associated with the human gut when they are placed in proximity.


text:
Would you let a 14 year old girl visit her mom in jail?
Thread starter i1924
Start date Aug 4, 2018
thought I'd ask this here since there is an off topic section.
The charge is a check fraud charge and it is an eight month sentence. My 14 year old daughter she seems to be handling it fine. I told her right away about it and she reacted pretty calmly. I told her mom did the wrong thing and is rightfully serving her punishment. They have a good relationship.
The main problem I have is she will see her mom in a jail jumpsuit and see guards and other inmates that could be intimidating. Is that ok for a 15 year old to see? Actually my daughter does not seem scared but instead seems excited and enthusiastic to visit. This is strange to me. Do you find this normal? My daughter seems to find the idea of her mom having to wearing a uniform, sharing a room funny. I wonder why she would think it is funny.
My wife says bring her if she would like to and my daughter says she would like to but I don't know if it is a good idea. She hasn't gone yet so we can still discuss it together.
TUMBAS
its her mom
TRAINING FOR THE POWERFUL EFED COMEBACK
(I never lose)
I don't think it'd be an issue, if she went. I think it's worse for her to imagine the worst of her in the prison, then to see it herself.
Undisputed IWT World Champion
The Four Horsemen
PWF Database
I say it's best for her to go.
Undisputed IWT World Champion!
Come watch the affiliations of All-American Wrestling: Internet Wrestling Titles and Be the Booker - Global Pro Wrestling! Write matches! Create characters! Expand between the two biggest companies of PWF Network!
I agree with everyone here that its okay for your daughter to go. I think it will not psychologically damage your daughter but may serve as a deterrent. Best of luck to you and your family.
My mom took me to see my dad in jail, I was 6 at the time. One of the only times I saw him too.
BossHoss
I don't see a problem at all. She is 14 and most 14 year olds are 14 going on 30. Maybe she thinks it's funny because she thinks it'll be like OITNB?
Drewan
Yea, why not. It's her mom.
Jacksonville North Carolina
If her mother was incarcerated Not only would I let it but I would encourage it regardless of the mistakes our parents make it is important for rehabilitation for kids to understand some of the mistakes that they may have made and also just because the parents have made some bad decisions doesn't mean they deserve to not get to see their children this is two way street and it also speaks to me on a political level of how we need prison reform as someone who is very anti Trump I really don't care if Trump passes prison reform and it looks good be on the title of the bill meaning it actually does prison reform I will be very for that and support that it's important currently right now prisons or colleges for criminals you go in because you smoked a joint you come out knowing how to kill somebody and Jack a car in 18 seconds that's not reform reform is going in for smoking a joint coming out with a college education and I sat on a new job that pays more than you could ever dream because of an education you got while incarcerated that is true prison reform that is a rehabilitation a correctional facility right now there is no such thing as a correctional facility instead it's just warehousing of human beings nothing but slavery by the way I know I mention marijuana but no one should be incarcerated for marijuana we should be incarcerated for raping killing and even stealing as for stealing you can be rehabilitated I believe you even raping maybe even killing I don't believe in the death penalty whether you disagree with me on some of these issues is completely up to you but what I think we all can agree on is that our prison system is currently broke and only helps turn people from Petty criminals to professional criminals they go in and come out far worse than when they went in everyone who comes out of prison should come out better than when they went in and in America that never happens
No E for Me all Impact Wrestling / NFL #GoPackGo / #NeverTrump / I Watch American Alliance Football League / I Love You Shay


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on reports that federal agents will now forcibly remove children from their parents when apprehended at the border in order to deter illegal immigration.
Under Harris' questioning, Nielsen committed to providing better data in regards to parents and children who have been separated at ports of entry, as well as training materials and protocols related to the process for federal agents to separate children.
Harris also pressed Nielsen on a recent policy change by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows for more immigrant pregnant women to be held in detention facilities. Harris highlighted multiple federal oversight reports that have documented cases of miscarriages, sexual abuse, as well as deaths of immigrants under federal custody.
Yesterday, Harris and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced the Detention Oversight Not Expansion (DONE) Act, legislation that would increase oversight of ICE detention facilities as well as prevent the construction or expansion of detention facilities.
Harris: Secretary Nielsen, as I sit here today I'm extremely concerned about the Administration's repeated attacks on some of the most vulnerable communities, and in particular children and pregnant women as it relates to the work of DHS.
In particular, under your leadership, DHS has rescinded the DACA program – and under the leadership of the Administration predating your arrival as Secretary – DHS has rescinded the DACA program, putting 700,000 young people at risk of deportation.
It has separated 700 children from their parents at the border since October of 2017, including more than 100 children who are under the age of four.
The agency has released a directive that allows for more detention of pregnant women to immigrant detention facilities.
The agency has instituted a new information sharing system between the Office of Refugee Resettlement and ICE that is likely to have a chilling effect on sponsors who otherwise would be willing to come forward to provide care for unaccompanied minors, and instead of allowing those children to remain in detention.
The agency has dramatically increased enforcement actions that have left an untold number of both immigrant and U.S. citizen children without one or both parents, leaving some of those children in the child welfare system.
And then just last Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that you are considering undermining the Flores Agreement, an agreement that ensures standards of care for immigrant children such as the provision of meals and recreation, and that they are placed in a least restrictive setting as possible.
In the course of carrying out these actions, the Administration has routinely provided misleading information to this committee, and has even gone so far as to claim that policies such as routinely separating families, are carried out in the best interest of the child, which many consider to be cruel.
So my question to you is last Thursday, when the New York Times reported that the President has directed you to separate parents from children when they cross into the United States as a way to deter illegal immigration, is that correct? Have you been directed to separate parents from children as a method of deterrence of undocumented immigration?
Nielsen: I have not been directed to do that for purposes of deterrence, no.
Harris: What purpose have you been given for separating parents from their children?
Nielsen: So my decision has been that anyone who breaks the law will be prosecuted. If you're a parent or you're a single person or you happen to have a family, if you cross between the ports of entry we will refer you for prosecution, you have broken US law.
Harris: At an April 26 hearing, I asked Undersecretary James McCament to provide me with what percentage of cases exist in your agency where a child has been separated from a parent or guardian since October of 2017, wherein the case resulted in trafficking charges. I have not been given that information. Can you provide that to me?
Nielsen: I do not have it now but yes I will provide that to you.
Harris: Ok, can you do that by the end of next week?
Nielsen: If we have the information, yes.
Harris: Thank you. I also ask that I be provided with what training and procedures are being given to CBP officers as it relates to how they are instructed to carry out family separation. I have not received that information. Do you have that today?
Nielsen: No, you have not asked me for it so I do not have it but I would be happy to give that to you.
Harris: No, I asked you for it – ok, so again by the end of next week, please.
Nielsen: Can you explain a little more what you're looking for?
Harris: Sure. So your agency will be separating children from their parents.
Nielsen: No, what we'll be doing is prosecuting parents who have broken the law, just as we do every day in the United States of America.
Harris: I can appreciate that. But if that parent has a four year old child, what do you plan on doing with that child?
Nielsen: The child, under law, goes to HHS for care and custody.
Nielsen: Just like we do in the United States every day.
Harris: So they will be separated from their parent, and my question then is when you are separating children from their parents, do you have a protocol in place about how that should be done and are you training the people who will actually remove a child from their parent on how to do that in the least traumatic way? I would hope you do train on how to do that, and so the question is and the request has been to give us the information about how you are training and what the protocols are for separating a child from their parent.
Nielsen: I'm happy to provide you with the training information.
Harris: Thank you. And what steps are being taken, if you can tell me, to ensure that once separated, parent and child, that there will be an opportunity to at least sustain communication between the parent and their child?
Nielsen: The children are at HHS but I'm happy to work with HHS to get you an answer for that.
Harris: And I'd like it to be broken down between what you're doing for children over the age of four and what you're doing for children under the age of four. On May 4, the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement on behalf of the organization stating that he is appalled by a new policy by the DHS that will forcibly separate children from their parents. He went on to talk about that they will create stressful experiences, like family separation, which can cause irreparable harm, disrupting a child's brain architecture, affecting his or her short- and long-term health. And these findings are generally shared by the American Medical Association and many child welfare advocates and professionals. Last Tuesday before Senate Appropriations, you testified that you are "working with the community to understand the science" as it relates to the impact of such separation. Do you dispute that separating a child from their parent will create and cause trauma for that child?
Nielsen: I believe the question that was asked to me if I was aware of the information and what I said is I would be happy to look into the studies. Again we do not have a policy to separate children from their parents. Our policy is if you break the law, we will prosecute you. You have an option to go to a port of entry and not illegally cross into our country.
Harris: Secretary Nielsen, we do have a policy in this country as a general matter in the justice system that if someone breaks the law, they will be prosecuted. We also have protocols about what is allowable and not in connection with an arrest, in connection with detention in a jail, in connection with how many hours or days with which we can bring charges or not. So to suggest that the only law in this country relates to what you do at the end is really misleading.
Nielsen: But that's not what I just said ma'am. If you're asking if we train and we take care of them and we work with HHS - we now have a memorandum of agreement so that we can make sure that the children go to people who are actually family members and who are not traffickers and who won't abuse them.
Harris: Great, so those are the policies I'd like to see.
Harris: Secretary Nielsen, how many children have been separated from their parents at ports of entry since January of 2017?
Nielsen: So I understand you've referenced 700 before which I believe was an HHS number. Our figures are not the same as theirs but we're happy to come give you our numbers and explain why they differ.
McCaskill: If you guys have different numbers of children, that's something that just on its face is rather alarming. So I'd like to figure out why.
Nielsen: Yes, I think it's in part because when HHS does the in-review, they don't ask the child why they are unaccompanied. So their numbers are different than ours if you're asking at the border, for example. So it's not necessarily that they conflict, it's just they're asking different questions, but yes of course we'll provide you the information explaining you that.
Harris: Ok, and again I've asked these questions of Undersecretary McCament before so perhaps everyone's working on it and I would expect that we should get it by the end of next week. Can you also give us information about what the average length of separation has been between those children and their parents? And that would be that number that you are now going to bring to us.
Harris: And also what timelines, in terms of the policy that you have, exist to establish a parental relationship or to reunify families. I'm hoping and will assume that your protocols would have such a goal in mind or at least a timeframe.
Nielsen: Yes ma'am, they do. Part of it is a voluntary DNA test if it's a family member. The concern that I have with that, and we do offer that, but the concern of course is you could still have a custodial relationship and not be a blood relative. So it's not dispositive to an appropriate custodian. But yes of course that is our goal.
Harris: And then as it relates to the number of children who have been separated from their parents at points of entry, again I would like also for the committee information on how many of those cases resulted in trafficking charges. Regarding detention conditions, Secretary, are you aware that multiple federal oversight bodies such as the OIG and the GAO have documented medical negligence of immigrants in the detention system, in particular that ICE has reported 170 deaths in their custody since 2003? Are you familiar with that?
Harris: Are you aware that they also found that pregnant women in particular receive insufficient medical attention while in custody, resulting in dehydration and even miscarriages?
Nielsen: I do not believe that is a current assessment of our detention facilities.
Harris: Ok, can you please submit to this committee a current assessment?
Nielsen: Yeah I'm happy to. So we provide neonatal care. We do pregnancy screening from ages 15 to 56. We provide outside specialists, should you seek it. We do not detain any women past their third trimester, once they enter their third trimester. We provide them separate housing. So yes, we're happy to detail all of the things we do to take good care of them.
Harris: And did you submit that to the OIG in response to their findings?
Nielsen: We have been – yes, of course, working in conjunction with OIG, I'm not sure exactly what the date is of the OIG report that you are referencing but I will look into it after this.
Harris: And then also between fiscal year '12 and March of 2018 it's our understanding – before I go on, the OIG report is from December of this past year, 2017. So it's very recent, five months ago. Also, between FY12 and March 2018, ICE received according to these reports, 1,448 allegations of sexual abuse in detention facilities and only a small percent of these claims have been investigated by DHS OIG, are you familiar with that?
Nielsen: I am not familiar with that number, no.
Harris: Ok, can you please provide to this committee an analysis of what is going on, and what plan you have to investigate those cases of sexual abuse, and what is the protocol in place in terms of what is being done to allow the victim to be in a safe place during and pending any investigation? What kind of services are these victims getting in terms of treating their trauma, much less any medical attention they may need as a result of what might be the sexual abuse?
Nielsen: I will. What I have done is I have talked to the international community, the Red Cross, and I had them visit some of our detention facilities, I'm sure they would be happy to come brief you on that. But their determination is that they saw nothing but appropriate detention and in fact much better detention than they in their experience have seen in other areas.
Harris: I'm sorry, is this in response to the concern that you have received 1,448 allegations of sexual abuse in detention facilities?
Nielsen: No ma'am, this is in response to my wanting to ensure that the detention centers are taking appropriate care of anybody who is detained.
Harris: Ok well obviously sexual abuse would not fall in that category.
Nielsen: It would not, I guess what I'm saying is that just happened, I don't know when these results are that you are talking about so I will look into them of course.
Harris: FY12 to March of 2018, this year.
Nielsen: We will look into it.
Harris: Thank you. And regarding your treatment in the facilities of pregnant women, on December 14 – again, in this report - ICE issued a new directive that terminated a previous policy of presumptive release for pregnant women which were apprehended or transferred to ICE. ICE adopted a policy for a presumption of release in August of 2016 in recognition of the clear health risks that detaining pregnant women in jail-like conditions posed. I was alarmed, frankly Secretary, by your statement to Senator Murray before the Senate Appropriations Committee last Tuesday that pregnant women in ICE detention were receiving "much better care than when they're living in the shadows." So are you aware that this statement contradicts the views of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatricians who have all criticized the harmful effects of immigration detention on the medical and mental health of pregnant women?
Nielsen: What I do know is that if you cross between points of entry, you will be detained and prosecuted. I also know that of the only 35 people that we have currently in detention who are pregnant, 33 are statutorily required to be detained. I also know that we go above and beyond to provide them adequate healthcare. The questioning was whether or not they received adequate healthcare, I was saying yes they do, and it's paid for. So if they are coming here and they're fleeing persecution and they don't have adequate funds and they're trying to get equivalent care in the shadows, it was my discussion that we were providing care within the detention centers.
Harris: So is it your intention to continue with ending a program that allowed for presumptive release for pregnant women?
Nielsen: If you're in your third trimester you will be released, but if you break the law you will be detained.
Harris: So when in the third trimester exactly, how many weeks?
Nielsen: When it begins. When it begins.
Harris: At the beginning of the third trimester?
Harris: And is there a directive that has gone out?
Harris: Will you supply the committee please with a copy of that?
Nielsen: Yes, it's the same policy we've always had, the only thing we're doing now is we are no longer exempting classes of people form the law. If you break the law, you will be prosecuted.


Memorial contributions may be made payable to West Plex Community Church, in care of Pitman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 248 Wentzville, Mo 63385.
Helen Marie Schmidt nee Whitaker passed away on October 26, 2016 at the age of 81. She is survived by her son, Steven J. Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" H. Schmidt; parents, Oscar H. Whitaker and Helen A. Whitaker nee Berger. Helen was a member of West Plex Community Church. Helen was a "Mother Nature" woman who loved animals of all kinds, domestic or wild, her garden and her outdoor world. Most recently she cared for two special dogs and one cat as she lived in her country setting with a pond that was home to many geese, ducks and deer. A retired bookkeeper from Emerson Motor Company in St. Louis, she kept her accounting skills honed by working for First Step Back Home, Inc., for several years and helped with auditing of records at her church. Helen loved to sing and had a beautiful soprano voice. She was an active member of Westplex Community Church in Foristell, MO and served on the music team several years ago. She was an avid seamstress as well, having crocheted and knitted lots of decorative pieces for friends and family. She and her late husband Bill enjoyed traveling and camping all over the United States. Helen was a very dedicated mom to her only son, Steven, of St. Peter's, and hosted him for entertainment and church nearly every weekend that he was able to come out to her place. She was a strong and independent woman who was always capable of taking care of herself. She loved the Lord and studied His Word and sought His guidance in her daily life. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.


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Learn about USPTO resources available to small businesses
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Add to Calendar2020-06-19 12:00:002020-06-19 12:00:00Learn about USPTO resources available to small businesses If you participate in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, you can't afford to ignore intellectual property (IP). Understanding patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights is necessary to protect your ideas, products, and product names in today's knowledge economy. This free 90-minute webinar covers IP basics, the USPTO resources available to small business, and the basics of the SBIR/STTR program. Space is limited, so please register early. Additional information For more information, contact Nadine Herbert at the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs. This program has been organized by the Global Intellectual Property Academy, a unit of the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs. The office advises the administration and other federal government departments and agencies on domestic and international IP legal and policy issues. It also provides technical assistance and training on IP-related matters to U.S. stakeholders and both U.S. and foreign government officials. This program features the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach. Register today America/New_Yorkpublic
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If you participate in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, you can't afford to ignore intellectual property (IP). Understanding patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights is necessary to protect your ideas, products, and product names in today's knowledge economy. This free 90-minute webinar covers IP basics, the USPTO resources available to small business, and the basics of the SBIR/STTR program. Space is limited, so please register early.
For more information, contact Nadine Herbert at the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs.
This program has been organized by the Global Intellectual Property Academy, a unit of the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs. The office advises the administration and other federal government departments and agencies on domestic and international IP legal and policy issues. It also provides technical assistance and training on IP-related matters to U.S. stakeholders and both U.S. and foreign government officials. This program features the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach.
Submit feedback about this page to Detroit Regional Office. Published on: Jun 16, 2020 05:20 PM EDT Last Modified: Jun 16, 2020 05:53 PM EDT


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3400 Rogers Ave. | Fort Smith, AR 72903 | 479-783-7748
Shoes and Dress Code
DANCE est Joie
Franco Baleto
Franco Baleto has been a street dancer his entire life. Born in Dallas, Texas, Franco grew up break-dancing and competing in talent shows and battles. Following in the footsteps of Barry YoungBlood, Franco began dancing with GDDS seven years ago. He strives to encourage his…
Allison Thompson
Allison began dancing at age three with Dance Unlimited in Van Buren, Arkansas. She continued dancing into her junior high and high school years, and moved to GDDS at age 16 to continue training. She has won state choreography awards, attended various dance workshops, dance…
Rebecca Bean
Rebecca began her dance training at the age of three with Dorothy Taylor at Ballet Westside in Rogers, AR. She began teaching dance at GDDS in 2007. Her training includes classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater with such…
Madysn Casteel
Madysn became a student with GDDS at the age of 15, studying ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She was a member of DANCE est Joie, Inc. for three years, competing in Tulsa, Branson, Bentonville and Joplin. She has studied with Darryl Retter,…
Jami Estep
Jami began training in 1987 as a gymnast with Gymnastics Academy of Rockford, Illinois. Training into an elite level and earning numerous awards with GAR from ages 10-16. Jami trained as a dancer with the Rockford Ballet Company in ballet, ballroom, and Middle Eastern dance…
Andrea Knight
Andrea began dancing at the age of three. She enrolled with GDDS at the age of four and became a member of DANCE est Joie, Inc. where she competed in numerous competitions. She performed in Western Arkansas Ballet's "The Nutcracker" for 13 years, dancing the…
Robbi Martin
Robbi began "dancing with Grayce" at the age of three, and was a DANCE est Joie company performer for seven years. She was a featured dancer in the Barry YoungBlood hip hop video series. Robbi served as a staff member and choreographer for the National…
Mary's dance career began at the age of two with Nancy Nicholson and Linda Kent at the Newport School of Dance. She continued training under the direction of Ann Boyce, who specialized in Ballet and Pointe, and The Irby Studio, where she was a member…
To train dancers in the artistry of dance and through community service educate the public in the dance arts.
Grayce DeWitt
My love of dance began at the age of eight with Cecille Skaggs and Elaine Baker. That is when I decided to become a dance teacher. Nellie Jo Bridwell, Linda Irby Hausen and Glen Irby pointed me in the right direction. I traveled to New York City to study with Broadway Dance Center, New York Conservatory Of Dance and STEPS. I continued to train in Los Angeles at the Tremaine Dance Center and EDGE Performing Arts. I traveled to conventions and continued to study, attending Southern Association of Dancemasters "Joyce Newman Teacher Training School", Musicworks Teacher Training School, and Oklahoma City University's Dance Teacher Seminar. I have performed with the Fort Smith Civic Ballet, Western Arkansas Dance Theater, Russellville Ballet, Localmotion Modern Dance in Tulsa, and Fort Smith Little Theatre. I was honored to receive the 1998 Mayor's Honors for the Performing Arts and the 2010 Marjorie Perry Spirit Award From Dancemakers, Inc.
Copyright © Grayce DeWitt Dance Studio 2015 | 3400 Rogers Ave. | Fort Smith, AR 72903 | 479-783-7748


Our new Top Dog Flight Coat is based off one of our most popular selling designs, the Brown and Black Bomber Coat.
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Thryptomene wittweri is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae that is endemic to Western Australia.

The spreading to rounded shrub typically grows to a height of . It blooms between April and August producing white-cream flowers.

It is found on breakaways and creek beds in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia where it grows in skeletal stony soils.

References

wittweri
Endemic flora of Western Australia
Critically endangered flora of Australia
Rosids of Western Australia
Plants described in 1980


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Pre-season Roundtable 2018/19: Will Villa win promotion from the Championship?
Our pre-season roundtable concludes with a look at the club we cover: Aston Villa.
By Alexander Carson, James Rushton, Phil Vogel, mattbooher13, Sean Evans, and jakefenicle Aug 6, 2018, 5:45pm BST
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A few members of the 7500 to Holte crew have booked Conor Hourihane as the key man for Villa this year if Jack Grealish is sold.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
We're back with the third and final installment of the pre-season roundtable.
Catch up with Thursday's part 1, then Friday's part 2 if you missed them.
As a reminder, this year, we've conducted our roundtable in our Slack channel, encouraging some discussion.
What should Villa's target be this season? What would constitute a good "regular season"?
Jake Fenicle: Honestly, finish top 6 in the playoffs is what it's looking like for a "good season" with our situation but obviously top 2 for auto promotion would be a great goal to reach, and it's definitely possible with our squad still.
Alex Carson: I think the top two should be the squad's target, but I also think a lot may have to go right for that to happen. Villa aren't as deep as they were last year, so a handful of key injuries could be really detrimental. Particularly if Jack Grealish leaves, a top-six finish with another shot at the play-offs would be a fine outcome.
Phil Vogel: Automatic promotion has to be the target. Top six would be "good." Anything lower is unacceptable. With the giant caveat that everything changes with a couple of key transfers.
PV: Alex you are spot on with the depth concern — especially along the back. The center midfield is the one exception though — Villa are stacked with talent and experience there.
AC: I feel like we've come full circle here, Phil. When Villa first came down, the problem was that Roberto Di Matteo entirely all but ignored the center of the park in his transfer window and the depth at CM lagged so far behind other positions. Now it's kind of the opposite.
James Rushton: It's mad how Villa make the same mistakes over and over again. You wonder if they'll ever learn? Villa's target should be nothing but promotion. You cannot afford to set the bar low in this league.
Sean Evans: For me a good regular season would be top six. Obviously we'd all like to see Villa get automatic promotion, but I am not confident that will happen. Ideally last year's play-off experience helps them come good if that is once again the finish. On the whole, Villa need to get back to the Premier League this season.
Matt Booher: Promotion. Aston Villa should be playing for nothing less than promotion and quit screwing around in a league where they don't belong. They're Aston Villa FFS. It's time the circus ends. There are a lot of reasons why that'll be difficult as outlined, but if Villa don't win promotion this season, it's a failure.
So, that said, where will Villa finish this season?
JF: 2nd, I gotta have the faith.
PV: I like your faith. I don't share it, but I like it. I'll say 6th.
JR: I really think this is one of the first seasons in memory in which I don't know about fan expectations. They are all over the map. I reckon Villa should be aiming for 1st or 2nd place, and hit the promotion playoffs. If Villa try to scrap into the playoffs, I can guarantee that they'll fall short. I reckon 3rd is a good finish — but I expect anything between 1st and 11th, with the lower bar raised because the bottom half of the Championship looks so very poor.
AC: The bottom end of this league is truly awful — and that means getting maximum points against bottom-half sides is key. That was Villa's biggest problem last season, dropping points nine times in the 24 matches against the bottom half. If Villa can consistently beat bad teams (hello Hull, QPR, Bolton and Reading), they'll finish top two. Until Steve Bruce consistently starts playing strong, attacking football against those bad teams, though, I just can't expect that to happen. I'll go for a fifth-place finish and another play-off exit.
JR: I agree Alex, in a perfect world it's possible. There's sixty points to gain from ten teams in that lower section. Do the 'easy' work, and you make yourself a platform. It's just about being professional and 'getting the job done.'
SE: I'm going to say fourth or fifth. Though if Villa can get off to a better start this season, maybe some early momentum can carry them higher.
AC: Yep, a good start will be key, particularly because of the top promotion contenders, Villa only play Brentford and Swansea City (both at home) in the first 16 matches. The flip side is that November and December are going to be very difficult — but a strong start would put pressure on our opponents.
MB: Villa could realistically finish anywhere in this league, but certainly and likely no lower than 10th. So I'll split the difference and say fifth because Bruce will find a way to bottle a few a easy matches by failing to rotate the squad. He'll squander more points than win points we shouldn't expect. So fifth for me.
Who will be Villa's key player this season (not named Jack Grealish)?
JF: Whoever starts in net, and someone like Hourihane coming out from the mid and hopefully continuing his preseason and even last year's goal-scoring form.
PV: Chester is the easy answer because he has to hold the back line together. But I'll take the larger view and say André Green because he is the young player who can breakout and become the the club's next big asset.
JR: Key player? It's going to be someone who steps up if Jack Grealish does leave the club. We know what Chester offers - but what about Hourihane or Lansbury if they have to start creating? I expect we'll consider Hourihane the key player.
SE: I concur on the Hourihane front, we'll need someone to provide a spark in attack if Grealish is sold. I also have an eye on Jonathan Kodjia. If he can stay healthy and find his goal scoring form from a few seasons ago, he too could play a major role this season.
MB: Birkir Bjarnason. He doesn't always pass the eye test but if he gets the 38 or so matches he deserves this season, I think we'll look to his grit and playmaking ability as a reason we're having a successful season. I also second Kodjia. If he's scoring goals, anything is possible.
AC: I've been a big proponent of Hourihane for a while, so I have to echo James and Sean and stick with him here.
Who will be Villa's leading goal-scorer this season?
JF: Uncle Al.
PV: Jonathan Kodjia.
JR: André Green, if played. Jonathan Kodjia, if fit.
SE: It is Kodjia for me as well.
MB: Kodjia. He's established at this level he can find the back of the net. Now it needs to be done with a team gunning for promotion.
AC: I'll throw a shout to Conor Hourihane, though if a loan striker isn't brought in, it's probably Jonathan Kodjia. Tammy Abraham could change the complexion of this entirely, though.
Who will be Villa's breakout player this season?
JF: If André Green counts I'll give him a shout of the obvious.
PV: I will not say James Bree this year... I will not say James Bree this year... I will not...
JR: I'm not going to go with André because he's 'broken out' as far as I'm concerned. Jake Doyle-Hayes is my pick. He'll be delightful in the midfield soon.
PV: (whispers) James Bree.
PV: I just can't help it. The potential is there. It is a position of need. Maybe, just maybe it will be him this year.
PV: James, I would love to see Doyle-Hayes do it -- but I don't think he will get enough playing time with the quality midfielders ahead of him.
JR: I'll have to go with Bree then. Really think he's got a chance.
SE: Particularly if Grealish leaves, I quite like Callum O'Hare and think he too, if played more, can have a real impact in attack.
MB: COH. He's Grealish 2.0.
AC: He's not a Villan past this season, but I think new loan signing Axel Tuanzebe could have a great year at centre back. As far as permanent Villa players, I think Ritchie De Laet could be really useful this season, and among the youngsters, Doyle-Hayes is probably the most likely to slide into a regular starting role (aside from Green).
What is the most compelling story line at Villa this year?
JF: What in the hell is gonna happen to us if we don't meet FFP?
PV: Yup. The axe of FFP. I said it was the most compelling story of the entire League so gotta stick with it. All the other clubs are watching it too and will act accordingly.
JR: FFP, for sure. The close of the Steve Bruce saga. The new direction. There's a lot to take in. Also, Villa Ladies are moving closer to Birmingham. I truly hope there's a permanent home for them closer to Villa, or Villa Park.
JR: Also, the youth narrative. Villa are going to have to rely on their youth players!
SE: FFP is no doubt the proverbial massive monkey on Villa's back. Though for me, I think it is the start of the season and Steve Bruce's future. He might have the hottest seat of any manager in the league and you wonder if the new owners don't want their own guy. He's quite simply got to get off to a better start than he did last year.
MB: I think the boardroom drama is far from over. Villa now have some investment but I'll be interested to see how they deal with FFP, Bruce's style, and whatever else the EFL throws at them this year.
AC: See, James, I'd love for Villa Ladies to get some play on AVTV because I'd watch that.
AC: On the men's side, to be specific, I think the way in which Villa will balance running head-first into an FFP breach (which it appears they're doing) is intriguing. The tactic means promotion is again a must this season, but it also requires youth development -- if Villa are to be hit with a transfer embargo next summer, the only way to improve will be through player development. Whether or not Steve Bruce can strike a balance there is interesting.
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