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Alumni Connection June 2019
Click here for the July Newsletter
May started out on a downer with cool, wet weather and the golf course still closed, forcing the Dirty Dozen, our long standing golf group, to cancel their first game of the season. Our Friday, May 10th game was cancelled as the club was under water again after heavy rains Thursday night. During the full month of May we have had perhaps three pleasant days - all the rest have been cool and damp.
I've posted a few pictures showing the conditions as we progressed through the month. And although I don't usually complain about missing golf games, this year has been severe – probably the worst I have seen since taking up the game. And my game is quickly going down hill, it must be the weather coupled with my age.
Last month's jokes received only positive comments and in fact were "blessed" by Archdeacon Brian Evans, Peter Charron and others - so maybe the right balance has been struck. Not a hint of controversy this month, wait for July.
I have been going through some of the class contact information on the website and it is in need of updating. Many of the email addresses are out of date and I know that some of the Alumni in the missing category can be found. That being the case I have a job for all of you. Please take a look at the "Members Only Page" for you graduating year and review the "Class Contact Information" including those Alumni with valid email addresses and Alumni classified as missing. If you notice email addresses that are wrong, missing Alumni whose whereabouts you know or if you are aware of Alumni who are deceased please let me know. Your efforts will not only help clean up the data but it will also help us get a start on work leading up to the 2020 reunion.
I have also discovered a number of Alumni who were not set up in our email contact file although they had previously indicated they wanted to receive the newsletter. I don't know the reason for this oversight so I have added them back in. They will be getting the newsletter this month for the first time in a long while. If you are one of these new recipients and you do not want to be on the mailing list, let me know and I will delete you from the file. A list of the names is shown below.
Many thanks to Rod Brown for his thoughtful article triggered by Art Matheson's obituary. I did not know Art very well but he was good friends with my brother Russ for several years, until Russ moved back to the USA and took up residence on a mountain top in Maine. I hope more of you will send in articles or pictures that might be of interest of the members, we need content to keep things going.
On a somber note, Angus has been steadily failing with no possible hope of recovering. I will miss his council and support. And, all members will certainly miss his dedication, perseverance and hard work that he put forth to create and maintain our Association.
Harvey Carter
Life Member - C'60 - Editor, Alumni Connection
Welcome New Alumni Association Members and renewed Members
New Life Member
Bill Croucher
From Waterloo, ON
Keith Blizard
From Montreal (NDG), QC
Gordon Macfie
From Montreal, QC
Renewed Membership
Dennis Schuller
from Greenfield Park, QC
Heather Nesbitt (McCallum)
from Kemptville, ON
Mike Latremouille - No Photo Available
Jill Bench (Allen)
from Kanata, ON
Maureen Lyon (Knight)
from Oshawa, ON
Memberships expiring in June
Frances Hampson (Roach) 1943
Cynthia Seath 1972
Memberships expiring in July
Rob Holmes 1967
Phillippa Settels 1988
Found Subscribers
Bill Grambrell
Calvin Gregory
Carole Archer
Cliff Morham
Edith Asbil
Judy Yaccato
David Coates
Alexa Brewer
Craig Bishop
Eric Paulsen
Eva Lohman
Gillian Salmon
Glenna Vipond
Graham Bourne
Irene Watson
Jean-Luc Patenaude
Jim Stickles
Johanne Lacombe
John Forsyth
ALUMNI COMMENTS
A Glance Backward from Rod Brown Class of 1966
People much smarter than I am claim that our formative years are between 10 & 20. If true, and I believe it is, this could well explain why I still 'pop my collar' at every opportunity and consider penny loafers the height of 'shoe-cool'. James Dean aside, my most influential experience could be attending Chambly County High School in the 60s. No great insight here … every bad coming of age movie features the mean halls of high school.
In our last newsletter (May, 2019) I read of Art Matheson's tragic passing and as I read about his life, family and accomplishments a door opened through which many people, from 50 years ago, walked.
Big John Martin whose broad face, unruly hair and infectious laugh found humour in just about everything, especially the notion that school required effort. We shared the distinction of being voted, on more than one occasion, the least likely to succeed or get a date for the graduation dance. Art was the Fonz long before Winkler and Happy Days. He had the walk, the look, the metaphorical snap of the fingers. Jim Charlton, my friend of 65+ years wanted to go to university (which he did) and he actually studied which set him apart from others stranded in room 11-6. For the record, we were streamed by academic standing… the smartest in 11-1, the next 25 in 11-2 and so on. There was an 11-7 but I think it was a phantom class to make 11-6 feel a little better about themselves. Pity the poor teachers saddled with our class – more than one probably considered selling real estate.
And, of course, the girls. Janice and Fern, Sarah and Nancy, Dorothy and Helena – they were worshipped from afar with the casual (totally unforced) indifference of 15 year olds whose main mission at school dances was to hold up the cinder block walls until the end and then walk home alone. As a father of 2 daughters and grandfather with a granddaughter, I was, and still am, struck by their maturity while the boys flounder about like enthusiastic Labrador puppies. Some things never change.
Teachers – those underpaid, harassed souls who despaired repeatedly and loudly that their pensions were doomed if they had to rely on us to get jobs and pay taxes. Miss Montgomery, whose name makes me want to check that my tie is straight and the top button of my shirt is buttoned, taught us algebra and geometry (I think Jim took trigonometry because he was among the smart ones). Mrs. Bennett was the ½ time guidance teacher. Imagine today a school of nearly 1000 having only .5 guidance … I guess we were less needy. Mrs. Bennett scared me. Her solution to any teenage angst was, "Suck it up." Her job was to get the worthy into university and John and Rod were Unworthy. Mr. Weeks, our physics teacher, had the worst classes because he was a big man with WW II combat experience which was a clear advantage coping with 11-8.
When I left Quebec in 1968, I never returned. I attended University in PEI and then even more at the University of Manitoba where I settled, raised a family, taught English (sorry Mrs. Home) for 45 years and retired. CCHS has, in so many ways, become legend as I told my classes about John or Art or Mr. Weeks. I'm positive that the truth disappeared somewhere along the way and I was left with memories that, over time, have morphed into something … different. There are precious few with whom I have reconnected (Jim of course, Janice and Allan …) which is in many ways, sad. Each month I read the pages of this newsletter avidly searching for a name which kick starts my stroll down that famous memory lane. Art's obituary took me back. In my mind, Art had never become the successful businessman or grandfather or accomplished all the things he did. Art was 16, cool and, like the song, forever young.
But there's a silver lining – no one has aged, gone bald, become flabby with a bad back or uttered the phrase, "When I was your age…" We're still teenagers at CCHS with a life ahead filled with possibility and a world simply awaiting our arrival.
Take care, John, and Art, Jimmy and Sarah, And Mr. Weeks, I really will 'buck up' before I bailout.
Something New In St. Lambert
You all probably know that St. Lambert has virtually run out of space for development but, they were able tear down an old building on Victoria Avenue and start erecting another apartment building. It is situated across the street from Castonquay Sports and, for those of old enough to remember, just about where the Garden BBQ used to be. Coupled with the three large apartment/condos complexes just off Victoria and behind the CN train station, a lot of extra pressure has been placed on the already over crowded infrastructure. Finding a parking space during the week is extremely difficult, as train commuters from outside St. Lambert use every conceivable space in the area bordered by Notre Dame, Desaulnier, Oak and Mercier.
Rob Ellicott, Class of 1961, a Life Member and strong supporter of the Alumni Association, is a golfing buddy of mine and during a game in early May, I think it was on the third or fourth hole, he told us that his wife, Maria Della Posta, had just been named President of Pratt & Whitney Canada - first woman President in the 91 year history of the company. He knew for some time that the announcement was coming but received a text message confirming it was official and therefore allowing him to make it known to his friends. If you do the math you realize that Rob is in his mid seventies and you might also know that he also had a very successful career at Pratt and has been retired for about thirteen years.
Obviously Rob and Maria met on the job, and knowing Rob, I'm sure there wasn't any supervisor/employee relationship that would have been considered inappropriate, they just hit it off despite the age difference. Good for them - much better for him. It must be nice to be a kept man.
On the other hand, perhaps not all the luck:
Oh yes and just a short word about the new traffic circle at the bottom of Simard Blvd that I wrote about last month. Rob just had his summer tires put on the car and the next day, in early April, we had a snow storm with freezing that made the roads very treacherous. His car, travelling too fast for the icy conditions, entered the circle and started sliding side ways (good old centrifugal force). It slid into the curb and just about took off the right front wheel and completely destroyed the steering mechanism. Bad news was that the damage was estimated at about $16,000. The good news is nobody was hurt and Rob has been entertaining us with stories about his battles with the insurance company. Slow down people.
Here is the press release of May 8, in case you are interested:
Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., has announced the appointment of Maria Della Posta as president of Pratt & Whitney Canada, effective June 1. Della Posta will report to Pratt & Whitney president Bob Leduc.`
Della Posta succeeds John Saabas as president, Pratt & Whitney Canada, who has announced his retirement.
"Pratt & Whitney Canada has a leadership position in all of its markets, with a portfolio of more than 64,000 engines in service and 13,000 customers worldwide," said Leduc. "Maria has been instrumental in building Pratt & Whitney Canada's portfolio throughout her career. Maria brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of our customers and the markets in which we operate.
"As leader of Pratt & Whitney Canada's global business, I am confident that Maria will continue to drive sustainable growth and deliver exceptional customer service while maximizing operational performance worldwide. I wish to thank John for his outstanding contribution to Pratt & Whitney."
Della Posta joined Pratt & Whitney in 1985 and progressed through roles of increasing leadership in supply chain, finance and customer service. She was named vice president, customer support in 2001, senior vice president, sales and marketing in 2010, and senior vice president, Pratt & Whitney Canada in 2012.
Severe Winter Damages The Golf Course
I'm frequently harping about bad weather and the effect it has been having on the golf course and our ability to play. Well this year has been exceptionally bad, the freeze and thaw cycles coupled with several episodes of freezing rain did a real number on both fairways and greens. I know some of you probably do not believe me so I've include a couple of pictures from late April. The course opened on May 6 even though the conditions were far from good. It was probably a desperation move by management trying to generate some cash flow from green fees and the concessions. That water you see isn't suppose to be there, we have no permanent lakes or ponds.
April 26, 2019 looking up the 1st fairway
April 25, looking down the ninth hole
Then The Rains Came
Our Friday game on May 10 was cancelled after a deluge of biblical proportions on Thursday night. I took theses pictures at 10:30 AM and the water had actually receded a bit from earlier in the day. Small lakes and standing water were everywhere and the sand traps were full to the brim.
May 10, starters cabin at the 1st tee
May 10, small lake forms in front of ninth green
After signing a new lease last year, the City invested heavily in the club house. They installed new, energy efficient doors and windows through out and will be installing air conditioning in the bar and dining area some time this spring. The way things are going they might only have to use it for two or three days in July.
Getting a permanent caterer to run the kitchen and bar has been an ongoing battle for the past ten years. The owners of Cafe Passion on Victoria Avenue signed a contract to run the operations this year but, they lasted only one week before pulling the plug. Lack of customers brought on by rainy weather, coupled with disputes about what services they were to provide, made them walk away. We have a new operator running things now and hopefully they will last a full year.
Class Contacts Needed
If you are interested in representing your class year as Class Contact. Please contact Harvey Carter
Shirley Ahern (North) Class of 1950
Leslie Keelty Class of 1970
Leslie Keelty of Vancouver BC, age 65, died May 12, 2019 in Malaga Spain after complications during cancer treatment. Ms. Keelty was on vacation in Spain with her husband, Vaughn Fraser, when her illness was discovered.
Leslie was born June 1, 1953 in Montreal and grew up in St. Lambert, Quebec. Leslie held a B.Ed. from McGill University (1975) and an M.Ed. from UBC (1987). She taught school in Quebec, Manitoba and BC.
In January 2018, Leslie retired after a 23-year career with Kumon Canada as a Field Consultant. Since retirement Leslie has tutored students in both Math and Reading. She has appeared on Global TV Morning News as an Education Consultant and she has written a blog (lesliekeelty.wordpress.com) with the tag "Restless Retiree". Leslie enjoyed tennis, hiking, meditation, reading and ballroom dancing and was an active member of The University Women's Club of Vancouver.
Predeceased by her parents George and Doris Keelty. Survived by her husband Vaughn Fraser, sisters Lynne and Glenna, nephews Scott (Catherine) and Richard, great-nieces and great-nephews Olivia, Eva, Liam and Tiernan.
"Leslie was a remarkable and uplifting spirit."
"I remember Leslie as a lovely positive person and very accomplished."
"I will miss Leslie's generosity and sensitivity."
"I was so looking forward to seeing Leslie on the courts this year."
"She was such a beam of light.
Sylvia Hunter (Gruber) Class of 1953
Sylvia Evelyn Hunter April 30, 1935 - January 27, 2019 SAN DIEGO
Sylvia Evelyn Gruber Anderson Hunter (1935-2019).Sylvia E. Hunter grew wings and rejoined her Heavenly Father from San Diego, California on January 27, 2019. She slipped to the other side peacefully in her sleep from causes incident to age.
Born on April 30, 1935, she lived in San Diego for over 50 years, and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the last 43 years, always serving others in that community with enthusiasm and kindness. She was small in stature, but mighty in spirit. As a young girl growing up in Eastern Canada, Sylvia loved summertime adventures at their family's cottages, first at the Severn River, then at Lake Memphremagog. She worked as a drafting supervisor for Bell Telephone. Through mutual friends, she met her future husband Frank Ross Anderson, an International Chess Master and 2X Canadian Champion, at an airfield where he was a glider pilot. Later, they realized that as children they had resided only a few blocks from each other.
In 1965, they married, embarking on a two-year honeymoon throughout Europe and North Africa in a VW bus. Then, due to Frank's arthritis, they settled in the warm Mediterranean climate of San Diego. There they gave birth to two daughters, in 1968 and 1971.
A year after Frank passed away from cancer in 1980, Sylvia met Harlo Arthur Hunter at an LDS singles conference. Harlo was a widower with three grown daughters, and was well known for his wise and thorough analytical nature, as an aeronautical engineer. In perhaps the quickest decision of his life, he was inspired to ask Sylvia and her daughters for Sylvia's hand in marriage only a week after they met. Two months later, the combined family rejoiced at their wedding. During their happy 35-year union, they loved traveling, connecting with the multitude of cherished family and friends, taking excursions on Harlo's boat, and visiting historical sites. For 14 years, they served together in the San Diego Temple. After Harlo retired in 1993, they enjoyed taking care of her three grandchildren. When Harlo passed away in 2016, Sylvia sold the house in Pacific Beach, "returning to the land of her birth" for a year with her daughter Ava, then moved back to San Diego due to Sylvia's respiratory health.
Greatly beloved, she is survived by her two daughters, Carol and Ava; three step-daughters, Heather, Jill, and Cathy; 29 grandchildren, 94 great- grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Her sweet memory will always hold a dear place in our hearts.
Murray Dorning - Class of 1962
freelance artistic and financial advisor.
Unexpectedly, age 73, at Montfort Hospital, Ottawa on May 21, 2019. Son of the late Jack and Alyce Dorning, brother of Audrey and Ainsley, and house-mate and dear friend of Brian Harvey.
If you notice an obituary of a classmate in your local paper
please forward details to Harvey Carter at harvey.cchs.ca@gmail.com
Best Paranoid Dog Pic
Another Lawyer Joke
If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the police officer's credibility.
Q: 'Officer --- Did you see my client fleeing the scene?'
A: 'No, sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.' Q: 'Officer, who provided this description?'
A: 'The officer who responded to the scene.'
Q: 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?' A: 'Yes, sir. With my life.'
Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?' A: 'Yes sir, we do!'
Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'
A: 'Yes, sir, I do.'
Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?'
A: 'Yes, sir.'
Q: 'Now, why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'
A: 'You see, sir, we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called.
The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's 'Best Comeback' line -- and we think he'll win.
Ron Chester
Ron Chester, 89 years of age, was stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and was asked where he was going at that time of night.
Ron replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."
The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"
Ron replied, "That would be my wife."
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BrokerCheck is a FINRA service that allows investors to check the backgrounds of brokers (many, but not all, of which are called financial advisors these days) and brokerage firms. It also contains information on formerly registered brokers; many of these people may still be working in the securities or investment fields, and thus information about them may be of use to investors. The service is free, and data searches may be conducted through a website.
Reports on Brokers
For brokers who have been registered with FINRA within the last 10 years, including brokers who are not currently active, a BrokerCheck report contains:
Summary data on the broker and his or her credentials
A list of his or her current registrations, licenses and industry exams passed
Registration and employment history: all FINRA-registered securities firms where he or she ever has been registered and also, for the past 10 years, all other work (both inside and outside the securities industry), military service, unemployment, and full-time education
Disclosures about customer disputes, disciplinary events and financial matters on the broker's record, whether or not the broker actually was found to be at fault
The broker's most recently submitted comments, if any
Be aware that not all actions and allegations on a broker's record actually indicate wrongdoing.
If the broker ceased being registered with FINRA more than 10 years ago, the only difference in the typical BrokerCheck report concerns the section dealing with disclosures. It includes certain criminal, regulatory, civil judicial, or customer complaint actions against the broker. Events are included in the report if the broker was:
Subjected to a final regulatory action
Convicted of (or pled guilty or no contest to) certain crimes
Placed under a civil injunction involving investment-related activities
Found by a civil court to be in violation of investment-related laws or regulations
Named as a respondent or defendant in an arbitration action or civil suit alleging that he or she violated sales practices, and which produced an award or civil judgment against him or her
FINRA lists each event as reported by securities regulators, the individual broker, and any involved firms.
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The typical BrokerCheck report on a brokerage firm consists of:
An overview of the firm and its background
When and where the firm was established
The people and organizations with controlling shares or influence over the firm's operations
A history of mergers, acquisitions or name changes
The firm's active licenses and registrations, the types of businesses it conducts and other details pertaining to its operations
Disclosures about any arbitration awards, disciplinary events, and financial matters on the firm's record
Note that pending or unresolved actions may be included, and the presence of any such actions are not necessarily indicative of wrongdoing.
The information in BrokerCheck comes from the Central Registration Depository (CRD), which compiles the registration and licensing filed by brokerage firms and brokers. Regulators also supply information to CRD about certain disciplinary actions involving brokers and brokerage firms.
Currency of Information
Registered brokers and brokerage firms usually must submit updates to CRD within 30 days after he/she/it learns of an event. BrokerCheck reflects the new or revised CRD data immediately. Information normally is not updated for firms that are no longer registered with FINRA, or for brokers who are no longer registered with FINRA.
What BrokerCheck Does Not Include
Judgments and liens originally reported as pending that later were satisfied
Bankruptcy proceedings filed more than 10 years ago.
Residential history information
Physical description information
In general, BrokerCheck does not include any data that never flowed into CRD, nor does it include information that once did, but no longer. FINRA seeks to protect confidential customer information, exclude offensive or defamatory language, and suppress information that raises significant identity theft or privacy concerns.
New Disclosure Proposals
In 2012, FINRA has been considering increased disclosures in BrokerCheck, such as:
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Meanwhile, calls from investor advocates to include the scores obtained on exams such as the Series 7, are being opposed by FINRA, and are highly unpopular among brokers. Experts quoted in The Wall Street Journal ("Keeping Score: Investor Advocates Push for More Broker Disclosure, Including Grades on Exams," May 29, 2012) question the utility of reporting test scores, since they show do not correlate with future investment performance or service quality, the main drivers of client satisfaction.
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Abu Dhabi lays off staff as Gulf austerity tightens
Sunday, 22 May 2016 4:00 PM
Thousands of layoffs at state-linked companies in Abu Dhabi are a fresh sign the Gulf's wealthy oil states are hunkering down for a long period of austerity as low crude prices pressure their economies.
Since mid-2015, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries in the region have curbed spending on some construction projects and reduced energy subsidies to limit budget deficits caused by cheap oil.
Now some governments are also starting to reduce staff at the companies they control, many in the energy industry, to ensure the firms are not a drain on state finances if oil prices stay low for several years.
Abu Dhabi's National Oil Co (ADNOC), which employs about 55,000 people, has cut hundreds of jobs in the past few months and will have reduced its workforce by at least 5,000 by the end of 2016, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The reduction will occur across most of its 17 subsidiaries as part of a restructuring following a reshuffle of the firm's leadership this month, they said.
An ADNOC spokesman did not confirm or deny the cuts but said: "In keeping with the entire oil and gas industry, ADNOC is constantly looking at ways to be more efficient and more profitable, particularly in the current market environment."
The UAE's oil and gas recruitment market is set for its most difficult year in more than a decade in 2016, according to a report from recruiters Morgan McKinley.
"The oil and gas industry is still feeling the pain, as was to be expected," said Trefor Murphy, managing director for the region. "Overall redundancies have been on the increase."
Most layoffs at Abu Dhabi state firms are not in response to production cut-backs. The UAE has not reduced its oil output and says it is proceeding with long-planned oil and gas development projects.
Nor do the layoffs mean Abu Dhabi is running out of money. With hundreds of billions of dollars in its sovereign wealth fund, the emirate could draw down its reserves to sustain current levels of spending for decades.
But the government wants to minimise the speed of the draw-down as it looks ahead to the possibility of many years of low oil prices. Last year, Abu Dhabi acted ahead of other Gulf states in cutting domestic fuel and electricity subsidies. Now it is applying the same approach to state-linked firms.
In Qatar, state-controlled firms such as Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Rail have been laying off staff. State companies in other states such as Saudi Arabia and Oman have been looking at ways to reduce costs but have so far not resorted to major job cuts.
Most cuts at state firms in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere involve foreign staff because governments want to limit unemployment among their citizens.
Nevertheless, job losses are contributing to an economic slowdown in the region. The International Monetary Fund has predicted Abu Dhabi's gross domestic product growth will fall to 1.7 percent this year from 4.4 percent in 2015.
In Dubai, where the economy is not directly reliant on oil and state-linked firms are vigorously pushing tourism and real estate projects, growth is forecast to accelerate marginally, to 3.7 percent from 3.6 percent.
Companies cutting staff in Abu Dhabi include Abu Dhabi National Energy Co, which has reduced its workforce by a quarter since 2014. It has cut around a third of oil and gas jobs and 55 percent of staff at its headquarters, it said this month after reporting a first-quarter loss.
Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Rail, the federal government-owned entity building a UAE rail network, said it cut 30 percent of its staff in a restructuring.
Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority laid off scores of people, mostly expatriates, sources said. Spokespeople for the authority did not return calls seeking comment.
National Petroleum Construction Co, owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned industrial conglomerate Senaat and one of the largest oilfield contractors in Abu Dhabi, is reviewing its manpower levels, chief executive Aqeel Madhi told Reuters.
Construction firm Arabtec, in which Abu Dhabi state fund Aabar Investments is the biggest shareholder, may include job cuts in its cost reduction programme, chairman Mohamed Al Rumaithi said in April, adding: "There's some fat to be taken out."
Some firms are axing expatriates to create jobs for UAE nationals. Medical centre operator Cleveland Clinic, owned by Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala, is creating more than 100 positions for locals. Sources said some expatriate employees have been told they have to leave by the end of the year.
Cleveland said as part of efforts to develop local talent, a number of administrative roles would move to UAE citizens in coming months.
http://m.arabianbusiness.com/abu-dhabi-lays-off-staff-as-gulf-austerity-tightens-632426.html
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Eleven Fellows of The Optical Society (OSA) will join the ranks of the National Academy of Inventors, a professional distinction accorded to academic inventors whose inventions have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.
OSA Fellows are the Societys highest-ranking members who have served with distinction in the advancement of optics and photonics. An OSA Senior Member and Individual Member have also been named 2018 NAI Fellows.
The significant scientific and technical achievements of OSA members are underscored by the 13 who have been named 2018 NAI Fellows, said OSA CEO Elizabeth Rogan. We congratulate them for being selected for this distinction.
NAI is a member organization comprising universities, governmental and non-profit research institutes worldwide. NAI Fellows represent a variety of fields including laser photonics and computer sciences. The more than 1,000 NAI Fellows to date have generated some 11,000 licensed technologies and companies, and created more than 1.4 million jobs, according to NAI.
The 2018 NAI Fellows will be inducted April 11, 2019, as part of the Eighth NAI Annual Meeting in Houston, TX. Andrew Hirshfeld, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Commissioner for Patents, will deliver the keynote address for the induction. Fellows will receive a special trophy, medal and rosette pin.


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text:
All change at Network Rail
Network Rail's five-year business transformation plan is placing IT at the heart of the business. Will Hadfield reports on how the technical and managerial challenges are being met
Will Hadfield
Network Rail's director of information management has one of the most challenging roles in corporate IT. Joe van Valkenburgh oversees an annual technology budget of £138m and has the power to veto any IT project in the company.
The organisation, which owns and manages the UK's rail infrastructure, is three years into a five-year transformation of its IT systems. The role of IT within the company is also changing.
In 2002, when Network Rail was set up from the remains of its predecessor Railtrack, the IT department was separate from the business, with its own suppliers. Once the company was established, Network Rail's deputy chief executive Iain Coucher said that IT would be at the heart of the business.
Today, the old Railtrack IT department has been transformed into Network Rail's information management department, and is involved with all the company's suppliers, including those that are not seen as traditional IT suppliers.
It is van Valkenburgh's responsibility to deliver the five-year business transformation plan. When the project is completed, the information management department will be at the core of Network Rail, and will be involved in decision making as a key part of the business.
Van Valkenburgh reports directly to Coucher, placing him closer to the highest level of decision making in his company than most IT directors are. He attends Coucher's weekly meetings and monthly reviews of the company's activities. This way, says van Valkenburgh, he can get involved before something becomes a problem.
Coucher has set five targets for the information management department to achieve within its first five years, with further goals to be achieved within 10 years:
To cut the number of key IT applications from the 1,000-plus that were acquired with the assets of Railtrack in 2002. The business wants to use 200 applications by 2007 and just 40 by 2012.
To reduce the 254 suppliers that provided services to Railtrack to 25 in five years, and five or six in 10 years.
To bring all the company's data within one virtual database - a technology that is still in the development stage. Network Rail acquired more than 20,000 local databases along with Railtrack's assets.
To reduce the company's spend on information management to 3% of the total budget by 2007. When Railtrack managed the rail network, the proportion of its budget spent on IT was unknown.
To increase the proportion of permanent employees in the information management department from 80% (the current figure) to 90%. More than 70% of IT staff at Railtrack were contractors.
Van Valkenburgh has a £138m IT budget to realise Network Rail's technology plans. This financial year, however, he expects to spend just £87m. When he underspends, the remaining budget returns to the business. Network Rail is a private company limited by guarantee, so instead of paying dividends, profits are put back into the business.
The firm's information management department is divided into several areas. There is a head of information security and separate managers to oversee development services, information management strategy and infrastructure.
The department also has three delivery units: customer service and operations, maintenance and engineering, and business services. They were set up in May 2004 to improve the department's focus on delivering the systems the business needs.
"I have created delivery units so the business knows who to engage with," says van Valkenburgh.
The three units will manage 138 IT projects in 2006. The department as a whole had already delivered 73 of these projects by October 2005.
Last summer, Network Rail cut the amount it spent on mainframe maintenance by £500,000 a year, when it renewed its managed services contract with supplier Atos Origin. It was able to negotiate the reduction in Atos Origin's charges for the contract after it insisted that the mainframe would be abandoned if Atos made no cost cuts.
The mainframe is an IBM zSeries running a legacy MVS/JES operating system and SNA connectivity software.
In the second half of 2005, the information management department completed a company-wide migration to Windows XP (see box). It migrated more than 7,700 devices to the operating system and installed flat-screen monitors on 8,500 desktops.
"We can show that the flat-screen monitors use 75% less energy," says van Valkenburgh.
Network Rail also migrated its payroll and finance applications to Oracle during the last few months of 2005. The company's customer relationship management system already runs on Oracle, and an Oracle procurement application has reached pilot stage. "We are 60 to 70% Oracle," says van Valkenburgh.
The key IT systems, however, are the applications that improve the reliability and punctuality of train services. Three core systems have all been in place for a year. Mims collects maintenance reports, and FMS and Trainplan determine how many trains can run on the rail network.
Because the rail network is a critical part of the national infrastructure, the three core applications have to continue working in the event of a disaster. Network Rail is building the capacity it needs to ensure this.
The company has a budget of £10m per year to spend on business continuity for its IT systems. Van Valkenburgh says, "By March 2006, we will have our improved business continuity in place.
"We are increasing the local resilience where applicable. We are also providing an operational test environment, improving recovery of the key systems and doing some work on disaster recovery."
Network Rail has three datacentres based at secret locations around the UK. By the end of March, the key applications will continue to run even if one of the datacentres is destroyed.
Van Valkenburgh says, "We do need to take this stuff very seriously. Some companies advertise their business continuity plans too much. They should be very careful."
E-mail storage will also be improved in the first quarter of 2006 when the company migrates from its five-year-old Hewlett-Packard HSG80 storage area network (San) to 10 different EVA Sans from the same supplier. Nine of the servers in the new infrastructure can store 30Tbytes each and one can hold 50Tbytes.
The information management department has built a home-working system that can support up to 4,000 employees simultaneously. Outlook Web, which went live in July, can be used by employees to continue working if a disaster prevents them from accessing one or more of the company's offices.
The business case for the system, however, was to support home working. Van Valkenburgh says, "We would use it for anything. But the main justification for the investment is for people to work at home."
This year, the information management department will oversee one of the largest mobile deployments in the UK. Under Railtrack, the network's maintenance workers were outsourced to support services companies. Network Rail brought the maintenance function - and about 17,000 people - back in-house in 2004.
Van Valkenburgh says thousands of maintenance workers will be equipped with camera phones supporting a customised application. Track defects will be photographed and the information sent via mobile phone to Network Rail's Mims system.
While these projects are ongoing, the information management department is developing the business case for a "unified workplace initiative" - Network Rail's first step towards a service oriented architecture.
Head of information delivery Joanna Beeching is responsible for bringing six of the company's IT systems within a framework that makes data retrieval easier. The portal access, document management, content management, knowledge sharing, asset configuration management and identity management systems will fall within the programme.
Applications within the framework will benefit from two-way integration with the company's other business-critical systems. These include its enterprise resource planning, datawarehouse and computer-aided design systems.
Network Rail's information management department uses Gallup Q12 Management to identify and then purchase new IT systems for different parts of the business. A key aspect of the system is that it helps managers identify what equipment an end-user needs to do their job.
Van Valkenburgh says, "It is really getting down to engagement. We have an impact session. What do people want? It could be anything, but it is often IT."
Network Rail's XP roll-out
Network Rail gained thousands of new employees in 2004 when maintenance work on the rail network was brought back in house after the Potters Bar train crash.
The information management department was charged with standardising the whole company's desktop systems on Windows XP Service Pack 2. The migration involved:
17,500 users migrating to Microsoft Office applications running under XP SP2
Devices being deployed in more than 460 locations
8,000 new PCs and laptops being purchased and delivered
8,500 energy-saving TFT screens being deployed to different locations
Contracts with three partners that had to be managed by information management.
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text:
var express = require('express');
var router = express.Router();

var db = require('../models');

router.get('/contact', function(req, res, next) {
  res.render('contact', { title: 'Contact Me' });
});
router.use('/login', require('./login'));
router.use('/register', require('./register'));
router.use('/logout', require('./logout'));
router.use('/auth', require('./auth'));
router.use('/user', require('./user'));
router.use('/blog', require('./blog'));
router.use('/post', require('./post'));
router.use('/projects', require('./projects'));
router.use('/settings', require('./settings'));
router.use(require('./blog'));

module.exports = router;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Quality. Innovation. Convenience. Designer Face Frames make it easy to have classy, designer-inspired looks that set your cabinetry apart from the rest. The 1/4" Bead (FE-7) frame is one of the most popular beaded face frame options due to its just-the-right-size 1/4" bead.


Chic and elegant, this evening gown in soft stretch jersey is cut to fit and flatter the female form. The halter neckline has a small, triangular beaded panel each side at the front. The back incorporates a long, slim, sheer panel at each side with a striking geometric beaded design for that added sparkle.


If you've never worn contact lenses, you may not appreciate the amazing selection available on today's market. Be glad: you have much more choice than in the past. With so many options, how do you choose the right type of contact lenses?
Your doctor can probably help you figure out which contact lenses are best for you. Some contact lenses are suited to certain vision problems, like astigmatism. Others, like extended-wear contact lenses, are marketed to suit certain lifestyles. Colored contact lenses sometimes are used by people who don't even need prescription lenses but just want to change their eye color. Regardless, contact lenses should only be purchased by a professional eyecare practitioner, who knows how to properly fit the lenses and help you take care of your eyes. In fact, in the United States, it is illegal to purchase contact lenses without a valid prescription.
It's good to be informed about the different types of contact lenses before making your decision. Different contact lenses need to be replaced on different cycles. Some pairs last a month, some only two weeks. Other contact lenses are made to be worn only for one day. These contact lenses usually cost more, as you are paying for convenience.
It is important not to sleep in your contact lenses unless your practitioner says it's okay. Even contact lenses made for this purpose may not be good for you, especially if your eyes tend to be very dry. Be sure to ask.
Soft contact lenses have become most popular, as they are easy to get used to and are very comfortable to wear. While gas permeable contact lenses take longer to get used to, they last longer and tend to have less deposit buildup. Also, these contact lenses are less expensive in the long run because they don't need to be replaced as often. Some people also believe gas permeable contact lenses are better for your eye health and may even help improve vision. However, they are rigid and some people don't like how they feel.
As contact lenses have improved, so have their uses. Bifocal wearers rejoice! Many contact lens manufacturers have started making lenses that even you can wear. Ask your practitioner for details.


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trailer but you want to get a feel of what your book presents. And that's what a trailer does—build excitement and gives your readers a taste of what the book holds. It shouldn't' tell the entire story. The trailer helps you decide whether or not you want to invest the time and money in what is being presented—whether you want to make some popcorn, curl up and enjoy the show, or move on.
You have thrown countless hours writing, editing, designing, rewriting, surfing the internet, and going without sleep, to bring your book into life. Your book is your baby. You have something important to say and your well-produced book trailer entices the world so they want to read your work.
Your book trailer should emotionally connect with the viewer and convey the essence of your book. When someone buys your book after seeing the trailer, they shouldn't be surprised by what they read. Your book trailer is a small but important extension of that. Be sure the finished trailer is intrinsically connected to the content and/or feel of your book.
Your trailer could be posted everywhere, on your webpage, your YouTube and every social media platforms. You can even include it in your press kit, and share it with other author pages to generate interest in your book. To find out where to post your book trailer videos, click here.
There was a time you'd have to pay about $640 or more for a book trailer, (I pad over a thousand for my fist one—big mistake!) but things have changed. These days you can D.I.Y.. Use any of these tools, each will not cost you more than $20—not bad right?
When searching Fiverr (unless you're a pro at using them,) always make sure your search is set with your filter on "Average Customer Review". That way you can see how the vendor rates and choose one who has a reasonable rating.
Your Book Trailer Represents You so make sure you check typos and grammar if you should use one of those white board trailers. And don't make it too long. Fifteen to twenty seconds is plenty. People have limited focus these days, and you're not doing a movie, just a gist of what your book presents.
If you should work with someone to produce you one, get someone you trust. I hired a company the first time I did this, and I'll let you see the results (click here) compared to the second one when I hired someone $75 to do it (click here.) Was one better than the other? Not really.
Insist on high quality audio and visual. Research free or low-cost resources. Use public domain music for the background music like freesoundtrackmusic.com. There are lots of sites out there, you just have to wade through them and find what works best for you!
Repost it regularly on your Facebook page for new followers. And include this on your Amazon Author Central page. As an indie author marketing yourself, your book trailer will give you that added edge over other Indie books. Also down the road when and if you want to use Facebook advertising, book trailers can be used.
Emma Right is a multiple award-winning and bestselling author and award-winning copywriter. When not busy caring for her homeschooled children and unschooled pets, she mentors wannabe authors to write and publish their first book, as well maximize their author business.
Why, when and how to use ISBN–free or paid.
How to increase social media shares of your posts by 40 times!
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The Democrats' Court Packing Scheme Will be the Death of America
Knowing full well that they lack any leverage or constitutional avenues to prevent the Republicans from nominating Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court replacement, the Democrats have turned to "extra-constitutional" options. Here is what they are planning:
Media pressure and slander, on top of Antifa/BLM intimidation of on-the-fence Republican Senators like Susan Collins, Mitt Romney and Cory Gardner. Gardner and Collins are in the middle of tough reelection fights in blue states, however, Romney was just elected to the Senate in 2018 in a deep red state, meaning there's no political reason for him to torpedo Trump's Supreme Court nominee. If he does it, he's doing it because he's a RINO with a personal vendetta against the President.
Threaten to pack the court when they take power again:
Not only that, but they're discussing "adding stars to the flag" by granting statehood to Washington DC and Puerto Rico, the ultimate goal of which would be four additional Democratic Senators:
All they have left is threats like these. Because they lack the means to legitimately prevent Trump from nominating a new Supreme Court justice (read: the votes in the Senate), they must resort to threats of rioting, violence and destroying the constitutional system.
Democrats really shouldn't talk about their devious schemes like this so openly. Republican voters see this and take them at their word, adding an even greater element of urgency to the 2020 election. Prominent Democrats have now gone on record and said that if they have power in 2021, they're going to nuke the filibuster in the Senate completely (meaning for legislation and not just judicial nominees), they're going to pack the Supreme Court, and they're going to grant statehood to Washington DC and Puerto Rico. All three moves would be pure, unambiguous power plays. In other words, the only reason Democrats would make those moves would be to amass more (and permanent) power for themselves. You may have been able to argue that Ginsburg's death was a blessing for Democrats in that it gave them more reason to get out and vote, but now that energy boost has probably been neutralized by their inability to keep their evil scheming quiet.
Court packing destroys the Supreme Court for good. It's game over. Because once you've decided that having nine Supreme Court justices is arbitrary, then any number of justices becomes arbitrary. If they increase it from 9 to 12, then what's to stop Republicans from increasing it to 15 the next time they get power again? What's to stop anyone from increasing the Supreme Court to 25? 125? 425? If we're being honest, the Supreme Court is already just another majoritarian legislative branch like the House and the Senate, but court packing would formalize it. The Democrats are hell-bent on destroying our constitutional form of government in their pursuit of unchecked and permanent power.
Court packing also establishes the precedent that if one–or any–institution established by our Constitution is not giving you the results you want, then simply change it until it does. Court packing will give way to Senate packing (by giving Puerto Rico and DC statehood–and then maybe even splitting California into 6 different states). The only principle at work here is power. Any and every governmental body that is not a means for the Democrats to exercise their power must be corrupted and changed into one that is. They have completely given up on the Constitution and democracy.
What, at this point, is the upside in sharing a country with the Democrats? What's the point anymore? What do we gain from it? Can you actually fill in this blank: "We put up with all their bullshit because at least we get _______ out of it?"
What is the answer? We know the cons that come with continuing to share a country with the radical left. But what are the pros? Are there even any?
The only thing they desire is to subjugate us. They will no longer tolerate us having power at all, ever. So dogmatic and intolerant have they become that they view American government as a one-way street where they are the only ones that get to decide how this country is run and which rules the American people will live under.
Everything they have done since the 2016 election has been to overturn its result. The Democrats took the House in 2018 and what did they do with their newfound power? They impeached Trump. That's it. That was priority #1, and there was no priority #2. All they care about is retaking power, and once they do, their priority will shift to ensuring they never lose it again.
They no longer even attempt to appeal to voters over matters of policy. Their only concern is getting rid of Trump. They appeal only to those voters who have already been brainwashed against Trump to the point of hysteria–he's a Fascist! He's a Nazi! He's Hitler incarnate! There is no "this is how we'll help you and your family." The Democrats are the party of People Who Hate Donald Trump, and nothing more. If you're not already on board with that, then they have nothing to offer you.
Underpinning that is the fact that our visions for the country are so radically different. Elections feel like they are so important now because losing represents no less than the complete and total destruction of your side's way of life. Both sides are of the mindset that "If we lose this election, they are going to come after everything that we hold dear." The fact that this fear pervades both sides of the political spectrum nowadays is a problem in and of itself, but compounding the problem is the fact that it's actually warranted on the right: the left really does want to destroy our way of life.
Notice that everything Trump and the Republicans seek to accomplish amounts to nothing more than simply rolling back the left's political and cultural victories over the past 50 years. Securing the porous border and reforming our horrible immigration system. Repealing Obamacare. Overturning Roe v. Wade. Bringing balance to our trade policies and stopping the mass outsourcing of American labor. Ending the endless wars (although lots of Republican neocons were heavily complicit in this). Bringing law and order back to our cities. There's plenty more I could list but you get the picture. The common denominator for virtually everything the right seeks to do today is undoing the damage the Democrats (and the neocon Republicans) have done to this country since the 1960s.
Libertarians and traditional conservatives would argue that the only solution is basically neutering the federal government and empowering states and local governments to have more power. They would say that when millions and millions of people have full-fledged mental breakdowns because they believe an 87 year old judge that died was the only thing standing between them and a right-wing hell on earth, then maybe it means the federal government (the Supreme Court in particular) has far too much power. And they're right about this: the federal government does have way too much power. And this is the source of the anxiety and hyperpartisanship tearing our country apart currently. If the federal government did not have so much power and influence over our lives, then having control of it would not feel like a matter of life and death.
But the problem is that Democrats don't believe in limited government and federalism. They want the Beltway Behemoth to have unlimited and unchecked power. This is because they don't believe in "live and let live," they believe everyone should live under their values. They will settle for nothing less than turning the whole entire country into a communist utopia. They want the whole country to be Portland. They are not okay with letting, say, Alabama outlaw abortion and gay marriage.
While Republicans mostly want to be left alone–and at the very most just not live under radical leftwing and Establishment policies–the Democrats have turned into a religious cult which views virtually every political issue as part of a larger holy war. They believe it's their mission to "reeducate" and enlighten the redneck bumpkins in the flyover states. They have become evangelists with a "convert or die" mentality. They are not even close to content with just the big cities being far-left havens amid a sea of rural red. Even though most Democrats rarely ever even get out to flyover country, they still want the people who live in flyover country to live under the same (im)moral value system as Portland, Seattle and San Francisco. I'm telling you: the only thing that explains this insatiable desire to rule over every aspect of the lives of complete strangers is that politics has filled the void left by the secular left's rejection of Christianity. Leftism has become their religion.
Ironically, the Democrats claim to be the party of diversity yet they are the ones who want every last person in America to live under the same exact policies and (im)moral values. Diversity to them only means "fewer white people." They do not want to live in a country where the states, and even local jurisdictions, have near-complete autonomy over the policies that shape their citizens' lives. What if, for example, we repealed the 16th Amendment, which was passed in 1913 and granted the federal government the power to levy an income tax? After all, without the ability to fund itself to the tune of over $4 trillion per year, then most of the federal government's power goes away. What if we repealed the 16th amendment and allowed state–or better yet, local governments–full autonomy over tax policies? That way, leftwingers in Portland and NYC could have socialist-level tax rates to fund whatever insane social engineering they please. And people in Texas could have near-nonexistent tax rates.
But that just won't fly with leftists. They take pleasure in using red-staters' tax dollars to pay for abortions. They want to rip your guns out of your hands even though you live 2,000 miles away and represent zero threat to them personally. They are militant Leftwing Supremacists who believe with all their hearts that not only is their way the "right way," but that everyone else must be forced to live that way. They could not be content living under Full Blown Communism in San Francisco while knowing that there's people in Nebraska who aren't living under Full Blown Communism. They just have an insatiable need to control other people's lives. And so because of this the "non-aggression principle" and federalism simply don't work. The Republicans can govern under the ideals of limited government and federal deference to state/local power, but they will always be losing if the Democrats don't govern under those same ideals at all times. When the left gains power, it will move the country further to the left. But when the small-government right gains power, the only thing it will do is simply not push the country further to the left. Therefore, the only thing the right will represent is a momentary pause in the neverending leftward shift.
The right has to be aggressive and proactive and willing to push the country to the right. It has to be self-confident enough to impose its values on the rest of the country. The only way to stop the country from moving inexorably and continually to the left is to actually move it to the right when you have the power to do so. This is why limited government and libertarianism don't work: because the left wins by default simply by not abiding by the non-aggression principle and "live and let live." Even if Republicans somehow were able to massively diminish the power of the federal government and return power to states and localities, the Democrats would have every incentive to return power to the federal government and rule the whole country from Washington. We would have to trust that they wouldn't, even though we know they want to.
I don't know what the solution is. But I do know that court packing will only make things worse. Significantly worse. Their unquenchable thirst for permanent and unchecked power will destroy this country.
Maybe this is simply the inevitable end-game of two-party politics. Maybe this is the predictable result of splitting the country into two intractable and eternally opposed factions. Maybe this is the inherent and ultimately fatal flaw written into the DNA of representative democracies. I do know that the Establishment very much likes the two party system because it keeps the masses fighting among one another, rather than united against the Establishment.
Maybe this is how the American Republic goes the way of the Roman Republic and gives way to our own Caesar.


Thursday was my most anticipated dinner of the week of Dr. Brownstone's Sweet Summer Luv Luv Festival. The night featured a host of culinary rock stars: Chef Eric Martinez of Orlando World Center in Florida, Chef Justin McMillen, of Sidney Street Cafe in St. Louis, Chef Kurtis Jantz of Trump International Beach Resorts in West Palm Beach, and Chef Fabian DiPaolo, master pastry chef now stationed in Miami.
Cocktail hour featured incredibly fresh and delicious shucked oysters and clams from Rappahannock River Oyster Company, in Virginia.
Established in 1899 by James A. Croxton, The Rappahannock River Oyster Co. has gone from supplying local dinner tables to serving some of the world's best restaurants. Today RRO is owned by cousins, Travis & Ryan. All of their oysters and clams are all native, all aquaculture grown. If you're not in the mood to order your own, there are THREE restaurants in Virginia and D.C. for your oyster pleasure.
I had a serious food experience while eating these oysters and clams. I feel like my life was changed with those clams. It's been nearly 4 days that I can't stop thinking about them. Mere hours old, these freshly shucked bivalves rocked my world.
The event's signature cocktail, the Luv Luv Cocktail, was a hit. Cherry liqueur, vodka, cherry sorbet and other alcoholic additions to make it an elegant cherry bomb for adults only.
The rest of the evening encompassed a 9-course Chef-crafted tasting menu ending with a creative, spectacular "Dessert Extravaganza" from Chef Fabian DiPaolo. Four local craft brews from Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, NC were paired with each course.
The mango slaw was pulled together with a light dressing made of agar agar and coconut milk. The fruit was subtle but nice and bright. Chapchae are sweet potato noodles, similar to cellophane or glass noodles, they are fun, easy to cook and were very good in this course. The star, the pork belly, was crusted with kombucha tea and was one of the most talked about dishes of the night. But--everyone loves pork belly and you can't go wrong with a luscious piece of pig next to two salads.
More noodles, no problems. Presented by Chef Justin McMillen and served in little cups, this ramen dish (if you didn't know, ramen is trendy in 2013) was Asian-inspired. The bits of charred corn were sweet and smoky and soaked up the salty brine of the clam and the dashi. Delicious.
One of my favorites, this little finger sandwich was also a hit. The foie was almost undetectable (a plus in my book) and the salty, smoky bacon was a foil to the bit of sweet peach jam on the inside of the grilled bread. The pickled salad (cauliflower, onions, pickles) cut the fat of the sandwich and was very vinegary. The rapini aioli was bright, spicy from garlic and was great as I dragged my sandwich through it and crunched into that fresh bread. Mmmm.
Camarones A La Brasa: Peruvian grilled shrimp, smoked watermelon, Huancaina potato salad, cilantro, avocado slab, charred corn kernels.
Whoa. The shrimp alone on this dish had me wanting more (and I got some Friday night, yesssss). The shrimp was in this spectacular marinade. The solo shrimp on the plate was smoky, spicy, citrusy and incredibly herbaceous. The sliver of watermelon was sweet and juicy and a nice palate cleanser.
Maple-Herb crusted shoulder clod, baby roasted potato salad, corn & butterbean succotash with local mushrooms.
The crust of the clod was slightly sweet and the meat itself was very tender. I cut it with my fork! Bravo, Chef! Bravo! The little itty bitty teeny tiny potatoes were no bigger than pennies and dimes and could not have been cuter.
And here begins the "Dessert Extravaganza"!
The semifreddo was cool, thick and bright but not as bright as the fresh raspberries. The sorbet cut the cream of the semifreddo while the basil foam was a fun, trendy topping to this first dish.
A decadent finish to the night, I have to find out how to make my ganache pliable!


The Quick has been played on NTS in shows including Radio Jiro, featured first on 17 March 2013. Songs played include Voodoo, Zulu and One Light In A Blackout.
1) The Quick were a mid-1970s pre-new wave/power pop band based in Los Angeles.


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National | ELECTION 2012
Nippon Ishin backpedals on policies
by Eric Johnston
OSAKA – Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) officials released an outline of their new platform over the weekend that contained no mention of its original promises to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade accord, get out of nuclear power by the 2030s and halve the number of Diet seats.
The absence of these goals reflects the growing power of party leader Shintaro Ishihara over its founder and deputy chief, Toru Hashimoto, who doubles as Osaka mayor, and the original members of Nippon Ishin, who had included those goals in their previous platform.
Ishihara opposes the TPP, advocates continued nuclear power for energy and for diplomacy, and does not think halving the number of Diet seats is practical.
The full platform for the Dec. 16 general election is expected to be released Thursday.
But fundamental differences between the original members of Nippon Ishin, centered around Hashimoto, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, Osaka-based Ishin no Kai members and the nine Diet members who defected to Nippon Ishin last month, and Ishihara and his allies, who merged with the Hashimoto camp earlier this month, are creating the image of a disunited, divided party.
The outline released over the weekend calls only for the expansion of an unspecified free-trade area, and for changing the rules regarding nuclear plants. The platform now calls for reactors to be restarted as long as certain conditions are met.
While the goal of ending nuclear power by the 2030s wasnever an official part of the premerger platform, Hashimoto had strongly pushed for it just before joining forces with Ishihara.
However, despite Ishihara's opposition, Matsui told reporters Sunday there would be a line in the final platform about participating in the TPP. Under the Hashimoto-Ishihara merger pact, Nippon Ishin will only take part in the TPP negotiations if it is judged the agreement will not negatively impact the nation's interests — again, a bow to Ishihara's concerns.
As Nippon Ishin members struggle to reach final agreement on their platform, relations with Your Party, with whom they had been attempting to coordinate candidates, took a turn for the worse over the weekend.
Hashimoto, frustrated at what he felt was Your Party's disorganized approach to selecting candidates, said late last week the party should make its final choices by playing the rock-paper-scissors game.
That earned him a sharp rebuke from Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, and it remains unclear if the parties can reach an agreement either before or after the election to work together.


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Home | Industries
Report shows trends in family trips for 2020
Tourists have fun at an ice and snow amusement park in Mohe, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Jan 8, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Last year, the COVID-19 outbreak had limited impact on China's family trips market, with post-80s parents becoming the main driver, The Paper reported.
According to a report from online travel service provider Ctrip, the frequency of family trips fell to 2.4 times in 2020 from 2.7 times in 2019. Data showed between February and May, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of tourists was at its lowest. However, amid the country's firm containment of COVID-19, demand for family trips went through a V-shaped recovery.
Due to COVID-19, family trips mainly focused on short-distance trips close to cities, and road trips became the most popular type. About 40 percent of families chose road trips, and 28 percent preferred high-speed railways. For long-distance trips, airplane is still the first choice, accounting for 32 percent of the total.
Over the past year, the share of post-80s parents who booked family trips via Ctrip reached 41 percent, followed by post-90s (32 percent) and post-70s (20 percent).
With effective and successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic domestically, driven by a "free tickets" policy, there was a growing trend toward traveling in Hubei province, which was hit hard by the novel coronavirus earlier last year.
This trend also drove family trips in surrounding cities there. Wuhan, Xiaogan, Xiantao, Yichang, Ezhou, Huanggang, Jingmen, Xianning and Suizhou became the top 10 fastest-growing tourist origin cities in 2020. These cities all come from Hubei province, and most are second-tier or below.
Most family trips last three to five days, accounting for 45 percent of the total, followed by six to eight days (31 percent) and over eight days (4 percent).
In terms of destinations, theme parks accounted for 27 percent of family trips, followed by natural scenery (22 percent), architecture (19 percent), city tours (12 percent), museums (11 percent) and historical sites (9 percent).
According to the report, the Palace Museum, the Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and the National Museum of China all were in the top 10 most popular museums visited.
Meanwhile, as affluent tourists chose to travel within the country rather than abroad last year, the quality of domestic tourism saw significant enhancement. More than 45 percent of parents choose four- or five- star hotels when travelling.
Ice and snow tourism revenue set to surpass 390b yuan
Young travelers prefer niche destinations
China invests over 4b yuan to boost tourism, culture for rural poor
Big data indicates recovery in China's nighttime economy
Hainan policies brighten duty-free group's prospects


A lot of people are already having troubles with excessive sleepiness. Some employees have a hard time finishing paperwork tasks because they tend to fall asleep unexpectedly. There are students who find it hard to focus and concentrate to their professor's discussions because they feel tired all the time.
When it comes to excessive sleepiness and concentration problems, proper medication should be taken to eliminate them. And by that comes the hero Modafinil. To know more about the medication and how it benefits a person, then you may read this article. If you want to gain more, then check out this click for source area.
A lot of people who are having sleep problems are already using Modafinil. This includes individuals who want to be treated with narcolepsy, hypopnea syndrome, and a shift work sleep disorder. What the medication does is it allows the patient to stay awake the entire day. Although Modafinil does not take the action of treating these conditions, at least it can prevent them. Buying online provigil prescription is possible. You only need to know the trustworthiness of the vendor.
Your doctor will provide you a medication guide. This guide is a focus to your medication routine. What it shows inside are Modafinil's right doses, the exact time it should be taken, and its right frequency.
It is vital to read this medication guide and understand all the information provided. But if you have questions or there are things inside the guide which you cannot understand, then there is nothing wrong to ask your physician about it. Allow him to explain things further to comprehend more.
You have to understand that this guide is an essential part of getting proper treatment. Not using it according to your doctor's prescription or the instructions of a pharmacist might lead to worsening your situation or getting ill.
There are plenty of Modafinil sellers online where each provides their product in various prices. Some may be delivering expensive medications while others offer cheap modafinil online. Hearing out your doctor's advice is essential, particularly when it comes to doses. This is because it differs for different patients.
This works best for those individuals who are suffering from narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Adults and teens who are beyond 17 years can have 200 mg of Modafinil each day, specifically in the morning. For teens who are below 17 years of age can have doses that are determined by the physician.
For those who are excessively troubled with shift work sleep disorder, adults and teens beyond 17 years of age can have 200 mg of Modafinil, specifically an hour before working. As for teenagers younger than 17, they can have that specific dose determined by the physician.
Modafinil is a powerful drug which aids sleep disorders and concentration problems. Both adults and teenagers can use the medication but dosages have limitations. This is why doctors are here to help with the exact dosage to take. Modafinil, as being still a drug, should be used properly. Before having it, it is best to consult your physician first.


This unique way of serving fig, oranges and grapefruits not only looks stunning but also is really tasty too.
Cut the figs in to quarters and peel the oranges and the grapefruit, removing the pith and skin of each segment. Boil the milk in a saucepan.
In a bowl, mix together the cornflour and sugar, and beat in the egg yolks. Pour in the boiling milk, and continue beating. The mixture should thicken instantly.
Divide the fruit between the 4 casseroles, and add in the milk mixture. Place on the lids and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
When 30 minutes has almost passed, beat the egg whites and icing sugar until stiff. Take the casseroles out of the oven and divide the meringue mixture between the 4, and place under a hot grill for 1 minute or until the top has browned.


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Search Results for"Passat"
#TBT: History of the Volkswagen Passat in the U.S.
Most Volkswagen fans think that the Golf is currently the longest-lived Volkswagen nameplate, but that honor actually belongs to the Passat, which went on sale a year before the Golf in Europe, in 1973. Based on the Audi 80, the Passat was initially sold in two- and four-door fastback sedan and three- and five-door hatchback form, with a wagon joining one year later. In the U.S., the Passat was marketed as the Dasher, and sold in all three versions from 1974. More than 222,000 w
The new 2020 Volkswagen Passat brings style and value to the sedan game
Over the past 45 years, the Volkswagen Passat has quietly grown into the world's best-selling midsize sedan, with more than 29 million sold. Since 2011, Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tenn., factory has assembled more than 730,000 Passats, for sale in America and elsewhere. Yet to hear some automotive experts say it, the popularity of SUVs has rendered sedans all but obsolete. Last year, some U.S. automakers have said they would pare back or stop selling sedans altogether. At the Detroit auto show
7 Ways the 2020 Passat Will Win You Over
These features speak for themselves.
Second Chances Garage donates Volkswagen Passat to a deserving driver
For many Americans, having a job and helping their communities requires reliable transportation. That's why Second Chances Garage in Frederick, Md., has been working for a decade to refurbish donated vehicles into wheels for those who need them most. "If you have your own car, it can be easy to take it for granted. But, if you've ever had to coordinate share rides or bus schedules, you understand how tough it is," says John Grupenhoff, sales and service manager at Second Chances Garage.
The New 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT, an American-born Sport Sedan
Like all good cars, the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT began with an idea and a few people in a garage. That garage happens to be in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Volkswagen's growing North American Engineering Planning Center, just around the corner from the factory that assembles the Passat and the VW Atlas. The idea: How to bring a touch of Volkswagen's performance heritage into midsize sedans. The resulting 2018 Passat GT is scheduled to arrive later this year as the first model developed and
Volkswagen Chattanooga marks the 10th anniversary of first vehicle assembled
Volkswagen is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first customer vehicle to roll off the assembly line at its Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant. On April 18, 2011, a Passat SEL in Night Blue Metallic equipped with a 2.5-liter engine, automatic transmission, leather interior and 18-inch wheels became the first customer vehicle to be assembled in Chattanooga. "Our Chattanooga family began with the birth of our Passat," said Dean Parker, head of manufacturing at Volkswagen Chattanoog
How a Passat parked inside a hospital helps people get moving again
The mint-green sedan was the first thing you noticed inside the inpatient therapy gym at the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. Parked facing a window, with its engine compartment chopped off, the 1978 Pontiac with matching-green vinyl interior looked a bit alien next to the treadmill and staircases – but all are tools that help patients reacquaint themselves with the outside world. While that car served Siskin Hospital for the past 26 years, Volkswagen Chattanooga thought it could
The Golf SportWagen and Alltrack close a five-decade run of VW wagons in America
Volkswagen knows wagon fans well; we've been selling wagons in America since 1966. But customers are speaking clearly about their preferences—it's an SUV world now—and the 2019 model year will mark the end of Volkswagen Golf Alltrack and SportWagen production for the United States. "As we say goodbye to the Golf wagons, our legacy of 'long roofs' is something worth celebrating," says Megan Closset, Product Manager for the Golf Family at Volkswagen of America. "From the air-cooled Squareback t
The Passat hits the road, Food Network Star style
For the second year running, Volkswagen partnered with Food Network's competition series, Food Network Star, as the automotive sponsor. If you watched, you would have noticed the stylish 2016 Volkswagen Passat making a guest appearance in a number of episodes this season. On Sunday, the Passat enjoyed its biggest role yet: as an integrated part of the culinary road trip challenge. Inspired by the Passat, as the place where family happens, Food Network Star aligned a challenge around meals
2016 Passat named "Best Midsize Sedan" by Cars.com
Most midsize sedan shoppers don't have the time or energy to test nine of the best-selling models on a 220-mile road course, nor enlist a cadre of experts to evaluate major features from on-road feel to trunk space. But Cars.com does, and its most recent test of nine midsize sedans from around the world ended with one clear winner: the U.S.-built 2016 Volkswagen Passat. To get into Cars.com's field, every sedan had to offer an automatic transmission, cost no more than $28,000 on the window st


Mobile trivia games have become a fan favorite, and now there is a new one on the market. TriviaMob, a live game show app, allows players to face off in two separate "mobs," where they answer questions about art, science, entertainment, and more to win prizes.
The platform was created by Cedric Rogers and Shawn Newsum, the co-founders of Culture Genesis, the company behind the trivia game.
"The live stream kicks off every Sunday at 9 p.m. (EST) and 6 p.m. (PST) with two hosts leading separate mobs and asking the same trivia questions at the same time," said Rogers.
TriviaMob was inspired by now defunct, BET's "106 & Park." The co-founders loved the dynamic energy and cultural relevance of the show and felt like it would be a good fit for an online gaming platform.
The launch of TriviaMob sits at the intersection of two trends across culture and tech: 73% of African Americans and 72% of U.S. Latinos aged 13 and older identify as gamers, compared to 66% of the total population, according to Nielsen. Additionally, African Americans and Latinos both view their mobile phone as a primary source of entertainment.
TriviaMob is currently available on the Apple store and will be released for Android in the coming weeks. If you're interested in partaking in the festivities, click here and sign up for the next go-round.


Perri & Sam chose the Chicago Athletic Association for their wedding because "Our first date was at the Chicago Athletic Association (CAA)" said Sam. "It was a magical late fall/early winter evening. We had a lot to talk about and were very excited to get to know each other. We first met in the lobby of the CAA, then walked up to 'the game room' for drinks and snacks. Later in the evening we went into the hotel lobby to explore the old fire place." The couple also chose the historic Chicago wedding venue because of its deep roots to the city and their love for Chicago. Sam told me, "It was important to share this love with our guests who would be coming from out of town or traveling into the city for our celebration. We were most looking forward to getting all of our families together. We were very excited to get all of our friends together to celebrate our love for and with them." It's that type of caring consideration for friends and family that made it such an honor to photograph the couple's wedding and to call the two my friends.
I grew to know Sam many years ago as we traveled the country seeing the Vermont jamband, Phish. Sam has been an enduring member of Phish's non-profit organization, The Waterwheel Foundation. The WaterWheel Foundation raises funds for non profit organizations in each community Phish visits while on tour. The foundation chooses non-profits to help such as social services, primarily those benefiting women and children; environmental, with a focus on clean water and land conservation with public access; as well as food banks, urban gardening and more.
Sam and I once ran into one another once on a plane from Chicago to New York where we were both flying into town solo to catch Phish perform at Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve. I was on my way to an art gallery in Chelsea before the concert and asked Sam if he'd like to join me. Without missing a beat Sam said, "I'm down". That perfectly encapsulates the type of person Sam is – always up for spontaneous adventure! His Instagram reads like a who's-who in the music entertainment industry. Sam has a fortuitous way of meeting – and often capturing a selfie with – celebs such as David Byrne, Eddie Vedder, Bootsy Collins, Jeff Tweedy, Trey Anastasio, Tom Morello and Wayne Coyne, not to mention politicians and actors such as Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Bill Murray and Bob Odenkirk, just to name a few recent run-ins. Much like the Waterwheel Foundation, Sam is such a generous, compassionate and caring soul which is why he was blessed to find his love, Perri, and why so many of his family and friends traveled from far and wide to attend the couple's wedding.
How did you two get engaged?
What was one of the best things that happened on your wedding day?
It is with tremendous honor that I unveil these incredible highlights from Perri and Sam's wedding. To see the entire collection of images captured during the couple's extraordinary day, please visit the FULL GALLERY link in the navigation menu above.


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Ramblin' Jack Elliott on the debts between him and Bob Dylan
By Brad Wheeler The Globe & Mail , PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2016 UPDATED MAY 17, 2018
"He owes me $12."
Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the folk singer, is 85 years old. He sits on a couch in a small dressing room upstairs at Hugh's Room, a comfortable acoustic-music venue for the supper-club set in west-end Toronto. He is impish, round-shouldered and fairly adorable, with a red cravat, a full head of snowy-white hair and a story or seven on his mind. Right now he's talking about Bob Dylan.
"He owes me $12," he goes on, "but that's okay." He'd been asked about Dylan's recent winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and he figures Bob deserves it – "I've always thought his songs were beautifully put together, though I don't try to understand what the words mean" – and that the award would fetch him a pretty penny.
When he mentions Dylan's pile of Grammy awards, Pulitzers and whatnots, Elliott's long-time road manager Rick Robbins, sitting nearby, shakes his head in agreement. "Bob's got enough belt buckles," he says.
And as for who is owed what, Elliott mentions (at the helpful prompting of Robbins) that he's been paid a great compliment by Dylan in his autobiography Chronicles: Volume One.
Which is true enough. Dylan devotes a good three pages to Elliott in his book, calling his old Greenwich Village pal the "King of the Folksingers," no less. Both Elliott and Dylan were Woody Guthrie acolytes. In fact, the two met in late 1961 when Elliott visited his ailing friend Guthrie in a New Jersey hospital.
"There was a fella there," says Elliott, in a slight drawl. "It was Bob Dylan. That's what he told me his name was."
Dylan let Elliott know that he had all of his English records and listed each of the songs he liked and how fond of his guitar playing he was. "So, naturally I liked him," Elliott says, with a grin. The two hit it off.
At one point during our conversation, Elliott has a small coughing spell. "Could I have a little bit of Jim Beam?" he asks. Robbins, heading off for water, quickly replies, "No." Elliott grins. "It's a little game we play," Robbins says, clearly not tired of the sport.
When asked about his most recent crossing of paths with Dylan, the old cowboy-song singer reckons it was four or five years ago, backstage at a concert in Berkeley, Calif., near where Elliott lives. "I said 'Good show, Bob,' and he said, 'Good to see you, Jack.'"
After the two exchanged some words of affection, Dylan out of the blue said, "912 Greens," which is the name of one of the few songs Elliott actually wrote. It's about a banjo-picker named Billy Faier, so Elliott told Dylan that Faier was alive and well and living in Texas. (Faier has since died.)
"Well, when I told Bob that," Elliott says, "he just looked off in the distance and said 'Well, whaddya know, Billy Faier, whaddya know,' and then he just walked away to his tour bus. That was the end of the conversation."
Elliott says all that with a bemused expression and with the added bonus of a fine Dylan impression. Impersonation – there was a lot of that going on back in the day.
Friends of Elliott would tell him that Dylan was stealing his style, but Elliott didn't mind. He felt kind of honoured. And besides, Elliott himself was doing an accurate approximation of This Land is Your Land singer Guthrie.
"I got so used to it, I forgot how to be any other way," says Elliott. "Even Woody would say, 'Jack sounds more like me than I do.'"
Later, on stage, Elliott of course sounds like an octogenarian version of his young self. Wearing a red bandana around his neck and sporting a black cowboy hat – even though he was born in Brooklyn, as a teen he wanted to be a cowboy and briefly ran off to join a rodeo – the raconteur sings his old standbys, accompanying himself ably on an old acoustic flattop. He rap-sings Talking Sailor, he yodels some Jimmie Rodgers, he tells a great story about Les Paul.
Ironically he is the most Elliott on Dylan's Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. A long time ago, at the Gaslight Café, Elliott had performed the song, with its impressed composer in the audience. "I relinquish it to you, Jack!" Dylan shouted when the number was done.
Where Dylan sang Don't Think Twice with an edgy passive-aggression, Elliott sang and still sings the breakup song with gentle acceptance and less judgment.
Dylan gave up a song because Elliott had made it his own. Forget about the $12 – the debt's been paid. Don't think twice, Bobby Dylan.
E Glenn May 17, 2018
Tom Morello's unreleased AC/DC cover set to feature on a new compilation
E Glenn August 21, 2018
John Perry Barlow Tribute Pro-Shot Full Show Video: Bob Weir, Sean Lennon, Lukas Nelson
Elizabeth Lada April 9, 2018


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Canbya aurea, common name yellow pygmy-poppy, is a plant species endemic to the relatively cool northern deserts of the western United States. It is known only from central and southeastern Oregon and northwestern Nevada, as well as one collection reported from Mono County, California. It grows on dry, sandy soil, usually with sagebrush (mostly Artemisia tridentata), at elevations of .

Canbya aurea is a small herb rarely more than  tall, branching at or just above ground level. Leaves are fleshy, linear to oblong, untoothed and unlobed, up to  long. Flowers are bright yellow, up to 10 mm across.

References

Papaveroideae
Flora of the Great Basin
Flora of California
Flora of Nevada
Flora of Oregon
Endemic flora of the United States
Taxa named by Sereno Watson
Flora without expected TNC conservation status

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


What can I say but that it has been an intensely busy couple of months at Birdy & Clementine HQ! I thought I'd take the time and do a quick recap of what's been happening and also let you know a bit about what's coming up.
At the beginning of May, Birdy &Clementine debuted at the Finder Keepers Market for their AW16 market in Sydney. It was a very long trip, driving down the east coast of Australia to get there but it was well worth it! It was a truly wonderful weekend being surrounded by very talented artists and crafters from all over Australia and getting to have a chat with the market goers.
Given how great it was to be included in the Sydney Finders Keepers market, it is with huge pleasure that I can say that I will also be holding a stall at the Brisbane series of these markets in early July (more about that later!). But before then, Birdy &Clementine will be at the BrisStyle markets this Friday eve June 3 from 4pm in King George Square again. Not long after that, I will be bringing everything to Brisbane again for the Big Day of Belonging Market on June 18. The Big Day of Belonging was even kind enough to feature Birdy&Clementine in one of their recent facebook posts (picture above).
As you might imagine, in preparation for these dates I'm keeping busy making new pieces around the clock but it is very exciting to have so many things coming up – hope to see you at one of them soon!
Brisbane Finders Keepers, Coming Right Up!


If you haven't checked out the promo vid for Evil Dead: The Musical do so here. Lots of red syrup and possessed hand action makes for a seemingly faithful, campy adaptation of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell's classic goofball horror. The Toronto production has released three poster spoofs of the Broadway staples Hairspray, Mamma Mia! and Les Miserables. Let us know if you've seen the play (did you sit in the splatter section?) in the comments!
Update: /Film reader, The Addict, points out an online petition to bring the production back to the States. Canadian /Film reader, Jonny, also points out that those "Canada: America's Hat" Busted Tees ads on our site are offensive.