text:
Radio Liberty Fires Reporter for Video of Civilians Killed by Kiev Forces
© Sputnik / Irina Geraschenko
A journalist who worked for Radio Liberty for 25 years was dismissed after publishing a video of an exhumation of four bodies in Donbas. The civilians were killed by the Aidar battalion, the reporter said.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Kotenko
Nationalist Aidar Unit Reorganized As Separate Assault Battalion of Ukraine's Army
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe dismissed its military correspondent in eastern Ukraine Andrei Babitsky after he published a video showing bodies of civilians, allegedly killed by the Ukrainian armed forces, Czech Lidove Noviny newspaper reported Sunday.
"I recorded an exhumation of four bodies – two civilians and two fighters. The locals said that they were not independence supporters, but civilians residing in the Novosvitlivka village. They were killed by volunteers from Ukrainian Aidar battalion," Babitsky said as quoted by the newspaper, adding that the recording was made in September 2014.
The reporter claimed he did not make any comments on the video before sending it to the Moldova's Radio Liberty office.
"The video was published on the website. Right after that, the nationalists sitting in the Ukrainian Radio Liberty's office got hysterical. The huge scandal erupted," Babitsky said.
Open Door Policy: Ukrainian Army Recruiting 'Addicts, Alcoholics, Morons'
Andrei Babitsky worked for Radio Liberty for 25 years. He previously was a correspondent in the Northern Caucasus and strongly criticized Russian authorities during the war in Chechnya. However, he supported Moscow's policy regarding the Crimean peninsula and Crimea's reunification with Russia.
For his stance on the matter, Radio Liberty earlier dismissed the reporter from work for a month.
The Ukrainian forces began military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas in April 2014, trying to suppress local independence supporters. During the confrontation, over 6,000 people were killed, according to UN estimates.
Epoch of Destruction: Will Ukraine Survive Maidan's 'Achievements'?
Maidan Madness: How the Virus Infected All of Ukraine (And Might Kill It)
Bonfire of Illusions: Rally in Kiev on Maidan Anniversary
Poroshenko Booed at Kiev's Maidan During Ceremony Commemorating Protests
Donbass, press freedom, military conflict, Ukrainian crisis, Aidar battalion, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Andrei Babitsky, Novosvitlivka, Ukraine


After tabling a bid last month to purchase an ambulance, magistrates revisited the matter during Monday's fiscal court meeting.
Only one bid was submitted by Horton Emergency Vehicles for a new ambulance at a price of $198,746 back in the July meeting. The idea has been a contentious point argued not only in last month's meeting, but also during a special meeting by the court earlier this month.


This is the one of the most important parts of your landscaping and home property in general.
The grading needs to be done properly to drain water away from the house and off of the property in correct locations. Our trained landscaping professionals will install black dirt to level and flatten the yard to prepare it for the sod. The sod we use is among the best grown in the areas installing it in big rolls that are either 30″ wide by 10′ long or 24″ wide by 6′ long. We have endless resources to make sure you have the correct Sod for your landscape.
Sod needs to be cared for daily with lots of waters during the hot summer when it is typically installed. Once it establishes a strong root system after about 3 weeks we come out for a final test before beginning to mow again on top of your fresh new grass.


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Moment trash-talking UFC fighter has his jaw broken during intense 'war'
by: Stefan Armitage
In a match that has been described as a "war" by fans and commentators alike, one trash-talking UFC fighter was served "poetic justice" after having his jaw jacked by his opponent.
Following a heated five-round clash, defending UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman (16-1-0) defeated his divisive opponent Colby Covington (now 15-2-0) after referee Marc Goddard decided to stop the fight.
In the build-up to the UFC 245 match, the MAGA hat-wearing Covington had told Usman that he was "going to the hospital tomorrow night". But that's certainly not how Colby's plan went down.
This is the eye-watering moment Usman shattered Covington's jaw (WARNING: this is not for the faint-hearted):
Despite entering the cage with equal records, it was Usman who was able to land the TKO and add a 16th win to his victory column.
Following the match, however, Covington took to social media to dispute the result:
"Just a kid from Oregon chasing the American Dream. Working hard and earning everything in my life the hard way since day one. I put myself out there in front of the world to kill or be killed. Marc Godard robbed me tonight with piss poor officiating. He let my opponent fake injuries for extra time and stopped the fight early. Just like America, my will and spirit can never be broken.
"Speed bumps can't slow me down. You people ain't seen nothing yet."
Colby also had some choice words for referee Marc Goddard:
And per the SCMP, during a post-match press conference, Usman was asked if it was "poetic justice" that Covington had to have his mouth wired shut, to which the champ smiled and responded: "Eh, you said it, right on the money."
It was sweet karma for many UFC fans, who relished in the UFC pantomime villain's defeat. Many viewers quickly took to Twitter to mock the fallen fighter:
Prior to the match, Usman had some choice words for Colby, and warned him that he would feel the wrath of every immigrant living in the US:
But ever the respectful champion, Usman did say the following at the post-match conference:
"At the end of the day, honestly, before I step into that cage I pray every time, not just for my safety but their safety as well. It's unfortunate he has to go and wire that jaw shut. He said a lot of things, and you have to back it up. He was humble […] I'd like to think he's humble. I wish him all the best."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Webinar: Identity Theft Affects Every Community
Glossary of Scams and Legal Terms
Mergers and Competition
Mobile Technology Issues
The Do Not Call Registry
Shopping Tools for Consumers
Protecting Consumer Privacy and Security
Military Consumer Protection
Mobile Cramming
Auto Warranty Scam
A scammer calls you with a sales pitch for renewing your auto warranty or insurance policy. The scammer may have acquired information about your car and its existing warranty to make the offer seem more credible.
Charity Scams
Scammers call asking for charitable donations, often after large-scale disasters. They may make up phony charities or spoof a real charity to trick you out of your money.
Chinese Consulate Scam
Scammers, speaking Mandarin, pose as Chinese consulate employees. They may request money for a family member who they say is in trouble or ask for personal information for a parcel delivery. Sometimes they claim the call relates to a criminal investigation. Criminal Liaison Unit, an office within the FTC that works with other law enforcement authorities to prosecute criminal fraud cases.
Disaster Relief Scam
After disasters, scammers may impersonate charities and call seeking donations for disaster aid. Before giving money, verify that the charity is legitimate.
Free Trial Scams
Free-trial product offers you receive over the phone may be too good to be true. A small fee by credit card may be required, which can lead to other unwanted fraudulent charges, or you may be unable to cancel after the trial runs out, forcing you to pay for the product in question.
Employment/Work-at-Home Scams
Bogus job postings, phone calls, recruitment emails and online ads – often illegally using legitimate company names – are all tools scammers use to defraud people seeking employment. Always be suspicious of quick offers with high salaries or pre-payment requests for coaching, training or certifications, and never share personal information until you're certain a job posting is legitimate. Many employment scams also offer advanced payment for supplies. These checks will often bounce, costing you money.
Gift Card Scams
A telltale sign of phone scams is if the caller asks you to make a payment with a gift card. Many scammers prefer this non-refundable and hard to trace form of payment.
Grandparent Scam
A form of imposter scam in which the scammer calls a person, pretending to be a family member in distress and pressuring the person to send money immediately for bail, hospital bills, etc.
Grant Scams
Scammers claim that you are eligible for a government grant and offer to forward it to your checking account as soon as you give them your account information, which they sell or use to steal your money. The scammer may spoof the number of the government agency they claim to be representing, in a Government Grant Scam.
Health Insurance Scam
Scammers call peddling phony health care coverage at discounted rates. Callers sometimes use telephone spoofing to impersonate government officials or insurance companies. Often the products they sell are not insurance, but instead medical discount cards that are not accepted by health care providers. While fraudulent solicitations occur year-round, be especially vigilant during open enrollment season.
Imposter Scam
Scammers contact consumers through a phone call, robocall, email, or other communication falsely claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, immigration authorities, or some other government agency or entity, demanding immediate payment, often by untraceable methods like gift cards.
Tech Support Scam
A form of fraud in which a scammer contacts a consumer either online or by phone, claiming to be from their computer or software company. Scammers will falsely state that the person's device has been infected by a virus or other form of malware. They then charge people to "fix" the non-existent defect or remote into their device to steal personal information.
Asset Freeze
In some cases, the FTC will ask a federal court temporarily to deny defendants access to their bank accounts and other financial holdings. The purpose is to prevent defendants from hiding cash, laundering it, or transferring it offshore, so that money for victimized consumers will be available if the court agrees that the defendant has violated the law.
Avalanche clause
In consumer protection cases brought in federal court, if a defendant claims not to have money to pay a financial judgment, some orders include a clause specifying that if the financial information the defendants gave the FTC proves to be untruthful, the FTC may ask the judge to order payment of the full judgment.
Biz-opp
Short for "business opportunity." The FTC has brought many case challenging false earnings claims made by sellers of biz-opps. The agency's Business Opportunity Rule requires that sellers of business opportunities give prospective buyers specific information to help them evaluate a business opportunity.
Bureau of Consumer Protection
The branch of the FTC that handles consumer protection matters. The Bureau includes the Director and staff in Headquarters building, as well as several Divisions, including:
Advertising Practices – enforces truth-in-advertising laws;
Financial Practices – enforces laws on deceptive and unfair practices in the financial services industry;
Marketing Practices – enforces the law with respect to Internet, telecommunications, and direct-mail fraud; deceptive spam; fraudulent business, investment, and work-at-home schemes; and the national Do Not Call violations;
Privacy and Identity Protection – enforces the law with respect to consumer privacy; breaches of data security; identity theft; and laws and regulations for the credit reporting industry.
Enforcement – litigates civil contempt and civil penalty actions to enforce all FTC federal court injunctions and administrative orders that address consumer protections issues;
Consumer and Business Education – plans, develops, and implements creative national campaigns to alert consumers to their rights;
CAN-SPAM Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act)
A federal law passed in 2004 that established standards for the sending of commercial e-mail and directed the FTC to enforce those standards.
Competent and Reliable Scientific Evidence
A legal term describing the level of proof companies typically must have in order to substantiate claims they make about their products.
Supplementing its law enforcement efforts, the FTC publishes educational materials to help consumers make informed decisions and avoid scams, and to help businesses comply with the law.
Consumer Sentinel
A central database of consumer complaints and investigative tools managed by the FTC and made up of data from hundreds of law enforcement agencies and consumer groups, including the Postal Inspection Service, the Better Business Bureau, and the state attorneys general, as well a number of foreign countries. Much of the complaint information is available to federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies to use in investigations and to track trends taking place.
COPPA (pronounced 'COP-uh')
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. A federal law enforced by the FTC requiring website owners to take steps to protect children's privacy, including obtaining valid parental permission before collecting personally identifiable information from kids under 12. Not to be confused with the Children's Online Protection Act, called 'COPE-uh,' which has been the subject of constitutional challenges at the Supreme Court.
Corrective Advertising
A legal remedy sometimes imposed by the courts that requires a company to run ads affirmatively correcting deceptive claims made in previous ads.
Cramming
The illegal practice of adding unauthorized charges to consumers' telephone bills or credit cards.
[The National] Do Not Call Registry
Implemented by the FTC in 2003, a national list of phone numbers registered consumers who do not wish to receive telemarketing calls. The rule requires covered telemarketers to "scrub" their lists of numbers on the registry. Violations of the Rule can result in substantial civil penalties.
Enforcement Sweep
A coordinated group of cases targeting a particular kind of consumer protection wrongdoing often brought in conjunction with other federal, state, or local consumer protection authorities.
Also known as FACTA ('FACT' uh'), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Among other things, the statute gives consumers the right to a free annual credit report at annualcreditreport.com, mandates new procedures aimed at combating identity theft, imposes limits on the sharing of credit information, and requires companies to follow stricter guidelines in disposing of sensitive financial data.
FTC Act
Passed by Congress in 1914, the FTC Act created the Federal Trade Commission and charged the agency with enforcing the Act's ban on "unfair methods of competition" and "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce."
Identity Theft (ID Theft)
Scammers can steal a person's identity (often through the fraudulent use of their social security numbers or credit cards) and rack up debt in the innocent victim's name. The FTC's Consumer Response Center runs an Identity Theft Hotline for impacted consumers.
Mail Order Rule
The common name for the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, the law enforced by the FTC that requires catalog companies, online marketers, and other businesses to send merchandise to consumers promptly.
Pernicious software installed on consumers' devices without their knowledge or without an accurate explanation of the ramifications. These programs can cause devices to crash, and be used by criminals to monitor and control users' online activity, steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud.
Monetary Remedies
There are two types of monetary remedies available to the FTC:
Civil Penalties: A civil penalty is a statutory amount paid by a defendant for violating an FTC rule or order. The FTC does not have statutory authority to assess fines and does not have authority to seek civil penalties for an initial violation of the FTC Act. The FTC can seek civil penalties if a defendant violates a previous FTC order, and for violations of some other, narrower statutes. Claims for civil penalties are filed by the Department of Justice on the FTC's behalf.
Consumer Redress: In some cases, the FTC can seek an order requiring that defendants turn over money they obtained illegally so that it can be used to compensate for the harm caused by the defendants' alleged misconduct. The Commission can obtain redress either by court order or through a settlement agreement with the defendants. Frequently, redress funds are sent directly to consumers who lost money due to the misconduct, or it can be paid to the U.S. Treasury if aggrieved consumers can't be identified.
Negative Option Plan
Consumers who enroll in this type of plan are notified of upcoming merchandise shipments and have a set period to decline the shipment. Sellers interpret a customer's silence, or failure to take an affirmative action, as acceptance of an offer. The FTC's Negative Option Rule requires sellers to clearly disclose the terms of any such negative option plan for the sale of goods before consumers subscribe.
Neighbor (Caller-ID) Spoofing
Scammers spoof caller ID information so that an incoming phone call displays the same initial digits as your own phone number (usually the first six), making it seem like someone else with a local number is trying to reach you. In Mirror Spoofing scams, the caller makes your own phone number appear on your caller ID.
A form of fraud in which a scam artist sends an email (or places a phone call) purporting to be from the recipient's bank, internet service provider, or other trusted source and asking for personal information such as credit card or bank account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers. Phishing is a common method of perpetrating identity theft.
Cybercriminals take over a consumer's device and block access until the consumer pays a ransom. In many cases, the fraudsters threaten to destroy the hard drive if the consumer doesn't pay by a deadline.
In a consumer fraud case, a person appointed by a court to oversee the operations of a business while the FTC matter is ongoing. The court also may direct the receiver to wind down the entity's operations at the end of a case.
A pre-recorded telemarketing call. As of September 1, 2009, nearly all telemarketing robocalls to consumers' home and cell phones are illegal.
Smishing
Short for "SMS phishing," smishing often involves text messages claiming to be from your bank or another company. The message displays a phone number to call or a link to click, giving scammers the chance to trick you out of money or personal information.
Unsolicited commercial email.
Originally referring to the practice of sending a commercial email with a deceptive "FROM:" address in an effort to fool the recipient into thinking the message comes from a trusted source. Spoofing is a violation of both Section 5 of the FTC Act and the CAN-SPAM Act. Now the phrase is also used to describe the practice of abusing the Caller ID system (Caller ID spoofing) so that a false number appears on a consumer's Caller ID screen.
A software program installed on consumers' computers without their consent to monitor their computer use. Spyware may be used to send pop-up ads, redirect computers to certain websites, or record keystrokes, which could lead to identity theft.
Any plan, program, or campaign to sell goods or services through interstate telephone calls. The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act (TCPA) became law in 1994 to combat telemarketing fraud. The FTC enforces the law through the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR).
Temporary Restraining Order
Also known as a TRO, this is an order issued by the court, often without a hearing, to prevent an action by a person or company for a short period of time. In a fraud case, FTC staff may get a TRO to prevent a company from continuing to engage in a particular practice, such as engaging in certain kinds of telemarketing or billing consumers' credit cards.
The federal Truth in Lending Act, enforced by BCP's Division of Financial Practices.


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Passed | 1h 59min | Drama, Romance | 22 April 1938 (USA)
Jim is a test pilot. His wife Ann and best friend Gunner try their best to keep him sober. But the life of a test pilot is anything but safe.
Victor Fleming
Vincent Lawrence (screen play), Waldemar Young (screen play) | 1 more credit »
Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy | See full cast & crew »
John Glenn's Importance to the U.S. Space Program — and to the Country Itself
08 December 2016 | PEOPLE.com
Good and Bad War-Themed Movies on Veterans Day on TCM
12 November 2014 | Alt Film Guide
Adele not worried about weight
09 November 2012 | Virgin Media - Celebrity
Victor Fleming Movies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 'Best Picture' Oscar nominations
1938 Chronicle of The Cinema
My Top 25 Clark Gable Movies
Search for "Test Pilot" on Amazon.com
Title: Test Pilot (1938)
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination. See more awards »
Certificate: Passed Drama | Romance | War
A dead World War II bomber pilot named Pete Sandidge, becomes the guardian angel of another pilot, Ted Randall. He guides Ted through battle and helping him to romance his old girlfriend, despite her excessive devotion to Sandidge's memory.
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Van Johnson
Too Hot to Handle (1938)
Certificate: Passed Adventure | Comedy | Drama
Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find the an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.
Director: Jack Conway
Stars: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Walter Pidgeon
Certificate: Passed Adventure | Drama | Romance
Two buddies who rise from fly-by-night wildcatters to oil tycoons over a twenty year period both love the same woman.
Stars: Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert
Certificate: Passed Drama
Andrew Manson (Robert Donat), a young, enthusiastic doctor takes his first job in a Welsh mining town, and begins to wonder at the persistent cough many of the miners have. When his ... See full summary »
Director: King Vidor
Stars: Robert Donat, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Richardson
A Barbary Coast saloonkeeper and a Nob Hill impresario are rivals for the affections of a beautiful singer, both personally and professionally in 1906 San Francisco.
Director: W.S. Van Dyke
Stars: Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy
Men in White (1934)
Certificate: Passed Drama | Romance
An idealistic doctor must make some hard choices between his dedication to the profession and his personal life.
Director: Richard Boleslawski
Stars: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean Hersholt
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
Drama | Music | Musical
This send-up of ragtime song and dance begins in 1915 San Francisco when society boy Roger Grant decides to pursue popular rather than serious music.
Director: Henry King
Stars: Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche
Certificate: Passed Biography | Drama
When a death row prisoner tells him he wouldn't have led a life of crime if only he had had one friend as a child, Father Edward Flanagan decides to do something about. An advocate of child... See full summary »
Director: Norman Taurog
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull
Command Decision (1948)
Certificate: Passed Action | Drama | War
Army generals struggle with the decision to prioritize bombing the German factories producing new jet fighters over the extremely high casualties the mission will cost.
Director: Sam Wood
Stars: Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson
Certificate: Passed Comedy | Romance
A newspaper man, his ignored fiancée, and his former employee, a down on his luck reporter, hatch an elaborate scheme to turn a false news story into the truth in order to prevent a high-society woman from suing for libel.
Stars: Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy
Saratoga (1937)
Certificate: Passed Drama | Comedy | Romance
After winning a stud farm in lieu of gambling debts, bookie Duke Bradley turns an eye to the daughter of the now deceased gambler and her millionaire fiancée.
Stars: Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore
Four Daughters (1938)
Drama | Music | Romance
Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, has passed on his love of music to his four early adult daughters - Thea, Emma, Kay and Ann - who live with him and his sister, the ... See full summary »
Director: Michael Curtiz
Stars: Claude Rains, John Garfield, Jeffrey Lynn
Complete credited cast:
Clark Gable ... Jim Lane
Myrna Loy ... Ann Thurston Barton
Spencer Tracy ... Gunner Morse
Lionel Barrymore ... Howard B. Drake
Samuel S. Hinds ... General Ross
Marjorie Main ... Landlady
Ted Pearson ... Joe
Gloria Holden ... Mrs. May Benson
Louis Jean Heydt ... Greg Benson
Virginia Grey ... Sarah
Priscilla Lawson ... Mabel
Claudia Coleman ... Mrs. Frank Barton
Arthur Aylesworth ... Mr. Frank Barton
Jim Lane is a test pilot, whose professional life is dangerous, and whose personal life compensates for that danger by fast living and recklessness. As such, he lives from paycheck to paycheck, and is often in debt, but knows his lucrative job will eventually get him out of those debts. On a coast to coast record attempt speed flight, Jim's plane, the Drake Bullet (named after the company's owner), hits some mechanical problems and Jim is forced to make an emergency landing on a farmer's field in Kansas. The farm belongs to the Barton family, whose straight talking daughter, Ann Barton, falls for Jim, and visa versa. They impulsively decide to get married and live in New York. Jim's sidekick and mechanic, "Gunner" Morris, doesn't know if Jim and marriage go hand in hand, both because of the type of person he is and his profession. Ann too soon learns that she plays second fiddle to Jim's work, she referring to the sky as Jim's mistress. Ann also truly comes to understand the dangers ... Written by Huggo
homosexual subtext | blockbuster | pilot | marriage | danger | See All (17) »
YOUR GREATEST SCREEN THRILL IN 10 YEARS! (original ad - all caps) See more »
Passed | See all certifications »
Der Testpilot See more »
Lake Norconian Club, Norco, California, USA See more »
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) See more »
119 min (Turner library print)
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
The aircraft that Clark Gable tested and ripped the wings off was a Northrop Gamma, Northrop serial numbers 189 through 290, U.S. Army Air Corps designation A-17A with serial numbers 36-162 to 36-261. These aircraft were ordered in December 1935 and were delivered between August 1936 and December 1937. In 1932, Northrop had become a subsidiary of the Douglas Aircraft Company and in 1937, it was reorganized as the El Segundo Division of Douglas. One hundred twenty nine A-17As were ordered but only 93 served with the Army Air Corps for 18 months. The 93 were released for sale to France in 1940 and refurbished by Douglas; 61 were transferred to the Royal Air Force after France surrendered to the Germans and were named Nomad Mk. I. The RAF considered these aircraft as obsolete and 57 were assigned to the South African Air Force as trainers. The remaining 32 went to the Royal Canadian Air Force and served exclusively for training purposes as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. See more »
Early in the movie, the "Drake Bullet" plane which Jim Lane is piloting springs an oil leak, which blows back on the cowling and side of the plane, clearly staining it with black oil. However, when we see the plane land in the Kansas wheat field and taxi to a stop, the side of the plane now has no signs of any oil stains whatsoever. But when the camera angle goes to a close-up of Jim climbing out of the plane, varying degrees of the oil stains on the side of the plane are again visible. See more »
Ann Thurston Barton: You're a funny looking gazabo
Referenced in Thousands Cheer (1943) See more »
The Prisoner's Song (If I Had the Wings of an Angel)
(1924) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Guy Massey
Sung a cappella by Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and others
A Great Love Story
25 August 2013 | by atlasmb – See all my reviews
Test Pilot surprised me with how good it is. As a love story, I rank it right up there with The Way We Were.
Clark Gable plays a test pilot, Jim, who lives hard and fast. Like many who live on the edge, he is superstitious and has an addictive personality. To cope with the risks he must take, he never deals with his feelings and drowns his fears in excesses of liquor and women.
Then he meets Ann, played by Myrna Loy--a fresh-faced, wisecracking Kansas girl who falls hard for the guy. Likewise, he falls for her and before you know it, they are married.
After they are married, Ann learns quickly what life with Jim must be like. It is a harsh reality that she cannot shake; she loves the mug.
Jim's sidekick is Gunner, a guy who also loves him but has learned to cope with Jim's short-sighted view of life. When Ann enters the picture, it becomes more than he can bear; he can endure his own pain, but cannot stand to witness hers.
We see a love story that can only end in pain, made all the more painful because all three characters are lovable.
The writing in this movie is among the best I have seen. There is not a false note in the entire film. It's difficult to write this kind of banter without making it seem false or shallow. Later in the film, when the going gets tougher, the writing conveys the feelings deep within even when they are talking only about the mundane.
It has been written that Myrna Loy liked this film best of all she acted in. Personally, I would give her the Best Actress award for this performance, though she was not even nominated.
Gable holds his own. And Tracy plays Gunner with a convincing subtlety.
Victor Fleming, who directed The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind the very next year, had another winner in this one. I am surprised it does not get much mention.


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USA Opens Japan Cup with Win Over China
The USA Women's National Team posted a 4-1 win over China to open play at the 2007 Japan Cup in Yokohama, Japan. The entire pitching staff saw time, with Jennie Finch earning the win in the circle.
The red, white and blue took the lead in the first inning when Caitlin Lowe scored off a wild pitch after drawing a walk to reach first. Finch started in the circle and pitched two complete innings, allowing two hits with no runs.
Stacey Nuveman started a three-run fourth inning when she drew the team's third walk of the game. Kelly Kretschman singled to centerfield and stole second to get in scoring position. An RBI single by Andrea Duran plated Vicky Galindo, who served as pinch runner for Nuveman. Two more runs scored when Kretschman crossed the plate on an error by the Chinese catcher and Duran off a sac fly by Tairia Flowers, giving the United States a 4-0 lead.
China avoided a shutout in the fifth inning when leadoff batter Zhang Lifang hit a double off Lisa Fernandez, who came in the fifth inning after Cat Osterman threw two hitless innings with five strikeouts. LiFang scored off a double by Tan Ying to give China its only run of the game.
Alicia Hollowell and Monica Abbott tossed the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, allowing no runs to be scored.
The team combined for eight hits with Kretschman leading the way with a 2-for-3 plate performance that included a run scored.
Next up for the team is Australia tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. local time.


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Pope says getting COVID-19 vaccine a 'moral obligation' – NBC Chicago
Pope Francis suggested on Monday that getting the coronavirus vaccine was a "moral obligation" and denounced how people had been swayed by "baseless information" to deny one of the most effective life-saving measures during the pandemic.
Francis used some of his strongest words to call for people to get vaccinated in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, an annual event in which he sets out the Vatican's foreign policy goals for the year.
Francis, 85, has generally avoided talking about the vaccination as a "moral obligation", although his COVID-19 advisers have called it a "moral responsibility". that refusing to be vaccinated was "suicidal".
On Monday, he went further, saying that individuals have a responsibility to take care of themselves "and that translates into respect for the health of those around us. Health care is a moral obligation, "he said.
He lamented that more and more ideological divisions discourage people from getting vaccinated.
"Frequently, people allow themselves to be swayed by the ideology of the moment, often reinforced by baseless information or poorly documented facts," he said, calling for the adoption of "reality therapy" to correct this distortion.
"Vaccines are not a magic cure, but they surely represent, in addition to other treatments which must be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease", he added.
Some Catholics, including some conservative American bishops and cardinals, have claimed that vaccines based on research using cells derived from aborted fetuses were immoral and refused to receive the vaccines.
The Vatican Doctrine Office, however, said it was "morally acceptable" for Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research using cells derived from aborted fetuses. Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
Francis reiterated his call for universal access to vaccines, especially in regions of the world with low immunization rates, and called for revisions to patent rules so that poorer countries can develop their own vaccines.
"It is appropriate that institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization adapt their legal instruments lest monopoly rules constitute additional obstacles to production and to organized and coherent access to resources. global health care, "he said.
"The unvaccinated are responsible for their own choices," President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. "These choices were fueled by cable TV and social media. These companies and personalities make money by peddling lies and misinformation that can kill their own customers and their own supporters. It's wrong. It is immoral.
Francois delivered the speech in front of a much smaller group of diplomats than usual and skipped the part of the audience that the ambassadors savor: a chance to greet him personally and exchange a few words. The restrictions were clearly a response to the exponential increase in coronavirus cases in Italy.
On other issues, François deplored the devastation of Syria, calling for "political and constitutional reforms" so that the country can "be reborn", and urged that any sanctions avoid targeting civilians. He did not name Russia by name but called for "acceptable and lasting solutions" for Ukraine and the South Caucasus, inspired by "mutual trust and the will to engage in a calm discussion".
And he also urged more open communications to avoid culture wars, not to mention gender ideology or other hot topics by name.
"(Some attitudes) leave no room for freedom of expression and now take the form of the 'culture of cancellation' that pervades many circles and public institutions. Under the guise of defending diversity, it ends up canceling any sense of identity, at the risk of silencing positions, "he warned.
NBC Chicago
Posted by Sara Adm	In USA News	Last Modified 1 week ago 1 week ago
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AT&T and Verizon delay 5G service at airports


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Blacksmith Shop Ben Thresher's Mill, Barnet Vermont
The Blacksmith Shop was added to the east end of the main mill c. 1895. J. Loren Judkins purchased the shop from the John Manning Farm (old Goodwillie Farm) located north across the Stevens River in Barnet Center. During the Revolutionary War, Joseph Goodwillie served as a gunsmith in the British Army. In 1792, he moved to Barnet and brought his family the following year. He purchased the farm from his brother, the Reverend David Goodwillie. Joseph Goldwillie possibly built a blacksmith shop on his farm shortly after 1793. This is the same shop that was purchased c. 1895 and reassembled on the east end of the present mill. It is possible that the shop is about 185 years old.
The Blacksmith Shop measures 19' 8" by 17' and is constructed of heavy beams and siding. The shop consists of one floor, the forge area and a cellar. There is currently a metal roof.
When the Blacksmith Shop was reassembled at this site, a new brick chimney was built on a concrete foundation. The forge table measures 4' square with bricks for the fire-bed. A clean-out box for ashes and a water tank for wetting blacksmith coal are under the forge bed. The forge was originally powered by a large wooden bellows, now removed. The forge is currently fired by an electric blower manufactured by the Canedy Otto Manufacturing Company of Chicago Heights, Illinois. Electric lines were first run on the road c. 1903 and the blower may have been installed at that time. The electric blower is located in the cellar of the shop and can also be driven by water power. It is a type known as a rotary 'squirrel-cage' blower, which is essentially a series of fans mounted on a wheel. Air is directed through a sheetmetal pipe upstairs to the forge area. On the left side of the chimney is a wooden damper box where the exact amount of air can be manually controlled before entering the bottom of the forge. The purpose of the blower is to force air into the soft coal fire on the forge bed. Fumes and exhaust smoke rise from the forge and enter a metal deflector about half way up the right side of the chimney.
The anvil is located near the forge and the manufacturer is unknown. It weighs about 130 pounds, measures 25" long and has a single horn. The anvil, with two hardy holes, is fastened to a wood block that is bolted to the floor. The "hitting edge" on the face of the anvil is 30" from the floor. The height of the hitting edge is critical. The smith should have the face of the anvil reach the knuckles of his hands as they hang by his side. This critical height allows him to use the power of gravity and the full weight of his hammer on his work without straining or bending his back. The present anvil was brought to the mill by Ben Thresher and replaced a 250 pound anvil used by Fenton Judkins.
The cast-iron cone mandril is portable and its manufacturer is unknown. It is hollow, 4' high with a 1' base. The mandril is employed when welding hub bands, rings, hoops and stake bands. Running along the side is a tapered groove, employed when welding a ring into an eyebolt.
The swage block is 15" square and sits on an iron table near the anvil. Its manufacturer is unknown. The cast-iron block has numerous holes (round, square, rectangular, triangular & hexagonal) and tapered edges. The swage block is used to shape and draw hot iron rods into specific sizes and shapes.
There are two spring-post bench vises mounted on the work bench near the south wall. Their manufacturer is unknown. One vise has 6" jaws and the other has 3" jaws cut from original 5" jaws. The vises are cast steel and set at a working height where the smith can file, cut, bend, twist and hammer metals into desired shapes.
The caulking vise is a "Green River No. 3" manufactured by the Noyes Foundry Company of Greenfield, Massachusetts. The vise is portable and foot-operated. It is used to hold horseshoes while welding on the toe caulks. It also has a die box with attachments for making the heads for iron bolts.
The hand shear is a "Little Giant No. 2" manufactured by the Little Giant Punch and Shear Company of Sparta, Illinois. The hand-shear has a seven and a half inch blade for cutting cold or hot steel. It can also be used to punch holes in hot iron. It is mounted on a wooden block that is bolted to the floor.
The trip hammer was possibly manufactured by L.D. Howard of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The machine has no name or numbers and the Howard association is oral history. The hammer is located in front of the coal bin near the west wall of the shop. The water-powered trip hammer is driven from the east end of the third line shaft in the cellar of the Blacksmith Shop. The trip hammer is foot operated, which allows the smith to hold a heavy iron bar with both hands while the hot bar is being molded under the weight of the large hammer. The hammer delivers a forceful blow to the metal many times greater than can be done with the smith's own strength and thus is a great labor-saving tool. The height of the base is adjustable and there are interchangeable dies and a punch.
The wall-mounted tire shrinker is possibly the oldest tool in the shop. It is mounted on the north wall and the inscription "F C No. 3" is legible, It is painted green and further cleaning may reveal more identification. With the tire shrinker, the smith can grab hot flat iron tires within its jaws and shrink the length of the tire. It is no longer in use having been replaced by the Champion tire shrinker.
The Champion tire shrinker "No. 2" was manufactured by the Champion Blower and Forge Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is portable and has iron wheels. A tire can be set on edge between the jaws of the shrinker and the smith can turn the large hand wheel to move the base into the hot tire and shrink its length.
The tire bender, now located near the front door of the Wagon Shop, was once located in the Blacksmith Shop. It is bench-mounted and is possibly a Champion. The bender is crank-operated. Hot iron up to 8" wide can be rolled in the tire bender. It is used mainly to form silo hoops, water tub hoops, and wheel tires.
The wall-mounted nut remover is located near the door leading into the main mill. It was manufactured by the National Steam Pump Company of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. It is patent dated "Nov. 8', 98." The tool was used to remove nut heads from buggy tire rims.
The wood stove in the Blacksmith Shop is located near the southwest corner, It has "No. 30" cast on the loading door and will hold a 24" log. Its smoke pipe extends up and across the ceiling of the shop and vents out the chimney near the east wall. The wood furnace, near the southeast corner in the cellar, is the main heat source for the mill. A smoke pipe extends up through the first floor and runs across the ceiling in the Wagon Shop to the chimney located near the west wall. The cordwood saw is belt-driven from the third line shaft in the cellar. It is operated outside of the mill and wood is thrown into the cellar to feed the wood furnace.
Wagon & Woodworking Shop
Blacksmith Shop
Cider Hill
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Oakland International Tops 1 Million Passengers in September
New Routes and More Flights Lead to Busiest September in a Decade
Oakland, CA: (October 31, 2017) – Oakland International Airport (OAK) today reports that it served 1,083,301 passengers in September, an increase of 65,511 passengers (6.4%) over the prior year, reflecting 4.3% more flight operations and 7.5% more seats. This is OAK's highest monthly passenger volume for the month of September since 2007.
While domestic passenger volume increased by 2.4%, OAK's international passenger volume increased by 150%, reflecting new operations by Southwest, Volaris, and Norwegian. Norwegian carried nearly twice as many passengers during the month as it did last year, reaching 37,560 in September.
Port of Oakland Director of Aviation, Bryant L. Francis, said, "OAK has seen passenger gains for now 46 consecutive months, beginning with December 2013. We are pleased to see this momentum continue as we transition out of the summer peak and look towards the year-end holiday season. Our customers are responding strongly to an ever-expanding list of destinations now available nonstop from Oakland, and the convenience of flying OAK is bringing more passengers through our terminals."
Thus far in 2017, Southwest commenced its inaugural Bay Area international service from OAK to two beach destinations in Mexico, in addition to operating new nonstop service to Newark/New York City for the summer season, which returns next spring as year-round service. Norwegian began year-round service to Barcelona in June. The list of nonstop markets increases in early 2018 as Norwegian will launch nonstop service to both Paris and Rome.
For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.oaklandairport.com. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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sdennechuk@massport.com
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WTS-Boston congratulates Kelly McGonagle on being selected for the 2018 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award!
Kelly McGonagle, the Skanska McCourt JV Project Manager for the I-90 Toll Plaza Demolition at Interchanges 9-13 Project, led this complex, heavy civil transportation project to a successful, early completion while being recognized by her peers and the project owner for exemplary leadership.
This $40 Million contract was completed in one year, meeting the interim contract milestone 12 days early and the final completion milestone 20 days early (finished in October 2017). Accomplishing this success required 24/7 work at seven separate sites stretching across 40 miles of I-90. Labor relations were key as the project schedule required lots of off shift work over nights and weekends, in total over 130,000 craft man hours were logged. As project manager Kelly led both Skanska and McCourt forces, effectively managing the joint venture organization which had a peak staff of 60+ office personnel and union craft labor. She also coordinated with MassDOT, the designer (AECOM), utility owners and 18 subcontractors to complete the work. Under Kelly's leadership, the joint venture redesigned some of the traffic sequences to allow more efficient construction and further minimize impacts to the traveling public. She also led the team in exceeding the 11% Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) goal achieving 12% participation.
MassDOT Resident Engineer for the project, Jean-Pierre Telemaque had this to say about Kelly's performance:
"Kelly McGonagle is one of the brightest and most well rounded individuals I have ever had the honor of working with. Her unbounded project managerial skills showed in spades through her hard work on the vastly complicated Toll Demolition Project."
In addition to her exemplary work on this project, Kelly is an advocate for women within the industry and within Skanska. She is a member for National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) and encourages other women in the office to participate. She is also a leader for the New England chapter of the Skanska Women's Network (SWN) a group dedicated to providing opportunities for professional development, work/life integration, mentoring, networking and support for women in the company. She currently oversees the mentorship program which has paired 10 mentees (8 female, 2 male) with senior mentors within the company for a nine-month, guided mentorship.


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Labor Secretary Acosta Defends Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Plea In Florida Acosta is under scrutiny for the 2008 deal he oversaw when he was a U.S. attorney in Florida, now that prosecutors in New York have brought a new case in which Epstein could face 45 years in prison.
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta Defends His Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal
Laurel Wamsley
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Wednesday defended a 2008 plea deal made with Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier accused of yearslong sex trafficking of minors. The deal was made when Acosta was a U.S. attorney in Florida. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Wednesday defended a 2008 plea deal made with Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier accused of yearslong sex trafficking of minors. The deal was made when Acosta was a U.S. attorney in Florida.
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta defended a 2008 plea agreement he oversaw as a U.S. attorney in Florida in which multimillionaire and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein got a light sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to state charges.
"Facts are important, and facts are being overlooked," Acosta told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.
Acosta has come under heavy scrutiny now that federal prosecutors in New York have brought a new case against Epstein, charging him with serious crimes, including sex trafficking of minors. If found guilty, Epstein could face up to 45 years in prison.
In 2007, Epstein was accused of recruiting dozens of girls, some as young as 13, for massages and sex at his mansion in Palm Beach, Fla. Under the terms of the 2008 deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of prostitution (one with a minor under age 18) and was required to register as a sex offender. He was given immunity from federal prosecution, served 13 months in county jail and was allowed to spend his days on work release at his Palm Beach office.
Many victims have complained that they were not informed of the government's deal and were unhappy with it. In February, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra ruled that the failure by prosecutors to inform victims about the agreement violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act.
Acosta said Wednesday that his office had handled the case appropriately. He said the Epstein case was complicated by the fact that it had originated with state rather than federal authorities and that many of the young victims were scared by the prospect of testifying. He said that telling the victims the deal involved a mechanism for restitution could have jeopardized their case, by allowing Epstein's attorneys to paint the victims as motivated by money.
Such a deal might not look very good in retrospect, Acosta said, explaining that it was the prosecutors' calculation that it was better to secure a guilty plea and register Epstein as a sex offender than risk going to trial and potentially see Epstein go free. "There is a value to a sure guilty plea, because letting him walk — letting what the state attorney was ready to do go forward — would have been absolutely awful," he said.
Trump Defends Labor Secretary Acosta Over Epstein Plea Deal
In Acosta's telling, it was the U.S. attorney's office that intervened when state prosecutors failed to charge Epstein with appropriately serious crimes. He said that a grand jury had returned only a single charge of solicitation of prostitution and that Epstein would have faced no jail time if not for the federal prosecutors' insistence on a stricter deal.
He also blamed Florida officials for the work release granted to Epstein during his sentence. Acosta called the work release "BS" and said that because the non-prosecution deal was an agreement between the state and Epstein, it was the state's authority to grant him such freedom.
Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have called on Acosta to resign. "It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta's ability to lead the Department of Labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him," Schumer said.
Acosta gave no indication on Wednesday of an intention to resign as labor secretary, and he described his relationship with the president as "outstanding."
Epstein amassed his wealth as a money manager and investor for clients such as Les Wexner, the founder of brands including Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. He has long surrounded himself with the rich and famous, including President Trump and former President Bill Clinton, who has distanced himself from Epstein.
On Tuesday, Trump defended Acosta and said the plea deal happened many years ago. "What I do know is that he's been a really, really great secretary of labor. The rest of it, we will have to look at," he said.
Trump was quoted in a 2002 New York magazine story as calling Epstein a "terrific guy" and saying that Epstein "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."
The president said Tuesday that he had had a falling out with Epstein and that he didn't think he had spoken to Epstein in 15 years.
Wealthy Financier Jeffrey Epstein Charged With Sex Trafficking Of Minors
House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland invited Acosta to testify at a July 23 hearing about the deal. Cummings and other House Democrats also sent a letter to the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility in which they said: "There are significant concerns with Secretary Acosta's actions in approving an extremely favorable deal for an alleged sexual predator while concealing the deal from the victims of Mr. Epstein's crimes, which a judge found violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act."
Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein Settles Defamation Suit, Silencing Women's Testimony
In a letter to Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., this year, the Justice Department confirmed that its Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating whether lawyers committed misconduct in the handling of the earlier case against Epstein.
A Justice Department spokesman told NPR on Wednesday that the review is "ongoing," with no timetable for its completion. Acosta said at the news conference that he would cooperate with the probe and sit for an interview "even though I don't have to."
The Office of Professional Responsibility, which conducts internal investigations involving allegations of professional misconduct, has faced criticism in the past over its perceived slow pace and lack of transparency. The Justice Department said the Privacy Act "significantly limits the department from disclosing information concerning individual misconduct allegations."
Alex Acosta


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The 4-H Wildflower committee assists 4-H members who take the Wildflower Project. The project's purpose is to educate children from 3rd to 12th grade on the identification, propagation, uses and appreciation of wildflowers and their native habitat. It also teaches plant vocabulary and introduces the 4-Hers to other native plants and invasives. The committee not only assists the youth, but provides education for its own members.
In late 1997, Susan Taylor Peterson (the 4-H Educator) approached HCMGA about creating an Indiana Wildflower Project for the 4-H students. Sometime in late 1997 or early 1998 Emily Roark (HCMGA co-president) asked Mary Kraft to consider forming a committee to present a plan to the HCMGA Board in regard to starting a wildflower unit project for 4-H. At that time INPAWS was promoting the introduction of a wildflower project to the 4-H line-up. A few years earlier, Dan Anderson from INPAWS had written a pair of wildflower manuals for use by the Marion County 4-H program.
On September 10, 1998, Mary submitted her plant to the HCMGA board – a rough draft of a grades 3-12 project. Her plan included the hope that we would, as the program grew, address native plants (wildflowers, trees, shrubs, weeds, ferns, grasses) and invasive plants that threaten the native species. We would endeavor to have the students learn a little botany, the reason to plant, how to preserve and protect natives, and how to identify them. HCMGA would provide the volunteers for initial instruction, workshops and field trips. We would produce, copy and collate materials, and would get the assistance of local libraries in ferreting out information that the students could check out.
The 4-H Council agreed to fund the obtaining and copying of materials, and to provide necessary workshop materials and equipment for instruction and demonstrations, and to oversee, monitor and assist in the evaluation of the project. Various materials were obtained from Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources, National Association of Conservation Districts, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Indiana Wildlife Foundation.
A manual was researched, written and edited.
Twelve students signed up by April 1, 1999, deadline (a remarkable number in the eyes of INPAWS and Marion Co. 4-H). The first year, we held an exhibit preparation workshop and a wildflower hike in April (Blatchley Nature Study Club woods lead by Joe Roberts), followed by another in the fall.
At the evaluation meeting after the 4-H Fair, the committee voted to change the format from one book for all grades to one book for each grade. Many committee meetings were held at which we worked as subcommittees on the 10 booklets. We had one committee for each of the three major levels (Clover, Junior, Senior). The ten booklets were produced and printed for the 2000 4-H year.
By the April deadline, 2000, 17 students had signed up. The new format worked well.
In the 2000 year, a workshop was held to assist the students in learning basic botany and exhibition requirements. Papers were handed out explaining materials at public libraries. There were three field trips: a spring wildflower hike at the Blatchley Nature Study Club woods led by Joe Roberts, a member of that organization; a fall wildflower hike at Cool Creek Park; and a fall wildflower hike at Ritchey Woods in Fishers.
In October of 2000, a propagation workshop was added to the project since the latest revision called for 4-Hers to grow wildflowers from seed.
After careful evaluation, we found many mistakes were still in the book. A complete revision was done, and on 1/31/2001, the "finished product" was burned on a CD and submitted to the 4-H secretaries for printing and copying.
The 2001 project schedule included an organizational meeting in February, a wildflower drawing workshop in March (led by Dorothy Chase and Carol Griffith), an exhibition & flower preparation workshop in April, a guided wildflower hike at Cool Creek Park in May, a garlic mustard pull (community service) at Cool Creek Park in June, the 4-H Fair in July, and evaluation meeting in August, a guided fall wildflower hike at Ritchey Woods in September and a propagation workshop in October.
The 2002 schedule was similar. Unfortunately, the attendance for the drawing workshop was very low. It was suspected that the 4-Hers preferred to photograph their wildflowers, so the workshop was dropped for 2003.
In 2004, Kathryn Mascaro and Judy Langdon took over as co-chairs. We dropped the guided hikes, due to frequently having only one or two 4-Hers show up for a specially-scheduled hike with a paid naturalist, and replaced the guided hikes with a list of public wildflower hikes available at nearby parks (Cool Creek Park, Potters Bridge, Ritchey Woods and Holliday Park). (An accommodation to the increasing busyness of children's lives.) Similarly, we took to advertising community work days at the parks for the community service portion of the project. The propagation workshop was moved to March (to be in the same calendar year as the 4-H project), selecting wildflower seed that would germinate in 2 to 6 weeks. The fall wildflower hike became an August hike at West Park in Carmel, led by a member of the committee.
In 2004-2005, we revised the glossary by collecting the glossary pages from the original booklets, collating them into a single document, eliminating duplication and printing as its own booklet. This cut printing costs for the Extension Office.
Also in 2005, members of the committee diligently attended all of the wildflower hikes and community service days that we listed as available, prepared to give the 4-Hers any assistance they might need in identifying plants or taking pictures. What we discovered was that the parents (often the whole family) attended the hikes & work days with their 4-Hers. This is the ideal 4-H model, strengthening the family by working together. We graciously withdrew from the hikes & work days.
Also in 2005, the judge Mary Welch-Keesey recommended that our manuals be submitted to Purdue to be revised for acceptance by the national 4-H organization. Her recommendation was supported by Steve Mayer, Marion County horticulture educator. We discussed the matter with Bill & found out the enormous number of meetings & tons of work involved since we would be going from a county level project (not a more vetted state level project) to the national level all in one leap. Bill recommended against the attempt, but told us that, if we decided otherwise, we should find a couple of people who were willing to focus all their Master Gardener hours for a few years on the attempt. We chose not to pursue the matter.
In 2006, the chairpersons switched from Judy Langdon & Kathryn Mascaro to Carol Kracken & Kathryn Mascaro. We had 14 enthusiastic kids at the propagation workshop and the exhibition prep/botany workshop. Unfortunately, no one attended the fall wildflower hike, causing us to drop it the next year.
Also in 2006, we received a request to send out 4-H Wildflower manuals to Coletta Kosiba, a Master Gardener in Hendricks County. She was hoping to convince her Master Gardener Association to sponsor the 4-H Wildflower Project in her county. Bill arranged for the manuals to be sent electronically. Three years later (2009), our project judge told us that she had just finished doing "open judging" of the 4-H Wildflower Project (our manuals) in Hendricks County.
In 2007, no one attended the exhibition prep/botany workshop. We were competing with soccer. Several 4-H parents asked if we could please cover this material in combination with the propagation workshop the following March. This trend of non-attendance was hitting all 4-H workshops and activities, not just the Wildflower Project. 4-Hers, like other children, are over-booked.
In 2008, the chairpersons switched from Carol Kracken & Kathyrn Mascaro to Debbie Owens & Kathryn Mascaro. Debbie & Kathryn partnered together through 2012. This was a period of stability – we had 12-20 4Her's in the project each year with the majority completing and exhibiting. In 2012 we introduced a new popular activity to the workshop – the dissection of a live flower. Also in 2012, we "graduated" our first 4-H-er to complete all 10 years of the 4-H Wildflower Project. The charming young woman (who was also an excellent photographer) went on to college, planning to study Botany & Natural Resources.
In 2014, Bev Watt and Kathryn Mascaro approached Phillip Cline to learn about taking the 4-H Wildflower Project from the County Level to the State Level. Philip Cline is the chair of the 4-H Genealogy Project. He wrote the Genealogy Project and started it in Hamilton County many years ago. After it became very popular in several surrounding counties, he decided to take it to the state level so it would be available to all 4-Hers statewide and would be eligible to go to State Fair. He did successfully take it to the state level, but it took two years of hard work and "practically camping out at Purdue for stretches." He advised us to try to spread our project to more counties first before we pursued state level.
In 2015, the chairpersons switched from Melanie Hinds, Bev Watt & Kathyrn Mascaro to Melanie Hinds and Kathryn Mascaro. We added a leaf identification exercise to the workshop to help the 4-Hers in identifying the wildflowers they photographed. Melanie had everything in place for Tipton County 4-H to adopt the 4-H Wildflower project in 2016.
In 2016, the statewide 4-H program switched to a new computerized system. This switch took so much time & trouble shooting, that Tipton County postponed starting the 4-H Wildflower Project until an unspecified date. Melanie was disappointed.
In 2017, the chairpersons switched from Melanie Hinds & Kathryn Mascaro to Kathryn Mascaro. We encountered a new type of competition for 4-Hers time. Purdue has begun a very popular series of advanced learning workshops where 4-Hers get to meet professors in fields that are the subjects of 4-H projects and do some hands-on learning. Of course, we are thrilled for the 4-Hers that they are getting this wonderful opportunity. However, our workshop is now attended mostly by 4-H parents getting information & seeds for their children.
The most popular part of our project according to the judges, INPAWS, Marion County 4-H, and other educators is the journal the 4-Her's keep, logging all their experiences with nature (not just wildflowers). Everyone feels this is the best way to encourage the 4-Hers to get out, experience, and learn about our native habitat.
Emily Roark (original committee) says the best thing about the design of the project is the flexibility to change to meet the current situation.
Master Propagators sends someone to help with the workshop, usually someone already on the 4-H Wildflower Project committee.
In November, prepare and submit a budget to cover project costs. Costs include (1) photocopying (diagrams for flower dissection, information of the different plants whose seed will be offered for propagation, information on seed starting, care of seedlings in clam shells & specifics on growing each of the plants in one's garden, worksheets for the botanical nomenclature game, library resource material, a list of available wildflower walks & service day opportunities); (2) clam shells & seed-starting soil for the workshop; (3) flowers for dissection (unless someone donates them).
Get information on all events (especially the workshop) into the Clover Chatter and on the 4-H website. Kathleen Bohde, the youth educator is the 4-H contact. Also get information on all events to the MG 4-H Wildflower Project committee. Encourage the committee to attend the workshop and the wildflower hikes and learn along with the kids.
Compile a handout listing when the local parks have wildflower walks and community service days. Include the parks contact information & their location and get this information to the 4-Her at the March workshop. This information needs to also be given to the committee members and to be posted on the 4-H website, if possible.
Conduct a wildflower propagation and exhibit prep workshop in March. (Arrange with Lisa Hanni [Extension Office] in October or November of the previous year to get the Annex for a Saturday morning in March. It is relatively easy to clean up dirt & water spills in the Annex.) There is a committee notebook which details what needs to be covered at the workshop. All of the 4-H wildflower manuals (one for each grade level 3-12 and a glossary booklet) can be obtained at the Extension Office. For the project, the 4-Hers read their manual, do the prescribed activities in the manual, fill out all of the worksheets, and exhibit a project notebook and journal at the 4-H Fair. At the workshop, MG's give a short lecture: (A) Describe what is in each manual. (B) Discuss what they need to do. Emphasize especially the pourquoi stories, service hours and journals. (C) Tell them where to find wildflowers and how to "collect" them [photograph, drawing or cutting and pressing without the roots: only certain wildflowers can be cut, the list of collectibles is in the manuals.] (D) Tell them what the difference is between natives and non-natives [introduced weeds and invasives]. (E) Recommend specific field guides that are readily available in our area, especially at libraries [Yatskeivych is the authority for Indiana, but Peterson, Newcomb, and Audubon are easier to use for identification because they list the plants by color, not genus. Homoya is the local authority on shade wildflowers.] (F) Explain botanical names. Play a game which involves them drawing & coloring an imaginary wildflower, then naming it using a list of botanical terms and their meanings which we provide. (G) Discuss how wildflower seeds germinate and grow. (H) Help 4-Hers sow pre-stratified or pre-soaked wildflower seeds correctly [on soil surface or under soil as required for the individual seed] in clam shells with proper seed-starting soilless mix. They will take their clam shells home. [Usually 1-2 clam shell each with 3-6 varieties of seeds total.] Explain to kids how to take care of their clam shells and seedlings, how to transfer their seedlings into bigger pots and how to plant them in the garden. [Stratify means cold, wet treatment. Seed-starting soilless mix can be obtained from the Master Propagators Committee. There is a handout titled Caring for Your Clam Shell.] (I) Hand-out a list of public wildflower walks and park community service days they can attend. (J) Give a contact number where they can go for questions.
Attend any meetings for the 4-H group leaders and project leaders. Although meeting attendance is optional, having a good relationship with the Youth Educator, the secretaries and the 4-H Council is not optional. Remember that you are lead only one of 90+ projects that 4-Hers can enroll in and the county people are dealing with about two thousand 4-Hers. (You are dealing with 12 or 18.) Due to large numbers, the county requires one Project Leader to serve as a contact person. The contact person is required to deal with extra paperwork and to occasionally pass on messages in a timely fashion. All co-leaders must pass a volunteer screening (the one required of Master Gardeners is sufficient). The contact person is sent a budget form in late fall; please write on the form that Master Gardeners supplies the budget for the 4-H Wildflower Project and that all unused funds revert to that organization. You are sent any comments about your project that fair-goers drop into the suggestion box, usually none. The contact person is sent a form for making any corrections on how your projects is listed in the 4-H handbook and to the manuals. Note that all corrections must be approved by the 4-H Council which is not automatic. Enrollment occurs between January 1 and May 1. We advertise the March Wildflower Workshop in the 4-H newsletter that goes out in late January or early February (and is posted on the 4-H website). Not everyone taking the wildflower project will be enrolled at the time of the workshop. However, a later workshop would cause difficulties in germinating the wildflower seeds on time and in getting a room on the fairgrounds to hold the workshop. Our project is a bit out of step with this because individual wildflowers have their own brief blooming periods scattered from February through October. At the higher grade levels when they are "collecting" large numbers of samples and over-wintering the plants they grow, the 4-Hers will be working outside of normal 4-H times. This requires encouragement.
Assist the 4-H judge at the 4-H Fair. We are a small, county-only project. This means our project does not go on to the state fair. Judges are selected (must be from outside the county) and contacted by the Extension Office; we have no input. Only a few judges are qualified to do wildflowers. They also judge wildflower projects in other counties which use different manuals. Judges are frequently rotated. Someone from our committee assists the judge with the mechanics without giving any input into decisions on which projects gets what ribbon. (Judging is on the Danish system where each project is given a blue, red or white ribbon; a champion/reserve champion is chosen, and a grand champion/reserve grand champion is chosen.) As a small project, we seldom have enough participants for a high level ribbon to be given. If the judge has not done our project before, you will need to give them the spiel on our manuals and what is required that you gave to the participants at the workshop (see #5 A&B above). There are "cheat sheets" which give some of the factual information that the record sheets ask (like what are the Indiana laws on invasive plants) in a folder with our project stuff that you can use. It is also a good idea to bring a couple of wildflower field guides with you. Stick up for our 4H Wildflower Project manuals. Our strength is the nature journal. Remind the judge that the journal is to record everything the children observe about nature, not just the wildflowers. Encourage the judge to write comments on each child's judging sheet. The building superintendent will tell you about any other paperwork she needs you to fill out. You may have a junior leader assisting.
Keep lines of communication open with the 4-H Youth Educator.
Collect wildflower seed for next year's March workshop at the Community Seed Collection Day at Cool Creek Park or Strawtown Koteewi Park in October. Collect 10-12 varieites each in their own plastic bag labeled with the common and botanical name. Store in a cool dry place. Do the appropriate pre-treatment ~4 weeks before the March workshop.
Contact HCMGA Board for any assistance or questions throughout the year.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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YUKON LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Yukon landscape in words and images.
River Fog in December
River fog in the Yukon River Valley in Whitehorse
Mary Walden in the fight for the Peel River Watershed
Mary Walden at Tom Tom Lake, Little Wind River trip, Peel Watershed.
The Yukon wilderness needs advocates. Mary Walden, wilderness lover and writer, is one of them. Her right cause? The protection of the Peel River Watershed. She writes regularly about it in her blog: http://peelwatershed.blogspot.com/. The Peel question has become a highly divisive issue among Yukoners. A majority of Yukoners wants the protection of the watershed while a powerful minority wants it open to mining.
In the following interview Mary talks about her relation to the region and explains the need for its protection.
Damien Tremblay : What is your personal experience in the Peel watershed ? What are your feelings about the area ?
Mary Walden : My interest in the Peel watershed goes back almost 20 years. I have canoed nearly all of the major rivers and explored parts of the region by dogteam in the winter. I have also travelled the Dempster Highway – a large part of which is in the Peel watershed. My feelings about it ? It's the most beautiful, magical place I have ever experienced.
Damien Tremblay : Can you tell us about one of your favorite adventure ?
Mary Walden : Of course every trip in the Peel is a grand adventure, but if I had to pick a favourite it would be an exploratory trip on the Little Wind River in 2009 with my husband, Blaine. The river has seldom been paddled, it's not in any guide book, and it's the main geographical backdrop for the tragic legend of the Lost Patrol.
Mount Fitzgerald, Little Wind River valley, Peel Watershed, Yukon.
DT : Why should the Peel watershed be protected from industrial development ?
MW : Simply put, because it's truly a global treasure. Wilderness the world over is fast disappearing. With the current staking and mining boom, wilderness in the Yukon is also under increasing pressure. We don't have to trash every square inch of the territory. There is a rare opportunity to set the Peel aside – just one of the Yukon's many regions - and we should take advantage of that before it's too late.
DT : What are the threats on the area ?
MW : Primarily mineral exploration and mine development, oil/gas development, roads, railways and pipelines. Less than 10 years ago a company drew up plans for a steel-manufacturing complex/coal-fired generating plant on the Wind River. More recently uranium explorers scoured the region in search of the deadly mineral and pushed to build an airstrip and road.
DT : You co-own a wilderness tourism company offering canoe trips in the Peel watershed. Naysayers could say you have an economic interest in the protection of the Peel, explaining your efforts for its protection.
MW : Certainly I have come to know and love the Peel, thanks in part to running canoe trips on its rivers. But my desire to see the Peel protected, for all time, goes far and beyond any short-term economic benefits for the tourism industry. Let the naysayers nay!
Snake River, Peel Watershed, Yukon.
DT : In spring 2011, what's the status of the Peel watershed question ?
MW : The Peel Watershed Planning Commission is working on a final recommended land use plan for the region. It expects to be finished by this summer. The public will then get a chance to review and comment on it before it goes back to the Yukon and First Nation governments – Na-cho Nyak Dun, Tr'ondek Hwech'in, Vuntut Gwitchin and Gwichin Tribal Council/Tetlit Gwichin Council – for final approval. If all goes according to the current timetable, a final plan could be approved by the end of the year.
DT : What can people do to help for the protection of the Peel?
MW : Get rid of the current Yukon Party government. It has shown nothing but disdain for Peel protection and contempt for the democratic land use planning process. An election has to be called by Oct. 14, 2011. Do what you can to make the Peel an election issue and vote for a candidate/party that supports protection.
DT: Thanks for keeping us updated on the question: http://peelwatershed.blogspot.com/
Publié par Damien Tremblay à 22:02
Damien Tremblay
I am a fine art landscape photographer and author based in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Mary Walden in the fight for the Peel River Waters...
Learning photography? Read "The Digital Eye" of No...
Thème Picture Window. Fourni par Blogger.


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IntroductionSultans of Swing
Background and composition
Chart performance
Sultans of Swing
1978 single by Dire Straits / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short, summarize this topic like I'm... Ten years old or a College student
"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.
1978 single by Dire Straits
Quick facts: "Sultans of Swing", Single by Dire Straits, f... ▼
"Sultans of Swing"
Single by Dire Straits
from the album Dire Straits
"Eastbound Train"
"Southbound Again"
19 May 1978 (UK)
January 1979 (US) [1]
February 1978 (album version)
Basing Street, London
Pub rock[2]
roots rock[3]
Muff Winwood
Dire Straits singles chronology
(1978) "Water of Love"
"Sultans of Swing" on YouTube
Close ▲
The B-side, "Eastbound Train", is a live track that otherwise only appears on the Live at the Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival album. The single would go on to reach the top 5 in Canada, South Africa, and the United States as well as the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
The song has since largely remained a staple of classic rock radio, and is one of the band's most recognizable songs.[4][5][6]


The nail can be filed down and trimmed cautiously, either at property or by a podiatrist. If the infection is gentle and considerably localized then to treat toenail fungus a medical doctor may possibly propose a medicated nail polish containing either Loceryl or Loprox. If the infection persists or carry on spreading then a doctor may prescribe an oral, systemic anti-fungal medication such as Sporanox or Lamisil. The therapy may perhaps requires about 12 weeks. Each of these drugs have some extremely dangerous effects that may perhaps not be appropriate for some people.
Toenail fungus turns to be a chronic situation, and if it is not aching, many people today do not get therapy. Even so, to treat toenail fungus, folks with unrelieved illness like diabetes need to see a medical professional if they develop into aware of adjustments in their nails as it could be an indication of a lot more severe troubles. If the nail turn out to be quite thick and it is challenging to put on shoes and one particular really feel discomfort though walking then 1 should take a look at a physician.
Toenail fungus, also recognized by the term onychomycosis, is an ordinary situation that disfigures and even demolishes the toenail. The major toe and the tiny toe are the nails that are most most likely to be affected by toenail fungus. This situation is caused by any 1 of the a number of varieties of fungi that develop in moist and warm surroundings, in particular in the footwear. As they rise, they invade and feed on the protein that creates difficult surface of the toenail.
Hay fever allergies, also known as respiratory allergies surprising impacts of the youngsters in America. To ones surprise, hay fever allergies are seldom related to hay or trigger a fever, nor does a virus induce hay fever allergies. With the staggering percentage of kids getting affected by allergies, medical understanding of how to treat hay fever and respiratory allergies remains restricted.
Toenail fungus is unusual in kids, having said that, the chances becomes more as one's age increases. Around 48% of men and women in the United States have at least one toe impacted by the time they are 70 years of age The uncomfortable tight fitting shoes and layers of nail polish enhances the threat of escalating toenail fungus. It can also spread person-to-person in public places, such as locker rooms and showers. Possessing a chronic situation that have an effect on a circulation, such as diabetes or HIV also enhances your danger. The impacted nail will come to be stained and will turn really thick and overgrown. One might notice stinking debris below the nail. The nail may possibly disintegrate and ultimately fall off completely, or it may perhaps turn into so thick that it is incredibly painful to wear footwear.
If your youngster has been diagnosed with respiratory allergies, there are quite a few points you can do in your house to aid cut down the symptoms. Eliminating as significantly dust and pollen from inside the property can make a massive distinction in the severity of allergy attacks. It is not just the dust you see in the air or on desktops that causes difficulty. There is also dust hiding in carpets, furnishings and bedding.
Each time these antibodies recognize the identical invading allergens histamine is released into the bloodstream causing irritating hay fever, respiratory allergies symptoms. There are two key sorts of allergies: seasonal allergies (spring via fall) and perennial allergies (all-year lengthy). If a fungal infection turns into scratchy, it is sufficient to look for medical treatment so that a physician will examine the toenail and may take smaller samples. The nail can be scrutinized for fungi or some other infection beneath a microscope in the lab.
Quick Cheap Healthy Meals – If a fungal infection turns into scratchy, it is adequate to look for health-related therapy so that a physician will examine the toenail and could take smaller samples.


The great empires of the ancient world were created through war, and some of the most defining battles were fought through siege warfare. The legendary battle of Troy, the incredibly advanced weapons of Archimedes at the battle of Syracuse, and the beginning of the fall of Rome. These are moments in history that will never be forgotten. But which Top 10 siege will top our list for being the most devastating?
The ancient world is home to some of the most sophisticated and advanced ships the world has ever seen. The designs and construction of these monsters of the oceans appear impossible, but still, these ships sailed the seven seas thousands of years ago! The deadly triremes that helped create the golden age of Athens; the forty, an ancient ship that was the size of a modern day aircraft carrier; the Viking longboat which made the raiders so successful and the infamous pleasure boats of emperor Caligula. These cruisers were centuries ahead of their time, but which of these Top 10 ancient ships was the most advanced?
The greatest monuments of the ancient world show more than wealth, they show power. An adversary not to be messed with. From the secrets of Stonehenge to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Colossus of Rhodes; the home of ancient spectacle, the great Colosseum to the jaw dropping temple of Karnak. Which of these Top 10 archaeological sites will be crowned the most jaw-dropping monument of the ancient world?
Think you know everything about Ancient Egypt? The secrets surrounding this incredible civilization have endured for millennia. The riddles of the Sphinx; Mummification; the Pyramids–the discoveries of Egypt have been among the highest profile archaeological finds in history. But with so many contenders, which Top 10 secret has had the biggest impact on our view of Ancient Egypt?
Behind every great empire there is a central metropolis, driving expansion and governing the great empires that called these cities home — hubs of technology, politics, engineering and massive populations comparable to cities of today. From the grandeur of Rome to the intellectual seat of Alexandria to the legendary home of democracy, Athens, the ancients built cities that would leave their mark on history. But which of these Top 10 ancient metropolises will take the crown as most renowned?
Think you know the ancient world? Think again. To this day, there are still mysteries surrounding the ancients that have us questioning what we know about these incredible civilizations. Secrets that demonstrate incredible technology comparable to our own: an ancient computer, models that demonstrate flight, stones weighing hundreds of tons seamlessly transported. All incredible enigmas, but which of these Top 10 ancient mysteries tells us the most about the ancient world we think we know?
The ancient Greeks are credited in the western world for inventing philosophy, democracy, and…robotics? Pioneering technological inventors, the ancient Greeks created inventions that were seemingly impossible: an ancient death ray constructed by Archimedes, Heron's automatic doors, Philon's ingenious use of robotics. Which of these Top 10 ancient Greek technologies will prove to be the most advanced?


text:
Q: C++ 32-bit word byte swapping
Possible Duplicate:
How do I convert between big-endian and little-endian values in C++?

I was wondering how you would byte swap a 32-bit word
I have a huge buffer of these words and each of them need to be byte swapping due to endianness.

A: Either use the functions provided by your OS (cf. Martin Beckett's answer), or alternatively, if you are looking for a way to do this out of interest you may be interested in the following code snippet:
x = (x & 0x0000FFFF) << 16 | (x & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16;
x = (x & 0x00FF00FF) << 8 | (x & 0xFF00FF00) >> 8;

A: Use htonl / ntohl  provided by your OS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Ella Enchanted: Did you like the book or the movie better?
The fans pick: The book is way better!
Who is your favorito character in Fairest?
Which of her books is your favorite?
Have you read her newest book "Fairest?"
A website with interviews and information on all of her books.
a poll foi adicionado: Who is your favorito character in Fairest?
a poll foi adicionado: Fairest or Ella Enchanted!?
a comment was made to the poll: Which of her books is your favorite?
What is the first line in Fairest?
"The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift."
"You were left in the cotovia chamber."


text:
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Submitted by dnokes on October 22, 2020 - 10:59am
10.26.2020 Scared of What Your Air Permit Really Means?: Top 5 Pitfalls By: Liz Williamson
It is a universal truth that closely reviewing an air permit will cure the worst case of insomnia. Isn't that why you hire a lawyer? The pages are dense with legalese and technical jargon that make no practical sense. There are nuances that require Clean Air Act experience and a course of dealing with the permitting authority to determine what can be changed, how, and when.
Close inspection of an air permit often highlights problematic areas. For example, the plant engineer may say, "Oh, but our inspector knows what this requirement really means even if the permit doesn't spell it out." But, what if that local inspector leaves, a third party files a lawsuit alleging that the source is out of compliance, or EPA enters the scene? For these reasons, regular review of your air permit should be part of your risk reduction protocol.
The air permit world lives by the mantra that a permit should contain a regulatory requirement, a corresponding measure of compliance, and a means of monitoring compliance. Compliance should be documented by reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Following this basic formula benefits the source by keeping the source's obligations definable, achievable, and immune to adverse interpretation.
Despite the state's preferred format, local requirements, permit complexity, or facility-type, primary flaws in permits fall into basic categories. Here are five categories of flaws that we often identify when performing a legal audit of air permits:
1. An emissions limitation is present, but there is no achievable compliance measure. There is an emission limitation, but the permit fails to identify a corresponding way to measure compliance with the limitation, such as through a continuous emissions monitor or stack testing. The source could be exposed by this ambiguity. For example, a third party may assert that the emission limitation is instantaneous, rather than measured over a typical averaging period, or in another instance, the source may be measuring compliance via fuel records when the state anticipates compliance measurement by emissions monitors.
2. There are emission units at the plant that are not in the permit or vice versa. The emission units governed by the permit should be unmistakable. Each emission unit should be identified explicitly in the permit, and the equipment on-site should match the description in the permit. Over time, plants will commission and decommission emission units. Sometimes units are renamed. These housekeeping updates should be made in the permit to avoid a concern that an emission unit is not permitted. The source should also closely review equipment description ratings, often originating from the original equipment manufacturer, as discussed with regard to the next concern.
3. The description of the emission unit should not be viewed as an emissions limitation. Third parties, EPA or the permitting authority may assert that the description of the emission unit is a limit. For example, if the emission unit description contains a unit rating, is it possible to say that the rating is a cap on unit operation? Some rating descriptions were derived from a number provided by the original equipment manufacturer. Many times this OEM rating is lower than the unit's designed capabilities. Ratings in permit descriptions have been used as a basis for New Source Review lawsuits, arguing that the source modified the unit to enable it to operate above the descriptive rating. Sources should consider building a record to defuse any such concerns.
4. Are there recitations of regulations that have been updated, repealed and replaced? Regulatory agencies may choose to recite regulations in the permit to which the source is subject. These recitations are user friendly because the permit clearly encompasses all of the requirements in its four corners. However, the benefit to these recitations ends when the regulations frequently change via federal and state regulatory activity. The source must then update its permit to fix the recital to match the underlying regulation. For this reason, a citation referencing and incorporating the regulation may be preferable.
5. Do emissions limitations or work practice requirements in the permit have an underlying federal or state regulatory requirement? Air permits, by design, compile the source's regulatory requirements. However, an audit may reveal permit requirements with no basis in statute or regulation, or there may be an all-purpose regulation cited as the basis, even though the emissions requirement is much more specific. Sources should recognize emissions limitations and work practice standards that have a thin legal basis. If the requirement is nonsensical, impractical or problematic to meet, the source should consider a discussion with the permitting authority regarding the requirement at issue.
Using these tips, you should review your permit with an eye for detail. Evaluate the flaws you find and assign risk to them. That process will help you decide whether to approach your permitting authority. Reopening a permit is a significant step that carries its own risks, such as new, unwanted permit changes that you did not request or adverse public comments. Therefore, the flaws must justify the risks of reopening.
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