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Personal safety tips for work, home, and transit
December 10, 2019 / BWC Social Media Team	/ Leave a comment
At BWC we believe it's vital for our employees to feel safe coming to and leaving work, but we know that can be a challenge with fewer daylight hours this time of year.
We urge all employees to be mindful of their surroundings, safety and security at all times. Our security team has put together these tips for our employees and would like to share so others can do the same.
On the street, be aware. Don't stare at your phone or listen to loud music on headphones. Pay attention to your surroundings so you can react quickly if something goes wrong. Trust your instincts.
On public transit, tell the driver if someone seems suspicious. While you're waiting for transit to arrive, stand with other people in a well-lit place. When you exit transit, pay attention to who's leaving with you and seek help in the nearest building if you feel like someone's following you.
In your vehicle, never leave your keys in the ignition, and park in well-lit areas. Always lock your vehicle and roll up your windows when you leave. Make sure nothing of value is visible in your parked vehicle.
At home, lock your doors with deadbolts when you come and go. Don't leave spare keys outside, no matter how well you hide them. Don't let strangers into your apartment hallways or lobbies, and always report suspicious people. When you're on vacation, never leave a message on your voicemail or social media saying you're not home.
Download these tips to remind your employees to stay safe. Please remember, if you see something or someone that looks odd or suspicious at work, report it to your manager or security office.
When it comes to parking lots, it's not always merry or bright
December 3, 2019 / BWC Social Media Team	/ Leave a comment
With Cyber Monday behind us and time ticking away to finish all our holiday shopping, many of us will turn to old-fashioned brick-and-mortar stores down the final stretch. This also means dealing with parking lot mayhem.
Too few parking spaces and too many shoppers can turn even the calmest among us into stressed-out maniacs and parking lots into a free-for-all. Remember the following tips to make your next trip to the mall safer and happier.
Be aware, and scan in all directions as you travel.
Drive slowly and watch for cars that might be cutting diagonally across the lot.
Use turn signals and yield the right of way to cars travelling along aisles.
If you can find one, park in a spot where you can pull through and face out to prevent the need for backing out.
Don't be the person who parks over the line, diagonal, or not far enough into a space. Doing so may not give other drivers enough room to park their cars without harming yours. Also, it's just rude.
Don't forget to practice personal security in parking areas, especially when shopping during the holidays.
Park in well-lit areas, and scan the parking lot for threats while leaving or arriving at your vehicle.
Avoid shopping alone whenever possible.
Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason.
Have your keys ready – to help you enter and exit your vehicle quickly.
Don't let would-be thieves do any window shopping. Put bags and packages in the trunk.
Don't overload yourself with bags. Doing so makes you an easy target, and can make it easier to slip and fall on ice or snow.
Above all – stay alert and aware of your surroundings always.
Once you're parked, remember to slow down and focus on walking when there is snow and ice (Putting your phone away helps.). Check the weather forecast, and plan your footwear accordingly. Snow boots are better than three-inch heels when an ice storm is in the forecast. Finally, walk with your feet turned outward and in small shuffling steps when possible.
This safety council meeting was a life-saver – literally
November 26, 2019 / BWC Social Media Team	/ 2 Comments
With Thanksgiving just days away, Don Croy has a lot to be thankful for – most of all that he's still here to celebrate it.
Don Croy (right) with his life-saving instructor Crystal Plumpe after his recovery.
The 63-year-old business owner, father, and grandfather from Ottawa, Ohio, says going to a local safety council meeting in late February literally saved his life.
"I wouldn't be talking with you today if I hadn't gone to the meeting that day," Croy said in a recent interview with BWC. "Without a doubt, it saved my life."
On Feb. 27, Croy attended the monthly meeting hosted by the Safety Council of Putnam County. The guest speaker – local firefighter/paramedic Crystal Plumpe – gave a presentation about heart attacks in the workplace. After the meeting, Croy went about his workday as president of his landscaping business, Croy's Mowing Ltd.
Later that day, Croy, who serves as a trustee for Ottawa Township, was at home before the trustees' meeting that night and felt like he had a case of heartburn, which was unusual for him.
With Plumpe's presentation still fresh in his mind, he told his wife, Teresa, the symptoms weren't going away and he might need to see a doctor. She took him to an emergency room a mile from their home.
While there, he suffered a full-blown heart attack, was placed in an ambulance and rushed to Mercy Health – St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
"In the ambulance I was fighting for every breath. I was trying to keep my eyes open," he recalled. "I closed my eyes briefly and when I opened them, one of the medics was standing over me with shock paddles."
Upon arrival at the hospital, he was taken immediately to surgery and received a heart stent. After a few days of recovery, he returned to the office and began easing himself back into running his business.
"When you go to a seminar, you'll always learn at least one thing," said Croy. "That morning I learned if you think you're having a heart attack, don't wait to get help. Eleven hours later, that knowledge is what kept me from dying. Who would have known?"
Plumpe said she's just glad Croy took what he had just learned and realized not to downplay his symptoms.
"He told me that before my class, he would have told himself to 'man up' and ignore his signs and symptoms," she recalled. "Based on what he told me happened that evening after my class, he probably wouldn't be alive today if he would have ignored what his body was telling him."
Amy Sealts, director of economic development for Putnam County and the safety council's coordinator, vividly remembers the conversation she had with Croy after his heart attack and recovery.
"He was emotional when I talked to him the day after the heart attack," Sealts recalled. "I remember him saying, 'That lady saved my life.' I still get goosebumps when I think about it."
Thankful to still be here
A week and a half after his ordeal, Croy made an emotional visit to the Bath Township Fire Department, where Plumpe works as a platoon chief, to thank her for saving his life.
"In the fire and EMS profession, we rarely get to meet those that we impact in a positive way, after the fact," said Plumpe. "The few times that we do, we treasure. To see Don face to face and hear him say that I saved his life was pretty amazing."
Months later, Croy still thinks about his brush with death and how fortunate he is to be alive.
"It really hits me when I see my sons and my grandkids," he explained. "I've always appreciated my life, but I appreciate it more now. I've always looked at the roses, but now I take the time to smell them, too."
– Warning Signs of a Heart Attack (American Heart Association)
– More info about Ohio safety councils
BWC secures 14 fraud-related convictions in October
November 22, 2019 / BWC Social Media Team	/ Leave a comment
Fraudsters owe BWC more than $283,000 in restitution
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) secured 14 fraud-related convictions in October, with those convicted owing BWC a combined $283,146 in restitution.
Those convicted include injured workers found working while collecting disability benefits, family members collecting their deceased parent's compensation benefits, and business owners whose coverage had lapsed.
"When people cheat BWC or fail to cover their own employees, they are cheating the injured workers who really need our help and the employers in our system that follow the law," said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud.
In order of most recent court appearance, those convicted in October include:
Bruce Starkey of Cincinnati, Ohio
Starkey pleaded guilty Oct. 17 and was sentenced in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Nov. 4 on one count of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Starkey received 100 hours of community service and was required to pay BWC full restitution for the $1,459 in permanent total disability benefits he took from his mother's bank account after she passed. He failed to inform BWC of her passing and wrote 15 checks, forging his mother's signature.
Cecil Piner of Xenia, Ohio
Piner pleaded guilty Oct. 31 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on one count of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony, after BWC found him driving a school bus while receiving $17,901 in disability benefits. He was sentenced to five years' probation in lieu of 12 months in jail and ordered to pay court costs and full restitution.
Kyle Foreman of New Carlisle, Ohio
Foreman pleaded guilty Oct. 30 in Clark County Municipal Court on two counts of failure to comply, both second-degree misdemeanors. His coverage for Kyle S. Foreman Enterprises had lapsed since November 2017, and he failed to pay the premiums before taking his company into bankruptcy. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs for each count.
Michelle Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio
Smith, 57, pleaded guilty Oct. 23 to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony, after BWC discovered she owned and ran two businesses, Expression Unique LLC and Later in Life Brides, while collecting BWC benefits for workers deemed permanently and totally disabled. A Franklin County judge ordered Smith to pay BWC $40,873 dollars in restitution and serve five years of non-reporting community control (probation). If she violates her probation, she must serve a year in prison.
Louis Tombazzi of Cleveland, Ohio
BWC found Tombazzi owed the agency approximately $75,000 in premiums after letting the policy lapse for his business, Garda Architectural Fabrication. He pleaded guilty Oct. 16 in Cleveland Municipal Court to one count of failure to comply, a second-degree misdemeanor, and was ordered to serve 90 days in jail (suspended), pay a $400 fine, and serve two years' probation. He also was ordered to report monthly to the court his effort to reduce or pay off his BWC obligation.
Natalia Daniels of Concord Township, Ohio
Daniels pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, after receiving $3,600 in BWC disability benefits while working as a bus driver for a senior living facility and as a laborer for an insurance company. A judge ordered her to pay full restitution to BWC and serve 18 months of probation in lieu of a 180-day jail sentence.
Vicki Aloisio of West Chester, Ohio
Aloisio was convicted Oct. 11 on two counts of failure to comply, both second-degree midemeanors, for failing to carry BWC coverage on her business, Richard Aloisio Trucking Inc., despite numerous BWC attempts to assist her. Aloisio owes $28,000 in past-due premiums and penalties. Sentencing in a Butler County courtroom is scheduled for Dec. 6.
Ahmad Al-thamra of Akron, Ohio
Al-thamra pleaded guilty Oct. 10 in Akron Municipal Court to two counts of failure to comply, both second-degree misdemeanors, for failing to maintain workers' compensation coverage on his business, The Family Corner Store. He was ordered to pay $300 in fines and ordered to pay court costs and obey all laws for one year.
Jason Gaschler of Cheswick, Pennsylvania
Gaschler pleaded guilty Oct. 10 of one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, for operating a construction company, General License Contracting, in Pennsylvania while receiving $6,864 in BWC benefits. He was sentenced to one day in jail (time served) and made full restitution at the time of his hearing.
Jason Rissner of Rockford, Ohio
Rissner pleaded guilty Oct. 9 in Mercer County Common Pleas Court to one count of petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, after he was caught operating his own construction company while receiving $35,261 in temporary total disability benefits from his employer, O'Reilly Auto Parts. He was ordered to spend 180 days in jail, which would be suspended if he committed no more crimes within a year and pay full restitution to O'Reilly.
Brian Franklin of Sharonville, Ohio
Franklin avoided conviction on one charge of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony, after he agreed Oct. 8 in Franklin County to pay BWC $18,081 in restitution. BWC found Franklin working at a community center in 2018 while collecting BWC benefits.
Marshann Kinman of Cedar Grove, Ohio
Kinman pleaded guilty Oct. 8 to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony, in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Kinman failed to let BWC know her mother had passed so she could take $6,321 in BWC widow death benefits intended for her mother. Kinman received two years of community service and was ordered to pay BWC full restitution.
Charles Ayler of Cincinnati, Ohio
Ayler pleaded guilty Oct. 3 to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, after BWC found him working while receiving BWC benefits. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for two years of community service, the promise to avoid similar offenses, and to pay BWC full restitution of $6,090 and court costs of $150 by Dec. 31, 2020.
Ronald J. Dorfeld of Brunswick, Ohio
Dorfeld must pay BWC $78,957 in restitution after pleading guilty to a fifth-degree felony charge of workers' compensation fraud Oct. 1 in a Franklin County courtroom. BWC found Dorfield operating his own business, Xtreme Multimedia Marketing, while receiving disability compensation. A Franklin County judge sentenced Dorfeld to ninth months in jail, which was suspended for five years' probation and full restitution.
On Nov. 14, 2019, our BWC Special Investigations Department celebrated the second anniversary of its Fraud Hotline system.
We launched this system during Fraud Awareness Week 2017 as an important new customer service tool for external sources to report their suspicions of workers' compensation fraud. What a successful launch and two years it has been!
We've received more than 3,300 calls since then, an average of nearly seven each work day!
If you suspect workers' compensation fraud in Ohio, call us on it.
We look forward to hearing from you. Give us a call at 1-800-644-6292. We will conduct an investigation and determine the facts. Together, we are successfully combatting workers' compensation fraud in Ohio – one most important call at a time.
Today, during International Fraud Awareness Week 2019, we thank you for your support!
Fraud of the Day during Fraud Awareness Week
By Jeff Baker, BWC Special Investigations Department
When the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) created its Special Investigations Department (SID) in 1993, investigative professionals in the new department knew they would need to do more than detect, identify and investigate suspected workers' compensation fraud. To fully meet the department's mandate and mission, SID professionals would need to also deter fraud.
We felt one of the most effective ways to deter fraud might be to raise public awareness of what we do by reaching out to the media about our latest cases. In the years since, SID has collaborated with BWC's Communications Department to issue news releases on many of the nearly 3,000 subjects convicted and sentenced as a result of our work.
To reach an even wider audience, we created our first social media accounts in 2011 and launched our Fraud Awareness Series via ohiobwcfraud and
twitter.com/ohiobwcfraud. Through our YouTube channel, we added videos showing undercover surveillance footage of subjects caught in act of committing their crimes.
The success of our Fraud Awareness Series can be measured by its reach beyond our initial audience. That is why we take note (ok, we admit we are thrilled) whenever one of our prosecution news releases is shared or re-Tweeted by a follower. Since 2014, we have seen this occur 39 times from just one follower — Larry Benson.
Larry has used our news releases as the basis for 39 of his Fraud of the Day blogs published by LexisNexis. Larry sees news releases for countless other successful fraud investigations by government agencies within hundreds of jurisdictions (local, state, and federal), so we are always delighted when he takes note of ours. We also appreciate his Fraud of the day website permits users to select their favorite examples by fraud type and state. For example, here is a filtered link to the Fraud of the Day articles for Ohio, including the 39 (and counting) articles pertaining to BWC.
Conveniently, E-mail subscribers to Fraud of the Day blogs may "get their fraud fix" by "waking up five days a week to the most current fraud article delivered straight to their inbox."
But no matter how you access the Fraud of the Day blogs, you will note Larry's clever use of headlines and tags referencing the subject's type of fraud. A few of our favorites include:
The owner of an excavation business without coverage Bulldozed December 23, 2015
The owner of a transport company without coverage The Freeway to Prison February 9, 2016
A swimming pool construction/maintenance contractor Swimming in Fraud December 20, 2016
Wholly falsified statement of reported wages earned Making Stuff Up April 25, 2017
A bowling coach Gutter Ball July 5, 2017
Felon skipped court date due to imprisonment Fraud in Absentia August 8, 2017
The owner of a cleaning business with lapsed coverage Dust Bunnies September 12, 2017
The owner of a pool and spa company without coverage Grab on to the Life Raft January 31, 2018
The owner of a high-volume garbage hauling business Garbage In, Garbage Out March 27, 2018
A bartender Where Everyone Knows Your Name July 12, 2018
An overprescribing doctor Fraud Dispenser September 20, 2018
A business owner who misclassified employees Misclassified November 13, 2018
A doctor billing for services not rendered Lacking January 31, 2019
Felon convicted on charges of breaking and entering, gross sexual imposition, burglary and other charges That's Quite A Rap May 7, 2019
Machine press operator and pizza shop employee Triple Dipper September 17, 2019
Of course, as humorous as these titles may be, we know that no fraud is a matter for laughter. We certainly take all crime seriously. That is why we have dedicated our careers to detecting, identifying, investigating, prosecuting, and deterring fraud. Like Larry, we, too, are willing to deploy clever or funny headlines in news releases, but that's only to increase the likelihood that the media and general public will take note and read and heed the releases as the cautionary tales they are.
Widening our reach, getting our word out, deters fraud. In the spirit of International Fraud Awareness Week, we invite all of you to join us in combatting crime by continuing to follow this blog and Larry's Fraud of the Day series this week and beyond.
A letter from Jim Wernecke – Director of BWC Special Investigations
November 18, 2019 November 18, 2019 / BWC Social Media Team	/ Leave a comment
As Director of the BWC Special Investigations Department (SID), I am honored to kick off Fraud Awareness Week. I invite you to view my video message, "Fraud Hurts Us All."
In the video I discuss how workers' compensation fraud increases premiums for employers, which reduces the money employers can invest in their employees, community and future growth. I explain how BWC employees are improving workplace health and safety, getting injured workers back to work, and keeping premium rates low for employers. I describe how SID employees protect the State Insurance Fund by detecting, investigating, and deterring fraud.
Lastly, I invite viewers to report, via an online form, suspected workers' compensation fraud.
I also invite you to check back daily as we share success stories in our efforts to combat workers' comp. fraud. Some stories we will highlight are:
Southwest Ohio business owner gets prison time, hefty fine for work comp fraud: Business owner defrauded BWC of $425K
Akron pain doc guilty of workers' comp fraud: False billing cited in felony case
Prison, hefty restitution ordered for Cleveland fraudster: Contractor collected $246K in disability from BWC, Social Security
Pataskala man owes BWC $41,000 after felony conviction
Logan County man sentenced for workers' comp fraud
We would not have achieved these successes without the dedicated staff members who serve our department with great skill, resourcefulness, and determination to bring justice to those who cheat our system. Their efforts create safer workplaces and ensure those who attempt to commit fraud in workers' compensation are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Since our inception in 1993, we have identified over $1.9 billion in savings, as well as:
Completed over 69,000 investigations
Referred 5,420 subjects for prosecution
Secured 2,941 criminal convictions
We are honored and eager to join our fraud-fighting colleagues around the country and abroad each November to participate in International Fraud Awareness Week.
The campaign, which runs through Saturday, was established by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners to highlight the issue of fraud and minimize its impacts.
Most weeks, you'll find us sharing our fraud news on #FraudFriday. But this week, we'll have a new fraud feature each day! So keep an eye here on our blog and on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
Happy Fraud Awareness Week!


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offering a comprehensive range of plumbing products to customers in the Gold Coast region. Their highly experienced and friendly staff at their two locations, Burleigh Heads and Labrador, offer extensive knowledge of plumbing products and advice.
BBK has undertaken many changes over the past two decades to develop and improve their sales and stock management processes. From humble beginnings and completely manual processes, they have grown and adapted over time to maintain a successful business in an extremely competitive industry.
BBK's previous software implementation experience highlighted the need for them to have an integrated system that could cater for all of their processes. As a result of implementing MYOB Exo and EBS POS they have gained several efficiencies in their processes and have reached excellent outcomes with EXOBIZ as their MYOB Platinum Partner.


I was so excited to see Kayla and Chris again after photographing their engagement session. The day had finally come and their wedding ceremony was going to be at my childhood church, Community Presbyterian Church in Danville, better know as CPC. Kayla and Chris met at at their best friends's wedding and it was meant to be. They were best man and maid of honor and now it was their friends' turns to be best man and maid of honor and they took their roles very seriously. It was a such a fun wedding as the groom is a total comedian and the bride can't help but laugh. Kayla was so diy savvy and had made such wonderful details for the wedding. They also bought such thoughtful gifts for each other to incorporate as well. I love the key to my heart bouquet and boutonniere charms and the awesome superhero cufflinks. Their ceremony was in the beautiful little chapel and the lighting was amazing. I loved the moment they shared in the middle where they just hugged each other for awhile. Roses are in bloom at Heather Farms Garden Center Reception site and that is where Kayla and Chris continued the celebration and where the party started! We had fun photographing in the gardens and there were so many pretty spots to sit and walk and kiss!! The Heather Farms center is a great little place for a wedding and they did a great job decorating. I loved their little pink cake for them to cut and then each guest was given a tasty cupcake to indulge in. Dancing started after I left, but I am sure they had a blast. Thanks Kayla and Chris for having me as your photographer! Congratulations to you both!!


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Delease (Delegazione Africa Settentrionale, North Africa Delegation) was a colonial body of the Supreme Command of the Italian Armed Forces, with headquarters in Tobruk and jurisdiction over North Africa, during the Second World War, which served as liaison between the tactical command of Panzer Army Africa and the Italian Supreme Command in Rome, and managed its logistics.

Among its commanders were Enea Navarini and Curio Barbasetti di Prun, who had won the esteem of Erwin Rommel. As of 23 October 1942 it had the functions of an army command, to which three army corps commands were subordinated, Delease1 (Tripoli, responsible for the logistics of Tripolitania), Delease2 (Benghazi, responsible for the logistics of Cyrenaica) and Delease3 (Marsa Matruh, responsible for the logistics of the three army corps at the front), as well as the command of the North Africa Intendency, under General Vittorio Palma.

Delease ceased to function on 16 November 1942, after the retreat following the second battle of El Alamein, and its functions were transferred to Superlibia, the High Command in Libya.

References

1940 establishments in Italy
1942 disestablishments in Italy
Royal Italian Army
North African campaign
Military history of Italy during World War II

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Tickets On Sale Now For The Wonderful World Of Disney On Ice In Atlanta And Duluth
by Rachael Walkup | Nov 6, 2017 | Press Releases | 0 comments
Celebrate magic, spirit and family fun as an extraordinary lineup of Disney stories come to life right before your eyes in The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice! This skating spectacular visits Atlanta from Wednesday, February 14, through Monday, February 19, at Philips Arena, followed by performances in Duluth fromThursday, February 22, through Sunday, February 25, at Infinite Energy Arena – nearly two weeks to enjoy the Disney magic in the Atlanta area!
Tickets for The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice start at $15 and are on sale now. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available for Philips Arena by calling 800.745.3000 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are available for Duluth's Infinite Energy Arena by calling 770.626.2464 or visiting www.InfiniteEnergyCenter.com. For group rates and information, contact Group Tickets Plus at www.groupticketsplus.com or 678-578-5125. *Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.
Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy as they walk down memory lane and reawaken Disney moments that span generations. Dive deep into the East Australian Current with your favorite school of fish from Disney•Pixar's Finding Dory when Dory, Nemo and Marlin set off on an adventure to discover the true meaning of family. Travel to the wintry world of Arendelle with Anna and Elsa and the hilarious snowman Olaf from Disney's Frozen as they learn how powerful a love between sisters can be. Reach for your dreams with Rapunzel, as her determination illuminates her inner strength. Experience the beauty of Walt Disney's first animated feature film, as Snow White creates her own happily ever after with the help of seven, new friends. Buzz and Woody will have you jumping out of your seat in a foot-stomping hoedown; Simba, Timon and Pumbaa prowl the Pride Lands of Africa; Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie show how friendship is fearless; and your favorite Disney Princesses take to the ice to showcase the courage and determination that led them to achieve their dreams.
Make family memories to last a lifetime when The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice comes to Atlanta and Duluth!
Date and Time of Performances at Philips Arena:
Thursday, February 15 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 16 – 10:30 a.m.
Friday, February 16 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 17 – 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, February 17 – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 18 – 1 p.m.
Monday, February 19 – 11 a.m.
Monday, February 19 – 3 p.m.
Date and Time of Performances at Infinite Energy Arena:
Saturday, February 24 – 1 p.m.
Stay current on the latest developments through social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce
Twitter: @DisneyOnIce
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyOnIce
Instagram: @DisneyOnIce
About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Sesame Street Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Rise early to make the most of your day. Careful planning helps exploit this large-scale district because of longish distances to go for boat cruises and rentals, canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, birding, picnicking in state parks, museum-going and stops at pick-your-own farms and farmers' markets. While Seneca is the hub, Keuka and Cayuga are also crucial for Rieslings (which are assumed but not specified in recommendations below) and also showcase other varieties.
On Keuka's west side, taste a range of wines from Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars (www.drfrankwines.com), including the best-selling Rkatsiteli – a Georgian grape. The tasting room also pours sparkling wines from nearby Chateau Frank. At Heron Hill (www.heronhill.com) don't miss the Chardonnay, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and late-harvest Vidal Blanc.
Travellers who love discovering local foods will appreciate Edible Finger Lakes, a food magazine found at wineries, markets and stores. After a spot of lunch (see here for restaurants) try this winery tour on the east side of Cayuga, starting from Ithaca, Cornell University's home. I've recommended the must-try wines from each: Heart & Hands (www.heartandhandswine.com) Pinot Noir; Goose Watch (www.goosewatch.com) Diamond, Lemberger, Rosé of Isabella; Thirsty Owl (www.thirstyowl.com) Chancellor, Gewürztraminer; Sheldrake Point (www.sheldrakepoint.com) Gewürztraminer.
You have tasted and spat out wine all day, alternating water with wine to ensure safe driving. Now, like winemakers everywhere, you have earned a cold beer. Try local brands Abandon, Ithaca Beer, Naked Dove and Wagner Valley, or enjoy drinking a bottle of Finger Lakes wine over dinner at one of the restaurants. But be warned, reservations may cease at 9pm.


Walking on a Friday night with John the Nigerian and George from Sierra Leone. Jaunty, bouncing down the bright slope lit in the glare of numerous headlights. There are no shadows. It seems Madrid is a city without shadows, whether violently over-exposed in the long sharp daylight or blanketed in electric night, even the darkeness is bright, composed of overlapping rays of light.
What is normally intimate, is here public. Nigerian, Camerounian, Benin ladies line the "great way" calling to potential clients, in several languages offering blowjobs. John is steely, silent as we pass each small group, but George is perenially jocular, waving as a few of the ladies call him by name: My brodda, I no see you long time, wey you dey?
Nevertheless, our steps do not slow. We are on a mission, searching for the Chinese street vendor who the night before sold John a packet of "marlboros" hastily rolled by unskilled hands. John clutches the cigarettes angrily, disgusted with their flat bent forms. For 3€ he is sure he deserves more.
The vendor stares at John, unrecognizing, deaf to complaints made in halting, urgent Spanish. When John leans dangerously close to his face, the vendor jumps, displaying an agility his earlier stoicism belied. The argument ensues, circular, incomprehensible to all but the most knowledgeable onlookers.
I call out to the combatants, asking in English if I may take their photos. John immediately strikes an indignant pose, while the vendor stares resolutely away from my camera. I snap this shot and we are off back up Gran Via, the way we came.


text:
using App.Service;
using App.TypeLib;
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using System.Collections.Generic;
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using System.Text;

namespace App
{
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    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            new Person();

            using (var server = new HostedService())
            {
                Console.ReadLine();
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        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home » Professional License Defense » Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) License Defense
Trust our attorneys to help protect your career
You worked hard to prepare for a career as a human services professional. You are dedicated to a career in which you help others; your profession is not an easy one. Unfortunately, as a licensed professional, you may find yourself worried about a complaint filed with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Your career and livelihood might be at stake. That's why you need the help of a professional license defense attorney.
In Texas, HHSC regulates licensure for the following professions:
Licensed Professional Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Chemical Dependency Counselors
Sex Offender Treatment Providers
The Complaints Management and Investigative Section of HHSC will make a determination regarding the validity of a complaint and, if necessary, will initiate an investigation. Texas law allows a complaint against a licensed human services professional to be filed up to five years after the termination of the professional relationship between yourself and a client. The filing time is longer if the client was a minor.
During the disciplinary process, if you are the subject of a complaint, you have rights and legal options. When a disciplinary investigation is opened, you will have an opportunity to respond to the initial allegations. With completion of the investigation, the complaint may be dismissed based on your initial response and other evidenced gathered.
However, the investigation may result in the case moving forward through the investigatory process, at which time you may have the opportunity for an informal conference, a remedial plan, or the case may be heard at an administrative hearing. Final decisions by the Board can be appealed at the Travis County district court level.
If a complaint is found to be credible, the consequences could include a formal reprimand, a license suspension, or even revocation. Moreover, the Commission publishes disciplinary actions online for up to seven years after the completion of the disciplinary process and a determination of any penalty – meaning the damage to your career can be serious. That's why you want to do all you can to protect your license and your reputation.
A law firm that will stand up for you
You need an experienced, legal advocate on your side as soon as possible. Let the experienced attorneys at Bertolino LLP help you navigate the HHSC disciplinary system. The legal team at Bertolino LLP can be your advocate at every stage of your license defense. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
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If I could, I'd dance instead of walk.
A quick mention of something I definitely should have typed about before: the International Dance Festival Birmingham! It finishes tomorrow so there still might be something you can catch a look at. The city has been taken over by dance.
Featuring Shun Ito, Kei Miyata & Ex Easter Island Head.
Inspired by the writings of Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa, In a Landscape blends the spiritual and the scientific in a pulsating and atmospheric production which allows audiences to wonder at the invisible rules of nature and the universe. An unmissable treat for fans of electronic music, art, Japanese Zen and genre defying performance.
This extraordinary kinetic landscape will be created in the Municipal Bank, directed and choreographed by Kei Miyata (also performing in the piece), in collaboration with Shun Ito and EEIH, and an ensemble of local people.
I'm not normally a person who would go and see dance. But this was something I really enjoyed. The best way for me to describe it is slow. It was very slow but in the best possible way. It was very rhythmic and meditative. Reminded me that sometimes it's best to take your time. This performance was a beautiful example of a successful collaboration. The artist, the dancers and the musicians.
This was a great example of the types of performances programmed during the International Dance Festival. So if you didn't catch anything this year, definitely keep your eye out for when the next one springs up in Birmingham.


1. Severely obese individuals experience which serious health complication?
3. Stress increases physiologic responses that are independent of eating behaviors and diet.
6. Of the three eating behavior constructs, _____ has been associated with excess body weight.
7. Restraint strongly predicts weight gain and current BMI in adult women.
8. Physiologic stress responses increase activation of the central sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which can increase cortisol secretions that then is followed by visceral fat accumulation.
10. This study's findings support that women who are stressed are more likely to have emotional and uncontrolled eating behaviors.
11. This study observed indirect pathways from stress to severe obesity through eating behaviors and higher stress was associated with lower diet quality.
12. Which of the following has been found to have a strong predictor of poor diet quality and high BMI?


There's a new leader in town and he is lighting it up. Meet the brightest light in your company— your new CEO or Chief Energy Officer. No skill will be more important for tomorrow's leaders than the ability to generate and mobilize the energy of his workforce into a life force. That's because energized people are turned on by what they do.


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The Best Pumpkin Snickerdoodles for Your Holiday Parties
By Nancy Tirrell on November 26, 2018 in Desserts, Featured, Holidays, Pumpkins, Recipes
Snickerdoodles are simple classics–so simple I learned to make them in Home Economics class, way back in Junior High. I know Home Economics classes bit the dust around the time Junior High changed its name to Middle School–but the tangy taste of snickerdoodles still carries me back to those awkward adolescent days. Home Ec was a bright spot in the day, especially when cookies were on the menu.
I think the name snickerdoodles intrigued me as much as the cookie itself. Where did it come from? It's not hard to imagine snickerdoodles as a Pennsylvania Dutch invention—or even to picture them hiding in the sack of the Belsnickel. But there's no evidence the Pennsylvania Dutch, or more correctly Pennsylvania Germans, had anything to do with creating or naming snickerdoodles. However, some speculate that the cookies did originate in Germany. "Snickerdoodle" sounds a lot like "Schneckennudel", or "snail noodles"– German cinnamon pastries whose spiral shape resembles a snail shell.
Betty Crocker (whose "Cooky Book" I also treasured in Junior High) says Schneckennudels may have evolved into snickerdoodles– or they may be an American original. In Colonial New England, it was popular to dream up whimsical names for cookies. "Snickerdoodles" do seem like they'd be at home in the company of popular cookies from the era, especially ones like Plunkets, Tangle Breeches and Kinkawoodles.
No matter where they originated, snickerdoodles are still one of my favorite cookies. In my opinion though, they taste best when they're just out of the oven. When cool, they tend to get dry and crispy. But last year, I discovered pumpkin snickerdoodles–at the height of my favorite culinary season–Pumpkin Spice Season. It turns out that adding a little pumpkin puree makes a richer, moister cookie. Add a few more spices, and you still have that tangy cinnamon crunch, but with a hint of pumpkin pie. It doesn't get much better than that!
Pumpkin snickerdoodles seem to be a new addition to the pumpkin spice craze. The internet abounds with recipes. So I tried a few, and tweaked the ingredients till I found the taste and texture I was looking for. I wanted cinnamon crunchiness on the outside, but chewy pumpkin spice on the inside. I combined several recipes, and settled on this one that's fairly simple, but gives delicious results!
One of the distinctive ingredients in any snickerdoodle, pumpkin or traditional, is cream of tartar. Did you ever wonder what cream of tartar is, and why it's included in every snickerdoodle recipe? According to Vanessa Greaves on allrecipes.com, it's a byproduct of wine production, and is also known as tartaric acid. As that name suggests, it gives the cookies a slightly acidic tartness. Cream of tartar is also used as a leavening agent, because when combined with baking soda, it produces carbon dioxide gas (the same gas yeast produces when activated).
And here's some great news–if you're about to try a batch of pumpkin snickerdoodles, but you can't even remember when you purchased that jar of cream of tartar in your cabinet, don't worry. It keeps its freshness for a long, long time, maybe indefinitely. But if you're in doubt, check and see that it still looks white and powdery and smells slightly acidic. Then whip up a batch and savor the flavors of Pumpkin Spice Season!
Author: Weaver's Orchard
The Best Pumpkin Snickerdoodles for Your Holiday Parties Recipe Type : Dessert Author: Weaver's Orchard Serves: 18 I have to admit these still taste best fresh out of the oven. Make sure you don't overbake them—and if there any left once they're cool, keep them in a sealed container. If you refrigerate them, let them warm to room temperature before serving. Most recipes call for canned pumpkin, which is what I used--but if you would like to experiment with fresh pumpkin puree, you can find Elizabeth Weaver's recipe here: https://www.weaversorchard.com/fairytale-pumpkin-cookie/
¼ tsp ginger
⅛ tsp cloves
⅛ tsp nutmeg
¼ cup pumpkin puree
Cinnamon-sugar coating
Whisk together flour, spices, baking soda and cream of tartar in a medium mixing bowl.
In a large electric mixing bowl, cream butter with sugars and beat for 1-2 minutes with the mixer. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix till blended. Then scoop in the pumpkin puree, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Cover the dough bowl tightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Dough should be stiff enough to roll into balls, but sticky enough for the cinnamon-sugar mixture to adhere.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Remove the cookie dough and shape into balls (about 2 TBSP for each ball). Roll in cinnamon coating mixture. Place on cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
Bake in separate batches for 10-13 minutes each, or until cookies are set. (Do not overbake.) Cool on cookie sheets about 10 minutes, then transfer them to wire rack.
About Nancy Tirrell
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Q: Build AVR Studio 4 project in AVR Studio 5 I have an AT90USB162 Minimus AVR which I want to integrate into a project. I downloaded the demo code from Minimus USB.  This is a driver for using the AVR as a COM port.  The project is written for AVR Studio 4, and cannot be loaded as-is in AVR Studio 5.
How can I convert the project for use with AVR Studio 5?

A: Well, I just got to build the package. The problem is that the original sources were configured to be built in AVR Studio v.4, and mine is v.5, so I had to convert them to my version. So, you can follow the instructions:

*

*Unzip the content of the AVR-USB-162-CDC.zip to a folder. Inside it you will see the folder Atmel. Move this folder to c:\Atmel (so you will have c:\Atmel\at90usb162-cdc-1_0_1);

*In AVR Studio v.5, go to menu File/Import/AVR Studio 4 Project and where you see APS File Location, Browse to c:\Atmel\at90usb162-cdc-1_0_1\at90usb162\demo\cdc\gcc\cdc.aps

*Click Convert and so Finish and Close.
You can build the project with Build/Build Solution. The .hex will be saved in C:\Atmel\at90usb162-cdc-1_0_1\at90usb162\demo\cdc\gcc\cdc.hex.
I'm yet studying the code due to know the COMPORT parameters. But at least I'm already able to burn the hex into the microchip. If someone know details of this COMPORT please comment.
That's it. I hope it helps other newbies like me.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We know we can scale up democratic exercises like voting to embrace thousands or millions of people. But what about scaling up democratic exercises like conversation, dialogue, deliberation, and choice-creation? We know how to create generative – even wisdom-generating – conversations with a dozen or a hundred people in a room. But how do we scale up these powerful interactive modes to involve and impact whole communities and countries? In this post I describe principles and strategies that speak to that question. In the next post I offer examples where it is or has been done.
The powerful things we can do with conversation hold tantalizing promise for a better world if we can just find ways to involve and impact whole communities, countries, and global networks. Luckily, there is growing knowledge about how to do this without losing salience, quality and potency. But most of what we know about this is embedded in specific programs, methodologies and ideological frames of reference. It has not been brought together and openly explored.
In this essay, I try to offer perspectives and design principles that can be applied across many diverse approaches to scaling up conversational power. I want to stress that I intend this material as a stimulant for further dialogue and expanding understanding in the field of powerful conversations for the common good. It is only a beginning, but the inquiry itself is vitally important.
With that in mind, I offer here (a) four factors to keep in mind when scaling up, (b) what I see as the dynamic essence of what we're trying to do when we attempt it, and (c) 21 strategies for actually doing it.
1. Broad Participation – Sometimes it's the number of people involved, sometimes it's their targeted diversity (diverse demographics or stakeholders), sometimes it's participants' connectivity to broader networks. Whatever it is, the people involved are strategically chosen for their impact outside of the room.
2. Public visibility – Usually this takes the form of journalism and other media reporting. It often involves notable transparency. The point is that thousands or millions of people can see and/or hear the essence of what is happening or has just happened in the conversation and/or are exposed to its significance and energy in powerful ways.
3. Narrative engagement – Conversation designers who wish to scale up know the power of story to evoke, model and spread people's understanding and engagement. They tap this power through enabling observers to vicariously experience the conversational process and/or through a compelling vision that gets painted in the inspiring salience and scope of its conclusions.
4. Impact – This can range from the number of citizens influenced to how the results feed into subsequent powerful conversations, particularly those of leaders of all types at all levels. It can come from new linkages between leaders and stakeholder networks, from changed perspectives and real actions taken by citizens, stakeholders and policy-makers, and even from the process being institutionalized within the structures of governance.
Keeping these four factors in mind when designing conversations about public issues can make all the difference in the world in terms of how much impact they have.
Here I offer a summary of the key dynamic(s) involved in "scaling up" the power of what we can do in conversations among dozens of people into the minds, hearts and lives of millions.
People like us – people who embody our needs, values and demographics – together live through and publicly share with the rest of us a dramatic, informative and important story or conversation about a compelling public issue that has a creative ending that we can identify with, give power to, and/or live into ourselves. Usually these diverse people who look, think and feel like us – in all their problematic diversity – are professionally convened and facilitated in special ways that help them interact productively.
This kind of engagement becomes more powerful to the extent it actually involves us, uplifts the quality of our lives and interactions with each other, and/or shapes the actions of the powers-that-be who shape our lives. And it becomes even more powerful to the extent it happens often, periodically, as an institutional habit of our politics or governance, and/or whenever we say we need it or want it.
To the extent the public engagements we organize are inspired by – and embody – that description, they will likely have profound and widespread impact.
The list of strategies below grounds and expands the preceding lists of principles and dynamics into things we can actually do to facilitate the greater engagement and power of the conversational programs we convene.
1. Engage an intriguing/provocative/newsworthy diversity of participants – randomly selected citizens, citizens chosen for their differences, activists on opposing sides, full-spectrum stakeholders, etc. Be conscious of reaching beyond "the usual suspects" and addressing logistical barriers, cultural differences, power imbalances and other obstacles to participation by marginalized populations. We can even choose participants with public fanfare and celebration to better engage their spectating peers.
2. Make sure sponsorship and facilitation are excellent and demonstrably neutral or multi-perspectival.
3. Profile the participants ahead of time and/or with before-and-after interviews. Help the audience understand the humanity of those who were actually in the conversation, to identify with some of them, and to understand what they went through.
6. Engage well-networked stakeholders as participants in the dialogue or deliberation, opinion leaders who will take their experience and results out into their networks, spreading the impact of their conversations far and wide through their peers and interest groups.
7. Choose a topic that has urgent currency or otherwise attracts public attention. One good way to do this is to engage the public in prior conversations or in online forums and prioritization platforms to choose the topic(s) for conversational programs or the issues for consideration by minipublics (small groups who embody the diversity of their community). People tend to "own" what they had a part in co-creating. Talk up the choice to attract more public attention and stimulate citizen interest in what might soon come out of the conversations.
8. Have participants in high quality small-group deliberations report out to their community in well publicized community events and/or on media – and/or engage them in follow-up activities. They almost always have significant energy for this, if asked and assisted.
10. Create prior online public input and/or deliberation spaces the results of which are given to minipublic deliberations or stakeholder dialogues as part of their briefing materials.
11. Include public officials – and other major players in the issue (NGOs, religious groups, corporations, community service groups, etc.) – in planning, sponsorship, report-out events, follow-up conversations and events, implementation teams, etc. Have public officials promise to take the outcome seriously – either acting on the results or explaining why they cannot or will not – and hold them to their promise.
12. Link the results of the conversation to specific governance activity – e.g., informing voters on a citizen ballot initiative, getting the results published by a government agency or on a government website, having legislation, programs or regulations drawn up to initiate implementation, etc.
13. Do certain dialogue and deliberation events periodically/regularly in ways that attract ongoing public attention – e.g., have a randomly selected group of citizens convened newly each year to consider the condition and aspirations of their community which they report back to the community, as a "We the People State of the Community Report". Done well, this kind of regular event can generate a feedback loop through which the public can view its own evolving collective concerns, collective dreams, collective intelligence and collective agency.
14. Organize public advocacy activities around any such instance, to promote legislation that institutionalizes various forms of high quality public conversational engagement. Include prior participants from high quality public engagement as advocates, because they almost always have high energy around the remarkable experience of citizenship they had in that well facilitated conversation with their peers. They can easily see how more of that kind of activity could dramatically improve democracy.
15. Do or sponsor research about the impact of such initiatives on public opinion and behavior, on media, and/or on public officials.
16. Remove, revise, or get exemptions from laws that impede our ability to do this kind of work – such as laws preventing paying for participant food or which impede public officials from participating.
17. Engage celebrities visibly, either as advocates for or as participants in dialogue and deliberation events. Their participation can attract more public attention. Choose generic, local, or topic-specific celebrities as appropriate.
18. Engage LOTS of citizens – e.g., many thousands, or 1-5% of the population involved – in a mix of online and/or face-to-face engagements – especially if results from one part of the initiative are used as input into subsequent parts (e.g., major community study circle programs often end with an open space-type gathering of participants as noted above, to co-create action teams to deal with the issue they studied). A leading edge in this direction is the development of interactive games and policy-simulation exercises which present citizens with challenges and rewards that engage them with the issue.
19. Engage lots of different dialogue and deliberation (D&D) practitioners and practices around a single issue and use specially designed before-and-after surveys to compare and combine the results from those diverse activities. This can not only engage an unprecedented diversity of D&D approaches in a coherent program, but also produce spreadsheets capable of being sorted by method, location, demographics, etc., for unprecedented insights.
20. Get government buy-in. Promote the ability of quality D&D – and of government actors taking public engagement seriously – to build public trust in government and/or to help government deal with controversial issues without getting blamed for doing what needs to be done. This is often especially appealing to political leaders who are faced with complex problems they don't know what to do with or controversies in which they face major political risks no matter what they do.
21. Generally spread the stories of what happened in public D&D activities – in major media, in professional networks, through community institutions (libraries, schools, religious congregations, neighborhood groups, etc.), through social media, etc.
Note: I compiled these strategies from notes taken at my workshop with Rosa Zubizarreta on "Leveraging and scaling-up group D&D [Dialogue and Deliberation] to bridge larger social divides" at the 2016 conference of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD), from other conversations at that conference, and from my prior and subsequent experience and research. As noted earlier, these strategies – along with the rest of this post – are intended as a starting point and stimulant for further sharing, brainstorming, experimenting and exploration of "scaling up" by the larger community of conversation-based practitioners, scholars and activists. Feel free to use it as you wish.
I'll share some innovative examples and methods for doing these things in the next post in this series….
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2 Responses to "How to scale up conversations to embrace millions (Collective Coherence Part Three)"


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This pollutant increases risk of COVID-19 related death but the EPA won't regulate it
by: Care2 Team
recipient: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler
Back in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to gain dangerous momentum, the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) headed by Trump-croney Andrew Wheeler saw a nefarious opportunity -- the agency tasked with protecting our water, air, soil, and entire planet decided to stop policing major polluters. Claiming that the health risk of the pandemic made it harder to prevent the health risk of pollution poisoning people, the EPA announced that it wouldn't penalize businesses that failed to monitor or report pollution. Relying on the "good faith efforts" of industries that have lobbied for years to prioritize profit over environment and public health -- what could go wrong?
A study by doctoral students at American University discovered that something did go wrong -- across 700 counties tested, there was a 14% spike in the type of pollution called particulate matter. Evidence is emerging that particulate matter is tied to heightened risk of COVID-19 complications and death -- the American University study went as far as to suggest that there were "7,300 additional deaths from COVID-19" in a period of about three months after the EPA loosened its regulations.
Though the EPA ended its pollution free-for-all on August 31, previous regulations weren't even cutting it. Sign the petition and demand that Administrator Andrew Wheeler immediately set a lower, stricter standard for particulate matter pollution in the United States!
Particulate matter is the microscopic solid and liquid pollution that comes from anything that involves the burning of fossil fuels -- an industry that's rich, powerful, and holds magnificent sway over the EPA. When we breathe in air that is heavy-laden with this type of toxin, which too many areas of the world are, the particles burrow deep into our lungs. Sometimes the poison even reaches our blood stream. According to a research director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, it's "responsible for more deaths and sickness than any other air pollutant in the world."
Although COVID-19 is an entirely new disease, studies are already uncovering correlations between high pollution levels and heightened COVID-19 death rates.
We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that symptoms, complications, and risk of death are much more severe for other respiratory illnesses when pollution is also a factor. The mere possibility that the presence of particulate matter causes higher COVID-19 mortality rates should be all we need to cut down on that pollution immediately.
It must not be ignored that the highest pollution levels tend to be in lower income and BIPOC communities -- power plants, factories, highways, and other polluting projects are often thrust into these communities that can do very little to stop them. These are the same communities that have experienced heightened levels of COVID-19 deaths due to medical racism, among other deadly inequities. These already vulnerable folks will be the ones who suffer the most if the EPA does not act now.
But Trump's EPA has made no attempt to hide their loyalties, which are with the fossil fuel industry, not the American people. They have known for a long while now that particulate matter was a dangerous issue. There was even a panel of scientists that used to advise the EPA on the matter -- 26 scientists were needed to cover the immense amount of science related to the issue. But Andrew Wheeler dissolved the panel in 2018. The most deadly pollutant in the world, and the EPA doesn't think they need to know about it.
But that panel knew, even then, how important their expertise was. Even after being disbanded, almost all of the members penned a letter to Wheeler saying that "tightening the standard [for particulate matter emissions] would avoid tens of thousands of premature deaths per year."
Wheeler, who used to lobby for the coal industry, didn't listen then, nor is he listening now -- when there is a pandemic that violently attacks, mutilates, and disables the lungs. This is a matter of life or death. Sign the petition demanding that he finally pays attention, and sets a far stricter standard for particulate matter emissions!


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HomeDemands for Grants, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
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A new study has revealed that counties do not directly fund family planning programmes.
The survey by DSW Kenya found that despite millions of shillings being spent on family planning services, the counties under study were not expending the money directly.
Only an average of 4.7 per cent of the health budget in the financial year 2017/2018 was allocated for provision of family planning in the 11 counties sampled.
Collins Baswony, a senior communication officer with DSW, however noted that the counties sampled had showed willingness to put money directly into the programme.
"The study realised that counties are actually spending more on family planningwithout even directly budgeting for it and counties are working to ensure that in the upcoming budgets family planningprogrammes will be funded directly," said Mr Baswony.
He pointed out that the study looked at some non-monetary input like time by health staff to come up with the figures.
"From the 11 counties under this study, it was evident from the discussions with the respondents (Chief Officer for Health, The Director, Reproductive Health Coordinator and other staff who were involved in budgeting) that there is no dedicated line item for family planning. This indicates that it is difficult to establish how much countiesare spending on family planning from the budgets allocated," said the officer.
Five out of the 11 counties sampled had more than five per cent of the health budget set aside for family planning. These are Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Meru, Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua counties. While West Pokot and Laikipia had set aside 3.3 per cent of the budget for contraceptives. Other counties under study were Kilifi, Nandi, Mombasa and Nakuru.
However, all the counties had recorded increased spending on family planningservices from the previous financial year.
Meru County had the highest amount set aside for these services at Sh184 million followed by Nakuru while West Pokot had the least allocation.
Nandi County is seeking to increase funding for family planning services by involving the youth in the County Budget and Economic Forum (CBEF) which decides on which areas to be funded in a financial year.
"Previously, there was no public participation in financing of public servicesbut with the current Constitution the people must be consulted in the budget-making process," says Felix Kimutai, 29, a member of the Nandi CBEF.
In West Pokot County, the two chief officers in the health and sanitation department – Ednah Krop and Ibrahim Longolomoi - admitted that lack of resources was a major challenge in achieving the reproductive health goals.
Ms Krop, the chief officer for sanitation, says that the county has been working closely with a number of youth programmes and there were plans to have youth-friendly centres though the noble initiatives are yet to be captured in the current financial year.
"The limiting factor has been resources but we are reaching out to partners to chip in and bridge the gap to help us meet our objectives and aspirations," she said.
The county has allocated Sh1 million to the reproductive health department but it does not have a direct line budget for familyplanning services. "We are not able to actually manage the entire budget that we had proposed because the county gave us a budget ceiling," says Mr Longolomoi, the chief officer health.
West Pokot has the lowest uptake for familyplanning services in Kenya, with only one out of four women of reproductive age using contraceptives.
Counties are seeking to end reliance on donor funding to run family planningservices. Trans Nzoia has witnessed an increase in funding for the services, with an estimated Sh136 million up from a Sh128 million the previous year. But all this has been indirect.
Kevin Kocheli, who works with the youth in family planning drive, says that the countygovernment is now spending more on reproductive health even as it seeks to fund the programme directly.
Kocheli, who sits in Trans Nzoia's CBEF, said the County Integrated Development Plan wants youth-friendly set-up for servicesin each sub county, as is happening in Nandi. "Counties are grappling with the budget-making process and as long as young people are not in these spaces then they will not be considered," he said.


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Athleisure retailer Lululemon's investment in e-commerce — revamping its website and improving on direct-marketing efforts to draw new customers — has paid off.
Lululemon has posted a 46 per cent increase in its online revenue last year, adding that it has reached an e-commerce penetration rate of 26 per cent.
The company announced it will be investing aggressively in e-commerce in new territories and plans to open e-commerce markets in France, Japan and Germany. The retailer also said it will roll out its "order online, pick up in store" program across the US by the winter holidays this year.
The Canada-based retailer said they will step up on their international expansion plans, saying more than half of its planned 40 to 50 store openings this year would be in overseas markets.
Lululemon posted a 24 per cent increase in revenue to $3.3 billion for the fiscal year ending February 3 from the $2.65 billion from the previous corresponding period.
"Lululemon has delivered one of its strongest years yet, a result of broad-based strength across the business," said company CEO Calvin McDonald in a press release.
For the fourth quarter, Lululemon said net revenue rose 26 per cent to $1.2 billion aided by holiday sales.
Total revenue for fiscal 2018 was $3.3 billion.
The retailer's profitability in Asia and Australia more than offset the operating loss in Europe. Now with the company having 21 stores in Europe, Lululemon said it was about a year and half away from breaking even in Europe.
The company forecast the momentum would continue this year, saying they expect a net revenue to be in the range of $3.7 billion to $3.74 billion for the full fiscal 2019.


If Casey had a clue he was Jesse's target then todays player selection would be a great thing for him. He is one of the six that will get to play for the POV today. The others are Jeff, Chima and then Jesse, Jordan and Michele. Natalie pretty much demanded that Jesse select her to host the competition.
The HGs have been locked down for the last 14+ hours while the backyard is being set up for the competition.
With the amount of time it is taking to build the set - I can only guess it will be a very long competition.
Jesse has said to Natalie that no matter what happens either Casey, Michele and Jordan are going home this Thursday.
Oh, and last night - around 3:30amish for those of you with the live feeds - Jesse and Lydia were quite active under the covers. Some say they heard a condom being opened - but I don't think they actually consummated the relationship - however Lydia seemed to have a good time this go round.
"Jessie has told some of the HGs that his plan is to backdoor Casey."
This is one of those times on BB that I can believe that statement...both figuratively and literally.
Sounds like he backdoored Lydia last night.
That has to be the oddest couple ever!
By the way...have any of you seen this video of Jessie and Russell in the gym together...last year?
Anyone catch rat boy doing ballet in the kitchen? In the flashback, it happened about 1015am. He is such a dork.