text:
Sufjan Stevens' "The Ascension" provides for a futuristic and transcending masterpiece
Udita Jonnala
Sufjan Stevens combines a new experimental sound with social commentary alluding to his religion on new album "The Ascension"
Riya Mehta, Multimedia Editor
On Sept. 25, 2020, singer and songwriter Sufjan Stevens released his eighth studio album "The Ascension," a warped and futuristic piece that combines Stevens' view of religion with his experimental music style that differs greatly from his previous, more emotional albums.
Stevens begins the album with the opening track, "Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse." The instrumentals at the very start form a futuristic tone that prepares listeners for the journey they are about to embark on. Sufjan then enters with his soft and almost whisper-like voice that listeners are so accustomed to hearing. He layers his voice with complex and robotic-like sounds that are awkward for listeners, almost uncomfortable, as the pairing is unusual. He then transitions into an intense, almost EDM like sound, and then back into Sufjan's gentle voice, a pattern that he continues for the entirety of the song, leaving listeners on their feet, guessing for what the next beat will bring to their ears. The multiple build-ups in the song don't reach a certain climax, but fade back into a gentle and almost eerie tune, as if some sort of resolution is expected, but never comes. Lyrics such as, "Move through to me/Show me the face of all my dreams," is Sufjan almost asking for proof and affirmation that there is actually a divine force that exists after being told for so long to believe in one.
The next track, "Run Away With Me," displays a stark contrast from the opening track, as Sufjan's emotional and soft voice is what stands out the most. He has paired this angelic voice so perfectly with a soft-electro beat, a difficult task to accomplish. Despite this, he is missing the strum of a guitar that Stevens is so well-known for, though in this case, the guitar is not needed to have the same emotionally jarring effect. There is a sort of escapism concept that Sufjan aims for in this song, and it is done beautifully, making it one of the favorites from the album.
Social media has exacerbated celebrity culture and idol worship," Sufjan says. It monetizes us, it commodifies human instinct. There's a loss of identity within that transaction."
"Video Game" begins like the bells of a church ringing, but with an electronic twist. The song is much more upbeat, with a steady beat of the drum. Sufjan incorporates an almost cosmic-like instrumental in snippets, adding another layer to the song. "Video Game" alludes to the presence of social media in this generation's everyday life, and how toxic it has become. "Social media has exacerbated celebrity culture and idol worship," Sufjan says. It monetizes us, it commodifies human instinct. There's a loss of identity within that transaction. Moreover, systemic racism is nothing new. Corporate greed is nothing new. Political corruption is old as the hills. It's just now that we've built a system in which all of these social diseases are visible and exposed. In some cases, they're being celebrated and it's pretty ugly," Stevens explains in an interview with Al Horner for The Guardian.
The album continues into fourth track "Lamentations," which includes a very groovy and funky intro that transitions into a distorted composition of sounds. However, he once again smoothly makes his presence known in the song with his signature style of almost no strength behind his voice, solely relying on gentle whispers and a distorted effect behind his voice. He keeps a similar theme of experimentation with the album that is beautifully mixed and composed, almost angelic aside from the funky background that is consistent with the beginning of the song. The last 30 seconds of the song brings listeners into another dimension, where one can become completely lost in the waves of faltering harmony.
"Tell Me You Love Me" is a personal favorite, as it starts off with a sweet and gentle pattern of notes. Sufjan incorporates a distorted and delayed effect to the music, but also has multiple voices come together to send a more powerful message. Once again, Steven's ability to blend these sounds at perfection is what stands out in this album. Listeners then enter a cosmic instrumental that is seen in prior songs, but he doesn't waver from the same six note pattern that was played at the very beginning of the track. The last minute of the song is almost indescribable, so beautifully composed and well-thought out, technical but emotional at the same time.
Sufjan begins the track by claiming "My love, I've lost my faith in everything," however, towards the end of the song, writes it so that God is responding that despite Stevens losing faith, God will still love him, hence the repetition of "I'm gonna love you".
"Die Happy" and "Ativan" are both almost purely instrumental pieces that combine the similar theme of this comfort and softness that Stevens brings, along with the discomfort of metal clanking, distorted voices, and an unsteady beat of the drum that directly contrasts his voice. Stevens seems to be heavily inspired by electronic music, especially in the last segments of both of these songs, which, yet again, differs greatly from his previous albums that consisted of his acoustic guitar and whispered voice.
The Neighbourhood introduces a new era and album with EP "Pretty Boy"
"Landslide" is another personal favorite off the album, however, as opposed to "Tell Me You Love Me," Stevens begins with a cryptic pattern of notes and an even more mysterious tone from his own voice that listeners are not familiar with. The chorus is a simple and well balanced composition, but soon segues into the first time Sufjan brings power to his voice on the album, in directly contrasting his airy and light one, a satisfying shock to listeners. Sufjan's range is exemplified further in this song, as his voice reaches into a falsetto and easily shifts into his powerful register without a hint of unsteadiness.
The tenth track on the album, "Gilgamesh," begins like the music played over the opening of a patriotic movie. This soon comes to an abrupt stop as a crumbling and dismantled sound takes over in which Sufjan layers his voice over. The storyline and lyrics behind this song is what makes Stevens stand out as a musician and lyricist, using the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu as a religious allegory to the message he attempts to send regarding anxiety and the lessons he has learned over time regarding the complexities of life. "For as it was in the beginning/So shall it cease at my command" alludes to the epic of Gilgamesh, more specifically the uncertainty of life even when one has faith in a high power or entity. In the epic, Enkidu and Gilgamesh make a cedar door to honor the Gods, however, Gods are still unsatisfied and kill Enkidu. Humanity is taught to worship the gods, but the gods ignore that in self interest. Stevens relates this to the importance of appreciating the people that are in your life while they are still here. The line "as it was in the beginning" hints in Sufjan's conclusion that the world was created by the gods, and humanity was created to serve the gods.
"Death Star" segues perfectly into "Goodbye To All That," leaving listeners unaware that the next song has already begun. At this point in the album, songs that are similar in composition tend to become morphed into one, and it is harder to find distinctions between them. Still, "Goodbye To All That" has a more optimistic tune despite the crushing lyrics.
Despite the album being a masterpiece in itself thus far, the final twelve minute and thirty second track, "America", will leave listeners will a bittersweet afterthought on the state of the country at the moment. The warped symphony created behind Sufjan's voice provides for the destruction and chaos he feels is present in America, and connects it back to his faith in God with lyrics such as "Don't do to me what you did to America." Sufjan is begging God not to abandon him into a state of chaos, just as God has done with America. Sufjan continues to provide religious allegory regarding Christianity, with lyrics such as "I have broke your bread for a splendor of machinery." This refers to the exploitation of American land for technological advancements. In Christian faith, the bread that was broken refers to Christ's body during the last supper, so the bread could be synonymous with America, and that Sufjan, assuming he is the narrator, broke America himself. The final minutes of this track fade into instrumental filled with guitar riffs, high-pitched synths, and Sufjan continuously repeating "Don't do to me what you did to America", a chilling note to conclude this album.
Riya joined the Tribune out of her passion for informing the community and voicing her opinions. Riya is now in journalism 3, and has been a staff writer for the Tribune. Her goal in journalism this year is...
Udita Jonnala, Public Relations Manager
Udita enjoys journalism because it helps her write for change. She wants to use her voice to shine a spotlight on different issues and use her voice for a cause. Udita has been in journalism for 3 years (4...


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Falls short just at the finish line.
Great Design; Impressive music player.
Proprietary Charging port; Only one PlayStation game available in India; Poor battery life.
UPDATE: The video review of the Sony Tablet S is now available here.
With the Tablet S, Sony plans to make its PlayStation Network stronger. Running on the Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) OS, the tablet comes with an impressive dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor clocked at 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, and a ULP GeForce GPU under the hood.Let us find out how this PlayStation Certified tablet stands up against the competition.
The retail box packs in a tablet, charger, a wrist strap, and a warranty card. The device measures 9.5" (l) x 6.7" (w) x 0.8" (d) and weighs around 600 grammes. The tab features a unique magazine fold-out design that props the screen at an angle when placed on a table. At the front is a 9.4" screen surrounded by a black bezel and a front facing VGA camera. The design is refreshingly new and the tablet is quite light to carry.
Sony has put in a proprietary charging port with a rather bulky charger so you might find it a bit difficult to charge the tab when on the move. Moreover, it has opted for a SD card slot expandable to 32 GB, over the microSD card slot. If you own a digital camera, you just need to pop in the card and you can transfer images and videos with ease.
Other features include a micro-USB port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5 MP rear and a VGA front camera, 3.5 mm jack, and an SD card slot, 16 GB internal memory, 5000 mAh battery, and a set of sensors.
The 9.4" LED-backlit touchscreen has pixel dimensions of 1280x800. The screen offers good viewing angles and brightness. The inbuilt speakers offer decent sound quality, but they could have been better. You can customise the five homescreens with widgets and shortcuts. If you have multimedia content stored on your SD Card, you will have to import into the internal storage before playing, which is a bit of a dampner. Overall, the crisp screen works like a charm.
The Tablet S runs Honeycomb, and is PlayStation Certified, which means that you have access to Crash Bandicoot, which is currently the only PlayStation game on offer in India. Considering that the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY smartphone has been around for a while, you would expect more titles. The PlayStation style controls are touch sensitive and take some time getting a hang of, especially for new users. Other preloaded games include NinJump, Angry Birds, RacingMoto, and the PSP game Pinball Heroes. There is also the GameLoft app that lets you download HD Games.
The interface is quite laggy, but that seems to be an Android optimisation issue. Apart from the standard on-screen navigation keys such as Home, Back, and Menu, the tab also features a task manager. You can see minimized games and tasks next to the digital clock, which is a neat touch. The Tablet S is Flash compatible and streams online videos quite smoothly. The tablet also gives you access to the Sony's ebook store through the Reader app, and lets you convert your tab into a universal Wi-Fi remote for your other gadgets. Google Maps and Latitude provide navigation capability, but the GPS is dependent on internet connectivity. The tab also comes with the Select App, which is a virtual magazine highlighting apps from the Android market every month.
The built in music player is impressive, and features a built-in equalizer that could do with a few more presets.
The 5 MP rear camera is fairly decent. Considering that this is more of a gaming tablet, the quality is not so disappointing and images offer good amount of details. The videos recorded are saved in the MP4 format, and are not too bad either.
The tab can handle 1080p videos, but the default player surprisingly cannot play 1080p MP4 videos. Moreover, full-HD video playback is extremely choppy. It does not support DivX and XviD formats either, so you will need third-party video players. At 720p though, the playback is smooth.
The 5000 mAh battery's performance is disappointing. A couple of hours of gaming and the battery drains down to almost 50%. For moderate use, the battery would last up to 7 hours. The tablet is feature-rich, but it doesn't justify its expensive price tag. If you are willing to spend that much, Lenovo's IdeaPad K1 is a better option.


text:
Q: vectorizing code in Matlab I have an ASCII file containing a number of surfaces created in a seismic interpretation software. They are a family of interpolated surfaces between a top surface and a bottom surface are a family All surfaces are sampled at each point of a regular squuare grid.
The file structure is:
X Y Z1 Z2.....Zn
Where X, Y are coordinate vectors common to all surfaces, Z1, Z2,...,Zn are the surfaces.
I would like to import the file in Matlab and save each individual surface to its own file XYZ.
Assuming the data is imported and stored in variable "data", this code does the job:
r=size(data,1);
c=size(data,2)-2;
temp(:,1)=data(:,1);
temp(:,2)=data(:,2);
for i = 1:c
    temp(:,3)=data(:,i+2);
    tempname = ['proportional_',num2str(i*5-5),'ms','.txt']; % naming reflects the
                                                           % fact that surfaces
                                                           % are in two way travel
                                                           % time and that median
                                                           % distance between each
                                                           % two surfaces is ~ 5
                                                           % milliseconds
    save (tempname,'temp','-ASCII','-TABS');
end
clear r c temp tempname i
clc

I would like to vectorize this code by taking as much of it as possible out of the for loop. I think that doing it for the save command may not be possible, but perhaps the other 2 lines can. My feeling is I should use cell arrays or perhaps structures, but I can't think of the right syntax.
Any ideas? Thank you

A: Here is what you can do:
temp = arrayfun( @(x) data(:,[1 2 x]), 3:size(data,2), 'UniformOutput',0 );
arrayfun( @(x) dlmwrite( strcat('proportional_',num2str(x*5-5),'ms.txt'), ...
         temp{x}, '\t' ), 1:numel(temp) );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This week Maxwell has seemed to have come on leaps and bounds. I am in a little shock that he is nearly 3 and I can not believe how far we have come together. This week Maxwell has had a great week and has learnt a lot of new things.
Maxwell can now not only put his own welly boots on, but he is also able to put his own shoes on. Admittedly they are just plain velcro shoes and it does take a while for him to put them on however it is a great achievement that he is able to put them on his self and that he can do the velcro up on them. Next I will be teaching him how to do his laces.
This week Maxwell has been repeating a lot of words, he has also been using many words. His favorite words to say this week are bag, egg and loop. Maxwell has learnt these words by doing the Alphablock app on my phone. It has really helped him learn new words and has helped him to start making the sounds of letters. Maxwell is also able to now spell words out on interactive gadgets. They are only short words but I think it is extremely clever for a 2 year old to be doing.
Last week I spoke about Maxwell liking light up objects, this week Maxwell has a new touch to light up walls around the house and he has a new pen which projects a light up Spongebob around the house. Maxwell adores light up gadgets and I am sure he will continue to get lots more light up gadgets to play with.
This week has seen us go on lots of Autumn walks. We are lucky in where we live, we live on the edge of the New Forest so there is plenty of places to walk to. All the walking is free, not only is it fun for Maxwell to splash in puddles and visit the park on our walks but it is also great to get exercise and to breath in the fresh air.
I live in a very woody area too, I have lived here since my son was Maxwell's age and I still look forward to Autumn!
I love your area. Max is a lucky boy to be minutes away from the fores. Glad his words are coming on.


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text:
Home » Health and Social Issues
Leading First Nation groups say Work-for-the-Dole scheme racially discriminatory and unhealthy
Source: The national authority in Aboriginal primary health care-Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands (NACCHO)
At the Press Conference: John Paterson, CEO, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (APONT), David Ross, Director, Central Land Council (APO NT), Rod Little, Co-Chair, National Congress, David Thompson, CEO, Jobs Australia, Ged Kearney, President, Australian Council of Trade Union, Maria Harvey, CEO, Tiwi Islands Training & Employment Board, Dickie Bedford, CEO, Marra Worra Worra
"Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APONT ), and our members have received widespread concerns about the debilitating impacts that CDP is having on its participants, their families and communities.
Financial penalties were being imposed at an astonishing scale - causing families, including children, to go hungry.
Such consistent and strong concerns expressed by those at the coalface must be taken seriously and acted upon,
Onerous and discriminatory obligations applied to remote CDP work for the dole participants mean they have to do significantly more work than those in non-remote, mainly non-Indigenous majority areas, up to 670 hours more per year."
The chief executive of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, John Paterson, said the program was causing significant harm to communities. He said financial penalties were being imposed at an astonishing scale - causing families, including children, to go hungry (see Guardian article in full below Part 2)
Part 1 Fair work and strong communities
Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT Proposal for a Remote Development and Employment Scheme
All Australians expect to be treated with respect and to receive a fair wage for work. But the Australian Government is denying these basic rights to people in remote communities through its remote work for the Dole program - the "Community Development Programme".
Fair work
and strong
NACCHO is one of the many
organisations that has endorsed
this scheme
Download the brochure and full list of
organisations endorsing RDES SUMMARY
Around 84 per cent of those subject to this program are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Most people in remote communities have to do more work than people in non-remote non Indigenous majority areas for the same basic social security payment.
In some cases, up to 760 hours more per year.
There is less flexibility and people are paid far below the national minimum wage.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also being penalised more because of the onerous compliance conditions.
In many cases, people are receiving a basic social security payment for work they should be employed to do.
The Government's program is strangling genuine job opportunities in remote communities.
The Government's remote Work for the Dole program is racially discriminatory and must be abandoned. Better outcomes will be achieved if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are given the opportunity to determine their own priorities and gain greater control over their own lives.
A Fair Wage for Work
There is an opportunity for the Australian government to meaningfully partner with remote communities, rather than impose a "one size fits all" model from Canberra.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities want to take up the reins and drive job creation and community development initiatives.
Remote communities need a program that sees people employed to work on projects the community needs.
And to do so with decent pay and conditions, and the right to earn more for extra effort. The current program keeps people in the welfare system and excessive penalties see people just disengage. It provides no reward for effort and does not address the need to support people into the workforce.
Remote communities need a program that encourages school leavers to move straight into employment or training.
Not one that leaves young people trapped in a welfare cycle or disengaged.
Tailored community-led approaches are needed that reflect the diverse cultural, economic and social aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the realities of the remote job market.
A Fair and Positive Scheme for waged work and strengthening communities
Five Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote service providers, have developed a new, fair and positive model for job creation and community building - the Remote Development and Employment Scheme.
The Scheme will see people placed into part time work with award wages and conditions.
People will be protected by the workplace rights so many Australians take for granted. It would reduce the role that the welfare system plays in people lives. It will see more time and money spent creating new opportunities for jobs, enterprise and community development and less on pointless administration.
The Scheme is a place-based and community-driven model.
It will establish long term collaboration across governments, employers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to increase opportunities in remote communities.
Critically, the Scheme provides incentives to encourage people into work, training and other activities, rather than punishing people already struggling to comply.
Keys features of the Remote Development and Employment Scheme :
Establish a wages fund to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other local organisations to create 10,500 part time jobs on award wages and conditions, working on services and projects important to their communities, with the ability to "top up" these wages from other funds when extra work is done.
Create 1,500 paid work experience and training places for young people, supported by locally driven youth development strategies.
Remove the discriminatory requirement for people in remote communities who remain on social security payments to work more hours than people in non- remote areas.
Create Remote Job Centres, with local governance bodies, focused on long term support to help people get into work, stay in work, and progress into better jobs based on their skills and aspirations.
Retain activity obligations for people who can work and receive social security but aren't in a job. Obligations will be based on their capabilities and the needs and views of communities.
Support people with disabilities and family responsibilities to meet their gaols and contribute to their communities in a manner appropriate to their capabilities and aspirations.
Maintain and improve access to government services in remote communities, including Centrelink, and help people with disabilities access the right payment through the support of Remote Job Centres.
Ensure the Scheme is managed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, through shared learning and evidence, by establishing an independent body with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led board.
Part 2 from The Guardian
Indigenous groups say work for the dole scheme racially discriminatory
An alliance of Indigenous groups has called the government's remote work for the dole scheme a racially discriminatory, onerous and debilitating program that is causing children to go hungry.
The community development program was introduced in 2015, aiming to reduce welfare dependency in rural and remote areas.
The scheme relies heavily on private job service providers, and places more onerous requirements on jobseekers, who are required to work or engage in related activities for 25 hours a week across 46 weeks of the year.
Its 35,000 participants, who are 83% Indigenous, earn about $11 an hour, and those who fail to meet their obligations face financial penalties.
Witnesses told a Senate inquiry on Friday that a lack of job opportunities in remote communities made it unworkable and impractical.
Participants have been left to engage in "activity for activity's sake" with little prospect for learning new skills or gaining a job.
If they fail to comply with rigid requirements, jobseekers face financial punishment. The government issued 35,122 financial penalties in the final quarter of last year, mostly through no show no pay penalties, usually of about $53.
An Australian National University study showed Indigenous people were 27 times more likely to be penalised by a loss of income than those on a similar program in a largely white area.
On Friday the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (Apont), an alliance of five groups, gave evidence to a Senate inquiry into the program.
One of the members, the chief executive of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, John Paterson, said the program was causing significant harm to communities. He said financial penalties were being imposed at an astonishing scale - causing families, including children, to go hungry.
"Apont and our members have received widespread concerns about the debilitating impacts that CDP is having on its participants, their families and communities. Such consistent and strong concerns expressed by those at the coalface must be taken seriously and acted upon," Paterson said.
"Onerous and discriminatory obligations applied to remote CDP work for the dole participants mean they have to do significantly more work than those in non-remote, mainly non-Indigenous majority areas, up to 670 hours more per year."
Apont, which was created to end the top-down approach of Indigenous policy, has proposed a new model, which focuses on increasing jobs, boosting community development, and lessening the welfare system's intrusion into people's lives.
"The CDP is racially discriminatory, and Apont believes it must be abandoned. In seeking this we are not just coming here armed with criticisms, but with a solution, an alternative."
Cassandra Goldie, the chief executive of the Australian council of social service (Acoss), said the significant resources being spent on the CDP - about $268m in 2015-16 - would be better directed to creating employment in rural communities.
"When the term 'welfare dependency' is used, it's often understood that it's the social security payment that's the problem," Goldie said.
"But … the very important task of generating local employment, real employment opportunities, that is where the significant capabilities of the commonwealth, institutionally, should be coming in behind the deep desire by Atsi [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] leadership, and also Indigenous people locally, to drive this agenda," she said.
That was a position backed by non-profit job service providers, represented by the chief executive of Jobs Australia, David Thompson. "There's been nothing done, nothing of any significant note, to actually increase the stock of jobs in those communities," he said.
The Department of Social Services was questioned about why it imposed stricter requirements on participants of the CDP.
Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy asked, "If there are less jobs in a remote and rural region and less opportunities, why would there be a higher expectation of the hours?"
The DSS's Bronwyn Field said the government had heard significant concerns from community leaders about sit-down welfare. To resolve that, it had decided daily activities from participants would be required.
"The government, when they started consultation prior to introducing the CDP, spent a lot of time with communities. One of the clear pieces of feedback was the fact that many Indigenous community leaders were concerned about people … doing sit-down welfare," Field said.
McCarthy responded, "So you're saying that was a result of government consultations to have those hours - 25 in the community, and 15 in town?"
Culturally significant
Northern Territory Intervention
Cashless Welfare Cards

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Friday, Oct 1 2004
House Panel Blocks Effort To Release Medicare Cost Estimates
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday voted 26-21, mostly along party lines, to report unfavorably a Democratic-sponsored resolution of inquiry that would have forced the Bush administration to release documents related to cost estimates for the new Medicare law, CQ HealthBeat reports (Carey, CQ HealthBeat , 9/30). According to White House Office of Management and Budget estimates released after Congress passed the Medicare law, the legislation will cost an estimated $534 billion over the next 10 years -- $134 billion more than previously estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster has said the higher cost estimate was reached before the final House and Senate votes on the legislation in November, but former CMS Administrator Thomas Scully allegedly did not allow him to release the estimates.
Congressional Democrats have launched several investigations into the issue. In July, the HHS Office of Inspector General concluded in part that Scully "broke no law" when he ordered Foster to withhold the cost estimate. However, a legal opinion issued by the Government Accountability Office in September said that Scully should have to repay about half of his $145,600 salary for last year because of his actions.
Previous Vote
The House Ways and Means Committee last week voted 19-12 to reject the same resolution, cosponsored by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.). The resolution would force executive branch officials to release previously withheld cost information. Committee action on such a resolution is required within 14 legislative days of introduction ( California Healthline , 9/24).
The resolution seeks "all documents, including telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars and records of internal discussions" related to the Medicare cost estimates (Rovner, CongressDaily , 9/30).
"This resolution is nothing more than 11th-hour politicking, a partisan effort to disparage the Medicare Modernization Act and the administration," Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-Texas) said (Johnson, CQ Today , 9/30). Barton added, "There is, after all, a presidential election in less than five weeks. And that's what this is all about: politics." However, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) said, "The issue is that pertinent information was withheld from this Congress. That should be pursued" ( CQ HealthBeat , 9/30). Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) added, "Everybody knows that if this relevant information had been presented to the Congress (the Medicare bill) would not have passed" ( CongressDaily , 9/30).
Dingell said, "Had President Clinton's administration tried to hide the ball like this, congressional subpoenas would have flown like confetti. But when the Bush administration hides the ball, all we get from the congressional majority is silence" ( CQ Today , 9/30). Dingell added, "I won't say the administration lied, but it certainly didn't tell the truth" ( CQ HealthBeat , 9/30).
Former CMS Administrators Debate
Former CMS administrators Scully and Bruce Vladeck -- who headed the agency, then known as HCFA, from 1993 to 1997 as part of the Clinton administration -- on Wednesday debated the new Medicare law in Cleveland. Vladeck, now professor of health care policy and geriatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, called the law a "paltry benefit" and "a turkey" that "will make millions worse off," while reaping a "windfall for the pharmaceutical and private health care industries." Vladeck said, "The increased cost of [beneficiaries'] prescriptions will over time exceed the value of any benefit for seniors."
Scully, now a health care lobbyist at the Washington, D.C., office of Alston & Bird, called Vladeck's remarks "silliness" and "a complete fabrication," adding that Democrats have opposed the law for political reasons and "the day after Election Day, they're going to love it." Scully said that the law "is a huge benefit for seniors," particularly for beneficiaries with low incomes (Jaffe, Cleveland Plain Dealer , 9/30).
Related Multimedia Coverage
NPR's "Morning Edition" on Friday included an interview with NPR's Andrea Seabrook about the ethics committee's admonishment of DeLay for alleged misconduct during the Medicare vote (Montagne, "Morning Edition," NPR, 10/1). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.
In addition, Doug Badger, a White House health care policy adviser, is scheduled to answer questions about Medicare on Friday at 2 p.m. ET in the "Ask the White House" chat. A transcript will be available online after the chat.


Biological matter decomposes differently in water, especially in cooler temperatures that inhibit bacterial action and enzyme decay. In fact, wooden ship wrecks are so well preserved under water for long periods of time due to a similar process, and attempting to raise them risks accelerated decay. As organic matter finds itself under less pressure it may expand to match the new volume. While being exposed directly to oxygen the bacterial action and enzyme decay can resume. If an animal carcass exhibited the same type of pressure change as ship parts on the ocean floor rising to the surface, bloating may be slightly irregular and then exacerbated once decomposition is thrown back into its regular state. Scientists are able to identify what creature(s) makeup the majority of mass but many positive identifications of Globsters require DNA matching to be certain. Often these messy globs tend to be remains of decomposing whales or sharks, and some are speculated to be carcasses of decaying cephalopods.
Another suggested theory claims the masses to be organic remnants collecting together by ocean currents, fusing together with pressure over time, and then washing onto beaches where they're usually discovered. Globsters are an odd phenomena even when they can be properly explained. Large ocean animal remains are often scavenged at sea, either near the surface as they sink or on the sea floor, well before they have a chance to wash up on shore.
Decaying carcasses provide a vital food resource for many creatures and help create a feature of the ocean known as Marine Snow, whereby bits organic matter slowly settle to the sea bed in concentrations dense enough to appear like snow falling from the sky. Research into the subject is currently unclear as to whether or not Globsters find the world's beaches after being rejected by scavengers due to a chemical signature, by some sort of disease, or by a sequence of normal events that instead pushes the body to a shoreline instead of toward the sea bed.


text:
filed: July 11, 2019 • Pennsylvania
Ice throw and shadow flicker, focus of wind farm testimony
Credit: By Seth Isenberg | Times News | July 10. 2019 | www.tnonline.com ~~
The end of the Broad Mountain Power's presentations was set for Aug. 14 at the Packer Township Zoning Hearing Board's eighth hearing on Broad Mountain's proposed wind turbine farm atop Broad Mountain, held Monday night.
The balloon flying test will be attempted on July 20, 21 or 22, likely near sunrise when the wind conditions are lightest. The exact date and time will be announced on BMP's Facebook page – BroadMountainWind; or on their website – broadmountainwindproject.com where you can also register for email updates. The four balloons, each about 12 feet in diameter, once up will remain up about an hour and a half (in the right conditions). Once up, a full set of photos will be taken from the sites previously listed, plus a few new ones, including one in the Lake Hauto development. If those dates don't work out, the test will be rescheduled.
The evening's expert was York University professor Dr. Jim Salmon, president of Zephyr North of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who explained icing on wind turbine blades, and how the blades can throw ice. He also went over the ice protocol where the affected turbine would shut down when ice makes the blades unbalanced, then restart after 30 minutes. After a second shutdown, the technician on call would need to go to the site to check the unit.
Salmon estimated, based on local weather data, an average of seven ice days a year.
On ice days, some pieces may be thrown as much as 800 feet onto the wind farm property (not out beyond it) likely onto the project's private roads – as many as 100 pieces of ice per turbine.
Packer Township attorney Robert Yurchak quipped, "Avoid the area on icy days." He also noted that the manufacturer, Siemens Gamesa, recommends a site-specific review.
Salmon explained further that, during an ice detection protocol, ice would drop down to the base of the shut units.
Zoning Hearing Board member Myron Tarapchak and zoning board attorney and meeting leader Greg Mousseau asked questions about the size of the ice chunks as they leave the blades. Salmon did not have an answer.
Attorney Bruce Anders, representing a group of residents opposed to the project, questioned Dr. Salmon's estimate of ice days based upon weather data from the valleys in Wilkes-Barre and Allentown. Anders noted 1994 had 16 icing days. After some back and forth, there were no further questions for Dr. Salmon.
The next expert on the stand was Ryan Pohle of Schoener Environmental, Dickson City, who was back to explain his shadow flicker mapping results.
Anders, during his questioning, asked if the removal of trees to install the units would affect shadow flicker. Pohle answered it would "at the site."
He asked about shadow flicker caused by moonlight. Pohle had no answer. Anders asked about the effect of shadow flicker on people driving cars or tractors. He wrapped up by asking Pohle if he had done any "post-report testing," and Pohle replied he had not.
Mousseau asked if the blades were shorter, would there be less shadow flicker? Yes was the answer.
Frank Tiano, of Lake Hauto, was recognized. He asked Pohle about his reliance on the Wind Pro software. Pohle explained Wind Pro had the largest use worldwide for this kind of modeling, and is kept current with the changes to wind turbines, as new units are getting much bigger. As a summary of other questions, it was stated that shadow flicker increased with blade speed, and the bigger towers with their big blades turn slower.
Attendance was around 80 people, about 10% from Nesquehoning, a few from the Jim Thorpe area, and most of the rest from Packer and Weatherly borough.
Hearings are next on July 16 and 22, then Aug. 7 and 14, all starting at 6 p.m. at the Weatherly Area Middle School Cafeteria.
Source: By Seth Isenberg | Times News | July 10. 2019 | www.tnonline.com


text:
Q: Xuggle on Blackberry Is it possible to use Xuggle for Blackberry development?
Has anyone attempted this?
Thank you.

A: Xuggle uses native code and relies on the FFmpeg library - neither of which are supported by J2ME or Blackberry.


text:
package com.cisco.axl.api._8;

import javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessorType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlElementRef;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlType;

/**
 *
Java class for UpdateDirectedCallParkReq complex type.
 *
 *
The following schema fragment specifies the expected content contained within this class.
 *
 *

 * <complexType name="UpdateDirectedCallParkReq">
 *   <complexContent>
 *     <extension base="{http://www.cisco.com/AXL/API/8.0}APIRequest">
 *       <sequence>
 *         <choice>
 *           <element name="uuid" type="{http://www.cisco.com/AXL/API/8.0}XUUID"/>
 *           <sequence>
 *             <element name="pattern" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string"/>
 *             <element name="routePartitionName" type="{http://www.cisco.com/AXL/API/8.0}XFkType" minOccurs="0"/>
 *           </sequence>
 *         </choice>
 *         <element name="newPattern" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string" minOccurs="0"/>
 *         <element name="description" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string" minOccurs="0"/>
 *         <element name="newRoutePartitionName" type="{http://www.cisco.com/AXL/API/8.0}XFkType" minOccurs="0"/>
 *         <element name="retrievalPrefix" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string" minOccurs="0"/>
 *         <element name="reversionPattern" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string" minOccurs="0"/>
 *         <element name="revertCssName" type="{http://www.cisco.com/AXL/API/8.0}XFkType" minOccurs="0"/>
 *       </sequence>
 *     </extension>
 *   </complexContent>
 * </complexType>
 *

 *
 *
 */
@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
@XmlType(name = "UpdateDirectedCallParkReq", propOrder = {
    "uuid",
    "pattern",
    "routePartitionName",
    "newPattern",
    "description",
    "newRoutePartitionName",
    "retrievalPrefix",
    "reversionPattern",
    "revertCssName"
})
public class UpdateDirectedCallParkReq
    extends APIRequest
{

    protected String uuid;
    protected String pattern;
    @XmlElementRef(name = "routePartitionName", type = JAXBElement.class)
    protected JAXBElement<XFkType> routePartitionName;
    protected String newPattern;
    protected String description;
    @XmlElementRef(name = "newRoutePartitionName", type = JAXBElement.class)
    protected JAXBElement<XFkType> newRoutePartitionName;
    @XmlElementRef(name = "retrievalPrefix", type = JAXBElement.class)
    protected JAXBElement<String> retrievalPrefix;
    @XmlElementRef(name = "reversionPattern", type = JAXBElement.class)
    protected JAXBElement<String> reversionPattern;
    @XmlElementRef(name = "revertCssName", type = JAXBElement.class)
    protected JAXBElement<XFkType> revertCssName;

    /**
     * Gets the value of the uuid property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getUuid() {
        return uuid;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the uuid property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setUuid(String value) {
        this.uuid = value;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the pattern property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getPattern() {
        return pattern;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the pattern property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setPattern(String value) {
        this.pattern = value;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the routePartitionName property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public JAXBElement<XFkType> getRoutePartitionName() {
        return routePartitionName;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the routePartitionName property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public void setRoutePartitionName(JAXBElement<XFkType> value) {
        this.routePartitionName = ((JAXBElement<XFkType> ) value);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the newPattern property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getNewPattern() {
        return newPattern;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the newPattern property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setNewPattern(String value) {
        this.newPattern = value;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the description property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getDescription() {
        return description;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the description property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setDescription(String value) {
        this.description = value;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the newRoutePartitionName property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public JAXBElement<XFkType> getNewRoutePartitionName() {
        return newRoutePartitionName;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the newRoutePartitionName property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public void setNewRoutePartitionName(JAXBElement<XFkType> value) {
        this.newRoutePartitionName = ((JAXBElement<XFkType> ) value);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the retrievalPrefix property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link String }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public JAXBElement<String> getRetrievalPrefix() {
        return retrievalPrefix;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the retrievalPrefix property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link String }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public void setRetrievalPrefix(JAXBElement<String> value) {
        this.retrievalPrefix = ((JAXBElement<String> ) value);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the reversionPattern property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link String }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public JAXBElement<String> getReversionPattern() {
        return reversionPattern;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the reversionPattern property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link String }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public void setReversionPattern(JAXBElement<String> value) {
        this.reversionPattern = ((JAXBElement<String> ) value);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the value of the revertCssName property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public JAXBElement<XFkType> getRevertCssName() {
        return revertCssName;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the revertCssName property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link JAXBElement }{@code <}{@link XFkType }{@code >}
     *
     */
    public void setRevertCssName(JAXBElement<XFkType> value) {
        this.revertCssName = ((JAXBElement<XFkType> ) value);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Strawberry coconut chia seed pudding is very easy to prepare. Today I am sharing another chia seed pudding prepared with fresh strawberries and shredded coconut. Recently I and husband both started consuming chia seeds for breakfast. Just a few ingredients and a nutritious and weightloss friendly recipes get ready. This strawberry coconut chia seed pudding is also vegan and gluten-free.
Chia seed pudding is healthy with loads of fruits and your favorite choices of dry fruits. Perfectly go as a breakfast item or dessert or snack time.
So let see how I prepared this strawberry coconut chia seed pudding in detail.
Firstly soak chia seeds in coconut milk overnight or at least 4 hours. Keep shaking them in between.
Soaked chia seeds form a gel-like consistency. If this is too thick then add 1/2 cup more coconut milk till you get your desired consistency.
In addition to this add honey or maple syrup and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add chopped strawberries and shredded coconut.
Decorate with choco chips or chopped chocolate and shredded coconut.
Serve this strawberry coconut chia seed pudding either chilled or cold.
Use the extra quantity of coconut milk to make it thin if the soaked mixture is very very thick.
Chia seeds appear every single day in my breakfast, with coconut and strawberries this pudding looks irresistible. Lovely pics.
Just yesterday i was oogling at a instagram pic of a similar recipe.. and yumm here it is!
Lovely and healthy breakfast option. love to have always !!
It look so pretty I wish I would love to create something so beautiful❤ gorgeous pic with awesome recipe?
This looks absolutely delicious. Chia seeds is the new age food which many are resorting to.
Such a delicious and diet friendly pudding.
Chia seeds with variety of fruits is my favorite breakfast! Strawberry chia pudding looks so good!
A chia pudding is the best invention ever. Its such a healthy way to enjoy some dessert to take care of the sweet tooth. Love your clicks…so tempting.
Strawberry coconut chia seed pudding sounds healthy and yummy. Lovely share.
Omg, i dont mind finishing this ultimate pudding. How pretty and delightful its looks. So tempting Bhawana, well done yaar.
The coconut falvired chia seed pudding with starwberries sounds a perfect breakfast for busy mornings !


Terravita Golf and Country Club at Scottsdale Road and Terravita Way.
Need a Ride to Services? Someone in your area may be able to drive you to the meeting and take you back home. Please send an E-mail to infodfjca@cox.net. We will put you in touch with someone who lives near you, and you may make arrangements directly with them. However, it is not guaranteed that a ride will always be available.
1. We will inform our members via E-mail that a death has taken place, and we will provide information about the funeral and Shiva.
2. We will be available to support the mourners by guiding and helping them with decisions that need to be made. We have available a list of rabbis, mortuaries, cemeteries and caterers.
3. We have members who, upon request, will attend and conduct (if available) a Minyan Service in the Shiva house. Prayer books for the service are available on request.
4. We will provide, as available, assistance with any other needs on a case-by-case basis.


text:
Sonia Nieto
Additional Website
Sonia Nieto has devoted her professional life to questions of diversity, equity, and social justice in education. Professor Emerita in Language, Literacy, and Culture at the College of Education, University of Massachusetts, she has taught students from elementary grades through doctoral studies. Nieto's research focuses on multicultural and bilingual education, teacher education, and the education of students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She has written or edited thirteen books, including, most recently, a book with her daughter Alicia López, a long-time middle school teacher, Teaching, A Life's Work: A Mother/Daughter Dialogue (Teachers College Press, 2019). In addition to her more academic books, she has also penned a memoir, Brooklyn Dreams: My Life in Public Education (Harvard Education Press, 2015). Her first book, Affirming Diversity, now in its 7th edition (the 5th through 7th editions were co-authored by her colleague Patty Bode), is used widely in teacher education courses in the United States and abroad, and the first edition (1992) was selected for the Museum of Education's Education Readers' Guide as one of the 100 books that helped define the field of education in the twentieth century. Nieto has also written dozens of book chapters and articles in such journals as The Harvard Education Review, Educational Leadership, Journal of Latinos and Education, and The New Educator, among others. She is editor of the Language, Culture, and Teaching Series (Routledge) and the Visions of Practice Series (Teachers College Press), books written by classroom teachers about their philosophy and practice. In addition to 9 honorary doctorates in the United States and abroad, Nieto has also received numerous awards for her scholarly work, teaching, activism, and advocacy including most recently the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Literacy Research Association. She has been a Visiting Scholar at various universities in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, and South Africa. In 2011, she was elected a Laureate of Kappa Delta Pi and a Fellow of AERA, and in 2015, she was elected a member of the National Academy of Education. Nieto is profiled in Inside the Academy, a free, open-source website that features archives of video interviews with America's most distinguished and influential educational researchers.


Mostly Raw, Vegan Gingersnap Cookies at Keepin It Kind!
One of the highlights of this past year was having the opportunity to meet Kristy Turner, the fabulous writer behind Keepin It Kind, at Vida Vegan. I have admired Kristy's blog since it first got off the ground, and I continue to marvel at her culinary talent, her creativity, her energy, and yes, her kindness. Kristy's blog title evokes her veganism, but I'd also say that it embodies her approach to life.
Today, I'm participating in Kristy's awesome 2013 holiday cookie swap party. My contribution? The mostly raw, vegan, no bake gingersnap cookies you see above. These little gems feature raw pecans, dates, ginger, cinnamon, blackstrap molasses, and a lot of love. They'd make wonderful holiday gifts, a fun project for kids, or a tasty gift to put by the tree for Santa. Or you can do as I've done, and make them a gift you give yourself. I'm nibbling on one right now, as I prepare to go out and purchase a wee tabletop tree.
Check out the recipe here, and season's greetings to you all!
Book Review: Raw & Simple by Judita Wignall. Plus, Raw, Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Cookies!


I grew up in Rhode Island next to Narragansett Bay and its beautiful surrounding wetlands.
I trained as a Rescue Swimmer in the United States Navy and have experience as a Merchant Mariner and Yacht charter captain. My degrees are in Fine Art and Education. My passion is working with both traditional and newer technologies to improve learning, communication, and creativity.
See the full bio page for more details.


text:
Our Proposition
Working with CHART
Our Cruise Industry Experts
Experience, expertise and professionalism at your service
Thomas E. (Ted) Blamey – Principal
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Ted Blamey has been a cruise industry pioneer. He served as President and Chief Executive of one of the world's major cruise lines (Sitmar International, Los Angeles and Monaco), having been Managing Director of Sitmar Cruises Australasia (Sydney) and Engagement Manager and strategic consultant at McKinsey and Company (Sydney and London). He was subsequently CEO of Australia's largest retail travel group (Ansett Retail/Traveland) and Chairman of the Sydney Ports Authority.
Through the 1980s, Sitmar redefined cruising in the South Pacific and South-East Asia to become the dominant cruise line in that part of the world within 6 years. The innovations by Ted Blamey and his team in product, distribution and marketing continue to this day.
Then, as President and CEO of Sitmar International, Ted Blamey initiated the first significant cruise industry consolidation, leading to the merging of Sitmar's and P&O/Princess' worldwide interests through outright sale of the Sitmar companies. This move set the tone for the industry's next decade.
He founded CHART Management Consultants in 1997 and has since served CEOs and senior executives of cruise lines, government bodies and destinations across the globe on a wide variety of consulting assignments, usually with a strategic focus.
Ted is a frequent speaker at global cruise industry events. He leads courses for government, port and tourism executives on the global cruise industry.
In recent years Ted has built additional expertise in Asia. CHART's seminal White Paper for the Asia Cruise Association "The Cruise Industry in Asia 2013 and Beyond: Information, Intelligence, Insights" was launched at the major regional convention in October 2013. This led to CHART's annual Asia Cruise Trends reports for CLIA from 2014 to 2018 and their 2019 Cruise Deployment & Capacity report.
The Cruise Shipping Development Strategy CHART undertook for Papua New Guinea has led to that nation becoming a hot new destination for large cruise ship lines. He and his team have since: worked closely with the Philippines Department of Tourism to craft its National Cruise Tourism Strategy; conducted a operational/market appraisal for a new cruise port in southern China; prepared the Pacific Cruise Market Research and Intelligence Report and a strategy for SPTO; advised a major bank on financing newbuilds for Asia; assisted a Private Equity firm to assess investing in an Asian cruise business; and advised on a new cruise line destined for Asia.
Ted holds an Honours degree in Applied Science from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard.
He was made Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute in 1986 and Visiting Fellow of the Seatrade Academy in 2011. Ted was the 2017 honoree for CLIA Australasia's Hall of Fame.
Ted / CHART is a long-term Executive Partner of CLIA and member of the Australia Cruise Association.
At various times resident of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, South Florida, London, Monte Carlo, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, Ted is now based in Sydney, Australia, but is regularly to be found with clients in other parts of the world.
In addition to his consulting work, Ted has taught as Adjunct Professor at Boston University's Sydney program, served on boards of various non-profit organisations in Australia, including as Councillor of The Harvard Club of Australia, chairing its non-profit Fellowship Program and founding its Leaders' Workshop. He is a Past President of The American Club in Sydney. He is a Life Member of the Harvard Club of Australia and of The American Club.
Captain Luigi Nappa – Associate
Over 20 years on board cruise ships, Luigi Nappa progressed through the deck and navigating officer ranks to Second-in-Command (Staff Captain). Along the way, he gained comprehensive hands-on experience that has proven invaluable to decision making at senior management level, including supervising major refit and ship conversion projects as the cruise line's senior shipyard representative.
Coming to a senior executive role ashore, he took responsibility for all the marine and hotel operations of a major cruise line throughout the South Pacific and South-East Asia including overseeing destinations, on-board product, navigation and port relationships.
As General Manager, Operations and Passenger Services for Sitmar Cruises (and later for P&O Cruises Australasia), Luigi was the primary executor of Sitmar's product innovations, such as their "unspoiled islands" concept, now the mainstay of all cruise itineraries in the region. His creativity and attention to detail led to many successful cruise industry firsts in on-board product delivery and enhanced guest experiences. He led such diverse projects as shipboard waste management, development of seasonal menus, on-board retail concepts, identifying operating cost savings.
Luigi was deeply involved in the Cruise Shipping Development Strategy CHART undertook for Papua New Guinea, working also with local communities and ports of call, leading to that nation becoming a hot new destination for large cruise ship lines.
Captain Nappa holds both the Italian and the Liberian Master Mariner's Certificate.
Rod Davies – Associate
Rod Davies has extensive experience in sales, marketing, planning, operations and general management, both domestically and internationally, covering roles in aviation, cruising, hospitality and leisure.
His cruise industry background includes market research and analysis, product design and planning, financial planning and yield management, port-of-call negotiation and evaluation and implementation of business systems and procedures.
He served as Director of Market Planning first for Sitmar Australasia and then at Sitmar International in Los Angeles.
Rod was General Manager of South Pacific Cruise Services (Dolphin) and at Norwegian Capricorn Line before joining a hotel and other leisure industry companies.
Rod was the analytical force behind CHART's seminal White Paper for the Asia Cruise Association "The Cruise Industry in Asia 2013 and Beyond: Information, Intelligence, Insights".
He has an Economics Degree from Macquarie University and a Post Graduate Diploma of Financial Management from the University of New England.
Graeme J Gillies – Associate
Graeme Gillies has been associated with the cruise industry for more than 30 years.
He began as an entertainment production manager with the Sitmar Cruises in 1981 and went on to spend more than 7 years at sea primarily as a Cruise Director. This period was spent in the South Pacific, South East Asia and the Orient.
Graeme also held the management position responsible for passenger programs and entertainment for Sitmar / P&O Cruises (Australia) for 7 years. In this period, he worked closely with the regional tour and port operators throughout the Asia Pacific region.
He has enjoyed working as an independent consultant to Awani Cruises (Indonesia); Norwegian Capricorn Line; and Orion Expedition Cruises.
Since 1997, Graeme has managed his own creative entertainment company – Grayboy Entertainment – based in Sydney. Amongst other key areas, the business is Australia's leading supplier of entertainment services for the international cruise industry. This includes intensive start-ups of new cruise projects as well as the ongoing supply of entertainment productions.
Miles Griffiths – Consultant
With a varied career in accounting and finance, insolvency, IT, project management, sustainability and risk management, Miles Griffiths brings a wide skill set to every project.
To CHART he brings skills and experience in finance and legal matters and long experience working in Southeast Asia.
Based on a solid grounding in auditing during a decade with Coopers and Lybrand, later PwC, Miles gained diversified professional experience and cultural interaction working in Australia, Papua New Guinea and The Cayman Islands. Key engagements focused on clients from the hospitality and tourism, mining, banking and finance and agricultural industries.
Miles then spent eight years in Singapore as project director for an Exchange listed mining company, implementing policies to ensure compliance with all SGX and legal requirements. He was then tasked with directing implementation of the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning Software system for finance, materials management, plant maintenance and sales. These projects honed his ability to streamline and de-risk transactions while increasing required data capture, saving the company an estimated US$1.5m per annum.
Miles then assumed responsibility for risk management, business integration and sustainability. His comprehensive review of all major transactions of the company resulted in enhancements to operational and business processes with increased transparency in internal and external reporting.
Miles holds two bachelor degrees from Queensland University of Technology, in Law and Accounting – Finance. He is both a Chartered Accountant specialized in audit and assurance services and a certified Project Management Professional and has undertaken training in risk management, IT, compliance and sustainability.
Cruise shipping and tourism strategy, execution and analysis.
+61 2 9909 1142 teb@CHARTmgmtconsultants.com
CHART Management Consultants Pty.Ltd.
PO Box 545, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089, Australia
Copyright © 2020 Chartmgmt Consultants | Powered by Melbourne IT


L type single girder gantry crane with hook is applied for handling and convey operation outdoors, or at warehouse, stock ground, railway station, sea port cargo area, etc.
L type single girder gantry crane with hook is applied for handling and convey operation outdoors, or at warehouse, stock ground, railway station, sea port cargo area, etc. This single girder gantry crane can be also used to do some special operations with a variety of special spreaders.
Power supply can be two forms: cable car and cable reel, customers can choose one of them. And the specifications, installation location of the cable reel can be based on the specific situation.
This single girder gantry cane is equipped with closed cab, and there is cabs with heat preservation for selection. The L type gantry crane has the features of easy installation, big clearance, good operation vison, integrated console control and reasonable whole institutional arrangement.


text:
Francis Newton Thorpe, The Federal and State Constitutions, 7 vols. [1909]
Also in the Library:
Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution
Collection: Laws, Charters, Constitutions, Bills of Right
Search this set:
Editor: Francis Newton Thorpe
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. I United States-Alabama-District of Columbia
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. II Florida-Kansas
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. III Kentucky-Massachusetts
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. IV Michigan-New Hampshire
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. V New Jersey-Philippine Islands
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. VI Porto Rico-Vermont
The Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. VII Virginia-Wyoming-Index
Edition used:
Francis Newton Thorpe, The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and other Organic Laws of the States and Territories now or heretofore forming the United States of America, compiled and edited by Francis Newton Thorpe (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1909). 7 vols. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/2681
About this Title:
Thorpe was commissioned by the U.S. Congress to edit a 7 volume collection of Colonial, Federal and State constitutions in 1906. The volumes are in alphabetical order, with Volume 1 dealing with United States-Alabama-District of Columbia; Vol. 2 Florida-Kansas; Vol. 3 Kentucky-Massachusetts; Vol. 4 Michigan-New Hampshire; Vol. 5 New Jersey-Philippine Islands; Vol. 6 Porto Rico-Vermont; Vol. 7 Virginia-Wyoming.
The text is in the public domain.
Fair use statement:
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.
[Back to Top] Francis Newton Thorpe, The Federal and State Constitutions, 7 vols. [1909]


Happy new year all of you here we like to give instruction how to download and install Movie Box on iOS 9.2 for iPhone, iPad , iOS 9.2 version currently not available jailbreak tool yet but not need to jailbreak for install Movie Box, you can follow here step by step guide how to download and install Movie Box without jailbreak.
Go to http://www.vshare.com/ and click on download icon for unjailbroken devices to install vShare for your iOS devices.
After download vShare for your devices you can see installing icon on your home page.
Click on the trust icon to finish install.
Type movie box on search area in vShare application's home page, it will open new page with several application , now select latest Movie Box app for download , currently latest version is Movie Box 3.3.7 it will support to iOS 9.2, click install icon continue this process.
Wait few second and you can see Movie Box app in your home screen.


text:
The Free Library > Communications > News, opinion and commentary > Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) > January 26, 2004
The Free Library > General Interest/Informational > General interest > Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) > January 26, 2004
The Free Library > Date > 2004 > January > 26 > Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)
Brief Case.
<a href="https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brief+Case.-a0112569654
MLA style: "Brief Case.." The Free Library. 2004 MGN Ltd. 21 Jan. 2021 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brief+Case.-a0112569654
Chicago style: The Free Library. S.v. Brief Case.." Retrieved Jan 21 2021 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brief+Case.-a0112569654
APA style: Brief Case.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Jan 21 2021 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brief+Case.-a0112569654
TAXPAYERS who still need to make self assessment payments to the Inland Revenue before the January 31 deadline can do so right up until midnight on the day itself by using Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank's BillPay web site at www.billpayment.co.uk Almost pounds 5m was paid to the Inland Revenue on January 31 last year via the service. Internet users do not need an on line bank account to make a payment,just a debit card. THE number of small and medium-sized businesses with broad band internet access has more than doubled, from 16% to 34%, in the past six months.
It is believed to be due to increased awareness and appreciation of the benefits that this technology can deliver to business.
ABOUT 75,000 small firms with an annual taxable turnover of up to pounds 150,000 can now benefit by signing up to the VAT Flat Rate Scheme after changes in the Chancellor's pre-budget report.
New rates mean that a total of 400,000 businesses in all trade sectors will make savings and there is an extra 1% off the new lower rates for any business in their first year of VAT registration. Further details are available from the Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 or by logging on to the Customs and Excise website, www.hmce.gov.ukBUILDING surveyor Andrew Ward has joined Warrington-based APE Project Management. His previous experience takes in work in the contracting,consulting and local authority sectors and means APE can now carry out measured surveys, condition surveys and dilapidation surveys.
Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)
Boat-builder floats skills idea.
Phoning device has UK launch.
Business Brief Case.
ECHO Business : Brief Case.


I don't know about you, but I find any trip to The Cheesecake Factory to be completely and utterly overwhelming. Their food is delicious, but the length of their menu never ceases to both amaze and befuddle me. Even though I've eaten there countless times, I always spend copious amounts of time poring over each and every item while my stomach grumbles, begging me to make a quick decision. (Have I mentioned how indecisive I can be at times? It's awful!) The real test comes after the meal, when you're confronted with the cheesecake menu. I should make it my business to try each and every piece on that list. Not a bad hobby, right? For a long time Oreo reigned supreme for me, then I tried some different varieties which I wasn't too fond of, and now the Snickers cheesecake is my current favorite. My Chief Culinary Consultant has an old standby favorite as well – the red velvet cheesecake. It is a four-layered dessert, with two layers each of red velvet cake and creamy cheesecake, all covered in cream cheese icing. It's decadent, drool-worthy, and delicious. And I was totally determined to recreate that baby at home. What better time than in preparation for Valentine's Day?
Now on to the cheesecake… this really isn't terribly difficult, just a little time consuming. It helps to spread the work out over a couple of days, and then it's easy breezy. I started with a very basic cheesecake recipe (no crust) – baked that and got it into the fridge. Then I went ahead and doubled the recipe for my Red Velvet Cupcakes and used the batter to make two 9-inch cake rounds. To assemble, you'll need to slice the cheesecake in half horizontally to create two layers, which you can do with a very sturdy hand and long serrated knife, or you can use a cake leveler (they're super cheap and so easy to use – great for evening off any domed tops of cakes too). Then stack the four layers on top of one another, alternating red velvet cake and cheesecake, and then frost the whole thing with cream cheese icing. Absolutely divine!
Do you have a favorite type of cheesecake?
Make the Cheesecake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and then tightly wrap the outside with heavy duty foil. (I find that double-wrapping helps prevent leaks in a water bath.) Put a pot of water (or a tea kettle) on to boil.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until completely smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a minute or so after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, and beat until completely incorporated.
Pour the batter into the springform pan; place the springform pan into a larger pan, such as a roasting pan, and pour the boiling water into the larger pan until the water comes about halfway up the side of the springform pan.
Bake until the cheesecake edges are set but the middle still jiggles a bit, about 45 to 55 minutes. Turn the oven off, but leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door closed for 1 hour. At this point, remove the cheesecake from the water bath and place the springform pan on a cooling rack to cool to room temperature. Place the cheesecake in the refrigerator until well-chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Make the Red Velvet Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with a parchment round, butter the parchment paper, and then flour the pans.
On medium-high speed, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to high and add the eggs one at a time, mixing for about a minute after each addition. Scrape down the bowl and beat until well incorporated.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add half of the buttermilk. Add half of the flour and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl and repeat the process with the remaining buttermilk and flour. Beat on high until smooth.
Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a thin knife or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove cakes from the pans and place them on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Make the Frosting: Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the butter and cream cheese on high speed for about 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar until all is incorporated. Add the vanilla and mix to combine. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip for a few minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy, scraping the bowl as necessary.
Assemble the Cheesecake: If needed, level the tops of the red velvet cake layers with a serrated knife or cake leveler so that the tops are level and not domed. Next, slice the cheesecake in half horizontally to create two layers. Place one layer of the red velvet cake on your serving plate. Spread a very thin layer of the cream cheese frosting over it (it creates a type of glue so that the layers stick together and don't slide around). Top that with one layer of the cheesecake, and again top with a very thin layer of frosting. Repeat, adding the second red velvet layer, and then placing the second cheesecake layer on top, with a layer of frosting between them. Using the remaining frosting, cover the cake in frosting and decorate as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve, and refrigerate any leftovers.
This looks super divine! I was planning to make individual servings. Any recommendations how that will work if I use a cupcake tin/ silicone for the cheesecake? What will be the baking timings?
Hi Sana, It really depends on the size of the silicone or cupcake pan you're using; I would probably start checking around 15 or 20 minutes depending on the size.
How do you cut the cheese cake horizontally .
This is simply the best cake I have ever made. I make this for my friends special occasions and they RAVE about it until I make the next one. Thank You for the recipe .
I have now made this cake twice in the last week! The first time was for coworkers, who gave it rave reviews, but let's be honest, pretty much anything red velvet with cream cheese can show up on a Tuesday and everybody is going to be happy about it. The second time was for my best friend's birthday. The Cheesecake Factory red velvet cheesecake is her favorite, when she was on weight watchers it was the one thing she'd guiltlessly splurge on, and she often keeps a slice in the freezer for special occasions. She has had many of my baked goods over the years, and always ranks them in order of her favorites. The BEB Irish cream cupcakes have been unbeatable at the top of her list for years, until now. This cake is incredible. The first time around I had a few issues, mainly I didn't quite butter my springform pan well enough and slightly overcooked the cheesecake so it split in the middle. I also couldn't figure out how to get it to come away from the bottom of the pan, so I had to piece parts of the cheesecake back together on top. It was fine though, frosting covers all sins. The second time I used my cake leveler to both cut the cheesecake in half, and also to cut the bottom layer of cheesecake off the pan, which left me with perfectly even lines. It's actually helpful for it to stick to the pan, because that allowed me to lay the bottom layer of red velvet with a thin layer of icing upside down on top of the cheesecake, then flip the whole thing out onto the cake platter. I then lifted up the bottom of the cheesecake pan, with the other half of the cheesecake still attached, didn't need a huge spatula to split it, and everything came apart cleanly. I dropped the next red velvet layer on top of that (with the frosting in between layers), then inverted the cheesecake again on top and used the leveler to cut just underneath the pan to pull it away. The cake is a lot of work, so I don't think I'll be doing it twice in one week again, but it is incredibly delicious. Breaking it down over a couple of days is a must, so that the Cheesecake can fully cool in the fridge, but it also makes it slightly less upfront work for the baker.
im planning on making this recipe next month for a friend! im curious if you have made it into a blue velvet cheesecake?! or if you have any tips for getting the blue velvet to a nice color without it tasting like blue dye… thank you so much!
Hi Liz, I've never made blue velvet, unfortunately!
This sounds killer good and this gives me an idea for a gluten-free version.
. Only catch is, one has to use an accurate digital thermometer, in order to figure out what temperature setting gives a 2oo°F oven. It takes about half a day to do this being sure to place a metal pan with an equal amount of tepid, not cold, water in it to simulate a springform pan full of cheesecake mix. Once that's done, just preheat the oven for an hour prior to baking to ensure a stabilized oven.
Hi Janis, Yes, that would be fine.
I saw this on Pinterest and it looks very good. I am interested in trying this out for my upcoming birthday however, with my work schedule I doubt I would have time to do so. At least from scratch. How do you think it would turn out by using a no-bake cheesecake and boxed cake mix?
Hi Sherrell, Yes, I think that would still work out just fine! Enjoy!
Okay, great! I'm looking forward to trying it out. Thank you!


I LOVE essential oil roller bottles!
*This post may contain affiliate links. Click here for a full disclosure.
No matter where you find me, you will find that I have a roller bottle (or 2 or 3 or 4) with me. I find that using essential oil roller bottles are a super easy and convenient way to use essential oils any time and anywhere I need them!!
But first, there are a few things you need to know about how to make your own customizable roller bottles.
First of all, what is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils are naturally derived from vegetarian sources and in most cases have a neutral smell. They are used to dilute essential oil before putting them on your skin. This will decrease skin sensitivity and help with essential oil absorption.
Diluting your oils with a carrier oil does not decrease their effectiveness and actually helps the essential oil absorb better!!
I choose essential oils for my roller bottle blends based on their therapeutic benefit. Of course, essential oil quality and purity are important too. For me, I use essential oils from Young Living because of their seed to seal promise of purity.
Of course, the brand of oils you choose to use is entirely up to you and your personal preferences….just, be sure to do your research first!
Here is a listing of my favorite oils based on their uses. Of course, this list is NOT all inclusive. That would take a VERY large book!!!
Cedarwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Myrrh, Sandalwood , and Chamomile are a few of the "Calming" oils.
Frankincense, Myrrh, Rose, Lavender, Tea Tree, Geranium, Roman/German Chamomile, Patchouli.
To make your roller bottles, you will need the desired essential oils, a carrier oil, and an empty roller bottle. I purchase my roller bottles from Amazon and have found that the bottles with the stainless steel roller ball are the better choice for smooth and consistent oil application.
You can find my favorite roller bottles from Amazon here!
I ALWAYS choose the dark bottles to help prevent UV light from shortening the therapeutic benefit of the essential oils. I want my oils to work all the time for me!!
Now…let's make a roller bottle!!
Place the essential oils drop by drop into your empty bottle and allow them to mix together to form a blend, possibly a synergy. (See below for recipe tips). The amount of essential oil you use is up to you. Remember, 100% oils are quite strong – so you don't need to use much more than a few drops and children need even less.
Put the roller bottle cap in place and secure Do not shake your roller bottle as that action can break the small chemical constituents of your oils. I gently invert to mix. Just be sure the roller top is on all the way so you don't spill your precious oils!
I like to use my roller bottle by applying to the pulse points on my wrists, back of my neck, behind my ears, or under my feet.
*For use on your little ones, be sure to reduce the drops of essential oil found in the following recipes by 50% or more. Basically, roller bottle blends need to be diluted quite a bit for your younger children. For more about Essential Oils for your children and dilution recommendations read Essential Oils in the Nursery.
For this recipe, instead of Carrier Oil, you can use witch hazel for its cleansing properties. You can roll this onto a clean band-aid prior to applying. Helps with cuts, scrapes, and other sores. Safe for children too. For more on this roller recipe, check out this blog post – Bug Bite Relief Roll-On.
To purchase essential oils, I recommend you find oils that are 100% pure without additives or perfumes. I use essential oils from Young Living as I trust their Seed to Seal Promise of Purity. If interested in knowing more about how to purchase Young Living Essential oils at WHOLESALE PRICING, feel free to contact me or simply click here to learn more.
Those are my fave! Add a little myrrh and you have perfection!😀 ahhhhhhhh……..
Thanks a bunch! I love them too and carry them everywhere. Have fun experimenting and be sure to let me know which one becomes your favorite!


text:
After Northeast flooding, insurance woes swamp residents
BOBBY CAINA CALVAN and DAVID PORTER
September 23, 2021, 1:06 AM ·6 min read
Tropical Storms Flood Insurance
FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2021 file photo, people clear debris and damaged belongings from their homes in the Queens borough of New York. Floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Ida have long receded but Northeast residents still in the throes of recovery are being hit with another unexpected blow: Thousands of families without flood insurance are now swamped with financial losses after runoff from the fierce storm submerged basements, cracked foundations and destroyed valuable belongings. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2021, file photo, shoes dry on the roof of a car in the Queens borough of New York. Floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Ida have long receded but Northeast residents still in the throes of recovery are being hit with another unexpected blow: Thousands of families without flood insurance are now swamped with financial losses after runoff from the fierce storm submerged basements, cracked foundations and destroyed valuable belongings. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Sahadeo Bhagwandin shows a wide crack in the wall of his basement, in the Queens borough of New York, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. Floodwaters surrounded his home after remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through the northeast, turning streets into torrent streams. It will takes tens of thousands of dollars to fix the buckled foundation. Without flood insurance, he is now trying to figure out how he will pay for expensive repairs. (AP Photo/Bobby Caina Calvan)
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Amit Shivprasad, foreground, works outside his family home in the Queens borough of New York, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. He and his parents have been living with a relative since floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Ida made their home inhospitable. Flooding collapsed part of a basement wall, allowing water to gush into a basement apartment where a woman and her grown son died. (AP Photo/Bobby Caina Calvan)
NEW YORK (AP) — After being pummeled by two tropical storms that submerged basements, cracked home foundations and destroyed belongings, Northeastern U.S. residents still in the throes of recovery are being hit with another unexpected blow: Thousands of families are now swamped with financial losses because they didn't have flood insurance.
Most of those caught off guard by the intense downpours from the remnants of Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Henri lived in areas outside of coastal floodplains, making flood insurance an afterthought for most of the working-class families whose neighborhoods were among the hardest hit.
"When we called the insurance company, the first thing they told us is that they don't provide any assistance for anything that's caused by a storm. And they left it at that," Amit Shivprasad said, his rising voice echoing frustrations shared among his neighbors in the Jamaica section of Queens.
For weeks now, Shivprasad and his parents have been crammed into a relative's apartment after New York City building inspectors declared their home uninhabitable.
Floodwaters from Ida, exacerbated by overflowing storm and sewer drains, ripped through an exterior wall and drowned two of the family's tenants in a basement apartment. The storm killed about 50 people across the Northeast, many of whom drowned in basement apartments or in cars. It lashed the region less than two weeks after a drenching from Henri.
Residents in Shivprasad's neighborhood have long complained about inadequate drainage that makes flooding a frequent worry.
"This is not a flood zone, which is something I was shocked at," said Shivprasad, whose family home lies 4 miles inland from the nearest flood plain. If it were in a flood zone, the family's mortgage company would have likely required flood insurance.
Among the roughly 10,000 homes in his neighborhood, just 16 were protected by flood insurance, according to a database compiled by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
Flood damage is not covered by homeowners or renters insurance policies. People without a flood policy have few options for getting help paying for damage, according to Loretta Worters, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. They may be able to get federal assistance, she said, including low-interest loans and grants for damage.
While officials are still calculating the losses — believed to be in the billions of dollars — residents wonder how they'll come up with the money to repair homes and replace belongings. Fans continue to whir in dank basements and dump trucks still make the rounds to haul away mildewed couches, squishy mattresses and now-useless electronics.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has already disbursed at least $22 million to nearly 5,200 families in New York City. More than 38,000 households have applied for aid. In New Jersey, assistance to some 39,000 families is still pending, while FEMA has paid out about $11 million to nearly 3,000 families.
Thus far, about $10 million in flood insurance claims has been paid out in New Jersey to 6,000 policy holders, according to FEMA. In New York City's five boroughs, about $3 million has been disbursed for 2,600 flood insurance claims.
Flood insurance, offered through the National Flood Insurance Program, is generally required for mortgages on properties considered to have a roughly 1 in 100 chance each year of flooding — but is optional for everyone else. Some see it as an unnecessary cost, even as severe weather now strikes with more frequency and greater intensity.
"You never know, particularly with the way the world is acting right now, when that flood is going to occur in your neighborhood," said Michael Wade, a FEMA spokesperson.
"All you got to do is look at this particular storm," he said, "and you'll see that people who didn't live in flood plains — and who have never been flooded before — all of a sudden they get inundated with 6 inches of rain an hour. Now they got problems."
John and Roseann Kiernan's neighborhood in Rossmoor, a sprawling senior living development in Monroe Township in central New Jersey, is 20 miles from the coastline and not near any major rivers. The Kiernans and others said they were told over the years that they didn't need flood insurance because the area isn't in a flood zone — even though the neighborhood flooded in 2005.
John Kiernan's mother previously owned the house and had flood insurance that cost about $650 per year, he said. She died eight years ago, and they eventually let the insurance lapse. Now, the Kiernans estimate it will cost $100,000 to get their house back to a livable condition and replace their car.
Their existing policy "covered nothing," said John Kiernan, a retired corrections officer. "The insurance company sent out some very nice, understanding people, they listened to everybody for an hour or so, then basically said, 'You're not getting anything.' So that's the way it is."
Around the corner from the Kiernans, Joan Russo and her husband have lived in the same house for 16 years and moved in a few days before the flooding in 2005. Their house suffered extensive water damage during Henri, forcing them to move in with her son's family in another town.
"When we were getting our insurance, they said, 'You're not in a flood area, there's no need for that,'" she said. "You listen to the supplier and they say you don't need it, so you don't get it."
Back in Queens, Sahadeo Bhagwandin worries about how he will get his family back home. They've been spending nights at a hotel, courtesy of the Red Cross, ever since the flooding.
"I don't know how I'll fix this," said Bhagwandin, a structural engineer, as he pointed to a thick fissure in his basement wall. It could cost upward of $125,000 to repair his home's foundation, which buckled after floodwaters gushed into the basement.
Until a few years back, Bhagwandin said, he had flood insurance — bought after a 2007 storm inundated streets — but the policy was later canceled.
Some of his neighbors, especially working-class immigrants who face language barriers, aren't as familiar with the complexities of property insurance and might not have realized they needed separate coverage for acts of God like flooding and earthquakes.
Even if they were aware of the risk of flooding, he said, their financial priorities might have been elsewhere.
"It's not a rich community," Bhagwandin said. "People try to save every dollar they have to do something else with it, instead of buying flood insurance."
Associated Press writer Ken Sweet in New York contributed to this report.


Some pictures I took of my gorgeous friend Sabrina a few weeks ago at her boyfriend's work studio. I love the way these turned out against an all white backdrop, natural light and a vintage chair. The perfect setting for this angelic Candela romper.
SO stunning, she has killer collar bones.
Gorgeous model, gorgeous lighting, gorgeous photos--just all around gorgeous!
She has gorgeous skin, my goodness it looks flawless! Love the photos!
Great photos!thanks for the comment.
Seriously gorgeous pictures and I really love the white on white.
Amazing pictures! So much natural beauty!


MOORE, Okla. – A man driving a stolen pickup was shot with a stun gun and arrested in Oklahoma after a 2½-hour police chase, part of which he streamed live on Facebook.
Police began pursuing the truck Friday in south Oklahoma City. Cleveland County sheriff's spokesman John Roberts says the man was arrested in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore.
Local TV stations also showed a man with a gun firing at the truck's tires.
It's unclear what charges he may face.


Hi! Sign in to let us know how Miss Rosanne's School of Dance was?
by Dancer08 at Citysearch May 08 .
Studio has been great! My kids have a great time and love coming here. Many instructors have been with the studio for some time and have great experience in dance. Highly recommended.
If you've been to or used Miss Rosanne's School of Dance, leave a review.


Home Staging has become a necessity in recent years, as the expectations of buyers have changed along with a new housing market reality: People prefer to see a property online, and when they visit in person, prefer not to see any major work to do.
Stage Presence Home Staging works with Realtors and Sellers to evolve a space quickly, and within budget, for a faster sales experience. Verna Hutchinson and her team translate a great passion for Interior Design and combine this with the Buyer's Perspective.
As a Certified Staging Professional, Verna's team will incorporate essential elements of decor, furnishings and accessories to the project for both Occupied and Vacant Staging, ensuring the creation of beautiful spaces that create light, warmth, and space, recommending any necessary light renovations to help the Seller and Realtor achieve a successful Sale.
Understanding the value of all elements of great design, the Stage Presence Team will showcase a property to appeal to many types of buyers.