As Illinois' only non-partisan prison watchdog, the John Howard Association (JHA) believes that the state needs to do everything in its power to use evidence-driven laws, policies, and practices to address Chicago's epidemic of gun violence. This must include the appropriate use of the state's prison system, particularly for the serious offense of illegal gun possession.
However, as we debate how we should use prison, we should do so with a clear understanding that the deeper we send a person into the justice system, the more we trade the possibility of the long-term benefit of rehabilitation for the short-term effect of incapacitation. This is an important fact about prisons, which is often lost when it comes to making criminal justice law and policy. There is nothing magical about a prison cell. It can restrain a person who poses a violent risk to public safety, but it is extremely expensive and difficult to try to make it do anything else. As the vast majority of people who go to prison eventually return to our communities, we need to answer the following question as we consider creating longer criminal sentences for any offense, including illegal gun possession: Is this the most effective use of our limited resources to get us the results that we all want, which are safer communities?
With the support of Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel, HB2265 was recently introduced in the Illinois General Assembly with the goal of imposing a mandatory three-year minimum prison sentence for people convicted of illegal use of a weapon, which in the Illinois Criminal Code is called Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW). This proposal would radically change current law, which allows judges to use their discretion both to sentence these offenders to state prison for several years, but also, if they deem it to be appropriate, to employ cost-effective alternatives to incarceration, like Cook County's Correctional Boot Camp Program, which is a national model that is proven to be far more effective at reducing recidivism than jail or prison.
As JHA's executive director argued in a recent op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, we are strongly opposed to Emanuel's proposal because we believe not only that it will fail to decrease gun violence and create safer communities, but also that it will have profound unintended negative consequences. Based on the most complete fiscal analysis available of HB2265, which was conducted by the bipartisan Illinois Sentencing and Policy Advisory Council (SPAC), it is clear that this bill will cost Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, which means fewer resources that could be used on things that are proven to prevent crime. For instance, Mayor Emanuel is reportedly planning to cut 10 percent of Chicago Police Department's budget. There is no question that the hundreds of millions of dollar that it will take to expand Illinois' prison population under HB2265 would be far better spent on hiring more police officers to patrol the streets of Chicago. In a 2013 New York Time's story, which summarized research that shows how "Prison Population Can Shrink When Police Crowd the Streets," reporters noted that Jens Ludwig, the Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, and Philip J. Cook, a Duke University economist, have shown that "money diverted from prison to policing would buy at least four times as much reduction in crime. They suggest shrinking the prison population by a quarter and using the savings to hire another 100,000 police officers." HB2265 will not only rob us of resources that could be put to much more effective use to control crime. Based on an overwhelming consensus of nearly every credible non-partisan policy group that has ever examined the effect of mandatory minimums, including the National Academy of Sciences, it is also clear that HB2265 will not deter people from committing crimes.
Despite this consensus, the University of Chicago's Crime Lab, which, according to its website is dedicated to using "insights from basic science to help government agencies and non-profit organizations develop innovative new approaches to reducing violence," takes a different view. In a memo published on its website, the Crime's Lab Director argued that he expects HB2265's mandatory minimums to lead to more consistent, swift, and certain punishments for UUW offenses, deterring people from illegally carrying guns that would otherwise be used in shootings, thus reducing the number of people who are sent to prison and the costs of their incarceration.
This is an old argument that has never worked for two primary reasons. First, while there is no doubting the fact that the justice system and the threat of prison has a deterrent effect, research and decades of over-incarceration in the United States have demonstrated that the threat of longer prison sentences does not lead to more deterrence, just more prisoners serving longer sentences. Even the Crime Lab and its Director have acknowledged throughout their work that severe punishments, like long prison sentences, undermine crime control. It is true that, along with its recent memo in support HB2265, the Crime Lab's Executive Director recently argued in a Chicago Sun-Times' story that Illinois should not try to rehabilitate offenders convicted of UUW offenses with alternative sentences like Cook County's Boot Camp Program, saying "we should be treating illegal gun carrying like the violent crime it is. If violent offenders aren't eligible for boot camp, I don't know why UUW offenders would be." However, the Crime Lab came to a very different conclusion in its 2009 report "Gun Violence Among School Age Youth in Chicago." It argued: "We would do society as a whole and the youth themselves a favor by making far greater use of swifter, less severe punishments for infractions like gun carrying, including intermediate sanctions like community service or more stringent probation conditions." Similarly, "More Prisoners Versus More Crime is the Wrong Question," a Brooking Institute policy paper co-authored by the Crime Lab's Research Director in 2011, recommended the following: "The resources currently dedicated to supporting long prison sentences should be reallocated to produce swifter, surer, but more moderate punishment. This approach includes hiring more police officers[.]" It is difficult to reconcile these conclusions, but the overwhelming body of research and evidence supports the more measured approach the Crime Lab took in 2009 and that its Director took in 2011 and throughout his body of work.
The second problem with the Crime Lab's support of HB2265 is that while mandatory minimums stem from a wish to impose order and certainty on the justice system, they have the opposite effect, creating disorder and uncertainty. This is the flaw that undermines all mandatory minimum schemes: Mandatory minimums are intended to remove the uncertainty that stems from the exercise of discretion, but they never work that way and instead simply take that discretion away from judges and give it to prosecutors, who become effectively responsible for charging and sentencing. As the great criminologist Norval Morris once explained, in the court system "discretion [is] like matter . . . it cannot be destroyed, it can only be displaced." The displacement of discretionary power onto prosecutors creates significant problems. While judges exercise discretion openly from the bench, and their decisions are reviewable by higher courts, prosecutors decide how to charge offenders in their offices, and their charging decisions are unreviewable. In an article for the University of Chicago's journal Crime and Justice, which surveyed 200 years of findings on mandatory minimum sentences and found them completely ineffective and counterproductive, law professor Michael Tonry noted that mandatory minimums have produced "wide disparities between cases that are comparable in every way except how they were handled." In this way, mandatory minimums undermine the integrity of the justice system by weakening the role of judges in determining proper punishments, increasing the powers of prosecutors beyond their proper roles, and driving record high prison populations, which have had a devastatingly disproportionate impact on minorities and the communities that are experiencing the most violence.
But what about the offender who could have been sentenced to prison, but instead is given probation or some alternative sentence like boot camp and goes on to commit a heinous crime? Even if mandatory minimums for illegal gun possession have negative and costly unintended consequences, wouldn't we all be better off if such offenders were in a prison cell instead of being free to hurt people?
The justice system needs to hold all offenders convicted of illegal gun possession accountable based on the best information available, balancing the goals of incapacitation and rehabilitation. However, the reality is that no one in the justice system can ever predict with certainty if and when a released offender will commit another crime, regardless of how long he was sentenced to prison.
The question the public and lawmakers need to address is who would you rather meet on the streets of Chicago: A recently released parolee who has spent three mandatory years in Illinois' overcrowded and under-resourced prison system, or an offender who has completed an intensive evidence-based alternative sentencing program that is proven to reduce recidivism?
JHA opposes HB2265 because we agree with the consensus of experts and practitioners who have found that the wise use of judicial discretion is more effective at preventing crime than mandatory minimum sentences. At the same time, it is clear that Mayor Emanuel's administration and its supporters will continue to lobby for HB2265. JHA would therefore like to recommend two amendments. First, as supporters have argued that the costs of HB2265 will be minimal and that mandatory minimums could even save taxpayer money by deterring crime, JHA proposes that the City of Chicago should pay for the costs of increased incarceration that stem from the bill, which would otherwise fall entirely on the state. Second, if supporters believe that the law will work, they should demand a three-year sunset be placed upon the bill. This would allow analysts to isolate and evaluate its impact. In three years, if the evidence shows that HB2265 works in the way that the Crime Lab argues it will, no one will oppose re-authorizing it, including JHA.


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Trans-Vietnam train journey through stunning landscape named among Asia's best
By VnExpress &nbspApril 2, 2017 | 12:03 am GMT+7
The north-south train passes Thua Thien-Hue Province's Lang Co Bay in central Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress
Hot breakfast, black coffee and a chance to watch Vietnam's beauty unfold right outside your window.
It won't be the most convenient or comfy train ride of your life, but a trans-Vietnam trip will always be an unforgettable experience.
U.K.-based travel publisher Rough Guides has named the journey on the country's north-south rail link one of the best scenic routes in Asia.
The trip of more than 1,000 miles promises beautiful views of Vietnam along the way. And while many passengers have complained about service quality, the globetrotters at Rough Guides have discovered only great things.
"Breakfast in the dining car is pot noodles in broth, served with fresh lime and chili. Enjoy it with cup of instant black coffee, drunk as the train chugs its way past buffalos grazing in rice paddies," according to Rough Guides.
"Watch fishermen cast their nets as you pass the sea, just meters away from the tracks, before curving around the coast past deserted white beaches and lush rainforest," it added.
Rough Guides has also recommended train journeys through Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Japan and Uzbekistan.
The north-south rail system in Vietnam has been degrading after decades of use – it was completed by the French in the 1930s. With air travel becoming more affordable, more Vietnamese have stopped taking the train.
For many, a three-day journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City can be too long. But travelers who want something different than an easy one-hour flight will be rewarded with stunning scenery. Watch out for the breathtaking sights in central Vietnam.
Tourists can also try the new service between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang for a weekend getaway, if a trans-Vietnam trip seems daunting.
Hop on the new 5-star train from Saigon to Nha Trang
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Reading: Trans-Vietnam train journey through stunning landscape named among Asia's best

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Unrestricted free agent defencemen to target
The Ottawa Senators biggest need to address in the offseason has to be finding a top four defenceman.
By Adnan Jun 28, 2013, 7:00am EDT
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Jordan Leopold would appear to be a good fit with the Senators defence.
The Ottawa Senators have 19 players under contract among those that played in the playoffs for a total of $40.575 million in salaries (although the cap hit is $43.5 million). At $2.14 million per signed player, that currently ranks 30th out of 30 in the NHL for spending. Assuming the Senators re-sign Erik Condra, Daniel Alfredsson and Patrick Wiercioch for a total around $7M, Ottawa could round out the roster by keeping Andre Benoit as a seventh defenseman and sending in a team with a payroll under $50 million.
If the Senators do at least try to somewhat replace Sergei Gonchar's salary in their internal budget, who are some of the defenceman that can help improve a defence that ranked 29th in 2011-2012 and 23rd in 2013 in shots allowed per game? Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot and Chris Phillips are on one-way contracts and Jared Cowen is a lock to also play. Patrick Wiercioch has been tipped to take up Sergei Gonchar's spot on the power play, so he will likely play as well. That leaves Eric Gryba, who struggled as a rookie and really would not have been in the NHL had it not been for injuries to both Karlsson and Cowen. It is Gryba that the Senators should look to upgrade this offseason.
Realistically speaking, the Senators will not trade for Keith Yandle, Alex Pietrangelo, Kris Letang or Brent Burns. It is also difficult to know what second-tier defencemen might be available on the trade market, so let's a look a look at some of the unrestricted free agents.
Ian White
#18 / Defenseman / Detroit Red Wings
Born: Jun 04, 1984
Ian White had a disappointing season, finishing with just 4 points in 25 games for the Red Wings, ranking third among the club's defencemen in 5-on-5 ice time and facing the fifth easiest competition out of seven defencemen. Despite that and a 55% offensive zone start, White came out with roughly neutral possession numbers.
However, in 2011-2012 he faced the second toughest competition on the club behind his partner Nicklas Lidstorm. Again he started 57% of the time in the offensive zone but came out with a Corsi Relative of +5.7 despite the tough competition faced. He also tallied 32 points in 77 games but playing with Nicklas Lidstrom obviously helps a little bit though right?
In 2010-2011, White played on three different teams (Calgary, Carolina, San Jose) and without Lidstrom, faced pretty easy competition and came out slightly positive in the possession numbers with a 49% offensive zone start.
White wasn't been used on the penalty kill this season but has averaged about a minute a game in previous seasons. Ideally, the Senators would want to keep Karlsson off the penalty kill and Wiercioch would not kill penalties either. The new addition should be able to handle some second unit minutes on the penalty kill. While White hasn't been used in this role, it doesn't necessarily mean he isn't capable of handling these minutes. His contract with the Red Wings was for 2-years $5.75 million in total at an average of $2.875 million per year.
Grant Clitsome
#24 / Defenseman / Winnipeg Jets
Born: Apr 14, 1985
Grant Clitsome is a good kid from Ottawa, Ontario (*thumbs up*) and is friends with Methot. He spent the last season with the Winnipeg Jets and had simple stats of 16 points in 44 games. On the fancy stats side, he faced the fifth easiest competition out of eight defencemen, had an offensive zone start of 49% and had a slightly above average Corsi Relative of +2.3. His most common partner was Dustin Byfuglien and he played 1:27 per game of shorthanded time and just over 16 minutes overall.
In 2011-2012, he had similar fancy stats and had 17 points in 63 games split between Columbus and Winnipeg. His usage and performance would imply that he is more suited to a third pairing partnership with Chris Phillips. That wouldn't necessarily be horrible and it shouldn't take too much to get him with Clitsome making just over $1 million in the past season.
Jordan Leopold
#33 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues
Born: Aug 03, 1980
Leopold split the season between Buffalo and St. Louis, playing on each club's second pairing but still faced pretty tough competition (Corsi Relative QoC of 1.014) and had an offensive zone start of of 53% and came out as a neutral possession player. He faced tougher competition than anyone on the Senators except Gryba. Having performed far better than Gryba with similar usage, he would seem to be an ideal replacement for him. While the Blues didn't use him on the penalty kill, Leopold did have over two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game with the Sabres.
While Leopold had only two goals and 10 points in 39 games this season, he hit double digits in goals in each of the previous two seasons with the Sabres and would be an option for the second power play unit as well.
The competition faced by Leopold was a little bit easier in 2011-2012 and 2010-2011 but he managed to hold his own in 22 to 23 minutes a night with the Sabres.
He is coming off a three-year contract paying him $3 million a year. He may be in line for a slight raise, although the decline in his offensive production might lower the cost a little bit. Another three-year deal for the same amount could be excellent value for a budget team like the Senators.
Adam Pardy
#27 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres
Adam Pardy is a big guy which should appease management and fans alike. On a more important note, Pardy played only the fifth toughest competition but at a Corsi Relative QoC of 0.559, it wasn't that far from the second toughest. He started in the offensive zone 46% of the time and still had a Corsi Relative of +5.3.
Unfortunately he's played only 17 games this year in the NHL, 36 in 2011-2012 and 30 in 2010-2011. At a salary of $2 million, he costs more than Clitsome but did show some promise this year.
Would Bryan Murray take a chance on him?
Kurtis Foster
#3 / Defenseman / Philadelphia Flyers
Born: Nov 24, 1981
Like Pardy, Foster is a big man. He had 5 points in 23 games and was used in defensive situations (44% offensive zone start) against weak competition (Corsi Relative QoC of -0.3). His usage was flipped the other way last season starting in the offensive zone 60% of the time in his time between New Jersey and Minnesota, and he was a negative possession player despite facing very easy competition (Corsi Relative QoC of -0.6)
Foster doesn't appear to have a lot in his game aside from his size. He played only 13 minutes per game this season and has played a total of 65 games in the last two seasons.
Not an overly fantastic free agent class this year even if the Senators were able to spend more money. The ideal player to target would be Jordan Leopold in my eyes, with both Ian White and Grant Clitsome also worth a look if the Senators can't obtain someone better via a trade. If Ottawa chooses to go with the same defensive group, they are going be likely counting on a bottom four that contains two players that have never consistently played against second lines, one aging player and another young player that looked overwhelmed when playing in the top four. Young players improve but that could be expecting a bit too much.
Here is a brief description of some of the terms used:
Corsi: Difference between attempted shots for (including goals, saves, missed shots, blocked shots) and attempted shots against by the team while a specific player is on the ice. This is typically given in per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time.
Corsi relative: Difference between Corsi when a player is on and off the ice.
Corsi relative QoC (Quality of Competition): The Corsi relative of the opponents a player plays against, weighted by the percentage of time against each opponent.
Offensive zone start: The percentage of face-offs that a player starts in the offensive zone as compared to the defensive zone.
Senators Score 5 Goals in the Third Period to Complete Comeback Against the Oilers The one where Stützle turns 20!
Game 31 Preview + Open Thread: Ottawa Senators @ Edmonton Oilers Time to get another coach fired?
Five Thoughts For Friday Batherson's All-Star nomination, Nick Paul's future, and more!
Ranking Pierre Dorion's Free Agent Signings Does anyone have a chance of beating out Artem Zub?
Rankings, Rankings, More Rankings & Evander Kane It was the week of the rankings as multiple analysts across multiple platform released new rankings while the Evander Kane saga continues.


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Royals on the rise: Jojo Watson
(Photo provided by Jojo Watson '22)
Sneak peak of Jojo in "Front."
Chelsea Bartilad, Staff Writer
Rosary Academy is filled with bright, talented, and incredible individuals that will make an impact on the world.
At the early age of 8-years-old, Jojo's heart has been set on Broadway: from listening to musical soundtracks on the road, to watching Golden Age movie musicals such as "Hello, Dolly" and "The Music Man." She describes them to be "so vibrant and beautiful, something about them just called to me." (Fun fact: Jojo also grew up hearing stories about her mom making an appearance in "Wicked"!)
Little Jojo happily smiling about her performance. (Photo provided by Jojo Watson '22)
For the past eleven years, Jojo has performed in over twenty plays and musicals, some of her favorites being "Hello, Dolly," "Looking Back/Moving Forward," "Chicago," "The Fantasticks," and "Once Upon a Mattress." Her family has attended every single one of her shows, leaving the theater awestruck.
Throughout her time in Rosary, Jojo has been involved with Trinitas (originally called Tri-School Theatre), where she has participated in all of their productions, such as "Oklahoma!" and "The Matchmaker." Aside from being an actress, Jojo is also the Manager of Trinitas' Comedy Sportz team, where they compete against each other in matches playing improv games, leaving the audience to decide who the winner will be.
In college, Jojo plans to continue her passion for the stage where she will major in musical theatre. She is determined to become a performer and hopes to someday be a part of Broadway and write some of her own musicals as well. "As cliché as it sounds," she says, "I really don't know what I'd be doing right now if I weren't doing theatre all the time."
This year, Trinitas' Fall production is "Front," a historical play about the untold stories of the women during WWII. The show will run starting tonight from 7 p.m. and will continue to this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Servite High School. Be sure to attend and show some support to both Trinitas and Jojo, who is a part of the production.
Chelsea Bartilad is a senior at Rosary, and this is her first year on the Royal Reporter. As a new staff writer, she is looking forward to writing articles...
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Roger Michell to direct The Duke
by Nia Daniels
A new feature film based on the true story of the UK's first art heist, the theft of Goya's Duke of Wellington, is in the pipeline.
The Duke is produced by Neon Films' Nicky Bentham in association with Pathé, with Roger Michell set to direct.
Deadline recently reported that Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren are lined up to star.
The Goya painting was first displayed in the National Gallery in 1961 only to be stolen 19 days later.
Four years on, retired bus driver Kempton Bunton used a railway left-luggage office to return the picture and an intriguing backstory subsequently unravelled.
Production Intelligence has details of the co-producer attached; non-subscribers can click here to request a free online demo.
Michell's latest film, Blackbird, premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The feature stars Kate Winslet, Mia Wasikowska and Susan Sarandon and is a remake of the Danish film Silent Heart.
Photo: Pixabay.
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The economy of the county of Suffolk received a major boost with total filming days in 2019 up by 12% compared to the previous year.
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The BBC is planning a year of climate change coverage with special programming, digital coverage and debates.
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The salt and moisture of the seaside makes long-lasting construction a challenge. The majority of coastal buildings need maintenance every few decades or, depending on the metal used in their construction, they may need to be completely replaced.
And while most metals are resistant to corrosion, they are not immune. Those that are immune to corrosion are typically luxury metals that carry big price tags.
As you move further inland, all metals survive longer thanks to lower levels of salt in the environment. It won't save them from the rain and weather, but they stand a better chance.
No matter where you build, your architecture will be exposed to wind, rain, and possibly salt and other elements.
Deciding on the best metals for exterior applications can be the difference between a long-lasting tribute to your skill and an ugly, costly failure. Here are some of the best metals for outdoor use.
So, which architectural metals are best for exterior architecture?
Now let's compare these metals through the qualities that matter most to you: price, dependability, and beauty. Let's start with the most common, yet least durable: galvanized steel.
Galvanized steel is the least corrosion-resistant metal on this list. Galvanized steel is more about function than beauty, so it's not your best choice if looks matter for your project. Despite that, it is most commonly used because it offers at least 50 years of strong, affordable performance (25 or more in saltwater environments).
Galvanized steel is carbon steel that is coated in liquid zinc. The zinc becomes the sacrificial anode and will corrode before the steel underneath, even if some of the steel is exposed (a phenomenon called preferential corrosion).
One benefit of galvanized steel is the ability to adjust the amount of protection by specifying the amount of zinc deposited on the surface of the steel during its production. The more zinc you put on, the better protection you will get!
Galvanized steel is by far the most affordable on this list, which is why it remains so widely used outdoors. Some of the most common galvanized items we produce are components used to mount solar panels to commercial building roofs.
So, galvanized steel is best for projects that only need short-term corrosion resistance, or architecture that requires planned, consistent renovations.
One step above galvanized steel is aluminum. Common outdoor aluminum products include light fixtures and door and window frames.
Does aluminum rust? Nope -- it creates its own protective coating through a process called self-passivation. As aluminum oxidizes, it creates a protective layer around itself like a snail drawing into its shell. Any paint on it will fade quite a bit.
Manufacturers can force this process via anodizing, which immediately strengthens the metal and leaves it with a polished finish.
Aluminum moulding trim for exterior use is most often shaped through extrusion, though we roll form plenty of it. It is often used on the exterior framing of storefront doors and windows.
Depending on who you talk to, aluminum will last anywhere from 10s to 100s of years before decomposing. (We lean toward the former.) Remember that aluminum outdoor products are designed to be sellable at an economical price -- in many cases they're simply not going to last a long time outdoors.
Aluminum is an effective option for exterior architectural components, but it's not the top choice on our list!
These red metals are much more rare and luxurious than aluminum or stainless steel. They're also incredibly durable; once they've oxidized, they're completely immune to the elements. Brass and bronze are alloys of copper, so they all turn somewhat green with oxidation. Some designers are even adding patina to bronze, copper, and brass intentionally to get that stately look immediately!
Copper is a raw element, and the softest of these three metals. Zinc is added to copper to make brass, and tin with copper creates bronze. The addition of other metals makes brass and bronze harder, sturdier, and more resistant to oxidation. Some sources say copper trim can survive perfectly for over a thousand years.
These metals will be most desirable to architects who require a rich aesthetic.
Requests for red metals often come for luxury hotels, banks, historical buildings, and restorations. It is definitely a high-end material... pound for pound, it is easily double or triple the cost of stainless steel.
Most intents and purposes, copper, brass, and bronze are equivalent to stainless steel in durability. They're all incredibly resistant to the elements (how long has the Statue of Liberty been standing tall in the New York Harbor?), but they're also very expensive. For that sole (and very important) reason, stainless steel comes in at the top of the list.
Does stainless steel rust? Yes, in extremely corrosive conditions, it can -- just at a far slower rate than carbon steel and aluminum. Still, stainless steel has the best balance of durability and cost-effectiveness for outdoor commercial and industrial purposes. Just make sure it's cleaned occasionally to keep it looking mirrorlike.
There are over 150 types of stainless steel, but there are only three that most common for exterior use: grades 304, 316, and 430. Each type of stainless steel has a different measure of alloy metals, affecting its durability and cost.
Grade 304 stainless steel is the most commonly used of the 300 series. Its alloy metals - 18% chromium and 8% nickel - give it extreme durability both physically and aesthetically.
However, it's also one of the most expensive grades of stainless steel.
Grade 316 stainless steel contains the same amount of chromium as 304, but with a higher percentage of nickel plus 2-3% molybdenum. Molybdenum increases the metal's resistance to salt, making it perfect for the most corrosive environments.Typically, this is the metal used in marine applications.
430 stainless steel is typically used for mild exterior conditions, or indoors where the weather gets tracked in (in a metal door frame casing, for instance). Similarly, escalators in shopping malls use 430 stainless to protect against slush and salt carried in by shoppers. It has a lower percentage of chromium (17%) and a higher percentage of carbon (0.12%), which makes it the cheapest and most popular option.
However, it's obviously not as effective as its 300-series counterparts for exterior use.
Stainless steel is much more affordable than copper, brass, or bronze. And, depending on how and where you use it, it can last well over a hundred years.
Which is the best metal for your project?
As you can see, your choice of metal may largely hinge on how visible your project will be. A pipe buried underground doesn't need to be pretty; a front door to a commercial building does. Your budget, desired appearance, and functional requirements will determine which material you need for your project.
Aluminum doesn't hold up well around salt and will corrode over time, making it ill-equipped for coastal applications. On the other end of the spectrum, brass fixtures are great options for all environments.
If you are looking for more function than beauty, it may be appropriate to use one of the less expensive but highly durable galvanized steels.
If you need longer term protection or a brighter, more polished look, stainless steel may be your choice.
If your project is highly aesthetic or has a need for the rich red metal hue, one of the copper-based alloys may be the best material for you.
Depending on your project, there may be more factors in choosing your ideal metal.
For example, what about weight? Aluminum is lightweight and is easily transportable. Steel, meanwhile, is much heavier. If portability matters to you, then make sure you're buying a lighter metal.
It's easy to see why you must examine every angle before deciding on the best metals for exterior projects. Do your research, get the manufacturer involved, and make a well-informed decision that will have a long-lasting positive impact.


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Long COVID Risk Falls Only Slightly after Vaccination
Results from a large study suggest that vaccines offer less protection against lingering symptoms than expected
By Sara Reardon, Nature magazine on May 27, 2022
A patient receives the COVID-19 vaccine. Credit: Scott Heins/Getty Images
Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lowers the risk of long COVID after infection by only about 15%, according to a study of more than 13 million people1. That's the largest cohort that has yet been used to examine how much vaccines protect against the condition, but it is unlikely to end the uncertainty.
Long COVID — illness that persists for weeks or months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 — has proved difficult to study, not least because the array of symptoms makes it hard to define. Even finding out how common it is has been challenging. Some studies have suggested that it occurs in as many as 30% of people infected with the virus. But a November study of about 4.5 million people treated at US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals suggests that the number is 7% overall and lower than that for those who were not hospitalized.
Another mystery has been whether long COVID is less likely to occur after a breakthrough infection — one in a person who has been vaccinated. In a 25 May study in Nature Medicine, nephrologist Ziyad Al-Aly at VA Saint Louis Health Care System in St Louis, Missouri, and his colleagues — the same team that authored the November study — looked at VA health records from January to December 2021, including those of about 34,000 vaccinated people who had breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, 113,000 people who had been infected but not vaccinated and more than 13 million people who had not been infected.
Chinks in the armour
The researchers found that vaccination seemed to reduce the likelihood of long COVID in people who had been infected by only about 15%. That's in contrast to previous, smaller studies, which have found much higher protection rates. It's also a departure from another large study, which analysed self-reported data from 1.2 million UK smartphone users and found that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine halved the risk of long COVID.
The authors of the latest study also compared symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue in vaccinated and unvaccinated people for up to six months after they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The team found no difference in type or severity of symptoms between those who had been vaccinated and those who had not. "Those same fingerprints we see in people who have breakthrough infections," Al-Aly says.
There have been more than 83 million COVID-19 infections in the United States alone, he notes. If even a small percentage of those turn into long COVID, "that's a staggeringly high number of people affected by a disease that remains mysterious".
The limited protection provided by vaccines means that withdrawing measures such as mask mandates and social-distancing restrictions might be putting more people at risk — particularly those with compromised immune systems. "We're literally solely reliant, now almost exclusively, on the vaccine to protect us and to protect the public," says Al-Aly. "Now we're saying it's only going to protect you 15%. You remain vulnerable, and extraordinarily so."
"Generally speaking, this is horrifying," says David Putrino, a physical therapist at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City who studies long COVID. He praises the study, which was difficult to perform because of the amount and quality of data, but adds that it is limited because it does not break the data down by key factors, such as the participants' medical history. "These are very important questions we need answers to," Putrino says. "We don't have any really well constructed studies just yet."
Another Omicron unknown
Steven Deeks, an HIV researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, points out that the study includes no data from people infected during the period when the Omicron variant was causing the majority of infections. "We have no data on whether Omicron causes long COVID," he says. The findings, he adds, "apply to a pandemic that has changed dramatically".
However, Deeks adds, the results do point to the need for more research on long COVID, and for accelerated development of therapies. "We don't have a definition, we don't have a biomarker, we don't have an imaging test, a mechanism or a treatment," he says. "We just have questions."
This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on May 25 2022.
Sara Reardon is a freelance journalist based in Bozeman, Mont. She is a former staff reporter at Nature, New Scientist and Science and has a master's degree in molecular biology.
Recent Articles by Sara Reardon
What Does the Future of Monkeypox Look Like?
First U.S. Polio Case in Nearly a Decade Highlights the Importance of Vaccination
Why is Monkeypox Evolving So Fast?
How to Make Smart COVID Risk-Benefit Decisions
Devabhaktuni Srikrishna
Can Drugs Reduce the Risk of Long COVID? What Scientists Know So Far
Heidi Ledford and Nature magazine
Even Mild COVID Can Increase the Risk of Heart Problems
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COVID Long Haulers Are Calling Attention to Chronic Illnesses
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You read the title right: REB and I are new homeowners!!
Not official until you have the key!
It's the most exciting feeling ever! We closed on Thursday of last week and we took great advantage of the long weekend to move items into the new house and start painting!
But first, let's do a quick round up for What I Ate Wednesday! Remember to head over to Jenn's blog if you want to join the party!
Clockwise we have: a vegetarian version of bagel and lox (no lox) – tomato, cream cheese, capers, red onion no toasted whole wheat bagel (YUM!); a yummy veggie pita packed full with sprouts, sunflower seeds and veggies; Thai for lunch on closing day: tofu, veggies, spring roll; and celebrating the new house with mojitos and yummy Mexican food! Not a bad week of eats!
So onto the fun part: Updates and some pics of the new digs!
Our house is located within Ann Arbor city limits, close enough to a highway for REB to commute to Dearborn, and still on the same bus line I take to work downtown – WIN. It's located in a cute neighborhood!
Since our apartment was remodeled (kitchen and bathrooms) not long ago, all our kitchen stuff was already packed in boxes. And since we weren't going to be painting cabinets or anything, we decided to go ahead and move and unpack the kitchen first – glad we did!
Kitchen before - we put on a first coat of paint over the weekend!
I'm a nerd and get a little cabinet for all my blogging dishes and stuff! I'm pretty thankful I have a hubby who understands my weirdness for taking food photos.
The one thing I love about our house is the backyard. The previous owners did a beautiful job with the landscaping and kept it pretty low maintenance. Luckily, my brother-in-law studied landscape architecture, so he's going to come visit us and give us the 4-1-1 on everything that's growing and how to take care of it. We also negotiated patio furniture into the contract, which is beautiful!
One of the first days there, our friend came over and we enjoyed some bubbly on the deck!
One thing I wasn't prepared for, was the amount of time we'd spend in Lowes. I think we made about 5 or 6 trips there in two days over the weekend. We wanted to get a head start on the painting though!
I've never painted before. Well, I've painted in art class as a kid, but I've never painted as far as homes go. I didn't realize the amount of work that goes into it! But it is sort of fun just because we get to make it entirely our own!
And it seemed no matter what precautions I took, I couldn't keep paint off me.
Well, we have a long way to go before it's all complete, but I just can't wait to start decorating and making it a home! It's a big step, and we've been looking for a long time, and we're both just so thrilled and excited to finally have a house! Gryff will finally get a yard!
I'll be sure to keep updates on here as we're moving, unpacking, painting and decorating!
Any homeowners out there who have tips for us newbs?
This entry was posted in House, Life, What I Ate Wednesday and tagged Food, homeowners, house, new home, What I Ate Wednesday, WIAW 16 on May 30, 2012 by Aparna B..
You're looking at a girl who jumped on the Foodie Penpals bandwagon…and I love it. I totally see myself participating in this every single month! I'd read about the treats other bloggers I follow would receive and wanted in on the fun. So I did it too. And boy, am I ever happy!
The lovely Emily (a reader) sent me a fantastic package.
How cute is this sticker?!
I couldn't believe all the great stuff she got me! She had emailed me prior to find out what I liked and didn't like. But she did say one thing: "hope you like coffee!" But of course! She knew I was a vegetarian after visiting my blog and knew I liked healthier treats, but wasn't afraid to indulge in some sweet treats ;) I told her I liked things made local. Being from Ann Arbor, REB and I strive to buy local from the farmers market, local grocery stores, locally-branded items, etc. So anything I could have that was Portland- or Oregon-related, I was all for it!
In this delightful package was a bountiful array of delicious treats!
This hot sauce. Did I mention she also listened to me when I said "I love spicy things!"…? This habanero hot sauce is not only spicy and delicious but it's also made in Oregon! Twofer!
Two bars (each 2 oz.) of Dagoba brand dark chocolate. The one there on top is lavender and blueberry: sweet and delicious. The one on the bottom is the one I REALLY like, though.
This bar was xocolatl flavored aka chocolate with hints of chilies! Again, she listened to me when I said loved indulging in sweet treats and this one was not only dark chocolate (my fav) but it had that great kick to it. I've been enjoying a tiny piece each day after I finish my lunch. Perfect (and healthy!) way to end a meal if you ask me!
And for those of you who are curious, I sent my FPP package to the lovely Alexis of Pumped Pumpkin. Go check out her blog to see the goods she got from yours truly ;) But really, read her blog. She's a fitness enthusiast and has some fabulous, healthy recipes on her blog!
Want in on the fun? Head over to Lindsay's blog The Lean Green Bean to sign up!
Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!
This entry was posted in Life and tagged Food, Foodie Penpals, FPP, Lean Green Bean, penpals on April 30, 2012 by Aparna B..


I must of tried making these at least 5 times at this point —- and each time turned out slightly different, or totally different! OK—full disclosure, i'm much more of an eye-baller when it comes to cooking, rather than a measurement baker— so it's more than possible, er likely, I added something more or less each time! That said, this should work easily enough though— but please DM me if you have any problems, or ideas on how to make it even better!! I LOVE suggestions!
PS. These taste especially divine when you drizzle tahini and some salt on top!
Add all the dry donut ingredients to a large bowl (or food processor— my fave) — and mix.
Scoop batter out using a spatular into a large ziplock bag with one small bottom corner cut off.
Squeeze into a greased (I use coconut oil) donut mold or lined sheet pan.
Bake for around 20 minutes— until a toothpick or knife comes out clean.
Remove from oven and allow to cool down for at least 10-15 minutes before removing from mold or pan.
Melt the cacao butter using a double boiler method (or in a small pan on very low heat until it's all melted).
Pour into a mixing bowl or food processor and add in all the remaining glaze ingredients (minus the garnish stuff).
Either spoon the glaze over each donut— or if the donuts are cool enough, you can just dip them right in— and place on a large piece of parchment paper to set.
Leave the donuts to chill for around 15-20 minutes before serving (you can also throw them in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to speed up this process too).
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days, or freeze for a later date!


Sorry for the quality of my own audio, but the candidates all shine through loud and clear!
Are you a candidate for the AReallyGoodeJob? Maybe you'd like to join our discussion and talk about the experience so far? What about you hopes and dreams? We can't guarantee that anyone from M-G will be listening, but you may be able to gather a few last minute voters!


You've recognized the signs, abandoned hope of resuscitation, and come to a decision: It's time to end your relationship. But before devastating your girlfriend's heart with a direct hit from the breakup bomb, consider the alternative. With adequate preparation and tact, you can let her down gently, thereby minimizing damage and safeguarding your romantic reputation. When you're ready to hit her with the bad news, use these tips to soften the blow.
away from pointing fingers and direct attention at the central issue: incompatibility.
pain you will inflict and it might help you figure out how to cushion her fall.
moment will pass, as will her desire to kick you in the crotch.
she'll have the decency to hear you out.
From the moment you go your separate ways, give her plenty of physical space.
and potentially flush everything you ever gave her down the toilet.
balanced, but fall short of giving her false hope.


Why bother? The process of consolidating an organization's IT infrastructure data from its many sources has always been a daunting task – everything is in different file formats, there are manual redlines, and who knows what's current and out-of-date?
On the other hand, think of all that could be accomplished if all that data WAS in one place – no more scrambling for current info, faster incident response times, easier infrastructure changes… and so much more.
Registered customers can login at our support portal.


A SHADOW minster, with personal experience of Solihull Hospital, is backing the campaign to keep full maternity services there.
DAVID Cameron's decision to break his 'cast iron' EU election promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, marks a new low in British politics.
I HAVE always been opposed to the ritualistic hunting down of animals mainly because the activity demeans us as human beings, as well as being cruel to the animal involved.
MERIDEN MP Caroline Spelman has called on the Government to take action to curb binge drinking.
SHADOW Foreign Secretary William Hague mingled with Silhillians yesterday (Thursday) as the Conservatives canvassed across the borough.
THE political future of Caroline Spelman still hangs in the balance after MPs failed to decide whether she acted improperly by using public money to pay for childcare.


text:
Q: how to merged list of lists of nested dictionary I have a dictionary like this:
{'CO,': {u'123456': [55111491410]},
 u'OA,': {u'3215': [55111400572]},
 u'KO,': {u'asdas': [55111186735],u'5541017924': [55111438755]},
 u'KU': {u'45645': [55111281815],u'546465238': [55111461870]},
 u'TU': {u'asdfds': [55111161462],u'546454149': [55111128782],
  u'546454793': [55111167133],u'546456387': [55111167139],
  u'546456925': [55111167140],u'546458931': [55111226912],
  u'546458951': [55111226914],u'546459861': [55111226916],
  u'546460165': [55111403171, 55111461858]}}

I want to get merged list of all the lists in nested dictionary.
Output should be like this:
[55111491410,55111400572,55111186735,55111438755,55111281815,55111461870,55111167133,55111167139,....55111403171,55111461858]

A: An elegant answer based on regex and on the fact that all the values of interest are among square brackets
import re

pat = r'(?<=\[).+?(?=\])'

s = """{'CO,': {u'123456': [55111491410]},
 u'OA,': {u'3215': [55111400572]},
 u'KO,': {u'asdas': [55111186735],u'5541017924': [55111438755]},
 u'KU': {u'45645': [55111281815],u'546465238': [55111461870]},
 u'TU': {u'asdfds': [55111161462],u'546454149': [55111128782],
  u'546454793': [55111167133],u'546456387': [55111167139],
  u'546456925': [55111167140],u'546458931': [55111226912],
  u'546458951': [55111226914],u'546459861': [55111226916],
  u'546460165': [55111403171, 55111461858]}}"""

print('[%s]' % ', '.join(map(str, re.findall(pat, s))))

Output
[55111491410, 55111400572, 55111186735, 55111438755, 55111281815, 55111461870, 55111161462, 55111128782, 55111167133, 55111167139, 55111167140, 55111226912, 55111226914, 55111226916, 55111403171, 55111461858]

A: xJust a list comprehension using the dict's values and the inner dict values would do the job. But do remember that dicts are not ordered in python till 3.6. So if you are using the older version, the resulting list would also not be in any order
>>> dct = {'CO,': {u'123456': [55111491410]},
...  u'OA,': {u'3215': [55111400572]},
...  u'KO,': {u'asdas': [55111186735],u'5541017924': [55111438755]},
...  u'KU': {u'45645': [55111281815],u'546465238': [55111461870]},
...  u'TU': {u'asdfds': [55111161462],u'546454149': [55111128782],
...   u'546454793': [55111167133],u'546456387': [55111167139],
...   u'546456925': [55111167140],u'546458931': [55111226912],
...   u'546458951': [55111226914],u'546459861': [55111226916],
...   u'546460165': [55111403171, 55111461858]}}
>>>
>>> [e for idct in dct.values() for lst in idct.values() for e in lst]
[55111491410, 55111400572, 55111186735, 55111438755, 55111281815, 55111461870, 55111161462, 55111128782, 55111167133, 55111167139, 55111167140, 55111226912, 55111226914, 55111226916, 55111403171, 55111461858]

A: d = {'CO,': {u'123456': [55111491410]},
     u'OA,': {u'3215': [55111400572]},
     u'KO,': {u'asdas': [55111186735], u'5541017924': [55111438755]},
     u'KU': {u'45645': [55111281815], u'546465238': [55111461870]},
     u'TU': {u'asdfds': [55111161462], u'546454149': [55111128782],
             u'546454793': [55111167133], u'546456387': [55111167139],
             u'546456925': [55111167140], u'546458931': [55111226912],
             u'546458951': [55111226914], u'546459861': [55111226916],
             u'546460165': [55111403171, 55111461858]}}
z = []
for i in d.keys():
    for j in d[i].keys():
        z.append(d[i][j][0])

print(z)

output:
[55111491410, 55111400572, 55111186735, 55111438755, 55111281815, 55111461870, 55111161462, 55111128782, 55111167133, 55111167139, 55111167140, 55111226912, 55111226914, 55111226916, 55111403171]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Every year since 2009, the senior citizens at South San Francisco's Magnolia Center have made bags full of valentines for California servicemen and women with help from Jerry Hill. The project, which started when he was a member of the state Assembly, has grown each year. Now the Magnolia Center seniors -- joined by city councilmembers, other South San Francisco civic leaders and Senator Hill -- craft hundreds of valentines each year so that every deployed member of the California National Guard receives a handmade card and, often, local units in Mountain View and Sacramento receive the cards, too. in 2018, the seniors made 1,800 valentines. Read more about the event here. Browse this gallery for photos of the recent Operation Valentine card-making events at South San Francisco's Magnolia Center.