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The BlogFood StampsPoliticsPoverty
Let Us Eat Cake: The New Census Data on Poverty
Poverty fell in 2013 U.S. Census data shows. It inched down from 15 percent in 2012 to 14.5 percent in 2013, but still higher than when the Recession officially ended in 2009. So not yet time to eat cake. ...Or is it?
Karen Dolan, Contributor
Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies*
Sep 19, 2014, 02:47 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017
Let Us Eat Cake: What the New Poverty Data Does and Doesn't Tell Us About Cake
Poverty fell in 2013 U.S. Census data shows. It inched down from 15 percent in 2012 to 14.5 percent in 2013, but still higher than when the Recession officially ended in 2009.
So not yet time to eat cake.
...Or is it?
Cake and Food Assistance
If many state governors and GOP federal legislators had their druthers, we'd prohibit poor moms from buying cake for their children using food stamps. Cake and ice cream for birthday parties, some politicians apparently hope, will be only for the non-poor in America. Indeed, with the cruel cuts to the food assistance program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) last year and aspirations for eliminating its entitlement status, it seems some GOP lawmakers feel that any food at all for poor people should be considered a privilege. This, despite the fact that SNAP lifted 3.7 million people out of poverty in 2013 and could have assisted many many more.
Cake and Unemployment Insurance
Similarly, Unemployment Insurance proved a critical safety net catching 1.2 million people before they fell below the poverty line. But this number is smaller than previous years due to House leaders allowing the benefit to expire and preventing all attempts to restore it. With a sluggish job market, high unemployment and a minimum wage which doesn't provide a full-time worker with sufficient housing and nutrition needs in any state in the country, the elimination of this crucial safety net assistance is unjustified and unwise.
Poverty and deep poverty persist in this wealthy nation. Barriers to health care, quality child care, good paying jobs, adequate safety net programs, quality education, safe housing and adequate nutrition persist and austerity approaches increase these.
Cake and Corporate Greed
The good news is that alternatives to austerity for the poor abound. If we leveled down the gobs of frosting on the triple decker layer cakes we regularly serve up to tax-evading corporations, gambling Wall Street wolves and bloated CEO wallets, there would be enough cake to go around. Cut corporate subsidies, close off-shore tax havens, tax Wall Street fairly, create green good paying jobs and institute universal healthcare are examples of what we can do.
Cake While Incarcerated and Undocumented
Finally, even if we do all of that and every belly has nutritious food and some occasional birthday cake, 2.4 million of mostly low-income people won't be able to come to the table because they are incarcerated. An additional 11 million undocumented immigrants have no seat at the table at all.
Disproportionately poor and of minority ethnic and racial backgrounds, incarcerated and undocumented people in our country survive- or not- below the radar screen. Most of the those living behind bars in federal prisons are imprisoned for non-violent offenses. Exploding prison populations are squeezing state and municipal budgets. These skyrocketing costs are illogically being paid for by swelling the numbers of people fined and jailed for nothing more than being unable to pay a parking ticket, private probation or court costs. It's a vicious cycle of cost and incarceration which serves only to create a resurgence of Debtors Prisons in the U.S. while doing nothing to curb costs.
Further, if the currently undocumented workers in the U.S. were to be granted legal right to work, studies estimate they would add over $2 billion annually to state and local tax contributions on top of the current $10.5 billion they already contribute.
So add immigration reform and criminal justice reform a commonsense approach to taxes, subsidizes, wages and budget and guess what?
We all get cake.
Food StampsPoliticsPoverty Immigration Reformwall street
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Posts tagged 'Ralph Murphy'
How to write a Christmas Song
I've noticed that a number of people who read my blog recently found me by putting in a search query on the search engine, asking how to write a Christmas song. They found me because of a blog I wrote back in August, saying that was the time you needed to write it.
That blog covered lots of topics you can write about, but I just wanted to add one for those of you who are now inspired. It's too late to record something to go into a Christmas stocking unless you are burning it yourself, which is a good idea. You could also send a song as a Christmas present to your friends, family and fans as an MP3 Musicgram, which is a cool idea. This site allows you to upload songs and send them to a friend. I've tried it myself and it was very cool.
Anyway, I just wanted to add one very important point. If you disect the songs that populate the hit charts, you will find a major difference between the average singer songwriter song and the hits. That is that a hit song usually has a happy theme, like "I've got a new guy/girl and I want to tell the world." "Now that I've found you". "I'm in love".
Many singer songwriters write about the one that got away and are being what Ralph Murphy calls the typical singer songwriter, a self indulgent writer who writes to get things off their chest (which is fine if that's what you are after), but most people want to listen to songs that are uplifting and what more uplifting is there than "I've got you and that's all I need for Christmas". Think about the songs that you have on your stereo or listen to on the radio on Christmas Day to set the mood.
Sometimes you can do something a little more melancholy with a Christmas tone, but it probably won't become a popular Christmas song. There are ways to add some special sentiment. For example in my song Another Stretch in Iraq, there is a mention as follows (about the tradition of sending miniature Christmas trees to the troops):
'It's Christmas time and the dessert is cold
My life is with the Army if the truth be told
They've got my back
My Mom and Dad sent a little Christmas Tree
They said that they were prayin for the boys and me……..'
Check out this list at Lyrics Vault for the top Christmas Songs of All Time and you will see that they are pretty much all uplifting happy songs full of Christmas Cheer. Of course there is a place for sad songs, but if you want to write a hit, write one in a major key with a lively beat and chuck a few sleigh bells in the chorus.
If you really want to be a little melancholy, you can still turn it into positive. Live Aid's Do They Know Its Christmas did a great job of telling the sad story and what people could do about it into a happy one. It is just as popular today as when it came out in 1985.
watch?v=stNGHiscETo
Christmas, Christmas Songs, Composer, Hit Songs, iraq, Music, Music Charts, Music Marketing, music website, musical gift, Songwriting, songwriting information, Top Hits
christmas hit song
christmas in iraq
christmas mood
happy christmas song
hot song charts
Live aid
lyrics vault
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music christmas present
write a christmas song
write a hit song
What are the fans listening to? How to get your hitsong.
Some great advice I picked up somewhere was that if you want to write a hit song, you need to know what people are listening to. Whilst its true that there are song pluggers and the radio is very much influenced by the record companies, the fact is that if he radio are regularly playing songs, whether it is because they have an incentive or for any other reason, the net result is people listen to them.
I think it was Jimmy Webb at the S3 conference who said that if you listen to a song at least 5 times, it will grow on you and you will start to like it. This is a formula that they use to get you to buy or follow a track. The lyrics become familiar, the hook becomes entrenched in your mind and if it is pleasing to you, you may well find yourself singing along.
Hit's are here the money is in songwriting. If you write a hit song, you will be well remunerated and also you will become noticed and in demand by artists and their team, looking for a new song, hoping that you weren't a one hit wonder.
So is there a magical secret? Magical no, but the key thing is knowing what people like, what are they listening to today. It's easy to find a market for your songs in today's world with so many internet vehicles like MySpace, FaceBook, iTunes, Music Forte and hundreds if not thousands of others. But these are less likely to get you a hit for music's sake, than the radio, which isn't going away anywhere fast. Radio plays mainstream and mainstream is what it means, i.e. what most people are listening to today.
So in my humble opinion, if you want to write a hit song, rather than (as Ralph Murphy says) be a self indulgent songwriter, writing songs to play in bars after 10 P.M. when people are drunk or t least merry and mostly don't care, you need to write something different. Something uplifting, which is often very different to what the average songwriter puts together. Murphy says that the hits are the songs that people listen to on the way to work in the morning when they want a lift.
So the first thing to do is to find out what they are listening to. I live in New Zealand, so if I want to write a hit song for the local market, I would go to RIANZ. "The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand."
RIANZ publishes the weekly New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart. "The Top 40 Singles Chart is compiled based on a 75:25 split between physical / digital singles sales figures and radio play information gathered by radio data collection agency Radioscope."They also publish a number of other charts including the Top 10 Radio Airplay Chart.
Like all charts they show the position this week, last week and weeks on the chart. A quick look through these will tell you what is popular in your local world. These charts are a mixture of everything, local and international. To give you an idea, the Top 40 as at Monday 28 July included 5 local acts and Number One on the chart was Phil Collins, In The Air Tonight which this time has been on the NZ charts for 21 weeks! Always on My Mind by Tiki Taane is number 3 still and has been on the charts for 14 weeks.
In my opinion, Always On My Mind is very much a polynesian sound and will be hugely popular locally with our youth and with a reggae flavour has some legs internationally, but I can't see it being on the charts at Billboard, the other place I look to see what is popular, especially on the Country Charts because Country Music has a huge following in the USA, my major songwriting target market.
So now you know what people are listening to on the radio and what they are buying. What do you do next? Subscibe to my blog and I will tell you more, this isn't a book after all lol.
If you think this blog is helpful, tell a friend. If you want to hear some of my songs, check out my MySpace page. Oh and please do leave a comment. Is my blog intesting? Is it helpful? Are there things you would like me to write about?
artist, ASCAP, Composer, Entertainment, facebook, Hit Songs, itunes, Music, Music Marketing, MySpace, performer, performing rights, Promotion, Radio, rianz, Song Hook, Songwriting, songwriting information
Join your Performing Rights Association
Your Performing Rights Association can be very important to you in a number of ways. They assist you with protection and ownership of your Intellectual Property IP) and most important, they collect and distribute performance royalties on your behalf. They do much more than this, but this is the key reason for their being.
I am a member of APRA which is an awesome association covering the rights of New Zealand and Australian songwriters and composers. Venues pay them a fee for live gigs and radio stations provide them with playlists so that they can process royalties for radio play of songwriters work. APRA also works closely with their counterparts around the world, the biggest being ASCAP and BMI which are the 2 societies in the USA. You will find loads of great information on their websites, even if you don't live in the USA. They also run amazing seminars with some of the best songwriters ever.
When I play a gig, I put in an electronic return on the web site, with the venue details and my set lists and the following I get paid. It's not a lot, but the more you gig, the more royalties you get. You also get paid whenever your tracks are played on commercial radio. Ironically at the moment I get no play in New Zealand, but you can hear some of my songs on the radio in Canada.
APRA also puts on training seminars and as of this year, they started the great new event S3 (check out the link from my other blog about this event Song Summit Sydney) which was a fantastic learning and networking exercise. They even let me pay for my registration from my future royalties. This is no small event with speakers including Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams and my fravorite Ralph Murphy.
APRA also sponsors the APRA SIlver Scroll Awards which is the major music event of the NZ calendar.
On top of this they are greatt people and from the directors through to the team in the office, they are there to help us as artists in any way they can. You can even use their premises for meetings (relevant of course) if you need some space. APRA people are there first and formost because they care about local music. You should find out who your PRA are and join them as soon as possible. You won't regret it. This organisation's sole purpose is your rights an outside of running costs, all revenues aer distributed back to the artists.
Oh and I almost forgot, their website is full of useful information and contacts as is the APRAP, a magazine I always look forward to reading.
APRA, artist, ASCAP, BMI, Composer, Entertainment, Hit Songs, Music, Music Marketing, performer, performing rights, Promotion, Radio, Songwriting, songwriting information
Songs have to have WOW factor for A&R people to get excited
So you want to send your song to an A&R person and see if you can get it picked up by a record company or one of their artists.
Take a step back from the song you wrote and love and think about what their email and snail mail boxes look like. How many submissions do you think they get in a week. I'll give you an idea. Even the smaller ones will get 100's of demo's. Why should they listen to yours?
Is your song REALLY GOOD? Who told you? Here's an analagy. When you watched American Idol (Come on, I know you watched it at least once!) do you remember Simon or Randy ask "Who told you you could sing?". So I'm asking you, who told you this is a good song? Your friends and family?
But this is only the first question. The record companies get thousands of really good, well constructed, nice songs every year. The thing is they are not looking for a good song, they are looking for a GREAT SONG. They are looking for something UNIQUE and given that there are always numbe one hits, there are plenty of great songs out there.
It can be on the same subject matter as other songs, but it has to have something special, a great hook, a really catchy melody. If your song is going to be a hit, it has to appeal to millions of people not dozens or hundreds.
When the A&R person listens to the first 60 seconds (because that might be all the hearing your song gets, they need to be saying "WOW, this is the ONE!"
So go back to your good song and see if you think it is great, or is it as Ralph Murphy says, a great song for people to dance to in a club after 10 P.M.
Of course not every song will be a hit, most of the songs of the great song writers aren't hit songs, but it was usually their first hit that started their professional careers.
Entertainment, Hit Songs, Music, Song Hook, Songwriting, songwriting information, Twitter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Хорватские оборонительные силы (ХОС) () — военное крыло Хорватской партии права, существовавшее с 1991 по 1993 год на первом этапе гражданской войны в Югославии.

История

Война в Хорватии
После возвращения многопартийной системы в Югославии в 1990 году, была воссоздана Хорватская партия права. 25 июня 1991 года в Загребе было создано военизированное крыло партии, названное — Хорватские оборонительные силы (). В это же время Хорватским демократическим союзом была создана другая паравоенная организация — Национальная гвардия Хорватии (). Эти две организации обычно действовали согласованно.

После начала военных действий в Хорватии подразделения ХОС участвовали в первых боях с ЮНА. Впервые бойцы ХОС приняли участие в обороне Вуковара в сентябре 1991 года, участвовали в боях за Дубровник. После начала широкомасштабных боевых действий в Хорватии размер ХОС вырос до нескольких батальонов. Одним из создателей и первым командиром ХОС являлся активный член Хорватской партии права Анте Параджик, который погиб в результате несчастного случая в сентябре 1991 года. После того, как в ноябре 1991 года в Хорватии была объявлена всеобщая мобилизация члены ХОС официально вступили в хорватскую армию. С января 1992 года деятельность ХОС на территории Хорватии окончательно прекратилась.

Война в Боснии и Герцеговине
В Боснии и Герцеговине подразделения ХОС состояли из местных хорватов, боснийцев и иностранных наёмников. Во главе ХОС в Боснии стоял Блаж Кралевич. На начальном этапе войны подразделения ХОС участвовали в обороне Столаца, перешли в наступление в восточной Боснии и захватили часть муниципалитетов Требине и Билеча. После чего большинство сербского населения бежало из этих мест, что шло вразрез с Грацским соглашением Хорватии и Сербии о разделе Боснии.

В Боснии и Герцеговине были созданы две военные организации хорватов — Хорватские оборонительные силы (ХОС) и Хорватский совет обороны (ХСО) (. При этом лидеры этих организаций не были едины во взглядах. Руководство ХОС было против разделения Боснии и Герцеговины и присоединения хорватских земель Боснии к Хорватии. Лидеры ХСО напротив считали, что Хорватии необходимо «аннексировать» территории Боснии, где большинство населения составляют хорваты. ХОС выступал за возможность союза с боснийцами против сербов. Блаж Кралевич даже успел получить предложение от Алии Изетбеговича войти в Генеральный штаб Армии Республики Босния и Герцеговина.

Эти разногласия стали причиной серьёзного конфликта между ХСО и ХОС. 9 августа 1992 года Блаж Кралевич и 8 бойцов ХОС были убиты солдатами ХСО на дороге в районе села Крушево южнее Мостара. Вскоре после этого ХОС был распущен, а его бойцы вошли в состав подразделений Хорватского совета обороны и боснийской армии. Последнее подразделение ХОС было распущено 5 апреля 1993 года в центральной Боснии.

Символика

Основным цветом организации (униформа, флаг) был чёрный. Официальным девизом ХОС был девиз движения усташей времён Независимого государства Хорватия — «За дом — готовы!» ().

Подразделения
 1-й батальон «Иван Брдар» (1. bojna Ivan Vitez Brdar) — Ливно
 2-й батальон «Стоян Вуйнович» (2. bojna Stojan Vujnović Srbin) — Домалевац-Шамац
 4-й батальон (4. bojna)
 6-й батальон «Марьян Баотич» (6. bojna Marijan Baotić) — Винковцы
 9-й батальон «Рафаэль Бобан» (9. bojna Rafael vitez Boban) — Сплит
 13-й батальон «Юре Францетич» (13. bojna Jure vitez Francetić) — Томиславград
 19-й батальон «Юре Францетич» (19. bojna Jure vitez Francetić) — Госпич
 101-й батальон «На Дрину» (101. bojna Do Drine) — Сараево
 Мостарский батальон (Mostarska bojna) — Мостар
 Чаплинский батальон (Čapljinska bojna) — Чаплина
 1-я рота «Анте Параджик» (1. satnija Ante Paradžik) — Ясеновац
 Вуковарская рота (Vukovarska satnija) — Вуковар
 Витязи (Vitezovi) — Витез
 Чёрные волки (Crni Vukovi) — Калесия
 Помеченные (Žigosani) — Нови-Травник
 Рота охотников (Satnija Lovci) — Любушки
 Отдельная охранная рота (Samostalna satnija osiguranja) — Загреб
 Любушская рота (Ljubuška satnija) — Любушки
 Зеницкая рота (Zenička satnija) — Зеница
 Тузланская рота (Tuzlanska satnija) — Тузла
 Прозорская рота (Prozorska satnija) — Прозор

Примечания

Ссылки

Хорватские оборонительные силы
Боевые организации политических партий
Воинские части и формирования, созданные в 1991 году
Воинские части и формирования, расформированные в 1993 году

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text:
YORK FAIR ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE
Beginning in 2020, the York Fair will not only have new dates but will also be sporting a new name. The York County Agricultural Society Board of Directors voted last week to change the name of the annual event to the York State Fair.
"We are as big as many state fairs across the country in terms of attendance, entries, entertainment, amusement rides, facilities, staffing and budget so the question became why not recognize ourselves as a state fair level event by calling ourselves the York State Fair," said CEO Bryan Blair. "With the Fair changing dates to July in 2020 it seemed like a perfect time to make the transition and to rebrand. We will still be known as "America's First Fair" and "America's Oldest Fair" we will just have a new look and a new name," he added.
Currently there are at least 63 Fairs across the United States that use the phrase "State Fair" in their title. Blair said that approximately 42 of those events are private and/or non-profit organizations that receive no government funding or state oversight. Fairs such as the Tulsa State Fair in Oklahoma and the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair in Louisiana are privately operated and utilize the name of their city. "We intend to be York's "State Fair" and we will continue to operate under the authority of the York County Agricultural Society.
"We are actively exploring ways to expand and grow the Fair to include showcasing York County to south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland as we attempt to reach a regional audience. The goal is to create interest and excitement among the growing population of this region so that we can showcase to them the best that York County has to offer from an agricultural and industrial standpoint. Changing the name of the Fair to the York State Fair will certainly help us to achieve that goal as it better represents the size and scope of our event," said Blair.
The new logo was designed by Fair Communications Director Brianna Holmes and features red, white and blue colors along with pennant that has the 1765 founding date of the Fair and a blue ribbon that will boast the "America's First Fair" and "America's Oldest Fair" trademarks. "Both of those phrases are trademark protected which means that we will be using both versions of the new logo in order to meet the trademark requirements," said Holmes.
Holmes added that the announcement of the change to York State Fair is being made now to help promote the date change next year. "We want to remind everyone who attends the 2019 York Fair September 6th-15th that we are moving the dates to July in 2020 and promoting our new name to help people remember the new dates as well," she concluded.
CASTING CROWNS RESCHEDULED FOR THE 2021 YORK STATE FAIR
DIERKS BENTLEY CANCELLATION & REFUND TIMELINE
TRIPLE PLAY TUESDAY RESCHEDULES FOR THE 2021 YORK STATE FAIR- SKID ROW, WARRANT & KIX
KANE BROWN RESCHEDULED FOR THE 2021 YORK STATE FAIR


I am interested in various aspects of computer science, in particular, software engineering. My main research field is software verification (both testing and formal verification).
Since 2005, I have taught computer science and software engineering in multiple universities and engineering schools.


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Lake View High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Kelvyn Park High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Kenwood Academy High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Kennedy High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Kelly High School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Julian High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Juarez Community Academy High School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Jones College Prep High School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Infinity Math Science & Tech High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Hubbard High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Hyde Park Academy High School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Hirsch Metropolitan High School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Hope College Prep High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).


ISS staff members Noel Stott and Nicolas Kasprzyk participated in an IAEA Regional Training Workshop on Security in Practice for the Uranium Ore Concentrate Industry, including during Transport from 8 - 12 June 2015 in Livingstone, Zambia. The workshop was funded by the US (National Nuclear Security Administration) and the EU Commission (Joint Research Centre).
Noel presented a paper providing an overview of 'Global Nuclear Security Concerns and in particular for Uranium Ore Concentrate', in the broader context of security concerns in general and in particular nuclear security concerns.
The event gathered regulators and operators from Benin, Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania and Zambia, as well as resource persons from Australia, the United States (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Nuclear Regulatory Commission), the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Commission (Joint Research Centre), the private sector (AREVA, AREVA-TNI, Gamma Safety Services, Innovative Solutions Unlimited LLC) and the academia (Institute for Security Studies and Danish Institute for International Studies).
Zambia's Deputy Minister of Health opened the workshop. He showed strong support for the work that radiation protection authorities are doing in the area of nuclear security. The event was also graced by the Zambian Radiation Protection Authority Board Chairperson Dr Esther-Nkandu Munalula, who thanked the Government for the continuous support it has been providing to the Authority.
The workshop was a follow-up to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Regional Seminar on Good Practices in Processing and Control of Uranium Ore Concentrate (UOC), held in Namibia in 2012, at which ISS was also a participant.
It was also a follow on from two ISS, European Union and the NNSA-hosted workshops held in Brussels, Belgium. The first, "Strengthening Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy" was held in February 2014 and the second, "a Regional seminar on Uranium mining, milling and transport" was held in October 2014.
The main objective of this workshop was to introduce and discuss the forthcoming IAEA technical document for nuclear security in the uranium extraction industry, discuss additional aspects of UOC prudent management practices and use exercises to reinforce these measures. Additionally, the workshop included elements of the interface between safety, security and safeguards for the production, storage, and transport of UOC.
The IAEA's draft technical document entitled 'Nuclear Security in the Uranium Industry' identifies practical and implementable nuclear security measures that are considered relevant for the prudent production, storage and transport of UOC. This document, the implementation of which is voluntary, is intended to fill a gap with respect to UOC for States, regulatory bodies, and industry to prevent unauthorized removal of UOC.
States have a legal obligation under a number of treaties and other international instruments to ensure effective regulation of uranium production and exports. These include the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), safeguards agreement with the IAEA, the additional protocol to the safeguards agreement, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, UN Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as regional treaties such as the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.
In addition to meeting international obligations, effective regulation of uranium production and export is essential for reasons of good governance – e.g. to protect the public and companies against theft and other criminal activities, to protect government revenue (e.g. royalties and taxes), and to maintain public confidence in the security and safety of the nuclear industry.
In his closing remarks, the Chief Executive Director of the Zambian Radiation Protection Authority, Mr Boster Dearson Siwila, summarised the exchanges in the different areas addressed by the workshop, in particular: international perspectives on implementing prudent management practice for UOC; international obligations and guidance for implementing prudent management practice for UOC; state regulatory perspectives; and, industry perspectives.
He also shared the lessons learned from the hands-on exercises which involved all participants in the workshop: an exercise applying the recommendations in the IAEA draft technical document to the Facility Security Plan of an hypothetical uranium mine; an exercise focused on the Transportation Security Plan; an exercise based on a broader scenario centred on a truck lost from a transportation convoy, requiring participants to formulate a plan of action to respond to the crisis.


Hamburg - A goal from Heung-Min Son decided a tight encounter between Hamburg and Mainz at the Imtech Arena and took the Red Shorts level on points with their opponents in the Bundesliga standings.
Fear of losing appeared to outweigh the desire to win, producing a cagey encounter which was decided by a single goal from Son in the 63rd minute.
Mainz had stolen a march on Hamburg in recent weeks, edging three points clear of their hosts, and they showed early on exactly why they are pushing for a place in Europe next season. Tuchel said on the eve of the game that his side is gelling more and more by the game, and this newfound understanding was evident as they pegged Hamburg back and went close to opening the scoring through Marcel Risse in the sixth minute. The hosts struggled to find an answer with Marcel Jansen's distance effort the best they could show from the opening 20 minutes, but Christian Wetklo punched the ball clear.
Rafael van der Vaart is usually the man for the bright ideas, but he was unable to find the room to put any of his plans into practice. Bo Svensson was following him around like a shadow and the Dutchman's frustrations got the better of him in the 24th minute when he received a yellow card for an unnecessary foul on Marco Caligiuri.
The second half started in a similar vein with clear openings few and far between. Both teams appeared to be waiting for their opponents to make a mistake before Son took matters into his own hands and put the home team in front, tucking in Beister's volleyed cross in the 63rd minute to break the deadlock. Mainz now had to invest a little more into the game, which they appeared more than willing and able to do as Eugen Polanski's shot tested Rene Adler.
Despite their efforts, though, Mainz were unable to find an equaliser as Hamburg closed up shop and prevented them from finding a way through. Fink lined his men up on the edge of their own penalty area and there was just no way through for Tuchel's men, despite their efforts, making the Imtech Arena look like their own home as they continued to probe, albeit in vain.


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Need to Draft a Will? Let Us Help!
Wills are a fundamental tool in ensuring that your wishes are followed after your death. At P. Arnsen Blakely our Orange County estate planning attorney is fully aware that wills represent much more than legal documents, and he goes above and beyond in his efforts to assist clients in drafting wills, living wills, trusts and other estate planning tools.
While many people may be familiar with the basic concepts of wills and testaments, the fact remains that there are numerous legal complexities and procedures that must be met in the creation of a legally valid will. Ensuring that your loved ones are provided for after your death and that the handling of your estate proceeds smoothly should be a priority. This is why our firm works diligently to provide the comprehensive legal assistance you and your family needs. Our services include assistance with a last will & testament, living wills, and the probate court process. Start with a free, initial consultation.
What Are the Common Components of a Will?
The purpose of a drafted last will and testament can greatly vary from individual to individual, and there is no set-in-stone outline for creating one that you must follow. You may have publically traded stocks that need to be sold or maintained. You could have a set of family heirlooms that require certain care and precautions. You may even need to decide who will inherit your debt. Regardless of what you need to say or how you want to say it, there are some portions of a will that usually should be included, no matter the situation.
Dividing assets - When people think wills, they will ultimately start to envision a distribution of wealth. If you do not draft a will and pass away, your estate and properties may be divided by a state-appointed official in ways you had never intended.
Debt management - If you have debt when you pass away, it does not disappear and needs to be managed. Based on your will, you can use portions of your estate to pay off your remaining debts. In such cases, inheritors will only be able to make claims on your estate after debts have been settled.
Name an executor - An executor is someone who ensures your will is carried out as closely to your wishes as it can be. In the will itself, you should name one of your most trusted friends or family members as the executor.
No contest clause - You may wish to include a clause of no contest in your will. Doing so typically prevents anyone who contests your will from gaining any benefits of your estate. While somewhat controversial and able to be disputed itself, a no contest clause may save your heirs from going to probate court due to disagreements.
In the state of California, a testator may create a will at any time and without any witnesses present. Known as a holographic will, these documents are just as legally binding as other forms of wills. However, due to California Probate Code §§6110-6111, it can't be digitally created or typed on a typewriter. A holographic will needs to be in the testator's own handwriting and include their unique signature somewhere on the document. Furthermore, due to the seemingly rushed or unprofessional nature of a holographic will, they are often more easily contested in court.
If you need to make some last minute revisions to your will and live in a state that recognizes handwritten wills, a holographic will could be your solution. It is still recommended that you seek professional legal counsel from an estate planning attorney if you need to change your will.
When a client comes to us, we take the time to learn about their unique circumstances to recommend options and answer all questions about wills. In whatever legal action we undertake, you can be sure that our efforts are concentrated on meeting your needs and objectives. We also make every effort to avoid ambiguity and cover all relevant subjects. We prepare living wills, also known as Advance Health Care Directives, to spell out the client's wishes in case of a health situation where the client is unable to communicate. We can also draft trusts, including irrevocable trusts, revocable living trusts or special needs trusts as needed to fulfill client needs and supplement the will.
It is important to prepare a will properly in order to avoid conflict and anticipate future situations. Our experienced estate planning lawyer in Orange County is here to help. Contact P. Arnsen Blakely today.


text:
Scottish flockmasters urged to make the most of 2020's 'decent outlook'
Ewe and lamb
UNTIL A UK-EU trade agreement is reached, tariff-free exports to the EU will continue, while China mops up a lot of New Zealand and Australian lamb, present a 'decent outlook' for Scottish farmers' 2020 lamb crop – so long as they make the most of it.
Vet Elizabeth Berry of Animax advised farmers to focus on several factors: "These include lambing percentage, ewe and lamb health, and efficiency converting grass into growth. But all of these can be held back by under-par trace element status, even at sub-clinical levels.
"Pre- and post-lambing, the critical ones are selenium, iodine, cobalt and, on some but not all farms, copper," said Ms Berry. "If just one is lacking, this can impact on health and performance."
She reported that an increasing number of farmers in Scotland were opting for a 180-day 'trickle charge' of micronutrients offered by leaching bolus technology.
"Timing is flexible," she said, "typically four to six weeks before lambing, then repeated six months later. Lambs gain too, of course, as a result of trace element enriched milk.
"In this post-election honeymoon period before either a new Agriculture Bill is passed or an EU-withdrawal trade agreement reached, getting ewes fine-tuned now for robust health, high milk production and optimal forage efficiency makes sound business sense," she said.


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Q: Is multiplying by 0.0000001 the same as dividing by 10000000? In Java, is multiplying a double by 0.0000001 the same as dividing it by 10000000? My intuition is that there could be a difference because 0.0000001 cannot be represented exactly in a double.

A: It's not only not the same because of the double representation but also if you multiply an integer by a double the result is a double. If you devide an integer by an integer, the result is an integer:
int i = 1;
System.out.println(i*0.0000001);
System.out.println(i/10000000);

prints
1.0E-7
0

A: No it's not the same for the reason you mentioned. Here's an example:
double x = 894913.3;
System.out.println(x * 0.0000001);    // prints 0.08949133
System.out.println(x / 10000000);     // prints 0.08949133000000001

Using a BigDecimal, we can see the difference between the two values:
System.out.println(new BigDecimal(0.0000001));
System.out.println(new BigDecimal((double)10000000));

Ouput:
9.99999999999999954748111825886258685613938723690807819366455078125E-8
10000000

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Custom APN support, including username and password credentials Virtual Private Network VPN integration Support for custom software installations, including settings such as preferred Wi-Fi networks and passwords Support for automated software roll-outs and updates Network prioritisation covering LAN, preferred Wi-Fi networks, unknown Wi-Fi networks, prepay mobile networks, postpay mobile networks and roaming mobile networks K42201-z display of data volume transferred or time connected, including limits and warnings Pre-configured shortcuts to corporate kk4201-z or systems Diagnostics, logging and troubleshooting Links to corporate support or help desk.
Account – Manage your Vodafone account Dependent on your mobile network operator and your account Help – Hints and tips on using the app Connect – Button to manually connect or disconnect Advanced – Further settings and options.
Current connection – Name, type and signal strength of current connection Time and data – Length of time connected and amount of data transferred Shortcuts – App for SMS text messages, plus links to other apps, websites etc.
Enterprise Features As well as providing access to your Vodafone account and SMS text messaging, this app includes a range of m4201-z that, in particular, make it very useful in an enterprise environment, including: This package can help you get the older USB Sticks shown below working on Windows 10, by installing the driver software originally provided by the Vodafone device manufacturers, back before Windows 10 arrived.
Although Microsoft Windows 10 recognises and can manage many Vodafone Mobile Broadband devices, we also offer an additional app specifically for Windows. Go to mobile site. If your Vodafone Mobile Broadband USB Stick is not listed here at all, we recommend you visit your K42001-z shop, so we can advise you on an up-to-date replacement.
Welcome to Vodafone Choose your country for k4021-z service, offers and more. Mobile Broadband Software for Windows As well as providing access to your Vodafone account and SMS text messaging, this app includes a range of features that, in particular, make it very useful in an enterprise environment, including:.
When you plug one of these Sticks into a USB socket on your computer or tablet, Windows 10 will recognise it and open a mobile broadband connection as soon as possible.


==Influences Intervening in Mediation== Mediation has not always existed like we currently understand it (impartial, neutral, independent and confidential). See the page: [[History of mediation]]. Since the development of the mediation in the nineteen eighties, several conceptions and applications exist. The object of this intervention is the resolution of conflicts without power struggles. The various conceptions, linked to different ways of conceiving interpersonal relations, even about Human origin or about its difficulties and abilities to resolve conflicts, explain the various interpretations of mediation: * Legal - with repair of a prejudice and the recognition of a responsibility, sometimes considered a guilty one, Religious - with the forgiveness of a fault or sin, * Psychological - a therapy is needed in order to cure or heal, * Methodological - with the learning of new behaviours in front of the new situation.


text:
Questions and Answers – May 2021
June 5, 2021 by Editor
During May we have received questions about tuning into BBC Radio Ulster, upgrading a Pure radio for DAB+ reception and receiving digital stations from Europe.
How can I hear Radio Ulster without medium wave?
I recently upgraded my Pure radio to DAB+ but cannot tune into some stations
Am I able to receive Danish DAB stations due to the recent weather?
We have also answered a question about reception issues with a windscreen antenna and Sony DAB car stereo.
Thank you to everyone who has sent a question during May.
I am looking for some advice for my elderly parents. Medium wave radio has stopped in Northern Ireland. Can you advise of a device I can purchase for them to hear radio? There is Wi-Fi in the house. They mostly listen to Radio Ulster.
BBC Radio Ulster ceased broadcasting on medium wave in May this year. It's now available on FM and DAB in Northern Ireland. The station is also available on Freeview (in Northern Ireland only), on Sky (in the UK only), Virgin Media and Freesat.
If your parents live within the coverage area of BBC Radio Ulster a DAB digital radio might be the best option. You can check reception with a coverage checker by entering a post code. DAB digital radios can be purchased for as little as £20 but we would recommend one like the Roberts Play 10. This radio has a large, clear display and preset buttons for around £40.
Other DAB radios like the Sony XDR-S61D and Panasonic RF-D30BT have large controls, clear displays and preset buttons.
You mentioned that Wi-Fi is available. The Pure Elan Connect is an affordable radio which can receive Internet radio stations. For stereo sound and more output power you could consider the John Lewis Octave and Roberts Stream 94i. These three radios have similar colour displays and interfaces. The text can be quite small so if you have an opportunity to look at and possibly try the John Lewis and Roberts radios in person at a John Lewis branch it may be worth while.
On our Internet connected device BBC Radio Ulster can be heard by going to the Internet radio mode and then browsing for stations. After selecting UK and then BBC it's possible to scroll down to BBC Radio Ulster. It is often possible to save Internet stations as presets to make tuning quicker and easier.
I recently upgraded a Pure Evoke 1S to DAB+ wishing (mainly) to listen to talkRADIO and Radio Manchester. Before the upgrade I could see talkRADIO but could not of course tune in. Now upgraded I cannot even see talkRADIO. Same goes for Radio Manchester. The only plus is I can now tune into LBC News!
Is there any information on fixing these sort of problems?
– Wilber
You mention being able to receive LBC News, a DAB+ radio station, so it appears that the DAB+ upgrade has worked.
The radio not finding talkRADIO (a DAB+ station) and BBC Radio Manchester (a DAB station) could be due to the signal not being strong enough. The telescopic aerial does not appear to have an F-type connector but there may be a screw at the bottom of the antenna on the back of the radio. It might be worth checking that this hasn't come loose.
You could try tuning into a station and then switching the display to show the signal strength and quality. Press the 'Info' button until you see the signal strength and try moving the radio or adjusting the aerial. When this appears to be as high as it will go you could check the signal quality too. According to the manual a signal quality reading of 85 to 100 is considered good.
Then you could try scanning for stations again. Moving the radio to scan stations can make a difference too. We have seen a DAB radio only find all of the available stations while it was in a garage. Once moved back to the kitchen it continued to receive the stations with good signal strength and quality on the display.
Something else to check would be that the radio isn't being affected by interference. If you have LED lights and last found BBC Radio Manchester when the lights were off, but then re-tuned the radio with the lights switched on, it could be that interference has affected reception of weaker signals.
We have seen some DAB radios and tuners only able to store 100 stations in the station list. If you can receive all of the national, local and small-scale DAB stations in Manchester the list may exceed 100. However, we're not aware of this affecting the Evoke 1S.
Over the past few days (hot days) I've been receiving about 10 Danish DAB radio stations, as well as many other stations not usually available in my area. I'm assuming that this is due to tropospheric propagation – a phenomenon brought about by certain weather conditions? I am familiar with this phenomenon in VHF/SHF but never associated it with frequencies higher than this. I'm assuming that I'm correct in my assumption?
– Paul
Yes, during the end of May and beginning of June it has been possible to receive DAB digital radio stations from further afield. As you say, this is due to tropospheric propagation. When the weather conditions are just right it is possible to receive stations from elsewhere in the UK or Europe.
In another answer we mentioned that we had received DAB radio stations from the Netherlands on a normal car radio here in the north east of England.
A few days ago we were able to receive YorkMix Radio from North Yorkshire and BBC Radio Leeds on DAB with good signal strength. A few hours later the stations were completely unavailable.
Let's Get Quizzical: YorkMix Radio is not normally available in this part of County Durham
If you're interested in receiving more radio stations during these conditions you could check this tropospheric ducting forecast. Members on the Skywaves DX forum often post alerts and report on reception of stations.
Absolute Radio ends AM broadcasts
TechniSat debuts radio with combined DAB/FM station list
PlayStation 5 gets BBC Sounds app
Ofcom awards third round of small-scale DAB stations
Heart 00s launches on DAB
Celsus DAB and AM/FM Car Roof Antenna
The Celsus DAB and AM/FM car roof antenna provided very reliable reception of digital radio stations while retaining a 'factory' appearance.
Digital radio with Sky
What is DAB+ and is it different to DAB?
Digital Radio in Cars
Install a loft or outdoor DAB aerial
Digital Radio Guides
Digital Radio Choice
We're an independent website about digital and online radio in the UK.
© 2013-2023 Digital Radio Choice


Natural Soap Making Workshop by the New Harmony Soap Co.
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text:
Category: Leisure time
accidents, Dorset, Fertility, fiction, Flash Fiction, Golden Sands, Leisure time, Miscarriage, Museum, Sex, The Errant Muse, Uncategorized, VG&M, Victoria Museum & Gallery
'Silhouette; burnt orange' by Charlotte Hodes
Photo: Joel Chester Fildes
The Loss is a short fiction works written by Alison Little. It was produced in responce to 'Silhouette: burnt orange' by Charlotte Hodes which was exhibited as part of The Errant Muse exhibition held at the VG&M in Liverpool.
Sunlight brandishes down on the desolate beach location, she lies stretched out on her front, body twisted towards the horizon of the sea. Hand raised above her eyes, blocking the sunlight attempting to obscure her vision.
Eyes scanning the spectrum for him, she has lost sight into the expanse of the ocean. Only out of sight she assumes, hidden between waves lashing against the rocks of the coastline. Her rear is arched slightly, enhanced by the slender fit summer dress. Knees encased by the warmth of the dry sands. Earlier, her feet had kicked up joyfully towards her rear, playfulness re-connected in adulthood, now tensed. Below her, the sands burn a deeper orange.
A hand crochet blanket, hours of pain, distraction-seeking hooked yarn, covers the sands she rests on. It was the only thing for her to do, removing her mind from the loss. There was no point in making any more baby clothes, she didn't know what to do with the collection she had already made, laid out in the draw she had lined. They would decide in unison after the negotiated break.
Vision streaming further into the ocean, she could still not see him. They had waited four weeks since the miscarriage to get away, both needed to arrange time off work. Making the blanket had kept her mind occupied, kept the tears from flowing full force. They had come to Swanage in Dorset, easy to book a B+B at limited notice. The main town beach had been packed full of babies and children, grown into what their foetus would have once become. He had taken the initiative to suggest walking to a more remote beach around the coast. He was trying to be strong for her but he was grieving the loss in tandem.
Further, into the ocean, a longboat jammed full of tourists heads towards deeper waters. All the trips they would never take their unborn child on, the picnics they would never consummate, the family games they would never play. Into the abyss, the no-more, her hand fell onto her reduced stomach. A light tear joins her face, panic sets in, she couldn't see him. What if she had lost him also, drawn out to the infinite seascape. As she is about to stand several petals drop down onto her smudged checks. Looking up, he is scattering wildflower petals over her, their eyes connect and they smile in unison. He joins her as they wrap into each other, minds and bodies link, they know everything will be okay again.
Charlotte Hodes has two further exhibitions later in the year:
Remember Me, Charlotte Hodes Papercuts & Ceramics Solo exhibition, National Centre for Craft & Design, 11 Jan – 22 March 2020
Most Admirably Improved by Art, Hestercombe, Somerset, 29 February – 28 June 2020
March 27, 2020 Alison Little1 Comment
Block Works
Abstract Art, Art, Bio-degrade, Birds, Block, Bottle Shop, Captivity, Card Board, Celebration, Chains, City, Conceptual Art, Crack, Crack whore, Decay, Dogs, Ethnology, Everton Park, Green, Greenery, Homelessness, Installation, Latex, Leisure time, Liverpool, Liverpool Football Club, Local History, Metropolis, Morality, Narcotics, Nature, Nicotine, Parks, Pets, Rain, Uncategorized, Waste Product
Block Works is the latest concept based practice from Alison Little: comprising of a series of sculptural forms which represent areas of urban residence. An ethnology process where collections of discarded objects are cemented together in block form. The artifacts are selected and encased in the common urban material offering an explanation of those who occupy the city space, their lifestyles and methods human existence.
Everton Block Works engages our attention with the towering form of the engine suspension system, reflecting the second-hand car culture commonplace within the area. Several narcotics smoking devices emerge from the upper surface, indicating drug use within the external environment. Homelessness or the misguided pursuits accountable as youth culture. Contrasted by the healthy activities of dog walking, shown by a lead and enhanced by an exercise equipment suspension spring. An adjacent feather shows the ever present urban pigeon, commonplace within cities globally. The top surface encases a heavy industrial ring, accompanied by screw findings, rope matter throughout the form. Manual work being common with local inhabitants. Child's playthings are present, but items from £1 stores from lower-income families. The edges of the block are lined by food consumer packaging waste: crisp packets, fizzy and alcoholic drinks cans. A suburb where the unhealthy diet is prominent and drink alcohol a persistent activity. The greens and grays of the blocks finish reflect the mix of residential and urban green space which dominates the Everton area.
The top section of Anfield Block Works is entangled by the dynamics of a discarded cable. Other electric wastes reflect a culture where the inhabitants are happy to discard debris freely. An array of drinks top illustrates further examples of poor diet, however, an exercise water bottle top suggests healthy activities. This is joined by a dog toy and tennis ball, positive pursuits within a leisure space. Again, a pigeon feather evidence of urban wildlife. Examples of gambling additions within the district can be drawn from the miniature blue pen of the bookies. Wire wool, cable systems and sponge matter indicating manual tasks occurring within the outdoor spectrum. The Liverpool football stadium 'Anfield' being a central hub of the district. The inflatables from match-days, the drinks straws from spectators present in the block formed in the shadows of the Kop. The final colour showing a degraded range of greens and blacks, an urban green space heavily polluted by the traffic of the stadium.
The Block Works Collection with expand across the city and further afield. More collections with be collated, encased and presented as representations of the city and occupants.
March 6, 2020 June 5, 2020 Alison LittleLeave a comment
Adverse Lifestyle, Affair, Alcoholism, Ale House, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Conflict, Consent, Flash Back, Flash Fiction, Green, Greenery, Leisure time, Non-consensual sex, Rape and Sexual Violence, Rape culture, Relationships, Uncategorized
The Green is an extract from the novel: Casual Nexus, written by Alison Little, she is looking to publish the novel later in 2020.
Stood aback from the green space, intersected by cars negotiating the rather complex one-way system, a moderately plump woman stands, examining an item of jewellery. She has just left the small countered repair shop which has presided on the green for over three generations. Excitedly, she opens the locket and looks adoringly at the miniature photograph inside:
'I've got you back, mother!'
Caitlin McBride mouths internally to herself. Examining the clasp, a fitting repair job, her hand run over the shinning silver gleaming after the buffer wheel treatment. She slips the primal keepsake she has of her mother carefully into the upper zip pocket of her jacket. As she secures the zip her eyes scan over the green, her mind re-encounters the fair she went to as a teenager. Churning of the stomach as she remembers the lad she had met and their liaison in the undergrowth. Vomit rises into her throat as she recalls taking him in her mouth. Giggling at the time, now remorseful, it was simply another tangled interlude she had engaged in as she was too confused to determine her desired course of action.
Eyes rotate around the central space attention focusing on the swing park. A father playing with his children. Reminiscing over the few times her father has taken them to any form of a playground, but he had always been so busy with his work and the band. Her expanding gaze then halts, she looks at the Father in greater detail, her vision fixated, anguish overcomes her thoughts:
'J-A-C-K'
She vocalises statically, the volume reduced but out loud. The man, then boy, who had determined the turmoil of negativity through her teenage years and transcended into adulthood. Jack who she had hidden from fearful of his advances. Jack whose manipulation had overcome her in the end. Jack who had a happy family, children, a wife and a house. Jack who had stolen her childhood, Jack who had taken so much from her and what her future would have been. Jack who her brother had never stopped, Jack who had never paid for what he had done to her during her teenage years.
She wipes the tears straining through her face as she makes haste towards the far side bus stop. As she moves further from Jack and the falsehood of the family man, the more composed she becomes.
February 21, 2020 Alison LittleLeave a comment
Natures Tables
Beauty, Booker Hill Woods, Foraging, Haiku, Leisure time, Mushrooms, Nature, Poetry, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Stand dipped inward
Mushroom high drinking tables
Scattered natures gift
Natures tables is a Haiku from Alison Little, written as a response to escalating numbers of wild mushroom present in Booker Hill Woods late 2019.
Haiku poems originated in Japan, they are made up of three sentences. The first sentence contains five syllables, seven syllables for the central line and five again for the final statement. The poems are usually theme around nature or emotions.
More about Haiku
More about Booker Hill Woods
January 31, 2020 Alison LittleLeave a comment
Arched: the Mural
Art, Kirkgate Market, Leeds, Leisure time, Local History, Market, Mural, Murals, Uncategorized
Arched: the Mural was a design submitted for Leeds Kirkgate Market, proposed by Alison Little.
The Mural draws inspiration from the cast iron Victorian arches which adorn the interior of Kirkgate Market.
The central notion of a triangular structure frame is core to the composition. This is to be painted in gold acrylics to echo the lettering used for the entrance from New York Street. The gold tones to complement the lacquered woods used within the traditional interior.
Each section of the triangular arch to be hand-painted, again using acrylics, to represent goods retailing within the nineteenth-century shopper's paradise.
The mass of strawberries symbolise the fresh produce in terms of food and drink on sale throughout the market. The strawberries of fruit bowls, the flavours of smoothies and the toppings of cakes. Delight within the mural.
The next section presents a mass of yellow buttons, the earth tones working in tandem with the golds of the outer structure. The buttons represent the haberdasheries stalls which are a staple of markets throughout the country. New demands for these stalls being met by the modern trends of 'Make do and mend' as opposed to the mass consumer cultures of fast fashion retail and its environmental impact.
A clothing rail, close up in vision, is depicted in the next three-sided space. The concept of the rail being inverted upwards implying movement, the idea of flipping through rails at pace. Again some golden tones intruded to the fabrics, complimenting the colour pallet, suggestions of vintage items to highlight the individual flavours of the modern market place.
Adjacent to this the jewellery sellers defy their small dimensions by making a glimmering appearance. Gold chains hung at a ninety-degree angle to the clothing counterpart. Chain mail which will bring some shine to the design.
Lowering the tone slightly we have some brass clattering its way in. Hardware sellers are presented through the screws, nuts and bolts in addition to the never forgotten washers.
We finish off with the fresh flowers, introducing more colours, delicacy and transparencies to the brushwork of the acrylics.
All these combine to make the completed arch, this is then replicated many times to create the mural. Potentially, the design of each arch could differ to represent goods from each stall-holder on consultation. The geometric forms can spread across the entranceway, interior, exterior or both. Materials to include the use of artists acrylics and yacht varnish to ensure a lasting finish.
A dynamic mural, one which can expand or compact and adapt to its location: Kirkgate Market.
More about Leeds Kirkgate Market
October 25, 2019 Alison Little2 Comments
Williamson's Tunnels on…..
Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, Joseph Williamson, Leisure time, Liverpool, Local History, Pots to P*ss in, Smithdown Road, Staircase, Uncategorized, Williamson's Tunnels
Last month a part of Heritage Week, Friends of Williamson Tunnels took us deep down into the hollows of Edge Hill to view the latest of their excavation work and forever new findings.
The Williamson's Tunnels were created over four decades starting from the early 1800s. Joseph Williamson, the man behind the labyrinth of passageways was believed to have started life in nearby Warrington, probably around 1769. Presumably, being of little means, he was sent to Liverpool to find work at the grand age of eleven. He gained employment with the wealthy tobacco merchant Richard Tate. Over time he rose through the ranks and eventually married the merchant's daughter, Elizabeth. Eventually, he acquired the company from Richard Tate Junior after the death of his Father. In the early 1800s, Joseph and Elizabeth move the then suburbs of Manson Street and the tunnelling began. There are numerous theories behind the purpose of these tunnels, the most likely being for the excavation of sandstone which is used extensively in building constructed of the period.
On this fine Heritage week exploration, we were taken down into the latest of the excavations on Paddington. The once site of former Paddington Gardens tenements was demolished to make way for student Halls not long after the turn of the Millennium. The tunnels look to have been under a commercial building, the entrance possible a though way from a bakery.
…. a philanthropist by default…
Williamson was a philanthropist by default, through the construction work he provided much-needed jobs for local people and ensured they became highly skilled. It is thought that many of those who burrowed the network went onto work for the railways, the first line being laid between Edge Lane and Manchester in 1829.
The tour started at the Friends of Williamson's Tunnels main HQ in Mason Street. We took a quick look at the remains of the Manor house where the Williamson' resided before heading down the road to Paddington. After carefully making our way down the damp gangway we embraced the stalactites ever so familiar with tunnel structures. Harsh lights illuminated former access passages as we headed to the main chambers.
..a delightful collection of pots to p*ss in…
Used as a Victorian dumping ground for many years the chambers host an array of artefacts from bygone era's. Bottomless glass drinking vessels, bodiless dolls heads, various tea taking vessels and a delightful collection of pots to p*ss in.
As we head down and deeper into Edge Hill the magnitude of the tunnel network was hard not to be overwhelmed by in its full glory. Ever-present drippings of water, which are drained daily, join us as we look around in awe.
A magnificent tour and a big shout out to the Friends of Williams Tunnels!
More about Friend of Williamson's Tunnels
More about Heritage Open Days
October 18, 2019 October 18, 2019 Alison Little1 Comment
Rags, the Boutique does Southport
Art, Blackpool, Eco warrior, Ethical, Family, Green Credentials, Leisure time, Liverpool, Rags Boutique, Recycle, Recycling, Regeneration, Renewal, Revive, Rubbish, Southport, Southport Festival, Uncategorized
Last Saturday saw the fun of Rags Boutique at Southport Festival.
For the magic-themed festival we created an array of high standing wizard hats, a collection of mushroom masks. Black cats masqueraded and a troop of unicorns topped everything off.
Alison Little started Rags Boutique workshops over a decade ago as part of Bold Street development as consumers were flocking to the newly opened Liverpool 1 and retailers were losing custom. She then found a temporary home for the workshops and an exhibition venue in The Old Paint shop, Rapid. The workshop has grown from strength to strength making appearances at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and the Museum of Liverpool on several occasions.
Last weekend it was Southport' turn and it livened up Mermaid gardens in the traditions of Lord Street. Southport Festival takes place in early May, lining the streets with arts, dance, music and comedy.
More about Southport Festival
Much fun was had on the streets of much loved Southport.
May 17, 2019 Alison LittleLeave a comment
Bongo Bongo Bangs…
Adverse Lifestyle, Alcoholism, Consentual Sex, Control of the Masses, Croxteth, Dr Feelgoods, fiction, Freedom of speech, Humanitarian, Iron Fist, Ism, Leisure time, Liverpool, Local History, Morality, Non-Consentual Sex, Open Mic, Poetry, Religious Controlling Mechanism, Social unrest, Thatcher, The Gospel according to Thomas, True History, Uncategorized
James Bongo bangs on…..about many matters. The conscious Poet, humanitarian and ascending master performed at last weeks Fringe Festival Open Mic Night at Frederiks. He talks to us about poetry, life and beliefs.
In choosing from a collection of over fifty poems to perform at the event last week his work reflects his varied beliefs. He doesn't abide by any religious controlling mechanism or any other 'isms', feeling that they are detrimental to society. However, he does believe in God, the Universe and the energy of love. His interests lie with social unrest and true history, not the nonsense we have been force fed.
Born in Liverpool and raised in the city centre, then Croxteth the youngest of eleven of an extensive very loving Catholic family. His parents and siblings liked a drink , this seemed normal to him, after his Mum and Dad passed away he drank to mask the pain. Things escalated:
'I hit the wall with the booze.'
He knew he had to stop, he was harming himself, his family and his partner. They helped him through alcoholism so he could face life again. In cohort they fun an exciting family business, 'Practical Magic Vintage' based in Newington. James has been free from alcohol addiction for six years.
Attending college in old Swan he decided against Uni in favour of self-education. He looked at many sources of literature including Sumerian Texts and the Gospel according to Thomas. Studying ancient symbolism, he re-addressed the Bible, the Quran and other religious readings. In terms of writing, he began to produce works relating to the control of the masses through religion and schooling. Reflecting his view; 'We are born free, we enslave ourselves in the mind prison, we need to free the mind and free the soul.' His major works include 'The failed indoctrination of a broke entrepreneur gospel, according to Jimmy Bongo', this will be published in the autumn. In addition to the poetic works, he includes writings about his life and growing up in Liverpool under 'Thatchers Iron Fist' and those he has seen dye from drug and alcohol abuse.
Organizing several nights in Liverpool he is a leading figure on the spoken work front. 'Freedom of Speech' is a platform for performers: poets and musicians, to do their own thing, building a community of people to voice their beliefs. Second to this he holds fundraisers to help a domestic abuse charity, 'Out of the Corner'. A friend of his, Dr Karen Johnson, set up the charity and is a survivor of domestic abuse herself. The night is a mix of poetry and music and a cause James is passionate to support. He is helped with both nights by his friends. His other life long friend peter, an expert with filming and technical matters we all strive to master.
The next Freedom of Speech night will be held this Sunday (05.05.19) at Dr Feelgoods, 57a Bold Street, Liverpool. There will be performances from many including, Electric Shakedown, Just Joe and not forgetting 1 cool Poet.
I shit my Pants
Jesus was a Chonger
Grab a Granny Night
Maggies Children
More about Out of the Corner
May 3, 2019 Alison Little1 Comment
Best Dressed Easter Bunny
Birds, Cards, Casual Sex, Chip Fork, death, Domesticity, Easter, Easter Bunny, Fertility, Folklore, Green, Green Credentials, Greeting Cards, Lark Lane, Leisure time, Pagan, Uncategorized, Waste Product
Easter, Bunnies and Dressing Up.
Let's get things straight!
How did the Easter Bunny come about?
The Easter Bunny actually came from Folklore, the Pagan Festival of Vernal Equinox fell around springtime. This was replicated with the Jewish Passover then again through Christianity as the Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead after the Crucifixion.
Why Eggs, Bunnies don't lay eggs?
The traditional symbol of the Easter Bunny is carrying a basket of eggs both relate to each other. The bunny is, in fact, a rabbit or hair and a symbol of fertility, they reproduce actively and give birth to a large little around spring. Eggs are ancient representations of fertility in terms of the cell which need to be fertilised in all forms of life, also relating strongly to birds which lay eggs often hatching in spring. Thus, giving us the pairing of Bunnies and eggs.
Is the Bunny Female?
She is normally given feminine qualities which relate to the traditions of home-making, through the hiding of eggs, nest making and the ability to remember public holidays.
What's the 'Best Dressed' tradition about?
The tradition relates to getting dressed up for the Easter service, wearing a new dress and bonnet for the occasion.
Best Dressed Easter Bunny cards are available from Rubbish cards and on sale from Arts Hub on Lark Lane, Liverpool.
More about Arts Hub
April 5, 2019 Alison Little1 Comment


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Le Musée Picasso
Posted on January 14, 2016 September 14, 2020 by Gemma
I've been meaning to write about the Picasso museum for years now, but I couldn't find the right way to do it. As the museum underwent a prolonged refurbishment, I spent many moments pondering the iconic artist, his connection to the city of Paris and what such a museum could mean to Parisians, visitors and especially expatriates like me. For Picasso was the ultimate expat.
Picasso in Paris studio, 1944.
A Spanish native who originally trained with his father, Pablo Picasso arrived in the city in 1900 and settled in Montmartre. There, he soon carved out a place for himself as one of the most innovative artists in an already saturated environment of creativity. In a time of intense grief following a close friend's suicide, Picasso called Paris home throughout his "blue period" from 1901-1904, during which he painted some of his most deeply-feeling and plaintive images.
La Celestina, 1904, Paris Picasso Museum.
Paris was where Picasso teamed up with Georges Braque a few years later and launched the ground-breaking Modernist movement of Cubism. Picasso was living in Paris when he became fascinated by African iconography, and created one of his masterpieces, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), a disconcerting mix of Cubist geometry, African masks and female forms. Picasso spent much of his life in France. He and Paris had a love affair, so the Paris Picasso Museum is an inherently meaningful place.
I had visited this excellent museum before its renovation, but decided to wait until the new surroundings were unveiled before writing my review. However, it was not the museum's reopening that finally moved me to write, but another, seemingly unrelated, event that came to pass this week. With the death of one of my most beloved musical heroes, David Bowie, I plunged myself into the world of online stories about Bowie's life, his work, his legacy and, as one writer aptly put it, his "return home" (adieu, Starman). Among the personal stories, retrospectives, photographs and gifs commemorating the strange, glam, avant-garde, alien icon, I found a phrase that truly resonated with me: "Bowie, the Picasso of pop".
What does such a phrase mean? It is not just an acknowledgement of genius, of uniqueness or, as my friend MBP beautifully put it, an inspiration for those leading "a life lived on the outskirts of acceptability". It means all these things, but it also makes me think of a chameleon. Neither Picasso nor Bowie can be boxed into a genre, a medium, a movement or a time period. Picasso moved between painting, sculpture and mixed media. Bowie combined music, film and performance art. Picasso marked the 1910s, the 1930s, the 1950s. Bowie seemed as perfectly made for the 2010s as he did for the 1970s. Picasso is known for Guernica, Bowie is known for Ziggy Stardust, but neither is defined by their best-known works. Both artists pushed the boundaries and defied categorisation. They surprised us. They evolved.
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907, MOMA.
Gorgeously updated, simultaneously classic, the sweeping new Picasso museum was worth the wait. Head to this special place in the 3rd arrondissement (a spot Picasso would love if he were alive today) to revel in works from across his career. The space may be new, but the concept is not. For from Picasso to Bowie to museums themselves, aren't we inspired not just by an artist's talent and originality, but also by their ability to change?
Musée national Picasso, 5 rue de Thorigny 75003, métro: Saint-Sébastien Froissart or Chemin Vert (line 8)
Full price: 12.5 euros, reduced price: 11 euros
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 11.30am to 6pm, weekends and public holidays 9.30am to 6pm, closed Mondays
Tagged art, Bowie, Museum, Paris, Picasso
Le Musée Maillol
Le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
10 thoughts on "Le Musée Picasso"
southamptonoldlady says:
Picasso is above all my favourite artist (his work – not the man) I have always wanted to see this museum. I have visited the one in Antibes and been to the Museo de Picasso in Malaga many times – I must get around to writing about them.
You are so lucky! I have also been to the one in Barcelona and found it wonderful. Great point about the distinction between Picasso as artist and as man… he doesn't live up to Bowie's standards, that's for sure!
Iva P. says:
Great post as always, this time with a biographical twist. I wondered–for some time now–what would Gemma do when she runs out of Paris museums? Seems like you are into music history too…
Thank you, Iva! Yes, once the museums run out, there will be many beloved muses to write about!
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Book Review: The Crafting of Chess
Posted byTanish Shrivastava November 9, 2021 Posted inBook ReviewsTags:Action, Fantasy, Fictional, gaming, isekai, MMORPG, Science fiction
The Crafting of Chess is a book by Kit Falbo, published on February 19 2019 on Kindle. The book details the journey of a teenaged boy, who tries to make money through crafting the equipment for a newly released MMO RPG, all the while trying to keep his grandfather on a straight and narrow path.
Nate lives with his grandfather, who often runs scams. As a result, they have to move from one town to another, once people find out about his scams.
But Nate wants more from his life than running scams, and moving around. So when a game called Fair Quest gets released, he decides to use it to get a steady paycheck. But even this path is challenging, as he soon finds out.
My reading experiences:
So, there's this immersive RPG called Fair Quest, in which, you have companions. If you wish to win the game, you must beat a monster of some kind, and bring an item from its heart as a proof. Once you do that, your companion will become a king, and you will be rewarded the price of two million dollars.
Nate is a chess player. And the book opens with one, where he's trying to hustle a man, running a wager with him. Naturally, cheating is involved, but Nate is genuinely a great chess player, as we learn later in the book, when he beats the AI in the game on ten rounds without losing.
I initially thought this will be a generic player ends up in a game kind of story. Where the player basically finds loopholes after loopholes, and games the entire system for his advantage, all the while behaving like an immoral bastard.
Instead, Nate ends up just picking a class, which would help him in creating equipment, and starts to do that immediately. He decides that he'll just craft the equipment, and then exchange the game currency for the real-world money, and bring financial stability that way.
The book is usually presented through the first-person point of view of Nate, but there are two more characters who get their fare share of limelight. One is Casey Ellis, the lead programmer of the game. When Nate, using the moniker of Chess in the game, starts to make waves, the company gets worried. Things get so bad that Casey is sent to confirm the identity of Chess, whether he is truly a teenaged boy, or someone else.
Another character is David, a victim of stroke whose body is paralyzed. He often uses the game to escape from the dreadful reality, and works as an assassin in the game.
First, let's talk about the things which the book manages to do right. I like how it presents the life of a person trying to make money from playing games. This is not a fantasy though, as many people have actually made real money from selling the virtual items in the game. China even used prisoners in the past, to build credit in the online games like World of Warcraft, though they still do that now or not, is currently unknown to me.
Second, the toxicity of the gamers. A lot of the players treated their AI companions like shit, using them as pack mules or treating them badly. When their behavior was called in action, they of course protested, all the while the tension with NPC characters just kept building. It wouldn't have surprised me if the game itself declared the war upon its own players for killing helpless NPCS, and destroying villages.
Even the main character is not safe from this toxicity. When Nate hires some players to complete a high-level quest, where a lot of combat may happen, they actually just seal him in a cave, and left him to die. After all, why care about death when he's going to just spawn back?
When you read a story like this, the main character ends up overpowered very early in the book. After that, only special bosses can pose a threat to them. Nate however did not participate on the combat, aside from few tussles. he instead just crafted his equipment, and made his companion the king by the use of politics, which is very much appreciated for its unique take.
Now, let's talk about the wrongs. First, there are few typos. Second, a lot of things do build up to, but are never capitalized on. Third, and the biggest problem I have with this book, is its ending.
It ends abruptly. You see, when Casey tracks down the woman who is said to be Nate's mother, they just meet. And, and, and, and nothing!
I mean no questions, no tears, just nothing. Nate doesn't even doubt this woman at all.
Then, what about the fallout from Nate's companion becoming the king, especially the way he did? What about the monster slaying quest now? What do the other players think about that, and do they try to kill Nate because of this? What about the division in the company itself?
Overall, it is a great book. And I most certainly recommend it. but it either needs a sequel, or a proper epilogue to tie everything together.
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5 thoughts on "Book Review: The Crafting of Chess"
Interesting review. You're good at reviewing books
I'm glad you think so. Considering how many books I read, I decided that it would be waste if I didn't review them on my blog.
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In a medium pot, soak rye berries in room temperature water overnight.
Add the salt to the rye berries and soaking water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until berries are cooked through. Some berries may split open during cooking.
In a small pot, bring water to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and soak the dried cherries in the water for 3 minutes, or until soft. Drain and discard the soaking liquid, then roughly chop the cherries and reserve.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add celery and cook for 2 minutes, then add cannellini beans and cook for 3 minutes. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the cooked rye berries, reserved cherries, green onions, and parsley.
In a small bowl, combine water, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Add oil in a steady stream and whisk together until emulsified. Add dressing to the rye berry mixture and toss until well incorporated.
This recipe comes from my recently released book, What's Your Season? Healing Principles and Recipes for Your Body Type.


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Articles by PRS Team
how-rajya-sabha-polls-came-to-be-open-ballot
How Rajya Sabha polls came to be open ballot
Chakshu Roy, Indian Express, June 3, 2022
The foundation of free and fair elections is the secrecy of the ballot. The Rajya Sabha elections are unique in that respect, where voting is not secret. The MLAs elect their state Rajya Sabha MPs, and as the process stands now, have to show the votes to their party's representative. However, the open ballot voting system is a 2003 addition to our Rajya Sabha electoral system.
Until 1998, Rajya Sabha elections were the bastion of party discipline, their outcome a foregone conclusion. Candidates nominated by parties would win uncontested. Voting only took place when there were more contestants than vacant seats in the state. Electoral contest was usually among Independent candidates.
The June 1998 Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra changed this position. Seven contenders were in the fray for six seats. The Congress had fielded two candidates — Najma Heptullah, who had served three terms in the Upper House, and Ram Pradhan, a former Maharashtra-cadre IAS officer and ex-Union home secretary. The Shiv Sena's candidates were its sitting MP Satish Pradhan and media personality Pritish Nandy. Pramod Mahajan, who had lost the Lok Sabha elections earlier that year, was contesting for the BJP.
There were two Independent candidates: media baron Vijay Darda, whom the Congress supported, and former railway minister Suresh Kalmadi, whom the Shiv Sena supported. Kalmadi had rebelled against the Congress.
The Congress had enough votes to ensure the victory of both its candidates. But in a surprising turn of events, Congress candidate Ram Pradhan, a close aide of Sonia Gandhi, lost. An Independent candidate sailed through.
The votes cast by MLAs were secret, and Congress MLAs defied their party's voting instructions, causing Pradhan's defeat. Reports suggest that legislators from other parties also cross-voted.
Pradhan's loss reverberated in all political circles to a point that parties started thinking about steps to rein in their MLAs.
The solution eventually came from the Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha, which was set up in 1997 and was headed by Rajya Sabha MP and former Maharashtra Chief Minister S B Chavan.
In its first report in December 1998, the committee observed that money and muscle power played an increasing role in Rajya Sabha elections, suggesting: "In order not to allow big money and other considerations to play mischief… the Committee is of the view that instead of a secret ballot, the question of holding the elections to the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Councils in states by open ballot may be examined."
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2001 acted on the suggestion.
Arun Jaitley, the law minister at the time, introduced a Bill in Parliament to amend the law relating to the Rajya Sabha elections with an open voting system and the removal of domiciliary requirements for contesting the polls. Kuldeep Nayar, a veteran journalist who was a nominated Rajya Sabha MP, challenged its constitutional validity in the Supreme Court, arguing that the "concept of open ballot would defeat the attainment of free and fair elections".
The Court overruled this contention and held the law to be constitutional. It reasoned that "the secrecy of the ballot is a vital principle for ensuring free and fair elections. The higher principle, however, is free and fair elections and purity of elections. If secrecy becomes a source for corruption, then sunlight and transparency have the capacity to remove it".
But an open ballot has not helped bring purity to the Rajya Sabha elections or stopped party candidates from losing. A common response of the parties, as evident in the recent Rajya Sabha elections, has been to herd their MLAs to hotels and resorts to prevent poaching.
As Niloptal Basu, a CPM Rajya Sabha MP, said during the debate on the open ballot law: "We should, as political parties, seriously introspect as to how the principles on which political parties function can be rectified; as to how we can recapture certain healthy practices in politics…The problem of indiscipline and the problem of dissidents can never be stopped in this manner unless we improve our system of internal democracy, unless we have healthy practices".
The writer is head of outreach PRS Legislative Research


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Tag: Celebrities
Public Relations Lessons From Celebrities That Apply to Not-So-Celebrity Clients
By Heather Ebert
Recently, singer Taylor Swift penned an open letter to Apple via her Tumblr page expressing dissatisfaction with Apple Music's policy to not pay artists for music streamed during the service's free three-month trial period. She stated that because of this policy she would not release her album "1989" on the platform. Apple quickly reversed its policy and pledged to pay artists during the trial period, which began June 30.
The intensity and reach of the public eye often requires that celebrities like Swift be very transparent and responsive with the media and their fans, especially when news stories or scandals break. There are many celebrities that handle such events almost seamlessly, but there are others whose actions make the situation worse. There are lessons to be learned from both. Here are the top three PR do's and don'ts that we can take from celebrities.
Continue reading "Public Relations Lessons From Celebrities That Apply to Not-So-Celebrity Clients"


Situated on the western slope of Chestnut Ridge, the property climbs over 400 feet in a little over half a mile. The walk from the stream bank of Laurel Run to the top of a high, grassy knoll on the eastern end of the property tests the aerobic fitness of most visitors, myself included.
Once atop the hill, a panoramic view to the west awaits. Sunsets here are magnificent, and on clear days the towers of the Pittsburgh skyline some 35 miles distant are clearly visible. Because our parcel is only part of a 200+ acre reclaimed strip mine, the property has hosted area-sensitive grassland birds for many years. Recently, however, Black Locust, Tree-of-heaven, Autumn Olive, and other woody vegetation have been gradually shrinking the available habitat for these grassland specialists.
To combat the loss of grassland habitat to succession, fight invasive species, and plant natives, we enrolled in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). The cost-share assistance provided by this program has allowed us to begin restoring habitat on the property. We're in the fourth year of our WHIP contract, and the restoration work is steadily progressing. I've added a new page, titled Sanctuary, to the main site, with a PayPal button so you can contribute to our efforts if you'd like to help us out!
Look for more on the restoration progress and the biota of the property in upcoming posts!