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Articles by: "Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame"
Perspectives | Supporter Spotlight
Publishers: context is king … but traffic is queen
August 1, 2022 Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame
Are you mis-valuing your first-party data? Context may be King but your traffic is Queen so give it its due respect.
In the current environment, with vast changes in technology and regulation, there is a powerful narrative that first-party data — often derived from context — will be more valuable simply because third-party data will be scarcer. The reality here is that the value of your data is determined by the impact on marketer acquisition costs — and your traffic may have much more to offer than context confers.
Consider this analogy. Goods meant for consumption become more valuable when they are scarce. When food is scarce, it costs more. When gas is scarce it gets expensive. Marketers don't buy data for direct consumption, though. Marketers purchase data to increase their efficiency by reducing customer acquisition costs. So, the value of that data is determined by its ability to impact those costs.
For a marketer selling a luxury auto bought equally by male and female irrespective of creative, gender data might not be worth a sou. However, a history of past Audi purchases might be worth a mint. If the marketer's data shows that she can meet the target acquisition cost of $350 for each in-dealership test drive by touching past Audi buyers at $18 CPM, she will buy those Audi purchaser impressions for up to $18. She can't pay $20 CPM, because that will take her over her allowable acquisition cost. If a sudden dearth of third-party data means she has many fewer Audi buyers that she can find for $18, she'll simply have to reduce total spend.
A flawed message: scale is the only challenge in a context-driven world
In a world of crumbling cookies and increasing challenges in linking identity and data, many in digital media technology have emphasized the value of a discipline that has been around for a long time: contextual targeting.
The narrative goes like this: "With third-party data becoming more scarce, contextually derived first-party data will become more valuable. The only problem you might have is scale. When data derived from a person's behavior on other domains isn't so readily available, you may not have sufficient traffic to meet a particular marketer's needs.
Some adtech providers suggest: "Hang on. We can solve this problem too. We will build a common taxonomy of attributes and interest that layers your data with that of every other publisher who delivers the same context." If I want to reach people who like anime, I may get those 3M profiles by targeting an anime node in the common taxonomy. I get 1M from you, and 1M from each of your two competitors.
Wait a minute. A publisher's first-party data is more scarce and more valuable. Yet I am supposed to dump it into a taxonomy node with all my competition, undifferentiated, where I have little pricing power, and let marketers pay a single rate? Like oil in a barrel or grain in a silo? Isn't that the definition of commoditization?
And just because a publisher operates an anime-focused property, what if their traffic is 50% luxury auto-intenders who have bought Audis? How do they get paid for that in the anime node?
An empowering message: your asset is your traffic
With all the renewed focus in the past two years on making context your primary first-party data asset, these messages may seem pessimistic. Don't despair. They should be empowering. Your traffic is your asset. Attract the best with compelling content, and you have something valuable. Sell it for full value.
About a decade ago, programmatic advertising went from zero to around 80% of all display advertising because it enabled bidding and increased publisher yield. Despite cries of "leakage" and unequal information, the programmatic system works well for publishers and advertisers.
Going back to those anime lovers: If a bidder knows that certain traffic has a high auto-purchase intent, the buyer can bid more. Maybe she'll offer to pay those $18 CPMs for that anime traffic. Publishers should seek the highest value for their traffic based not only on what they know, but what the market knows.
Creating a traffic value proposition
How do you get the most value out of your traffic?
Do what context adherents have been saying: aggressively collect and characterize context data for your traffic with widely available collection tools. Its first party data, it has value, and more is better.
Enhance your knowledge of your traffic with third-party enrichment tools. While this approach is more strenuous with more regulation around privacy and transparency, it can be worth the lift. Cookieless identity tools support this process.
Get deeper insights from your authenticated traffic with the classic info-barter. Use these rich "seeds" to build modeled audiences that meet surgical needs for marketers.
Expose your traffic in programmatic environments where the market may know what it's worth. Pay attention to yield and optimize. There's leverage here.
If the new world in digital media, marketing, and regulation has you sitting by the wayside, or placing self-imposed limits that harm your value proposition, it's time to reconsider. First-party data derived from context is valuable, but it won't provide a comprehensive picture of your traffic. Bulk channel sales in a common taxonomy will only serve to commoditize your work. You know that Google, Apple, and Facebook who have nearly 100% authenticated traffic won't be limiting themselves to context. If you're a quality publisher with valuable traffic, why should you?
context, digital advertising, traffic
Advertising | Perspectives | Supporter Spotlight
On the Anniversary of ATT, two players to watch are Snap and Facebook
May 16, 2022 Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame
Since Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework came into effect, the company has started confronting users with daunting warnings about favorite apps tracking you across apps and websites owned by other companies, and inviting consumers to opt out of this tracking. The impact on measurement has been material. Tim Cook would call such opt-out language "merely descriptive" — and would neglect to recall that Apple invented IDFA for sound and pragmatic reasons (including privacy). However, it could be argued that the language is scary and intended to persuade people to opt-out. It is important to note that app publishers are not permitted to include their own justification at the point of decision. Only Apple's framing is available.
Since the changes were made in April of 2021, estimates of opt-out rates have been all over the map. Our initial models (chart below) used 80% (meaning 80 people opt out of tracking and 20 people permit it). Since that time, we've seen estimates ranging from 95% to 60% opt-out rates. But credible players in mobile infrastructure who see data on thousands of apps across all hardware types have noted that the opt-out rates have been declining since the initial surge, and an estimate of 60 to 65% is probably more accurate today. But Apple not the only company to keep an eye on when it comes to tracking and measurement.
Two key players to watch in terms of evolution of measurement are Facebook and Snap. Both companies are mobile-forward, and both have built material businesses around delivering measurable advertising for customers on phones. Facebook has acknowledged that the changes in iOS would have "on the order of" $10 billion impact on sales in 2022. Analyzing the 2022 revenue impact from Apple's privacy changes, Lotame estimates that the IDFA change will have a total impact on the companies of almost $16 billion (+9%). Again, with the lion's share of that impact (81%) coming from Facebook.
Both companies have spoken extensively about the impact of the iOS changes on tools and capabilities, and both are adapting rapidly. For SNAP, the company has said it is adapting by a combination of pushing customers to use Apple's SKAD Network ("SKAN") and by developing and enhancing native tools such as the Snap Pixel and their Advanced Conversions ("AC") tools. Snap also acknowledged that many of its customers would have to move their focus "up the funnel".
The issues are that the native tools may have limitations and may require Snap to interoperate more with other ad tech players. As for Apple's SKAN tool, it provides only aggregated data, and it delivers with a 24-hour delay. These are very material limitations for conversion-oriented marketers. Snap has said it will take time to work through all of this.
Facebook, equally frustrated, even used the term "rebuilding": we're rebuilding a lot of our ads infrastructure so we can continue to grow and deliver high-quality personalized ads. Facebook called its new tools "Aggregated Event Measurement." But at the same time Facebook also threw Apple under the bus for providing data that is both delayed and aggregated. The suggestion is that Facebook — which does not play well with the rest of Ad Tech — will have difficulty providing measurement better than Apple's dumbed-down SKAN utilities.
One major initiative at Facebook did become highly salient: its focus on ecommerce infrastructure for its marketer customers. This was described by Sheryl Sandberg as one of seven key initiatives, and it was mentioned numerous times in the 4th quarter earnings call. The idea is for Facebook to continue to deliver and enhance end-to-end tools for its ecommerce seller. From the first marketing impression, to the ecommerce store and experience, to financial fulfillment, customer retention, and remarketing, Facebook wants everything to happen on Facebook.
The issue is that any time any part of the chain moves outside of Facebook's app, Facebook can't deliver the measurement and attribution its customers require. This became painfully clear with the iOS changes. Facebook's mission to fix it will lead it to the erection of higher walls around its version of the internet, and more firmly bunkering its marketer customers inside.
When you consider how other players may be future-proofing mobile marketing strategies, initiatives will be similar to those of Snap and Facebook: using the SKAD network while holding their noses, building home-grown measurement tools that often won't work as well, and relying on the ad tech industry to provide adapted tools, such as the Lotame Panorama ID which can link identity across devices and platforms without the IDFA. App developers will also be looking to those partners that provide tools and infrastructure, such as AppLovin or MoPub to deliver new tools and techniques.
And all this enthusiastic turbidity and debate leaves all of us wondering: "What will Google do?" Keep in mind that Google doesn't have the fire to lock down mobile phone ad IDs that Apple does. Apple uses the cover of "privacy" to make these changes. But others feel that Apple is restricting the ability of others to monetize traffic on its devices without its direct involvement (and economic participation).
Google, on the other hand, for the infrastructure it delivers, has benefited by providing tools and capabilities that are open and used by everyone. In June of 2021, shortly after Apple made its changes, Google announced it did not plan to bother users with a push demand for opt-in on each app (both Apple and Google always have allowed global device opt-out). After that, Google was quiet until it capitulated a few weeks ago. As of mid-March, Google is saying that it will "replace" GAIDs (Google's version of the IDFA) on phones with its web-based "privacy-sandbox" tools, and then phase out GAIDs in about two years.
What does that mean for cross-application tracking today? Well, even if we lay aside second-best workarounds that are progressively emerging, there is still a lot to do with mobile ad IDs. In the U.S., iPhones have about 58% market share, but some reports are seeing 40% of users opt-in. Android phones have about 42% market share and will have GAIDs available for at least two more years — an ocean of time. Considering this collectively and scoped to the U.S., that still leaves marketers with access to a mobile advertising ID on about two-thirds of inventory. Have fun while it lasts!
digital advertising, supporter, tracking
The real big 3 to watch in adtech: CTV, publishers, and identity
March 7, 2022 Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame
The digital advertising world is no stranger to innovation and agility. As we know, the ecosystem has evolved significantly over the past year, highlighting opportunities for the future as well as challenges that need to be addressed. As the big tech players inch closer to their deadlines to address privacy concerns, here are some trends that advertisers and publishers should keep an eye out for in 2022.
2022: The year of CTV. And 2023, 2024, 2025, etc.
We all remember the "year of mobile" in the ad tech world – since it lasted more than a decade. Well, we can expect Connected TV (CTV) to continue to dominate the headlines for the foreseeable future. And why not? After getting a considerable boost in adoption thanks to consumers' pandemic behavior, it is predicted to grow quite a bit more over the next five years.
More companies are seeing the value of one of the fastest-growing channels in digital advertising. Therefore, we are likely to see even more innovation in the space. More CTV inventory will become available to marketers as identity resolution and connectivity solutions come to the forefront to address the fragmentation in the channel.
And praise be, there are no third-party cookies to battle over in CTV. The explosive growth of CTV will only continue to eat away at linear TV's share. This year, brands will refine their strategies and unlock incremental linear reach with CTV spend.
Small and independent publishers will finally be heard
Even though third-party cookies will disappear, that doesn't mean third-party data will. The reality is that third-party data will stick around because the alternatives that will crop up in its absence aren't feasible options for smaller publishers.
There is a misunderstanding about third-party data in the industry where people believe that it can't be privacy-compliant. It absolutely can: it just requires checking the source of the data. As my colleague said: "advertisers should hold [third-party data] providers accountable by asking whether they use and how they use privacy by design."
Simply put, first-party data or contextual targeting can't be the solution for publishers who don't have enough data to scale. Contextual data works only inside one's own domain, which for small publishers is, well, too small. Plus, marketers are less willing to engage with sites that don't have as many monthly visitors as the larger ones. Context remains a useful tool — as it has always been. Lotame findings show that 52% of publishers and marketers are testing or planning to test contextual solutions. But can it stand alone once again?
The industry as a whole needs to come up with solutions that will work for everyone, especially for publishers as they build their post-cookie strategies. Publishers will need a plan B for the billions in lost programmatic ad revenue. McKinsey estimates $10 billion is at risk for U.S. publishers alone In 2022, the screams of these smaller publishers will be better heard and addressed.
Dear identity partners: Stop the infighting!
With 80 identity solutions in the market today (and counting), industry professionals may very rightly feel overwhelmed and confused. A multitude of tech vendors and more are throwing their hat in the identity ring — from media companies to DSPs, agency holding companies to TV manufacturers. And their interest is justified: Identity is big business for digital advertising. Research and Markets reports that the global market for digital identity solutions is projected to grow to $49.5 Billion by 2026, up from $23.3 Billion in 2021.
ID solutions for the open web are going to be invaluable for publisher monetization. So, we're going to see collaboration will dramatically increase. ID partners in 2021 operated in the identity arena like a circular firing squad. Everyone claims their privacy is better than others, and everyone who has a solution wants to say theirs is the only one that works. In reality, all have to work together. Our global survey, "Beyond the Cookie: The Future of Advertising for Marketers and Publishers," reports that both marketers and publishers overwhelmingly agree that digital advertising relies on a connected ecosystem that supports the open web and diverse, ad-supported content.
Put down your arms, identity vendors, publishers, and marketers. Instead, let's focus on our common goal of giving the consumer transparency and control while making everything more efficient. The end result will be better for everyone involved.
Consumers are forever changed by the global pandemic but have proven resilient in adopting new habits the world over. Marketers and publishers, too, have proven flexible in the face of enormous change in their personal and professional lives. The major industry changes afoot present us with two options: we can either work together to ensure the ecosystem thrives or we can just look out for ourselves in silo. I believe that working collectively this coming year will bear the most fruit for all involved. And I hope you agree.
CTV, data, streaming, supporter
Two truths and a lie: Why what you think you know about identity will hurt you
September 13, 2021 Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame
Current uncertainty about the tech underpinning digital media has left most of us wondering what happens when cookies disappear on Chrome. It's easy to forget that Safari and Firefox deprecated cookies a long time ago. This, in turn, created a natural test bed for newer and better post-cookie technologies. The good news is that these changes create opportunity and prospects for a better industry. If you are a publisher, here are two truths and a lie for you to consider, and five ways to ensure your business is not disrupted.
Truth one: Don't count on FLoCs
Google has said its FLoCs are private and can be used as a proxy for enhancing traffic with data. But, Google has only released the results of a single test on this black box technology, which has murky methodology and opaque applicability. Even Google's publicized test showed results less effective than cookie-based advertising.
Meanwhile, Google has been hit with criticisms that FLoCs use consumer data without consent. The company postponed its testing in Europe, where the technology may not comply with GDPR. Over the summer, it became evident that Google is becoming mired in uncertainty around the technology. It's actions also raised concerns around Google's market dominance. Bottom line: If you were counting on FLoC, you may want to take another look at your options.
Truth two: Don't count on context
The same can be said for those leaning towards going all in for context. These state-of-the-art circa 2006 solutions don't just limit the breadth of data you can associate to a profile. However, they almost always curb the concept of identity to a single domain.
Contextual providers are telling you that without cookies, third-party data will vanish (which is not the case). First-party data will be much more valuable, they continue. The thesis is that first-party data is like gold, becoming more valuable when it becomes more scarce. This ignores a fundamental economic truth in marketing: A marketer can afford to pay only her target acquisition cost and not more. A dearth of data means the marketer may need to pay a lower CPM on less-enhanced impressions. If she can afford to pay $5 CPM for "women", then $2.50 will be the max that can be paid for "people". Those digital impressions aren't like gold — they are more like gold-bearing ore. The value depends on the assay.
Lie: Programmatic was/is/forever will be bad
Contrary to what we often hear, programmatic has been good for non-gigantic and independent publishers. Most non-giants don't have the scale to hire a sales force, or the traffic to attract marketers without aggregation, or enough contextual insights to sell that traffic for what it was worth. Smaller publishers rapidly adopted programmatic five years ago because it gave them the opportunity to be paid based on what their traffic did somewhere else.
Programmatic is often criticized for data leakage in the bidstream and allowing buyers to come in with more insights on traffic than the publisher. But let's remember the volume of impressions surfaced in the auction gives sellers inherent protection against cherry-picking. If impressions are better characterized via third-party data, bidders can find that auto intender among a "lover-of-cats" crowd that had been relegated to air freshener promos. The publisher selling the cat lover should want that asymmetric knowledge in order to get the best bid.
Five ways you can prepare for a cookieless future
So how in this new and changing landscape, should publishers sustain monetization when cookies are completely gone? Here are my top five recommendations of the very real steps publishers can take to prepare for 2023.
There's a chance that Google has pushed back the cookie deadline because it needs more time to refine its own tools, with the intent of preventing or abolishing third-party ID interoperability. Take every opportunity to be vocal about your right to bring your own tech to the party.
New identifiers emerging in the marketplace will promise scale and interoperability — but you'll need to test any solution early. Real interoperability is elusive, but out there, so exercise caution.
The industry may see great value in the 40% share of the browser market that Chrome doesn't own. You can start testing solutions with Safari and Firefox today.
Delaying the adoption of new identity solutions may simply prolong the headaches from the third-party cookie model. Third-party cookies are costly to sync, carry privacy risks, and take more time to show ROI than newer technologies. Don't hope for Google to provide another reprieve.
Definitely use context in your strategy. It's data. You have it. Use it. Context should be part of the monetization equation. However, be realistic that context alone won't save you. It simply can't compete with technology that delivers richer information across domains. Don't get hung up on old solutions just because they're familiar or wrapped in a sexy new buzzword like "edge computing".
It's not all doom and gloom for publishers in the next two years. For independent publishers, the cookieless future is filled with opportunity. Just don't embrace the false narrative that your traffic is inherently gold. You need the right tools to make sure your assay is strong, realizable, and increasingly lucrative.
cookies, digital advertising, identity, supporter
Advertising | Perspectives | Revenue
Diversify your advertising options to drive revenue
June 3, 2021 Mike Woosley, COO – Lotame
Media owners may feel like their cups are half empty. Admittedly, it's a tough business to be in right now. Certainly, the advertising industry is in the middle of a "Great Reset." However, we must remember that change also means opportunity. Like most businesses, media owners don't want to guess about the future and they don't want to make directional bets that could leave their business in dire straits. The good news is they don't have to.
Although media owners aren't fortune tellers, they don't need a Magic 8-Ball to see that they have a wealth of choices as they move forward. Upheaval driven by the deprecation of the decades-old technology of cookies, a global pandemic, and new regulation focused on consumer consent and transparency have all enabled a tremendous amount of innovation in our industry. As a result, tools for media owners are rapidly becoming more agile and more privacy forward. They are also becoming more effective.
Now, you can target in context. You can target in real time. You can target on first-impression. And you can target across devices, sequentially, with managed frequency, with your own data, with second-party data, with enriched data.
Diversify to thrive
Diversification is key for media owners as we continue into this new era. Marketers want and need options. Many publishers are leaning into contextual as a response to the changes in our industry. While context is a fine option to realize the value of publishers' great content, it's not the only lever you can pull, nor should it be.
Marketers agree. In fact, two-thirds of marketers are not confident that contextual targeting alone is a sufficient replacement for audience targeting. That's a significant percentage of paying customers looking for alternatives.
Media owners, marketers are looking to you for those alternative solutions. Are you comfortable putting all your eggs in one basket and one that appeals to a fraction of your customers?
No one said change would be easy. However, media owners have the tools and partners available today to compete. Google is only part of the story — but you shouldn't let them be the only story.
Yes, the Chrome browser is important. However, when you zoom out, there are multiple browsers in common use; tablets and phones that are proliferating in the billions; connected televisions, and a vast proliferation of connected devices, spanning the globe. There's a prodigious open web opportunity up for grabs. Consumers are hungry for your content and willing to pay good money for it.
Real solutions
Google may not embrace identity within its walls (except on its own account, of course) but identity solutions are plentiful across the open web. The walled giant may try to woo you with dumbed down tools. However, you can be sure that, for their own marketer clients, they'll be surfacing all the sophistication attendant to the rich wealth of data that they have for their own clients. Don't force your buyers to reprogram dollars to those walled gardens. (And by the way: Enriched data can still be activated via Deal IDs, even in Google.)
It would be wise to fill your cup up with solutions designed for you. From deterministic to probabilistic and everywhere in between, there are smart people working hard to ensure your content, your employees, your business can gain an advantage. So, give them a chance to show you what your options look like.
Deterministic will help you drive your known customers to repeat purchases, while probabilistic will fill the funnel with the other 80-90% of customers that you don't know or can't recognize. New privacy regulations are driving better tools for consent and transparency — not the reverse. You'll be surprised how motivating consumer privacy is for many in the industry. Remember, we're consumers too. This is the time to test, test, and test again. It will get easier with each test and iteration.
The current climate may seem rough and complex, full of new regulation and uncertain tech modes; however there is no shortage of solutions. There is an extensive buffet of partners and technology that can make identity frictionless in a regulated world, so you can focus on results and not painful implementations. Have your cake and make room for more!
digital advertising, identity, supporter


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Welcome to the S&W Environmental, Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Law Blog. This blog is a resource for the regulated community to stay current on new developments impacting the environmental, natural resources and energy sectors. It provides timely updates on a broad range of federal, state and local environmental topics — including proposed legislation and government rulemakings — that impact regulated industries throughout the southwest and the nation as a whole.
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Mining Industry on the Losing End of Two Clean Water Act Cases
Posted on November 21, 2022 by Chris Colyer
by Michael C. Ford
The mining industry was on the losing end of two recent Clean Water Act cases.
Stone v. High Mountain Mining Company, LLC,[1] was decided September 12, 2022, and involved a citizen suit challenge to a placer mine operating without a Clean Water Act ("CWA") discharge ("NPDES") permit. High Mountain's operations include four unlined settling ponds located adjacent to the Middle Fork of the South Platte River, a "navigable water" subject to CWA jurisdiction. All of the ponds were found to be discharging pollutants to groundwater. The citizens' group argued the ponds required a NPDES permit under the Supreme Court's recent decision in Cnty. of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund[2] finding that groundwater discharges that are the "functional equivalent" of a discharge to a navigable water require a NPDES permit.
After a 4-day trial, the defendant moved for judgment in its favor, which the court denied. The court reviewed the seven Maui factors[3]:
(1) transit time; (2) distance traveled; (3) the nature of the material through which the pollutant travels; (4) the extent to which the pollutant is diluted or chemically changed as it travels; (5) the amount of pollutant entering the navigable waters relative to the amount of the pollutant that leaves the point source; (6) the manner by or area in which the pollutant enters the navigable waters; and (7) the degree to which the pollution (at that point) has maintained its specific identity.
The court found that the distance factor weighed heavily against the mine, as the ponds are all approximately 100 feet from the river. The transit time for pollutants to reach the river from the ponds was approximately 2 days, which the court also found to weigh heavily against the mining company. Evidence was also presented showing that the nature of the materials around the ponds is porous and has a high percolation rate. Limited evidence was presented on the other 4 Maui factors, but based on the first 3 factors, the court denied the mine's motion, and found in favor of the citizen's group. The court imposed a $500,000 penalty against the mine for its unpermitted discharges.
San Carlos Apache Tribe v. State of Arizona[4] was decided November 15, 2022 by the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division 1, located in Phoenix, and also involves the NPDES permitting requirements applicable to the ongoing development of the Resolution Copper Project in Superior, Arizona. Resolution's site has a long history of underground mining by predecessor mining companies, and the discharges from the mining facilities, including shafts and tunnels, to Queen Creek have been covered by a CWA permit since 1975. Resolution's project involves the sinking of a new, much deeper shaft to access a new ore body ("Shaft 10"). The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ") issued Resolution a renewal permit in 2017 that included Shaft 10 and other new discharge sources not previously permitted. The Tribe sued the state, arguing the new facilities were "new sources" under the CWA, which triggered the application of more stringent "new source performance standards" ("NSPS") and in turn also triggered additional permitting restrictions for "impaired" waters due to Queen Creek's not meeting applicable water quality standards due to high copper levels.
The court's discussion of the relevant definitions and guidance on the issue of whether new facilities at a site with an existing CWA permit trigger the NSPS is long and complex, and involves the application of several subjective factors set forth in the regulations.[5] The upshot, however, is that the court overruled ADEQ, the Water Quality Appeals Board, and the lower court, which had all upheld the permit, and found that Shaft 10 and the other new facilities are new sources subject to the more stringent NSPS, rather than the discharge standards that apply to the existing facilities at the site.
In perhaps the bigger blow to the project, the court then held the impaired waters provision of the CWA permitting regulations prohibited ADEQ from issuing the permit. 40 C.F.R. §122.4(i) provides:
No permit may be issued:
(i) To a new source or a new discharger, if the discharge from its construction or operation will cause or contribute to the violation of water quality standards. The owner or operator of a new source or new discharger proposing to discharge into a water segment which does not meet applicable water quality standards or is not expected to meet those standards even after the application of the effluent limitations required by sections 301(b)(1)(A) and 301(b)(1)(B) of CWA, and for which the State or interstate agency has performed a pollutants load allocation for the pollutant to be discharged, must demonstrate, before the close of the public comment period, that:
(1) There are sufficient remaining pollutant load allocations to allow for the discharge; and
(2) The existing dischargers into that segment are subject to compliance schedules designed to bring the segment into compliance with applicable water quality standards. The Director may waive the submission of information by the new source or new discharger required by paragraph (i) of this section if the Director determines that the Director already has adequate information to evaluate the request….
Resolution argued ADEQ had determined the new discharges would not cause or contribute to the impairment of Queen Creek.[6] The court, citing the 9th Circuit's decision in Friends of Pinto Creek v. U.S.E.P.A.[7] (ironically, involving another citizens' suit challenge to a copper mine a few miles away from the Resolution Project), found this insufficient because the regulations require that ADEQ (1) complete a "total maximum daily load" ("TMDL") analysis demonstrating Resolution's discharge can be accommodated by Queen Creek; and (2) show that existing dischargers are subject to NPDES permit compliance schedules designed to bring Queen Creek into compliance with water quality standards for copper. The court found ADEQ cannot renew the permit until it meets these requirements, vacated the permit, and remanded it to ADEQ. It is not known at this time whether the decision will be appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court, or how long it may take ADEQ to complete the TMDL analysis and compliance schedules. However, TMDLs are labor intensive, subject to public comment requirements, and typically take years to develop. Therefore, the delay in issuing the permit could be significant.
This decision comes on the heels of the 9th Circuit's decision earlier this year involving another large copper project in Arizona – the Rosemont Project – which dealt another blow to the mining industry by restricting the use of unpatented mining claims for the disposal of waste rock and tailings.[8] Pinto Creek, High Mountain, Center for Biological Diversity and San Carlos all confirm the risk of environmental groups and other third parties derailing mine permits and projects, despite the regulatory agency and permittee agreeing on the regulatory requirements.
[1] 2022 WL 4129398 (D. Colo. 2022).
[2] –U.S.–, 140 S. Ct. 1462 (2020).
[3] 2022 WL at *12 (citation omitted).
[4] 2022 WL 16938292 (Ariz. App. 2022).
[5] 2022 WL at *5 – *11.
[6] Id. at *13.
[7] 504 F.3d 1007 (9th Cir 2007).
[8] Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 33 F.4th 1202 (9th Cir. 2022).
Tagged AZPDES, clean water act, mining, NPDES, San Carlos Apache Tribe v. State of Arizona, Stone v. High Mountain Mining Compny
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MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE BLASTS PERU- Hundreds Dead!
337 are Dead! 200 die when church collapses during mass!
La Republica reports "Two Minutes of Terror" on today's front page.
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake blasted Peru last night.
There were 337 confirmed deaths and that number is expected to rise.
The BBC has video of the aftermath- HERE.
At least 200 people in Pisco in southern Peru were crushed under the rubble of a church that collapsed during a religious service, The Associated Press reported, citing the mayor of Pisco, Juan Mendoza Uribe.
Mr. Mendoza Uribe said 70 percent of Pisco, a port city of about 60,000 people located 135 miles south of Lima, was leveled by the quake.
El Peruano reported this morning that dozens of families spent the night in parks and streets of Lima. There was a similar situation in the city of Ica, near the epicenter of the earthquake.
Authorities believe that the death toll will rise above the 337 confirmed deaths after the strongest earthquake in decades hit Peru last night.
Rescuers searched collapsed homes and churches in Peru on Thursday for more victims of a massive earthquake that killed hundreds, cracked and cut off roadways and left thousands without power.
Peru's civil defense agency said at least 337 people perished and 1,300 were injured in the 7.9-magnitude quake and the death toll was expected to rise.
Many people were forced to sleep outside in the hardest-hit region of Ica on the coast south of the capital, Lima. The area was hit by several strong aftershocks.
The huge tremor cracked highways and cut power and telephones. Rockslides blocked some roads, as well.
"The first impression of the team is that damage is severe, especially to houses," said Giorgio Ferrario, the South America representative for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
"We know for the moment, according to local authorities, that at least 35O people are dead, but the toll will certainly rise as search and rescue operations continue," he said.
Pajamas Media is following the devastating news.
Blogs of War is tracking the tsunami factor- via Instapundit.
Just last month, the Peruvian government announced that half a million were lifted out of poverty thanks to the governments development. Sadly, the government did not plan on this disaster.
The Pope offered his prayers for the people of Peru.
Update: Scientists now claim that this quake was thought to be the strongest anywhere in the world since 1990.
An earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 that registered 7.6 on the richter scale killed 73,276.
The death toll in Peru now tops 350.
UPDATE 2: The death toll now stands at 450.


text:
<?php

namespace Zephir\Optimizers\FunctionCall;

use Zephir\Call;
use Zephir\CompilationContext;
use Zephir\CompilerException;
use Zephir\CompiledExpression;
use Zephir\Optimizers\OptimizerAbstract;

/**
 * RtrimOptimizer
 *
 * Optimizes calls to 'rtrim' using internal function
 */
class RtrimOptimizer extends TrimOptimizer
{

    protected static $TRIM_WHERE = 'ZEPHIR_TRIM_RIGHT';
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I sit with the sleeves of my stained, maroon sweatshirt pushed up so the holes in the cuffs don't catch on my thumbs and interfere with my typing. My pants, though rivaling the age of my youngest daughter, must be eight years younger than their counterpart but without holes or stains to create a matched set. Nor do they have a shape or distinguishing feature of their own. Just baggy black pants that swish round my ankle as my barefoot swings under the table.
I'd be lying to you if I said this was just my blogging outfit.
That's right, I went out into public in this fantastic get up.
So, it's a bit surprising to me that in thinking back on this book, so much of my memory revolves around clothes – and I liked it.
Perhaps I liked it because of those snap judgments we make on the people around us based on their clothes. Don't worry, I'm not looking for reflections on my own appearance (though I bet you've got opinions now, and if shopping hater and cheapskate were on your list you've got me at least partially pegged). This book, littered with clothing descriptions, instantly rounds out the characters as they are introduced.
Maybe it's that in a book that draws characters from multiple time periods, clothing differences were an important distinguisher.
Or, maybe, it's just that I like a unique witch-y mystery, and the main character happened to like fashion.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Young adult fans, this is nicely written and it's got just the right amount of spookiness in it for those of you who are horror wimps like me. You can trust me on this. I have way better taste in books than clothes!
This entry was posted in book review and tagged book, book review, fiction, recommended read, young adult.
Oh, You really made me laugh. I just got a look at myself in my sweats with the holes in the sleeves and the paint stains on the pants and I went and finally bought a new set. I can't tell you how old my play clothes are but I decided I need to step up my wardrobe.
Yeah. I was looking for something to wear the other day and even said out loud that I was in need of new clothes. But given the opportunity, I didn't take it, because shopping for clothes is the *worst*!!
your writing is so very good that you should get PAID for these reviews. Excellent.


text:
Q: Logwatch postfix report. Where does this "Deferrals" come from and how to stop it? I'm using logwatch to monitor the logs on my server and I'm trying to make sense out of the postfix report. (See the report below.)
By looking at /var/log/mail.log I saw that this mail seems to be bouncing for a long time.
How can I stop this? Also I would like to know how to lockdown this mailserver so it only can send mails to one specific mail? (E.g. mine for logwatch reports, crontabs etc)
--------------------- Postfix Begin ------------------------

 ****** Summary ******************************************

   68.397K  Bytes accepted                              70,039
   67.161K  Bytes sent via SMTP                         68,773
    1.236K  Bytes delivered                              1,266
 ========   ==================================================

        2   Accepted                                   100.00%
 --------   --------------------------------------------------
        2   Total                                      100.00%
 ========   ==================================================

        2   Removed from queue
        1   Delivered
        1   Sent via SMTP
        1   Deferred
       20   Deferrals

 ****** Detail (1) *******************************************

        1   Delivered ------------------------------------
        1      12345.myserver.net

        1   Sent via SMTP --------------------------------
        1      example.de

       20   Deferrals ------------------------------------
       20      4.1.7: Transient failure: Addressing status: Bad sender's mailbox address syntax
       20      450 4.1.7 <www-data@12345.myserver.net>: Sender address rejected...
       20      unknown-domain.de
       20           unkownname
       20               85.13.135.56     mail.unknown-domain.de

 === Delivery Delays Percentiles ============================================================
                     0%       25%       50%       75%       90%       95%       98%      100%
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Before qmgr       0.11 329151.25 351203.50 373258.50 386491.90 390902.00 393548.00 395312.00
 In qmgr           0.01      0.02      0.02      0.02      0.03      0.03      0.03      0.03
 Conn setup        0.00      0.09      0.21      0.31      0.37      0.94      0.98      0.99
 Transmission      0.02      0.07      0.10      0.39      0.49      0.55      0.60      0.63
 Total             0.15 329152.25 351204.00 373258.50 386491.90 390902.95 393549.00 395313.00
 ============================================================================================

 ---------------------- Postfix End -------------------------

A:
Can anyone explain what this means or point me to some documentation that a server-admin noob understands?

A server-admin noob should not run a public facing mail server!

Does that mean somebody is misusing our mailserver?)

Can't be answered with this amount of information.

Defering is a temproary delivery failure, e.g. unreachable destinations, temproary failures on the next hop or with local delivery. You also summarize this to a temproary reject.
Citing the manpage of postfix-logwatch:

Deferrals
Deferred
         Message delivery deferrals.  A single deferred message will have
         one or more deferrals many times.

So one message has been deferred 20 times. The one message was undeliverable and as postfix got a temporary error code, the delivery is retried, resulting in 20 deferrals.
Have a look at the log files at /var/log/mail.log* to find out where the message is coming from and why it is rejected in detail. You can also look at the message it self using mailq (show message id) and postcat (show message).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
/**
 * @module error-handler
 */

// var debug = require( 'debug' )( 'error-handler' );

/**
 * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressRequest} req - HTTP request
 * @param {Error} error - Error object.
 */
function getErrorMessage(req, error) {
    if (error.message) {
        // convert certain set of messages into a more readable
        // and translated message
        if (/ECONNREFUSED/.test(error.message)) {
            return req.i18n.t('error.econnrefused');
        }

        // else output the message untranslated
        return error.message;
    }
    if (error.translationKey) {
        // return translated message
        return req.i18n.t(error.translationKey, error.translationParams);
    }
    // return error code
    return error.code;
}

module.exports = {
    /**
     * @param {Error} err - Error object
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressRequest} req - HTTP request
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressResponse} res - HTTP response
     * @param {Function} next - Express callback
     */
    // Express uses arguments length to determine whether a callback is an error handler.
    // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
    production(err, req, res, next) {
        // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
        const body = {
            code: err.status || 500,
            message: getErrorMessage(req, err),
        };
        const contentType = res.get('Content-type');
        res.status(err.status || 500);
        if (contentType && contentType.indexOf('application/json') === 0) {
            res.json(body);
        } else {
            res.render('error', body);
        }
    },
    /**
     * @param {Error} err - Error object
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressRequest} req - HTTP request
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressResponse} res - HTTP response
     * @param {Function} next - Express callback
     */
    // Express uses arguments length to determine whether a callback is an error handler.
    // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
    development(err, req, res, next) {
        // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
        const body = {
            code: err.status || 500,
            message: getErrorMessage(req, err),
            stack: err.stack,
        };
        const contentType = res.get('Content-type');
        res.status(err.status || 500);
        if (contentType && contentType.indexOf('application/json') === 0) {
            res.json(body);
        } else {
            res.render('error', body);
        }
    },
    /**
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressRequest} req - HTTP request
     * @param {module:api-controller~ExpressResponse} res - HTTP response
     * @param {Function} next - Express callback
     */
    404(req, res, next) {
        const error = new Error(req.i18n.t('error.pagenotfound'));
        error.status = 404;
        next(error);
    },
};


text:
Improving brain tumour diagnosis to make treatment personal
In a 6-part series, we're exploring the major challenges that are holding back progress in the field of brain tumour research. This fifth instalment focuses on how better characterising brain tumours can improve diagnosis and ultimately make treatment more personal.
Imagine a pocket watch. The face tells you the time, but only by peering inside and seeing the cogs, springs and screws can you find out how it ticks. Armed with an understanding of these inner workings, experts can diagnose what has gone wrong when they fail.
The same is true for brain tumours.
Examining what a brain tumour looks like offers a timestamp, pointing to how long it may have been growing and the type of tumour it might be. But taking these diseases at face value risks missing important information. It's the hidden detail that researchers are now turning to, examining faults in the molecular cogs, springs and screws that make these tumours tick. Not only will this help refine brain tumour diagnosis, but experts hope it will also point to potential new fixes.
That's why, as part of our inaugural Brain Tumour Awards, we're calling on researchers to develop ways to do precisely this, so that improved diagnostics go hand in hand with better treatment.
The power of combination
Brain tumour diagnosis starts with a scan. Imaging techniques, such as MRI and CT scans, have become incredibly sophisticated over the years and can precisely pinpoint a mass of cells in the brain that shouldn't be there. But these scans can't say exactly what type of cells the mass is made of, particularly if they're cancerous or benign. So, more detailed analysis is necessary.
Doctors or scientists often look at a sample of the tumour under the microscope and study the cells' appearance. This is called 'histopathology', and it's a mainstay of cancer diagnosis. But there's human error at play here, because appearances can be deceiving.
"Histopathology is an important part of diagnosis; it often gives us the right broad diagnosis on a particular cancer," says Professor Steve Clifford, a Cancer Research UK-funded brain tumour expert at the University of Newcastle.
But simply looking at the shape of cells can only tell scientists so much. The genes and faulty molecules inside those cells have a big part to play too.
"We've come to understand that the molecular biology of a cancer is critically important in determining the nature and clinical behaviour of the tumour," adds Clifford.
Professor Louis Chesler, a Cancer Research UK-funded expert on children's cancers at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, agrees: "When you combine molecular diagnostics with histopathology, it's very powerful. I think that's a way forward to better understanding."
This idea is backed by a recent change in how the World Health Organisation (WHO) views brain tumour diagnosis. For the first time, molecular features of brain tumours have been included alongside histopathology in the WHO Classification of Tumours, which Clifford refers to as the pathologist's "bible" for diagnosing cancer.
Collaboration is key
Cells may be tiny, but they're packed with various molecular clues waiting to be discovered by scientists, including:
Billions of 'letters' that make up a cell's DNA
Patterns of tags on this DNA that switch genes off or on
Protein molecules made from the DNA
Biochemical reactions taking place inside the cell
Collectively these features are called 'biomarkers', and they may appear different inside cancer cells than inside healthy cells. Understanding these differences, and finding ways to spot them, could help better classify brain tumours. But combing through a long list of features in every patient would be an arduous and expensive process, which may not bring any practical benefit in the clinic.
Coordination and collaboration is really important to make progress.
– Prof Chesler
Clifford says that while all these different biomarkers are potentially important, the key is to discover how to get the best answers in the most efficient way possible.
"We need a concerted approach to find out which method will give us answers," he adds. "We need to be as open and comprehensive as possible."
Being open and sharing resources will also help scientists learn faster, says Chesler. "We need to make sure that everyone is following the same methods as much as possible, because otherwise it becomes difficult to interpret the results.
"With any cancer where you have a very small number of patients, coordination and collaboration is really important to make progress."
Blood, sweat, but no tears
The fact brain tumours are relatively rare makes it challenging to gather enough samples to draw firm conclusions. But this challenge is multiplied further by where these tumours grow.
The brain is a vital yet highly fragile organ, and sometimes taking biopsy samples or performing surgery is too risky for the patient. Just like how a watchmaker would struggle to find the root of a fault using just a photograph of a watch, without tissue to analyse, making an accurate brain tumour diagnosis is difficult. But both Clifford and Chesler highlight the potential of less invasive tests known as 'liquid biopsies'.
"Brain biopsies are expensive and dangerous, particularly for children," Chesler says. "So increasingly we're looking at blood, spinal fluid, saliva, sweat – anything we can.
"A major question is whether you can find brain tumour DNA in these samples. If it's present but in tiny amounts, can we make a test that's good enough to be informative? That's why engineers and physicists are now working together to help develop technologies to solve this problem."
Time to get personal
By gathering these pieces of information, the aim is to make brain tumour diagnosis more accurate. This should then help guide treatment decisions in the clinic.
Medulloblastoma is a great example of this. Work by our scientists and others discovered that this childhood brain tumour can be grouped into 7 distinct types, and that these differ not only in their biology but also how well patients fare. One type has a very good outlook and most children survive, whereas the others are trickier to treat.
Figuring out which type children have is now standard practice for this disease. Clifford says that clinical trials are also underway to see if children with the better outlook can be treated less intensively. The goal would be to spare them from side effects without sacrificing the likelihood of being cured.
The bottom line is that we're getting better and better at diagnosing brain tumours.
– Prof Clifford
Better diagnosis could also help treatment in other ways. If a tumour is found to have a biomarker that can be targeted by an existing drug, patients could get treatment tailored to their disease. Or if a potential drug is still being tested out in trials, this information will help guide patients into clinical studies that are most likely to benefit them. And, importantly, patients with similar brain tumours in the future.
In a nutshell, that's precisely what one of Chesler's studies is trying to achieve for children with cancer, including brain tumours.
With around 130 different types of brain tumour to study, scientists like Chesler and Clifford have their work cut out. But as time goes by, incremental progress is made, and hopefully funding boosts like the Cancer Research UK Brain Tumour Awards can accelerate this.
"The field has progressed beyond infancy, but perhaps it hasn't yet reached full adulthood," says Clifford.
"The bottom line is that we're getting better and better at diagnosing brain tumours. But by no means are we entirely there yet."
Unlocking new insights into brain tumours using neuroscience
Exploiting the brain tumour microenvironment to make better treatments
Piecing together brain tumour biology to design more effective drugs
Developing more accurate ways to study brain tumours
Developing kinder treatments for people with brain tumours
Brain (and spinal cord) tumours Cancer biology Cancer Research UK-funded research Diagnosing cancer Personalised medicine Research and trials Treatment


Firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials have maimed thousands of Filipinos, especially children, due to firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials while celebrating the Christmas and New Year days. The use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials during the Yuletide season is an age-old tradition due to the belief that the explosive sounds from the pyrotechnic materials will help drive away the bad spirits that brought bad luck during the year and bring better luck for the new year.
The government has passed pertinent laws regulating the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials but the demand for such materials persists which provides a market for unsafe explosive devices. Ironically, some people prefer to use illegal explosives compared to the regulated ones that pose a serious threat to their safety and even to life and limb.
Some local governments have tried efforts to ban the sale and use of firecrackers in their areas of jurisdiction over the past several years without success except in Davao. It is only Davao City that was successful in the implementation of total firecracker and pyrotechnic ban because of the strong political leadership of the city. For years now, Davao was able to register zero firecracker-related incidents which most local governments want to emulate. However, do these other local governments have the same political will to implement total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials? If success is to be attributed to political will, then surely the lack of strong political must be the factor that causes failure. Of course this is also reflected in the inability of the local police force to monitor the entry of illegally manufactured firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials in their areas of jurisdiction.
In Baguio City, the city's leadership tried to ban the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials by not issuing the necessary business permits to those interested to sell the said hazardous materials. While the local government was successful in regulating the entry of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials in the city for several years now, it was not able to strictly address the proliferation illegal firecrackers in the public market and in other places around the city. Why? Again, political will. Lack of political will among police officers to address the problem. It is disconcerting that some members of the local legislative body are still trying protect the interest of the few firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors. A proposed legislation was filed early this year imposing a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials early this year with an attachment of over 30,000 signatures supporting the passage of the said legislation. However, the said proposal remains rotting in one of the committees of the local legislative body because of the interests of some local legislators who still want firecracker and pyrotechnic to be sold around the city. It would be interesting to check on these officials who had been elected to institute measures to protect the welfare of their constituency but are instead blocking the passage of such safety measures.
We commend the members of the local firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors group who have shifted to selling toys and other products. If these individuals could do so, it is possible then for all its members to do the shift. What is needed is for the local government to support the smooth transformation for this group through participatory assessment and planning in exploring alternative livelihoods especially for the small-time vendors.
For the local government, we urge the local legislative body to pass the necessary legislation imposing a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials. It should respond to the clamor of the public for a peaceful celebration of the Yuletide season. It is a shame that with such a strong public petition, coupled with the initiative of vendors to shift to other goods, the legislative body is stalling action. Is it fence-sitting and just waiting for the national leadership to speak? The results of the initial implementation of the total ban on firecrackers has been successful but something concrete must be done to put an end to the recurring problem. What is needed is legislative action to support actions on the ground.
For the public, we know that all that noise during the Yuletide season is not our culture. We can make a difference by consciously refusing to buy such products. We ask those who have money to buy pyrotechnic products to donate to the victims of recent typhoons. There are many ways of merrymaking that do not endanger ourselves and others. Let us embrace ways that will ensure our safety because we owe our lives to our families.
For the local governments, please do not wait for the order of the President totally banning firecrackers nationwide. Be the protectors of the people and not be the ones to expose them to extreme danger by allowing the willful use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials for the Yuletide revelry.
We wish everyone a safe happy enjoyment of the holidays!


text:
Q: Is BJT amplifier a viable option if the design needs to be replicated without calibration? ||Sorry for messing this up the first time. This is my first post ever in a technical forum. Need to pick up the ways of the crowd. Thanks for all the feedback and help. Well appreciated||
I intend to design a product targeting the rural market. As each penny counts for my customers, I need to optimize both the design and manufacturing process to be as cost effective as possible. The design involves a boost converter which should look something like this except for the following.
a. Input will be a 12V battery
b. The controller will be UC3843/5, a variant of that used in the schematic
c. The load will be a series LED string (open circuit or constant current 150mA with 20V/40V/60V).

I am experimenting all the options and one of them involves replacing the controller IC with a 555 timer PWM generator. In such a design, I need to amplify the voltage across a current sense resistor like R10 with a gain of about 30. I could either use an op-amp configuration or a BJT amplifier to do this. BJT looks cheap and may reduce my BOM cost. But to my knowledge, if the gain of a BJT transistor varies from piece to piece then I need to add a calibration process which increases my manufacturing cost.
So is there anyway I could use a BJT amplifier circuit in a design that can be replicated without needing to calibrate it each time.

A: You don't specify the voltage across the shunt resistor or the accuracy required, but anyway the gain can be stabilized by use of negative feedback such as emitter degeneration. For this to work you need to design the circuit to have excessive gain and remove the excess with negative feedback. For example, if you need a gain of 100 you might design a circuit capable of a gain of 10,000 typically and apply negative feedback to reduce it to 100, so even if the gain varies from 5,000 to 20,000 because of the transistors, the (closed loop) circuit gain will vary less than +/-1%. This will also stabilize the circuit against temperature changes, since resistors are generally very stable compared to transistor beta.
That may be all that is required if it is an AC circuit. If it's a DC circuit then offset voltage means that an op-amp is going to be better- you'd need differential transistors (perhaps matched and thermally coupled) and a complex circuit, and it still would not be very good.
Op-amps (at the lowest end) need not cost much more than a BJT. 1-2 cents each in a quad package. Probably cheaper than a MOSFET.


Residential services include new construction, remodels, and service work including ceiling fan installation, troubleshooting electrical issues, installing appliance outlets and cords. We offer free estimates. In addition to normal operating hours, we are available evenings and weekends too.
We offer light commercial electrical service. Jobs we have worked on recently include replacing fluorescent ballasts and lamps, exterior wall pack light repair, main service installation for electric security gate, and install of new service and internal wiring for commercial shops.
Remodel services include repair or installation of switches, plugs, light fixtures, ceiling fans, kitchen appliance outlets and cords, garage heaters, wiring of home additions or shops, panel upgrades, home inspection repairs, and much more.


text:
Tag Archives: Tour
John Cleese and Eric Idle Together and Touring North America Again (for the Last Time… no Honestly)
John Cleese and Eric Idle officially announced a return tour of North America this morning on the John Cleese and Eric Idle Together Again at Last… for the Very Last Time website. In all the duo from Monty Python, one of the most influential comedy teams of the 20th century, are embarking on a 16 city, 20 date tour of Canada and the United States this fall. On this tour, Cleese and Idle will be visiting the western part of North America with cities like Victoria, Vancouver (BC), Seattle, San Jose and San Francisco. Those who attend a show will see an evening of diverse entertainment according to their press release:
Tags: British Comedy, Eric Idle, John Cleese, John Cleese and Eric Idle, Monty Python, Tour, Tour Dates
[Victoria Fringe Festival '14] Hot Patootie! Roller Derby Saved My Soul, A Review
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Broken Turtle Productions
Written/Created by: Nancy Kenny
Oh god bless Rock n' Roll, the New Wave Punk movement and Disco. The soundtrack used in Nancy Kenny's show, Roller Derby Saved My Soul, will no doubt get some music lovers dancing. This performance has coasted all the way from debuting in Ottawa before going to Montreal and later into Calgary before arriving in Victoria as part of a huge Fringe tour to not only bring awareness of what participating in the Fringe is like but also spotlight her talent as a physical comedienne and tough-as-nail's performer.
Technically, there's no pattern about what kind of route Kenny's taking, since she will be hitting Vancouver next. But if you get a chance to see this roving comedy, the price of admission is worth paying for just to see how she brings all the female pop culture icons from the past 6 decades and distills what being a hero is for all time.
Tags: 2014, Nancy Kenny, Roller Derby, Soundtrack, Tour, Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival
Categories Local Events, Reviews, Theatre
Author Ed Sum
The Ghostbusters Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary!
When I'm a paranormal investigator and pop culture geek, just what am I going to do on June 7th, 2014? I'm looking for ghosts and celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters of course! I have a box of unopened Stay Puft Marshmallows (the caffeinated kind), both movies on Blu-ray to watch, the video game (PS3 edition) that I still have to finish, and a glow in the dark t-shirt to wear — when the weekend is over, I'm gonna feel like Slimer after gulping down a banquet. A lot of fun was experienced for those who joined in the social media bandwagon that began at 12pm PST, but alas, when I'm out chasing ghosts since after midnight, I needed my sleep!
But it's not just this movie that started my life down the road to real investigative work. Scooby Doo and The Three Investigators were just as pivotal to influencing my years in pursuing the unknown and coming up with hypothesizes in what the other side may entail.
But for today, cheers have to go to Ivan Reitman. Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson for making my childhood become what it is: fun-filled with sugar plump Stay Puft marshmallow men floating around my head. Waitaminute, they're green and … eeew. SLIMMMER!!!!
(For the lucky thousands, there is an official touring art exhibit that will be hitting Chicago and San Diego soon; it's been to New York and Los Angeles, already. Maybe if Canadians yell loud enough, it'll hit Vancouver and Toronto too?)
Tags: Anniversary, Ghostbusters, Tour
Categories Film, News
[Pacific Northwest] The Last Unicorn Arrives with Special Theatrical Screenings!
For the month of November, The Last Unicorn is touring the Pacific Northwest. According to Locus magazine. the book by Peter S. Beagle is ranked number 5 in the list of all-time best fantasy novels, and the animated feature was produced by the same team who created The Hobbit back in 78′. Rankin Bass Productions is a highly respected animation house who have produced many a great holiday special, ranging from stop motion to cel, and to see this classic remastered and playing on the big screen as a 2K Digital Cinema Print will no doubt be a delight to many enthusiasts, young and old.
This story is about self discovery and overcoming insurmountable odds. When the mythic quest is to find out if this unicorn is truly the last of her kind, the plot goes into territory which can be scary. A Picasso-esque style influence is what makes this animated version enduring, and the story is wholly magical in its own unique way. Mia Farrow provides the voice for the title character. To name more than a few, other talents include Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Lee and René Auberjonois.
There will be a pre-show at this film's many stops. Author Peter S. Beagle will be in attendance and according to the tour website, an hour will be dedicated for him for Q&A and perhaps to sign autographs.
Dates are as follows:
November 15, The Garland Theater in Spokane, WA
November 16, The Seattle Cinerama in Seattle, WA
November 17, The Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA
November 19, The Colossus Langley Cinemas in Langley, BC
November 20, The Silvercity Riverport Cinemas in Richmond, BC
November 21, The Bijou Art Cinemas in Eugene, OR
November 23, The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR
November 25, The Varsity Theatre in Ashland, OR
November 26, The Tower Theatre in Sacramento, CA
Tickets can be bought in advance at The Last Unicorn's Screen Tour website.
Tags: Christopher Lee, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, René Auberjonois, Robert Klein, The Last Unicorn, Tour
Categories Animation, Film, Local Events, News


That's right folks. It's time for my weekly In The Heights blog. Now those of you who read my blogs know how much I love the show. Therefore you would think it would be no problem for me to write about it right? That wasn't the case this week. Look I can tell you how great the show is and tell you that you have to see it. That's not my style. You can see it or not. That's your choice. All I can tell you is if you are looking for a great show with an inspirational story, great music, and a talented cast that will put a smile on your face from ear to ear than In The Heights is the show for you. Granted that is just one man's opinion. Take it for what you will.
By the way you don't have to come to New York to see the show. As we speak In The Heights is on a Nationwide tour. In case you are thinking I work for the show I do not. I just love it that's all. Maybe you will too. Well look at that I guess I did find something to write about.
Until next time theatre fans.


Live rabbit from a hat.
Dove magic - 4 birds.
Five the Magician's show is something like you'd see on T.V. only up close and personal at your event.
-The most iconic trick becomes a reality. - live rabbit from a hat.
-The kids have many opportunities to be part of the magic.
We just had Five The Magician perform at my son's third birthday party this afternoon and he did not disappoint. He was professional, punctual, and most importantly, entertaining for both the kids and a room full of adults. The balloon animals and bunny feeding were a nice touch, too. Thank you, Five, for making our party extra special.
Five the Magician performed at my daughter's fourth birthday party today, and he was awesome! She was shy at first, but by the end, she and all her friends, and the adults too, were laughing and paying rapt attention. He really helped make today special for her.
Thanks to Five the Magician, our daughter and her friends had an amazing time at her 6th birthday party this past weekend.
We had Five The Magician come in to do a company holiday show for 83 some children, ages up to 13 years old. Everyone was entertained, even the adults. Highly recommend!
Five the Magician kept 21 kids ages 3-6 fully engaged and amazed for his hour long show! The adults were just as entertained! He is great with kids and they absolutely loved it. Thanks for the great show!
Was worried that it would be hard to keep the engagement of 12 5 year old boys - but Five the Magician did it in spades! They loved it!
Prompt responses, showed up on time, amazing tricks and was great with the kids.
Five the Magician was an absolute joy to have perform in our home for our son and his friends. The children laughed and clapped and giggled and so did the adults. We would absolutely recommend booking Five for any events! It was wonderful!
Five was absolutely a fabulous performer, his show is entertaining for any age. Very funny!!
Kids has a great time, would 100% recommend and hire again.
5 had the kids captivated the whole time he was there. They all had a great time, and lots of laugh. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. Parents, you won't be disappointed.
We booked Five the Magician for our daughter's 6th birthday party. All the kids (and adults) were laughing, engaged, and very impressed with all the magic tricks. Five the Magician put on a great show! Highly recommended!
Five The Magician is Amazing!
We had Five the Magician for our Linwood Snofest event on February 3/18 and he was a HUGE hit! His 45-minute show, consisting of live birds and a rabbit, was amazing! His quirky sense of humor and awesome magic tricks were a hit with all of the kids and adults who attended. I would highly recommend him.
The kids were hooked! Five The Magician is extremely talented. Highly recommended!
The Most Talked About Magic Show in Baden!
Thank you Five for making such a Magical 5th Birthday for our Son! The kids are still talking about the party and even practicing their magic tricks! Watching how you kept 10 kiddos so engaged in your show was absolutely amazing. The moment we saw you at Boston Pizza, we just knew we had to book you for an event. What better way then having Five the Magician at your sons 5th Birthday....a truly fitting event!
Five the Magician: you are a fantastic performer, entertainer and magician. I was so happy to have had the pleasure of watching you bring smiles and excitement to all the young children at my daughter's birthday party. You captivated our attention and kept things interactive so that the audience was always engaged - a hard feat with a bunch of 3-6 year olds :-) You reminded me of the importance of not taking life too seriously and the magic of a good full-bellied laugh!! Thank you for your time and professionalism - I can't wait to book you for another party.
Great show - my students loved it!
Five came to put on a show for a group of special education classes. He had a great rapport with the students, kept their attention and everyone was entertained. We are hoping to make this an annual field trip for our classes. Fantastic fun!
Five gave a wonderful show to an audience of 8 special needs classes! The students and their teachers thought he was amazing!
Many high fives for Five!
Five the Magician was excellent in every way. His magic tricks were great and his presentation hilarious and entertaining. His performance was very enjoyable for the children as well as the adults.
About an hour of show with all sorts of magic that had great reactions from the kids, a couple amazing individual magic tricks with the birthday boy (rabbit in a hat and ball trick), got another child up to do an individual trick with her.
After the show he made EVERY child a custom balloon of their choosing and even made a couple extra due to some of the children popping them before he left.
To our surprise, we even got some pictures emailed to us today with one of them signed for the birthday boy.
Would definitely (already have) recommend him for anyone thinking of having a magician for any type of event.
Thank you very much for making our son's 6th birthday party a memorable one. He has not stopped talking to family and friends to let them know all the details of it and how he was a magician for a day and pulled a rabbit out of a hat. 20+ children will be talking about this party at school for quite a while i am sure.
Had Five the Magician over for my 8 year old son and 14 of his classmates, Five the Magician was excellent, the kids were entertained, captivated and amazed.
Overheard some of them even stating that it was the best magic show they had ever seen.
Well done and thank you Five and Big Smiles!
Five the Magician kept 15 young girls (and several adults!) engaged for a whole hour, providing them with plenty of laughs, gasps, and an amazing time. We all had a great time and would highly recommend Big Smiles Co. and Five the Magician to anybody!
What an amazing, fun experience. adults and children all had a wonderful joyful time. totally worth it!! would recommend to anyone!
Five the Magician performed a great show.
The kids loved him,so did the adults.Great tricks,funny guy.
At the end the kids got the chance to pet the doves and bunny.
High 5,Five!Thanks to Ryan,the booking agent,too!
Kids really enjoyed the magic show and laughed a lot. Expect the animal balloon to be better.
Thank you for the review. And thanks to your daughter for making the rabbit come out of the hat!
The kids usually love the wearable jumbo balloon arms, your feedback tells me to give choices for the jumbo balloon. As for the one-balloon sculptures, I can make over 20 different sculptures, but I couldn't make a squirrel. I just wanted to be able to give your daughter what she wanted so I tried. I will now certainly learn the right way to make a squirrel. Thanks again!
We hired Five for our daughter's 6th birthday party, at which we had 6 young children, a few teens and about 8 adults. The kids absolutely loved the show, and Five did an awesome job at interacting with them. They loved that they could make noise, they laughed, and they were completely fascinated with the magic. The live animals were a huge hit, especially for the small kids. Five really did a good job at including the Birthday Girl in his performance, and involving members of the audience in his show. After the party, many of the adults who were in attendance commented on the quality of the show and how impressed they were. I would absolutely consider hiring Five for another event!
Five the Magician performed at my daughters 6th birthday party. All of the kids loved the performance. Highly recommended.


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Can a TV Actor Live Off Royalties Forever?
By: Gerlinda Grimes | Updated: Feb 24, 2021
Cast members of the '90s "Friends" are shown in the episode "The One Where They All Turn Thirty." The show has been off the air for decades but the cast still earns millions in residuals. Warner Bros. Television/Getty Images
Most of us assume that between "starving actor" and "celebrity," there has to be a sweet spot where thespians can find modest work and still make a respectable income. But what happens when a show is canceled? Can an actor who played a small part on a modestly successful show move to the Caribbean and live off the television royalties forever?
Maybe. Most television actors don't live like royalty off their royalties — but some make a decent living. Royalties are referred to as "residuals" in the television world. A residual is a payment an actor is due when a show plays in reruns or is sold to syndication, released on DVD or streamed online. Calculating residuals is a tricky business, one that the TV industry leaves to its trade union, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Much like BMI or American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in the music world, SAG-AFTRA collects and pays out any residuals that are due to members.
SAG-AFTRA calculates residuals based on formulas that consider an actor's contract, time spent on the production, the production type and the market where the show appears. The amount paid out decreases after each rerun — so by the 13th rerun, the amount has decreased to 5 percent of the original fee the actor was paid for her appearance in an episode. This 5 percent will be paid every time an episode is run forever. In general, only "principal performers" receive residuals [source: Andres]. Background actors or "extras" (random storm troopers on "The Mandalorian," for instance) do not usually receive residuals.
According to one rough calculation, if each of the stars of the hit '90s sitcom "Friends" received residuals at the normal SAG-AFTRA rates, they would get around $10,000 in residuals for each episode of the show in syndication [source: Andres]. With 236 episodes in reruns, that would add up to a handsome residual check of $2,360,000 per actor. In actuality, the "Friends" cast negotiated even higher residuals, with one estimate earning them closer to $20 million a year in syndication [source: Farrow].
Getting a big residual depends a lot on what the stars of the show negotiated during their time on the series. In 2016, Dawn Wells, star of '60s hit and perennial rerun "Gilligan's Island" said that a "misconception is that we must be wealthy, rolling in the dough, because we got residuals. We didn't really get a dime. Sherwood Schwartz, our producer, reportedly made $90 million on the reruns alone" [source: Farrow].
Actors who play bit roles, or even leading actors whose shows are less successful, also receive residual income, but the amounts are often small — sometimes laughably so. The mega-rich rapper Drake started off as a teen actor with a starring role on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" from 2001 to 2007. In 2016, he posted a pic on Instagram of a check for $8.25 (Canadian dollars or U.S. $6.58) that he claimed was a residual check from the show [source: Chin]. "Degrassi money still coming in don't sleep..." posted Drake sarcastically.
Actor Jeff Cohen, who appeared in one episode of the 1980s sitcom "The Facts of Life," wrote an article for Backstage magazine describing how he spent a $0.67 residual check. He took it to Maeve's Re$iduals, a pub that once traded a free drink for any SAG-AFTRA check of $1 or less. Maybe actors who can't live off their royalties can at least drink off their royalties forever?
Originally Published: Jun 18, 2015
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Adams, Russell. "The Shawshank Residuals." The Wall Street Journal. May 22, 2014. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.businessinsider.com/actors-from-shawshank-redemption-residual-pay-2014-6
Andres, Tommy. "How do actors make money off of residuals?" Marketplace. Oct. 24, 2014 (Feb. 3, 2021) https://www.marketplace.org/2014/10/24/how-do-actors-make-money-residuals/
Chin, Monica. "Guess what this actor still makes from 1983's 'A Christmas Story.'" Marketwatch. Dec. 18, 2017 (Feb. 3, 2021) https://www.marketwatch.com/story/guess-how-much-this-actor-still-makes-from-1983s-a-christmas-story-2017-12-18
Cieply, Michael. "Hollywood Officials Seek End to System of Paying Residuals." The New York Times. July 12, 2007. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/business/media/12hollywood-web.html?ref=media&module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C{%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22}
Cohen, Jeff. "Calculating SAG Residuals." Backstage.com. Nov. 14, 2008. (Nov. 27, 2014) http://www.backstage.com/news/calculating-sag-residuals/
Farrow, Rachel. "How Much Jennifer Aniston and Other Actors Get Paid for Their Reruns." Yahoo Finance. July 20, 2020 (Feb. 3, 2021) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-jennifer-aniston-other-actors-090200975.html
Handel, Jennifer. "Residuals Revelation: Network Primetime Residuals as Chilly for SAG/AFTRA and DGA as WGA (exclusive analysis)" The Hollywood Reporter. July 23, 2011. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/residuals-revelation-network-primetime-residuals-214646
McNary, Dave. "Actors Play Waiting Game for Residuals." Variety. June 5, 2013. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/actors-play-waiting-game-for-residuals-1200491945/
SAGAFTRA.org. "Residuals FAQ." (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.sagaftra.org/content/residuals-faq
Toomey, Alyssa. "Lisa Kudrow Sued by Former Manager for Friends Residuals, About $8 Million Reportedly at Stake." EOnline.com. Feb. 26, 2014. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.eonline.com/news/513371/lisa-kudrow-sued-by-former-manager-for-friends-residuals-about-8-million-reportedly-at-stake
Verrier, Richard. "Residual resentment slows Hollywood talks." The Los Angeles Times. Oct. 16, 2007. (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/newsletter/la-fi-residuals16oct16-story.html#page=1
Yelp. "Maeve's Residuals." (Nov. 27, 2014) http://www.yelp.com/biz/maeves-residuals-studio-city
Zara, Christopher. "'Seinfeld' Reruns Soak Up A Sponge-Worthy $3 Billion Since Cancellation; Co-Creators Jerry Seinfield and Larry David Cash In." International Business Times. April 4, 2013. (Nov. 27, 2014) http://www.ibtimes.com/seinfeld-reruns-soak-sponge-worthy-3-billion-cancellation-co-creators-jerry-seinfeld-larry-david
Gerlinda Grimes "Can a TV Actor Live Off Royalties Forever?" 18 June 2015.
HowStuffWorks.com. <https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/can-tv-actor-live-off-royalties-forever.htm> 31 January 2023
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This stainless steel stemless wineglass is the perfect addition to any kitchen or home bar. Sit back, relax and sip out of this sleek piece of glassware. Hand wash only. Makes a great gift for the social tennis enthusiat!


The surgical placement of ear tubes is the most common childhood surgery performed, with the average age range from one to three years old. This procedure can also be used with adults.
To help alleviate these problems, an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat surgeon) may recommend the insertion of ear tubes.
A tympanostomy is an outpatient surgical procedure to place ear tubes (myringotomy tubes) through the eardrums. These small cylinders are fabricated from plastic, metal, or Teflon and are inserted though a small incision in the eardrum under general anesthesia to ventilate and provide pressure equalization to the middle ear. Where the fluid is present it is suctioned out. Frequently a surgical microscope or laser will be used to perform the surgery.
Typically a procedure will last less than 15 minutes. Occasionally, the otolaryngologist may also recommend the removal of the adenoids that are located behind the nose at the same time ear tube surgery is being performed. This is often considered when it is necessary to repeat tube insertions. Research supports that the removal of the adenoids together with placement of the ear tubes can reduce the risk of recurrent ear infections and the need for repeat surgery.
Depending upon a child's need, short-term tubes or longer-term tubes can be used.
Short-term tubes. Are smaller and can remain in place for six to twelve months.
Long-term tubes. Are larger and remain in place for a longer duration.
While the tubes can fall out on their own, removal by an otolaryngologist during an office visit is sometimes necessary.
For more information on ear tubes, call Severn River ENT at (410) 544-9988 to make an appointment.


Ecomass Compounds are an ideal lead replacement material. Eco-friendly and injection moldable, our thermoplastic composites achieve the density of lead without any toxic concerns.
Ecomass injection moldable high gravity compounds are an ideal lead replacement material. Ecomass' line of density modified high gravity compounds combine the design and production advantages of plastics with the desired density of metals. Our high density engineered thermoplastics and custom material formulation and development capabilities allow us to tailor the density — and subsequently mass— to your exact specifications and application requirements. Our high gravity compounds can be formulated up to 11 g/cc, the density of lead, and can be injection molded into complex shapes. Moreover, all Ecomass Compounds meet the RoHS directive, are 100% lead free, and do not contain any materials considered hazordous by the U.S. EPA. Ecomass' lead replacement materials allow you to add mass where you want it, when you want it. Contact us today, or fill out our RFQ Form, to learn how we can formulate the optimal lead replacement material for your application. Or, check out our case studies page to learn how our high density thermoplastics have become a successful lead substitute for our customers.
One of the central appeals of thermoplastics has been their ability to make parts lighter and less expensive, while providing performance benefits over traditional materials such as glass, ceramics, aluminum, steel, zinc and lead. Given the general industry trends pushing for ever-lighter and stronger materials, the very concept of 'heavy plastics,' or high density materials—otherwise referred to as high gravity compounds—seems to contradict the fundamental advantages for which plastics became so popular. Despite these macro trends, part designers often enough run into situations and applications in which they need material to do just the opposite: rather than reduce weight, they need materials that add it. Whether the goal is to add weight to improve performance, balance assemblies to increase service-life, dampen vibration to enhance the customer contact experience, or shield radiation to improve safety, there are many applications in which designers and original equipment manufacturers need access to high density materials that allow them to add mass to specific locations. One important application responsible for the demand for such high density thermoplastics is the ever-increasing need for quality lead replacement materials.
Lead is an extremely useful commodity, due mainly to its low cost and outstanding physical properties: high density, ease of fabrication and casting, and malleability. As a result, lead has grown to become useful in a number of widespread applications such as bullets, fishing rod sinkers, balancing weights for tires, and hunting shot, etc. In spite of its attractive properties and common usage, lead is a major environmental contaminant due to its toxicity. Lead is a toxic material that currently ranks number two on the U.S. Government's Top 100 Hazardous Substances Priority List. Lead is toxic to humans and wildlife and creates significant environmental concern for disposal. Due to its toxicity, the regulatory environments, in the U.S. and Europe in particular, have grown increasingly strict regarding the use and disposal of lead. The U.S. EPA has set very restrictive thresholds limiting concentrations in air, soil, water and vegetation. Moreover, limitations on the use of lead have been set in unleaded gasoline, paint, and general exposure in the workplace. As a result, the need for an environmentally friendly lead replacement material that can be formed into complex shapes has become increasingly important.


Following on from the redesign of Kinfolk magazine, CHD also designed the magazine's interiors publication 'The Kinfolk Home'. The book encompasses 35 residences across five continents that embody the values of slow living. Whilst integrating familiar design elements from the magazine itself, we also worked hard to ensure the book would be a stand-alone design piece in its own right. Published by Ouur and Artisan US, it became a New York Times bestseller within two weeks of it's release. Photography by Mirjam Bleeker, Sharyn Cairns, Nicole Franzen, Jonas Ingerstedt, Anders Schonnemann and Pia Ulin.


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People of Ayrshire
Free travel for veterans and military personnel on Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day: Stagecoach announce free travel for veterans
By Fionnuala Boyle Reporter
Veterans and military personnel in Ayrshire will be able to travel for free on Stagecoach buses on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday this year.
The company has confirmed its ongoing commitment to the armed forces by announcing that it will be offering free travel for those eligible on its bus services on November 11 and 14.
With Remembrance services planned at memorials across Ayrshire, it is hoped that people wishing to pay their respects will take up the offer to travel free of charge on the service of their choice.
The commitment to free travel, which will continue every year, comes off the back of Stagecoach's newly launched employee-led Veterans Network which was launched to allow Stagecoach colleagues to make change, raise awareness, help influence business decisions and introduce new ways of working to make the company even stronger.
The Veteran Network is also engaging with the armed forces on a recruitment campaign directly targeting those who are leaving the military to find job opportunities at Stagecoach.
As a long-time supporter of the Poppy Appeal, and in addition to free travel on November 11 and 14, Stagecoach will also be operating a number of Poppy Buses across its network.
Poppies will be displayed on the front of a number of buses across the country with some of the destination blinds showing the messaging "We will remember them".
Employees across Stagecoach will be asked to honour the minutes' silence, too.
Simon Tramalloni is co-lead for the Stagecoach Veterans Network. He previously served in the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Africa and the Middle East.
He said: "Stagecoach has a strong commitment to supporting the armed forces and our veterans, and it's great that we are able to offer free bus and tram travel across the whole country as we mark Remembrance Day.
"We have thousands of ex forces personnel working across our business and having the new Veterans Network is allowing us to build on the work that Stagecoach has led over many years and identify how else we can support those veterans already working for us and those that may want to come and join the company.
"Remembrance Day and the Poppy Appeal are causes close to the hearts of many of our employees and customers and we are very pleased to be making this commitment that will hopefully help people to attend memorials across the UK."


Benefits: Can be performed as vigorously as desired, running around the space (for aerobic benefits). Or the participant can gently mow (their own leg, the grass right in front of them). Can serve as a Value-Added exercise (de-stressing a previously anxiety-provoking experience).
Variations: 1. "Teeny Tiny Lawnmower:" You have a miniature lawnmower only a few inches long. When it starts you can mow small areas: your own chest, someone's ears, your fingernails or tongue. 2. "Giant Lawnmower:" You are a very tiny person with a lawnmower fifteen feet tall. Reach above your head to get the cord; when it starts, the Lawnmower carries you away, spinning in circles – you can barely keep it under your control, laughing at your helplessness and efforts. Find these in The Encyclopedia of Laughter Exercises. Click here to download.
Origin: Might be considered a variation on Dr. Kataria's "Motorbike Laughter." David Sullenger (seen leading in the video) introduced it to Laguna Laughter Club in 2005 to de-condition himself from the pain associated with his being forced to mow large lawns during his childhood. This exercise seems to have emerged simultaneously in several parts of the world in 2006.
Notes: The Leader can encourage playful interaction by participating creatively, with contagious enthusiasm.
Find the similar "Motorbike Laughter" in Doctor Kataria's Foundation Exercises. Click here to download.
* All sessions begin with the advice that participants may engage at whatever level they wish. The "Level of Vigor" offered is a suggestion of the intensity range at which the exercise is typically performed.